Green Man Blog

---

by Jason Burke. Indians have reacted with fury to President Barack Obama's tough stance against BP, accusing the US of double standards over industrial accidents after the failure to convict Americans involved in the Bhopal disaster of 1984 or to obtain what many view as adequate compensation for victims.

The anger goes beyond that of campaigners or activists with some of India's best-known writers and journalists weighing in.

"It looks like Indian children's lives are cheaper than [those of] fish," Chetan Bhagat, the country's best-selling writer, said. "Obama should bang his fist on the table. If he can do that for fish, how about our kids? Or are they only Indians?"

Continue reading "India fury over US 'double standards' on BP and..." »

---

by Martin Wainwright. Warm as bathwater, the first gusher from Britain's new "underground central heating system" showered over a Pennine field today, while scientists and engineers applauded.

Tapped a kilometre down, hot reservoirs in granite fissures below Weardale are set to service a new "eco-village" in the valley, and provide the country's first naturally warm spa since the Romans at Bath.

Continue reading "Natural hot reservoirs harnessed by scientists..." »

Note: Today's guest article is from Jay Chua:

People are always talking about living green. From the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and now even in the decors they have at home. There’s really something about going green that makes everybody interested and willing to change their old home decors to those which can be labeled as green. It all starts from using naturally made furniture like wood and bamboo. Proper installation, landscaping, and the choice of decors and furniture are also put into consideration. So why is everybody into green home decors? What can you gain from them? Here are 10 things you can get from having them at home:

Continue reading "10 Things You Can Get From Going Natural At Home" »

---

Our guest article today is from Barbara Young. Barbara writes about solar power, and here she gives us the basic facts, history, and technology concerning this important power source.

Solar energy is radiant energy which is produced by the sun. Each day the sun radiates, or sends out, an incredible volume of energy. The sun radiates more energy in a second than people have used since the beginning of time!

The energy of the sun originates from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms. The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to form helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.

Continue reading "The Facts Behind Solar Polar" »

---

from the UK Guardian. When it comes to bikes, I'm always game for a new experience. But the World Naked Bike Ride, an annual protest about the vulnerability of cyclists, always seemed like a bridge too far.

As a concept it's brilliant – it reminds everyone that we are nothing but frail flesh and bone, exposed to the dangers of the sturdy metal traffic. But I was a tad shy.

Continue reading "Cyclists strip off for World Naked Bike Ride" »

---

by Helen Pidd. The oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico is even worse than previously thought, with twice as much oil spewing into the ocean than earlier estimations suggested, figures show.

Latest estimates from scientists studying the disaster for the US government suggest 160-380 million litres (42-100 million US gallons) of oil have already entered the Gulf. Most experts believe there is more oil gushing into the sea in an hour than officials originally said was spilling in an entire day.

Continue reading "BP oil spill estimates double" »

---

by Justin McCurry. Cinemas in Japan have cancelled plans to show an Oscar-winning film about the country's annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins after far-right campaigners threatened to disrupt the screenings.

Unplugged, the Japanese distributor of The Cove, said three cinemas had cancelled screenings amid fears they would be disrupted by ultra-nationalists, who have denounced the film as "anti-Japanese".

Continue reading "Japanese cinemas drop dolphin slaughter film" »