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		<title>In Quran, not in Bible: The major Historical destructive wind</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/in-quran-not-in-bible-the-major-historical-destructive-wind/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:02:08 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The Wind in Bible versus Quran (2)
This is the second article of the series:&#8221; The Wind in Bible versus Quran&#8221;.
 
The Bible says that the Almighty Creator 1) made the Winds His Angels, 2) His servants are flames of fire, 3) He has chariot, 4) He walks on the wings of wind and 5) He made [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Wind in Bible versus Quran (2)</p>
<p>This is the second article of the series:&#8221; The Wind in Bible versus Quran&#8221;.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Bible says that the Almighty Creator 1) made the Winds His Angels, 2) His servants are flames of fire, 3) He has chariot, 4) He walks on the wings of wind and 5) He made the earth never moves etc.  The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah&#8217;s likeness in attributes.  Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely mistaken.</p>
<p>===============================</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Wind in the Bible (2)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In Psalm 104:1-8, Kind David says:</p>
<p>&#8220;Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty:  Who covers himself with light as with a garment; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain; Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who makes the clouds his chariot; Who walks upon the wings of the wind; Who makes winds his Angels; Flames of fire his servants; Who set the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever. You cover it with the deep as with vesture; the waters stood above the mountains.  At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of your thunder they hasted away.  They flowed over the mountains; they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Herein, there are some important points:</p>
<p>1) The Bible describes the lord God, the Almighty Creator as:</p>
<ul>
<li>He has clothes</li>
<li>He covers himself with light as with a garment</li>
<li>He stretches out the heavens like a curtain</li>
<li>He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters</li>
<li>His chariot is made of clouds</li>
<li>He walks upon the wings of the wind</li>
<li>He makes winds his Angels</li>
<li>His servants are flames of fires</li>
<li>He set the foundations of the earth</li>
<li>His voice is the thunder</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>2) The Bible says that the earth has foundations and it should not be moved for ever.</p>
<p>3) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind.</p>
<p>4) The wind has wings!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Moreover, there are some discrepancies in the translation of some words in the many versions of the Bible e.g.:</p>
<ul>
<li>In some Bible&#8217;s versions, the word &#8220;Angel&#8221; is translated to &#8220;messenger&#8221;.</li>
<li>In some Bible&#8217;s versions, the word &#8220;wind&#8221; is translated to &#8220;spirit&#8221;.</li>
<li>In some Bible&#8217;s versions, the word &#8220;curtain&#8221; is translated to &#8220;tent&#8221;.</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>On the other hand, all of the above points are <u>ABSOLUTELY rejected in the Noble Quran</u> because:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) The Noble Quran says that Naught is as Allah&#8217;s likeness in attributes.  Any form, picture, thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.</p>
<p>2) The Almighty Creator is not a body</p>
<p>3) The thunder is not the voice of the Almighty Creator.</p>
<p>4) When the Almighty Creator decides upon a matter, when He wants to do anything, He only says to it ‘Be!’ and it is.</p>
<p>5) The speed of the Lord God was that of the wind; for instance, does not He know the speed of the light?  However, Naught is as Allah&#8217;s likeness in attributes. </p>
<p>6) The wind has no wings!</p>
<p>7) the Angels are created from the Pure Light.</p>
<p> <img src='http://blackteacentral.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif' alt='8)' class='wp-smiley' /> the Angels are the servants of the Almighty Creator and they never disobey Him.</p>
<p>9) The earth has No foundations and it is rounded and it moves</p>
<p>10) The Great Prophet King David can not say that about the Almighty Creator simply because he knows better who Allah is.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>Aside from the Bible and the Quran, <u>boys in schools know very well</u> that the earth moves and it has <u>two types of movements</u>: the first one is around the sun at about 100,000 km/h.  It takes 365 days (1 year/12 months) for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun. and the other around itself. It takes 24 hours for the earth to spin around itself.</p>
<p>These two movements are responsible for the seasonal changes and the day and night respectively.</p>
<p>I really do not believe that the Lord God or King David says that the earth foundations and it should not be moved for ever. .</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Psalm 104:1-8 in three different versions of the Bible:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>New International Version</p>
<p>1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.</p>
<p>2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent</p>
<p>3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.</p>
<p>4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.</p>
<p>5 He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.</p>
<p>6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.</p>
<p>7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;</p>
<p>8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>King James Version</p>
<p>1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.</p>
<p>2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:</p>
<p>3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:</p>
<p>4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:</p>
<p>5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.</p>
<p>6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.</p>
<p>7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.</p>
<p>8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Young&#8217;s Literal Translation</p>
<p>1Bless, O my soul, Jehovah! Jehovah, my God, Thou hast been very great, Honour and majesty Thou hast put on.</p>
<p>2Covering himself [with] light as a garment, Stretching out the heavens as a curtain,</p>
<p>3Who is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind,</p>
<p>4Making His messengers &#8212; the winds, His ministers &#8212; the flaming fire.</p>
<p>5He hath founded earth on its bases; It is not moved to the age and for ever.</p>
<p>6The abyss! as with clothing Thou hast covered it, Above hills do waters stand.</p>
<p>7From Thy rebuke they flee, From the voice of Thy thunder haste away.</p>
<p>8They go up hills &#8212; they go down valleys, Unto a place Thou hast founded for them.</p>
<p>===============================</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Wind in the Noble Quran (2)</p>
<p>In this article, the following three points will be discussed:</p>
<p>1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad</p>
<p>2) What if Allah wants to do anything?</p>
<p>3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) The Historical destructive wind as a Punishment for the disbelievers of the Ancient nation of Aad.</p>
<p>Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran describe this destructive wind!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><u>Historical Background:</u></p>
<p>Aad was an ancient nation.  Aad nation is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Noah.  Allah sent his Prophet Hud to the people of Aad; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Aad by the wind and He saved the believers. The people of Aad were famous by their outstanding might.</p>
<p>It is said that Aad nation lived at the south of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.</p>
<p>The Prophet Hud was Arabic.</p>
<p>The nation of Aad and the Prophet Hud are not mentioned in the Bible.</p>
<p>Thamud was an ancient nation. Thamud nation came after the nation of Aad; it is always mentioned in the Noble Quran as a nation that came after Aad.</p>
<p>Allah sent his Prophet Salih to the people of Thamud; some of them believed and many of them disbelieved. Allah punished the disbelievers of Thamud when they killed the Camel which was the miracle of the Prophet Salih who warned his people not to hurt that Camel and they agreed but they never kept their word.  The miraculous Camel emerged from a big rock and it has no father and no mother; it came out as an intact adult Camel following Allah&#8217;s will when He says to anything He wants: Be! And it is.</p>
