YouTube - Largest fish market in the world - Blue Planet Deep Trouble - BBC
Friday, October 16, 2009
KeelyNet 2008 - September Whats New Index
KeelyNet 2008 - September Whats New Index: "09/17/08 - Additional Info on the Filipino Aerogas Power Injector device
KeelyNet Based on tests by government agencies, including the departments of energy, science and technology and environment and natural resources, Ayco’s invention can increase engine power by 35 to 60 percent, mileage by two to four kilometers to a liter, and engine life span by six to 10 years. The tests also show that the gadget can cut down maintenance costs by up to 50 percent, can prolong life span of spark plugs and glow plugs, can decrease frequency of tune-ups and oil changes, and can reduce carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions by 99.5 percent. Ayco also says his gadget is not bulky and easy to install without having to alter engine as it can just be attached to the engine air intake manifold. Suitable to most types of stationary and mobile combustion engines, the gadget can also last six to eight years and can be recharged after maximum use. Ayco says that two important substances used in his gas-saving gadget are carbon and hydrogen derived from limestone. If taken a step farther, these limestone-derived substances combined with water plus a catalyst, which again he will not disclose, can produce synthetic fuel, which is much cleaner and more efficient than fossil fuels. “My car actually runs on this synthetic fuel,” he says. In the meantime, Ayco and his business partners are busy marketing the aero-nitro power injector not only locally but also in Canada, Belgium and other countries. At P9,000 per unit and with a 10-year warranty, where payments may be returned if one is not satisfied with the performance, Ayco’s invention is making brisk sales in urban communities seeking to reduce air pollution. / The Standard design of an engine works in two ways chemical process (combustion) and mechanical process (motion).The chemical process involves the combustion of fuel. Be it gasoline, diesel or bunker, this fuel is made up mainly of hydrogen and carbon (Hydrogen). Ordinarily, when combustion occurs, the fuel containing hydrocarbons is not completely burned. The unburned carbon stick to the chamber walls of the engine and the gaseous form of these carbons is emitted from the exhaust pipes of vehicles as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which are metal corrosive and air pollutants detrimental to the engine and the environment,” Ayco said. Aerogas Power Injector works on the chemical process by sucking air composed of 78 percent nitrogen, 20 percent oxygen and 3 percents others, then converting it into active elements ( nitrogen base elements) which react with the elements of the fuel (hydrocarbons ) during air intake process. When these elements reacted with the hydrocarbons of the fuel , 98 percent to 100 percent comstion is made possible. This is how the Aerogas Power Injector works toward a more economical and efficient engine performance and pollution-free Philippines,” Ayco added. Aerogas Power Injector , an advanced engineering design can increase engine power from 60 percent , increase mileage from 2 to 4 kilometers a liter. It cuts down maintenance costs by 50 percent by prolonging the lifespan of spark/glow plugs, as well as decreasing frequency on tune-ups and change oil. / INCREASE POWER FUEL SAVER & AIR POLLUTION ELIMINATOR - Burns excess fuel and converts it into engine maximum power. No detonation most destruction in internal combustion engine. No carbon monoxide to prolong engine overheating. No detonation or carbon in combustion to prolong engine change oil up to 2 year. Cuts down maintenance cost by 50%. Increase mileage from 2 to 4 km /liter. Minimizes the frequency of tune-ups. Applicable to gas and diesel fed and stationary engine. Place of Origin: Manila, Philippines - Price: $25 per pc - Contact Email and Aerogas Product Query. (Direct Vendor Contact: Orlando Marquez, Energy Philippines, Inc., Ayala Avenue corner Malugay St., Bo. San Antonio, Makati City, tel no:(63-2) 888-2132 /(63-2) 887-3621) and/or Ronald Talion 63 9193352111 / 632 8377850 / Fax 632 8377850 / Address : 25 Buendia Ave., Palanan,Makati City. - Source"
KeelyNet Based on tests by government agencies, including the departments of energy, science and technology and environment and natural resources, Ayco’s invention can increase engine power by 35 to 60 percent, mileage by two to four kilometers to a liter, and engine life span by six to 10 years. The tests also show that the gadget can cut down maintenance costs by up to 50 percent, can prolong life span of spark plugs and glow plugs, can decrease frequency of tune-ups and oil changes, and can reduce carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions by 99.5 percent. Ayco also says his gadget is not bulky and easy to install without having to alter engine as it can just be attached to the engine air intake manifold. Suitable to most types of stationary and mobile combustion engines, the gadget can also last six to eight years and can be recharged after maximum use. Ayco says that two important substances used in his gas-saving gadget are carbon and hydrogen derived from limestone. If taken a step farther, these limestone-derived substances combined with water plus a catalyst, which again he will not disclose, can produce synthetic fuel, which is much cleaner and more efficient than fossil fuels. “My car actually runs on this synthetic fuel,” he says. In the meantime, Ayco and his business partners are busy marketing the aero-nitro power injector not only locally but also in Canada, Belgium and other countries. At P9,000 per unit and with a 10-year warranty, where payments may be returned if one is not satisfied with the performance, Ayco’s invention is making brisk sales in urban communities seeking to reduce air pollution. / The Standard design of an engine works in two ways chemical process (combustion) and mechanical process (motion).The chemical process involves the combustion of fuel. Be it gasoline, diesel or bunker, this fuel is made up mainly of hydrogen and carbon (Hydrogen). Ordinarily, when combustion occurs, the fuel containing hydrocarbons is not completely burned. The unburned carbon stick to the chamber walls of the engine and the gaseous form of these carbons is emitted from the exhaust pipes of vehicles as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which are metal corrosive and air pollutants detrimental to the engine and the environment,” Ayco said. Aerogas Power Injector works on the chemical process by sucking air composed of 78 percent nitrogen, 20 percent oxygen and 3 percents others, then converting it into active elements ( nitrogen base elements) which react with the elements of the fuel (hydrocarbons ) during air intake process. When these elements reacted with the hydrocarbons of the fuel , 98 percent to 100 percent comstion is made possible. This is how the Aerogas Power Injector works toward a more economical and efficient engine performance and pollution-free Philippines,” Ayco added. Aerogas Power Injector , an advanced engineering design can increase engine power from 60 percent , increase mileage from 2 to 4 kilometers a liter. It cuts down maintenance costs by 50 percent by prolonging the lifespan of spark/glow plugs, as well as decreasing frequency on tune-ups and change oil. / INCREASE POWER FUEL SAVER & AIR POLLUTION ELIMINATOR - Burns excess fuel and converts it into engine maximum power. No detonation most destruction in internal combustion engine. No carbon monoxide to prolong engine overheating. No detonation or carbon in combustion to prolong engine change oil up to 2 year. Cuts down maintenance cost by 50%. Increase mileage from 2 to 4 km /liter. Minimizes the frequency of tune-ups. Applicable to gas and diesel fed and stationary engine. Place of Origin: Manila, Philippines - Price: $25 per pc - Contact Email and Aerogas Product Query. (Direct Vendor Contact: Orlando Marquez, Energy Philippines, Inc., Ayala Avenue corner Malugay St., Bo. San Antonio, Makati City, tel no:(63-2) 888-2132 /(63-2) 887-3621) and/or Ronald Talion 63 9193352111 / 632 8377850 / Fax 632 8377850 / Address : 25 Buendia Ave., Palanan,Makati City. - Source"
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Harrods to sell gold bullion for first time - Telegraph
Harrods to sell gold bullion for first time - Telegraph: "Poor interest rates and falling property prices have left wealthy investors looking for alternative asset classes to put their money into. A weak dollar yesterday pushed the gold price to a record high of $1,072 an ounce."
National Development Company
National Development Company: "San Carlos Bio-energy Inc. (SCBI)
The SCBI will develop, construct, own and operate an integrated ethanol distillery and power co-generation plant that will produce 120,000 liters of ethanol per day and approximately 8MW of power using sugarcane as feedstock."
The SCBI will develop, construct, own and operate an integrated ethanol distillery and power co-generation plant that will produce 120,000 liters of ethanol per day and approximately 8MW of power using sugarcane as feedstock."
Kitco - Gold Index
Kitco - Gold Index:
"When the US Dollar gets stronger, it takes fewer dollars to buy any commodity that is priced in $USD. When the US Dollar gets weaker it takes more dollars to purchase the same commodity.
The price of all US Dollar denominated commodities, like gold, will change to reflect the fact that it will take fewer or more dollars to buy that commodity. So it’s quite possible, in fact it’s almost always the case that a portion of the change in the price of gold is really just a reflection of a change in the value of the US Dollar. Sometimes that portion is insignificant. But often the opposite is true where the entire change in the gold price is simply a mathematical recalculation of an ever-changing US Dollar value.
When the dollar gets strong, gold appears to go down, and vice versa. That accounts for part of the fluctuations that we see in the value of gold.
The other part is an actual increase in the supply or demand for gold. If the price is higher when being measured not only in US Dollars, but also in Euros, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, and every other major currency, then we know the gold demand is higher and it has actually increased in value.
Consequently, if gold is higher in US Dollars while at the same time cheaper in every other currency, then we can conclude that the US Dollar has weakened, and that gold has actually lost value in all other currencies. But the price, because it is being quoted in $USD will be higher and give the illusion of gold becoming more valuable. In such a case the devaluation of gold, due to increased supply on the market, is camouflaged by a weakened US Dollar.
Our feature on kitco.com breaks the change of the price of gold into 2 components. One part shows you how much of that change can be attributed to US Dollar strength, or lack of it. The other portion is indicative of how much the price changed as a result of normal trading. Interestingly whatever changes happen to the price of gold as a result of US Dollar strength/weakness also occurs to every other US Dollar denominated commodity by the exact same proportion."
"When the US Dollar gets stronger, it takes fewer dollars to buy any commodity that is priced in $USD. When the US Dollar gets weaker it takes more dollars to purchase the same commodity.
The price of all US Dollar denominated commodities, like gold, will change to reflect the fact that it will take fewer or more dollars to buy that commodity. So it’s quite possible, in fact it’s almost always the case that a portion of the change in the price of gold is really just a reflection of a change in the value of the US Dollar. Sometimes that portion is insignificant. But often the opposite is true where the entire change in the gold price is simply a mathematical recalculation of an ever-changing US Dollar value.
When the dollar gets strong, gold appears to go down, and vice versa. That accounts for part of the fluctuations that we see in the value of gold.
The other part is an actual increase in the supply or demand for gold. If the price is higher when being measured not only in US Dollars, but also in Euros, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, and every other major currency, then we know the gold demand is higher and it has actually increased in value.
Consequently, if gold is higher in US Dollars while at the same time cheaper in every other currency, then we can conclude that the US Dollar has weakened, and that gold has actually lost value in all other currencies. But the price, because it is being quoted in $USD will be higher and give the illusion of gold becoming more valuable. In such a case the devaluation of gold, due to increased supply on the market, is camouflaged by a weakened US Dollar.
Our feature on kitco.com breaks the change of the price of gold into 2 components. One part shows you how much of that change can be attributed to US Dollar strength, or lack of it. The other portion is indicative of how much the price changed as a result of normal trading. Interestingly whatever changes happen to the price of gold as a result of US Dollar strength/weakness also occurs to every other US Dollar denominated commodity by the exact same proportion."
Government eyes bonds for rebuilding
Government eyes bonds for rebuilding: "Written by Max V. de Leon and Mia Gonzalez / Reporters
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 23:58
THE National Development Co. (NDC) will issue a P50-billion “reconstruction bond” next week to augment monies from grants and donations from abroad meant to help the country recover from recent typhoons, according to NDC Chairman and Trade Secretary Peter Favila.
Favila unveiled the plan on the sidelines of the Mid-Year Philippine Economic Briefing at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, but, in the same forum, President Arroyo indicated that issuance of the bonds was a “last financing option” that may or may not happen.
This, as the Philippines will prioritize seeking grants for its post-calamity reconstruction program as it believes itself to be a “victim of climate change” that should “not be penalized” with high interest rates, President Arroyo stressed.
Keynoting the Mid-Year Briefing, the President said the government would also avail itself of concessional loans and if necessary—and only as a last option—commercial loans and the possible issuance of “reconstruction bonds” to fill in funding gaps.
“We will be pushing first for more grants on nonrepayable inflows. The underlying doctrine is that the Philippines is a victim of climate change, not a culprit. We are not a climate maker, but we certainly are a climate taker....Victims are compensated, not penalized with high interest rates or conditionalities,” she said.
‘Anything tied to reconstruction’
Meanwhile, Favila, also the NDC chairman, said the proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to fund “anything that has to do with the reconstruction,” be they revenue- or nonrevenue-generating projects.
He mentioned, in particular, the roads that were damaged, including Marcos Highway and other access major thoroughfares in the northern part of the country.
Favila said a legal team is now formulating a new executive order that details the type of projects that will qualify and the specific agencies that will be allowed to draw from it.
“Once the legal works are completed, we can issue the bond next week. The availability of funds will depend on the subscription,” he said at the sidelines of the economic briefing.
He is confident the government will generate the funds and has instructed NDC officials to start inviting government financial institutions and private banks to support it.
“The system is awash with so much liquidity and the bonds carry the guarantee of the national government,” he said.
Bonds issuance in tranches
He stressed, however, that the “reconstruction bond” will only be used to augment the grants and donations from international donors, so the NDC will probably do the issuance in tranches depending on the amount needed.
President Arroyo, Favila said, will sign on Friday the order amending executive order (EO) 824 that originally calls for the use of P50 billion from NDC bonds for some infrastructure projects.
He said the EO would change the focus of the funding and have it specifically devoted for reconstruction purposes.
‘Climate-change victim’
The President said that the government will also push for concessional loans, but for the local counterpart, it will await Congress action on a joint resolution authorizing the Executive to access the so-called unprogrammed funds in the General Appropriations Act.
The “last financing options” for the reconstruction program will be to have Trade Secretary Favila issue other financial instruments such as reconstruction bonds.
“Depending on the recommendation of the special national [public-private reconstruction] commission, we may issue reconstruction bonds,” she said.
“Why the NDC? Why a government corporation? Because of the impact of the global crisis on the fiscal capacity of the national government of the Philippines. But even then, we’d rather that the primary response of our administration to the enormous calamities which climate change is bringing to our vulnerable country cannot just be another borrowing program,” she said.
