|
NUGGETS OF WISDOMIn a larger-than-life scheme of affairs, individual efforts are always lost sight of. But truth be tol d –small bubbles also do create an impact, albeit slowly and silently! So today, lets make those not-so-talked-about human efforts, a piece of our conversation pie. Lets talk about a few individual entreprenuership that will make us feel that the world has no t really gone to the dogs. ALGAE GLORY National Aeronautics and Space administration scientists have plated up an ambivalent idea to produce "clean energy”, that cleans wastewater, removes carbon dioxide from the air and helps in oil extraction.This is NASA’s bio-fuel proposal for off-shore algae harvesting in plastic bags. Algae removes carbon dioxide, produces oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis. 
It can generate at least 2,000 gallons of oil per acre per year.The project will use large plastic bags filled with sewage for harvesting of algae. A lgae consume sewage to grow, thus cleaning up sewage. The bags will be made of semi-permeable membranes that allow fresh water to flow out into the ocean, while retaining algae and nutrients. With salt water on the outside and fresh water on the inside, the membrane prevents the salt from diluting fresh water. Floating on the ocean's surface, the plastic bags will collect solar energy as the algae inside produce oxygen . Through osmosis, the bag will absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen & fresh water. The temperature will be controlled by the heat capacity of the ocean. The ocean's waves will keep the system mixed and active. When the process is completed, bio-fuels will be made and sewage will be processed. The algae and nutrients will be contained and collected in a bag. The enclosed fresh water algae will die in the ocean. Now that’s a green- up act. BIRD LOVE 
The Kabbotran Samiti in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan has dedicated 462 bighas of land to the state’s pigeons. This move stands in stark contrast to the state government’s strategy to bring falcons to swoop the pigeons out of Albert Hall in Jaipur where the birds perch on and seemingly “damage the beauty of the historical building”. Chief minister, Vasundhara Raje was forced to negate the order because of strong public protests. Also, the villagers constructed over 15 covered platforms in the village with drinking water facilities for the pigeons. Now isn’t that a “birds eye view” endeavor? FANNING THE ECO-SYSTEM 
In a small township in Dehradun lives a man Jitender Rawat. He initiated a step, some years back, to cut down Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. But now that small step has become a giant stride all over his area. He did a simple act – planted trees surrounding his air conditioner set. Reports say that if air conditioners are placed under the shade of a tree, the GHG emissions are reduced by 12 per cent. He went about educating and informing others too about this simple way to protect the exterior of the air conditioner set and to lessen the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbon emissions generated by the use of ACs. Isn’t that quite a cool way to let the planet have its share of cool? NOSE-ING THE NOOSE Among Cairn terriers, the best-known celebrity is “Toto” from the Wizard of Oz. Now she might have some competition, as a real life Cairn terrier named Ridley is gaining fame for helping to save his namesake, the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Ridley helps find the nests of the sea turtles in Texas(US) along the Padre Island National Seashore. 
Ridley owes his Hall of Fame to the couple (environmental researchers themselves) who trained him. The couple saw the value in having a more powerful nose than a human’s on windy days, when it is harder to find sea turtle nests. So, sometimes when human volunteers can’t find the nests after following turtle tracks, it’s Ridley and his nose to the rescue!
|
