We ArE PaPer SaVer. And YoU ? ? ?

Tips To Count The Usage of Paper per Year (English Version)

2009-05-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know that to produce a number of papers, it takes a lot of wood with a diameter of 15-20 cm, high 40 meters, and water and energy? While the production process to produce a number of emissions and cesspool.

If you want to know how much environmental impact as a result of paper used each year, try to follow the steps below:
Choose waste paper that we use based on the type. For example: HVS paper, newsprint, or laminated paper (such as brochures / company profile)
Calculate the average use for each type of paper in 1 year (in kg or tons)
Then visit papercalculator.org
Enter the data above, and start counting
In fact, if we recycled the paper we have used, the environmental impact that we participated has reduced. In addition, the paper was given oxygen bleach (bleaching), in the process of production using wood, water, and energy far more than that of paper that do not use bleach.

Do not forget to keep working to reduce the used of paper!

What sort of wood is used for making paper?

2009-05-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

The industry was once based almost entirely on softwoods such as spruce, pine, larch, fir and cedar. Now birch, aspen and other hardwoods occurring in temperate climates are used as an ideal raw material for processing into fluting for corrugated cases as well as printing and writing papers, whilst eucalyptus, originally occurring only in Australia and New Zealand, has been successfully cultivated in other warm climates (eg South America, Spain and Portugal) as raw material for high-quality pulp suitable for a wide range of papers. Nevertheless, softwoods provide longer fibres (average 3 mm compared with 1mm for hardwoods) and continue to be used for papers required to have the highest strength characteristics.

(taken from www.paperonline.org)

Make your own paper

2009-05-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

All you need are the following household appliances and supplies:

- fine mesh wire screen (size: slightly bigger than a piece of A4 paper)
- 2 pieces of blotting paper
- basin or tray
- bowl
- laundry starch
- newspaper
- electric mixer
- rolling pin
- electric iron

Instructions:

Step 1:
Tear eight pages of the newspaper into small pieces and place in tray or basin with water. Soak for two hours, crunching the paper with your fingers. In a separate bowl, mix one tablespoon of instant starch with two cups of water. Add the starch and water mixture to the tray or basin containing the dissolved paper. Mix thoroughly with the electric mixer and add 10-15 litres of water, to create a pulp mixture. You can also add petals, leaves or pieces of coloured paper to decorate your paper.

Step 2:
Dip the wire screen into the tray with the pulp mixture. Remove slowly and allow the water to drain through the bottom of the screen. If you like, you could even build your own paper mould with a wooden frame to hold the wire screen.

Step 3:
Dry the screen and wet sheet of pulp between two pieces of blotting paper. The pulp sheet will stick to the blotting paper, allowing you to remove the wire from the sheet. Press or squeeze out excess water with the rolling pin.

Step 4:
Set your iron on a low setting. With the sheet still between the blotting papers, dry the paper carefully with the iron. Trim the edges of the sheet. Congratulations! You now have a sheet of your very own handmade paper.

(taken from www.paperonline.org)

Paper Grades and Products

2009-05-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Newsprint and magazine
- Newsprint: paper mainly used for printing newspapers. It is made largely from mechanical pulp and/or waste paper, with or without a small amount of filler. Weights usually range from 40 to 52g/m² but can be as high as 65g/m². Newsprint is machine-finished or slightly calendered, white or slightly coloured, and is used in reels for letterpress, offset or flexo printing.
- Magazine paper: this is uncoated mechanical paper, suitable for printing or other graphic purposes where less than 90% of the fibre furnish consists of chemical pulp fibres. This grade is also known as groundwood or wood-containing paper and magazine paper, such as heavily filled super-calendered paper for consumer magazines printed by the rotogravure and offset methods.
Printing and Writing Paper
- Writing paper: this is uncoated woodfree paper, suitable for printing or other graphic purposes, where at least 90% of the fibre furnish consists of chemical pulp fibres. Uncoated woodfree paper can be made from a variety of furnishes, with variable levels of mineral filler and a range of finishing processes such as sizing, calendering, machine-glazing and watermarking. This grade includes most office papers, such as business forms, copier, computer, stationery and book papers. Pigmented and size press “coated ” papers (coating less than 5g per side) are covered by this heading.
- Printing paper: also known as coated papers, is all paper suitable for printing or other graphic purposes and coated on one or both sides with minerals such as china clay (kaolin), calcium carbonate, etc. Coating may be done by a variety of methods, both on-machine and off-machine, and may be supplemented by super-calendering.
Sanitary and Household
This covers a wide range of tissue and other hygienic papers for use in households or on commercial and industrial premises. Examples are toilet paper and facial tissues, kitchen towels, hand towels and industrial wipes. Some tissue is also used in the manufacture of babies nappies, sanitary towels, etc. The parent reel stock is made from virgin pulp or recovered fibre or mixtures of these. It is reported in the production statistics at parent reel weight before conversion to finished products. Import and export statistics however take into account trade in both parent reels and finished products.
Paper based packaging materials and products
- Case Materials: paper and board mainly used in the manufacture of corrugated board. They are made from any combination of virgin and recovered fibres and can be bleached, unbleached or mottled. Included are kraftliner, testliner, semi-chemical fluting, and waste-based fluting (Wellenstoff).
- Folding Boxboard: often referred to as carton board, it may be single or multiply, coated or uncoated. It is made from virgin and/or recovered fibres, and has good folding properties, stiffness and scoring ability. It is mainly used in cartons for consumer products such as frozen food and for liquid containers.
- Wrappings (up to 150 g/m²): paper whose main use is wrapping or packaging made from any combination of virgin or recovered fibres, bleached or unbleached. They may be subject to various finishing and/or marking processes. Included are sack kraft, other wrapping krafts, sulphite and grease proof papers.
- Other papers mainly for packaging purposes: this category embraces all paper and board mainly for packaging purposes other than those listed above. Most are produced from recovered fibres, e.g. greyboard, and go to conversion, which in some cases may be for end-uses other than packaging.
Other-Specialized Papers
This category includes other paper and board for industrial and special purposes, including cigarette papers and filter papers, as well as gypsum liners and special papers for waxing, insulating, roofing, asphalting, and other specific applications or treatments.

(taken from www.paperonline.org)

FORESTRY

2009-05-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

The forest is needed for its wood, which is the primary raw material required to make paper and wood-based products. Wood is a totally renewable raw material, and when transformed into a manufactured product it is natural, adaptable and recyclable.

The benefits of forests
Wood is one of the very few materials used by a major industry, which is infinitely self-renewing. Apart from the supply of industrial raw material, forests also:
- Soak up CO2 and produce oxygen, thereby helping to counteract the "Greenhouse effect";
- Help to stabilise the climate and water levels;
- Prevent soil erosion in the forest area;
- Store solar energy;
- Provide habitat for wildlife and plants;
- Offer recreational facilities.
Forests not only provide resources for industry, they also have a wide range of functions. They provide employment and income opportunities for rural communities and are valuable recreational and inspirational assets offering a beautiful landscape. Forests also contain a rich diversity of animals and plants whose habitats and environment need to be maintained. A mosaic of forest management of varying intensities, with multi-benefit silviculture, and diverse land-use planning are the means by which the sustainability goal can be achieved.

