The head of the Russian team who was surveying there was surprised by the extent and quantity if the methane gas. This team has been taking several surveys in the seabed of East Siberian Arctic Shelf off northern Russia for about 20 years. In an interview, Igor Semiletov who is working at the Russian Academy of Sciences said that he has witness such a thing for the first time in his work career, and he has never seen methane gas being released with such a force and large scale.

Experts are of the opinion that this is the first time that we have located reserves of methane gas on such a large scale, which is continues and very forceful. The structures found in the past were only about ten meters in diameter, while this one is about 1000 meters in diameter, which is really an amazing thing to witness. As stated by Dr. Semiletov, that he was overwhelmed by the large scale and high density of the gas.

According to recent researches, scientists are of the view that there are million of tones of methane gas which is locked beneath the Arctic sea. These reserves are spread from the mainland into the seabed of East Siberian shelf. The thing which is of main concern at the moment is the threat to environment and ozone layer. This threat is due to the mass leakage of methane gas in summers during which the temperature will rise rapidly and melt the Siberian permafrost.

A report published in 2010 states that around eight million tones of methane gas will be released every year, but latest study claims that this is a very low figure and in reality the release of gas will be far more than these figures.

According to Dr.Semilitov, there are more than 100 fountains in an area of 10000 square miles spraying out and bubbling through the water. These are injecting methane gas directly into the atmosphere from the bed of the sea. Various expeditions have shown that more than 115 points have been discovered which were releasing methane gas at a very mass scale, which has never been seen before. Some of these points were more than a kilometer wide and the gas released was hundred times higher than the normal range. These findings have been made to public in the Americal Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

Plastics have a quality that they don’t degrade. Buried in the ground for centuries may even not decay them completely. Many people for the same reasons melt plastic and use it as boards at beech house decks or many make out clothing material by twirling it up.

According to the environmental policy makers, recycling of plastic has been a common process since 1980s, but much more could be done from it apart from recycling. The town of York,Me; has created future by almost completing a polymer bridge made of plastic. According to the Environment Protection Agency’s 2010 figures, country recycles only 27.5% of its plastic bottles waste which is very less as compared to the 71% and 67% of newspaper and steel cans recycling figures.

The President and Chief executive of the Axion International company, Steven Silverman stated they have a very fine and clean process of manufacturing building material from plastics. The process involves on heating by electricity and no other chemicals to mould to plastics to different shapes.

The CEO further stated that using reconditioned plastics costs much less than the steel and concrete being used in many other projects. Apart from the York’s bridge, the Axion International is working on many other projects like railroad ties in Trinidad and Tobago. Steven is further working on his future ventures like building sound barriers on the main highways instead of making them from concrete and beams. Making railroads from wood is quite expensive and affect the greenery as well. Railroads made from plastics are free from bugs attack and are water resistant too.

Apart from making building material from plastic, different companies have successfully experimented to derive crude oil from discarded plastic. A system cooks plastic into gas and later condenses the vapors into hydrocarbons that can easily be converted into jet diesel and fuel.

A company based in UK developed a material named i-pas from recycled plastic, which has tendency to replace concrete, steel and timber. This new material can also be used to make bridges, rubber sidewalks, footpaths, walls and fences.

Extracting oil and making building material from old discarded plastic is a sign of innovation and represents the growth of recycling industry.

Famous actor, director and screenplay writer, Mark Ruffalo is roaming around the Newyork state using his status to campaign for a ban on hydrofracking. Horizontal hydraulic fracturing is a process in which water and some others chemicals are enforced into a fine grained rock under the ground, in order to obtain gas. Environmental experts are of the opinion that this process of drilling may impart negative impacts and certain risks to the aquifers and may also affect the value of the air.

Having roots in a rural background, Mr. Ruffalo lives in the town of Callicoon in Sullivan Country. Being a nature loving person, Ruffalo loves to wakes up early, feed his chickens, grows eggplant and raspberries in his garden and drops children to school and spends rest of his time lobbying against drilling natural gas. And instead promote the use of wind and solar energy. He is of the opinion that if state allows this project, his native land Sullivan Country would eventually become a common place for such projects.

In an interview he stated that he doesn’t believe that drilling could be done safely as methods of extraction damages the water. Furthermore he is of the opinion that the effects of drilling may include the contamination of water wells, it could clog the roads with truck traffic and could damage the peace and calmness of views.

Dimock,Pa., is also part of his protest movement where this process of hydrofracking is already in progress. Ruffalo is also planning to join a couple of environmentalists in order to deliver fresh pure water to several families. These families have charged the gas drilling company to have contaminated their drinking water, thus leading to spreading various diseases. On the other hand the gas company denies any negligence at their part, and claims that the gas seepage occurred naturally and was beyond their control.

Apart from Ruffalo, people from different walks of life were asked for opinions about the drill. A similar poll was conducted in Quinnipiac University York State was released last week. The results showed a split result, as 44% were in favor of drilling owing to its economical benefits, while 43% opposed it due to its harmful effects on environment. The results showed a little bit of uncertainty among the voters.

