Sunlight is capable of producing electricity by means of using a Photovoltaic cell, concentrated solar power, or space. A major use of fossil fuels is to provide electricity. Coal is primarily used for this purpose and in fact accounts for over half of all the electricity generated. Photovoltaic cells are made of semiconductors such as silicon. When joined together, they form a system to generate electricity. Once purchased, the running cost of using them is free and sunlight won't run out for over five billion years. Another way to produce electricity by using sunlight is concentrating solar power on a large scale. Solar thermal technologies such as solar troughs, solar towers, and solar dishes use mirrors to gather or focus sunlight to build enormous amounts of heat. This is used to heat water, which releases steam to power a turbine generating electricity. Lastly, harnessing solar energy can be done by putting solar power stations in space as well. Although space based solar power isn't fully developed, space does have an advantage since it doesn't have clouds or night. Once the electricity is generated, that energy could be transmitted in the form of powerful microwaves that will be converted into electricity on earth to feed into the worldwide grid.

Besides producing electricity, solar power is capable of being used for other purposes that are more energy efficient. According to Amory Lovins, "We ought to be purchasing energy efficiency to save money. If we do it right, the environmental benefit comes free." Over half of the average american family's energy bill comes from heating, so one way to purchase energy efficiency is to buy a solar thermal heating system. Solar thermal energy can be tapped in two ways: active and passive. Passive solar heating uses sunlight to naturally heat a building or object. In the northern hemisphere, large windows facing south or west are able to allow additional sunlight to come in during the day to further heat up a house. Maximizing passive solar heating reduces the need for fossil fuels for heat and reduces bills. Active solar heating systems require a solar collector to use solar energy to heat a fluid and then that fluid is pumped around the house to spread the heat. Such systems have no running cost because sunlight is free. They hardly need any maintenance and last for several decades.

Solar power can reduce the tremendous environmental problems faced by our planet because of our heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Since the atmosphere is fairly thin, it is capable of getting altered by what humans do. When solar radiation enters Earth, the planet gets heated, but normally some of the radiation reflects off Earth's surface. The atmosphere reflects some of this heat to prevent the earth from getting too cold. However, the carbon dioxide emissions in the air is resulting in the atmosphere reflecting more heat back to Earth. "We're running out of atmosphere faster that we're running out of fossil fuels. The more we diversify our power sources the better," says Dan Kammen. Although some may not believe, currently climatic changes are occuring faster than fossil fuels are running out.

In some economically less developed countries, people use wood burning as an energy source. That leads to deforestation which is bad for environment as well as wildlife. This problem is now being reduced by using solar power to supply communities who live far from power lines. Mohammad Sani Muhammad states, "Solar power was the obvious solution. Not only would we be helping economic development, but we would also be cutting down on deforestation, which is such a big problem here." Solar power causes zero pollution and if a house uses mainly solar power for heating and electricity, then over 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide won't be released in the atmosphere yearly. That is equivalent to not having to plant over a half acre of trees to absorb that much carbon dioxide or a car not traveling over 8,000 miles.

Therefore, solar energy can help solve the world's problems caused by fossil fuels. Using passive solar heating allows sunlight to heat the average resident's house directly and reduce her bills. By using solar collectors, one can heat an entire home with sunlight. Photovoltaic cells can produce electricity by means of using sunlight. Concentrated solar power can create large quantities of electricity by using mirrors to heat fluids. Solar power stations in space can potentially give lots of energy in the form of microwaves that can be converted to electricity on Earth, and lastly solar power can help solve our planet's environmental problems.

More and more businesses are looking at their ‘green credentials' and how they can use them as a bargaining chip in a highly competitive market. Many are making a genuine effort to reduce waste and energy consumption, increase recycling, and to look at alternative energy sources. Others claim to be carbon neutral.

Mankind and Mother Nature

Everything we do leaves a carbon footprint. By our very design, humans and animals give out carbon dioxide each time we exhale (and methane from other orifices). Since the dawn of time mankind has lit fires to cook on and keep warm. This releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, the planet balances out the oxygen-breathing, CO2 producing fauna with flora. Plants and trees take in CO2 and give out oxygen.