(taken from www.paperonline.org)

Paper recycling ( English Version )

2009-05-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

So ...
One way to reduce the use of paper is to recycle paper. Here's how to recycle paper.

Recycled Paper

Purpose
Knowing how to recycle paper

Tools and Materials
1.Baskom (vessel)
2.Paper Scissor
3.Iron
4.Blender
5.Rounded shaped wood frame with the terms of the four-size 15 x 20 cm
6.Wood frame with the same size (15 x 20 cm) and given screen (mosquito netting or net bentos)
7. Fabric or thick plastic overlay for the table
8.Spons or a thick, dry foam
9.Fabric that had used or the thick plastic
10.Aquades
11. Paper’s glue from the tapioca (starch glue)
12. Unused paper such as newspaper, HVS, or paper gift

How it works
1.Torn paper may be small and then soaked in a basin. Make sure all the paper is completely submerged.
2. After paper have been soaked for 1 day, tatters again soaked paper in it. If the type of thick paper such as cardboard, soaking is done for 2 days. For soaking the paper up to 24 hours, must often be the replacement of water, at least 6 hours to avoid the aroma of rotten paper and sting the nose.
3. Destroy the soaked paper or destroyed it with a blender to make paper pulp. If using a blender, 1 cup soaked paper added with 2 glasses of water is entered into the blender. Do not fill glass blender more than half. Level of refinement pulp depending on the object will be created
4. Take the pulp which has been soaked as much as 250 grams of water, mixed with ten grams of starch glue and five liters of water in a basin or tub and poke to the average. If you want to produce recycled paper that is thin, the amount of water plus 1 liter again, otherwise if you want to recycle the paper thick 2 liters of water was reduced.
5. The process of printing paper using a 2 helping wood frame with an empty frame position located above, while the frame of the screen is located under the wood frame which is empty. However, the position of the screen should be facing upwards.

6. Poke the dough in the pulp basin / tub, then soak the wood frame soon to the bucket, then lift to the surface.

7. Leave mold frame a while over a bucket so that the remnants of water in the basin will to / vessel. After about 15 seconds the top of the frame can be taken carefully until there is only the frame on the screen. On the screen the pulp will obtained dough that is still rough.
8. Move the frame that contains a mix of paper to the table that had been coated fabric or thick plastic. Flip the frame’s position, make the pulp’s position touching the dough and stick to the cloth or plastic that has been inserted in the table directly, while the screen is at the top.
9. With thick and dry sponge or foam, do water suction on the screen repeatedly. Next, the screen frame can be lifted carefully than will be left out the dough on the paper or plastic cloth.
10. Next, do the drying under the blazing sun until it has dried.
11. To get the paper tight and rigid, re-heating can be done with ironing the papers one by one.
12. Recycled paper can be made for party decorations or stationery that has a value selling.
13. Create works of art from recycled paper and trying to sell it to your friends or neighbors.

(Taken from Esis biology book 1^st grade)

Tips hitung dampak lingkungan akibat penggunaan kertas/ tahun

2009-05-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

Tahukah bahwa untuk memproduksi sejumlah kertas, dibutuhkan banyak kayu dengan diameter 15-20 cm, tinggi 40 meter, kemudian air dan juga energi? Sementara untuk proses produksinya menghasilkan sejumlah emisi dan juga limbah.

Jika kita ingin tahu berapa besar dampak lingkungan akibat penggunaan kertas kita tiap tahun, coba ikuti langkah-langkah di bawah ini:

Pilah-pilah sampah kertas yang kita gunakan berdasarkan jenis. Misalnya: kertas HVS, kertas koran, atau kertas yang dilaminating (misalnya brosur/company profile)
Hitung rata-rata pengunaan kertas untuk tiap jenis dalam 1 tahun (dalam kg atau ton)
Kemudian kunjungi papercalculator.org
Masukkan data-data di atas, dan mulailah menghitung
Ternyata jika kertas yang sudah kita gunakan didaurulang, maka dampak lingkungan yang kita sumbangkan pun akan ikut berkurang. Selain itu, kertas yang diberikan zat pemutih (bleaching), pada proses produksinya menggunakan kayu, air dan energi jauh lebih banyak dibanding kertas yang tidak menggunakan pemutih.

Jangan lupa untuk terus berupaya mengurangi penggunaan kertas!

From : Green Tips

Green Growth-A New Path For Korea

2009-05-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

“Low Carbon, Green Growth”
Sebuah visi nasional Korea menuju 60 tahun yang akan datang. Korea menyatakan akan menempuh jalan baru untuk pengembangan ekonomi, yaitu “jalan hijau” (green path).

Green growth bukan sekadar program lingkungan yang bertujuan mengurangi polusi lingkungan atau mitigasi gas rumah kaca. Kebijakan ini memiliki cakupan yang lebih luas-bahkan merupakan paradigma baru dalam pertumbuhan ekonomi. Kebijakan-kebijakan lingkungan pada masa lalu kerap difokuskan pada solusi jangka pendek. Dalam banyak kesempatan, penentu kebijakan terlibat dalam perdebatan yang tak habis-habisnya seputar “pelestarian lingkungan” dan “kemakmuran ekonomi”.

Strategi “green growth”

Kini, “Low Carbon, Green Growth” merupakan kata kunci di Korea. Sejak visi tersebut dikumandangkan bulan Agustus 2008 lalu, pemerintah Korea telah meluncurkan serangakaian inisiatif hijau untuk membantu Korea melakukan lompatan besar (leapfrog) menuju masyarakat karbon rendah (low carbon society). Green growth akan menjadi penggerak utama perubahan di Korea, dari kebijakan-kebijakan perekonomian menjadi gaya hidup masyarakat.
Green growth akan menfasilitasi transisi Korea menuju perekonomian berbasis pengetahuandan membawa nilai-nilai yang lebih besar dan hijau pada proses produksinya.
Green growth juga akan mengubah gaya hidup masyarakat. Edukasi terlibat dari kesadaran yang meningkat serta perubahan perilaku akan membantu Korea menjadi tempat yang lebih baik dan menyenangkan untuk ditinggali bagi generasi yang akan datang.

Rencana Energi Dasar Nasional

Konsep green growth telah diintegrasikan ke dalam rencana-rencana nasional seputar energi dan iklim. Rencana energi nasional ini menetapkan tujuan untuk meningkatkan pangsa energi dari tahun ke tahun. Sementara itu, rencana perubahan iklim adalah rencana yang paling menyeluruh dan ambisius yang dikembangkan Korea untuk mengatasi masalah perubahan iklim, yang mencakup adaptasi dan upaya-upaya internasional. Diumumkan pada 6 Januari 2009, Paket Stimulus merupakan rencana investasi senilai 50 trilyun won (sekitar 38,5 miliar dolar AS) untuk masa empat tahun kedepan terhadap sembilan proyek hijau utama dan proyek-proyek lain yang akan menciptakan lapangan kerja baru yang hijau.
Sembilan proyek utama tersebut meliputi, pertama, revitalisasi empat sungai utama; kedua, pembangunan transportasi hijau; ketiga, pembuatan database tentang wilayah dan sumber daya nasional; keempat, manajemen sumber daya nasional; keempat, manajemen sumber daya air; kelima, program kendaraan hijau dan energi yang lebih bersih; keenam, program daur ulang sumber daya; ketujuh, program manajemen hutan dan biomasa; kedelapan, rumah, kantor, dan sekolah hijau; dan kesembilan, lanskap dan infrastruktur yang lebih hijau.