This legislation is a response to the recent verdict of the State Department in which they delayed the approval 7 billion$ project; which was to be approved a year before; as it takes into consideration the substitute routes which bypass the areas sensitive with respect to environment in Nebraska.

Supporters of this pipeline have been infuriated by this decision, who had previously been calmed down by the President, who ensured them that after the next presidential elections these people will be given jobs opportunities in lieu of signing off on some other project.

Mr.Lugar in a statement stated that President Obama is in fear offending his political base and creating a high risk for the construction of unions of who support the pipeline. He further stated that by building the keystone pipeline, President Obama now has the opportunity to change the national and energy equation. Moreover he has a golden chance of creating 20,000 new jobs, which unfortunately he is delaying till 2012 new presidential elections.

It has been said that the State Department is under severe pressure of the environmental groups and lawmakers in Nebraska who have been constantly persuading the Obama administration, not to allow the construction of the pipeline, as it will pass through the delicate Sand Hills of the region.

Later on, TransCanada; the company that is responsible for the construction of the pipeline assured that the route will not pass through the hills, rather it will go around the Sand hills region. The State Department has now ordered to take a fresh environmental review of the region in case the pipeline goes around the region. This process of review might take another 12-18 months.

The Republican Bill has been severely criticized by the opponents, stating that the State Department governor general conducted an inquiry regarding the handling of the environmental review by the federal government. The reports of the inquiry have been faulted by the critics as lax.

According to the consultants delay in the decision ( whether to approve the keystone XL pipeline or not) by the Obama administration will directly benefit the Enbridge company which is proposing to construct two new segments of the pipeline that will carry oil sands from Canada to Texas.

On the other hand Senator Bernie Sanders stated that he strongly opposes any hard work by the Republicans in Congress to approve the construction of the keystone XL sand pipeline. House of Republican and the Energy and Commerce committee will discuss the pros and cons of this pipeline on the hearing to be held on Friday.

It is a well-accepted fact that to restore urban ecosystem is not an easy task anymore. It needs a well-organized plan in which participation of a large number of people is inevitable. To fulfill this requirement, GreenSkills has involved not only the high school students and local people in its programme but it has provided a great opportunity to ex-offenders to work for the welfare of the society. Striving to achieve multiple goals by this programme, GreenSkills is trying to inculcate in the people the sense of responsibility towards their environment and is helping them to value leadership qualities and teamwork.

This programme has earned a great respect in New Haven. It is being appreciated by the people from all walks of life as it is bringing the city closer to its goal of planting 10,000 new trees by 2014. A positive change has also been noticed in the lives of the ex-offenders, who are participating in this programme. Their closeness with the nature is bringing peace and tranquility in their lives along with a respectable way of earning. Undoubtedly, this programme has ensured an effective rehabilitation of these prisoners. Colleen Murphy-Dunning, the director of Urban Resources Initiative, strongly believes in providing healthy activities to the ex-convicts to reduce the rate of recidivism in them.

Newly planted trees in the streets of New Haven are the signs of an honorable return of the inmates to the main stream of life. Seeing these ex-convicts planting trees is a usual site for the inhabitants of that area. A number of ex-offenders are now GreenSkills internees. While undergoing a natural therapy, they are taking care of trees and maintaining the gardens with full zeal and zest. Their inclusion in this programme has helped them to get job when the rate of unemployment in New Haven is 9 percent. Normally, these inmates are not welcomed for other jobs and around 50 percent prisoners remain jobless. It has always been a great challenge for them to get stability in their lives.

Reintegration of the prisoners in the society thorough this initiative is less in cost and is a reflection of the idea of healing the land and people simultaneously. Thorough its innovative plans and projects, GreenSkills is bringing a large number of people in its vital sector and is helping them to experience ecological integrity, economic health and personal wellbeing.

The Blue Ribbion Commission, led by Lee H. Hamilton and Brent Scowcroft, has come up with a number of recommendations in its report for the selection of a new site. Members of the very commission has emphasized on the formation of a new independent panel that would choose a new site, keeping in view the scientific knowledge and requirements. It is suggested in the report that consent of the local community should be given prime importance and this programme should not be managed by The Energy Department as it has failed to win public’s confidence. Commission has also stressed on a congressionally chartered corporation to enhance the credibility of the waste programme.

The GFTN—a WWF-led partnership—is aimed to find ways to protect vulnerable forests and a balancing point between commercial and conservation interests. It is working with companies, communities, NGOs, and entrepreneurs in more than 30 countries around the world. Global Witness, a British-based investigative group, has accused that GFTN is strengthening the companies using timber from illegal sources. In its report titled “Pandering to the Loggers: Why W.W.F.’s Global Forest and Trade Network Isn’t Working.” Global Witnessed has particularly mentioned the names of Jewson, of Britain, and the Swiss-based Danzer Group that are involved in illegal trade of timber and had been involved in unethical activities.

Defending GFTN’s decision to work with controversial companies, George White, the head of the W.W.F. initiative, has said that these are the companies where change will have the greatest impact. He further added that he is satisfied with the progress of GFTN as it has brought a positive change by greater coordination and it is working efficiently to protect biodiversity.