Overnight News Digest: Green Goodness

Hey all, I am back for a bit.

Hope you like the diary

Europe tells US Markets..get rid of chemicals or don't send your crap here

Europe this month rolled out new restrictions on makers of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, changes that are forcing U.S. industries to find new ways to produce a wide range of everyday products.

The new laws in the European Union require companies to demonstrate that a chemical is safe before it enters commerce -- the opposite of policies in the United States, where regulators must prove that a chemical is harmful before it can be restricted or removed from the market. Manufacturers say that complying with the European laws will add billions to their costs, possibly driving up prices of some products.

Making asphalt environmentally friendly

In less wealthy parts of the world, though, a "cold mix" approach has long been used; the asphalt isn't heated, but is sheared into fine particles and mixed with water and surfactants so it can be spread across a road's surface until it hardens.

Now a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Hussain Bahia, intends to adapt these African and Indian techniques - developed by road-builders who couldn't afford to heat asphalt to make it pliable - for use here. Under the auspices of the Asphalt Research Consortium (a group working with the Federal Highway Administration to improve road-surface performance), he has established a Modified Asphalt Research Center with the goal of improving asphalt in various ways by developing cold mixtures that blend polymers or plastics with crude oil-derived asphalt.

A prerequisite to such innovation, though - and to the acceptance of cold-mix asphalt here - is the development of solid laboratory tests to evaluate each new mixture's safety and durability. Bahia's team is at work now developing the tests and standards that will allow American engineers and chemists to weigh greener asphalt against conventional mixes.

Cheaper water recycling

California scientist Meng Lean has invented a new water filtration method that is cheaper and can recycle about five times faster than today’s system, according to ABC7.

The water is not safe for drinking but can be used for activities such as agriculture.

So why is it some of the most repressive countries in the world are making a green city and we cannot even get our politicians to raise MPG requirements? China aiming to build green city to house 1 million. Them along with Abu Dhabi and another Mideast country

The Tangshan region near Beijing will soon be home to a new ecological city with one million inhabitants.

The new city in China will consist of 150 square kilometers with an initial stage that will have a scope of 30 square kilometers. A deep-water port and industrial area are also being planned in conjunction with the city.

Brightsource starts test run of solar towers in Israel. Technology to transfer to CA

Energy company BrightSource Energy Inc said it will open a solar "power tower" in Israel this week to test new technology it will use when building power plants next year in California.

California utility PG&E Corp signed contracts with BrightSource in April to buy up to 900 megawatts of solar thermal power in the next few years, enough to power about 630,000 homes.

Dell Recycles 100 million pounds of equipment

With 100 million pounds of equipment recycled, 2007 marked a new record for Dell as the year with the largest product recycling volume. This is a 20 percent increase from 2006.

"Our customers and stakeholders are inspiring us to lead a new era of environmental responsibility," said Director of Sustainable Business Tod Arbogast in a news release. "We are at a historic point in time when the combined efforts of companies, customers, employees and suppliers will make the critical changes to protect our shared Earth."

World Bank helps to save tigers

The 39 member organizations of the International Tiger Coalition (ITC) applaud the World Bank’s announcement today that it will undertake a global joint venture to help reverse the decline in wild tigers — the first-ever species initiative by the Bank.

The Bank has asked the ITC member organizations, representing some of the world's foremost tiger scientists, conservation groups, animal welfare advocates, traditional Chinese medicine specialists, and zoos, to provide expertise and strategic guidance to the initiative.

Huge Debt for Nature swap helps Madagascar

The largest debt-for-nature swap agreement in Madagascar’s history was just signed between the Government of Madagascar and the Government of France, allocating roughly $20 million (13 million Euros) to preserve Madagascar’s rich biodiversity, WWF has announced.

The new agreement is part of Madagascar’s ambitious national effort, pledged by President Ravalomanana, to triple the size of the country’s protected areas. The funds will be managed through the Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity—a conservation trust fund established by WWF, Conservation International and the Government of Madagascar to support the country’s distinct ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. With this agreement, the fund has reached its endowment target of $50 million.