globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Vanishing Wildlife 50 Percent Gone in Under 50 years
The latest World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report shows that the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures more than 10,000 representative populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, has declined by 52 percent since 1970. The report is widely
considered the leading science-based analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity (
Tinyurl.com/WWF-Living-Planet-Report). In fewer than two human generations, populations of vertebrate species—the life forms that constitute the fabric of life-sustaining ecosystems and serve as a barometer of how humans are impacting nature—have dropped by half. Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand; it’s not only about pre- serving biodiversity and wild places, but about safeguarding the future of humanity. Living Planet Report partners include the Zoological Society of London, Global Footprint Network and Water Footprint Network. Marco Lambertini, direc- tor general of WWF International, states, “We need leadership for change. Sitting on the bench waiting for someone else to make the first move, doesn’t work. Heads of state need to start thinking globally; businesses and consumers need to stop behaving as if we live in a limitless world.”
Thriving Eco-Towns Malaysian Villages Model Sustainability
Innovations being successfully pioneered in Malaysia offer ideas for improving the world, according to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), including the construction of high-tech, self-sustaining ecological “smart” villages. These villages are lifting incomes for scores of rural families while promoting environmental sustainability. Each 50-acre
community consists of about 100 affordable homes, advanced educational, training and recreational facilities and an integrated, sustainable farm system that provides villagers with food and employment that on average, triples their monthly income.
Low-cost, 1,000-square-foot homes are built in 10 days and the commu- nal farming operations include a cascading series of fish tanks, or “aquafarms”. Filtered fish tank wastewater irrigates trees, grain fields and high-value plants grown in “autopots”, a three-piece container with a valve that detects soil mois- ture levels and releases water as required, reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Free-range chickens feed on the fast-reproducing worms that process the plant compost.
This system optimizes nutrient absorption, minimizes waste and enables crops to be grown on previously non-arable land. The village’s solar-generated power is complemented by biomass energy and mini-hydro electricity. A commu- nity hall, resource center, places of worship, playgrounds and educational facili- ties equipped with 4G Internet service support e-learning and e-health services.
12 Hudson County
NAHudson.com Corporate
Do-Gooders U.S. Recognizes Companies for Earth-Sound Policies
Each year, the U.S. Department of State presents Awards for Corporate Excellence recognizing U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles worldwide as good cor- porate citizens. Parameters include sup- porting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmen- tal protection, open markets, transpar- ency and other democratic values. The 2014 winners, announced
last December, include the EcoPlanet Bamboo Group, in Nicaragua, for fostering sustainable development by regenerating degraded pasturelands. The company dedicates 20 percent of its plantations as natural habitat that protects biodiversity by prohibiting il- legal hunting. EcoPlanet also focuses on employing persons with disabilities and empowering women through recruit- ment to managerial positions. Wagner Asia Equipment, LLC, in Mongolia, a heavy equipment dealership, is recognized for its commitment to pub- lic/private partnerships with Mongolia’s local and national governments designed to protect the environment. Initiatives include planting more than 900 trees, conducting workshops for students on environment and ecology, implementing a project to build a community garden and rehabilitating a toxic waste site. Other finalists include the Coca-Cola
Company, in the Philippines; Chevron Corporation, in Burma; ContourGlobal, in Togo; General Electric, in South Africa; General Electric International, in Tunisia; GlassPoint Solar, in Oman; and the Linden Centre, in China.
For more information on finalists, visit
Tinyurl.com/ACE2014Finalists.
photo by MIGHT
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