Possible Link Between Light Pollution & #Cancer
http://www.kristv.com/news/special-report-possible-link-between-light-pollution-and-cancer
That’s the question Dr. Stevens posed in 1987. “Well maybe the pandemic of breast cancer is due to the increasing use throughout the world of electricity to light the night.” (...) It’s the overproduction of estrogen and lack of melatonin that concerns Dr. Stevens.
BRCK: Your backup generator to the Internet
http://brck.com
http://brck.com/images/slide4.jpg
The BRCK is the easiest, most reliable way to connect to the internet, anywhere in the world, even when you don’t have electricity. All kinds of jobs require steady connectivity, even when infrastructure is spotty due to wireless connections, intermittent power, or devices that can’t share connections. Seeing this, Ushahidi set out to redesign connectivity for the world we live in - Africa.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1776324009/brck-your-backup-generator-for-the-internet
où on trouve un peu d’explications sur c’est quoi cette « brique » : en gros 3G + Wifi + Batterie de 8h et plein d’autres trucs super...
Là, ils sont à la moitié du budget pour commencer la fabrication.. (Si j’avais des ronds, j’en donnerais)
Daily chart: Volts for volks | The Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/05/daily-chart-4?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/dc/voltsforvolks
Volts for volks
May 7th 2013, 17:01 by Economist.com
How electricity prices vary across what is supposed to be a single market
FOR Germans it is the cost of subsidising renewables. For Italians it is an overly protected domestic market. The reasons behind high electricity prices vary across Europe, a variation that seems strange given the ease with which electrical power can cross borders. Governments looking to give their economies a jolt might start here.
Explosion des ventes de générateurs - pour ceux qui en ont les moyens
Electricity expert Hefzy Zayed said in an interview with ONtv satellite channel this month that poor maintenance of power plans and the lack of liquidity to buy raw materials for the plants has caused the electricity shortage.
Zayed said electricity cuts may occur across the country for up to two hours a day, and some predict rural areas will experiences power cuts lasting four to six hours.
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/power-electric-generator-sales-are-rise
Egypt to buy $500-$600 mn of extra fuel this summer
Petroleum minister tells Reuters that Egypt plans to import additional quantities of fuel this summer to meet rising electricity demand and avoid power cuts
From the Greek Streets › Irregular updates and articles on the situation in Greece, in English
http://blog.occupiedlondon.org
Athens Indymedia, 98FM and Radio Entasi repressed by the greek government: updates
Friday, April 12, 2013
Access Athens Indymedia: http://gutneffntqonah7l.onion.to
or via Tor: http://gutneffntqonah7l.onion
On April 11th, 2013 the university authorities of the Athens Polytechnic (NTUA) cut off the electricity connection to the servers hosting Athens Indymedia and two radio stations of the antagonist movement – 98FM and Radio Entasi. On the next day, a demonstration was called at the Athens Polytechnic campus in Zografou.
Temporary Athens IMC url: http://indymedia.squat.gr
Reports reveal rapid pauperisation of the Spanish working class - World Socialist Web Site
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/02/spai-a02.html
Reports reveal rapid pauperisation of the Spanish working class
By Alejandro López
2 April 2013
Recent reports published by a number of statistical organisations reveal just how massive and rapid the pauperisation of the Spanish working class has been.
UK Government warms to nuclear power | Climate News Network
http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/2013/03/uk-government-warms-to-nuclear-power
By Paul Brown
The UK Government promised earlier not to subsidise nuclear power. It’s just promised to pay more than twice the present market price, for 40 years. It’s also going to give significant help to the infant shale gas industry. It adds up to a strange energy policy for others to follow.
LONDON, 25 March – Companies wishing to prospect for shale gas in the UK have been granted ten-year tax breaks and will get special planning permission from the Government if they go for large scale projects. To avoid delays, the Government also used its budget to announce plans to tempt local communities with cash to accept these developments.
This controversial push to exploit shale gas for electricity production comes as the Government’s already contentious plans to subsidise new nuclear stations ran into legal trouble in Brussels.
Based on data from 176 countries, IMF estimates energy subsidies at $1.9 trillion - equivalent to about 2½ percent of world GDP… Doesn’t even account for unprosecuted negative externalities such as pollution from cheap oil and cheap coal. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/imf-citing-trillions-in-government-subsidies-calls-for-end-to-mispricing-of-energy/2013/03/27/09957d6e-96e1-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_print.html
A lire l’extraordinaire David Ignatius on croirait que la « spirale des tueries sectaires » existait avant l’invasion étasunienne et que David Petraeus n’a jamais créé d’escadrons de la mort.
