IZ RELOADED

Monday, October 09, 2006

To the light

Today on my photoblog Katoomba Syndrome: To the light

I love those old star atlases such as the Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia by astronomer Johannes Hevelius, published in 1690. It won't help you find your way around the night sky but it sure is beautiful. You can view all the images from the star atlas Uranographia here.

Interactive Periodic Table

Chemistry teacher Adams Brian D developed this Interactive Periodic Table using Macromedia Flash to better aid his students. I hate Chemistry, especially when it comes to memorising the elements of the periodic table but I have to admit that his Interactive Periodic Table is one amazing tool! It's definitely better than any other Periodic Table on the web.

(Thanks hloh63)

Livingstones

Livingstones are pillows, cushions and couches that look like giant pebbles and rocks. They are made by French company Smarin Design. Aren't they cute? Dang. I want them for my home. They even have a waterproof version to decorate the poolside.

(Thanks adman)

North Korea conducts first nuclear test

North Korea has announced that it has conducted its first underground nuclear test. From CNN:

North Korea on Monday claimed it has performed a successful nuclear test, according to that country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

South Korean government officials also said North Korea performed its first nuclear test, the South's Yonhap news agency reported.

The apparent nuclear test was conducted at 10:36 a.m. (0136 GMT) in Hwaderi near Kilju city, Yonhap reported, citing defense officials.

"The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea's official name) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9 ... at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation," KCNA reported.

Late Sunday in Washington, a U.S. military official told CNN that "something clearly has happened," but the Pentagon was working to fully confirm the report.

Senior U.S. officials said they also believed the test took place, citing seismic data that appeared to show one.

South Korean intelligence officials said a seismic wave of magnitude-3.58 had been detected in North Hamkyung province, according to Yonhap.

Update: World reacts to North Korea's nuclear test. (Thanks Mr Big)

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Greenpeace discovers culprits behind the haze

Greenpeace South East Asia activists literally smoked out the Ministry of Forestry in Jakarta to highlight its consistent failure to halt forest conversion that causes forest fires which perennially choke countries in Southeast Asia. They also revealed the biggest culprit behind the haze. From Greenpeace:

The forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan, site of ongoing widespread forest destruction, are also home to of some of the world’s most endangered animals like the Sumatran rhinoceros, tiger, Oranga Utan and the Asian elephant. The forests are cleared and converted into pulpwood and oil palm plantations. Forest clearing is the leading cause of the fires and is major a factor in creating environmental conditions that perpetuate the problem.

”During our investigations last month, we discovered that big industrial concessionaires, more than small farmers, were responsible for these forest fires,” said Hapsoro, Forest Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “Clearly any new concessions for conversion of virgin forests will continue to result in large-scale forest fires and continued environmental destruction on an annual basis. The Forest Minister must immediately stop all new conversions to minimize the possibility of large and uncontrolled forest fires in Indonesia,” he added.

To prevent the haze, Greenpeace says that the Indonesian authorities need to:

1. Stop all forest clearing in fragile peatland eco-systems, including the extension of new area for both pulpwood and oil palm plantation.

2. Investigate and hold liable plantation companies responsible for slash and burn clearing,

3. Put in place permanent mechanisms to build capacity to assess vulnerability, develop regional climate models and design and assess adaptation strategies that consider the vulnerability of local communities and indigenous species.

Haze in Singapore hits unhealthy levels

Damn Indonesian farmers have done it. The haze that they created have now reached unhealthy levels in Singapore. From Channel NewsAsia:

Singapore's air quality enters unhealthy range with 3-hour PSI of 130 on Saturday at 10am .

This is the highest PSI reading for the year.

Satellite pictures on Thursday showed 228 hotspots in Sumatra.

Southwesterly winds have carried the smoke northeast to neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore and even parts of southern Thailand.

The NEA advises people with existing heart or respiratory ailments to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity.

The PSI readings for today have been steadily increasing. It was 89 at 7am, 101 at 8am, 119 at 9am and then it reached 130 at 10am. The NEA is now providing hourly PSI readings on its website.

The haze has also reached unhealthy levels in Malaysia. From Sun2Surf:

More areas in Malaysia are getting unhealthy as the haze from Indonesia takes its toll in the last 24 hours.

The number of areas hitting unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels of between 101 and 200 is up from eight on Tuesday to 11 today (Oct 4, 2006).

The Department of Environment (DOE) has reported an overall drop in air quality nationwide.

The unhealthy 11 listed by the DOE as at 11am yesterday are Nilai (109) and Seremban (107) in Negeri Sembilan, eight areas in Sarawak and Tawau, Sabah, as compared with eight at 5pm Tuesday.

The highest reading of 187 was recorded in Petrajaya, Sarawak, followed by Samarahan (177) and Kuching (171).

Thirteen locations were categorised as having good API (0-51) while 27 were recorded as having moderate readings (51-100).

The highest reading in the Klang Valley was recorded in Putrajaya and Kuala Selangor (83), followed by Kajang (80) and Kuala Lumpur (77).

Petaling Jaya, blanketed with a fog-like hazy condition throughout the day, hit API of 72.

With the Indonesian authorities not doing much to prevent the forest fires started by local farmers and timber and oil palm plantation companies, it looks like we in the region have to continue to suffer from the sins of our neighbour.

Previously: I hate the haze!