Friday, October 22, 2010

Recycle Gold And Preserve Natural Resources


Gold is a very useful metal and is widely used all over the world for different purposes. A very huge percentage of world’s gold is in the form of gold jewelry and it is also the most common form in which people prefer to buy and sell gold. During ancient times gold was used as money in the form of gold bars and coins. It is also used for many electronic and technical purposes because of its metallic properties. Gold is used in different forms and purity for different purposes. The purest form of gold is 24 karat and 10 karat being the form that contains maximum amount of other metal.

In fact the importance of gold can be calculated from the fact that all the honors and awards in this world are using gold medals and gold trophies. So, if you ever think to sell gold, there are numerous buyers who are ready to buy it. Moreover, you will be doing your bit to help the environment by allowing recycling of this precious metal. Higher the percentage of people selling gold, lower will be the requirement for its mining.

If you sell gold, you are making quick money, using something that was unusable and at the same time helping the environment by using the natural resources.

Great Find Borghese Cosmetics



Cosmetics are widely used nowadays, to heighten up ones physical features and blend colors to add a new shade on your looks. These cosmetics are all natural and taken from the earth’s natural resources that helped humans enhance their beauty. With everyday activities our skin collects all impurities and sufferings from the damaging rays of the sun. It tends to be dry and flaky at the end of the day. The key to a vibrant skin is protecting it from the harmful heat, moisturizing and hydrating it to return to its natural glow. No one goes to a party with a bland face; one has to look good and presentable with everybody. People usually bring cosmetics and do re-touch in between breaks to maintain their looks, but does it not dry up the skin? Borghese cosmetics contain natural hydrating oils that will not destroy the natural skin.

Borghese cosmetics are the ultimate skin protector that helps soothes dry skin and helps rejuvenate it again. Natural products such as these can be the best friend of our sensitive skin. It has a combination of natural oils that help revitalize, refresh, and reveal healthier looking skin. These cosmetics not only help in making us beautiful but also protect the skin from environmental exposure. It’s gentle in the skin giving you a soothing feeling.

Vibrant, healthy looking skin is not that hard to achieve with good hygiene and using natural beauty products like borghese cosmetics. It enhances the beauty without destroying the skin. To be good looking, with a healthier skin that comes in naturally is what these cosmetics are about.

3 Common Ways To Get Rid Of Bacterial Vaginosis Infection




1. Treating bacterial vaginosis with medicine

When you suspect you have bacterial vaginosis, the first thing you need to do is to see your doctor to make sure it is indeed bacterial vaginosis and not something else. Only after that you will be given the appropriate treatment. The conventional medical treatment doctors prescribe for bacterial vaginosis infection is antibiotics, which can in the form of oral medicine, or vaginal gel or cream.

The function of antibiotics is to kill the infection-causing bacteria. When the disease-causing microorganisms are eliminated, the symptoms will subside and eventually diminish, and you will be said as cured. Many women do find antibiotic treatment effective for their bacterial vaginosis, but even more women get repeated episodes of the infection after that.

2. Over the counter treatment for bacterial vaginosis

Various types of OTC treatment for bacterial vaginosis can be found in the drug stores. However, you need to know how to differentiate between the symptom-relieving products and those that are able to target the real cause of bacterial vaginosis.

Vaginal anti-itch creams - These creams are used to stop or reduce itching. They don’t target the underlying cause of bacterial vaginosis, but simply providing temporary relief. The itchiness may be gone, but the infection stays on.

Probiotic supplements and lactate vaginal gels - These products contain compounds that are able to treat the true cause of bacterial vaginosis ie vaginal pH imbalance.

3. Natural bacterial vaginosis cures

So, exactly how to get rid of bacterial vaginosis once and for all? A simple answer to this is to take advantage of the natural resources. Natural treatments seem to have higher success rate in most women. Many women tested and found that treating bacterial vaginosis using a natural approach produced desirable results faster, cheaper and permanently.

Information on natural bv cures and home remedies is aplenty on the web and book; you may spend some days searching for different methods to try.

Officials Say Levee Failing Near Wis. Park

A levee along the gucci shoes Wisconsin River was failing Sunday, flooding the access road leading to a park area and cutting off any residents who did not heed daylong warnings to evacuate.

It wasn't clear how many of the roughly 300 residents remained in Blackhawk Park around 4 p.m. Sunday when the road was closed after water started leaking from the Caledonia Levee south of Highway 33. The levee had not collapsed, but officials said enough water was coming through it that it wasn't considered safe.
The Portage Daily Register reported that gucci handbags the water was about 6 inches deep on some roads Sunday afternoon, and people were wading, pushing strollers and riding bicylces through the water.

The Columbia County Emergency Management Office wasn't letting anybody in or out of Blackhawk Park and warned all morning that emergency vehicles, including police, fire and ambulances, would not be able to reach any residents who stayed behind.

