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Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both share the Aral Sea, a body of water that is steadily disappearing. A picture of ecological and health effects of Soviet eco-engineering, the Aral Sea has been constantly changing. The Soviet Government took 1940’s payday loans of water from the Aral Sea. The water level of the Aral Sea has been dropping since then.

History of Aral Sea diversions

The Soviet government started building canals to divert up to 60 cubic km per year as part of the “Great Plan for the Transformation of Nature”. Before the diversion, the Aral Sea had 68,000 square km of water. The goal of this plan was to irrigate desert cropland to grow crops like cereal, melons, cotton, and rice. As a result of this plan, Uzbekistan is now a world-class cotton exporter.

Shrinkage of the Aral Sea

The Aral Sea was diverted as part of the Soviet Government’s loans for people with bad credit. The Aral Sea started shrinking after twenty years of diversion. There were several factors that caused the Aral Sea to disappear. Agriculture diversions started causing significant water drops. Evaporation also caused a significant drop in the Aral Sea. A large project intended to refill the Aral Sea was also abandoned in 1986. By 2004, the Aral Sea was less than one-quarter its original size.

Ecological and economic impacts of the Aral Sea

The Aral Sea had been a major hub of fishing and commerce. The fishing economy has practically disappeared since the Aral Sea started dropping. Toxicity of the Aral Sea has also increased because of rising salt levels. Because of industrial, chemical, and agricultural pollution that ran into the Aral Sea, the dirt and dust now blows into toxic dust storms. The Aral Sea shrinking has also been blamed in the extreme temperature changes in the area.

Restoring the levels of the Aral Sea

Some groups have been working to restore the Aral Sea. Many countries as well as the World Bank and UNESCO have worked to restore the Aral Sea. Major projects have increased the sea depth by about 98 feet, though the likelihood that the Aral Sea will return to its former glory are minimal.

Sources:

AP News

Aral Sea Foundation

Every year, the environmental problems are getting worse. Global warming, pollution, and other concerns are now very evident. Many environmentalists are now taking an active part in the hope of saving the world before it’s too late. One way to effectively address such problems is by using solar power. With many households and establishments using generators to back up their power supply, which do you think is the best choice?

Power failure happens in the most unexpected hours and so having generators for home use can provide the needed power. The portable generators are widely used and you can even find large generators that provide emergency power. If you want to help in reducing pollution and other environmental problems, why don’t you opt for solar power instead?

The initial cost is a very important thing to consider but you will also need to look in the benefits that you can gain the future. Installing a viable solar power system can be a little bit expensive than just purchasing a portable generator. However, once you’ve installed the power system, you can already enjoy free unlimited power supply. Maintenance is minimal and you will not spend huge money on it. You don’t need to buy fuel just to run the system because the energy of the sun fuels the solar power system. In a portable generator, you will need to buy fuel to run it and so you will continue to spend money to enjoy power supply.

Generators can be purchased easily, online or locally, and so it’s quite convenient to obtain them. On the other hand, solar power is not that convenient to install and purchase as well. The market for solar power is rather small but because of the technological advancements, the market will soon grow. Today, the best way to obtain solar power kits is through the internet. Anyone can settle for a little bit of inconvenience especially if huge benefits are involved. Besides, after the installation of the solar power system, you don’t need to monitor it often unlike in generators where you will refill the fuel, change the oil and filter, and two times servicing in a year. The solar power system can last for twenty years even with minimal maintenance.

Both solar power and portable generators are efficient. However, when it comes to cost-efficiency, solar power is ahead. As long as the sun shines, energy can be generated. The system can also store energy so that it can be used at night or during rainy days. In a generator, you will need to re-fuel from time to time. You will need to pay for the fuel every time. Sunlight is free but fuel is not and so the cost efficient option is very obvious.

In terms of dependability, solar power and generators are almost the same. Solar power is best used in places where there is bright sunlight all throughout the year. If the period of bad weather is lengthy, all the stored power can be consumed. Generators can be used whether it’s sunny or rainy but the problem lies with the source of fuel. If you can’t refuel the generator, it will not work.

It’s your choice whether you will use solar power or portable generators for home use. It all depends on your capacity to pay for the device. You can evaluate further these two by reading this article carefully.

