text:
Time Lapse Plant Growth
Posted by Jeff Id on April 26, 2010
I've made a lot of statements about CO2 recently. My current opinion from every source I've found is that there are no verified negative consequences of CO2. Nothing. Calling CO2 a dangerous pollutant is more than a bit overstated and calling for decarbonization has no foundation in science.
Besides, if the scientists get their way, the plants are going to be really pissed off.
68 Responses to "Time Lapse Plant Growth"
April 26, 2010 at 9:39 pm
In the wild, plant growth is usually limited by sunlight and water availability, and maybe minerals. When those are abundant, extra CO2 can help.
January 8, 2017 at 8:53 pm
you just made that up. do you need to be reminded of chemistry?
- January 8, 2017 at 8:53 pm
April 26, 2010 at 9:55 pm
JeffID: This is heresy, and the Malthusians will hunt you down!
Nick Stokes: "In the wild, plant growth is usually limited by sunlight and water availability, and maybe minerals. When those are abundant, extra CO2 can help."
This is one of the most absurd statements I've seen you make. Prove that crap, please? You are ignoring most of the planet, actually!
April 26, 2010 at 10:06 pm
"calling for decarbonization has no foundation in science"
Yes, but in the Church of Scientism, it's the cool thing to do. 😉
April 26, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Nick Stokes:
In the wild, plant growth is usually limited by sunlight and water availability, and maybe minerals. When those are abundant, extra CO2 can help.
I noticed root growth was stimulated by the increased CO2. I'd like to understand why that is, but it would offset a lack of water availability if it were a persistent feature.
There is some historical reason to believe that plants (and animals) will in general flourish in higher CO2 concentrations. Most families of animals and plants evolved under much higher than current CO2 levels. I've heard speculation that 250 ppm isn't much above "shut down" level for some species in fact (e.g., extreme period of an ice age).
It would be interesting if one of the feedbacks that leads to global scale glaciation were the biosphere response to lowered CO2 levels.
Great video Jeff.
April 26, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Strange I have seen claims by the AGW folks that the poison Ivy has grown larger to increased CO2.
How is that consistent or is it a false claim.
April 26, 2010 at 10:36 pm
"[Szmant] faults previous lab studies because they used hydrochloric acid, not carbon dioxide, to lower the pH of
the water in the calcification studies."
— Elizabeth Pennisi (2009) quoting Alina Szmant, a coral ecologist
April 26, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I'm only a lowly horticulturalist, ex Burnley Hort Melbourne, 40 years nursery production, market gardening, and this is stuff we were doing in the 60's. Hartmann Kester Davies, Plant Propagation Principles and Practices is the bible for propagation. We use 2,400ppm CO2 in the propagation areas, and 2,500ppm CO2 in the production houses. Nothing new in this. Plants slow down growth below 300ppm, and stop or die below 180- 150 ppm CO2.
April 27, 2010 at 1:19 am
The propagation houses are fully sealed temp controlled, mist system or fogging, the extra 100ppm? we've never tried it over that, it was the recommendation, we set the dials and leave it to work, several large banks of CO2 cylinders outside feeding through controllers. Rooting for cuttings is usually 2 – 3 days before initialisation, without CO2, it can be a week to 10 days.
We set it to 2500ppm in the production areas, they are larger less well sealed polyhouses, fruit and flower size works for us at that level, capsicums, tomatoes, lettuce, carnations, roses, it was just one of those, "we suggest these settings for your installation" and we have never found any reason to alter them. The hydroponic units I've worked with under CO2 work at 2,500ppm as well.
April 27, 2010 at 1:24 am
Apparently there is another video comparing a plant grown at a lower atmospheric CO2 concentration than 450ppm,
I think it was 275ppm.
It was a stunted little runt that one, in comparison..
No surprise at all that.
Have you not ever wondered why plants were soo big in the times of dinosaurs. ?
Atmospheric CO2 was approximately 2,000 ppm……..Apparently.
It may have been 3,000ppm if I've remembered incorrectly,
which ever, life flourished with MORE atmospheric carbon dioxide.
April 27, 2010 at 1:25 am
The propagation houses are fully sealed temp controlled, mist system or fogging, uv lighting, the extra 100ppm? we've never tried it over that, it was the recommendation, we set the dials and leave it to work, several large banks of CO2 cylinders outside feeding through controllers. Rooting for cuttings is usually 2 – 3 days before initialisation, without CO2, it can be a week to 10 days.
We set it to 2500ppm in the production areas, they are larger less well sealed polyhouses, fruit and flower size works for us at that level, capsicums, tomatoes, lettuce, carnations, roses, it was just one of those, "we suggest these settings for your installation" and we have never found any reason to alter them. The hydroponic units I've worked with under CO2 work at 2,500ppm as well.
April 27, 2010 at 1:28 am
connection doubled up delete and ignore please Jeff
April 27, 2010 at 1:30 am
Posts 9 and 10.
I'd take a quess that the 2,400 / 2,500 ppm is a human health and safety limit,
not a plant limit.
Not a limit from the EPA I would of thought either, or maybe it is, I don't know.
I have heard the plant optimum level for CO2 is more like 20,000ppm….
Although I have not seen any justification for such a CO2 level for plant growing optimum,
should be easy enough to show though.
April 27, 2010 at 2:27 am
OSHA allows an environment of 5000 ppm for an 8-hour workday. I presume a small percentage of people not in good health might experience some effects at that level.
April 27, 2010 at 2:55 am
I found this at the Swedish national television channel's website. Canadian paleontologist Scott Sampson thinks the large herbivorous dinosaur species couldn't have survived without high CO2 levels to increase the productivity of ecosystems.
Google translated: http://bit.ly/b4f75L
April 27, 2010 at 3:59 am
Although just lowly uneducated farmer, you know one of those guys that produce food, the second most important, next to water, essential for human life,
I have been a trustee for one of Australia's larger agricultural crop research establishments which is based in western Victoria, Australia, for some 28 years.
There are many sophisticated experiments being conducted both in this Research Institute and in a close cooperative effort with Chinese Ag researchers and in other Ag research organisations around the world where closely controlled and monitored releases of CO2 are drifted across an area of instrumented open field crops to ascertain the increases, always increases, in growth and yields of mankind's most important crops from increased CO2 levels.
Increasing levels of CO2 increases the water use efficiency of plants or in other words the plants make better use of the soil available water and therefore make much better growth and / or can tolerate dry and drought conditions much better with much higher levels of CO2 again due to their increased ability to make better use of the available water.
There are also other plant physiological factors at work as well that take advantage of the increased CO2.
The evidence from the biologists is that most of life must have evolved in very high levels, by today's standards, of CO2 in that they are so responsive to much higher levels of CO2.
And Warren is quite right in that once CO2 levels get down to around the 180 to 200ppm plants cease to function and die.
Plant breeders and biologists also estimate that around 20% of the INCREASES in crop yields over the last 20 or 30 years is due entirely to the increases in atmospheric CO2 levels over this same period.
The other 80% of the increase in crop yields over the same period are due to the much improved gene based breeding technology from the plant breeders and by farmer induced and very considerable changes in fertilizers and fertilizer application, weed control and disease control and much better soil fertility and cultivation practices and the adoption of some very sophisticated technology in the application of the above to crops by farmers.
A very good source for the comparative effects of various rates of CO2 on many types and species of plants plus a vast amount of very good CO2 science can be found at "CO2 Science."
The tables for the increased CO2 effects on crop and plant growth and yields ; CO2 Science > Data > Plant Growth
The CO2 levels indicated are additional to the atmospheric levels.
Some of the increases in crop and plant bio mass and yields with higher levels of CO2, 600 ppm to 900 ppm above the current atmospheric levels are quite astonishing.
April 27, 2010 at 4:06 am
On human tolerance levels of CO2, American nuclear submariners have operated for long periods in CO2 levels of 8000 ppm.
Above 8000 ppm and around 10,000 ppm some crew members started to suffer headaches and other physiological problems.
If you check for nuclear submarine CO2 scrubbers you will find that the specifications generally promise to maintain CO2 levels at a maximum of 5000 ppm.
April 27, 2010 at 4:22 am
Are we furiously agreeing that the 2,400 / 2,500 ppm is probably a lower safe limit for humans,
ie, a human health and safety limit, NOT a plant limit.
This topic was also covered recently at Jo Nova's blog, you like to catch up there..
April 27, 2010 at 7:28 am
One should note that Legumes are nitrogen fixers and generally grow well in depleted soils. I was under the impression that additional NPK wouldn't yield dramatic results so it's interesting to see that additional co2 yields significantly more biomas. The video looked like an animation, not time lapse photography. The hydroponic situation makes it a little difficult to gauge real world results, a bit like computer models ;-). After 28 days they both looked pretty small to me. I wonder how a really 'hungry' plant would fare?
Jeff, I was lurking around Deltoid last week. As you know, posters there are of the pro AGW persuasion and do not tolerate dissent.
They believe that skeptics have done nothing to impact the 'consensus' science; the temperature record is still largely the same, co2 is blamed for warming and the catastrophic predictions remain…etc, etc.
While I believe that most AGW advocates are socialists, which presents a transparency problem, I find that both camps engage in too much politics, red herrings, character assignations and other deceptions. (considerably more with the advocacy)
For the average punter, it's really difficult to tell where the truth lies and to be honest, I often find myself sitting on the fence.
Even though anthropogenic warming is plausible, there are still many untested forcings to rely on the popular catastrophic notion.
Where am I going with this? I think it would be nice to see some kind of mission statement at skeptic blogs and to define exactly what skepticism means to the blog owner. Such a definition is not always obvious to the average blogger, who often gets reduced to left/right, denialist/alarmist, conservative/ leftist bias.
What do you agree on, where do your opinions diverge? Are Deep Climate's refutations valid or bogus? How much effect has McIntyre had on the temperature record etc. etc. It would be even more interesting to see some criticism at your own side ! Monckton's Pinker paper mishap for example.
I acknowledge that you may not have definitive answers.
Feel free to tell me to shut up.
April 27, 2010 at 7:57 am
[…] conflicts of financial interest ; Real scientists for a change ; Why CO2 is so bad for you but good for plants ; Climate change legislation simply a power grab […]
April 27, 2010 at 8:11 am
"I've made a lot of statements about CO2 recently. My current opinion from every source I've found is that there are no verified negative consequences of CO2. Nothing. Calling CO2 a dangerous pollutant is more than a bit overstated and calling for decarbonization has no foundation in science."
You are obviously "anti-science" and doing the bidding of evil, fossil fuel industry paymasters who are bent on destroying the planet. You must be part of the despicable assault on science and the noble men and women, like Mikey Mann, who have selflessly devoted their lives to saving the planet and preserving a future for humanity.
The problem here is that you have no understanding of truth. Probably because you are not an approved owner of truth. "Truth" means that you can make up whatever numbers you want. It means you can try to provoke a large group of protesters in the hope that one or two will misbehave. When no one does, the owners of "truth" are still permitted to call the protesters racists and slander them as having used the "n-word". Reality is not relevant when you own the truth.
"Truth" means that GM and the administration can claim it has paid off the US government when it borrowed more money from the govt and used it to "pay off" the old borrowing. The debt hasn't decreased, but the owners of truth can now claim it is paid off.
Oxburgh, Mann, Hansen, Jones, Algore, Obama and their friends are approved owners of truth. You, McIntyre, Watts, and similar such despoilers of the earth, instruments of injustice, and the embodiment of all that is dark and ugly in life are not permitted to have access to truth. Accordingly, everything you write or think has been deemed false (even before you write or think it.
Face it, Jeff, you ain't on the list. You can't be truth. As Jack Nicholson said, "You can't handle the truth!"
That's reserved only for approved truth-handlers.
April 27, 2010 at 9:49 am
A few years ago the Nicholas School of the Environment tried this on a larger scale in the Duke Forest. This was the "FACE" experiment, involving the Brookhaven National Laboratory and NASA:
The trees responded pretty much as your Cowpeas did until the other nutrients were depleted (CO2 is a nutrient).
April 27, 2010 at 9:57 am
That's interesting, some skeptics appear to be overly zealous, you appear to be testing a hypothesis rather than trying to peddle one. I'm not going to name names.
April 27, 2010 at 10:13 am
Before worrying about 'safe' limits of CO2 for humans, it is probably best to understand the human physiology involved in breathing.
The mechanisms are quite different to what many people suppose. e.g. the breathing reflex is triggered by CO2 levels,not oxygen levels, so it might be 'safe' oxygen levels we worry about, rather than CO2.
Koeslag has an interesting description here:
April 27, 2010 at 10:14 am
Nick, Carrick, it is generally thought that CO2 increases water use efficiency by reducing water loss through open stomatal pores. The underlying logic is that pores are not as open due to higher CO2 concentrations. There would presumably also be feedbacks on this water use efficiency as crops or natural ecosystems are able to sustain sheltered canopies with less water – which further prevents evaporation losses.
