visit at the cape flat nature reserve

The Cape Flats Nature Reserve is a private reserve and falls under the administration of the University of the Western Cape. Although the reserve was first created as a refuge for Strandveld and Coastal Fynbos, it now also functions as a base for ecological teaching,environmental education, research and a natural space for the public to enjoy. the cruise we had  at the nature reserve was help full to me because i learnt a lot. i now no that we have a limestone in our nature reserve, a fynbos, thicket, and that the had been fire that once occured in the nature reserve that affected some living organisms. the nature reserve had different kinds of animals that you may find inside at any nature reserve that you may once visited. 

hi there friends, just wanted to blogg to you for the last time about recyclable materials.

these pictures are from different products that i've come across this week. the 1st one is written number 1 in the middle of the recyclable logo. the next 2 are not written anything while the last 1 is written 7. this means that there are different methods to approach each way to recycle.

recycling bins are containers used to hold recyclables. the red bin can only hold the following newspaper, magazines, envelopes and

recycling bins

 RED containers for metal products and another thing red is associated with fire which is required to melt metals. GREEN is for paper products green is associated with trees and plants. BLUE is for plastics. Although the association is not as evident, blue is associated with water and plastic water bottles are currently one of the largest segments of plastics recyclables as well as a major water pollutant. YELLOW is for organics and glass products. Yellow is associated with the Sunshine that provides us the organic products. Glass is a silicate and by definition, may not be organic. But glass ground down into its most basic element is sand. Sand is a common compound in our organic environment. Large amounts of sand can be filtered out of organics. Smaller amounts of sand in organic mulch compounds help improve water aeration. Some individual areas may not yet be set up to process combined materials. Red may be used in some areas only for alluminum cans. Blue plastic containers in some areas may specify only water bottles. If it's the only plastic accepted (plastic is petroleum based hydrocarbons). Or an area may specify green for only paper products (not cardboards). Yellow can be used for organics, where organic recycling is prevalent. Or yellow can be used strictly for glass bottles, where glass recycling is available. By standardizing colour codes for recyclables . 

15 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Hey guys, I have read this article on simple, constructive ways to reduce your carbon footprint. It just shows how our everyday choices and actions can make a huge difference. I think we should all try this:

• 1.
  Buy organic and local.
  When possible, buy organic or "fair trade." There's a better chance the food was grown in an eco-friendly way, and if it's locally grown, it didn't have to travel that far. This also goes for those double lattes — coffee often has a large carbon footprint because of the distance those beans had to travel to get here, and how they were produced. Also, try eating at restaurants that serve locally produced or seasonal foods.
• 2.
  Pay attention to packaging.
  When out shopping, try to go to stores or co-ops that keep packaging to a minimum. For example, you may chose to buy the loose tomatoes rather than boxed or plastic-wrapped tomatoes. Also, take reusable bags to the grocery store. When it comes to resources, plastic is better than paper — but a reusable cloth tote-style bag is better still.
• 3.
  Ditch bottled water.
  Bottled water has a huge carbon footprint — it's bottled at one location in small plastic bottles and shipped all over. Try buying a reusable water bottle or canteen for your water. Also, a lot of restaurants have made the move from offering fancy bottled water, usually imported from an exotic source, to using in-house filtration systems that make tap water a good choice. Many plastic water bottles are recycled, but most are not, making the footprint even bigger.
• 4.
  Energy-proof your home.
  We're not talking major upgrades here... Make sure all of your windows close properly and that the attic in your home is properly insulated. This can save you big bucks on your energy bill. Also, keep your heating and cooling systems properly maintained, and switch to reusable filters when possible. Try switching from incandescent to compact florescent light bulbs. Compact florescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than our normal light bulbs and last much longer. Compared to regular bulbs, the fluorescents are more expensive, but they will eventually pay for themselves due to lower energy costs.
• 5.
  Go native.
  Use native plant species to landscape around your home or business. The plants will probably grow better in a familiar environment, and the plants may also get shipped a shorter distance to get to your local nursery. Also, use organic soil when planting — it's made using more eco-friendly methods, and uses less resources. And remember, green plants are a good way to offset carbon. So plant something, anything — it helps.
• 6.
  Window shop.
  If you have the urge to spend, try window shopping or browsing first. This helps ensure you are only buying things you really need, or really want, and you're not just impulse buying. Remember, every item in a store, no matter how small, has a footprint — so if we are conscious consumers, we can reduce our own footprint and the overall footprint of our nation.
• 7.
  Take a direct flight.
  If you need to travel by airplane, try taking a direct flight when at all possible. Your impact is reduced when you take one flight, as opposed to hopping on a couple or more passenger jets to reach your final destination. You might also feel a little less harried when you arrive, because changing planes can be a real hassle.
• 8.
  Switch water heaters to vacation mode.
  Most water heaters have a "vacation" setting for when you are away from home for an extended period of time. Switching to that "away" mode still keeps the water warm, but will not use the energy it takes to keep a tank full of piping-hot water. Enjoy your vacation even more, knowing that you're saving money and reducing your footprint.
• 9.
  Unplug it!
  Unplug appliances that you don't use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use. Cell phone chargers, laptops, televisions, stereos — there's a whole list of items that should be unplugged when not in use. Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items. One flick of the switch and it's all off.
• 10.
  Keep your car.
  With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, it's tempting to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. But if your older-model car is in good condition, you're better off keeping it in good running condition. Even hybrids create a big footprint when they're built, so consider driving that old clunker for a little while longer. Also, try more eco-friendly modes of transport when possible, like buses, trains, a bicycle, telecommuting or even walking.
• 11.
  Chuck your microwave.
  Admittedly, this is a bit drastic. But this speaks more to those convenient frozen dinners some rely on because of their busy schedules. A freezer full of meals is actually more energy-intensive — it costs more to freeze foods, ship them cold, display them frozen in the grocery store and keep them frozen in our homes. So while the modern convenience of the microwave and the Lean Cuisine is enticing, it's much more resource-intensive. Cook fresh food when you can, and you'll also find yourself eating out less often.
• 12.
  Use cold water.
  No, not in the shower... but maybe in the washer. Try using cold water to launder things that don't need to be cleaned in hot or warm water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water — multiply that by the number of loads, and that's a big footprint. Most major detergent makers sell detergents designed to have the same cleaning power as with regular soap. Try washing mixed loads in cold water, too.
• 13.
  Have the family over.
  Family gatherings are a good way to spend some quality time with loved ones, with very little carbon impact. Cooking and entertaining for larger groups is more efficient and, per person, a lot less expensive. And who can put a price on these "carbon freebies"?
• 14.
  Make time for errands.
  A lot of us try to run errands in-between work and other commitments. Try bundling errands together to reduce how far you need to travel. Going back-and-forth to the same part of town on different days to run errands uses more gas than if you planned and did everything in the same area all at once. And if you really want to make it a "carbon freebie," try carpooling and running errands with a buddy.
• 15.
  The Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
  It seems like something from a kid's sing-a-long, but sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when you can instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy as rolling the trash bin to the curb. Just remember to do it at work, too.

 

Number 6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out container

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.

                                                               

One man's trash
Another man's treasure
A worn out newspare
Can last forever
And save more trees
From being cut down
By following the arrows
Circling around
Not all things are trash
Don't just throw away
Think twice about papeRecycle today!!!

GOOD LUCK FORY'ALL EXAMS

The LDPE m a recycling  symbol for plastics,bottles and packaging.The LDPE is commonly used in wire and cable jacketing The LDPE  is used becauase of its flexibility and rtoughness and it is used  in applicastions where heat sealing is neccessary,the ldpe is also easily used for processing..The ldpe can be described as tough,fle

xible and it has an amazing strnght.

I was assigned to fish BWI1 and I have observed the growth in that plant is extremely better than the growth of my plant at home. The plant has grown thick and seems to

be so healthy in comparison to my plant at home. There are several differences between my plant at home and the plant in the lab with the fish, one obvious observation I made was that the roots of the plant with the betta fish is extremely thin but very long, whereas the roots of my plant at home is a thick full bunch.MY plant at home has bloomed one flower already and three more buds has grown, but the BWI1 plant has no flowers yet.I have also noticed that none of the plants with fish has had any bugs on them whereas my plant, as I have mentioned earlier, has had mealie bugs , so the environment in which the two sets of plants is growing in is also affecting the growth of the plants.

