Lisbon Zoo will have two Iberian lynx

The Lisbon Zoo has two new residents: a couple of Iberian lynx. The animals recently arrived at the zoo as part of a project for the conservation of species developed in partnership with the Institute for nature conservation and forestry.

Azhar, the female, is the founder of the National Center of reproduction of the Iberian lynx (CNRLI). The male, gamma, was born in 2010 in Central Reproduction de La Olivilla, in Spain, having moved in November to CNRLI. The two animals are now ambassadors from Lisbon zoo species and begin an important educational mission among the visitors.

On its website, the zoo of Lisbon explains that the arrival of the couple of animals causes the institution to have "a strategic role in the conservation plan for the species, while an essential tool of dissemination and awareness-raising among the population".

"This project takes pride in a lot and reinforces our mission: to preserve and conserve endangered species. The Iberian lynx is even more important because it is a species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, having regard to the serious risk of extinction that faces ", indicates the President of the Lisbon Zoo, Francisco Naharro Pires.

The Iberian lynx is native and endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for conservation of Nature. The survival of the species is still at risk, finding themselves in a situation of pré-extinção. It is estimated that the current number of these animals is less than 350.

Foto: manuelpenatorner/Creative Commons

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China: dogs are killed to make fur products

The consumption of dog and cat meat in Chinese culture is nothing new, but it's not just in the kitchen that these animals are used. According to an investigation of PETA Asia, there are dogs and cats to be slaughtered and skinned for the manufacture of leather products.

The investigation of PETA filmed workers fabris mistreat and killing animals, removing later the skin of animals, writes the Inhabitat.

After treatment, the skin of animals is used to manufacture gloves, belts, animal toys and any other object that can be manufactured with skin. Subsequently, these products are exported to all over the world. PETA is to disseminate a video where is documented the entire process in such a way as to remind people about the impact of trade in meat, fur and skin of animals are sacrificed for these purposes.

Foto: Joélisa/Creative Commons

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2013 was the year with the highest levels of CO2 emissions ever

At the very time when it is imperative to reduce CO2 emissions to avoid disastrous consequences for the planet, emissions of greenhouse gases continue to increase. 2013 set a new record: emissions were emitted 35.3 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The data are from the European Union Joint Research Center, which released the usual annual report on emissions at the global level this Wednesday. The document is part of the emissions from fossil fuel production and industry emissions, especially from the metallurgical and cement works.

The new record of 2013 was due mainly to developing economies: the Brazil issued over 6.2%, India 4.4%, the more China 4.2% more and the Indonesia 2.3% more. The United States, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has returned to emit more pollutants after a slight stagnation in previous years. "The emissions increased by 2.5% in the United States due to a shift in energy production from gas to coal, combined with an increase in gas consumption," reads the report, cites the Motherboard.

On the bright side, as is highlighted in the document, is that the rate of increase in emissions is decreasing: "emissions have increased at a lower rate (2%) than the average in the last decade". The report observes a dissociation between the world GDP is growing even when CO2 emissions are slower. This is due to the increased bet in a service economy instead of an industrial economy.

However, this dissociation is not happening at a pace fast enough. According to the estimates made by the scientists, the planet still has approximately 1,200 giga tonnes to emit before the levels of sea water can destabilize human civilization.

Foto: nikosmchairas/Creative Commons

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World Bank launches Guide for energy efficiency for buildings and cities

The World Bank recently launched six guides in support of the integration of energy efficiency in urban planning and local strategies. The aim is to help the cities to increase energy security, save more energy, reduce costs with gas emissions and improve the municipal services.

The guides were developed by the management assistance program (ESMAP) of the Energy Sector. The guides are set out in guidelines for the improvement of the energy performance of buildings, design and construction techniques, measures for optimisation of buildings and replacement of equipment with high energy consumption.

"Cities need to make difficult decisions at the level of the investments. Therefore, it is important to go back to the beginning and see where are the opportunities, what are the measures that offer the greatest potential for improving energy efficiency, to which sectors should be given priority and what are the barriers to implementation ", indicates Anita George, Director of Energy and Global Extractives Practice, CITES World Bank buildings and energy.

ESMAP's guides are still guidelines on integration of energy efficiency in matters of financing, acquisitions, transportation and urban planning.

Foto: tiexano/Creative Commons

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New species of sea snail named in tribute to the lead singer of the Clash

Alviniconcha strummeri. So if calls one of new species of sea snail discoveries recently. Due to the nature of this "hard" marine snail that lives deep in warmer and more acidic Ocean, close to hydrothermal vents, the scientists decided to compare this animal the Joe Strummer, former lead singer of British punk band The Clash, and gave him his name.

The new species of snail â€" one of five new discoveries through DNA sequencing â€" lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans at about 2,000 meters deep. The study with the discovery of the new species was published in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity.

"These snails seem punk rockers the years 70 and 80, have purple blood and live in an extreme environment. As such, we decided to baptize one of the species in tribute to an icon of punk rock, "explains Shannon Johnson, a researcher at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California, cites the Time.

This isn't the first time new species of animals are baptized in honor of music figures. In 2013, a team of scientists named a new species of lizard named after Jim Morrison of The Doors. Another team named a new species of parasite in tribute to Bob Marley and this year, a new fossil hippopotamus was baptized in honor of Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones.

Foto: Dave Smitham/Creative Commons

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Rotterdam: waste floating Park opens this week

Rotterdam will have a park garbage floating in the middle of the river Nieuwe Maass, which will prevent the plastic and other debris to reach the North Sea.

