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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Tuesday, 20 November 2007 |
Cars may be the single biggest contributor to the world’s growing obesity rate. An increase in people’s car usage has led to lack of daily exercise. Short trips are done on foot less often and, in the U.K., even the minimal walking that integrates with public transportation use has declined.
The Institute for European Environmental Policy recently published a report entitled “Unfit for purpose: how car use fuels climate change and obesity.” According to the study, by adopting the exercise and car usage model of 30 years ago (which involves walking just one more hour during the week) British people could reduce the emissions from passenger cars by 15.4% and avoid an average weight gain of 2lbs 11 ounces per year. Time spent walking annually during this timespan has decreased from 67 hours per person to 47. Annual driving time has shot up from 91 hours to 151 hours per driver. |
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Tuesday, 20 November 2007 |
Expansion of mass transit systems always makes for good Carectomy news. Federal funding for New York City’s elusive Second Avenue subway is finally in place. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said that $1.3 billion from the federal coffers would go towards the $4 billion budget of the first phase of construction.
New Yorkers have been working towards a Second Avenue subway since the 1920s. Sections of tunnel were constructed in the 70s, only to be scrapped when funds ran out.
The longterm goal of the two-track Second Avenue subway is to connect Harlem (125th Street) to the Financial District in Manhattan. The current phase, the first of four, will be an extension of the existing Q line. Stops will be added at 92nd, 86th, 72nd, and 63rd Streets. This portion is scheduled to open in 2014.
The $1.3 billion represents the government’s second largest contribution to a mass transportation project behind the Long Island Rail Road connection to Grand Central Station. That project, also currently under construction, will cost the federal government $2.6 billion.
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Saturday, 17 November 2007 |
A violent storm on Sunday, November 11th in the Black Sea ripped the Volganeft-139 Russian oil tanker in half, dumping almost 2,000 tons of fuel oil. The heavily refined fuel oil is particularly damaging because of its relative weight and thickness, and is now sinking to the ocean floor. The proximity of the spill to shore also means increased levels of environmental damage. 30,000 birds have already died and the dramatic damage to fish populations can’t even be estimated.
Three days later, the Cosco Busan container ship pulled out of the Port of Oakland, California, only to ram into one of the support buttresses of the Bay Bridge. The gash in the side of the ship’s hull permitted 58,000 gallons of oil to pour into the surrounding water.
Initial Coast Guard reports estimated a spill of about 140 gallons. By the time recovery efforts realized the severity of the accident, the setback to the clean-up mission was irreparable. Prompt responses are crucial in order to recover spilled oil before it disburses. The Coast Guard did manage to recover close to 10,000 gallons, but does not expect to contain much more.
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
The bicycle has once again proven its incredible versatility. Not only is it the most efficient transportation form on the planet, suitable for work commutes, transporting heavy loads, rescue work, and combating obesity and global warming – apparently the bicycle also excels at repelling tigers.
As the Times of India reports, Balaji Vithoba Khode was riding past a water canal during his evening commute between Mangrud and Talodi, India when he was attacked by a tigress.
From the Times of India:
"Kohde was caught unawares when the tigress suddenly appeared on the scene. He managed to protect himself with his bicycle. Still, he received minor injuries on his head. He was taken to the nearest primary health centre (PHC) where he was discharged after preliminary treatment," said Rahul Sorte, Talodi range forest officer (RFO) in the Brahmapuri Forest Division. "Kohde is out of danger," he claimed. |
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
Take a green, Carectomy-friendly pursuit (walking), add technology (piezoelectric fabric), and suddenly carectomy patients become free-standing personal power plants.
Engineers from Michigan Technological University, Arizona State, and NanoSonic Inc. are teaming up to create a walker-powered backpack. Static electricity that builds up from a walking person’s shoulders rubbing against the backpack (and is typically wasted) provides the juice. It’s like free power: there's no extra user effort and other than the materials that go into making the fabric and perhaps the storage batteries, no resources are used to create the energy
The backpack’s straps, which feel just like nylon, are made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The material harnesses the static electricity created by the user’s walking motion. This power can either be used directly by electronic devices or stored in batteries for later use.
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
What to do with decommissioned seventeen-ton subway cars? Why, dump them along the Eastern Seaboard to create an artificial reef, of course!
New York City’s Mass Transit Authority approved a $6.3 million contract to submerge 600 stainless steel subway cars off the east coast, from New Jersey down to Delaware. The cars will accommodate schools of fish and provide divers with some unique scenery.
"They create a cave-like structure that let young hatchlings mature," said Mike Zacchea, assistant chief of operations for New York City Transit. "Within 30 days, marine life attaches to the car body." |
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Written by Joshua Liberles
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
Consumer Consequences is a cool interactive game designed by American Public Media. Players input their consumption patterns and watch to see the level of environmental impact they cause to the Earth based upon an ecological footprinting model developed by Redefining Progress. Scores correlate to how many Earths it would take if everyone on the planet lived just like players do.
The interactive game accompanies American Public Media and Marketplace’s radio series “ Consumed,” which explores the impact Americans have on the environment. As the player answers questions, the game gives tidbits of information relating to diet, trash, transportation, energy use, and housing. |
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