environmental issues

[raq.teso]

Portugal is quite suited to develop renewable energy systems as it presents a dense hydrographic network, a good average of anual solar exposition and also a wide cost that takes advantage from Atlantic winds.

The main alternative energy sources in Portugal are:
-wind energy
-hydric energy
-solar energy
-photovoltaic energy: this energy is obtained by direct conversion of solar energy into electricity. And it is a reliable system to generate green energy at low costs of maintenance. Actually it was built the major Photovoltaic Park of de world in Moura (Alentejo), Portugal.
-tidal energy
-biofuels
-biogas
-biomass

Off course recycling save energy and resources! It prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for waste disposal, and also lower greenhouse gas emissions. Even though there are still some controversy regarding effective and real energy and money savings.


Greenpeace a recognised private environmental organisation (Environmental NGOs) worldwide is currently working on these issues...Stop climate change,Protect ancient forests, Defending our Oceans, Say no to genetic engineering, Eliminate toxic chemicals,Demand Peace and Disarmament, End the nuclear age, Encourage sustainable trade.

Other well known environmental organisations are (some examples):
Intergovernamental agencies:
-European Environment Agency (EEA),
-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
-UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
Government agencies:
-United States Environmental Protection Agency,
-Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Environmental NGOs:
-International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)
-International Union of Conservation(IUCN)...

[Núria]

• Find four or more alternative energy sources to fossil fuels.
Coal, oil and gas are called "fossil fuels" because they have been formed from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Coal is crushed to a fine dust and burnt. Oil and gas can be burnt directly. Fossil fuels are not a renewable energy resource. Once we've burned them all, there isn't any more, and our consumption of fossil fuels has nearly doubled every 20 years since 1900. This is a particular problem for oil, because we also use it to make plastics and many other products.
Solar Power Towers, Solar Wind Power, Converting Waste Heat to Electricity, Solar Panels, Geothermal Power, Electric Car, Wind Energy, Solar Cells… I don’t know if there are the best suited or only the most used in this moment: solar panels, windmills and biomass plants. Of couse, fossil fuels are the winners.

• Does recycling really save energy and resources? Well, it is the beginning… I firmly believe that recycling will be useful in the future.
• Find out about one current campaign of Greenpeace. They are campaigning for a better exploitation of forests, anti-GM, against pollution, aggressive exploitation of marine resources, climate change ... They have so many fronts!
• What other environmental organisations are there? Intermon-Oxfam, Metges sense fronteres, … There are a lot of them that fighting against some things, they are contributing to help the planet.