The Mekong giant, about to disappear

The Mekong catfish could become extinct if it was ultimately carried out the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River, as recorded by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF, for its acronym in English).

In its report 'River of Giants' warning of the threat to build a dam on the river for the survival of four species of giant fish, including species of freshwater stingray that can weigh up to 600 kilograms. This line ('Dasyatis laosensis') is the largest freshwater fish in the world. On the other hand, the Mekong giant catfish, which is on the brink of extinction, can grow to three meters in length and weighs 350 kilos.

The dam would present an insurmountable barrier for these giant fish. "The Mekong catfish would simply not be able to swim across the dam to spawn upriver," says Roger Mollot, WWF biologist in Laos. "This would lead to the collapse of the population of this flagship species."

Sayabouly Dam is the first to be built in the lower Mekong River Main. This will also increase the impact of climate change on agriculture and fishing in the area.

Earth Heat beat his record in June

The month of June was the warmest in history since 1880 when records began climate data. The average temperature from April to June has set a new record, according to measurements carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA.

Specifically, the average temperature in June stood at 16.2 degrees Celsius. The half of the twentieth century was 15.5 °, ie, 0.60 ° below the level recorded last month.
Also, the first half of the year was, on average, the second warmest since measurements are made. The first six months of 2007 still holds the record.

The Earth Heat
NOAA notes that in various places on Earth have been recorded at higher temperatures than average over these months, as in Peru, central and eastern U.S. and eastern and western Asia.
June, a cold month in Spain.
However, in other parts of the globe has been lower temperatures than usual. In Spain, the average temperature was the coldest since 1997, according to AEMET.

There were also lower temperatures in Scandinavia, southern China and northwestern United States.
The surface temperature of the oceans in June stood at 0.54 º C above the average of the twentieth century, making this month in the fourth warmest June since 1880 reigstrado. The heat was most intense in the Atlantic.

The American Research Center NOAA published every month that his department analysis of weather makes temperatures recorded on Earth. Their database goes back to 1880.

A plastic bag of sugarcane to reduce CO2 emissions

The industrial group from plastics Sphere has developed a new plastic bag made from polyethylene plant of bioethanol from sugar cane that claimed, to prevent the emission of 78,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

According to estimates provided by the company, between 15,000 and 20,000 tons of polyethylene bags can reduce plant pollution figures regarding fossil polyethylene bags (traditional plastic bags) in an amount equivalent to a car that emits 125 grams of CO2 per km for 15 600 times around the world.

Polyethylene Plant is the first bioplastic with industrial production to absorb carbon, which presents a potential for reducing greenhouse gases.
Specifically, ethanol is made from sugar cane base and for certain applications, too, with potato starch. Potato starch gives elasticity, opacity and texture, while sugar cane can get the same mechanical properties as a polythene bag fossil.

A natural carbon source

In addition, sugar cane is a natural carbon source which contributes to further reduce CO2 in the growth phase than other ethanol production plants, and has a yield of 2 tons per hectare polyethylene plant, about 5-10 times other plants that produce ethanol.

Sphere ensures that pockets of this material is adapted to "all present uses" such as garbage bags, freezing or transparent film, and maintains the technical properties Dwellings equivalent to fossil carbon polyethylene, such as transparency, opacity, brightness or colors and is suitable for food.