Partisipasi pemerintah Korea dalam pembangunan hutan tanaman di Indonesia

Kunjungan Presiden Korea Selatan ke Indonesia diharapkan menjadi momentum dalam program pembangunan hutan tanaman secara lestari dan optimal yang merupakan kebutuhan mutlak bagi kedua negara, serta dapat memberikan kontribusi yang besar pada kedua negara maupun dunia.
Selama ini, kerja sama kedua negara di bidang kehutanan telah berjalan baik dan terus berkembang dari tahun ke tahun. Kedua negara telah mengadakan kesepakatan untuk membangun hutan tanaman di Indonesia. Telah juga dibahas berbagai proyek pada Forum Kehutanan, seperti proyek pembangunan persemaian dan pemuliaan pohon, rehabilitasi hutan bakau, ekowisata, A/R CDM (Aforestarsi/ Reforestarsi Clean Developtment Mechanism) dan REDD (Reducing Emission from Deforesting and Degradation). Sehubungan kerjasama bidang kehutanan kedua negara yang telah berjalan cukup lama, cukup banyak investor Korea yang tertarik dan berminat untuk berinvestasi di bidang kehutanan, khususnya pembangunan hutan tanaman di Indonesia.
Pemerintah Indonesia memiliki potensi lahan yang luas dengan iklim yang mendukung pertumbuhan hutan dengan cepat, akan tetapi masih terdapat sejumlah kendala. Di sisi lain, Pemerintah Korea memiliki modal dan bioteknologi yang memadai, namun luas lahan terbatas dengan iklim yang kurang memadai. Apabila potensi kedua negara tersebut digabungkan dalam suatu kerjasama strategis maka pembangunan hutan tanaman dapat dilaksanakan secara professional menggunakan bioteknologi yang tepat sehingga dapat memberikan kontribusi positif bagi pembangunan hutan tanaman secara lestari. Selanjutnya, Pemerintah Korea akan mendapat basis luar negeri untuk memanfaatkan sumber daya hutan dan biomas serta berbagai industri pengolahan hasil hutan dan mendukung kebijakan “green growth” yang merupakan pokok kebijakan Pemerintah Korea saat ini.
Di samping itu melalui pembangunan hutan tanaman secara lestari dan optimal, kedua negara dapat memberikan kontribusi yang cukup besar kepada dunia untuk menstabilisasi iklim dunia dengan mengurangi tekanan eksploitasi hutan alam. Hal ini juga sangat mendukung kebijakan “satu orang satu pohon” sebagai upaya untuk menumbuhkan budaya menanam.

diambil dan disadur dari Harian Kompas, Sabtu, 7 Maret 2009

Kesimpulan :

Dari artikel singkat ini kita dapat mengambil kesimpulan upaya dunia, tepatnya Korea dan Indonesia, dalam menangani krisi pemanasan global. Lalu, apa hubunganya dengan kertas? Dalam artikel ini memang tidak disebutkan mengenai kertas namun, kami hanya ingin menyajikan pengetahuan seputar perubahan iklim yang merupakan tujuan akhir kita bersama dalam mencoba menanggulangi global warming.

Daur Ulang Kertas

2009-05-26T07:49:00.001-07:00

Jadi...
Salah satu cara mengurangi penggunaan kertas adalah dengan mendaur ulang kertas. Berikut adalah cara mendaur ulang kertas.

Daur Ulang Kertas

Tujuan
Mengetahui cara mendaur ulang kertas

Alat dan Bahan
1.Baskom (bak)
2.Gunting kertas
3.Setrika
4.Blender
5.Bingkai kayu berbentuk segiempat dengan ukuran 15 x 20 cm
6.Bingkai kayu dengan ukuran sama (15 x 20 cm) dan diberi screen (kasa nyamuk atau jaring-jaring bentos)
7.Kain atau plastik tebal untuk melapisi meja
8.Spons atau busa kering yang tebal
9.Kain bekas atau plastik yang tebal
10.Air bersih
11.Lem kertas dari tapioka (lem kanji)
12.Kertas bekas seperti kertas Koran, HVS, atau kertas kado

Cara kerja
1.Kertas disobek-sobek (digunting) sekecil mungkin kemudian direndam dalam baskom. Pastikan semua kertas benar-benar terendam.
2.Setelah kertas direndam 1 hari sobek-sobek kembali kertas dalam rendaman tersebut. Jika jenis kertas tebal seperti kardus, perendaman dilakukan selama 2 hari. Untuk perendaman kertas yang dilakukan hingga 24 jam, harus sering dilakukan penggantian air bersih, paling tidak 6 jam sekali untuk menghindari aroma kertas yang busuk dan menyengat hidung.
3.Kertas rendaman ditumbuk atau dihancurkan dengan blender hingga menjadi bubur kertas atau pulp. Jika menggunakan blender, 1 gelas kertas rendaman ditambah dengan 2 gelas air yang dimasukkan kedalam blender. Isi gelas blender jangan lebih dari setengahnya. Tingkat kehalusan bubur kertas tergantung benda yang akan dibuat.
4.Ambil bubur kertas yang telah diperas airnya sebanyak 250 gram, campur dengan sepuluh gram lem kanji dan lima liter air dalam sebuah baskom atau bak dan aduk hingga rata. Apabila ingin menghasilkan kertas daur ulang yang tipis, jumlah air ditambah 1 liter lagi, sebaliknya jika ingin kertas daur ulang yang tebal airnya dikurangi 2 liter.
5.Proses pencetakan kertas menggunakan alat bantu berupa 2 bingkai kayu dengan posisi bingkai yang kosong terletak diatas, sedangkan bingkai yang memakai screen terletak dibawah bingkai kayu yang kosong. Namun, posisi screen harus menghadap keatas.
6.Aduk sebentar adonan bubur kertas di dalam baskom / bak, kemudian benamkan kedua bingkai kayu dengan segera ke dalamnya selama 3 hingga 5 detik. Lalu angkat ke permukaan.
7.Biarkan sejenak bingkai cetakan diatas bak agar sisa-sisa air menetes ke dalam baskom / bak. Setelah kurang lebih 15 detik bingkai bagian atas dapat diangkat dengan hati-hati hingga tinggal bingkai yang memakai screen. Pada screen akan diperoleh adonan bubur kertas yang masih kasar.
8.Pindahkan bingkai yang berisi adonan kertas ke atas meja yang sebelumnya telah dilapisi kain atau plastik tebal. Posisi bingkai dibalik, yaitu posisi adonan kertas langsung menyentuh dan menempel pada kain atau plastik yang telah terpasang di atas meja. Sementara screen berada dibagian atas.
9.Dengan spons atau busa kering yang tebal, lakukan pengisapan air di atas screen berulang kali. Selanjutnya bingkai dengan screen dapat diangkat secara hati-hati hingga akan tertinggal adonan kertas di atas kain atau plastik.
10.Berikutnya, lakukan pengeringan dibawah terik matahari hingga kering.
11.Untuk memperoleh hasil kertas yang kencang dan kaku, bisa dilakukan pemanasan ulang dengan cara menyetrika kertas satu per satu.
12.Kertas daur ulang dapat dibuat beraneka hiasan atau alat tulis yang memiliki nilai jual.
13.Buatlah karya seni dari kertas daur ulang dan coba jual dikalangan teman-teman atau tetangga.

