I'm so excited to visit Mekong Delta next month and take some photos.
source: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/video/vietnam-s-watermelon-farmers-turn-flooding-challenge-into-an-opportunity-3824072.html
My favorite fruits of them all: water melon ^.^ I'm so excited to visit Mekong Delta next month and take some photos. source: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/video/vietnam-s-watermelon-farmers-turn-flooding-challenge-into-an-opportunity-3824072.html
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Next time when you have an outdoor picnic, remember the name: LEAF REPUBLIC Leaf Republic is a start up company based in Germany. Their job is developing the outdoor tableware which is renewable, biodegradable as a leaf falling from the tree. Here are some features of the product:
This company is currently funding on Kickstarter to run full production. So if you are German, please fund for them, and for our planet. Source:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/643319217/beleaf Excellent way to collect water. A lesson from Peru. From traditional agriculture to hydroponic and now AERO FARMS. Lets see how we grow plan in the future without soil, sunlight or pesticides. Aero Farm is a start up company in USA that expected to provide 2 millions pound of fresh, leafy greens for New Jersey and New York a year. Let take a look at their technology:
=> No need of pesticides => Product is clean, dry and ready to eat right after harvesting => The price is same with organic lettuce The success of this farms will promise the brighter future for urban agriculture, where fresh greens is produced nearby and easy to ship to the city. Source:
http://aerofarms.com/ http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-aerofarms-the-worlds-largest-vertical-farm-in-newark-2016-2 In January 2015, the first off shore wind farm of Vietnam has launched after 5 years being constructed in Bac Lieu province. This project is also the first offshore wind project in Asia as well as Mekong Delta Region. The farm includes 62 wind turbines of 1.6 MW each is now fully operational, generated approximately 320 million KWh/ year. The wind turbines are supplied by General Electric (GE), which has manufactory in Hai Phong province, North of Vietnam. The turbines are chosen for this project have a rotor diameter of 82.5m and a swept area of 5,346 m2. They use a doubly-fed asynchronous generator with a partial converter system and equipped to be automatic fold in bad weather. Each turbine made of stainless steel and expected to last 22 years. In the next stage of the project, 71 more wind turbines of 2.0 MW which have total output 142 MW will be constructed and expected to be operational in the end of 2018. The sources of energy in Vietnam mainly come from petroleum, followed by coal, and hydroelectric power. Renewable or green energy is nearly new in the country. With over 3,000 kilometres of coastline and various of islands, Vietnam has much potential in wind power, which total capacity is estimated around 24,000 megawatts. This capacity can be covered for the current thermoelectric power which generated from coal. Therefore, the first offshore wind farm in Bac Lieu is the very big step toward the renewable and sustainable energy. Besides that, the farm also supports for the local development by providing jobs and power. The recent announcement of new cable car system project will put Son Doong cave and its environment in risk. The expected cable car system which 10.6km length will go through Vietnam’s Unesco-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park. The $212m project is developed by Sun Group which is believed to bring mass tourism opportunities to this area. The cable will connect Son Doong cave with a complex resort and other facilities for tourism. However, the plan is received a numerous oppositions from both experts and public due to concern with its environmental impacts. The construction of new cable system could damage the currently fragile network of caves in this area and create high potential in collapse the cave systems. Furthermore, an increase amount in number of tourists also put pressure to the weak infrastructure in this areas. This fear is real based on what happened in some tourist attractions in Vietnam such as Ha Long Bay or Phu Quoc Island. Sun group has already built cable systems in many tourist attractions in Vietnam: Ba Na Hills, Fansipan (Vietnam's tallest moutain) and Ha Long Bay. Although all concerns and oppositions, the government said the plan has not yet accepted but still in discussion process. Vietnamese netizens have raise many campaigns called "Save Son Doong" to against the cable plan. In my opinion, the cable system disadvantages is obviously outweigh the advantages. The plan should stop immediately.
