Wednesday 20 June 2007

Migrant workers 'help UK economy'

Polish plumber

Migrant workers have boosted the UK economy, with their influx not having a negative effect on employment or wage levels, the TUC has argued.Foreign workers made a positive net economic contribution, it said, with their share of tax paid exceeding the cost of supplying public services.

Link to BBC NEWS | Business | Migrant workers 'help UK economy'

Role-Playing Scenarios

Resources for role playing exercises

Link to Role-Playing Scenarios

The Vertical Farm Project - Agriculture for the 21st Century and Beyond...

The Problem By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?

A Potential Solution: farm vertically The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms, many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world's urban centers. If successfully implemented, they offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (year-round crop production), and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.

Link to The Vertical Farm Project - Agriculture for the 21st Century and Beyond...

Your Earth galleries | Earth | Telegraph

Trailer park

Reader Photographs illustrating climate change in action.

Link to Your Earth galleries | Earth | Telegraph

Your CO2 Calculater..... from DEFRA

The Act on CO2 calculator is currently seeing an overwhelming response and we're working to fix the problems you may be experiencing. Please bear with us and visit again later today. Thank you for your interest and patience.

Use the Act on CO2 calculator to find out what your carbon footprint is. You'll also get a personalised action plan with recommendations about how you can help tackle climate change - including links to further information on Directgov and the Energy Saving Trust website.

Link to Are you ready to act on CO2? : Directgov - Environment and greener living

Travel Photos | TrekEarth

the mouth of Credit River

Good quality photographs

Link to Travel Photos | TrekEarth