If you’re able to use a computer and can read this newsletter, you’ll have no doubt heard about global warming.

You’ve probably heard different stories about what could be causing global warming and what it’ll do to us, ranging from the effect that CFC gases have on the ozone layer to global warming being nothing more than a natural occurrence as our planet continues to emerge from the last “Little Ice Age”. But just how much do you know about either of these subjects? And how are they affecting you?

The Effect of CFC Gases

First of all, in order to understand how CFC gases might be affecting the ozone layer, it’s important to understand what the ozone layer actually is.

Ozone is a form of oxygen, one of three forms that can be found in our Earths atmosphere. Without ozone, our planet would be a very different place because it shields us all against harmful radiation from the Sun (ultraviolet (UV) radiation), life—or at least, life as we know it—wouldn’t exist.

If the ozone layer breaks down, UV rays will be able to reach the Earth’s surface, with the result being a dramatic increase in the number of cases of skin cancer and eye cataracts.

The affect on the food chain could also be disastrous. Because UV rays kill plankton in the sea, the fish and whales that live off of plankton would eventually starve and disappear. This would then affect the next link in the chain - those creatures that live off of fish - and so it would continue throughout the chain.

It’s just as well we’re not dependent on meat for survival - a few carrots, a handful of potatoes and a cabbage a day should suffice.

Anyway, let’s move on to look at how CFC gases affect the ozone layer. Those who did chemistry at school will know what this is all about.

Any compound that contains chlorine will lead to the decrease in natural ozone levels by removing one oxygen atom from the ozone molecule, thus converting it into oxygen.

As you can imagine, there’s no natural occurrence of such compounds in the upper atmosphere, but vast amounts have built up over time due to our increased use of man-made chlorine based compounds, of which CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) are the most common.

When we first starting using CFCs back in the 1930s—primarily to cool fridges—we thought they were safe. When you don’t know better, you can’t be blamed for making a mistake, can you?

We know now that CFCs rise from the surface of the Earth and into the stratosphere where they’re bombarded by UV light. We know that this releases the chlorine atoms that react with the ozone molecules and we know that before long, ozone becomes oxygen and we’re left with less protection.

While most countries have banned the usage of CFCs in aerosols, these gases are still found in refrigerators and in some types of foam packaging.

How much this will affect our generation is uncertain - it depends entirely on how quickly the ozone layer is depleted - but what is certain is that it will have an effect on future generations.

The choices we make today will affect the future of the planet. It’s up to us to make the right ones. What’s great is that we have the knowledge to make the choices that will give our descendants the chance of a good life too.

Is global warming all about the ozone layer though?

There is a theory that doesn’t involve the ozone layer at all, and that’s that our planet is becoming warmer because oceanic tides are driving climate change.

Evidently, the coldest water found at the deepest points of the ocean is generally transported to the surface by tides that cause the water to mix, thus lowering the temperatures in the air. But thanks to changes in the way the tides work, less cold water is mixing with the warmer upper layers of water, with the result being warmer periods on Earth.

According to scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography- part of the University of California, the way the ocean deals with cold water is controlled by the alignment of the sun, moon and earth. Right now we’re experiencing less and less cold water being forced to the surface, so the planet is heading for its warmest peak.

When will this happen? Well, the last “Little Ice Age” was during the 15th century, when the Vikings perished on Greenland after having enjoyed a temperate climate there during the 14th century. This was about 1,800 years after the previous “Little Ice Age” of 1300 AD. With known hot periods also being spaced at about 1,800 years apart, it’s pretty safe to assume that the next hot peak would have been around the 30th century- but due to the depletion of the ozone layer, this will have changed, but by how much? Your guess is as good as anyones.

How hot will it be? Unfortunately it appears that the answer to that is also anyones guess. What is for sure, however, is that it will be too hot to sustain life as we know it long before the Earth’s temperature reaches its peak.

If the answer really is a matter of the inevitable, the least we should do is get out there and enjoy the good weather while we have it. Just make sure you remember to wear your sunscreen.

Mervyn Rees is the author of, “The Secrets of Biodiesel“. An active young 72 year old with a lifetime of experience to share, being a Fellow of the Institute Motoring Industry, built his own Dragonfly Roadsters before retiring as a Motor Vehicle Manufacturer. Having tried retiring twice and given up, he has now created an additional website http://www.mervtech.com to share his many interests with other likeminded people.

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Bath and beauty products do more than just keep us clean, they make us look and feel our best. And in a 24/7 society where busy is the norm, a simple bath or great skin treatment can be a relaxing personal moment in an otherwise hectic day. Now more than ever, people are using bath products that are made organically through green processes because it’s not only good for them, but also good for the environment.

