Sustainability : Art, Design and Practice (at MICA)

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here’s another article I found interesting on solar energy becoming a source of new jobs in california… especially relevent because, I think, we are heading into a recession. 17,000 jobs don’t just lose themselves, you know.

click here for the article.

I thought it was pretty great that the NYTimes published this. The most impressive fact (to me) quoted was that if Americans ate just 20% less meat, it would be the equivalent of everyone switching from a four-door Sedan to a Prius. Crazy.

click for the article.

here is a site that lets you calculate your ecological footprint     http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp  

• here are some sites that summarize the summary:
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• http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/ipcc-highlights1.html 
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•  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6321351.stm http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html
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•  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPCC_Fourth_Assessment_Report     
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• 
  
• and here are a few of the major findings as listed on the National Geographic site:

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 Global temperatures will increase between 2 and 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius) by the end of this century over pre-industrial levels.

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 A best-guess temperature rise is between 3.2 and 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 and 4 degrees Celsius), though the high end remains possible.

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 Sea levels are projected to rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of the century.

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 If recent melting in Greenland and Antarctica continues, sea levels could rise an additional 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters).

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 Temperatures and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even if greenhouse gas emissions are stabilized today.

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 Eleven of the last 12 years rank among the 12 warmest years in the instrumental record, which stretches back to 1850.

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 Observational evidence suggests an increase in hurricane strength in the North Atlantic since 1970 that correlates with an increase in sea surface temperatures.

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 In some projections, Arctic sea ice will disappear in the late summer by the later part of this century.

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 It is very likely that hot extremes, heat waves, and heavy rains will continue to become more frequent.• The Gulf Stream, which brings warm waters to the North Atlantic, may slow but is unlikely to shut down as depicted in the Hollywood disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. 

this site gives both country and per capita information  http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption

This is a link to the summary of the International Panel on Climate Change’s most recent report .   href=”http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/ipcc/default.htm”>

hey i’d encourage everyone to read the TIME issue from several weeks ago devoted to suggestions for lowering individual carbon footprints. There are also great articles on adaptation practices in other countries and technological advances aimed at reducing greenhouse gasses.

the current edition of vanity fair is also pretty much cover-to-cover green issues. There are some really fascinating articles about the politics of global warming and a legal battle between chevron/texaco and the indigenous people of ecuador. also the ads in this issue are great. diesel has models in beachwear enjoying tropical and inundated london and new york with the tagline “global warming ready”

there are still centerfolds for cadillac escalades though.

heres a link with information on the debate on CFL’s regarding their mercury content

basically its about energy production and in the Mid-Atlantic region ( here) its 90% coal fired plants, plants that produce vast quantities of mercury…..

I hope these links work

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/what_about_merc.php

check out photos from our recent trip to the Baltimore Waste Treatment Plant. What a sight, glad there’s no smell!