Consumption of antidepressants in Portugal increased by 23% between 2007 and 2011

According to latest report for health â€" Health at a Glance 2013 â€" the Organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD), the consumption of antidepressants in developed countries increased by about 10% in the last decade.

Portugal is no exception. Between 2007 and 2011, the consumption of this type of medicines increased by about 23%. In 2011, were consumed 78 daily doses per thousand inhabitants, whereas in 2000 were consumed just over 35 daily doses. Such increase puts Portugal as the sixth OECD country that most antidepressants consumes. One of the explanations given by the OECD is the feeling of insecurity caused by the financial crisis. Like Portugal, the consumption of antidepressants also increased in Spain, approximately 23% between 2007 and 2011.

Other explanations pointed to by the Organization to a higher consumption of these drugs relates to the increased awareness of depression, which made the prescription drugs for these cases more socially accepted, refers to Quartz.

Interestingly, the Nordic countries, which are singled out as the happiest Nations are those who present a greater increase in the consumption of antidepressants. The Iceland is a Member State of the organization where the consumption of antidepressants has increased more in the last decade. In 2011, consume, on average, 106 daily doses per thousand inhabitants. In 2000, consumption was around 65 daily doses.

The Iceland, recalled, was the first country to be heavily hit by the financial crisis, which led to the bankruptcy of the three leading banks in the country. It is estimated that between 15% to 25% of the inhabitants of Iceland suffer from depression at some point in life.

The Australia is the second country where the inhabitants consume antidepressants, followed by Canada, Denmark and Sweden. The country that consumes less antidepressants is South Korea.

Foto:  Priscila justina / Creative Commons

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American company designs mega floating city

A company in Florida, in the United States, designed a floating city that spend all their time at sea. The Freedom Ship, as it was called, measures about 1.6 kilometers and weighs 2.7 million tons. With 25 floors, this floating city has a capacity of 50 thousand permanent residents and additional space to receive 30 daily visitors and accommodate 20 thousand members of the crew.

As a conventional city, Freedom Ship is home to schools, hospitals, leisure facilities, shops, a casino, parks, an airport and a port. Given the scale of this town ship, it would be impossible to dock at any port worldwide.

If built, the project would cost about €7,4 billion (R$23,1 billion). The Freedom Ship was designed for a global route, with a duration of two years each. The passage by Portugal would be in the month of October every two years. The starting location of the route would be on the East coast of the United States.

"The Freedom Ship would be the largest vehicle ever built, and would be the first floating city," says Roger Gooch, Vice President of Freedom Ship International, the company that designed the project. "This would be a project quite capitalised and the global economy of recent years has not been very inviting for hypothetical projects like ours," he explains.

This project is feasible? And what is its impact on the environment and how we plan our cities of the future?

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Portuguese will be the first Angel bike exposed at Miami Art River

The Angel, a bike designed by Tulika Amaro and with a strong environmental component, will have a presence at Miami Art River, an event inserted in Art Basel Miami Beach â€" the largest art exhibition in the world. This will be the first time that a bicycle will be exposed in this artistic event, as an object of design.

Angel heads to the United States at the invitation of Mexican gallerist Nina Torres and will promote its qualities related to robustness and recycling â€" the bike, it is recalled, is built from recycled wood and its derivatives.

To customize the vehicle, Tulika Amaro prepared the Angel template on Miami, still projecting a million buyers in the near term â€" and € 1,5 million ($ 4.6 million) collected for social purposes. "This is the motto to make the action a world event, making the bike in more expensive and with the largest number of owners in the world," explains Angel's release.

The creative back to reissue an initiative of 2004, for the Foundation of your old football Vítor Baía. At the time, the Angel raised an income of € 200 thousand to the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of the port, making that the third most singular bike guy in the world and the only one who has 200 thousand co-owners worldwide.

For January 2014 is scheduled for Portugal the presentation of more models Angel, directed to the domestic and international markets. The bet on expansion into new markets is one of the objectives of Ze Nuno Amaro into the new year, including the installation of a Studio in the city of Miami, which aims at attracting American investors for the development of the project.

The exhibition will take place from 5 to 8 December.

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Researchers develop piercing which allows to control wheelchairs

A group of researchers of the United States developed a piercing that is placed in the language of quadriplegics and allows them to control wheelchairs.

This piercing, which is actually a magnetic button and resembles a jewel, works like a joystick and provides more mobility and independence for people paralyzed. The new system was tested on 11 volunteers and, according to the researchers, patients learned quickly to use the equipment, which not only allows them to drive your wheelchair as well as using a computer.

"It's really powerful [equipment] because it's very intuitive," said John DiSanto, one of the volunteers, told Reuters.

The system of control of the wheelchair runs through a headset that detects the position of the tongue when the user moves the magnetic button. The headset sends movement information to a smartphone that the user owns. Subsequently, an application sends the information to the control of the wheelchair.

The researchers chose to develop this technology in the form of piercing the tongue because, second, biomedical engineer Maysam Ghovanloo who created the system, is an appliance that does not cause blockage is easy to use and flexible ". Most quadriplegics can't move the language, since it is a movement that does not involve the muscle contraction.

The appliance is already betraying the attention of various specialists, which reiterate the need of more assertive technologies, making it possible to customize the care for people with low mobility. "For people who have a very limited mobility to control an electric wheelchair there aren't many options," says Brad Dicianno, Centro Medico rehabilitation specialist at the University of University of Pittsburgh. "This control with the tongue promises to be something interesting," he adds.

The tests were only conducted in laboratories. In order to be able to commercialize the system you need to test it before the real everyday obstacles.

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Al Gore became vegan

The former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, became vegan. Last weekend the Forbes published an article which stated that the former Vice President "who recently became vegan" was considering investing in Hampton Creek Foods.

The Washington Post investigated and found that the environmental activist decided to change your diet for several months, eliminating animal products from their diet.

Al Gore, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for the global campaign launched on climate change, has been the target of criticism over the years for eating meat and, at the same time, point the finger at the livestock industry for contributing to global warming.

"I'm not a vegetarian, but substantially reduced the amount of meat I eat," said Al Gore in an interview with ABC in 2009, reports the Huffington Post. "It is absolutely right that the growing intensity of meat-based diets is one of the problems linked to global warming â€" not only by carbon dioxide involved as the water consumed," he claimed.

Several informational agencies indicate that Al Gore has changed his power in February when he ordered a vegan dish at a restaurant in St. Louis.

Foto:  Recyclebank / Creative Commons

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Left bloc wants parks carpooling at entrances of highways

The left bloc wants the Portuguese motorways concessionaires to create parking lots for vehicles sharing at the entrances of these pathways.

"The left bloc was admitted to a draft resolution, which is under discussion in the Committee of economy, for the Government to Institute parks for sharing vehicles at the entrances of motorways", according to a statement sent by the Press Secretary of the parliamentary group, Catarina Oliveira, Green Savers.

According to BE the current parking on the road require motorways at the entrance of the vehicle on the paid and thus go a stretch of several miles. "So, for the sharing of the vehicle are used other informal parks or displaced from the entrance of the highway" continues the statement.

Block argues that the motorways concessionaires must ensure their services to citizens and users not only to cars, including the example of several European countries, such as France, where these parks allow car sharing.

"This proposal aims to create parking for car sharing to be the rendezvous point and parking for carpool and that, as such, do not oblige the entry and travel on the highway", concludes the statement.

Foto:  curtis palmer / Creative Commons

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Compal promotes second edition of agricultural entrepreneurship. Winners receive € 20 thousand.