April 27, 2010 at 10:20 am
Raise the CO2 enough to make a difference, and plants will respond. Per the video, and the indirect evidence discussed upthread, most plants will likely benefit.
That's only part of the picture. Darwin and his successors assure us that plants compete with one another, driving natural selection. Thus, it's nearly inevitable that some species of plants would experience relatively larger benefits than would other species of plants. (Just as some species do relatively better at certain levels of soil moisture, sunlight, free nitrogen, and so forth.)
For agriculture, where the hand of the farmer restricts competition (e.g. through seed selection, then tilling and Roundup application), this wouldn't really be an issue.
It seems to me that most ecosystems would undergo significant change in response to significant rises in CO2, as some species of plants would likely benefit more from the C02 than would others. Under changed competitive circumstances, new winners would emerge.
I'd guess that many of those changes would please humans, and many others wouldn't. Still others, we wouldn't notice. But I'd expect some big changes to result from a big jump in atmospheric CO2.
April 27, 2010 at 10:52 am
#20 Sam.
There was a great thread here on April 1st in response to a Willis Eschenbach post on Wattsupwiththat, in which people were invited to state their positions on some of the climate-related issues. Might give you a flavour of the range of opinions here, a bit wider than the equivalent range on Deltoid or RC, I suspect.
April 27, 2010 at 11:22 am
Thanks David S
Fairly atypical answers as far as believers portray skeptics.
…back to the topic
April 27, 2010 at 11:26 am
I liked the quip about poison ivy growing bigger. I think if the IPCC really wanted to they could find something detrimental about increased plant growth with increasing levels of CO2. More weeds and noxious plants. Or more plants, we over-eat, get fat and die.
Actually a stand alone video clip of two plants would be better with a follow up of some links to the debate on AGW with increased CO2 levels and crop production. What I recall reading was that AGW mitigation advocates grudgingly admit more growth but then appear to arm wave a bit on more drought stricten areas with future AGW detracting from the CO2 benefits. The CO2 levels versus plant growth might be an interesting subject to persue and particulary withy regards to efforts to spin it into something bad.
April 27, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Although 5000 ppm is a long-exposure safety threshold, most people feel nothing up to 25000 ppm in acute exposure; then maybe shortness of breath, headache, low blood pressure and pulse. OSHA document can be found here.
April 27, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Vegetation feedback is actually considered in carbon cycle studies . One might disagree with the analysis, but the problem with non-quantification is that of skeptics coming across something for the first time and thinking that they found something that the warmists have missed.
April 27, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Farmers with GPS tracking of fertilizer concentrations on their plows.
maybe a swarm of mesh networked intelligent fertilizer pellets that release nutrients and then biodegrade.
i'll get right on it.
April 27, 2010 at 1:04 pm
"Darwin and his successors assure us…"
How comforting. 😉
April 27, 2010 at 1:13 pm
#32 Steve. Is the noxious weed theory based on any actual evidence of relative response to CO2, or is it just speculation that is could happen?
April 27, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Do you realise what it means to spud out 44% more weed in my back garden?
April 27, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Hoi Polloi,
You could call it 'green manure' and dig it in, while praising Gaia for the bountiful largesse provided, or you could remember that a weed is a beautiful plant growing in the wrong place…
April 27, 2010 at 5:24 pm
steven mosher said
April 27, 2010 at 12:58 pm
intelligent fertilizer pellets that release nutrients and then biodegrade.
Already have them Stephen, http://www.pacgro.co.nz/product_catalog.asp?g=3#sg122
Whatever time you want them to release the nutrient for. Then the capsule degrades.
April 27, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Nick #1 "In the wild, plant growth is usually limited by sunlight and water availability, and maybe minerals. When those are abundant, extra CO2 can help."
Actually plants respond more to ehanced CO2 when stressed (i.e. minerals water etc.)
Ainsworth, E.A. and Long, S.P. 2005. What have we learned from 15 years of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE)? A meta-analytic review of the responses of photosynthesis, canopy properties and plant production to rising CO2. New Phytologist 165: 351-372.
April 27, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Steven Mosher
12:58 pm
GPS controlled fertilizer application and GPS controlled herbicide application is quite common.
"maybe a swarm of mesh networked intelligent fertilizer pellets that release nutrients and then biodegrade".
Not intelligent but already tried and used!
Seed & fertilizer combined in biodregradable plastic strips have been trialled and have some commercial use.
Currently another Ag research organisation I am involved with is trialling bio-degradeable plastic sheeting over large plot sized areas to find if moisture, plant growth and weed control plus fertilizer applications plus yields will benefit from such bio-degradeable sheet technology and if the technology is economic over large areas as in hundreds of acres.
We are going to have to feed 9 billion people [ from the current 6 3/4 billions ] within another 30 to 40 years and we are going to have to do it on a land area that is not much larger than is currently farmed.
There is not much more fertile land suitable for large scale farming and food production left on this planet so the plant breeders and farmers of this world are just going to have to get even better than they currently are.
And as the western consumer doesn't want to pay for food there is not much incentive left in farming to adopt new technologies or to accumulate the capital needed to do so anymore
Worrying about rising CO2 levels and their effect on the global climate is a sick joke compared to the probability of major world food shortages within 15 to 20 years.
I've seen very short term food shortages twice in my lifetime and nearly saw the third about 3 yeas ago.
The effects are not pleasant and can be literally deadly for those who are not rich westerners who can afford to worry about something as ridiculous as rising CO2 levels and the effects on the climate in a 100 years time.
April 27, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Re: Kon Dealer (Apr 27 17:34),
That was a good article on FACE, which puts the prospects in perspective. They mention Layman's point:
"The primary effects on plants of rising [CO2] have been well documented and include reduction in stomatal conductance and transpiration, improved water-use efficiency, higher rates of photosynthesis, and increased light-use efficiency
(Drake et al., 1997)."
But it's not magic. Only one of the four crops they studied, cotton, showed a clear increase in yield. That comes back to the question of what real benefits might result from higher CO2. CO2 has been elevated for a while now, but it doesn't seem that plant biomass is rising. The airborne fraction has been fairly constant, and although that implies that something is taking up a fraction of our emissions, it's generally thought to be the ocean.
That was my original point – in most environments plant growth is limited by availability of sunlight, water and minerals, and that will still be true with higher CO2. Of course in horticulture, those limitations are artificially overcome, so CO2 helps, and this is true to an extent in agriculture too. But CO2 won't make the deserts bloom.
April 27, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I found this link to a Hort research paper from Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is in sections, worth reading.
http://hydroponics.com.au/php/viewtopic.php?t=4 This a paper that while discussing CO2 enrichment, does a large hat tip to AGW, in reading it I feel there has been a strong bias towards the CO2 = Bad concept.
Most of what I mentioned in #7 further back is covered, although their recommendation is up to 1000ppm, not the 2000+ we were using. Benefits are linked to a range of factors, water, humidity, sunlight, nutrient, we did find that the higher levels of CO2 over a years production cut our water usage by 20% in the hydroponics areas. As well as increased size and faster yields on hydroponic lettuce and capsicum.
I'm trying to find links to the Nurseries I've worked in, but after 15 years away some have sold/changed/moved.
April 27, 2010 at 8:15 pm
#43 Nick Stokes
Nick, I haven't been able to track down the paper, but if the crops studied had yields limited by factors other than water, then the CO2 effect would be much less evident. Dry matter yield may also be a better indicator of the effect than seed yield.
April 27, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Intuitively, I would definitely agree with the notion that an increase in water use efficiency should show up in sensitive areas like desert margins. Obviously, any trends in precipitation, temperature, clouds, humidity, and wind would have to be considered.
April 27, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Re: Nick Stokes (Apr 27 18:49),
The airborne fraction has been fairly constant, and although that implies that something is taking up a fraction of our emissions, it's generally thought to be the ocean.
The missing sink almost has to be biologic, whether terrestrial or oceanic. It wasn't a significant factor until CO2 reached about 310 ppmv and then it took off. It's not behaving like a diffusive sink (like dissolution in sea water) at all.
April 27, 2010 at 10:21 pm
"Worrying about rising CO2 levels and their effect on the global climate is a sick joke compared to the probability of major world food shortages within 15 to 20 years."
You hit the nail on the head. The first function of government is to provide security for its citizens. That must include a military to guard against external threats and police to provide internal security.
After that there are general welfare issues such as roads and the creation of strategic reserves. While the USA has a substantial strategic reserve of fuel I am not aware of any comparable effort to create substantial strategic reserves of food.
Considering the huge death toll from famines in recent history it seems odd that this issue does not get much attention. In the 1950s over 30 million Chinese people died in famines and during the LIA famines were commonplace.
April 28, 2010 at 3:38 am
After dusting off my textbook it says: "CO2 aides a plants ability to utilize water more efficiently". That being said, you cannot add one source of fertilization without upping the others. The reason why Warrens' plants do so well at 2400 is because 1)Constant water supply 2)increased nitrogen and minerals. This will allow the CO2 to do its job.
April 28, 2010 at 3:47 am
#42 and #51,
Yes, famines are a disgrace and a cause for everyones concern, but in the modern world their causes are invariably political, not scientific.
April 28, 2010 at 6:33 am
O.T but you might enjoy this:
April 28, 2010 at 7:01 am
#42 and #53
April 28, 2010 at 7:34 am
#54 SamG,
That's a great article, thanks.
It reaches it's apex in the high comedy at airport arrivals areas in Australia, as the delicate pristine balance of the fragile ecosystem is preserved.
The obsession with the deemed status quo is reminiscent of some other areas of 'science' I think?
April 28, 2010 at 7:51 am
Africa is a complete basket case. Corrupt government combined with reliance on foreign aid. When the money does come in, they squander and fornicate, exacerbating an already increasing problem.
GE crops might help but the greenies have demonized it.
Dethroning the despots is better idea, as well as public education.
April 28, 2010 at 7:53 am
'GM crops'
April 28, 2010 at 10:38 pm
#7 Warren said:
"Plants slow down growth below 300ppm, and stop or die below 180- 150 ppm CO2."
Interesting. We're assured by the IPCC's "authorities" that pre-industrial CO2 levels were 270ppm, despite thousands of reliable readings from 19th and 20th century chemical gas analysis by independent groups in many locations that show a variable pattern over time, with levels consistently above 300 ppm and even up to 420 ppm in 1942.
It seems that at 270 ppm, agriculture would have been barely viable, and that if our forebears had known the cause, the only responsible reaction to the problem of feeding everybody properly would have been to start burning more fossil fuels in earnest to reproduce the atmosphere of the earlier, benevolent eras of life on earth. Good job they did, because if Keeling and the IPCC are right (ha!), we'd all be starving now.
May 8, 2010 at 2:40 am
[…] Time Lapse Plant Growth « the Air Vent […]
July 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Yet another PR firm. You'll all get yours one day. Pretty much anything in over abundance is a pollutant. CO2 is bad when there's too much of it obviously. But of course it has it's benefits. You're being a deceiving c*nt. This enire website is a garbage.
July 23, 2010 at 4:50 pm
George at post 62 – You'll soon learn this blog is brilliant because it does not "snip" the drose, or the truth of the matter, or the real questions of the matter however phrased.
Bad language however, it any form, well, let's just say.
"Those that insult, self define themselves."
as the thread has been "bumped" let's just raise a point so far missed.
The issue of limiting factors raised in post 1, what a silly point.
Satelites show, undeniably, that the world has been "greening" as atmospheric CO2 levels have risen (whatever is the cause of the rise in atmospheric CO2 levels).
So, let me offer (one) an explanation of why desertification has gone into reverse as CO2 levels have risen.
CO2 increases reduce a plants reqiremnets for water – ergo, as CO2 levels rise, plants CAN grow where previously (at lower CO2 levels) it was too dry…
Are "we" sure "we" have this limiting factor idea correctly, and
ALL the complex relations / interactions nailed….
I thought NOT.
August 18, 2010 at 11:13 am
Beautiful video showing much patience.
And these are Nitrogen fixers too!
Great job!
September 7, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Billig Laptops…
[…]Time Lapse Plant Growth « the Air Vent[…]…
October 9, 2011 at 6:34 am
Air Pollution Control Dry Scrubber…
[…]Time Lapse Plant Growth « the Air Vent[…]…
July 13, 2014 at 11:23 am
Hello every one, here every person is sharing these know-how, thus it's nice to read this web site, and I used to visit this website
every day.


