13 Technological Fix 2013-2014

"Group chaired by former UN secretary general urges farmers to shake fear of the unknown and adopt new technologies" Excellent argument arguing for the development of GM crops in Africa. Will be useful for your homewrok next 1/2 term.

"Japan is to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into building a frozen wall around the Fukushima nuclear plant to stop leaks of radioactive water."

"The most hated company in the world right now isn't a member of Big Oil. It's not a shady Internet company or a bailed-out megabank. Populist discontent toward dirty energy, high-tech snoops, and greedy bankers has occasionally been fierce, but it's never been laser-focused like the outrage that drew an estimated (by the organizers) 2 million protesters to anti-Monsanto rallies in more than 50 countries at the end of May."

"Scientists are attempting to control the weather by using lasers to create clouds, induce rain and even trigger lightning."

"To meet the food needs of growing population, managing water resources used in rice farming has become a central focus"

"Research strengthens case for storing wild relatives of potato and apple crops to help humans adapt to climate change"

"Half the planet cooks on smoky open fires, causing over 4 million premature deaths each year and contributing to climate change. Your purchase of the BioLite CampStove helps us fund the initial costs to build and support the HomeStove market abroad."

"Smart meters being fitted in UK homes will make energy use more visible, but it is not clear if technology alone will be enough to reduce energy consumption"

"Owen Paterson's speech is the latest in a long line of attempts by the government to persuade us to accept GM food"

"The UK's environment minister says GM crops will help combat hunger in developing countries. But Owen Paterson is wrong"

"Owen Paterson, the environment minister, says the UK should lead the way in Europe by growing genetically-modified crops that reduce the use of fertilisers and chemicals and are more efficient. But anti-GM campaigners say there is not enough evidence that GM techniques are not harmful on food and farming"

"Google has made it public knowledge for some time that it wants to connect the world to the internet. The challenge of facilitating this in remote areas has seen the search giant come up with some seemingly unorthodox methods, such as its TV white space project in South Africa. Now it's extending the use of existing technologies to provide wireless networks across Africa and Asia with blimps."

"Genetic modification has so far mainly been confined to developing crops that tolerate herbicides and resist pests. It has done little to increase yields"

"A new grass that cuts the water running off from fields by half could help stem the rising floods that global warming is bringing to the UK. The roots of the grass, a natural hybrid of rye and fescue grasses, produce more pores in the soil than traditional types, meaning more water can be stored."

"Indonesia is banking on an unusual strategy to prevent further flooding in its inundated capital Jakarta, and officials claim that they are already seeing positive results. They are using 'cloud seeding' - a weather modification technology often resorted to during drought. The method involves injecting clouds with substances that encourage the formation of ice crystals heavy enough to fall, thereby speeding up the production of rain."

"Farmers in parts of India are breaking growing records, using less seed, less water, and compost as fertiliser. This ground-breaking method of cultivation, developed in Madagascar, is boosting yields and changing lives for the farmers. Norman Uphoff, professor at Cornell University, explains how it is done For more on this subject, see John Vidal's report in the Observer Food Monthly on Sunday"