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Victims Call China's Drought a Man-Made Disaster

South China is currently experinecing servere drought, with the official economic loss totalling 19 billion yuan in March 2010. Regarding the causes of the drought, many victims content that this disaster is man-made rather than the work of the Nature. Victims from different parts of China responded to an American newspaper with the following comments:

"“Some gold mine companies took over the mountains and emptied them inside out. Trees were uprooted, and there was nothing to hold the soil. “, said Mr. Mo from the city of Wuzhou in Guangxi Province.

According to Mr Mo, the water shortage is very serious in his area, and the amount of water delivered by the authorities was not even close to being enough. There has not been even enough water for showers and laundry, let alone for farming."

"“There is a shortage of drinking water now which the authorities have not been able to resolve. They delivered tap water from the city once every few days. We have to wait in line in order to get a very limited amount. Domestic water shortage is a problem now, let alone water for farming. I have never seen such a serious drought before.”, said Mr. Mo from the city of Wuzhou in Guangxi Province.

"“The authorities did not provide any compensation to the drought victims. The cracks in the field are huge—even wild herbs cannot survive.”, said a resident in Fuyuan County of Yunnan Province.

"“Farmers had to sell their cattle cheaply because they have no water to raise them.”, said another resident in Yunnan Province.

According to the residents in Fuyuan County, they have been without tap water supply since the end of 2009, that their rationed water supply has not been steady, and that they have had to fetch water themselves from a village three miles away.

"“Each family is given four water tickets every two weeks and each ticket entitles the bearer to 100 kg (about 26 gallons) of water, which is not enough for daily use at all, especially for a large family of six or seven. So we have to fetch water from somewhere else. I haven’t taken a shower for a few months.”, said a resident in Fuyuan Country.

According to Mr. Mu from Chongqing, the climate in Chongqing has been erratic for several years and this erratic weather pattern could be a direct consequence of the Three Gorges Dam Project.

"“We have drought every year. I live in an urban area and haven’t seen any measures being taken. The peasants are the most disadvantaged group of people.”, said Mr. Mu.

SOURCE:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32075/

Timor Sea Oil Spill and Earthquakes in the Coastal Zones across the Pacific

The recent earthquakes in the Coastal Areas across the Pacific and the oil spill in Timber Sea happened at almost the same time:

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE IN INDONESIA 

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE IN PHILIPPLINES 

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECENT TIMBER SEA OIL SPILL 

The sun has been recently very quiet with very few sunspots, ruling out any possible correlation between these earthquakes and solar activities.

There is a reason to suspect that these earthquakes might have been triggered by the nearby oil exploration activities.

Be Careful of the Flu Vaccines

I would avoid a flu vaccine at all costs, because of the following reasons:

Reason #1: Flu Vaccines Contain Egg White

All flu vaccines approved by WHO are made with egg white. In other words, flu vaccines are not suitable for the egg-allergic individuals. They are also offensive to the vegan.

Reason #2: Flu Vaccines Contain Mercury

Most new flu vaccines are loaded with a mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal. Even worst, the US Government recently suspended upper limits on the amount of mercury in H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. According to Boyd E. Haley, PhD, a biochemistry professor at the University of Kentucky, even an extremely low level of mercury can cause neurological diseases such as autism, Alzheimer's disease and many other childhood disorders.

Many of the symptoms of mercury poisoning are very subtle and take a number of weeks, months, or even years, to appear. The symptoms of mercury poisioning include 1) chronic fatigue symptom; 2) tingling and numbness of extremities; 3) depression, emotional instability, memory reduction, irritability; 4) defects in hearing, vision and speech; 5) difficulty in writing, delays in motor and language development, inability to walk properly, tremors; and 5) in extreme cases, death.

Most compounds made with mercury from food sources are poorly absorbed in the human digestive systems. The selenium in food and the sulfur in protein also mitigate the toxicity of mercury to some extent. However, injection of mercury-containing drugs can directly esculate the blood mercury level without the involvement of the digestive tract. Perhaps, if Haley's experiment results are worth something, there is a reason to believe that taking flu vaccines will directly heighten the risk of mercury poisoning.

CLICK HERE FOR THE RELATED NEWS 

Laughing gas is biggest threat to ozone

"It's no joke - laughing gas is now the biggest threat to the Earth's ozone layer, scientists have said.

"Published: 7:00PM BST 27 Aug 2009

"Nitrous oxide, better known as the dental anaesthetic "laughing gas", has replaced CFCs as the most potent destroyer of ozone in the upper atmosphere, a study has shown.

