A properly maintained car saves on gas usage. This in return helps saves the environment with less usage of fossil fuels and less carbon emissions.

12 Tips Towards Saving Money on GAS!   by Deborah Mumm

Here are 12 tips for how to stretch a tank of gas.

* You can easily take care of a few items without going to a service station. One of them is the air filter. A clogged air filter leaves your engine gasping for breath and means you're probably running with a "rich" mixture, that is, more gas and less air. Many department and auto stores carry air filters, and they are simple to change. A clogged air filter can cost you 1 mpg. Replace your air filter regularly.

* Dirty oil cuts back engine efficiency, so make sure your oil is changed according tot he car manufacturer's recommended schedule. You can change your own, and buying your own oil is much cheaper. There's a drain plug under your engine that will come out readily with a wrench. Have a bucket ready to catch the dirty oil, and remember to dispose of it safely.

* If your fan belt is too tight, your engine is working too hard and wasting gas. The belt should give a little to finger pressure when the engine is not running. if it doesn't, you can easily adjust the tension with a wrench.

* Badly worn spark plugs can cost you as much as 2 mpg. This is probably a job for a trained technician.

* The car has been a way of life for most Americans. There are alternatives. These include mass transit, bike paths, and car pools. * Heavier cars are more costly to run. A reduction of 200 pounds in automotive weight typically improves fuel economy by nearly 5 percent.

* Use the air conditioner in your car as little as possible. It uses a lot of gas. Roll down the windows and get some fresh air! * Using cruise control can save gas. If you drive on the open road often, staying at a constant speed will save fuel. * If you are taking a trip, start early in the day while traffic is light. Plan to stop for meals at times when traffic is heavy.

* Don't let your car idle for a long time to warm it up. Also, don't let your car idle for more than a minute after it is warmed up - idling wastes more gas than restarting your car.

* Do not rev the engine and then quickly shut your car off. This wastes gas. It also pumps raw gasoline into the cylinder walls. This can wash away a film of oil that protects the cylinders and will increase engine wear.

* Check your tires. Your owner's manual has important information on your tires, including the correct air pressure that should be in them. Under-inflation of your tires can cost you as much as 1 mpg. Radial tires have 50 percent less road resistance, so they give you 3 to 19 percent better mpg.

About the Author

Deborah Mumm lives in Grayslake, IL where she has been an Environmental Consultant since 1996. You can get additional tips on environmental issues as well as allergy and asthma prevention at http://www.healthy-environments.com/.

[environment]

Posted by forestwonderer at 1:54 PM EDT

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Ways that you can help protect the environment

It seems that every other day there is a new "Green "initiative to help us "Save the Planet". We are forever being urged to join in and do what we can to help, but What can we do? Will it really make a difference?

It may surprise many of you to know that there are small changes we can make to our everyday lives, which will have a major impact on the environment. If you are really looking to help the environment, you may wish to consider the following simple ideas :-

Switch Off Electrical Appliances when not in use

Switching off, rather than leaving on stand-by, such everyday appliances as your TV and Computer will save enormous amounts of energy. By saving the energy, we can all help to reduce carbon emission into the earth's atmosphere, thereby reducing pollution and global warming.

Car Sharing

Rather than travel to work alone, why not arrange a car sharing Scheme with one or more of your friends or colleagues? To give you an example, if you drive one of the fashionable 4x4 cars, you will use more energy in a year than you would leaving your fridge door open for seven years, or your TV on for thirty two years! Imagine the savings if you car shared with 2,3 or even 4 people?

Insulation and Turing Down your Thermostat

These two energy saving ideas go hand in hand, and they will save YOU money. By turning your central heating thermostat down by one degree, this will both reduce both your household emissions, and save you £30 a year in energy costs.

If you also update your roof and wall cavity insulation, as well as eliminating annoying draughts around your doors and windows, you will retain more of the heat in your home, and again reduce emission. A win win situation, I think you will agree?

Recycling

Recycling is perhaps the easiest way to help in the fight to save the environment. You can recycle many every day materials including glass, paper, plastics, cans and much much more. Not only does recycling save on energy emissions, the recycling of paper will literally save millions of trees a year, which are the earth's main source of absorbing some of the harmful emissions in the atmosphere. Not to mention, the chance of saving areas like the Amazon Rain Forests, which contain some of the rarest of animals, many of which are near extinction due to the actions of man.

Junk Mail

While we all complain about the increase in Junk Mail, we very rarely do anything about it and the mail continues to flow through our letter boxes, straight into the bin - with 99% not even opened.