Since the Industrial Revolution though, mankind's capability to produce CO2 has increased dramatically, and to make way for a rapidly expanding population forests have been destroyed. We are no longer living in harmony with Mother Nature and we are producing far more CO2 than She can deal with.

Carbon Neutral

So what is ‘carbon neutral'? Well, using some fancy calculations you can work out your carbon footprint. The theory is that if you offset the same amount of carbon as you are producing you are then ‘carbon neutral'. You can donate money to projects designed to offset a certain amount of carbon. This can be through reforestation or sustainable energy sources such as wind farms or hydro-electric plants, to name but a few.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Until you search online for a ‘carbon calculator' and realise that it's not an exact science. Different websites use different calculations, and a lot of it is guess-work and estimation. Then there are the projects themselves: in the case of a forestry project the amount of carbon saved is an estimation, often over 100 years.

To complicate matters more the carbon-offsetting industry is unregulated, which means nobody is keeping an eye on them. An investigation by the Guardian newspaper revealed that in some cases projects were unlikely to offset the amount of carbon originally forecast or promised. There is also nothing stopping a company selling ‘carbon credits' for a project that hasn't started yet, or simply doesn't exist. And how many companies may have bought the same credits?

Going Green

Despite all this, those projects that are in existence are working towards the greater good. Managing forests, preventing further deforestation, encouraging communities to use the energy sources they have more efficiently and investing in renewable energy, all these things are a positive step in the right direction.

Raising money for projects like these cannot be easy and credit should be given to the enterprising idea of exploiting the commercial world's eagerness to cash in on a ‘quick win'. If businesses are willing to sponsor ‘green' projects then why should they be stopped?

Emperor's New Clothes

Unfortunately, for the businesses who believe they are going ‘carbon neutral', carbon offsetting can be likened to The Emperor's New Clothes. In the case of forestry projects, a business can produce more carbon in ten years than the forest could neutralise in a century. And if the forest already exists then is it really offsetting anything?

As attractive as the ‘low hanging fruit' may be to a business carbon offsetting is not going to save the planet. Reducing carbon footprints can only be truly achieved from within, by making an effort to actually make a difference.

Genetic material is often and easily transferred between living organisms. Critics of food biotechnology fear that herbicide-resistant GE crops will eventually pass on those resistance traits to the very weeds and pests to which they were engineered to be superior, creating “superweeds” and “superpests.” It will be necessary to use higher and higher doses of chemicals to control these “superweeds.” Anti-GE literature cites studies showing that herbicide-resistant rapeseed (canola) spreads resistance properties to wild mustard plants.

As a natural course of events, weeds and insects (and bacteria for that matter) eventually develop resistance to the chemicals used to control them. Because farmers will be using Roundup more and more, weeds will develop resistance to it sooner. Opponents fear that it will be necessary to apply more and more Roundup until finally it won't be effective at all, and farmers will have even fewer choices to combat weeds in their fields. Another example of this danger is the case of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a soil bacterium that produces a natural toxin that organic farmers use as a method of biological pest control. The toxin in naturally occurring Bt bacteria are only activated by enzymes in the digestive tract of certain insects, notably caterpillars. Crops have now been produced that have the gene for the Bt toxin, giving them a built-in insecticide. While in the past farmers have only occasionally applied the Bt toxin when they had an infestation, the Bt toxin in the GE crops is produced all the time. Therefore, insects are continually exposed to the Bt toxin, which speeds up the time in which they will develop resistance to Bt. Scientists who believe that some insects have already developed Bt resistance predict that within three to five years most target insects will be resistant to Bt. There is also concern that the Bt toxin in the GE crops is of a slightly different form than the natural toxin, and that it may harm a wider range of insects, including some that are beneficial. Since the understanding of molecular genetics is still in its infancy, some researchers fear that gene splicing will inevitably result in unanticipated and dangerous surprises. They are exploring whether genetically altering plants to withstand certain viruses and pathogens will cause those viruses and pathogens to mutate into new and/or stronger forms. In the same way that the introduction of exotic species into an environment tends to cause the decline of the native species, introducing GE plants into an environment may eventually overpower the native species. As an example, opponents hypothesize that if GE salmon that are bigger and hardier than the wild varieties are released into habitats, they will out-compete those wild varieties and cause their extinction. This genetic bio-invasion could set off a whole chain of environmental events not yet dreamed of.

