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Here you will find
links to 6 articles: 100% Virgin Olive Oil -
Spain, A Strapping Solution - Jamaica, 'Back
to the Future', Cut The Noise - The Netherlands,
Forest Of The Future - Mexico, Smart Car - France
100%
Virgin Olive Oil - Spain
Andalucia in southern Spain is the world's biggest
olive oil producing area. In the cultivated hills
of Baena, below the mountains of the Sierra Madre,
the Nunez de Prado family has produced extra-virgin
olive oil for seven generations. Unlike many of their
neighbouring producers, they do not target the more
commercial end of the olive oil market but instead
make one of Spain's premier condiment extra-virgin
olive oils.
A
Strapping Solution - Jamaica
Home owners in the lower income bracket in Jamaica
are most at risk during a storm or hurricane because
many live in wooden houses that are generally in
a state of disrepair and are not structurally sound.
The houses are not attached to the foundations and
they do not have roof ties or hurricane clamps which
make a building structure more resistant to strong
winds.
When Hurricane Gilbert hit Jamaica just over a decade
ago, it caused millions of dollars of damage. For
those living in informal settlements and poor housing
the devastation was catastrophic.
'Back
to the Future'
Life on earth has been safeguarded for thousands
of years because of a life-protecting layer in the
atmosphere. This layer, composed of ozone, acts as
a shield to protect the earth against the harmful
ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Any damage that
is done to the ozone layer will lead to increased
amounts of the dangerous ulraviolet radiations perforating
the filter and reaching the earth's surface.
Cut
The Noise - The Netherlands
New locations are needed for housing in the Netherlands
and planning policy is now focused on building in
and near towns. Although the Netherlands is renowned
as Europe's bicycle capital, the volume of motorised
traffic on Dutch roads has increased by a third in
the last ten years. Increased traffic means increased
noise. This is a problem for building companies which
by law have to construct houses to comply with strict
noise regulations.
Forest
Of The Future - Mexico
About 26% of the State of Quintana Roo in South
East Mexico is covered by forests and about 95% of
these timber producing forests are owned by the ejido
(common land) communities. A large part of the State
has very poor soil conditions and is unsuitable for
agriculture. Most of the people earn their living
through subsistence farming and forestry. Unless
the forests become more productive, they are likely
to be burned to create farmland. The people from
the local communities in and around the forests need
to be given a good incentive to conserve the forests
to ensure that they are not completely destroyed.
The introduction of appropriate intermediate technology
which can be managed locally is essential to this.
Smart
Car - France
The motor car has been responsible for high levels
of pollution since its invention at the beginning
of this century. With growing concern about the world's
pollution, the German company, Mercedes Benz, and
the Swiss company, Swatch, decided to join forces
and build a car that was as ecologically sound as
possible. The Smart Car is designed by Micro Compact
Car GmbH.
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