Month: November 2005

At Tetra Pak, Trash Gets a New Lease on Life

Tetra Pak is picking up after itself, as it were, by recycling waste from its own packaging materials.

The revolutionary cartons produced by packaging giant Tetra Pak were used as containers fo? a broad range of products such as milk, juice, tomato sauce, and wine, and have now been converted into tables, chairs, trays, and even key holders. A few low-cost houses built by Habitat for Humanity in the Philippines are also sporting Tetra Pak "carton" doors.

The Philippines is the latest in a growing list of countries where the packaging giant Tetra Pak is using recycling technology developed in Germany to clean up the "mess" it is making. Quietly, it has started a recycling program that links up students, consumers, the physically handicapped and street children.

"Care and Share," the recycling program, has two components. A collection/retrieval campaign represents the "Care" part. Launched in 2002 with only eight schools initially participating, the campaign now involves 50 private schools. Special bins have been installed in the schools where faculty and students can put the empty Tetra Pak cartons, including those from their homes. The campaign hopes to teach students to care for the environment by recycling starting with the Tetra Pak packages.

The program’s other component, "Share with the Less Fortunate," has provided jobs to former street children cared for and trained by the non-governmental organization Tuloy sa Don Bosco ("Welcome to Don Bosco," a Catholic vocational school). The Tetra Pak program has also given new money-earning opportunities for the disabled workers at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. (Home without Stairs), another NGO that trains and employs the physically handicapped. The workers have substituted the Tetra Pak carton boards for plywood, using them for items like picture frames, desk organizers and small furniture, the sale of which helps sustain the institution’s operations.

Tetra Pak’s partner in breathing new life into discarded packages – and in providing gainful employment to street children – is the Trans-National Paper Corporation, formerly a publishing house, which is now in the paper recycling business. Trans-National uses a machine made by the Tetra Pak office in India in its manufacturing plant in Tanza, Cavite, some two hours southwest of the capital city of Manila.

Trans-National easily accommodated the recycling of used Tetra Pak cartons without a lengthy training or retraining for its workers. The process begins with the shredding of the packages. Shredded pieces are soaked in water then placed in a mold the size of a full-length board before passing through the machine that dries the board.

Lorenzo P. Ligot of the Tanza plant said boards from the packages contained exactly the same elements that the original cartons had. No chemicals were added during the process. The shreds were bound together by the plastic that was already a component of the original package. When heated, the plastic melted and spread, binding the other components.

Ligot said the board had already been used in a few houses built by Habitat volunteers. He added that the material was "cheaper than plywood, would not warp and was resistant to termites." It may not even be necessary to paint the board as it retains the colors of the packages used; giving the finished product built-in designs and colors. Ligot said the board might also be a suitable substitute for wallpaper because, aside from already having its own patterns and color, it was very flat when installed, eliminating the problem of bumps.

Tahanan workers substituted the boards for many of their products that would otherwise have used wood. At the moment, they are making picture frames, trays, key chains, desk organizers and clocks, pen holders, magazine racks, tables and chairs, among others, out of the Tetra Pak carton boards. Joy Cevallos-Garcia, Tahanan’s chief executive officer, said she was drawn to the Tetra Pak initiative because "it helped clean the environment."

Aside from actual recycling of used cartons, Tetra Pak is also involved in advocating for environmental protection. Marily C. Gutierrez, communications and environment manager, said the company was organ?zing puppet shows in schools that brought the message of recycling to kids in an entertaining manner. "We also have videos on environment/recycling Tetra Pak packages (and will be distributing) a teacher’s guide (teaching material for teachers about recycling, environment etc.)," she said.

The company, a consistent supporter of the Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum), has set up a Tetra Pak Craft Room at the museum. For several years now, it has co-sponsored with the children’s museum art contests for kids using Tetra Pak packages.

Aside from the Philippines, Tetra Pak has recycling programs in Germany (paper and boards that are made into furniture), Chile (boards), Thailand (paper and boards), India (boards), Pakistan (boards), China (boards), and Italy (paper).

INVITATIE FESTIVALUL VOLUNTARILOR 2005

Pe parcursul desfasurarii Festivalului vor fi mentionate si premiate ONG-urile care participa si sprijina cel mai activ initiativele de voluntariat in Republica Moldova, deasemenea vor evolua formatii si ansambluri muzicale. (Intrarea este libera!).