(Diambil dari buku biologi 1 terbitan esis)

Selected International Environmental Agreements

2009-05-26T05:20:00.000-07:00

Do you know that there are a lot of agreements about environment which had been made a long time ago ???
But rules still rules, an agreement only an agreement. Without our awareness, the regulations won’t work well.

Here they are

Air Pollution

see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%

Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Antarctic - Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature - 1 December 1959
entered into force - 23 June 1961
objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees south latitude
parties - (46) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature - 22 March 1989
entered into force - 5 May 1992
objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate
parties - (167) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan, Haiti, US

Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity

Climate Change

see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals
opened for signature - 1 June 1972
entered into force - 11 March 1978
objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica

parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK, US countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ

Convention on Biological Diversity note - abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature - 5 June 1992
entered into force - 29 December 1993
objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
parties - (186) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) US

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature - 29 April 1958
entered into force - 20 March 1966
objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited
parties - (38) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (20) Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution note - abbreviated as Air Pollution
opened for signature - 13 November 1979
entered into force - 16 March 1983
objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution
parties - (49) Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) note - abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature - 2 February 1971
entered into force - 21 December 1975
objective - to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value
parties - (154) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources
opened for signature - 5 May 1980
entered into force - 7 April 1982
objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve Antarctic marine living resources
parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) note - abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature - 3 March 1973
entered into force - 1 July 1975
objective - to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits

parties - (170) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping
opened for signature - 29 December 1972
entered into force - 30 August 1975
objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention; the London Convention came into force in 1996
parties - (88) Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (associate member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu

associate members to the London Convention - (2) Faroe Islands, Macau countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Chad, Kuwait, Uruguay

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification
opened for signature - 10 December 1976
entered into force - 5 October 1978
objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations
parties - (68) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda

Desertification

see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

Endangered Species
see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes

see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling note - abbreviated as Whaling
opened for signature - 2 December 1946
entered into force - 10 November 1948
objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks

parties - (84) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uruguay

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature - 18 November 1983
entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force
objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
parties - (59) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94
opened for signature - 26 January 1994
entered into force - 1 January 1997
objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective
parties - (62) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

opened for signature - 16 March 1998
entered into force - 23 February 2005
objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries
parties - (181) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cental African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (4) Kazakhstan, US

Law of the Sea
see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping
see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)
Marine Life Conservation

see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas

Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer note - abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
opened for signature - 16 September 1987
entered into force - 1 January 1989
objective - to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of substances that deplete it

parties - (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Nuclear Test Ban
see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection
see Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) note - abbreviated as Ship Pollution
opened for signature - 17 February 1978
entered into force - 2 October 1983
objective - to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances
parties - (139) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

opened for signature - 4 October 1991
entered into force - 14 January 1998
objective - to provide for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; applies to the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty
consultative parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay
non consultative parties - (12) Austria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

opened for signature - 31 October 1988
entered into force - 14 February 1991
objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes
parties - (31) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Poland

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

opened for signature - 18 November 1991
entered into force - 29 September 1997
objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects
parties - (21) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Canada, EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

opened for signature - 14 June 1994
entered into force - 5 August 1998
objective - to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes
parties - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Poland, Russia, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

opened for signature - 24 June 1998
entered into force - 23 October 2003
objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects
parties - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (10) Armenia, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Philippines Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at Least 30% note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

opened for signature - 8 July 1985
entered into force - 2 September 1987
objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993
parties - (22) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
Ship Pollution
see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water note - abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban
opened for signature - 5 August 1963
entered into force - 10 October 1963
objective - to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons
parties - (113) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Tanzania, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen

Tropical Timber 83

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

Tropical Timber 94

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) note - abbreviated as Law of the Sea
opened for signature - 10 December 1982
entered into force - 16 November 1994
objective - to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment
parties - (155) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (27) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Iran, North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa note - abbreviated as Desertification

opened for signature - 14 October 1994
entered into force - 26 December 1996
objective - to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements
parties - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change note - abbreviated as Climate Change

opened for signature - 9 May 1992
entered into force - 21 March 1994
objective - to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

parties - (195) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Wetlands
see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
Whaling
see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
Environmental Organization
South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP)
established - January 1983
aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region
members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
indonesia0
Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires
Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Taken from world fact book 2009

3R motto for a Better Life ( English Version)

2009-05-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

Issues such as global warming is no longer uncommon for us. However, although this issue is often be spoken out. there are still many among us who close their eyes to global warming threat and such. Even small awareness that can help the reduction of global warming also disappeared as we close our eyes to this.

Actually it's relative easy for us who want to try to reduce the effect of global warming. The most powerful and easiest thing to do is to not dispose of garbage carelessly, further more separate the waste according to waste category, organic or inorganic. Only with such a course you can help our earth.

If all the trash be placed in the right place so the environment will look beautiful. Not dirty!! In addition, when separated organic waste or inorganic, it will be easier for us to recycle the waste.

What is the consequence?

We don't have to worry about the organic ones, because it will be easily be decomposed by the bacterias. Such as waste decomposition made Mycobacterium sp. or Escherichia coli. The decomptosition time period is relatively short . 2 weeks to 1 month and organic waste will be unraveled. And the useful results of its decomposition towards the land as fertilizer.

The inorganic waste is feared. Classified as waste, plastics, synthetic cloth, cans. That kind of waste is really difficult to be decomposed. It takes 5 years or even more of an inorganic waste by bacteria to unravel. Imagine if 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) people in the world throw their inorganic waste carelessly to the ground. Expect the garbage will unravel itself. In 5 years the earth will be covered and maybe human will be disappeared? Moreover, if it really happens, the quality of the land will be reduced and so on the things happen to the farming activities and the planting will be harder.

How to anticipate?

Therefore, the way to help the environment is to remove the waste in place and in accordance with a separate category. Or maybe if you're interested in starting to keep the earth more, you can use the 3R.

What is it?

3R is the way to overcome the waste problems..

Reduce

- You can reduce the use of goods that you do not need (new accessories etc.).

- Reduce the use of goods that can damage the environment. (CFC on the perfume you)

- Reduce excessive use of paper. Use tissue as minimum as possible. If it's possible, avoid the print preview.

