Ok so this post is about Quantum Physic's .....

Read the full article here:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124147752556985009.html#articleTabs=article

Science, Spirituality, and Some Mismatched Socks

Researchers Turn Up Evidence of 'Spooky' Quantum Behavior and Put It to Work in Encryption and Philosophy

By GAUTAM NAIK

One of quantum physics' crazier notions is that two particles seem to communicate with each other instantly, even when they're billions of miles apart. Albert Einstein, arguing that nothing travels faster than light, dismissed this as impossible "spooky action at a distance."
The great man may have been wrong. A series of recent mind-bending laboratory experiments has given scientists an unprecedented peek behind the quantum veil, confirming that this realm is as mysterious as imagined.

View Interactive

Rethinking Einstein

Some key developments around one of quantum physics' weirdest notions: that two particles can affect each other even when they are billions of miles apart.

• More interactive graphics

Quantum physics is the study of the very small -- atoms, photons and other particles. Unlike the cause-and-effect of our everyday physical world, subatomic particles defy common sense and behave in wacky ways. That includes the fact that a photon, which is a particle of light, exists in a haze of multiple behaviors. They spin in many ways, such as "up" or "down," at the same time. Even trickier, it's only when you take a peek -- by measuring it -- that the photon fixes into a particular state of spin.
Stranger still is entanglement. When two photons get "entangled" they behave like a joint entity. Even when they're miles apart, if the spin of one particle is changed, the spin of the other instantly changes, too. This direct influence of one object on another distant one is called non-locality.
These peculiar properties have already been proven in a lab and tapped to improve data encryption. They could also one day be used to build much faster computers. Some philosophers see quantum phenomena as a sign of far greater unknown forces at work and it bolsters their view that a spiritual dimension exists.
"We don't know how nature manages to produce spooky behavior," says Nicolas Gisin, a scientist at Geneva University, who led a recent experiment demonstrating action-at-a-distance. "But it's a fascinating time for physics because it can be mastered and exploited."
Einstein refused to believe that a photon could be in all states at once and set out to find an explanation for their seemingly odd behavior. God doesn't play dice with the universe, he said at the time. Danish physicist Neils Bohr, a big proponent of quantum uncertainty, shot back: "Quit telling God what to do."
Trying to poke holes in the notion of spooky action at a distance, Einstein and two colleagues published a paper in 1935 that appeared to demonstrate the existence of mysterious "hidden variables" and show that quantum theory was incomplete. In a seminal 1964 paper, Irish physicist John Bell raised questions about the mathematical validity of Einstein's work.

In a 1981 paper, Mr. Bell took a swing at Einstein's notion of "hidden variables" by relating the sock-wearing patterns of his physicist colleague Reinhold Bertlmann. Mr. Bell noted that if he saw one of Mr. Bertlmann's feet coming around the corner and it had a pink sock, he would instantly know, without seeing the other foot, that the second sock wouldn't be pink. To the casual observer that may seem magical, or controlled by "hidden variables," but it was no mystery to Mr. Bell because he knew that Mr. Bertlmann liked to wear mismatched socks.
Quantum particles behave a lot more oddly, and, thanks to Mr. Bell's work, experiment after experiment has shown that to be true.
Last year, Dr. Gisin and colleagues at Geneva University described how they had entangled a pair of photons in their lab. They then fired them, along fiber-optic cables of exactly equal length, to two Swiss villages some 11 miles apart.
During the journey, when one photon switched to a slightly higher energy level, its twin instantly switched to a slightly lower one. But the sum of the energies stayed constant, proving that the photons remained entangled.
More important, the team couldn't detect any time difference in the changes. "If there was any communication, it would have to have been at least 10,000 times the speed of light," says Dr. Gisin. "Because this is such an unlikely speed, the conclusion is there couldn't have been communication and so there is non-locality."
Other scientists have gotten a more direct look at the particles' secret behavior. They pulled off this feat by resolving something called Hardy's paradox, which basically addressed one of the trickiest aspects of quantum physics: by observing a particle you might affect its property.
In 1990, the English physicist Lucien Hardy devised a thought experiment. The common view was that when a particle met its antiparticle, the pair destroyed each other in an explosion. But Mr. Hardy noted that in some cases when the particles' interaction wasn't observed, they wouldn't annihilate each other. The paradox: Because the interaction had to remain unseen, it couldn't be confirmed.
In a striking achievement, scientists from Osaka University have resolved the paradox. They used extremely weak measurements -- the equivalent of a sidelong glance, as it were -- that didn't disturb the photons' state. By doing the experiment multiple times and pooling those weak measurements, they got enough good data to show that the particles didn't annihilate. The conclusion: When the particles weren't observed, they behaved differently.