"Unlike CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), once extensively used in refrigerators, emissions of the gas are not limited by any international agreement.

""The dramatic reduction in CFCs over the last 20 years is an environmental success story," said Dr Akkihebbal Ravishankara, who led the US research. "But man-made nitrous oxide is now the elephant in the room among ozone-depleting substances."......

CLICK HERE FOR MORE 

Dogs saved people during the recent disaster in Taiwan

During the recent disaster in the south of Taiwan, many people were buried by mudslides and many people were killed as a result of a delay in rescue operation. One eyewitness revealed that he and 40 of his neighbours were saved by his two dogs. The following is quoted from a BBC's news article  :

.... One eyewitness described the devastation wrought on the village of Hsiaolin.

"I saw the mountain crumbling in seconds almost like an explosion and bury half of our neighbourhood," Huang Chin-bao, 56, told AFP news agency.

He said he and 40 neighbours were guided by his two dogs to higher ground.

"The dogs are our saviours," he said.

The typhoon struck Taiwan at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 50 years. ....

Perhaps, this story is a wake-up call for us, the humans. Most of us tend to pay very little respect to the animals around us. Some of us even continue to deny their rights of existence in this world. Such a story proves the point that we are not almighty to the extent that we can fight the Nature. No matter how powerful they are, the so-called humans need to rely on a map, a compass, walki talki, GPS, etc, etc, in a situation as such, but even then, they fail. Dogs may not have human intelligence, but, like other wild animals, dogs act on on their environment merely with their inborn instincts and with their natural sense of direction. During the time of trouble, they can find the way out without a map. Amazing, isn't it?

OTHER SOURCES:

1/ AFP News 

2/ Al Jazeera News on Youtube 

3/ Comments on Dogs from Yahoo Participants 

Gold Stained Glass Windows Purify the Air

Scientists from Queensland University of Technology have discovered that stained glass windows painted with gold paint purify the air when heated by the sun. Gold paint in the glass windows contain trace of gold nanoparticles. in the presence of sunlight, electrons in these gold nanoparticles become activated and oscillate. The magnetic field strength of the electrons is magnified by resonance with the electromagnetic field of sunlight by up to 100 times, which is enough to destroy molecules of some airborne pollutants.....

CLICK HERE FOR MORE 

Belgian City Goes Meat-Free Every Thursday to help save the planet

Meat-free revolution to help save the planet

Ian Traynor

May 22, 2009

"THE Belgian city of Ghent yesterday embarked on a radical experiment that seeks to make every Thursday a day free of meat and of the fish and shellfish for which the city is renowned .......... CLICK HERE FOR MORE 

Poor man Solar Cooker made with Cardboard Sheets wins a climate change award--助窮人太陽能煮食 「京都紙盒」奪環保大獎

Poor man Solar Cooker made with Cardboard Sheets known as "Kyoto Box" wins a climate change award

(credit due to http://news.sky.com)

09 April 2009

Poor man solar-powered cardboard oven, also known as the Kyoto Box, has won a $75,000 climate change award. The inventor of this inventiion was Jon Bohmer, a Norwegian-born entrepreneur based in Kenya. According to the inventor, this prize-winning invention can be used to cook food and bring water to the boil under a sunny sky.

The Kyoto Box is a simple invention made from two cardboard boxes, one inside the other with a transparent acrylic cover to let in the sun's energy. Between the inner box and the outer box is straw or newspaper which serves as an insulation. The reflective foil on the outer box and black paint in the interior of the inner box ensure maximum absorption of solar energy.

Bohmer named his invention the Kyoto Box, after the international environmental treaty to reduce global warming.

The cooker costs around $5.00 to make and will be given away for free to the 3 billion poor people who currently rely on firewood to cook.

Introducing the Kyoto Box to such communities would cut carbon emissions from burning wood. In addition, there are also sanitary benefits from boiling water to drink.

The invention was pitted against nearly 300 other entries, including a machine that turns wood and other organic material into charcoal, wheel covers that make trucks more fuel efficient by reducing drag, and a garlic-based feed supplement for livestock that reduces the methane they emit by 15 percent.

"A lot of scientists are working on ways to send people to Mars. I was looking for something a little more grassroots, a little simpler," Jon Bohmer said Thursday.

"In the West, we cook with electricity, so it's easy to ignore this problem," he said. "But half the world's population is still living in a stone age. The only way for them to cook is to make a fire.