With opening scheduled for this week, the Park is initially a mechanism that collects the trash from the river and joins in a kind of artificial island. The collected garbage will be increasingly used to build the Park, which will be later modified to allow plant life.

The aim is to prevent construction gets increasingly plastic to the oceans and create fertile ground for the proliferation of aquatic plants and native mussels, feeding a new healthy ecosystem on the river. If the pioneering project was successful can be implemented in other rivers of the Netherlands, writes the Inhabitat.

The initiative for the construction of the Park started from Recycled Island Foundation and featured collaborations from the municipality of Rotterdam, of Wageningen University, the WHIM Architecture and the SK International.

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Pope says that all animals go to heaven

Last week, the Pope Francisco stated that all animals can go to heaven. The statement was ugly in the Vatican, in the weekly address in St. Peter's square, for consoling a boy who was upset by the dog died.

"One day we'll see again our animals in the eternity of Christ. Heaven is open to all God's creatures, "said the Pope, cites the Inhabitat.

To the Catholic faithful the affirmation of the Supreme Head of the Catholic Church can be a kind of relief relative to the destination of the animals, the statement is to foster the debate for both animal rights activists and theologians.

Previous popes to Francisco never confirmed if the animals would, according to Catholic belief, to heaven. Pius IX, for example, argued that the animals lacked consciousness and as such could not go to heaven. Since John Paul II stated that animals have souls, but never defended the possibility of an afterlife for these beings.

Technically, the Pope Francisco made no doctrinal statement, but many may consider the information as a clear indication that the paradise is open to all the beasts of the Earth.

Foto: Christus Vincit/Creative Commons

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File: countries agree to measures against global warming

The participating countries at the UN Climate Summit, held in Lima, Peru, agreed last Sunday to approve measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and combat global warming.

The final document adopted at the Summit, entitled "the call to action of Lima", decrees that the 196 Nations participants will have to submit to the United Nations, before October 1, 2015, quantifiable commitments, ambitious and fair "for the reduction of greenhouse gases, writes the Inhabitat.

The climate Summit this scheduled end on Friday, but the lack of consensus made that the works were extended until Sunday in an attempt to settle the terms of the outline for the new environmental agreement should be concluded at the Summit in 2015, in Paris, and that will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Foto: No More of this/Creative Commons

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Australia: one in five homes uses solar energy

If there is something missing on Australia's Sun. as such, the price of solar power in this country has been decreasing over the past few years. The potential of this form of energy in Australia is such that nine out of ten Australian homes are considering replacing conventional ways by this solar energy.

The latest data of the Statistical Office of Australia reveal that one in every five homes in the country, i.e. 19%, has already installed a solar energy system â€" whether you are a collector, a photovoltaic panel or both. When decomposed this value, the solar collectors represent 5% of the photovoltaic panels and systems 14%.

In 2011, when the Statistical Office started to analyze the presence of solar energy in the country, the houses equipped with some kind of solar system accounted for only 5% of the total households in the country, writes the TreeHugger.

Is in Southern Australia where there are more homes equipped with some kind of solar system. With prices of equipment of this renewable energy decrease the tendency will be a growing implementation of this type of systems.

Foto: InfographicCollection/Creative Commons

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Quercus moved 450 technicians for the efficient consumption of resources

Between September and December this year, Quercus toured all districts of Portugal with the EcoConsumo Project-support tools for the sustainable consumption of water and energy, backed by the consumer Fund, the Directorate General of consumption.

In total 19 awareness sessions were held which reached more than 450 technicians, among employees of joints and Social security authorities, IPSS, water distribution companies and teachers.

The training focused on information and awareness-raising for more efficient consumption habits, referred to the Quercus said in a statement, providing quantitative data on the possible return with the application of more efficient water and energy consumption, wants fewer consumers equipment of these two features.

Foto: Anton Fomkin/Creative Commons

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Israel: massive oil spill in the nature reserve will take years to be cleaned

In early December a rupture in the pipeline from Eilat-Askeon, in Israel, provoked an oil spill for Desert reservation of Evrona near the Red Sea. Consequently, three to five million gallons of oil have spread for about 81 hectares of the reserve.

The oil has accumulated in ravines, but if there is no heavy rainfall may be possible that the crude oil does not reach the sea. However, the ecologists of the Israeli Government indicate that the spill will take years to be cleaned. The Inhabitat writes that cleaning work began, with teams vacuuming the oil and build barriers to prevent oil from spreading further.

"How do you take care of a deer running and limp because of oil? How do you clean the vegetation? This is a very complicated subject, "says the ecologist the nature and authority of parks, Roey Talbi. "We don't have experience to handle a disaster of this scale. The cleanup could take months at best and at worst years ", he adds.

The spill occurred while a section of the pipeline was undergoing routine maintenance. The section between the city of Eilat, on the Red Sea coast, and the city of Ashkelon, on the Mediterranean coast, near the border with Jerusalem. Cleaning work allowed the removal of two million litres of petrol and 20,000 tons of contaminated soil. The cleanup is being funded by Eilat Pipeline Company who Asheklon is owned by the Israeli State.

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Rhinoceros horns worth as much as gold or cocaine in the black market

As the demand for rhinoceros horns increases â€" 30% over the last 13 years â€" the population of these animals is decreasing at an alarming rate. Currently, there are fewer 90% of rhinos in the wild than in 1970.

"In 2013, more than 2,000 horns of rhinoceroses of Africa were trafficked, which corresponds to 30 times more than in 2000," said Celine Sissler-Bienvenu, Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare to the francophone region of Africa, cites the Dodo.

