Wednesday, February 25, 2015

United Nations says veganism can save the world from destruction

United Nations says veganism can save the world from destruction



UN Says Veganism Can Save the World From Destruction


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Can a vegan diet save the world? According to a new report from the UN, the answer is "yes."The Guardian writes that "a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty, and the worst impacts of climate change." The report notes that the Western preference for meat- and dairy-heavy diets is "unsustainable," especially as the population is expected to grow to 9.1 billion by 2050.
The report adds that "animal products cause more damage than [producing] construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals." Plus, livestock raised for meat consumes a large portion of the world's crops and a lot of freshwater. Currently, agriculture, "particularly meat and dairy products," account for 70 percent of the world's freshwater consumption. It also accounts for 39 percent of the globe's total land use and 19 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions.
Importantly, as the population grows, the impact from agriculture will substantially grow as well, thanks to the the increasing consumption of animal products. The report notes that "unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives." The only option is to cut down on the number of animal products consumed.
The UN isn't the only one advocating a more plant-focused diet. A couple from the United Kingdom are working hard to make "Veganuary" a global movement. The duo are trying to convince people to eat less animal products by going vegan for the month of January. According to a press release, 50 percent of last year's participants said that they "intended to remain vegan for good." Perhaps the UN just found a new partner in their global mission?

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Bird Conservation Group Wants Tighter Controls on Wind Industry - Blades run afowl of the MBTA

Bird Conservation Group Wants Tighter Controls on Wind Industry | Wind | Rewire | KCET





The SOLUTION - the ENGINEERING SOLUTION - is to SHIFT THE PLANE from rotating the blades in the VERTICAL plane to rotating the blades in the HORIZONTAL plane.
Let's THANK animal (bird) advocates for raising this issue, but let's insist that future design integrate this concern from the outset.
Lots of blade building has already gone ahead, production machinery has been purchased, and workers have been hired and put on the assembly lines.
I raised this concern nearly a decade ago - and suggested this solution about 3-4 years ago. 
Advocates didn't see that as an issue at that time (or some merely said, yes, the blades shouldn't hurt the birds).

So let's "do the math" and consider that, if the IDEA of the SOLUTIONS pre-existed my SEEING the SOLUTION and RAISING the SOLUTION 3-4 years ago, the "solutions" may have pre-existed actuality in the minds of engineering visionaries.  So when we REQUIRE investment in something that the planet and this species needs (birds would rather adjust to global warming and let the infrastructures of human "civilization" decline or erode at the coastal edges), we need, increasingly, to look at the full picture and to engineer ONLY solutions which do NOT solve OUR problems at the expense of other persons (other species of life).

News and analysis about energy in California with an eye toward renewables.


Calling bird law violations inevitable at wind facilities, a group wants tighter controls on permitting. | Photo:  Changhua Coast Conservation Action/Flickr/Creative Commons License

Bird Conservation Group Wants Tighter Controls on Wind Industry