text:
Throughout the Primary Phase our children are encouraged to become independent and enthusiastic learners. The bright and well equipped classrooms are complemented by the facilities that we share with the Secondary Phase, such as the sports' pitches, ICT suites and dining hall, promoting an environment where children can develop fully.
There is an emphasis on individual needs throughout the school, with extra support or challenge for those who need it. English and Maths are paramount but we also value creativity, so we provide a broad and challenging creative curriculum. Sport and physical education are enjoyed by all the pupils, with a strong emphasis on participation for all. Art, music and drama all form part of the curriculum and there are clubs and extra-curricular activities which aim to enrich the children's experiences and involve them in as many positive and exciting activities as possible. More information on the curriculum and extra-curricular activities is available elsewhere on the website.
Residential trips are offered to children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Day visits are also undertaken by all the children to places of interest, complementing and enriching the work taking place in the classroom. We also welcome many visitors to the school for the same reason.
We are really looking forward to moving into our brand new purpose-built building on site which will be ready for September 2016 and will provide us with fantastic new facilities.
Mrs K Heaton
Head of Primary Phase
Principal's Blog
Pupil Premium
Admission Arrangements
Equality Objectives
Ofsted Report
DfE School Performance Table
Ethos and Values
William Hulme's Grammar School
Spring Bridge Road
Telephone: 0161 226 2054
Copyright ©2020
Log in
The school is part of United Learning. United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12.
Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB. Tel: 01832 864 444
Financial Accountability and Freedom of Information
Website Terms, Cookies and PrivacyPolicies

