Foto do Dia: Organização de Cabos

Observando

Dia Mundial da Arquitectura- Edifícios gastam 40 por cento de toda a energia na União Europeia

Randall Bowie integrou a Comissão Europeia na altura em que a eficiência energética entrou na agenda política. Na Direcção-Geral de Energia e Transportes da CE, foi um dos responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento dos dois primeiros planos europeus de acção de eficiência energética, em 2000 e 2006, e esteve envolvido no nascimento da directiva da eficiência energética dos edifícios e dos serviços de energia. Diz que teve sorte em participar nesse processo que permitiu à eficiência energética passar à maioridade dos temas políticos. Mesmo que continue a ser o mais difícil de gerir, a eficiência energética é hoje um dos três pilares do programa de energia e alterações climáticas da União Europeia, o plano 20-20-20. A UE quer melhorar a sua eficiência energética em 20 por cento até 2020. Bowie é hoje consultor sénior do grupo dinamarquês Rockwool International, um dos grandes mundiais da indústria de isolamento e da eficiência energética, e com actividade em Portugal.

Fonte: Público
 

You are tired, (I think) of the always puzzle of living and doing; and so am I.

You are tired,
(I think)
Of the always puzzle of living and doing;
And so am I.

Come with me, then,
And we'll leave it far and far away—
(Only you and I, understand!)

You have played,
(I think)
And broke the toys you were fondest of,
And are a little tired now;
Tired of things that break, and—
Just tired.
So am I.

But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,
And knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—
Open to me!
For I will show you the places Nobody knows,
And, if you like,
The perfect places of Sleep.

Ah, come with me!
I'll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,
That floats forever and a day;
I'll sing you the jacinth song
Of the probable stars;
I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,
Until I find the Only Flower,
Which shall keep (I think) your little heart
While the moon comes out of the sea.

