Palm | Kelapa Sawit

Canadian scientists have recently found that compost in their potato fields has helped to prevent soil erosion and improve water retention. The findings come just as Canada celebrates "Soil Conservation Week."

With the addition of the compost to the potato fields in Canada, crops have yielded higher returns, soil quality has improved, and water drainage has also improved. These findings are significant because they may lead to a reduction in soil erosion throughout crops all over the world. However, according to Canadian scientist Linnel Edwards, "People would have to be willing to change and think with a greener mentality."

In a society where consumerism is largely the end all, do you think people will adopt this new way of thinking green? Or do you feel that only a few select regions in the country or world will feel that way?

Here is the link to the Canadian Article:
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=62272

To make a vehicle work some sort of energy must be used. Gasoline and diesel are the normal sources but other products are coming to the forefront of alternative fuels. As the cost of conventional fuel rises consumers are demanding cheaper and more environmentally friendly ways to run their vehicles.
In the article, “Grease Guzzlers”, by Zachary Gonzalez-Landis we learn about this alternative fuel. Diesel engines are being converted to run on vegetable oil. “Vegetable oils are biofuels, renewable raw materials from which one can extract the same kind of energy as found in fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal”. The process of converting a diesel engine is actually often less than buying a new car. Besides the cost effectiveness of SVO or straight vegetable oil the benefits to the environment are astounding. “It’s a recycled resource; reduces air pollution and greenhouse gases; biodegrades and is non-toxic; decreases dependence on imported oil; and offers better fuel economy than diesel. Overall, biodiesel presents the lowest carbon footprint of any alternative fuel. And it’s cheaper”.
The only downfall is the lack of diesel vehicles in the United States. According to the article less than five percent of all cars in the U.S. run on diesel. How can we get the U.S. to take advantage of this cost saving environmentally friendly alternative? Any ideas?

Check out inthesetimes.com to read the rest of this informative article.

According to Alan Boyle’s article Energy Guru says Green needn’t be Grim, Amory Lovins has concluded that America’s future energy needs could actually be met without the use of fossil fuels or nuclear power. Lovins believes that there are more efficient and less costly modes of energy available to us all, but it will take considerable revamping of the current power grid, and revenue. Nevertheless, the results would ultimately produce large returns. Technological advances making consumer products more energy efficient will cut operational expenses for the consumer. Lovins wants to see changes in the way America conducts the business of energy. Rather than relying on current tax breaks, subsidies and other federally mandated economic maneuvers. Lovins wants to see honest and fair prices not biased against technology, location or ownership, thus allowing Americans to produce and save energy.