The President explained that “even if we resort to bonds in bringing in exogenous resources, we will go beyond a mere borrowing program to provide a developing framework that is required by ODA [official development assistance] programs.”
Mrs. Arroyo said she has also asked Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, who cochairs the reconstruction commission with PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, to organize an international pledging session for reconstruction efforts “with a higher international profile.”
This special pledging session would tap, she said, “into the huge underlying global constituencies for climate- change adaptation. It would capitalize on the ongoing discussions and negotiations leading to Copenhagen.” She was referring to the Copenhagen Climate Change talks in December, where a new climate-change protocol is hoped to be sealed.
Grants over loans
The President said the Philippines, which has been experiencing unusual and destructive weather disturbances attributed to climate change, “is being cited as proof for the need for adaptation financing.”
She stressed that the government is bent on reducing its debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio even with its reconstruction program, hence its preference for grants than loans and “a government agency issuing bonds than the national government itself.”
She said the government wants “to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio so we can stop wasting our resources on debt service and so we can maintain higher spending for infrastructure and human capital, as we have done before and during the global food, economic and now climate-change crisis.”
Deputy Presidential Spokesman for Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said in an interview after a news briefing that grants are preferred over loans and bond floats as such financial instruments affect the country’s credit rating, and “raise the cost of our other borrowings as well as the cost of all Filipino borrowers, not just the government, because all are tied up to the borrowing cost of the government.”
“The administration is very careful about borrowing for anything, even in calamity, because any adverse effect on our economy hits everybody and especially the poor, not just those who are affected by the calamity,” Olivar said.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters that the President chose Pangilinan to cochair the reconstruction commission as he is “one of the most respected business leaders not only in the country but internationally.”
He (Pangilinan) “has proven his leadership and executive capability, and his dedication and devotion to public service and corporate social responsibility is already well known,” Remonde said.
Olivar said that among senior business leaders in the country, Pangilanan “has probably the most extensive resumé working abroad...not only within the region, also North America in terms of the deals he’s done and the relationships he has formed.”
This, he added, will be useful in “winning the support of the international community, both government and private sector as well.”
Asked to comment on concerns about the proper disbursement of funds to be raised by the reconstruction commission, Remonde said the body was designed to be a “multisectoral, public-private commission” to ensure transparency.
Asean meeting pitch
President Arroyo is expected to take up the effects of climate change at the 15th Asean Summit to be held from October 23 to 25 in Thailand’s oldest beach resort of Hua Hin.
An Asean Declaration on Climate Change is among the three expected summit results.
In December last year, the President took over the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change so she can have a “hands-on approach in crafting and implementing initiatives for environmental security.”
“And with the unexplained volume of rains that caused flooding in many parts of Luzon, the President said a landmark bill institutionalizing the government’s response to climate change will be signed into law this month.
The Climate Change Act of 2009 aims to make climate change a centerpiece of the government’s disaster-preparedness program on the national and local levels."
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 23:58
THE National Development Co. (NDC) will issue a P50-billion “reconstruction bond” next week to augment monies from grants and donations from abroad meant to help the country recover from recent typhoons, according to NDC Chairman and Trade Secretary Peter Favila.
Favila unveiled the plan on the sidelines of the Mid-Year Philippine Economic Briefing at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, but, in the same forum, President Arroyo indicated that issuance of the bonds was a “last financing option” that may or may not happen.
This, as the Philippines will prioritize seeking grants for its post-calamity reconstruction program as it believes itself to be a “victim of climate change” that should “not be penalized” with high interest rates, President Arroyo stressed.
Keynoting the Mid-Year Briefing, the President said the government would also avail itself of concessional loans and if necessary—and only as a last option—commercial loans and the possible issuance of “reconstruction bonds” to fill in funding gaps.
“We will be pushing first for more grants on nonrepayable inflows. The underlying doctrine is that the Philippines is a victim of climate change, not a culprit. We are not a climate maker, but we certainly are a climate taker....Victims are compensated, not penalized with high interest rates or conditionalities,” she said.
‘Anything tied to reconstruction’
Meanwhile, Favila, also the NDC chairman, said the proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to fund “anything that has to do with the reconstruction,” be they revenue- or nonrevenue-generating projects.
He mentioned, in particular, the roads that were damaged, including Marcos Highway and other access major thoroughfares in the northern part of the country.
Favila said a legal team is now formulating a new executive order that details the type of projects that will qualify and the specific agencies that will be allowed to draw from it.
“Once the legal works are completed, we can issue the bond next week. The availability of funds will depend on the subscription,” he said at the sidelines of the economic briefing.
He is confident the government will generate the funds and has instructed NDC officials to start inviting government financial institutions and private banks to support it.
“The system is awash with so much liquidity and the bonds carry the guarantee of the national government,” he said.
Bonds issuance in tranches
He stressed, however, that the “reconstruction bond” will only be used to augment the grants and donations from international donors, so the NDC will probably do the issuance in tranches depending on the amount needed.
President Arroyo, Favila said, will sign on Friday the order amending executive order (EO) 824 that originally calls for the use of P50 billion from NDC bonds for some infrastructure projects.
He said the EO would change the focus of the funding and have it specifically devoted for reconstruction purposes.
‘Climate-change victim’
The President said that the government will also push for concessional loans, but for the local counterpart, it will await Congress action on a joint resolution authorizing the Executive to access the so-called unprogrammed funds in the General Appropriations Act.
The “last financing options” for the reconstruction program will be to have Trade Secretary Favila issue other financial instruments such as reconstruction bonds.
“Depending on the recommendation of the special national [public-private reconstruction] commission, we may issue reconstruction bonds,” she said.
“Why the NDC? Why a government corporation? Because of the impact of the global crisis on the fiscal capacity of the national government of the Philippines. But even then, we’d rather that the primary response of our administration to the enormous calamities which climate change is bringing to our vulnerable country cannot just be another borrowing program,” she said.
The President explained that “even if we resort to bonds in bringing in exogenous resources, we will go beyond a mere borrowing program to provide a developing framework that is required by ODA [official development assistance] programs.”
Mrs. Arroyo said she has also asked Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, who cochairs the reconstruction commission with PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, to organize an international pledging session for reconstruction efforts “with a higher international profile.”
This special pledging session would tap, she said, “into the huge underlying global constituencies for climate- change adaptation. It would capitalize on the ongoing discussions and negotiations leading to Copenhagen.” She was referring to the Copenhagen Climate Change talks in December, where a new climate-change protocol is hoped to be sealed.
Grants over loans
The President said the Philippines, which has been experiencing unusual and destructive weather disturbances attributed to climate change, “is being cited as proof for the need for adaptation financing.”
She stressed that the government is bent on reducing its debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio even with its reconstruction program, hence its preference for grants than loans and “a government agency issuing bonds than the national government itself.”
She said the government wants “to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio so we can stop wasting our resources on debt service and so we can maintain higher spending for infrastructure and human capital, as we have done before and during the global food, economic and now climate-change crisis.”
Deputy Presidential Spokesman for Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said in an interview after a news briefing that grants are preferred over loans and bond floats as such financial instruments affect the country’s credit rating, and “raise the cost of our other borrowings as well as the cost of all Filipino borrowers, not just the government, because all are tied up to the borrowing cost of the government.”
“The administration is very careful about borrowing for anything, even in calamity, because any adverse effect on our economy hits everybody and especially the poor, not just those who are affected by the calamity,” Olivar said.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters that the President chose Pangilinan to cochair the reconstruction commission as he is “one of the most respected business leaders not only in the country but internationally.”
He (Pangilinan) “has proven his leadership and executive capability, and his dedication and devotion to public service and corporate social responsibility is already well known,” Remonde said.
Olivar said that among senior business leaders in the country, Pangilanan “has probably the most extensive resumé working abroad...not only within the region, also North America in terms of the deals he’s done and the relationships he has formed.”
This, he added, will be useful in “winning the support of the international community, both government and private sector as well.”
Asked to comment on concerns about the proper disbursement of funds to be raised by the reconstruction commission, Remonde said the body was designed to be a “multisectoral, public-private commission” to ensure transparency.
Asean meeting pitch
President Arroyo is expected to take up the effects of climate change at the 15th Asean Summit to be held from October 23 to 25 in Thailand’s oldest beach resort of Hua Hin.
An Asean Declaration on Climate Change is among the three expected summit results.
In December last year, the President took over the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change so she can have a “hands-on approach in crafting and implementing initiatives for environmental security.”
“And with the unexplained volume of rains that caused flooding in many parts of Luzon, the President said a landmark bill institutionalizing the government’s response to climate change will be signed into law this month.
The Climate Change Act of 2009 aims to make climate change a centerpiece of the government’s disaster-preparedness program on the national and local levels."
BBC NEWS | Technology | Berners-Lee 'sorry' for slashes
BBC NEWS | Technology | Berners-Lee 'sorry' for slashes:
Berners-Lee 'sorry' for slashes
Tim Berners-Lee, AP
Tim Berners-Lee started the web to help scientists communicate
The forward slashes at the beginning of internet addresses have long annoyed net users and now the man behind them has apologised for using them.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, has confessed that the // in a web address were actually 'unnecessary'.
He told the Times newspaper that he could easily have designed URLs not to have the forward slashes.
'There you go, it seemed like a good idea at the time,' he said.
He admitted that when he devised the web, almost 30 years ago, he had no idea that the forward slashes in every web address would cause 'so much hassle'.
His light-hearted apology even had a green angle as he accepted that having to add // to every address had wasted time, printing and paper.
Sir Tim is currently director of the World Wide Web Consortium and he is also working with the UK government to help open up access to government data."
Berners-Lee 'sorry' for slashes
Tim Berners-Lee, AP
Tim Berners-Lee started the web to help scientists communicate
The forward slashes at the beginning of internet addresses have long annoyed net users and now the man behind them has apologised for using them.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, has confessed that the // in a web address were actually 'unnecessary'.
He told the Times newspaper that he could easily have designed URLs not to have the forward slashes.
'There you go, it seemed like a good idea at the time,' he said.
He admitted that when he devised the web, almost 30 years ago, he had no idea that the forward slashes in every web address would cause 'so much hassle'.
His light-hearted apology even had a green angle as he accepted that having to add // to every address had wasted time, printing and paper.
Sir Tim is currently director of the World Wide Web Consortium and he is also working with the UK government to help open up access to government data."
BBC NEWS | Europe | Global hunger worsening, warns UN
BBC NEWS | Europe | Global hunger worsening, warns UN:
"Targets to cut the number of hungry people in the world will not be met without greater international effort, UN food agencies have warned.
The UN's annual report on global food security confirms that more than one billion people - a sixth of the world's population - are undernourished.
It says the number of hungry people was growing before the economic crisis, which has made the situation worse.
The report comes ahead of World Food Day on Friday.
'No nation is immune and, as usual, it is the poorest countries and the poorest people that are suffering the most,' said the annual report of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme."
"Targets to cut the number of hungry people in the world will not be met without greater international effort, UN food agencies have warned.
The UN's annual report on global food security confirms that more than one billion people - a sixth of the world's population - are undernourished.
It says the number of hungry people was growing before the economic crisis, which has made the situation worse.
The report comes ahead of World Food Day on Friday.
'No nation is immune and, as usual, it is the poorest countries and the poorest people that are suffering the most,' said the annual report of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme."
Habitat for Humanity's Asia-Pacific Update 14th October 2009 - marflora@gmail.com - Gmail
Habitat for Humanity's Asia-Pacific Update 14th October 2009 - marflora@gmail.com - Gmail: "Top Stories
Habitat responds to Asia-Pacific disasters
HFH Indonesia’s national director Tri Budiardjo talking to an earthquake survivor in Sumatra; (center) this sanitary/toilet facility is one of a number which HFH Philippines has built for typhoon-affected families at an evacuation center in Marikina City; (bottom) Cambodian families in Prasath Sambo district have put up make-shift tents from tree branches and plastic sheeting.
Habitat for Humanity has started to meet immediate shelter needs and is seeking funding for a range of longer-term initiatives to help families rebuild their homes and lives after a spate of disasters round the Asia-Pacific region last month. In the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, which was struck by an earthquake in late September, Habitat has unveiled an earthquake-resilient core house design and has an initial target to rebuild for 2,500 families. HFH Indonesia has already started on rebuilding homes in West Java, which was hit by an earthquake at the beginning of September.
Habitat is responding in three countries affected by Typhoon Ketsana, In the Philippines, Habitat volunteers have been mobilized to build much-needed sanitation facilities at evacuation centers in Metro Manila. The next phase of the response envisages providing house repair kits for up to 10,000 families. In Vietnam, Habitat will use a US$100,000 grant to provide roofing materials for 600 families in flood-hit Quang Nam province. Plans are being worked on for transitional housing solutions including new roofs, house repairs and addressing water and sanitation needs. In Cambodia, which also lay in the path of the typhoon, Habitat is set to offer technical and construction assistance.
HFH New Zealand, which is leading Habitat’s response to the tsunami which devastated the Samoan islands, has received offers of help from more than 500 volunteers, mainly builders and tradespeople. HFH New Zealand is looking at building 500 traditional Samoan houses with disaster-mitigation elements.
HFH India is working out how best to respond to one of the worst-ever floods to hit Karnataka in the south and Andhra Pradesh in the east. In Karnataka, torrential rains destroyed or damaged close to 240,000 houses. More than 200,000 people were left homeless in Vijayawada district, Andhra Pradesh state. In the same area, 152 Habitat home partners were also affected: Habitat for Humanity India will undertake a further survey to determine the full extent of this damage.
More details and photographs here.
Singapore TV charity show in aid of disaster-hit families
Singaporean media company MediaCorp will air a TV charity show on 19th October across multi-media platforms in aid of Habitat for Humanity and Singapore Red Cross. More than 100 MediaCorp, local and Southeast Asian artistes will take part in Project Hope, to raise funds for families affected by Typhoon Ketsana and the Sumatra earthquake in Indonesia. The show will be broadcast live over Singapore’s English and Malay television channels, digital television on public buses, taxis, ferries to Indonesia’s Bintan island and on outdoor screens at Orchard Central mall. Separately, HFH New Zealand and HFH Korea are calling for donations to support Habitat’s rebuilding of lives and homes in the disaster-affected areas. Click here to donate through HFH Korea. Click to support HFH New Zealand in Samoa. Habitat for Humanity International is collecting online donations for all the September disasters at www.habitat.org
First-hand accounts from volunteers
In the Philippines, volunteer Mika Palileo penned her thoughts about Habitat for Humanity’s response in areas badly affected by Typhoon Ketsana. Read more. In Samoa, HFH New Zealand’s finance manager Lou Maea, who is of Samoan descent, visited the Pacific Island nation soon after the tsunami struck and wrote a first-hand account in his blog. Read on.