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Learn All About Home Security In This Article
Bad things usually happen when they are least expected. Don't ever assume bad things can't happen to you or your family. Read on to find some excellent tips to make your home as safe as can be.
Be sure your home always looks occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This makes people think you're home. This can be a terrific method of securing your home and keeping burglars at bay.
Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Check their references very carefully. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.
Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet's collar where it's not visible. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.
Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.
Buy fire-resistant building materials. This give your home an extra protection layer. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.
Don't use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. This can indicate that your home will be free and vulnerable during the time.
Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.
You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. If your garage door happens to lift on a track, using a C-clamp can help. the C-clamp prevents the door from opening if it's tightened on the track close to the roller.
See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. Get in touch with the department to determine their offerings.
Criminals are often unpredictable, and it is hard to tell when your home could be a target for a burglar. Rather than hoping you wont be targeted, you should take active steps to prevent it from happening. Use these tips, plus your own research, to give your home protection from burglars.…


text:
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of guest posts from Laura Cushing, one of our amazing Coursera students. Laura is freelance writer and avid course taker (7 courses so far!).
Welcome to the wonderful world of free education! When I started my
first course at Coursera, I was so excited. I had no idea what it
would be like! Would I be able to keep up? Would I be able to interact
with my professor and my fellow students? I was a bundle of nerves
waiting for the course to begin. And when that course opened – there
was so much to do. So many things to discover, and keep straight. Now
that I'm on my seventh or so class, I still feel that excitement of
beginning a new learning experience – but a lot less anxiety. Now I
know where everything is located, and how to use the Coursera system
Here are some tips and tricks for how to get started on your education
Choosing Classes
There are so many classes to choose from! When I first saw the list, I
wanted to sign up for everything. Learning opportunities abound!
After taking a few deep breaths, I started to approach things a bit
more logically. I made a list of the courses I was interested in, and
open them up to watch the introductory videos and read the
requirements. I also got out the calendar to check dates; some
courses overlapped and I knew I wouldn't realistically be able to keep
up with five or six classes at once.
My advice to you is to examine all the classes you're interested in.
Make a list! But then cull that list down to see which ones you can
take together without overwhelming yourself. Remember that most
courses will be offered again, so you can take any classes you miss
the first time during the next go around. Don't just examine start
dates, but be aware of how long a course will run. Also, take a good
look at what the course will involve; most classes list a Work Load
that tells you how many hours per week you can expect to spend on the
class. Don't spread yourself too thin; you want to have a successful
and positive learning experience.
Before Class Begins
When you sign up for a class, you should receive an email that lets
you know that you are registered for said class. Make sure it doesn't
wind up in your spam folder (this happened to me)! Add Coursera to
your address book if your email is picky so that you will receive all
your course notifications. You may want to set up a special folder in
your inbox so that you can view all your Coursera emails together.
Some classes use textbooks. Either it will be one that is free online
(like this
one for the Science from Superheroes to Global Warming Class; or
it will be optional to purchase. If your textbook is optional and you
want to purchase it, you want to get it before the class begins. The
closer to class time, the harder it can be to find the book at a
reasonable price. A lot of textbooks have e-book versions that can be
purchased or even rented for a lower price than a physical copy.
Another great option is to search for a used copy of the textbook from
a used book seller. You can usually purchase a used previous edition
for a fraction of the cost of a new current edition. I ordered my copy
of the Worlds Together, Worlds Apart textbook for my A History
of the World Since 1300 class months before the class started. I was
able to find a previous edition, used but in good condition, for five
Before your classes start, take a bit of time to set up your Coursera
profile and adjust your account settings. You can find both of these
options in the drop-down list under your name in the top navigation
bar. Setting up a profile will allow other students to know a bit
about you. You might want to make some new friends in your classes.
Settings let you set your time zone, change your password if needed,
and change your name and email address. Make sure you are using the
name you want to appear on your certificates of completion.
When Class Starts
The big day is finally here! Your course is starting! When you take a
look at the course's homepage for the first time, there is definitely
a feeling of excitement. So many things to do! Do you jump right into
watching videos? Read the readings? Get on board with the discussion
forums and introduce yourself? So many choices. In the center of the
page, there is a section for Announcements. There is usually a Welcome
to the Course sort of posting there, which is a great place to start.
The right column will show you what is new – new lectures posted, new
quizzes, and/or assignments. The left column contains links to all the
course content. Some helpful professors mark a section with Start
Here. If they don't, a good idea is to start by checking the syllabus.
This will show you what you are in store for as the course progresses.
If your syllabus lists dates that quizzes and assignments are due, it
can be helpful to note these on your personal calendar.
Before you do anything else, take a moment to adjust your course
settings. When you are on your course page, the dropdown list
under your name in the top navigation bar will include course
settings. On your course settings page, the first option is for Email
preferences. I recommend setting this to receive notifications from
the course staff – but NOT from the discussion forums. The reason for
this is that once you start participating on the discussion forums,
you may find yourself with threads that receive hundreds of replies.
This can easily lead to inbox flooding which can feel overwhelming.
You can still check threads you are subscribed to even when you aren't
receiving email notifications; just click the Subscribed button on the
discussion boards to bring up those threads. The second setting on
the course preferences is for your video settings. Choose what is
appropriate for you, or leave it set at default.
Making Class Work
Here's some tips for getting the most out of your class work! I've
found that when it comes to watching a class video, I get the most out
of them with subtitles on. To turn subtitles on, click the CC button
and select your language. I take notes as I watch a video, pausing
where I need to. I find that writing notes out by hand helps me
remember best, but I know of some students who print out the subtitle
text and highlight important points. There's no wrong way, just find
what works for you. One thing that has been invaluable to me is being
part of a small study group. Whether it's on Facebook or StudySpace,
or an in-person meetup, a small study group of friends can help you
focus and stay motivated.
Find a schedule that works for you. If you have a little spare time
each day, watch one video a day and do a little reading throughout the
week. If you have a big block of time on a weekend, use that to
complete a project or test. Keep involved with discussions, and use
the discussion boards to read up on or ask questions about any topic
you want more information on.
When Class Ends
Double check to make sure you have met all the requirements you need
to in order to get a certificate if your class is offering a
certificate of completion. If there is still time, finish up any
assignments you may have missed, even if you will only get partial
credit. The forums and materials will stay up for a short time after
the class has ended, but in many cases are gone within a month or so.
So if there are any threads you particularly enjoyed and want to save,
or you want to make a copy of your essays, now's the time to do it.
When grades have been tallied, you will usually receive an email that
you have earned your certificate of completion. Not all courses offer
certificates. For graded courses, you will be able to find your
records on the Course Records page (
https://www.coursera.org/account/records ) . From here, you will be
able to print any certificates of completion you have earned and also
share your scores on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. Go ahead and
share, and be proud! You've earned it.
–Laura Cushing, Coursera student4


text:
We pride ourselves on our coolers and drinkware surviving in battlefield conditions and beyond. However, during normal use, should you experience an issue with the workmanship or materials of one of our products within our warranty period, we will work with you to repair or replace it, at our discretion.
Our warranty extends from the date of purchase for:
|Drinkware & Coolers
|1 year
|Gear & Accessories
|1 year
The PATRIOT warranty is our exclusive warranty and there are no other warranties that extend beyond the description contained here.
The following conditions are not covered under this warranty:
- Normal wear and tear (including chips and scratches, abrasions, discolorations or fading due to usage or exposure to sunlight or washing.
- Damage caused by abuse, misuse, neglect, unauthorized alterations or repairs, water damage or failure to follow recommended care and use instructions.
- Products used commercially, that are abused or misused, or products that are structurally altered or subject to undue stress beyond the physical limits of the materials.
- This warranty does not include any manufacturer's responsibility for any consequential or incidental damages resulting from the use of the product or from any malfunction. Under no circumstance will PATRIOT be responsible for any amount of damages beyond the amount paid for the product at retail. PATRIOT will not be held liable for the contents of any cooler should it fail to operate as advertised.
- The warranty shall not apply to any product, or component thereof, which is not returned according to our warranty policy and return procedures. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state.
This warranty is valid for the original retail purchaser of products purchased directly from the PATRIOT website at PatriotCoolers.com. Please contact the original place of purchase if you purchased our product(s) from a reseller. Proof of purchase must be provided upon request to verify warranty coverage. Please retain purchase receipts for your records.
PATRIOT reserves the right to change product models and designs without incurring any obligations to incorporate such changes into already complete products, or those in the hands of retailers or consumers. PATRIOT products repaired or replaced under warranty may or may not incorporate such changes.
Shipping charges to and from PATRIOT Coolers are the responsibility of the consumer.
To submit a warranty claim, please fill out our Warranty Service Request Form.


text:
TrichoCare has a wealth of experience in providing events and education in Trichology – the science of the hair and scalp.
TrichoCare Education was founded by Brian Plunkett ART MIT, who ran salons in Hertfordshire before qualifying as a Consultant Trichologist. Brian Plunkett is a former Vice President of the Institute of Trichologists, and now practises at clinics in Bedfordshire and London.
Our approach at TrichoCare Education stems from Brian's many years of trichology practice. We firmly believe that most common hair and scalp disorders can be treated by hair professionals through accurate diagnosis and without the need for complicated courses of treatment.
Brian is passionate about teaching and improving skills. When hair professionals learn to understand more about hair and scalp problems, they can give a more informed, helpful and valuable service to their clients.
"Taking a qualification in Trichology will open the door to many opportunities for you as part of a new generation of hair professionals. It increases your knowledge and skills, offers new revenue opportunities and give you more exciting career options."
Brian Plunkett
TrichoCare Education is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in its training programmes.
For a copy of the Code of Conduct, please contact us.
TrichoCare Education is based in Milton Keynes and has well-established training links with Further Education colleges worldwide.
Meet the team
Brian Plunkett MITHead of Education
Brian is the founder of TrichoCare Education. He designs our Trichology events and courses, keeping them up to date and relevant to your practice and profession
Nick PlunkettManaging Director
Nick organises the team and makes sure everyone has all the resources they need to deliver you the best possible Trichology learning experience
Keith Barker-Jones Cert. Ed.Course Director
Keith maintains the high quality standards of TrichoCare's course materials and teaching, and will help you get the most from your event or course experience
Susan RingsellOperations Manager
Susan manages all events and courses, ensuring that hair professionals, FE colleges and students are able to get involved in Trichology when and where they want.
Bruce ToddDevelopment Manager
Bruce captures the latest information and news from hair professionals, colleges and learners and communicates them to you and your peers
Katie PhilipsSenior Lecturer
Katie has worked in salons, on a cruise ship and as a lecturer in FE Colleges. She now practices and lectures in Trichology at satellite centres around the UK.


text:
LazgaM is the most exciting experience for everybody from 7 to 77 years old! Enjoy the sci-fi style adrenaline-pumping adventure supported by modern laser technology in Bangkok's first indoor laser game.
4 days before start
The Price is All-In
All data is encrypted
Duration: 15min
People per booking: 1 - 32
Age restrictions: 7 - 77
Departure location:
Holiday Inn 5th Floor Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
View on map
Arrival location: Same as departure
Timezone: Asia/Bangkok


text:
- NASHIA: Washington Weekly Update
- News from the National Assoc. of State Head Injury Administrators
- NASHIA Washington Weekly: DoD announces TBI research initiatives
- NASHIA: Washington Weekly Update, 2/15/2013
- Hawaii's Dept. of Educ. Concussion Management Program: 8-25-11
- Lawyer of the Year-Medical Malpractice Attorney Hawaii shares results from concussion study
- Lawyer of the Year – Medical Malpractice announces 1st Mtg. at Brain Injury Resource Ctr.
- Injury Attorney Mattoch named Honolulu Magazine's Lawyer of the Year
Monthly Archives: August 2013
NASHIA: Washington Weekly Update
With offices in Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Wailuku, and Lihue, personal injury attorney Ian Mattoch is close-by to help victims injured in accidents in the State of Hawai`i. To identify and create resources for clients with traumatic brain injury, Ian … Continue reading
Posted in More About TBI, Recent TBI News, TBI Resources and Links Tagged attorney, brain, Hawaii, Hilo, Honolulu, injury, Kailua, Kona, lawyer, Waimea Leave a comment


text:
Etruscan Bracelet silver 925 18kt gold coated
Etruscan Bracelet | The Hidden Countship
Etruscan Bracelet silver 925 18kt gold coated
Materials: Silver 925 | 18kt gold coated
Dimensions: 20.3 cm (Length) 1.7 cm (Width)
Made in Tuscany
This 18-karat-gold-vermeil bracelet is a wonderful reproduction of a stunning ancient Etruscan design. The original was made in the 7th century Before Christ in the area of Italy now known as Tuscany and Umbria. Enjoy a timeless elegance.


