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Upcycling — The process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.
Examples shown here include timber salvaged from old buildings and wine barrels. The furniture (top photo) is by Margaret Taylor of Dryads Home & Garden. The platters (lower photo) are by Ivan Hull of Australian Design + Marketing.
Europe 2 You is an Atlanta based company that handles upcycled products from Europe.
Thank You.
Have A Nice Day.
Photograph: Stephen Wise
The write-up for Paula Hayes’ Limax Maximus at MOMA says that the work “brings nature into the museum — enlivening the lobby space during the winter season.”
Photograph: Stephen Wise
Understanding how actions change environments.
Photograph: Stephen Wise
While addressing the World Business Forum in New York last week, former Vice President Al Gore spoke of the world “entering a period of consequences,” with the climate crisis being the “most dangerous crisis we have ever faced.” He cited the record setting heat and extreme weather events around the world in recent years, including the flooding of the “Grand Ole Opry” in Nashville, as examples of what’s going on.
Among the causes of the problems we face, Mr. Gore pointed to business models and the power of technology, including the “short termism” of Wall Street — where transactions take place in microseconds and people tend not to think or care about the “long term.” He also mentioned the world’s population which has quadrupled in the last 65 years and the need for smaller families, through the empowerment of women and fertility management.
Mr. Gore’s analysis and facts about climate change appear to be accurate, however he contradicts himself — in an important area, by advocating for smaller families as part of the solution. In other words, if the climate crisis came about because people failed to think and act in a holistic and organic way, then how can the solution be found in ”managing” the size of families inorganically?
Bottom line, governments need to recognize the relationship that exists between economic, environmental and security interests, and work for a sustainable future with deeds and not just words.
Photograph: Stephen Wise
Queens, NY — 9/16/10
The tree came down in a storm and rested in this position for weeks.
Calls to the Fire Department (FDNY) to do something about it, by an elderly woman whose fire escape was blocked by the tree, were met with laughter. Finally at around 1AM on a rainy evening, the neighborhood was awaken by a thunderous bang, followed by a lot of swearing.
It turns out, an FDNY Captain driving up the street didn’t see the tree and crashed into it — whereupon he took out a chain saw and finished the job. True story.
Photograph: Stephen Wise
President Obama’s visit to New York, on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, highlighted the urgent need for healthier living – not just in the environment and on Wall Street, but throughout all of American society.
Photographs: Stephen Wise
Riverkeeper, a clean water advocacy group in New York, honored California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at their Annual Fishermen’s Ball last night.
Some protesters, who questioned Arnold’s worthiness to receive the honor, showed up to voice their displeasure.
To his credit Robert Kennedy Jr., who works with Riverkeeper, came out to talk with the protesters and even offered to help get them out of jail.
It’s a national scandal that so many of the country’s lakes, rivers, and streams can’t be used for drinking, fishing or swimming.
Photographs: Stephen Wise
This photograph brings to mind Max Planck, the founder of Quantum Theory and someone who thought about “reality” and “nature.”
Commenting on his friend, Einstein said of Planck – ”He showed convincingly that in addition to the atomistic structure of matter there is a kind of atomistic structure to energy, governed by the universal constant h, which was introduced by Planck.”
For those who care about society and themselves, it’s important to grow in our understanding of the reality (interconnectedness) of nature — including our spiritual nature, and consciously participate in it.
Photograph: Stephen Wise
As the World prepares for the Copenhagen Climate Summit, one hopes that the U.S. and China are prepared to lead in addressing climate and environmental concerns.
The technology exists to make a difference. The question is does the “will” exist among political and business leaders to do the right things and be good stewards of the Earth.
One American company positioned to make a difference is Anguil Environmental Systems, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — makers of thermal and catalytic oxidizers.
Oxidizers are used in a variety of industries, for the destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). They prevent hazardous chemicals from being released into the atmosphere, but the older oxidizers also release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
At Anguil, progress in technology has resulted in the Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer RTO (seen in the diagram) which emits a fraction of the GHG (greenhouse gases) of previous models, and will be able to help companies adhere to any future CO2 regulations that might be enacted.