<p>The people of Aad were famous by the might and transgression.</p>
<p>It is said that Aad nation lived at the northern part of Saudi Arabia, nearby Yemen.</p>
<p>The nation of Thamud is too not mentioned in the Bible may be because the Prophet Salih was Arabic too.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The meanings of verses 69:4-8</p>
<p><u>Verses 69</u><u>:4</u></p>
<p>The nation of Thamud and the nation of Aad both disbelieved in the Resurrection to come and they denied their Prophets and refuted the Day of Judgment.</p>
<p><u>Verses 69</u><u>:5</u></p>
<p>As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming Roar, an excessively severe shout of the Angel Gabriel. They were destroyed because of their transgression and idolatry; and it is said that their transgression drove them to disbelieve until they were destroyed.</p>
<p><u>Verses 69</u><u>:6</u></p>
<p>And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind. The wind was deafening, intensely clamorous, violent wind, [that was] powerful and severe [in its assault] upon Aad, despite their power and might.</p>
<p><u>Verses 69</u><u>:7</u></p>
<p>Allah forced and imposed that wind upon them uninterruptedly for seven nights and eight days with the same force so that you might have seen the people therein lying prostrate, lying dead on the ground, as if they were the hollow, collapsed, trunks of palm-trees.</p>
<p><u>Verses 69</u><u>:8</u></p>
<p>So do you O Muhammad see any remnant of them? Do you see one remaining?’ No!</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verses 69:4-8 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verses 69:4</p>
<p>QARIB: Thamood and Aad belied the clatterer.</p>
<p>SHAKIR: Samood and ad called the striking calamity a lie</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: (the tribes of) Thamud and Aad disbelieved in the judgment to come.</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: the Thamud and the &#8216;ad people (branded) as false the stunning calamity!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verses 69:5</p>
<p>QARIB: Thamood, they were destroyed by the violent shout (of Gabriel),</p>
<p>SHAKIR: then as to Samood, they were destroyed by an excessively severe punishment</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: but the Thamud, &#8211; they were destroyed by a terrible storm of thunder and lightning!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verses 69:6</p>
<p>QARIB: as for Aad, they were destroyed by a howling, violent wind</p>
<p>SHAKIR: and as to ad, they were destroyed by a roaring, violent blast</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: and as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind,</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: and the &#8216;ad, they were destroyed by a furious wind, exceedingly violent;</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Verses 69:7</p>
<p>QARIB: that he subjected upon them for seven nights and eight days consecutively and you might have seen them struck down as if they were the stumps of palm trees that had fallen down.</p>
<p>SHAKIR: which he made to prevail against them for seven nights and eight days unremittingly, so that you might have seen the people therein prostrate as if they were the trunks of hollow palms</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: which he imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees.</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: he made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that thou couldst see the (whole) people lying prostrate in its (path), as they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verses 69:8</p>
<p>QARIB: can you see any remnant of them now?</p>
<p>SHAKIR: do you then see of them one remaining?</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them?</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: then seest thou any of them left surviving?</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2) What if Allah wants to do anything?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verse 36: 82 says:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>QARIB: when he wills a thing, his command is to say to it &#8216;be&#8217;, and it is!</p>
<p>SHAKIR: his command, when he intends anything, is only to say to it: be, so it is</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: but his command, when he intendeth a thing, is only that he saith unto it: be! and it is.</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: verily, when he intends a thing, his command is, &#8220;be&#8221;, and it is!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><u>The meanings of the verse:</u></p>
<p> </p>
<p>His command, His affair, when He wills a thing, that is, [when He will] to create something, or to do anything is just to say to it ‘Be’, and it is.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3) The Precious verse (faith-wise) of the Quran that describes the Almighty Creator</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Verse 42: 11 says</p>
<p> </p>
<p>QARIB: the originator of the heavens and the earth, he has given you from yourselves, pairs, and also pairs of cattle, thereby multiplying you. there is nothing like him. he is the hearer, the seer.</p>
<p>SHAKIR: the originator of the heavens and the earth; he made mates for you from among yourselves, and mates of the cattle too, multiplying you thereby; nothing like a likeness of him; and he is the hearing, the seeing</p>
<p>PICKTHAL: the creator of the heavens and the earth. he hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby he multiplieth you. naught is as his likeness; and he is the hearer, the seer.</p>
<p>YUSUFALI: (he is) the creator of the heavens and the earth: he has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does he multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto him, and he is the one that hears and sees (all things).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><u>The meanings of the verse:</u></p>
<p> </p>
<p>He (Allah) is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who created them [without precedent]. He has made for you, from your own selves, pairs, when He created Eve from Adam’s rib, and [also] pairs, males and females, of the cattle and whereby He multiplies you through marriage. There is nothing like Him; there is no likeness of Him, exalted be He). He is the Hearer, of what you say, the Seer, of your works.  Naught is as His likeness in attributes, knowledge, power and providence etc.</p>
<p>The basic point of faith is that Naught is as your Almighty creator.</p>
<p>Since man is a creature which has Spirit that gives him like; and since Naught is as the likeness of your Creator, then the Almighty Creator has NO SPIRIT.</p>
<p>Hence, the Almighty Creator is not a body or material like us.  Any form, picture or thoughts that you put the Almighty Creator in it is absolutely wrong.</p>
<p>According to the Islamic Rule of Faith, if any one put the Almighty Creator in any form, picture or thoughts, he or she is Disbeliever and has No faith; and he will end up in the Hereafter as a dweller of the Eternal Fire.</p>
<p>This is in spite of what name(s) you are giving to your Almighty Creator e.g. Allah, Lord, God, Jehovah etc.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the vice versa is absolutely True!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>========================</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:</p>
<p>Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p>Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil<br />
? Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,<br />
? Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,<br />
? President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,<br />
? Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,<br />
? Published some 60 Medical Articles,<br />
? Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,<br />
? Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,<br />
? Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,<br />
? Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/in-quran-not-in-bible-the-major-historical-destructive-wind-1313460.html" title="In Quran, not in Bible: The major Historical destructive wind">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/in-quran-not-in-bible-the-major-historical-destructive-wind-1313460.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		</item>
