This site provides information about our planet Earth, animal welfare, environmental issues, permaculture, among some other things, with the objective to promote and raise awareness of these topics. Tumblr (3.0; @caringworld)http://caringworld.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/0684449fbb042ed96413d5f5c29903bd/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f7e7ed19b647b6a69e46a2702b5d12af/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/abe0adbd0cf9b88c1a27476154c64569/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po3_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/55e418d4c1917360bc5369bae495d5b2/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/15c2ede24a4e27d9c6461932a00a2c73/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4208de6e9b326e37d7790907eb302553/tumblr_mk9xsv85qx1qbsu0po1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/pictures/130325-green-walls-environment-cities-science-pollution/">Living Wall</a></p> <p><small>These vegetated surfaces don’t just look pretty. They have other benefits as well, including cooling city blocks, reducing loud noises, and improving a building’s energy efficiency.What’s more, a recent modeling study shows that green walls can potentially reduce large amounts of air pollution in what’s called a “street canyon,” or the corridor between tall buildings.<br/><br/> For the study, Thomas Pugh, a biogeochemist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, and his colleagues created a computer model of a green wall with generic vegetation in a Western European city. Then they recorded chemical reactions based on a variety of factors, such as wind speed and building placement.<br/><br/> The simulation revealed a clear pattern: A green wall in a street canyon trapped or absorbed large amounts of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter—both pollutants harmful to people, said Pugh. Compared with reducing emissions from cars, little attention has been focused on how to trap or take up more of the pollutants, added Pugh, whose study was published last year in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.<br/><br/> That’s why the green-wall study is “putting forward an alternative solution that might allow [governments] to improve air quality in these problem hot spots,” he said.Compared with reducing emissions from cars, little attention has been focused on how to trap or take up more of the pollutants, added Pugh, whose study was published last year in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.<br/><br/> That’s why the green-wall study is “putting forward an alternative solution that might allow [governments] to improve air quality in these problem hot spots,” he said.</small></p> <p><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/pictures/130325-green-walls-environment-cities-science-pollution/">Full Gallery</a></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/51157393250http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/51157393250Thu, 23 May 2013 12:13:48 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4826a3888a143b004bef1ebc6a10aeb6/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/deb6bd47453894570e29f125301f11ac/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/8243c1885728eea8eecee5be4d10b803/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4789c8d60dd67acbd7b64bfe1efa8905/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ca0a9b5bc1e21b2501d7f17bbad024cd/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o5_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c9c76974a00fbe064a85d173efa92067/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o6_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/0f3f345507516c01882f5349f8f5b44d/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o7_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7675b16bcc33d065ea6051b7c5860fd5/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o8_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dd8ced0d3cf1cf99ad9e5b201860d260/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o9_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9cc0ee9d83bd95a140894e6f9d131aab/tumblr_mmxu2lpafB1qcbg25o10_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://ahmadalikarim.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/toys-from-thrown-flip-flop/?preview=true&preview_id=14456&preview_nonce=ca7894dcf8">This little company from Kenya</a><span> makes toys from slippers that wash up on the beach. Pictures by </span><a href="http://www.bpcurtis.com/">Ben Curtis</a></p> <p><span>The company’s name is Ocean Sole: </span><a href="http://www.ocean-sole.com/"><a href="http://www.ocean-sole.com/">http://www.ocean-sole.com/</a></a></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50913039985http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50913039985Mon, 20 May 2013 11:03:47 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f1b57526e8effe43b599c15f379ea5a4/tumblr_mn3qeraCT11qzsjkco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>A City That Turns Garbage Into Energy Copes With a Shortage @ <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/world/europe/oslo-copes-with-shortage-of-garbage-it-turns-into-energy.html">New York Times</a></strong></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50909953103http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50909953103Mon, 20 May 2013 10:05:51 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7dc18d4350b8abeebed488ea573ec404/tumblr_mm549ld6Pl1s5e4pfo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p><span>Something to think about:</span></p> <p><span>The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Let’s scale that to 46 years.</span></p> <h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper"><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"> We have been here for 4 hours. Our industrial revolution began 1 minute ago.<br/> In that time, we have destroyed more than 50% of the world’s forests.<br/></span></span></h5> <p><span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">This isn’t sustainable.</span></span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50709671286http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50709671286Sat, 18 May 2013 00:40:28 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c2c087f24dc03184c7a9cd1e4219c342/tumblr_mmut6dYxyi1qd4vugo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/how-wind-turbines-kill-birds">How wind turbines kill birds</a></strong></p> <p>Wind energy may be cost efficient, but it’s costing us over half a million birds each year.</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50678578793http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50678578793Fri, 17 May 2013 16:52:11 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9a3bf9a49cf5290e46db7c874c97bb62/tumblr_mmud5wq3Yq1qd4vugo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/mount-everest-is-melting">Mount Everest is melting</a></strong></p> <p>Researchers suspect that the glacial melting in the Everest region is due to global warming, but they have not yet established a firm connection.