Environment: I am part of it

In our society perpetuates a vision that sharply separates the human being of the environment. This is a convenient vision that makes us mere observers and takes away the possibility of co-creation, exempting us from responsibility. Most of the times we look at nature with romanticism, enjoying its beauty and quality, but at the same time we do not feel responsible, owned or dependent on it. We are able to enjoy all their attributes often without questioning how it affects them.

In general this behavior is by influences and behaviors acquired throughout our history, but at the same time it can also be gradually deconstructed through new attitudes and perspectives that are created in relation to what surrounds us, and with respect to our life.

Initially we visualize this development through the expansion of our consciousness, fostered by questions and reflections, which favor new understandings. And this expansion is rich in so many ways, from mental to those that make us feel physically present in the here and now.

In this sense, we can still glimpse what some call the "Environmental Awareness", which beyond to make us feel part of a greater whole, we give broader answers and critiques to behaviors and attitudes in our daily lives, for example, act of throwing trash in the street. This attitude goes beyond the simple mechanical act of kneading something and throw in the trash. When we are "Environmental Awareness", we can answer ourselves, consciously, why not throwing trash in the street and why I should keep this conduct. It goes beyond simple "responsibility" because it's time to feel part of it and feel the real desire to be part of a cause or take care of something that actually is vital!

Finally, we need to understand that in addition to worrying about the environment and mitigate the damage already done, we must understand that, in fact, we are part and also an extension of it and with greater responsibility, because we are aware. We must stop being just mere spectators eager for consumption and be active and conscious agents in our daily lives.

 

 

Anna Karolina (Translation: Fernanda Romero)

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_J945IbjWR8M-lDLJEgPJrVajlgT4VFwgTjwPh02Xt1KaL1OfcynRxBCY3_4GTvzPs6Z7PXZ6c8CWGVPkiVWlp0BDb6fctF14mo2en5D6l_3NSYwZoPWc_WdpY-ANrwxvDUaa55njwI-/s1600/tumblr_lf2cmj6EUv1qe5o7vo1_500_large.jpg

 

MEIO AMBIENTE: EU FAÇO PARTE!

Em nossa sociedade perpetua-se uma visão que separa drasticamente o ser humano do meio ambiente. Esta é uma visão cômoda que nos transforma em meros observadores e nos tira a possibilidade da co-criação, nos isentando da responsabilidade.  Na maioria das vezes olhamos a natureza com romantismo, apreciando sua beleza e qualidade, porém ao mesmo tempo que não nos sentimos responsáveis, pertencentes ou dependentes desse meio. Somos capazes de usufruir de todos seus atributos sem muitas vezes se questionar o quanto isso os afeta.

De uma maneira geral esse comportamento se dá por influencias e comportamentos adquiridos ao longo da nossa trajetória, mas ao mesmo tempo também pode ser gradualmente desconstruído por meio de novas posturas e perspectivas que se criam em relação ao que nos rodeia, bem como com relação à nossa vida.

Inicialmente podemos visualizar esse desenvolvimento por meio da expansão da nossa consciência, propiciado por questionamentos e reflexões, os quais favorecem novas compreensões. E essa expansão é rica em tantos sentidos, desde mental até aqueles que nos faz sentir presente fisicamente, no aqui e agora.

Nesse sentido, podemos ainda vislumbrar o que alguns chamam de “Consciência Ambiental”, que além de nos fazer sentir parte de um todo maior, nós dá respostas mais amplas e críticas para comportamentos e atitudes em nosso dia a dia, como por exemplo, o ato de não jogar lixo na rua. Essa atitude vai além do simples ato mecânico de amassar algo e mirar no lixo. Quando temos “Consciência Ambiental”, somos capazes responder a nós mesmos, de forma consciente, o motivo de não jogar lixo na rua e porque eu devo manter essa conduta. Vai além da simples “responsabilidade”, pois está na hora de nos sentirmos parte e com isso sentirmos o real de desejo fazer parte de uma causa ou cuidar de algo, que na verdade, nos é vital!

Por fim, precisamos compreender que além de nos preocupar com o meio ambiente e mitigar os danos já causados, precisamos compreender que, na verdade, somos parte e também uma extensão dele e com uma responsabilidade maior, pois temos consciência. Devemos deixar de sermos somente meros expectadores ávidos pelo consumo e passarmos a ser agentes atuantes e conscientes em nosso dia a dia.