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		<title>Free Electricity – Does It Really Exist?</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/free-electricity-%e2%80%93-does-it-really-exist/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/free-electricity-%e2%80%93-does-it-really-exist/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:09:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The belief that we all have access to free electricity for our homes and businesses to many people is somewhat farfetched. It’s a luxury many of us would like to have so is it actually possible – does free electricity really exist and if it does, how do we get it what would it mean [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The belief that we all have access to free electricity for our homes and businesses to many people is somewhat farfetched. It’s a luxury many of us would like to have so is it actually possible – does free electricity really exist and if it does, how do we get it what would it mean for us?</p>
<p>Free electricity is available to anybody but there are of course steps which we have to take to benefit from it and this does involve some financial cost. Free electricity can be generated in several forms by simply harnessing the power of nature.</p>
<p>As you have no doubt guessed, I am of course talking about solar and wind power together with one other little known piece of genius technology which I will talk about shortly. These renewable and natural energy resources have the capability to generate many thousands of hours of natural free energy for our homes and there are enormous benefits to either system.</p>
<p>Solar power is probably the more expensive of the two but on the plus side, it can also be the most efficient. I am not talking about enlisting the help of professional solar panel builders and installers here at vast expenses. You can very easily and simply build a solar panel array for your home for well under $200 regardless of DIY experience and with parts which you can get from any good hardware store.</p>
<p>You can build solar roof panels as big or as small as you wish but the capability to generate 100% free electricity is a definite reality when utilizing solar energy.</p>
<p>Wind power can also be turned into a great free source of electricity by making your very own windmill generator. Depending on your geographic location, you could easily harness the power of the wind and use it to generate substantial amounts of natural, free, home electricity. A windmill generator should cost you approximately $120 to build and this should get you a windmill which will generate hundreds of hours of electricity. These too are very simple and quick to build at home and all of the required parts are easily accessible from a good hardware store.</p>
<p>Now for the little known genius technology – a <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.magniworkreviewed.info" title="DIY Magnet Generator"><strong>Magnet Generator</strong></a>. This fantastic yet simple piece of technology is what the large utility companies didn’t want you to know about and it’s easy to see why. Absolutely anybody can use the natural power of magnets to build a magnetic generator and generate hours of free home electricity and the best part is that you do not need to rely on the weather conditions for this to work. They can be built within a single day and are very cheap to make, depending on the required size of your unit. Simply a genius piece of technology which is becoming amazingly popular for free electricity at home.</p>
<p>Free electricity really does exist to those who have the motivation and willpower to really make a difference. Following the instructions of a quality DIY guide, you have a great opportunity to generate an almost unlimited amount of free electricity for a very minimal cost.</p>
<p>Right now there has never been a better time to seek out alternative home energy options and free electricity can be easily had by anyone dedicated enough to make a start.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p>If you decide to build your own <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Free Electricity" href="http://www.homediyenergy.info">Free Electricity</a></b>, you will have a satisfying and rewarding experience provided you follow instructions which have been written by the experts.</p>
<p>Instructions should be well structured, clear and organized and you should have access to help if you should need it.</p>
<p>I have reviewed the best guide available on the market today which is the clear leader in the alternative home energy market. This quality guide is available with FREE bonuses ready for you to <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Take Advantage Now..." href="http://www.homediyenergy.info">Take Advantage Now&#8230;</a></b>
</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/free-electricity-does-it-really-exist-1366435.html" title="Free Electricity – Does It Really Exist?">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/free-electricity-does-it-really-exist-1366435.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>EcoHomes Assessment &#8211; What&#8217;s it all about?</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/ecohomes-assessment-whats-it-all-about/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/ecohomes-assessment-whats-it-all-about/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:29:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/ecohomes-assessment-whats-it-all-about/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ecohomes is a credit based environmental rating scheme.  It&#8217;s currently operated as a voluntary scheme in the UK, but has been developed to be used against new dwellings as well as major refurbishment projects.
The assessment can be carried out at any point in the project lifecycle, but usually the earlier the assessment is taken the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ecohomes is a credit based environmental rating scheme.  It&#8217;s currently operated as a voluntary scheme in the UK, but has been developed to be used against new dwellings as well as major refurbishment projects.</p>
<p>The assessment can be carried out at any point in the project lifecycle, but usually the earlier the assessment is taken the better.  This allows for any corrective action that needs to be made to be built into the schedule of works and minimises disruption.</p>
<p>The EcoHomes assessment tests the development or refurbishment against a set of criteria that help determine the impact the said dwelling will have on the environment around it.  Currently, the assessment areas include energy, transport, pollution, materials, water, land use, ecology, health and wellbeing and management.</p>
<p>Credits are awrded against the assessment criteria, when complete all of the credits are added together to give one overall score.  It is this score that gives the final result, this can be a pass, good, very good, excellent or fail.  The aim of the credit system is to consider the concern of climate change, use of resources and the impact on local wildlife.</p>
<p>The wide ranging assessment criterai covers such as aspect as how far is the nearest shop?  Does it require a car journey or is it easy enough to get there on foot?  This simple scenario can effect pollution, resources and transport.  Also, how efficient the heating system is and other household appliances can also have a major effect on the environmental impact of the development and the overall score attained.</p>
<p>An EcoHomes assessment can be ueful in pointing out energy saving solutions early in a development or refurbishment project and potential areas for improvement.  These are areas that if rectified can help the environment but also save money on energy bills in the future.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.energistuk.co.uk/residential/ecohomes">EcoHomes</a> experts Energist are a UK based company who specialise in sustainable energy solutions.</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/ecohomes-assessment-whats-it-all-about-1346752.html" title="EcoHomes Assessment - What's it all about?">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/ecohomes-assessment-whats-it-all-about-1346752.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>Build Your Own Solar Generator And Reduce Your Electricity Cost</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/build-your-own-solar-generator-and-reduce-your-electricity-cost/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/build-your-own-solar-generator-and-reduce-your-electricity-cost/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:09:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/build-your-own-solar-generator-and-reduce-your-electricity-cost/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first thing that comes to the mind when we talk of solar generators is cost. But with the advance of science and technology, it has now become very easy to build your own solar generator.
