Tuesday, August 5, 2014

African cocoa producers prove chocolate for the first time

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It is a sad fact and indicator of the inequality of global society, since many of those who work never enjoying the fruits of your labor. This is the situation of many African producers who never get to enjoy what they grow so that your income can be increased.

However, recently, a group of producers of cocoa from Côte d'Ivoire had the opportunity to taste the fruits of their work and were able to enjoy chocolate for the first time in my life. A Metropolis television channel TV correspondent visited these farmers and offered them chocolate bars. The reaction of farmers can be seen here.

Although it is a small country in West Africa, the Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer of coffee and cocoa is also more cultivated products. The cocoa Plantation is made for decades, but many of the farmers never tasted chocolate. And why?

According to a report from CNN, cocoa producers are at the base of the world chocolate production chain â€" that is strongly against farmers, whether in the form of traders, exporters and manufacturers above them that require the most profit possible. This gives little or no bargaining power and very little money to farmers to sustain their families, much less to buy chocolate.

One of the farmers interviewed, who earns just over € 5 per day, says that doesn't know the fate of their grain after leaving the plantation and you can't buy a chocolate bar, which costs about € 2 in your community. Once you have tasted chocolate for the first time said he "didn't know that cocoa was so tasty". Later, the farmer has dished out the bar with his colleagues who also tasted chocolate for the first time. In the end, the farmer said: "we complain because cocoa farming is hard work. Now we can enjoy the result. And that privilege is being able to prove it, "cites the Inhabitat.

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Aljustrel offers free entries in the municipal swimming pool in Exchange for food

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During this month, at which point if marks the international day of solidarity, the municipality of Aljustrel promotes an innovative initiative to support the Food Bank Social shop.

According to municipality, every Tuesday in August, entries at the Municipal swimming pool of Aljustrel will be free through the supply of non-perishable foodstuffs.

On arrival in the pool and enjoy free of charge the experience users have only to "swap" the entry by a package of sugar, milk or cereals, for a bottle of oil or by a tin of baked beans, grain, among other foodstuffs.

The assets raised through this action of social solidarity, which will be in place in days 5, 12, 19 and 26 August, will revert entirely in favour of Social Shop of municipality of Aljustrel, explains the portal my well-being.

Photo: José P Shah/Creative Commons

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Monday, August 4, 2014

Animals with unusual coat

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In addition to having hair with colors quite many, many animals will develop standards in their bodies through the combination of different colored fuzz.

These marks are formed randomly and, certainly, by means of genetic traits, referred to Bored Panda. While for animals this phenotype trait doesn't really matter, it's impossible for the human brain does not associate those brands previously known forms.

For animals whether they walk with a mustache or a heart on the back for the rest of his life. Many of these animals with unusual coat became famous in social networks, particularly cats.

Get to know the unusual shapes of the fur of some animals here.

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Photographer reveals the environmental impact of cities built in the desert

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Richard Allenby-Pratt is a photographer based in Dubai, with particular interest for sustainability, the environment and the ecology. In one of his latest photographic work-titled "Comsumption"-, Allenby-Pratt reveals the environmental impact of the exponential growth in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Dubai is known for massive construction projects and the skyscrapers that beat records high. However, the two cities are home to failed projects, which began to be built and were never completed.

Are these projects that Allenby-Pratt is dedicated to documenting.  One of these projects is the Arabian Canal, a canal that would carry water along 75 miles from the Marina of Dubai, Al Maktoum International Airport passing through and going back into the sea.  The construction is stopped since 2009 and the desert was gradually swallowing up the foundations of the channel.

Another such project is the Palm Jebel Ali, an artificial Palm-shaped peninsula, whose construction was also abandoned.

The Tree Hugger published some photos of this photographer. Get to know them here.

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Delusions of selfies is maximising the abandonment of black cats

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For several centuries, the small black cats are wrapped in superstition and bad reputation and now it looks like I have to face a new bias: the lack of photogenic.

According to Royal Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), a British organization, the number of departures of black cats has increased, mainly because the cats this color doesn't look so good on selfies as cats of other colors.

The RSPCA indicates that 70% of cats have their care are black or black and white. "There are a number of explanations for the phenomenon, ranging from the fact that black cats are harder to distinguish that cats with the most distinctive marks to the fact that the black cats have a tendency not to be so good in photographs like the others", indicates a RSPCA spokesman, cites the Dodo.

The British organization now has a section on their website where alert visitors to the large number of cats which have under their care and that are scorned.

Also the Blue Cross animal organization, is experiencing the phenomenon of black cats, with an increase of 65% in the number of cats in this colour collected annually between 2007 and 2013.  On its website, the Blue Cross claims that the "black cats are the most overlooked by potential owners".

Foto:  david_pics / Creative Commons

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

Philips transforms the Peru's largest bank in the largest global interactive light show

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Philips recently transformed the façade of the Banco del Peru credit (BCP), the largest and oldest Bank in the South American country, the greatest show in the world of interactive lights.

Composed of 26,000 Philips Color Kinetics LEDs, the new facade of BCP can be seen from almost all parts of the city of Lima and is one of the largest installations of lights in the world, referred to Inhabitat.

Passersby can interact with the lamps play a interactive panel with LEDs that mimics the facade of BCP on a reduced scale. The effects produced on the Panel are replicated installed lights on the facade and are accompanied by atmospheric sounds and orchestral excerpts.

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Friday, August 1, 2014

Bordalo II: the Portuguese artist who creates urban art on railway lines

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Artur Bordalo, of personal name, is better known by his stage name Ruel II. Has 26 years and has exhibited at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB). Decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather â€" Real Bordalo, Portuguese painter of the 20th century â€" and studied Painting at the Faculty of fine arts in Lisbon. However, Bordalo II began his artistic activity in the streets.

It was perhaps for having given the first steps as an artist in the streets that his work has a large urban and cosmopolitan dimension. The exhibition that was patent earlier this year in CCB â€" "World Gone Crazy" featured ten works of Ruel II, made with materials taken from the garbage that mirror the themes of consumerism, waste and excessive materialism.

In one of his latest works, Arthur Ruel used railway lines as the screen. The works are spread over several lines of Portugal and is around the tracks that the artist creates his work. Rows with subliminal messages or tracks that turn into sheet music are just some of the examples of how Bordalo II creates his works on the railways.

Get to know more of the work of Bordalo II here.

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