“Going green is more than just an environmental concept, it’s something that can have a dramatic impact on personal health…” says Justin Gomolka at Best Bath Store, a company that makes 100 percent natural bath and body, skin care and hair care products. “We’re seeing more interest in natural products that respect human life, animal life, and the environment we live in — something our entire line supports. We do not test on animals or use harmful synthetic preservatives or additives such as sodium laurel sulfate or parabens. One must be on the lookout for greenwashing, where companies claim to be natural and /or safe for the environment, but use harmful synthetic ingredients.”

These are the top bath and beauty trends of 2008:

Trend 1) Organic Soaps

When you’re washing your skin, are you using something that contains harsh chemicals? Don’t forget, your skin is your body’s largest organ and the first line of defense against disease and infections. If you look at the ingredients of your common everyday soap, you might find it difficult to pronounce the list. Animal fats and synthetic ingredients help make soaps cheap for large companies, but wreak havoc on your skin and overall health! For this reason, organic soap made from all-natural ingredients is a top beauty trend. For example, handmade soap from (www.soapalchemy.com) uses luxurious quality ingredients that include organic extracts, essential oils, and cleansing particles harvested from the earth. Because of the use of organic ingredients, this soap is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.

Trend 2) Safe Cosmetics / Cruelty Free / Environmentally Friendly

Traditional cosmetics and bath products can contain unhealthy ingredients. Exposure to one of these chemicals is unlikely to cause health problems, but repeated exposure can be linked to serious health issues like cancer and birth defects. More people are seeking safe cosmetics that they know won’t be causing them, their families, or any animals harm. You can do three things to help buy healthier products. First, look for products that do not test on animals or companies that are PETA business friends. Second, visit www.SafeCostmetics.org to find a list of companies that have pledged to keep their products safe from unhealthy compounds. Lastly, find out how a company packages their products and ships them. Do they use Styrofoam or corn starch peanuts?

Trend 3) Aromatherapy

Different scents have the power to trigger sensations in the brain such as relaxation, calmness, alertness and more. Lavender is a popular ingredient used in bath products that is believed to have the power to promote relaxation and relieve stress, important for today’s constantly hectic lifestyle. Lavender has been used as a natural medicine to help relieve headaches, migraines and insomnia for centuries. Other scents and herbs have properties that help keep the body balanced and healthy. More people are now looking for these ingredients in their favorite soaps and lotions.

Trend 4) Real Results from Natural Products
People want a luxurious, natural product, but they also want results from their beauty regimen. From wrinkles to acne, natural ingredients just might be the cure you’ve been seeking. For example, acne medicines made from all natural ingredients treat problem skin gently, great for sensitive skin types. Additionally, some natural ingredients may work better because the body isn’t able to build up a tolerance to its effectiveness like it often does with chemical treatment options. Natural, green ingredients also can make a difference for other beauty concerns such as wrinkles and skin tone.

Trend 5) Not Just for Ladies
Bath and beauty isn’t just for females any more. Products are being made specifically for the needs of children and men too. Fun, natural products make bath time enjoyable for kids of all ages, helping them stay clean and healthy. And men are realizing that looking their best today and in the future requires more effort than a simple daily shower. An increasing number of men are seeking out all-natural soaps, shampoos and shaving creams because these products give them better results and are better for their body.
Shop and learn at Best Bath Store, a company that makes 100 percent natural bath and body, skin care and hair care products.

Healthy Skin Care

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I think the choice of corn based ethanol is politically motivated. It looks good, it sounds good but has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency, economy, or green consciousness. it’s another cynical bit of window dressing allowing huge amounts of money to be funneled to favored interests.

But, we cannot simply call all biofuels bad, we need to concentrate on solutions that address the issues. This is a young industry with a lot of growing room, and many options to be considered. Many companies and even the US government, are working on better sustainable solutions.

Of course energy efficiency and less use need to be part of the solution, but the world will need fuel, and fossil fuels will disappear.

By using figures that are based on current technologies and systems in the biofuel arena, one is painted only a bad picture of biofuels, giving ammunition to those who don’t want petroleum to go away. It is very important to separate one biofuel from another when talking about them. It’s foolish to use figures from corn ethanol as it is done today and just say “ethanol” or “biofuels”. Believe it or not but even the US Dept of Energy/NREL/Biofuels recognizes we need to switch from starch (corn) to cellulosic ethanol in order to have a sustainable and efficient supply. Alternatives to soy are also being developed. Algae-based biofuel will be ~100x less resource intensive and many times over more efficient to produce, so the input-to-output ratio versus petro will be very high compared to soy, corn, even sugar cane. Biofuels can also be made from woody-based biomass like poplar trees that can be planted in deforested and deleted lands, not taking away from food production.

