Sustainability
Inconceivable Nature of Nature
February 5th, 2010Albatross chicks choking on plastic on Midwat Atoll
November 6th, 2009
These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.
10 incredible water facts
July 22nd, 2009- Up to 60% of the human body is water – the brain is composed of 70% water, blood is 82% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water.
- Water use in the 20th century increased more than sixfold, and continues to increase about twice as fast as the human population is increasing
- Currently, on a global basis, 69% of all water withdrawn for human use on an annual basis is soaked up by agriculture (mostly in the form of irrigation); industry accounts for 23% and domestic use (household, drinking water, sanitation) accounts for about 8%. These global averages vary a great deal between regions. In Africa, for instance, agriculture consumes 88% of all water withdrawn for human use, while domestic use accounts for 7% and industry for 5%. In Europe, most water is used in industry (54%), while agriculture and domestic use take 33% and 13% respectively.
- The current average North American diet requires over 1 800 m3 of water per person per year from both natural rainfall and irrigation; the diet of an average African living in the sub-Saharan region is produced with less than 650 m3 of water per person per year.
- A child born in the developed world consumes thirty to fifty times the water resources that a child in the developing world consumes.
- It takes 39 090 gallons (about 148 000 litres) of water to manufacture a new car, including new tires.
- It takes 62 600 gallons of water to produce one ton of steel. That’s about 215 000 litres of water to produce one metric ton of steel.
- It takes 9.3 gallons (about 35 litres) of water to process one can of fruit or vegetables.
- It takes nearly 14 gallons (about 53 litres) of water to grow a medium-sized orange (4.6 ounces/130 grams) and to prepare it, in a packing plant, for market.
- It takes 48.3 gallons (about 183 litres) of water to produce one eight-ounce glass of milk when you add together the amounts of water needed to provide food and water for the cows, to keep the dairy barns clean, and to process the milk.
A precious resource
Sources: World Water Council. 2003 International Year of Freshwater Web site. Facts and Figures: The Different Water Users. Gleick, Peter H. The World’s Water 2000-2001. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2000, p. 65. UNESCO, World Water Assessment Programme. Water for People, Water for Life. United Nations World Water Development Report, 2003, p.5. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). The Water Povery Index. US Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Fun Facts Matching Game – Answers. Feb. 2006. California Farm Bureau Federation. Water Quiz.
Photo: José Manuel Suárez
World’s largest garbage dump
July 22nd, 2009The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also described as the Eastern Garbage Patch or the Pacific Trash Vortex, is the world’s largest garbage dump -- a gyre of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean located roughly between 135° to 155°W and 35° to 42°N and estimated to be twice the size of Texas. The patch is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of suspended plastic and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre. Despite its size and density, the patch is not visible from satellite photography.
The world's largest garbage dump - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Source: Bradshaw, Kate (January 29, 2009), “The Great Garbage Swirl”, Mautime Weekly (Maui)
Image: Interactive diagram of the trash vortex by Greenpeace
10 recycling facts
July 21st, 2009
Recycling bins in Japan
- Americans are producing more and more waste with each passing year. In 1960, the average American threw away 2.7 pounds of trash a day. Today, the average American throws away 4.5 pounds of trash every day. That is approximately 1,460 pounds per person per year Paper takes up as much as 50% of landfill space.
- The average American uses 650 lbs. of paper per year.
- One ton of paper from recycled pulp saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 7000 gallons of water, 4200 kWh (enough to heat a home for half a year), 390 gallons of oil, and prevents 60 pounds of air pollutants.
- Producing recycled white paper creates 74 percent less air pollution, 35 percent less water pollution, and 75 percent less processed energy than producing paper from virgin fibers.
- Recycling one ton of cardboard saves over nine cubic yards of landfill space.
- Number of landfills in operation in 1978: 14,000 in 1988: 5,500; in 2003: 1,500.
- Recycling one ton of newspaper saves 15 trees.
- Every ton of newspaper recycled saves 4100 kWh or enough energy to power a TV for 31 hours.
- Recycling a soda can saves 96 percent of the energy used to make a can from ore and produces 95 percent less air pollution and 97 percent less water pollution.
- One gallon of oil, when reprocessed, can generate enough energy to meet the electricity needs of a home for half a day
Sources: MIT, EPA Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste, Forty Ways to Make Government Purchasing Green and others.
Photo: Elmimmo