In memory of Bert Jugo
As HFH Philippines CEO, the late Bert Jugo made a lasting impact of the growth of Habitat in the country.
Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ chief executive officer Bert Jugo passed away last Thursday (8th October) following complications from a heart attack. Rick Hathaway, area vice-president, Habitat for Humanity, Asia-Pacific, said: “Bert had made a lasting impact on the growth of Habitat in the Philippines and has played a key part of the overall growth of Habitat for Humanity across the area. His commitment to empowering his staff; passion for Habitat; and vision for service has been inspiring. God has used him well in building His Kingdom here on earth.” Read what HFH Philippines says of its visionary leader with a big heart. Our prayers are with Bert’s wife Ginny and their children, and the staff and partners of HFH Philippines.
Habitat marks International Day of Prayer
Several Habitat for Humanity programs in the Asia-Pacific region marked the International Day of Prayer recently. This annual event engages tens of hundreds of churches and faith-based organizations in praying or building for families in need of shelter. In India, more than 3,000 churches participated. HFH India staff and representatives from local partners built in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh state in the southeast to mark the occasion. In Fiji, Habitat representatives were invited on radio talk shows to encourage prayers for its ministry of helping families in need of decent and affordable housing. Over in Indonesia, about 35 churches with a total of more than 2,700 people took part in the event while South Korea had over 220 churches praying for Habitat’s cause and work. In Mongolia, 35 churches sent volunteers to build houses under Habitat’s Building on Faith program.
2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project
Cambodia site in the limelight
Thousands of television viewers in Cambodia were introduced to the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, thanks to the country’s first reality TV series, “You’re the Man”. A recent segment on the show featured contestants taking part in three challenges including how to make soil blocks in Oudong, the Carter Work Project site in Cambodia. The program also included a heartfelt speech by Chea Chandy, leader of the New Life Community, who is working with Habitat for Humanity Cambodia to build 21 houses during the one-week build. Watch the video made in Khmer language.
Former beauty queen among volunteers on Thai build
Volunteers Helen and James Berger are keen to join the Carter Work Project in November.
Two teams comprising volunteers from the US embassy based in Bangkok and from national satellite and cable broadcaster True Visions, worked with Habitat for Humanity to build two houses recently. The builds took place in Kanlan village in Chonburi province, about 150 km. east of Bangkok. Helen Berger, former Miss Thailand World 1989, and her husband James joined a 20-member team from True Visions. True Visions is the lead media partner for the 2009 Carter Work Project in Thailand. Having experienced a Habitat build, the Bergers were keen to sign up for the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The second team, with 25 embassy volunteers, demonstrated teamwork. Volunteer Jacqueline Matthews said: “Since few of us had any experience in building, we all worked together and helped one another.” More details later on www.habitat.org/ap."
Habitat responds to Asia-Pacific disasters
HFH Indonesia’s national director Tri Budiardjo talking to an earthquake survivor in Sumatra; (center) this sanitary/toilet facility is one of a number which HFH Philippines has built for typhoon-affected families at an evacuation center in Marikina City; (bottom) Cambodian families in Prasath Sambo district have put up make-shift tents from tree branches and plastic sheeting.
Habitat for Humanity has started to meet immediate shelter needs and is seeking funding for a range of longer-term initiatives to help families rebuild their homes and lives after a spate of disasters round the Asia-Pacific region last month. In the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, which was struck by an earthquake in late September, Habitat has unveiled an earthquake-resilient core house design and has an initial target to rebuild for 2,500 families. HFH Indonesia has already started on rebuilding homes in West Java, which was hit by an earthquake at the beginning of September.
Habitat is responding in three countries affected by Typhoon Ketsana, In the Philippines, Habitat volunteers have been mobilized to build much-needed sanitation facilities at evacuation centers in Metro Manila. The next phase of the response envisages providing house repair kits for up to 10,000 families. In Vietnam, Habitat will use a US$100,000 grant to provide roofing materials for 600 families in flood-hit Quang Nam province. Plans are being worked on for transitional housing solutions including new roofs, house repairs and addressing water and sanitation needs. In Cambodia, which also lay in the path of the typhoon, Habitat is set to offer technical and construction assistance.
HFH New Zealand, which is leading Habitat’s response to the tsunami which devastated the Samoan islands, has received offers of help from more than 500 volunteers, mainly builders and tradespeople. HFH New Zealand is looking at building 500 traditional Samoan houses with disaster-mitigation elements.
HFH India is working out how best to respond to one of the worst-ever floods to hit Karnataka in the south and Andhra Pradesh in the east. In Karnataka, torrential rains destroyed or damaged close to 240,000 houses. More than 200,000 people were left homeless in Vijayawada district, Andhra Pradesh state. In the same area, 152 Habitat home partners were also affected: Habitat for Humanity India will undertake a further survey to determine the full extent of this damage.
More details and photographs here.
Singapore TV charity show in aid of disaster-hit families
Singaporean media company MediaCorp will air a TV charity show on 19th October across multi-media platforms in aid of Habitat for Humanity and Singapore Red Cross. More than 100 MediaCorp, local and Southeast Asian artistes will take part in Project Hope, to raise funds for families affected by Typhoon Ketsana and the Sumatra earthquake in Indonesia. The show will be broadcast live over Singapore’s English and Malay television channels, digital television on public buses, taxis, ferries to Indonesia’s Bintan island and on outdoor screens at Orchard Central mall. Separately, HFH New Zealand and HFH Korea are calling for donations to support Habitat’s rebuilding of lives and homes in the disaster-affected areas. Click here to donate through HFH Korea. Click to support HFH New Zealand in Samoa. Habitat for Humanity International is collecting online donations for all the September disasters at www.habitat.org
First-hand accounts from volunteers
In the Philippines, volunteer Mika Palileo penned her thoughts about Habitat for Humanity’s response in areas badly affected by Typhoon Ketsana. Read more. In Samoa, HFH New Zealand’s finance manager Lou Maea, who is of Samoan descent, visited the Pacific Island nation soon after the tsunami struck and wrote a first-hand account in his blog. Read on.
In memory of Bert Jugo
As HFH Philippines CEO, the late Bert Jugo made a lasting impact of the growth of Habitat in the country.
Habitat for Humanity Philippines’ chief executive officer Bert Jugo passed away last Thursday (8th October) following complications from a heart attack. Rick Hathaway, area vice-president, Habitat for Humanity, Asia-Pacific, said: “Bert had made a lasting impact on the growth of Habitat in the Philippines and has played a key part of the overall growth of Habitat for Humanity across the area. His commitment to empowering his staff; passion for Habitat; and vision for service has been inspiring. God has used him well in building His Kingdom here on earth.” Read what HFH Philippines says of its visionary leader with a big heart. Our prayers are with Bert’s wife Ginny and their children, and the staff and partners of HFH Philippines.
Habitat marks International Day of Prayer
Several Habitat for Humanity programs in the Asia-Pacific region marked the International Day of Prayer recently. This annual event engages tens of hundreds of churches and faith-based organizations in praying or building for families in need of shelter. In India, more than 3,000 churches participated. HFH India staff and representatives from local partners built in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh state in the southeast to mark the occasion. In Fiji, Habitat representatives were invited on radio talk shows to encourage prayers for its ministry of helping families in need of decent and affordable housing. Over in Indonesia, about 35 churches with a total of more than 2,700 people took part in the event while South Korea had over 220 churches praying for Habitat’s cause and work. In Mongolia, 35 churches sent volunteers to build houses under Habitat’s Building on Faith program.
2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project
Cambodia site in the limelight
Thousands of television viewers in Cambodia were introduced to the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, thanks to the country’s first reality TV series, “You’re the Man”. A recent segment on the show featured contestants taking part in three challenges including how to make soil blocks in Oudong, the Carter Work Project site in Cambodia. The program also included a heartfelt speech by Chea Chandy, leader of the New Life Community, who is working with Habitat for Humanity Cambodia to build 21 houses during the one-week build. Watch the video made in Khmer language.
Former beauty queen among volunteers on Thai build
Volunteers Helen and James Berger are keen to join the Carter Work Project in November.
Two teams comprising volunteers from the US embassy based in Bangkok and from national satellite and cable broadcaster True Visions, worked with Habitat for Humanity to build two houses recently. The builds took place in Kanlan village in Chonburi province, about 150 km. east of Bangkok. Helen Berger, former Miss Thailand World 1989, and her husband James joined a 20-member team from True Visions. True Visions is the lead media partner for the 2009 Carter Work Project in Thailand. Having experienced a Habitat build, the Bergers were keen to sign up for the 2009 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The second team, with 25 embassy volunteers, demonstrated teamwork. Volunteer Jacqueline Matthews said: “Since few of us had any experience in building, we all worked together and helped one another.” More details later on www.habitat.org/ap."
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Next apocalypse? Mayan year 2012 stirs doomsayers - USATODAY.com
Next apocalypse? Mayan year 2012 stirs doomsayers - USATODAY.com: "By Mark Stevenson, Associated Press Writer
MEXICO CITY — Apolinario Chile Pixtun is tired of being bombarded with frantic questions about the Mayan calendar supposedly 'running out' on Dec. 21, 2012. After all, it's not the end of the world.
Or is it?
Definitely not, the Mayan Indian elder insists. 'I came back from England last year and, man, they had me fed up with this stuff.'
It can only get worse for him. Next month Hollywood's '2012' opens in cinemas, featuring earthquakes, meteor showers and a tsunami dumping an aircraft carrier on the White House.
At Cornell University, Ann Martin, who runs the 'Curious? Ask an Astronomer' website, says people are scared.
'It's too bad that we're getting e-mails from fourth-graders who are saying that they're too young to die,' Martin said. 'We had a mother of two young children who was afraid she wouldn't live to see them grow up.'
Chile Pixtun, a Guatemalan, says the doomsday theories spring from Western, not Mayan ideas.
A significant time period for the Mayas does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years.
But most archaeologists, astronomers and Maya say the only thing likely to hit Earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, Internet doomsday rumors and TV specials such as one on the History Channel which mixes 'predictions' from Nostradamus and the Mayas and asks: 'Is 2012 the year the cosmic clock finally winds down to zero days, zero hope?'
It may sound all too much like other doomsday scenarios of recent decades — the 1987 Harmonic Convergence, the Jupiter Effect or 'Planet X.' But this one has some grains of archaeological basis.
One of them is Monument Six.
Found at an obscure ruin in southern Mexico during highway construction in the 1960s, the stone tablet almost didn't survive; the site was largely paved over and parts of the tablet were looted.
It's unique in that the remaining parts contain the equivalent of the date 2012. The inscription describes something that is supposed to occur in 2012 involving Bolon Yokte, a mysterious Mayan god associated with both war and creation.
However — shades of Indiana Jones — erosion and a crack in the stone make the end of the passage almost illegible.
Archaeologist Guillermo Bernal of Mexico's National Autonomous University interprets the last eroded glyphs as maybe saying, 'He will descend from the sky.'
Spooky, perhaps, but Bernal notes there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 — including one that roughly translates into the year 4772.
And anyway, Mayas in the drought-stricken Yucatan peninsula have bigger worries than 2012.
'If I went to some Mayan-speaking communities and asked people what is going to happen in 2012, they wouldn't have any idea,' said Jose Huchim, a Yucatan Mayan archaeologist. 'That the world is going to end? They wouldn't believe you. We have real concerns these days, like rain.'
The Mayan civilization, which reached its height from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D., had a talent for astronomy
Its Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 B.C., marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. Thirteen was a significant, sacred number for the Mayas, and the 13th Baktun ends around Dec. 21, 2012.
'It's a special anniversary of creation,' said David Stuart, a specialist in Mayan epigraphy at the University of Texas at Austin. 'The Maya never said the world is going to end, they never said anything bad would happen necessarily, they're just recording this future anniversary on Monument Six.'
Bernal suggests that apocalypse is 'a very Western, Christian' concept projected onto the Maya, perhaps because Western myths are 'exhausted.'
If it were all mythology, perhaps it could be written off.
But some say the Maya knew another secret: the Earth's axis wobbles, slightly changing the alignment of the stars every year. Once every 25,800 years, the sun lines up with the center of our Milky Way galaxy on a winter solstice, the sun's lowest point in the horizon.
That will happen on Dec. 21, 2012, when the sun appears to rise in the same spot where the bright center of galaxy sets.
Another spooky coincidence?
'The question I would ask these guys is, so what?' says Phil Plait, an astronomer who runs the 'Bad Astronomy' blog. He says the alignment doesn't fall precisely in 2012, and distant stars exert no force that could harm Earth.
'They're really super-duper trying to find anything astronomical they can to fit that date of 2012,' Plait said.
But author John Major Jenkins says his two-decade study of Mayan ruins indicate the Maya were aware of the alignment and attached great importance to it.
'If we want to honor and respect how the Maya think about this, then we would say that the Maya viewed 2012, as all cycle endings, as a time of transformation and renewal,' said Jenkins.
As the Internet gained popularity in the 1990s, so did word of the 'fateful' date, and some began worrying about 2012 disasters the Mayas never dreamed of.
Author Lawrence Joseph says a peak in explosive storms on the surface of the sun could knock out North America's power grid for years, triggering food shortages, water scarcity — a collapse of civilization. Solar peaks occur about every 11 years, but Joseph says there's evidence the 2012 peak could be 'a lulu.'
While pressing governments to install protection for power grids, Joseph counsels readers not to 'use 2012 as an excuse to not live in a healthy, responsible fashion. I mean, don't let the credit cards go up.'
Another History Channel program titled 'Decoding the Past: Doomsday 2012: End of Days' says a galactic alignment or magnetic disturbances could somehow trigger a 'pole shift.'
'The entire mantle of the earth would shift in a matter of days, perhaps hours, changing the position of the north and south poles, causing worldwide disaster,' a narrator proclaims. 'Earthquakes would rock every continent, massive tsunamis would inundate coastal cities. It would be the ultimate planetary catastrophe.'