Kathy Johnson, deputy director of the Columbia County Emergency Management Office, told The Associated Press that in the event of an emergency, "people are going to have to come out by boat."
"The residents down there are used to having high water and dealing with high water a lot but this could be something that they've never seen, with this amount of water," Johnson said.

Johnson said the Department of Natural Resources had been walking the levee all night and fixed one weak spot, but that repair failed and there was nothing more authorities could do.

She said those who evacuated might be out of their homes for up to a week. A Red Cross reception center was opened at the Portage St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.

Lindsay Remus told the Portage Daily Reporter that she, her husband and 17-month old daughter planned to stay in a motel for a few days. Their home is on a hill and unlikely to be flooded, but officials were urging them to leave as water filled roadways.

"It's kind of a feeling of hopelessness," Remus said. "The water is out of control."
The Wisconsin River had reached 20.34 feet in Portage near the Highway 33 bridge by Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. That is above the predicted crest, which previous forecasts said would happen on Monday.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin, water levels were receding in many areas, and officials began documenting damage. Some roads remained washed out.

Emergency management officials said at least 10 homes in Stevens Point remained evacuated Sunday. Officials in Sauk County were suggesting that residents in low lying areas along the Wisconsin River evacuate.

Elsewhere, in the small South Dakota town of Renner, just north of Sioux Falls, sandbags were being filled to deal with any unexpected rise of the Big Sioux River.

Officials said about 10,000 sandbags had been placed and another 10,000 would be filled and stockpiled.
The National Weather Service expects the river to crest Monday morning about 4 feet over flood stage.

The Big Sioux River has been running high all summer. Heavy rain last week pushed the river over its banks from Brookings south to Sioux Falls.

In Minnesota, residents of Zumbro Falls and Hammond — two of the cities hardest-hit by flooding from last week's heavy rains — got a chance to briefly go to their homes to fetch medications or other essentials. It was the first look many had of the damage.

In Hammond, an estimated 70 percent of the houses are unsalvageable.

Newlyweds Chad and Tiffany Domke returned to the trailer home they share with Chad Domke's uncle to find it submerged.

Natural Resources Human Capital Challenges In Latin America

one challenge transcends national borders. It also presents a strikingly similar long-term growth barrier for nearly all of the world's leading natural resources companies – that is, the scarcity of human capital and skilled leadership talent.

Looking ahead to the issues that will frame many Natural Resources challenges across the Latin America region, Jorge Velaochaga, managing partner for TRANSEARCH Peru and Regional Director for Latin America, says the business cycle will inevitably bring change.

"The industry will continue growing but companies and top executives should be cautious since we might eventually enter into a new downturn in the economy," Velaochaga says. "The challenge thus is to harmonize both perspectives avoiding the 'over expectation' syndrome that could put compensation packages at levels that are not sustainable."

He says natural resources companies across Latin America are facing pressure to recruit and retain personnel in general, not only at the top executive levels. Some companies have taken steps to improve working conditions at sites while others have implemented new human resource policies to help attract new talent into their workforce.

Velaochaga explains that these new approaches to workforce engagement and retention have put natural resources managers into a position from which they are building teams, inviting innovative ideas from the workforce and engaging in honest dialogue about career progression within their workforces.

Latin America continues to demand and draw from a truly global pool of executive talent in natural resources through executive search assignments, he adds, and given the competition for the best leaders, it's likely that many more companies will need to recognize that many of their vacant leadership positions could indeed be filled by strong, adaptable executives coming from other sectors.

The Green Bath Rug Guide - Choosing Eco-friendly Bath Rugs

Moreover, due to damage and unwanted mildews, people tend to throw away these mats which are commonly made from synthetic materials; regularly doing this can seriously harm the environment. That is why choosing a green bath rug or an eco friendly rug can help a lot to minimize the damage you are doing to the environment.

Is a 'Green' Bath Rug a Great Choice?

Nowadays, there are already tons of eco friendly carpet mats available. These green runners are made from different types of natural resources that can also effectively absorb moisture and ward off unwanted mildew just like common rugs made from synthetic materials.

When compared to bathroom rugs made from synthetic materials, a green bath rug provides additional benefits that cannot be achieved when using mats with manmade resources. Rugs made from eco friendly materials are usually made from natural and sustainable materials while common rugs which make use of synthetic supplies make use of harmful chemicals and other limited resources that can further damage the environment.

Why You Should Choose a 'Green' Rug

Choosing a green bath rug entitles you with the benefits offered by choosing environmentally friendly materials over synthetic ones which further harm the environment. Organic bathroom mats do not trigger or aggravate any allergies caused by the contact of the human skin to different harmful chemicals present in bath rugs made from synthetic resources.

Eco friendly mats are made from sustainable materials which means that you are not depleting any environmental resources through the use of non biodegradable mats as the resources used can grow again.