Anna

Fonte da Imagem:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_J945IbjWR8M-lDLJEgPJrVajlgT4VFwgTjwPh02Xt1KaL1OfcynRxBCY3_4GTvzPs6Z7PXZ6c8CWGVPkiVWlp0BDb6fctF14mo2en5D6l_3NSYwZoPWc_WdpY-ANrwxvDUaa55njwI-/s1600/tumblr_lf2cmj6EUv1qe5o7vo1

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Should I turn on, turn off or switch it?

         At one point in my life my parents decided to replace all the lamps in the house, we would use , fluorescent, instead of incandescent, they said these are more economical. But all this change was not enough to save, and they always told me- Dani, when leaving a room, turn off the light !! So that's how I've always done. But I found that this may not be the best way to save.
         The incandescent light bulb, the one created by Thomas Edison in 1870 and used until the today, is definitely coming to an end as it has by the end of 2016 to be off the shelves. It is not at all economical because most of the energy produced is "lost" as heat and not transformed into light energy, as is the goal. Thus, fluorescent lamps are an alternative to economy since they have longer life and especially greater luminous efficiency.
          However, fluorescent lamps, also called compact fluorescent or electronic, require a large initial peak power, so it does not become so advantageous to connect them and turn them all the time. Furthermore, the less they are turned off, the greater the durability of the product.
          But, leaving the lights on will be the solution to economy ?? Well, the use must be always conscious. If there is no need to turn on the lights, we can avoid this expense. But if it is really necessary to turn on, we have to think a little before you turn it off, to prevent it from being connected and then spend more energy for nothing.
          So comparing the incandescent bulb with fluorescent, the second shows more advantages but has a negative environmental aspect. It consists of mercury, a heavy metal that causes damage to the environment, so it should not be discarded in the trash. In this sense, the National Policy on Solid Waste, in says the product vendor is responsible for "design and implement a reverse logistics system," that is, the supplier shall indicate disposal stations and collection of this material for it has an appropriate order.
          But anyone who thinks this story replacement end, it is a huge mistake. Considering the economy and the reduction of environmental impacts, we have the lamp LED (Light Emitting Diode) which means they work with diode emitting light. They have higher efficiency and longer service life compared to fluorescent lamps, according Cervi 2005. Therefore, the LED lamps one day dominate, meanwhile, in Brazil, we are still living in the era of the replacement of incandescent fluorescent, as happened at home.

Daniele Bispo (translation: Fernanda Romero)

Bibliographical References:

(Inmetro) http://www.inmetro.gov.br/noticias/verNoticia.asp?seq_noticia=3598 (Repórter Eco- TV Cultura)

http://tvcultura.cmais.com.br/reportereco/programas/reporter-eco-11-05-2014 (Artigo)

http://www3.fsa.br/localuser/energia/QEE%20E%20TECNOLOGIAS%20DE%20USO%20FINAL/ARQ_6.pdf (Política Nacional de Resíduos sólidos)

http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2007-2010/2010/lei/l12305.htm (Proteste- Associação de Consumidores)

http://www.proteste.org.br/casa/nc/noticia/lampadas-pouco-duraveis-e-de-baixa-qualidade

http://meninadenegocios.com/2014/02/21/com-que-lampada-eu-vou/

http://www.blogdrveit.com.br/lampadas-incandescentes-fluorescentes-e-led/

Science and democracy?

     The physicist Carl Sagan, in the second chapter of his book "The Demon-Haunted World" (1995), draws a parallel between science and democracy, saying that both have values ​​that are often indistinguishable, and two are the reasons given by him to corroborate that assertion. The first is that "science gives power to anyone who takes the trouble to learn it (although many have been systematically prevented from acquiring this knowledge). The second is that it feeds actually need, the free exchange of ideas; their values ​​are opposed to secrecy. " 

     I fully agree with the first of the reasons presented above, however, the second did not convince me. I may be very wrong, because I was introduced to academia very recently, but I have the impression that, once the status of a researcher is given here in Brazil by the number of publications and citations (among other factors) many scientists do not share your ideas for fear of losing a publication to other colleagues. The result are works that give the feeling of incompleteness, but that if they were made in collaboration with other authors in related areas, could produce much better quality jobs and more effective applications. 

