United Kingdom: full revealed prehistoric forests

The intensity of the storms that, since November, ravage the British territory, is to reveal numerous prehistoric forests submerged so far, according to The Telegraph.

The forests are along the coast of Cornwall and Wales and are being identified for the first time in 40 years. One of the most impressive is located in Mount Bay, Cornwall, and consists of pieces between three and five meters of old oak, pine and beech. Until now, these were preserved by the sand.

It's been a long time since scientists know of the existence of these forests, but just now the geologists will be able to use radiocarbon dating to realize your age and realize when they stayed submerged-it is estimated that the phenomenon has occurred there are 4,000 to 6,000 years and No 12 thousand years ago, as previously thought.

At this time, British communities were slowly abandon the lifestyles of hunter-gatherer for agriculture.

"The storms revealed pieces of pine and oak trees between two to five meters, as well as remains of bushes with acorns and hazelnuts well preserved. These forests have grown four or five thousand years ago, when the climate was slightly hotter than nowadays, "said Frankie Howie, responsible for Geoconservation Group and leader of the wild life Department of Cornwall.

In the coming months, the forests should be submerged again.

Foto: Keith Morris/Wales Online

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Spanish veterinary denounces trafficking of orangutans for prostitution

The prostitution of orangutans is a common practice in some Asian countries, being that many of these animals are enclosed and suffer continual sexual abuse of several people, according to the Spanish veterinary Karmele Llano, who works at the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS).

Llano, which for eight years has denounced the abuses suffered in Borneo, an orangutan of 12 years, called Pony, says the prostitution of orangutans is common in places with Thailand, for example.

"The case of Pony is not isolated. We know that in Thailand it is common to see brothels to use orangutan females as sexual fun for customers, "explained Llano Taringa magazine.

In agreement with the Orangutan Conservancy Association, there are only 20 thousand orangutans in the world. The NGO explains that they can extinguish in just 10 years, cases continue to occur cases like these â€" or, for example, boxing fights between these animals.

In the case of Pony, she was discovered completely shaved, perfumed and with painted lips. The animal was chained to a bed, so that customers of the brothel, in the village of Keremgpangi, could take advantage of her â€" according to Llano, these are mainly employees of the timber industry and palm oil extraction.

However, these cases do not occur only in Asia. Second report the La Gaceta, such practices are also applicants in countries where the legislation on protection of the rights of animals is non-existent. Including in Europe.

According to the Spanish diariomascota, in Germany the non-inclusive of legislation as illegal the practice of sex with animals. There are, therefore, small brothels, mostly illegal immigrants, who are dedicated to this kind of customers with zoófilas slopes

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Algarve: project unites the memory of older craftsmen to the creativity of the newest (with video)

The Algarve is a region of contrasts. Considered one of the most beautiful areas of Europe, with its beaches, the Algarve is also a region with seasonal employment, uncertain, and high migratory flows.

The lack of employment for young people is one of the major gaps in the region, and it is to be combated, among others, with projects like the TASA (Ancestral Techniques current solutions). The project has as its backdrop the handicrafts and seeks to combine the algarvian tradition to local artisans.

"The project was designed to prove that the crafts can be an activity with a future. And for young people, because without them you cannot maintain this activity, "explained to Alice Green Economy Pisco, of coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve (CCDR), which launched the project in 2010.

One of the major gains of the project passes through contemporary approach appended to these regional crafts products, which was considered essential for its affirmation in the national and international markets.

Today, the TASA is pivoted by ProActive Tur, a tourism company responsible by virtue of the decision of the 10 initial network artisans to continue to work on the project. Between the ages of 30 and 60 years, these craftsmen have created 30 new products â€" Cork, linen, palm leaves, clay and wood are some of the most commonly used raw materials.

The project relies on memory of older and newer ' creativity, reinventing a lost art. "The TASA joined different arts. We have various products worked by two craftsmen together. Other decisions of the project was selling artifacts, i.e. utilities don't have articles purely decorative, "concluded Alice Pisco.

The connection between the ten craftsmen is made by designer Joana Cabrita Malik, born in Faro. "There is a very large proximity among all, and although some have a certain age, all have opening to welcome me and talk openly about new ideas. And they excite easily with the new products, "explained the designer the green economy.

The project, which has already been subject of reportage in Green Savers in January, is being developed and coordinated in Loulé. See the episode 209 of the green economy.

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Bhutan wants 100% of electric mobility in the medium term

Trapped between China, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, Bhutan achieved fame a few years back, when popularized the concept of gross national happiness. Now, the country is again in the spotlight, as it intends to change all their cars for environmentally friendly vehicles and powered by electricity.

The plan was announced on Thursday by Tshering Tobgay, Bhutan's Prime Minister, and Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Renault, and predicts that the Nissan Leaf take their entire fleet of taxis and official state capital and largest city, Thimphu (pictured).

The partnership provides for the assessment of what are the best places to install supply networks in the country and, in the medium term, the end of the sales tax and import taxes of green vehicles, to stimulate the transition among the population.

