The Generator is founded on the simple premise that we should leave the world in better condition than we found it. The news items in this category outline the attempts people have made to do this. They are mainly concerned with our food supply and settlement patterns. The impact that the human race has on the planet.
Developed countries’ demand for biofuels has been ‘disastrous’ Production of crops such as maize and palm oil fuelling poverty and environmental damage in poor countries, says Christian Aid Press Association guardian.co.uk, Monday 17 August 2009 11.29 BST Article history A worker harvests oil-palm fruit in Malaysia. Photograph: EPA/Barbara Walton The production of biofuels is fuelling Continue Reading →
Asia facing unprecedented food shortage, UN report says Major investment in irrigation systems needed to feed population expected to grow by 1.5 billion over next 40 years John Vidal The Guardian, Monday 17 August 2009 Article history The UN has said that billions of dollars will be needed to improve irrigation in Asia. Photograph: Continue Reading →
Food prices to surge under emissions trading scheme Blair Speedy and Glenn Milne | August 17, 2009 Article from: The Australian SHOPPERS face a jump in grocery prices of up to 7 per cent under Labor’s scheme to reduce carbon emissions, prompting calls for the Rudd government to come up with a compensation package Continue Reading →
Scientists create new super vegetables Posted 1 hour 25 minutes ago The broccoli will be wrapped in plastic in shops to retain the anti-oxidants. (supplied) Map: Melbourne 3000 Victorian scientists have developed a new range of vegetables that have 40 per cent more anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants have been proven to reduce the risk of a range Continue Reading →
A farmer speaks Debunking the meat/climate change myth 40 (GRIST) Posted 9:21 AM on 7 Aug 2009by Eliot Coleman Editor’s note: Eliot Coleman is one of the most revered and influential small-scale farmers in the United States, famous for growing delicious vegetables through the Maine winter with little use of fossil fuel. Eliot sent me Continue Reading →
Wikipedia-style website to record every species on Earth Coming soon to a screen near you: The Encyclopedia of Life – a user-generated database of all living things Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) will have their own webpage. Photograph: Getty Images A complete list of all the species on the planet is, for many biologists and conservationists, Continue Reading →