Some researchers are using the uncertain state of photons to solve real-world problems. When encrypting sensitive data such as a bank transfer, both the sending party and the receiving party must have the same key. The sender needs the key to hide the message and the receiver to reveal it. Since it isn't always practical to exchange keys in person, the key must be sent electronically, too. This means the key (and the messages) may be intercepted and read by an eavesdropper.
An electronic key is usually written in the computer binary code of "ones" and "zeros." Quantum physics permits a more sophisticated approach. The same "ones" and "zeros" can now be encoded by using the properties of photons, like spin. If someone intercepts a photon-based message, the spins change. The receiver then knows the key has been compromised.
MagiQ Technologies Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., refreshes its quantum keys as often as 100 times a second during a transmission, making it extremely hard to break. It sells its technology to banks and companies. Dr. Gisin is a founder of ID Quantique SA in Switzerland. The company's similar encryption tool is used by online lottery and poker firms to safely communicate winning numbers and winning hands. Votes cast in a recent Swiss federal election were sent in a similar way.
Because of its bizarre implications, quantum theory has been used to investigate everything from free will and the paranormal to the enigma of consciousness. Several serious physicists have devoted their lives to the study of such ideas, including Bernard d'Espagnat. In March, the 87-year-old Frenchman won the prestigious $1.5 million Templeton Prize for years of work affirming "life's spiritual dimension."
Based on quantum behavior, Dr. d'Espagnat's big idea is that science can only probe so far into what is real, and there's a "veiled reality" that will always elude us.
Many scientists disagree. While Dr. d'Espagnat concedes that he can't prove his theory, he argues that it's about the notion of mystery. "The emotions you get from listening to Mozart," he says, "are like the faint glimpses of ultimate reality we get" from quantum experiments. "I claim nothing more."
Write to Gautam Naik at gautam.naik@wsj.com

"Indestructible Survival Seed Bank™ (Can Be Buried) included a special 81-page manual called *Survival Gardening With Heirlooms*. It's designed to help anyone (beginner or expert), cultivate a highly productive crisis garden. Written by a survivalist

"Remember, non-hybrid seeds can be grown practically anywhere and have the ability to assimilate mineral and trace elements from the soil that man made plants just don't seem to have. That's because they were created by God as we read in Genesis:

And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.""


Read all about it here:  http://www.survivalseedbank.com/?utm_source=WND_729x90_SurvivalSeedBank&utm_medium=WND_729x90_SurvivalSeedB: 

New Survival Seed Bank™
Lets You Plant A
Full Acre Crisis Garden! 

 

New "Survival Seed Bank™" Produces Thousands Of Pounds Of Nutrient-Dense Food For Pennies Per Pound... Enough To Feed Friends And Family Forever!

Now you can grow all the survival food you will ever need anywhere in the country with a kit that contains a special seed bank of hard to find, open pollinated... super seeds, grown by small, fiercely independent farmers.

Let's face it. If the stories coming out on the world's food supply are even half right, we've got real problems and they aren't going to go away quickly. Here are a couple stories that I ran across recently:

• WorldNet Daily cites strong evidence that some government agencies are stockpiling huge amounts of canned food.
• Jim Randas, former U.S. Intelligence officer, appeared on ABC telling Americans to start stockpiling food.
• Grocery store prices are rising faster than any time in U.S. history.
• Worldwide grain stocks are dropping precipitously as bio-fuels consume inventories... and on and on and on.

You don't have to be an Old Testament prophet to see what's going on all around us. A desperate lower class demanding handouts. A rapidly diminishing middle class crippled by police state bureaucracy. An aloof, ruling elite that has introduced us to an emerging totalitarianism which seeks control over every aspect of our lives.