Overall BWI1 is in much better condition than my hypoestes at home, this must be due to the fact that within the plant and fish system there is a nitrogen cycle present whereas my plant is in a completely un cycled system.

I finally found out the reason why my plant was not growing anymore and the culprit was Mielie bugs. I saw these white bumps on the stem of my plant but I did not really take note of it, I just thought it was meant to be there. I only realized that the white bumps was not meant to be there when I observed all the other plants in the lab and those plants did not have any white bumps. Luckily Allison told me her plant had mealie bugs and the description she gave of it sounded exactly like the white bumps I observed.

Now that I finally knew what the cause of my plants slow death was I could finally do something about it. Root Mealie bugs are small white powdery substances that are found around the root of the plant and they suck the plants sap and kill the leaves of plants. To kill these bugs you can physically scratch it off with an old toothbrush dipped in a little methylated spirit. I did not have any methylated spirits but Dr Richard Knight had told me I can even spray a little dishwasher water onto the plants or just physically scratch it off and that is what I have done. I was able to remove most of the bugs off from my plant. I removed the bugs on the 21 April and already my plants has started showing growth improvements, the two buds that were present are growing again and there another flower bud has appeared, the plant has started growing sprouts again. So I’m very pleased that my plant is growing once again.

ESS has taught me a lot about the environment and how different organism  live and interact with each other but I have to be honest ESS121/131 isn't what I thought it would be, I thought it would be more geographic like we would learn about climatology and. ESS has, however, taught me  a lot about the environment and how organisms adapt to new habitats

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Ever wondered to yourself how much damage is caused by manufacturing of cotton and leather clothing? Have you ever thought of a different source for covering your body? What if that source of clothing was made of unuseful products? Well if you have not thought about it some people have.

Of cause whenever I see something that could be environmentally friendly, I share it with you and hear your opinions. The following is designs of clothing that were showcased at an event I attended in the past weekend made with plastic, paper and flora material.

DESIGNS FROM NATURE

If we could find more innovative ways to sustain these types of clothing to last longer, we might as well introduce them to more people around the globe but baring in mind that whatever implication we add should not move away from the concept of the clothing being environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Interesting facts about the BETTA Fish

The betta got its name from an ancient clan of warriors, called the "Bettah."  The fish were given a combatant name after the fighting fish became popular in the mid-1800s.  In fact, the sport became so renowned in Thailand that the former King of Siam had it regulated and taxed!  Spectators of the sport based their bets on the bravery of the fish, rather than the damage inflicted by the victor.

Bettas, unlike other species, are not schooling fish and will fight with each other, regardless of gender.  Bettas prefer to swim alone and also need a comfortable place to hide.  Aquatic caves or dense, planted corners work great in making a betta feel safe

Interesting betta facts

* Bettas prefer slightly acidic water (pH 6.5 to 7) and warm water.  Cold water can suppress the immune system and cause illness.

* Betta's have several different tail shapes - the most common being the "veil tail."  Other tail shapes include 

the "half-moon," "double tail," "short-finned fighting-style tail" and "crown tail."

* Bettas normally live 2 - 3 years, but there have been a few cases of bettas living well into their teens.

 * The betta is known as "plakad" in its native Thailand and has often been referred to as "The Jewel of the Orient."

History of the BETTA Fish

 

History

The betta was first discovered in Southeast Asia.  Making its home in rice paddies, drainage ditches and the warm flood plains of the region, the betta became accustomed to frequent storm flooding and devastating droughts.  The cyclic, drastic changes in its environment helped the fish to adapt - becoming a true labyrinth fish.  A labyrinth fish has the unique ability to breathe oxygen directly from the air and also take in oxygen from its gills.  As a result, bettas and other labyrinth fish can survive for short periods of time out of water and if needed, can inhale the air around them (provided they stay moist.)  This also explains why a betta can sustain itself in stagnant, oxygen-deficient water.  Although bettas can tolerate small spaces and poor water quality, they do best in small aquariums (at least two gallons) with regular water changes.  The preferred water temperature for a betta is 47.5-51.25 degrees C