"I don't want to see another 80-year-old woman carrying 20 kilos of firewood on her back. Maybe we don't have to."

.... CLICK HERE FOR TECHNICAL DETAILS OF ANOTHER VERSION OF SOLAR BOX COOKER 

Chinese version of the news:

"助窮人太陽能煮食 「京都紙盒」奪環保大獎

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090410/4/bmei.html

"助窮人太陽能煮食 「京都紙盒」奪環保大獎

"(明報)4月11日 星期六 05:05

"【明報專訊】想以廉價及環保方式煮食？只需買一個紙盒就可以。非洲肯尼亞一名發明家把常見紙盒改裝成太陽能煮食爐，可助全球數以億計窮人減少燒柴煮食，以減少排放溫室氣體。這項成本僅6美元（46.8港元）的發明，在環保大賽中贏得7.5萬美元（約58萬港元）獎金。

"兩紙盒製成 成本僅HK$46。

"這一設計獨特的煮食爐名為「京都紙盒」（取名源自規範溫室氣體排放的《京都議定書》）。它由兩個紙盒製成，盒蓋包上錫紙集中熱力，盒身塗上黑油吸熱，紙盒內有一個煮食用黑煲，透明煲蓋可助保存熱力及水分。

"在肯尼亞開設能源公司的發明家博默（Jon Bohmer）表示，他希望「京都紙盒」能把太陽能煮食推廣至發展中國家，取代燒柴，「發展中國家人口眾多，他們不可只靠木材及山火煮食，這會摧毁所有樹」。

"評審：有望改善數十億人生活

"在環保組織Forum for the Future舉辦的環保大賽上，評審對「京都紙盒」能在發展中國家立即大量生產，都感到印象深刻。評審馬登說﹕「紙盒有改善數十億人生活的潛力，是一項可大量生產的革新發明。」

(Note: Chinese version of this news is by no mean the exact translation of the English version.)

Keywords: be veg, go green, save the planet, vegan/vegetarian, vegan, vegetarian, ahimsa, vegan meat, vegan t-shirt, vegetarian-restaurant, vegan-restaurant, meat-free, non-dairy, dairy-free, egg-free, no-smoking, no-drinking

Arctic sea ice melting away faster than before

VIDEO: Ice shelf brink of collapse

Apr 6 - A new survey indicates Arctic ice is thinner and melting away faster than ever before, while in the Antarctic, the Wilkins ice shelf is on the brink of collapse.

A six-year NASA report concludes Arctic ice is thinner and melting away faster than previously thought due to global warming.

The report was released as news that the Wilkins ice shelf in Antarctica was a on brink of disintegrating.

Satellite photos taken by the European Space Agency confirm that the thread of ice connecting the ice shelf to land had shattered leading scientists to warn that the entire ice shelf could soon break up and disappear.....

CLICK HERE FOR MORE 

Keywords: be veg, go green, save the planet, vegan/vegetarian, vegan, vegetarian, ahimsa, vegan meat, vegan t-shirt, vegetarian-restaurant, vegan-restaurant, meat-free, non-dairy, dairy-free, egg-free, no-smoking, no-drinking

PETA killed 95% of the animals it rescued in 2008

I don't know whether posting this news is counter-productive. But sometime, it is simply too difficult to be silent.

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS 

Keywords: be veg, go green, save the planet, vegan/vegetarian, vegan, vegetarian, ahimsa, vegan meat, vegan t-shirt, vegetarian-restaurant, vegan-restaurant, meat-free, non-dairy, dairy-free, egg-free, no-smoking, no-drinking

What can be planted during this critical juncture?

Li Ching-Yuen: Secret of Longevity (李清雲: 長壽養生之道)

In China, there was a herbalist called Li Ching-Yuen. He was believed to have lived 256 years. He was also a life-long vegetarian.

Records from Professor Wu Chung-chien, dean of the department of Education in Minkuo University, show that Li Ching-Yuen was actually born in 1677 and that Imperial Chinese Government congratulated him on his 150th and 200th birthdays. He died in 1933. During his lifespan, he was reported to have buried 23 wives and had 180 descendents.

Li Ching-yuen was famous not only for his longevity, but also his unusual achievements in Chinese medicine. According to the generally accepted hearsays spread in his province. Li was able to read and write as a child, and by his tenth birthday had traveled in Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, Annam, Siam and Manchuria gathering herbs. For the first hundred years he continued at this occupation. Then he switched to selling herbs gathered by others. Towards the end of Qing dynasty, he became a scholar in Chinese medicine. He was specially awarded by Imperial Chinese Government for his achievements in Chinese medicine. When he was about 200 years old, he was constantly invited to interview with western scholars and to deliver lectures in universities.