According to the charge, the traffic is out of control and is supported by organized networks. The horns â€" made of keratin, which can be found on the nails and human hair â€" can reach worth € 28,000 per kilogram on the black market Asia, the main destination.

The current value of the rhino horns is equivalent to the price of cocaine or gold on the black market. The comparison is appropriate, given that trafficking in wild animals became intrinsically connected to another type of illicit trade in recent years. The illegal trade in animals is the fourth most profitable illegal activity in the world, after drug trafficking, weapon and human traffic.

Foto: safari-partners/Creative Commons

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The recipe of Honduras that is taking a species of iguana to extinction

The iguana meat is part of a long Central American cuisine. For those who prefer to have these animals as company the idea can be as unpleasant as eating dog meat. But civilised cultures are very different in different parts of the world.

The iguana meat is so popular in Central America that there are farms for breeding these animals in El Salvador, arriving to export meat to Asia and to North America. During a severe drought that affected Nicaragua during this year, the Government advised its citizens consume iguana meat rather than another type of meat.

However, the consumption of iguana meat in Honduras is becoming a problem. Many of the species of iguana that inhabit the territory of the country are already threatened by habitat loss. The iguana Aguán Valley is one of the most endangered species in Central America and, however, is one of the species most sought after for their meat. It is estimated that there are only 5,000 copies in the Aguán River Valley, where are native.

Investigators from the San Diego Zoo and the National Autonomous University of Honduras made an inquiry to the inhabitants of the area to assess the degree of awareness of the population about the decline of species and also to see if there is a way to lock.

One of the main findings of the investigation was the way the iguanas are dwindling and everything is related to the way in which they are cooked. Apparently, the best way to serve these iguanas is with their eggs, which means that when females are hunting are full of eggs and their meat is more valuable.

Thus, the population decreases not only by adult iguanas that are captured as the future generations that never comes. However, in addition to the problem of the eggs, the iguana meat still has a great reputation throughout Central America. In this region of the globe, the flesh of this animal is considered a cure for all ills, from colds to impotence, writes the Motherboard.

This reputation extends to Honduras, where 38 percent of residents polled by the researchers consider that the iguana meat is medicinal. However, the majority of respondents, especially older ones, are aware of the reduction of the numbers on the iguana populations. But the solution to the problem is not simple. This region of Aguán Valley is particularly poor and the population lives in small communities that remain of little agriculture.

The survey denotes that the long-term objectives of conservationists and inhabitants are the same: more iguanas. However, in the short term, there is a conflict of aims.

Foto: Landfotograf/Creative Commons

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A sympathetic pitch contest of Christmas trees

Earlier this month, the Keele Christmas Tree Farm, a farm that is dedicated to the production of Christmas trees, in Staffordshire, in England, organized one of the most unusual casting contests ever seen. The aim was to launch as far and as high as possible a Christmas tree.

Each participant was given a tree with about 1.8 meters and 10 pounds that had to use in two tests: a height and throwing another pitch in distance. Each participant could perform three trials for each of the pitches. For the event were necessary 100 trees.

Although the event seems a waste of trees, the contest was for a good cause, since the aim was to raise funds for Help for Heroes, an organization that helps war veterans who were disabled, writes the BBC.

The contest was inspired by a similar competition that is organized in Germany for at least eight years, which typically occurs after the Christmas festivities. The difference is how the German competition is after Christmas, the Organization invites the participants to take the trees themselves will no longer have use.

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Dubai is selling the cheapest solar energy in the world

The race to provide the market with cheaper solar power energy is being led, at least for now, by the Dubai. This month the Dubai Electricity Water Authority (DEWA) &, the public energy company, announced the sale of solar energy for only €0,05/kWh. This is the lowest price ever per kilowatt hit by solar energy.

The explanation for a price so cheap solar energy can be the past investments made by DEWA. Earlier this year, the company opened a tender for the installation of a solar plant with a capacity of 100 megawatts, which is incorporated in the second phase of the solar Park Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Currently, this park of 40 square kilometers is home to a 23-megawatt solar plant, built in 2013. However, the goal is to reach 1,000 megawatts of capacity in 2017. In order to achieve this objective, the DEWA asked the companies operating in the solar energy sector to submit proposals for a fixed fee over 25 years, referred to the Inhabitat. Of the 24 companies that apesentaram proposals, the winner was the Acwa Power, a Saudi conglomerate, which presented a proposal to sell the energy to the lower price, the €0,05/kWh.

This value means that the solar market in the Middle East is expanding rapidly and competition and this could be the big economic bets of this region of the globe when oil, abundant still here, finish.

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The images that changed photography

It's amazing to realize how much has changed the picture in the last 20 or 30 years, but this trend was not always so fast. The early days of the eighth art, iconic images today, were public figures, Queens or inhospitable scenes of everyday life â€" a hippopotamus at the London Zoo.

Many of these photos belong to the archives of the Royal Photographic Society, at the Science Museum in Kensington (United Kingdom) and recently saw the light of day and be exposed to the public soon.

Many of them have already been published in the British press, and is this first sample of exposure that you bring here. See the photos and, below, the corresponding caption. The exhibition "Drawn by Light" derives from 2 December and until March 1, 2015.

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1. Queen Victoria of England photographed by Roger Fenton in 1856. 

2. Hippo photographed at London zoo, by Juan Carlos Maria Isidro, in 1852

3. Afghan girl photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984 â€" one of the best-known pictures ever

4. advertising Image commissioned by the u.s. Government to Nickolas Muray in 1940.