Compal will launch the second edition of the Academy's Center for Frutologia, an initiative to support and training in the area of horticulture. The Academy has addressed to agricultural entrepreneurs intending to install, increase or reconvert their agricultural holding.

The formation of the candidates chosen to integrate the Academy will consist of practical and theoretical modules and still inclusive of visits to farms and experimentation centres model, a total of 50 hours of training. The three best projects that arise in the course of the training will be comtemplados with installation grants amounting to € 20, 000 each.

The installation projects to be submitted by the participants of the second edition of the Academy must relate to at least one of the following fruits: Plum, plum Queen Claudia, Berry, cherry, Persimmon, Apple, Apple Bravo de Esmolfe, watermelon, melon, Melon, quince, peach or Pear rock.

According to the President of the Centro de Frutologia Compal, Joseph Jordan, this second edition of the Academy is "an opportunity for trainees to acquire the necessary knowledge that support sustainable practice of fruit growing in Portugal", as well as to strengthen the determination of "take agriculture as a promising career and a future activity."

Those interested in participating in the second edition of the Academy's Center for Frutologia from Compal may apply on the page until January 27, 2014 brand. This initiative by the Compal intends to stimulate innovation in the fruit sector, valuing and promoting national fruit throughout the value chain.

The winning projects of the first edition of the Academy's Center for Compal Frutologia aimed at the exploration of plum, peach and Quince.

Foto:  xornalcerto / Creative Commons

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Research report animal cruelty in Hollywood

I'm sure you've noticed the warning "no animals were harmed or injured during the making of this film" (pictured), which usually appears in the end credits of a film or series.

This kind of safety seal is granted, in the case of the Hollywood film industry, by the American Humane Association (AHA), which proves that strict security standards were followed in relation to the animals used in the productions.

However, this assessment is made by the AHA may not be completely accurate and is what comes to reveal an investigation of The Hollywood Reporter. According to this research, the AHA has granted accreditation to several productions where several animals were injured or died, with the justification that these deaths and injuries happen involuntarily or until the construction of the recordings.

Many of these accidents involving animals occurred in recent Hollywood blockbusters. One of which was revealed by the investigation of the Hollywood Reporter happened during the filming of the movie "the life of Pi", where the Tiger used nearly drowned. In one of the scenes, the animal, which in the film is known as Richard Parker, should swim in a tank. However, the animal disoriented and almost drowned, with the attendant to tie a rope and guide him out of the tank.

The investigation cites an e-mail from Gina Johnson, responsible for the AHA by monitoring the movie, for a co-worker, where describes the incident with the Tiger. According to research, Gina Johnson, who would be having a romantic relationship with one of the Executive producers of the film, said the colleague not to mention the incident.

Another production where several animals were mistreated was the HBO series Luck. During the filming of this series several horses were wounded, and that four of them had to be slaughtered due to the severity of injuries

Following the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: the curse of the Black Pearl, dozens of sea creatures washed up dead, after several uncontrolled explosions that were produced for the special effects. In 2005, the rescue footage below Zero, from Disney, a coach broke up three dogs that were fighting with kicks and punches. One of the dogs was used as the protagonist.

Another of the films that has affected several animals was the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. During a hiatus in filming, about 27 animals including sheep and goats, died on a farm in New Zealand, where they were being kept and trained, mostly due to dehydration, exhaustion or drowning.

All these films received the AHA quality seal certifying that no animals were harmed or mistreated during production.

Check here the animals killed or injured in the productions of Hollywood:

Life of Pi â€" a tiger nearly drowned

Luck-several horses were wounded, and four had to be slaughtered

Pirates of the Caribbean: the curse of the Black Pearl â€" dozens of marine animals have washed up dead in the wake of explosions caused for filming

Rescue below Zero â€" three dogs who were fighting were separated with punches and kicks

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey-27 animals died

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Etna Volcano: stone rain doesn't bother population

The volcano Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, erupted Sunday, sending lava fountains and a rain of stones and dirt that, thankfully, isn't bothered much of the population.

According to the Italian press, is the 16th time that the Italian mount erupts in 2013, leading people, quietly, to take to the streets, umbrellas to protect themselves from stones.

Eruptive activity of Etna, which lies in the eastern part of the island of Sicily, between the provinces of Catania and that has and Mesina 3,322 meters high, lasted several hours. The eruption happened in a very active crater of the volcano, Southeast of the tongue of lava of the eruption advanced by the slope of the Valley of Bove, a desert zone.

"The lava falls from the sky once a year, but nothing as strong as this time. It's usually just dirt, never these stones ", explained to the press Turi Scandura, the author of this video and photos that we feature today.

According to Scandura, the stones are not heavy but extremely sharp, having scratched a few cars and urban equipment.

The Etna is the most active volcano of Europe, but their eruptions are harmless. The volcano killed about 20 thousand people in 1669. On this occasion, the city of Catania was destroyed.

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Portuguese Center launches campaign to curb illegal use of poisons in nature

The Center for the study of Iberian Birdlife (CEAI), headquartered in Évora, launched a fund raising campaign funds â€" Zero Poison For Life â€" to curb the illegal use of poisons in nature, which annually kill hundreds of animals.

To curb this scourge in nature, the CEAI intends to implement the international project LIFE + "Against Innovation Poisoning" in the region of Moura-Mourão-Bounds. According to the CEAI, several surveys conducted in the region indicate that the deaths of animals by poisoning are high, which contradicts the official data. Thus, the LIFE + project "Against Innovation Poisoning" intends to work with local populations and local authorities, in conjunction with farmers and managers of hunting areas, with the aim of eradicating the illegal use of poisons.

"The illegal use of poisons to control populations of predators remain a current practice and quietly affecting every year hundreds of domestic and wild animals, many of the latter with a high conservation status", referred to the CEAI campaign on your page.

The dog, Fox, Black Vulture, Iberian imperial Eagle, the real kite or the Iberian lynx, are some of the animals more sensitive to the use of poisons. After entering the food chain, the toxic principle can stay active for a long time, affecting others who come into contact with the poisoned animal.

The project which the CEAI intends to implement is 50% financed by the LIFE programme of the European Commission and the fundraising campaign launched by the organization intends to collect the remaining 50%. The funds collected will be used to perform 14 surveys with the Canine Team, investing in education of 750 children and youth and provide specialized technical training to environmental agents.

This project takes place in eight pilot areas of the Mediterranean region and the CEAI is the entity responsible for implementing the same pilot area of Portugal. The actions of the project are still linked to the program-defined national strategy Antidote Portugal.

The CEAI is a non-governmental environmental organization, nonprofit, founded more than 20 years from the enthusiasm and passion for nature of a group of young people. This Center is responsible for the implementation of various projects of nature conservation, which are characterized by the involvement of local communities and on the compatibility of human activities with the preservation of the natural heritage.

Foto:  dpape / Creative Commons

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Jacques Cousteau's grandson will live a month underwater

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, will live underwater for a month to draw attention to the destruction of the oceans. The project is called Mission 31 and is scheduled for spring 2014 in Aquarius, the only marine habitat and underwater lab in the world, situated 19 feet below sea level in Florida Keys, United States.

Fabien will be helped by a team of scientists, explorers and moviemakers. "Like my grandfather, I love the seabed and have the desire of the exposed-for science, education, for our collective future and health," he explained.

The team will test new technologies, will conduct research on the effect of climate change on coral reefs, sponges and marine life, to map the seabed and study the physiological and psychological impacts of long-term submerged live â€" live in environments of high pressures or live without exposure to the Sun for long periods.

