Dubai is building the world!

I would like to share with you a national geographic video clip and an article that I had watched and read recently. Both of the video clip and the article are regarding Dubai. As we know, Dubai had been successfully create a man-made palm-shaped island and is now building the world tallest tower. Besides that, Dubai is going to create a world! A man-made world! What a great idea to boost the luxurious based tourism of Dubai?
The idea of creating the World is came from the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dubai links 300 islands nearby her coast and creates a world map that visible from space. For your information, Dubai is built on its profit of the oil reserve. However, the oil is estimated to be run dry by the year of 2016. Thus, Dubai must change from an emirate reliance on oil to a land filled by tourists. I really enjoyed watching the video clip as I am so impressed with the ruler of Dubai who managed to transform Dubai into a well-known country and a top tourist destination in a decade. Moreover, he has such an impressive visionary, which enables Dubai to survive without her oil reserve. Everyone in the world is waiting for Dubai to come out with the next miracle. Would Malaysia be able to construct this kind of mega structure? In my opinion, Malaysia still has a long way to go to succeed in tourism unless she fully utilize the resources and show the world the extraordinary of hers.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_(archipelago)

Seaweed based biodiesel

I have read an article on Treehugger website regarding Italian biodiesel producers turn to seaweed as a feedstock for biodiesel. Italy’s Union of Biodiesel Producers hope to commercialize the production of seaweed-based biodiesel within five years. They plan on investing €10 million ($14 million) into the project.

The specific species of seaweed used in this project has yet to be determined, the company is working with scientists at the University of Florence to find a species which could be grown in plastic tubes of seawater and fed with carbon dioxide captured from a nearby fossil fuel power plant. I enjoyed reading this article, it raise my awareness on insufficent supply of diesel. And I hope scientists in our country will come out with something like this.

Source:http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/italian-union-of-biodiesel-producers-investigates-seaweed-biofuel.php

Electronic cigarettes

Have you ever heard of electronic cigarettes? Now, as what i have read on BBC news website, the sales of the electronic cigarettes has been raised in UK. The electronic cigarettes use replaceable cartridge with shots of nicotine, but have become popular because they are not covered by the smoking ban.

Some of the smokers believe that the cigarettes were healthier than normal cigarettes as they do not contain tar, tobacco or carbon monoxide. Yet, experts are worried as users inhale a fine heated mist and there is a lack of regulation. However, Jason Cropper, managing director of the Electronic Cigarette Company, has claimed that it is more healthier than the real cigarettes as they had done the experiment on mice. I do not enjoyed reading the article because it does not related to me and i think electronic cigarettes could not help in cutting down the number of smokers. Those smokers will think that electronic cigarettes is more healthier than the real cigarettes yet they forget inside the cigarettes still contain nicotine.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7658603.stm

Paper that Self-Erases in a day

As what i have read on the Treehugger site, Xerox has came out with a paper that self-erases within 24 hours and can then be re-used. The printing on the paper will fade gradually in 24 hours under the light is actually due to a compound on the printing that change colour when they absorb a certain wavelength of light.

The printing can also be erased faster by exposing to heat. The erasable paper produced by Xerox has not yet on sale. It is because it is still a research project. I enjoyed reading the article as it is quite a good idea to help in reducing paper used. And i do believe the erasable paper could help in reducing the number of paper in the world. However, Xerox still need to think how they should reduce the cost of production of the erasable and the ways to attract the consumers to use their product.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/wired-nextfest-2008-chicago-xerox-erasable-paper.php

Caffeine limits for pregnant women

Pregnant women should drink no more than four cups of coffee a day, a government agency in United Kingdom has advised.The FSA's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (CoT) in UK found that drinking more than 300mg - or four average sized cups of instant coffee per day - could be linked to low birthweight and possibly miscarriage.

Hence, the pregnant women should always seek advice from their doctor or other health professionals on the appropriate diet during pregnancy. It always easy to forget that not only coffee contains caffeine, but also chocolate, tea and soft drinks. I do not enjoy reading the article as it is not related to me. Perhaps it will only related to me in the coming ten years time. Due to your baby health, reduce caffeine!

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1591026.stm

Monkey work in Japanese Restaurant

I had watched a video published on the BBC news website. There is a restaurant in Japan has two macaque monkeys as its staffs. The two monkeys were named as Yatchan and Fukuchan. They served customers hot towels and drinks when they are given soya beans as tips. Those two monkeys are actually the pets belonging to the restaurant's owner. I enjoyed watching this video as i think it is a creative idea to have pets to serve in order to attract customers to the restaurant. I hope we will see orang utan serves us in a restaurant in Malaysia one day.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7654267.stm

Goat 'condoms' save Kenyan herds

Recently, i have read an article which is published on the BBC News website about Maasai herdsmen in Kenya have turned to an age-old contraceptive device, the "olor", to limit the goat population during the draught season. It is to ensure there are not too many animals grazing on sparse vegetation. The olor is made from cowhide or a square piece of plastic, and is tied around the belly of the male goat. It prevents them to mate with the female goats.

In the Maasai community, livestock are often people's only assets. The buck's owner will tie the olor on its belly for three months and will just remove it in November when the short rains come. I enjoyed reading the article because it is interesting and i gain new knowledge after reading it.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7648860.stm, written by Ruth Nesoba