Using high-tech robotic cameras, a team of scientists is getting a rare first glimpse of marine life in the North Atlantic that could shed light on the ocean's ecosystem and climate to as far back as 1,000 years. Images of tulip-shaped sponges, brightly colored corals, delicate pink stars and feathery organisms were among the breathtaking marine life beamed up by a submersible robot that scoured the ocean bed at a depth of some 9,800 feet [3,000 meters] off the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland.

 Exploring these areas is important because they contain the "trees of the ocean". The scientists potentially can look at the coral's chemical composition and determine the temperature of the water and other data from 1,000 years ago and with that they are able to say if there is warming or a change in climate direction.

Corals have been a highly successful life form for 250 million years. They are tiny animals and polyps that exist as genetically identical individuals and can eat, defend themselves and kill plankton for food. In the process they also secrete calcium carbonate, which becomes the basis for an external skeleton on which they sit. These calcified deposits can grow to enormous sizes over a long period of time and form coral reefs. The reefs are among the world's most productive ecosystems and can harbor more than 4,000 species of fish and many other marine life forms. Some estimates have suggested 20 percent of the world's coral reefs are already dead and an additional 24 percent are gravely threatened.

           As many as 1900 people participated in the Green Marathon organised by the College to promote a greener environment and send an awareness among the people about Global Warming and Sustainability. This Green Marathon was flagged off by Mr. S.M. Sivakumar, Dean, Government Rajaji Hospital at the Race course Ground.  Mr.S.Kumaravel, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Madurai  distributed prizes to the Winners along with the Chairman, Thiru. MKS Sreenivasan, Director, Mr. SR. Vijayshrenivas,Secretary,Mr.MSR Rajsanthosh and Joint Secretary, Mr. MS Vickram. First Prize winners got Rs 1000, Second Prize winners Rs 750, and  Rs 500 was given to those who came third.

           In the Men below 30 category, R Jayakarthik won the first place, M.Kasimayan and R. Dinesh Kumar bagged the 2nd and 3rd places. In men above 30, R.Kannan, B. Moorthy and PS. Soundarapandian won the first, second and third places respectively. In women's category, N. Manjula won the first place with R.Annalakshmi and R.Ananthi coming second and third.  In differently abled category, S.Gurumoorthy came first, Syed Abthakir and Ramesh Kumar won the second and third places. In skating T.Manoj won first prize, R.Dakshin came second, while Mohammed Yasik coming third. In skating girls, Deepthy K.Babu won the first place and N.Reenu kruthika won second place.

You might have already felt the eerie silence from the countries who were once crying aloud for actions on climate-change, well lets see about at least one country, the USA, where the climate change activism was profound and whose political influence in global arena is considered the most powerful, but it was here, climate-change legislation never got through the senate. 

Every piece of scientific evidence, long temperature averages that smooth out year to year fluctuations, Arctic sea ice volume, glacier melting, record high to record low ratios all point to a continuing and quite possibly accelerating, rise in global temperatures. Accusations leveled against climate researchers, data manipulation allegations, email traps, all have been eventually concluded as fraudulent activities perpetrated by climate deniers. People never took it serious when many politicians tried to threaten about an economic downfall if actions were taken against global warming.

So It wasn't the science, the scientists, or the economics that killed action on climate-change in USA, what was it then? The usual suspects greed and cowardice. The motive behind climate change deniers can be found out if we follow the money they get from, the funding pipeline starts at big companies, especially oil and coal companies, like Exxon Mobil, which has spent tens of millions of dollars promoting climate change denial or Koch industries which has been sponsoring anti environmental activities for two decades. Or look at the politicians and lobbyists who have been making foul cry against climate actions where would they get money for their campaigns? You already know the answer.

Greed was enough to make this triumph for the deniers, however cowardice joined in to make a perfect murder, above all the cowardice of politicians who know how big a threat global warming poses, who supported action in the past, but who deserted their posts at the crucial moment. Greed aided by cowardice , has triumphed. And the whole world will pay the price.

