(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.

Reblogged from State of Reason:

Reblogged from Office of Environmental Policy:

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by OEP intern Emily Udal

Over the winter intersession, I had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful country of Costa Rica for three weeks to take 6-credits worth of classes titled Economic Development & Human Rights in Latin America and  Latin American Studies.  The trip was very successful despite it being the first time UConn has attempted this specific study abroad program.

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Reblogged from Thailand News:

The Consumer Protection Network of Thailand accused the Government of having a hidden agenda. Yes we are at this stage again when groups that claim to represent Thai interest are loosely throwing accusation. According to sources, the consumer group believes that Yingluck's Government intends to resurrect a plan to build a nuclear power plant in Thailand. They also think that the Government is using the recent call for power conservation as a future agenda to increase the electricity charges.

Read more… 421 more words

Reblogged from CaledonianReports:

By Natalie Deans

‘Action must be taken now,’ was the claims of one MSP in regards to Scotland’s renewable energy industry at Holyrood this week.

SNP energy minister, Fergis Ewing warned the Scottish energy industry is at risk due to ‘mixed messages’ from the UK government. The on-going debate over whether or not off and on shore turbines will damage the tourism industry is affecting the confidence of investors, according to Ewing.

Read more… 245 more words

Scan of a Valentine greeting card dated 1909. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a couple of days the most romantic day of the year will be here. A time when couples celebrate their love by lavishing gifts upon one another, many people view Valentine’s Day as a hallmark celebration, dreamed up by marketers to sell products. This is probably true and people should not rely on one day a year to celebrate their love but there is no harm in spending a little money to spoil your special someone.

There is always the question of what to get your valentine, should it be a flashy, over the top gesture that will blow them away? Or would something more personal be the way to go? There are always valentines chocolates that come in a huge array of styles and flavours that are bound to satisfy the sweetest tooth.  We wanted to look at some gift ideas that we thought were interesting and also different places around the world where you can take your valentine. Also if you are single we have some advice on how to get through this sometimes sickeningly sweet time of year.

Valentines is a great time to let your creative side out and make something unique for your loved one. We had a look for some crafting inspiration and we found some great ideas. The first blog that we found was The Crafty Crow which is focused on children’s crafting and is a collective so there are lots of different styles and ideas. The ideas that have been curated look fantastic, simple, cute and humorous cards that are bound to make your valentine smile.

As we continued our search for Valentines inspiration we came across Faithful Provisions that have some very cute ideas for making your valentine a great present. We have to confess that the “you rule” idea was our favourite, Valentine’s Day should be fun and light hearted, not a serious affair. As many people are on a tight budget this is an economical idea that should earn some Valentines brownie points. The video below is a great example of some valentines crafts.

The idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day get away is one that many people wish to treat their significant other to. It may be a little bit too last minute to book something now (never say never though) but we thought a map of different places around the world that ooze romance would be a great way to inspire ideas for summer holidays or even next Valentine’s Day. You may also live close to some of the locations in which case get planning your day and cross your fingers for reasonable weather.

Now, for those of us who are single over this period of exuberant displays of affection. First up, don’t worry about it. The fact that you are single is not a bad thing, it is not a sign that you are going to die alone with hundreds of cats. You should use Valentine’s Day as a day to spoil yourself, think of what you would have done for someone else and then do it for yourself. You might want to have a spa day to make yourself glow. You could organise a party with other single friends and celebrate your singleness. We came across a blog post on Admire and adapt which sums up how you can celebrate Valentine’s Day involving wine and Bridget Jones Diary to keep you warm. If you do find that Valentine’s Day gets you down then the image below should cheer you up, Phish Food for the win.

We hope that if you are getting into the Valentine’s mood that you have a romantic time and that your special someone appreciates all that you do for their special day. And if you are single then we hope that you don’t find it too excruciating and enjoy it how you see fit.

If you have any Valentine’s Day ideas or suggestions please let us know in the comments section below.

Reblogged from The Delights of Life:

Valentines day, what does it mean to you?

For some Valentines day is something special, a day where they can truly express their love and affection for someone who holds their heart.

For others it is merely a reminder of their loneliness or a just another materialistic, commercially driven excuse to go out and buy a selection of over priced heart shaped chocolates, crazy amounts of flowers and corny pink gorilla teddies holding an 'I love you' pillow.

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Reblogged from Caiger's Kitchen:

Valentines Menu

 £40 a head

Starter

Flaky Pastry Tartlets with

Slow Baked Cherry Tomatoes in Thyme and Black Pepper

Mascarpone and Artisanal Goats Cheese

Main

Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Rhubarb Compote

Served with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Glazed Chantry Carrots

OR

Miso Glazed Salmon with Brown Rice and Caramelised Onions

Served with Charred Tender Stem Broccoli

Dessert

Chocolate Torte with Praline Hazelnuts…

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Reblogged from Lisa Gillies:

Reblogged from lisatouch:

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         Valentine’s Day is the day of love. A lot of girls would fuss over what clothes to wear, what shoes should go with the outfit, and a bag to match. A beautiful make-up, perfume and the perfect hair. One thing that should not be forgotten is our nails, because a beautiful and clean nail leaves a lasting impression, a clean nail would mean that a person has a good hygiene and is tidy, and if it's unclean it means otherwise, so here's a nail art idea for Valentine's Day.

Read more… 287 more words