Cu aceasta ocazie dorim sa va anuntam despre posibilitatea de a participa la ?Concursul celor mai active ONG-uri si voluntari ai anului 2005?, si de a concura in cadrul concursului eseurilor la tema: ?Rolul voluntariatului in stabilirea Culturii Pacii?.

Festivalul este organizat de Serviciu Pentru Pace, in colaborare cu Comisia Nationala pentru UNESCO si Directia Generala Educatie, Stiinta, Tineret si Sport.

Invitam toate organizatiile obstesti si voluntarii din intreaga republica (inclusiv din Transnistria si UTA Gagauzia) sa participe la concurs.

P.S. Toate ONG-urile cointeresate de a-si prezenta activitatile si proiectele sunt invitate sa participe cu diverse materiale informative, postere sau standuri la targul ONG, desfasurat in holul Filarmonicii Nationale.

O Detalii despre concurs si Festival le gasiti in anexa.

SCOPUL FESTIVALULUI:
O Recunoasterea publica a muncii si meritelor voluntarilor diferitor ONG din republica.
O Sensibilizarea populatiei fata de rolul si importanta activitatilor de voluntariat.
O Promovarea voluntariatului in Republica Moldova.

PREMII SPECIALE:

1. Organizatia cea mai activa in promovarea voluntariatului (Premiul ? 1000 lei);
2. Cel mai activ voluntar (Premiul ? 750 lei);
3. Cel mai bun eseu la tema voluntariatului (Premiul ? 500 lei);
4. Alte premii si mentiuni speciale.

O Selectarea celui mai activ ONG se va efectua in baza unui raport al activitatii pentru anul 2005, insotit de fotografii, alte materiale de interes.
O Selectarea celui mai activ voluntar se va efectua in baza CV ? ului (se vor lua in consideratie activitatile la care a participat pe parcursul anului 2005, scrisorile de recomandare, diplome si mentiuni speciale, etc.).
O Tema pentru concursul de eseu: ?Rolul voluntariatului in stabilirea Culturii Pacii.?

Toate materialele vor fi trimise la sediul ONG Serviciu Pentru Pace, str. Tighina 65, of. 620, sau la emailul [email]florin@serviciupentrupace.org[/email], pana la data de 30 noiembrie 2005.
Juriul de selectare a ONG-urilor si voluntarilor castigatori va fi alcatuit dintr-o comisie mixta cu reprezentanti de la Directia Generala Educatie, Stiinta, Tineret si Sport, Comisia Nationala pentru UNESCO si Serviciu Pentru Pace.

PROGRAMUL FESTIVALULUI VOLUNTARILOR 2005

11:30 – Targ de ONG in hol;
12:00 – Inceputul Festivalului;
12:05 – 12:20 ? Cuvantul de salut al invitatilor speciali;
12:20 -13:00 ? Formatii si ansambluri muzicale;
13: 00 – 13:20 ? Inmanarea premiilor si diplomelor ONG-urilor si voluntarilor anului 2005.
13:20 – 14:30 ? Concert, concursuri.
14:30 – 15:00 ? Targ de ONG in hol.

P.S. Toate ONG-urile cointeresate de a-si prezenta activitatile si proiectele sunt invitate sa participe cu diverse materiale informative, postere sau standuri la targul ONG, desfasurat in holul Filarmonicii Nationale.

Pentru informatii suplimentare nu ezitati sa ne contactati.

NRC withdraws proposed rule on dual-purpose casks for spent nuclear fuel

The proposed Subpart I was contained in a larger rulemaking first published in April 2002 that was intended to make NRC regulations on the transportation of radioactive materials compatible with international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). That rule was issued as a final rule in January 2004 (and became effective Oct. 1, 2004), without Subpart I.

Subpart I would have created a new type of package certification, Type B(DP), for casks used for storage
and transportation of spent nuclear fuel. It would have authorized holders of Type B(DP) certificates to make some non-safety-related changes to the package design and procedures without NRC approval under certain conditions. There is a similar authority in NRC regulations for non-safety-related changes to storage casks.

The NRC received several public comments on the proposed Subpart I and in a public workshop on the proposal held in April 2004. Several cask vendors and certificate holders said the proposal would impose significant regulatory costs and burdens. In addition, some non-safety-related changes to transport cask designs are already authorized under current NRC regulations.

