Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Roger Kalla

Global Warming: Sweden to Gain Economically

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SWEDEN is, like Australia, experiencing the effects of an upward trend in temperatures that by some has been attributed to the recorded increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. However, Sweden unlike Australia is likely to gain economically from global warming.

Sweden has been in the forefront of implementing energy efficient building standards borne out of necessity. Swedes have always favoured smaller four cylinder cars with heated front and passengers seats, a feature which you learn to appreciate during the winter months. The winters in Northern Sweden are fierce with sub zero temperatures for months on end and very little if any daylight.

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Flower Power & Mobile Phones

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BY ROGER KALLA
….ON RECYCLING

The Australian Telecommunications Association wants us to think about recycling our 12 million disused mobile phones.

I have got three defunct mobile lying around in my home. I don’t think I am an exception since mobile phones usually have got a lifespan of 18 – 24 months.

Motorola together with some researchers at University of Warwick has presented an eco friendly way of recycling the cover. Embedded in the cover made out of biodegradable plastic is some sunflower seed. When the phone dies, you just plant the cover and watch it turn into sunflowers.

Flower power man.

Whitey On The Moon – Again

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BY ROGER KALLA
…NOT ON ENVIRONMENT

Man is to step on the Moon again a decade from now in preparation for the huge leap to Mars. This has been seen by some as another reflection of the hubris of the Bush administration seriously out of touch with the pressing global threats facing our planet and humankind. However, Australian agriculture and environment stand to make some gains from spin-offs from this space exploration program.

The announcement made by President Bush in 2004 that the USA aims to reinvigorate its stalled space exploration program has been met by mixed responses and even seen by some as a prime example of technology escapism.

In order to supply a crew for the 7 month minimum return trip to Mars with oxygen, water and medicines, a very efficient closed loop food production and waste management recycling system would be required. Some alternatives are being explored in the Advanced Life Support program of the NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training at Purdue University in preparation for the mission to Mars.

Food production technologies that could come in handy for the intrepid space travellers are already here and now. Milk can be produced by bovine mammary glands grown in culture, meat by sheets of animal muscle tissue grown in dishes , essential oils like omega 3 polyunsaturated fats from genetically modified canola, orange juice from juice sacs grown in bioreactors, and edible vaccines against influenza or any other nasty bug from hydroponically grown tomatoes.

But perhaps the solution is to think about agriculture inside the square or vat. In the not to distant future we might need not only food manufacturing factories but food producing factories that are based on animal and plant cells as the smallest production unit rather than multicellular organisms like chickens, oranges, tomatoes or fish.

The spin offs from NASA’s second space exploration program will no doubt surpass innovations such as the personal computer, mobile phone and microwave oven that were developed to fulfil some of the requirements of the first NASA program. This time around the unintended spin offs might deliver new technologies for sustainable production of high value foods and medicines not requiring us to mine our ‘golden soils’ to receive our ‘wealth for toil’.

Genetically Modified Athletes

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BY ROGER KALLA
….not on environment

There is less than 100 Days to go before the Commonwealth Games here in Melbourne. I can’t but wonder if we are going to see the first GM Athletes compete in the pool at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre or in the track and field events at the MCG.

At a recent conference at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm organized by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gene doping – the unscrupulous use of genetic modification to enhance athletic ability by athletes, sportspeople and coaches was discussed as well as methods of detection of DNA cheats . The testing methodology is still under development and will not be ready for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino nor the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

One example of a gene that could potentially be used for gene doping is IGF-1.

US researchers has inserted IGF-1 into the muscles of mice. Humans have this gene as well, and our muscles make IGF-1 to repair themselves. But as we get older, our muscles make less and less of it. The muscles of mice given IGF-1 got on the order of 15 to 20 percent stronger without the animals doing anything. So the introduction of this gene which caused a higher production of IGF-1 caused the muscles to get stronger without any exercise. With exercise the gene altered mice muscles became 30 percent stronger.

According to Brad Kloza in ScienCentral News of the 7 December 2005 the US researchers responsible for the study has gotten hundreds of emails from athletes and coaches who want to test the technique – regardless of safety guarantees. While declining their requests, the willingness to try this untested therapy has convinced the researchers that gene doping will become a reality.

In the same article Richard Pound, president of the WADA is quoted as saying “There will be, if not countries, there will be people in some countries that are going to be prepared to try it. And unfortunately that’s human nature.”

Athletes are looking for something that gives them the edge over the competition. Some are willing to take a risk to gain a benefit.