5. Christina, photographed by Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman in 1913.

6. Leicester Square, London, photographed in 1896 by Paul Martin.

7. In 1858, Henry Peach Robinson photographed a young dying â€" an image that caused great controversy

8. A photo of John Hinde of 1944, used in a propaganda war.

9. another picture of Hinde, also of 1944 and also about the war.

10. Audrey Hepburn photographed in 1950 by Angus McBean.

11. Charis Wilson photographed by Edward Weston, in 1936, in Ocean Beach, California (USA)

12. A Sepervivum Percarneum photographed in 1922 by Albert Renger-Patzsch.

13. Photo of John Linde, without any reference to a year.

14. the village of Hernandez, New Mexico, photographed in 1941 by Ansel Adams.

15. a chimney photographed in 1934 by Noel Griggs.

16.Imagem of Oscar Rejlander, 1857.

17.Fotografia of Calum Colvin of 1986.

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Obese dog lose more than 20 pounds and becomes calendar template

There was never any moment when Obie wasn't adorable and affectionate. But his health was not the best so far. About two years ago, the little dachshund five years led a lifestyle that could lead to an early death.

Initially, Obie belonged to an elderly couple with the best of intentions but who often gave him food and sweets as a way to show affection by the animal. Being elderly, the couple not practiced much the animal and with the excess food that was given, Obie came to weigh 35 pounds, more than twice the normal weight for a dog of this breed of small businesses.



Eventually, a relative of the couple realized the plight of the animal and contacted an Association of animal rescue to help in the case. Shortly before, Nora Vanatta, a veterinary technician, had knowledge of the situation of Obie and volunteered to stay with the animal. So he took the animal in August 2012, Vanatta started improving the health conditions of the little dog.

No more excess food and high-calorie, which was traded for a diet with fewer fats and high protein content, designed especially to help dogs like Obie to slim down. Progressively, the excess weight of Obie began to disappear. In the first week the animal lost three pounds, but his body was not yet ready to support the exercise.

With the passage of time and as the dog was going to lose weight, the new owner was introducing new activities for which Obie if shifted more. After six months the animal was weighing about 20 pounds, closer and closer to the ideal weight-11 lbs. But in the spring of 2013 came a new problem to Obie. As had lost so much weight, excess skin was making your new healthy lifestyle.

Then, in April 2013, Obie underwent a surgical procedure to remove excess skin. After recovering from the operation, Obie was totally unrecognizable and more playful than ever.



In total, Obie has lost more than 22 pounds in 12 months. "Obie is evolving very well and with a stable weight, between nine and ten pounds", indicates Nora Vanatta, cites the Dodo. "There's some residual fat pockets on the sides and has no muscles toned as you would expect, but is healthy overall," he adds.

To celebrate the feat of Obie, Vanatta created a calendar where each month corresponds to the evolution of the little dog. The aim is to help animals, or even people in the former situation of Obie.

Fotos: Obie Dog Journey

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American company makes popcorn with solar energy

The Bjorn Qorn is a company based in Broolkyn, United States us, which produces popcorn the way more unlikely: with solar energy. To fabricate the popcorn, the Bjorn Qorn uses mirrors giant solar reflecting the Sun's rays, concentrating them in a pot with the grains of corn. As the pot gets warmer, the corn turns into popcorn.

The company was born from the hands of two friends, Bjorn and Jamie, who met at the University of Bard. Bjorn is the son of farmers and grew up on a corn farm in Minnesota. Jamie is an inventor and advocate of solar power, writes the Inhabitat.

Years later, the two friends realized they could reconcile their talents. Bjorn provided the family's secret recipe for yummy popcorn and Jamie technology to manufacture popcorn and so was born the Bjorn Qorn.

Currently, the company sells only to shops in the area of Brooklyn and New York.

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Greenpeace activists damaged the Nazca lines

The Peruvian Government accuses various environmental organization Greenpeace activists of causing "irreparable damage" in an area of 1,600 square meters of the Nazca lines, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Attorney General of Peru opened a preliminary investigation after receiving a complaint filed by the Ministry of culture of the country. The prosecution wants to now determine the identity of the Greenpeace activists who were in the area of the figure of the "Hummingbird" â€" where were caused the damage â€" inaccessible to the public.

Than the Peruvian judicial entity established now, all indications are that are involved 12 people who "incurred a crime against cultural heritage," writes the Guardian, a crime that can be punished with up to eight years in prison.

However, Greenpeace issued a communiqué apologizes "without reservation" for the activists ' action associates. "Without reserve, Greenpeace apologises to the people of Peru for the offense caused by the recent activity that left a message of hope in the historic site of the Nazca lines. We deeply regret the event. Instead of transmitting a request for urgency and hope the leaders who gathered at the UN Climate Summit, held in Lima, our message had a very distinct effect, perceived as disrespectful ", indicates the organization.

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Pousadas de Portugal will accept animals

The Pousadas de Portugal are going to allow access of animals to their installations. So, when you want to stay in one of the many hostels around the country won't have to give up your pet company.

The measure will enter into force on 15 December and will allow small dogs up to 15 pounds, have partial access to Hostels.

According to news the Publituris, the cost of accommodation for animals is € 25 per night and includes the provision of a complete kit consists of bed, feeders and water fountain, floor base, hygienic bags and a bag of snacks.

Initially, the measure will be in force at the Inns of Marvão, Arraiolos, Estoi, Tavira and Sagres. From January 1, the measure is extended to the Hostels of Caniçada, Guimarães, Amares, Desgravo, Serra da Estrela, Ria, aimed at, palmela, Alvito, Vila Viçosa and Alcácer.