This means that you do not have to get caught up in the dark any more. You can simply buy [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first thing that comes to the mind when we talk of solar generators is cost. But with the advance of science and technology, it has now become very easy to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.earth4energy-review.net/build-your-own-solar-generator/"><strong>build your own solar generator</strong></a>.</p>
<p>This means that you do not have to get caught up in the dark any more. You can simply buy a few simple parts and use them to build your own solar generator.</p>
<p>All you need for this is a solar panel, batteries, batteries box, DC input model, inverter if you want to change the current to AC and some insulated wire.</p>
<p>The first thing that you have to buy for this to work is a 12V or higher voltage solar panel. While this may cost a little around $100, you can get better deals through the internet.</p>
<p>Next thing you need to buy is a battery box which will get you a safe place to charge up your batteries. Then after that, you need to buy DC input model. This will help you to produce power.</p>
<p>Generally, you should go for the triple input model as it can produce adequate power for your benefit. But this is not all. There are several other things you need to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Like if you are planning to run AC appliances, you will need to buy an inverter to convert the DC power into AC. This is done by searching any online stores that will help you to find one for less money.</p>
<p>Now when you connect this, the electronic appliances like television that runs on AC will function on solar panels.</p>
<p>After you do all this, you will require closing the lid of the battery box and for this you can use a bungee cord. This is how you can build your own solar generator. Now place the panel in the sun for about five to eight hours and your batteries will be charged up.</p>
<p>Then you can use them to charge your electrical appliances like fans and radios.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p>Discover how to <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.earth4energy-review.net/build-your-own-solar-generator/">build your own solar generator</a></b> and save money with Earth 4 Energy guide. Check out my in depth <b><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.earth4energy-review.net">Earth 4 Energy review</a></b> and learn how anyone can build your own solar generator for less than $500.
</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/build-your-own-solar-generator-and-reduce-your-electricity-cost-1297696.html" title="Build Your Own Solar Generator And Reduce Your Electricity Cost">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/build-your-own-solar-generator-and-reduce-your-electricity-cost-1297696.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>EPC Energy Performance Certificates</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/epc-energy-performance-certificates/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/epc-energy-performance-certificates/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:40:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/epc-energy-performance-certificates/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Energy Performance Certificates are now mandatory for the sale or lease of commercial property (Commercial EPC). Asset owners will require to obtain an Energy Certificate before the property is marketed for sale or lease.
The same principles apply to the domestic property market. The EU EPBD directive is now applicable to all property in the UK [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Energy Performance Certificates are now mandatory for the sale or lease of commercial property (<a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.epcforepcs.co.uk/">Commercial EPC</a>). Asset owners will require to obtain an Energy Certificate before the property is marketed for sale or lease.</p>
<p>The same principles apply to the domestic property market. The EU EPBD directive is now applicable to all property in the UK including England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.homeinspectorsuk.co.uk/energy-performance-certificates.htm">EPC</a> (<a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.homeinspectorsuk.co.uk/energy-performance-certificates.htm">Energy Performance Certificate</a>) will require the services of a Domestic Energy Assessor for residential property. A Commercial Energy Assessor is required for commercial buildings, example shops, warehouses, industrial units.</p>
<p>It is advisable to select an assessor who is accredited with an official accreditation body e.g. ABBE, NHER, Quidos. Various registers and directory sites are available on the web to help you find a local energy surveyor/consultant.</p>
<p>Asset owners and the public can save money on energy bills by adopting the recommendations provided with an EPC. The recommendations are advisory only, the property owner is not obliged to carry out the advice provided on the report.</p>
<p>It makes economic sense to adopt low cost measures to save energy and money as long as the capital cost is not prohibitive. Payback time is another factor to consider when adopting energy saving measures.</p>
<p>The are some exemptions from having an EPC for some types of property, discuss this when contacting an energy assessor for your requirements. A number of energy related forums have been established which can assist with questions an more information about EPC&#8217;s together with official websites.</p>
<p>Display Energy Certificates (DEC) are for public buildings only. Commercial EPC&#8217;s utilise SBEM calculation tools to determine the EPC rating and recommendations for commercial buildings.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%; font-style:italic;">
<p>John Stubbs is an industry insider covering the <a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.epcforepcs.co.uk">EPC</a> for domestic purposes and <a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.epcforepcs.co.uk">Commercial EPC</a> for the commercial market property sector, including <a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://www.epcforepcs.co.uk/Display_Energy_Certificates/index.html">Display Energy Certificates</a></p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/epc-energy-performance-certificates-1278487.html" title="EPC Energy Performance Certificates">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/epc-energy-performance-certificates-1278487.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>How To Get Approved Government Grants For Your Small Business</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/how-to-get-approved-government-grants-for-your-small-business/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/how-to-get-approved-government-grants-for-your-small-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:34:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/how-to-get-approved-government-grants-for-your-small-business/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Federal government grants for small business can assist you to expand or start your business enterprise and achieve your business plan. The government can give you grants worth $50,000 and above, depending on your business strategy or plan. You must follow some procedure and terms by filling necessary documents before grants can be given to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Federal government grants for small business can assist you to expand or start your business enterprise and achieve your business plan. The government can give you grants worth $50,000 and above, depending on your business strategy or plan. You must follow some procedure and terms by filling necessary documents before grants can be given to you.</p>
