Cowboys, Conservationists, and the Hopeful Herd (outdoor animals)
No commentsBy Eric Eckl
When we are trying to make something happen, conservationists sometimes think like cowboys. We break out the rhetorical cattle prod and try to shock the public out of complacency and into action with a stiff jolt of bad news. There’s a time and place for that — but to motivate people to actually do something, you have to mix the bad news with a more positive environmental message.
Here are some examples of cattle prod messages that have crossed my desk recently: Giant corporations will spend billions to control our elections, Massive portions of the ocean blighted by plastic trash, methane entering the atmosphere threatens to accelerate global warming crisis. Yikes! Sometimes the content of my morning inbox makes me want to just go back to bed and pull the covers over my head.
Of course, these messages are true. And you have to tell the public about a problem to make the case for your solution. But if you just jolt them repeatedly with the bad news cattle prod, you might demoralize and desensitize your audience. Sure, they might agree with you but they wont do anything.
To give you a flavor for what I mean, I recently ran some conservation outreach materials past a test panel of everyday citizens. Here are some reactions to the shock messages:
Shock Messages About Bad Environmental Habits:
There was so much garbage shown and the damage was so big that it gave me pause. Would what I could do really help stop all that horrible waste?
The actions of one person alone do not really add up to much.
Shock Messages About Financial Need:
My action/donation would only be effective only if I am one of MANY who donate. Land is not cheap
I wouldnt be certain my small donation would really make a difference
Shock Messages About Government Inaction:
Being only one voice, my single opinion can hardly effect political manueverings
I realize that state representatives receive hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints and suggestions everyday. Unless this action is taken on a large scale, I am doubtful it would hold a significant impact on government policies
Not exactly the words of people poised to spring into action to save the day, are they? These quotes underscore the urgency of mixing in some encouragement and words of success. Thats what author John W. Gardner meant when he wrote, the first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive.
So listen up, cowboy you might get a few cows moving with your trusty cattle prod, but its the herd mentality that moves society. People find hope and courage in that herd. Read how our test panel reacted to some conservation messages that evoked the sense of strength in numbers:
When Told Others Are Working Together to Change Bad Habits:
one persons acts multiplied by many thousands of like minded people can have a profound impact on the problem.
When Told Others Have Already Done Their Part to Give:
having donations matched makes my action seem like it would have a bigger impact.
When Told Others Have Made a Difference by Signing a Petition to Officials:
“a widely distributed petition can have some influence on the various representatives of the petitioning constituencies.”
So, next time you find yourself sitting at the computer to concoct an environmental message that you want to motivate your some audience to some action, remember the importance of the hopeful herd.
Moo!
Eric Eckl writes the water blog about how to raise environmental awareness and promote conservation action. His company has developed the Due Diligence Test Panel, a service that nature protection and pollution control organizations can use to pre-test their environmental message materials prior to publication.
Learn About Outdoor Creatures In Wildlife
Waterless Printing - The Eco Friendly Printing
By paul_thomas
Making things work better around is certainly in our control. We are the ones who are responsible for any good or evil that happens around us. Just the same way, we are responsible for the good and bad that is happening in the world today. It was our mistake that has lead to a condition where the climatic conditions and the nature of our planet earth are changing towards extremities.
There is always a remedy for every thing that we do and it is in our hands to follow that and repair the damage that we did. Being eco friendly is the only possible way by which we can make Mother Nature happy and beautiful once more. Being eco friendly can start right from every home and it can happen when we dont waste electricity or any fuel unnecessarily and by avoid using personal vehicles and start using public transport. Usage of eco friendly things and avoiding the things that are not eco friendly like plastic bags and plastic items are important in saving out planet from Global Warming, pollution and Green House Effect.
Same ways a lot of manufacturing industries and factories are playing an important role in donating their share of dangerous pollutants to the atmosphere and on the land as well. One this kind of industry is printing industry but it good that we are able to see people taking initiatives to develop technology that does not hurt the environment by being eco friendly. One such eco friendly printing methods is Waterless Printing
Experts say that Waterless printing has a very effective control over being friendly to the environment. It is because waterless printing does not make use of water and alcohol like normal wet offset printing, for this reason, waterless printing is also known to be as dry offset at times.
Normal printing processes till date are known to use a lot of natural non renewable resources like paper, water and energy. A lot of trees and the forests are being destroyed for the sake of papers, a lot of fresh water is being polluted and wasted and we waste a lot of energy too. All these are giving irreparable damages to the planet and hence we are getting the trouble back by means of increasing amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
One of the biggest advantage of these modern waterless printing is that they make use of computers to plate systems and therefore the film processing doest not need the help of harmful chemicals and fresh water anymore to be used in processing. The next important eco friendly advantage in this method is that it uses vegetable based inks and this is fully supporting green printing and is surely eco friendly printing. Next we can look on to other important advantages of this system. Industry specialists have found out that the process can effectively print a larger variety and choices of stocks. Moreover, waterless printing is surely eco friendly as it is reliable for cutting back a significant amount of water and paper is made to be recyclable as it is safer with no chemical dyes over them.