Cotton, wool, plant fibers, and other natural fibers are commonly used in creating eco friendly runners, these natural materials feel good to the feet and they are also naturally mildew resistant and easy to clean and maintain.

Choosing environmentally friendly rugs over synthetic ones are definitely a great choice nowadays as people are now continuously encouraged using eco friendly and sustainable resources. Choosing green bathroom rugs over synthetic ones is definitely a great step towards preserving the environment while also providing your bathroom with a functional and stylish bath rug.

What Are Xanthan & Guar Gum & Why Are They Gluten Food Replacements, Considering Their Side Effects.

Surprisingly, gluten is actually not the real issue for celiac and gluten intolerant people (up to 20% of the population) - it is the ‘prolamin' portion of the molecules in the grains mentioned above. That is, it is "the toxic component of the gluten molecule lies in the prolamin portion. In wheat this portion is called gliadin. It comprises approximately 40 - 50% of the protein. In rye this portion is called secalin. It comprises approximately 30 - 40% of the protein. In barley this portion is called hordein. It comprises approximately 35 - 45% of the protein. In oats this portion is called avenin. It comprises approximately 10 - 15% of the protein. There are prolamins in rice, corn and other foods but these do not contain the toxic tetrapeptide(s) which are reportedly responsible for the villous damage and rash" experienced by celiacs and people with ‘gluten' sensitivities. (Ref 1)

THE DRAWBACKS OF GLUTEN

Upon entering the digestive tract, gluten breaks down into peptide chains in a similar fashion to other protein sources, however the resulting gluten-related peptide chain length is considerably longer than for other proteins. These longer peptides are part of the reason that immune response triggers occur and cause celiac disease. However celiac are not the only people who chose to avoid gluten. Some of the disease that also benefit from a gluten free diet are: irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis (autism) and those with ulcerative colitis.
For people who are new to a gluten free diet it is worth noting that there are an increasing number of ‘health food' products on our supermarket shelves listed as wheat free, but still containing gluten - read your ingredients carefully!

There are many ‘natural' products used as jellying agents in foods. Some of these can replace the cooking properties of ‘gluten' in some foods however the main focus of this article is on those products that replace the function of gluten in flours. The two main products discussed at the end of this section are xanthan gum and guar gum.
Gelling agent descriptions (from wikipedia)
The following substances are only a few of those with gelling properties that used in the food industry.

Pectin: is found in apples, quince, plums, gooseberries, oranges and other citrus fruits. The main use for pectin is as a gelling agent, thickening agent and stabilizer in food. The standard application is giving the jelly-like consistency to jams or marmalades. People with fructose intolerance and fructose mal-absorption however avoid pectin like a celiac avoids gluten!

Alginate is a viscous gum that is abundant in the cell walls of brown algae. It ranges from white to yellowish-brown, and takes filamentous, granular and powdered forms. Alginate absorbs water quickly, which makes it useful as an additive in dehydrated products such as slimming aids, and in the manufacture of paper and textiles. It is also used for waterproofing and fireproofing fabrics, as a gelling agent, for thickening drinks, ice cream and cosmetics, and as a detoxifier that can absorb poisonous metals from the blood.

Carrageenans or carrageenins are a family of linear sulphated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds. The name is derived from a type of seaweed that is abundant along the Irish coastline. Gelatinous extracts of the Chondrus crispus seaweed have been used as food additives for hundreds of years. Some of the many uses of carageenins are:
• Desserts, ice cream, milk shakes, sweetened condensed milks,
• sauces: gel to increase viscosity
• Beer: clarifier to remove haze-causing proteins
• Pâtés and processed meat: Substitute fat to increase water retention and increase volume
• Toothpaste: stabilizer to prevent constituents separating
• Fire fighting foam: thickener to cause foam to become sticky
• Shampoo and cosmetic creams: thickener
• Air freshener gels
• Shoe polish: gel to increase viscosity

Agar or agar agar is a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed. Historically and in a modern context, it is chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Japan. White and semi-translucent, it is sold in packages as washed and dried strips or in powdered form. It can be used to make jellies, puddings and custards.

WHAT ARE THE GLUTEN REPLACEMENT OPTIONS?

While the above products have many jelling uses, they don't have the combined properties of: texture, taste, binding, stabilizing and rising properties required to act as a standard flour replacement. Hence the use of xanthan and guar gum.

XANTHAN GUM

Xanthan gum is used as a substitute for wheat gluten in gluten-free breads, pastas and other flour-based food products. Xanthan gum comes from a strain of bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris) that is used during the fermentation process. This is the same bacteria that is the cause of black rot on broccoli and cauliflower. It is the slimy substance formed by the bacteria during the fermentation process that acts as a natural stabilizer or thickener and gluten replacement.