Li Ching-yuen attributed to his longevity and health to the following secrets:

1) Be a life-long vegetarian;

2) Keep peace of mind and be always happy;

3) regularly drink Chinese wolfberry tea.

Domestic and Foreign magazine published his story in the 1950s. In his own account (from an interview in the 1920's) Li Ching-yuen says,

“When I was 139 years old, and before I met my Master, I could still walk and do the power walk, as if I practiced Chinese martial arts. As a result some people thought I might be a deity or an accomplished swordsman.

At the time I thought it was really amusing. I think the reason that I have lived this long and am still perpetually healthy is because nothing has irritated me since I was 40 years old. Because of that, my heart is very calm, peaceful and divinely tranquil. That is why I am free from any illness, and always healthy and happy.

At the age of fifty when I went to a mountain to collect some herbs, I met an elderly man who lived on the secluded mountain. He didn't appear to be a supernormal man, but he took big strides when he walked, as if he was flying in the air. No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep up with him. Later, I met him again. I knelt before him and begged for his secret. He gave me some wild fruits and said, “My only secret is that I only eat these fruits.” I took the fruits, and found that they were Chinese Wolfberries. Since then I consumed three qian of Chinese Wolfberries daily (a qian is the weight used to measure Chinese medicine which is equal to five grams). From then on I became healthy and agile. I can walk a hundred li (a li equals half a kilometer) and not feel tired. I became better in strength and stamina than an average person.”

(My comments:

1) It is unclear what makes Chinese wolfberries so different from other plants, except for the fact that Chinese wolfberrries have a very high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). ORAC is the standard test to measure the potency of antioxidants in food. According to scientists at the USDA, eating high-ORAC foods may slow diseases associated with aging (source ). If the link between intake of antioxidant foods and anti-aging is not a myth, then there is no reason why we cannot stay youthful by increasing intake of other high antioxidant foods. High antioixdant foods include:

Item	ORAC Value
Spices, cloves, ground	314,446
Sumac, bran, raw	312,400
Spices, cinnamon, ground	267,536
Sorghum, bran, hi-tannin	240,000
Spices, oregano, dried	200,129
Acai berry, freeze-dried	161,400
Spices, turmeric, ground	159,277
Sorghum, bran, black	100,800
Sumac, grain, raw	86,800
Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened	80,933
Spices, cumin seed	76,800
Maqui berry, concentrated powder	75,000
Spices, parsley, dried	74,349
Sorghum, bran, red	71,000
spices, basil, dried	67,553

(source: http://oracvalues.com/sort/orac-value/ )

2) According to some online sources, however, the herbs which Li recommended to his student were actually ginseng and Hydrocotyle Asiatica. Hydrocotyle Asiatica is also called Gotu Kola. In fact, Indian yogi Nanddo Narian informed his followers that this very same herb contains a vital ingredient that is missing in the general human diet, an ingredient without which it is very difficult to control the rapid decay that leads to premature death. Unlike Chinese wolfberries, Gotu Kola is not easy to find! Chinese wolfberries and Gotu Kola are not the same things, are they?

3) ORAC Scores of Various Fruits/Vegetables:

Item	ORAC Value
Wolf berry	25,300
Prunes	5,770
Blueberries	2,400
Garlic	1,939
Cranberries	1,750
Strawberries	1,540
Spinach	1,260
Yellow Squash	1,150
Alfalfa sprouts	930
Beets	840
Oranges	750
Grapes, Red	739
Grapefruit, pink	495
Grapes, White	460
Beans, Kindey	460
Peas, Frozen	375
Potato	300
Leaf Lettuce	265
Cantaloupe	250
Banana	210
Apple	207
Tomato	195
Pear	110
Watermelon	100
Cucumber	60

)

中國的一位老中醫，李清雲先生，就活了256歲，而他是一位素食主義者！

李清雲出生於1677年，死於1933年，在世256年歲，是清末民國初年的中醫中藥學者，也是世界上著名的長壽老人。在他100歲時（1777 年）曾因在中醫中藥方面的杰出成就，而獲政府的特別獎勵。在他200歲的時候，仍常去大學講學。這期間他曾接受過許多西方學者的來訪。李清雲一生娶過24 個妻子，子孫滿堂。他認為自己健康長壽的原因有三：

