Cities in the action of sustainability

Today, the vast majority of the population lives in cities, urban areas. Talked a lot lately in helping necessiade of forests, rivers and wildlife and quality of life that people live in rural areas and therefore be very important to take care of these places. But since, as already said, cities are increasingly populated is, in my opinion, urgent look at them and watch them. That's because the cities are largely responsible for climate change, pollution and overuse of natural resources.
We all know that existed, exists and there will always be competition between the major cities in the world. The powers and various interests will be continually on the agenda and that is what will determine our future not only social, economic or political but also ENVIRONMENTALLY. I can say that our lives are dependent on the cities, such as, our mobility, health, business organization, recycling, actions and campaigns ...

Large cities like New York, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and others, have a very negative impact with regard to the environment as much or even more than some countries. That is why the title of this text, because cities must take actitudes and action for sustainability.

In short, cities are the biggest waste of energy giant bugs in the field of pollution threats to the environment, that's where they develop social and political problems and that is why our well-being and the earth are so dependent on them. We pay attention to urban areas so we can make the most of what nature can offer us, in terms quality of life. Nature offers us elements essential for life and others who provide us with good times and many more we are tempted to do certain acts, we must be constantly aware of what we are doing. After this experience looks around you and fix the errors and unconscious practices that we take all the time. Now think about that we could do to fix this or at least improve in some way ...!

We need nature!

Since always the man lives in contact with nature and since the human being exists that uses what is there. In the prehistoric man sheltered in caves, then started to build houses made with plants, stones and wood, in addition, always exploited nature as a way to meet your needs. It was holding two stones, the men discovered the fire and was with it, in time, we communicate and, as now, cook and use it as heat. To survive, to feed ourselves, we invented spears-from what nature has given us and so we hunted for years ...

One of the practices that today's exercise and that much is made, the art was first conceived in the walls and had the name of cave paintings. For the man do it, he needed means to it, which of course, in time, there were screens or oil paints but natural elements.


People really have a great need to be in contact with the environment, because it not only assures our sustainability and provides us with a series of beautiful landscapes and even moments of fun. When I think of fun, I think for example on the beaches, it is good to go on vacation and when under a scorching heat to a quick dip in the sea. The problem is that water is polluted every day for the man, even he enjoy be in contact with her and even though it is an essential element to life! It's strange to think how we can destroy everything we like, it becomes even ridicule and punishment my own mind the situations that today are a discomfort, take for example, garbage lying on the floor. It may seem too radical to some, but the truth is that we are destroying our largest home, our planet, since it belongs to everyone. The truth is that we talk about pollution and all talk about change but it is certain that, if not all, ninety-nine point nine percent of people have done something wrong in the environment.

Returning to the need to be involved with nature ... I always saw on television especially those houses in the trees and what fascinated me and always thought "I want to have one!". The tree houses are no more than one way of being connected with the environment, and to feel in harmony with the environment. Sometimes it's nice that we do with our company are the trees, the birds, the air we breathe and even the waves that form at sea, because all this gives us peace and leads us to have quality of life. I can not imagine how my days would be without all this, because superior earth residents , decided, certainly not for convenience, to destroy everything and make men the best that we have.


So far I have spoken only of men who might seem to selfishness, but as a human appeal to everyone who let us live the best way, but it is clear that animals also suffer from all this and biodiversity is also in our hands.

WE CARE FOR THE EARTH!

Save water, please

In our planet just one in one hundred litters of water is good to drink. You are surprised, aren’t you? Many people spend water thinking that it will never finish, but unfortunately that is not true. If we continue spending water unnecessarily, it will finish in a nearly future.
In our daily routine we should change things in order to save water, like having a shower instead of a bath, closing the tap while we are brushing our teeth. All of these attitudes will be very important for the future generations, which will suffer a lot by all of these problems.

The video bellow shows how the water is disappearing, comparing the amount of the world’s water with the amount of the water inside the aquarium.