Xanthan it is a long chain of three different forms of sugar. What's important to know is that all three of these natural sugars are present in corn sugar, a derivative of the more familiar corn syrup. The Xanthomonas campestris bacteria literally eat a supply of this corn sugar under controlled conditions, and the digestion process converts the individual sugars into a single substance with properties similar to cornstarch. Xanthan gum is used in dairy products and salad dressings as a thickening agent and stabilizer. Xanthan gum prevents ice crystals from forming in ice creams, and also provides a 'fat feel' in low or no-fat dairy products." Ref 2

Surprisingly Xanthan is also used as a stabilization and binding component in many cosmetic products. The value of xanthan gum its binding property is highly concentrated, meaning that only a small amount needs to be used in any application, thus keeping the costs down. cosmetic manufacturers use very small amounts to cream-based products to stop individual ingredients from separating.

Even more remarkable (the next time you eat xanthan gum) is knowing it is used in the oil industry. Natural thickeners like guar gum or xanthan gum are often blended with water to increase waters viscosity, or thickness for lubrication purposes.

Celiacs should be aware that unlike the Botox causing bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) the bacteria used to create xanthan is typically not considered harmful to human skin or digestive systems, though some individuals may find they are allergic to it. The difference between Xanthan and Guar gum (discussed below) is that some people avoid Xanthan due to its derivation from corn, soy or other plant products.

GUAR GUM

Often where you find xanthan gum you will find guar gum being used. The guar plant, also known as a cluster plant, grows primarily in Pakistan and the northern regions of India. Guar gum is a natural food thickener, similar to locust bean gum, tapioca flour or cornstarch. The popularity of guar gum is similar to the reason that xanthan is often used: it is highly concentrated regarding its gel-like properties thus reducing the amount and cost required in breads, puddings and ice creams etc.

"Guar gum is not just a thickening agent, but a binder and plasticizer as well. When untreated ice cream melts and refreezes, grainy ice crystals often form. Guar gum has the natural ability to bind with water molecules, preventing them from forming the unwanted crystals. Processed foods with creamy textures are primarily held together with binders such as guar gum." (ref 3)

This high gelling property has also seen guar gum used in non-prescription diet pills as it can create the sense of ‘fullness'. However the use of guar gum as an ingredient in non-prescription diet aids was officially banned in the early 1990s by the FDA (in America). It was found that the mass of swollen guar gum had the potential to cause harmful intestinal and duodenal blockages.

The typical amount of guar gum ingested in regular foods is not considered harmful although another unwanted side effect of guar gum is that when used in excess it can have a strong laxative effect. This is why some people who are celiac and still suffer from very sensitive bowels or even IBS need to be aware of this potential problem.

HOW Xanthan and Guar gum are used

"Xanthan gum (E415) is a stabilizer, thickener, and emulsifier used with water, and often blended with guar gum (E412). When it gets wet, it turns rubbery so when added to flour it works in a very similar way to gluten i.e. it traps the gas from the yeast thus causing the dough to rise. When added to gluten free wheat flour (about a heaped teaspoon to 1lb. flour), the flour starts to perform in a similar way to a strong white flour." (ref 4)

Xanthan gum and guar gum are often already included in gluten free flour replacements however some people prefer to make up their own blends. Because some celiacs wish to reduce their intake of corn and others are concerned about guar gums potential laxative effects they are often combined to reduce the reliance on either specific gum. That said, you will find many forum articles suggest that Xanthan gum and guar gum are the absolutely essential ingredients (gluten replacement) for gluten free baking.

If you are after the holy grail of gluten free flour recipes to replace white wheat flour in baked goods this is it: ‘Wendy Wark's gluten-free flour mix recipe' was originally published in the book ‘Living Healthy with Celiac Disease' (now out of print). It calls for the following mix:
2-1/4 cup brown rice flour
3/4 cup sweet rice flour
2/3 cup tapioca starch flour
1/4 cup potato starch flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 tsp xanthan or guar gum

"Use one cup of this flour for one cup of regular flour in recipes. To make your baked goods healthier and less dependent on refined carbohydrates, use this gluten-free flour for half the flour in a recipe, and use teff, quinoa, amaranth, or buckwheat flour for the other half of the flour in a recipe." (ref 4)

When using this mix as a flour substitute in baked goods, xanthan gum must be added to the batter. Use it in the following proportions:
bread: add 3/4 tsp xanthan gum per cup of flour mix
cake: add 1/4 tsp xanthan gum per cup of flour mix
cookies: no additional xanthan gum needed, if flour mix contains it already.

What substitutes for Xanthan?

People with corn / soy allergies sometimes try:
agar agar, and caragenen as discussed above.
milled flax seed with coconut for its binding properties.
glucomannan flour - yam based.
unflavoured Gelatine - an animal based product
methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose are used to create thermoreversible gels - that means they gel when heated.