Follow the mission 31 on Facebook.

The 31 days of the expedition will be filmed 12:0 am/day, in real time. Thus, thousands of students will be able to talk with the team during this time, being able to share ideas and see it working.

"Expolorámos less than 5% of our oceans, there is much more to be discovered," said Fabien Cousteau.

The work will be monitored by marine science teachers of the course of Urban Coastal Sustainability Initiative of Northeastern University and the University of Delaware and can be funded on IndieGogo, here.

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Red Wolf near extinction

One of the most rare animals of the United States, the Red Wolf, is very close to extinction due to poaching. According to the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service Agency, today there are less than 100 Red wolves in their wild habitat. In recent days, on the other hand, a new individual was found dead in North Carolina, bringing to nine the death toll since the beginning of the year.

The situation is so serious that the Fish and Wildlife Service and other conservation groups are promising a reward of € 20, 000 (US $ 60,000) for those who give information about this death, advances the Treehugger.

The elegant red wolf, formerly a very populous species of the American Southeast, has become near extinction due to habitat destruction and poaching. In the years 80, a very aggressive program of reintregração of wolves in their habitat and reproduction gave some hope to change the situation, but illegal hunting is over with this progress.

In the United States, killing a Wolf-red is a crime punishable by a year in prison and a fine of €73, 000 ($ 228 thousand). Some conservation groups say, however, that many of these deaths can be accidental. Since the Coyote hunting was legalized in the Red Wolf recovery, the hunters mistake the two species and shoot to kill for the Red Wolf. A situation that could easily be avoided.

Foto:  SteveNakatani / Creative Commons

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Honda Accord named the greenest car of 2014

The model Honda Accord was considered the greenest car of 2014 by the Green Car Journal, at the Los Angeles motor show. Such a distinction is due to the range of cars that this model of Honda offers: low consumption vehicles petrol versions, hybrid and rechargeable hybrid.

The Honda Accord outsold models such as the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, the Mazda 3 and the Toyota Corolla.

"Led by the Accord Hybrid 2014, the range Accord incorporates Honda's promise to reconcile the pleasure of driving an efficiency at the highest level," said Mike Accavitti, Senior Vice President of operations at Honda in America, cited by Inhabitat.

The Honda Accord succeeds the Ford Fusion, winner in 2012, after the Natural Gas Honda Civic and the Chevrolet Volt in previous years.

In Portugal, the Honda Accord is for sale from € 38,760 (R $ 119,022).

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Fish proboscis and rare found for the second time in Northern Canada

A rather bizarre looking fish was recently caught in the icy waters in Northern Canada. After some speculation about the species of the fish, the animal was identified as a chimera of pointy nose, a very rare species of chimera.

The fish has a pointed nose and a mouth threatening, as well as a thorny fin, which is poisonous, on the back of your body gelatinous gray. Fished in the province of Nunavut, in the Davis Strait. It was only the second time this kind of chimera was hake, since the chimera of pointy nose dwells in deep waters, which are rarely explored by humans.

"Potentially, if pescássemos between one and two thousand meters deep, were we supposed to know if there are many [chimeras of pointy nose]. But we simply don't know, "says Nigel Hussey, researcher at the University of Windsor, quoted by the international press.

"Only one of these fish caught in the Hudson Strait [also in Northern Canada], had previously been documented," adds Hussey.

The chimeras are one of the oldest fish species. Such as sharks and rays, the skeleton of the chimeras is also made of cartilage. This species of fish is also known as "rat-fish," "fish-rabbit" or "ghost sharks". However, the chimeras are not sharks. The species evolved from sharks, his closest relative, about 400 million years ago. Since then the chimeras have remained as a rare species, mysterious and strange.

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London underground will be open during 12:0 am during the weekend

Like feet as New York or Barcelona, also the London underground, the oldest in the world, will be open 12:0 am a day on weekends.

The measure, which will take effect from 2015, it will affect the top five rows, concentrating 60% of the traffic of the London underground Jubilee line, Victoria, Central, Northern and Piccadilly. The night service will not be as frequent as the daytime but will ensure a minimum of four trains per hour.

In addition to increasing rivalry between London and New York, the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, believes that the expansion of the hours of operation will be able to boost the economy of the English capital and boost job creation. "It will be highly valuable to the economy of London, which is becoming an economy of 12:0 am, seven days a week, interacting with the various time zones around the world," said Boris Johnson, quoted by the Financial Times (FT). If this big global financial centre that is the City never turn out the lights, the subway will not also underlined Johnson.

However, this new planning will result in a renewal of the seasons, which carries the closure of ticket offices of 240 stations. The closure of ticket offices will in turn lead to a reduction of 950 workers. However, the opening of the stations on weekends provides for the creation of 200 new jobs, employment in total balance translates into extinction of 750 jobs.

Currently, most of the tickets and passes are purchased through the internet or the vending machines placed in stations, so the metro Administration sees no need to keep the box office assisted selling open. To occupy the Administration ticket office is in talks with Amazon to make the spaces in points of collection of items that are purchased online.

With the passage of time, will be added to most metro lines service, as they remodeled. The ultimate goal is that the London underground is open 12:0 am a day, seven days a week, reports the FT.

Foto:  Jim Bahn / Creative Commons

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Imitations of well-known Australian boots use skin raccoon dog skinned alive

Surely you've heard the well-known Australian brand UGG boots, as well as must have noticed the amount of impressions that exist of these same boots.

Recently, the Swiss Animal Protection discovered that these imitations of the brand UGG are made with fur from raccoon dog, also known as dog-mapache, who are skinned alive.

The original UGG can cost more than € 200 (over $ 600). Imitations are cheaper, since in lieu of the sheep's wool for raccoon dog fur. This Association of animal protection in Switzerland discovered a video where you can see the creators of this species of raccoon in live animals, which are then thrown into a pile of carcasses where are still some live animals.

The raccoon dog, which is actually a species of raccoon, is so named for being more like foxes and domestic dogs than with the raccoons.

"Raccoon dogs are often by an unspeakable suffering," says Mark Jones, director of Humane Society International of the United Kingdom, referred to in Eccouture. "Die a slow and agonizing death, with the bodies in raw and bloody," he adds.

Most of these counterfeit boots come from Asian countries, including China. Several European countries have banned in 2008 the import of furs, namely dog and cat, China. However, this prohibition does not apply to raccoon dogs because they don't treat dogs, despite the name.

Faced with the controversy, the UGG came already deny the use of the raccoon dogs in their products, blaming counterfeit tarnishing the reputation of the industry in this sector. According to the Director of UGG, the brand has knowledge that several companies that produce imitations of UGG are the labels that indicate that the boots were produced in China and replace them by tags that indicate that were produced in Australia.

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Japan: Anonymous attack government websites in protest against Dolphin hunting

Several Japanese Government sites were targeted by a cyber-attack on the part of the Anonymous activist group. Between the pages are of Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, the Ministry of agriculture, fisheries and forests, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the town of Taiji, where dolphins are hunted.

"End this slaughter IMMEDIATELY, or prepare to face our Wrath", was the message that the Anonymous Japanese Government sites left, which however have been erased, referring to the Tokyo Times.

Last week the Anonymous put out a bulletin to the Abe Government, where referred to 22 websites targeting of possible attacks. The attack was now accomplished.

Every year, the Japanese whaling ships fishing for up to 17 thousand small whales, dolphins and porpoises. The town of Taiji, Japan on the East Coast is the location where the fishing of cetaceans is more intense. It is estimated that over the last 70 years more than a million were caught in Japanese waters cetaceans.