What can you do about this? There are various websites around the world (UK residents check out www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/ for further details) where you can register to receive NO JUNK MAIL. As well as saving your time, your will also be doing a massive amount to help the environment, e.g. every person in the US receives junk mail which is equivalent to one and a half trees a year!! Throughout the US as a whole, this equates to more than 100 million trees a year.

Note:  (United States) You can use the Unsolicited Mail website to get off the junk mail list.  It only will cost you a $1.00.  This is a governmental office site.

There are many many other everyday changes which you can make to help the environment, they will cost you nothing and many will actually save you money! Why not give it a try? Turn your thermostat down by one degree and see if you notice the difference. We can all help, if we really want to.

© 2006 - J. Joyce www.theenvironmentroom.com

About the Author

James Joyce is currently the webmaster of an environment forum, discussing all aspects of the environment (http://www.theenvironmentroom.com/).

Posted by forestwonderer at 10:18 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, 20 October 2006 10:43 AM EDT

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Author: Madison Lockwood

One of the best things about the Internet is that it brings the
entire world closer together. When your job is environmental
causes and spreading awareness about green living, you know
just how important the Web can be to disseminate information.
This is why no green or environmental awareness campaign should
be without a website.

Getting Information Out

People need all the information necessary to make an informed
decision. Because the media and advertising offers only one
side of the story - the sensationalist version and the version
that sells - it's up to you to give the public the rest of the
story. It's not easy to combat information campaigns backed by
big money. But with a Web site, you have maximum exposure for
minimal cost. An article written on a pamphlet will only be
read by a few. That same article posted on your Web site will
be read by thousands. Those who want the information will be
able to find it.

They say that pictures communicate a thousand words and in the
green world that is true a thousand times over. Sometimes
people need to see the devastation and damage alongside the
statistics in order to understand what's happening, who it's
affecting, and where.

Bringing Information In

Staying on top of developments out in the world, depending on
how wide the scope of your campaign, is a crucial component of
providing information. You need to have the most up-to-date
information in order to remain on the cutting edge of
developments in the movement.

With a Web site, there are a variety of ways to allow people to
contact you and report updates and news in their area. A blog is
the most popular forum, with different sections dedicated to
different aspects of the cause or perhaps different states,
cities, counties, or regions. Allowing visitors to your site to
post what is happening around them is a great way to allow
communities to be an active part of their local campaign. In
fact, the Web is home to the newest incarnation of journalism:
on-the-street eye witnesses reporting the news at a grassroots
level in real time. Perfect for the green campaign!

Organizing the Masses

Another way that your Web site can contribute to the growth of
your campaign is to assist you in organizing your greatest
resource: people. Volunteers can sign up to man booths at fairs
and concerts in their area or to head letter writing campaigns
or to get local businesses involved.

You can have a form online for them to fill out with their
information so that you can organize regional lists and find
out their strengths, schedules, and specific interest in the
campaign so that you can better utilize their skills.

Presenting Your Case

Finally, once you've organized the information in such a way as
to educate those who are already interested in the subject can
get informed, your focus should then turn to those you have to
convince - the legislators.

With links to incredibly detailed maps on Google Earth,
researched and recent statistics, personal testimonies of
voters, petitions, graphics, and more, your Web site will not
only increase the visibility of your campaign but inform the
people who can help change the laws.


About The Author: Madison Lockwood is a customer relations
associate for http://www.apollohosting.com/. She helps clients
understand how a website may benefit them both personally and
professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting,
ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.

[environment] [earth]

Posted by forestwonderer at 2:23 PM EDT

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North Korea – Yes, You Have Our Attention
Author: Richard Stoyeck

North Korea has tested a low yield nuclear device with 4% of
the destructive power of the bomb that the United States
dropped on Hiroshima, Japan at the end of World War II.

Some believe that the device was much larger but may have
failed for technical reasons.

We don’t know the truth, because the United States has not
devoted the resources to know what is really going on. If you
are surprised, don’t be. Intelligence collection is a tricky
business.

When Richard Nixon was President, you may remember that one of
our ships, the USS Pueblo was brazenly attacked and hijacked in
international waters in 1968, off the coast of North Korea. The
82 member crew was taken prisoner and tortured over an 11 month
period before their release was negotiated.

