Escalating demands of used as well as new electronic gadgets in developed as well as developing countries such as the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, Japan, Australia, India, China, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan etc. will be alarming for global environment in near future.

According to the news of sciencedaily.com, by the year of 2020 electronic waste from old computers will be doubled from 200 to 400 percent in South Africa and China and will increase by 500 percent in India. The most concerning part is that these countries don’t have any concrete plan or system to tackle hazardous e-waste and most of them are improperly handled or discarded.

Recent report exposes that china generates about 300,000 tonnes of electronic waste from personal computers, India generates 56,300 tonnes from personal computers and 4,700 tones from printers, Colombia produces 6,500 tonnes from personal computers, 1,300 tonnes from printers, and Kenya generates 2,500 tonnes from personal computers, 500 tonnes from printers. In comparison to producing electronic waste, recycling sector is relatively small. Countries such as China and India lack comprehensive e-waste collection and management network.

Hundreds of research organizations across the world have shown their concern and published reports on the necessity of proper e-waste collection, management as well as recycling system; else the whole world will have to face the greatest ever challenges and will be buried under the gush of e-wastes.

Today, it is encouraging that some countries have begun setting up e-waste management centers of excellence, and inspiring the established organizations to work on improving recycling and waste management systems. Unfortunately, a few countries can’t make much difference; every country’s participation is expected.

A report that was published on 22nd February this year by the UN University (UNU), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), used data of 11 developing countries to predict the level of electronic waste. The report shows that by the end of 2020, e-waste from computer will be five times higher in china (the global leader in generating e-waste), and South Africa, and 18 times higher in India. It clearly shows the urgency of recycling. If immediate measures are not taken, the serious consequences will soon overpower.

Many developing countries are evolving and taking initiatives to reduce electronic waste. Over 35 developed countries have shown their interest in improving e-waste collection and effective electronic waste recycling system.

Recycling is the only option through which global environment and health can be saved. People are advised to use electronics goods until their nearing end of life and give them to recyclers instead of proliferating practices of discarding them for landfills. As a responsible citizen, everybody should play the benevolent role in eliminating the inevitable consequences of electronic waste.

The users can contact recycling companies such as www.Asset-RecoveryServices.com for more information on electronic recycling.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/recycling-articles/e-waste-surging-in-developing-countries-3272215.html

About the Author

I work as a tech-content writer/editor/blogger for Asset-Recovery Services. There are a variety of subjects that make me think and invoke me to write about. I prefer writing on e-wastes since the subject appeals to masses and is related to various health and environment issues.

Author: James Hunt

When we hear about an oil spill that has occurred in some part of the world we may be unaware of just how much oil has been spilled into either the water or on land. When we are talking about an oil spill, we are talking about a huge amount of oil that can do serious damage to the environment in which it was spilled.

How do Oil Spills happen?

Oil spills into rivers; bays and oceans are caused by accidents that usually involve tankers, barges, or refineries. Usually the oil is being transported to another part of the world for various reasons. People who by some form or another make mistakes or are being careless in what they are doing cause the spills themselves. Oil spills are not always caused by human mistake however; sometime machinery can break down which cause oil to spill out into the surrounding environment.

What happens when oil spills occur?

If an oil spill occurs in the ocean, the oil itself will float in salt water. It has been found that if the oil spill occurs in fresh water there is a good chance that the oil will float on top of the water as well. Believe it or not this is a good thing. This means that the oil is confined to the surface of the water, which makes containing the spill a little easier. The problem is that in water the oil will spread out quickly over the surface of the water. The more time the oil is left in the water the more it will spread out to cover a wider surface area, which can have a negative impact on the rate at which it can be contained and corrected.

When oil spills occur in the ocean there is always a chance that the marine life as well as birds and other animals will be negatively affected. Some oil spills have a greater impact on the wildlife then others, but no spill is good. Birds and other animals that are covered in fur, the oil itself actually destroys or breaks down the insulating ability of the fur. For birds, if the fur is covered in oil, the water-repelling abilities of the fur are affected. This exposed the animals to the harsh elements of the environments in which they live. There have been many animals killed as a result of oil spills in the oceans around the world.

Who takes care of Oils Spills?

When an oil spill occurs, who takes care of the problem? There are various, local and federal agencies that can be called upon to take care of oil spills. No matter who is called to take care of the spill the methods employed to clean up the spill are the same. Some agencies will be better equipped to clean up bigger spills whereas local agencies and organizations can handle the smaller, less dangerous spills. It is a criminal offence not to report an oil spill and failure to do so can result in jail time.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/how-do-oil-spills-happen-10934.html

About the Author

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.oil-spills-central.info

You may not have ever considered keeping bees but information regarding the dwindling Bee populations may have made you wonder if beekeeping could be considered a new way to help save the planet.

