Save Lindbergh Bay Success in the Caribbean Island of St Thomas
November 5, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Eco Projects
Our favourite Caribbean detective, Jim Walberg, reports on the recent success of the “Save Lindbergh Campaign”.
Many of you remember my article several months ago about the Save Lindbergh Bay initiative. This is a grass roots organization of people committed to keeping this beautiful Caribbean bay on St. Thomas from being the dumping site of the dredging material from Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The U.S. Virgin Islands signed a contract with the largest cruise ship in the world, Oasis of the Sea, to call on the port of Charlotte Amalie. The cruise ship holds over 5,000 people that will greatly add to the tourist revenue of St. Thomas. However, the agreement required Charlotte Amalie Harbor to create the ability for the Oasis of the Sea to dock which would require dredging the path of the ship into the harbor an additional 35 feet to the existing sea floor. The project was to take the 150,000 cubic yards of dredging material and deposit it into Lindbergh Bay. The GREAT NEWS is that Lindbergh Bay has been saved by Gov. deJongh, Jr. signing a degree to halt the dredging until a more suitable site can be found for the material.
The dredging has been opposed by not only the residents of the Virgin Islands, but by people concerned about environment issues around the world. Gov. deJongh said at a Government House press conference, “As this process proceeded, and mindful of the community’s concerns on the placement of the dredged spoils, yet the desire to ensure that Royal Caribbean maintains St. Thomas as a port of call for Oasis, I instructed my team to develop options in the event that a change of course was required.” So, after lengthy negotiations with government officials and the cruise lines, an agreement with Royal Caribbean has been reached. The contracts with the Port Authority needed to be honored, so some of the cruise ships that normally berth at Crown Bay will be shifted to Havensight on the days when Oasis of the Sea calls on Charlotte Amalie Harbor.
Now that Crown Bay will be the temporary docking site for Oasis by the Sea, Gov. deJongh, Jr. acknowledged, “Crown Bay is an interim solution. Quite frankly, it is not the ideal with respect to passenger experience — there will be issues of security screening, transportation, economic impact on passenger spending. However, it ensures that Charlotte Amalie Harbor is able to keep the ship as a port of call.” A BIG challenge with Crown Bay as the docking location for Oasis is how to move the passengers to the center of town where they all love to shop. How about creating a fleet of independent water taxis to finally serve the entire Charlotte Amalie Harbor?
Other comments about removing Lindbergh Bay from the dredge dumping came from:
- Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty is committed to increasing passenger presence in areas such as Market Square and Emancipation Garden, where staging points will be set up; “We’re working on the logistics now and definitely want to encourage shopping there, so that someone can go and get a question answered or just have a cultural experience.”
- Virgin Islands Conservation Society president, Jason Budsan; “I congratulate everyone who helped make this happen. Public pressure counts. The decision is significant because the Virgin Islands is looking at ways to solve problems, balancing the environment and the economy.”
- Senator Wayne James; “It’s a great triumph on our part. I was looking at the bay a couple days ago, and I wondered how anybody could compromise the beauty of this beach.”
- Environmentalist Helen Gjessing; “I’m really pleased that the Port Authority saw the writing on the wall, that this was really not a viable project. There’s no way it could restore the eco-system of Lindbergh Bay. A lot of credit goes to the many people who kept plugging away. I really appreciate that.”
Please log in with your comments about how a few committed citizens CAN make a difference in changing the direction of being kind to our Planet.
350 Parts – International Day of Climate Action
November 3, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Eco Projects, Global
A few weekends ago saw over 1,000 people gather on the forecourt of Sydney’s Opera House to form the number 350 – a global message board to send a climate change message to world leaders. 179 counties are taking part in 4,500 events worldwide as part of the International Day of Climate Action. Australia was the first of the countries to take part in the international event.
The environmental movement 350.org, is named because there are 350 parts per million – the limit on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which many believe is needed to avoid climate havoc.
Blair Palese, CEO of 350.org Australia said “most people feel pretty disenfranchised about things like the United Nations Copenhagen meetings and there is no way for people to take leadership for that.”
Multiple cities throughout the world were also part of the 350 effort.
Follow Clear the Air
Save Water: Re-Cycle Your Bath Water
July 25, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Global
Imagine reusing your wasted water in the bathroom.
Designer Jun Yasumoto has created one, his mini-eco-system uses the principles of phyto-purification, a filtering process that recycles the water that is wasted.
Normally used in ecological purification systems, an organic system re-cycles the water from the shower and basin allowing it to be reused.
THE PHYTO PURIFICATION PROCESS:
- Rushes are planted in sand which allows the filtration of larger particles. The root system of the rushes contain various bacteria enabling the breakdown of these particles for absorption by the plant.
- Reeds are planted next to the rushes due to their ability to filter the heavy metals from the water.
- Floating water hyacinths are used due to their ability to draw some of the water borne particles through their roots.
- Lemnas (aquatic plants) bind to the remaining aquatic micro-organisms to complete the filtration process.
- The final step uses a carbon filter to absorb the remaining micro-particles.
Ok, so you may not like the idea of bathing again in this water (or it may take some getting used to), but the water could prove acceptable for many other household requirements thus reducing your carbon footprint and allowing you to become more green.
http://marquetteturner.com/eco-friendly-your-bathroom-can-be-an-eco-system/trackback/
How Green Are You? Calculate Your Ecological Footprint
July 20, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Eco Tips, Facts
An Ecological Footprint is the measurement used to calculate how much human pressure we place on our planet.
