Black times for the blue planet E-Book

Luise Hakasi

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

At present the biggest part of our blue planet is still blue; just wondering how much longer. The scientists around the world are concerned about environmental pollution, the greenhouse effect, natural catastrophes and the eradication of mankind. It is in our hands to pull the emergency brake and to take care of our home planet Earth. This book deals with important topics such as recycling, energy saving, alternative energies, garbage, environmental toxins, biodiversity, general welfare, etc. and awakens awareness.

Leseprobe

Luise Hakasi

Black times for the blue planet

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG80331 Munich

Foreword: Black times for the blue planet

At present the biggest part of our blue planet is still blue; just wondering how much longer. The scientists around the world are concerned about environmental pollution, the greenhouse effect, natural catastrophes and the eradication of mankind. It is in our hands to pull the emergency brake and to take care of our home planet Earth.

This book deals with important topics such as recycling, energy saving, alternative energies, garbage, environmental toxins, biodiversity, general welfare, etc. and awakens awareness.

Blue and beautiful: our home planet Earth

Our home planet Earth looks blue and incredibly beautiful from afar distance. Just take a look at satellite photos; you hardly get out of the astonishment.

So here we live; and here you will probably remain for the rest of your lives, you and your children ... unless the scientists discover "another" habitable planet nearby; But these are, of course, future dreams, Science Fiction, as one says. For a long time, scientists have been using telescopes, rockets, spaceships and space satellites, which are becoming more and more perfect. But so far we do not even know our own solar system exactly. We look for a planet like ours: with oxygen, with water and with life.

For our earth remains as long as possible like this, so that we can live on it, we have to take care of it like your parents care about you, the house, the dog, etc.

The members of the international organizations are concerned about our environment and about nature. In the meantime, there are countless organizations, meetings and declarations. Researchers fear an earth with many deserts, useless water, deforested forests, and without living conditions; neither for us, nor for you nor for plants and animals.

This means for all of us in the clear text that we have to protect our currently unique habitat. We must use the reserves of our planet intelligently, because they are limited. We must fight for a clean air without exhaust fumes and for clean drinking water.

Our planet is very generous with us: It gives us water, clay, iron, copper, aluminum, coal, oil and, especially important: water and food. Actually, it should be clear that we should neither pollute nor destroy this source of food. Our planet has taken millions of years to become what it is today; we must therefore not destroy its equilibrium. We must try to live in harmony with the planet and all living creatures, including plants. We must learn to understand nature and learn with it. Therefore we need scientists, politicians, teachers and you. Everyone can learn something from others. Now you might think: This is not my business. But it is. Here everyone must help. So that our most precious heritage, our home planet Earth, remains as it is today: blue and beautiful!

Scientists confirm: alarming melting of the poles

Summer in the northern hemisphere, the season of the year, that becomes in global warming even more visible. Scientists worldwide were meeting to discuss the release of a huge iceberg from the Greenland glacier.

Polar caps are melting

The scientific consensus began with the most disturbing news that the polar ice caps of the Arctic melt at a rate that has not yet been seen in the history of mankind. It has been a matter of time until the entire region has melted, according to the leading researchers.

Polar Explorer Pen Hadow, who headed the Catlin Arctic Survey Project, analyzed the behavior of the Arctic ice for three months and is convinced that there is only a decade left until the current North Pole becomes a large open ocean. Even more discouraging, however, is the forecast by NASA scientists who claim that the ice caps could melt completely in the summer of this year...

A scenario that seemed unlikely a few years ago will become more real from time to time, with a sustained impact on human development.

Alarming, says Martin Sommerkorn from the WWF, because the Arctic Ocean has a central function in the climate system of the earth. Each region directly affects other regions; the whole planet is connected. He adds: This process can lead to floods, with a negative impact on a quarter of the world's population, as well as to significant emissions increases of greenhouse gases (which are usually included in the ice) and can lead to extreme changes in weather conditions.

Gigantic iceberg comes off from Greenland

In 2010, an iceberg of 250 square kilometers detached itself from the North Pole; Larger than Manhattan Island in NY. Also currently a huge iceberg is breaking off.  

A significant event, but not a collapse, claims NASA researcher Erich Rignot. However, other experts see this completely differently, e.g. Andreas Muenchow from the university in Delaware: Since 150 years, all the information is collected in a database; but we have never seen anything like this before.