Concursul celor mai active ONG-uri si voluntari ai anului 2005

Castigatorii concursului vor fi decernati in cadrul Festivalului Voluntarilor 2005, care se va desfasura pe data de 4 decembrie 2005, ora 11:30, la Filarmonica Nationala.
SCOPUL FESTIVALULUI:
1. Recunoasterea publica a muncii si meritelor voluntarilor diferitor ONG din republica.
2. Sensibilizarea populatiei fata de rolul si importanta activitatilor de voluntariat.
3. Promovarea voluntariatului in Republica Moldova.

PREMII SPECIALE:

1. Organizatia cea mai activa in promovarea voluntariatului (Premiul ? 1000 lei);
2. Cel mai activ voluntar (Premiul ? 750 lei);
3. Cel mai bun eseu la tema voluntariatului (Premiul ? 500 lei);
4. Alte premii si mentiuni speciale.

+ Selectarea celui mai activ ONG se va efectua in baza unui raport al activitatii pentru anul 2005, insotit de fotografii, alte materiale de interes.
+ Selectarea celui mai activ voluntar se va efectua in baza CV ? ului (se vor lua in consideratie activitatile la care a participat pe parcursul anului 2005, scrisorile de recomandare, diplome si mentiuni speciale, etc.).
+ Tema pentru concursul de eseu: ?Rolul voluntariatului in stabilirea Culturii Pacii.?

Toate materialele vor fi trimise la sediul ONG Serviciu Pentru Pace, str. Tighina 65, of. 620, sau la emailul [email]florin@serviciupentrupace.org[/email], pana la data de 30 noiembrie 2005.
Juriul de selectare a ONG-urilor si voluntarilor castigatori va fi alcatuit dintr-o comisie mixta cu reprezentanti de la Directia Generala Educatie, Stiinta, Tineret si Sport, Comisia Nationala pentru UNESCO si Serviciu Pentru Pace.

Invitam toate organizatiile obstesti si voluntarii din intreaga republica sa participe la concurs.

Asteptam candidaturile Dvs.!!!
Succes tuturor!!!

Ziua Internationala a Voluntarului

Ziua Internationala a Voluntarului a devenit deja o traditie si pentru societatea civila din Republica Moldova.

Serviciu Pentru Pace, Comisia Nationala pentru UNESCO, Directia Generala Educatie, Stiinta, Tineret si Sport, invita toti doritorii la a III-a editie a ?Festivalului Voluntarilor?, pe data de 4 decembrie 2005 (Duminica), ora 11:30, in incinta Filarmonicii Nationale (str. Varlaam 78, intersectie str. M. Eminescu).

In cadrul Festivalului Voluntarilor vor fi mentionate si premiate ONG-urile care participa si sprijina cel mai activ initiativele de voluntariat in Republica Moldova.

Pe parcursul desfasurarii Festivalului vor evolua formatii si ansambluri muzicale.

Intrarea este libera!!!

No more bird watching for next generation

Researchers from the St?nford Center for Conservation Biology took into account all 9,787 living and 129 extinct bird species and examined current conservation efforts. Then they fed the enormous data into their computers along with bird distribution data, ecological functions of birds and their life histories. Then they extrapolated the results via the computer to give the ecological picture in next 100 years. The picture is not so good.

The simulation of ecosystem on the computer shows that by 2100 ten percent of all bird species will become extinct. It showed that although only 1.3 percent of bird species have disappeared since 1500, the global number of individual birds has been reduced by 20 percent to 25 percent. The results were published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

This is not good news as extinction of birds denies the ecosystem of crucial services by birds such as decomposition, pollination and seed dispersal etc.

The imbalance created in the ecosystem will affect everyone including us. One such glaring example is of India. Around 35,000 to 50,000 people died of rabies in 1997 as stray dog and rat populations exploded after the decline of vultures.

The results go hand in hand with World Conservation Union?s report saying that 12 percent of all bird species were threatened with extinction. They had also reported that one-fourth of the world’s mammals, a third of amphibians and 42 percent of all turtles and tortoises are on the brink of extinction.