     In this sense, thinking about work related to environmental issues, it seems highly profitable that, increasingly, are developed by a group of professionals specialized in different areas of knowledge. Then, as the science communication, I find it very accessible to anyone who can look with the wide availability of online bibliographies and congresses that allow the exchange of ideas between researchers. The technologies for exchanges abound, even though in many cases they do not work in practice. Goodwill? It Will Be? 

     Another thing that bothers me in the development of science in Brazil is the high incentive for the publication of new things and against the low investment for many of them get off the ground. There are technologies produced in the country for energy produced from movement of the waves and hydrogen-powered vehicles, just to name two examples (there are many others), but we do not see any of them being implemented in our cities, knowing how advantageous would be the environmental point of view. Why is that? Political issues. There is no investment by the government, probably because it is economically disadvantageous. 

     It is this reflection to you readers. As for the book mentioned in the first paragraph, is the tip of your reading. Despite the unusual title, this is an excellent book, which deals with the distinction between science and pseudoscience, how much of the population takes the latter by the former and how it can be harmful to those who do. It is available free at: www.filosofia.art.br/download/filosofia/carl_sagan_o_mundo_assombrado_pelos_demonios.pdf.

Sarah Norberto

Planned obsolescence

The planned obsolescence is a strategy in which the products are scheduled to have a shorter life than the current technology could enable, or become exceeded for new releases. This system induces the individual to become a constant consumer and sometimes unaware of the buying cycle in which it was involved.

            As much as many companies are able to justify that come from the constant technological advancement, how can we accept or explain to ourselves that our products last less than a year, your repair cost is greater than that of a new device, or exchanged a in perfect condition with one that sometimes just has a different design?

            Currently mobile phones and smartphones are as less durable products, and some research argue that the most common habits among Brazilians after the purchase of a new product is to sell these previous or save it in your home. It demonstrates awareness that these products can be reused or that they bring risks when discarded into regular trashes.

                However, there is still a lack of awareness that the regular exchange of products increases the production of waste in a different scale, from manufacture to distribution; that there will be energy costs, raw material and emissions throughout the process. And so, you are not only paying money for this product, but with your health and well-being of the environment.

Image: http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2013/03/20/1014539_planned-obsolescence-the-scourge-of-frugality.html

Anna Karolina Osório Pimentel (Translation: Fernanda Romero)

Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold #forpeaceinIsrael

Lately the news turned their attention to the Gaza Strip and its constant conflicts, with consequent deaths and devastation. Seniors, adults, youth, children and even babies Palestinians live days of terror seeking to survive, because in 18 days 844 people died, mostly civilians, reports Reuters. Many of them were beaten to death by injuries.

However, for those who survive, the consequences remain after the attacks. Within this perspective, the focus of this paper is to reflect on the climate of the city and brought the consequences to the health of survivors since the smoke left by the missile as well as contributing to the greenhouse effect, cause damage to health. Smoke is a mixture of solid particles and gases formed from the decomposition of some combustible material. The chemical composition of the smoke depends on the burning material but always contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, among other generally toxic substances. Among the effects of smoke on people are decreased visibility, tearing and eye irritation, rapid breathing and heartbeat, intoxication and choking, vomiting, coughing and death. Continued inhalation of small amounts of smoke, as in smokers, for example, leads to chronic inflammation and lung malfunction, dilation and destruction of these alveoli. The mass inhalation, in turn, can cause immediate damage and serious even lethal to the respiratory tract. Even days after the inhalation people can develop serious respiratory diseases and symptoms (breathlessness, wheezing, fever, dizziness or nausea, bronchitis, chemical pneumonitis) or stay with permanent sequel. As the smoke is usually heated (sometimes at very high temperatures), the combination of the heat from the smoke cause even greater damage to the respiratory system. In damaged alveoli, gas exchange that normally occur (oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide elimination) cannot happen, partly or wholly. Without oxygen, tissues die within 5 to 7 minutes and the nervous tissue even faster.

This is the daily life of the people living in that region! How would Marcelo Rezende, "So I ask you ..." What are your reasons to complain about the country you live in? Politics, lack of water, poor income distribution, mismanagement of public funds, hospitals, violence. All issues are indeed very relevant, however, there is a country that cries out for help, for 12 hours of peace that is. People who have lost family, friends, acquaintances and constantly live under threat and cannot escape because the planes do not circulate region. These people that while survivors of the attacks, waging a daily battle with the organism itself to be able to breathe!