The exploitation of nature in construction

There are several things that people at their critical and inventive like to change, as in homes. Each person has a large "list" to choose your home, according to several factors. And each of us have a taste is made, according to them several projects and several architects give wings to your imagination. The point is that the houses, buildings and others are made in different places with different conditions according to its surroundings. So often architects fit the project in half and can even use elements of nature to give the feeling that work was always there.
In my opinion, is magnificent making capability that humans have, as a rational and possessed of abilities to fascinating, and to take advantage of using the unthinkable for various activities. One of these capabilities, as designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, for example, the home of the cascade, using elements of nature in a housing project that is now a museum. When we look at this house we feel that is the work of nature and that man had any responsibility for its appearance. I think this is a wonderful way to take advantage of the natural elements that surround us.

In addition to all, who does not like to live in harmony with nature, with the environment?, This is for me, having quality of life! In order to know a little more of the house of the waterfall now speak a little
of it ...



The fallingwater is located near Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania in the United States of America. The house was completed in 1939 and was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built in the middle of the woods and became very special because it is a waterfall, so using surrounding elements, such as rocks, plants / vegetation and clear ... water!






It really is fascinating what man can do, sorry that does not use their skills only for the benefit of natural beauty, but also for many other terrible things ...

So what I hope is able to watch many other initiatives such as this and perhaps even contribute, since the world is we do and that is in our hands to make it more enjoyable.

'Can China be green by 2020?'

The exceptional China growth over the last few years has had a huge cost to the environment.
The damages of the air have not been only for China but for the entire world.
China recently overtook the United States as the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, and other countries like Brazil, Russia and India, which are growing too fast, are emitting a great amount of carbon dioxide.
Nowadays China is the world's biggest consumer of coal and oil, almost the whole of its energy needs are dependent on coal, which is one of the most atmospheric pollutants.
China used to have that typical image of Chinese riding their bikes; however nowadays instead of their bike they have a car. The number of cars in China has increased a lot over the past decade, with thousands of vehicles arriving to the capital every week.

Everyday there are news about deads related with pollution diseases, so China accepted the need of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, with the condition that developed countries will have strict rules too.
Each year more than 400,000 people die of diseases related with pollution in China.
The main concern in China is not only the air quality, but also the acid rain, which is affecting a third of the Chinese territory. The rain, which is mainly provoked by pollution, has a direct impact on the country's food production, and in the water quality.
During the Olympics Games, China had been investing in environmental cares, in order to show to the world that China could be “good” for the environment.
'If China can develop alternative energy sources and reduce emissions, the country might in 2020 be an example of how economic development and environmental protection can work together. '

sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7972125.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_of_China

Global warming - solutions

As I had already said, in the text about global warming, the average of the temperature is diary increasing. The majority of the countries have been trying to persuade the people to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide, but this project has been a failure, so many scientists have been investigating new ways to solve this serious problem.
Projects of Geo engineering consist in changing the environment, by artificial ways, in order to force the nature to “consume” the carbon dioxide. Some scientists, that have develop these projects, suggest new things like:
Spray Sulfate Aerosols Into The Atmosphere:
This idea consists in using large balloons with sulfar dioxide particles inside, and put this balloons into the stratosphere, this sulfar dioxide particles could reduce the earth’s absorption of sunlight (as volcanoes do), in order to cool the earth. However this idea has a downside: the sulfar dioxide could react with particles that exist in the ozone layer and consequently destroy it, so this idea was a failure.
Aerial Reforestation
This idea consists in planting new trees in areas that are deforested because of natural disasters like: hurricanes, floods, volcano eruption, earthquake, etc; or because of human action like forest fires. This project is extremely reliable because we already know the consequences of planting trees in the environment, so planting trees is probably the best way to increase the carbon sink potential of a certain area of land. Unfortunately, these areas are too vast, so some scientists, in order to do the job quickly enough, suggest using airplanes to drop tree seedlings in the chosen areas.
There are more projects of geo engineers but I only choose these ones because I found them more interesting. In the video bellow you can see another project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg7J8P-uXqM

(I am sorry but this video is too big, so it takes too long loading it, so please, click in this link if you want to see the video)

These projects, unfortunately, or are too expensive or aren’t viable enough, so for reducing the global warming we should do things like: recycle, avoid using our private car, save electricity, etc.

