Tuesday 5 February 2013
Wednesday 16 May 2012
North Dakota’s oil-rich Bakken region: boom, busts and trouble
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/15/north-dakotas-oil-rich-bakken-region-boom-busts-and-trouble/
In Bakken North Dakota there is a huge oil boom. This year it faced the lowest unemployment rate of 3%. This is because Bakken has large oil fields and thousands of workers working those fields. But even though th large amount of work is good for Bakkens economy, there are problems that come with it. For instance it is very hard to find places to live in Bakken now since so many are taken up by the workers. The crime rate has also largely increased because of the amount of workers that have come. North Dakota has swapped tips with areas sharing similar problems from the oil boom like Saskatchewan and Montana. I hope that they can find a solution to the effect that the workers have in these oil boom regions because they are doing more harm than good.
In Bakken North Dakota there is a huge oil boom. This year it faced the lowest unemployment rate of 3%. This is because Bakken has large oil fields and thousands of workers working those fields. But even though th large amount of work is good for Bakkens economy, there are problems that come with it. For instance it is very hard to find places to live in Bakken now since so many are taken up by the workers. The crime rate has also largely increased because of the amount of workers that have come. North Dakota has swapped tips with areas sharing similar problems from the oil boom like Saskatchewan and Montana. I hope that they can find a solution to the effect that the workers have in these oil boom regions because they are doing more harm than good.
Tuesday 8 May 2012
As Car Owners Downsize, the Market Is Strong for Their Used S.U.V.’s
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/business/used-full-size-suvs-are-making-a-comeback.html?ref=business
In the United States, many people are trading in their large S.U.V.'s and trucks in so that they can get more fuel efficient cars, since gas is $4 a gallon in the States at the moment. But as many people as there are btrading in their gas guzzling vehicles, there are just as many people wanting to get used gas guzzlers, because they are larger, and can hold more than a fuel efficient vehicle. Since the price for gas hit $4 a gallon in the U.S., the number of people buying used gas guzzlers has increased by 23%. Most car owners say its hard to hold on to some S.U.V.'s because as soon as they received a used one, someone else wants it right away. This surprises me that so many people still want to buy, non-fuel-efficient vehicles because it feels like they are living in the past.
In the United States, many people are trading in their large S.U.V.'s and trucks in so that they can get more fuel efficient cars, since gas is $4 a gallon in the States at the moment. But as many people as there are btrading in their gas guzzling vehicles, there are just as many people wanting to get used gas guzzlers, because they are larger, and can hold more than a fuel efficient vehicle. Since the price for gas hit $4 a gallon in the U.S., the number of people buying used gas guzzlers has increased by 23%. Most car owners say its hard to hold on to some S.U.V.'s because as soon as they received a used one, someone else wants it right away. This surprises me that so many people still want to buy, non-fuel-efficient vehicles because it feels like they are living in the past.
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Geothermal energy in Japan Storm in a hot tub Clean bodies versus clean energy
http://www.economist.com/node/21552207
After the Nuclear disaster in Fukushima last year, 54 of Japan's 55 Nuclear Reactors were temporarily shut
down, and since then, Japan has slowly been losing their Nuclear power. This article talks about how Onsen, which are Japanese hot springs, are very popular in Japan and they want to have more of them, but they just do not have the energy to make more since Nuclear Power made up two thirds of Japan's total energy output. The Japanese are trying to find a new way to power these Onsen with alternative energy sources like the Geothermal kind. Now Japan is lifting bans on Geothermal energy in other areas as well. I think it is great that Japan has found another power source that they can use while their nuclear energy is failing.
After the Nuclear disaster in Fukushima last year, 54 of Japan's 55 Nuclear Reactors were temporarily shut
down, and since then, Japan has slowly been losing their Nuclear power. This article talks about how Onsen, which are Japanese hot springs, are very popular in Japan and they want to have more of them, but they just do not have the energy to make more since Nuclear Power made up two thirds of Japan's total energy output. The Japanese are trying to find a new way to power these Onsen with alternative energy sources like the Geothermal kind. Now Japan is lifting bans on Geothermal energy in other areas as well. I think it is great that Japan has found another power source that they can use while their nuclear energy is failing.
Wednesday 18 April 2012
BP announces class-action settlement in 2010 Gulf oil disaster
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/18/us/bp-spill-settlement/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
British Petroleum announced on Wednesday that they have reached a settlement on the class action law suit that was put against them by thousands of attorneys of other businesses that were effected by the Mexican Gulf oil spill that happened almost a year ago. This settlement has been discussed for almost a year as well and now s finally settled. I am happy that they have finally come to a settlement on this event, and that BP did whatever it could to help after the spill that damaged the coral reefs in that area.
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Arctic oil rush will ruin ecosystem, warns Lloyd's of London
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/lloyds-london-warns-risks-arctic-oil-drilling
Lloyd's of London, which is the world's largest insurance market, is the first major business organization to question the damage of the oil drilling in the Arctic. The oil drilling in the Arctic is funded with an amount of almost one hundred billion dollars. This drilling is necessary for the rest of the world because the Arctic has a huge oil market . But the pollution and other problems being caused in the Arctic by this drilling are serious. If an oil spill were to occur in the Arctic, it would be much more difficult to clean up than a spill in the Gulf of Mexico, because of the amount of ice. I hope that the drilling goes well and that it doesn't damage the Arctic ecosystem too much because the Arctic is already a problem with the melting icecaps.
Lloyd's of London, which is the world's largest insurance market, is the first major business organization to question the damage of the oil drilling in the Arctic. The oil drilling in the Arctic is funded with an amount of almost one hundred billion dollars. This drilling is necessary for the rest of the world because the Arctic has a huge oil market . But the pollution and other problems being caused in the Arctic by this drilling are serious. If an oil spill were to occur in the Arctic, it would be much more difficult to clean up than a spill in the Gulf of Mexico, because of the amount of ice. I hope that the drilling goes well and that it doesn't damage the Arctic ecosystem too much because the Arctic is already a problem with the melting icecaps.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Sudan’s air forces bombs oilfields in Unity State
http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-air-forces-bombs-oilfields,42050
On March 26, 2012, the Sudanese Armed Forces or SAF bombed oil fields in South Sudan's Unity State. The
bombing was a result of clashes between the SAF and the the army from South Sudan called the Saudan People's Liberation Army or SPLA in the oil-rich town of Heglig. Sout Sudan's president Salva Kiir anounced that his army the SPLA took over Heglig, and that the clash was brought on by the SFA's aggression. The clashes in Heglig and aerial bombings between the SFA and SPLA ended a period of relative peace between the recently-separated countries. The confrontation now makes the possiblity of an all out war more possible. I think that this bombing in Heglig is terrible because this hurts both parts of Sudan, because now the idea of war between them is a greater possibility and I don't think either country needs that right now because they are still trying to establish themselves as separate countries.
On March 26, 2012, the Sudanese Armed Forces or SAF bombed oil fields in South Sudan's Unity State. The
bombing was a result of clashes between the SAF and the the army from South Sudan called the Saudan People's Liberation Army or SPLA in the oil-rich town of Heglig. Sout Sudan's president Salva Kiir anounced that his army the SPLA took over Heglig, and that the clash was brought on by the SFA's aggression. The clashes in Heglig and aerial bombings between the SFA and SPLA ended a period of relative peace between the recently-separated countries. The confrontation now makes the possiblity of an all out war more possible. I think that this bombing in Heglig is terrible because this hurts both parts of Sudan, because now the idea of war between them is a greater possibility and I don't think either country needs that right now because they are still trying to establish themselves as separate countries.
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