There is such a thing as institutional memory. The senior
members of the military remember the Pueblo incident well, and
it still influences our behavior towards North Korea. As an
aside, President Nixon gave the order to attack North Korea in
retribution for the Pueblo incident. At the time the President
believed a show of force was absolutely necessary to dissuade
the Koreans from further provocative acts. Nixon’s Secretary of
Defense at the time did not carry out the Presidential
directive. To the end of his life, Nixon felt the biggest
foreign policy error of his administration was the failure to
carry out a retaliatory raid against North Korea for the Pueblo
capture. The Pueblo incident has emboldened the North Koreans
ever since.

Both the Clinton and Bush Administrations were aware of the
Pueblo incident and its aftermath, when attempting to configure
a new US policy towards North Korea’s nuclear program. We have
37,000 American soldiers stationed in South Korea protecting
our alliance and interests with South Korea. There is a phased
troop withdrawal from the South Korea Peninsula taking place.

You have to wonder why we are willing to withdraw troops from
South Korea during a time when they wish to pursue a nuclear
development process. The answer is that this area of the world
is loaded with dynamite, and if it blows up, you don’t want to
have 37,000 American troops sitting in the middle of it. North
Korea has one of the largest stockpiles of artillery weapons of
any army in the world. They are capable of striking Seoul, South
Korea’s capital from across the border.

It was recently reported that Prince Bandar, the Saudi Arabian
Ambassador to the United States had a private conversation with
President Bush. In the conversation the Prince told the
President that the United States should withdraw US troops from
South Korea. Bandar felt it was too dangerous to leave our
soldiers in the middle of a possible confrontation where our
OPTIONS would be limited. As Bandar put it, without troops on
the border, if there’s problem, it’s a REGIONAL PROBLEM. With
troops, you could have thousands of American lives at risk, and
it becomes a major WAR instantly.

So what do we do about the North Koreans announcing the ACTUAL
testing of a nuclear weapon? We have to realize that words have
power. We have to be careful what we say. President Bush
announced the “axis of evil” speech several years ago. He named
North Korea and Iraq as two of the three countries. It would
seem that he started his anti-terrorism campaign in the wrong
end of the world.

Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction (WMD), while
North Korea has gone live with them. Now we are in a bind. Our
defense policy has been altered whereby we can only fight one
war in one country at a time, while fighting a holding action
in a second country. Prior to the Bush Administration holding
power, we were postured to fight two simultaneous wars on two
fronts.

The bad guys know our new policy and will take advantage of us
being pinned down in Iraq to expand their own power bases.
Since we have a fear of losing pilots or better yet, having a
pilot shot down, we are not doing the reconnaissance flights
that we would normally do over North Korea.

The best thing to do right now is to realize that if North
Korea is a problem for the United States, it is a much bigger
problem for Japan, China, Philippines, and South Korea. This is
a regional problem in spite of our alliances, and treaty
involvements. Its one thing to build and detonate a nuclear
weapon, it’s quite another to have a long range missile
delivery system. North Korea could fairly easily develop a
delivery system capable of hitting the countries in its
immediate vicinity.

Hitting the United States from a 9,000 mile plus distance is
another story, not so easy really. Since the countries
bordering North Korea have the most to lose, they should be the
ones bearing the brunt of the responsibility for multi-lateral
talks among the powers involved.

The real deal is that North Korea is a dictatorship that
routinely starves its own people for the benefit of the small
leadership that has basically enslaved the country. This
leadership wants to play the cards that it can. What it now has
is nuclear weapons. They will use this card to maximize whatever
concessions they can from the United States and the immediate
surrounding neighbors.

Are we going to cave, and make concessions to the North
Koreans? Of course we are, because that’s what superpowers do.
It’s not about appeasement, it’s about business, and what makes
good business sense. Churchill said that “People have friends,
nations have interests”.

It is in our interest to not divert ourselves from the issue of
extricating ourselves from a tortuous situation in Iraq. It is
costing us treasure, and beginning to eat at the social fabric
our country as Viet Nam did a generation ago. We must put a
good face on Iraq and get out. The President may not be aware
of it, but he is on a short leash in Iraq. The American people
are very intolerant of wars without objectives that last too
long, and that’s precisely where George Bush finds himself. It
is highly questionable that his party will survive the mid-term
elections intact. The country will embrace CHANGE, even from a
Democratic party that is devoid of ideas.