Each person has their beliefs, their individuality, this is known. And I also have mine, but my intention in quoting biblical passages is not propagate or much less impose my religion or beliefs to anyone, but lead us to one reflection on the universal right to life and love that we all have, no matter what we believe. As seen in Matthew 24:12 - And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Will we ever be able to detach us from self-centeredness and undertake an improvement of the world that poetically call "Worldism". It is obvious that most of us cannot go to Israel to do something, so I invite you to a prayer, pray, prayer, positive thinking, or whatever the meaning to ask you for peace on a desolate country.

Larissa Jurado

Traduction Sarah Norberto

Image: https://www.google.com.br/search?q=faixa+de+gaza&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9lXuU7DhHLXLsATT8ICgAw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=809#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=fdr-769fYr1P1M%253A%3BT-TIHtPndowjkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimagens.dm.com.br%252Fmidia%252FS5GLS_53cf292988ddbdaf0358cc38e8bfd1aa.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dm.com.br%252Ftexto%252F184425%3B645%3B344

Entre les murs

            The school is where we spent most of our childhood and adolescence. It is there that we learn much of things, not only the content of formal education, but all that will take throughout our lives. There we begin to develop our character, to discern right from wrong and the teacher has a great influence on it. "Entre les murs" is a very provocative movie that brings a clash of cultures, not only between characters but also for those who attend.

            The problem brought by the students, the difficult relationship between teacher and students makes us think we should act as if we were both teachers and students.

            This movie is an excellent recommendation for those who do not want to stay stagnant and just settle for the problems without at least try to change the situation, since the basis of a society is the education that is offered to it, and you cannot build a good building if it does not have a base to support it. Think about it and watch!

• If you want to make the download, here is the website:

http://www.omelhordatelona.biz/drama/baixar-entre-os-muros-da-escola-2008-dvdrip-rmvb-legendado

Aline Midori (Translation: Fernanda Romero) 

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Class_%282008_film%29

Biotechnology

     My suggestion to start reading, I will first explain what is Biotechnology. We can say that the use and applications of chemical and biological knowledge, technology in the food, environmental and health area is the function of a biotechnologist, since it is responsible for studying the genetic improvement and the creation of new products, among other areas of knowledge that this professional can act. 

     With this in mind, let's read my suggestion, "Brave transgenic World", available at: http://www.unesp.br/aci/jornal/151/biotecno.htm

     Whenever the topic transgenic is treated in the media, it divides opinion among environmentalists, researchers and industry ... But why the line is so thin? 

The invisibility cloak of Harry Potter: Is it a matter of public policy?

These days got me thinking about the invisibility cloak of "Harry Potter" series. For those who do not know, this cloak is one of the legendary Deathly Hallows Peverell families of wizards, more precisely Ignoto Peverell. He and his two other brothers defied Death and won awards for it, but Ignoto, suspicious of the intentions of it, chose a prize that would allow him to continue living, invisible to her eyes, in other words, the cloak of death itself.

I wondered if we could have a relic thus becoming invisible when interesting, visible when needed. But unfortunately in real life invisibility cloak is not a relic, in the point of not being afraid to say that we passed one every day and also not the same purpose of fiction.

Well, if in real life we can not say that it is a relic, on the other hand, we can be sure that they work, but not exactly the same way as in the movie. It works like this, by the moment we get dresses with one of them (willingly or not, because in real life we are often forced to wear them), we become invisible partially or completely in society. What is tragicomic in my opinion is that in many cases, people who wear these cloaks provide to us basic services, but these services are as invisible as the person who performs them. Amazing is not it?! On the other hand, there are other cases in which we prefer those that are invisible continue like this because they are a problem for us. However, independently if this "invisible" is useful to society or not, there are only two ways to reverse this invisibility. The first way is to wear the Socio-environmental Conscience 3D glasses for those who are not "invisible" and want to see someone who is invisible in society. The problem is that it is not easy to get these glasses, we need to work hard to find, but many of us, "visible", give up halfway. And the other way is through effective public policies, which should reach the different categories of "invisible".

However, in my humble opinion, the ideal solution should happen through a combination of the two ways, because those who make public policy are usually the "visible" that are already wearing the 3D glasses. Or at least they should be.

