Article 3 - Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests

Oil Price:
When thinking of Africa, only words like hunger, poverty, famine, drought, and malnutrition appear in our minds. We can not really understand that Africa has after all become a developing nation. It is hard to believe what with all the conflicts and poverty which still resides in the heart of Africa.
Foreign companies invest in Africa for its excess resources which has made it a resource hub for international companies which exploit the governments desperate "for foreign revenues" (oilprice.com).

This map shows the oil activity occurring in Mozambique after the discovery of heavy amounts of natural gases in the ocean and on land as well. 
An article by oilprice.com stated the Government of Mozambique, distinctively the Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), "has cancelled 146 investment projects in various economic activities because they failed to meet the requirements of the country's environmental laws". This clearly shows that even though the Mozambican Government could gain so much from foreign investments but they refused to damage their environment. The Zambeze Coal Project, owned by Riversdale Mining Ltd., were granted an exploration license. The originally Australian Company had proposed to transport coal to the sea by using the Zambezi river as a transport medium. They also submitted an Environmental Impact Report which concluded the this activity would not cause significant damage to the environment. The Mozambican Government, nevertheless, restricted them from doing this. If the Zambezi River would have been used to transport the coal, it would have concluded in a natural disaster as the coal would have infiltrated the water. The villagers living in the nearby small villages who depended on the river for clean water would have lost their access of water. Moreover the wild life living in the wilderness fearlessly would also have lost their source of water. The fishes in the river would have died due to chemicals and other things. This would also cause the fisherman to loose their jobs and become jobless. The Zambezi River is the largest River Basin in South Africa which flows through Mozambique, Angola,  Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and also Zimbabwe. The governments decision has saved several lives and showed their concern for their country's growth and prosperity. 


MLA Bibliography for Article:
Daly, John. "Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests."Mozambique Goes Green, Blindsides International Mining Interests. Oilprice.com, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 July 2012. <http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Mozambique-Goes-Green-Blindsides-International-Mining-Interests.html>.


MLA Bibliography for Image:
Wentworth Resources. Mozambique Oil and Gas Exploration. 2011. Photograph. Mozambique. Oil and Gas - Mergers and Acquisition Review. Sanjay Samuel, July 2011. Web. 19 July 2012. <http://mergersandacquisitionreviewcom.blogspot.com/2011/07/mozambique-oil-gas-exploration-in-2011.html>.

Yavnika Kumar

19.07.12

Final Draft of Area of Interaction Statement

AOI Statement

                Renewable Energy is a great way of saving our earth from environmental diseases such as global warming, pollution, resource repletion and more. My project is about environment and the consumption of resources, which has increased greatly over past few years. Renewable sources of wind and solar energy can be used to alleviate several issues the world faces today. Biomass, which is the usage of plant growth for energy, can save millions of resources that are being wasted consequently. I have always cared about the environment and followed environment friendly ways, which help the earth become a better place to live on. I have been linked with many energy projects in which I tried to establish the need to recycle and reuse materials. The environment has a huge role because it the first and foremost basis of our lives. Our actions on sustainable development and conservation are what improves and maintains our atmosphere. We have several responsibilities to our environment, which require deep understanding on every consequence that can occur. Therefore, I will be taking action on issues concerning our environment and what should be done to maintain and improve it.

                My AOI is Environment because my whole project is based on the consumption of environmental resources. Renewable energy is a major part of the environment. Resources that we find in our environment can be of two types: renewable or nonrenewable. Coal, petroleum, and natural gases may not be recycled and reused but solar and wind energy can be. During this project, I would like to gain awareness and understanding of the roles our environments play in the lives and well being of humankind, the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable developments and conservation, and the nature and role of local and international organizations responsible for protecting our natural environments. I would reflect on our actions to our environments and take action on a range of issues related to environments.

                My final product would be a research paper, which will include most of my research on renewable energy. This will be a small packet of information with my essay and some posters as well.  This may include its advantages and disadvantages as well. My main goal of this essay will be to show why renewable energy should be used, especially in the case of resources such as oil, coal, natural gases etc. I have created specifications for my essay, which will be based on my depth of understanding, relevance of research shown, clarity and quality of work. At the exhibition, I would like people to see my effort to promote recycling of any sort. I am planning to put up posters around the school and also my father’s office, which have interesting facts about renewable energy. I will also display these posters at the exhibition. I might even make a brochure, which will focus on some small articles on my topic and let people know what my project is about. The basic idea of my product is let everyone know what the advantages of renewable energy are and how effective it can be if used properly.

Changes have been highlighted.