text:
A setting sun over crystal blue water is the backdrop at this unique villa resort. Each villa has beautifully appointed interiors, its own pool and a two-mile long stretch of powdered-sugar sand outside your front door. Lose your cares at this beach side West Indian village as you wind your way through the property toward the sea. Lined with lush palms and tropical flowers, Meads Bay Villa Resort engulfs you in a true Caribbean experience.
The resort consists of four, 2-bedroom deluxe beach villas designed to maximize relaxation, comfort and privacy. Enjoy your own private pool or relax in the spacious living room for a quiet moment away from the ever-present sunshine. Each villa boasts a fully-equipped kitchen with dining area perfect for entertaining.
The bedrooms are appointed in such a way to enhance the villa's crisp, clean, Caribbean feel. You'll love your new Caribbean home. Our on-site host can arrange the perfect day for you or your guests, starting with an exciting scuba adventure, a relaxing sailing excursion or a round of golf on a championship course.
Next, workout the kinks with an invigorating massage in your villa and end the day with a gourmet dinner prepared by your private chef (available upon request). Or, spend time engaged in Anguilla's favorite event, relaxing. Forget your worries beach side as the hours slip away on a stretch of sandy perfection fronted by the turquoise sea.
Meads Bay Villa Resort offers something unique to Anguilla and sought after by all beach lovers, the privacy of your own villa in the sand just steps away from tranquility wrapped in blue. So leave your shoes at home at Meads Bay Beach Villas, you won't need them.
Meads Bay Villa Resort offers vacation villas built to highest standards featuring complete top quality interior and exterior appointments. Each two-bedroom villa is beautifully designed, has its own pool, and is surrounded by lush palms and tropical flowers. And, of course, the property fronts one the Caribbean finest beaches.


text:
Pretty much all the art and drawing stuff that's not anatomy related. Most of these are also video tutorial series, but there's also some other fun stuff mixed in :]
Draw your own fantasy map! Create your own fantasy realm!!
Draw D&D!
A fun series where I draw randomly generated fantasy characters/NPCs.
How to Draw Like… (Series)
In this series I study different artist's styles and try to break them down so we can learn how to draw like them!
Character Design
All things character design related. Videos on shape in character design, character design studies, and more.
I really like drawing crazy chibi fantasy characters :] If you don't know what I mean, click above worthy adventurer and ye shall find out!
Video tutorials on digital painting landscapes. These are really fun, easy ways to dip your feet into digital painting if you are a beginner or to relax and have fun if you're more advanced.
Perspective Drawing
A video series on how to get an intuitive sense for drawing perspective. Specifically good method for people who really don't like practicing perspective drawing!
Digital Painting
Digital painting video tutorials that are done in real time and use basic photoshop brushes, tools, etc.


text:
Dress: Topshop
Shirt: Topshop
Shoes: New Look
Satchel: H&M
Necklace: H&M
Belt: Primark
Just a quick outfit of the day post today. If you've read my blog before you will have seen that I'm a fan of a shirt and necklace combo. I like to see a bit of chunky necklace peeking out from under a collar.
I've worn this dress a few times on it's own but this time I decided to wear a denim sleeveless shirt under the dress. I added a gold gem drop necklace, a tan belt, satchel and loafers to complete the look. I don't always go matchy matchy when it comes to belts, bags and shoes but I just liked the idea of it with this outfit. For me navy and tan go together (in the words of Grease) like whop-ba-baloo-bam-a-whop-bam-boo. If you have a tan I also think navy is the best colour to accentuate this.
I curled my hair for a change and of course some hot pink lippy to finish it off. I like the preppy look but I haven't gone as far as the thick black rim glasses and pork pie hats, I really don't suit hats and glasses. As much as I love the look on others I just end up looking a bit silly. I also did a funky rose on pastel nail design which if you follow me on Instagram you would have already seen.
Keep sending me your fab nail art to see and I will feature my faves on my Instagram and blog and credit you. Send pictures to email@example.com


text:
On Saturday May 12th, be a part of America's largest one-day food drive! Be a helping hand in reducing hunger nation wide by participating in the 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger! To take part, simply leave healthy nonperishable food items by your mailbox before your mail carrier's drop off time. Your mail carrier will then take the donated products back to the post office where it will be transported to local food banks.
Looking to do more to help out? You can further contribute to this great cause in one of two ways:
MEND along with other local food banks receive these generous food donations that will be disbursed to families and homeless individuals in need.
View our promotional video here.
For more information regarding the national food drive please visit: https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive


text:
The Rightovers – Vaseline [PREMIER]
The Rightovers are an indie band from Honolulu, HI, and their sound is just as sunny as you'd probably expect.
Primarily the project of Chris Holmes, whose excellent guitar playing oozes over every track, The Rightovers have an easygoing lo-fi sound not unlike PGM favorites The Love Language and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.
Their album Blue Blood, comes out on July 31st, and we're here to premier the latest track, "Vaseline," which takes a slightly more somber tone than much of the record's other tracks.
Despite its slightly somber tone, "Vaseline" has plenty of Holmes' wit and personality. "I see no point in carrying on," he sings," "Your hair's brunette, but I wish it were blonde just like mine."
All the while, layers of guitar give the track a breezy, yet soulful quality that is hard to come by.
Listen to "Vaseline" below, and check back for The Rightovers' album "Blue Bloods" when it drops on July 31st:


text:
Microsoft has announced it is to patch a patch -- it's fixed a hole in XP Service Pack 2.
Microsoft has published the patch through its Web site. It fixes a problem that installing XP SP2 creates with VPNs and can be downloaded here.
Once installed, XP SP2 can cause users to see a 'cannot establish a connection' message if a the machine tries to connect to IP addresses in the loopback address range, according to Microsoft's Web site.
However, Redmond won't be expecting too many hits on the patch yet. XP SP2 has only reached a fifth of the people Microsoft had hoped, missing its target by 80 million.
The patch is the second Microsoft has been prompted to offer following the emergence of XP SP2. Microsoft's CRM product also needed a fix to become compatible with the service pack.
The VPN fix is one of the downloads that features in a pilot programme to test if users' licences are genuine. To download the fix, users are required to have their licences validated through Microsoft's website.


text:
For the Tiny Quilts patterns (little quilts on a stand), see the Tiny Quilts tab.
For the free English-Paper Piecing patterns, see Shine: The Circles Quilt tab.
The Halloween or Christmas Tree Quilt-A-Longs are on their own tab, too.
A Few Words about Rulers • Please read before taking any of my classes.
A recipe for a Mini-Sew Together Bag
(you must own the original Sew Together Bag Pattern,
as well as the Mini-Sew-Together Instructions, which can be found *here*)
A complete blog of free-form letter how-tos on Quilt Abecedary.wordpress.com
Making a Quilt Label (printing it on your home printer)
(and another *here*)
Betsy's Creation in both small and large. Free worksheet.
Sewing Kit for Travel
Note: I replace my good little scissors with a pair of cheap ones from the local dollar shop, in case they are taken by airport security. I also keep extra needles in my suitcase, bringing onboard only two or three.
Teeny and Tiny Christmas Trees (for slipping over plastic picture frame stands)
Mini Quilt Tutorial on its own Tiny Quilt Stand
How to sew Y-seams (or V-seams)
Faced Binding Tutorial
Free Pattern for a Shopping Bag
How to Make a Signature Block for a Bee-mate
Information on my quilt stand,
used for photography
Row Markers
Summer Treat Quilt Block
Pineapple Paper-pieced Quilt Block
Need a Little Help with Inserting Zippers into Bags?
Recovering/Making a Design Wall
Oven Hot Mitts
Sunshine and Shadow Quilt
Basic Tutorial for Polaroid Blocks
How to Make the Double-Polaroid Block Quilt (called "Snapshot")
Harvesting the Wind, inspired by a Portuguese Tile
Want to make some houses? This post has PDF patterns for many of the houses you see.
iPad Cover
Halloween House
This link takes you to a "plan" for cutting out the houses, but it isn't really a tutorial.
June Flowers/Tulips (block only)
Christmas Advent Calendar Pattern
Heart Houses — PDF patterns for these out-of-print blocks
Signature Block (Larger–for a quilt for a friend)
Wonky Baskets
Narrow "stem" or bias binding, applied
Single Binding on a Mini Quilt
Making Lanyards for Quilt Show Badges
Solar Eclipse Block, also known as Mosaic #19
Riley's Quilt (Disappearing Nine-Patch)
A compilation of instructions on how to make this pineapple block


text:
Libyan Rebels Scavenge Weapons from Tank Graveyard
Despite reports that Gadhafi is considering leaving the capital Tripoli, Libya's rebels say their need for weapons is urgent in order for them to defeat the strongman's forces. Video courtesy of AFP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the the ... the ... the ... the ... the ...