<p>You can get cheap loans to start a business apart from federal government grants. There are many charity organizations and financial institutions that can give funding to entrepreneurs with the objective of assisting them to be successful in their industry. Make sure you do detailed research on different type of grants information to get the best grants programs that is suitable to you and your business concern. Read the eligibility requirements carefully before taking any loan or grants. Some grants programs are for specific business opportunities, grants for small business for women and other business ventures.</p>
<p>Ensure that you have a comprehensive business plan. This will contain an overview of your business resources, marketing and sales forecast, competitive analysis, price audit and market demand. Make sure you get your business plan ready before you apply for any grant or loan. This will offer the best possible presentation of your business grant application and enhance quick approval. The authority will need some level of assurance that you can properly handle the cash if given to you or manage your business effectively.</p>
<p>Lastly, the approval process varies from a particular grant to another but government grants for small business tend to pay strict attention to rules and procedures. If you use the money judiciously and according to the grant terms, you will not be asked to pay back the funds or loans and the grants is tax free.</p>
<p></p>
<p>      <span style="italic;">
<p>To starting your business with government grants, click here <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://howtosourcetherightcapitalforbusiness.blogspot.com/2009/07/things-you-must-know-before-starting.html">Start Your Business With Government Grant</a></p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/fundraising-articles/how-to-get-approved-government-grants-for-your-small-business-1242225.html" title="How To Get Approved Government Grants For Your Small Business">http://www.articlesbase.com/fundraising-articles/how-to-get-approved-government-grants-for-your-small-business-1242225.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>Environmental Living&#8230;Completely Go Green</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/environmental-livingcompletely-go-green/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/environmental-livingcompletely-go-green/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:27:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/environmental-livingcompletely-go-green/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This Life Choice is Not for Everyone 
I do not what anyone reading this to think that I have personally gone completely green. In the past few years I have tried to go greener, but by no means do I want you thinking that I have adopted this life style. Many of the ideas and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>This Life Choice is Not for Everyone </strong></p>
<p>I do not what anyone reading this to think that I have personally gone completely green. In the past few years I have tried to go greener, but by no means do I want you thinking that I have adopted this life style. Many of the ideas and tips set down in this article I do currently live by, however, it takes a very special individual to make this kind of a concerted effort of commitment. I can only assume that you are researching it to either improve your current green efforts, or to find out what it will take to completely go green. There are so many  things we must do other than recycling and change your light bulbs to the fluorescent kind. To help you with this decision I have broken going green or environmental living into four major parts. If you can make these changes in your life style, along with your recycling and other noble efforts, you will be well on your way to completely going green. As I see it, these are the four major categories.</p>
<p>1. Renewable Energy: Residential solar and wind power cannot only help save the planet, but thousands of dollars in utility company cost. Many chose to go off grid, and still other’s actually make money by selling energy back to the utilities.</p>
<p>2.Car Conversion: There are several choices available when converting your car to be green. Bio-fuel, electric, and HHO technology are your options.</p>
<p>3. No More Chemicals: Completely rid yourself and your family of all products that have any chemicals in them. This includes cleaning products and detergents, bath and beauty products, and pets products.</p>
<p>4. Eat All Natural and Organic Foods: This is hard unless you can afford to pay the higher prices or you live on a farm. The best way to go about it is to first grow an organic garden, than take the money you are saving to buy all naturally fed meat and poultry.</p>
<p><strong>Do-It-Yourself and Save</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Do Only What You Can Accomplish for You</strong></em><br />We are told that we all must do our part. You hear this all the time. The plain truth of the matter is that we can only do what we can do. Each one of the fore mentioned categories will help save the planet, as well as your families  health and financial well being. There are resources I have found that will make any desired transition much mor affordable and easier than you might imagine.</p>
<p>1. Solar is a much better option for residential installation than   wind power is. If at all possible, especially in windy areas, both forms of renewable energy are preferred. Besides the obvious reason for considering solar, the fact that it is a renewable non- polluting source of energy, you should also know that it has no moving parts to break down, and requires very little maintenance. Another very important aspect is that contrary to most contractors’ misconception it is not a difficult installation. For those of you who live or are considering living in extremely remote or rural areas if electricity is available it is usually expensive. In those cases solar power is undoubtedly the right way to go. However, even in areas where power lines are nearby, solar may still be a viable alternative to being connected to a power company. An average home has more than enough roof area to produce enough solar electricity to supply all of its power needs. All that is needed is an inverter,  which converts direct current (DC) power from the solar cells to alternating current (AC), which are what most home appliances run on. A solar home, except for the obvious changes to the roof, will look and operate just like any home does when it was connected to the power line.</p>
<p>Small wind turbines are designed for individual homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are defined as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were thinking that one wind generator will power your house, I’m  sorry but it won’t. Keep in mind that the wind turbine is simply a collector just like a solar panel is. In this case the collector is the spinning rotor, made up of a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. Small blades result in a small rotor diameter, which translates into a small collector area, which further translates into small amounts of generated electricity. </p>
<p>2. Car conversion has become primarily a grass roots movement in recent years. There is a major difference between bio-fuels and bio-diesel. The main difference is that bio-diesel with little or no modification needed, can only be used in diesel engines. It is made from soybeans and can be used in its pure form, but it is usually mixed with standard diesel fuel. They do have a few very important aspects that are alike however. Bio-fuels, such as ethanol are made from corn and other crops. Like bio-diesel, bio-fuels are not only stemming the tide of global warming but helping  support American agriculture. You can’t just dump a few gallons of vegetable oil in your tank however. You will ruin your engine. The conversion is grassroots technology, and for the most part a do- it- yourself process. Although the government seems to be behind it in theory, I wouldn’t go changing over until you investigate it thoroughly. If you are interested in learning more about homemade bio-diesel however, there is a source.</p>
