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.

Germany, the UK and France calling for CO2 emissions be cut by 30% in the EU

After months of hiatus and disappointments in the fight against climate change, Germany, Britain and France argue that the EU reduce its emissions by 30% contaminants in the decade, instead of 20% agreed.

Environment ministers from these three countries have been surprised today with the announcement of its agreement in an article three in the Financial Times.

Themselves, in particular French, hitherto opposed to raising the goal of cutting CO2 by 2020 compared to 1990 levels until there was an ambitious global commitment. Now considered to be easier to get to 30% by the recession and economic reasons to argue the effort.

"Sticking with the 20% cut, Europe is likely to lose the race to compete in the world of the green economy with China, Japan or the United States, who are trying to create a more conducive environment for investment green, defended the ministers.

European companies have about a 22% stake in the market for green products or technologies, but "the world is getting batteries," they warn.

Due to the recession, the emissions market has also decreased and the Ministers believe that the cost in 2020 to achieve the target of 20% decreased by one third. Spend only 30% would cost the EU 11 000 million.

"Avoiding the argument of 30% would put us in the slow lane in the world," say the ministers, who will defend their position at the next Council of Environment of the EU in October

BP gets completely seal oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico

Oil giant BP has reported that for the first time in 87 days, has managed to completely stop the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Thanks to the important test done to test the effectiveness of the new containment hood installed over the subsea well in which the leak occurred since 22 April, "there is no flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico," said vice president of BP exploration and production, Kent Wells.

In a statement, the oil firm said that "during the tests, the three openings are closed, which for all practical purposes closed well ... Although we can not guarantee it is not expected to pour oil into the sea during the test" .

After closing the valves, the engineers began monitoring the pressure. Pressure is expected to continue rising, because if it remains low, it means that there could be leaking oil.
Resistance Testing

BP, the company responsible for the spill, took over the endurance of the bell after being suspended last night by detecting a crack in the shutter.

"The tests began today in accordance with procedures approved by the National Incident Command" and until they develop normally, the statement said. The first tests will last at least six hours and could take up to 48 hours, the statement said.

The company warns that even stop oil spill into the sea during the trial period "that does not mean that the flow of oil and gas well has stopped permanently."

Throughout the testing period will be measuring the pressure inside the hood. If it is too low, it will point to the existence of another similar to the detected leak last night and have to start all over again.

In a news conference Thursday, the coordinator of the anti-dumping by the U.S. government, Admiral Thad Allen, said that if there is a high pressure will be good news, because it will mean that the device works as properly and is able to withstand the flow of oil.

If the tests are positive and the bell can become operational, would be connected by pipelines to ships in the area. According to Allen, the system would be able to transfer up to 80,000 barrels per day, an amount greater than that flowing from the well failed. It is estimated that currently flow from the well between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels of oil a day.

The hood is designed only as a provisional remedy to the disaster, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history and the coming Thursday in its day number 87. The permanent solution will come when completed two wells drilling subsidiary, through which they inject a mixture of heavy clay and cement permanently seal the well.

The spill began after the April 20, for reasons still unknown, broke out and sank in the sea oil rig 'Deepwater Horizon', maintained by the oil company BP, accident that killed eleven workers.

Spain destroys every day an area of coast equivalent to eight football fields

Spain degrades 7.7 hectares of coast each day to create housing developments, industrial and commercial land, the report "Destruction at all costs to 2010 ', released today by Greenpeace. According to Greenpeace, 44% of the Spanish population live on the coast, which represents only 7% of the territory.

The environmental NGOs have also been allegations that in the last 20 years has been destroyed in the Spanish coast, the area equivalent to eight football fields a day and adds that "there is no evidence of abandonment" of the massive construction on the coast, nor "end the harassment" to the last untouched.

Thus, according to the same source, from 1987 to 2005 we have destroyed a total of 50 504 hectares of natural land in the first two kilometers of coastline (this figure does not include the Canary Islands).
An unstoppable phenomenon

This phenomenon is widespread in the last decade towards the ends well preserved on the coast: the Region of Murcia, Almería, Huelva, Rías Baixas, Cantabria and Asturias.

"We are all aware that the assault on the coast has been hit in recent years. But the worst thing is that this trend continues and politicians strive to eliminate the only legislation that defends the coast. What is to be demolished The Algarrobico and not the Coastal Act and will continue fighting so that this does not happen, "said Juan Lopez de Uralde, director of Greenpeace. "It is unfortunate that partisan interests are promoted by sales to the Coastal Act that seek to legalize the abuses that have allowed for all these years."

"In this decade there has been a massive urbanization of the coast, only comparable to that of the 60s," says Pilar Marcos, head of the Greenpeace campaign Coast. "Today we suffer the environmental consequences and the economic crisis, but it seems that we have taken note of their causes."
Valencia, which has destroyed more

According to Greenpeace, of all communities highlights the Valencian to be the one that has destroyed the coast in this decade. In 2004, each square kilometer of the community received an average of 288 tonnes of cement. One year later, 33% in the first kilometer of coast was undeveloped. And in 2008 there was a marina every 11 km of coastline, as denounced by environmentalists.

The environmental organization believes that a sustainable economy initiatives lack credibility if cases of coastal destruction are promoted by governments. Examples cited the hotel of the carob tree, which still stands, or to encourage construction in ports like Granadilla (Tenerife), Tarifa (Cadiz), or of Pasajes (Gipuzkoa) and unsustainable urban development such as Marina d'Or and Cangas do Morrazo. Also demand that steps be taken to curb pollution of the Galician or the Bay of Algeciras.

Marcos said that "many of us believe that true luxury is not a five star hotel, that real luxury is a virgin beach. A luxury not only visual but represents a powerful economic asset for sustainable tourism and craft activities as fishing. We are few areas of unspoilt coastline and tolerance for urban macro and port should be zero. "