And greenhouse effect and increase of the oceans

One of the main concerns of the environmentalists is the methane gas released during defrosting the ice caps, about 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide. The scientists concluded that the glaciers serve as a super-gas tank; they disappear, accelerates the process of global warming. The release of methane may even be so big that it mixes with water, forms bubbles on the surface, and is immediately released to the atmosphere. Study results show a temperature rise of four degrees in recent years, caused by the greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide and methane prevent the heat generated by sunlight from leaving the earth's atmosphere).

Solution not in sight

Furthermore, the irreversible melting of the Arctic glaciers would allow the oceans to rise faster than expected.

Solution: Not yet in sight.

Maximum CO2 emissions measured so far

Burning fossil fuels as well as human activities such as motorists release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These emissions lead to the known greenhouse effect, which causes climate change. As the concentration is increasing, scientists have been performing appropriate measurements on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii / USA for about 50 years. This is the oldest measuring station in the world and probably one of the most important references.

CO2 emissions tripled in the 10 years!

In the past ten years, the values have tripled! For scientists, such a rise is not a big surprise due to the increasing CO2 emissions caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. During 800,000 ice ages the values were constant by 180 ppm ("parts per million"). When the global CO2 average was still at 280ppm in the 19th century, the industrial revolution reached 400ppm in May 2013 for the very first time.

Temperature rise, ice melt, sea level rise and radical planet changes

An average global temperature rise of three to four degrees, even ten degrees, was recorded at the poles. According to the scientists and experts, ice melting and sea level rise are pre-programmed. The extreme speed of the CO2 concentration increase is shocking. If the emissions remain at the current level, our descendants would have to live on a radically altered planet.

Concrete information, measured values, graphics and photos on several internet-places with permanent updates.

The blue planet is supposed to remain green: everyone has to cooperate

In the preservation of our planet all must help and contribute their part. Together we can make it!

Our planet is sick and crying for help. Let's take a look at his future. Waiting to better, waiting for government action or do we begin to act ourselves? Let us look at the natural cycle, the effects of human actions on the plates, the predictions of the experts, and we voluntarily begin to recycle and make a small contribution to our green planet remaining green.

Once upon a time there was a blue planet called Earth. It was full of wonderful things and paradises like the Alps in Switzerland, Kenya in Africa, the Yosemite National Park in the United States, Patagonia in Argentina and the Fujiyama in Japan. There were numerous animal species, such as whales, insects and more, jacaranda trees in Pretoria / South Africa and waterfalls as well as plants, paradise fruits and much more. But as time passed, and people destroyed, the poor planet warmed. This planet still exists. But does he have a future? What future could that be?

The prediction of the scientists is not particularly colored, actually it is extremely dark, more precisely almost black. It is a nightmare.

Meanwhile, it is proven that human activities warm the planet, and the consequences can be dramatic for the next generations. Let's take a closer look at this.

You've heard of the greenhouse effect, haven`t you? This natural phenomenon allows the existence of a life on the planet Earth. The whole thing works like this:

The sun radiates its powerful energy in the form of energy into the space. 30% of this radiation energy is used. Air, the earth and the water absorb about 70%. The heated surface (earth) then emits infrared radiation (heat). A small portion of this thermal radiation enters space, but most of it is removed in the atmosphere, the protective layer of the earth, absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and other gases of the greenhouse effect. Contamination, i.e. pollution, prevents this process!

Changes in this gas mixture also change the way the planet exploits the energy of the sun: the nights in the desert are cold because the greenhouse effect is too weak to keep the accumulated heat without humidity during the day. Remember: In 1991, tons of gases and Philippine volcanic ash reduced the ozone layer and cooled the entire planet about 0.5 degrees.

If the heat were not held by the greenhouse effect, our planet would be frozen at an average temperature of 18 ° below zero. At the moment, the normal temperature is 14.5 degrees.

The gases produced by human activities are methane CH4, nitrous oxide N2O, ozone O3, chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) and carbon dioxide, the CO2 which is produced during millions of years by breathing plants and animals. It has always been the balancing factor in the maintenance of the temperature of the earth.

