Planet saving
Armageddon could be hitting the Earth in 2036, and it’s not because of global warming. British space scientists and engineers have submitted a proposal for a mission to help divert an asteroid that could potentially collide with Earth in 2036. Apparently the chances of this happening are one in 45,000, but if it passes through a small area called the “gravitational keyhole,” in 2029, which is effected by Earth’s gravity, there is a greater chance of it heading onto a collision course and hitting Earth on April 13, 2036. It would collide with a force 100,000 times greater than the nuclear bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima in 1945. The result of this would be a mammoth crater, which could potentially plunge the planet into darkness for a year or more, the destruction of crops and an onslaught of tsunamis that would obliterate coastal settlements. The planned mission would aim to shift it off course to change its orbit.
[via The Telegraph]
Animal welfare
PETA has revealed the finalists in their, “I’m too sexy for leather,” competition. Vinyl vixens the world over have sent in their images, which have been placed on PETA’s Cows Are Cool website and now’s your chance to vote for your favourite pleather wearer. The winners of the competition, one man and one woman, will have their pictures posted on PETA’s website and each individual will receive a $100 gift certificate from Forplay, Inc. For other pleather lovers, Forplay are offering a 10 per cent discount off any item, just enter PETA in the promotional box at checkout to get your discount. The global leather industry results in the slaughter of over a billion animals every year, before which, many of them are kept in severely inhumane conditions. Switching to synthetic materials is easier than ever especially with such a great choice available, so get cruelty-free shopping!
Green News
On 11th October, the RSPCA will be holding an award ceremony to recognise businesses that take a positive stance on animal welfare at every level. And today, it announced the shortlist of companies nominated for the black tie gala which will take place at the Natural History Museum.
The RSPCA's judges received double the number of entries this year, indicating that businesses are taking animal welfare far more seriously as a consideration in wooing customers. The nominees include Urban Decay in the cosmetics category, since it tests its products on human volunteers. Also making the cut is Lush, in recognition of its commitment to a 'strict animal welfare policy that includes not testing products and ingredients on animals.’
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Events and happenings
A pint of real ale at the end of (or even half way through) a country walk is a Great British institution, so it's only right someone should create a festival to celebrate this marriage made in heaven. The Black Sheep Brewery are holding a 'Boots & Beer Festival' from Friday 7th September to Sunday 9th September, centred on Hawes in the heart of Wensleydale. There are other walks starting in Askrigg and Aysgarth, all with a wide choice of easy, moderate and difficult walks to suit every ability. Providing you don't tire yourself out on the hills you can enjoy some excellent evening entertainment courtesy of Black Sheep. Tickets for the festival cost £17.50 for the weekend, and this includes free shuttle bus between locations and a goodies bag containing a Boots & Beer t-shirt. The event is sponsored by Country Walking Magazine.
Health & beauty
What a laugh! Chocolate Mud Masque from Montagne Jeunesse is a tempting new face masque offering a feast of creamy natural ingredients for your face, helps unblock pores, moisturises and heals. As a bloke, it’s quite a funky funny present I might buy for my misses, but for women I think it’s damn right cruel. It’s chocolate flavoured, smells of chocolate, but you can’t eat it. It is, however, kind to animals and the environment, using only natural ingredients, no chemicals and many of the companies products are suitable for vegans.
Containing Mediterranean clay, Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, the masque also benefits from the amazing skin healing properties of Dead Sea Salt. The chocolate masque and other very interesting flavours are conveniently packaged in single use sachets available from Boots, Asda and Wilkinson’s priced at 99p.
Related stories: Behind the masque | Organic and Vegan beauty products from Raw Gaia
Green News
Supermarket giant Sainsburys are working with their organic apple suppliers - Orchardworld to come up with a more cost-effective way to grow organic apples, which could effectively double the existing crop yield. The 'Organic Concept Orchard' hopes that in just two years it will produce a minimum of 25 tonnes of fruit per hectare, compared to a maximum of 10 tonnes in regular orchards. If successful the initiative could mean that a whopping 70% of organic apples sold in the UK could also be grown in Britain, the figure at the moment is only 3%. New varieties of apples will be tested in the orchard, and the Soil Association are planning on creating a good practice guide for organic fruit growing in the UK from the scheme.
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Green News
Further to reports that the Yangtze River dolphin had most likely become extinct one has been spotted and filmed by a local man in Anhui Province. A team of scientist spent six weeks looking for the mammal but failed to see any, then Zeng Yujiang saw one jumping around in water about 1000 metres away from him. He didn't realise what it was, but the unusual creature caught his attention so he filmed it. Chinese scientists have said that as far as they can tell from the movement and behaviour of the animal it is a Yangtze River dolphin (or baijie), although the long distance from the camera makes it impossible to say 100%. the area is now being monitored and if the creature is seen again they will attempt to capture it and move it to a reserve where they would attempt a captive breeding programme.
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