text:
The eccentric millionaire Stephen Pillager has a stolen painting hidden away in his personal art gallery. As our extraction team, it's up to you to slip past his security system and retrieve the valuable artwork.
Do you think you have the skills to sneak in, avoid the security system, and leave no trace behind?
The Heist is a great room for puzzlers of all ages (though participants under 13 must be accompanied by an adult). There are no stairs required to enter/exit this room, but some doorways are narrow (27.5"). Please contact us with questions of accessibility.


text:
My favorite is on page 87: "a shift in Biotics, methane poisoning from dinosaur flatulence"
If anything like that was developing now, though, I sure wouldn't know. I currently have the most stopped up runny nose I have ever had in my life. I have no idea why it is this bad, I have to blow my nose (if I can) every couple of minutes and then it starts dripping again. It's not painful, but its really annoying.


text:
You'll be amazed by our outstanding collection of cars that are meant to satisfy a variety of your needs. All you have to do is tell us your requirement and we'll come up with a customized car rental solution for you.
Outstanding Services
You can carry your luggage according to car space anytime and anywhere that helps you to feel safe with your luggage.
Name for Quality Vehicles
Our responsibility to attain the highest level of quality and therefore establishes a Quality Control Policy that the company must follow and sets the objectives it must reach in accordance to this policy.
AT/MT Transmission
Driving an automatic car is possibly the best form of driving when travelling in downtown areas. The feeling of knowing you don't have to think about changing gear makes travelling more relaxed and comfortable.
GPS on Every Vehicle!
Real-time tracking keeps you aware of your asset locations and status information, and historical tracking lets you view a complete history of all tracking sessions recorded over time.
24/7 Availability
We are available 24 hours a day and 7 days week to make your journey safe and comfortable.


text:
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler / Binder: Nicaragua
Length: 5"
Ring: 52
Cost: $8.50
Appearance (0-20): The deep, rich, oily wrapper on the outside of this 601 is what really differentiates this from the Blue or White. It's got nearly perfect color with no visible issues at all. The band is an off colored green that works well with the darker wrapper beneath. As is standard for the 601 blends, the band is a normalized form to represent the brand.
Score: 19
Construction (0-20): The outer wrapper was soft and spongy with just the slightest bit of give to it. There were no concerns on the way the tobacco was set within and the initial cut revealed almost no debris. Initial puffs were a tad tight, but once it was lit it loosened up enough that it hit the proverbial sweet spot. While the burn was a bit on the uneven side the ash held on for almost two inches each time. The ash itself was closer to a gray and a bit flaky.
Score: 17
Strength (0-20): This one absolutely hits the full range that it is billed at, though it begins in a more medium to full range to begin.
Score: 18
Flavor (0-20): Some of the elements that are found in the Blue label are found here in the Green, but with so much more power. Espresso, chocolate, leather, and some pepper on the retrohale are the paramount with this blend. While the complexity doesn't seem to be the name of the game with this stick, you will find the basic four flavors weaving in different quantities to keep the flavor profile interesting.
Score: 18
Value (0-20): The power packed nature of this cigar gives credence to paying the $8.50 price tag, though there are some others on the market that may top this one.
Score: 17
Additional Notes: Paired with water at Cigars International.
Overall (0-100): My preference actually leaned toward the Blue if selecting between 601 cigars, though the similarities are close enough that I would need to think about what I'm really looking for on that given day. The 601 Green looks absolutely gorgeous and has such wonderful robust flavors of espresso, chocolate, and leather that it may come off as too rich for someone to smoke these all of the time. Add to that some slight issues were had with the construction and the pricepoint of $8.50, and you may find yourself straying from this as an everyday cigar. However, it is the perfect complement to a nice big meal.
Score: 89


text:
Nov. 12 Map & Market News
November in Regina has been pretty awesome so far; it doesn't look like a winter wonderland outside and there are still fresh veggies at market! Heliotrope Organic Farm will be set up outside again this week. Inside, you'll find Floating Gardens, Frontier Gardens, Miller's By-Gone Farm, and Stellar Gourmet Mushrooms with fresh produce.
The following vendors will be on the lower level tomorrow:
Ally's Specialty Baking (first indoor market!)
Averlis Foods
Cake Witch Cafe
Clark's Spices
Reem's Kitchen
Rousay Station Wool
Sadza Arts & Craft
South Valley Farm (last market of 2016!)
Stellar Gourmet Mushrooms
Wheelie Good Coffee
ZMZ Smithing
Vendors will be on both the upper and lower levels. In addition to vendors on the lower level, you'll also find Market Meals, hot coffee/tea and RFM Kids' Club. The craft tomorrow will be egg carton snowmen! RFM Kids' Club is free for all ages and the craft changes every week.
On the Market Meals menu this week:
Toasted bagel with cherry spread...$4.00 (Going with the Grain and Over the Hill Orchards)
6 pork dumplings...$8.00 (Cheang's Sinofood)
Sticky rice...$6.00 (Cheang's Sinofood)
2 con carne or veggie empanadas with salsa...$8.00 (Latino Bake Shop and Trogi Foods)
Split pea soup with bread...$6.00 (Eat Simply and Going with the Grain)
5 perogies with garlic sausage...$8.00 (Mila's Home Baking)
Hot beverages:
Upper level: 33 1/3 Coffee Roasters and Cuppa' T'
Lower level: Wheelie Good Coffee and Cuppa' T'
BACK IN: Ally's Specialty Baking, Cake Witch Cafe and Hi Low Angus.
Not all vendors are mentioned above; see the Vendor LIST for all in attendance. Refer to the Market MAP for vendor locations on the upper and lower levels (2 pages!). We're looking for volunteers to help our during our indoor season! Click HERE for more information.
See you at market!
2065 Hamilton St.
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Every Saturday until December 17
Free parking at SaskPower


text:
Content created by
USG Lower Abdomen
This test is for
Test Preparation
What is USG Lower Abdomen?
Ultrasound imaging also called as sonography uses a transducer or probe to generate sound waves and produce pictures of the body's internal structures. It is often used to help diagnose unexplained pain, swelling or infection. It is used to see internal body structures such as tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs. It may also be used to provide imaging guidance to needle biopsies or to see and evaluate conditions related to blood flow. It is also the preferred imaging method for monitoring a pregnant woman and her unborn child. It does not use ionizing radiation, has no known harmful effects, and provides a clear picture of soft tissues that don't show up well on x-ray images.
Know More
Pulse Hitech Health Services Pvt. Ltd. is specialized in ECG, X-ray & Scan Centers. We address your needs with utmost care and ensure your satisfaction in whatever we do. Give us an opportunity to serve you. We will gift you with a pleasant experience.