About The Author: Richard Stoyeck’s background includes being a
limited partner at Bear Stearns, Senior VP at Lehman Brothers,
Kuhn Loeb, Arthur Andersen, and KPMG. Educated at Pace
University, NYU, and Harvard University, today he runs
Rockefeller Capital Partners and http://stocksatbottom.com/
http://www.stocksatbottom.com/

[north korea] [bush]

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Posted by forestwonderer at 10:00 AM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 18 October 2006 2:36 PM EDT

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If Doing a First Time Wilderness Canoe Trip, Take a Course And Do It Right!   by Garth Pottruff

Many visitors outside of Canada wish to experience a Canadian canoe trip. Canada is the land of moose, bear, timber wolves and beaver. It has miles of lakes and forest. To the visitor this is the place to be... but the challenge is getting the experience to do it.

Novice canoeist planning a week canoe trip would be wise to take a one day canoe trip training. The purpose of these courses is to equip the beginning canoeist with the skills to enjoy a multi-day canoe trip. The second purpose is to develop a level of competence so that the novice can do a canoe trip without a personal guide.

These instructional courses give the novice access to an experienced canoeist/instructor to answer questions and teach bush smarts. The mentor takes the beginner through instructional situations with hands-on practice periods. Often the teaching sites are modeled after wilderness sites to assist the novice in experiencing what to expect.

The instructors will help with canoe trip planning to match the needs and expectations of the beginner. The course teaches how to interpret park maps and set achievable daily paddle distances. Discussions cover how to locate overland crossings (portages) to adjoining lakes and select wilderness campsites.

The canoe course teaches safety techniques and common sense for inclement weather. Beginners learn how to paddle and steer a canoe. Instructors demonstrate different techniques for carrying a canoe overland and how to properly pack a canoe for stability. Camping techniques are taught on firewood and cooking fires, putting up a tent & campsite selection, as well as animal proofing for the unexpected.

The course includes hands-on packing techniques, food & clothing, first aid needs, cooking equipment, sleeping bag and tent selection. Some instruction courses will even assist the novice in getting rental of packs, canoes and tents from local reputable outfitters.

Most canoe courses are about 6 hours in length. They are often offered on weekends from April until October. The teaching sessions are group sessions, but individuals, couples and families can be accommodated.

For the experienced wilderness canoeist, the courses are of little relevance. But for the novice, these courses are worth the investment. They develop the needed skills and knowledge to do a safe and enjoyable wilderness canoe trip.

People need to remember that they are often paddling in a wilderness that is remote... and that remoteness is unfamiliar territory to most. Take some training and enjoy a great trip!

About the Author

Garth Pottruff has done a lot of guiding... taking beginner canoeist on one week trips through Quetico and canoe trips in Algonquin Park. His forestry background combined with years of canoeing and teaching has made him a valuable instructor to beginners. He believes a one day prep courses on canoe tripping is the best way to prepare

For more information on preparing for canoe trips visit learning adventures at: http://www.grandriverrafting.ca/

[outdoors] [canoe] [camping] [hiking]

Posted by forestwonderer at 9:30 AM EDT

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Can you imagine a car that uses no gas, has water as its only waste product, and runs on the most abundant element in the universe?

The hydrogen car is almost within our grasp. With a little more research and a lot more public interest, you could soon ditch your hybrid and drive your hydrogen right off the lot.

Ditch your hybrid? Hey, hybrids, are great. Leonardo DiCaprio bought one. So did Cameron Diaz. With an electric motor, hybrids are a perfect start.

The good news: Hybrids, like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, have computers that switch the fuel use from gas to electricity depending on which is more efficient at the moment. The bad news: Hybrids still need some gas, which keeps us dependent on oil.

But hybrids do help our environment, and they also serve as a "bridge" between gas cars and hydrogen cars. They wean us off our mind-set of what a car should be. Besides, the media has dubbed them "sexy."

The sexiest car of all, though, is the hydrogen. Under the hood, you will find a hydrogen fuel cell. Unlike a battery, which eventually dies, the fuel cell creates an efficient, continual flow of electricity by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity in the process. It is this electricity that will run your car.

What is hydrogen? It's a colorless, odorless element. It's lightweight, and -- what makes it a good fuel -- highly flammable. We know hydrogen very well - combined with oxygen (H20), it makes water.

Where does the external power come from? Canadian SHEC Labs (Solar Hydrogen Energy Corporation) is working on using solar energy to create hydrogen from methane - which is easily available from landfills.

A bonus here is that the methane not only helps create fuel, but using it in this way, according to SHEC, also helps lessen greenhouse gas emissions from these landfill sites. Greenhouse gas is a leading cause of global warming.

BMW, Honda, Suzuki, GM, and other big companies are also on the H-Car cutting edge. Hydrogen will be dispensed to consumers from automated filling stations. Converters will be made available for existing cars.