Sources:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/7-geoengineering-solutions-which-promise-save-humanity-climate-change.phphttp://noticias.uol.com.br/midiaglobal/fintimes/2009/05/09/ult579u2801.jhtm

Lifestyles

Lifestyle is an expression that refers to the stratification of society through behavior aspects. Routines, food and clothing suggest a lifestyle. Lifestyles are also connected to the way a person adapts to the situations and to the relationship with others. In other words, lifestyle is the way for each person to live in the world and, in consequence, behave and make choices. So, each action is taken considering our lifestyle, whether it is eating a burger or being a vegetarian or even recycling trash!

However, we don’t live just by our lifestyles, we are much influenced. One of the things that influence us the most is the media and it may lead us to preserve the environment or do the exact opposite. That’s why we need to think a bit for ourselves and opt for a lifestyle which protects Earth.

Man gets essential resources from nature, like water, food, oxygen and much more. Therefore it’s necessary for each one to preserve the planet and take the most of it in the best possible way. We have to take care of the environment because our health and survival depend on it. Due to human interference, our world is polluted and there have been climatic changes. It’s crucial that we stand up and face these problems taking measurements like the use of biological products, to reduce pesticides, close the water tap while brushing our teeth, recycle and use recycled paper, etc.

Water: a challenge of the 21st century

Without water there is no life. Water covers 3 quarters of the earth surface and it is essential for the human basic needs (such as health and food) and for the farming activities. It has a crucial influence in the quality of human life and the maintenance of the ecosystems.

In our planet, there is 97% water in the oceans, in the clouds, in rain, in rivers, etc, but only 3% is consumable. Nowadays, in our world, with the growth of population, the consumption of water will increase, and also its demand, which will lead to an excessive use of it.

“At this moment, about 1,1 billions of people have no access to drinkable water. With the global warming this number will increase. It is predicted that within the next 40 years, about 2 billions of people will be affected by the lack of water. And this is a positive hypothesis. In the worst, will be affected 7 billions of people. “ (http://magus.blogs.sapo.pt/9254.html)

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8piwfnL-QarLicq3hq8UfWRKfarTztjUFgEnaT_XPilxtTxjohM5NE_b1PNMbfTJORapICTMGDYhZuMXtX1zDoSD6Hr99RfT6OdkBHQRUx1-HhInpg7mRbWk79LoqGJ9yJraVW1S3VIA/s400/seca+NO+MUNDO.jpg

Global Warming

Global warming is on of the most concerning problems that we are nowadays confronting. The earth’s climate is a very complicated system. Now it is widely recognised that human activity is having a negative effect on it. The pollution which results from the use of oil and coal in industry, as well as the increased of use private cars, is causing significant changes in temperature in many parts of the world. These changes often have a knock-on effect on other aspects of the climate, leading to things like extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels and the extinction of many species, as a result of climate change.

A much more serious problem is how to prevent the situation from getting even worse. This depends on how quickly the number of population grows. Although many countries have agreed to try to limit the population they "create", much more things have to be done.
If we do not do anything, the temperatures are set to rise by about 0,2% per decade, during the 21st century. Such a rate of warming is bigger than anything that has occurred over the last ten thousand years. “During the entire 20th century, the average global temperature increased by about 0.6 degrees Celsius (slightly more than 1 degree Fahrenheit).”

sources:

Ontem e hoje, física 10 - porto editora

Sustentabilidade na terra, ciências naturais - areal editores

http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/greenhouse.htm

Importance of water

Water is a fount very precios for a human, animal and plant survival. It is used at all type of human activities. Human's body is constitued by 75% of water, which turn it indispensable for celular life. Each person need drink 2L of water per day. It regulates body's temperature and cut off toxins through urine and perspiration. It's also very important for good kidney working. Each person spend every day near 200L of water for her needs. Unfortunately a big part of these water is wasted because of an incorect use.