e.e. cummings

Todos os efeitos dos derrames de petróleo

Sensitivity of coastal environments | Effects | Recovery Oiled coast in Galicia. Also below, centre. Photo: © Pablo, La Marea Negra. Cleanup of heavily oiled beach, Wales. Photo: © University of Wales Swansea. Impacted marsh at low tide in Arcata Bay, U.S. Photo: © NOAA. Trunks of mangrove trees blackened by oil. Photo: © NOAA. Heavily oiled section of beach, Herring Bay, Prince William Sound. Photo: © NOAA. SENSITIVITY OF COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS TO OIL The U.S. Coastguard have listed shoreline types, from the least (low figures) to the most sensitive ones to oil pollution: Exposed rocky cliffs and seawalls Wave cut rocky platforms Fine to medium-grained sand beaches Coarse-grained sand beaches Mixed sand and gravel beaches Gravel beaches/Riprap Exposed tidal flats Sheltered rocky shores/man-made structures Sheltered tidal flats Marshes It should be noted that other shore types and shallow underwater habitats are also very sensitive to oil pollution, including: Mangroves (And according to ITOPF: "Leaving residual oil to weather and degrade naturally is usually recommended for sensitive shoreline types such as salt marshes and mangroves, because they have been shown to be more easily damaged by the physical disturbance caused by clean-up teams and vehicles than by the oil itself. If any cleaning is attempted, it should be carried out with specialist guidance and advice.") Coral reefs See also NOAA. EFFECTS Spilled oil and certain cleanup operations can threaten different types of marine habitats in different ways. Coral reefs are important nurseries for shrimp, fish, and other animals as well as recreational attractions for divers. Coral reefs and the marine organisms that live within and around the reefs are at risk from exposure to the toxic substances within oil as well as smothering. Exposed sandy, gravel or cobbled beaches are usually cleaned by manual techniques. Although oil can soak into sand and gravel, few organisms live full-time in this habitat, so the risk to animal life or the food chain is less than in other habitats, such as tidal flats. Sheltered beaches have very little wave action to encourage natural dispersion. If timely cleanup efforts are not begun, oil may remain stranded on these beaches for years. Tidal flats are broad, low-tide zones, usually containing rich plant, animal, and bird communities. Deposited oil may seep into the muddy bottoms of these flats, creating potentially harmful effects on the ecology of the area. Salt marshes are found in sheltered waters in cold and temperate areas. They host a variety of plant, bird,and mammal life. marsh vegetation, especially root systems, is easily damaged by fresh light oils. Mangrove forests are located in tropical regions and are home to a diversity of plant and animal life. Mangrove trees have long roots, called prop roots, that stick out well above the water level and help to hold the mangrove tree in place. A coating of oil on these prop roots can be fatal to the mangrove tree, and because they grow so slowly, replacing a mangrove tree can take decades. Sea-bottoms. Oil contamination of the seabed may cause serious long- and short term effects on bottom-dwelling organisms (animals, algae and microorganisms). Filtering organisms such as oysters and mussels and clams which filters large volumes of water to get their food are especially likely to accumulate oil or oil components. In addition, if tar-like clumps of oil sink to the bottom, they may destroy living conditions for bottom-living organisms, as well as nursing grounds for fish and shellfish. At low temperatures, oil tends to persist for long periods because of the low rates of evaporation. The frozen ground prevents it from seeping in, and this has the effect of making it travel for long distances. Disturbance of the thin layer of vegetation covering a frozen soil can precipitate catastrophic meeting of the underlying ice and result in extensive thermokarst erosion. Tundra environments are particularly susceptible to disturbance, and effects remain visible for many years. Many of the Arctic plants are very susceptible to pollutants, especially lichens which are the main food of reindeer. RECOVERY The negative effects of on oil spill may eventually fade away, but in many cases it will be matter of several years, even decades, before an area or ecosystem has fully recovered from a spill that caused extensive damages. Every situation is unique and depending on the particular conditions and circumstances in that area, and on the characteristics of the spill. Some areas might recover in a matter of weeks, others will need up to 20 years. The recovery of the affected habitats and species following an oil spill will to a large extent depend on the type of ecosystem , the vulnerability of the species and not least the climate of the region where the oil spill occurs. Generally, recovery will proceed faster in warmer climates and on rocky shores compared to cold climates and, for example, marshes. The long-term effects on deeper bottoms (i.e., if oil sinks and is absorbed in bottom sediments) is also a matter of concern. The best documented evidence concerning the recovery of ecosystems affected by massive oil pollution are from the Persian Gulf and resulting from the discharges associated with the Gulf War in 1991. Studies (GESAMP) suggest that the chronic and acute releases that took place were rather rapidly accommodated by the system. Already at the end of 1992, researchers reported that many of the worst hit beaches in Saudi Arabia were almost clean of oil. It is believed that this may have been the result of the warm water of the Gulf and the fact that its bacterial populations were able to degrade and weather the oil much more quickly than previously believed to be possible. The experience gained from the Exxon Valdez spill has been documented, and could serve as one example of what happens in the aftermath of a major spill in a sensitive area. See, for example, the web site of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, and NOAA Office of Response and Restoration ("NOAA biologists have been monitoring the long-term effects of the spill and cleanup efforts. Here are some of their reports, along with links to more information elsewhere"). The economic recovery of an area will depend on the possibilities to regain the confidence of the consumers for marine products from the region and convince the tourists that the area is once more clean and as attractive as ever before. Intense marketing campaigns (possibly financed by some of the money paid as compensation) might be important in such endeavours. The information above has been compiled from several sources, including the following: U.S. Coastguard.: Oil Spill Prevention, Planning, and Response Measures. Information on mechanical containment and recovery, dispersants, in situ burning, shoreline cleanup, and oil spill prevention. U.S. NOAA: Introduction to coastal habitats and biological resources for spill response (Chapter 3: Sensitivity of Coastal Environments to Oil). NOAA Office of Response and Restoration. U.S. EPA: Understanding oil spills and oil spill responses (Chapter 4: Shoreline cleanup of oil spills.) • Effects of Oil Spills • Impact on habitats. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Oil Program: Oil Learning center. IPIECA: Publications on oil spills: Guidelines on Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution. • Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution: Coral Reefs • Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution: Mangroves • Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution: Saltmarshes • Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution: Rocky Shores • Biological Impacts of Oil Pollution: Sedimentary Shores. International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) IPIECA Publications on biodiversity: The Oil Industry: Operating In Sensitive Environments ("a set of case studies illustrating the petroleum industry's experience of operating responsibly in a diverse range of sensitive environments"). See also a number of case studies online (further down on the same web page). ITOPF: Effects of marine oil spills. International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF).

Musica e humor: Soviet Breakdance: "It's Like That" (dos Run Dmc)

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Eficiência Germânica

Apreciem este poster, aparentemente criado pelo departamento de transportes da cidade de Munique, mostrando quanto espaço da rua é ocupado para a mesma quantidade de pessoas a deslocarem-se por carro, autocarro e bicicleta. [via How We Drive]

CARTA DA TERRA - por Michele Sato

Mensagem recebida por e-correio

Oi pessoal
com gratidão à Imara Quadros, Vladimir Gerasimov e Raphael Veronese, fiz um utube da carta da terra. espero que gostem!
beijocas,

Michele Sato 

Minha resposta
A Carta da Terra foi aprovada pelo nosso Parlamento [Portugal] .É um bom e grande passo, Mi, mas o ser humano insiste em não respeitar a Carta da Terra. Parabéns pela mensagem. Está completa e muito bela. Beijão. 

Porque hoje é segunda-feira..grrr....

Uma animação muito criativa!

Eole-Water: dê-nos o vento e nós damos-lhe água

Récupérer l'eau de la rosée : l'idée est ancienne. Marc Parent l'a rajeunie en la couplant à l'énergie du vent. Ce petit patron des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence a créé une éolienne qui produit de l'eau potable à partir de l'humidité de l'air. Si elle est industrialisée, l'invention pourrait être d'une grande utilité dans les zones isolées. Une innovation en quête d'acquéreur. Reportage à Sainte-Tulle, dans l'entreprise de Marc Parent et de ses associés.






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