So, being in an environmental studies program (at least for the next day, then I graduate!) we talk about all sorts of things environmental. Some of it is rather mundane, such as conserving energy (which most of us have learned), to rather interesting ones such as carbon credits.
Carbon credits are a newer system for controlling air pollution. There are only a set amount of credits for every business in the whole world, and every business was originally alloted a certain number of credits which allow them to emit carbon up to the credits that they own (so relate it to a gift certificate, and you can only spend what you have on the card. Same deal). However, if you're an environmentally concious business, such as New Belguim Brewery, then you may not need all those carbon credits and can sell them. Carbon credits are traded much like shares on a stock market, and there will never be any more carbon credits than there are right now. As there are more businesses every year, you can see how their value is going up.
How effective will this be in controllling pollution worldwide? I have no idea, because if I were a large corporate company set out on making money; I simply wouldn't play the game. But. . .it's an interesting gift idea that was on my wish list. Should you have someone on your gift list that you may not particularly love, buy them a carbon credit and stuff it in their stocking. You're helping the environment, and it's a coal by-product. Too clever by half!
Sorry if I trivialized your issue.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a plan.
ReplyDeleteWe could also use the same idea for fart credits couldn't we? That seems like win win as well. If you don't plan on passing gas on a given day you could sell your credits to someone who, I don't know, ate beans that day. The seller would have some extra cash, and the buyer after ripping a loud one could yell at the gaping, gasping crowd "Hey mind your own business. I paid for that!" Wow, think of the freedom.
Ah, say Christa, we are on the verge of selling Carbon credits on the Austrialian market. Ask me about it some time. Melissa and I started this about three years ago.
ReplyDeleteRalph
Pest control in the perennial garden
ReplyDeletehttp://home-gardening.blogspot.com/
If you have any good tips please post trhem on my blog
One of the many advantages of growing perennials is the ability of these beautiful flowers to return to full bloom season after season. While this ability to bloom repeatedly is one of the things that makes perennials so special, it also introduces a number of important factors into your gardening plan. One of the most important of these is a proper pest control regimen.
While a garden full of annuals starts each season as a blank slate, the perennial garden is essentially a work in progress. The fact that the plants stay in the ground through winter makes things like proper pruning, disease management and pest control very important. If the garden bed is not prepared properly after the current growing season, chances are the quality of the blooms will suffer when the next season rolls around.
One of the most important factors to a successful perennial pest control regimen is the attention and vigilance of the gardener. As the gardener, you are in the best position to notice any changes in the garden, such as spots on the leaves, holes in the leaves, or damage to the stems. Any one of these could indicate a problem such as pest infestation or a disease outbreak.
It is important to nip any such problem in the bud, since a disease outbreak or pest infestation can easily spread to take over an entire garden. Fortunately for the gardener, there are a number of effective methods for controlling both common pests and frequently seen plant diseases.
Some of these methods are chemical in nature, such as insecticides and fungicides, while others are more natural, like using beneficial insects to control harmful ones. While both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, many gardeners prefer to try the natural approach first, both for the health of the garden and the environment.
There is an additional benefit of the natural approach that many gardeners are unaware of. These days, it is very popular to combine a koi pond with a garden, for a soothing, relaxing environment. If you do plan to incorporate some type of fish pond into your garden landscape, it is critical to avoid using any type of insecticide or fungicide near the pond, since it could seep into the water and poison the fish. Fish are extremely sensitive to chemicals in the environment, especially with a closed environment like a pond.
As with any health issue, for people or plants, prevention is the best strategy to disease control and pest control alike. The best defense for the gardener is to grow a garden full of the healthiest, most vigorous plants possible. Whenever possible, varieties of plants bred to be disease or pest resistant should be used. There are a number of perennials that, through selective breeding, are quite resistant to the most common plant diseases, so it is a good idea to seek them out.
Happy gardening,
Stan
http://yourebooksuperstore.com/vegetable/