Afrca is mainland which has a great lack of water. Inhabitants of that continent have very difficult acess to that fount, because of that and with a lack of the sanitation condition die million people and 90% of them are children. In countries with lack of water , diarrhoea is more frequent and is a second diseasethat provoke a great number of deads.

More developed countries already use apropriate machines for ocean's water distillation. This's just one of many others solutions of this problem.

Everyone , humans, animals and plants wouldn't survived without water.

Be smart and think in your future. Save water because it is our life. Where there is no water, there is no life.http://www.gippswater.com.au/Portals/0/Water_Restrictions_reduceyouruse_logo.jpg

Pollution

Principal problem that worry a lot of people today is pollution. Pollution can be defined as introduction in the environment of any material or energy that modifieds some characteristics of the Earth. We are principal pollutant, humans, it's true that exist natural pollutions, but this doesn't contibute such a way how human activities, for a changing of the Earth. Indudtries, agricultural processes and car emissions are activities with higest pollution values. If all people stop for think, they will rearch than they are destroing themself. Each day that is spend Earth suffer lots of changes that become more and more dangerous for human health, for animal survival and plants growth. Every day dimillion people because of incurable diseases that result of pollution. Plastics bags, bateries and glass are things that carry many years for decompose. In case of the bateries they carry more time for decompose and break loose very dangerous liquids.

There are some kind of pollution as:

• Ground pollution;


• Atmosphere pollution;


• Water pollution;


• Sound pollution;


• Visual pollution;


• ... and others.

Counties that pollute more are U.S.A. and China. In the U.S.A. air than people breathe is equivalent to smoking 2 packs of sigarets pr day.

Recycle, Reduce and Reuse!

Nature preservation

Nature preservation is a necessety to avoid endangered espicies and plants. How we know, a cause of endangered espicies is destruction of their habitats, ilegal dealing, killings because of our down, skin valuable and finally because of pollution. The manner of Man manages the Earth show disrespect that he has by Earth and by himself. Since Man has appeared on the Earth he made many environmental changes with a consequence of growing of animal dies. Nowadays animals are more agressive with people because we provoke them. If we preservate nature we will live better, will lessen number of deads. Nowadays die lots of people and animals because humans pollute more and wasted natural resources.

When you abate trees in one local you can plant it in another.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/preservation%20of%20Earth/phets/soctecad1.jpg

Importance of plants in our life

Plants are also considered living beings because they consume water and they breathe. Plants are essencial for the life on Earth, but today there are less greens spaces because of the buildings. Humans use plants as food, some we use directly and others we "transform" for latest using. Plant are used not only how food but also avail for medicine. More than half of remedies have plants extracts.The most important function of plants is absorve CO2 and to release O2, that is essencial for the life. These one can be also use for produce scent. Lumber is used in buildings, produce fibers than are used in textile industry, etc.

Take care of the plants!
Raise more trees, because they are essencial for our life!

http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/1880836.html

Deforestation

Deforestation is the process of disappearance of large pieces of forest, which is caused by human activities, such as the exploitation of raw material or building (which is considered economically more profitable than having a group living creatures that control the water and soil cycles and recycle the air producing oxygen.

Deforestation in a large scale also contributes for the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere (about 10 to 30% a year). This is one of the main gases involved in the global warming of the planet. On the other hand, the growing forests remove CO2 from the atmosphere fixing it in the soil and in the trees.

The biggest forest in the world known as “the earth lung”, for the amount of oxygen it produces, is the Amazonia, located in South America. This forest is disappearing by human action and its destruction, along with increasing the level of the carbon dioxide and reducing the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere, is also leading to the extinction of animal and vegetal species.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EHSUnYwVFA&feature=fvsr

Lack of Natural Resources

The size of our planet made and still makes many people believe that natural resources are unlimited.