Despite international criticism, Japan argues that this type of fishing is a Japanese tradition and the Japanese are known for giving great importance to tradition.

Foto:  zigazou76 / Creative Commons

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Floating aquatic laboratory will study ocean 12:0 am a day

The French architect Jacques Rougerie has designed a floating aquatic laboratory with a capacity to help marine biologists to discover some of the secrets of the ocean. The boat is called SeaOrbiter and its construction begins May 31, 2014, according to the website of the project.

Two-thirds of the 51 meter infrastructure will be under water, giving it a privileged view of the ocean. Inside, between 18 and 22 marine biologists may study ecosystems and fish at any time of the day or night.

The lab weighs tons and will work solely with solar energy, wave and wind power. With so many possibilities and functionalities, the price triggers: €39,2 million ($ 120 million), a value funded by NASA and the European Space Agency.

According to Rougerie, Sea Orbiter will have a system for collecting fish for pelagic ecosystem studies, biodiversity of plankton and fishing quotas. Despite only next year see the light of day, the project was conceived and designed for 12 years. Rougerie, however, built his first House in underwater 1977, before moving on to the concept of L'hippocampe, a scientific base suspended in water, in 1981.

"The Sea Orbiter will be the only boat in the world that allows an exploration 12:0 am a day in long-term missions," said Rougerie. "You can also become an essential tool in the global oceans exploration and an useful study to understand the link between global warming and the oceans, which absorb a quarter of all carbon emissions," concluded the French.

See some of the photos of the project.

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Amb3E collaborates with Interpol in combating illegal trade in e-waste

The Amb3E (Portuguese Association for waste management) is collaborating in an international project to combat illegal trade in electronic trash coordinated by Interpol-WEEE Countering Illegal Trade (CWIT). This collaboration is being done through the WEEE Forum, a European platform for cooperation and debate consists of 39 waste management systems of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Released by an international consortium of seven organizations, the project will provide a series of recommendations to the European Commission and legal authorities, which should assist in combating illegal trade of WEEE. Founded by the 7th framework programme of the European Union, this research project safe lasts for two years and brings together experts from the fields of management of WEEE, criminal investigation, supply chain security and database management.

Within this project, the Amb3E will be responsible for providing essential information about the Portuguese reality, as quantitative data on collections of WEEE; as well as identify the stakeholders involved in the industry of WEEE, in Portugal, and the mechanisms that reinforce the correct forwarding of these residues to the formal channels.

Only about three million tons, out of a total estimated at 8 million WEEE, were officially collected, treated and reported to the European authorities in 2010. This e-waste contains materials such as gold, copper and Palladium, which makes him very valuable on the black market, attracting organized crime groups, as well as illegal operators.

However, these residues also contain harmful substances like mercury and cadmium. Therefore, the dismantling of illegal WEEE, often conducted in the poorest countries, leads to enormous problems in terms of public health and environmental pollution. On the other hand, the European Union is losing a vast amount of rare earths (17 fundamental ores for the production of next-generation technology products) and other important minerals because of these illegal activities in low compliance rates, growth and limited surveillance activities.

"The CWIT project was launched to identify the gaps in terms of policies, regulations, and procedures and suggest improvements to property, plant and equipment these are issues of vital importance and require greater attention and supervision in the international context," he said in a statement the director-general of Amb3E, Jorge Vicente.

The CWIT Consortium consists of partners who have extensive experience in the area of WEEE in criminal investigation and management of databases: Interpol, the WEEE Forum, the United Nations University (UNU), Zanasi & Partners (Z&P), Compliance and Risks (C2P), a Cross-Border Research Association (CBRA) and the Inter-regional Research Institute of the United Nations Crime and justice (UNICRI).

Foto:  Inf-Lite Teacher / Creative Commons

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Vegetarian Menus improve academic performance in school of New York

In may, we told you that Active Learning Elementary School Elementary School, the New York neighborhood of Queens, had adopted a 100% vegetarian menu, serving children dishes that included tofu and vegetarian chili, among others.

Now, the first results of this pioneering experience of vegetarianism in a New York public school: after one semester with new food, the number of obese or overweight student reduced by 2%. On the other hand, the school recorded a reduction in attention deficit and fouling and an improvement in behavior and grades.

Who says so is Bo Groff, director and co-founder of the school, which still failed to prove the relationship between the events but are you sure that the time and persistence will confirm his thesis.

The school is attended by 400 children and became the first in the country to offer a 100% vegetarian menu at every meal. At first, the decision of the school caused some discomfort among youth, but most families accepted the measure. Children continued to be able to take meat snacks to school, but 90% did not.

To help children decide what is best for their food, school nutrition classes to weekly dedicated theme. Family members are also welcome to workshops, which teach how to prepare healthier food at home.

The aim is that children take in these teachings and oblige parents to fulfill them. Just so the project can already be deemed the winner.

Foto: SweetOnVeg / Creative Commons

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COP 19: 133 developing countries abandon negotiations due to bureaucracy of the developed countries

About 133 representatives of developing countries have abandoned the negotiations on climate change COP 19, held in Warsaw. On the basis of the withdrawal is the fact that the developed countries refuse to discuss the compensation to be granted to developing nations, by climate change caused by industrialized nations.

Most of the European Union (EU) countries and Nations like the United States, Canada, Australia just want to discuss the compensation at the next Summit, scheduled for 2015 in Paris. In response the G77 and China Group withdrew from the negotiations.

Seleemul Huq, the scientist whose work on losses and damages developing countries helped put the question of compensation in the COP agenda 19, said that "negotiations were proceeding well, in a spirit of cooperation, but at the end of the session on losses and damage to Australia put everything that was agreed in brackets, so that the whole debate was wasted"quotes The Guardian.

Developing countries demanded the creation of a new United Nations institution to oversee the allocation of compensation, but the developed countries do not have considered the request, ignoring the requests for a serious debate on the issue.

"The EU believes that the issue is incredibly important for developing countries. But they must be taken care of when it comes to creating a new institution. That's not what this process needs, "said the European Commissioner for climate Connie Hedegaard. "We can't have an automatic compensation system for when serious events occur in the world. This is not feasible, "the Commissioner stressed.

In this way, the debate on compensation was refused by the developed countries, who fear that such a system would lead to unacceptable costs.

Photo: Gili Islands, Indonesia.   RaihanMazumder/Creative Commons

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São Paulo: building over three stories can be required to install green roofs

Today, the Committee on environment and sustainable development of São Paulo, Brazil, will promote a public hearing to discuss a project that requires commercial and residential condominiums with over three floors and installing green roofs on their covers.

According to Marina Santanna, who requested the hearing, the aim is to "reduce the effects of global warming in urban centres, the formation of micro-climates that help dissipate heat in buildings and reducing the effects of precipitation, among other advantages for the urban environment".

Among those invited to the hearing, emphasis on architecture and housing-related associations, banks, green technologies and waste.

"It is well known that one of the environmental problems of large urban centres are heat islands, occurring with increasing ambient temperature caused by excessive concentration of the built environment and the lack of green areas," said Mrs.

"This initiative will contribute to the temperature control, with increasing the extent of green areas and biodiversity in urban spaces and consequently with the quality of people's lives," added Marina Santanna.

According to the rationale of the proposal among the many benefits of the adoption of the "green roof" include the maintenance of constant air humidity around the building, the formation of microclimate and micro-system, with the presence of various species of plants and animals, the increase in the amount of green in urban centers and the contribution in combating the greenhouse effectthrough the sequestration of carbon in the atmosphere. Already the conditions and deadlines for the implementation of the "green roof" will be established by State executive powers.