1. Don’t use running water. Fill a container with the water you need.
2. Wash your veggies in a big plastic bowl. Use that water to water your houseplants.
3. Keep a plastic jug with a funnel next to the shower. Fill the jug with the cold water that always precedes the hot water. Use that water to scrub your floors. Make a collection of plastic jugs for this purpose.
4. Set plastic jugs or dishpans under the eaves when it rains. Use that water to water your houseplants or garden.
5. Turn the tap off, never on. Fill a glass with water and dip your toothbrush or razor into it, don’t wet it under the tap. Don’t leave the water running while rinsing the dishes, turn the tap off after each plate or glass.
6. Wash your dishes with a natural soap, in a plastic dish pan. Run that water through a carbon filter. Use that water to water your flowers.
7. Don’t overfill the washing machine, don’t underfill the washing machine, leave room for the clothes to get clean. Same thing with the dishwasher.
8. Don’t let water run down the drain. Catch it in tubs or jugs. Use it to scrub the floors or to water your house plants.
9. Shower, don’t bathe. Shower when you must, not because it’s a habit. Shut of the shower while you are soaping up.
10. Keep water in a jug in the fridge, don’t let it run down the drain hoping it will become cool enough to drink.
11. Mulch your garden, even your flower pots. Put plastic water jugs with little holes in the bottom beside your tomatoes, let them suck up the water they need. Don’t flood your garden, don’t water in the sun, rather in the evening. Look into modern drop by drop or sweaty hose watering systems.
12. “If it’s yellow, let it mellow….” (except maybe in the summer!)
13. Don’t throw toilet tissue in the toilet, keep a trash can beside the toilet and empty it every couple of days.
14. Save the water from making rice or pasta. Use it the next day to make a tasty soup or broth. Same thing with water used to boil veggies or potatoes. It will keep one day in the fridge, add some chicken, some roots, some salt, some fish, fast dinner. Don’t pour that water down the drain, it’s full of nutrients too!

Water is life. Water is water. Running water is perhaps the worst invention of mankind. Pull your water from a well. Walk 10 miles with a jug on your head to get your water. Drink water that is full of microbes that will make you ill. Rub the dust from your eyes where there is no water to keep the land moist. Stop taking water for granted, it is not granted, it is for everyone.

Once a change had taken place, a new adaptation of Insects had now begun to produce a continuation of life. Insects now start to work together and may look upon similar insects as their own kind so genetics allowed them to mate and as a result, produced another new species. We must remember that this was the beginning of evolution so everything was trial and error, and an insect would not understand the complex mating issue with a similar species until thousands or even millions of years later when a decisive factor enabled them to preserve their own.

Frost, snowfall, and freezing conditions shape the tundra landscape. It creates a layer of permanently frozen soil, called permafrost. When the snow melts, the soil becomes waterlogged, since the water cannot drain through the permafrost. During the summer, the temperature ranges from 36-54°F, and averages -30°F in the winter. The area has little precipitation, with only 6-10 inches per year, but has strong winds, which can blow up to 100 mph. Plants and animals can benefit from the snow because of its insulating qualities, which can provide shelter from strong winds.

Biotic diversity in the Arctic tundra is low, with large fluctuations in the population sizes, often linked to food supply and predator populations. However, huge herds of caribou, polar bears, and musk ox roam the coastal plains. Important producers include moss, reindeer lichen, cottongrass, sedges, and willows. These plants are low and tough, with small leaves and a thick epidermis to slow transpiration. Their leaves are also dark green to red, so that they can absorb more solar radiation. Lichen is a very important food to caribou, especially in the winter, which caribou use their front antler tine and hooves to scrap snow off of. Animals found in the tundra also include arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, lemmings, snow geese, snowy owls, and weasels. These animals have adaptations such as two layers of fur, small ears, short legs, or short tails to keep them warm and reduce heat loss.

