Make it Rain

Firing laser beams into the sky could make it rain, say scientists

   It does not seem immediately plausible that we, as mere humans, could possess the ability to control the weather. For millennia we have attempted to do so, but not until recently has it appeared to exist as a potential reality. The lasers fired by the Swiss scientists acted to condense water vapor into very small droplets by creating "nitric acid particles in the air that behaved like atmospheric glue, binding water molecules together into droplets and preventing them from re-evaporating." This appears to be quite an innovation. We could control when, where, and how hard it rains? Breathtaking. While the science is not complete enough to start a downpour in the drought-ravaged eastern Africa and southern United States, the findings are a start upon which incredible advances in weather control could be achieved, and, with any hope at all, the new methods will be much more eco-friendly than the Chinese strategy of blasting chemicals into the sky to alter weather patterns.

   Additionally, these new advances could have an incredibly practical use as our planet's atmosphere is further adulterated with heretofore unseen amounts of greenhouse gasses. As the impacts of climate change develop, our planet will see increasing drought, amplified weather disasters, and a modicum of other affects to boot. Though, if these discoveries translate into practical weather-altering methods, perhaps our newfound abilities will slightly mediate the harsh droughts and torrential rainfalls that are bound to extend in their respective extremes. While we cannot count on our "do nothing" policies to sustain our planet, hopefully such advances as these will reduce the catastrophic effects that we have brought upon ourselves when we finally realize the severity of our current situation.

Sustainable Blogging: Intro

This blog will discuss topical issues I run across in various periodicals on the web having to do with sustainability in today's rapidly changing world, such as The Guardian, The New York Times, etc. Climate change is an ever-present issue in our world, and I hope to shed some measure of light on the subject while presenting a fairly easy to read response to news stories pertaining to the subject.

China's polluted? Who would have guessed?

Wikileaks Displays China's Dangerous Pollution

   This article from The Guardian depicts a scene with which most are familiar: China is polluted, severely. However, surprising even for such an obviously polluted area, the Chinese state did not even properly measure the levels of several particularly detrimental pollutants so as to not embarrass themselves and frighten the public. The specific pollutant in question, PM2.5, is said to be of great danger to the public due to its nature to enter into the lungs directly. However, "Those lobbying for its inclusion in an index of pollutants conceded that including a pollutant whose current levels would measure so far above acceptable standards would be politically difficult,' the cable said." The Chinese refuse even to measure the pollutant to save the political embarrassment.
   Personally, I wish I was more surprised by this tidbit, for it does seem very grave indeed. Though, China's history of incredible pollution does not give me hope for the future of its polluted cities. The necessity for, at the very least, the accurate measuring of pollutants in the atmosphere is of the greatest public interest, and sacrificing measurement standards in order to prevent very deserved political shame is abhorrent. In order to establish sustainability in Chinese cities and to protect the health of the Chinese public, drastic change in the Chinese attitude toward the subject seems mandatory. It is apparent that global pressure from all outside countries and international organizations is necessary to impact the Chinese attitude toward the pollutants in their cities.