According to the draft, only will be admitted as "green roof" coverage of vegetation composed basically by waterproofing, protection against roots, drainage, filtration, substrate and vegetation.

Photo: Creative Commons/Garden City Institute

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Iceberg the size of Singapore is adrift in Antarctica

In July, an iceberg the size of Singapore began to become detached from the Pine Island glacier, the largest in Antarctica, which is located in the western part. However, the ice around him prevented him from letting go completely of the glacier.

However, with the arrival of summer at the South Pole, the ice started melting and iceberg freed completely. Since July that the iceberg, with approximately 700 square kilometres, is being monitored by Grant Brigg and Robert Marsh, professors at the universities of Sheffield and Southampton respectively.

"An iceberg this size can survive a year or more and can drive North, disturbing the sea lanes of the Antarctic Ocean and South Atlantic," says Robert Marsh, quoted by CNN. According to Brigg, "in recent days, the iceberg began moving and there is now a kilometre or two of water between the block and the glacier".

The slot in the Pine Island glacier was first detected by a NASA satellite, in October 2011. The iceberg that now came loose it was detected by a German satellite. According to Bigg, a block of ice has been identified in the Drake Passage, between Cape Horn, South America, and the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. If the iceberg moves in the same trajectory there is a possibility the international sea lanes from the South being disturbed. If scientists discover that the iceberg is moving in the direction of these routes will be issued an international alert.

The Pine Island glacier is the largest in Antarctica and also what circulates faster, about four kilometres per year towards the Amundsen sea. This glacier give off large icebergs every six or ten years. The latest losses occurred in 2001 and 2007.

Scientists believe that this is a natural process and should not be linked directly to climate change.  This is the first time that an iceberg with such dimensions will be monitored.

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GreenBoots: the boots made with recycled tires ranging from Leiria to Moscow (with video)

In the North of the country is the bulk of the Portuguese footwear industry, but is of Leiria which reaches GreenBoots, a brand of hand-made footwear and that uses, among other raw materials, recycled tire rubber, which is worked and transformed into soles.

The project of Peter, 44 years, Olaio Luís Lourenço (48) and Ines Cunha (37) is still in its infancy, but the future looks bright for the brand that focus on sustainability and manufacture by hand to diversify on the market.

"The use of recycled tire rubber boots and make use of various scraps and waste [industry], as the insoles of skin. The GreenBoots is not only the name, also demonstrates the care that we have with the environment, "explained to the green economy and commercial Manager designer, Pedro Olaio.

In fact, the GreenBoots are no more than a tradition recovered, despite the brand being launched at the beginning of 2013. "We picked up our origins which was already used in ancient times â€" the soles [are made of recycled tire]. Now, they are even more resistant and comfortable. Then simply reinvent the story ", stresses the designer.

The genesis of brand is in 1955, at the factory of Master José Rodrigues. Is this weather heading the art of making the current GreenBoots. The boots are manufactured by hand by artisans of a factory of Benedita, at the gates of Leiria, and have arrived in stores of Moscow (Russia), London (United Kingdom) or Rome (Italy).

In Portugal, the GreenBoots is already selling in some stores, and can also be ordered through the internet. The price, however, is not for everyone: a few boots can cost between €90 and € 150.

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BIT: guess the future of mobility with talent in Portuguese

Between 2025 and 2040, the individual transport will be replaced by individual choice of transport mode. That is, people will depend on less than a single means of transport (car, bus, subway or train), to the detriment of an information system-and the referral and payment enabling them to optimize your time and money. "[This is] through multi-modal solutions, supported by intelligent systems," explains Green Savers the CEO of BIT (Breeze innovation and technology), Jorge Sales Gomes.

Another of the major changes in the area of mobility, takes us to a "growing complexity of solutions and systems of mobility". Here, energy efficiency and ability are the keywords. "Many major changes will occur in a time horizon of 15 to 20 years", explains the Executive.



The BIT is one of the less visible faces of Breeze-less visible, of course, to the common citizen. Still, several of the projects developed in this workshop of innovation are known from the Portuguese.

Founded in December 2009, after the merger of BAER (Acess Road Electronic Breeze) and DIT (Directorate of innovation and technology) of the breeze, the BIT was responsible, for example, by automatic number plate recognition system, already exported to the United States (granting Northwest Parkway), which allows the levying of tolls through photographs.

But there are more innovations: from development of all toll payments machines installed on the network, and Atlantic Breeze Brisal, Auto-estradas de Portugal, to the EasyToll system and the solutions associated with the Via Verde system â€" access to historic neighbourhoods, Trojan ferries or car parks.

"We work in an open innovation model. Innovation is increasingly collaborative development processes, in which internal teams working together with teams of partner companies ", explains the CEO of BIT.

Dynamization of the Portuguese economy

The 60 researchers from the company streamline, currently, about 100 projects â€" some are in the exploratory stage, others are already in the part of the investment. Researchers are attached to universities with which the BIT has partnership protocols, highlighting the ISEL (Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa), University of Aveiro and Coimbra University. In the past three years, funding to these three institutions amounted to €1,3 million.

According to Jorge Sales Gomes, the BIT works with an open innovation system, assuming the role of "an". "New product development is done using a virtual factory, in which each is focused on what it does best," explains the Manager.

Thus, the BIT takes a true role of "catalyst of innovation," contributing to "the country's wealth, by replacement of imports, and stimulating knowledge and national industry".

"We resorted to companies of different sectors of activity, from the industry-metalworking and moulds â€" to services such as consulting," continues.

Electing the Cashless system, implemented in the Nortwest, United States us Parkwy concession, as "flagship project" of the BIT, Jorge Sales Gomes ensures that the company is not limited to the area of action of Breeze. The number of start-ups that are just born of the BIT is the proof: "You were born eight start-ups due to the innovation of the model BIT. And the BIT has no relationship or investor financing with these entities, only guarantees, for a certain period, a portfolio of orders ", stresses.

Today, these start-ups already have their own customer base. In the last three years, the BIT provided to these companies a turnover of €7,1 million, an investment that also had an impact in terms of human resources.

In fact, innovation generated by the BIT has boosted the creation of value for the parent company, estimated at € 186 million between 2003 and 2009. The investment in I&D, in the same period was €11 million. On the other hand, between 2010 and 2011 a BIT commissioned approximately €32 million to Portuguese companies, between products and services.

Thus, the company invested €40,5 million in Portugal, between 2010 and 2011, between suppliers, start-ups and universities.

Portugal remains strong in research

Is the universities that are the future of the BIT. And even the economic crisis and eventual departure of Portuguese researchers abroad scares the company. Jorge Sales Gomes ensures that Portugal continues to produce high-quality researchers in the area of mobility, and that the company itself is a link to a professional outlet inside the House.

"Businesses cannot, and must not replace the State. However, their social responsibility must pass, too, by supporting the national economy, in its different aspects. By supporting universities, we are not only contributing to the improvement of their financial situation, but also to the promotion and development of national know-how ", concludes CEO of BIT.

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Russian courts release twelve of the thirty Greenpeace activists on bail

The courts of Saint Petersburg released between this Monday and Tuesday 12 of the 30 members of the group who was known for Arctic 30. The twelve detainees were released upon payment of a deposit of € 45,300 (R $ 139,900).

It is recalled that this group, composed of 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists, were detained in September, following a protest at sea against oil exploration in the Arctic.