A major issue in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is whether oil drilling should be developed in the coastal plains. Part of the refuge, called Area 1002, has been examined by petroleum scientists who predict that oil is there. Those for the drilling debate that drilling will not impact wildlife in the refuge, and will preserve the land there, based on the strict regulations for preserving the land and oil. However, those who oppose the drilling are still convinced that drilling for oil will disrupt the way of life for future generations. Government officials have disagreed about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the debate still continues as Congress prepares to act on this issue.

Not many subscribe to the idea that out planet is perhaps on its last gasps after centuries of abuse but with resources depletion and environmental degradation increasingly making lives of people difficult, there just might be reason to start packing for the livable planets now. Rule out the red planet. The Martians will definitely relish having their vengeance after that ridiculous movie, Attack of the Martians where Jack Nicholson played US president. But why go far? The moon is right at out doorsteps. The problem is that we will probably bring along with us the same problem that we have right here. Some science guy will probably propose taking the moon out of its orbit and moving it far away from earth just like the guy in the Asimov novel, the title of which I forgot unfortunately, proposed.

Most people believe that science will find the appropriate solutions to our resource and environmental problems on time. Science will find ways to permanently deal with the global warming phenomenon. Man is brilliant and has gone a long way since his predecessors lived in caves and battled gargantuan dinosaurs for the right to rule earth. Look where he is now. He has turned the planet into a tiny village with his fast planes and ships, computers, cell phones and other telecommunication novelties. Teleporting is not far off. Just like what Harry Potter was wont to do when he needed to be at some place in a hurry. He has television sets, portable music when he is feeling down and lonely. Life is good. For some that is and it may not last.

Science can definitely find the solutions to resource depletion and environmental problems but science cannot change what man is. There lays the problem. You will wonder why only about 20% of man lives in relative comfort while the rest lives in squalor and poverty despite advances in both social and physical sciences.

Man has the inherent capacity to turn good into bad. Consider the religious wars of the past centuries and present- the crusades and the 30 years war, the holy wars of the Muslims- the Jewish persecution, the inquisitions, all in the name of God. And how about the slavery which Christians practiced? The great wars that killed millions of people? The apparent disregard of the environment for the sake of profits? God's message and command can be summed in a few words: Love others as you love yourself. You are brothers, He said. Killing and exploiting is definitely not love. Worse by doing them we show that we do not even love ourselves.

Have things changed for the better? Has man changed his colors? Is he less acquisitive? Less self-centered? Less inclined to use violence to get what he wants? After science has found the appropriate solutions to global ills, will these natural tendencies not block the way towards effective implementation? If the answer to these questions is yes, then, yes the end is near.

Ornate Sleeper Ray

With powerful suction capabilities, Electrolux addisoni-a species of electric ray-lives up to its scientific name.

Commonly called the ornate sleeper ray, Electrolux crowns the inaugural list of the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) top ten new species of 2007, which was released in May 2008.

The IISE, at Arizona State University, will release the ranking every year to draw attention to the importance of taxonomy and species exploration.

Giant Duck-Billed Dinosaur

Discovered by high school students in southern Utah in 2002, the above fossil dates back 75 million years and is one of the largest duck-billed dinosaurs ever found.

The massive skull was found to belong to a new species, Gryposaurus monumentensis, in 2007.

The International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) added the duck-billed dinosaur to its list of top ten new species of 2007, which was released in May 2008.

Pink Dragon Millipede

This newly discovered millipede from Thailand comes in at number three on the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) list of the top ten new species of 2007, released in May of this year.

The millipede's bright color helps to warn predators that it is not candy-coated, but is instead spiny and toxic.

