Globalism – Page 43

It’s been a long battle: people of the Ecuadorean Amazon against Chevron, which is accused of dumping more than 18 billion gallons of toxic waste sludge into the Amazon, leaving people sick with cancer and suffering miscarriages and birth defects. But the BBC reports that, after a lawsuit lasting nearly 20 years, a court in Ecuador has fined Chevron $8 billion for the pollution…

Continue reading… “After Almost 20 Years of Legal Battles, Chevron Fined $8 Billion for Amazon Pollution”

Analysis, Culture, Food, Globalism, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Human Behavior

Worldwide Per Capita Coffee Consumption

February 15, 2011

How much do you drink?

According to data compiled by environmental think tank World Resources Institute, Scandinavians drink a lot of coffee. Between 6.8 and 12.0 kilograms per year. So world travelers, does this map match up with your experiences?

Continue reading… “Worldwide Per Capita Coffee Consumption”

Breakthrough Thinking, Globalism, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Human Behavior, Latest News, New Discoveries, People Making a Difference, Science & Technology News

Chinese Develop Gait-Biometrics Surveillance

February 12, 2011

Another way to be under surveillance.

A confidential United States embassy dispatch released by Wikileaks provides details about a new technology developed by the Chinese Academy of Science to identify people by their gait.

The technology is designed to be deployed beneath existent flooring. From there it measures pedestrian pace and walking pressure to create a unique biometrics profile which can be used to identify and track the movements of individuals without their knowledge…

Continue reading… “Chinese Develop Gait-Biometrics Surveillance”

Architecture, Art, Breakthrough Thinking, Globalism, New Viewpoints

The Water-Scraper Habitat

February 12, 2011

Visions of water dwellings.

Taking advantage of the 71% of the Earth covered in water, the “Water-Scraper” is a partially submerged, self-contained habitat. A combination of tidal, solar and wind sources generate power for the floating behemoth while garden acreage just above the water line produces food for the structure’s inhabitants.

Continue reading… “The Water-Scraper Habitat”

Crazy Stuff, Current Events, Economy, Food, Global Warming, Globalism, government, Health & Fitness, Hot Issues, Latest News, Money Talk, New Viewpoints

EPA’s Budget To Be Slashed

February 11, 2011

77% of Americans support the EPA

Okay, okay, we get it. House Republicans don’t like the idea of trying to reign in pollution. I mean really don’t like it. Many of them already claimed that climate change wasn’t real on the campaign trail, and said they’d fight climate legislation. Then, the powerful chairman of the House Energy Committee, Fred Upton (R-MI), has already sponsored a bill designed to prevent the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air Act, claiming it would kill jobs and whatnot. Now, House Republicans have released their vaunted plan for massive federal spending cuts. At the top of the list? The EPA.

Continue reading… “EPA’s Budget To Be Slashed”

Analysis, Breakthrough Thinking, Current Events, Global Warming, Globalism, Historical Perspectives, Latest News

Unraveling The Secrets of Antarctica’s Fossilized Forests

February 8, 2011

The Fossilized Tree Rings Don’t Lie

It may be hard to believe, but Antarctica was once covered in towering forests.

One hundred million years ago, the Earth was in the grip of an extreme Greenhouse Effect.

The polar ice caps had all but melted; in the south, rainforests inhabited by dinosaurs existed in their place.

These Antarctic ecosystems were adapted to the long months of winter darkness that occur at the poles, and were truly bizarre.

But if global warming continues unabated, could these ancient forests be a taste of things to come?

It may be hard to believe, but Antarctica was once covered in towering forests. One hundred million years ago, the Earth was in the grip of an extreme Greenhouse Effect. The polar ice caps had all but melted; in the south, rainforest’s inhabited by dinosaurs existed in their place.

These Antarctic ecosystems were adapted to the long months of winter darkness that occur at the poles, and were truly bizarre. But if global warming continues unabated, could these ancient forests be a taste of things to come?

Continue reading… “Unraveling The Secrets of Antarctica’s Fossilized Forests”

Breakthrough Thinking, Crazy Stuff, Current Events, Globalism, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Latest News, New Discoveries

Google Earth Uncovers Thousands of Tombs

February 8, 2011

Google Earth may expose tombs more exciting and historical than the ones in Petra shown here.

With the aid of revolutionary technology, archaeologists continue to expose exciting historical discoveries. According to The New Scientist, University of Western Australia professor David Kennedyhas utilized Google Earth in hopes of identifying archaeological sites, and he just may have stumbled across nearly two thousand potentially significant locations…

Continue reading… “Google Earth Uncovers Thousands of Tombs”

Big Problems, Current Events, Global Warming, Globalism, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Latest News

Second Severe Amazon Drought This Decade Spells Disaster for Rainforests

February 6, 2011

Drought is a problem in the Amazon Rainforests.

The Amazon suffered a record-making drought in 2005, which was thought to be the worst in the 108 years since tracking rains and droughts began. However, researchers are now saying that the drought the region struggled through in 2010 was likely even worse. The impact of two major droughts within a decade could mean that the rainforest so important to carbon capture could be hitting an irreversible downward spiral.

Continue reading… “Second Severe Amazon Drought This Decade Spells Disaster for Rainforests”

Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Culture, Globalism, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives

Five Traits Low-Stress, Happy Work Cultures Have In Common

February 6, 2011

If you’re happy and you know it be low-stress.

Around the world you’ll find scientifically identified pockets of happy people ranging in size from neighborhoods to entire countries. Researcher Dan Buettner spent years studying them to find out what makes them so special, and how others can emulate their success in the happiness department.

Continue reading… “Five Traits Low-Stress, Happy Work Cultures Have In Common”

Breakthrough Thinking, Crazy Stuff, Culture, Current Events, Globalism, government, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Human Behavior, Latest News

Indian Government’s Controversial Skin Whitening Competition

February 4, 2011

Sammy Sosa has found the benefits of skin whitening.

A scheme – perhaps the first of its kind in India – that sees the government’s science department team up with a US multinational to promote innovation has run into controversy.

In December 2010 the Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched a monthly competition in association with Cincinnati-based Proctor & Gamble (P&G) to solicit innovative ideas from Indian researchers. Winners were promised a cash award of $1000 and possible commercialization of their ideas by P&G, which has a beauty business worth over US$10 billion in global sales…

Continue reading… “Indian Government’s Controversial Skin Whitening Competition”

Analysis, Big Problems, Economy, Food, Globalism, Latest Trend

Global Food Prices Hit Record Levels

February 4, 2011

Sugar is among the items in the FAO’s food price index.

Global food prices are moving ever higher, hitting record levels last month as a jittery market reacted to unpredictable weather and tight supplies, according to a United Nations report released Thursday.

Continue reading… “Global Food Prices Hit Record Levels”