</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50508689345http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50508689345Wed, 15 May 2013 13:20:10 -0500<a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/12/new-concerns-about-plastic-pollution-in-great-lakes-garbage-patch/">New Concerns About Plastic Pollution in Great Lakes ‘Garbage Patch’</a>: <p><span>Until recently, my concept of a ‘</span><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100820-science-environment-garbage-patch-missing-plastic-atlantic-ocean/">garbage patch</a><span>’ was of an area of ocean with large pieces of floating debris, the kind of stray fishing gear and trash from ships and shorelines that collect where currents form eddies far from view of most people.</span></p> <p>Having seen my share of sea trash in 20,000+ miles of lake and ocean sailing and even untangled sheets of plastic and thick ropes from the propeller and rudder of my 37-foot sailboat, I was shocked to learn that the kind of garbage scientists are most concerned about is invisible to the naked eye. They’re finding tiny bits of plastic known as “micro-plastics” floating near the surface of the water in high concentrations. The particles are so small that a microscope is needed to even see them.</p> <p>The scary news this week was about a garbage patch discovered in the Great Lakes last year. Although scientists have studied plastic pollution in the oceans since NOAA researchers discovered the “<a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?ar_a=4&ar_r=1">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a>” in 1988, a team of scientists is conducting the first-of-its-kind research on the open water of the Great Lakes. One of the team members presented preliminary results of a study on the topic at meeting of the American Chemical Society.</p> <p>I spoke with <a href="http://www.uwsuper.edu/acaddept/naturalsciences/employees/lorena-rios-mendoza_employee1235219" title="Dr. Lorena Rios-Mendoza">Lorena Rios-Mendoza</a>, an environmental chemist at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and found that the buzz was certainly justified. Her background includes studying plastic debris and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Pacific Garbage Patch and in the Southern Ocean. Now an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, she has turned her attention to these same issues on the North American Great Lakes.</p> <p>“I’m interested in learning more about what happens to persistent organic pollutants when they attach to the plastic particles,” Rios-Mendoza told me. She is now studying 110 fish samples to see if they have plastic debris in their guts and to learn more about what happens to POPs associated with the plastic pollution. She wonders whether the accidental consumption of tiny bits of plastic by fish might be a new source for toxins in the food chain.</p> <p><a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/12/new-concerns-about-plastic-pollution-in-great-lakes-garbage-patch/"><strong>Continue reading</strong></a></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50374513470http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/50374513470Mon, 13 May 2013 17:57:01 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/865f5ac29d518fa3955d12fbba40b181/tumblr_mlpv8v4Gvq1qd4vugo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/the-best-trees-for-urban-and-suburban-yards">The best trees for urban (and suburban) yards</a></strong></p> <p>The world needs more trees. Here are recommended varieties for planting.</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49451974659http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49451974659Thu, 02 May 2013 14:10:18 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/87aa10e6e3c18d0a6e6200530b1c61ec/tumblr_mlx2mzLvWn1s36qeao1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4780bb8da4a67bd81c98d4211a8d9779/tumblr_mlx2mzLvWn1s36qeao2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/926f184f80780a2c309df421dc0a5dff/tumblr_mlx2mzLvWn1s36qeao3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d9e5672466a2cb4a099fc33ac92830c9/tumblr_mlx2mzLvWn1s36qeao4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><span>Window Socket - Kyuho Song & Boa Oh</span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49419819116http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49419819116Thu, 02 May 2013 00:13:29 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a2846c94fe470f77b0b8d0cedf1e90af/tumblr_mlxqi81JLw1qc6j5yo1_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ae3bae03de904c78546ac201498288ca/tumblr_mlxqi81JLw1qc6j5yo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><a href="http://rhamphotheca.tumblr.com/post/49041203124/another-study-documents-dramatic-new-impacts-to" class="tumblr_blog">rhamphotheca</a>:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>Another Study Documents Dramatic New Impacts to Birds from Outdoor Cats</strong></p> <p><em>ABC media release</em></p> <p>A new study from British scientists has documented for the first time, significant new impacts to birds from outdoor cats, reporting that even brief appearances of cats near avian nest sites leads to at least a doubling in lethal nest predation of eggs and young birds by third-party animals, as well as behavioral changes in parent birds that lead to an approximately 33 percent reduction in the amount of food brought to nestlings following a predation threat.</p> <p>The study was peer-reviewed and published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12025/abstract">Journal of Applied Ecology</a> (January 30, 2013). The study was led by Karl Evans of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield in collaboration with his PhD student Colin Bonnington and Kevin Gaston of the Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter.