Splat | WiseTome.com

Technology has always be ‘witch-hunted’ for causing damage to our environment. There are many cases where technology helps in protecting the environment. But on the other hand, it can be argued that technology is the source for the damage to begin with. The cause though, is human need. As humans needs and wants increase, technology happens to be the tool that serves the purpose, and as a side effect, it causes environmental damage.

Batteries are one such product of technology and they serve several of our needs. And since we use the batteries, the responsibility falls on our shoulder to ensure that we protect the environment.

As we have seen earlier, batteries can be grouped as primary and secondary batteries. The use of secondary or rechargeable batteries would decrease the number of units we use, and arguably must reduce the effect it has on environment. But if they are not properly put to recycling process, they contain more toxic chemicals and heavy metals than primary batteries.

Batteries can be recycled - be it primary or rechargeable batteries. The Nickle in the NiCd battery can be reclaimed and reused. The problem though comes when we use the ‘use and throw’ kind of gadgets that have the battery sealed in them. This makes it difficult for recycling.

So how can you do your due in protecting the environment with regards to batteries?

• Reduce use of battery - When you need a new battery, double check that the battery is indeed fully discharged. Ensure that you do not have batteries with you before buying new ones. If possible, use converters and avoid use of batteries.
• Rechargeable batteries -Whenever possible, use rechargeable batteries. If you are going to see that they are recycled, this will go a long way in reducing the toxic material fall out into environment.
• Recycle - See that when you throw your waste, you put the used batteries in the recycling bin. Put effort at finding out if there are battery recycling collection outlets in your area, and dispose your batteries there.

Use of rechargeable battery is not the start and end of environment protection. But it does go a long way if the right path is chosen. Research in developing better rechargeable battery would mean that they can be economically used along with environmental friendly power generation options.

To illustrate the point, consider solar power generation. The problem with the option is that no power is generated during the night. But if augmented with an efficient rechargeable battery system, it could be used practically. The same would be the case with any other radical power generation systems.

Use the batteries wisely, and look out for the environment. We owe that to our future generations.

The much awaited Simpsons movie was released few days back. After years of airing, and numerous episodes, as mentioned in their site, the stupidity of Homer Simpson would only fit the wide screen.

Well, like most story, the movie had a beginning, middle and an end. The protagonist (Homer) had challenge, went on a journey, overcame the hurdles, and met an ending.

It was a wonderful experience, and it entertained me. It has entertained several of the fans. But does that leave the hook of the movie story, the thing that cause Homer go to Alaska and come back, seems to have been forgotten. Many story tellers and movie directors usually have allegory in the story, and no one does it more in-your-face than Matt Groening. The hook of the movie was about pollution.

It was about the pollution destroying the rivers, and it was about the pollution wreaking havoc on the ecosystems. It was about how we call global warming a myth and try to shut our eyes to it all. We shut our eyes as the movie character Mr.Cargill shuts the whole of Springfield.

But when has shutting something down ever made a problem go away? It is when we face the problems, that we can find solution to them.

What do you think? What can we do for protecting the nature? Did you think about this when you watched the movie?

Yes, it was first snow for me today. As I said in the last post, I moved from coasts of India, a warm humid place, to Denver, USA, a dry and cold place.

I had almost adjusted to the place, and in the morning I woke up to find that nature had painted a quite different picture for me. It had snowed and everything was padded white.

It seemed so surreal to me - like the scene outside my balcony was put there taken right out of some National Geographic program. In spite of my dislike towards cold, I could not help but walk out into the balcony, not minding the chill the thin snow covered wooden floor sent up my sandal adorned feet.

Read the rest of this entry »

I had written earlier about how technology is going against nature in the particular case of Apple products. In view of that, I found Tree-Nation, courtesy of TechCrunch.

Read the rest of this entry »

It was last week when I was hurrying for my Guitar class, when I was handed out a copy of the Q4 issue of “The Witness“, Quarterly Newsletter of Greenpeace India. I had tucked it away as I was in a hurry for finishing the class and going of on a vacation.

It was today, when I happened to read it, and one particular article with the above title caught my eye. I am no GreenPeace member, but I do respect the nature that I live in to the extent I can. And also, I am no fan-boy of Apple’s products, but I do have plans on getting myself an iPod.

The article was about the fact that the Apple Macs are full of toxic chemicals.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes a nuisance, sometimes cute.

Here is a free clipart giveaway of a mouse.

I have provided them in three different sizes that should suit your needs.

Read the rest of this entry »