- Read newspapers online.

- When you go shopping, take the shopping plastic from home to reduce the usage of plastic bag.

Reuse

- The used plastic you have. This step can help your savings.

- The used paper back and forth.

- Donate your used clothes to the orphans or orphanages to be in use again.

Recycle

- The easiest way to recycle the organic waste in your home with the help of special bacteria.

- Using the former plastic water bottles, paint cans, used as pot plants.

- Recycle paper

- Recycle plastic waste into valuable economic goods (bags etc.).

Epilog ...

It's quite easy for you to do all of that. Now it all depends on your intention to keep the environment.

SAVE THE WORLD

TO MAKE YOUR LIFE worth! ! !

SMAK1 and Global Warming

2009-05-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

Nervous and afraid. Definitely two things that haunt all of these people in the world at this time. Moreover, viewing conditions and situations that exist. Everything is a matter to the effective and that it is chilling. However, what if Sadly, we know that everyone just a sad, scared and nervous just responding to problems of this world. Not all people began to act to change, even most people to be fulsome because they not only talk but act.

That's what happens when people hear the words global warming.Life is only be afraid and no effort to start changing. However, our school is different. SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR's have a way to make significant changes to the way they work.

We know that global warming does not occur free from the excessive exploitation of trees by humans. And we also know , that the paper comes from trees. So, if we throw the paper we break free of the tree. Therefore, the effects that global warming must be reduced to save our trees. The simplest way is that we have to save paper. (Save Paper!)

Things that our school, SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR, is trying to do is rescuing or trying to minimize the usage of paper. How do example:
1. Restrict photo copy of each teacher max. 5 x

2. Using the used paper if it's possible

Those two things have already been implemented in our schools since January and until now it is still valid. For further details, here are the usage of paper charts in our schools

if you see the chart above we certainly see the effectiveness of the new policy that has been applied in the school, isn't it? For the graph paper showing the use of the longer more and more.

To question why we have school. The increase occurred because at that time we are doing the test-preparation and test the reception of new students. Perhaps it could be a reason. But however the change does not require the process easy. Perhaps at this time but still have not seen some of the time then we can see the results.

VIVA SMAK 1 BPK PENABUR! ! !

Data Penggunaan Kertas

2009-05-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Berikut sedikit data penggunaan kertas :

Menurut Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association, sembilan puluh persen konsumsi kertas (tulis dan cetak) di Indonesia disuplai secara domestik dan dalam kurun waktu lima tahun (2000-2004). Data statistik pada Tabel 1, menggambarkan peningkatan jumlah konsumsi dan produksi kertas di Indonesia dari tahun 2000 hingga 2004.
Dengan mengambil nilai minimal rata-rata tingkat pertumbuhan konsumsi dan produksi yakni 5% per tahun (sedangkan menurut World Resource Institute untuk Negara berkembang rata-rata sekitar 7% per tahun), maka diperoleh jumlah konsumsi kertas Indonesia di tahun 2006 adalah 5,96 juta ton. Kebutuhan (demand) yang besar inilah yang mungkin menjadi pemicu maraknya kasus pembalakan liar (illegal logging) di Indonesia.
Dari jumlah konsumsi kertas 5,96 juta ton di tahun 2006, kita akan dapat menghitung konsumsi penggunaan kertas per kapita atau per angkatan kerja (per pekerja/pegawai).
Tabel 1. Data Statistik Produksi dan Konsumsi Kertas Tulis dan Cetak (paperboard) tahun 2000 ? 2004 (dalam tons)
Tahun
KapasitasProduksi
Produksi
Impor
Ekspor
Konsumsi Tercatat
2000
9,116,180
6,849,000
212,630
2,837,210
4,224,420
2001
9,904,080
6,951,240
199,840
2,345,135
4,805,945
2002
10,045,580
7,212,970
249,695
2,446,730
5,015,935
2003
10,045,580
7,267,880
206,880
2,160,380
5,314,380
2004
10,045,580
7,679,820
306,970
2,576,640
5,410,150
Sumber: Indonesian Pulp & Paper Association Directory 2005
Tingkat konsumsi kertas per kapita didapat dengan membagi total konsumsi kertas dengan jumlah penduduk. Sedangkan konsumsi per angkatan kerja didapat dengan membagi total konsumsi dengan hanya jumlah angkatan kerja, sehingga didapat tingkat konsumsi kertas per pekerja (pegawai).
konsumsi_kertas_per_kapita=
total_konsumsi_kertas/jumlah_penduduk
konsumsi_kertas_per_angkatan_kerja=
total_konsumsi_kertas/jumlah_angkatan_kerja
Dengan menggunakan rumus di atas dan data jumlah penduduk Indonesia tahun 2006 (225 juta), maka akan didapat hasil bahwa konsumsi kertas per kapita tahun 2006 adalah 27 kg. Bandingkan dengan negara-negara lainnya yang sumber daya alamnya terbatas seperti Singapura dengan konsumsi kertas per kapita mencapai 154 kilogram per kapita, Malaysia 115 kilogram, Thailand 40 kg, China 45 kg, Amerika Serikat 301 kg, dan Jepang 242 kg (lihat Tabel 2).
Sedangkan bila nilai tabel 1 di atas diasumsikan hanya digunakan oleh para pekerja dan angkatan kerja Indonesia (sebesar 108 juta), maka konsumsi kertas per angkatan kerja (pegawai) Indonesia tahun 2006 adalah 55 kg kertas.
Tabel 2. Rata-Rata Konsumsi Kertas Per Kapita Per Negara tahun 2006
negara
konsumsi per kapita
urutan dunia