I just read a couple great articles (as usual) on Earth911.com and just continue to find more evidence regarding the vital importance for all companies to go green.  The first was Lori Brown’s article: Consumers Rank Greenest Brands in the US.  It talks about the 2010 ImagePower Green Brands Survey which analyzed the opinions and perceptions of over 9000 people in 8 countries.  Burt’s Bee’s, Whole Foods, and Tom’s of Maine were rated the greenest  in the USA by consumers.  The survey says more than 60% of consumers want to buy from environmentally responsible companies “expecting green companies to engage in a broad set of actions including toxic reduction, recycling and managing water”.

Another related article by Amanda Wills talks about how consumers want “Less Talk,  More Action” from companies because of false green claims and lack of action by governments and industries.   This article focuses on the Greendex 2010 survey and how it is not money, lack of choice or access to information that is keeping people from going green.   The study says the 2nd major obstacle is that people feel that individual efforts are not worth it if industries and governments are not doing their part.

This really makes sense for what is going on in the Gulf right now, companies and governments have to step up to the plate and clean this planet up through current and future behaviors.  But it’s too bad to hear that people are losing faith in their individual efforts, we must never underestimate our individual impacts.

Thanks to the great reporting by Amanda and Lori.

I’m very excited to welcome Mary Proteau, Judith Vogelsang and the team at GoingGreen Productions to our eco friendly community:

GOINGGREEN is a grassroots, family-friendly program which has been airing on PBS stations nationwide for the past 3 years and which delivers the basics of eco-living — how to make your own home more environmentally friendly, both inside and out.GOINGGREEN Productions’ emphasis is on simple steps each of us can take—starting right now, today—that can help create a quality of life that will benefit us, our families, and the environment.  With this in mind, we reach out to environmental organizations we feel will complement GOINGGREEN and help spread our mutual message to shared benefit.  Like you, we want to make a more conscious effort to promote environmental awareness — and expand our mutually beneficial messages.

Our half-hour television program, GoingGreen—Every Home an Eco-Home, was filmed at the original Eco-Home™, located in Los Angeles, and is narrated by the eco-savvy actor Tony Shalhoub, star of the award-winning “Monk.”  A group of bright middle-schoolers join Julia Russell, founder of the award-winning, nonprofit Eco-Home™ Network, as they discover the fascinating ideas, systems, and fun activities this earth-wise home has to offer, including composting, organic gardening, recycling, and earth-friendly landscaping.

www.goinggreenproductions.com

Check out this video, The Story of Bottled Water, about our pathological addiction to bottled water from The Story of Stuff Project.  This wonderful video tells the story of the beginnings of the bottled water industry.  It points out that bottled water, on average, costs two thousand times more than tap water and is dominated by the traditional soft drink companies like Pepsi and Coke. I loved the story of how Cleveland took offense to FIJI bottled water’s ad campaign and tested the quality of its city tap water vs FIJI’s.  The surprising results actually showed that lab tests consistently showed Cleveland’s tap water to be higher quality and also was preferred in taste tests.   OK, I’ve already gone on for too long, the video speaks for itself and there are many more where that came from. What a great site: StoryofStuff.org

Care about our world’s oceans, plants and animals?  Of course you do, and you’re not alone. Concerned people everywhere agree we have an environmental disaster of historic proportions on our hands in the Gulf of Mexico. You may have heard that the oil spill appears to be larger than previously thought.  Purdue University engineering professor Steve Wereley, after analyzing BP’s congressionally mandated live video feed of the spill, estimates that up to 100,000 barrels of oil are leaking from the bottom of the ocean every day.  This news adds to a laundry list of bad news on the worldwide environmental and economic front in recent years and it can be overwhelming and flat out depressing to think about.

But what can we do to help?  Most of us have jobs and families we must attend to. It’s not like we can just drop everything and head down the gulf to help with cleanup.  Furthermore, many of us wouldn’t have the slightest idea of how to help with an oil spill clean up or have the resources to make a significant difference.   So how can we be a part of the solution?