So why is your H-car not on the showroom floor right now? First, those filling stations aren't there yet - and neither are the other infrastructures, such as storage and transfer facilities.

And although gas is combustible, hydrogen is even more so, meaning that safeguards must be put in place so we can transport and pump in relative safety.

Experts are saying our H-cars won't be available for another ten years. That's an awfully long time to wait for such a critical source of fuel.

Our current habits are ravaging the earth, causing wars, and accelerating global warming. People, we have no place else to live. Pillaging the planet and making it uninhabitable is not an option. If we don't care for ourselves, we must care for our children and grandchildren.

The truth is, there's simply no alternative to the hydrogen car.

What can each of us do, to get these cars into our driveways before the planet is raked and devastated?

Get the T-shirt! Get the word out. Educate your congress people. Talk about it at dinner. Bring it up at town council meetings. Write letters to editors. Get the bumper sticker. Start a blog. Call your car dealerships, so they can get the word back to the manufacturers.

It isn't true that we are powerless. But it will take more than just a few people to get anything moving. We all have to care about the earth and the legacy we will leave for our children.

(c)2006

About the Author

Suzann Kale is a freelance author and technical writer specializing in science, lifestyles, and the arts.

[environment]

[hybrid]

Posted by forestwonderer at 9:19 AM EDT

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by Tracey Wilson

"Our oceans are in trouble, the coasts are in trouble; our marine resources are in trouble. These are not challenges we can sweep aside."

-Commission Chairman James Watkins

In all of our world's bodies of water, we are seeing trouble develop at a fanatical rate. Wetlands, coral reefs, shellfish beds, etc . . . are dying. We only have ourselves to blame.

40,000 acres of coastal wetlands providing essential spawning, filtering out pollutants, feeding and nursery areas for ¾ of U.S commercial fish catches are disappearing each year, says the new U.S. Commission of Ocean Policy, now halfway through an eighteen month study.

Our coastal development, dumping of waste, careless fishing habits, and especially global warming, (Which is mainly caused by human actions), are all reasons our marine life and ecosystem is in critical condition.

Coral reefs are being found in bleached white states, more and more. A sure sign that the 'rain forests of the oceans' are in serious trouble. Not only are thousands upon thousands of marine life dependent on coral reefs for their survival, coral reefs also buffer coasts against beach erosion from storm damage.

Pollutants that end up dumped into our oceans; like the twelve billion tons of ballast water from ships, that are spreading invasive alien species to new locales around the world. It also chokes off oxygen and fosters algae blooms, causing important habitats, like kelp beds and seagrass meadows to die off.

"The oceans are an interconnected web of animals, plants, and people living across a complex geography." Muller-Karger explains. "A change in one area sends a ripple effect that affects everything else in the system. One serious problem, says Muller-Karger, is that we have upwards of fourteen Federal agencies charged with ocean issues. These agencies are, in turn, overseen by more than sixty congressional committees and subcommittees There is too much duplication, too little coordination and too little funding," he charges.

Only a tiny fraction of our oceans vastness has been explored and studied. We know more about the surface of the moon. Our oceans contains potential advances in health care and medicines. Two antiviral drugs and a cancer drug has already been found in seasponges. Imagine the other possible cures that are waiting to be found.

Many of our conservation laws to protect our water systems are not properly enforced. Likewise, policies regulating pollution in coastal waters are not always carried out, as well. It is imperative that we get serious in protecting our marine life and water ways. In doing so, we will be saving ourselves, as well as the life of our planet.

About the Author

Tracey Criswell Wilson is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Poetry. Most of Tracey's writings can be found at http://www.writing.com/authors/intuey

[environment]

[ecosystem]

Posted by forestwonderer at 9:51 AM EDT

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Camping Equipment
Author: John Morris

One of the best trips you can go on is within your own country
- camping. It does not matter if you have done it a million
times before or if this is your first time. Having the right
camping equipment is crucial to having a great trip in the
wilderness. When you are preparing to go camping, it would be a
smart idea to make a checklist of the necessary items you will
need for your camp out. Being prepared is an important aspect
of being far away from a major town or city.

1. Plan your packing

Packing is the first step to a great camping trip (well,
besides planning). Once you are ready to start packing for your
camping trip, make a list of the items that you want and need to
bring with you. As you pack them, check them off to ensure that
you are not forgetting anything. This is the best system for
remembering everything before you leave your home.

2. Shelter and bedding

Shelter for camping and the bedding you will need for sleeping
is very important to any camper. Make sure that you pack all
your blankets and tents if you are planning an overnight trip.
It is best to have some sort of shelter for sleeping to protect
you from not only the weather, buy to also make you feel more
secure. You need the blankets to keep you cozy and warm at
night.

