ecology online
Dying Bees, The Real Cause – And How to Bring Them Back
From the perspective of spiritual ecology, some of the suspected causes merely stand in the foreground of the disappearing honeybees – EMF radiation; GM crops; and diseases and pests – while artificial incursions of modern bee-keeping on overall hive ecology are recognized to prevail at the root of the issue.
Varroa, an old story retold
Diseases and parasites, such as the invading Eurasian varroa mite, when looked at in the same light as other modern agricultural issues, actually presents itself as a red herring for anyone in pursuit of the central cause of bee decimation.
While initial losses appear to have accrued as a result of varroa, it is almost certain to be a temporary phase. The situation is not unlike problems in other areas of modern agriculture. Using the cattle industry as a choice example, pathogenic forces are not really threatening stocks but, rather, decades of contrivance and intercession by means of antibiotics, hormones, and other artificial “propping up” of the species that have weakened and degraded the overall constitution of the species. (And let us call events like Mad Cow disease a symptom, not a cause, of the bottoming out of the cattle industry.)
Witness the decidedly hale condition of the bison alongside the debilitated circumstance of cattle. In a word, predation strengthens a species, and interference with that predation leads to debilitation. The finest shepherd ever invented, in terms of a keeper for the bison herds, was Canis lupus, the common wolf.
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Eco-Friendly Furniture – Simple Tips For Furnishing Green
Green living is all the hype these days. Everywhere you turn all signs point to green. For those of us who are willing to do our part, there are many simple ways to incorporate ecologically sound living principles into our lives. Choices we make in home décor, for example, can have profound effects on both our environment and our own personal well-being.
For most of us, the concept of recycling is most often associated with the kitchen. But when you think about it, the idea behind recycling is simply keeping the physical products we already have and transforming them so they have a longer shelf-life. In these green times, it makes all the sense in the world that we broaden our thinking to include anything that this simple principle can apply to: clothing, appliances, toys, furniture, etc.
Recycling furniture under this new concept can mean buying new furniture made from recycled materials. This trend is growing as many high-end manufacturers are jumping on board the green bandwagon. It can also mean simply sanding off and reupholstering that old stuff sitting in the basement.
If it’s the new stuff you’re after, choices abound. But there are other factors to consider beyond whether your materials were recycled. If you’re buying wood-based products, ask whether the wood was sustainably harvested. Make sure that the furniture finish, adhesives, fire retardants, and upholstery are non-toxic and chemical free. Most eco-friendly companies are prepared to answer these types of concerns.
Tags: ecology and environment, ecology online