CONCLUSION

There are many jelling agents derived from natural resources. While many have ‘interesting' origins it appears that xanthan and guar gum still remain the most popular gluten substitute ingredients in flours. So the next time you eat either additive, you will now be aware of their great versatility.

Antarctica Has Astonishing Natural Resources

With almost two percent of all the water on planet earth, the continent holds about 90 percent of all the ice on earth. The endurance of the great inland ice maintains sea level worldwide. Even just several feet of the ice melted into water would increase the sea levels noticeably, creating tragic outcomes for all seacoasts and seaports on earth.

If all the ice on the shelf were to melt, it would add another 250 feet to the sea level. Not only scientists understand the vast importance of maintaining the ice shelf. It doesn't really matter if the shelf is moving forward or backward. Not only does the ice hold a lot of moisture, but it is also a giant geophysical record that could be up to a million years old.

History?s actions, like smelting lead and the use of leaded gasoline, show in the ice. Common lead has been measured on the ice surface and tracked since the 1950's. Lead concentration has rapidly increased on the ice shelf. The increased use of leaded gasolines most likely perpetuated this. This offers us the chance to examine the threat of pollution to the planet.

While fish, seals an penguins all had DDT in them, polar snows showed a remarkable lack of these chemicals. Even though they hit the earth every day, particulates from space can be dated by where they are in the ice. Scientist wonder if there are set patterns during which more particles hit the earth. If a pattern can be discerned, space travelers and vehicles could benefit from the information.

Because of the conditions, lichens make up the majority of the vegetation. Mites and springtails are the most common animals found on land. The largest land animal is a wingless fly; no flying insects inhabit Antarctica. Oceans around Antarctica house the Weddell seal, the mammal who travels the farthest south, and a flightless penguin. When investigators took a look at the Weddell seal, they were shocked to learn that it could dive as deep as 1500 feet as it looked for sustenance.

Antarctica does have areas that are ice free, which the Adelie penguins take advantage of by nesting in those area during the summer months and moving north during winter months. Innate biology, and the sun, allow them to draw a straight course for their next location. It took three Adelies ten months to travel the 2400 miles back to their rookery. Six had been transferred. Upon arrival, via plane, at the South Pole, the animals were let go. Once let go, they quickly found the sun?s location and set off on a straight course for home.

The abundance of this part of earth is shown as the living place for the greatest animal that has ever roamed the earth. The highly endangered blue whale is the largest animal ever recorded, and consumes a diet of a ton of shrimp on a daily basis. Numerous more types of fish live in Antarctic seas than do in the Arctic Ocean. Ten percent of the bottom-dwelling fish found in Antarctica can be found somewhere else in the world. This bodes well for the importance of the Antarctic Convergence.

Choose Weight Loss Herbs For Natural Weight Loss

Herbs can help you lose weight, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach in order to do so. Earlier, herbalists used to wander in the woods, mix and match herbs and shrubs, experiment changes in the body, metabolism or an ailment and then decide the remedy. Opportunely, you don’t have to go foraging in the woods for herbs, shrubs and other natural resources. You can find whatsoever information or remedy you need on the Internet or at your nearest herbal store.

When you have to opt for a herb or a herbal supplement, you need to answer some of the very relevant questions that are as followed?
-What are the levels of your hunger?
-What are the levels of your physical activities or lethargy?
-Are you constipated or distended?
-Are you mentally or physically unsteady to stick to your diet or exercise plan?
-Are you anxious or depressed very frequently?
-Do you substitute your sleep by eating?

The herbs that are helpful in the above listed problems are:

Bushmen of Kalahari for appetite reduction; cinnamon, ginger, pepper, cayenne, caffeine, green tea, etc for increasing metabolism; iodine rich therapy for underactive thyroid; cascara buckthorn senna and dandelion for improving digestion; buchee leaves and bearberries for water control in body; kava, valerian, relaxation, ginco, ginseng, etc for energizing.

Apart from all this, try and establish lifelong eating habits stay active and conscious and then decide on the various herbal therapies that work best for you. Observe and enlighten yourself, stick to naturopathies like Yoga and Ayurveda and reach your desired weight. Planet Ayurveda provides you a blend of various herbs to cut off weight in the form of supplements like Trim formula Vegi Caps, Garcinia Vegi Caps, Kumari Saar, Stholyantak Churna, etc.

Bottled Water Business

In 2011, the market is predicting to have a value of around $87,000 million, an increase of just over 40% since 2006. In 2011, the market is forecast to have a volume of about 175,000 million liters, an increase of over 50% since 2006.

The global rate of consumption more than four times between 1990 and 2005. Purified water is currently the leading global seller, with US companies dominating the field, and natural spring water, purified water and flavored water being the fastest-growing market segments.