3. Personal effects

Make sure that you pack all of your personal hygiene items for
you trip. Chances are you will not need makeup or hairspray.
You will however need toilet paper, soap, shampoo, a hair brush
and toothbrush. Bring along a few washcloths and towels to
freshen up in the mornings.

4. Clothing

Make sure that you pack enough clothes for your camping trip.
You will not be able to wash clothes so pack at least one
outfit for everyday. You will need pants, warm shirts, warm
socks, and underwear. Have some rain gear on hand too in case
Mother Nature throws a shower or two at you.

5. Cooking gear for camping

You will need to be able to eat while you are in the woods.
Make sure that you have your grill packed as well as a few
other things. Bring along your cooking utensils, cutting board,
paper plates, cups, silverware, aluminum foil, dish soap and
wash clothes and towels. These are some of the important items
that you will need in the woods. Do not forget the garbage bags
to put your trash in while camping.

6. Survival Gear

Of the most important things to remember, be sure to bring
along your cellular phone if you have one. This can save your
life in the case of an emergency. Always remember to bring
along a first aid kit, sharp outdoor knife, sunscreen and
insect repellent. These are things that you use on a day-to-day
basis and you will defiantly need in the woods. With the right
gear, it is quite possible for you to survive for weeks or more
without any supplies.


About The Author: For more great camping related articles and
resources check out http://mountaineeringhq.info/

[outdoors]

[camping]

Posted by forestwonderer at 12:50 PM EDT

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The biggest mistake that 90% of American homeowners make is putting a dark colored shingle on their roof. Scientific studies reveal that different color shingles absorb and reflect different amounts of heat. White shingles will conduct less and reflect more heat, whereas black shingles will contain and absorb the most heat.

Almost every consumer knows that black socks or dark shirts will absorb more heat versus lighter colors. Since most people realize this basic concept I have trouble comprehending why 90% of the buildings in our nation have dark colored roofs. Putting a black roof on your home or building is not the smartest thing you could do.

It is common knowledge that colors affect us differently. White colors elevate us while dark colors depress us. Every morning when I get up I pull the curtains and let the light shine in. I want to be happy and feel good. When I poke my head outside to see what's going on in the world I like to see white color roofs versus their depressing counterparts. Are these dark colored roofs contributing to the epidemic of depression in our nation?

Roof heat transfer is the process of transferring the almost 200-degree roof temperatures into your attic. Attics can reach temperatures over 140 degrees. This heat creates moisture that falls to your attic floor on your insulation. This moisture causes your insulation to become less effective and this heat then sinks into your home. Insulation slows and prevents some of the heat transfer into your home but I can assure you it never stops this heat transfer. This heat then causes you're A/C unit to work. The hotter your roof gets, the harder and longer your air conditioning unit needs to run. The more your air-conditioning unit runs, the shorter it's lifespan becomes. Roof heat transfer is a term every American should become aware of.

A white roof will reflect 30% of solar heat gain versus a black roof. Some people claim that a dark roof is better in colder climates. Although I am still doing research in this area, I believe they could be wrong. I haven't found any studies yet that prove this theory.

Something every American should realize is that yes we have a shortage of oil, but we have even less natural gas. Years ago when oil wells were drilled it was common for oil producers to find gushers. Gushers were caused by the pressure from natural gas that pushed the oil to the surface. There is normally more oil than natural gas in every case. If no natural gas exists, oil producers have to install pumps to suck the oil out. You rarely hear of any large deposits of oil and almost never hear about gushers. When you hear about the shortage of oil, this should alarm you when you consider natural gas and your electric bill.

Most of our electric plants run on natural gas. It will take decades to build alternative power plants. Environmentalist don't want pollution causing coal plants built and most Americans are resistant to having a Chernobyl nuclear plant in their back yard. Since no other solutions are rapidly approaching, conservation is a necessity. We need to do everything we can to lower our consumption of electric power and natural gas.

Many people get very upset when the price of gasoline rises. Buildings use far more natural resources than our automobiles. If you conserve energy in your home it will have a direct effect on demand and prices for other petroleum products.

If you are the manager of a business that has buildings you are doing a great disservice to our nation and your company by installing a dark colored roof. Your job is to save your business money. The more money you make for your business, the more money you will make. Dark colored tar roofs are petroleum- based so you are contributing to our demand for foreign oil. It is not only unwise it is un-American.