The millipede's unusual habit of sitting in plain sight during the day probably also tells predators that it's inedible, researchers believe.

Sri Lankan Shrub Frog

A newly named frog species-which had been bottled up for nearly 150 years-has scored a spot on the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) top ten list of new species named in 2007, released in May 2008.

Scientists declared it a new species when the specimen was rediscovered last year. But the frog and a number of related species are likely now extinct, experts say.

Since the science of taxonomy was refined in the 18th century, scientists have recorded about 1.8 million species on Earth. Most experts estimate that there are close to ten million species on our planet.

Central Ranges Taipan

Discovered in an isolated and arid region of Australia in 2007, the Central Ranges Taipan is one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

The snake slithered onto the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) list of the top ten new species of 2007 in part because accurate identification of species can help with proper treatment of bites.

The list, released in May 2008, draws attention to the need to flesh out biodiversity data, according to Quentin Wheeler, an entomologist and director of IISE.

"We only know 10 percent of the species out there, and therefore are powerless to recognize potential pests and vectors of disease," Wheeler said.

Mindoro Stripe-Faced Fruit Bat

The large and charismatic Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat is found only on the Philippine island of Mindoro.

The only other species in this genus was discovered by Alfred Russell Wallace, a colleague of Charles Darwin, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

The Mindoro bat ranks sixth on a top ten list of new species in 2007, released by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) in May 2008.

Finding the Mindoro bat advances research on endemic species, which is why IISE included it on its annual list.

The large and charismatic Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat is found only on the Philippine island of Mindoro.

The only other species in this genus was discovered by Alfred Russell Wallace, a colleague of Charles Darwin, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

The Mindoro bat ranks sixth on a top ten list of new species in 2007, released by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) in May 2008.

Finding the Mindoro bat advances research on endemic species, which is why IISE included it on its annual list.

New Mushroom

A new fungus species, above, was discovered on the campus of Imperial College, London in 2007-growing right under the noses of some of the world's leading academics.

The new mushroom is one of the top ten new species in 2007, announced by the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) in May 2008.

"Most people do not realize just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth's species is or the steady rate at which taxonomists are exploring that diversity," said Quentin Wheeler, an entomologist and director of IISE.

"If you look at the size of the challenge, we need more people and better coordination," Wheeler told National Geographic News.

Lethal Jellyfish

This jellyfish species, Malo kingi, was named after American tourist Robert King, who died after apparently being stung by the species off northern Queensland in Australia.

News of the 2002 event helped raise awareness about this new potentially lethal species, which is included on the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) list of the top ten new species of 2007.

Discovering new species can also aid conservation efforts, according to IISE, which released the top ten list in May 2008.

The new jelly is the second known species of the dangerous Malo box jellyfish genus.

Rhinoceros Beetle

A new rhinoceros beetle found in Peru has a hornlike structure on its head that had never been seen before-except in Dim, a character in the Disney/Pixar animated film A Bug's Life.

This bizarre feature made it one of the International Institute for Species Exploration's (IISE's) top ten new species of 2007, released in May 2008.

In real life, nearly 15,000 to 20,000 new species are discovered each year.

According to a recent report from IISE and its partners, 2006 saw 16,969 species named-the first time in scientific literature.

Michelin Man Plant

This bubbly plant found in western Australia made the 2007 top ten list of new species because it resembles the Michelin Man, according to the International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE), which published the list in May 2008.

The species was found during an environmental impact survey for a mining company, and is one of 298 new plant species named last year in western Australia alone.

Give up? It's the North American Black-footed Ferret (or Mustela nigripes in Latin). It belongs to a group known as the mustelid, or musk producing animals. Sixty-four known species live throughout the world everywhere except in Australia and Antarctica. They range from the weasel that barely weighs one to two ounces to the heaviest the sea otter that can weigh over 100 pounds. Unlike its family member, the domesticated ferret that you find in pet stores, this type of ferret is found in the wild. Sadly, the Black-footed Ferret has been put on the endangered species list at the critical stage. These ferrets are the only species of its kind to be put on the endangered list in 1967 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This ferret was not discovered until a rancher's dog killed one in 1981. This led to a discovery three years later of over 130 ferrets near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Biologist began researching the history and behavior of this secretive animal, but tragically an outbreak of sylvatic plague and canine distemper killed nearly the whole population. Only 18 of the 130 remained. The researchers placed those remaining 18 in captivity.