The idea apparently originates with a 19th century Frenchman, Charles Etienne Brasseur de Bourbourg, a priest-turned-archaeologist who got it from his study of ancient Mayan and Aztec texts.
Scientists say that, at best, the poles might change location by one degree over a million years, with no sign that it would start in 2012.
While long discredited, Brasseur de Bourbourg proves one thing: Westerners have been trying for more than a century to pin doomsday scenarios on the Maya. And while fascinated by ancient lore, advocates seldom examine more recent experiences with apocalypse predictions.
'No one who's writing in now seems to remember that the last time we thought the world was going to end, it didn't,' says Martin, the astronomy webmaster. 'There doesn't seem to be a lot of memory that things were fine the last time around.'
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."
MEXICO CITY — Apolinario Chile Pixtun is tired of being bombarded with frantic questions about the Mayan calendar supposedly 'running out' on Dec. 21, 2012. After all, it's not the end of the world.
Or is it?
Definitely not, the Mayan Indian elder insists. 'I came back from England last year and, man, they had me fed up with this stuff.'
It can only get worse for him. Next month Hollywood's '2012' opens in cinemas, featuring earthquakes, meteor showers and a tsunami dumping an aircraft carrier on the White House.
At Cornell University, Ann Martin, who runs the 'Curious? Ask an Astronomer' website, says people are scared.
'It's too bad that we're getting e-mails from fourth-graders who are saying that they're too young to die,' Martin said. 'We had a mother of two young children who was afraid she wouldn't live to see them grow up.'
Chile Pixtun, a Guatemalan, says the doomsday theories spring from Western, not Mayan ideas.
A significant time period for the Mayas does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years.
But most archaeologists, astronomers and Maya say the only thing likely to hit Earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, Internet doomsday rumors and TV specials such as one on the History Channel which mixes 'predictions' from Nostradamus and the Mayas and asks: 'Is 2012 the year the cosmic clock finally winds down to zero days, zero hope?'
It may sound all too much like other doomsday scenarios of recent decades — the 1987 Harmonic Convergence, the Jupiter Effect or 'Planet X.' But this one has some grains of archaeological basis.
One of them is Monument Six.
Found at an obscure ruin in southern Mexico during highway construction in the 1960s, the stone tablet almost didn't survive; the site was largely paved over and parts of the tablet were looted.
It's unique in that the remaining parts contain the equivalent of the date 2012. The inscription describes something that is supposed to occur in 2012 involving Bolon Yokte, a mysterious Mayan god associated with both war and creation.
However — shades of Indiana Jones — erosion and a crack in the stone make the end of the passage almost illegible.
Archaeologist Guillermo Bernal of Mexico's National Autonomous University interprets the last eroded glyphs as maybe saying, 'He will descend from the sky.'
Spooky, perhaps, but Bernal notes there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 — including one that roughly translates into the year 4772.
And anyway, Mayas in the drought-stricken Yucatan peninsula have bigger worries than 2012.
'If I went to some Mayan-speaking communities and asked people what is going to happen in 2012, they wouldn't have any idea,' said Jose Huchim, a Yucatan Mayan archaeologist. 'That the world is going to end? They wouldn't believe you. We have real concerns these days, like rain.'
The Mayan civilization, which reached its height from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D., had a talent for astronomy
Its Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 B.C., marking time in roughly 394-year periods known as Baktuns. Thirteen was a significant, sacred number for the Mayas, and the 13th Baktun ends around Dec. 21, 2012.
'It's a special anniversary of creation,' said David Stuart, a specialist in Mayan epigraphy at the University of Texas at Austin. 'The Maya never said the world is going to end, they never said anything bad would happen necessarily, they're just recording this future anniversary on Monument Six.'
Bernal suggests that apocalypse is 'a very Western, Christian' concept projected onto the Maya, perhaps because Western myths are 'exhausted.'
If it were all mythology, perhaps it could be written off.
But some say the Maya knew another secret: the Earth's axis wobbles, slightly changing the alignment of the stars every year. Once every 25,800 years, the sun lines up with the center of our Milky Way galaxy on a winter solstice, the sun's lowest point in the horizon.
That will happen on Dec. 21, 2012, when the sun appears to rise in the same spot where the bright center of galaxy sets.
Another spooky coincidence?
'The question I would ask these guys is, so what?' says Phil Plait, an astronomer who runs the 'Bad Astronomy' blog. He says the alignment doesn't fall precisely in 2012, and distant stars exert no force that could harm Earth.
'They're really super-duper trying to find anything astronomical they can to fit that date of 2012,' Plait said.
But author John Major Jenkins says his two-decade study of Mayan ruins indicate the Maya were aware of the alignment and attached great importance to it.
'If we want to honor and respect how the Maya think about this, then we would say that the Maya viewed 2012, as all cycle endings, as a time of transformation and renewal,' said Jenkins.
As the Internet gained popularity in the 1990s, so did word of the 'fateful' date, and some began worrying about 2012 disasters the Mayas never dreamed of.
Author Lawrence Joseph says a peak in explosive storms on the surface of the sun could knock out North America's power grid for years, triggering food shortages, water scarcity — a collapse of civilization. Solar peaks occur about every 11 years, but Joseph says there's evidence the 2012 peak could be 'a lulu.'
While pressing governments to install protection for power grids, Joseph counsels readers not to 'use 2012 as an excuse to not live in a healthy, responsible fashion. I mean, don't let the credit cards go up.'
Another History Channel program titled 'Decoding the Past: Doomsday 2012: End of Days' says a galactic alignment or magnetic disturbances could somehow trigger a 'pole shift.'
'The entire mantle of the earth would shift in a matter of days, perhaps hours, changing the position of the north and south poles, causing worldwide disaster,' a narrator proclaims. 'Earthquakes would rock every continent, massive tsunamis would inundate coastal cities. It would be the ultimate planetary catastrophe.'
The idea apparently originates with a 19th century Frenchman, Charles Etienne Brasseur de Bourbourg, a priest-turned-archaeologist who got it from his study of ancient Mayan and Aztec texts.
Scientists say that, at best, the poles might change location by one degree over a million years, with no sign that it would start in 2012.
While long discredited, Brasseur de Bourbourg proves one thing: Westerners have been trying for more than a century to pin doomsday scenarios on the Maya. And while fascinated by ancient lore, advocates seldom examine more recent experiences with apocalypse predictions.
'No one who's writing in now seems to remember that the last time we thought the world was going to end, it didn't,' says Martin, the astronomy webmaster. 'There doesn't seem to be a lot of memory that things were fine the last time around.'
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."
Business - Philips Electronics, WWF join hands for environment - INQUIRER.net
Business - Philips Electronics, WWF join hands for environment - INQUIRER.net: "Philips Electronics, WWF join hands for environment
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:39:00 10/10/2009
Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Environmental Issues, Corporate social responsibility, Children, Education
IT WILL only be a matter of time before some 4,000 public schoolchildren would be able to easily explain the difference between power-hungry incandescent bulbs and energy-efficient fluorescent lamps.
And through the campaign dubbed Bright Kids, these same Grade 5 schoolchildren would be able to teach others how switching light bulbs can go a long way in saving the environment.
Starting this month until March 2010, Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will be reaching out to students in public elementary schools across Metro Manila, particularly those in the fifth grade, to talk about energy efficiency and conservation.
Awareness drive
The awareness drive will cover some 4,000 Grade 5 students in 20 public elementary schools in Metro Manila – 12 in Quezon City, five in Makati and three in Pasig.
The campaign will involve the implementation of WWF teaching programs and the distribution of environmental education workbooks with lectures conducted by energy experts from Philips and WWF.
During the launch last October 7, Philips said the campaign aims to rein in environmental woes by raising greater awareness on prudent energy use and climate change among schoolchildren in the Philippines.
The education and information drive underscores the urgency of curbing energy consumer habits and its dire costs to the environment.
“The increased threats of natural disasters, partly due to the conventional and wasteful use of energy resources, has called for efforts to invest in the promotion of energy-efficient solutions and sound energy practices that can be sustained into the future,” said Philips Electronics Philippines CEO Rico Gonzales.
“It is in this light that Philips and WWF are pursuing this initiative,” he added.
As they target the youth for their awareness drive, Philips and WWF believe that sound energy practices can be seen as a strategic solution to the current world environment concerns.
The project also came amid growing concerns on shifting weather patterns in the country that recently saw Tropical Storm “Ondoy” –a storm with moderately strong winds but unusually heavy rainfall – causing the worst flood in Metro Manila in four decades.
Growing evidence
“There is growing evidence that the increased levels in carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas emissions and other traditional energy byproducts are related to changing weather conditions toward greater rainfall and intensified typhoons in this part of the world,” said Obel Resurrecion of the WWF Education Team.
Ultimately, Philips said the project aims to spur a “generational shift in mind-set” in parallel with global efforts toward reducing the overall carbon footprint and conserving depleting energy resources.
Both Philips and the WWF are at the forefront of several campaigns to address the urgent need for energy-efficient solutions.
Aside from conducting environmental education activities in key cities in the Philippines, the WWF, for its part, actively pushes for appropriate environmental policies in government as well as sustainable management of natural resources across the country.
Simple switch
Philips, under its “simple switch” campaign has, meanwhile, been encouraging consumers to replace incandescent bulbs with the brighter, longer-lasting and lower-wattage fluorescent lamps, particularly T8 long fluorescent bulbs.
In 2007, Philips and WWF have already sought to engage the public in “simple” energy-conserving solutions to global warming through its project called “Wardens of the World.”
This project was aimed at educating the public on the benefits of energy-efficient lighting and other practices to help address critical environment challenges.
One of the activities under the project included a bulb-switching project to encourage the use of the energy-saving fluorescent lamps.
Wee Shiang Ning of Philips Lighting Philippines earlier said that 75 percent of the world’s lights use older, inefficient technology such as incandescent lighting.
“By year 2030, we would be consuming 80 percent more energy if we continue with our current practices,” Shiang Ning warned.
In terms of environmental costs, Shiang Ning said that easing energy consumption on lighting could consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels for electricity generation. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute substantially to global warming.
Meanwhile, energy-efficient bulbs also use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Studies have pointed out that in trimming energy currently spent on lighting by 40 percent, 555 million tons less of carbon dioxide would be released to the atmosphere.
This translates to savings of up to 1,560 million barrels of oil a year – equivalent to the annual energy output of 530 power stations.
According to Shiang Ning, this can be crucial since global demand for energy is likely to increase by 53 percent by 2030. Over 70 percent of this increase will come from developing countries, led by China and India."
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:39:00 10/10/2009
Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Environmental Issues, Corporate social responsibility, Children, Education
IT WILL only be a matter of time before some 4,000 public schoolchildren would be able to easily explain the difference between power-hungry incandescent bulbs and energy-efficient fluorescent lamps.
And through the campaign dubbed Bright Kids, these same Grade 5 schoolchildren would be able to teach others how switching light bulbs can go a long way in saving the environment.
Starting this month until March 2010, Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will be reaching out to students in public elementary schools across Metro Manila, particularly those in the fifth grade, to talk about energy efficiency and conservation.
Awareness drive
The awareness drive will cover some 4,000 Grade 5 students in 20 public elementary schools in Metro Manila – 12 in Quezon City, five in Makati and three in Pasig.
The campaign will involve the implementation of WWF teaching programs and the distribution of environmental education workbooks with lectures conducted by energy experts from Philips and WWF.
During the launch last October 7, Philips said the campaign aims to rein in environmental woes by raising greater awareness on prudent energy use and climate change among schoolchildren in the Philippines.
The education and information drive underscores the urgency of curbing energy consumer habits and its dire costs to the environment.
“The increased threats of natural disasters, partly due to the conventional and wasteful use of energy resources, has called for efforts to invest in the promotion of energy-efficient solutions and sound energy practices that can be sustained into the future,” said Philips Electronics Philippines CEO Rico Gonzales.
“It is in this light that Philips and WWF are pursuing this initiative,” he added.
As they target the youth for their awareness drive, Philips and WWF believe that sound energy practices can be seen as a strategic solution to the current world environment concerns.
The project also came amid growing concerns on shifting weather patterns in the country that recently saw Tropical Storm “Ondoy” –a storm with moderately strong winds but unusually heavy rainfall – causing the worst flood in Metro Manila in four decades.
Growing evidence
“There is growing evidence that the increased levels in carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas emissions and other traditional energy byproducts are related to changing weather conditions toward greater rainfall and intensified typhoons in this part of the world,” said Obel Resurrecion of the WWF Education Team.
Ultimately, Philips said the project aims to spur a “generational shift in mind-set” in parallel with global efforts toward reducing the overall carbon footprint and conserving depleting energy resources.
Both Philips and the WWF are at the forefront of several campaigns to address the urgent need for energy-efficient solutions.
Aside from conducting environmental education activities in key cities in the Philippines, the WWF, for its part, actively pushes for appropriate environmental policies in government as well as sustainable management of natural resources across the country.
Simple switch
Philips, under its “simple switch” campaign has, meanwhile, been encouraging consumers to replace incandescent bulbs with the brighter, longer-lasting and lower-wattage fluorescent lamps, particularly T8 long fluorescent bulbs.
In 2007, Philips and WWF have already sought to engage the public in “simple” energy-conserving solutions to global warming through its project called “Wardens of the World.”
This project was aimed at educating the public on the benefits of energy-efficient lighting and other practices to help address critical environment challenges.
One of the activities under the project included a bulb-switching project to encourage the use of the energy-saving fluorescent lamps.
Wee Shiang Ning of Philips Lighting Philippines earlier said that 75 percent of the world’s lights use older, inefficient technology such as incandescent lighting.
“By year 2030, we would be consuming 80 percent more energy if we continue with our current practices,” Shiang Ning warned.
In terms of environmental costs, Shiang Ning said that easing energy consumption on lighting could consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from burning fossil fuels for electricity generation. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute substantially to global warming.
Meanwhile, energy-efficient bulbs also use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Studies have pointed out that in trimming energy currently spent on lighting by 40 percent, 555 million tons less of carbon dioxide would be released to the atmosphere.
This translates to savings of up to 1,560 million barrels of oil a year – equivalent to the annual energy output of 530 power stations.
According to Shiang Ning, this can be crucial since global demand for energy is likely to increase by 53 percent by 2030. Over 70 percent of this increase will come from developing countries, led by China and India."
