A vision of what 2014 will be for us.

This will be the beginning of a new era mainly in Europe, as the EU budget is about 25 % of its budget earmarked for environmental projects by 2020 , which makes us see that even politicians have begun to give great importance to changes that are in front of us , and begin to take action never before seen in their budgets .

 This is the Year of Family Farming of the UN ( FAO ) , which will have a major impact within the various communities and countries, whether developed or developing countries . We will now watching the various initiatives throughout the year through our posts .




 Since we celebratory days during the year , as well as :
February 2 : World Wetlands Day
March 20 : Day of Agriculture
March 21: World Forest Day ( Day of the Tree )
March 22: World Water Day
23 March : World Meteorological Day
April 7 : World Health Day
April 22 : Earth Day
April 26 : Day of National Production
May 5 : World Day of Transit
May 22 : International Day of Biodiversity
May 24 : European Day of Natural Parks
June 5 : World Environment Day
June 8 : World Oceans Day
June 17 : World Day of the Fight against Desertification and Drought
July 11 : World Population Day
September 16 : International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
September 21 : International Day of Peace
September 22: European Car Free Day
September 27 : World Tourism Day
04 October : World Animal Day
16 October : World Food Day
17 October : World Day Against Poverty and Social Exclusion
24 October : United Nations Day
24 October : World Day of Development Information
November 8 : European Day of Healthy Food and Cooking
November 11 : International Day of Science and Peace
November 16th : Day of the Sea
November 24 : World Science Day
5 December : International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
December 10 : Day of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

These days will be placed posts alluding to these dates and if possible activities will be held on the forest , on the sea , among others .

Claudio Jardim 12/02/2014

2013 the year we were born

Well starting at the beginning I had those days where we think, now that the new year has come what to do ... and that such a blog ? created and started the blog in January despite only appearing in March the first posts .

 Many of which were done by me , and attended lectures and papers presented , because we've been to many renowned events and brought me a big boost to write without stopping to try to reach everyone without any exception as it is in all of us the solution in order to avoid the talk presented at the IPCC this year , and do as we have done so far .... the turning of a back that is more embarrassing than anything to be intelligent species we say .

 I have to point out the post with the highest number of such visits were fires this year , they were too many and even told at the time that about 24 % of the number of hits the blog so far , which brings me some satisfaction and same time sad because I'm glad to have a high number of visits, but I am sorry that calls misfortunes or catastrophes are the most sought after and popular , even in these last months storms on the island of Madeira were the posts with the highest number of visits and comments . But a post that struck me was definitely the marine wolf that ran aground on the northern island of Madeira for many weeks and followed with great interest by us, and by all those who follow in spite of get the impression that the general public has any shame to put comments on posts as the number of emails received is far superior to collaboration on the blog itself or even on the facebook page , for example this week we had a picture taken by us during a tour of a spider tiger in which a follower asked what would be the kind, and after the response to this same withdrew his question .... dear no one is born taught and ask only shows interest and desire to learn and want to learn and even teach those who do not know, and we have and we will always be happy to answer your questions and also to be able to count on your opinion and collaboration , whether it be a small comment in like or even write a post so as to cooperate with us . We also had some criticisms and glad that they had been improving step by step this year .

 We thank all those who during the year have been mainly to help our most fervent collaborator Ms. Carla grinding wheel which has been a collaborator of maintaining a Facebook page and has been a very valuable contribution this month . Also Bruno Mendes for corrections of our texts and Vitor Sousa by editing the original image .

 Also thank all those who helped either by mail or by other means collaboration which has appeared from various Portuguese-speaking countries , as we have collaborations in Africa and the Americas from other European countries , which led us to conduct a partnership of great success with the European Union in the 3rd quarter of this year.

 We could talk a lot about everything that happened on the motivation and the lack thereof, but I can only say that this past year we are very motivated to continue and get new employees to the post of attendance is growing and increasingly with greater relevance .

 A Happy 2014 for all 

Claudio Jardim 29/12/2013

Can Doha climate talks end in agreement? - video

The Guardian's environment editor John Vidal has just returned from Doha, where the latest round of UN climate talks are taking place. As the 194 countries prepare to enter final negotiations, Vidal looks at the chances of the talks making real progress

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2012/dec/07/doha-climate-talks-agreement-video

Philippines negotiator makes emotional plea at Doha climate talks - video

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2012/dec/06/philippines-negotiator-emotional-plea-doha-climate-talks-video

Climate Change

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Waste smART contest

 Economic growth and rampant consumption continue to generate large amounts of waste, whose reduction and prevention efforts must be made.
 Although they constitute an environmental, social and economic seriously, waste is increasingly seen as a resource, which requires recycling and recovery at the expense of traditional disposal.
It is in this framework that the European Environment Agency (EEA) is launching a challenge and invites you to share your views on waste in Europe, a new contest creativity, Waste • smART.
 Presents your ideas until September 30, 2013, by photography, comics or video. Winners will receive a cash prize and all finalists will have the opportunity to see your work promoted by SAA and its partners across Europe and.