<p>Electric cars. Wow, how about that Tesla Motors. If you haven’t yet seen what their coming out with next year, it is amazing. The Model S is Beautiful, 250-300 mile range, and 0-60mph in less than six seconds. I think that most of us don’t have the $50k asking price however. Most of the manufacturers of electric cars just don’t get it. They expect that to save the planet we will put up with 50 mile range before having to recharge, and a  speed of 60mph. Well, there are some do- it -yourselfer’s that claim their conversion will give you 100 mile range, and it only cost a few hundred dollars. I think that if you are someone that does not drive on the highways often, an electric car might be perfect. In addition the government will give you a tax credit for driving a clean fuel vehicle.</p>
<p>Although hydrogen cells are what most experts claim to be the fuel of the future, I have found a grassroots movement that uses<br />water as fuel today. You will still  have to take the occasional trip to the gas pump, because water is supplemental to your gas or diesel fuel, and 100% water cars are still on the drawing board. Moreover,  extracting energy from water to double or triple your fuel economy is VERY EASY. This is not new technology. People have been using water to gas converters in vehicles for  years.  This is proven technology. Using a simple device, you can use the electricity from your battery to separate water (H2O) into a gas known as HHO.  HHO is two parts’ Hydrogen and one part Oxygen. HHO is a supercharged gas that burns effectively and produces significant energy, greatly improving your fuel economy.  Incredibly, the waste product is water! The green car of the future just might be sitting in your driveway. Because the hydrogen is produced On-Demand, this technology is perfectly safe for you and your passengers. Imagine going from 20-25 mpg,  to 50-60 mpg or more,  and at the same time reducing your carbon foot print.</p>
<p><strong>This Organic Tomato Came From My Garden</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>No More Chemicals in My House</strong></em><br />3. Imagine a home with zero chemicals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air we breathe inside our homes could be as much as five times as polluted as the air outside. These cleaning products expose you and your family to chemicals that could be more harmful than the germs they are trying to rid you of. Other studies have shown that the average American will, flush down the toilet, wash down a sink, or place in the garbage, more than 20 gallons of toxic and hazardous chemical products. It is all right to be conscientious about recycling or energy consumption, but think about the potential for affecting the health of people, plants, animals, land and water because of this waste.</p>
<p>If all of this seems overwhelming to you, do not threat because  you can have all the information you and your family needs to end your dependence on chemicals. Zero Chemicals- Chemical Free Living is a two-volume guide to chemical free-living options. You can use it to go completely without chemicals, or just choose what you feel is right for your circumstance. For every chemically based product, there is an equally effective and totally safe natural alternative. And the amazing thing is that you will actually save money with this method. With your new home environment you will see a change in everyone. They will feel a boost to their immune system, an energy explosion, and generally an improvement to their overall health.</p>
<p>4. The First Lady has made planting and growing your own garden, fashionable again. After years of eating supermarket food and other fast foods your body begins to store all of the toxins and chemicals. These toxins can affect your body in many ways. I will say that, for my wife and me, the last two years of having our own garden have been not only extremely healthy but  fun and mouth watering, as well. I had no idea that there is a system to growing a backyard garden, which entailed more than simply planting a bunch of seeds, watering and weeding. We struggled for a few years before we discovered the secret to growing an organic garden. I am sure that we are healthier for it. However, the taste is extraordinary, and, I promise, will be the first thing you notice. </p>
<p>I wish that we knew what we know now the first garden we planted. There is indeed a correct way of doing anything, and planting seeds is no exception. For example, I had no idea that the soil needs to be properly prepared, and that there are organic fertilizers that should be used. There are many dangers you should be aware of, including what exactly should be done with those pesky weeds. I found everything we needed to know in a guide quite appropriately named, My Organic Food Garden. Absolutely everything you need to know about organic gardening at home can be found in this guide. This book was written  so that the absolute beginner can setup a professional quality garden without the headaches.</p>
<p>Everything that I have shown you I have researched and, for your convenience put all the information in one place. My web site<strong> <a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://possiblygreen.myrecommanndations.com/" target="_blank"></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a rel="nofollow"  target="_blank" href="http://possiblygreen.myrecommanndations.com/" target="_blank">Possibly GREEN </a></strong>gives clear insight and accurate reviews of the top online green living resources available. Besides information on the four main categories I have suggested, there are green money making opportunities as well as a guide to finding green jobs in your area. Also you will find a list of free going green resources, including Green Forums, where you can join a free like-minded community.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:40%; font-style:italic;">
<p>At 57,  I consider myself to be a  Jack Of All Trades And Master Of a few things. I was a struggling actor for 25 years. During that time I learned a little about a lot of things, and would like to pass along some of that knowledge. I live in California with my beautiful wife and a menagerie of pets.</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/environmental-livingcompletely-go-green-1261580.html" title="Environmental Living...Completely Go Green">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/environmental-livingcompletely-go-green-1261580.html</a><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>Give our Planet a Gift by Using Reusable Shopping Bags</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[BYOB stands for bring your own shopping bag! As we kick off the new year of 2010,, it is crazy how much shopping we historically do here in America and world-wide and the trends are increasing. Whether it be frequent trips to the grocery store as we keep our kitchen&#8217;s stocked for wonderful meals and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>BYOB stands for bring your own shopping bag! As we kick off the new year of 2010,, it is crazy how much shopping we historically do here in America and world-wide and the trends are increasing. Whether it be frequent trips to the grocery store as we keep our kitchen&#8217;s stocked for wonderful meals and tasty treats or those sometimes dreaded, yet skillful &#8220;6 bags on each arm&#8221; walks through the packed local mall, it all adds up to so much unnecessary waste. One of the most blatant examples of this waste is disposable shopping bags.</p>
