It is the time to write something about environment protection! Everybody agrees and always talks about the current situation about our environment, but in fact, how many of these people really take some actions and how many of them are equipped with basic environmental knowlege? I'm afraid the number, if there is a data, will disappoint me.
People gradually agree with the view that environment protection is more important than economic growth. The reasons are various and obvious. Economic growth is controlled directly by the availability of natural resources in the environment. Resources have a limit. Environment protection is meaningless without a cap on population and waste. Recent work in bio-engineering and genetic manipulations have shown how to manufacture the commodities necessary for both economic growth and the ability to sustain a growing population without necessarily saving the environment or destroying it.
Recent population explosions have put a high demand on the environment and waste has historically been a contributing factor. Perhaps protecting the environment is not the issue. Wasting what we have available is the issue. Although conservation will not allow huge jumps in economic growth, it will not stop growth from occuring. There is no logical reason to show how protecting the environment will have an adverse effect on economic growth. Nature knows better than us and there is no doubt that environment protectio is more important in this stage of development.
In my blog, I will show you some basic knowledge about environment through a combination of images and words. Hope you enjoy it. Content is as follow:
Chapter One: Soil
Chapter Two: Water
Chapter Three: Atomosphere
Chapter Four: Energy
Chapter Five: Green Guides
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Dear diary 8.27
My blog focus on the following three aspects, and I create a blog not to be popular but to seek like-minded people.
1, Environment and Energy Because this is my study field in Samford University
2, Web Marketing Because this is what i am responsible for in my part-time job
3, Thinkings of Social Phenomenon
Because we are social person
Posting article is not only a learning process, but an effective way of build up a habit.
Focus on me!
1, Environment and Energy Because this is my study field in Samford University
2, Web Marketing Because this is what i am responsible for in my part-time job
3, Thinkings of Social Phenomenon
Because we are social person
Posting article is not only a learning process, but an effective way of build up a habit.
Focus on me!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Dear diary 8.26
Dear you all,
I just create this personal blog for a short time and post some articles. I name my blog as "My Chemicals Camp", cause I think events and experience that happend in one's life just like those various chemicals, which can react among each other. You might very pleased because of your job promotion, but meanwhile, a bad news such as a break up message from your girlfiend will totally ruin your emotion. Then you says that today is a complex day instead of a good or a bad day. It happens all arounds at any time, you can never predict. So keep moving and keep smilling!
I am about to be a post graduate student of Samford university. I have to admit that I feel excited about that. I hope I can be treated fairly and friendly in another country and I am looking forward to my Mr Right!
I just create this personal blog for a short time and post some articles. I name my blog as "My Chemicals Camp", cause I think events and experience that happend in one's life just like those various chemicals, which can react among each other. You might very pleased because of your job promotion, but meanwhile, a bad news such as a break up message from your girlfiend will totally ruin your emotion. Then you says that today is a complex day instead of a good or a bad day. It happens all arounds at any time, you can never predict. So keep moving and keep smilling!
I am about to be a post graduate student of Samford university. I have to admit that I feel excited about that. I hope I can be treated fairly and friendly in another country and I am looking forward to my Mr Right!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I am gonna write diary, today is the first day!
Today is the first day that i wanna write diary to record both the happy and sad episodes of my life. Suddenly, I feel that life is so short that you must have a memory to look back when you are older.
Today i met a guy who loves playing SLRKamera. He is smart and handsome, i think i am creazy about his charming... I can not deny that i wish i can marry this guy! I said this because guys playing SLRKamera, according to my obsservation, alway have following characters:
1, Interest in learning
From Aesthetics to the imaging principle of composition, from the history of photography to exposure principles. They know everything!
2, Full of romantic cells
They immersed in various beautiful pictures, never lack of romance.
3, Have a good physical condition
SLRKamera is a heavy equipment. Often carrying several kilograms of equipment, no wonder they are strong!
4, Careful
Photograrhy ifself is a careful work. The angle of light, the camera parameters, every detail needs to be considered before shooting, or there is a waste film.
5, Be able to fix electronic products
6, Make you more beautiful
Perhaps they can not help you do the makeup, but they can be proficient in photo processing to make you more charming!