However, biofuels - made by producing ethanol, an alcohol fuel made from maize, sugar cane, or other plant matter - may be a penny wise but pound foolish way of doing so. Consider the following:

• The grain required to fill the petrol tank of a Range Rover with ethanol is sufficient to feed one person per year. Assuming the petrol tank is refilled every two weeks, the amount of grain required would feed a hungry African village for a year
• Much of the fuel that Europeans use will be imported from Brazil, where the Amazon is being burned to plant more sugar and soybeans, and Southeast Asia, where oil palm plantations are destroying the rainforest habitat of orangutans and many other species. Species are dying for our driving

If ethanol is imported from the US, it will likely come from maize, which uses fossil fuels at every stage in the production process, from cultivation using fertilisers and tractors to processing and transportation. Growing maize appears to use 30% more energy than the finished fuel produces, and leaves eroded soils and polluted waters behind

• Meeting the 5.75% target would require, according to one authoritative study, a quarter of the EU’s arable land
• Using ethanol rather than petrol reduces total emissions of carbon dioxide by only about 13% because of the pollution caused by the production process, and because ethanol gets only about 70% of the mileage of petrol
• Food prices are already increasing. With just 10% of the world’s sugar harvest being converted to ethanol, the price of sugar has doubled; the price of palm oil has increased 15% over the past year, with a further 25% gain expected next year. Little wonder that many are calling biofuels “deforestation diesel”, the opposite of the environmentally friendly fuel that all are seeking.With so much farmland already taking the form of monoculture, with all that implies for wildlife, do we really want to create more diversity-stripped desert?

Others are worried about the impacts of biofuels on food prices, which will affect especially the poor who already spend a large proportion of their income on food.

The BBC international version website gives a different viewpoint from the news we get fed here in the US.

I recommend it.

Douglas Savage
The Mill River Company
www.crystalcleanglass.com
The smart (albeit, not popular) thing to do is FIRST cut waste, cut BACK on consumption, THEN find replacements … provided replacements would even BE needed with proper and responsible conservation.

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I am sure you have heard the old saying, “There are two things certain in life, death and taxes.”  Now we can add a third one to that list, rising fuel cost’s.  The cool thing is, we can do something about the rising fuel cost’s.  Did you know that you can become a super gas saver by utilizing key gas saving tips?  In the following article I’ll give you 5 easy to use gas saving tips that you can start today and save money immediately.

The first thing you want to do is make sure your tires have the correct air pressure in them.  This is so simple to do and yet many never take the time.  Checking the air pressure is important because it reduces wear and tear and will make your car run more efficiently.  The more workload you put on your car the more fuel it will burn.

The next plan of action is to plan how you will be using your car.  I know you have been in a situation where you just get home and remember you needed something else.  In some cases this simply can’t be avoided but in most it can.  Here’s what you do, on Sunday plan out your week from going to the mall to grocery shopping  and make a good list.  If you have a solid plan then those “I forgot” trips will be a lot less frequent.

The third thing you want to consider is the proper use of cruise control.  When your car is running on cruise control it is working at it’s optimum efficiency.  When using cruise control you should consult your cars user manual for correct operation.  If you keep turning the cruise control on and off you will be mimicking acceleration and braking under standard driving conditions.

The fourth step is to clean out your car of any excess weight.  If your like most people, you look at your car like it’s an extension of your home.  As we continue to add and take away items from the car we begin to leave items over time.  Go through your vehicle and clean out everything that is not needed for that day.  At the end of everyday, take out what you bring in to keep the weight and clutter down to a minimum.

Finally, you need to focus on driving at a constant speed and accelerate gradually.  We need to leave our high school years behind us and drive like responsible adults who don’t drive like maniacs.  The more work load you put on your engine by aggressively accelerating and braking, the more fuel you are going to burn.  I am not saying to drive like your grandmother but just keep notice of the speeds and how you drive from now on.

With the previous 5 super gas saver tips you can begin to see a decrease in how much you spend at the pump.  This will not please everyone and for those who aren’t, buying a hybrid car may be your answer.  Some of us can’t afford a hybrid especially in this economy, but there is another solution.  Did you know you can turn your car into a hybrid?  You can.  If you really want to save a ton on gas then this is just what your looking for.

Want to discover a super secret on becoming a super gas saver?  Just visit www.RunYourCarOnWaterNow.net for more information on how to convert your car to a hybrid now.  Shane Wilson is a successful web site owner where you can access other gas savings tips anytime.  Visit his site today.

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Okay, you’ve probably heard about it by now… but this was too funny. Heard about it from lainie liberti at twitter… (yeah, I actually follow people on twitter, it’s the COOLEST) and there are LOTs of green people there. If you want to know what REAL people into sustainability are doing, catch us on twitter. So here is the cow burp list…

Stop belching, Bessie! You’re ruining the environment!

Squelch that belch: Cows that burp less could help climate crisis

Cow burps make for bad air Down Under

Cow burps: Worth worrying about?

On the upside…. we can also make green electricity from their manure (and did we mention COMPOSTING? Check out ‘Cow Power’ at RiverDeep.net

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