text:
The finalists of the 2012 Green Ribbon Awards are listed below.
Protecting our biodiversity
Moehau Environment Group (winner)
The Moehau Environment Group is taking action to control pests, and reintroduce and recover endangered bird species on private land in Northern Coromandel.
For 11 years this volunteer organisation has coordinated intensive predator control and restored native habitats on more than 13,000 hectares. This has enabled the recovery of many endangered species including dramatic turnarounds for kiwi, fern bird, bittern, kaka, and marsh crake.
The group works closely with over 450 landowners and multiple community groups. They coordinate and fund intensive pest control and species recovery and reintroduction projects, including a 7900 hectare Kiwi sanctuary, 30,000 hectares of stoat trapping, and 3500 hectares of bait station buffering.
The social and economic impacts of the project and the group's efforts to involve at-risk youth, providing extensive employment opportunities, are key successes of the project.
Project Crimson
The Project Crimson Trust has been working closely with communities for two decades to restore and protect pohutukawa and rata trees and their ecosystems throughout New Zealand. The Trust has three objectives:
- educating – highlighting in particular the cultural, historical, ecological and social relevance of these trees
- supporting communities to undertake their own protection initiatives
- undertaking significant restoration work.
The Trust contributes significantly to the protection of pohutukawa (90 per cent of coastal pohutukawa in Northland had disappeared by 1990) and rata by pest eradications (possum in particular); planting (over 90,000 trees in 2011); and education programmes (especially in primary and intermediate schools) to minimise people's impact on these species.
Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park Partnership – Tui 2000
The Partnership has planted 182,000 ecologically sourced native plants, covering 16.5 hectares of the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, where less than 1.6 per cent of the indigenous vegetation remains. It has reconstructed a restiad peat bog and established three regionally significant forest ecosystems.
The Partnership has a strong engagement with local Māori and has initiated extensive links with local businesses and public bodies. These relationships have helped integrate the restoration work into a wider recreational and environmental programme, based on public awareness, education and advocacy, and expert business planning and market analysis.
Enormous community support has been generated for the Partnership, which has taken a professional approach to ensure the viability of the project. They have successfully coupled this with research and monitoring programmes involving stakeholders.
Minimising our waste
Go Bamboo (winner)
Go Bamboo has developed a 100 per cent biodegradable toothbrush made from bamboo and packaged in recycled cardboard.
Toothbrushes and their packaging contribute towards the millions of tonnes of waste sent to landfill in New Zealand each year. Go Bamboo's packaging can be recycled after use and the toothbrush can be disposed of in a compost bin. Bamboo is a raw material with many environmental benefits.
Toothbrushes are offered to schools as fundraisers in conjunction with schools educating on sustainability, being waste wise, and protecting our oceans and marine life.
This product encourages people to consider alternatives to disposable plastic items. Go Bamboo demonstrates 'design for the environment', designing out waste at the product design phase, avoiding the disposal problem at the end of the product's life.
Kaibosh Food Rescue
Kaibosh Food Rescue started in Wellington in 2008 and recovers edible food waste from suppliers such as markets, bakeries and manufacturers that has not been sold or is near the best before date. Food that would otherwise be sent to landfill is given to charities to distribute to individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet.
Kaibosh Food Rescue's vision is zero food poverty, zero food waste. Volunteers redistribute food to those who need it the most. Food maintains its value and is given to hungry human mouths as opposed to being composted or sent to landfill.
Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park Creeksyde
Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park Creeksyde showcases New Zealand's 'clean and green' image by being environmentally sustainable.
The holiday park educates guests and staff about re-using, recycling and reducing rubbish. Guests are encouraged to think about what they buy and then to divide any waste, including food waste, into recycling bins. Diverting different kinds of waste reduces the amount going to landfill, and reduces the collection and disposal cost for the holiday park. This is measured and monitored monthly.
Staff use home made products to clean around the holiday park to reduce packaging and avoid unwanted chemicals.
The park's owners also raise waste minimisation awareness in their local community by hosting public seminars with community groups.
Protecting our coasts and oceans
West Coast Blue Penguin Trust (winner)
The West Coast Blue Penguin project started in 2004 and has raised awareness and implemented practical conservation work to halt the decline in seabirds on the West Coast. This has been achieved by working with the local community and using research findings to target management.
Mortality rates are being monitored to establish the causes and location of deaths. This research is also valuable to the wider scientific community and other conservation initiatives.
The Trust is working with the New Zealand Transport Agency to erect penguin-proof fences along the coast road, and erecting road signs and signs at beach access points. They are also undertaking habitat enhancement, for example a native planting project at Hokitika Beach.
The project delivers benefits to the local economy as well as significant environmental benefits, not just for blue penguins but other seabirds.
Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust was formed in Christchurch in 2002 as a community initiative to produce an integrated management plan for the Avon-Heathcote Estuary to improve water quality and ecosystems.
The Trust has taken a collaborative approach which has produced a strong management plan with community buy-in. They work with volunteers on practical restoration work and have been successful advocates for the environment in the Resource Management Act process. Advocacy for an ocean pipeline to remove treated effluent was a significant achievement.
The Trust has continued to work through what must be very difficult times following the Christchurch earthquakes.
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust was also a finalist in the Community leadership category.
Sustainable Coastlines
Auckland organisation, Sustainable Coastlines, deliver education and coordinate volunteer beach clean ups, including involvement in the Rena clean up.
The organisation has reached many people through education initiatives and volunteer involvement. Not only have many kilometres of beach been cleaned, but communities have been involved and awareness of the issue has been raised. The benefits of the work are likely to continue well into the future as more people are aware of the problem of marine litter.
Sustainable Coastlines' work has resulted in significant environmental benefits with a large number of people involved and areas covered.
Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions
carboNZero Holdings (winner)
carboNZero Holdings, a subsidiary of Landcare Research NZ Limited, is an internationally recognised greenhouse gas emissions management and reduction certification scheme.
The scheme provides rules, guidance and tools so greenhouse gas can be accurately measured. Once significant sources of CO2 emission sources are identified, appropriate reduction initiatives are developed, and their effectiveness monitored over time.
The carboNZero programme has made a significant contribution to helping companies around the world set and meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. The programme is innovative – encouraging firms to look within themselves to find techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The scheme has gained prominent international recognition which is improving awareness of New Zealand's green credentials and helps our exporters in discerning international markets.
Energy for Industry
Energy for Industry, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Energy Limited, provides a service to energy plant owners and operators to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing operations, whilst maintaining operational capacity, can be difficult. Energy for Industry has worked with Dunedin Energy Centre to successfully retrofit the plant and achieve a 9000 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.
The project has allowed a significant reduction in CO2 emissions in Dunedin and has complementary and beneficial health effects by also minimising SOx and NOx emissions.
J. Friend and Co, NZ Artisan Honey
NZ Artisan Honey was the first New Zealand honey producer to be certified as carbon neutral.
The company has a proactive and innovative business approach to sustainability and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions from all parts of its operations.
They have embedded environmental best practice into their business management – as well as working with their supply chain to encourage them to do likewise. The company is a great example of how a small business can be profitable while demonstrating a strong commitment to the environment.
The company is both carboNZero accredited and certified organic status (asurequality). Their environmental responsibility and product traceability have been highlighted as major factors in their success at winning three Cuisine Artisan Awards and two NZ Food Awards.
Caring for our water
Waiau Trust (winner)
The Waiau Trust, supported by Meridian Energy, has improved the ecological health of the Waiau River through habitat enhancement since 1996.
The Trust has made improvements to a large area of wetland on the Lower Waiau River, creating habitat for birds as well as whitebait and eels.
Public awareness has been raised through engagement of farmers to enter into habitat enhancement agreements on riparian fencing. Riparian fencing protects streams from some of the impacts caused by intensive farming and provides an enduring solution for entire sub-catchments.
Research and monitoring gives a clear indication of the success of the work. There are also potential benefits to the local economy through tourism and the whitebait industry.
Hulls Creek Restoration – Upper Hutt Forest and Bird
For the past 10 years Forest and Bird has carried out restoration projects on Hulls Creek in Silverstream. Stream banks have been colonised by native plants, resulting in reduced erosion and improved habitat for aquatic species.
Monitoring has shown the fish pass to be effective, with young fish of species not previously recorded now present.
Local community involvement is high and awareness of environmental issues has been raised with local schools, scout groups, and other community groups.
Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group
The Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group in the Waikato has carried out habitat enhancements in the Mangakotukutuku Stream including installing a fish passage and planting native vegetation. The fish passage allows migratory species to move through the area and the riparian planting has been associated with recent improvements in the health of the stream.
One of the greatest benefits has been the involvement of the local community and raising awareness of environmental issues in an urban area where the environment might not have been a high priority.
Improving our air quality
Nelson City Council (winner)
In response to Nelson having some of the worst air pollution levels in New Zealand, Nelson City Council notified its Air Quality Plan in 2003. This set in place the phasing out of all open fires in the urban area and certain enclosed burners in the airsheds with the most pollution.
The Council provided financial assistance to help homeowners upgrade to more modern, lower emitting fires or to other non-polluting heating appliances.
They also established the Good Wood Scheme where firewood retailers agree to sell either seasoned wood or green wood that's sold well in advance of it being used.
The Council's Clearing the Air Campaign has resulted in a significant improvement in PM10 levels, well within the National Environmental Standard. The number of breaches of the air standard has reduced from 81 in 2001 to 15 in 2011.
This campaign achieved the most rapid and largest reduction in air pollution levels of any municipality in New Zealand.
Nelson City Council also won a 2012 Green Ribbon Award in the Public sector leadership category.
Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing NZ
Sanitarium operates a breakfast cereal manufacturing plant in Auckland, which emits contaminants to air including PM10.
The company recently invested a significant amount of capital and resources into reducing its atmospheric emissions and improving its environmental performance. Sanitarium has commissioned and implemented an extensive, staged programme of upgrades on its emissions control equipment. The programme began in 2010 and was completed in 2011.
Although a condition in Sanitarium's resource consent is to mitigate discharge, the company has gone the extra mile to establish a plan to reduce atmospheric emissions and improve the plant's environmental performance.
Even though the plant operates in a residential area, no air pollution complaints have been received from the public.
Communication and education
Hurunui College – Nina Valley Restoration Group (winner)
The Hurunui College Nina Valley Restoration Group involves a group of high school students working in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to trap and monitor predators, and reintroduce native species in the Nina Valley on public conservation land in Lake Sumner Forest Park.
The group is actively restoring and conserving the biodiversity of the Nina Valley while educating other students and the wider community about conservation and environmental research and development.
The pest control work of the group has gained NZQA accreditation and has led to professional opportunities for students.
This is an outstanding example of young people working collaboratively with their community, industry, DOC and the tertiary sector to achieve its research and education aims. It is providing research data, product innovation, and a model for working that could have widespread application in New Zealand and overseas.
Kauri 2000 Trust
Kauri 2000 Trust is re-establishing significant stands of Kauri on the Coromandel Peninsula for future generations to enjoy. The Peninsula was once covered in magnificent kauri forests but today fewer than 400 mature giant kauri remain.
The project replants large numbers of kauri, and improves the trees' chances of survival by keeping them free of weeds and re-growth, sometimes for decades, until they are tall enough to survive on their own. This ongoing care promotes the idea of stewardship of the environment for future generations. Around 36,000 kauri have been planted on 36 sites since 2000.
