The glorious Bike: a new guide for lovers of two wheels

Pedaling is increasingly fashionable and the bike lanes is growing inside and outside of the major urban centres. Many are those who prefer this means of transport, not only for economic reasons but also of health.

Laura Alves and Pedro Carvalho, journalists but also lovers of bicycles, launch now the "Glorious Bike", a book that is intended to be a compendium of customs, emotions and clouds on two wheels.

The authors retreat until the invention of the bicycle and tell the story of its evolution, from the celerífero to the modern bicycle. However, the "Glorious Bike" aims to be a practical guide more than history.

On more than 170 pages, in addition to pointing the typical benefits of cycling, the authors suggest a number of advice for beginners of two wheels: how to choose a saddle that don't hurt, avoid falling on the tracks of tram and ride safely in large cities or tips to avoid muscle pain.

For lovers of the mechanical side of the bicycle, Laura Alves and Pedro Carvalho still feature the various types of bikes that the market offers as well as its composition.

In the Glorious Bike "" there's still room for an approach to the new tribes of cyclists and the authors dare even rating in "species" users of two wheels. The "betetista" or "delusional hipster fixed wheel" is one of them.

The book launch is scheduled for the day 14 November at 6:30 pm in the bookstore Read Slowly in Lx Factory. The presentation will be in charge of the journalist Victor Belanciano.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

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Forest: Portugal 74 municipalities will plant more than 91 thousand indigenous trees

The benefits that forests provide not restricted to sites where the trees are present. To be interconnected with other natural systems they provide global benefits for all mankind.

In this way, a set of entities such as Quercus (Institute of nature conservation and forestry), the National Association of counties and the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) established a partnership for Common Forest project, whose main purpose is the construction of a forest whose benefits extend to current and future generations.

So, the next day, 23 November, the Association started Portugal (LOVE Portugal), in partnership with the Common Forest will hold the initiative be afforested 2013 Portugal, where 74 Portuguese municipalities in the North and South, will plant more than 91 thousand trees of native species.

The aim, according to the draft, is "to promote and encourage the creation of a forest with high levels of biodiversity and ecological services, get the knowledge and the trees to people and institutions that are willing and able to intervene". The initiative thus aims to involve the community, especially the younger ones, as well as promote the creation of local networks and structures of indigenous Portuguese forest recovery.

Among the species available for this year's Edition of the Common Forest and, consequently, the Forest Portugal, include the holm oak, cherry-brava, Portuguese oak, Pyrenean oak, strawberry tree, Oleaster, Cork oak, alder, ash, black-Borrazeira, white willow, Elm, and Poplar.

Although the 2013 Portugal be afforested if restrict a single day, the municipalities can plant the remaining trees until March 2014. The species for planting are provided by the State forest nurseries. In total, will be transferred 91,069 31 different species trees.

Once the initiative is decentralised, the LOVE Portugal suggests that participants in each municipality the survey and identification of local indigenous trees, what can be done through hiking, and that, subsequently, the planting of native trees or woods for replanting of the species in the gardens of the cities.

See the approved list, so far, the municipalities and tree planting.

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Shocking photo of deer with arrow in head hunting discussion rekindled in the USA

Last week, Susan say we're voting Naonka took the photo you see in this news in his backyard, in Boonton, New Jersey. The shocking picture reached the media and is causing the reignition of the controversy about the hunting season to arrow in this State.

"If hunt to arrow, this can happen," wrote the Huffington Post.

According to Susan say we're voting Naonka, this deer is regular of your garden, and didn't seem too bothered by the arrow cross on its head. Susan called the Department of fish and wildlife in New Jersey, but so far the animal was not found â€" and hasn't been seen since Saturday night.

"You know what bothers me? This, "wrote Susan on his Facebook page. "He can eat, run, there's no blood and less chance of infection. But I feel bad for him. "

According to young, the deer are attracted to their property due to a park nearby, giant of the Split Rock. "I know a lot of hunters and know which should not have been done intentionally," continued Susan.

Since Saturday that responsible Wildlife Department are looking for deer, which is accompanied by four other animals. According to Bob Considine, spokesman of this Department, the first step will be to reassure the animal, so that the arrow can be removed safely.

Arrow hunting is legal in all US States, starting a few weeks before the normal hunting. The State of New Jersey, however, has season to arrow in autumn and winter.

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Climate change: the major cities that are in danger of disappearing

We owe much of our prosperity to the oceans-the easy access to the sea allows the development of trade and economic growth. Shanghai, New York, Hong Kong, London, Sydney, Mumbai, Tokyo, San Francisco and Cape Town are examples of the economic advantages of having a good port.

In contrast, the landlocked countries (such as Kyrgyzstan and the Central African Republic), are poor, falling behind. It is in cities with deepwater ports, with the most fertile soil, which can grow companies, incubators of innovation and economic growth.

It has been said that these cities, our stronger political and economic units, are at risk of increase in the average level of seawater. Until very recently, hidrologistas and climate scientists predicted sea level rises one meter by 2050. These estimates worried leaders in Maldives, but others ignored the economic weight provided increased in Europe or North America.

It is with some surprise that we read that this estimate was too conservative and that the risk of cities is much higher than believed.

