Wind Farms For The Greener Good

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There appears to be an ongoing battle in the UK between those who are looking to use wind power as a cleaner source of energy and those who want to preserve the natural landscape. Both want to protect but in different ways. I saw this article this morning and it got me thinking about if there is a “right” answer to this issue and if there can be a balance struck between the energy companies and the conservationists that will see both sides satisfied.

Why Wind Farms?

There can be no doubt that we need to look for renewable resources of energy as we move forward and develop. The impact that fossil fuels is having on the environment is placing the future of the planet in jeopardy. Conservation of the planet and wildlife conservation must be realised by the majority of people if a difference is to be made. This is where harnessing natural energy will become vital for future development. Wind power is abundant and there is no signs that the wind will run out so it is completely renewable, this must be the answer to our energy woe. Below are some points towards the advantages of wind power.

• The wind is free and with modern technology it can be captured efficiently.
• Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.
• Although wind turbines can be very tall each takes up only a small plot of land. This means that the land below can still be used. This is especially the case in agricultural areas as farming can still continue.
• Many people find wind farms an interesting feature of the landscape.
• Remote areas that are not connected to the electricity power grid can use wind turbines to produce their own supply.
• Wind turbines have a role to play in both the developed and third world.
• Wind turbines are available in a range of sizes which means a vast range of people and businesses can use them. Single households to small towns and villages can make good use of range of wind turbines available today.

There are many positive points to the wind farms so why would people take such a stand to new developments being put up?

The Other Side Of The Farm

The main issue that people have with wind farms is the locations that are chosen to host the farms. They are almost always of natural interest and beauty. The fact is that wind farms take up a lot of space and need to be placed in remote areas so that they don’t interfere with cities and air space. This is where the two groups really clash, there are other reasons that people feel that wind farms are not the best way forward listed below.

• The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
• Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy.
• Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car travelling at 70 mph.
• Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
• When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.
• Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity. For example, the largest single turbine available today can only provide enough electricity for 475 homes, when running at full capacity. How many would be needed for a town of 100 000 people?

Again, most of the points above are conservation related and when constructing anything there will usually be some kind of emissions produced. It appears that there will always be a sticking point between the two groups on the overall effects that the wind farms will have on the land, so what could a solution be?

There is the option of taking the wind farms offshore, there are already a number of offshore wind farms around Europe that are generating power as we speak. Although they are not affecting the land conversation groups there may be calls from those who are concerned about ocean preservation. As well as this once they are offshore they become much harder to maintain and fix should something go wrong. Offshore may solve some problems but it also raises others.

There are also ongoing projects looking into the viability of other natural resources such as tidal energy and solar. There will always be people who disagree on different aspects of energy but it is important that people can have their opinions heard and a solution can hopefully be worked out. We have put together a bundlr looking at the different stances on wind farms from around the net. If you have an opinion on the wind farm situation we would like to hear it, please leave any thoughts in the comments section below.

Touch Free Travel: Contactless Payment on London’s Buses

Contactless payment technology has been introduced on London’s buses making it easier than ever to navigate this amazing city. Read on to find out how you can take advantage of the new technology…

For travellers in London, the introduction of contactless payment on buses has meant that journeys around the city are becoming cheaper and easier to make. Whether commuting across town for work, or striking out to see one of London’s amazing attractions, the introduction of contactless payment can ease some of the frustrations associated with cross town travels.

Maybe you’ve experienced these frustrations yourself. Have you ever been one of the 500 people a day who find they are short on coins and try to pay with a note that the driver can’t take because they don’t have enough change? Or perhaps you’ve got an Oyster card but when you got on a bus and swiped it you were told you’ve got insufficient funds. You’re not alone if this has happened to you – according to TfL every day 36,000 people in the capital jump on a bus before finding out they don’t have the funds on their Oyster card to cover the journey.

If you live in London these situations may sound familiar and the introduction of contactless payment might seem like a godsend. The new system is great for visitors too – giving them an easy and inexpensive way of travelling round the city, giving them access to Oyster card prices that are cheaper than cash tickets.

 

How it works

Contactless payment cards were first introduced into UK banking by Barclays in 2009. The technology has since been rolled out across a number of card providers. You can spot an enabled card by looking for the distinctive symbol as prominently shown on Barclaycard designs. The time saving technology – which uses near-field communication (NFC) – has slowly grown in popularity and is now used in shops and businesses across the country, enabling customers to make a quick payment without having to enter a PIN.