David Ignatius : Ten years later, recalling Iraq’s hard lessons - The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-ten-years-later-recalling-iraqs-hard-lessons/2013/03/20/5a05890c-90d7-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html?hpid=z2
By checking the spiraling sectarian killing, the surge of U.S. troops led by Bush and Gen. David Petraeus saved thousands of Iraqi lives. It’s one thing Americans did right in this painful story.
The American Legacy in Iraq- ►http://www.thenation.com/article/173416/american-legacy-iraq#
Baghdad was once a city where Sunni, Shiite and Christian lived side by side, conscious that they belonged to different sects but not frightened of one another.
World Poverty is Shrinking Rapidly, New Index reveals
The conventional method of measuring poverty based on income levels offers a poor analysis of the state of global poverty. The previous formula of people living on less than $1.25 per day is now replaced by a more comprehensive Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in the latest UN report. It allows for poverty to be measured through a set of 10 indicators, namely nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling and attendance, cooking fuel, water, sanitation, electricity, assets and a covered floor; all essential for alleviating poverty. A new study by the University of Oxfords’ poverty and human development initiative uses this index to calculate poverty projections and finds that acute poverty in impoverished countries will likely be eliminated within the next 20 years. It is attributed in part to the work of aid agency investments in healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure access etc. Although there is concern that development progress is inconsistent globally, the MPI offers a more robust approach to monitoring progress. Critics of the MPI, however, point that it is convenient to change the index to obtain a more satisfactory result.
Oh electricity | Sanctions financières et coupure de courant dans les quartier pauvres de Diyarbakir comme solution au piratage massif d’électricité ?!!
Petit récit d’une journaliste néerlandaise installée à Diyarbakir
http://www.journalistinturkey.com/blogs/oh-electricity_3666
Recently an inspection was made and I heard from my next-door neighbour that a lot of people were fined for illegal electricity use. She said it can cost up to 2000tl (some €900) and if you can’t pay, you can spend a few days in jail instead. Tampering with the electricity meter is usually done by professional electricians, who ask 300 to 400tl to do the job..
.
Des initiatives en faveur du photovoltaïque sous la pression de la pénurie électrique.
Il faut dire qu’au prix de l’électricité publique au Liban, quand elle arrive, aucune alternative n’est rentable.
A very bright idea : solar panels for neglected Bekaa Valley farms - feature | News , Local News | THE DAILY STAR
http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Mar-09/209425-a-very-bright-idea-solar-panels-for-neglected-bekaa-valley-farm
Jamaleddine came across the idea while researching alternative energy possibilities for his 120,000 square-meter organic farm, home to animals like goats, sheep and fowl, as well as tomato and grape vines, and apple and berry orchards, all of which require a constant water supply.
He discovered that by switching his irrigation system – which consumes the bulk of his electricity and costs nearly $4,000 per month – to solar power, he could make his farm self-sustaining and even profitable. In addition, he found he could share any excess power generated from the solar panels with his neighbors, who have long had to contend with frequent power outages and high generator costs.
“No land, no power”
http://farmlandgrab.org/post/view/21736
Even though Addax Bioenergy’s efforts have in many respects been ambitious and in accordance with international guidelines, it became very evident during Swedwatch’s field study that the company needs to resolve several serious problems in order to avoid having an adverse impact on the human rights situation in the affected villages.
The Swedwatch study shows that women have limited opportunities to benefit from the project. Women generally do not own land according to local traditions. Despite the fact that women have largely been the ones to cultivate and make use of the land, they have had a very limited role in the negotiations and they seldom receive any of the leasing payments. They are largely affected by the project, but due to their low status they have less access information, less access to the complaints mechanisms and less chance to be employed than men.
The local population does not seem to be properly informed about the project, despite the many meetings providing information that the company has organised. Those people interviewed by Swedwatch had not fully understood the implications of the investment and they did not seem to have made well-informed decisions about the leasing of the land. The leasing contracts that the company has drawn up do not include any commitments regarding jobs, education or health initiatives. Nevertheless, among those whom Swedwatch spoke to, there was a widespread feeling that they had been tricked into believing this. The local population cannot be held responsible for not having the correct information about the project. The recurring criticisms of the company in all of the villages that Swedwatch visited show that there are shortcomings in the way that Addax Bioenergy has managed the dialogue with the local population, indicating a lack of understanding for the way the dialogue is affected by cultural differences and power imbalances.
Un autre enjeu important en Egypte (et dans la région) : l’eau.