Yavnika Kumar

19.07.12

First Outline of Product Rubric

Rubric for Grading Project Product

	Depth of Understanding	Clarity of Work	Relevance of Research	Quality of Work
Seed: 1 – 2
Seedling: 3 – 4
Leaves: 5 – 6
Flower: 7 – 8

Yavnika Kumar

16.07.12

Comments on AOI Statement

I was really confused about my AOI Statement because I didn't know what else to write. And so I asked my good friend to help me out and comment on it. She told me three basic things which are:


1. Add more on why your topic falls under that certain Area of Interaction.
2. Final Product (Essay) - Is it going to be in the form of a booklet or a packet or something else?
3. Think about what you want those that come to see your project at the Exhibition time to see. How are you going to present your research paper and your project itself? Explain that.


These comments really have helped me understand what more I need to write in the statement. Now I just need to elaborate on the statement using these key points and then I can send this to Ms. Kannan for verification. :)

Yavnika Kumar

16.07.12

AOI Statement Final Draft

AOI Statement

                Renewable Energy is a great way of saving our earth from environmental diseases such as global warming, pollution, resource repletion and more. My project is about environment and the consumption of resources, which has increased greatly over past few years. Renewable sources of wind and solar energy can be used to alleviate several issues the world faces today. Biomass, which is the usage of plant growth for energy, can save millions of resources that are being wasted consequently. I have always cared about the environment and followed environment friendly ways, which help the earth become a better place to live on. I have been linked with many energy projects in which I tried to establish the need to recycle and reuse materials. The environment has a huge role because it the first and foremost basis of our lives. Our actions on sustainable development and conservation are what improves and maintains our atmosphere. We have several responsibilities to our environment, which require deep understanding on every consequence that can occur. Therefore, I will be taking action on issues concerning our environment and what should be done to maintain and improve it.

                My AOI is Environment because my whole project is based on the consumption of environmental resources. Renewable energy is a major part of the environment. During this project, I would like to gain awareness and understanding of the roles our environments play in the lives and well being of humankind, the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable developments and conservation, and the nature and role of local and international organizations responsible for protecting our natural environments. I would reflect on our actions to our environments and take action on a range of issues related to environments.

                My final product would be a research paper, which will include most of my research on renewable energy. This may include its advantages and disadvantages as well. My main goal of this essay will be to show why renewable energy should be used, especially in the case of resources such as oil, coal, natural gases etc. I have created specifications for my essay, which will be based on my depth of understanding, relevance of research shown, clarity and quality of work.  

This is what I have done so far in my AOI statement. I think there are still somethings that need to be added but I will have to think about those first. I can't send this to Ms.Kannan now because she said she wanted my final AOI statement. My first paragraph is complete but my second and third paragraph need to be elaborated on. I really don't know how but I will try to get help from someone. Will get back to this really soon. 

Yavnika Kumar

11.07.12

Article 1 - "Green Fuel from Carbon Dioxide"

Science Daily:
      Most of us know that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and it has a great effect on global warming. My first article is about a research team at the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF). The research team, led by Dr. Ingo Krossing, have now developed a system by which they can produce methanol using carbon dioxide and hydrogen. 
      Methanol is used in many ways and we can find it all most everywhere. Methanol is found in shampoos, the making of plastic bottles, car components. It is also used as "an environmentally friendly alternative for gasoline" (sciencedaily.com). The scientists are trying to "harness the power of carbon dioxide on a large scale and integrate it into the utilization cycle as a sustainable form of energy production" (sciencedaily.com). They are using hydrogenolysis, a process in which you combine carbon dioxide with hydrogen in a high pressure environment producing methanol.
      Methanol is less dangerous when used as an alternative to gasoline than conventional fuels. The scientists are hoping to be able to produce methanol on a high scale in around two years with this technique. They are stating that "when methanol burns carbon dioxide is released again and if the same molecules are used twice then 50 percent less carbon dioxide" will be used to produce energy (sciencedaily.com). Scientists at FMF also stated that "The amount of methanol that could be converted from 10 percent of the yearly carbon dioxide emissions in Germany would cover the country's yearly fuel needs" (sciencedaily.com). The scientists are trying to prove that methanol has a great amount of potential if used properly. There goal of producing methanol with large scales of carbon dioxide only contributes to their thought on preserving and storing energy for future needs. 
       I found this article to be interesting because I never knew that carbon dioxide could be recycled. If the scientists at this research center succeed in their goal then the world would benefit greatly from this. We would be able to store energy for approaching disastrous circumstances. 

MLA Citation for Image:
FMF. Doctoral Candidate Elias Frei Controls the Temperature in the Reactor of the Catalyst Test Device. 2012. Photograph. Freiburg. Science Daily. Science Daily, 13 June 2012. Web. 9 July 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120613132937.htm>.


MLA Citation of Article:
Science Daily. "Green Fuel from Carbon Dioxide." Science Daily 6 June 2012: n. pag. Web. 9 July 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120613132937.htm>.

Yavnika Kumar

9.07.11