Foto: rschnaible/Creative Commons

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Climate change are decimating the microscopic marine life

Microscopic marine life has an important role in oceanic ecosystems but also in the global terrestrial ecosystem, as these microscopic beings wage a daily battle against climate change â€" who are losing battle.

Whether 11 pairs of legs or fins, the marine animals play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). The conclusion is a new study by the International Union for conservation of nature, which indicates that animals such as small fish, krill, and various forms of plankton are itinerant CO2 absorbers.

According to the study, these beings consume CO2, stored in their body and dissolve when they swim, float or are eaten. To keep the gas out of the atmosphere, these small animals catch the pace of climate change.

Although they are small, the amount of CO2 that these creatures absorb is significant. Plankton, for example, is a kind of "biological drinker" responsible for the storage of 150 tonnes of CO2 per year on the seafloor. Since krill can consume 22.8 million tons of CO2 per year.

However, the storage capacity of gas for these animals may have been compromised. Warmer seas, as a result of global warming, threatening the survival of krill. The eggs of these animals hatch only within a narrow range of temperatures and a 2013 study concluded that about 20% of the habitat of Antarctic krill is at risk of becoming too hot.

The International Union claims that attempts to control CO2 emissions have been focused on protecting the coasts and continents, but that the projects of protection and conservation of the oceans often forget. "The overlooks the ocean and asks if the ineffectiveness of measures or manages and restores the ocean to increase food security and reduce the impact of climate change," says Dan Laffoley, an expert on protected areas of the International Union, cites the Dodo.

Thus, the Organization argues that international intervention is needed and even the creation of a green background for the oceans.

Foto: moduplan2014/Creative Commons

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Quercus requires the demolition of all the buildings on the islands of Ria Formosa barrier

In a statement made to 27 years of creation of Ria Formosa Natural Park, which pointed out this Tuesday, Quercus argues that it is "imperative" to "immediate" demolition of all private buildings and public utility exist in free five Sandy barrier islands of Ria Formosa.

"It is essential to proceed immediately with the removal of all buildings which are not present in the public utility and barrier islands in the Ancão peninsula", indicates the Organization in a statement.

"Currently, many areas of the Natural Park are at risk due to strong tourist and urban pressure, comprising building in dune areas and the use of such parking areas, movement of vehicles and illegal camping," reads the document.

This situation, according to the environmental organization, "generates the destruction of dune cordon and loss of habitat, due to water pollution as a result of urban and industrial wastewater discharges, and also due to excess of boats and motors and washes the uncontrolled extraction of inert".

Quercus proposes, therefore, to adopt new management measures to protect the lagoon system and conserve the species and habitats of ria, which should be protected by the land-use plan of the Ria Formosa.

The Ria Formosa covers an area of about 18,400 hectares along 60 kilometres, extending from the Ancao River down to the beach of Manta Rota. The ria is protected by National Park status, granted in 1987. Previously, this wetland Natural Reserve status was established in 1978.

Foto: Carlos Pinto 73/Creative Commons

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BP loses appeal to reduce compensation by the spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, BP admitted an appeal in the Supreme Court of the United States to reduce the amount of consequential damages. However, the supreme organ of Justice made known this Monday the final verdict and ruled that the oil company will have to pay the compensation stipulated in the multi-million dollar agreement 2012.



The 2010 spill killed 11 people and was the largest maritime oil spill in history of the United States. Since then, the oil company paid compensation already amounting to €1,87 billion. The agreement with American Justice assumes a total compensation of €3,45 billion. Additionally, the company had to pay €3,66 billion in fines, writes the Inhabitat.

According to BP, the agreement was interpreted incorrectly by the administrator appointed by the Court, which resulted in the payment of any compensation to companies that failed to prove that their losses were caused by the stroke. Indicates that oil company paid € 366,000 a hotel which closed due to a fire that had no relationship with the stroke and € a 539,000 kindergarten which closed before the oil disaster.

However, the Supreme Court turned down the request by the company to reduce the value of any compensation and sentenced that BP will have to pay the amount agreed in 2012. BP has set aside € 35 billion to pay claims and fines resulting from the Deepwater Horizon platform spill.

"On behalf of all our stakeholders, we will continue to defend the investigation of suspicious orders or implausible and combat fraud," says oil spokesman, Geoff Morrell. In total, BP estimates pay €7,9 billion in compensation to businesses harmed by the spill, but false compensation claims may increase the value.

Foto: EPI2oh/Creative Commons

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Russia: Siberian reindeer wants to use police to fight crime

The large snowfalls and freezing temperatures, the order of -30 degrees Celsius, aren't enough to catch the criminals in northern Russia. Siberian police want to maintain order in the region but argues that the snowmobiling is not sufficient for this purpose. Thus, the police of Siberia want to trade the bikes by reindeer.

The police argued that the animals are more reliable machines and can run faster than the bikes in deep snow thanks to its adaptable hooves. Some areas of the Arctic region of Siberia are only accessible through the reindeer. The Siberian press reports that a gang of indigenous people are using these animals to escape quickly from the crime scenes, leaving the sleds and the police along the way. Of 163 crimes-mostly brawling among drunks, thefts and acts of vandalism-that occurred in the municipality of Yamalsky, in Western Siberia, 127 were committed by indigenous minorities.

In statements to the press in the region, writes the Daily Mail, the police claim that their snowmobiling can be damaged and running out of fuel, which does not happen with the reindeer. The police believe that the animals will bring advantages in policing remote areas and for two years asking for higher authorities to "recruit" reindeer.