Article Source : Article King Pro - Free Reprints and Distribution
Paul Vijaythomas specializes in eco-friendly printing articles. He has authored many articles for Environmentally Friendly Printer and fsc printing. Find more packages at Green Printing
Refrigerant Leak Detection Regulations
By Carla Jack
Far-reaching International Standards and Regulations requiring Refrigerant leak Detection Still Not Generally Known
A high proportion of the users of refrigeration and air-conditioning worldwide are still simply unaware of the wide-ranging implications of prevailing Standards and the same could be said even of a surprising number of professionals in the equipment and service sectors. This was the challenging assertion by Dr Lorcan J. Maher, Managing Director of MURCO, one of Europes leading manufacturers of advanced refrigerant leak detection equipment.
Invariably the key point of these Standards is all-embracing and applies to all refrigeration and air conditioning installations, said Dr Maher. Most Standards state unambiguously that at all times, care should be taken to minimize the discharge of refrigerant to the atmosphere.
The seriousness of leaking systems was until recently if not still of comparatively little concern to the industry. Most plant operators found it easier to top up leaking systems with refrigerant, rather than to find leaks and operate tight systems. In fact historically some 70% of refrigerant has been used simply for topping up leaks.
This started to change with the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which formalized a response to the damage being caused to the ozone layer by ozone depleting substances. With the subsequent international phase-out programme for CFCs and HCFCs the replacement cost of refrigerant leaks started to become of concern but even still few operators took the positive step of installing gas leak monitors.
The ISO Standard 5149: 1993 was the response to the Montreal Protocol and updated the previous Standard and incorporated the requirement to use Leak Detectors. It applies in all member countries of the International Standards Organization in Europe, USA, and includes such major Asian countries as China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and Pakistan. Some countries, including the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa responded to the Protocol by introducing their own supplementary regulations or standards requiring the installation of fixed leak monitors in refrigeration and air conditioning machinery rooms based on the ISO 5149 Standard.
Europe
The European Community and CEN countries responded in 2000 by introducing Regulation 2037/2000 requiring that action be taken to prevent leakage and the new European Standard EN378 Refrigerating Systems and Heat Pumps Safety and Environmental Requirements based on ISO 5149. This requires the installation of fixed refrigerant leak monitors in all refrigeration and air-conditioning machinery rooms. Dr Maher points out that since the end of 2000 it supersedes all national standards in EC countries.
USA
ASHRAE 15-1994 and Unified Mechanical Code 1994 were introduced and again both require the installation of fixed refrigerant leak monitors in all refrigeration and airconditioning machinery rooms.
Australia / New Zealand
Introduced AS/NZ 1677.2
S.Africa
Introduced SABS 0147:1995
As well as the common requirement to fit leak detectors in all machinery rooms and to take special precautions with comfort air conditioning, each standard has particular requirements and should be reviewed independently. Brief summaries, reflecting our view, on EN378, ASHRAE 15, Unified Mechanical Code, SABS 0147, and AS/NZ 1677.2 are available on request.
As specified in the above Standards and also in the International Mechanical Code 2003, most countries in the world require the use of fixed leak detectors in all refrigeration and air conditioning machinery rooms. In addition most issue strong warnings on the dangers of refrigerant leaks into occupied spaces with direct air-conditioning systems such as VRV / VRF and they limit the charge of refrigerant allowed. Some require special precautions to be taken, including the use of fixed leak detectors. Generally if leak detectors are fitted extra refrigerant charge in the system is possible.
The major manufacturers of such systems including Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Daikin and others have identified the danger of leaks with direct systems and refer to the Standards with appropriate warnings in their technical manuals. They generally recommend extra ventilation and / or the use of leak detectors.
Safety at Work Legislation
There is also in most countries a volume of safety legislation covering occupational exposure that requires that workers not be exposed to harmful gases, including refrigerants, above the recommended limits. This should be complied with, in the interests of worker safety. But in fact failure to do so could expose the operator to compensation claims. Gas leak monitors would show compliance and minimize this risk.
Climate Change Taxes Add Motivation
Worldwide, countries are committed to honouring their obligations to minimising global warming.
The European Community and CEN countries are committed to introducing regulations to implement their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change and these may serve as a model to other countries. The present draft Regulation is likely to be adopted in early 2004. This will be immediately legally binding and will require Owners of stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning, heat-pump equipment and fire protection systems containing 300kg or more of fluorinated gases to install leakage detection systems.
Within the EC, Denmark has implemented massive taxes on refrigerant at the point of purchase and the UK has implemented reward/punishment taxation measures that are more likely to serve as the European model.
The new UK Climate Change Levy on energy consumption adds an additional and very real cost motivation to install detectors. This is a measure aimed at ensuring the achievement of the UKs target reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Inefficient refrigeration plant, often caused by refrigerant leaks, also consumes excessive energy, typically up to 40%, and this will result in a substantial tax penalty for the operator. The balancing incentives include the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme under which an operator can claim the full cost of an investment in specified qualifying technologies, including Murco Leak Detectors, against taxable income, i.e. 100% in the first year.
Article Submitted by Inspiration Marketing on Behalf of Murco Gas Detection, which supplies Gas Leak detection systems to UK and Europe Clients
Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at 2:25 am and is filed under environmental. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
