Millions of tons of toxic coal ash is piling up in power plant ponds in 32 states, a situation the government has long recognized as a risk to human health and the environment but has done nothing about.
An Associated Press analysis of the most recent Energy Department data found that 156 coal-fired power plants store ash in surface ponds similar to one that ruptured last month in Tennessee. On Friday, a pond at a northeastern Alabama power plant spilled a different material.
Records indicate that states storing the most coal ash in ponds are Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.
The man-made lagoons hold a mixture of the noncombustible ingredients of coal and the ash trapped by equipment designed to reduce air pollution from the power plants.
Over the years, the volume of waste has grown as demand for electricity increased and the federal government clamped down on emissions from power plants.
The AP's analysis found that in 2005, the most recent year data is available, 721 power plants generating at least 100 megawatts of electricity produced 95.8 million tons of coal ash. About 20 percent — or nearly 20 million tons — ended up in surface ponds. The remainder ends up in landfills, or is sold for use in concrete, among other uses.
And while other states like Ohio have regulations to protect groundwater, those often don't apply to many of the older dumps built before the state rules were imposed.
"The solution is readily available to the EPA," said Lisa Evans, an attorney for Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy group. "We wouldn't like it, but they could say that municipal solid waste rules apply to coal ash. They could have done that, but instead they chose to do absolutely nothing."
by: Jerold Anthony F. Dalmacio
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
El Niño Strikes Again
Latest reports about the continuous occurrence of El Niño Season in our country makes the Department of Agriculture be concerned because of the effect it causes the agricultural industry,drying up water dams and fishponds, and causing rotating brownouts in the country.
The government advices the public to observe measures that will help them to lessen the tremendous effect of El Niño. Water Conservation is deeply advised, because dams are starting to dry up, Filipinos need to be more conscious about using water in proper way. Energy saving is also needed. Because of El Niño, power plants that produces electricity are also affected. The government says that if El Niño continue to hit our country for the next two months, there is a possibility that there will be an increase in paying electricity that is why they are sincerely advising the people to conserve electricity. The Department Agriculture estimates 10 billion loss in agriculture (crops,fishery and livestock) this entire year because of this drought brought by the El Niño.
Opposite from these effects, Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said that El Niño could also bring boon to tourism industry. It also benefits the construction industry; roads and other infrastructure can be built faster during the dry season.
The Filipinos think of only one solution to this problem the country is facing, and it only can be given by God and mother nature, it should rain.
The government advices the public to observe measures that will help them to lessen the tremendous effect of El Niño. Water Conservation is deeply advised, because dams are starting to dry up, Filipinos need to be more conscious about using water in proper way. Energy saving is also needed. Because of El Niño, power plants that produces electricity are also affected. The government says that if El Niño continue to hit our country for the next two months, there is a possibility that there will be an increase in paying electricity that is why they are sincerely advising the people to conserve electricity. The Department Agriculture estimates 10 billion loss in agriculture (crops,fishery and livestock) this entire year because of this drought brought by the El Niño.
Opposite from these effects, Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said that El Niño could also bring boon to tourism industry. It also benefits the construction industry; roads and other infrastructure can be built faster during the dry season.
The Filipinos think of only one solution to this problem the country is facing, and it only can be given by God and mother nature, it should rain.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
This coming 2010 election it is not all about choosing our candidates but it is also the time to observe how this candidates follow a certain rules regarding on how they will be campaigning. Posters, placards, streamers… These are the campaign paraphernalia of those hopeful candidates who wants to have a position in the office. We will be amazed on how they endorsed their selves to the masses, everywhere you can see different faces of politicians, their advocacy, their platforms, etc. etc. etc.
But they are breaking some of the rules! Politicians should be aware in every step that they are making and also the people should be aware about the dos and don’ts of those politicians.
The posters that they are posting in the public places serves as an eye sore it is not campaigning at all they are going beyond their limitations, public places is obviously public property so no one is allowed to own privately anything that is owned by the public. Streamers are being put on the electric wires which are not appropriate because it is too dangerous. Can you imagine after this campaign period all of this paraphernalia will be considered as a trash and where all of this be put? Who are the people who will suffer most in cleaning all those trashes? Are the politicians who promise a lot during the campaign period? Obviously NO! Since some of them did not win they do not care about their loosing posters, placards and streamers at all. And the winning parties will not immediately do some action about this matter because their major act will be a big celebration.
Poor mother earth it is the one who will suffer the most! Additional garbage, additional suffering, additional environmental problem.
BE WISE! VOTE WISE! Let us always consider the nature.