Especially the CFCs destroy the ozone belt, which protects us from ultraviolet radiation, the main cause of skin cancer. The fact is, there is already a huge, irreparable damage to the ozone shield and there is no sign that this process will stop. This means for us and for every life on life: In a maximum of 10 years we are roasted like fried chicken.

If there is an increase in the concentration of the greenhouse gases effect, such as the carbon dioxide released by industry, vehicles, deforestation and agriculture, the natural greenhouse effect is blocked. This effect is potentiated and immediately dangerous and causes global warming.

Since 1750 the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has climbed to 35%. The temperature increase has been almost 3 degrees over the past 30 years (from 1.0 to 3.5 ° C between 1970 and 2004). If this tendency continues, the scientific predictions of the future will be six different versions by the year 2100, but at least an increase in the temperature of at least 1.1 ° to 6.4 ° in the worst case. See above: we are fried.

But already today we can see very real results: tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions all over the planet. A consequence of this climate change (global warming) will be the ascent of the oceans, between at least 18 and 38 cm, perhaps to 59 cm when the temperature increases 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius. But it can be more; the experts are not yet totally in agreement.

What will happen exactly?

Polynesia (Bora Bora) one of the most paradisiacal islands of the planet, Los Angeles, New York, London, Rio de Janeiro, all this will disappear. First under water will be the island of Tuvalu in the Pacific.

The scientists predict a more horrendous scenario and announce catastrophes: the glaciers will melt and the polar caps will disappear, the Arctic shrinks 2.7% per year, and the oceans will eventually rise by 7m or more.

In all continents the following will happen: lack of drinking water, reduced crops, fewer fish and farming, thirst and hunger, floods, droughts and hurricanes, pests and diseases. 500 million people without space to live, or perhaps up to 1 billion, who knows. Poverty, violence ... Africa and Asia will be the most affected. By 2020, only half of the crops. Up to 250 million people without water. There can also be up to 2 billion who have no place to live...

Are you absolutely sure you need to wash your car today? How much food did you throw away this week? Do you still use aerosol cans? Have you already started separating your household waste? Do you use the collection/recycling containers in the city? Do you allow water to run during brushing teeth? At last, start thinking!

Our climate is changing. Global warming causes the extinction of thousands of species. 1/3 will be extinct by 2050. Again, we all have our share.

Biodiversity is the diversity of 14 million species on Earth, and our environment, our habitat is a part of it. It is responsible for the evolution and maintenance of life all over the planet, the deserts, the frozen steppes and prairies, the bottom of the sea, the high mountains, the forests or the source of sulphurous water. It implies the equilibrium and stability of ecosystems and their use for humanity. But it is reduced by our destruction. There is an urgent need to protect them. Otherwise we destroy our own habitat.

Brazil is the richest country in biodiversity on the planet. It has 7% of the terrestrial surface; 42% of Brazil is forest. 12% of all species of the world are found in this territory. 22% of all plants, 34% of the known species, 65 - 75% of the planet's biodiversity! We will lose 30% of this wealth (animals and plants, such as Acerola, Açai, Cocoa and more). The experts highlight 5 hotspots on the planet. The two largest are in Brazil: the tropical rain forest and the savannah, which however will lose 75% of the original landscape.

Since 1970, 17% have already been lost through the monoculture of sugar cane and coffee, soybean chips for McDonald and steak meat, as well as for tropical timber.

Between 2000 and 2005, Brazil was responsible for 42% of the planet's deforestation! Where is the responsibility for our planet? Brazil's share of global warming is therefore 6 times higher than the world average. Although the country has now reduced the impact, there is still no clear protection of the rainforest by political action.

Deforestation destroys the earth, kills the plants and the animals, changes the rainfall and indirectly affects the climate, because the genetics of the plants is influenced.

I have already mentioned it: thirst, hunger, disasters, the list continues. The worst is that there is no sign that this devastation ceases, on the contrary: it will increase. It is just before 12: We urgently need to find a way to produce wealth without destroying our livelihood.

Profit and responsibility

A reconciliation of economic development with respect for the environment is necessary. Sustainable development is the key word for governments, companies and citizens. Keeping the current rhythm of planetary expansion, there will be no water, no energy and not enough resources to preserve life in the future.

The future is in our hands! And the time is short ... so what are we waiting for?