Between 1985 and 1987 efforts were made to save this dying species. The captured ferrets were taken to a captive breed facility in Sybille Canyon, Wyoming, known today as the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center. Conservation groups since 1991 have been reintroducing this little mammal back into the wild. They began their efforts in Wyoming and have expanded since then to Montana and Utah. Biologists hope to have a population of 1500 ferrets in the wild with 30 breeding adults in each population by 2010. If this status can be met, this creature will no longer be on the endangered species list.

This mammal has a tan body with black legs and feet, a black-tipped tail and a black mask that makes it look like a bank robber. It is mostly nocturnal, that is mostly active at night. Its short legs with large paws and claws were developed well for digging. They spend only a few minutes each day above ground to find new burrows or mates. The black-footed ferrets spend 90% of their time underground eating their stored food, sleeping, giving birth to their young and avoiding predators and harsh weather.

What Does the Black-Footed ferrets Eat?

If you said prairie dogs you would be right, but ferrets are also known to eat ground squirrels, small rodents, rabbits and birds. Their large skulls, strong jaws and teeth are adapted well for eating meat. The ferret's large ears and eyes make many believe that they have acute hearing and sight, but it's their sense of smell that's the most important. It helps them hunt their prey underground. 90% of the ferret's diet consists of prairie dogs, in one year they can eat up to over 100 prairie dogs. In the wild these creatures can live three to four years, but while in captivity they live up to eight or nine years.

These small mammals don't hibernate. Hibernating is what bears do during the winter months, which is to sleep throughout the whole winter. The amount of time ferrets are active becomes less, as do the distances they travel. They don't have to go far because they have a hidden cache of in these burrows. They can stay in the same system of burrows for weeks at a time.

Male ferrets are more active than females. The males travel double the distances that females travel. They are slightly larger than the females. A ferret is about six inches tall 18 to 24 inches long including their five to six inches. They weigh about one and a half to two a half pounds. A black-footed ferret's life is a solitary one, except during mating season or when a female is caring for her young.

The black-footed ferret's mating season falls between March and April. The gestation period, the time when the female becomes pregnant and actual time she has the kits, is 41 to 43 days afterwards a litter of kits are born around May to June. A litter can range from one to seven as well as be just a single kit, but an average litter is from three to four. The kits are born blind and helpless and for the first two months they stay underground. After those two months the mother takes them hunting with her and separates them into different burrows. In October, the kits are independent enough to leave the burrow and find territories of their own.

Threats to these animals are very real, from deadly diseases to predators, like coyotes, great-horned owls, golden eagles, prairie falcons, badgers, bobcats and foxes. All these different habitats are linked with one another and the destruction of the habitats is a really big reason why many animals in general are becoming extinct.

Several diseases also contribute to the loss of these ferrets. A disease that is thought to be always fatal to the black-footed ferret is Canine Distemper. This is spread by animals that are always near the prairie dogs towns, like coyotes and badgers. Another disease in the Sylvatic plague that is spread by fleas the same way as bubonic plague.

The bubonic plague was a devastation that spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, killing the human population. Like the bubonic plague, the Sylvatic plague is known to kill entire dog towns, including ferrets and prairie dogs. Other diseases include rabies, tularemia and human influenza, but they are not considered serious threats to ferrets.

Since 1986, there are about 700 black-footed ferrets in the wild and over 250 living in captive breeding facilities. For these black-footed ferrets to have a healthy population, they need 10,000 acres of healthy prairie dog colonies. They are being reintroduced in eleven different sites and scientists estimate that 10,000 acres of prairie dog colonies require 20,000 acres of land.

Want to learn more on how to help these animals?

For more information, contact the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center or visit your local library for more information.