As the meltdown progresses, one of the first things to be affected will be our nation's food supply. Expect soaring prices along with moderate to severe shortages by spring. If you don't have the ability to grow your own food next year, your life may be in danger. Supply lines for food distribution in this country are about three days, meaning a dependence on "just in time" distribution systems, which will leave store shelves empty in the event of even the smallest crisis.

Are You Ready To Take Control Of Your Own Food Supply?

Could you and your family get off the grid and survive in a panic? Do you have enough seeds to plant a survival garden and feed your family? Do you have the right kind of seeds to plant? If you're answering no to these questions, you need to stop wherever you are and ask yourself... "What would I do if the grocery stores closed?" The answer sadly is that you'd probably go hungry.

Here's What You Should Do Right Now...

First, you need to have the peace of mind knowing that if things were to get scary, that you and your family could still eat. Listen: having enough non-hybrid seeds to plant an acre or two could be the difference between life and death. With our new "Survival Seed Bank™," growing your own survival food becomes easy. Remember, our hand-picked seeds are not genetically modified in any way. You simply save some of your harvest seeds from year one and have more than enough to plant in year two. You'll never need to buy seeds again! You just can't do that with man-made hybrid seeds.

It's been very difficult to acquire high quality, open pollinated seeds lately. We've had a lot of our Food Storage Secrets' customers asking for a good source and we finally have seeds we feel comfortable offering folks whose lives may depend on exceptional germination rates.

What will your family eat when grocery store shelves are empty?

These seeds are authentic strains which are NOT genetically modified in any way. When the going gets tough... you'll only want this special type of seed which will produce not only outstanding nutritional plants but will allow you to plant the seeds from the plants you grow unlike sterile hybrids. Most seed companies are now selling only "terminator" seeds which have been genetically modified and will not reproduce themselves.

These are NOT ordinary seeds... they have been chosen for their truly extraordinary germination rates!

Grown in remote plots, far from the prying eyes of the big hybrid seed companies, each of the Survival Seed Bank™ varieties have been hand-picked for germination rate, nutritional density and of course, storage life. These seeds are true heirlooms and produce extremely nutritious plants. In fact, some studies show that these varieties are up to five times as nutritious as hybrid varieties. We have also selected seeds that will produce some of the best tasting garden produce available.

Each seed pack is individually packaged for maximum shelf life. Here's what we mean by that: We carefully dry each seed to the precise level of allowable moisture which "locks in" hardiness and maintains extremely long shelf life. Then, each seed package is sealed in a special foil packet with a very expensive desiccant designed to keep seeds fresh for 20 years at 70 degrees. However, if you freeze your "seed bank" you could increase the shelf life by five times or more beyond that.

(By the way, never buy seeds in plastic or paper containers. The seeds just won't last.)

The seed packs are then packed and placed in a special waterproof (practically indestructible) container we call a Seed Bank. We believe that this type of storage container is the absolute best way to store seeds for the long term. Yep, it costs a little more, but if you do have to store seeds for the long haul, it's pretty darn important that they will not only have high germination rates, but grow into lush, productive crops when you need them most.

The Survival Seed Bank™ produces thousands of pounds of nutrient-dense food for pennies a pound.

Each Survival Seed Bank™ has a total of 22 varieties of OPEN POLLINATED "super seeds." Also included are detailed growing instructions for each variety which includes helpful information on harvesting of seed stock for the following year in a survival situation. This is obviously very important because failing to collect seeds properly at harvest time could mean starvation.

Each Survival Seed Bank™ Contains
These Or Similar Hand Picked,
Heirloom Varieties:

		1) October Bean – Beans are rich in fiber and an inexpensive source of protein. This Native American variety dates back to the 1830's from the Cherokee Nation in Tennessee. Prolific producer, great winter staple. Bush habit, 85-90 days. 200 seeds per Seed Bank.
		2) Black Valentine Bean, Stringless - Straight slender dark-green, nearly round pads, stringless at all stages. 16-18 in. plants, hardy, good for early plantings, good shipper, very old heirloom, pre-1850, introduced by seedsman Peter Henderson in 1897. 48 to 70 days. 300 seeds per Seed Bank.
		3)Bountiful Bean - In 1897 Abel Steele of Ferguson, Ontario won a $25.00 prize for naming this new variety from Peter Henderson & Company, previously known as "Green Bush Bean #1." Heavy crops of excellent quality, brittle, stringless 6-7" pods. Productive bush plants grow 16" tall, 47-50 days. 200 seeds per Seed Bank.
		4)Detroit Dark Red Beet - Introduced in 1892; original selections were made from Early Blood Turnip by Mr. Reeves of Port Hope, Ontario. Nearly globe, blood-red 3" diameter roots. Beets are often credited in folk medicine for gallbladder and liver health, and they have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Delicious fresh, great for canning. Prolific, good keeper.  60-65 days. 300 seeds per Seed Bank.
		5)Copenhagen Market Cabbage - Introduced by H. Hartman & Co. in 1909. Solid heads reach 6-8" in diameter, weigh 3-4 pounds and rarely burst. Medium sized plants ideal for small gardens. Cabbage is a part of the brassica family of vegetables, which are known for their cancer-protective properties. 63-100 days from transplant. 300 seeds per Seed Bank.
		6) Stowell's Evergreen Corn - The original strain of this variety was bred by Nathaniel Newman Stowell, born May 16, 1793 in New Ipswich, Massachusetts. After years of refining the strain, Nathaniel sold two ears of seed for $4.00 to a friend who agreed to use it only for his private use. His "friend" then turned around and sold the seed for $20,000 and it was introduced to the seed trade in 1848. His variety is still the leading white variety for home gardens and market growers. Ears grow 8-9" long and have 14-20 rows of kernels, 1-2 ears per stalk, holds well. 80-100 days. 250 seeds per Seed Bank.
		7) Reid's Yellow Dent Corn - Old-timer, well adapted to Southern heat and soils, vigorous 6 – 7 ft. plant, 9-10 in. double well filled ears,high protein. Developed by James L. Reid in northern Illinois. This late large reddish corn was crossed with an earlier yellow dent to create the modern Reid’s Yellow Dent. 85-110 days. 300 seeds per Seed Bank.
		8) Bushy Cucumber - Enjoy the cool, satisfying crunch of cucumber in your salads! This well-known older variety originated in Russia. Recommended for dacha gardens that surround Moscow because of its compact "bush" plants with 3-5 foot vines. Good production, for fresh eating or pickling. 46-49 days. For earlier harvest, start indoors before the last frost. 90 seeds per Seed Bank.
		9) Yellow Of Parma Onion - A top-quality, late-maturing onion with handsome, golden, upright globe-shaped bulbs. Average size is 1 pound. One of the best for storage. Imported from Italy. 110 days from transplant. 1000 seeds per Seed Bank.
		10) Bloomsdale Spinach - Vigorous, upright plants. Dark glossy green leave are thick, twisted, crumpled, blistered and savoyed. Fine quality, very tender, excellent flavor. Rich in Vitamins A and K, rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, a good source of folate, Vitamin C, potassium, and more. Quick growing, heavy yields, well adapted for late spring or summer plantings, slow to bolt. Introduced before 1908. 39-60 days. 400 seeds per Seed Bank.
		11) Scarlet Nantez Carrot – Cylindrical roots are 7" long by 1“" wide. Bright reddish-orange flesh, fine grained, nearly coreless, great flavor, sweet and brittle. Good as baby carrots. Good for storage, freezing and for juice. Variety chosen for its extremely high anti-oxidant constituents. Widely adapted, highly selected, uniform strain. 65-70 days. 1,050 seeds per Seed Bank.
		12) Red Salad Bowl Lettuce - Large decorative upright plants with wide leaves that are crisp and delicious. One of our best performers. Beautiful deep-lobed bronze leaves, 6" tall and 14-16" wide plants. Very slow to bolt. Introduced to U.S. gardeners in 1955. Looseleaf, 50 days. 1,750 seeds per Seed Bank.
		13) Oakleaf Lettuce - Known as Baltimore or Philadelphia Oakleaf in the 1880's. Resistant to hot weather, long-standing, never bitter. Excellent quality even in late summer. Looseleaf, 50 days. 1,750 seeds per Seed Bank.
		14) Hale's Best Melon - A reliable early melon with heavy netting and firm salmon colored flesh. Good flavor and drought tolerant. Fruits are round and weigh 3-4 pounds.  Introduced in 1923. Melons are ripe when they "slip" off the vine.  Hale's Best should be harvested just prior to "full slip" or when you might still need to pull a bit to make them slip off the vine. A serving of this melon delivers 100% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamins A and C. 175 seeds per Seed Bank.
		15) Green Arrow Pea - An English main crop variety, a standard home and market variety. Medium-size vines grow 24-28" tall. Slim pointed pods are 4-5" long and contain 8-11 small deep-green peas. Pods are almost always borne in doubles. Very heavy, reliable production. Shell, 62-70 days. 500 seeds per Seed Bank.
		16) Fordhook Giant Chard - Introduced in 1934 by W. Atlee Burpee and Co. Broad dark green heavily crumpled leaves with white veins and stalks. Plants grow 24-28" high with 2½" wide stalks. Abundant crops all season and even after the first light frosts. 50-60 days. 200 seeds per Seed Bank.
		17) Brandywine Tomato - (a.k.a. Red Brandywine) The original Brandywine introduced by Johnson and Stokes in 1889, the large vines produce fruits that are 8-12 ounces and deep red in color. Tomatoes are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, along with protective antioxidants. Very productive, excellent taste. Indeterminate, 80 days. 200 seeds per Seed Bank.
		18) California Wonder Pepper - First introduced in 1928. This is one of the best for the home gardener, long known as a great canning and freezing variety. Heavy sets of 4-lobed, 4" blocky fruits that ripen from green to red. An excellent source of Vitamins A and C.  Start indoors; 70-75 days from transplant. 50 seeds per Seed Bank.
		19) Early Jalapeno Pepper - The earliest Jalapeno, does well even in cool areas. Sturdy 24" plants are loaded with 3" fruits that ripen from green to red. Fruits are mild when green, but hotter when red and fully ripe. Great for pickling. 60-70 days from transplant. 50 seeds per Seed Bank.
		20) French Breakfast Radish - Oblong and blunt, rose-scarlet with a white tip. White, crisp flesh, mildly pungent flavor, top quality. Sow in the spring or fall, pick when small. A garden standard since the 1880s. 30 days from transplant. 900 seeds per Seed Bank.
		21) Waltham Butternut Squash - Prized for its uniform shape, rich dry yellow-orange flesh, nutty flavor and high-yielding vines. Good source of healthful carotenoids. Fruits are 3-6 pounds and exceptional keepers. The result of years of patient refinement and selection by Bob Young of Waltham, Massachusetts. One of the most recognized types of baking squash. AAS winner in 1970. 83-100 days. 40 seeds per Seed Bank.
		22) Rossa Bianca Eggplant - Stunning Italian heirloom, beautiful fruits are prized by chefs. Very meaty 4-6" round fruits, mild flavor and almost never bitter. Well suited for all of your cooking needs, great for Eggplant Parmisiana. 80 days from transplant. 50 seeds per seed bank.