7, Easy to please
You never need to think hardly to know how to please them. It can not be more simple! Eat less snack, buy fewer clothes, and then purchase some auxiliary equipments to please them right now!
Dear you all, do you agree with me? Aha~
Today i met a guy who loves playing SLRKamera. He is smart and handsome, i think i am creazy about his charming... I can not deny that i wish i can marry this guy! I said this because guys playing SLRKamera, according to my obsservation, alway have following characters:
1, Interest in learning
From Aesthetics to the imaging principle of composition, from the history of photography to exposure principles. They know everything!
2, Full of romantic cells
They immersed in various beautiful pictures, never lack of romance.
3, Have a good physical condition
SLRKamera is a heavy equipment. Often carrying several kilograms of equipment, no wonder they are strong!
4, Careful
Photograrhy ifself is a careful work. The angle of light, the camera parameters, every detail needs to be considered before shooting, or there is a waste film.
5, Be able to fix electronic products
6, Make you more beautiful
Perhaps they can not help you do the makeup, but they can be proficient in photo processing to make you more charming!
7, Easy to please
You never need to think hardly to know how to please them. It can not be more simple! Eat less snack, buy fewer clothes, and then purchase some auxiliary equipments to please them right now!
Dear you all, do you agree with me? Aha~
Friday, August 20, 2010
Plants That Will Suck Your Yard Dry
Plants That Will Suck Your Yard Dry
Nearly 2 billion people already live in water-stressed regions, where subtle shifts in average annual temperatures could mean inadequate water supplies for people and the environment, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
When water is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa, people spend hours searching for and collecting drinking water. When drought hits Nevada, people have to change the way they wash their cars and tend to their yards.
In urban areas of arid Texas, about 25 percent of treated water goes toward landscaping, according to experts at the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.
Even small steps can make a difference, so when planting this spring and summer, consider using native species already adapted to the environment you live in. They will require little more than natural rainfall. You can also make soil improvements that help absorb and hold water, and use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation. “Mulch is your greatest ally in drought conditions,” according to Organic Gardening magazine editor Ethne Clarke.
But most importantly, avoid these thirsty varieties:
Tropical and exotic plants:
Species such as hibiscus and banana, commonly used in landscaping, come from tropical regions that get a lot of rain. These plants tend to have fairly high water requirements.
"Foliage structure tells you a lot about water needs," said David Ellis, editor of The American Gardener, the magazine of the American Horticultural Society. Plants with large glossy dark leaves tend to absorb more heat and require a lot of water, and a larger leaf surface area equals greater water loss. If hydrating is a concern, stick with hairy, smaller, and lighter-colored or silvery leaves that retain water and diffuse light, such as lambs ear, rosemary, or lavender, Ellis advises.
Exotics in general will probably need more water than native species, Ellis adds. Try to avoid rapidly growing tropical plants with soft, pithy, and fleshy trunks—these are usually plants with large water contents. The banana tree, for example, is 90 percent water.
If you live in a drought-prone region, stick with plants from the arid southwest, parts of California, or the Mediterranean, such as the above-mentioned herbs or drought-tolerant succulents, like agave and yucca.
Annuals:
Generally sighted all around town during summer, short-lived annual plants, such as impatiens, often need a lot of water. Many annuals have a shorter growing season with intense blooms, and a corresponding shallow root system. Plants that have time to grow extensive and deep roots will be able to tap water deep within the soil and live longer in drought-prone regions. It may seem counterintuitive, says Ellis, since large plants take more water to establish, but once they have found their footing, these hardy species don't require as much watering, and can provide shade—and relief from the heat—for much of your garden.
A traditional lawn:
Americans are moving away from the idea of the perfectly trimmed emerald green lawn, Ellis says. "I think people are starting to realize that if you have to put up warning flags [about pesticides], that contradicts the idea of something beautiful to play on."
Most grass and turf species are on the list of thirsty plants to avoid. If you are still attached to the American dream, and are facing water shortages, consider drought-tolerant varieties such as buffalo grass (for lawns in the western U.S.), or consider replacing at least some of your lawn with a garden of native species that attract wildlife and pollinators.