Dona Charmaine P. Delizo
BJ3-1d
But they are breaking some of the rules! Politicians should be aware in every step that they are making and also the people should be aware about the dos and don’ts of those politicians.
The posters that they are posting in the public places serves as an eye sore it is not campaigning at all they are going beyond their limitations, public places is obviously public property so no one is allowed to own privately anything that is owned by the public. Streamers are being put on the electric wires which are not appropriate because it is too dangerous. Can you imagine after this campaign period all of this paraphernalia will be considered as a trash and where all of this be put? Who are the people who will suffer most in cleaning all those trashes? Are the politicians who promise a lot during the campaign period? Obviously NO! Since some of them did not win they do not care about their loosing posters, placards and streamers at all. And the winning parties will not immediately do some action about this matter because their major act will be a big celebration.
Poor mother earth it is the one who will suffer the most! Additional garbage, additional suffering, additional environmental problem.
BE WISE! VOTE WISE! Let us always consider the nature.
Dona Charmaine P. Delizo
BJ3-1d
Comparisons are easily done once you had the taste of perfection… a famous line of Katty Perry in her song thinking of you. But this is not a review regarding her song but this is all about nature because once you had experienced an almost perfect environment you can easily criticize or say something about the place you are living in.
Almost perfect! This is how I can describe the place where I was raised; I always say that I am a proud “probinsyana” from Isabela a province of Cagayan Valley where you can see the longest mountain range in the Philippines which is Sierra Madre. Maybe this is because of the factor on how the Isabelinos are being trained even they are still young.
I remember when I was still in my elementary days, my teachers always asked the class to plant a tree in a black plastic bag, that was from grade one until grade six. So in my Alma matter I had six mahogany trees. Before I don’t really get the point why they are requiring us to do this activity every year I even told my teacher that our school will turned into a forest because of the hundreds of trees planted on it. But the good factor of this activity was step by step their students are getting aware of the status of the environment.
Compared here in Metro Manila, pollution was being spread all over; water, air and even the noises that is mainly created by humans… US HUMANS.
Before, we have a wide green field planted on it is rice, tobaccos and corns, agricultural crops that all of us are gaining but now it turned into a commercialized building, instead of tall trees we can see tall buildings, instead if clean and flowing water we can see stagnant black water with garbage floating on it. In this sense we can see we can see how people in Metro discipline their selves now a days, I am not saying that all of the people but let us all admit it there are SOME who always lose control in disciplining their own selves.
What if one day we will once again experience a super typhoon like the tragic ONDOY and PEPENG? At this point we must learn to change and that change is not tomorrow but NOW!
Dona Charmaine P. Delizo
BJ3 – 1d
Almost perfect! This is how I can describe the place where I was raised; I always say that I am a proud “probinsyana” from Isabela a province of Cagayan Valley where you can see the longest mountain range in the Philippines which is Sierra Madre. Maybe this is because of the factor on how the Isabelinos are being trained even they are still young.
I remember when I was still in my elementary days, my teachers always asked the class to plant a tree in a black plastic bag, that was from grade one until grade six. So in my Alma matter I had six mahogany trees. Before I don’t really get the point why they are requiring us to do this activity every year I even told my teacher that our school will turned into a forest because of the hundreds of trees planted on it. But the good factor of this activity was step by step their students are getting aware of the status of the environment.
Compared here in Metro Manila, pollution was being spread all over; water, air and even the noises that is mainly created by humans… US HUMANS.
Before, we have a wide green field planted on it is rice, tobaccos and corns, agricultural crops that all of us are gaining but now it turned into a commercialized building, instead of tall trees we can see tall buildings, instead if clean and flowing water we can see stagnant black water with garbage floating on it. In this sense we can see we can see how people in Metro discipline their selves now a days, I am not saying that all of the people but let us all admit it there are SOME who always lose control in disciplining their own selves.
What if one day we will once again experience a super typhoon like the tragic ONDOY and PEPENG? At this point we must learn to change and that change is not tomorrow but NOW!
Dona Charmaine P. Delizo
BJ3 – 1d
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Gore sets new venue on Climate Change
Former US Vice President Al Gore and Nobel Peace Prize Laurette are set to visit the country to deliver their urgent climate change message to the top Philippine leaders this April in Manila.
Gore will keynote the Leadership Conference Series 3, a round of lectures organize for the top leaders from the academe, business, government and non-government sectors to learn from experience and expertise of global leaders.
The event entitled, “Al Gore: The Leader as Environment Steward”, will be held on the 30th of April, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia Complex.
Gore will show an Asian version of “An Inconvenient Truth”, an eye-opener multimedia presentation on the threat posed by climate change and possible solutions treated to combat global warming.