P.S. based on an article by Paul Krugman – The New York Times

Earth Hour Today between 8:30 PM & 9.30 PM, turn off the lights and use candle(s). If your area experiences power cut during that time, even better, thank TNEB.

You can find more about earth hour here.

We all know that we are running out of time, the decline of our mighty home have started. Researches have been done and proved that our earth is in the path of decline, and now its now our turn to react and help our big home. The major reason that can be pointed out for this decline is the effect of GLOBAL WARMING. According to a study conducted by Stanford university in 2009,it have been found out that the major reason for this global warming is the use of fossil fuels.

Now is there any way to replace these fossil fuels in an effective way so that it doesn’t cost any hindrance in the efficiency that we are enjoying with fossil fuels. This article tell us all about a new way by which we could effectively and efficiently replace fossil fuels with renewable sources such as wind, water and solar(abbreviated as WWS).

Now more than a need it had become a want, so have a read.

When the whole world is behind the CO2 gas, either researching to capture it or planning different ways to reduce its disposal into atmosphere, results from a research team headed by the geochemist Jefferey Dorale from the United States have asked us to think twice when it comes to the question, “ Is it CO2? ”.

The underside of the Spanish island of Mallorca a very famous tourist destination is as perforated as Swiss cheese. The rising and falling ocean has worn hollow caves into a soft layer of calcium, and stalactites and stalagmites in these caves bear evidence of prehistoric sea levels. These mineral spikes, moreover, have collected deposits of calcite from the ocean, and these deposits give up secrets like rings in a tree. Dorale's team dated these deposits by measuring the radioactive decay of uranium traces, reconstructing sea levels with a high degree of precision. They claim the Mediterranean some 81,000 years ago stood a full meter higher than it does today. If the scientists are right a number of questions present themselves, in those days the atmosphere would not have contained so much carbon dioxide. So how important is CO2 in global warming?

The planet, as a rule, swings between frigid glacial periods and warmer "interglacial" periods. One cycle takes about 100,000 years. So 125,000 years ago the planet was extremely warm; 20,000 years ago, extremely cold. Between those two extremes as the glaciers grew and the polar caps gathered up seawater, the sea level dropped by 130 meters. As there was a sharp rise in sea level about 81,000 years ago, the fall of sea level would not have been steady, something must have caused it to rise which is apparently not CO2.    

This is a song written 40 years before by Joni Mitchell a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter, it is making us think how we have failed to protect our environment. Don't miss to enjoy its musical brilliance, its one of my favorites, please do visit this youtube page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg 

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away the D.D.T. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard my screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Some simple ways to help save the environment. Interestingly, helping the environment means helping yourselves with lesser expense and cleaner surroundings! 
 

At your home/hostel: 
 

Switch off bulbs, tube-lights and other electrical appliances when not in use.

Appliances running on standby power consume lot of energy.

Use natural sun light during day-time.

Recommend or create green energy sources like solar power or bio-fuels for household consumption.

Replace traditional bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. These energy-efficient bulbs help environment by reducing the amount of electricity used and also helps reduce your electricity bills.
 

Don't burn garden wastes, Compost it instead. Burning vegetation emits lot of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping pollutants into the atmosphere.

Design your home in such a way that ample sun light can pass through your windows and skylights.

Sunlight passing through your rooms makes your home bright, fresh and healthy while saving electricity.
 

Reduce consumption of natural resources. Recycle wherever you can. Reuse whatever you can. More importantly carry your own bags to the market / shops and do not take plastic carry bags from the shoppers.  
 
On the road: 

Cut out short car or two wheeler trips.

As far as possible try walking or using a bicycle for short trips.

Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle; this will cut down fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Maintain proper air pressure in your vehicle, as improper tire inflations cause higher fuel consumption.

Use public transport like bus/trains wherever possible! 

Hope your inspirations just took a reinforcement.

Thanks