If you are the Grand Pu Ba of a homeowner association that insists every home in the neighborhood has a dark colored roof to match, you need to alter your antiquated by-laws.

I like to think that environmentalist are leading the nation by example and informing others as well as themselves how to conserve our natural resources. They would gain a lot more credibility by doing so.

Anti-war protestors should realize the war revolves around oil. If you sincerely want this war to subside you should do your part to prevent our dependence on other nations. Chances are very high that WW III will arise over natural resources and the need of.

The lower gasoline prices are just temporary and will surely rise after the elections. People who believe they can complain and the government will force oil companies to lower prices are deluding themselves. The only way that could happen is if we threw out our present form of government and converted to a socialist country. We live in a capitalist society and supply and demand will dictate prices. Since there is an ever-increasing shortage of natural resources prices will continue to reach higher. Our only choice is to consume less and constantly search for alternative energy.

Conserving our natural resources is truly a matter of national security.

About the Author

Dale Adams of Majestic Publishers is the author and self publisher of the new book, "Care Giving Made Easy - How to be an Awesome Caregiver" and the soon to be released, "How to Make Your Home Sell - Even In A Slow Market" His many experiences include being a Security Consultant, General Contractor and Energy Conservation Specialist.For More Valuable Information Visit maj

[environment]

[politics]

Posted by forestwonderer at 9:44 AM EDT

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Hiking for the Heart Pack the Walking Boots on Your Next Family Vacation By: Taylor Eisenman

I always seem to lose my breath hiking. It could be high altitude, or maybe the vigorous walking. Probably it's both. But, I like to think it's the scenery that takes my breath away more than either of those things. Growing up, my family would go to Winter Park, Colorado, nearly every summer. We would hike in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, experiencing the thrill of reaching stunning elevations with amazing vistas, and everywhere you looked, 360 degrees, there would be mountains. We would hike in fields of wildflowers, searching for Indian Paintbrush and Elephant Head. My sister and I would rock hop in ice-cold mountain streams trying to see how far we could get. In the mornings, my parents made sandwiches to take along, so we could stop to have lunch next to an alpine lake or waterfall.

We could have traveled to other places. My family loves the beach, too. But, something brought us back to Colorado year after year to hike old favorites and find new trails to accomplish together. I'm sure we argued about stuff -- what family vacation is complete without some fighting -- but I don't remember any of that. All I remember is being immersed in a beauty that I can't describe, and experiencing all of it -- good, bad, and otherwise -- with my family.

"Walking or hiking together is the perfect chance to talk to each other and interact with the environment -- whether it be your neighborhood, a park, or on a trail," says Wendy Bumgardner, a certified marathon coach and eight-year board member of the American Volkssport Association, the largest walking club in the U.S. Hiking is one of America's fastest growing recreational activities. According to a study done in 2002 by the Outdoor Industry Association, nearly one-third of all Americans went hiking, and the USDA Forest Service is predicting a steep increase in backpacking and hiking, especially in the Southern and Pacific Coast where they are forecasting an 80 percent increase over the next 50 years. If hiking becomes as popular as predicted, it could be mean great things for the health of Americans, as well as the state of our natural areas.

Hiking for Awareness A resounding theory exists among most nature lovers, including myself, that when people experience the wonders of Mother Nature firsthand they will be more likely to want to preserve and protect it -- making it available for future generations, like their grandchildren, to enjoy. "I think we will lose our natural parks and trails if families don't unplug and get out and enjoy them," Bumgardner says. "Unless children experience nature on their own two feet, they won't value it, and when they are adults, they will be less likely to protect it."

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: How am I going to take my little one hiking when we can barely make it through a trip to the grocery store? Hiking with children is not as hard as it may appear. Whether you're hiking in a park close to home or along the ridge of an 11,000-foot peak, you and your family can be free of worries if you are prepared and have planned ahead.

Anticipate, Arrange, and Advise Anticipate. The hike you choose should not be a mystery to you or your children when you arrive at the trailhead. Researching everything from the expected weather conditions and insects in the area, to knowing the elevation gain, mileage, and difficulty of a hike are all going to play important roles on whether your hike is fun and safe. If the weather forecast says sunny and 75 degrees, that's doesn't mean you shouldn't expect rain and 50 degrees. In the mountains especially, weather can change in an instant, and if you're not prepared, you'll be in for one cold and miserable hike with kids who have every right to complain. In Colorado, we hiked in layers with raingear. It seemed that almost every afternoon around one o'clock it would rain for about an hour and then go straight back to being sunny again. And then there were those days when we looked out from the top of a peak as dark clouds and a blanket of rain came toward us in the distance. You just never know what the day will bring, so you have to be ready for anything.