Friday, October 09, 2009
Business - Another global crisis looms, says expert - INQUIRER.net
Business - Another global crisis looms, says expert - INQUIRER.net: "Another global crisis looms, says expert
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:53:00 10/08/2009
Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance
VISITING INVESTMENT GURU Mark Mobius warned that the rapid growth of money supply and lax regulation on derivatives could lead to another global financial crisis in the future.
Mobius, executive chair of Templeton Asset Management Ltd. and considered to be one of the world’s most influential asset managers, said liquidity growth that could induce inflation and unbridled growth of derivatives were the two “big elephants” in the global investment area.
“As you know, elephants can be very gentle and they can also be very wild and destructive,” the Singapore-based Mobius said in a briefing before addressing delegates to the 9th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference in Manila.
On one hand, he said, rapid growth of money supply across the globe—partly due to the stimulus packages released by governments—was helping the world rebound from a recession, giving people extra money to spend and invest in stock markets.
But he said excess liquidity could also create inflation.
Once inflation starts to creep in, most central banks will certainly raise interest rates, he said.
Australia recently set the tone for monetary tightening with a hike in interest. The move was warmly received by global financial markets as a sign of confidence on the rebounding global economy.
Lack of regulation governing derivatives could likewise lead to another financial bubble.
“Derivatives got us into this mess in the first place,” Mobius said, referring to the complex financial instruments, which were used to sell housing mortgages in the US. The use of derivatives was said to have resulted in the sub-prime crisis that shook the world’s largest financial institutions.
Mobius said that outstanding derivatives contracts across the globe now amounted to $600 trillion, or about 10 times the world’s gross domestic product.
“So you can imagine the implications of this,” he said, adding that a lot of big institutions had already lost fortunes in derivative bets.
Because financial institutions were making money selling derivatives, he said many governments were reluctant to regulate these activities. As such, he said, it’s up to the buyer to be cautious."
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:53:00 10/08/2009
Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance
VISITING INVESTMENT GURU Mark Mobius warned that the rapid growth of money supply and lax regulation on derivatives could lead to another global financial crisis in the future.
Mobius, executive chair of Templeton Asset Management Ltd. and considered to be one of the world’s most influential asset managers, said liquidity growth that could induce inflation and unbridled growth of derivatives were the two “big elephants” in the global investment area.
“As you know, elephants can be very gentle and they can also be very wild and destructive,” the Singapore-based Mobius said in a briefing before addressing delegates to the 9th Annual Pacific Region Investment Conference in Manila.
On one hand, he said, rapid growth of money supply across the globe—partly due to the stimulus packages released by governments—was helping the world rebound from a recession, giving people extra money to spend and invest in stock markets.
But he said excess liquidity could also create inflation.
Once inflation starts to creep in, most central banks will certainly raise interest rates, he said.
Australia recently set the tone for monetary tightening with a hike in interest. The move was warmly received by global financial markets as a sign of confidence on the rebounding global economy.
Lack of regulation governing derivatives could likewise lead to another financial bubble.
“Derivatives got us into this mess in the first place,” Mobius said, referring to the complex financial instruments, which were used to sell housing mortgages in the US. The use of derivatives was said to have resulted in the sub-prime crisis that shook the world’s largest financial institutions.
Mobius said that outstanding derivatives contracts across the globe now amounted to $600 trillion, or about 10 times the world’s gross domestic product.
“So you can imagine the implications of this,” he said, adding that a lot of big institutions had already lost fortunes in derivative bets.
Because financial institutions were making money selling derivatives, he said many governments were reluctant to regulate these activities. As such, he said, it’s up to the buyer to be cautious."
Inhabitat » Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving – With M2E Kinetic Power
Inhabitat » Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving – With M2E Kinetic Power: "Inhabitat
Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving – With M2E Kinetic Power
by Jill Fehrenbacher, 01/17/08
Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving - With M2E Kinetic Power, M2E Kinetic Power, Motion to Energy, Motion 2 Energy, Microchargers, micro charging device, microgenerator, micro generator charger, kinetic charging device
They may seem like such small devices – but cellphones have a surprisingly large environmental footprint, and the whole cellphone charging business is a serious pain in the butt to boot. Every cellphone model seems to requires a different type of charger (so excessive amounts of plastic cords and gadgets need to be produced for each type of phone), they suck copious amounts of vampire power when you leave them plugged into the wall, and it is so easy to lose your charger or forget to charge your phone if you are on the road a lot.
Well, for those of you who hate the pain of cell-phone charging, there is now a promising new technology that could get rid of the messy problem of cellphone chargers once and for all, AND eliminate 30 to 40 percent of the toxic heavy metals that are currently found in cell-phone batteries. New startup M2E (Motion 2 Energy) has developed a technology which converts the kinetic energy from minor movement into an electrical charge to power mobile communication devices: meaning in just a few years, we could all toss out our cellphone chargers and charge up our phones simply by walking around with them during the day!"
Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving – With M2E Kinetic Power
by Jill Fehrenbacher, 01/17/08
Charge Your Cellphone Just By Moving - With M2E Kinetic Power, M2E Kinetic Power, Motion to Energy, Motion 2 Energy, Microchargers, micro charging device, microgenerator, micro generator charger, kinetic charging device
They may seem like such small devices – but cellphones have a surprisingly large environmental footprint, and the whole cellphone charging business is a serious pain in the butt to boot. Every cellphone model seems to requires a different type of charger (so excessive amounts of plastic cords and gadgets need to be produced for each type of phone), they suck copious amounts of vampire power when you leave them plugged into the wall, and it is so easy to lose your charger or forget to charge your phone if you are on the road a lot.
Well, for those of you who hate the pain of cell-phone charging, there is now a promising new technology that could get rid of the messy problem of cellphone chargers once and for all, AND eliminate 30 to 40 percent of the toxic heavy metals that are currently found in cell-phone batteries. New startup M2E (Motion 2 Energy) has developed a technology which converts the kinetic energy from minor movement into an electrical charge to power mobile communication devices: meaning in just a few years, we could all toss out our cellphone chargers and charge up our phones simply by walking around with them during the day!"
‘Money laundering’ gets BSP okay - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
‘Money laundering’ gets BSP okay - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "MANILA, Philippines — This large-scale “money-laundering” operation has the central bank’s stamp of approval.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Thursday said it was prepared to replace “dirty money”—or bills that were soiled by flash floods inside bank vaults during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” two weeks ago.
BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., however, explained that the banks should first “dry out” the soaked bills before handing them over to the central bank for replacement.
Wet currency will not be accepted since it would be “difficult to count,” the monetary official said.
At least one large bank has expressed interest to have its drenched stockpile swapped for fresh, crisp notes, he added.
“The BSP has bills ready to replace those that were damaged by the floods,” Espenilla told the Inquirer.
The BSP official made the assurance amid reports that banks located in Marikina, Pasig and nearby urban centers were not spared by the Sept. 26 deluge.
Tomas Gomez IV, spokesperson of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), conceded that flash floods of Ondoy’s magnitude may have easily entered most bank vaults, especially those built on the same level as the street.
“It’s possible that some banks had their bills soaked in flood because water can enter vaults,” Gomez said on the sidelines of RBAP’s annual convention Thursday at Sofitel hotel in Pasay City.
Meanwhile, the BSP has ordered banks to ensure uninterrupted services to the public—including the operation of automated teller machines—in the wake of the calamity.
Banks shut down by the floods and could not reopen immediately should put up alternative branches, the central bank said."
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Thursday said it was prepared to replace “dirty money”—or bills that were soiled by flash floods inside bank vaults during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” two weeks ago.
BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., however, explained that the banks should first “dry out” the soaked bills before handing them over to the central bank for replacement.
Wet currency will not be accepted since it would be “difficult to count,” the monetary official said.
At least one large bank has expressed interest to have its drenched stockpile swapped for fresh, crisp notes, he added.
“The BSP has bills ready to replace those that were damaged by the floods,” Espenilla told the Inquirer.
The BSP official made the assurance amid reports that banks located in Marikina, Pasig and nearby urban centers were not spared by the Sept. 26 deluge.
Tomas Gomez IV, spokesperson of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), conceded that flash floods of Ondoy’s magnitude may have easily entered most bank vaults, especially those built on the same level as the street.
“It’s possible that some banks had their bills soaked in flood because water can enter vaults,” Gomez said on the sidelines of RBAP’s annual convention Thursday at Sofitel hotel in Pasay City.
Meanwhile, the BSP has ordered banks to ensure uninterrupted services to the public—including the operation of automated teller machines—in the wake of the calamity.
Banks shut down by the floods and could not reopen immediately should put up alternative branches, the central bank said."
Inhabitat » Hanging Bamboo Gardens Make Beautiful Biofilters
Inhabitat » Hanging Bamboo Gardens Make Beautiful Biofilters: "If you were at West Coast Green this past weekend you would have surely noticed the elegant bamboo structures along the waterfront surrounded by beautiful native landscaping. What you may not have realized unless you looked closely is that the structure was actually supporting hanging gardens of marsh grass and was a way of preventing and remediating pollution from water runoff. A collaboration of The Natural Builders, Design Ecology, Floating Islands and Bertotti Landscaping, the installation was the talk of the trade show and highlight for us at Inhabitat."
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
Pagasa may raise storm signal no. 4 by Friday - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Pagasa may raise storm signal no. 4 by Friday - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:59:00 10/01/2009
Filed Under: Weather
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it could raise public storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon Friday night if Typhoon 'Pepeng' continued to strengthen in its current track.
According to PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo, storm signal number 4 means winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour over a region.
'Its possible that we will have to raise storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon by Friday around 11 p.m.,' Nilo told reporters Thursday.
Not since supertyphoon Reming in 2006 has storm signal number 4 been raised over any part of the country.
Nilo said Pepeng could reach the category of supertyphoon at 215 kilometers per hour or more by Friday noon or afternoon. 'But this could change. It may still slow down, weaken or become stationary.'
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the eye of Pepeng was spotted 440 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 230 kilometers per hour and moving west northwest at 24 kilometers per hour.
Pagasa raised public storm signal number 1 over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Quezon, the Polilio Island and Aurora.
If Pepeng continues on its current track, Metro Manila, Nothern Luzon and Central Luzon will experience moderate rainfall by Friday and possibly moderate to heavy rainfall by Saturday when Pepeng hits land in Aurora and Isabela.
For Metro Manila, Nilo predicted that they might raise at most public storm signal number 2 by Friday night or Saturday morning.
By Thursday night, Eastern Visayas including Eastern Samar and parts of the Bicol Region would experience inclement weather with strong winds and moderate to heavy rains.
Pagasa Deputy Director Nathaniel Cruz said there was no indication Pepeng would be changing its course.
Nilo said the typhoon could weaken if it hit the Sierra Madre range 'but only by about 30 percent. When that happens, it would still be a strong typhoon.'"
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:59:00 10/01/2009
Filed Under: Weather
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it could raise public storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon Friday night if Typhoon 'Pepeng' continued to strengthen in its current track.
According to PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo, storm signal number 4 means winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour over a region.
'Its possible that we will have to raise storm signal number 4 over Northern Luzon by Friday around 11 p.m.,' Nilo told reporters Thursday.
Not since supertyphoon Reming in 2006 has storm signal number 4 been raised over any part of the country.
Nilo said Pepeng could reach the category of supertyphoon at 215 kilometers per hour or more by Friday noon or afternoon. 'But this could change. It may still slow down, weaken or become stationary.'
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the eye of Pepeng was spotted 440 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 230 kilometers per hour and moving west northwest at 24 kilometers per hour.
Pagasa raised public storm signal number 1 over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Quezon, the Polilio Island and Aurora.
If Pepeng continues on its current track, Metro Manila, Nothern Luzon and Central Luzon will experience moderate rainfall by Friday and possibly moderate to heavy rainfall by Saturday when Pepeng hits land in Aurora and Isabela.
For Metro Manila, Nilo predicted that they might raise at most public storm signal number 2 by Friday night or Saturday morning.
By Thursday night, Eastern Visayas including Eastern Samar and parts of the Bicol Region would experience inclement weather with strong winds and moderate to heavy rains.
Pagasa Deputy Director Nathaniel Cruz said there was no indication Pepeng would be changing its course.
Nilo said the typhoon could weaken if it hit the Sierra Madre range 'but only by about 30 percent. When that happens, it would still be a strong typhoon.'"
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Help for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines
Help for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines: "Tagalog
GoogleHelp for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines
On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy brought a month's worth of rainfall to Metro Manila and nearby areas in just a few hours, causing severe flooding which resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. This site compiles relevant information about the disaster, including a volunteer-maintained map of persons needing rescue and a list of relief organizations accepting donations, so that more help can be provided where it is needed. You can also keep track of the latest news on Google News and YouTube.
Know someone who needs help?
A group of volunteer map makers have been maintaining the map below, which documents flood updates and persons needing rescue. If you know someone who needs help urgently or if you would like to report the status of the flood in your area, please complete this form. The information will be sent to the group's main database for posting on the map.
Map data ©2009 Europa Technologies - Terms of Use
Road conditions
Donation centers
Situation map
Missing persons
Please click on each link above to view full-sized map on a new window.
Disclaimer: This map was initiated by a group of volunteers not directly connected with Google. We cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of all placemarks. If you are familiar with Google Maps and would like to help the group's volunteer efforts, please email typhoonondoy@googlegroups.com.
Post a message, news article, or donation point to the Map on this form.