negara
konsumsi per kapita
urutan dunia
Luxembourg
334
1

Inggris
201
15
Finland
325
2

New Zealand
189
17
United States
301
3

Korea, Rep
173
20
Austria
277
4

Singapore
154
23
Belgium
250
5

Malaysia
115
28
Denmark
244
6

Thailand
51
55
Canada
242
7

China
45
57
Japan
242
8

Indonesia
27
84
Germany
232
9

Philippines
18
88
Netherlands
227
10

Viet Nam
15
94
Sweden
220
11

Brunei
13
100
Switzerland
216
12

Cambodia
2
152
Italy
206
13

Myanmar
2
158
Australia
210
14
Laos
1
175
Sumber: Asosiasi Pulp & Kertas Indonesia & Persatuan Perusahaan Grafika Indonesia & World Resource Institute
Bila kertas yang digunakan adalah kertas ukuran A4 dengan berat 5gr/lembar, maka konsumsi kertas per kapita adalah 5.400 lembar atau sekitar 15 lembar/hari atau 11 rim/tahun. Misalnya harga rata-rata kertas per rim-nya adalah Rp 30 ribu maka konsumsi kertas per kapita per tahun adalah sekitar Rp 330 ribu.
Sedangkan konsumsi kertas per angkatan kerja adalah 11.000 lembar atau sekitar 30 lembar/hari atau 22 rim/tahun, atau setara dengan Rp 660 ribu per angkatan kerja per tahun.
Berarti biaya perusahaan (company cost) dari 22 rim kertas yang digunakan oleh per angkatan kerja per tahunnya adalah 31 x Rp 318 ribu = Rp 20,46 juta per pegawai. Bayangkan bila satu perusahaan memiliki 100 pegawai, berarti total biaya konsumsi kertasnya sebesar lebih dari Rp 2 Milyar.
Sedangkan biaya lingkungan (environmental cost) dari 55 kg kertas per angkatan kerja Indonesia setara dengan 0.6 ? 0,9 pohon per orang per tahun, berarti setiap tahunnya sekitar 65 ? 97 juta pohon ditebang untuk memenuhi kebutuhan akan kertas para angkatan kerja di Indonesia.
Contoh lain, dalam sebuah program ?Cleaning Day? yang diadakan oleh sebuah perusahaan sumber energi di daerah bisnis Kuningan, Jakarta, terkumpul ?sampah? kertas tak terpakai sebanyak 2 ton kertas, selama kurun waktu lima tahun menghuni gedung tersebut. Jika mengambil data riset terakhir bahwa dari total jumlah sampah yang dihasilkan, 30-40% merupakan sampah kertas, berarti bayangkan berapa besar beban tambahan yang harus ditanggung oleh gedung untuk menampung kertas dan sampahnya (5-7 ton sampah)? Itu baru dari satu perusahaan yang 3 lantai dari 18 lantai yang ada, bagaimana dengan perusahaan di lantai yang lainnya?

Mari Menghemat Kertas!!

2009-05-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

"Sudah berapa banyak pohon yang anda tebang hari ini?"

"Ingat, setiap kali anda membuang kertas, setiap kali pula anda menebang pohon."

Kata-kata seperti ini sudah sering kali terdengar dimana-mana. Banyak yang menyerukan isu global warming. Nah, apa hubungannya dengan kertas? Seperti yang diketahui, kertas terbuat dari pohon. Barangkali kita tidak menyadari betapa berharganya kertas karena produksi kertas bisa menentukan nasib bumi kita. Semakin banyak kertas yang kita gunakan secara sia-sia semakin banyak pula kita mengurangi pohon pelindung kita.

Di dunia IT, seringkali kita mengeluh pada email yang terlalu besar atau email yang dikirim tanpa menghapus thread yang terlalu panjang. Alasannya, menghabiskan bandwidth. Alasan yang sama juga digunakan ketika menegur orang yang memforward berita-berita sampah. Namun, mengapa kita tidak peduli pada penggunaan kertas ?

Banyak cara untuk menghemat kertas. Mudah dan simpel, kita hanya perlu kepedulian dalam melakukannya, itu yang terpenting.

Pernah kami mendapat sms konyol yang mengatakan betapa banyaknya kertas yang dipakai untuk peer dan ujian di sekolah sehari-harinya, dan jumlahnya cukup mengejutkan. Maka, di sms itu disarankan untuk "say no to exam and homework". Memang hal ini konyol ketika didengar, mengingat sebagai pelajar tentunya tidak mungkin tidak ada peer atau ujian. Hanya saja, dibalik itu ada fakta betapa borosnya kita pada penggunaan kertas. Untuk hal-hal tertentu, kita tidak bisa menolak untuk menggunakan kertas. Karena memang kertas adalah bagian kehiupan kita. Namun, tidak ada salahnya bukan untuk memulai kebiasaan kecil untuk menghemat kertas? Kelak kita sendirilah yang akan merasakan manfaatnya. Bukan hanya untuk bumi kita tapi juga keuangan kita. Semakin sedikit kertas yang kita pakai semakin nyaman kantong kita.

Berikut beberapa tips untuk menghemat kertas :

Hindari penggunaan tisu toilet atau tisu makan; karena akan jauh lebih baik jika kamu gunakan handuk kecil atau saputangan saja. Dengan adanya mesin cuci, mencucinya tentu tidak akan merepotkan lagi.

Berhenti langganan surat kabar atau majalah; dan bukalah versi online untuk mendapat berita harian. Selain menghemat kertas, kita juga dapat menghemat uang karena biaya untuk membuka halaman situs jauh lebih kecil dibanding harga harian koran, dan kita juga dapat menyimpan berita-berita tersebut dalam FlashDisk kita.

Biasakanlah men-digital-kan semua jenis acuan kertas, seperti pengumuman, kertas selebaran, hasil presentasi, dan simpanlah dalam hard drive untuk lebih amannya. Kita selalu dapat mencetaknya kembali di saat kita membutuhkannya.

Kebanyakan bank pada masa kini menghasilkan laporan-laporan yang tidak membutuhkan kertas, baik yang dikirim ke e-mail kita ataupun bayaran online. Gunakanlah layanan tersebut, karena hampir semua bank sekarang menawarkannya gratis. Dan selain itu, pembayaran tagihan tidak perlu terlambat lagi karena kita tidak perlu berurusan dengan kantor pos lagi.

Jangan sembarangan membuang kertas. Periksa dahulu, apakah masih bisa digunakan kembali untuk keperluan lain.

Kumpulkan sisa-sisa kertas yang benar-benar tidak terpakai, kemudian serahkan atau jual kembali kepada pemulung kertas. Mereka akan mengirimkan kertas bekas tersebut ke tempat daur ulang.

Ketika mengetik, gunakan kertas print bila hasil ketikan sudah sempurna. Jadi edit ketikan di komputer anda sampai sesuai dengan keinginan, barulah di print.

Bila memungkinkan print hasil kerja anda secara bolak-balik pada selembar kertas.

Kita juga bisa membuat notes kecil dari kumpulan sisa-sisa kertas yang digunting rapi yang lalu distapler. Bisa dipakai untuk mencatat pesan-pesan telepon yang masuk, atau untuk nota belanja.

Koran, tabloid dan majalah bekas bisa dipakai lagi untuk bungkus-membungkus, atau alas lemari pakaian anda.

Yang terpenting...
Ayo berhemat memakai kertas. Mudah kan?

Paper

2009-05-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets. Paper is a versatile material with many uses. Whilst the most common is for writing and printing upon, it is also widely used as a packaging material, in many cleaning products, and in a number of industrial and construction processes, and occasionally as a food ingredient, particularly in Asian cultures.

History

The word paper derives from the Greek term for the ancient Egyptian writing material called papyrus, which was formed from beaten strips of papyrus plants. The immediate predecessor to modern paper is believed to have originated in China in approximately the 2nd century CE, although there is some evidence for it being used before this date. Papermaking is considered to be one of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China, since the first papermaking process was developed in China during the early 2nd century CE by the Han court eunuch Cai Lun. China used paper as an effective and cheap alternative to silk, letting them sell more silk, leading to a Golden Age. The use of paper spread from China through the Islamic world, and entered production in Europe in the early 12th century. Mechanized production of paper in the early 19th century caused significant cultural changes worldwide, allowing for relatively cheap exchange of information in the form of letters, newspapers and books for the first time.