The chief disapproval of bottled water concerns the bottles themselves. Individual use bottled water is usually packaged in Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). According to a NAPCOR study, PET water bottles account for 50% of all the PET bottles and containers collected by roadside recycling, and the recycling rate for water bottles is 23.4%, an increase over the 2006 rate of 20.1%. PET bottled water vessels make up one-third of 1 percent of the waste stream in the US.

The IBWA also reports that the average weight of a plastic bottle water was 13.83 grams in 2007, compared to 18.90g in 2000, representing a 26.7% decline. Pepsi-Co has since introduced a bottle weighing 10.9 grams and using 20 percent less plastic, which it says is the lightest bottle of its kind that is nationally distributed.

Around 50 billion bottles of water are consumed per annum in the U.S. and around 200 billion bottles globally.

Bottled water doesn't involve a special treatment process or improved process than tap water or another water source. Some bottled water is simply tap water bottled and sold. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water whilst the EPA regulates the quality of tap water and has created 90 maximum pollutant levels for drinking water and 15 secondary maximum contaminant levels.

Bottled water processed with distillation or reverse osmosis lacks fluoride ions which are now and then naturally present in ground water. The drinking of
distilled water could conceivably raise the danger of tooth decay due to a deficit of this element.

According to a 1999 Natural Resources Defense Council report, in which an estimated 22 percent of brands were tested, at least one sample contained chemical contaminants at levels over stern state health limits. Some of the contaminants discovered in the study may perhaps pose health risks if consumed over a long period of time. Nonetheless, the Natural Resources Defense Council report declared that the majority of waters contained no traceable bacteria, and the levels of organic chemicals and inorganic chemicals of concern for which were tested were either below detection limits or well below all applicable standards. Meanwhile, a study by the Drinking Water Research Foundation found that of all the samples tested by Natural Resources Defense Council, federal FDA or EPA limits were allegedly exceeded only 4 times, two times for total coliforms and two times for fluorides.

The degree of total dissolved solids is sometimes 4 times higher in bottled mineral waters than in bottled tap water ones.

Another study, conducted by the Goethe University at Frankfurt found that a high percentage of the bottled water, contained in plastic containers were polluted with estrogenic chemicals. Though some of the bottled water contained in glass were found contaminated with chemicals as well, the researchers believe some of the pollution in the plastic containers may have come from the plastic containers themselves.

In the United States, bottled water costs between $0.25 and $2 per bottle at the same time as tap water costs less than US$0.01. In 1999, according to a NRDC report, United States customers paid around 240 and 10,000 times more per unit volume for bottled water than for tap water. Typically 90 percent or more of the cost paid by bottled water consumers goes to things other than the water itself—bottling, packaging, shipping, advertising, retailing, other expenses, and of course profit.

In some areas, tap water may contain added fluoride, which helps stop tooth decay and cavities, but may also produce negative toxicological side-effects.

Bottled water has reduced amounts of copper, Pb, and other metal contaminants since it does not run through the plumbing pipes where tap water is exposed to metal corrosion. However, this varies by the household and plumbing system.

The Need Of The Hour: Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is a new branch of science, which has recently come up owing to the growing need for continual production of food. Sustainable agriculture deals with building up a well-organized bio friendly system that can yield a high food production every year without wasting the natural resources and harming the fertility of the land. No doubt it is important to produce food today, however, it is also important to see that today’s food production does not bring drought tomorrow. The depletion of natural resources like food, water and fresh air can result in great calamities like droughts and famish.

So, what does sustainable agriculture mean? Simply put it deals in three aspects:

1. Ensuring that the demand for food is met today
2. Making sure that the next generation is able to meet the demand for food, taking into account the growing problem of depleting natural resources like soil and water
3. Ensuring that these natural resources like soil and water do not get depleted

However sustainable agriculture is not as easy as it sounds. The theory may be easy but putting it into practice is not. For centuries, farmers have been following a particular way of growing crops. With this branch of agriculture, the entire paradigm takes a new perspective. Hence farmers need to produce food and products, which are safe and popular. While doing that, they also need to stay abreast of competition and also follow the politician and legal norms.

Changing the pattern of agriculture that has been prevalent over the years is not an easy task. However, considering the future implications, it is imperative to develop this b ranch. Every year, the available land for agriculture is either being eaten up by development or becoming arid or a wasteland.

The farmers also need to be supported in this endeavor by the government and other bodies by lowering taxes and lesser duties. They should also be educated about the amount of fertilizers, pesticides to be used and advanced cropping techniques to enhance the fertility of the soil. At the moment, the situation is not ideal; however the governments have begun to realize the importance of sustainable agriculture. All we need to do is carry on the same road and ensure that our future generations have adequate food and natural resources.