Unfortunately there are few "invisible" that have already removed the cloak and started to help others. These in their turn, usually do not need glasses, unless it is to see another category of "invisible" to which their eyes are not adapted yet.

Luciana Farias (Translation: Fernanda Romero)

Images:

https://www.google.com.br/search?q=capa+de+invisibilidade+do+harry+potter+peverell&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7bFjU62gKfPLsQT6jYCQDg&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=624

Nuclear Energy: should or should not be used – Part 2

     It is know that a failure can cause in immeasurable proportions. In nuclear power plants these faults can be as catastrophic to cause numerous deaths and serious environmental damages.
   

     Nuclear energy: should we use it or not? On Part 1 we saw some of the pros and cons of using nuclear technology for energy. Now we look at some of the most serious and known nuclear accidents that have happened in the world.

Nuclear Energy: should or should not be used – Part 2

It is know that a failure can cause in immeasurable proportions. In nuclear power plants these faults can be as catastrophic to cause numerous deaths and serious environmental damages.

Nuclear energy: should we use it or not? On Part 1 we saw some of the pros and cons of using nuclear technology for energy. Now we look at some of the most serious and known nuclear accidents that have happened in the world.

- Chernobyl - Occurred on April 26, 1986, in Ukraine, the accident of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is considered the worst nuclear accident ever in the world. About 200 thousand square kilometers of land were contaminated with radioactive particles released with the explosion of reactor number 4 of the plant, reaching parts of other countries like the USSR, Eastern Europe, Belarus, UK and Scandinavia. The radioactivity released, which caused numerous deaths, still causes many harmful effects, such as soil contamination, cancer and burns. Among the causes of the accident are: the lack of instruction of the workers, the shutdown of the reactor safety equipment, lack of communication between workers and security guards and defect in the reactors.

- Three Mile Island - Occurred on September 29, 1979, in Pennsylvania, in the United States, the nuclear power plant accident at Three Mile Island was caused due to a break in the reactor coolant pump, causing a failure in the cooling system, which led to the melting equipment. The released radiation caused genetic changes in plants and was so intense that approximately 140,000 people had to evacuate the area.

- Fukushima - Occurred on March 11, 2011, in the city of Fukushima, Japan, the accident at the Daiichi nuclear power plant happened after an earthquake and tsunami, has blown three of the six reactors. The levels of radiation released in the accident were too high and the cause is not clear yet. There are suspicions that the incident was not caused by the earthquake and tsunami, but by a human error on the part of one of the employees turned off the cooling system of the reactors.

- Kyshtym - Occurred on September 29, 1957, in Ozyorsk in Russia. The cause of the accident was a failure in the cooling system, followed by an explosion in a tank with 80 tons of radioactive material, contaminating the Mayak region and other regions within 800 km. Although it occurred in the city of Ozyorsk, the accident became known as "The disaster Kyshtym" because the city of Ozyorsk was not officially part of Russia. 200 deaths were estimated from cancer due to radiation exposure.

- Tokaimura - Occurred on October 30, 1999, in the town of Tokaimura, Japan, the accident at the nuclear plant was caused by employees who used large amounts of uranium in a reactor that was disabled for over a year. The released radiation affected more than 600 people.

- Bohunice - Occurred on February 22, 1977, the nuclear power plant Bohunice, Czechoslovakia, the accident was caused by improper removal of moisture absorber covering the fuel rods after transfer of nuclear fuel, resulting in the cooling equipment failure that eroded the reactor, releasing radiation. Do not know the dimensions that this accident reached, since the case was covered by the government.

- Goiânia - Occurred on September 13, 1987, in Goiania, Brazil, the accident with the radioactive substance cesium-137 occurred outside the nuclear plant. A capsule containing this substance and was used for treatments was found in the rubble of Goiás Institute of Radiation by a man who sold it to a junkyard and from there, the blue glow that emitted, piqued the curiosity of locals who , unaware of the danger of the substance began to spread about their bodies and handle cesium without any caution. In that crash about 800 people were infected and 200 died from other radiation effects.

In all the above cases there are consequences to this day because of radioactivity released in the accident, causing health problems for people living in areas near the site. Thus, the failure in most human errors caused great disasters, including environmental damage and death.

      Although nuclear energy has many pros as we saw in the first part, you should be very careful with the instructions to work with this type of energy source. And do not stop there, wait for the 3rd part about nuclear energy.

Aline Midori (Translation: Sarah Norberto)