Lessons About Climate Change Pose Many Challenges for Science Teachers

clipped from www.edweek.org Yet educators also say they face challenges in finding accurate and student-friendly classroom activities and lessons on the topic, partly because textbooks and other materials have not caught up to a growing body of scientific evidence about climate change. Consequently, many science teachers are turning to Web sites and resources produced by scientific organizations. They’re also sharing strategies at conferences and workshops and by word of mouth.

One billion climate refugees in our lifetimes

But, don't worry, Howard's Pacific solution will deter them from coming to Australia.

clipped from www.smh.com.au A BILLION people - one in seven people on Earth today - could be forced to leave their homes over the next 50 years as the effects of climate change worsen an already serious migration crisis, a new report from Christian Aid predicts. The report, based on the latest United Nations population and climate-change figures, says conflict, large-scale development projects and widespread environmental deterioration will combine to make life unsupportable for hundreds of millions of people, mostly in the Sahara belt, South Asia and the Middle East. About 155 million people are known to be displaced now by conflict, natural disaster and development projects. This figure could be augmented by as many as 850 million, as more people are expected to be affected by water shortages, sea level crises, deteriorating pasture land, conflicts and famine, the report says.

Google, Cisco to help fight global poverty

clipped from www.theage.com.au The United Nations teamed with technology giants Google and Cisco Systems to launch a new website on Thursday that will provide data and a bird's eye view of global efforts to fight poverty and meet UN  development goals by 2015. The Millennium Development Goals, which world leaders approved at a U.N. summit in 2000, provide the latest statistics on health, education, malnutrition, women's equality and other measures that contribute to poverty. On one portion of the new site, a web surfer can also use Google Earth's map and satellite imagery to fly anywhere on the planet and "explore" the places where work is being done to achieve the goals. "They can see successes and celebrate those, and observe failures or shortfalls ... and redouble their country's commitment to pursue those efforts. So it's very exciting for us," said Michael Jones, chief technologist for Google Earth and Maps.

Mattel recalls more Toys

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Mattel in fresh toy recall alert Toy manufacturer Mattel is recalling 12,000 toys sold in the UK and the Irish Republic, a European Commission official has said. The recall affects the Fisher Price-branded Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat toys, because of excessive levels of lead found in the paint. As a result, its profits over the past three months slipped by 1%. This latest recall marks the fourth in six months, prompting the EU to embark on a two-month review of its toy safety regulations, expected to be complete in November.

Solar USB Charger

I want one...

clipped from www.ifilm.com Turn those useless Solar Powered garden lights into an all purpose solar charger for your USB devices.

Parasites trickle-feeding of your power

clipped from www.cnn.com New kind of 'vampire' sucks power out of homes COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A force as insidious as Dracula is quietly sucking a nickel of every dollar's worth of the electricity that seeps from your home's outlets. Insert the little fangs of your cell phone charger in the outlet and leave it there, phone attached: That's "vampire" electronics. Allow your computer to hide in the cloak of darkness known as "standby mode" rather than shutting it off: That's vampire electronics. The latest estimates show 5 percent of electricity used in the United States goes to standby power, a phenomenon energy efficiency experts find all the more terrifying as energy prices rise and the planet warms. That amounts to about $4 billion a year. lawmakers passed a proposal last year -- dubbed the Vampire Slayers Act -- to add vampire electronics labels to consumer products, detailing how much energy a charger, computer, DVD player, PlayStation, microwave or coffee maker uses when on, off or in standby mode