Useful Links
News and Updates
* Google News
* YouTube
* Official Government Site
* National Disaster Coordinating Council
* Local media websites
o ABS-CBN News (SOS Call Map)
o GMA News (Relief Map)
o Manila Bulletin
o Philippine Daily Inquirer
o Philippine Star
o Relief Map
Disaster Emergency
* Rescue Operations
o National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
o Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
o Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
o Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
o Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
o Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
o Quezon City Rescue (161)
o San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
o Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
o Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
o Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
* Civil Society/ Media
o Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
o Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
o Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
o ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
o Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
* Rubber Boat Requests, 4×4 Trucks
o NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
o Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue
please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
o You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
o For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
Online and In-Kind Donations
Below you'll find a list of groups in the Phillippines that are accepting cash and in-kind donations to help with disaster relief efforts:
Monetary Donations
1. Bank Donations
Account Name Bank Peso Account Number Dollar Account Number Branch Type of Account Swift Code
PNRC The Philippine National Red Cross METROBANK 151-3-041-63122-8 151-2-151-00218-2 Port Area Branch SAVINGS MBTC PH MM
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS 4991-0010-99 Port Area Branch CURRENT
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS 8114-0030-94 UN Branch SAVINGS BOPI PH MM
ABS-CBN FOUNDATION ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation BANCO DE ORO 5630060113 BDO Mother Ignacia
ABSCBN FOUNDATION - Sagip Kapamilya ABSCBN FOUNDATION - Sagip Kapamilya BANCO DE ORO 39300-48145 Sct. Albano Branch, Quezon Avenue
GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. METROBANK 3-098-51034-7 2-098-00244-2 SAVINGS MBTC PH MM
UCPB 115-184777-2 01-115-301177-9 SAVINGS UCPB PH MM
UCPB 160-111277-7 01-160-300427-6 SAVINGS UCPB PH MM
BANCO DE ORO 469-0022189 469-0072135 SAVINGS BNORPHM
PNB 121-0032000-17 121-0032000-25 SAVINGS PNB MPH MM
Corporate Network for Disaster Reponse 0031 0654 02 BPI Ayala Paseo Branch
2. Credit Card/PayPal Donations
* ABS-CBN Foundation
* Ayala Foundation
* GMA Kapuso Foundation
* Philippine Aid
* Philippine National Red Cross
* Unicef
* World Food Programme
3. SMS Donations
Procedure Smart Globe
PNRC type 'RED <amount> <Globe/Smart>'
eg. 'RED 100 4483' 4483 2899
TXT POWER 5577-5144-1866-7103 0917-9751092.
US based drop-off points
1. New York
NAFCON (Nat'l Alliance for Filipino Concerns)/SANDIWA Nat'l Alliance of Fil-Am Youth are now receiving relief donations (clothes, blankets, medical supplies, monetary). NY drop-off @ BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY 11377. Call (516)901-1832 or email sandiwa.national@gmail.com if you would like to help.
2. New Jersey
Drop-Off Points: 1) Sinugba Cafe – 561 Westside Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07304 2) Casa Victoria – 691 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306-2803 You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN's 'BALSA' (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)
For donations in New Jersey please contact:
(201)621-3156-Yves Nibungco
(917)476-7855- Nick Cordero
3. Los Angeles
In Los Angeles area please contact Kuu Hilo (818)395-9207. You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN's 'BALSA' (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)
4. San Francisco/Bay Area
For donations in San Francisco/Bay Area, please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at these sites. Checks can be made out to 'Lakasdiwa,' a non-profit organization that will send the funds directly to MIGRANTE International in the Philippines, a workers' organization directly helping the victims in the disaster relief efforts. Please put 'Typhoon Ondoy Relief' on the check's note.
Filipino Community Center
4681 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94112
Liwanag Kultural Center
Hillside Park Clubhouse 222 Lausanne Ave.
Daly City, CA 94014
Mondays 3:30-6:00
Tuesdays 3:30-6:00
Wednesdays 3:30-8:00
Thursdays 3:30-6:00
Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership
Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay
310 8th Street, Suite 215
Oakland, CA 94710
Stanford's Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is also collecting donations to be sent to the Philippines to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). If you would like to make a donation, please contact AV David at avhdavid@stanford.edu or (650) 491-4561.
In-Kind Donation
* Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
* NoyMar relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
* Miriam Quiambao drop off points: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
* Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
* Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
* Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
* Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
* Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
* Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
* Philippine National Red Cross different ways to Donate.
* Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
* Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
* Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)
* TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
* Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
* Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
* Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at La Salle Greenhills Gate 2 tomorrow or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
* Petron: You may bring your relief goods to all Petron branches.
* LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
* “LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray”: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, MeralcoAvenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
* MOONSHINE boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
* Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) — they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
* Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
* Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
* MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.
©2009 Google"
GoogleHelp for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines
On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy brought a month's worth of rainfall to Metro Manila and nearby areas in just a few hours, causing severe flooding which resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. This site compiles relevant information about the disaster, including a volunteer-maintained map of persons needing rescue and a list of relief organizations accepting donations, so that more help can be provided where it is needed. You can also keep track of the latest news on Google News and YouTube.
Know someone who needs help?
A group of volunteer map makers have been maintaining the map below, which documents flood updates and persons needing rescue. If you know someone who needs help urgently or if you would like to report the status of the flood in your area, please complete this form. The information will be sent to the group's main database for posting on the map.
Map data ©2009 Europa Technologies - Terms of Use
Road conditions
Donation centers
Situation map
Missing persons
Please click on each link above to view full-sized map on a new window.
Disclaimer: This map was initiated by a group of volunteers not directly connected with Google. We cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of all placemarks. If you are familiar with Google Maps and would like to help the group's volunteer efforts, please email typhoonondoy@googlegroups.com.
Post a message, news article, or donation point to the Map on this form.
Useful Links
News and Updates
* Google News
* YouTube
* Official Government Site
* National Disaster Coordinating Council
* Local media websites
o ABS-CBN News (SOS Call Map)
o GMA News (Relief Map)
o Manila Bulletin
o Philippine Daily Inquirer
o Philippine Star
o Relief Map
Disaster Emergency
* Rescue Operations
o National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
o Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
o Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
o Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
o Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
o Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
o Quezon City Rescue (161)
o San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
o Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
o Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
o Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)
* Civil Society/ Media
o Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
o Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
o Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
o ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
o Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968
* Rubber Boat Requests, 4×4 Trucks
o NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
o Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue
please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
o You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
o For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
Online and In-Kind Donations
Below you'll find a list of groups in the Phillippines that are accepting cash and in-kind donations to help with disaster relief efforts:
Monetary Donations
1. Bank Donations
Account Name Bank Peso Account Number Dollar Account Number Branch Type of Account Swift Code
PNRC The Philippine National Red Cross METROBANK 151-3-041-63122-8 151-2-151-00218-2 Port Area Branch SAVINGS MBTC PH MM
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS 4991-0010-99 Port Area Branch CURRENT
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS 8114-0030-94 UN Branch SAVINGS BOPI PH MM
ABS-CBN FOUNDATION ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation BANCO DE ORO 5630060113 BDO Mother Ignacia
ABSCBN FOUNDATION - Sagip Kapamilya ABSCBN FOUNDATION - Sagip Kapamilya BANCO DE ORO 39300-48145 Sct. Albano Branch, Quezon Avenue
GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. METROBANK 3-098-51034-7 2-098-00244-2 SAVINGS MBTC PH MM
UCPB 115-184777-2 01-115-301177-9 SAVINGS UCPB PH MM
UCPB 160-111277-7 01-160-300427-6 SAVINGS UCPB PH MM
BANCO DE ORO 469-0022189 469-0072135 SAVINGS BNORPHM
PNB 121-0032000-17 121-0032000-25 SAVINGS PNB MPH MM
Corporate Network for Disaster Reponse 0031 0654 02 BPI Ayala Paseo Branch
2. Credit Card/PayPal Donations
* ABS-CBN Foundation
* Ayala Foundation
* GMA Kapuso Foundation
* Philippine Aid
* Philippine National Red Cross
* Unicef
* World Food Programme
3. SMS Donations
Procedure Smart Globe
PNRC type 'RED <amount> <Globe/Smart>'
eg. 'RED 100 4483' 4483 2899
TXT POWER 5577-5144-1866-7103 0917-9751092.
US based drop-off points
1. New York
NAFCON (Nat'l Alliance for Filipino Concerns)/SANDIWA Nat'l Alliance of Fil-Am Youth are now receiving relief donations (clothes, blankets, medical supplies, monetary). NY drop-off @ BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY 11377. Call (516)901-1832 or email sandiwa.national@gmail.com if you would like to help.
2. New Jersey
Drop-Off Points: 1) Sinugba Cafe – 561 Westside Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07304 2) Casa Victoria – 691 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306-2803 You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN's 'BALSA' (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)
For donations in New Jersey please contact:
(201)621-3156-Yves Nibungco
(917)476-7855- Nick Cordero
3. Los Angeles
In Los Angeles area please contact Kuu Hilo (818)395-9207. You can send CASH through Metro Bank acct. 3 189 14540 1 For BAYAN's 'BALSA' (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)
4. San Francisco/Bay Area
For donations in San Francisco/Bay Area, please contact Ryan Leano (626)534-4971. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at these sites. Checks can be made out to 'Lakasdiwa,' a non-profit organization that will send the funds directly to MIGRANTE International in the Philippines, a workers' organization directly helping the victims in the disaster relief efforts. Please put 'Typhoon Ondoy Relief' on the check's note.
Filipino Community Center
4681 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94112
Liwanag Kultural Center
Hillside Park Clubhouse 222 Lausanne Ave.
Daly City, CA 94014
Mondays 3:30-6:00
Tuesdays 3:30-6:00
Wednesdays 3:30-8:00
Thursdays 3:30-6:00
Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership
Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay
310 8th Street, Suite 215
Oakland, CA 94710
Stanford's Pilipino American Student Union (PASU) is also collecting donations to be sent to the Philippines to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana). If you would like to make a donation, please contact AV David at avhdavid@stanford.edu or (650) 491-4561.
In-Kind Donation
* Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.
* NoyMar relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.
* Miriam Quiambao drop off points: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.
* Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.
* Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.
* Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)
* Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
* Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy
* Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.
* Philippine National Red Cross different ways to Donate.
* Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
* Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)
* Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)
* TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN
* Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
* Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
* Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at La Salle Greenhills Gate 2 tomorrow or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.
* Petron: You may bring your relief goods to all Petron branches.
* LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).
* “LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray”: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, MeralcoAvenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com
* MOONSHINE boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.
* Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) — they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.
* Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.
* Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
* MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.
©2009 Google"
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Turning Trash Into Power -- Biological Engineers Generate Natural Gas with Bacteria
Turning Trash Into Power -- Biological Engineers Generate Natural Gas with Bacteria:
October 1, 2006 — A new kind of waste digester uses two different strains of bacteria in different tanks. This would normally take place in the same environment, but microbiologists have now separated it into two stages that increases natural-gas production. The technology increases efficiency and can turn three tons of food scraps into enough energy to power 25 homes for a day.
October 1, 2006 — A new kind of waste digester uses two different strains of bacteria in different tanks. This would normally take place in the same environment, but microbiologists have now separated it into two stages that increases natural-gas production. The technology increases efficiency and can turn three tons of food scraps into enough energy to power 25 homes for a day.
DAVIS, Calif. -- There's a new twist on the old adage, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Now that trash may be another man's power. Researchers in California are turning garbage into bio-gas that may one day provide the electricity in your home.
Trash could soon be powering your home. A new digester can transform it into energy. It uses two strains of bacteria to convert waste into bio-gas. Most digesters store both bacteria in the same tank, which makes the process unpredictable and slow. But not this digester.
"Zhang's process takes the two bacteria and separates them into two separate environments," Dave Konwinski, the director of OnSite Power Systems in Davis, Calif., tells DBIS.
This new and improved digester is the brain child of Biological Engineer Ruihong Zhang. She and her students at UC Davis first built its prototype in the lab. She's thrilled her new technology is being put to use in the real world.
"It's a new technology ... So it's like a child grow into adult," she says.
The digester will turn three tons of food scraps into energy for 25 houses a day. But it's not just for homes. The digester could be especially useful to fuel processing plants. It s scheduled to be up and running this fall. OnSite Power Systems plans to market it in several states in the next couple of years, including California, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"We can actually scale a digester to fit their current operations, fill it right at their operations, take the waste stream into the digester, and the energy right back into the plant," Konwinski says. "It will make a substantial dent in our current energy requirement for petroleum."
It's a win-win-win situation for the environment, industry and consumers.
BACKGROUND: Environmental engineers at the University of California, Davis, are building a full-scale anaerobic digester that can convert any type of solid organic waste into electricity -- even leftovers from restaurants. The system is part of the $100,000 Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD pilot project), but an even larger digester system is being put into place in San Francisco.
HOW IT WORKS: In the process, food waste is collected from restaurants and institutions and then fed to bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments. It's called anaerobic digestion, a naturally occurring process of decomposition. One type of bacteria turns carbohydrates into simple sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. A second group of bacteria eats those compounds and turns them into hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and acetic acid -- the primary component of vinegar. Then a third group of bacteria takes those broken-down compounds and turns them into methane and carbon dioxide. Between 60 and 80 percent becomes methane. The methane can be used as fuel for an internal combustion engine that provides electricity.
TYPES OF DIGESTION: Anaerobic digestion is not the same thing as human digestion, since the type of bacteria that produce methane don't live in the human digestive tract. Industrial anaerobic digesters can also harness this natural process to treat waste, provide heat, and increase nutrients in soil. They are most commonly used for sewage treatment and for managing animal waste.
BENEFITS: The goal of SMUD is to obtain 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biodegradable matter by 2011. Currently SMUD derives 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, of which biomass accounts for 2.5 percent. The UC-Davis digester would keep food and other biodegradable waste out of landfills; food leftovers account for 18 percent of a landfill's contents. One tone of leftover food can produce enough fuel to power 18 homes for one day.
WHAT ARE EXTREMOPHILES? An extremophile is any microbe that thrives in extreme conditions, such as temperature (extreme heat or cold), pressure, salinity, low oxygen environments, or high concentrations of hostile chemicals. Most extremophiles belong to a class known as archaeobacteria, but certain species of worm, crustacean and krill can also be considered extremophiles.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Outsider Ron Paul finds support for Fed audit | Politics | Reuters
Outsider Ron Paul finds support for Fed audit | Politics | Reuters: "By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After decades of pushing long-shot causes like abolishing the income tax and reinstating the gold standard, Republican Representative Ron Paul finds himself in an unaccustomed spot: on the cusp of legislative victory.
A majority of the libertarian-leaning Texan's colleagues in the House of Representatives support his proposal to increase congressional scrutiny of the Federal Reserve, and the measure could be included in a broader banking overhaul this fall.
But don't expect the House to take up Paul's other pet causes, such as pulling out of the United Nations.
Experts say the success of his Federal Reserve Scrutiny Act reflects rising unease with the central bank's dramatic actions over the past year, rather than any increased influence stemming from Paul's quixotic 2008 presidential bid.
'He's finally found the right moment,' said Sarah Binder of the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution.
Paul's spokeswoman Rachel Mills agrees: 'His bill happens to be in the right place at the right time.'