This project makes environmental issues personal by connecting particular trees with memories of individuals, families, or friends. It works with schools so children plant the trees then return to look after 'their' trees.
The Trust has fostered innovative partnerships and has a supporter/donor base from New Zealand and around the world.
The Outlook for Someday sustainability film project for young people
The Outlook for Someday project is a sustainability film challenge for young people. The project gets youth telling their stories on sustainability issues by the powerful and empowering medium of film and in spaces where they are socially active – online, on video, and on their phones.
This inspirational project potentially has a huge reach and high impact, particularly with the categories for all age ranges, and its national and international links. The value of the project is not just in the final product – the short films – but in the creative and educational process of researching and making the films.
There is the potential for important environmental messages to go viral and to reach future generations. The project successfully engages young people in communicating through channels that excite them and that they are most familiar with.
Green economy
Yealands Estate (winner)
Yealands Estate has wineries throughout New Zealand and exports wine to 65 countries. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to using green technology, achieving Sustainable Winegrowing Certification.
They have implemented innovative approaches to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, for example using sheep to graze between the vines, avoiding the need for sprays and tractor mowers.
Yealands has also implemented many practical projects such as developing 25 wetlands, using solar panels and wind turbines to supplement electricity supplies, and harvesting rainwater from roofs.
Yealands has made good use of technology and methods to reduce their environmental impact. They have demonstrated that green technology can contribute to better economic performance providing an excellent example for others in the horticultural and agricultural sector.
Yealands Estate has been consistently at the forefront of environmental best practice solutions, which has contributed to company profitability and international respect for our wine sector.
Fine Particle Application
Fine Particle Application has developed and refined a practical and affordable technology which significantly improves the efficiency of fertiliser application in the agricultural sector.
Fine particle application allows fertiliser to be applied accurately and evenly. Targeted application achieves enhanced pasture growth rates, a 48 per cent reduction in fertiliser leachate loss, and a 32 per cent reduction in atmospheric volatilisation.
Poor fertiliser application means lost productivity for farmers, and can result in significant adverse environmental effects in nearby water bodies.
Following extensive research, the company has refined a technique to address a common problem within the agricultural sector. Unlike many other technological solutions, fine particle application requires only minor adjustment to existing farm apparatus.
Given the widespread nature of fertiliser application in New Zealand and elsewhere, the net benefit to agricultural production and the environment is potentially immense.
TenderRest makes modern eco-friendly funeral caskets. The company has overcome multiple challenges to develop a competitive product in keeping with the principles of sustainability.
As a result of its innovative approach, chemical use has been reduced and caskets are manufactured from natural biodegradable materials – paperboard made of recycled newspaper core, and non-toxic glues and ink. The company implements low energy and water efficient manufacturing processes, and has applied an innovative and holistic approach to product development.
TenderRest has shown a combination of innovative thinking and determined commercialisation, resulting in a novel product that brings sustainability to the fore and challenges established thinking.
The business model successfully 'lays to rest' any notions that incorporating environmental management into a manufacturing process will result in products being uncompetitive.
Small business leadership
Celcius Coffee (winner)
Celcius Coffee, a Wellington-based coffee roasting and café business, is committed to having a minimal environmental impact.
They have been innovative in developing two new products to deal with waste. The Ideal Cup is a reusable takeaway coffee cup, made of easily recyclable materials. At the time development started, no similar product was available. Sweet Grounds was also a new product for New Zealand at the time of its development. It provides a sustainable use for a waste product which would otherwise clog the waste system or go to landfill.
Celcius go above and beyond what is expected of a small business with their community work, and involvement in organisations such as the Conscious Consumers Café Project and Make Wellington Fair Trade. They are a good role model to other café and coffee roasting businesses.
Ratanui Development Company
Ratanui Development Company is a mixed farm system (pigs, sheep and beef, and cropping) run by Neil and Andrew Managh.
The Managhs have consistently undertaken their farming activities to a high standard, ensuring environmental stewardship as well as innovation. They have integrated operations on the farm, effectively closing the nutrient loop. They have addressed air quality issues – odour emissions which affect neighbours of the farm and greenhouse gas emissions – by installing a covered anaerobic pond system.
Ratanui is consistently used as a model 'green pork production farm', and the owners/operators make themselves and their farm available to improve industry best practice.
Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track Limited
Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track Limited runs the only privately operated walking track on Department of Conservation land in Southland. The track was built by the local community in 2001 to generate income in the wake of mass closures of the local sawmills.
Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track is committed to the long-term well-being of the environment and the Tuatapere community. In developing the track as a tourist attraction, the Trust has worked to reduce the impact on the environment.
Measures taken include using renewable energy resources at the back country lodges; educating clients about water conservation; waste management; avoiding excess packaging; and setting traps for stoats and possums.
Tuatapere Hump Ridge track is an excellent role model for back country lodges and track management both nationally and internationally.
Large business leadership
Villa Maria Estate (winner)
Villa Maria Estate is a family owned business and an award winning winery. The owners have a strong sustainability ethos which is a cornerstone of how the business operates.
Villa Maria takes a holistic approach to environmental best practice, implementing a variety of effective initiatives nationwide. These range from growing grapes organically through to projects to reduce environmental effects of operations in the processing plant.
Specific initiatives include reducing fungicide and pesticide applications, energy conservation, and a comprehensive package of emissions reduction projects. The initiatives are significant, ongoing and the benefits are measurable in environmental and financial terms.
Villa Maria is a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing NZ, have BioGro Organic Certification, and have an effective annual emissions plan in place.
Villa Maria has begun to influence other businesses that are part of its supply chain. They have demonstrated that environmental best practice can be part of everyday business, and that it can help drive profitability.
Villa Maria Estate are the 2012 Green Ribbon Awards supreme winner.
Honda New Zealand TreeFund
The TreeFund was established in 2004 by Honda New Zealand and its network of independently owned agents.
Funding is provided for 13 native trees for each car Honda sells. The trees are given to local authorities and community groups to use in a variety of areas and ways, including planting in rural and urban streamside zones, coastal restoration on sand dunes, erosion protection, and restoration (forest) plantings.
Through this programme, Honda has provided over 480,000 trees, with a value of over $2.4 million. Whilst there is a direct biodiversity benefit, the programme also raises environmental awareness amongst those buying cars and in the wider community.
Honda has 'stepped outside the square' in demonstrating environmental leadership. Instead of traditional projects for environmental management, Honda has led a programme to enhance biodiversity with a strong focus on community engagement.
New Zealand Steel Limited
New Zealand Steel operates an integrated steel mill at Glenbrook in Auckland. The company has made good progress towards reducing its environmental impact on a large scale.
Tangible outcomes include 60 per cent of site energy supplied by two co-generation plants; 350,000 tonnes of production waste diverted from landfill; and 98 per cent of site stormwater treated and used within the plant.
New Zealand Steel has demonstrated that good infrastructure and management approaches can foster ongoing environmental improvement. Key challenges of solid waste management, water and energy efficiency, and water treatment have been addressed successfully.
New Zealand Steel has demonstrated that not only can practical solutions be implemented, but that they can make a significant contribution to business profitability – something for other large organisations to emulate.
Public sector leadership
Nelson City Council (winner)
In response to Nelson having some of the worst air pollution levels in New Zealand, Nelson City Council notified its Air Quality Plan in 2003. This set in place the phasing out of all open fires in the urban area and certain enclosed burners in the airsheds with the most pollution.
The Council provided financial assistance to help homeowners upgrade to more modern, lower emitting fires or to other non-polluting heating appliances.
They also established the Good Wood Scheme where firewood retailers agree to sell either seasoned wood or green wood that's sold well in advance of it being used.
The Council's Clearing the Air Campaign achieved the most rapid and largest reduction in air pollution levels of any municipality in New Zealand. The project has been recognised by other councils and overseas as being successful in achieving rapid improvement in air quality.
Nelson City Council also won a 2012 Green Ribbon Award in the Improving our air quality category.
Manawatu River Leaders' Accord – Horizons Regional Council
Photo courtesy of the Manawatu Standard
Horizons Regional Council recognised the need for a community-wide response to the state of the Manawatu River. They initiated discussions with key leaders who debated the issues from contrasting perspectives to reach an agreed solution. This solution came about by way of the Manawatu River Leaders' Accord and subsequent Action Plan.
The concept of an accord to promote collaborative ownership of a problem and solution is a new approach for New Zealand and demonstrates the power of collaboration, led by the Regional Council.
Outcomes are monitored and this information has been used to develop targeted solutions with greater certainty that these will be effective.
The Manawatu River Leaders' Accord has taken account of social and economic benefits as well as environmental benefits in setting goals.
Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategy – A joint project with Ngati Toa Rangatira, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington and led by Porirua City Council
Porirua City Council worked with 12 agencies and organisations to develop the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategy and Action Plan.
Clear and measurable targets have been set to reduce sedimentation and pollutants, and to restore the ecological health of the Porirua Harbour and Catchment. The Strategy was developed over a four year period and adopted in December 2011.
In addition to environmental benefits, social and economic benefits have been considered. The ongoing importance of education and engaging with the community to achieve objectives is recognised.
This innovative project is the first project in New Zealand to take an integrated estuary/catchment approach to management, focussing on protecting the harbour waters. It is also the first time a limits-based approach to manage sediment effects in an estuary has been used in New Zealand. Using NIWA expertise has enabled this to be done.
Community leadership
Te Ara Kakariki – Greenway Canterbury Trust (winner)
Over the past 8 years Te Ara Kakariki – Greenway Canterbury Trust have brought about significant environmental change on the lowlands of the Canterbury Plains, and in particular the Selwyn District. Working with the community, iwi, landowners, Environment Canterbury and nurseries they have promoted using native plants within working lands for ecological restoration as well as for social, cultural, recreational and aesthetic reasons.
They have established an innovative and large scale "Greendot" network of native plantings where native plants, volunteer planters, and management plans are provided to landowners.
The Trust has invested significantly in gathering data and establishing an evidence base through research projects and initiatives, documenting the changes they have brought about.
Te Ara Kakariki delivers significant education and awareness programmes about their work which also benefits the community.
Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust
Christchurch's Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust was formed in 2002 to address a lack of integrated management in this highly urbanised catchment.
The Trust worked with the community to develop a non-statutory management plan that provided a vision for protecting a unique estuarine environment, with a set of practical and achievable goals.
They developed the Ihutai Management Plan and have implemented, monitored and evaluated what has been achieved. This includes community involvement in restoring ecosystems and habitats following the removal of waste water discharge and after the 2010–12 earthquakes.
The Trust has worked with Environment Canterbury to improve people's understanding of the effects their activities and behaviour has on the Estuary.
The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust was also a finalist in the Protecting our coasts and oceans category.
Project Litefoot Trust's "Liteclub" Programme
The Litefoot Trust's Liteclub Programme, led by seven of New Zealand's top sportspeople, seeks to inspire Kiwis to be environmental champions. The primary focus of the programme is to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the New Zealand sports sector.
One of the aims of the Liteclub Programme is to influence the 800,000 members of sports clubs to adopt good environmental practices at home.
This ambitious programme aims to reduce clubhouse emissions by 3150 tonnes and members' home emission by 7875 tonnes over three years.