Through: http://www.apambiente.pt/

More information - http://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/what/public-events/competitions/waste-smart-competition

Natureza0 09/09/2013

The illusion of green jobs .

 European governments heard the talk of green jobs , and our government to say that Portugal will have in these green jobs a major evolution . Well let's see but one thing that both these jobs are spoken for the installation of renewable energy and not for their production , which leads to import these technologies and a large expenditure budget , which will once again in for another instead to rely on funds and loans .

 Would not it be better to invest in the production of such technologies ? How about supporting our universities ? They investigate and often with success which is not used. The production of solar panels for domestic demand its not good at this point , then why not encourage this industry ?

 We megalomaniac projects every year super dams , wind farms or massive solar farms , and all this with technology as they say , ie foreign technology , ie until we return to economic Portugal still there will many, many years .

 This is the time for Portugal to grow because we already have about two thirds of its energy in renewables , ie these so-called green jobs appear in the next 1/3 , but in fact are more indirect jobs related to construction and they will disappear as quickly as it will be created .

 They want to create the illusion that we are to become self - sufficient , but we have the notion that economically we are not, and this is also one of the pillars of sustainability .

 We need to have the notion that there are ways and ways of achieving a level of excellence and not always the fastest is the best because we have to protect future generations and several areas , we do not need to become the best in the world , but we need but to be among the most productive and the most environmentally conscious , the very European community should work as a whole at this area because only then justified European projects exist that lead us to a level of excellence worldwide .

Cláudio Jardim 09/09/2013

Ecocide

 I think many of us have never heard of this term, it is unusual because it is not yet used in our righteousness, justice or any European.
  A group of environmentalists has created a petition to gather one million signatures in order to be voted in Brussels that a law in which the ecocide term is a legal term in justice.
  So any large-scale anthropogenic impact on nature at least at European level, and which would be a big step for a worldwide application of the term as a legal concept.

From: http://www.sauxe.com.ar/ecocidio2.jpg on 03/09/2013 

  It would be a form of power blaming arsonists eg, companies that release pollutants into water columns, among others which will lead to greater protection of the environment throughout Europe, because the idea is to condemn any man-made ​​environmental degradation, which this is all or part of the most diverse ecosystems.

sources:
http://www.sauxe.com.ar/ecocidio.htm
http://www.endecocide.eu/?page_id=691

Cláudio Jardim 09/09/2013

Selvagens Islands (does Spain will win)

Again today comes the public that Spain gave the UN a document requesting to be taken off the 350 nautical mile economic zone around these islands, because they want to extend its economic zone of the Canary Islands.

The reason for so much confusion.

  If this comes to pass, will soon return to Spain to try to get to these islands, as rumors of tests of oil exploration are some going around, and it is known that there are several scientific expeditions boats in that area of ​​the Atlantic.

  Unfortunately we are already known for their lost colonies, but these islands are not a colony, but are Portuguese territory and are an important natural reserve where nest several endemic species and subspecies, with great value for us while we are Portuguese.

  Already in 2009 tried later this year and last year tried to "regain Gibraltar," as will handle the situation just know in a few days when the UN comes to present its position on the request Spanish.

Cláudio Jardim 02/09/2013

What is Geocaching?

Parks and gardens in cities are a school for our children.

  Every city has an area of ​​gardens and parks that you can visit and spend some time,and sometimes make small snacks sitting on the grass.
 What many of us dont do, is to observe with our eyes what is around us and to see all the biodiversity that exists there, if we care to look we will see many species of butterflies, beetles, ants, other insects and even birds, and other fauna that for our children is something spectacular.
 For our children to see a bee on a flower is something new, and have an explanation of why the bee is there and how important for us as humans, pollination by insects is, something they love to know, as are watching that everything is interconnected and that we must protect all species because they are all important to us, even when living in a city urbanized.
 Just this week I took my son and went to the park right here near home, to give some food to fish and swans living in the lake there , and he already had been there before, but he had still a lot of questions about the animals that were there, and between one and other question I  clarify something things and learn others, because nobody knows everything and nowadays with the amount of information that comes to our children, they are often in explaining and we learning.


A child watching a seed of a plant wonder how that will give a new plant is something enriching for us as adults, as we feel that feeling that we teach something that will follow them for the rest theyre life and education like that is right. Create values ​​in our children on how to proceed in relation to nature is one of the priorities that we have because,we have to teach respect for all that surrounds us, or respect for others is one of the values ​​that we instill in our children , because then we will create a better society.

 Explain that when we eat the cookies we carry in our bag we put the outer carton in blue bucket and plastic in yellow bucket, is not difficult and we must take it into account when we go there in the trash recycling center of the park.

 For example we pass tru a pile of leaves, he asked what it was, and there took two minutes to see the signs that there was talking about composting and what is composting, then came new ideas, "Daddy can bring home peels vegetables and plant leaves to here to help nature. "

 Leave home take your children to walk in the parks and gardens, learn and teach and will see that will be a couple of hours well spent.