A film which has been based on the Gore’s rapport has won Critical and box office recognition, including Oscar, and is already considered one of the top documentary films of all time.
by: Jerold Anthony F. Dalmacio
Gore will keynote the Leadership Conference Series 3, a round of lectures organize for the top leaders from the academe, business, government and non-government sectors to learn from experience and expertise of global leaders.
The event entitled, “Al Gore: The Leader as Environment Steward”, will be held on the 30th of April, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia Complex.
Gore will show an Asian version of “An Inconvenient Truth”, an eye-opener multimedia presentation on the threat posed by climate change and possible solutions treated to combat global warming.
A film which has been based on the Gore’s rapport has won Critical and box office recognition, including Oscar, and is already considered one of the top documentary films of all time.
by: Jerold Anthony F. Dalmacio
Plastic trash collection found in Atlantic
Studies have shown that there is a high concentration of plastic debris floating in the Atlantic Ocean North of the Caribbean.
The investigators said last Tuesday that the findings were based on more than 64,000 tiny bits of plastic collected over more than 22 years by Sea Education Association undergraduates. They believed that surface currents carry the debris to the area between 22 and 38 degrees north latitude.
Similar currents also deliver trash to a spot between Hawaii and California known as the Great Pacific garbage Patch.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
by: JEROLD ANTHONY F. DALMACIO from the article in Philippine Daily Inquirer published on February 25, 2010
The investigators said last Tuesday that the findings were based on more than 64,000 tiny bits of plastic collected over more than 22 years by Sea Education Association undergraduates. They believed that surface currents carry the debris to the area between 22 and 38 degrees north latitude.
Similar currents also deliver trash to a spot between Hawaii and California known as the Great Pacific garbage Patch.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
by: JEROLD ANTHONY F. DALMACIO from the article in Philippine Daily Inquirer published on February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
SIGNOS
It has been five months since our country suffers from worst typhoons that have been embarked in our history. On the night of September 25, 2009, typhoon Ondoy started its rainfall, no one imagine that it will be heavier the next day, September 26, 2009.
The typhoon Ondoy was even more powerful than the previous typhoon like Milenyo way back year 2005. Not less than a week, another super typhoon hit our country, Pepeng. This typhoon creates damage most likely in the northern part of the country, partly Baguio, Pangasinan and other nearby provinces.
These typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng , causes severe flooding which resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Our country has turned in an expected horror, submerged houses, washed away shanties and turned roads into raging rivers. Executive villages and subdivisions turned to be ghost towns as what had happen to the Provident village.
We can’t blame anyone or something for what had happened. This is the force of nature, a natural disaster. All we had to do is, to prepare ourselves and to do precautionary measures to avoid casualties.
This experience has teach me lot of things, that make me even realized that our country is now living its second life, that just more rain that time of calamity will swept our country in the map. Geographically speaking, our country has lesser forest range, no more trees that hold the land together garbage anywhere and everywhere, clogged drainage system. These are because of our illicit and manly acts.
Hope this won’t happen again, hope we learn from that dreadful experience. No one was spared, the rich and the poor alike felt the power of nature, everyone was wet, some died, and the rest of the country felt as if they were slapped on the face with the cold reality of nature's wrath.
How many times do we have to experience this tragedy just TO LEARN???
DONA CHARMAINE P. DELIZO
BJ3-1D
The typhoon Ondoy was even more powerful than the previous typhoon like Milenyo way back year 2005. Not less than a week, another super typhoon hit our country, Pepeng. This typhoon creates damage most likely in the northern part of the country, partly Baguio, Pangasinan and other nearby provinces.
These typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng , causes severe flooding which resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Our country has turned in an expected horror, submerged houses, washed away shanties and turned roads into raging rivers. Executive villages and subdivisions turned to be ghost towns as what had happen to the Provident village.
We can’t blame anyone or something for what had happened. This is the force of nature, a natural disaster. All we had to do is, to prepare ourselves and to do precautionary measures to avoid casualties.
This experience has teach me lot of things, that make me even realized that our country is now living its second life, that just more rain that time of calamity will swept our country in the map. Geographically speaking, our country has lesser forest range, no more trees that hold the land together garbage anywhere and everywhere, clogged drainage system. These are because of our illicit and manly acts.
Hope this won’t happen again, hope we learn from that dreadful experience. No one was spared, the rich and the poor alike felt the power of nature, everyone was wet, some died, and the rest of the country felt as if they were slapped on the face with the cold reality of nature's wrath.
How many times do we have to experience this tragedy just TO LEARN???
DONA CHARMAINE P. DELIZO
BJ3-1D
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