<p>An estimated 100 billion plastic shopping bags are consumed each year in the USA, according to the Wall-Street Journal. Most plastic bags end up in landfills and the rest often end up in rivers, ponds, lakes, streams or in the sea, where animals can ingest or become entangled in them. Household waste, shopping bags included, increases by more than 25% on average in November and December. Considering how many shopping bags are consumed and wasted at this time of year, the time is now to spread the word about the positive benefits of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags to influence our families, friends and communities.</p>
<p>Adopting a BYOB strategy in our individual shopping habits is a simple way to do just that. If we can raise awareness at this time, the positive impact for the environment is incalculable for 2010 and well into the future. Several cities have already made gradual but significant progress in promoting the use of eco-friendly non woven <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/eco_5.html" title="reusable shopping bags">reusable grocery bags</a> in recent years. Motivating consumers with plastic and paper bag bans, discounts at the register for reusable bag usage and tax motivations are a few to speak of.</p>
<p>Right here in America, the San Jose City Council recently passed one of the nation&#8217;s strictest bans on plastic and paper shopping bags. This is a big victory for the Bay Area, which has one million plastic bags per year accumulating in and along the San Francisco Bay. San Jose becomes the latest bay area city to enact some type of ban on disposable shopping bags; others include San Francisco and Palo Alto. Tracy Seipel of the San Jose Mercury News reported that it was actually ONE man who really jump-started the ban, another great example of the power of one person. Here&#8217;s a an excerpt:</p>
<p>While visiting his sister-in-law in Taipei, Kansen Chu, elected to San Jose city council in 2007, went grocery shopping and was surprised to get charged for plastic grocery bags. The next day, he brought his own cloth bags back to the store. &#8220;I guess the question,&#8221; said Chu, &#8220;was, Why not San Jose?&#8221; He began a conversation with the city&#8217;s environmental services staff, which later moved to council committee discussions.</p>
<p>Save the Bay&#8217;s 4th annual report on the most garbage-strewn sites in the region further demonstrates the need for bringing your own shopping bags. The 50-year-old environmental advocacy group focused on 10 specific bay-area sites where almost 15,000 plastic bags were retrieved in one day last year in their report. Here&#8217;s an excerpt of an article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Kelly Zito.</p>
<p>According to (Save the Bay&#8217;s) research, Californians use about 19 billion plastic bags each year, 3.8 million in the Bay Area. The average use time for the bags &#8211; made using about 12 million barrels of oil each year in the United States &#8211; is about 12 minutes. In addition to the hundreds of years it can take for a plastic bag to decompose in a landfill, the bags also force downtime when fed into traditional recycling equipment. Typically, the bags get wound into conveyor belts or gears and must be cut out by hand.</p>
<p>Ten US cities have banned plastic bags so far, five within the past year. Even Mexico City enacted a ban on plastic shopping bags, which went into effect in August. The city of 20 million now faces the realities of effective enforcement, which is not easy when the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimates there are 35,000 vendors in Mexico City&#8217;s downtown area alone.</p>
<p>Bans on plastic bags aren&#8217;t the only effective way to reduce harmful waste caused by disposable bags. PlasTaxes, which tax consumers at the register for using plastic bags when shopping, were first introduced by the Irish. John Roach of National Geographic reported last year on the worldwide momentum that&#8217;s been building since Ireland instituted a PlasTax in 2003. The Irish showed they could reduce plastic bag consumption by 90% or more. Momentum is growing across the world, particularly in America. From Washington, DC to Edmonds, WA to North Pole, AK, communities and governments are spurring an international trend to reduce the harmful environmental effects of disposable shopping bags. Even major retail stores like Target and CVS are taking action by enacting discounts at the register for customers who choose to BYOB or just carry-out their items without a bag.</p>
<p>For the naysayers, it&#8217;s convenient to ignore recent momentum in reducing disposable bag waste. But to some, the wide-spread adoption of eco-friendly reusable bags is inevitable. Look at the way smoking is becoming taboo in America. Indoor smoking bans have caught on like wild fire. In the same way, who is to say the use of disposable bags won&#8217;t become taboo at some point in the near future? The use of eco friendly reusable grocery bags is definitely gaining steam. Our individual choices to bring our reusable bags when shopping can go a lot farther than we think. That&#8217;s what BYOB is all about, setting a proactive example for others to set a trend that will help our planet, it&#8217;s valuable finite resources and secure its animals&#8217; habitats.</p>
<p>Of course, plastic and paper bags should be recycled and it&#8217;s important to remember most large retailers including Albertsons and Wal-Mart will recycle plastic bags for you. That being said, a BYOB shopping strategy can make your life so much easier because there is no longer a need to accumulate that cupboard full of plastic bags or figure out what and when to do something about it. Keeping a few <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/" title="trade show bags">reusable bags</a> in your car or backpack is a good way to ensure you have them when needed. So give back to our planet by remembering to BYOB! Whether it be at a convenience store, the mall, or while grocery shopping, we can make a difference for the environment and help raise awareness one transaction at a time. Through the fight to eliminate disposable shopping bag waste, we are giving a gift to our Planet, the finest gift of all, sustainability and reusage.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p>Matthew Ludwig and Al Bemis are accomplished writers with <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.manifestseo.com/" title="cheap seo services">Manifest SEO Services</a> discussing eco and sustainability issues working with Factoy Direct Promos, a leading innovator assisting companies promotional efforts with reusable <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/eco_5.html" title="reusable grocery bags">reusable shopping bags</a> and a full line of custom <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/" title="reusable bags">trade show bags</a> and products</p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags-1768637.html" title="Give our Planet a Gift by Using Reusable Shopping Bags">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags-1768637.html</a><br />
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		<title>Impact of Oil Production on Rainforests</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/impact-of-oil-production-on-rainforests/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:15:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Oil has largely been responsible for revenues in countries for more than 50 years. Oil companies have extracted millions and millions of barrels of oil leading to arguable quantities of oil spills. Less is known about the impact it has on the rainforests. 