A recent report states that there will be several new studies to look at just why Bee populations around the world are dwindling. These studies will look at things like pesticides, disease and loss of habitat. The reason why this is so important may not be apparent to a lot of us, but when you see that in some parts of the world manual pollination of certain food producing plants is already taking place, it soon becomes apparent that we need to get an understanding of this problem very soon.

These projects are to be funded by the Insect Pollinators Initiative (IPI), and will look into the decline of other pollinators such as wasps and butterflies. Others are trying to get businesses to realise the future financial problems that could occur if this decline in pollinators is not stopped, by calculating just how much the produce that we rely upon will increase if manual pollination needs to become more widespread. It is thought that by introducing financial information into the picture businesses will be helped to understand the importance of projects like the one funded by the IPI.

Information regarding Bees and other pollinators will also help us to understand the wider ecological issues. Wild plants rely on these insects for pollination and these plants then feed other species further up the food chain. These plants are also involved in promoting fertile soil conditions for future planting.

Whatever these studies eventually produce it seems obvious that the use of more and more pesticides, insect diseases and loss of habitat all contribute to the decline of honeybees and other important pollinators. This means that it is important that we make our own gardens more appealing to such insects or maybe even consider joining the ranks of those who keep bees as a hobby or even a small business.

People are angry with British Petroleum. A question environmentalists, tax payers and investors would like answered is, will the oil company pay for this disaster? Out of the mix of companies associated with the oil spill, BP is the one being pointed at. The company has stated they will cover the cleanup costs. This statement leaves a lot of people skeptic.

Investors have other concerns, financial in nature. What are the short and long term effects on the company’s bottom line for instance? How will the shares hold up in the market place? Questions anyone can answer but no one can know for sure.

The oil spill consequences are still unknown. Despite repeated efforts to plug up the hole, the oil is still escaping from the ocean floor. It remains to be seen if this disaster exceeds that of the Exxon Valdez, spilling more than 11 million gallons of crude oil in the Prince William Sound area of Alaska. The Valdez spill had at that time contaminated more than 1300 miles of Alaskan shoreline. An ecological nightmare.

Another question that comes to mind, will President Obama reconsider his proposal to expand offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the much of the Atlantic coast? He himself claimed the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to be a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster.

While people battle with the giant oil spill, we should all remember that BP spent years opposing federal regulators over how many safeguards would be needed to prevent a deepwater well from this type of disaster.

Industry experts are concerned about the lack of a remote system that could have allowed workers to shut Deepwater Horizon’s wellhead, effectively stopping the oil spill. In a letter sent last year to the Department of the Interior, BP objected to what it called “extensive, prescriptive regulations” proposed in new rules to tighten down on safety standards. They went on to say “we believe industry’s current safety and environmental statistics demonstrate that the voluntary programs…continue to be very successful”.

The cleanup tab for the December 22, 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, TN is reportedly said to be as much as $825 million.  In all, 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash burst from a containment pond operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority power plant.

Many homes and properties were destroyed from the sludge that broke through the levee and polluted waterways and wells on roughly 300 acres.  Fish and other wildlife have died along the river and banks of the Emory River, prompting environmentalists to bring to light the threat of improper coal ash containment throughout the United States at more than 150 sites.

Coal ash is frequently dumped into abandoned mines and quickly infiltrates underground water supplies.  The EPA estimates that coal ash has contaminated ground water in 24 states.  Though coal ash is not considered hazardous yet, the sludge can destroy animal habitats and caused widespread distruction of the land around a spill site.  Legislation towards coal ash containment ponds is quickly becoming a priority after being put on hold since a 2000 bid to label coal ash as a hazardous material.

Pictures of the TVA coal ash spill show widespread destruction that could take years to fully rebuild.  Drinking water samples of the city’s water supply show normal levels, according to the EPA.  Although drinking water is safe for the time being, slude samples near the spill show high levels of arsenic which could pose an airborn threat in the future if not fully resolved.  This has been enough to cause some residents concern for their health, despite assurances the air is safe.

Anyone in pursuit of job security should take a look at the oil spill cleanup business. With about 10,000 spills on America’s waterways every year — or one spill every 53 minutes — there’s plenty of work. And if you count chemical spills, the numbers triple.

Dr. Roy Hann, Jr. has been leading the fight against these disasters for more than twenty years. Applying his hands-on experience with tanker, pipeline and facility spills, Hann started the world’s first oil spill cleanup school at Texas A&M University in 1974. He also has directed oil spill courses for the United Nations, Brazil, Chile and India.

“The job market for our graduates is booming,” he said. “Since the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, our enrollment has doubled. We’ve even got a backlog of students trying to get into the program.”

Like most problems, it’s easier to prevent a spill than clean one up, Hann said. Prevention saves both time and money in the long run, as well as the environment.