Natural Resources Human Capital Challenges In North America

These new pressures are being driven, he says, by the acceleration of major merger and acquisition activity, a so-called commodities market "super-cycle" that continues to drive the price of oil, base metals and gold, and a demographic shift that will put an equally high premium on talent.

"The biggest issue facing the Natural Resources market is a shortage of talent in all positions and that's being driven by Baby Boomer retirements and a lack of talent acquisition in the down times of the 1980s and 1990s, around the time when I presented a paper at the CIM asking, 'Where Has All The Talent Gone,'" Buckland says.

Buckland explains that there is a huge gap in the Natural Resources workforce globally and that the shortage of talent is especially acute among workers ages 30 to 45. That's because of the business cycle and how it has pushed companies to hire only in fits and starts, because of consolidation and an overall "lack of feeding the talent pipeline previously."

"The war for talent between the companies is intense and compensation is being driven upward," Buckland says. "People don't want to join losing companies, so companies have to have a strong overall position to attract the best talent," he contends. "Talent acquisition and retention has to become a strategic imperative for natural resources companies. If they don't, those companies won't attract the right people, they won't keep people and they won't compete for the best."

Buckland says that natural resources employers around the world have to change the way they do business with prospective recruits, current employees and their high performers in order to maximize the effectiveness of their workforces and drive consistently high profitability.

"They have to start thinking about being more innovative and creative in how they look at acquiring talent," he says. They also have to ensure that the talented professionals and managers they recruit into their organizations land smoothly in their new roles, stay long enough to deliver a return on the company's training investment and reach their full potential.

But creating a new approach to sourcing, attracting and building a natural resource company's human capital will require a significant dosing of change from today's status quo. "Executive search is generally a reactive business. I'm suggesting we need to turn the paradigm completely upside down. Companies and search firms alike have to start thinking more proactively about talent," Buckland asserts.

Revealing himself as a "true Canadian", Buckland says that natural resources companies should think like a professional ice hockey team. Such teams, he says, take a long-term view of organizational success and invest time, energy and capital on talent scouting to develop a roster of potential backups for each and every one of its first-team players.

That's critical to meeting the future workforce demands of many natural resources companies, he argues, because change is inevitable and, given the planned retirements of so many business leaders across the industry in the coming years, you just can't bank entirely on your existing roster of key performers.

"Some of your current people are going to get recruited out and some are going to see their ability peak out," Buckland says. "Further, some of the successors behind your current leaders may not be ready or may not want to move if they're asked to relocate. So you've got to get to know people you don't already know. You have to develop key relationships with people not currently a part of the company. That's how you hedge your bets on your current people and build the pipeline of leaders for the future."

By identifying potential professional and management recruits and building a relationship with them before you may wish to hire them, Buckland says, natural resources companies can dramatically reduce time-to-hire and "cycle time for replacement." They can also gather important market intelligence that can inform not only recruitment strategy, but corporate strategy as well.

The candidates with the best credentials are increasingly expecting to learn and know far more about prospective employers than ever before. Top talent will gravitate to natural resources companies that are proactive about talent acquisition and develop a relationship with them to help educate them about their markets, competition and new opportunities. In other words, talented people want to see prospective employers invest time with them, and that's so vital because they have an increasing number of employment options to consider and the winners in the war for superior natural resources talent will be those that differentiate the recruiting process.

"In the past, people needed companies. Today, companies need people, so the nexus of the relationship needs to change," Buckland says.

Natural Heritage In Spain

The ecosystems vary from the Pyrenees high mountains to Cantabrian Atlantic woods and the pasturelands found on the southern part of the diverse region. The archipelagos act as great tourist attractions sites and people from colder regions of Europe find great pleasure in visiting the sunny sides of Spain to relax and have some fun.

The country has natural reserves and National Parks widely spread in the entire region making it an ideal vacation destination for all who want to have a real taste of Spain.

Natural reserves

If you want to enjoy available natural resources without much regulation, then the natural reserves in Spain is way to go for you. These reserves allow the use and enjoyment of their assets but ensure that their values are not compromised. They are however governed by rules of regulations that are basic in the protection of plant life, wildlife and the environment in general.

Natural reserves will offer you a more free chance to mingle with both flora and fauna without much restriction. This acts as an educating ground for most people especially those with the need to know more about the different species of naturally occurring animals and plants.

National parks

Picos de Europa is one of the most famous national parks in Spain. It occupies a great physical area extending from Asturias, Castille, Cantabria and Leon. Its ecosystem mimics the woodland system of the Atlantic and is made up of rock formation, chasms and glaciers. This is home for many Iberian wildlife species that are simply a sight to behold. The National park has outstanding scenery that is very beautiful and natural. You will find great pleasure in visiting the symbolic chamois, Covadinga lakes and Ruta del Cares.