Ben Strauss, Climate Central, published a report which analyses the predictions of rising sea levels and the lists with the elevation of American cities. This study is unique by combining data from population and elevation with the research of Anders Levermann, a professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, concerning the rate of growth (2.3 meters per degree celsius).

This provides that, unless we change our carbon footprint, 315 American cities will be threatened. The forecast of an increase in the levels of carbon dioxide emissions will produce a sufficient heating to increase the oceans in seven metres.

The study of Strauss does not foresee the growth derived from storms, when the oceans near the level of cities reaching roads, sewers and water systems, metros. We can imagine that, one day, the storms will not only cause damage to the coastal cities, but destroy them.

The same States that in 2100, more than 25% of Boston, Miami, New Orleans and Atlantic City will be underwater. Most of the global economy lies in towns that will be submerged. Imagine a world without Shanghai, Mumbai and Boston, a world in which London and New York are the definitions of risk to the markets.

According to data of a publication in Nature Climate Change, global flood losses that, in 2005, were estimated at € 6.6 billion per year (in 136 cities), will increase to € 52 billion in 2050.

However, if the alarmists predict a rise of seven meters, scientists refer, in the best case, to 20 inches and, at worst, to 100 centimeters.

Given the huge flow of population to migrate to the coastal towns, its economic impact and its anchoring on companies, markets and universities, the submersion of coastal towns becomes an economic problem, social and even moral of utmost importance. We can't lose these economies and societies.

Last year, we witnessed the submergence of Wall Street. Climate change became the center of economic growth in Atlantis. If we want prosperity, warns the Guardian, we must save the coastal towns.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

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Russia is developing the first floating nuclear power station

The Akademik Lomonosov (Lomonosov Academy), named in honor of Mikhail Lomonosov, scientist who founded the University of Moscow, will be the first floating nuclear power station in the world.

The station, which began to be built in 2007 in the Russian city of Severodvinsk, but which was then transferred to St. Petersburg, is expected to be operational in 2019, referred to Inhabitat.

When operational, the two nuclear reactors that compose it will have the capacity to generate approximately 70 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to supply power and desalinated water to towns up to 200 thousand inhabitants.

The plant, which will operate as a ship, will be used mainly in regions with lack of electric power, but also on projects which require autonomous electricity supply and uninterrupted.

Central cost amounts to €172 million (US $ 520 million) and is expected to be manned by 69 people, who will monitor the reactors on board.

Despite having been conceived on the basis of traditional nuclear reactors that use weapons-grade uranium, the nuclear power plant reactors will work with slightly enriched uranium, allowing a lower fuel consumption and a lower cost of waste management. When using slightly enriched uranium, the Akademik Lomonosov is going to be to comply with the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose aim is to prevent this type of fuel is stolen for the use of nuclear weapons.

But, still, couldn't the Russia develop a project on renewable energies, rather than continue to insist on nuclear?

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Festival IN promotes innovation and creativity in Lisbon

During four days, the FIL-international fair of Lisbon â€" will be the center of the creative economy, turning Lisbon into a convergent Global Creative industries pole. Between 14 and 17 November, the International Festival of Innovation and Creativity (Festival IN) will promote and disseminate the best makes, in Portugal, in the field of creativity â€" in the broadest sense of the word.

The Festival is organized by AIP Foundation and presents itself as an innovative event, anchoring sensory experiences (physical and virtual interactions) in the most diverse sectors, which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent-culture, arts, multimedia, telecommunications and information and Communication Technologies. "It is the first festival of its kind on a global scale and it is guided to be the highest concentration, in Portugal, of activities, ideas, prototypes and innovative and creative products," explains the Organization in a statement.

The first edition of the Festival IN will in your program, with conferences, speed conferences, workshops, recreational and interactive spaces, showcases and areas for entrepreneurs present their creativity.

With the objective of enabling all creatives, dreamers and Portuguese entrepreneurs can submit their project during the Festival IN, was created the "BOX of the entrepreneur". Recreating the famous Speaker's Corner, the AIP Foundation has created "The BOX", aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses who wish to present their project to investors attending the Festival IN

Tickets for the Festival IN cost of 5 € (day ticket) and $ 15 (pass for all four days).

Check out some of the events already confirmed.

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Each Portuguese uses 466 plastic bags per year

Every year, more than eight billion plastic bags are thrown away, in Europe, according to the European Commissioner responsible for the Environment folder, Janez Potocnik, who explains that these cause "high environmental damage" and the continent's biodiversity.

In Portugal, the European Union estimates that each citizen use 466 plastic bags per year, a number identical, for example, to Poland and Slovakia. Although the data relating to the use of plastic bags in the various Member States are very diverse, it cause amazement the number of lightweight plastic bags used each year in Denmark and Finland: about four per citizen.

As Green explained, the European Union Savers will leave each country to choose such measures as it considers most appropriate to tackle this scourge, including the application of rates, the establishment of national targets of reducing or prohibiting of use.

"Some Member States have already achieved great results in reducing the use of plastic bags. If others follow this example, we could reduce the current global use in the European Union by 80%, "explain the Commissioner of the environment.

The proposal obliges Member States to adopt measures to reduce the use of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 50 microns, insofar as these are used less often than the thicker plastic bags, being the first mostly soon placed in the trash. Those measures may include the use of economic instruments, such as application fees, establishment of national targets for reducing and marketing restrictions (subject to the rules of the internal market of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union).

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