The reindeer hooves are unique because they can adapt to the seasonal weather conditions. In the summer, when the ground is softer, the funds of the hoofs of reindeer act as sponges to provide traction. In winter, the ends of the hooves are protruding, allowing them to drill into the ice and prevent from slipping. During the winter, the reindeer actually use the hooves to dig the deep layers of snow to search for one of his favorite foods: lichens.

Additionally, the sight of reindeer is also quite better than the lights of the sleds because the animals can see ultraviolet lights. Snow reflects about 90% of the UV rays and this vision help the animals and see clearly in low light and very white environments, where the objects overlap with the landscape.

Foto: Cmphoto4/Creative Commons

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Giraffes are phasing out silently

As the human population continues to expand and the poaching is decimating African animal life, giraffes â€" as the Lions, elephants and rhinoceroses â€" are one of the animals in danger.

According to Julian Fennessy, director of Giraffe Conservation Research, an organization of animal conservation, the giraffes are facing a "silent extinction". According to Fenessy, the populations of these animals are smaller than previously thought.

Giraffes are hunted for their meat, skin and bones â€" the inhabitants of Tanzania, for example, believe that the use of bones and brains of giraffes can cure diseases such as HIV. In the last 15 years, the overall number of giraffes decreased 40%, of 140,000 animals to 80,000, according to the data collected by Fennessy and his colleagues.



Foto: safari-partners/Creative Commons

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8 million pieces of trash entering the oceans and seas every day

Every day, the seas and oceans are polluted with eight million pieces of junk, according to a study by the OSPAR Commission, an International Convention founded in 1992 to prevent maritime pollution and that counts with the participation of 14 European countries, including Portugal.

According to OSPAR, this number, even grotesque, continues to grow, mainly due to increased use of reusable plastic parts â€" packaging, bags for storing newspapers or plastic film that protects the clothes have come online, for example.

Much of the responsibility of retailers over when your product arrives in stores, but there are companies that cannot stay immobile watching the natural resource which makes them live, the sea, being destroyed day by day. "it's no surprise that some of the brands that are leading this [raising] are linked to the surf," he explained, in a text of opinion published in The GuardianThomas Callan, freelance investigator specializing in environmental and social policies.

Callan refers to Surfers Against Sewage (SAS-opens PDF), which wants a greater responsibility of brands across the supply chain, which enables greater control of pollution that their products can cause and thus keep the healthier oceans.

According to the charge, the EPR (Extended producer responsibility) can have many forms, including innovative products, packaging design, instructions for recycling the product when this ceases to be useful or even financial incentives to recycle.

The Finisterre, which draws durable clothing from certified textiles, uses packaging made from corn being composted with very little non-biodegradable plastic. Although more expensive, the packaging ensures the Finisterra is go against the natural resource that maintains your business profitable.

"If we're going to until the end of the world to get a product to be as responsible as possible, so it makes no sense to wrap it in something that goes against all its purpose", explained to The Guardian Ernie Capbert, director of brand of Finisterre.

Only in the United Kingdom, approximately 350,000 tons of used clothing is sent to the trash every year, as well as their packaging. When drawing clothes lasting several years and include a packing virtually biodegradable, the Finisterre ensures your part in protecting the oceans.

Another of the Coalition marks is the Riz Boardshorte, a surf brand of London which uses 100% recycled and recyclable textiles for their shorts. As the raw material is hard to find, the Riz encourages customers to send the ones you don't use, offering a 25% discount on the purchase of the next couple who said the maketing and sustainability cannot walk hand-in-hand?

Foto: afu007/Creative Commons

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The beauty of a American Ghost Town

The song "After the Gold Rush", one of the biggest hits of Neil Young's career, this is the author's concerns with nature and planet Earth, metaphorical perspective of gold rush-Gold Rush-, which from the mid-19th century led millions of people to migrate to dozens of destinations worldwide, building new cities and civilizations.

One of those destinations â€" probably the most known â€" is the u.s. State of California, which received thousands of workers and their families, building cities that ended up forgotten in time, when the "fever" ended.

One of them is Bodie, Mono County, which grew from 1859 and arrived to have a population of 10,000, until the gold that was holding the place began to run low in the mid-80 of this century. Later, a fire reduced the population to 698, in 1910. From the 60 years of the 20th century, the town was integrated into the State Park.

Today, Bodie is just another of the American ghost towns â€" and there are dozens of them in California-but continues to draw people from all over the world. As the British Cat Burton, author of these photos.

"The most fascinating part of the city is the interior of buildings. After abandoned for so long, I was hoping they were destroyed and empty. Instead, there are various buildings full of furniture, "explained Burton to the Daily Mail.

"If it weren't for the dust until we would think that someone there lived," continued the British, who explained that many of the buildings appeared to have been left behind from one day to the next, as the coroner's Office and the school.

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The Peneda-Gerês National Park is the ninth most valuable tourist destination in the world

The Peneda-Gerês National Park is considered to be the ninth most valuable tourist destination in the world by Trivago search engine that compares prices from more than 700 thousand hotels throughout the world and that, with this list, unveiled the most appreciated with regard to the relationship between quality and price.

According to the ranking, which considers the tourist destinations with added value for every euro spent, the Portuguese Park is also the fourth most valued European destination, behind Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chora (Greece) and Megalo Papigo-(Greece). Overall, the most valued is the fortified town of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco and, moreover, already considered a world heritage site by Unesco.

In the top 100 there are five other Portuguese locations: Peniche (59th place), Barnes (69), Figueira da Foz (73), Vila Nova de Milfontes (86) and Ericeira (95).

See some photos of Minho Park but rather the complete list of the top 10.



2. Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

3. Chora (Greece)

4. Merzouga (Morocco)

5. Bhaktapur (Nepal)

6. Megalo Papigo-(Greece)

7. Sucre (Bolivia)

8. Pingyao (China)

9. Gerês (Portugal)

10. Yangshuo (China)

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Singapore artist uses bicycle tires to paint famous landmarks

Thomas Yang is an artist based in Singapore which creates unique artworks using bicycle tires. Monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Tower Bridge or the Empire State Building were created through the meticulous placement of tires on a white screen.

"The idea came when I was toying with the idea of how to paint using a bike. The tires were the first that came to mind. Subsequently, explored the characteristics of each pattern of tire and I came to the conclusion that could possibly paint a few known buildings, "says Yang to Bored Panda.

Thomas Yang, which is a bicycle enthusiast, has created four different paintings: "The Cyclist's Empire" (Empire State Building), "God Save the Bike" (Tower Bridge), "Bycicle Mon Amour" (Eiffel Tower) and "The Unforbidden Cyclist" (forbidden city). From each original 100 copies were produced, which were quickly sold.

"The process of creation was actually quite difficult. For each of the works were required at least 40 essays ", explains the artist, who chose only buildings of cities with some culture tied to bicycles. For the creation of the four works were necessary 20 tires and each of the copies come with a special description related to bicycles and a number of editing.

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Fotos: 100copies.net

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Artist spent 10 years to carve a cave in the desert

In the last ten years, the American sculptor Ra Paulette devoted himself to carve a cave you found in the wilderness of the State of New Mexico. Only with the company of his faithful dog, the artist used all his free time to decorate the walls of the grotto of sandstone.

Every wall was given a design and different standard, which allows the Grotto qualities and textures quite specific in its various rooms.

The objective of Ra Paulette was to create a space with an environment that could inspire a "spiritual renewal and personal well-being." When the ornamental works are completed, the space will serve as a venue for concerts and exhibitions, referred to Bored Panda.

This particular cave is carved out for ten years and must still be accurate some more until it is completed. However, Ra Paulette sculpts caves for over 25 years, which are usually ordered by several entities. All the work is done only with hand tools and the result of the work of the artist was already filmed a documentary by Jeffrey Karoff.

Here is the result of ten years of work of Ra Paulette.

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Glaciers of Glacier National Park may disappear in 2030

Climate change have unfortunate coincidences. As this, in the United States: the glaciers of Glacier National Park, which give you the name, may disappear in 2030. According to scientists at the USGC (US Geology Center), within 15 years remaining glaciers in the Park, something that had never been placed on the table before.

The glaciers are very visual examples of how the weather is heating up globally, since they are very sensitive to the environment that surrounds them and therefore used to predict long-term climate evolution.

According to Inhabitat, scientists will use this example to try and figure out where the most extreme climate changes occur.

Glacier National Park occupies the Rock Mountains, on the border between Canada and the United States, and it's covered in snow since it was discovered. When was exploited, in 1910, about 150 glaciers occupied space, but everyone must disappear until 2030. Today, just 26 glaciers are found in the Park-124 were lost in just over a century.

See or remember the beauty of the American Park.

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Fotos: GlacierNPS/Ephraim Ragasa/Emily Hildebrand/Don DeBold/jankgo/Loco Steve/Creative Commons

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New invention can make seawater drinkable only with solar energy

The world is about to enter a global water crisis, where over a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. To combat the problem, the British company Desolenator has created a device that can turn salt water into drinking water.

The Desolenator device uses a patented technology that can turn salt water and other non-potable sources in distilled water and suitable for consumption. The machine is able to produce 15 liters of water per day and requires only solar energy to purify the water. Additionally, after the purchase, there is no need to purchase other supplies since the machine requires no filters and can provide pure water at home for 20 years.

"Climate change and population growth are creating the stage for a global water crisis", indicates the British company's CEO, William Janssen, cites the Inhabitat. "About 97 percent of the world's water is salty and our plan is to use this vast resource and available to end the global crisis of drinking water. The process is called desalination and, currently, only 0.7% of the water consumed worldwide comes from this process. Existing technology to do so is expensive, inefficient and requires 0.5% of world energy flow. The Desolenator is different from existing technologies. Uses solar energy of an elegant way and maximizes the amount of solar radiation that reaches the surface of technology by combining electrical and thermal exchanges ", explains Janssen.

The device is still in development, but there is already a prototype available. Currently, there is a fundraising campaign but the invention has already been distinguished in a contest.

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South Africa: shark that washed up dead is stabbed to save the three babies

When an American family found a dead shark on a beach in Cape Town, South Africa, the first reaction was to leave the animal alone, but something happened, however, he changed his State of mind: the pregnant belly of the shark moved several times.

So, and realizing that the unborn sharks were alive, a man cut the belly of the beast to leave their cubs live. According to the video of the moment, recently placed online, the babies took some time to respond, but eventually let himself see.

You will hear a woman's voice, asking the man to not to bite â€" sharks are born already with your complete dentition â€" and, after a few moments of tension, the makeshift veterinary grabbed the newborn by the tail and threw it into the sea.

As the witnesses give congratulations to good Samaritan, a second shark begins to move and is sent to the sea â€" there is a third, which followed the path of the brothers. The good Samaritan still sought a fourth shark, but there was none.

Although not traditional as arrived in the world, the three sharks should live a normal life. In fact, they can stay up to two years in the mother's womb, but as soon as they are born to move away â€" is that, often, the mother ends up eating the babies become independent from the moment they are born.

Here are some pictures of the rescue â€" with poor quality â€" and, at this link, go to the video.