“Most companies know what ought to be done,” he said, “but don’t actually do it.”

That’s why he stresses a system called the “prevention cycle” — a thought process that starts with ship and facility design and considers all aspects of the business, including construction, maintenance and training.

Since Texas A&M’s campus at College Station is landlocked, only research work is done at that site. The actual school is conducted through an extension program on the Texas coast at Galveston.

Many of the school’s graduates find jobs in the oil industry or government, working on both prevention and cleanup issues. Hann’s graduates earn either a Master’s or Doctor’s degree in civil engineering, with an emphasis on environmental engineering.

“In many cases, they’re going to companies we never would have expected,” Hann said. “McDonald’s, banks…..it’s almost unlimited.”

Currently the school is limited to 40 or 50 new students each year. Expanding the program is being considered, Hann said, but will depend on funding and grants.

Still, Texas A&M’s popular program remains one of the few oil spill clean-up schools in the world.

(Tip/Stat) The world’s worst oil spill occurred off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago on July 1, 1979, and was nearly ten times worse than the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska.

Technorati Tags: oil spill, oil spills, oil spill cleanup business, chemical spills, oil industry, environmental issues, environmental schools

Source: environmental issues

The earth’s most abundant resource, and still we have trouble finding adequate clean drinking water for nearly 1 billion people worldwide. Climate forecasts can play a role in planning for meteorological events that contaminate and pollute water reserves. With pollution levels rising and frequent flooding throughout the world, advanced warning and proper monitoring could help alleviate some of the growing problems of the water management needed to provide clean accessible water to all.

2 September 2008 – The chief of the United Nations meteorological agency today called for weather forecasts to play a greater role in planning for economic development and poverty reduction because of the impact climate change has on water resources.

Michel Jarraud, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), told the World Water Congress that the agricultural, energy, tourism and health sectors are among those most affected by the impact of climate change due to drought, deterioration in water quality, increased run-off and an increase in the salinization of ground water as a result of rising sea levels.

“Mainstreaming climate change in decision-making processes will therefore be central to all development and poverty alleviation efforts,” he said at the meeting, held in Montpellier, France.

Source: un.org

In other water news, water management corruption in impoverished nations leads to a further deteriorating system for providing water to those that are in desperate need. Corruption is said to increase the price for water services by 10-30% worldwide. Many of the people hurt the most by this are those cannot afford basic necessities, let alone the price that comes after bribes and corruption has ran its part.

Africa’s largest water transfer effort, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, plans to supply water to the industrial heartland of South Africa and to generate energy for impoverished Lesotho. The multi-billion dollar investment offers economic growth and greater water security for underserved communities in the region.

The project also presents water officials with countless opportunities to become rich on the side. In 2002, Lesotho courts sentenced the project’s chief executive to prison for accepting bribes from 18 multinational companies that were vying for construction contracts.

The Lesotho case is a rare example of justice. Across the globe, the water sector is particularly prone to corruption, and the world’s poor are usually the ones who suffer the costs.

The pervasive nature of dirty water politics is blamed for much of the stalled progress in improving access to water resources in this year’s Global Corruption Report. It is the first report to assess how corruption affects the water sector worldwide.

The widespread corruption noted in the report reflects the large challenge of solving the world’s water problems. As growing populations compete for shrinking water resources, the opportunities for corruption will increase and the damaging effects will become more severe.

Source: worldwatch.org

This week, the Global Environment Facility, has launched a new $27 million dollar project with the goal of saving animals that are needed to pollinate the many crops of the world. The United Nations Environment Programme will implement the program with the help of worldwide governments including Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. Many national agencies and institutions will help to support this project and protect these key species.

The goal of the program is to help protect species that pollinate some 35% of the worlds crops. Recently, the earth has seen the dramatic decline of entire populations of honey bees thought to be caused mainly by pesticides, pathogens, and parasites. In the United States, one particular pathogen thought to be infecting bees is called Nosema ceranae, and infects the digestive system. In the past, parasitic mites have caused winter die-offs that cause populations increased stress and lower productivity. Though many theories have been published, too little research has been done to single out any one source of population declines.

Many wild animals also rely on plants and fruits that require insects and birds to pollinate first. Blueberries, apples, pears, plums, melons, and cucumbers are just some of the crops that benefit from animals providing cross-pollination. With the decline of honey bees, birds, and bats, the future of crop production is at stake.

This project is important because it will help to identify the causes of the decline of pollinating bees, birds, bats, and insects. With a large budget of nearly $27 million, the ecosystems and habitats of these animals can be repaired and strengthened to provide an area that promotes healthy reproduction and population building. Without these steps, the world could face a widening food shortage as crops decline and fail to pollinate. By addressing this issue, the GEF and UNEP hope to balance this process which in turn will help to stabilize ecosystems that provide many other benefits. Sustainable agriculture depends on providing a safe, healthy environment for the many animals and insects that help to create the crops that humans consume everyday.

