Frankly Green

Increasing Acidity Threatens Sea Life

Ocean growing more acidic faster than once thought, study shows

The University of Chicago News
November 25, 2008

Link to Article

Increasing acidity threatens sea life

University of Chicago scientists have documented that the ocean is growing more acidic faster than previously thought. In addition, they have found that the increasing acidity correlates with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a paper published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Nov. 24.

"Of the variables the study examined that are linked to changes in ocean acidity, only atmospheric carbon dioxide exhibited a corresponding steady change," said J. Timothy Wootton, the lead author of the study and Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago.

Marine Life Faces "Acid Threat"

By Julian Siddle
Science Reporter, BBC News

Thanks to Elicia V. for this article!

Link to Article

Man-made pollution is raising ocean acidity at least 10 times faster than previously thought, a study says.

Researchers say carbon dioxide levels are having a marked effect on the health of shellfish such as mussels. They sampled coastal waters off the north-west Pacific coast of the US every half-hour for eight years. The results, published in the journal PNAS, suggest that earlier climate change models may have underestimated the rate of ocean acidification.

Sink the Breakwater - Dedicated to Protecting our Oceans and Waterways

Below is some information on a website called Sink the Breakwater that is dedicated to cleaning up our environment. I met the gentleman who runs the site, Dale Brown, through my blog. Dale is devoted to creating awareness of the harmful effects of plastic and trash in our oceans and waterways. Be sure to check out the video link below.

Thanks for your efforts, Dale!!

Sink the Breakwater Goals:
1. Get the Local and Federal Government Involved.
2. Participate in Local Beach Clean-ups.
3. Eliminate as Much Plastic as Possible From Our Day-to-Day Lives.
4. Speak up When you See Someone LIttering.
5. Clean-up the LA and San Gabriel Rivers as Well as Bologna Creek.
6. Get More People to Watch Synthetic Sea - Link to Video

Blue is the New Green

Thanks to my friend Janelle K. for this article!

Forget for a moment about carbon emissions. The world is facing a more immediate crisis -- it is running out of clean water. The prospect of widespread shortages is creating a new kind of new economy. Meet 11 entrepreneurs who are ahead of the curve, finding opportunity in the largest emerging market the world has seen in some time.

From: Inc. Magazine, November 2008 | By: Adam Bluestein

Link to Article

First, some numbers. The United Nations estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will face periodic and often severe water shortages. And the problem is not limited to the developing world. Here in the U.S., water managers in 36 states are predicting significant shortfalls within the next decade. Even in regions that do have sufficient supplies, aging infrastructure, inadequate treatment facilities, and contamination pose more problems. No surprise, then, that battles over water rights are becoming commonplace, pitting states and sometimes nations against one another in increasingly bitter conflict.

Analysts estimate that the world will need to invest as much as $1 trillion a year on conservation technologies, infrastructure, and sanitation to meet demand through 2030. As in the past, most of the large capital-intensive projects will be done by the usual multinational corporations and engineering firms. But the extent of the problem and the demand for new technology to address it present -- pardon the metaphor -- a kind of perfect storm for entrepreneurs. "Small companies with intellectual property, significant know-how, and a product that's scalable can stake out a niche below the radar of the large companies," says Laura Shenkar, a water expert and consultant in San Francisco. "This is an opportunity that will generate Googles."

Just Say No to Bottled Water - Turn on the Tap

Here is an excellent site created by David Wilk. David has been a writer, editor, publisher, book distributor and web marketer and has been an environmental activist for many years. 

One day, after reading Charles Fishman's brilliant article "Message in a Bottle" on Fast Company magazine's website, he realized that the issue of bottled water carries the essence of almost all the problems we face in modern society. And because clean drinking water is so basic to our lives, these issues and concerns affect everyone and should be relatively easy to address. So on impulse, he made the decision to dedicate a significant portion of his time and effort to helping people better understand the consequences of drinking bottled water. And Turn to Tap was born.

Water Stars in New Ads For P&G's Pur Filters

BrandWeek
by Kenneth Hein

Link to Article

Water is better when it's not in a bottle. That's the theme behind Pur Water Filtration's new "Voice of water" TV campaign breaking this week. Owned by Procter & Gamble, the brand is taking on the besieged bottled water segment with a $45 million-plus campaign which taps Scrubs star Zach Braff as, literally, the voice of water.

"I'm water. I shouldn't be trapped in a bottle. I've got things to do. Trees to grow. Thirsts to quench . . . " Braff says in the first TV spot. Supporting print ads, which debut in November magazines, read: "I don't need a cap and a label. I look better naked." Tag: "Pur. Good, clean water."

PepsiCo Notes Slowing Bottled Water Sales

The New York Times

Link to Article

PURCHASE, NY — PepsiCo, which produces Aquafina brand bottled water, announced on October 14 that it is cutting 3,300 jobs and closing as many as six plants in part because of decreased bottled water sales.

...

A volatile economy, coupled with concern for the environment, has hurt the sale of bottled beverages, with more customers reporting that they reuse bottles and have cut back on consuming bottled beverages.

Information Resources, a research firm, told the New York Times that the sale of water filters has increased 16 percent in the first half of the year, according to the article.

Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Major Brands, 38 Pollutants

Bottled water contains disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and pain medication

Environmental Working Group - October 2008

Authors: Olga Naidenko, PhD, Senior Scientist; Nneka Leiba, MPH, Researcher; Renee Sharp, MS, Senior Scientist; Jane Houlihan, MSCE, Vice President for Research

I recently attended an excellent presentation by Ken Cook, the co-founder and President of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I urge you to visit their web site which contains a wealth of information about toxins in our environment. On the site you will find information and product reviews on things like pesticides in produce, the best/safest sun screens, as well as current legislation and how you can help make positive changes. I plan to post additional information from their site but you should definitely take the time to browse it yourself!! 

Link to Article

The bottled water industry promotes an image of purity, but comprehensive testing by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals a surprising array of chemical contaminants in every bottled water brand analyzed, including toxic byproducts of chlorination in Walmart’s Sam’s Choice and Giant Supermarket's Acadia brands, at levels no different than routinely found in tap water. Several Sam's Choice samples purchased in California exceeded legal limits for bottled water contaminants in that state. Cancer-causing contaminants in bottled water purchased in 5 states (North Carolina, California, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland) and the District of Columbia substantially exceeded the voluntary standards established by the bottled water industry.

Measuring Your Water Footprint

     * Individuals can make a difference by gauging their own 'water                 footprint'
    * Agricultural sector uses up 85 percent of world's freshwater supplies
    * Global water treaty should include basic food-water rights for all
    * The U.S. water footprint per capita is twice the world average

By Rachel Oliver, CNN

Link to Article

HONG KONG, China -- Most people by now will be familiar with the term 'carbon footprint' and may even have calculated it themselves, but how many are familiar with their 'water footprint'?

It's about time we all learned what it is, says Professor Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Professor in Multidisciplinary Water Management at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, as soon it will be influencing how we live our lives.

Has the Bottled Water Well Finally Run Dry?

B r a n d w e e k        
S e p t   7 ,   2 0 0 8
- B y   K e n n e t h   H e i n

Link to Article

The market for bottled water may be drying up. Despite massive discounting, brands like Aquafina and Poland Spring are experiencing a sales drought unlike any the category has ever seen.

After almost a decade of triple and then double-digit growth, sales volume grew less than 1% for the first half of the year, per Beverage Digest, Bedford Hills, N.Y.

The chief culprit: the economy. Shoppers are less interested in paying for a product that they can get for free.