...makes you think!

What a prejudice world we're living in! Some unexpected numbers here.

Masdar City (UAE) - a success story in sustainable living?

Have a look at this large scale plan of the Masdar City in Abu Dhabi (the link below). It's a visionary plan of sustainable living in the middle of the Arabian Desert, much of it fuelled by solar power. (Could never happen in Växjö!). Even in UAE peak oil is a fact and the energy mix needs to changed. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/26/arts/design/26masdar-graphic.html

Soil erosion creating hunger

"Within 40 years, there will be around 2 billion more people – another China plus India – on Earth. Food production will have to increase at least 40%, and most of that will have to be grown on the fertile soils that cover just 11% of the global land surface." http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/14/soil-erosion-environment-review-vidal 

An interesting article from the Guardian addressing the issues of soil erosion (China and elsewhere), and the delicate matter of the vulnerable topsoil and how easily it's destroyed. It also, briefly discusses more appropriate farming techniques that doesn't create the same problems of land degradation as traditional ploughing does.