There have long been contactless card swiping points on London’s buses but until recently they’ve been exclusively used for Oyster card payments. Now, thanks to an expansion of the system, it’s possible to use NFC enabled debit and credit cards. Holding your card against one of these points until you hear a beep and/or see a green light is all it takes to pay for a journey.

The Benefits

There are several reasons why it makes sense to take advantage of the new contactless payment system. Here are just a few:

• Money saving: Paying by contactless card is cheaper than paying by cash. The new system could save TfL £35m-a-year by cutting the cost of collecting cash from buses and this saving is being passed on to customers. Rather than paying £2.40 in cash for a single journey, the new payment method will only cost £1.40 – the same price as an Oyster card journey.
• No top-ups required: Although the Oyster card system already offers a convenient way to pay for your travel, the card still needs to be maintained and topped-up as required. Forgetting to do this can lead to you being caught short on the bus but with a contactless debit or credit card this is not an issue. As long as you have the funds available in your account, you will be able to pay for your trip with ease.
• Gives you security: TfL figures show that almost £30m was left unspent on Oyster cards that were lost or stolen between April 2009-10. Contactless debit and credit cards are protected against loss or fraud so you don’t have to worry about misplacing your card, or having someone steal it before using all the credit you’ve paid for.

Get Travelling

Contactless payment is making bus travel around London more stress-free for residents and tourists alike, and in 2013 it will reach the tube. Maybe you need to get to work, or maybe you want to use this cutting edge technology to see the sights. Whatever your destination London’s buses are a great way of getting there, and with contactless payments the journey is easier than ever.

World Cancer Day 2013

English: A world map showing developed countries, developing and least developed countries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today is world cancer day, it is a global event that looks to raise awareness about cancer and dispel some of the myths that surround it. This truly is a global event with people from around the world getting involved. This years World Cancer Day is running with the tag-line “Cancer – Did you know?” as many assumptions are made about cancer and its treatments and a lot of cases could be prevented if the stigma attached to cancer was broken down. We wanted to look at the main four myths that are being raised by World Cancer Day.

Myth 1 – Cancer is just a health issue

The fact is that cancer is more than just a health issue, it has an impact on social, economic, development and human rights making it much more than just being about health. There is great concern that if steps aren’t taken now to help raise awareness and change the way in which we are heading cancer cases will look to increase by 81%! There are organisations and charities that are working furiously to try and turn the tide and they rely on your charity donations and fundraising to help them carry out there work.

Myth 2 – Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries

Cancer affects all ages and socio-economic groups with developing countries suffering a much larger burden than developed countries. There is a huge cancer divide between the developed countries that have access to treatment, doctors, pain relief and the developing countries where there is still a lack of early diagnosis which gives the best chance of survival. Access to effective, quality and affordable cancer services is a right that everyone should have, it should not be determined on where you are in the world.

Myth 3 – Cancer is a death sentence

Cancer is no longer the death sentence that it once was. Many cancers are now treatable and can be cured through prevention and treatment. Understanding the risk of cancer has lead to the management of cancer to be revolutionised, however, this is still mainly in developed countries where mortality rates have been dropping since programmes to combat cancer have been initiated. The developing countries are still behind and lack the resources to be able to run similar programmes. This needs to be addressed if we want cancer to be extinguished around the globe.

Myth 4 – Cancer is my fate

Prevention is the most important aspect of fighting against cancer. People need to be made aware of the risks that can lead to the development of cancer. With the right strategies in place it is believed that a third of the most common cancers can be prevented. It is important that healthy lifestyle campaigns are implemented on a global scale to make people aware of factors that can increase the risk of cancer.

There are a lot of activities that will be going on today and you should make sure to add your voice to the campaign. You can do this by signing the World Cancer Day declaration that is looking to get cancer onto the political agenda, improve cancer prevention and early detection and enhance access to and treatment for cancer patients. The video below was made by Harvard School of Public Health and has some cancer information that you might not know.

If you would like to follow events online then you can follow the #worldcancerday tag on Twitter and add your voice to help raise awareness and understanding about this disease. If you have any thoughts or comments about World Cancer Day please leave them in the comments section below.

How to beat the winter blues

With over a month ahead until winter ends, most of us are starting to feel a little down due to the bad weather and the short days. Keeping active and finding new activities to focus on during winter is essential to avoid feeling sad or bored.