You can now find out your own individual pressure – at first it may horrify you but so long as you do something about it, that can only help.
I have just taken a test to find out what my Ecological Footprint is. What a shock! I am horrified to learn how high it is as I thought I was living “green”.
Global Footprint Network stated that if everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American, we would need 5 planets. My results stated I would need 4.6 planets.
I encourage everyone to take this test here www.ecofoot.org
this article originally featured on the MarquetteTurner.com site
Australian Resources: Solar Power and Wind Power Must Be Used
July 10, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Australia's Challenge
Given the location and size of Australia it is possible that we could lead the world in solar and wind technology. We live on the largest ssland in the World, have the 7th largest land mass of any country, we are surrounded by ocean and have a population of just over 21.84 million people. We have an abundance of land, plenty of ocean and enormous deserts.
Wind farms throughout the world are being set up with a few dozen to several hundred wind turbines. Some are being set up offshore to take advantage of strong winds over lakes or oceans. Germany currently has the largest wind generation capacity followed by USA, Spain, India and China. The United Kingdom plans to power all of its homes by wind power by 2020 through enormous offshore wind farms.
By ratifying the Kyoto protocol in 2007 Australia committed to producing 20% renewable power by 2020 – in other words we have just 11 years to improve our performance from just over 4% to the 20% target. Australia currently uses wind technology to produce just over 1% of our energy needs and a further 3% is harnessed through solar. Scotland is already using renewable sources to produce 19% of its energy needs.
Germany has 100 times more installed solar capacity than Australia. Australia has only 25,000 households with solar panels installed and solar installation is increasing at 15% per year compared with 30-40% globally. With so much capacity to produce energy through renewable sources the Australian Government must put policy in place to encourage installation of solar and wind facilities. There is no excuse for Australia to be anywhere but first place in the race to be green.
Watch a video to see how solar panel works HERE
Michael Marquette on +61 433 170 170
this article first appeared on the Marquette Turner Luxury Homes site
Designer Eco-Product: Recycled Glass
July 7, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Eco Tips
I’m a huge fan of the myriad of designer glassware, so the news that Artecnica has created the environmentally friendly Transglass collection as part of their Design With a Conscience program is great news.
Whether you’re a fan of vases, jugs, carafes or drinking tumblers, and whether for practical or visual purposes, this collection which is created using recycled wine and beer bottles nicely mixes design aesthetics with eco ideals.
Eco-Projects Around the World
June 16, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Global
There are some amazing minds that are coming up with some amazing, conceptual designs for environmentally sustainable living spaces.
In this article I’m showing some of my favorite eco-projects. Some are simply conceptual, and may never get off the drawing board, whereas others are full steam ahead, however, all great ideas come from somewhere!
Which are your favorites?
Co-Op Canyon, Dallas
This a conceptual design intended for Dallas, created by Standard Architects, and is inspired by the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians.
Designed as a sustainable, carbon neutral environment for 1000 habitants, the terraced dwellings overlook an urban canyon.
The Eco Oil Rig
Morris Architects, a Houston-based architecture and design firm, recently took top honors for two of their submissions in the Radical Innovation in Hospitality design competition.
Taking the concept of resort islands and over-water villas to a whole new level, the grand prize winner, the Oil Rig Platform Resort and Spa makes use of one of 4,000 oil rigs out in the Gulf of Mexico and transforms it into a luxurious eco-resort and spa.
The Super Tower
Based on the estimation that London will need to provide housing for 100,000 new people each year up until 2016, this building houses 100,000 in one hit and with the city being the only framework capable of handling burgeoning populations such responses are vital.
Zira Island in the Caspian Sea
Planned as a zero-energy project, the “resort and entertainment” creation will resemble the “seven peaks of Azerbaijan,” each “peak” being buildings covered in solar panels, which will house residential, retail and commercial space for the resort.
Sky-Terra Skyscrapers
San Francisco-based designer Joanna Borek-Clement has envisioned these eye-popping Sky-Terra skyscrapers – not just a single building, but a network of interconnected towers that are inspired by the shape of neuron cells.
To cope with the growing need for green urban space, as cities become increasingly congested and dense, the Sky-Terra super-structure seeks to give city dwellers back the ability to spend time outdoors, exercise and relax.
Environmentally Friendly Construction: The Bubble Deck
June 10, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Australia's Challenge, Eco Tips
Designed and made in Australia, the Bubble Deck is an ingenious creation that will not only prove an environmentally friendly alternative to non-structural concrete, but also actually be a welcome addition in the construction industry.
The plastic bubbles are approximately the size of a football and are encased within a frame thus creating a “honeycomb” pattern.
The design means that there can be up to 50% longer spans between building columns and no beams. It will also allow for long cantilevers and open facades and ultimately proves that eco-friendly building doesn’t have to be more expensive.
“Villa Panorama”: Environmentally Friendly & Environmentally Flattering
May 20, 2009 by simonturner
Filed under Eco Projects, Global
Inspired by the broad horizontal lines of the Dutch landscape, Björn van Rheenen of Sponge Architects, has used these lines to create “Villa Panorama” which blends seamlessly into the environment.
Featuring a large glass façade and long small pond that cleverly appears to flow from the garden into the spacious living area, there is also a flat roof with a “lawn” atop, thus ensuring indoors and outdoors are perfectly merged.
Sustainability was a very important issue in the design process, meaning that environmentally-conscious techniques are highly evident in “Villa Panorama”
“Villa Panorama” is a project of Sponge Architects Amsterdam in cooperation with Scope Bouwmanagement BV., Almere.