Centrala nucleara, oprita la un semnal fals

Cauza declansarii o constituie un semnal fals primit de la o cartela electronica aferenta regulatorului electrohidraulic al turbinei. Semnalul a comandat inchiderea vanelor de intrare a aburului in turbina, ceea ce a determinat decuplarea generatorului electric si un proces tranzitoriu de variatie a presiunii si nivelului in generatorii de abur. La atingerea unei anumite valori de nivel scazut, in generatorii de abur a avut loc actionarea automata a sistemului de oprire rapida a reactorului. In acest moment, centrala este stabilizata la putere zero. Se estimeaza ca reactorul va fi readus la starea de criticitate astazi, urmand ca recuplarea generatorului electric la sistemul electroenergetic sa fie realizata ulterior, la momentul convenit cu dispecerul energetic national.

Instruire si lansare de platforme comunale in Zona Pilot Lapusnita

Evenimentul de sambata, 19 noiembrie, va intruni reprezentanti ai administratiei publice locale Hancesti si Leova, ai Serviciilor ecologic, epidemiologic si Comisariatelor de politie din aceste raioane, primari din toate satele situate in bazinul raului Lapusnita, fermieri care administreaza platforme individuale , specialisti implicati in componentele PCPA. De asemenea, la seminar vor asista reprezentantii misiunii Bancii Mondiale (BM), care se afla in R. Moldova in perioada 16-23 noiembrie, dl. Alexandru Nacev, administrator PCPA din partea BM si dl John Cole, consultant BM.
Dupa ce Alexandru Jolondcovschi, managerul PCPA, va face prezentarea proiectului, Alecu Renita va vorbi despre Programul de Constientizare Publica, iar Ion Raileanu va sustine comunicarea "Managementul deseurilor organice", participantii la seminar vor intreprinde o vizita la platformele comunala si individuale din satul Negrea, unde la finele anului 2004 s-a dat in folosinta prima platforma comunala de stocare a deseului de grajd si unde 150 de fermieri gestioneaza platforme individuale construite in cadrul PCPA.

Duminica, 20 noiembrie, in comunele Carpineni si Lapusna, vor fi date in exploatare urmatoarele doua platforme comunale si cate 150 individuale in fiecare comuna. La eveniment vor asista primarii din zona pilot Lapusnita, populatia din Carpinei si Lapusna, care vor putea sa participe si la concursuri cu premii organizat de Programul de Constientizare Publica. De asemenea, tuturor participantilor li se vor distribui gratuit materiale editate in cadrul PCPA de catre Programul de Constientizare Publica.

Amintim ca Proiectul Controlul Poluarii in Agricultura este sustinut de Fondul Ecologic Global (GEF) si Banca Mondiala si este realizat in R. Moldova cu scopul de a reduce poluarea fluviului Dunarea si Marea Neagra cu nutrienti (azot si fosfor) proveniti din sursele agricole de pe teritoriul republicii.

Proiectul Controlul Poluarii in Agricultura se inscrie perfect in Directiva Comisiei Europene cu privire la nitrati si este unic pentru R. Moldova prin faptul ca se va crea o zona pilot demonstrativa pentru intreaga tara ? raul Lapusnita din fostul judet Lapusna, ce cuprinde localitati din raioanele Hancesti si Leova. Experienta acumulata in bazinul raului Lapusnita, prin realizarea componentelor majore ale PCPA, va putea fi transferata spre orice raulet din cele circa 3 mii care alcatuiesc reteaua hidrografica a R. Moldova. PCPA va crea un nou model de administrare non-poluanta a apelor mici din Moldova si va deschide perspectiva de a transforma satele noastre in localitati curate, lipsite de deseuri organice.

Climate change beyond Kyoto

Yesterday the United States agreed to participate in a seminar to be held in 2005 with an aim to discuss emissions and their controls combined with climate change generally. This has been a global effort and it is a positive step forward albeit a small one in bringing the US back to the table and into the discussion.

Held in Buenos Aries, the agreement came in what can only be described as the 11th hour with only two hours remaining at the climate change conference. ?It’s a finger-hold?, the climate negotiator Michael Zammit Cutajar of Malta commented, and it is progress for climate control campaigners and activists.

It was business as usual however regarding negotiation of reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for the US, who failed to make any commitment to negotiate as has been the norm since 2001.

The US instead of concentrating on emissions reductions and targets would prefer to concentrate on programmes under development in the United States for cleaner burning energy technology. The US agreement to participate in the climate change and control seminar next year came after compromise to also discuss these clean burn fuel technologies.