 Rainforests are the richest destinations for a wide variety of birds [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Oil has largely been responsible for revenues in countries for more than 50 years. Oil companies have extracted millions and millions of barrels of oil leading to arguable quantities of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.oilgoneeasy.com">oil spills</a>. Less is known about the impact it has on the rainforests. </p>
<p> Rainforests are the richest destinations for a wide variety of birds and animals. These tropical forests are found in Africa, central and South America making them the most wanted sites for oil extraction. Major oil extraction operations were targeted to these destinations only and the havocs associated have been brought to light quiet recently. Ecuador and Nigeria are the most affected rainforests affected by continuous oil extraction havocs. </p>
<p> Getting down to issues, </p>
<p> • Oil producing companies dump gallons of oil into the forest soils rendering the soil incompatible for vegetation. Thus affecting the animals and birds dependent on these resources. </p>
<p> • The toxic dumping from the oil companies poses a potential threat to health of native dwellers. </p>
<p> • Oil drilling processes and oil pipeline breaches release toxic by-products such as benzene and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the soils, which leach directly into fresh water sources. </p>
<p> • In addition to the devastating impact caused by these oil spills, the oil spill cleanup is another major cause of concern in rainforests, taking into consideration the variety of river systems associated. </p>
<p> • The continuous build up of petroleum wastes further complicates the oil spill cleanup procedures. </p>
<p> So, the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.oilgoneeasy.com/oil_spill_blog">oil spill cleanup</a> plans for rainforests need to be strategic and should be powerful enough to rehabilitate the rainforests. Use of environment friendly products such as <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.oilgoneeasy.com/index.php?main_page=index&amp;cPath=65">Oil Gone Easy S-200</a> will prove to be a wonderful solution as it works wonders on any oil spilled surface, including soil, concrete, asphalt, or cement. Being rain proof and non-combustible are the added advantages with this product. </p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.oilgoneeasy.com/">Oilgoneeasy</a></p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/impact-of-oil-production-on-rainforests-1750874.html" title="Impact of Oil Production on Rainforests">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/impact-of-oil-production-on-rainforests-1750874.html</a><br />
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		<title>Old Growth Forests And Their Value</title>
		<link>http://blackteacentral.com/old-growth-forests-and-their-value/</link>
		<comments>http://blackteacentral.com/old-growth-forests-and-their-value/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:07:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>davidguide</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackteacentral.com/old-growth-forests-and-their-value/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There was a time when the earth was nearly covered in trees or ancient forests. Hard to believe as we look around today and see an ocean of homes or cleared land. 
Ancient forests that once covered the land has been dwindled down to almost 20 percent of its historic standing. And half of this [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There was a time when the earth was nearly covered in trees or ancient forests. Hard to believe as we look around today and see an ocean of homes or cleared land. </p>
<p>Ancient forests that once covered the land has been dwindled down to almost 20 percent of its historic standing. And half of this 20 percent has been removed just in the last thirty years. Even with deforestation&#8217;s estimated contribution to global warming, ancient trees are still being removed due to illegal logging and industrial scale farming.</p>
<p>So what is an &#8216;old growth forest&#8217;? Definitions state that it is a presence of old trees, dead standing snags, a multilayered canopy dominated by large overstory trees, and accumulations of large dead woody material.</p>
<p>Other requirements for an old growth forest include:</p>
<p>•    The forest habitat possesses relatively mature, old trees;<br />•    The old-growth trees have long continuity on the same site;<br />•    The forest itself has not been subjected to significant inhabitation by mankind that has altered the appearance of the landscape and its ecosystems, has not been subjected to logging, and has inherently progressed per natural tendencies.</p>
<p>Many wonder why old-growth forests cannot just be replanted and whether that would provide the same amount of carbon and nutrients as an old growth forest would. The answer is no, old-growth forests take years to build rich communities of plants and animals, which contribute to the biodiversity of the planet. Old-growth forests also serve as a reservoir for species that cannot thrive or easily regenerate in younger forests. Such forests also provide invaluable medicines that are being discovered to cure ailments.  And last, old-growth forests store large amounts of carbon above and below the ground, either as humus or in wet soils as peat.</p>
<p>Because of the large amounts of carbon stored in old forests in the wood, soil humus and peat, when these forests are cut or destroyed, the carbon dioxoide or methane is released into the environment, agitating the already current ecosystem.</p>
<p>Old-growth forests store large amounts of carbon, which is stored in wood, soil humus and peat. When forests are cut, the trees&#8217; wood, soil humus and peat all decay, releasing the carbon as carbon dioxide or methane.  Logging practices often include burning of the logged area, releasing further CO2. Release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and then trying to counteract it with the planting of new trees has proven counter-productive. To replace the old forests and recapture the benefits these trees provide can take centuries.</p>
<p>Old forest trees also have a staggered ages, something a new forest planted would not have. As trees regenerate and grow at different times along with varying spatial location to the main canopy, the regeneration pattern can easily be disturbed by humans.</p>
<p>A forest in old-growth stage has a mix of tree ages, due to a distinct regeneration pattern. New trees regenerate at different times from each other, because each one of them has different spatial location relative to the main canopy and hence each one receives a different amount of light. This regeneration pattern is different from the regeneration of trees after a major disturbance, when trees regenerate on the site in relatively similar time. In younger forests, trees have similar ages, because they all started to grow at the same time, after the old forest stand was killed.</p>
<p>The biggest issue with disturbing what Mother Nature has spent millions of years creating is the tipping of the biodiversity scale. Biodiversity is the representation of a large number and wide range of species of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms. Scientists consider biodiversity important to the life of the planet as it can provide important balance in cases where when life forms are limited, one organism can wipe out huge amounts of crops &#8211; as in the Irish Potato Blight.</p>
<p>Today, biodiversity is most strongly represented in ancient forests, and more specifically in Brazil&#8217;s Atlantic Forest. This forest along contains close to 20,000 plant species, 1350 vertebrates, and millions of insects, about half of which occur nowhere else in the world. </p>
<p>Describing the benefits of ancient-forests can be complex and scientific when related to the benefits of the whole planet. But on a human scale, they represent our heritage and a beauty that is hardly irreplaceable.</p>
<p>      <span style="font-size:80%;font-style:italic">
<p>Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.centraltexastreecare.com/">Austin tree service</a> trusts. For more information please visit <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.">http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.</a></p>
<p>Article Source:<a target="_blank" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/old-growth-forests-and-their-value-1729301.html" title="Old Growth Forests And Their Value">http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/old-growth-forests-and-their-value-1729301.html</a><br />
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