According to data from the World Bank in 2009 Bhutan had 46 passenger cars per 1,000 people, which means your 742 thousand citizens have about 34 thousand cars. These numbers may seem irrelevant to the global market for green cars, but the truth is that Bhutan can become a global example. And hopes to profit from it.

According to the sustainable planet, with this measure, the Government hopes to save the Country's money, in the long run, since it will no longer be necessary to import petroleum-derived fuel to supply the fleet of cars. Today, the biggest source of income from Bhutan comes from selling electricity, or to be more specific, the energy produced by its biggest dam, Chhukha Hydel.

Almost all the hydroelectricity produced there is sold to its richest neighbor, India. And almost all the money is used to pay for the import of petrol.

Foto: hktang/Creative Commons

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Germany: coal dependency threatens entire cities

Last year, the renewable sources reached the 25% of the total power capacity in Germany. Still, the country still relies heavily on coal mining: the use of this energy reached the highest values of the last 20 years, referred to the Inhabitat.

Although it is considered one of the most progressive countries in the world in terms of clean energy production, Germany relies heavily on coal. Thus, various towns that date back to the middle ages will have to be transferred to other locations for mining companies can exploit.

The small town of Atterwasch, in the area of Brandenburg, will be relocated, as well as the village of Proschim â€" with 700 years. Also a church of Magdeborn will be changed to local.

Germany last year exported more energy than it imported, something that could be attributed to the increase of the quantity of energy produced in coal and anthracite. Even though the country set a goal to eliminate its reliance on fossil fuels until 2050, carbon emissions continue to increase despite the development of industries of solar and wind energy.

Some experts believe that this situation can be explained by the low prices of carbon dioxide allowances in the EU emissions trading scheme. The imposition of stricter rules on carbon polluters at European level may be the only solution to the current energy problem that threatens Germany.

Foto: Bert Kaufmann/Creative Commons

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The cleaning product made in Portugal that does not use water (with video)

In the Isodet, a family-owned company founded 14 years ago, all are trained in chemistry. Started by professionals with a wide experience of multinational companies linked to the sector of industrial maintenance and hygiene products, the company has always sought to bring environmental concerns for their products.

The result of these concerns, the company has developed seven years ago, a product washing cars, boats and motorcycles without water, Waterless V8. To use it, simply a packaging and two Microfiber cloths.

"With the spraying, the product does flow dirt to the surface of the plate. That's the secret of the product. He can take the dirt that is in the micropores of the plate, and, to do this, simply pass the cloth under the surface ", explained to the green economy Jorge Antunes, one of the Government leaders of the Isodet, which in 2013 invoiced € 250 000.

"Then, with the first cloth, collect the dirt that was removed from the plate. The second makes polishing cloth and activates a wax product itself, which gives it that glow. And seals the plate ", he continued.

The charge claims that a car needs 165 litres of water to be washed. With this process, the vehicle can be cleaned in its entirety â€" yet, the process becomes more efficient with regular maintenance. "There is no need to be cleaning the bottom many times", Jorge Antunes Government advances.

According to Isodet, if all cars were washed Portuguese, twice a month, by this process, would it be possible to save 6,400 Olympic pools of water per year.

The product is already used in the Portuguese Navy and has been exported to France and North Africa. In the near future, the Isodet aims to create a washing machine that does not use water. It would be an innovation certainly very well-received in Portuguese homes.

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Giant isopod died after five of hunger strike

A giant isopod, a crustacean resembling a bug but much larger account, was found dead in his tank by attendants. The event would not have anything out of the ordinary, hadn't the animal refused to eat for five years.

This giant isopod, called paragraph 1 to be distinguished from nine other isopods that inhabited the same tank in Japan, didn't eat since January 2009, when you ate a whole mackerel.

However, in addition to having made a hunger strike for five years, the animal has another unusual behaviour: fooled the keeper. According to the handler, Takeya Moritaki, the animal tricked him, since sometimes the animal was eating when moving the mouth and front legs around the food, to please the Aquarium team. However, the animal never swallow the food.

Moritaki was preparing a mackerel to the biannual ration of paragraph 1 and after entering the food in the tank noticed the isopod froze when food entered the Aquarium. Realizing that something was wrong, the attendant removed the paragraph 1 of the tank and found he was dead. The animal made a hunger strike for five years and 43 days.

According to the available data, this crustacean was the animal that was on hunger strike during the greatest period of time. Paragraph 1 has been autopsied but not found the cause of death, but everything indicates that may have been due to the hunger strike. The animal will be now frozen for preservation. However, researchers continue to study the No. 1 to understand why refused to eat.

The giant isopod paragraph 1 was taken from the Gulf of Mexico to the Toba Aquarium in September 2007, measuring 29 inches and weighing a pound. The giant isopods are crustaceans related to shrimps and crabs and isopods earthlings (animals of account). It is thought that these animals are abundant in the cold waters and deep Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean.

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