We have to stop thinking so big, and begin small.  It is little decisions like riding our bike to work and recycling our aluminum cans that is what we must do to help.   For far too long our culture has treated issues such as recycling as “optional” and with complete ignorance.  We have an extremely short memory as a society.  As an example, check out Anne Casselman’s article about the Top 10 Biggest Oil Spills in History at PopularMechanics.com. The shocker is that the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 doesn’t even make the list.  Oil spills keep happening throughout the world repeatedly and we all act like this is a once in a decade thing or something.

The truth is that oil will continue to be drilled as long as there is demand for it.  Our culture’s attitude about clean energy and the green movement needs an immediate shift.  But like I said, we must start small and simple!  For example, another huge environmental issue is the amount of plastic that is being used in this world, and this plastic is ending up in our oceans just like the oil.   You’ll be shocked if this is your first time hearing about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and as Oprah Winfrey reported last year “ is estimated to be twice the size of Texas”.   Although this giant garbage dump is composed of all kinds of floating trash and debris, plastic is the biggest problem because it never really decays completely.  So not only do we have oil spills in to our oceans, we also have plastic and trash spills.  According to the Container Recycling Institute, 51.9 billion beverage containers have been consumed so far this year, as of late May.  Reusable water bottles are a perfect example of the kind of simple changes we can make in our individual habits and lifestyles. Imagine the difference that can be made if the average person chooses to use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic bottles.  In the same way, we can prevent environmental catastrophes by not driving gas guzzling inefficient cars and walking or using public transportation instead.

We all care deeply about the health of our planet, and now we need to turn our disgust for the disaster in the Gulf into simple action and minor adjustments in our lifestyle.  Don’t let the latest news get you down, develop a vision for a healthy planet and do the right thing: Go Green.

I’d like to introduce California Organic Flowers to our eco friendly community.   Here is an excerpt from their front page at https://californiaorganicflowers.com/:

We are flower growers and we are passionate about our products. Browse our site and you will find a rainbow of fresh flowers from our own flower farm in Chico, California. Many of the varieties will be new to you because we don’t believe in limiting your floral joy to just roses and carnations. And just like the seasons, our organic flower selections change regularly, so visit our website often to see what is in bloom!

Each morning we rise early to pick your flowers, ensuring that they are fresh, vibrant, fragrant and grown and harvested with the greatest care. We carefully pack our  Certified Organic Flowers into our beautiful gift box and deliver next day anywhere in the continental U.S.A. We also offer, organic gifts and organic chocolate. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Choose California Organic Flowers as your fresh flower delivery expert today!

I’d like to introduce www.BitsyBirdie.com to our eco friendly community:

Bitsy Birdie focuses on bringing you the best eco-conscious toys, books, and apparel. Bitsy Birdie was founded to provide an alternative to big chain toy stores. We provide innovative, fun, well-made toys emphasizing safety and quality. Toy and apparel makers’ dedication to children and the environment are important to us. Our mission is to provide safe, high quality, eco-conscious toys along with relevant information to help customers make informed purchases.

I’d like to introduce American Natural Products to our eco friendly community.  Here’s an excerpt from their “About us” page.

Since 1983 American Natural Products has been a pioneer in the development, manufacture and marketing of biorational pest management and plant growth promoting products used in agricultural and horticultural crop production.  Our product line has been proven effective through many years of University trials and customer experiences. These products have been used across the United States and in many countries, by homeowners, lawn-care companies, turfgrass managers, landscapers, greenhouses and nurseries, vegetable growers and grain farmers.  Our continuing commitment to produce only ecologically safe and effective technologies makes American Natural Products an unparalleled resource in today’s rapidly changing agronomic world.

Through the success of our products in extensive commerical applications, we have been inspired to continue expanding our offering of safe environmentally friendly solutions to the  homeowner and small business owner.

Those interested in large commercial applications may wish to visit our other website: http://www.soiltechcorp.com.

I’d like to introduce ahhNatural.com to our eco friendly community.  Here are some excerpts from their site:

As people become more aware of the health hazards associated with harsh chemicals, and the environmental hazards associated with releasing chemically treated spa water into the environment, they have begun to seek out “green” alternatives.

ahhNatural was developed as a people safe, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional toxic chemical sanitizers.  ahhNatural is an easy-to-use natural hot tub maintenance product based on the same advanced technology commonly used in the water purification industry. ahhNatural has been perfected in over ten years of research and development.