Trends
Global Natural Gas Consumption Regains Momentum
Driven by surging natural gas consumption in Asia and the United States, global use of the form of fossil fuel rebounded 7.4 percent from its 2009 slump to hit a record 111.9 trillion cubic feet ¬ in 2010, according to a new Vital Signs Online report from the Worldwatch Institute. This increase puts natural gas's share of total energy consumption at 23.8 percent, a reflection of new pipelines and natural gas terminals in many countries. The world's largest incremental increase in natural gas use occurred in the United States, where low prices triggered a 1.3 trillion-cubic-feet increase to 24.1 trillion cubic feet, just over one-fifth of global natural gas consumption. But the Asia Pacific region experienced the strongest growth as a share of 2009 consumption levels, with China, India, South Korea, and Taiwan all experiencing demand growth of over 20 percent. China, which surpassed Japan in 2009 to become Asia's largest natural gas consumer, by and large led the region's growth spurt by consuming 3.9 trillion cubic feet, or 3.4 percent of world usage.
Global Nuclear Generation Capacity Falls
Due to increasing costs of production, a slowed demand for electricity, and fresh memories of disaster in Japan, production of nuclear power fell in 2011, according to the latest Vital Signs Online (VSO) report from the Worldwatch Institute (www.Worldwatch.org). Despite reaching record levels the previous year, global installed nuclear capacity----the potential power generation from all existing plants----declined to 366.5 gigawatts (GW) in 2011, from 375.5 GW at the end of 2010. Not surprisingly, this drop in installed capacity corresponds with a decline in global consumption of nuclear energy. Nuclear's share of world commercial primary energy usage fell to around 5 percent in 2010, having peaked at about 6 percent in 2001 and 2002. Only four countries----the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom----increased their share of nuclear power by over 1 percentage point between 2009 and 2010.
MALAYSIA: Muslim PR Practitioners Should Correct Misconception of Islam - Mukhriz
International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has urged Muslim public relations (PR) practitioners to play their role in correcting whatever misconception or wrong perception of Islam. He said they should also refute the malicious disinformation and spin which were intended to give a wrong picture of Muslims. "Prejudices, racism and Islamophobia are tangible expressions that do not go away easily. So, effective PR is one method to address these problems and reinstate the truth," he said. His speech was read by the ministry's advisor, Datuk Nik Zainiah Nik Abdul Rahman, at the 1st Global Congress for Muslim Public Relations Practitioners.
Halal certified food is on the upswing
The demand for religious or ideologically prepared food products is nothing new. However in the past, significant changes in the respective market segments – in particular for organic, vegetarian, kosher and Halal certified products – could be observed. As can be seen from the table, more than 4.6 million Muslims live in the so called D-A-CH countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). Within the EU there are 16 million Muslims and throughout all of Europe approximately 54 million. Even though not all Muslims interpret the Halal requirements in the same way and not all Muslims follow these rules strictly, the significance of the Halal market is obvious. This is also true for the international markets because there are currently approximately 1.6 billion Muslim consumers in the world and this is also the strongest growing population group with an annual growth rate of approximately 1.84%. The value of the global Halal market is estimated to 635bn USD; for Germany this value is about 4bn Euros with most of it being generated in the market for meat and meat products.
World Grain Production Down, But Recovering
World grain production fell, exacerbating a global food situation already plagued by rising prices, according to new research published by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Despite record rice and maize yields around the world, global wheat production dropped substantially enough to bring total grain output to just below 2008 levels. Maize, wheat, and rice provide nearly two-thirds of the global human diet and serve as critical inputs for both animal feed and industrial products. The significance of these crops guarantees that a decline in production will produce ripple effects throughout the global economy, particularly as increased food prices continue to take a toll on the world's neediest populations. Overall, rice and wheat production have tripled since the 1960s, and maize production has quadrupled, despite global acreage of these crops increasing by only 35 percent.
U.S.A: As Global Population Surpasses 7 Billion, Two Clear Strategies for a Sustainable Future
As the global population surpasses 7 billion people sometime around the end of October, addressing the challenges associated with a still-growing world population will require a two-pronged response, according to experts with the Worldwatch Institute. The combined measures of empowering women to make their own decisions about childbearing and significantly reducing global consumption of energy and natural resources would move humanity toward rather than further away from environmentally sustainable societies that meet human needs.
U.S.A: As Global Population Surpasses 7 Billion, Two Clear Strategies for a Sustainable Future
As the global population surpasses 7 billion people sometime around the end of October, addressing the challenges associated with a still-growing world population will require a two-pronged response, according to experts with the Worldwatch Institute. The combined measures of empowering women to make their own decisions about childbearing and significantly reducing global consumption of energy and natural resources would move humanity toward rather than further away from environmentally sustainable societies that meet human needs. Roughly 4.5 billion people have been added to the world population in just the last 60 years, according to United Nations estimates, putting increased strain on the world's ecosystems and resources. Because humans interact with their surroundings far more intensely than any other species and use vast amounts of carbon, nitrogen, water, and other resources, we are on track not only to change the global climate and deplete essential energy and other natural resources, but to wipe out thousands of plant and animal species in the coming decades. To some extent, these outcomes are now unavoidable; we'll have to adapt to them. But in order to improve the likelihood they will not be catastrophic, we need to simultaneously work to influence the future path of population and to address the environmental and social impacts that continued population growth will have.
Slaughter without stunning
Two major welfare problems can occur during slaughter without stunning. They are a prolonged period where the bovine remains sensible and aspiration of blood into the trachea (windpipe) and respiratory tract. Blood entering the respiratory tract is a welfare concern because the sensation caused by blood entering the respiratory system is likely to be very distressful.
AUSTRALIA: It’s time for the RSPCA to get real
There aren't too many cattle loaded onto boats from the western Queensland district of Mitchell, but that was no deterrent to AgForce cattle president, Grant Maudsley, who delivered a spirited defence of the live export trade at the recent RSPCA forum. As the last speaker of the day, Mr Maudsley sat through hours of presentations denouncing the trade. He acknowledged RSPCA's charter to protect animals, but called on those in the forum to reconsider their position and protect the livelihoods of Australian families in the far north.
U.S.A: Global Meat Production and Consumption Continue to Rise
Global meat production and consumption have increased rapidly in recent decades, with harmful effects on the environment and public health as well as on the economy, according to research done by Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project for Vital Signs Online. Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades and increased 20 percent in just the last 10 years. Meanwhile, industrial countries are consuming growing amounts of meat, nearly double the quantity than in developing countries.