The Daily Five: Tuesday, 27 May, 2008
Brazil and Sweden team up for sustainable ethanol standards; Apple eyes solar powered portable devices; and the Flintstones get busted at a Brussels climate change protest. Start your Tuesday with the latest CleanTech and environmental new from The Daily Five.
SEKAB and Brazilian Partners To Introduce “Verified Sustainable Ethanol”: Brazil has been under fire in recent months over concerns about the environmental sustainability of its ethanol industry. But a new partnership with the Swedish company SEKAB may help blunt some of that criticism. SEKAB says it is assisting Brazil in developing certification guidelines for sustainable ethanol. The program will define standards for ethanol production from land management to distribution. (Green Car Congress)
Apple files patent for “solar cells on portable devices”: Apple has filed a patent application protecting future devices with embedded solar cells. The process would allow solar cells to be directly attached to a portable device’s circuit board, drawing light through glass and semi-transparent materials that would also serve as the unit’s outer shell. Cells would even be placed beneath a device’s LCD screen. While the efficiency of current solar technology probably would likely require the use of a standard charger, Apple may be looking for a way to extend battery life on increasingly sophisticated — and power hungry — devices such as iPhones and iPods. (Engaget)
Is Peru’s Bid to Host the 2016 Summer Olympics Genius Move or Gigantic Blunder?: Never mind that the deadline for application was last year: Peru says it will takea shot at hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. But would such and expensive bid prove to be boon or bust? Previous host cities have used the Olympics as an incentive to clean up chronic environmental problems and to improve things like public transportation. If the bid is accepted, Peru will square-off against Azerbaijan, the United States, Italy, India, Japan, Brazil, Spain and Qatar for hosting honors. (Ecoworldly)
Greenland summit to discuss carve-up of Arctic: Not everyone is upset that a warmer climate is pushing summer sea ice in the Arctic to record low levels. Five coastal nations will discuss carving up Arctic oil and gas rights at a conference this week. Up to 30 percent of the world’s undiscovered petroleum reserves may lie under the Arctic seabed, and retreating seasonal ice is making its exploitation more financially attractive. Russian subs planted flags beneath the North Pole last year in an attempt to bolster their country’s claim. But negotiators hope to reach an agreement based on the best estimates of the competing nations’ continental shelves. (Reuters)
Meet the Flintstones: A Greenpeace Protest: Fred and Wilma got themselves carted off to the slammer. A Greepeace protest against climate change was cut short as Brussels police arrested six protesters dressed like cavemen and driving a foot-powered Flintstones car. The group was trying to reach the European Parliament building. See video of the goofy stunt at Max Gladwell’s social media and green living site. (Max Gladwell)
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