The concept of xeriscaping—landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water—has slowly become accepted, according to Ellis. "Instead of [being thought of as] an ugly barren landscape, it has become an interesting way to integrate interesting shapes and colors.”
A number of cities in drier parts of the country fund programs that will help transform thirsty yards to ones that use natives and drought-resistant plants, according to Organic Gardening’s Clarke.
Xeriscaping pioneer and famous landscape architect Steve Martino writes on his website: “The landscape profession wasn’t interested and clients were absolutely not interested [in xeriscaping when he started decades ago]. Cities were not interested and nurseries were not interested. Most resistance is now gone. Ideas I struggled to promote are now mandated.”
Nearly 2 billion people already live in water-stressed regions, where subtle shifts in average annual temperatures could mean inadequate water supplies for people and the environment, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
When water is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa, people spend hours searching for and collecting drinking water. When drought hits Nevada, people have to change the way they wash their cars and tend to their yards.
In urban areas of arid Texas, about 25 percent of treated water goes toward landscaping, according to experts at the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.
Even small steps can make a difference, so when planting this spring and summer, consider using native species already adapted to the environment you live in. They will require little more than natural rainfall. You can also make soil improvements that help absorb and hold water, and use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation. “Mulch is your greatest ally in drought conditions,” according to Organic Gardening magazine editor Ethne Clarke.
But most importantly, avoid these thirsty varieties:
Tropical and exotic plants:
Species such as hibiscus and banana, commonly used in landscaping, come from tropical regions that get a lot of rain. These plants tend to have fairly high water requirements.
"Foliage structure tells you a lot about water needs," said David Ellis, editor of The American Gardener, the magazine of the American Horticultural Society. Plants with large glossy dark leaves tend to absorb more heat and require a lot of water, and a larger leaf surface area equals greater water loss. If hydrating is a concern, stick with hairy, smaller, and lighter-colored or silvery leaves that retain water and diffuse light, such as lambs ear, rosemary, or lavender, Ellis advises.
Exotics in general will probably need more water than native species, Ellis adds. Try to avoid rapidly growing tropical plants with soft, pithy, and fleshy trunks—these are usually plants with large water contents. The banana tree, for example, is 90 percent water.
If you live in a drought-prone region, stick with plants from the arid southwest, parts of California, or the Mediterranean, such as the above-mentioned herbs or drought-tolerant succulents, like agave and yucca.
Annuals:
Generally sighted all around town during summer, short-lived annual plants, such as impatiens, often need a lot of water. Many annuals have a shorter growing season with intense blooms, and a corresponding shallow root system. Plants that have time to grow extensive and deep roots will be able to tap water deep within the soil and live longer in drought-prone regions. It may seem counterintuitive, says Ellis, since large plants take more water to establish, but once they have found their footing, these hardy species don't require as much watering, and can provide shade—and relief from the heat—for much of your garden.
A traditional lawn:
Americans are moving away from the idea of the perfectly trimmed emerald green lawn, Ellis says. "I think people are starting to realize that if you have to put up warning flags [about pesticides], that contradicts the idea of something beautiful to play on."
Most grass and turf species are on the list of thirsty plants to avoid. If you are still attached to the American dream, and are facing water shortages, consider drought-tolerant varieties such as buffalo grass (for lawns in the western U.S.), or consider replacing at least some of your lawn with a garden of native species that attract wildlife and pollinators.
The concept of xeriscaping—landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water—has slowly become accepted, according to Ellis. "Instead of [being thought of as] an ugly barren landscape, it has become an interesting way to integrate interesting shapes and colors.”
A number of cities in drier parts of the country fund programs that will help transform thirsty yards to ones that use natives and drought-resistant plants, according to Organic Gardening’s Clarke.
Xeriscaping pioneer and famous landscape architect Steve Martino writes on his website: “The landscape profession wasn’t interested and clients were absolutely not interested [in xeriscaping when he started decades ago]. Cities were not interested and nurseries were not interested. Most resistance is now gone. Ideas I struggled to promote are now mandated.”
Thursday, August 19, 2010
10 Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean
1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.
2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.
3. Use Fewer Plastic Products
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
4. Help Take Care of the Beach
Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups.
5. Don't Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.
6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.
7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.
8. Influence Change in Your Community
Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.
9. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.
10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.
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