Initially, the 28 activists and two journalists from 18 countries, were accused of piracy, which in Russia may take up to 15 years in prison. Subsequently, the charge was reduced to hooliganism, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

See the profile of all activists.

This Monday, three Russian activists were released upon bail, but the courts have ruled that an Australian environmentalist stayed in custody until the trial, scheduled for February 24. This Tuesday were already released nine more members upon payment of bail, says Greenpeace. For this Wednesday are scheduled more requests for release, including the two Britons.

Greenpeace pointed out, already referred to in The Guardian, which will pay the bail immediately. The activists must be released when the money transfer is completed, possibly by the end of the week.

According to Greenpeace spokesman, Violetta Ryabko, the Organization has collected enough funds to ask the courts for the release of all activists.

Although they have been released, the charges against the activists were not dropped.  The Russia has until Sunday to prolong the detention of the activists, once that day expires the pre-trial detention order decreed in September, by the Court of the port of Murmansk, where Greenpeace members were detained until November 12, when they were transferred to St. Petersburg.

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The Portuguese who came to ride my bike to work (with video)

Every Friday, the Mubi (Association for urban mobility in bicycle) organizes the sixth cycle, an event that promotes the use of bike journeys per day. On the way home from work, for example, but also leisure exits, whatever the route, day or night.

It was through this initiative that Ana Santos, a university lecturer, began using the bike in their daily movements between Cascais, where she lives, and the Broken Cross, where he teaches at Faculdade de Motricidade Humana.

Ana pedal from one side to the other of Cascais, to the train station. Get off at Cruz Quebrada station, where climbs toward the University.

At the beginning, Ana had all the fears of a novice cyclist, especially the cars. "After two or three days I began to realize it was great: the course was excellent, couldn't stop anywhere he wanted, for taking photos, and I went shopping in the traditional trade," explained Ana Santos to the green economy.

The University teacher liked it so much the experience which was pedalling every day. And out of bike lanes â€" only the uses when riding for leisure.

According to Mário Alves, Mubi, the case of Ana is just one of many that the Association has to present. But, for the numbers being expressive, it is necessary to change urban planning. "In urban areas have to start managing much better cars and the entry of cars. Enters about half a million cars a day in Lisbon. This is unacceptable. We must also reduce the speed of these cars, "said the green economy.

The sixth bike already has 1,000 enrolled at the site and three thousand on Facebook. And the reader, have the courage and willingness to start doing it? See the episode 148 of the green economy.

Foto:  pedrosimoes7 / Creative Commons

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Oli and Aveiro University studying solutions to more inclusive bathrooms

The Oli, Iberian producer of cisterns, and the University of Aveiro (UA) joined in a project â€" "bathroom for everyone" â€" to make bathrooms more inclusive. The project is still part of the platform "Design Includes You".

The initiative focuses on the problem of daily use of the bathroom for users with special needs, such as the elderly, children and people with reduced mobility, whether temporary or definitive. Through inclusive design, the Oli and the AU intend to find solutions that increase the safety and well-being of these users, in domestic environment, public or in specific facilities, such as geriatric and hospital, increasing the quality of the exercise of active citizenship ", refers to the Oli in a statement.

According to the Director of marketing for Oli, Mariza Garcia, the project aims to "draw attention to the extension of the field of intervention of design in addition to the reduced scope of mere Profiler new differentiated objects".

The project is expected to be ready in early January of 2014, when they will be publicly presented three proposals selected.

In July, also within the study of health access, the Oli has concluded a cooperation protocol with the Gaia vocational rehabilitation Centre and the Design Studio of the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto.

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What does our fridge about us?

For three years, Mark Menjivar photographed 60 refrigerators people of 20 u.s. communities. The fascinating idea â€" which is part of a film project which aims to explore how the social subjects relate to feeding â€" led him to conclude that, in fact, you are what you eat.

"The more time spent listening to the stories of the people, more thought in the food we eat and the effects that this has on us as individuals, and in our community," explained Menjivar to the Splendid Table.

The first photo, curiously, was his own fridge â€" that's when the idea began to take shape. "I discussed the idea as a project of portraits, so I invited people in which he was interested, for one reason or another, to participate", he stressed. Most people didn't know Mark, which eventually help the "veracity" of the project.

"They are portraits of rich and poor. Vegetarians, Republicans, members of the NRA (National Rifle Association, a North American Association pro-gun), people who have been left for back, dreamers, "he continued.

The refrigerators were portrayed so raw â€" the photographer came to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and photographed. No food was placed or removed.

See pictures below and, by order, meet some of the stories of the owners of refrigerators.

1. Fridge Cook of Marathon, Texas, which, for some reason, there's a snake dead inside.

2. This refrigerator belongs to a distributor of advertising from San Antonion, Texas, who lives with €310 ($ 980) a month.

3. Refrigerator of a former owner of an amusement park in Alpine, Texas, a former prisoner of war of World War II.

4. the interior of a refrigerator of a bartender who lies down to 8:0 and up to 4:0 pm is full of packages of food to bring home.

5. the fridge of a documentary filmmaker from San Diego, Calif., whose work helped send million for disadvantaged children in Uganda.

6. the fridge this Carpenter/photographer is full of venison, dead in the family estate, in Texas.

7. This is the fridge of a family of San Angelo, Texas, whose father is a construction worker, the mother is housewife and wakes every day at 4:0 to make breakfast for the family.

8. This is the fridge of a botanist of Fort Wayne, who lives alone.

9. Refrigerator of an artist from Brooklyn, New York, owner of a vegan bakery.

10. A primary school science teacher had passed to consume only local products a week ago when the photo was taken.

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The unknown dangers of household appliances and electronic devices (with video)

When Tania's father, a young student of the 9th year of the Neighborhood Padre Cruz, in Lisbon, tried to put the old TV in the trash can, close to home, her daughter wouldn't let him. "I had to explain: this goes to the point Electron," explained the young man to the green economy.

The case of Tania repeats every day, all over the Country, and that's education on the part of parents ' children that Amb3E intends to continue to invest with the Pow project, an initiative to raise awareness of young people to the importance of channelling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) through Electron Points, allowing its treatment and recycling.

"We live surrounded by appliances and devices such as computers, microwaves ... I can't live without this equipment," said the green economy Director of communication Amb3E, Sónia Freire.

Second in charge, there are many unknown dangers of abandoning this equipment on the street. "There are many dangers to public health and the environment. Are equipment that has hazardous components inside, so you should enter the circuit run by Amb3E to be properly dismantled according to the strictest standards of environmental safety, "explained the responsible.

The Pow project takes place in three phases, has the duration of a school year and encourages young people and national schools to participate in a challenge of videos that can function as elements of behavioural change at the national level.

The Amb3E has increased the level of collection of WEEE since 2006. Last year alone forwarded form 29 thousand tons of waste through the point electron and reception centres.

See the episode 147 of the green economy.

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Fukushima refugees may never return home

The Japanese Government won't fulfill the initial goal for the return of some 160 million people to their homes, after the tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster, and many of these are already remaking their lives elsewhere.

"You can't take a temporary life forever," explained Ichiro Kazawa, 61 years and whose home disappeared in the tsunami. The Japanese citizen pleneava come home next year, with 88-year-old's mother, but I know that's not going to happen. Now, she wants the Government to admit too.

A report by the Liberal-Democratic Party Government coalition leader, asked the Government to abandon the promise made to all 160 thousand evacuated their homes affected by radiation could, one day, be inhabited.