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Foto: Sandra Schleter/Creative Commons

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GPA launches Prize in conjunction with EDIA to distinguish good practices in Alqueva

The Green Project Awards, in partnership with the company and infrastructure development of the Alqueva (EDIA), instituted a prize of recognition of good practice in projects that promote sustainable development in the Alqueva. This distinction, which aims to mark 20 years of EDIA, aims to promote the resource "water" as a fundamental factor in development of the region.

The GPA Award-EDIA: good practices in Alqueva will have annual periodicity and, according to José Pedro Salema, President of EDIA, will "reward and recognize good practice in projects implemented in the region of Alqueva, which promote sustainable development, as a complement to the movement to raise awareness of the issues of sustainability, alerting and Civil society aware of the importance of environmental balance, economically and socially. "

The categories the premium contest GPA-EDIA: good practices in Alqueva are two: good practices in Alqueva and innovation award in Alqueva. The winner of the prize of innovation award category in Alqueva will receive a monetary award in the amount of EUR 2500 in prize-giving ceremony of the Green Project Awards, on a date to announce in 2015.

Nominations to this award will open next year. For more information, see the website http://boaspraticasemalqueva.com/

Foto: Honza Soukup/Creative Commons

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Food labels are replaced by new rules

Since Monday that all labels have been given nutritional information and the complete list of ingredients of food, according to the bastonária of nutritionists, Alexandra Benedict, who applauds the idea.

According to the charge, this measure is expected to have positive impact on consumer health, the term for what these will benefit from this new legislation, which comes from the European recommendation.

"We expect a positive impact on the health of consumers, with information more clear, precise and objective. We believe that consumers can make choices right ones and, eventually, in the long term and more enlightened, can make the replacement of less healthy foods healthier, "said Lusa Alexandra Benedict

According to the site Protects What's good, responsible stressed that "most of the diseases that conjecture follows from the food". Learn more about healthy eating and food safety in the portal of Tetra Pak.

Foto: Kurt Nordstrom/Creative Commons

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Bhopal: the industrial disaster that nobody talks complete 30 years

In the early morning of December 3, 1984, 40 tons of toxic gas leaked from the pesticide plant of the American company Union Carbide in Bhopal in central India. More than half a million people, many of them factory workers, were exposed to gases, but no one knows how many have died â€" it is estimated that about 25 million, many inside their homes.

The comparison of Chernobyl is obvious, but there is a big difference between the two disasters. While the Ukrainian tragedy was widely spoken and reported, Bhopal remained in semi-obscurity to the present day, although it is considered the worst industrial disaster occurred until today.

On the day of the disaster, Union Carbide officials left the factory without reveal what the substance responsible for the leak, which hindered the task of saving lives. Only later learned that 500 000 people had been exposed to 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate, a gas that, when inhaled, causes a slow and painful death.

The gas cloud spread quickly through the neighborhoods near the factory, entering into people's homes through Windows and doors. Who didn't die got health problems: vision damage, diabetes, joint pain, breathing problems, heart or kidney.

"[Today] there is anemia, delayed menses in adolescents, painful skin problems. And many people with birth defects, "said Satinath Sarangi, told Reuters the Bhopal Medical Appeal. "Children are born with crooked limbs, brain damage, muscle and skeletal disorders. One out of every four or five homes has someone like that. "

In 2001, the company Dow Chemicals bought Union Carbide and stayed with its environmental liabilities, but denied its responsibility for the scenario that turned Bhopal into a sick city. According to Reuters, no trial came to be celebrated in Indian territory.

Today, Union Carbide factory remains abandoned in Bhopal, but their hazardous waste and contaminated materials are still scattered throughout the area, contaminating soils and groundwater.

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Germany: largest company in the energy sector will focus entirely on renewables

Germany is one of the pioneers when it comes to the use of renewable energy and now, the largest supplier of energy in the country, e.on, will sell energy from only renewable sources.

The company recently announced it will sell all its investments in conventional energy sources, such as coal, fossil fuels and nuclear power, to devote himself exclusively to renewable sources.

The decision is the result of two distinct models and radically different to the energy business that e.on wants to implement, writes the TreeHugger. This project includes the creation of a spin-off company that will maintain a minority share in the conventional energy business that will be sold. When the new model of renewable is affixed to the consolidated, the aim is to sell the remaining minority shares of the conventional energy business.

Foto: Dan Mihai/Creative Commons

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BD portuguesa imagines the impact of climate change in 2055

A group of Portuguese authors are preparing a comic you want to inform about the consequences of climate change in Portugal. The book is called 2055 Portugal and helped a crowdfunding project to reach EUR 800 needed for printing.

The printed copies will be distributed by schools, libraries, environmental organisations, supporters or the authors of the project. So far, according to the authors, were raised €403 â€" 50% of the value â€" leaving about two weeks before the project finish.

See the project in the PPL.

Who support the project, the authors offer examples of this and another book. Entries will still be distributed at the National Museum of Natural history and science â€" which supports the project â€", reproductions of drawings of comics and original drawings.

The book will be printed in full color and will have approximately 80 pages in the A4 size, containing 10 chapters in which are discussed various topics such as forest fires, coastal erosion, heatwaves, human health, tourism and agriculture.

The BD has Bruno Pinto argument and participation of illustrators as Carla Rodrigues, César Évora, Filipe Gonçalves, Fil, Miguel Santos, Nuno Rodrigues, Penim Loureiro, Rui Alex, Sofia Pereira, Susa Monteiro or Mexico Saints.

The argument of the book was reviewed by the team of professor Filipe Duarte Santos, da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa.

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