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/02/27/morsi-meets-sudanese-ministers-on-nile-water-issue
Power Tools Retrofitted for the Amish
The Amish have traditionally been farmers, but land has become prohibitively expensive to purchase, so many are turning to woodworking to earn a living. Since their homes are not wired with electricity, their table saws, drills and sanders are retrofitted with gas engines and compressed air tanks.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/22/172626089/inside-an-amish-trade-show
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=172626089
Information technology in Africa: The next frontier | The Economist
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21571889-technology-companies-have-their-eye-africa-ibm-leading-way-next-frontier?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/pe/thenextfrontier
This month Microsoft, which has offices in 14 African countries, unveiled a smartphone to be sold in several African markets. It is made by China’s Huawei and uses Microsoft’s new operating system.
In Kenya Microsoft intends to bring broadband to places that do not yet have electricity, using solar power and “white spaces”, or spare broadcast-television frequencies. Within a year, says Fernando de Sousa, the general manager for Microsoft in Africa, 6,000 people in the Rift Valley will have access to broadband. Similar projects are planned elsewhere. Since October Microsoft has been running “app factories” for programmers in Egypt and South Africa.
(...) Kenya may be keenest. In 2006, frustrated by the slow progress of a regional plan to lay a fibre-optic cable along the east coast of the continent, Kenya negotiated its own link to the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf cable landed in 2009.
(...)
In many sectors, such as health care, education and water, as well as traffic, governments are sure to be important customers for IT companies. But private clients matter too, especially in telecoms and finance. The mobile phone, the first computer many Africans will own (see chart 2), is the bridge between the two.
To Westerners, “mobile banking” is a new way of doing something old. To many Africans, it is the obvious way of doing something new. In Kenya M-PESA, a system of transferring money over phones, is an everyday, reliable utility. Equity Bank, a fast-growing bank, most of whose customers have never had an account before, has come of age with mobile technology:
#afrique #internet #câbles #croissance #mobile etc
Israel: Gaza Airstrikes Violated Laws of War
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/12/israel-gaza-airstrikes-violated-laws-war
At least 18 Israeli airstrikes during the fighting in Gaza in November 2012 were in apparent violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today after a detailed investigation into the attacks. These airstrikes killed at least 43 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children.
Human Rights Watch field investigations found 14 strikes by aerial drones or other aircraft for which there was no indication of a legitimate military target at the site at the time of the attack. In four other cases, attacks may have targeted Palestinian fighters, but appeared to use indiscriminate means or caused disproportionate harm to civilians.
Human Rights Watch did not attempt to investigate all Israeli airstrikes during the eight days of fighting called “Operation Pillar of Defense,” from November 14 to 21.
Le premier navire producteur d’électricité bientôt au Liban (Bassil)
http://www.lecommercedulevant.com/node/21581
Le ministre libanais de l’Énergie, Gebran Bassil, a affirmé jeudi que le premier navire producteur d’électricité appareillera la semaine prochaine de Turquie vers le Liban.
« Lorsque les deux navires producteurs d’électricité seront en place, l’alimentation en courant électrique progressera d’environ trois heures par jour. De même, la réhabilitation des centrales de Zouk et Jiyeh augmentera aussi l’alimentation en électricité de trois heures », a déclaré M. Bassil lors d’une conférence de presse.
Le mot-clé à ne pas rater dans cette dépêche est : « bientôt ».
Encore mieux : Bassil a même promis l’électricité 24/24 en 2015 :
He assured that the electricity barges, the rehabilitation of the two power plants, the new 700 MW plant and the electricity supplies from Syria and Egypt would enable EDL to provide 24 hours of electricity to all of Lebanon in 2015.
Attends, c’est encore plus dingue : bientôt, les Libanais auront à la fois l’électricité et Saad Hariri !
http://www.lorientlejour.com/category/Derni%C3%A8res+Infos/article/798842/Hariri_affirme_qu'il_rentrera_au_Liban_avant_les_legislatives.html
L’ancien Premier ministre libanais Saad Hariri a affirmé jeudi soir qu’il rentrera au Liban avant les élections législatives qui sont prévue au printemps prochain. « Je rentrerai, mais c’est moi qui décide de la date », a dit le leader sunnite lors d’une entrevue avec le journaliste Marcel Ghanem sur la LBC.
Tout ça la même année ? كلمات، كلمات، كلمات
#Qatar_Leaks: The Business of Foreign Affairs | Al Akhbar English
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/qatar-leaks-business-foreign-affairs
The first one is the minutes of a meeting between Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi that took place in September 2012, in which they discussed the situation in Syria.