Cláudio Jardim 21/08/2013

Images from Natureza0

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Santana Madeira

 Well from a few moths until today we seen that a few times we have seen in many regional conferences, national or even international, Santana has been one of the main themes, it has much prestige its project despite being only the beginning of a long journey.
  For as covered here on our blog we have several paths some of which have already been addressed here such as:

• Pico das Pedras to the Queimadas
• Queimadas to the Caldeirão Verde and Caldeirão do Inferno
• Levada do Rei to the Ribeiro Bonito
• Ribeiro Frio to Balcões

  And on these trails and Levadas you can find magical places like waterfalls, ponds, great views over the huge stain Laurel Forest of Madeira, and you can watch many, many species endemic to the region from fauna or flora.

  But UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is not only that it takes into account the whole heritage of the region, namely the famous Houses of Santana, the traditional festivals such as the feast of compadres or 24 hours to dance, among others.
  The reserve also takes into account the attitudes contained in populations, local governments and local businesses on how to protect nature where they belong.

  Should you wish to know more about this reserve and the species and traditions Santana should go to the official site in http://santanamadeirabiosfera.com/pt/


Claudio Jardim 20/08/2013

Levada do Rei (A Trail in São Jorge)

 The Levada do Rei begins in São Jorge after the Water Mill in the North Island, this Water Mill is a mandatory stop for locals and for tourists because it is the last mill of its kind on the island and has more than three hundred years of existence.

 Just above the Water Mill also has a  Water Saw which is running during the week and can also be visited by anyone who goes there.

 With respect to the path, it is very easy whit only a small slope in the initial part and then immediately plane of which always can be performed by whole families from 8 to 80 years.

 In the early part of the route we can see how some invasive species are competing directly with the stain of Lauros Forest existing there which is a shame as at risk as forest ancient as ours, but leaving that aside we have a great journey ahead in we can observe beautiful landscapes of our island.

Algodão Doce excellent project

Wiki Pearls

 One day a Harvard professor thought he could imitate nature and create a package for different products, then began to put into practice the idea and so David Edwards created the Wiki Pearls.

  The idea is very interesting because, did you ever thought about the pollution we have when we eat an ice cream or a soda, yes it is a lot. We have packing, stick, tin, packet, among others. The Wiki Pearls created a "skin" which can involve ice cream, juice or even coffee so that when consuming products such waste is reduced to 0%, because they are generally consumed.

 At this time are already available such as Mango some ice cream on "skin" coconut, vanilla or "skin" peanut, among others, will appear soon on the market yogurt, coffee and cheese.

  An idea that in our view has great potential, but must be applied with care as there is not much information possible contamination of the "skin" by external agents such as bacteria, ie the application on large surfaces, such as supermarkets will always force a carton.

Claudio Garden 08/08/2013

Mr. Johannes Stotter Bodypaint

Today I bumped on the Internet with an excellent artist off bodypaint Mr. Johannes Stotter, which makes body paint to mimic nature, many of the works which we must be vigilant to see the number of models used for the realization of their work.

Retrived from: http://www.johannesstoetterart.com/

It's worth a visit to his site (http://www.johannesstoetterart.com/) they can see spectacular images.

Cláudio Jardim 08/08/2013

Monachus monachus in the Clube Naval do Funchal 01/08/2013

 Today during lunch time I was in the club swiiming and having lunch, and I just barely get out of the water it was sighted a monk seal (Monachus monachus) right there, around 30m from the land to feed.

 As published this week on our facebook page we advise not to try to interact with these animals because they are not aggressive, but we must always have in mind that they are not domesticated and they are wild animals that are in that territory for the purpose, to feed themselves, and therefore may have a natural behavior of territory defense.

Withdrawal - http://www3.uma.pt/filipe/web/?p=519

 Below you can see the description of this species as given on the website of the Natural Park of Madeira, this entity which as done excellent work in the conservation of this species.

Description of the species

Distribution

Originally its distribution area encompassed the entire Mediterranean basin, the Black Sea and the Atlantic, across the NW African coast from Senegal, and the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries. Currently, and due to the extinction of this species in most places, the monk seal is primarily in the Northeast of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: Northwest African coast at Cape Blanco and the archipelago of Madeira .Where the area of distribution includes the Desert Islands and Madeira.

Morphology

At birth have a woolly appearance, is black with a white patch cord. Is about 100 cm and weighing 15 to 20 kg with age and by the successive seedlings, the color will be changing and can vary from black to fawn showing generally a white spot in the stomach. Can reach 3 feet in length and reaching 350 Kg

Habitat

Marine mammals that depend also on land to rest and play. Preferably use beaches inside the caves, probably to escape the persecution they suffered by the man. However in recent years reverted to occasionally open beaches.

Diet

They feed on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, making it rather in the coastal zone. To do so, perform dips which can last for 15 minutes.

Reproduction

Usually go alone or in small groups becoming more gregarious during the breeding season. Females looking for a place to have it and monitor the pups during their first months of life. Males take this time to try, with greater success, acasalamento.Os births occur more frequently in October / November, although they may register throughout the year. The period of 9 months gestation round and refers to a single creates. The breastfeeding period can go up to four months. Sexual maturity is reached in females, as a rule, at 4 years.

By: Claudio Jardim 01/08/2013

Ron Finley from South Central