The former obstetrician has pursued unpopular causes in a political career that has earned him the nickname 'Dr. No.'
He's proposed abolishing an alphabet soup of government agencies and repealing federal drug laws. He has called for withdrawing from trade pacts and military alliances like NATO and pulling U.S. troops back from overseas bases.
He was the only member to vote against awarding congressional medals to Pope John Paul II and civil rights leader Rosa Parks. He has defied his party by opposing the Iraq war and speaking out against a proposed ban on gay marriage.
Paul's 2008 presidential bid attracted a grass-roots following that hired blimps and swamped Web message boards.
Many have continued their activism this year -- visitors to RonPaul.com can enjoy songs like 'Audit the Fed' written and performed by supporters. His latest book, 'End the Fed,' is ranked #22 on Amazon.com's bestseller list.
UNEXPECTED CLOUT
As a renegade member of a political party that controls neither house of Congress, Paul would seem to have little legislative clout. None of the 57 bills he's introduced this year have attracted more than 12 co-sponsors.
The exception is his Federal Reserve Transparency Act, which would allow congressional investigators greater access to the Federal Reserve's records. All 178 House Republicans and 104 Democrats have signed on.
The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Democratic Representative Barney Frank, plans to work with Paul to include a Fed audit in broader legislation to revamp financial regulation that could come up for a vote in October. Continued..."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After decades of pushing long-shot causes like abolishing the income tax and reinstating the gold standard, Republican Representative Ron Paul finds himself in an unaccustomed spot: on the cusp of legislative victory.
A majority of the libertarian-leaning Texan's colleagues in the House of Representatives support his proposal to increase congressional scrutiny of the Federal Reserve, and the measure could be included in a broader banking overhaul this fall.
But don't expect the House to take up Paul's other pet causes, such as pulling out of the United Nations.
Experts say the success of his Federal Reserve Scrutiny Act reflects rising unease with the central bank's dramatic actions over the past year, rather than any increased influence stemming from Paul's quixotic 2008 presidential bid.
'He's finally found the right moment,' said Sarah Binder of the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution.
Paul's spokeswoman Rachel Mills agrees: 'His bill happens to be in the right place at the right time.'
The former obstetrician has pursued unpopular causes in a political career that has earned him the nickname 'Dr. No.'
He's proposed abolishing an alphabet soup of government agencies and repealing federal drug laws. He has called for withdrawing from trade pacts and military alliances like NATO and pulling U.S. troops back from overseas bases.
He was the only member to vote against awarding congressional medals to Pope John Paul II and civil rights leader Rosa Parks. He has defied his party by opposing the Iraq war and speaking out against a proposed ban on gay marriage.
Paul's 2008 presidential bid attracted a grass-roots following that hired blimps and swamped Web message boards.
Many have continued their activism this year -- visitors to RonPaul.com can enjoy songs like 'Audit the Fed' written and performed by supporters. His latest book, 'End the Fed,' is ranked #22 on Amazon.com's bestseller list.
UNEXPECTED CLOUT
As a renegade member of a political party that controls neither house of Congress, Paul would seem to have little legislative clout. None of the 57 bills he's introduced this year have attracted more than 12 co-sponsors.
The exception is his Federal Reserve Transparency Act, which would allow congressional investigators greater access to the Federal Reserve's records. All 178 House Republicans and 104 Democrats have signed on.
The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Democratic Representative Barney Frank, plans to work with Paul to include a Fed audit in broader legislation to revamp financial regulation that could come up for a vote in October. Continued..."
Lessons of the Financial Crisis - Council on Foreign Relations
Lessons of the Financial Crisis - Council on Foreign Relations: "Order this Publication
* DOWNLOAD THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT HERE (1.6 MB PDF)
Overview
A new report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Lessons of the Financial Crisis, calls for major economic reforms, both to avoid fueling excessive corporate and individual borrowing in the future and to make the financial system much more resilient in the face of falling asset prices. 'The crisis offers a sobering lesson about the dangers of policies that fuel the rapid buildup of debt across the economy,' says the report. 'Excessive leverage in the economy needs to be prevented because credit does not return to normal once asset prices stop rising and start falling. It becomes dangerously scarce.'
Although many are arguing that the crisis is a direct result of lax regulation, 'U.S. monetary policy, taxation policy, and home ownership promotion policy were so conducive to credit expansion that the idea, understandably popular in Washington and Brussels, that preventing future such crises can be accomplished simply by waking up regulators ‘asleep at the switch' is dangerously simplistic,' says Benn Steil, senior fellow and director of international economics at CFR. 'The United States in particular, given that it effectively sets monetary and credit conditions for a significant portion of the global economy, needs to put in place policies that can better discourage, recognize, and curtail a credit boom, and ensure that systemically important financial institutions can withstand its unwinding.' Steil lays out specific recommendations for reforming the international financial architecture, bank capital standards, borrower screening and monitoring, corporate and individual taxation regimes, over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets infrastructure, corporate governance, and monetary policy.
The report's recommendations include the following:
* Corporation finance: 'U.S. corporations face an astounding 42 percentage-point effective tax rate penalty for equity-financed investments. ...It is imperative that this disparity be addressed as part of wider efforts to make the tax system less distortionary in its effects on economic activity generally.'
* Mortgage finance: '[M]ortgage interest deductibility...does nothing to assist low-income families, as few of them pay federal income tax. ...It should, together with home equity loan interest deductibility, be dramatically scaled down once the housing market has revived.'
* Capital standards: 'Capital requirements should be made countercyclical, rather than procyclical, by raising them in line with growth in a bank's assets--that is, banks should be obliged to build up their capital faster when credit is expanding.'
* Credit ratings agencies (CRAs): 'The second flaw in the [bank capital] regime is the role of officially sanctioned credit ratings agencies in assigning the risk ratings that determine capital requirements. ...But other, sounder metrics are available for this purpose; for example, the size of the asset's yield spread over Treasurys. CRAs...are rife with conflicts of interest that cannot be regulated away...and should not have any formal role in the regulatory process.'
* OTC markets infrastructure: '[T]he over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets, particularly credit default swaps...involve no central clearinghouse to track exposures, net trades, novate trades, collect margin, and absorb default risk. The result was an unmonitored and unchecked build-up of exposures that threatened to bring down other significant market participants, and ultimately forced the U.S. government to bail out AIG at massive, and still growing, cost. ...U.S. and European regulators (whose institutions account for the vast bulk of OTC trading) should therefore oblige regulated central clearing, whether trading is on- or off-exchange, once volume barriers in a given contract are breached.'
* International financial architecture: '[One] option is for countries, particularly smaller ones, to self-insure against currency crises by replacing their national currencies with one of the two globally accepted means of international payment, the dollar or the euro. ...Countries that are dollarized...and euroized have in the current crisis been spared the devastation of mass capital flight. Countries on the periphery of the eurozone...have suffered far more from the global financial upheaval than their euroized neighbors.'"
* DOWNLOAD THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT HERE (1.6 MB PDF)
Overview
A new report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Lessons of the Financial Crisis, calls for major economic reforms, both to avoid fueling excessive corporate and individual borrowing in the future and to make the financial system much more resilient in the face of falling asset prices. 'The crisis offers a sobering lesson about the dangers of policies that fuel the rapid buildup of debt across the economy,' says the report. 'Excessive leverage in the economy needs to be prevented because credit does not return to normal once asset prices stop rising and start falling. It becomes dangerously scarce.'
Although many are arguing that the crisis is a direct result of lax regulation, 'U.S. monetary policy, taxation policy, and home ownership promotion policy were so conducive to credit expansion that the idea, understandably popular in Washington and Brussels, that preventing future such crises can be accomplished simply by waking up regulators ‘asleep at the switch' is dangerously simplistic,' says Benn Steil, senior fellow and director of international economics at CFR. 'The United States in particular, given that it effectively sets monetary and credit conditions for a significant portion of the global economy, needs to put in place policies that can better discourage, recognize, and curtail a credit boom, and ensure that systemically important financial institutions can withstand its unwinding.' Steil lays out specific recommendations for reforming the international financial architecture, bank capital standards, borrower screening and monitoring, corporate and individual taxation regimes, over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets infrastructure, corporate governance, and monetary policy.
The report's recommendations include the following:
* Corporation finance: 'U.S. corporations face an astounding 42 percentage-point effective tax rate penalty for equity-financed investments. ...It is imperative that this disparity be addressed as part of wider efforts to make the tax system less distortionary in its effects on economic activity generally.'
* Mortgage finance: '[M]ortgage interest deductibility...does nothing to assist low-income families, as few of them pay federal income tax. ...It should, together with home equity loan interest deductibility, be dramatically scaled down once the housing market has revived.'
* Capital standards: 'Capital requirements should be made countercyclical, rather than procyclical, by raising them in line with growth in a bank's assets--that is, banks should be obliged to build up their capital faster when credit is expanding.'
* Credit ratings agencies (CRAs): 'The second flaw in the [bank capital] regime is the role of officially sanctioned credit ratings agencies in assigning the risk ratings that determine capital requirements. ...But other, sounder metrics are available for this purpose; for example, the size of the asset's yield spread over Treasurys. CRAs...are rife with conflicts of interest that cannot be regulated away...and should not have any formal role in the regulatory process.'
* OTC markets infrastructure: '[T]he over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets, particularly credit default swaps...involve no central clearinghouse to track exposures, net trades, novate trades, collect margin, and absorb default risk. The result was an unmonitored and unchecked build-up of exposures that threatened to bring down other significant market participants, and ultimately forced the U.S. government to bail out AIG at massive, and still growing, cost. ...U.S. and European regulators (whose institutions account for the vast bulk of OTC trading) should therefore oblige regulated central clearing, whether trading is on- or off-exchange, once volume barriers in a given contract are breached.'
* International financial architecture: '[One] option is for countries, particularly smaller ones, to self-insure against currency crises by replacing their national currencies with one of the two globally accepted means of international payment, the dollar or the euro. ...Countries that are dollarized...and euroized have in the current crisis been spared the devastation of mass capital flight. Countries on the periphery of the eurozone...have suffered far more from the global financial upheaval than their euroized neighbors.'"
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Backs US$250 Billion SDR Allocation to Boost Global Liquidity
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Backs US$250 Billion SDR Allocation to Boost Global Liquidity: "Press Release No. 09/264
July 20, 2009
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has backed an allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) equivalent to US$250 billion to provide liquidity to the global economic system by supplementing the Fund’s 186 member countries’ foreign exchange reserves. The equivalent of nearly US$100 billion of the new allocation will go to emerging markets and developing countries, of which low-income countries will receive over US$18 billion. The proposal will now be submitted to the IMF’s Board of Governors for final approval.
“The SDR allocation is a key part of the Fund’s response to the global crisis, offering significant support to its members in these difficult times,” IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.
The SDR allocation was requested as part of a US$1.1 trillion plan agreed at the G-20 summit in London in April and endorsed by the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) to tackle the global financial and economic crisis by restoring credit, growth and jobs in the world economy. If approved by the Board of Governors with an 85 percent majority of the total voting power in a vote scheduled to close on August 7, the SDR allocation will be in effect on August 28.
'The allocation is a prime example of a cooperative monetary response to the global financial crisis,' the Managing Director underscored.
The SDR allocation will be made to IMF members that are participants in the Special Drawing Rights Department (currently all members) in proportion to their existing quotas in the Fund, which are based broadly on their relative size in the global economy. The operation will increase each country’s allocation of SDRs by approximately 74 percent of its quota, and Fund members’ total allocation to an amount equivalent to about $283 billion, from about $33 billion (SDR 21.4 billion).
SDRs allocated to members will count toward their reserve assets, acting as a low cost liquidity buffer for low-income countries and emerging markets and reducing the need for excessive self-insurance. Some members may choose to sell part or all of their allocation to other members in exchange for hard currency--for example, to meet balance of payments needs--while other members may choose to buy more SDRs as a means of reallocating their reserves. In supporting the allocation proposal, the Executive Board stressed that it should not weaken the pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies, and should not substitute for a Fund-supported program or postpone needed policy adjustments."
July 20, 2009
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has backed an allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) equivalent to US$250 billion to provide liquidity to the global economic system by supplementing the Fund’s 186 member countries’ foreign exchange reserves. The equivalent of nearly US$100 billion of the new allocation will go to emerging markets and developing countries, of which low-income countries will receive over US$18 billion. The proposal will now be submitted to the IMF’s Board of Governors for final approval.
“The SDR allocation is a key part of the Fund’s response to the global crisis, offering significant support to its members in these difficult times,” IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.
The SDR allocation was requested as part of a US$1.1 trillion plan agreed at the G-20 summit in London in April and endorsed by the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) to tackle the global financial and economic crisis by restoring credit, growth and jobs in the world economy. If approved by the Board of Governors with an 85 percent majority of the total voting power in a vote scheduled to close on August 7, the SDR allocation will be in effect on August 28.
'The allocation is a prime example of a cooperative monetary response to the global financial crisis,' the Managing Director underscored.
The SDR allocation will be made to IMF members that are participants in the Special Drawing Rights Department (currently all members) in proportion to their existing quotas in the Fund, which are based broadly on their relative size in the global economy. The operation will increase each country’s allocation of SDRs by approximately 74 percent of its quota, and Fund members’ total allocation to an amount equivalent to about $283 billion, from about $33 billion (SDR 21.4 billion).
SDRs allocated to members will count toward their reserve assets, acting as a low cost liquidity buffer for low-income countries and emerging markets and reducing the need for excessive self-insurance. Some members may choose to sell part or all of their allocation to other members in exchange for hard currency--for example, to meet balance of payments needs--while other members may choose to buy more SDRs as a means of reallocating their reserves. In supporting the allocation proposal, the Executive Board stressed that it should not weaken the pursuit of prudent macroeconomic policies, and should not substitute for a Fund-supported program or postpone needed policy adjustments."
Factsheet -- Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
Factsheet -- Special Drawing Rights (SDRs):
The role of the SDR
The SDR was created by the IMF in 1969 to support the Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system. A country participating in this system needed official reserves—government or central bank holdings of gold and widely accepted foreign currencies—that could be used to purchase the domestic currency in foreign exchange markets, as required to maintain its exchange rate. But the international supply of two key reserve assets—gold and the U.S. dollar—proved inadequate for supporting the expansion of world trade and financial development that was taking place. Therefore, the international community decided to create a new international reserve asset under the auspices of the IMF.