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol is an international consensus of 55 countries that aims to reduce greenhouse gases. Up to 75%, but at least 30%. Countries in the development process, such as, for example, China, cannot be burdened.

The most industrialized 8 countries (G8) see the need to cut the emissions by half and stop using fossil fuels by 2030.

Europe, U.S., Canada and Japan provide 1/5 of the global population and consume 70% of the energy, 75% of the metals and 85% of the wood in the world.

A word about CO2 certificates: The aim is to reduce emissions. A CO2 certificate is like a license that allows the holder to release a ton of carbon dioxide. These certificates are awarded to countries or groups that have reduced greenhouse gases below their emission quotas. Such carbon credits can be sold at their current market price on the international market. If, for example, a (rich) country is not capable of exchanging petroleum, it cannot meet the objectives, but it can finance the use of clean technologies or the use of renewable energies in other parts of the planet. This counts points to achieve a reduction goal. In weaker countries, this can go hand in hand with a brutal fall in industrial production, but the so-called carbon credits can be acquired in this way. There are voluntary funds from the rich countries that finance the protection of the planet's forests, such as in the Amazon. You can buy CO2 certificates online, for about 50 Euros. Climate protection subscription are also available for around 25 Euros.

Perhaps you would like to participate in afforestation in Panama. You can sponsor Biogas plants in India or invest in forest preservation and environment protection. At this point, we may also ask ourselves whether it is right to destroy enormous amounts of fruit, bread and other food in Europe in order to keep the prices up and below the equator people are still starving. Nevertheless there are still good souls, who donate to the Welthungerhilfe (World Hunger Help/Agro Action).

The largest pollutant suppliers currently are China / India (coal), USA and Brazil (deforestation), third place for Canada and Europe.

There are some pioneering projects, such as Natura cosmetics in Brazil (offering refills and recycling of indigenous plants and organic alcohol) or Goóc, with more than 1.3 million recycled car tires for the production of beach shoes. The American cosmetics giant Avon offers green certificates for 1 USD.

Greenpeace, famous for its courageous actions, launched a credit card that is biodegradable within 3 months and completely disintegrates. Unlike the commonly used normal PVC, which is not recyclable and releases dioxin during combustion. Ferrari almost produces its entire electricity from the factory with photovoltaic panels, thus reducing CO2 emissions between 25% and 30%. Solar energy is also used for the factories of Opel, Nissan and Seat in Spain. The American factory of Spartenburg, BMW, conducted an investigation into the use of wind energy exclusively. Today 63% of the factory's energy comes from recycled methane from the sewage system, which has saved more than $ 1 million a year since 2003. At Landover, the wind energy is used in the annual production of 100,000 engines and reduces 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions. At FIAT, 93% of the chemical residues are recycled. 92% of the used water is used again. Ford has a natural treatment of sanitary sewage, control solid residues and emissions, and operates reforestation. Honda has a water treatment station and plans to use the treated water for the future. Peugeot and Citroen use 85% of the produced residues. The companies own sewage treatment. Renault and Nissan use rainwater and produce bricks with the sludge of sewage treatment. You can see that quite a lot is done, but there is still a lot of work for us.

This must be done:

Preserving the ecosystem (environment) by reducing the effects of our actions to maintain the basic condition for a good quality of life.

Energy: Exchanging fossil fuels against renewable energies such as solar energy and wind energy, bio-fuels, biodiesel and other alternatives.

Transport: hybrid vehicles, public transport or bus and bicycle.

Constructions: use solar energy (e.g. lighting and heating), recycling of water and materials

Agriculture: less N20 emission of N2o (fertilization)

Industry: CO2 control, recycling, sewerage and waste water treatment

Forests: reduction of deforestation, reforestation,

Waste: Composting of all organic waste, recycling,

Reasonable use of water and energy, without waste,

Natural (organic) foods

The use of legally certified timber without deforestation

Control of air and water contamination.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) motivates the individual action and shows that every single person can help to reduce the emissions of harmful gases by simply modifying some actions of our lifestyle. The cost of these changes would be 0.6 to 3%, which would increase the temperature by 1 degree less. Sure you agree: It would be worth it.

How long does it take for the materials to be degraded?

Paper 3 to 6 months

Tissue 6 months to 1 year

Cigarette filter 5 years