The report also calls for financial support to these citizens to move to new houses elsewhere â€" and that the State spend more money with the storage of huge amounts of radioactive waste, which is up to 20 km evacuation zone.

Decontamination is behind on seven of the 11 cities selected, which forced the authorities to declare that they will not finish the work before the deadline, i.e. March 2014. Thus, 160 thousand temporary refugees will become permanent.

Foto:  raneko/ Creative Commons

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Sumatran tiger walk to extinction

After the extinction, in the last century, the Tiger of Bali or Java, now is the Sumatran tiger will disappear, due to habitat loss and hunting. Until 1978, according to the Guardian, about a thousand tigers lived in Sumatra, but a very accelerated process of deforestation and hunting took the number down to 400. The island, once painted green, has lost more than half its forest cover since 1985, and the big losers were the Tigers.

According to the organization that monitors trade in wildlife, Traffic, every year die 40 Tigers in Sumatra, due to poaching. Which turns out to be facilitated by the loss of habitat. Without a stable place to stay, Tigers are also attacked by farmers.

In fact, the Sumatran tiger had very large conservation plans, but they were destroyed by the construction of a road that cut the Indonesia tropical forest, a reserve which is being restored by British conservationists.

This road, built to carry coal, destroyed one of the largest areas of biodiversity on the planet, a global priority for conservation of habitats.

The road has more than 50 meters wide and will take the product of five mines in the South of the island to the river Lalan, province of Jambi. When the project is finished, the extinction of the Tiger will be closer.

Photo: clickforhelpeu under Creative Commons license

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Moscow will build the first public park in 50 years

A u.s. architectural firm won the tender for the construction of Zaryadye Park, the first public park that will be born in Moscow in the last 50 years.

Located near red square, the Zaryadye, with 129.5 thousand square meters, is part of Vladimir Putin's plan to "project a new image of Moscow and of Russia to the world", refers to the Inhabitat.

The Zaryadye will rise on the site where once located the Hotel Rossiya, a Soviet-era architectural concept, which was demolished in 2006. The name, Zaryadye, is a tribute to the neighborhood that existed at that location and that in the Decade of 1960 has just been demolished for the construction of the Hotel Rossiya.

The Park, which will cost €148,8 million (R$465,3 million), will revitalize the downtown Moscow. The architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the chassis that won the contest, projected a hybrid landscape, through the principles of "savage urbanism". The Zaryadye will be divided into four parts, representing the various climatic zones that can be found in Russia: tundra, marshes, steppe and forest.

Through the combination of historical artifacts, like the Kremlin-style gardens, with modern sustainable technologies, including artificial microclimates systems, the Zaryadye Park aims to capture the relationship between the culture, history, landscape and urban architecture of Moscow.

It is foreseen that the construction of Zaryadye start at the end of 2014 and takes between two to three years to be completed.

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Ghost stations of the London underground (with MAP)

The London underground is undoubtedly one of the most linked to mobility in the world. 150 years ago, opened the Tube has 270 stations active, a journey of around 400 kilometres.

As is normal in such ancient infrastructure and that accompanied the growth of London â€" from three to nine million people â€" the Tube opened new stations, closed others and even went so far as to not open some that had already built.

This is the historic facet and black project comes in almost Us Versus Them, Dylan Maryk, an enthusiast for the London underground, at the beginning of the year, the map of the ghost of Tube stations.

Those who know the London underground knows that the tunnels are multiplying. Many of them cannot be accessed, which favors the map of Maryk. Many of the stations were closed for lack of passengers, other eventually close due to other, more modern constructions.

This is where the draft Maryk wins a fascinating dimension, which describes not only the mystical dimension of the Tube but also its own evolution over a century and a half.

And if you want to get even on this subject, visit the website Abandoned Stations. Here you can receive the list of abandoned stations and by clicking on the name, numerous photos-today and yesterday-the site. May have a warranty: some of the pictures are scary.

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China: smoothing of the one-child law will impact the environment and natural resources?

The Chinese Government will ease the birth policy in force in the country, which, until now, allowed only one child per couple. The Executive was contemplating an exception, and only for couples where both members are only children, who were allowed to have two children. The new family planning policy will now allow those couples in which one spouse is an only child, the possibility of having up to two children.

Despite being a breakthrough in China's restrictions on its citizens, the authorities continue to defend the usefulness of the "one-child policy", citing arguments with more than 30 years. The key argument that the Government continues to invoke for the birth in the country restriction is that without this standard, China would not have sufficient resources to develop at the pace of recent years.

If it wasn't for the "one-child policy" China would have over 400 million people and "per capita resources, including soil, seeds, forests, fresh water and energy would be 20 percent less than current levels," the spokesman for the Chinese Health Ministry, Mao Qun ', at the end of the plenary session of the central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, referred to the Quartz.

The figures from the Ministry of health are questionable. Most academics dispute the fact that the Chinese Government contend that this measure prevented the birth of 400 million children. However, the assertion of Mao Qun ' an reiterates need conflict of China by natural and human resources.

Even if the "one-child policy" was abolished, which would lead to the birth of over 9.5 million children, reveals the Quartz, these children would not grow at a pace sufficient to replace the labor force of the country or to take care of the elderly population, which increases increasingly. But the abolition of this law would mean, on the other hand, what else needed 9.5 million people food, water and a home livable.

A quantity of facts would make it difficult to increase the population. Currently, the amount of arable land per capita is half the world average. Pollution, erosion and transformation of rural areas in cities, part of China's urbanization plan, means that 40% of the soil is considered to be "degraded", according to United Nations standards, being thus more unfavourable, in economic terms, to cultivate.

Aware of this, China has a lack of drinking water and energy production, since it has consumed intensely underground water reserves, especially in the North of the country. Currently, China concentrates approximately 20% of the world's population, but has only 7% of the resources of drinking water on the planet. In this sense, the Government warned that the demand for water already exceed the supply in 2030.

The Government made it clear, however, that the intention is to just soften the "one-child policy". Given the conditions of land available for cultivation and the available water resources of China, as well as the Government's intention to maintain levels of economic growth in recent years, a smoothing of this law is the maximum that can be hoped for from the Chinese Government.

Foto:  Joan Vila / Creative Commons

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Google invests over € 60 million in six solar power plants

Google will invest over € 60 million ($ 185 million) on six new solar power plants in California and Arizona, according to a post from Kojo Ako-Asare, head of the Finance Department of the company, on the official blog.

According to Google, the project will bring electricity to about 17 million homes in the United States, in what will be the 14th Google's investment in renewable energy since 2010, for a total of € 750 million (US $ 2.3 billion).

The projects will have a combined capacity of 106 megawatts. A normal coal produces between 600 to 700 megawatts, while a nuclear power reach of 900 to 1,300 megawatts.

Today, approximately 33% of Google's energy comes from renewable sources. The company hopes to reach eventually to 100% power via renewable sources.

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Use coco for beauty products threatens tropical fruit

With the increased popularity of health and beauty products based on coconut, the demand for this fruit has skyrocketed, and producers may not be able to keep up.

According to the data of the food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the world demand for coconuts is growing 10 percent a year, while the production increases only 2%.

The problem is related to the aging of coconut trees of the main producer countries of this fruit, notably the Philippines, Indonesia or India.

According to Hiroyuki Konoma, representative for the region of Asia and the Pacific of the OAA, the coconut trees used currently in production were planted more than 50 years, which means they have 20 more years beyond their peak production, referred to in the Huffington Post. If it is planted in rich soil, a coconut tree can generate, on average, 75 fruits per year.