To help you beat the winter blues, we’ve prepared a selection of ideas that will help you keep yourself entertained and relaxed this season.

Plan a long weekend break

Take a couple of days off from work and book a holiday to that place you’ve been thinking about over the last few months. Having a short break from work will make you feel better and you’ll go back to your workplace completely recharged and ready to face the rest of the winter!

If you need some holiday inspiration, have a look at those places close to your area you’ve still haven’t had a chance to visit. You don’t need to fly miles away to beat the winter blues, a simple change of scenery will work.

Source: Uploaded by user via Frances on Pinterest

 

Start going to the gym

Going to the gym is usually the first item on our New Year’s resolutions list but we usually tend to forget about it. If you still haven’t been to the gym this year, don’t worry – it’s never too late to buy some workout apparel and start exercising a couple of days a week.

Spending some time at the gym will help you unwind after work and will make you feel happier. If you need an initial push, have a look at these gym tips for beginners.

Find a new hobby

Don’t fall into a routine, try doing different things after you finish work. Winter is the perfect time to start a new hobby or join a class.

Most city councils offer courses and classes on a great variety of topics and at very reasonable prices. You’ll be able to learn almost anything, from cooking and crafts to languages and photography.

Another option is finding some online tutorials and courses to keep your mind active during the winter months.

Source: avthinginitsplace.com via Plaid Crafts on Pinterest

 

Reconnect with old friends

Everyone seems to have more free time during winter, this makes it the perfect season to reconnect with those old friends you haven’t heard of in a while.

We’re all busy during the weekdays and sometimes we don’t have a chance to see our closest friends in weeks. This winter save some time for your friends and meet them for a coffee or dinner after work.

Treat yourself

It’s always good to treat yourself and the winter blues seems like the perfect excuse to spend some money on clothes or health and beauty treatments.

Plan a shopping spree with some friends, book a massage or change your hairstyle. There’s a great number of things you can do to feel better this winter, if you want to find more about them make sure you have a look at our health and beauty tips to beat the blues!

Source: jeddah.park.hyatt.com via Jordan on Pinterest

 

What are your tips for beating the winter blues? Share them with us in the comment section below!

What does comfort mean to you?

Defining comfort is a difficult task even for the most philosophical of us. We all find comfort in different ways; but there is one common theme in every person’s characterisation of comfort – it brings a smile to your face.

Whether the gesture is big or small, the littlest sign of comfort can make us feel warm inside – literally for some.

Yes, a simple pick-me-up like a hot chocolate on a freezing day can make us feel better. Bubble baths and salts can feel like you’re soaking your troubles away. The calming scent of lavender (which takes its name from the Latin root lavare, which means to wash) has been proven to calm and soothe you. Or why not try the many bath bombs from Lush? Our favourite is Twilight. Is there anything quite like getting into a warm bath after a long day on your feet?

Speaking of feet, aching feet can make us uncomfortable. We put our feet under enormous pressure on a daily basis. Whether it be a marathon run, a marathon shopping trip or wearing those cute-but-ill-fitting heels for an evening, your feet let you know they are less than happy. If they were dogs, they would be howling.

Octavia – Hotter Shoes

Prolonged wearing of tight shoes can cause long term damage. That’s why it’s important to wear comfortable shoes. Ladies active shoes are perfect for exercise sessions or walking the dog. We like Hotter Shoes who are all about comfort and giving your feet a hug – it’s like walking on the clouds.Why not treat your feet once in a while to a massage?

Massages are great for relieving tension. Sometimes it’s easy to feel too relaxed and fall asleep on the message table! There’s nothing that compares to a Swedish massage. Weekend spa breaks are a great way to make the most of your weekend off. We like daily deal sites like Groupon and Wowcher who always have top spa experiences on sale.

Spa Weekend Anyone?

It’s not just physical wellness that can make you feel comfortable. As Jane Austen wrote:

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort

A home is more than just a place to sleep. It’s a place to unwind and spend quality time with your family. Even a Sunday roast with your family can produce a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Friends are like family too. A quick catch-up in your hectic lifestyles over coffee makes time stand still; even if it’s only for an hour before the pause button returns to play. Talking something out that’s been plaguing your mind can be solved with some advice from your friend. That’s the comfort of knowing someone is there for you.

These are just some of the ways in which we find comfort. What does comfort mean to you? Here are some products which can help you find a state of comfort.