Indian Government Files Biopiracy Lawsuit Against Monsanto. October 11th 2011 By Jonathan Benson - Natural News Representing one of the most agriculturally bio-diverse nations in the world, India has become a primary target for biotechnology companies like Monsanto and Cargill to spread their genetically-modified (GM) crops into new markets.
However, a recent France 24 report explains that the Indian government has decided to take an offensive approach against this attempted agricultural takeover by suing Monsanto for “biopiracy,” accusing the company of stealing India’s indigenous plants in order to re-engineer them into patented varieties.
Brinjal, also known in Western nations as eggplant, is a native Indian crop for which there are roughly 2,500 different unique varieties. Millions of Indian farmers grow brinjal, which is used in a variety of Indian food dishes, and the country grows more than a quarter of the world’s overall supply of the vegetable. VIDEO: Watch the full France 24 video report of India’s lawsuit against Monsanto below.
Algae Invention Could Reduce Vehicle Emissions - KTEN.com Sherman Denison Ardmore News Weather Sports. SHERMAN, TX--A new invention may turn gas-guzzlers into eco-friendly vehicles.
The man who thought of it is still in college. Algae may be the answer to cleaner cars. "Carbon dioxide would actually enter through the device through these plates of algae," Param Jaggi said. Algae Invention Could Reduce Vehicle Emissions - KTEN.com Sherman Denison Ardmore News Weather Sports. Cars Could Run on Recycled Newspaper. Tulane has applied for a patent for a method to produce the biofuel butanol from organic material, a process developed by associate professor David Mullin, right, postdoctoral fellow Harshad Velankar, center, and undergraduate student Hailee Rask.
Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano Those that say the newspaper is dead may want to think again. Thanks to recently-discovered bacteria, recycled newsprint could be converted into biofuel. Scientists at Tulane University in New Orleans have discovered a new bacterial strain that can convert paper into butanol, a biofuel that can be used as a substitute for gasoline. They are currently experimenting with copies of The Times Picayune, New Orleans’ venerable daily newspaper, with great success. The strain, dubbed TU-103, is unique in its ability to produce butanol directly from cellulose, an organic compound found in plants and paper.
Researchers experimented with other forms of bacteria to produce butanol. Energy in America: New Liquid Fuel Faster, More Efficient. With a little help from genetic engineering, researchers at one Massachusetts company say they've created an organism that takes sunlight, water and carbon dioxide and creates liquid fuel.
Bill Sims, CEO of Cambridge-based Joule Unlimited, says the process utilizes a bacteria, produces a chemical product and secretes it. The result? Information for Environmental Chairpersons. Organize Environmental Service Projects Organize environmental service projects in your area by becoming a Lions Clubs environmental chairperson.
Motivate clubs to undertake environmental service projects such as community clean-ups, recycling and tree planting. The district environmental chairperson is appointed by the district governor to provide clubs with the assistance they need to organize environmental service projects in their district. Environmental Chairperson Responsibilities Available Resources Chairperson Award District governors are encouraged to present qualified chairpersons with the District Environment Chairperson Award (provided by International Headquarters) in recognition of their outstanding leadership and contributions.
Sustainability, Environment, Progressive Politics, Peak Oil, Being Green. Eartheasy.com ~ Solutions for Sustainable Living. Air North Texas. Bolivia grants nature same rights as humans. Bolivia is to pass a law -- called la Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra (The Law of Mother Earth) -- which will grant nature equal rights to humans.
The law -- the first of its kind -- aims to encourage a major shift in attitudes towards conservation and to reduce pollution and exploitation of natural resources. Maine Town Becomes First in US to Declare Food Sovereignty. The town of Sedgwick, Maine, population 1,012 (according to the 2000 census), has become the first town in the United States to pass a Food Sovereignty ordinance.
In doing so, the town declared their right to produce and sell local foods of their choosing, without the oversight of State or federal regulation. What does this mean? In the debate over raw milk, for example, the law opens the gate for consumer and producer to enter a purchasing agreement without interference from state or federal health regulators. Behold Pepsi's 100% Plant-Based Plastic Bottle - Gizmodo. Leading the transition to a resilient world.
Japanese invention turns plastic into oil, fits on a tabletop. It's a huge problem: Lots of plastic goes unrecycled.
Even in places with recycling programs (like New York City), the only plastic items recycled are bottles, leaving everything else as waste. What to do with all that unrecyclable plastic? A Japanese inventor has put forward an answer: melt the stuff and turn it into oil. Akinori Ito's plastic-recycling device is no industrial solution. Plastic to oil fantastic, Japan. This video brief about the invention of a plastic-to-oil converting machine went viral and exceeded 3.7 million views on YouTube.
This is evidence that concern over “the plastic problem” is certainly not going away, despite encouraging bans on and decreases in the use of plastic shopping bags. Do-it-yourself solar power for your home.