According to FAO, India produces about 16 billion coconuts a year, exclusively for home use, and more than €740 million (US $ 2.3 billion) are exported annually from the Philippines to the United States. Despite the high export values, production is still about 8% below the level of demand.

However, despite the massive search, that can even threaten the species, the producers seem to have found a solution. In early November, more than a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Bangkok to find the best solution to rehabilitate the industry. With certain initiatives of replanting, the industry believes it can relaunch the production "in a few years," said the executive director of the community of Asia-Pacific Scree, Romulo Arancon.

However, the plan is not as simple as planting more Palm trees. A study of the OAA indicates that "will require technical and financial assistance" to increase the production area in Indonesia, while the producers, mostly small farmers, are already looking for ways to increase revenues, which include the use of hybrid seeds.

Retrieve the population of coconut trees is important not only for farmers, who depend on these trees to survive, but also to coast lines, since these trees help prevent coastal erosion. If the rehabilitation of this tree is no longer a concern, the effects can be devastating because of the intense demand it if it makes you feel, underlines the OAA.

Foto:  Chirantan Patnaik / Creative Commons

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Mission Smile and Portuguese Red Cross collected $ 600 thousand in foods

Last weekend, the Portuguese have shown their solidarity and contributed more than € 600 million in food to help approximately 32 thousand people in food shortage situation, within the framework of the social responsibility program Mission Smile.

During the days 9 and 10 of November, more than 3,000 Portuguese Red Cross volunteers and the continent were present in approximately 190 stores across the country and Islands to assist in gathering food.

The Portuguese have joined the appeal and offered products such as rice, pasta, canned variety, milk, sugar, salt, biscuits, powdered milk, oatmeal baby milk, instant coffee, tea (bags), energy bars/cereal, among other essential goods.

The donated goods are now spread over 10 thousand needy families, identified by about 100 Portuguese Red Cross delegations, according to the most urgent needs of each region, at the national level.

"This is an initiative that will certainly help suppress the basic needs of many Portuguese families who seek help from the Portuguese Red Cross, at a time when the country faces major challenges," explains the Continent in a statement.

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COP19: 2013 is to be the seventh warmest year since 1850

2013 is to be the seventh warmest year since it began monitoring the annual average temperature on the planet, in 1850. This year has also been conducive to extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Haiyan, which hit the Philippines recently, spurred on by the rise of sea level.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Meteorology Agency of the United Nations (UN), the first nine months of 2013 coincide with those of 2003, with average temperatures, both on the Earth's surface as oceanic, 0.48 degrees Celsius above the annual average recorded between 1961-1990.

"This year is contributing once again to stress the long-term trend" in the face of higher temperatures caused by global warming, said the Secretary-General of WMO, Michael Jarraud, during the Conference on climate change, UN COP19, held in Warsaw. "The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhanced by human activity, means a future warmer than is now inevitable," added the responsible, CITES The Guardian.

The result is still tentative, but the WMO indicates that this year is likely to finish among the 10 warmest since 1850.

In September, the UN Intergovernmental Panel for climate change reviewed in high probability of the human species being the main cause of global warming since 1950 to 95%, the previous 90% estimated in 2007. The anticipated effects include more heat waves, increased level of the oceans and increased rainfall.

Since the temperature of the Earth began to be monitored, 2010 was warmest year, according to the WMO.

Foto: Steve Bolton, sob licença Creative Commons

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Lego prosthesis give ability to walk the turtle

When she was found, the turtle Schildi had an infection so dangerous that veterinarians had to amputate her leg for her survival. However, and as already happening with several animals with paws amputated, responsible for Bird Consulting International in Baden, Germany, wouldn't let her get away with it.

According to Grist, the solution found up is quite simple: a prosthesis made from a Lego wheel. Yes, the classic children's Toy (and not only).

"The prosthesis of Lego will mean a turtle probably slower. But, in fact, how fast you need to get a turtle? "asks the aggregator.

The Lego piece is glued to its bottom shell and, after some reticence, the turtle Schildi eventually adapt perfectly.

The piece was designed by doctors of Bird Consulting International and had as its inspiration the toys of the daughter of one of the leaders of the NGOS. According to the professionals, Schildi will need to change their new paw once a year, so it's likely that the next material is designed tailored â€" perhaps this new survey will allow other animals can be helped.

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The Portuguese project which is creating pastureland "extraordinarily productive" (with video)

The Raven is one of the most amazing projects â€" and simple â€" developed from scratch in Portugal to combat climate change. The project, which began at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), promotes the increase of organic matter in the soil, resulting in an increase in water retention and soil fertility and, in parallel, decreasing its susceptibility to erosion, mitigating the effects of drought and poor agricultural practices.

These seeded pastures biodiversas are already used by about 1,000 Portuguese farmers, especially in the Centre and South of the country, instead of just sow a species â€" or leave the cattle in grazing-sow a mixture with a wide variety of plants.

"Are extraordinarily productive pastures â€" arrive to sow up 20 different types of plants. As the shamrocks, who have ability to go on the air for nitrogen and turn it into a fertilizer that lay on the ground, "explained to the green economy Tiago Domingos, a professor at the IST and responsible for Raven.

On the other hand, this meadow is used to sequester carbon dioxide, one of the main responsible for the greenhouse effect and climate change. "Through photosynthesis, plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will turn it into biomass of soil," continues Vítor Sundays.

Farmers who accept the proposal from the Raven receive a payment through the Portuguese Carbon Fund (PCF), because they are helping the Country emitting less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Learn all about the pastures sown biodiversas in episode 146 of the green economy.

Photo: Jsome1, under Creative Commons license

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What to do when your old appliance?

Campaigns and warnings there, but we can still find many end-of-life appliances together of ecopoints and dustbins.

The situation is detrimental to the environment: some equipment such as refrigerators, cell phones, computers and monitors contain toxic substances and harmful to the environment. When they are not dismantled according to environmental safety standards, they eventually release into the atmosphere extremely harmful substances, such as lead, arsenic, mercury, among others, constitute a risk to the environment and public health.

On the other hand, recycling of electrical equipment allows for the recovery of raw materials such as plastic and glass, but also valuable substances such as copper or gold.

According to Amb3E, only about 30 to 40% of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are properly treated and recycled, existing unofficial channels of collection of WEEE.

What to do with the old appliance?

For all these reasons, it is important that people know how and where they can deposit their used equipment.

If you want to purchase a new equipment, can free exchange of new for old, since the new equipment fulfils the same function. This rule extends to the home delivery.

If you do not want to purchase a new equipment can forward as follows:

1. small appliances such as blenders, cell phones, radios, among others, can be deposited on one of the existing Electron Point throughout the country (see locations on www.amb3e.pt).

2. Major equipment or large amounts of waste can be delivered in one of the reception centres that are prepared to receive, free of charge, all streams of WEEE

3. delivery in the firemen with Protocol with Amb3E

4. it is also possible to request the services of the Town Hall of the place of residence to collect on site.

What happens to my machine after I deliver?

Once delivered, the WEEE is collected through the logistic system managed by Amb3E. The equipments are sent for treatment and recovery in UTV. Once separated into five streams follow for dismantling being its separate components, some later incorporated into new equipment.

Finally, some equipment can still be recovered and reused and are delivered by Amb3E to institutions of social solidarity, through Entrajuda.

Still have doubts about the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment? All information about the local network of reception of Amb3E can be found on the website www.amb3e.pt or 800262333 across the green line.

Foto: Greg Walters, sob licença Creative Commons

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