Environmental Article 5- Global

Scientific American discusses how Carbon Farms may reverse global warming.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=could-carbon-farms-reverse-global-warming

German researchers have been looking for a way to take CO2 out of the air, not just ameliorate carbon emissions. They suggest planting the Barbados nut (picture above) in dry costal or desert areas, space that is not used for food production. This plant is known for growing in sandy soil and is predicted to absorb massive amounts of carbon. The study suggests that if 730 million hectares of land, three fourths of the United States, were used to plant the Barbados nut, rising CO2 trends would be halted. The researchers chose this particular plant because it can grow with high levels of contamination in the soil and wastewater can be used to irrigate it. 

Environmental Article 4- Global

New York Times article about Ecuador dropping its ban on oil drilling in the Amazon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/business/energy-environment/ecuador-drops-plan-to-ban-drilling-in-jungle.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=environment&adxnnlx=1377453792-8rBnjCQqsc7D3b074wIFCw

The $3.6 billion dollars President Correa of Ecuador asked for six years ago has not been raised. Only $13 million has been donated to the fund that would have prevented oil drilling in the Amazon, and that is not enough for the country to abstain from obtaining oil revenue. While President Correa sides with those who believe drilling is ruining the land, he claims that he made this decision in order to help the country as a whole. Oil pollution in the Ecuadorean jungles has also been marked by decades of lawsuits on Texaco and Chevron. The Ecuadorean court sentenced Chevron to pay for damages, but enforcement proceedings are in various stages. 

Nature Picture 5

A picture of the Mediterranean, taken off the coast of Malaga, Spain. Taken 7/24/13. This part of the ocean has been especially effected by all of the trash dumping into the Mediterranean, due to the strong current that passes through the straight. Morocco and Spain boarder this straight, and trash piles on their shores.

Nature Picture 4

A picture of surrounding mountain tops in Malaga, Spain. Taken 7/14/13. This area is home to the botanical gardens of Malaga, an area dedicated to the preservation of may local plant life.

Nature Picture 3

This is a picture taken of the hills around the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Taken on 7/13/13. The gardens of the Alhambra have been protected due to its historical significance, and have remained the same since its rehabilitation. Granda means pomegranate in spanish, and the area is home to thousands of pomegranate trees.

Nature Picture 2

This is a picture of a river in Toledo Spain, taken on 6/29/13. The water level of this river has dropped significantly due to the city's inhabitants need for water. Toledo is in a very dry area, and they are having problems with replenishing the water they use from the river.

Environmental Article 3- Local

Houston Chronicle article that discusses the action environmental groups have taken to stop the use of inaccurate formals used when calculating smog. 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Environmental-groups-sue-EPA-over-refinery-4484297.php

This article published on May 2, 2013 discusses the lawsuit Air Houston and three other environmental groups filed against the Environmental Protection Agency because of their use of outdated formulas to calculate air pollution. These groups have produced studies that claim the actual pollution is 132 times greater than EPA estimations. Therefore, this agency must change if it is to protect citizen's health. Jennifer Duggan, an attorney representing Air Houston, claims that the EPA has known about the inaccuracies for some time and is against changing. The purpose of this lawsuit is to force the EPA to have accurate data so they can enforce laws accordingly.