</p> <p> The study was carried out by observing 47 blackbird nests in 2010 and 49 nests in 2011 in Sheffield, England, during the breeding season from March to August and compared nest dynamics following presentation of a taxidermist-prepared cat, a predatory grey squirrel, and a rabbit. The crucial finding is that the natural response of parenting birds to the appearance of predators – alarm calling and nest defense – dramatically affects rates of bird nest predation by third-party animals thusly alerted to the nest, as well as much lower feeding rates of young birds for prolonged periods following the threat of predation by cats…</p> <p>(read more: <a href="http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/130418a.html">American Bird Conservancy</a>)</p> <p>(photo on L: iStockphoto)</p></blockquote>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49041529979http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/49041529979Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:34:44 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9f83b23db08f2683690b2e08dc313c92/tumblr_mkwagq4Yu61s5kn1zo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/652ceac03e186d33013861993e7828e5/tumblr_mkwagq4Yu61s5kn1zo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c035b2f9ca7741cbc21f440cc7af8e10/tumblr_mkwagq4Yu61s5kn1zo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><span>Bicycle Phone Changer</span></p> <p><span>In Tanzania, the majority of people live without electricity, yet a third of the country uses mobile phones. Bernard Kiwia, a trained electrician and vocational-school instructor, collaborated with the for-profit social enterprise Global Cycle Solutions (GCS) to design a phone charger from scrap bike and radio parts. Made from spokes, brake tubes, clamps, motors, and capacitors, the device generates power when its roller comes in contact with the bike’s spinning wheel as one rides it</span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48864327162http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48864327162Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:56:44 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/11684c8dd9f7f38bce0a0572ca0ce1dc/tumblr_mltd9uJRLE1qd4vugo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong><a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/14-amazing-fractals-found-in-nature">14 amazing fractals found in nature</a></strong></p> <p>Take a tour through the magical world of natural fractals and discover the joy of simple complexity.</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48863333453http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48863333453Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:38:06 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2e62838916b9eb84590abe5a472996b6/tumblr_mlqatuZFMH1rutp1jo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>Charles Darwin </span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48728793783http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48728793783Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:23:49 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c73caa308c2f351fe5527dc846468839/tumblr_mlqbt2c1Gb1rutp1jo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>End Breed Specific Legislation </span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725747422http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725747422Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:45:44 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7e427e5322aff0bffd723518d3560b9a/tumblr_mlqbwqp01x1rutp1jo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>When I became vegan on July 24, 1996, and finally understood that animals had an inherent right to be free and live completely unfettered by human domination, I wondered why it took more than 25 years to attain this nonviolent awakening.</span></p> <p>I began to ask, “Who taught me that animals were put on this Earth for food? Who taught me to disrespect animals and view them as mere commodities? Who stole my compassion, my empathy and my conscience? Who lied to me? Who instilled this vicious mindset of human-to-animal exploitation as standard operating procedure?”</p> <p> - Gary Yourofsky </p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725644932http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725644932Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:44:25 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ae399249cd58706620c663ba3bcdf35e/tumblr_mlqc8zFNxY1rutp1jo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>Where do YOU draw the line?</span></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725414438http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48725414438Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:41:35 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9675fef7bf3c5640fd40ccefa4a1147a/tumblr_mlp4sfkP2J1qc4hseo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/04/22/what-bp-doesn-t-want-you-to-know-about-the-2010-gulf-spill.html">What BP Doesn’t Want You to Know About the 2010 Gulf Spill</a></p> <p>The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill was even worse than BP wanted us to know.</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48697813373http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48697813373Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:46:16 -0500<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HRZFs6-WyAg?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p><span>After being abandoned by her owners at a shelter, Pit Bull mix Hope and her litter of puppies were rescued by the New Leash on Life organization in Southern California. At first, the puppies appeared on </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePetCollective?feature=watch">The Pet Collectives</a><span> “puppy cam,” becoming mini-celebrities and after that were featured in the second season of “The Litter,” narrated by pet lover Sharon Osbourne. In this video, we see a truly inspiring story, all of the puppies (and mother Hope) have been adopted and are preparing to go to their “forever” homes.</span></p> <p>For more cute <a href="http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/2013/04/the-litter-find-forever-homes-video/1486653327/">dogs and puppies</a></p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48621286271http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48621286271Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:10:04 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/2d18b50cb694405b575e23c4041188ef/tumblr_ml7p4zieGT1rkzxuzo1_500.png"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c039abaca0fe3d882089f15d9b4a053d/tumblr_ml7p4zieGT1rkzxuzo2_500.png"/><br/> <br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://underthevastblueseas.tumblr.com/post/47907209766/infographic-by-reusethisbag">underthevastblueseas</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Infographic by <a href="http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/the-truth-about-plastic.asp">ReuseThisBag</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Marine details</p>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48459394383http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48459394383Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:19:51 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/455ff5cd444e534788f6bc2e7172cb24/tumblr_ml1uklpsSj1qzsjkco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48025324573http://caringworld.tumblr.com/post/48025324573Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:16:24 -0500