Blogs & Ecology

In its race for the green tech gold medal (sorry, I'm not supposed to use Olympics references anymore), Dell has just received the EPEAT Gold standard for its new Studio Hybrid line. The Hybrid is the first consumer level desktop to meet the gold standard. The computers are 80% smaller than standard desktops, ENERGY STAR compliant, use 75% less printed documentation, and use packaging comprised of 95% recycled material.

Have you looked at your energy bill lately? Felt the pain at the pump? Has solar been on your mind as a way to decrease and stabilize your business or home energy cost? You're not alone.

Despite this summer’s soft demand for air travel and record-breaking gas prices in the U.S., the aviation industry projects a doubling in revenue over the next ten years. But many wonder just how the industry will mitigate its ever-expanding carbon budget?

Many people believe that high food prices are a result of the biofuel industry’s demand for food crops like corn. This is not the case. Food prices have risen by 4.5% in the US this year, mainly due to one reason; the high oil price. Global food prices have risen over 40% and again the main reason is the high oil price. Ethanol has got preciously little to do with this.

Most of the biofuels on sale in Britain do not conform to environmental standards according to a study by the Renewable Fuels Agency which has shocked experts. The agency found that only 19% of all biofuel on sale in Britain actually is environmentally friendly. The remainder fails to meet quality standards drawn up by the UK government.

In America, such reports are published almost weekly. Everybody knows that some biofuels are of dubious quality. The worst types are the biodiesel blenders (B20 biodiesels). These apparently contain anywhere between 10 to 74% of actual biodiesel content.

It's as simple as the name of the company's diminutive, inexpensive yet iconic product, the Civic. Honda Motor Company has built a world-beating business rooted in a straightforward social commitment. As Tetsuo Iwamura, president of Honda North America puts it, ". . . We want to make Honda the company that society wants to exist."

Economics is a force of nature. But just as importantly, nature is a force of economics. At least it should be.

IBM made a respectable but surprising move when it sold off its PC hardware business in 2004 to focus on higher margin services such as consulting. In July, the information technology company even added corporate social responsibility (CSR) to its consulting services lineup. Yet, for a company that is endeavoring to help its clients understand and respond to their consumers' concerns about the impacts of their activities on the environment and society, some might argue that IBM still has much to learn itself.

As part of our ongoing WTF? Wednesday series we present you with this uncanny image of two men holding out a surging hoard, but why? And where is it taken?

If you guess correctly, or give us a good enough/entertaining answer, our friends over at Neatorama will give you a free T-Shirt of your choice from their online shop and we’ll give you a ‘big up’ next WTF? Wednesday.

All you have to do is drop a guess in the comments section below, along with your name and email. We’ll then contact you if you win (emails addresses will not be published). Enjoy! .

Black and White Cat shows how the Xinhua has translated the New York Times Olympic Report into Chinese.

One of the largest pyramids in the world by volume, Danta, is located in Guatemala in one of the few Biosphere Reserves of the Planet. However, wildfires and a lack of community involvement are requiring urgent actions in the area. In addition, overdevelopment, rudimentary slash and burn agricultural practices, archaeological looting, and deforestation are risking the country's valuable cultural heritage.

Edo from Pink tentacle blogs about an animal garbage bag project for promoting environmental awareness.

Korea Beat translated a local news about the implementation of sex offender bracelets policy: beginning on September 1st the bracelets will be able to report the movements of sex offenders 24 hours a day.

Martin J Frid from Kurashi highlight a local news concerning the creation of a virtual temple online.

Robert Koehler criticizes the South Korean government for arresting a most renowned economist for speaking out against capitalism under the excuse of violation of the National Security Law.