Papermaking

The purpose of a chemical pulping process is to break down the chemical structure of lignin and render it soluble in the cooking liquor, so that it may be washed from the cellulose fibers. Because lignin holds the plant cells together, chemical pulping frees the fibres and makes pulp. The pulp can also be bleached to produce white paper for printing, painting and writing. Chemical pulps tend to cost more than mechanical pulps, largely due to the low yield, 40–50% of the original wood. Since the process preserves fibre length, however, chemical pulps tend to make stronger paper. Another advantage of chemical pulping is that the majority of the heat and electricity needed to run the process is produced by burning the lignin removed during pulping.
Papers made from chemical wood-based pulps are also known as woodfree papers.
The Kraft process is the most commonly practiced strategy for pulp manufacturing and produces especially strong, unbleached papers that can be used directly for bags and boxes but are often processed further, e.g. to make corrugated cardboard.
Mechanical pulping
There are two major mechanical pulps, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and mechanical pulp. The latter is known in the USA as groundwood pulp. In the TMP process, wood is chipped and then fed into large steam-heated refiners where the chips are squeezed and fibreized between two steel discs. In the groundwood process, debarked logs are fed into grinders where they are pressed against rotating stones and fibreized. Mechanical pulping does not remove the lignin, so the yield is very high, >95%, but also causes paper made from this pulp to yellow and become brittle over time. Mechanical pulps have rather short fibre lengths and produce weak paper. Although large amounts of electrical energy are required to produce mechanical pulp, it costs less than chemical pulp.

Recycled paper

Paper recycling processes can use either chemical or mechanical pulp. By mixing with water and applying mechanical action the hydrogen bonds in the paper can be broken and fibres separated again. Most recycled paper contains a proportion of virgin fibre in the interests of quality.
There are three main classifications of recycled fibre:.
Mill Broke or Internal Mill Waste — this incorporates any substandard or grade-change paper made within the paper mill which then goes back into the manufacturing system to be repulped back into paper. Such out-of-specification paper is not sold and is therefore often not classified as genuine reclaimed recycled fibre. However, most paper mills have been recycling their own waste fibre for many years, long before recycling become popular.
Preconsumer Waste — this is offcuts and processing waste, such as guillotine trims and envelope blank waste. This waste is generated outside the paper mill and could potentially go to landfill, and is a genuine recycled fibre source. Also includes de-inked preconsumer (recycled material that has been printed but did not reach its intended end use, such as waste from printers and unsold publications). Postconsumer waste — this is fibre from paper which has been used for its intended end use and would include office waste, magazine papers and newsprint. As the vast majority of this paper has been printed (either digitally or by more conventional means such as litho or gravure), it will either be recycled as printed paper or go through a de-inking process first. Recycled papers can be made from 100% recycled materials or blended with virgin pulp. Recycled papers are (generally) not as strong nor as bright as papers made from virgin pulp.

Additives
Besides the fibres, pulps may contain fillers such as chalk or china clay, which improve the characteristics of the paper for printing or writing. Additives for sizing purposes may be mixed into the pulp and/or applied to the paper web later in the manufacturing process. The purpose of sizing is to establish the correct level of surface absorbency to suit the ink or paint.

Drying
After the paper web is produced, the water must be removed from it by pressing and drying.
Pressing the sheet removes the water by force. Once the water is forced from the sheet, felt (not to be confused with the traditional felt) is used to collect the water. When making paper by hand, a blotter sheet is used. Drying involves using air and or heat to remove water from the paper sheet. In the earliest days of papermaking this was done by hanging the paper sheets like laundry. In more modern times, various forms of heated drying mechanisms are used. On the paper machine, the most common is the steam-heated can dryer. These dryers can heat to temperatures above 200°F (93°C) and are used in long sequences of more than 40 cans. The heat produced by these can easily dry the paper to less than 6% moisture.
Finishing
The paper may then undergo sizing to alter its physical properties for use in various applications.
Paper at this point is uncoated. Coated paper has a thin layer of material such as calcium carbonate or china clay applied to one or both sides in order to create a surface more suitable for high-resolution halftone screens. (Uncoated papers are rarely suitable for screens above 150 lpi.) Coated or uncoated papers may have their surfaces polished by calendering. Coated papers are divided into matte, semi-matte or silk, and gloss. Gloss papers give the highest optical density in the printed image. The paper is then fed onto reels if it is to be used on web printing presses, or cut into sheets for other printing processes or other purposes. The fibres in the paper basically run in the machine direction. Sheets are usually cut "long-grain", i.e. with the grain parallel to the longer dimension of the sheet.
All paper produced by Fourdrinier-type machines is wove paper, i.e. the wire mesh that transports the web leaves a pattern that has the same density along the paper grain and across the grain. Textured finishes, watermarks and wire patterns imitating hand-made laid paper can be created by the use of appropriate rollers in the later stages of the machine.
Wove paper does not exhibit "laidlines", which are small regular lines left behind on paper when it was handmade in a mould made from rows of metal wires or bamboo. Laidlines are very close together. They run perpendicular to the "chainlines", which are further apart. Handmade paper similarly exhibits "deckle edges", or rough and feathery borders.

from : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Semboyan 3R untuk Hidup yang Lebih Baik

2009-04-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

Isu semacam global warming sudah tak asing lagi di telinga kita semua. Akan tetapi walaupun isu ini sudah sering di dengungkan masih banyak diantara kita yang menutup mata akan ancaman global warming dan semacamnya. Sering kali kesadaran kecil yang dapat membantu pengurangan effect global warmingpun lenyap karena kebiasaan kita menutup mata terhadap semua ini.

Sebenarnya relatif mudah bagi kita yang mau sedikit berusaha mengurangi efek global warming ini. Cara yang paling ampuh dan mudah adalah jangan buang sampah anda sembarangan lebih lanjut lagi buanglah sampah sesuai kategori sampah tersebut, organik atau anorganik. Hanya dengan seperti itu saja anda sudah bisa membantu bumi kita.

Jika semua masyarakat membuang sampah pada tempatnya maka lingkungan akan terlihat asri. Tidak kumuh, kotor. Selain itu apabila sampah dipisahkan organik atau anorganik akan memudahkan bagi kita untuk mendaur ulang (Recycle) sampah tersebut. Jika sampah kita tidak di daur ulang maka inilah yang akan terjadi.

Apa sih akibatnya ???

Mungkin jika sampah organik tidak di daur ulang kita tidak perlu khawatir karena sampah-sampah tersebut akan terurai oleh bakteri dengan mudah. Seperti penguraian sampah yang dilakukan Mycobacterium sp. atau Escherichia coli. Jangka waktu penguraiannya pun relatif singkat. 2 minggu sampai 1 bulan kemudian sampah organik akan terurai. Dan hasil penguraiannya berguna bagi tanah sebagai penyubur.

Yang dikhawatirkan adalah sampah anorganik. Yang tergolong sampah seperti ini ; plastik, kain sintetis, kaleng. Sampah-sampah seperti itu sangat sulit diuraikan oleh bakteri. Dibutuhkan waktu 5 tahun atau bahkan lebih bagi sebuah sampah anorganik agar terurai oleh bakteri. Bayangkan jika 1 triliun (1,000,000,000,000) orang di dunia membuang sampah anorganiknya sembarangan di tanah. Mengharapkan sampah itu akan terurai dengan sendirinya. Dalam 5 tahun saja bumi akan tertutup sampah anorganik dan mungkin manusia akan lenyap??? Apalagi jika hal itu benar-benar tejadi maka kualitas tanah pun akan berkurang dan kegiatan bercocok tanam akan semakin langka.