*Important: We are in a very real "non-hybrid" seed shortage. This means we may have to substitute varieties if supplies become exhausted. All Seedbanks will contain the same amount of ONLY Heirloom seeds, enough to plant a full acre Crisis Garden!

Total Seeds – Enough To Plant One Full Acre! Without A Long Term Food Solution Many Americans Could Starve.

Remember, non-hybrid seeds can be grown practically anywhere and have the ability to assimilate mineral and trace elements from the soil that man made plants just don't seem to have. That's because they were created by God as we read in Genesis:

And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth."

So here's the deal: I'm trying to get the word out before the food crisis becomes too apparent to the general public and there is a run on these seed banks. I've decided to sell the Survival Seed Bank™ at a discounted price to our customers who use this website to order.
As FED induced inflation sends shock waves through agricultural commodity prices, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see this same Survival Seed Bank selling for $1000.00 or more in just a few short years. Please understand, once the average guy on the street realizes food prices are headed for the moon, it may in fact be too late. Too late in the game to not only buy seeds wholesale, but it may be too late to even get seeds! Period. You see, the worldwide inventory of premium-grade vegetable seed isn't large enough to supply a panicked population, supplies will simply run out.
But right now, for Solutions From Science customers, as long as you buy online from this site, I will send you the entire one-acre Crisis Garden for just...

$149.00
(For as long as we can keep them in stock!)

