(Don’t) play with energy
There’s a new Internet videogame. Two humans fight against half-pig half-human creatures that hide themselves in a house and drink energy. No violence: the goal of this game is teaching the new generations how to save energy. It’s a project made by the US Department of Energy together with the Alliance to Save Energy and, even if it has been created for young students, it’s useful also for teachers, parents and adults in general, so used to waste energy…
On Energy Hog website you’ll find all the information you need about energy: what’s good, what’s bad, how to optimize your house energetical usage, and of course, the game. If I can give my suggestion… just play! But, before, turn off all the lights you don’t need…
Filed Under Environment
Jobless, homeless, but with a blog
Michael Brown, 43, living in Greensboro, North Carolina, is newly homeless. Having studied graphic design and worked in his field for 13 years, he was suddenly and inexplicably fired. Slowly, the bills began to pile up and come February 9th, Brown, his wife, their 17-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter were evicted from their home.
Staying in hotels and with family in Durham, the Browns are struggling to find their footing while all of their worldly possessions sit in a Greensboro storage facility.
“We tried to plan, but it’s hard when you have no experience doing it,” Brown said.
Brown turned to the library for information about government agencies and non-profit groups but found little to read and even less help. And so, using the library’s internet access, Brown started a blog where he posted about how he became homeless, how his family was dealing with it, and their general struggle to survive.
“It’s kind of a form of a therapy,” Brown told the Greensboro News-Record.com.
Filed Under Media & Society
Kyrgyzstan, a film against the virus
Overcoming stereotypes in closed societies is always a difficult task, specially when it comes to issues such as HIV/AIDS. But in Kyrgyzstan, the film “Love as a Trial” is helping overcome the preconceived ideas related to HIV/AIDS. With a strong storyline, “Love as a Trail” is gaining popularity in the urban areas of the former Soviet Republic. Official estimates claim the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Kyrgyzstan is 830, however unofficial sources claim the number could be increased by a tenfold.
In order to prevent a raise in the number of infected, films like this one serve not only to change the relation between society and the infected, but also to inform and educate the population. The main character gets infected because of his drug consumption, as most people get infected in Kyrgyzstan. With dialogues like: “Why are you doing such things? He is alive, he is not dead,” this movie helps to create an honest understanding about society and its relationship to HIV/AIDS. The film was funded by several international organizations.
Filed Under World Health
Getting energy from pet poo
A new and innovative move to recycle animal wastes. The idea comes from the eco-conscious Bay Area (Usa) and it is supported by some stunning numbers: American dogs and cats produce 10 million tons of poops every year. On the other hand, methane digesters contain bacteria that will chew on animals poo and other biodegradable household wastes for two weeks to create methane. This energy can then be channeled to households with gas stoves, heaters, turbines or anything else powered by natural gas.
However, the economic viability of this move is still in question as organic waste disposal as well as natural gas and electricity remain fairly inexpensive. Also, I’m sceptical at the number of people that will go to lengths to recycle their animals’ poo without inconveniencing themselves. Well, only time will tell.
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Filed Under Environment
Greenland: now killing only 150 bears each year
Last week the government of Greenland passed the first quota for hunting and killing polar bears.
Previously, local Inuit hunters have killed about 250 bears annually in Greenland, but recently the Fishing and Hunting Directory stated that only Greenlanders with valid hunting permits can obtain permission to shoot a bear. And the limit for 2006 is 150 bears.
This quota was introduced to combat the shrinking population of the polar bears due partly as a reslut of melting icecaps and general warming which is destroying the bears’ natural habitat.
There are approximately 7,500 bears in Greenland. And this year fewer bears will be killed. But the population will still be 150 bears less come 2007, when the quota will be adjusted as it will each year.
Read more here.
Filed Under Environment
Guatemala, violence against transgender people
A series of deadly attacks against the Gay and Transgender community of Guatemala has been reported by Human Rights Watch. The NGO is concerned with the possible involvement of the local police in these attacks, as some witnesses claim the assaults have been executed by men in police uniform. HRW has records of the murder of at least 13 members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Guatemalan community in 2005. Examples of this targeted violence are: the case of Héctor Osmín García who was shot to death by a security guard on October 7 while distributing flyers for a beauty salon; or Luis Sicán who was shot to death on November 6 in Guatemala City’s Zone One. HRW sent a letter to the Guatemalan president to create international pressure, in order to solve these murders and to protect the LGBT community.
Filed Under Human Rights
Eating garbage may be good
“Freegans” as they are known, scrounge the garbage bins for food. Neither homeless nor unemployed, the freegans have an agenda to reduce food wastage in the world. Reportedly 4 million tons of the foods buried in the British landfill sites. While it is a rather novel way to address the wastage, whether it is effective is questionable. It is difficult to forget the notion that trash is full of bacteria and not suitable for consumption. Rather than relying on this new lifestyle of ‘Freeganism”- a combination of the words “free” and “vegan” - perhaps more effort can be put into delivering the excess foods to nursing homes and orphanages before it is disposed as trash.
Read more.
If you would like more information about the freegan lifestyle and philosophy, check Freegan.info, where the idea of waste reclaimation and minimization is further explained. See also Food not Bombs activities.
Filed Under Environment