Spain has all the natural resources you could ask for. You will have fun and learn a lot from the natural reserves and the national parks. There is also a wide range of engaging and interesting games that will forever remain in your memory. It is definitely a place to consider having a natural experience and taking time off from the busy and stressful urban life.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Biomass Energy Facts And Benefits

Biomass energy as the name signifies is renewable or alternate energy derived from natural resources. The natural resources like agricultural wastes, tree leaves falls etc. The types of renewable source of energy includes biomass, wind, solar, water and geothermal. Though the renewable energy has many merits, the uses are very limited. The prime problem is the machines are costly, low awareness among peoples and useful for specific field only.

Some Biomass Energy Facts:

1. Biomass elements include leaves, grass, husks, wood chips, sugarcane fiber, sewage and many more agricultural products.
2. It is an alternate form of energy and available in huge amount around our society. Scientists are working hard to get more resourceful ways of using biomass energy as it has huge benefits compare to fossil fuels.
3. Biomass energy produces almost no sulfur emissions, and helps mitigate acid rain.
4. Biomass energy reduces global warming by minimizing atmospheric carbon.
5. Providing additional revenues for the agricultural and forestry sectors.

Advantages

There is no doubt about the fact that the demand of renewable energy has been increased now days. However; the proper use of natural resources might not be visible at the time. It can be expected that after 20 years the uses of natural resources for the purpose of biomass energy will be increased to 100%.

1. Environmental Benefit:

The burning of biomass residues like agricultural and forestry resources are the main cause for air pollution. Open burning always plays a negative role as it generates ample amount of smokes. It produces major amount of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons that contribute to the formation of atmospheric ozone. Although the biomass pellets or briquettes are being made from these residues hence; after burn of pellets there is no chance of air pollution.

2. Social Benefit

The biomass energy is made of wastes and that’s why it is know as most valuable renewable source of energy. Compare to other fuel energy the cost of the biomass energy is very low and can be affordable by any class of the society. It is very useful for cooking purposes as well as industrial broiler as it produces low smokes and keep the environment clean.

3. Economic Benefits

The jobs will be naturally created and retained in rural areas if biomass system implement properly. This will really help the rural peoples to strengthen their economy. For biomass energy systems, it is estimated that nearly 15 to 20 person will get employment depend upon the capacity of that particular plant. It is also estimate that 100 jobs per year would be created for a 15 million gallon/year facility. More than 66,000 jobs are supported by the biomass producing industry

Stop Making Use Of Fossil Fuels! Work With Various Other Natural Resources For Electricity Instead

Fossil fuels have been in used by numerous electricity providers and electric companies. This is a natural supply of energy yet is restricted but not renewable; which means this kind of energy source confronts inevitable exhaustion, certainly not now but probably in the subsequent hundreds of years in the future. Fossil fuels are obtained from corroded living creatures such as animals and vegetation from the previous years since the breakthrough discovery of electricity generation from fossil fuels. The three types of fuels are natural gas, petroleum oil and coal, the wealthy and plentiful kind of fossil fuel. They are effortless to mine, doesn't cost a great deal of cash, and it is really storable and readily available to us at any time but just for around 60 years. Therefore a renewable however clean source of energy should be accessible to be used in case of the time fossil fuels won't be obtainable for creation of electricity.

The forms of fossil fuels provides as with energy we need and utilize to operate devices and machines. Gasoline and electricity are the two most utilized produced products of fossil fuels. Crude oils are likewise a supply of energy and might be used to operate machines which produce electricity, however the issue is that they cannot be synthetically created therefore putting them in the group of non-renewable sources of energy. The gas companies worldwide works their business with gasoline stations which sells gas and oils for autos, trucks and some other kind of transportation. And knowing that gas and oil are mainly generated coming from fossil fuels which isn't renewable and encounters unavoidable depletion, a new supply must be created or designed to avoid bigger transportation problems and general shortage on electricity difficulties in the not to distant future.

The usage of fossil fuels have been extremely best for us people as it has taken and granted us with too much since the industrial revolution. However with the benefits that we happen to be acquiring from fossil fuels, the majority of us people are already ignoring the reality that we are or are already eliminating the environment. From the emissions of cars and air carriers to the dangerous smoke which is coming out of industrial facilities, acid rains, climate adjustments and climatic change existed.

Now that the information about pollution have occurs and programs to assist the atmosphere where established as well as young children have undoubtedly participated in some activities that can help our cherished natural environment. Not just government personnel and high-ranking officers have took part in these types of programs to aid conserve our planet, but also activists and other independent organizations have actually began producing their contribution in assisting generating our surroundings clean.

Even with the training that is being taught to people today concerning conserving the planet, we still must cut back from electricity and gas consumption to reduce the usage of fossil fuels. The United Nations as well as other independent movement organizations are generally inviting quite a few electricity providers and electric companies to stop using fossil fuels as the source of energy. They insist that natural sources of energy be used than that of fossil fuels to provide electricity