That's less than half of what everyone less would have to pay if they bought "germination-tested" heirloom seeds like this at full retail. So I'm making this "extra" discounted offer because our current customers deserve "first dibs" on something this important.

So... all in all... you're saving $149.00 off the full price... and you get a waterproof seed bank at no additional cost. That's right. You can actually bury this unit for up to 20 years if you like and still have your seeds when you need them most. Most seed companies send you seeds in paper envelopes and cardboard boxes. But the difference is that the seed bank you get from us is practically indestructible.

That's a heck of a deal right there.

But there's more: I am also going to give you a bottle of "Nitro Seed Starter Solution" as a gift from us here at Solutions From Science. What this amazing product does is allow you to jump start your crop by simply soaking your seeds in this solution for a few seconds before you plant. When the Nitro soaked seeds hit the ground... it's over. The seeds grow like crazy!

And there's one more thing: You'll also receive detailed instructions on how to harvest seeds for the following year.

In fact, we've included a special 81-page manual called *Survival Gardening With Heirlooms*. It's designed to help anyone (beginner or expert), cultivate a highly productive crisis garden. Written by a survivalist and a master gardener, it describes in detail, each step of the way, taking you by the hand from planting your seeds to cultivating to gathering and storing your seeds for the next growing season. The 81-page    E-book manual cost you nothing, and is our gift to you for being wise enough to see the coming storm.

For the absolute fastest service, order online. You can also call 877-327-0365 to place your order. Our remaining inventory of Survival Seed Banks is going to vanish quickly I can assure you. (And when my partners discover what I've done, they're going to make sure we never do it again!) But time is of the essence. There are only a handful of Survival Seed Banks available right now. As more and more customers snatch them up... (We've only got enough bulk seeds to make up a handful of seed banks), you may never again get another chance to own one at this price.

"Indestructible Survival Seed Bank™ Can Be Buried To Avoid Confiscation."

Call Today!

877-327-0365

You can also order by sending a check or money order to:

Solutions From Science
Attn. Survival Seed Bank™
815 W. Main St.
P.O. Box 518
Thomson, IL 61285

(*Click Here To Print The Order By Mail Form)

P.S. One last thought — I want to make SURE you understand how much you're getting here. If you purchased these same seeds "retail" you could very well pay over $600, if you can even find them. That makes the Survival Seed Bank™ package a ridiculous bargain. For just $149.00 plus 15.00 shipping and handling (total $164.00), you get enough seeds to plant a full acre survival garden! And... you'll have confidence knowing that you and your family will be able to eat if the Insiders trigger some huge meltdown. You'll have the best germinating seeds available. (Remember, we buy our seeds directly from small independent farmers.) Don't wait another second— call or order online right now, while you're thinking about it.

P.P.S. Remember... when these Survival Seed Banks are gone (with the current seed shortage) we can't guarantee enough heirloom seeds will be available to meet the current high demand.

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NOT GREEN: million acre oil concession of remote Amazon rainforest....

Read all about it here:  http://www.news24.com/Columnists/AndreasSpath/Caltex-and-the-law-of-the-jungle-20110223


EXTRACT:

Caltex and the law of the jungle
2011-02-23 07:35

Caltex, your friendly neighbourhood petrol dealers, have a dirty little secret they’d rather you not hear too much about.

Last week, a judge in the small Ecuadorian jungle town of Lago Agrio fined the US oil giant Chevron more than $8bn for causing devastating environmental damage in a million acre oil concession of remote Amazon rainforest.

“So it’s not really Caltex, is it?” you might think, but Caltex is just the brand name of Chevron in South Africa. It’s the same company. “But it’s not really a secret either!” Well, judging by the scant exposure the story has received in the mainstream press, it might as well be. Unpleasant things that happen in some God-awful, swampy Latin American backwater simply don’t get a lot of media coverage. It’s actually not little either, but it sure as hell is dirty!

The relevant timeline looks approximately like this:

• 1964-1990: the US oil company Texaco is the sole operator in the oil field, extracting crude oil from some 327 wells.

• 1992: Texaco leaves Ecuador.

• 1993: The original lawsuit is filed against Texaco in New York.

• 2001: Chevron (aka Caltex) merges with Texaco, taking on the company’s liabilities in Ecuador.