Cara mengantisipasi???

Oleh karena itu untuk mengantisipasinya bantulah orang-orang disekitar anda yang sangat mencintai lingkungan dengan membuang sampah pada tempatnya dan memisahkan sesuai dengan kategorinya. Atau mungkin jika anda sudah mulai tertarik untuk memelihara bumi ini lebih jauh lagi anda bisa menggunakan 3R.

Apa itu ???

3R adalah cara yang bisa dibilang ampuh untuk mengatasi masalah sampah anda.

Reduce

- Anda bisa mengurangi penggunaan barang yang tidak terlalu anda butuhkan (aksesoris baru dll. )

- Mengurangi penggunaan barang yang bisa merusak lingkungan. ( CFC pada parfum anda)

- Kurangi penggunaan kertas yang berlebihan. Gunakan tisu sehemat mungkin. Kalau bisa hindari pemakaian print preview.

- Baca koran online.

- Bila berbelanja bawa saja plastik belanjaan dari rumah agar mengurangi sampah plastik anda

Reuse

- Pemakaian kembali plastik yang anda miliki. Hal ini bisa membantu langkah penghematan anda.

- Pemakaian kembali kertas printan bolak-balik.

- Menyumbangkan baju bekas anda pada yatim piatu atau panti asuhan agar bisa di pakai lagi.

Recycle

- Yang paling mudah adalah mendaur ulang sampah organik di rumah anda dengan bantuan bakteri khusus tentunya.

- Menggunakan bekas botol plastik air minum, kaleng cat bekas sebagai pot tanaman.

- Mendaur ulang kertas

- Mendaur ulang sampah plastik menjadi barang bernilai ekonomis (tas dll. )

Epilog...

Cukup mudah bagi anda jika ingin melakukan semua itu. Sekarang semua tergantung niat untuk memelihara lingkungan yang ada di dalam diri anda. Apakah tekad anda sudah bulat???

SAVE THE WORLD

TO MAKE YOUR LIFE WORTH ! ! !

2009-04-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

Climate Change - A Threat to Humanity?
by Simone Poetscher

Global changes in climate and environment have become more important in our lives as we experience receding glaciers, melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels. Are these changes somehow related to the natural disasters of recent years? Were they the cause, or the consequence, of the enormous heat waves experienced in Europe and the United States or of the increase in the number and severity of hurricanes? How can we relate the traces of destruction left by, for example, El Niño and La Niña in South America, Australia, India, and Indonesia to these climatic changes?

Scientists believe that the climate has been constantly changing throughout history due to natural causes, but the impact of this change has never been felt in such tragic ways in recent years. Most scientists also agree that, in addition to natural causes, human activities have contributed to the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are responsible for balancing the earth’s eco-system and for keeping the average global temperature on earth around 58.82°F (14.9°C). When more greenhouse gases are released, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere, just as it is in a greenhouse. The reason given for the increasing temperature on earth is that the atmosphere acts as a one-way blanket over the earth’s surface, absorbing longwave infrared radiation from the sun but rejecting thermal radiation from the earth. The result is an increase in temperatures and climatic changes.

Plant a tree. Internet.

Austria’s Contribution

Austria experienced some of these climatic changes when the 2002 floods along the Danube hit Salzburg and Upper Austria. Thousands of people were left homeless, and some lost their lives in the floods. A year later, Austria’s agriculture suffered from the hottest European summer of the century. While the average world temperature in the last 150 years rose by 33.44°F (0.8°C), the rise in temperature in Austria was more than twice as high, 35.24°F (1.8°C) over the same period of time. This rise has had an irreversible effect on Austria’s natural treasures: Glaciers have melted, and Austria’s areas of permafrost have decreased. The glaciers are now approximately half the size they were a hundred years ago. The Wurtenkees Glaciers in the Hohen Tauern have even lost three quarters of their size over the same period of time.

Polar bear. Internet.

Austria recently gave its support to the efforts of the European Commission to raise awareness of climate change. As Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Austria took part in the European Commission’s anti-global warming campaign ‘You Control Climate Change.’ The campaign was initiated between May 30 and June 6 in all twenty-five EU member states. The goal was to inform individuals of how they can each make a contribution to fighting climate change. “Action against climate change is a priority. This campaign complements and reinforces our political and legislative efforts. It makes clear to which extent we all are responsible for climate change and what individuals can and need to do to limit this threat,” said José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

Austria’s efforts are also apparent on a global level. An amendment on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, was signed in 1997 as a first step towards lowering the overall emission of six greenhouse gases. Currently, the Kyoto Protocol has been endorsed by 164 countries and covers 65% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The protocol specifies that by 2012 there will be a reduction of six greenhouse gases by at least 5% below the level that existed in 1990. In order to achieve this overall reduction, each of the participating countries has been given a certain amount of standards it has to meet.

Walking. Bob Adams.

The Kyoto Protocol and the United States

The United States is the largest source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Although Vice President Al Gore signed the protocol on behalf of the United States in November 1998, the protocol was never submitted to the Senate for ratification. The following remarks were published in an analysis of the Kyoto Protocol by the current Administration which believes that the Kyoto Protocol is flawed: “The Kyoto Protocol fails to establish a long term goal based on science, poses serious and unnecessary risks to the U.S. and world economies, and is ineffective in addressing climate change because it excludes major parts of the world.”

The European Initiative

Each citizen of the European Union accounts for eleven tons of greenhouse gas emissions, mostly CO2, every year. This shocking number demonstrates just how important it is for every single person to change their behavior. “Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk,” goes the slogan of the European Commission’s campaign, to remind us of the most commonly known steps to be taken for a healthy environment. Let us look at some surprising details and see which additional advantages come when CO2 emissions are reduced:

Did you know that putting wet laundry in a dryer produces over 6.6 pounds of CO2 emission for each drying cycle?

* Drying our laundry naturally saves energy and guarantees our clothes a longer life!

* Driving your car produces twenty-two pounds of CO2 emission for each gallon of fuel burnt. How about walking, riding a bike, car-pooling, or public transportation?

* Low-pressure tires require more fuel to overcome resistance. By making sure your tires have the correct pressure you could save 2.5% in fuel and CO2 emissions!

* Become creative in your garden and plant a tree! An average size tree absorbs over thirteen pounds of CO2 every year!

Switch off. Internet.

Further information on how to save energy can be found at the web site of the European Commission:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/campaign/takecontrol_en.htm

Emission reduction goals of the Kyoto Protocol apply to the following six Greenhouse Gases:

CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CH4 Methane
N2O Nitrous Oxide
PFC Perfluorocarbons
HFC Hydrofluorocarbons
SF6 Sulfur Hexafluoride

taken Taken from (click here)