In it, the Qatari prime minister talks of contacting Russia to convince it of abandoning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, offering guarantees from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) that Moscow’s naval base can remain in Syria.
The document also reveals that what Qatar offered Egypt in terms of financial assistance after the revolution is little more than loans with interest in return for giving the Qataris incentives such as investing in Egypt’s steel industry.
The second document is the minutes of a meeting between Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. The meeting took place in mid-March 2011 during the early stages of battle in Libya and the discussion revolves mainly about the situation on the ground there.
As for the third document, it also contains minutes of a meeting, this time between the Qatari Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and foreign minister Davutoğlu.
In it, the foreign minister stresses the importance of not allowing Assad to complete his term in office, which ends in 2014, because he will use it to defeat the opposition.
Alimentation électrique au Liban : réviser le privilège de Beyrouth ?
Cabinet opposes Bassil plan to reduce power to Beirut | News , Politics | THE DAILY STAR
http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Jan-23/203425-cabinet-opposes-bassil-plan-to-reduce-power-to-bei.ashx#axzz2Im
Bassil proposed allocating power to Beirut for the same time as other Lebanese districts, or keeping the same level of power supply in Beirut in return for raising electricity tariffs in the capital
Voilà une idée qui est loin d’être absurde. Les tarifs de l’EDL n’ont pas augmenté depuis 1993 et le décalage entre le prix d’achat des combustibles qui ont énormement augmenté et le prix de vente moyen de l’électricité est la première cause de l’endettement énorme d’EDL. Dans ce contexte, l’avantage donné à Beyrouth en termes de rationnement électrique (limité à 3 h/j comparé à 12 h ou plus ailleurs) s’apparente à une subvention massive aux consommateurs beyrouthins, qui sont également les plus aisés (en moyenne) du pays... Réévaluer progressivement le tarif qu’ils payent serait largement justifié et permettrait de récupérer des marges de manœuvre pour financer l’augmentation de la production et l’amélioration des réseaux dans le pays.
Voir justement sur ce point l’opération de communication sur l’avancement de son programme par BUTEC, société en charge de l’amélioration de la distribution dans la partie nord du pays (des banlieues nord-est de Beyrouth au Akkar) :
http://dailystar.com.lb/Business/Lebanon/2013/Jan-23/203411-butec-making-progress-in-north.ashx#axzz2Imqbbno8
#EDL
#électricité
#Liban
#Gebran_Bassil
Life in Lebanon horrible for Palestinians fleeing Syria: U.N. | Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/22/us-syria-crisis-palestinians-idUSBRE90L0QK20130122
Reuters) - Palestinians who fled Syria’s war to neighboring Lebanon are living up to 20 in a room with no water, fresh air or electricity, the head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday.
Gov’t vows end to eastern electricity woes despite antiquated grid
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-304726-govt-vows-end-to-eastern-electricity-woes-despite-antiquate
A new government campaign in the country’s easternmost provinces will clamp down on illicit electricity use — a practice Ankara says is encouraged by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — although the largest obstacle to better electricity service remains the antiquated grid itself, experts say.
Foyers améliorés : une solution durable pour l’Afrique
http://www.youphil.com/fr/article/05225-foyers-ameliores-une-solution-durable-pour-l-afrique?ypcli=ano
Dans de très nombreux cas, le bois est brûlé entre trois pierres qui supportent une casserole ou un chaudron et près de 95 % de l’énergie est perdue. De plus, l’émission de fumées nocives à l’intérieur des habitations cause des dommages respiratoires, cardiaques et oculaires. Parmi les victimes, des femmes qui sont traditionnellement derrière les fourneaux, et souvent accompagnées d’enfants en bas âge.
Le Sewa et le Nansu sont des foyers de cuisson améliorés étudiés pour minimiser la consommation de bois tout en s’adaptant aux traditions culturelles pour la cuisson.
Améliorer des choses quotidiennes, plutôt simplement.
En beaucoup plus complexe à réaliser, à réparer aussi, il y a ►http://biolitestove.com/homestove/overview avec 50% de bois en moins. Mais bon, l’« adaptation aux traditions culturelles » je ne sais pas.