• 2003: After Chevron succeeds in having the case transferred out of US courts, it is re-filed, as a class action suit on behalf of 30 000 residents, in Ecuador.

• 2011: After more than 17 years and numerous allegations of bribery, espionage, delays, dirty tricks, evidence-tampering and cover-ups, the Ecuadorian court hands Chevron one of the largest environmental fines on record.

Between 1972 and 1990, Chevron (then Texaco) deliberately dumped more than 18 billion gallons of toxic waste sludge, containing carcinogens and other toxins, into rivers, streams and unlined pits. Just to be clear: this was not a case of accidental leakage or negligence as in the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but hazardous waste, intentionally pumped into the Amazon ecosystem.

Along the way Chevron also managed to spill millions of gallons of crude oil and left behind as many as 1000 open waste pits that continue to leak dangerous pollutants into the air, soil and groundwater. And all of that in an area where the locals are dependant on river water for cooking, fishing, drinking and cleaning.

The impact has been devastating, effectively destroying large tracts of rainforest, damaging crops and killing farm animals. The health of the local population has plummeted, with the risk of cancers, miscarriages and birth defects all on the increase. Indigenous communities and their traditional way of life have been decimated.

Chevron has called the court ruling a “product of fraud”, “illegitimate and unenforceable”. The company has never accepted responsibility for its dirty legacy in Ecuador and it is not about to do so now, promising the plaintiffs a “lifetime of litigation”. In their final argument before the court, they claimed that no negligence was established or damage proven by the plaintiffs. According to them neither the environment nor a single human being has been harmed.

Of course they would respond that way. What precedent would it set, after all, if a bunch of semi-civilised Third-Worlders could successfully sue a multinational corporation?

What the company, which in 2010 tripled its second quarter profits to $5.4bn compared to a year earlier, has done, is spend millions on lobbying and PR efforts to clean up its public image. Among other things, Chevron launched their “We Agree” ad campaign - you may have seen it on DSTV - portraying themselves as concerned, eco-conscious and socially responsible corporate citizens.

Don’t believe a word of it! Until they face the music and pay their fair share of what’s necessary to fix the problems they have caused in Ecuador, all of that remains transparently cosmetic. And for every tank-full of Caltex with Techron® - that’s the magic petrol additive that injects your car with an army of tiny little people who tirelessly scrub and clean your engine as you drive - you also get a glob of oily, ugly, smelly and deadly rainforest pollution.

- Andreas has a PhD in geochemistry and manages Lobby Books, the independent book shop at Idasa’s Cape Town Democracy Centre. Follow him on Twitter: @Andreas_Spath

Working towards a green world - some doomed items for the future

Have a look at this slideshow and read the accompanying text:  http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/new-contraband-8-doomed-items-new-green-world#1

It is slideshow showing doomed items in the new green world.

It include things like BPA Filled cans - BPA ia an endocrine disruptor that can potentially trigger obesity, neurological issues, and thyroid disruption. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin. But the substance is dangerous.

Other items include yellow pages, plastic bags, pets, mercury thermometers (mercury in a single broken thermometer can pollute up to five million gallons of water), styrofoam (it takes 100's of years to break down naturally), bottled water.

Re-Using Shipping containers for building

Here is a post I saw recently on using shipping containers, with some interesting photos and explanatory text:

http://jodyforehand.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/ship-me-a-building-used-shipping-containers-as-architecture/

Its worth checking out.  Although not officially "GREEN"  it does fall into the category of recycling and helping to save the planet by re-using, upcycling items that have become waste products and no longer useful and are creating immense landfill problems.

This is the same type of concept that lies behind earthships (which are built with used types).


EXTRACT:

"....first, to use these as occupied buildings, you have to insulate them, heat and cool them, add electricity and add plumbing. All of those elements will encroach on the already cramped dimensions if you have to fit these elements within the exterior skin, but it can be done. The walls between units can also come out, and the ceilings and floors can be removed to create multiple volume spaces, but any more extensive demolition of the framing begins to break down the cost effectiveness of the system as well as the “green” benefits of reusing these containers......"

------------------------------
Here are a few more useful links I found for further reading: 
Twelve amazing shipping container houses -  http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/8/twelve-amazing-shipping-container-houses.html
http://www.shipping-container-housing.com/shipping-container-drawing.html
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_container_architecture