Arrange. What are you going to bring? Food and water are the two most important items you can have along. Remember a hike that was suppose to take two hours could take four or more, and having enough food and water along can be the difference between happy, healthy hikers and dehydrated, overheated hikers prone to fatigue and crankiness. Besides snacks and drinks, Bumgardner suggests being sure to bring along a small first aid kit with bandages, insect repellent, bee sting treatment, and sunscreen.

Finding the perfect location for a hike, whether it's your family's first hike or just one of many you've accomplished, is pertinent to having a good experience. For a family on their first hike, Bumgardner recommends "a mostly-level trail that goes through woods or along a stream," and, in case you are worried about keeping the little ones entertained, she says to look for a hike with informational signs about the plants and animals of the area. Breaking up the hike by stopping to read the signs and looking for various plants and animals are great ways to keep everyone happy and learning at the same time. The American Hiking Society advocates the use of games, like I Spy, to play on the trail. My personal favorites in Colorado were the 20 questions game and the alphabet game... "I am going to a party and I am bringing a, for apples," and so on until you get to z, for my pet zebra.

Advise. So now you know where you're going, what you're bringing, and how to keep the kids entertained. But, what about keeping them safe? "Parents need to teach their children basic trail courtesy," Bumgardner says. She recommends talking to them about no running, staying on the trail, and not taking shortcuts off the trail. No rock or pinecone throwing or disturbing their surrounding environment. "Teach them to leave only footprints and take only memories," she says.

Involving your children in planning the hike will help them feel like a part of the process, and teach them about where they are and what dangers are possible. Hopefully this will influence them to make good choices, such as listening to directions. Letting them carry items like trail maps and snacks in their own mini backpacks is a great way to show them how important they are to the hike, making it even more necessary for them to be on their best behavior.

One way to help you keep track of your little ones is by dressing them in brightly colored clothing so that they are extremely visible. On one Colorado trip, my family and I hiked a trail where a mountain lion had just killed a child a few weeks previously. The child had run ahead of the family and crouched down in the grass off the trail to surprise them as they came around the corner. The mountain lion thought the child was prey and attacked. That tragedy could have been easily prevented had the parents made sure everyone stayed together and stuck to the trail.

Benefits of the Heart A good walk not only does wonders for your emotional heart (strengthening your family's bond), but it also bolsters your heart's physical health.

Only 15 percent of the U.S. adult population practices sufficient moderate physical activity, reports The National Center for Health Statistics. And while the fact that more than 60 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese is alarming enough, child obesity is on the rise affecting more than 13 percent, starting as young as two years old. Bumgardner sees walking/hiking as a way to combat this epidemic. "With both childhood and adult obesity skyrocketing, every family needs to find an activity they enjoy that can set a healthy pattern for lifelong fitness," she says. "Even slow walking is excellent exercise, especially compared to other common forms of entertainment such as video games or watching movies."

A study conducted by the National Park Service found that people who exercised compared to people that lived a sedentary lifestyle had 14 percent fewer healthcare claims, 30 percent fewer days in the hospital, and 41 percent fewer claims greater than $5,000. "Walking 30 to 60 minutes a day significantly reduces risks of Type II diabetes, heart disease, stoke, and cancer," Bumgardner says.

Not only does hiking increase emotional ties, help prevent disease, and promote physical fitness, but it also puts you in a better mood. Nutricise.com finds that mood elevation is one of the most noticeable benefits of walking. The releasing of endorphins that occurs when walking helps to boost your self esteem and lift your spirits -- who wouldn't want that for themselves and their children?

Taking your family on a hiking vacation could be one of the best decisions you ever make. It will benefit the health of your family physically as well as emotionally. And, it will help your children understand the importance of nature, so that as adults they will make conscious decisions to support and save our earth. They'll remember how wonderful it was hiking with mom and dad, and they will want that for their children. I'll never forget Colorado, and I want to give my children the chance to hike to the top of a peak, seeing nothing but mountains and sky.

About the Author

As a child growing up in the exciting suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was fortunate that my family liked to travel. Every year we made plans to go someplace new, but wherever we ended up, nature was almost always some part of the journey. From the hiking in the Canadian Rockies to snorkeling in the azure waters of Cancun, Mexico, my family and I have an affinity for the beauty and adventure of nature-based vacations. One vacation we took over [hiking]  [backpacking]

Posted by forestwonderer at 12:01 AM EDT

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