On Wednesday, a map outlining current claims and agreements, was drawn up of future Arctic territories, by a group of British researchers. This map is meant to recognize potential disputed territories and gather all claims into one source.

The lands underneath the receding ice sheets hold the potential to house large quantities of natural resources. Oil and natural gas are just some of the projected benefits of acquiring this valuable land. With the prospect of securing new sources of wealth and materials, many countries have already entered into a number of different agreements setting boundaries in hopes of avoiding conflicts. All claims must be made in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Law of the Sea allows any state to stake their claim on any land within 200 nautical miles of its shorelines.

Disputes between boundaries are already presenting themselves which is evident in the recent news of Russia planting a flag underneath the North Pole. Russia claims the area is part of the Russian continental shelf which is being disputed by other states sighting a “Cold War” era potential.

The rush of interest stems from a recent decline in the ice layer covering the Arctic region. Warmer temperatures have caused a decline of nearly 25% in the past 30 years. At current rates, claims on these lands may be exercised within decades or sooner.  Also, the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, has published a deadline of May 2009 on submitting preliminary claims.

July 31st marked the end of a battle for the air permit needed to progress plans to build a 1500 megawatt coal burning power plant in the middle of Navajo Nation territory. The EPA has signed off on this permit following a 4 year process that has saw both environmentalists and supporters pleading their cases. The permit will allow construction of this massive coal plant that claims to utilize state-of-the-art technology to reduce emissions and control pollution.

The plant, dubbed Desert Rock Energy Project, will provide $50 million in revenues and needed jobs for the Navajo tribe. Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr., stated that this benefit to the tribe outweighs any environmental concerns that have been presented. 17% of the new power required by the Arizona, New Mexico and Southern Nevada region up to 2015 is expected to come from this project.

Though this outcome may be beneficial to the financial situation of the Navajo, it is a great disservice to the environment and recent clean energy projects. By continuing the construction of this plant, the EPA is reversing the goal of the United States running on clean, renewable energy. This plant will further destroy an environment that is already being taxed by heavy coal burning power plants. The Desert Rock Energy Project is being sold as a way to reduce our independence on foreign oil, but it is clearly at the expense of the environment. With the Navajo being concerned about public health, as displayed in the recent outlaw of public smoking, this decision comes as a surprise. Apparently, it is against the law for one to pollute their own lungs, but not the lungs of our Earth, as long as cash is involved.

With so much emphasise on protecting our environment by the EPA, it is shocking that such an outdated source of power production would be approved. We cannot continue to build a renewable energy grid, with decisions like these negating entire advances. Although, power needs must be met in a timely manner, we cannot continue to destroy the environment and atmosphere by polluting our rivers, land and air. Cleaner alternatives with high efficiency have already been demonstrated. Hopefully the Navajo, who have had such a concern for the Earth in the past, will see the errors in this dated technology and choose to progress with a cleaner, more environmentally friendly technology such as solar and wind power.

On August 1st, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, signed legislation that will create a fund to promote the preservation of Brazilian rain forests. The fund will solicit donations from world leaders to help in the fight against deforestation and destruction of the Amazon rain forests. By creating this fund, Brazil has acknowledged that the Amazon region is vital in curbing climate change and the extinction of many valuable plants and animals. The fund hopes to raise as much as $21 billion by 2021.

Deforestation of the Amazon by logging and burning is estimated to release 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. The problem is compounded as vital ecosystems are destroyed that help to remove harmful pollutants from the atmosphere. Until now, the Brazilian government has been reluctant to equate the destruction of these forests to climate change.

Not only is the Amazon important to filtering pollutants from the air we breath, it houses species of plants and animals that are used to create lifesaving drugs. Currently, almost 25% of western prescription drugs use derivatives of plants found within rain forests. Every day, logging and rain forest destruction is responsible for the elimination of specimens that may have held clues to fighting disease.

Recent attempts by the Brazilian government are showing signs of progress in combating the problems that face the Amazon region. Besides the creation of this fund, Brazil has increased the number of officers deployed to forest areas to combat illegal logging. Businesses and citizens now are being forced to appeal any environmental fines within 1 year instead of the 8 years previously granted.

The Amazon and other rain forests, are important to every being living today. With over half of the world’s 10 million species of plants, animals, and insects residing in the rain forest, the wealth of the rain forest is our lifeline to future cures, and technologies. By destroying this dense area, the future of the earth remains uncertain. It is the responsibility of every nation to help preserve the forests of the Amazon and secure our number one atmospheric filter. Important animals, plants, and foods cannot survive without the help of nations who are actively promoting the preservation of this great area.