Y’a de bonnes idées, genre ça génère de l’électricité en même temps.. Mais je doute que les foyers africains puissent s’en équiper facilement, la version camping est à 129€. Limite je verrais plus ça dans les ecovillages de france. ^^ Merci pour le lien en tout cas !
cela paraît intéressant, mais doit s’accompagner de plantations de bois par les populations sur place et sous des formes coopératives, d’une lutte contre la corruption et le trafic de bois surtout au sahel y compris dans les parcs nationaux dévastés par la contrrebande, les hommes d’affaires chinois et les contrebandiers sont une vraie mafia plus dangereuse pour les ecosystèmes fragiles que les pauvres cuisinières
En fait il s’agissait plutôt de protéger les cuisinières (de la fumée, qui provoque un tas de problèmes), mais tu as raison sur le fond. :)
How much water is needed to produce food and how much do we waste? | News | guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/jan/10/how-much-water-food-production-waste#data
As much as 50% of all food produced in the world ends up as waste every year according to figures from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. But how much water is needed to produce it?
#eau #alimentation #agriculture
pff, le chocolat plus gourmand que le bœuf
OK, sérieux ? Il y a 15 tonnes d’eau dans 1 kg de viande ?
Ah oui, c’est parce qu’il y a 3000 tonnes d’eau dans le grain qu’a mangé la vache en 3 ans ?
Et donc utilisé (used) c’est pareil que gâché (wasted) ?
Je n’y connais rien du tout, mais je lis (WP) « l’évapotranspiration peut atteindre 4 à 6 mm d’eau par mètre carré cultivé », ce qui fait (fourchette basse) quand même 40 tonnes d’eau par hectare et par jour en plein été. Vue la masse finale du grain de blé, l’immense majorité de l’eau qu’il a vu passer est repartie dans les nuages.
Toute l’eau, toujours, est absorbée, pas une goutte, jamais, n’est récupérée. Je veux bien qu’on fasse des bilans, mais pas n’importe quoi…
Bon, après le coup de gueule sur l’infographie, revenons à la raison.
Oui, sur un bassin versant la ressource en eau est limitée. Une partie est renouvelable, une autre ne l’est pas (pompage des nappes profondes). Et notre consommation en eau, elle ne semble pas limitée.
Alors, oui, il est vital de réfléchir à ce à quoi on utilise l’eau. Et, certainement, la viande est une forme d’alimentation très consommatrice de ressources et d’un rendement médiocre. D’ailleurs, ça a toujours été une nourriture de riches.
Et pour finir, en cherchant des infos sur la consommation de viande, je tombe :
1. sur ce graphique
http://www.courrierinternational.com/files/illustrations/article/2011/02/1059/1059-Agric_Viande-655.jpg
2. sur l’article dont il est extrait (dans Courrier international) ALIMENTATION • Renoncer à la viande : une fausse bonne idée de février 2011 – http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2011/02/17/renoncer-a-la-viande-une-fausse-bonne-idee
dont la conclusion, finalement, est la même (mais après des détours moins dramatiques) : manger moins de viande, se reporter sur des animaux plus efficaces (passer du bœuf au poulet)…
Mieux que le poulet, les insectes - économiques à produire et encore plus de protéines en proportion de la masse totale.
Bien vu @liotier. D’ailleurs j’étais tombée sur un reportage sur une vendeuse d’insectes frits dans les quartiers chaud de Bangkok où c’est perçu comme une nourriture peu chère et à la limite de la friandise. Tu voyais que c’était un gros business, avec des zones d’appro dans les jungles, des élevages qui relançaient un peu l’économie de certains villages, avec des grossistes, et tout un marché de l’insecte : des bien frais, des bas de gamme, des qualités supérieures. La marchandes bossait dur pour ramasser les meilleurs insectes chez le meilleur grossiste et elle avait sélectionné l’huile qui les rendait brillants et appétissants. Bref, c’est comme tout, il faut un art culinaire qui se développe autour, sinon, c’est aussi peu inspirant qu’un bol de tripes tiédasses et mal lavées.
Franchement, si on bouffe des huîtres, on peut bouffer n’importe quoi.
ça ne se mange pas, mais ça utilise beaucoup beaucoup d’eau !
http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/how-many-gallons-of-water-does-it-take-to-make.html
ou en français
http://www.kryzalid.net/blog/2009/06/26/combien-de-litres-deau-pour-fabriquer
La fabrication d’une automobile nécessite environ 147 972 litres d’eau, en plus des 7 571 litres utilisés pour fabriquer les quatre pneus.
Quant à la fabrication d’un kilo de papier cela nécessite de 60 à 100 litres d’eau… et oui, une rame de papier= 100 litres d’eau !
@monolecte en théorie je ne dis pas le contraire et se serait sans doute une solution mais dans la pratique, franchement, je n’imagine pas un seul instant avaler un ver blanc ou une chenille en connaissance de cause... C’est un travail à faire
Étude encourageante et très complète du bilan écologique de l’élevage des vers de farine : http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0051145