Most of the natural resources that men depend on to live or to keep his well being may disappear in a short time. The principal causes for the resources disappearance are:

· The excess of exploration of resources (hunting, fishing and the non-measured use of the resources as energy source);

· The system of intensive farming which exhausts the soil;

· The excess of population; the natural resources are not enough for the demographic growth.

· The excess of consumption;

This lack of resources will have serious consequences in a near future. If humanity don’t reduce the consumption of the resources, the lack of them may cause the extinction of species, the worsening of the global warming, the damage and alteration in the landscape and the extinction of the reserves of non-renewable energetic resources.

In order to prevent this situation from getting worse, we must make a balanced use of natural resources.

http://filipedebarros.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/recursos_naturais1.jpg

Energetic Consumption

Can you tell me how many times a day do you turn on the lights, the computer, the television, the DVD player or the Hi-Fi? The electricity makes our life more comfortable but when used in excess, harms the environmental. Thermal Centrals that produce electric energy send carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which changes its composition, provoking the climatic change.

Studies show that within 50 years the world population will be using twice as much resources as the planet produces.

The energy consumption by the families is increasing more and more but we all can reduce it with simple attitudes, for example:

-Turn off the television using the button and not the remote control;

-Turn off the lights of a room when there is no one in it;

-Turn off the computers during night;

-Recycle;

Source:

http://noticias.terra.com.br/ciencia/interna/0,,OI1207737-EI299,00.html

http://www.consumoresponsavel.com/wp-content/rncr_fichas/RNCR_Ficha_D5_1_Anexo.pdf http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/eubuildit/technological/tecnol-espana/as_pontes_de_garca_rodriguez.jpg

Don’t stay at home!

Some people prefer to stay at home without anything to do in front of television or in front of the computer. Mainly during the weekend people are tired after, a week at work or at school. They stay at home all their free time and this is repeted every week.
If this is your case, this behaviour damage you! Don’t make your life become to darkness!
Enjoy your time: go out with your friends, meet new friends, make walks, do sport, travel as much as you can.
You have the world for you, but don’t forget that if you don’t protect it, it will be not forever.

What is happening to Earth?

People know how important is the environment and we are dependent of it, but anyone is really care about what can happen if the environment stop working as we expected.
The Nature shows verry often how powerful and destructive can be. For exemple floods, storms, droughts and other natural disasters took twenty million people abandon their homes last year, almost four times more than the number of dislodged people caused by conflicts.
As far as I’m concerned if we don’t change quickly the way we look this problem one of this days can be too late.

http://www.manataka.org/images/World%20In%20His%20Hands.gif

Enjoy the fresh air

Nowadays, people are further more sensibilized for the importance of the sport. People are more concerned with their looking ,but also with their body heath. One prove of this is the grow of number of healthclubs and the number of people that frequent them.
How do you thing of practicing sport in open air?
Most people has close their homes gardens where they can run, make walks, ride on a bicycle,etc. People should enjoy that time to breath fresh air and do some relax. They could start with inviting their friends and neighbours for a walk; inviting their family for a ride or their dog play around.

http://www.wiretotheear.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/fresh_air.jpg

Protected Areas

Protected Areas are at the moment the only way that we have to observe the Nature in its wild shape. Unfortunately we had to create this places because people didn’t respect the animals that were living there and their habitat. Today the only way to protect one specie is to creat one protected area far enough from human hand.
Further more people recognize the importance of this places. One exemple if you travel to Mozambique and visit the Gorongosa National Park will be completly blind with such beautiful enormous jungle. Some years ago that Park was full of animal life: elephants, leons, mokeys and also hippos and crocodiles were eaten by the people when the country was in a long civil war.
Fortunately big efforts are been made to the animal life of the park become to be as it was in the past.

this picture was made by my father in Gorongosa