However, only a few years later, the Bretton Woods system collapsed and the major currencies shifted to a floating exchange rate regime. In addition, the growth in international capital markets facilitated borrowing by creditworthy governments. Both of these developments lessened the need for SDRs.
The SDR is neither a currency, nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Holders of SDRs can obtain these currencies in exchange for their SDRs in two ways: first, through the arrangement of voluntary exchanges between members; and second, by the IMF designating members with strong external positions to purchase SDRs from members with weak external positions. In addition to its role as a supplementary reserve asset, the SDR, serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international organizations.
Basket of currencies determines the value of the SDR
The value of the SDR was initially defined as equivalent to 0.888671 grams of fine gold—which, at the time, was also equivalent to one U.S. dollar. After the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973, however, the SDR was redefined as a basket of currencies, today consisting of the euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling, and U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar-value of the SDR is posted daily on the IMF’s website. It is calculated as the sum of specific amounts of the four currencies valued in U.S. dollars, on the basis of exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market.
The basket composition is reviewed every five years by the Executive Board to ensure that it reflects the relative importance of currencies in the world’s trading and financial systems. In the most recent review (in November 2005), the weights of the currencies in the SDR basket were revised based on the value of the exports of goods and services and the amount of reserves denominated in the respective currencies which were held by other members of the IMF. These changes became effective on January 1, 2006. The next review will take place in late 2010.
The SDR interest rate
The SDR interest rate provides the basis for calculating the interest charged to members on regular (non-concessional) IMF loans, the interest paid and charged to members on their SDR holdings, and the interest paid to members on a portion of their quota subscriptions. The SDR interest rate is determined weekly and is based on a weighted average of representative interest rates on short-term debt in the money markets of the SDR basket currencies.
SDR allocations to IMF members
Under its Articles of Agreement, the IMF may allocate SDRs to members in proportion to their IMF quotas. Such an allocation provides each member with a costless asset. However, if a member’s SDR holdings rise above its allocation, it earns interest on the excess; conversely, if it holds fewer SDRs than allocated, it pays interest on the shortfall.
There are two kinds of allocations:
General allocations of SDRs. General allocations have to be based on a long-term global need to supplement existing reserve assets. Decisions to allocate SDRs have been made three times. The first allocation was for a total amount of SDR 9.3 billion, distributed in 1970-72 in yearly installments. The second allocation, for SDR 12.1 billion, was distributed in 1979–81 in yearly installments.
The third general allocation was approved on August 7, 2009 for an amount of SDR 161.2 billion and will take place on August 28, 2009. The allocation would mean a simultaneous increase in eligible members’ SDR holdings and in their cumulative SDR allocation by about 74.13 percent of their quota.
Special allocations of SDRs. A proposal for a special one-time allocation of SDRs was approved by the IMF’s Board of Governors in September 1997 through the proposed Fourth Amendment of the Articles of Agreement. Its intent is to enable all members of the IMF to participate in the SDR system on an equitable basis and correct for the fact that countries that joined the Fund after 1981—more than one-fifth of the current IMF membership—have never received an SDR allocation. This allocation would increase members' cumulative SDR allocations by SDR 21.5 billion using a common benchmark ratio as described in the amendment.
The Fourth Amendment became effective for all members on August 10, 2009 when the Fund certified that at least three-fifths of the IMF membership (112 members) with 85 percent of the total voting power accepted it. On August 5, 2009, the United States joined 133 other members in supporting the Amendment. The special allocation will be implemented on September 9, 2009.
Buying and selling SDRs
IMF members often need to buy SDRs to discharge obligations to the IMF, or they may wish to sell SDRs in order to adjust the composition of their reserves. The IMF acts as a broker between members and prescribed holders to ensure that SDRs can be exchanged for freely usable currencies. For more than two decades, the SDR market has functioned through voluntary trading arrangements. Under these arrangements a number of members and one prescribed holder have volunteered to buy or sell SDRs within limits defined by the arrangement. In view of the expected increase in the volume of transactions following the 2009 SDR allocations, the number and size of the voluntary arrangements is being expanded to ensure continued liquidity of the voluntary SDR market.
In the event that there is insufficient capacity under the voluntary trading arrangements, the Fund can activate the designation mechanism. Under this mechanism, members with sufficiently strong external positions are designated by the Fund to buy SDRs with freely usable currencies up to certain amounts from members with weak external positions. This arrangement serves as a backstop to guarantee the liquidity and the reserve asset character of the SDR."
The role of the SDR
The SDR was created by the IMF in 1969 to support the Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system. A country participating in this system needed official reserves—government or central bank holdings of gold and widely accepted foreign currencies—that could be used to purchase the domestic currency in foreign exchange markets, as required to maintain its exchange rate. But the international supply of two key reserve assets—gold and the U.S. dollar—proved inadequate for supporting the expansion of world trade and financial development that was taking place. Therefore, the international community decided to create a new international reserve asset under the auspices of the IMF.
However, only a few years later, the Bretton Woods system collapsed and the major currencies shifted to a floating exchange rate regime. In addition, the growth in international capital markets facilitated borrowing by creditworthy governments. Both of these developments lessened the need for SDRs.
The SDR is neither a currency, nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Holders of SDRs can obtain these currencies in exchange for their SDRs in two ways: first, through the arrangement of voluntary exchanges between members; and second, by the IMF designating members with strong external positions to purchase SDRs from members with weak external positions. In addition to its role as a supplementary reserve asset, the SDR, serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international organizations.
Basket of currencies determines the value of the SDR
The value of the SDR was initially defined as equivalent to 0.888671 grams of fine gold—which, at the time, was also equivalent to one U.S. dollar. After the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973, however, the SDR was redefined as a basket of currencies, today consisting of the euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling, and U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar-value of the SDR is posted daily on the IMF’s website. It is calculated as the sum of specific amounts of the four currencies valued in U.S. dollars, on the basis of exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market.
The basket composition is reviewed every five years by the Executive Board to ensure that it reflects the relative importance of currencies in the world’s trading and financial systems. In the most recent review (in November 2005), the weights of the currencies in the SDR basket were revised based on the value of the exports of goods and services and the amount of reserves denominated in the respective currencies which were held by other members of the IMF. These changes became effective on January 1, 2006. The next review will take place in late 2010.
The SDR interest rate
The SDR interest rate provides the basis for calculating the interest charged to members on regular (non-concessional) IMF loans, the interest paid and charged to members on their SDR holdings, and the interest paid to members on a portion of their quota subscriptions. The SDR interest rate is determined weekly and is based on a weighted average of representative interest rates on short-term debt in the money markets of the SDR basket currencies.
SDR allocations to IMF members
Under its Articles of Agreement, the IMF may allocate SDRs to members in proportion to their IMF quotas. Such an allocation provides each member with a costless asset. However, if a member’s SDR holdings rise above its allocation, it earns interest on the excess; conversely, if it holds fewer SDRs than allocated, it pays interest on the shortfall.
There are two kinds of allocations:
General allocations of SDRs. General allocations have to be based on a long-term global need to supplement existing reserve assets. Decisions to allocate SDRs have been made three times. The first allocation was for a total amount of SDR 9.3 billion, distributed in 1970-72 in yearly installments. The second allocation, for SDR 12.1 billion, was distributed in 1979–81 in yearly installments.
The third general allocation was approved on August 7, 2009 for an amount of SDR 161.2 billion and will take place on August 28, 2009. The allocation would mean a simultaneous increase in eligible members’ SDR holdings and in their cumulative SDR allocation by about 74.13 percent of their quota.
Special allocations of SDRs. A proposal for a special one-time allocation of SDRs was approved by the IMF’s Board of Governors in September 1997 through the proposed Fourth Amendment of the Articles of Agreement. Its intent is to enable all members of the IMF to participate in the SDR system on an equitable basis and correct for the fact that countries that joined the Fund after 1981—more than one-fifth of the current IMF membership—have never received an SDR allocation. This allocation would increase members' cumulative SDR allocations by SDR 21.5 billion using a common benchmark ratio as described in the amendment.
The Fourth Amendment became effective for all members on August 10, 2009 when the Fund certified that at least three-fifths of the IMF membership (112 members) with 85 percent of the total voting power accepted it. On August 5, 2009, the United States joined 133 other members in supporting the Amendment. The special allocation will be implemented on September 9, 2009.
Buying and selling SDRs
IMF members often need to buy SDRs to discharge obligations to the IMF, or they may wish to sell SDRs in order to adjust the composition of their reserves. The IMF acts as a broker between members and prescribed holders to ensure that SDRs can be exchanged for freely usable currencies. For more than two decades, the SDR market has functioned through voluntary trading arrangements. Under these arrangements a number of members and one prescribed holder have volunteered to buy or sell SDRs within limits defined by the arrangement. In view of the expected increase in the volume of transactions following the 2009 SDR allocations, the number and size of the voluntary arrangements is being expanded to ensure continued liquidity of the voluntary SDR market.
In the event that there is insufficient capacity under the voluntary trading arrangements, the Fund can activate the designation mechanism. Under this mechanism, members with sufficiently strong external positions are designated by the Fund to buy SDRs with freely usable currencies up to certain amounts from members with weak external positions. This arrangement serves as a backstop to guarantee the liquidity and the reserve asset character of the SDR."
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Understanding Microgravity | Astrogenetix
Understanding Microgravity | Astrogenetix: "'Gravity' refers to the force exerted by the Earth on objects in its vicinity; standing on the surface of the earth an object behaves within the environment of this force. Conversely, a “microgravity” or “micro-g” environment is one in which gravity has a minuscule effect on a mass and represents a material reduction in the gravitational forces under which objects behave on Earth.
The myth that a satellite remains in orbit because it operates far enough from Earth’s gravitational pull is untrue. Gravity still exists in orbit. A satellite stays suspended because its location and speed work together to create a centrifugal equilibrium that counteracts Earth’s gravitational pull. A state of microgravity is achieved because the object in orbit is in a constant state of free fall. In this environment objects are not subject to sedimentation, gravity-drive convection or hydrostatic pressure. For particular projects these and other micro-g conditions create research settings far superior to those we can establish on Earth.
The first micro-g experiments took place on the Apollo spacecraft in 1957 when the first men went into space. Since then scientists have conducted thousands of experiments that have helped build our understanding of microgravity and the benefits of conducting research within its environments."
The myth that a satellite remains in orbit because it operates far enough from Earth’s gravitational pull is untrue. Gravity still exists in orbit. A satellite stays suspended because its location and speed work together to create a centrifugal equilibrium that counteracts Earth’s gravitational pull. A state of microgravity is achieved because the object in orbit is in a constant state of free fall. In this environment objects are not subject to sedimentation, gravity-drive convection or hydrostatic pressure. For particular projects these and other micro-g conditions create research settings far superior to those we can establish on Earth.
The first micro-g experiments took place on the Apollo spacecraft in 1957 when the first men went into space. Since then scientists have conducted thousands of experiments that have helped build our understanding of microgravity and the benefits of conducting research within its environments."
Services | Astrogenetix
Services | Astrogenetix:
Astrogenetix is uniquely positioned to offer our Microgravity Processing (MGP) services on a contract research basis. We are the only entity capable of providing not only access to a microgravity environment, but also the skills, resources and experience to provide end-to-end mission assurance for an experimental protocol. Many pharmaceutical industry development programs are being delayed or have failed due to a lack of appropriate research and development tools; Astrogenetix is equipped to step in and help facilitate these programs. Working in the rigorous NASA environment for more than 25 years, our team has participated in many missions with a large set of government, academic and commercial customers. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking to outsource research and development projects in the pre-clinical and clinical phases should contact us to find out more about how we can help facilitate to-market processes more quickly and affordably.
Astrogenetix offers three types of services:
* Biomarker Discovery (target discovery, lead compound development, etc.)
* Preclinical Studies (in-vitro experimentation in microgravity)
* Microgravity Processing"
Astrogenetix is uniquely positioned to offer our Microgravity Processing (MGP) services on a contract research basis. We are the only entity capable of providing not only access to a microgravity environment, but also the skills, resources and experience to provide end-to-end mission assurance for an experimental protocol. Many pharmaceutical industry development programs are being delayed or have failed due to a lack of appropriate research and development tools; Astrogenetix is equipped to step in and help facilitate these programs. Working in the rigorous NASA environment for more than 25 years, our team has participated in many missions with a large set of government, academic and commercial customers. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking to outsource research and development projects in the pre-clinical and clinical phases should contact us to find out more about how we can help facilitate to-market processes more quickly and affordably.
Astrogenetix offers three types of services:
* Biomarker Discovery (target discovery, lead compound development, etc.)
* Preclinical Studies (in-vitro experimentation in microgravity)
* Microgravity Processing"
About Us | Astrogenetix
About Us | Astrogenetix:
Astrogenetix, Inc. was formed by Astrotech Corporation to commercialize biotechnology products processed in the unique environment of microgravity. Through expertise gained by sending more than 1,500 NASA science experiments into space, Astrogenetix is exclusively positioned to help commercialize products derived from microgravity discoveries. We offer a turn-key platform for pre-flight sample preparation, flight hardware, mission planning and operations, crew training and certification processes needed within the highly regulated and complex environment of manned space flight. Astrogenetix is one of the first commercial entities to hold a Space Act Agreement with NASA for use of the International Space Station (ISS), a designated U.S. National Laboratory, for research, development and industrial processing purposes. This agreement, along with our relationship with various universities and government agencies and departments, gives us the ability to process valuable products in space to be commercialized on Earth."
Astrogenetix, Inc. was formed by Astrotech Corporation to commercialize biotechnology products processed in the unique environment of microgravity. Through expertise gained by sending more than 1,500 NASA science experiments into space, Astrogenetix is exclusively positioned to help commercialize products derived from microgravity discoveries. We offer a turn-key platform for pre-flight sample preparation, flight hardware, mission planning and operations, crew training and certification processes needed within the highly regulated and complex environment of manned space flight. Astrogenetix is one of the first commercial entities to hold a Space Act Agreement with NASA for use of the International Space Station (ISS), a designated U.S. National Laboratory, for research, development and industrial processing purposes. This agreement, along with our relationship with various universities and government agencies and departments, gives us the ability to process valuable products in space to be commercialized on Earth."
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