References:
<http://www.theoceancleanup.com/the-problem.html> D.Clements, '20-Year-Old to Launch World’s First Ocean Cleaning System Next Year', May 2015. <http://www.discovery.com/dscovrd/nature/20-year-old-to-launch-worlds-first-ocean-cleaning-system-next-year/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=DiscoveryChannel> 'Marine pollution, Centuries of abuse have taken a heavy toll', May 2015. <http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-marine-pollution/> Dovas, '20 year old inventor's idea for how to make ocean clean itself will be launched in Japan', June 2015. <http://www.boredpanda.com/20-year-old-inventor-ocean-cleanup-boyan-slat/> Marine problems: pollution <http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution/> K. Martini, 'The Ocean Cleanup, Part 2: Technical review of the feasibility study', July 2014. <http://deepseanews.com/2014/07/the-ocean-cleanup-part-2-technical-review-of-the-feasibility-study/> Sargassum is a brown seaweed that can found a lot in tropical ocean where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. The maximum length of it about 10m, with small leaves and gas-filled bladders which help it afloat. In many tropical country like Vietnam, sargassum used to be an issue because it can impede boat traffic and swimmers in the past. But now, sargassum is more and more scarce and going to extinct in some area of Vietnam due to over exploited. In Vietnam, Sargassum concentrates and distributes in the Middle part of Vietnam. It has high economic value and number of application: from food to medicine and industry. Furthermore, it plays a significant role in the marine system, provides an area for many species resting, feeding and breeding. Study in southern England found 80 animal species, 52 seaweed species and 9 fungi living on or attached to Sargassum (Withers et al, 1975) . It also provide food for many marine species like sea turtle. There are some reports indicate the benefits of Sargassum in preventing beach erosion. When it stop along the beach, it decomposes into nutrient for various plants that grow in the dunes. in Vietnam, Sargassum is harvested mainly to produce animal feed and fertiliser. In the past, it is abundance and can find easily along the beach. But now, fisher have to go further and diving to collect Sargassum. A scarcity in Sargassum is associated with the scarcity of fish and another marine species. When harvesting Sargassum, they also harvest seed of many marine species such as fish, shrimp, octopus. They destroy not only Sargassum multicum but also marine ecosystem. They seek for small money but lose big profits. Therefore, protection of Sargassum as well as protection marine ecosytem should be in action. Government should limit the quantity and the time harvesting so that Sargassum can reproduce effectively. Source: Sargassum muticum (Yendo, 1907). Retrieved 2/6/2015. <http://www.exoticsguide.org/sargassum_muticum> M.Gaskill, 'Significant Sargassum: The golden floating rainforest', 2013. Retrieved 2/6/2015. <http://www.alertdiver.com/Sargassum> <http://news.zing.vn/Tan-sat-rong-mo-post441374.html> Lucky Iron fish is a 7.6 cm long and 200 grams weight fish-shaped cast iron ingots that can provide up to 75% of an adult's daily iron intake and nearly 100% for children to stop iron deficiency anaemia. This is a project developed by Dr.Christopher Charles in 2008. There are more than 3.5 billion people in the world affected by iron deficiency. It can leads to anaemia, weakness, impaired cognitive ability, compromised physical development in children and increased risk of illness. The problem is significant in many developing countries such as Cambodia. While iron supplements is unaffordable in this country and can cause side impacts. The lucky iron fish is provided free and easy for use with no negative effects. The fish are put in boil water at least 10 minutes to leach elemental iron then take out, adding lemon to absorption of the iron. The report indicates that there is 50% decrease in the incidence of clinical iron deficiency anaemia, after 9 months using Lucky Iron Fish everyday. More than 46,000 men, women and children have better health since the project began. Furthermore, each fish is produced by local with recycling materials and packaged from handmade palm leaves. The fish shape is considered as lucky in Cambodia culture. Now it brings better health for them. The project is planning to expand to world wide, especially in developing country where health issue mainly caused by imbalance diet. References:
<http://www.luckyironfish.com> M. D'estries, 'Lucky Iron Fish may help billions with anemia', May 2015. <http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/lucky-iron-fish-may-help-billions-with-anemia> J. Prost, 'How cooking with an iron fish is saving lives in Cambodia', May 2015. <http://www.techly.com.au/2015/05/19/cooking-iron-fish-saving-lives-cambodia/> Ecocapsule is an energy efficient house, packed into a 2.5 metre wide and 4.5 metre long egg-shaped pod. The capsule contain a 9,744 watt-hour battery, a 750 watt wind turbine and solar cells that offers you a off grid life in any location in the world with sunlight. It also includes rainwater collection and filtration system. The water will be funnel downwards, removing bacteria along the way by surface membrane filter, then storage in tank underneath the floor. Nice Architects say the Ecocapsule can support up to a year in off grid locations. With warm bed, running water for kitchen and flushing toilet, hot shower it can be a luxury dwelling for 2 adults. the efficient spatial layout allows not only space for household facilities but also sport or research equipment storage. The walls are well-insulated and can charge the electric car via connector. The capsule can be transported by trailer or ship due to a small shape. It can be transport worldwide.the potential applications of Ecocapsule is numerous, from providing shelter in disaster areas, scientific research stations or a accommodation for travellers. Nice Architects will unveil its prototype at the Pioneers festival in Vienna on May 28, taking pre-orders at the end of 2015 and shipping in the first half of 2016. the price will be releases later this year, I think it won't be cheap. And the shipping cost is also steeply, for example: shipping to Melbourne, Australia, will cost approximately $1,632 by their estimates, while about $2,394 to Newyork. The company says the price will be released later this year, though there’s already a steep shipping cost. Sending the capsule from Slovakia to New York, for instance, will cost you €2,200 ($2,383) alone, and the capsule itself is likely to run to tens of thousands of dollars. References: Retrieved 28/5/2015 <http://www.ecocapsule.sk/exterior> Adam S, 'Portable, solar-powered ecocapsules mean you can live rent- and electric-bill free, globally'. Retrieved 28/5/2015 <http://qz.com/413081/portable-solar-powered-ecocapsules-mean-you-can-live-rent-and-electric-bill-free-globally/> Harry R, 'The Ecocapsule lets you live off the grid anywhere in the world', May 2015. Retrieved 28/5/2015 <http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/26/the-ecocapsule-lets-you-live-off-the-grid-anywhere-in-the-world-5216068/#ixzz3bPo2srvg> |
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March 2017
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