1) 是長期素食；

2) 是內心保持平靜、開朗；

3) 是常年將枸杞子煮水當茶飲。

英國、法國及荷蘭的醫學科研工作者們聽到這一消息后，便對枸杞進行了深入研究。他們發現枸杞中含有一種沒見過的維生素，便取名為「維生素X」，也稱之為「駐顏維生素」。經動物實驗証實，維生素X，對人及動物的腦細胞和內分泌腺有激活和新生作用。法國政府為此開始大面積種植並加強研究。

枸杞子含有胡蘿卜素，硫胺素、核黃素、鹽酸、抗壞血酸等多種有益人體的維生素。研究証明，枸杞具有抑制脂肪在纖維內蓄積、促進肝細胞的新生、降低血糖、降低膽固醇等作用。枸杞的「返老還童」作用表現為：可刺激性腺及內分泌腺，增加荷爾蒙的分泌，強化腦細胞和神經細胞的生理功用，還可避免人隨年齡增長而出現血中積存毒素的現象，從而維持休內各組織的正常功能 。

《本草經疏》云：「枸杞子，潤而滋補，兼能退熱，而專於補腎、潤肺、生津、益氣，為肝腎真陰不足，勞乏內熱補益之要藥。老人陰虛者十之七八，故服食家為益精明目之上品。」

《本草匯言》云：「枸杞能使氣可充，血可補，陽可生，陰可長，火可降，風濕可去，有十全之妙用焉。」

《本草通玄》云：「枸杞子，補腎益精，水（腎）旺則骨強，而消渴、目昏、腰疼膝痛無不癒矣。」

《本草正》云：「枸杞，味重而純，故能補陰，陰中有陽，故能補氣。所以滋陰而不致陰衰，助陽而能使陽旺。其功則明耳目，添精因髓，健骨強筋善補勞傷；尤止消渴，真陰虛而臍腹疼痛不止者，多用神效。」

Keywords: be veg, go green, save the planet, vegan/vegetarian, vegan, vegetarian, ahimsa, vegan meat, vegan t-shirt, vegetarian-restaurant, vegan-restaurant, meat-free, non-dairy, dairy-free, egg-free, no-smoking, no-drinking

Global Warming Forecast to Delay Ozone Layer Recovery

"BALTIMORE, Maryland, February 6, 2009 (ENS) - Increasing greenhouse gases could stall the recovery of stratospheric ozone in some regions of the Earth, according to new research by a team from Johns Hopkins University. The scientists warn that increased rates of skin cancer in those regions might result.

"Darryn Waugh, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, and his colleagues reported Thursday that climate change could provoke variations in the circulation of air in the lower stratosphere in tropical and southern mid-latitudes, including Australia and South America.

"The circulation changes would cause ozone levels in these areas never to return to levels that were present before decline began, even after ozone-depleting substances have been wiped out from the atmosphere.

"In tropical and southern mid-latitudes, Waugh says, "Global warming causes changes in the speed that the air is transported into and through the lower stratosphere. You're moving the air through it quicker, so less ozone gets formed."

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE 

CLICK HERE FOR THE LEAD RESEARCHER'S WEBSITE 

(My comment: Since the launch of this blog, I have quoted a lot of literatures on the link between climate change and the ozone layer. The reason is because, I believe, the unprecedented coolness in many places is probably due to leakage of heat through the broken ozone layer. )

Colloidal Silver --- a natural antibiotic (updated on 04 February 2010)

Background

Colloidal Silver is a well-known natural antibiotic that can be inexpensively homemade. It is formed by electrolytically pulling microscopic silver particles from a silver electrode into a liquid, such as distilled water. The sizes of these microscopic silver particles are normally less than 100 nanometers so that they remain suspended in the liquid without forming silver ions, or dissolved solution. Because of their ultra-small dimensions, these nano-particles of silver can easily penetrate and travel throughout a human body.

General Track Record of Colloidal Silver

It has been reported that colloidal silver is effective against more than 679 different disease-causing pathogens. Diseases which Colloidal Silver has been used successfully against include (but not limited to): acne, allergies, appendicitis, blood parasites, bubonic plague, burns (colloidal silver is one of the few treatments that can keep severe burn patients alive), cancer, candidasis, cholera, conjunctivitis, diabetes, gonorrhea, hay fever, herpes, leprosy, leukemia, lupus, lymphangitis, Lyme disease, malaria, meningitis, parasitic infections both viral and fungal, pneumonia, rheumatism, ringworm, scarlet fever, septic conditions of the eyes, ears, mouth and throat, shingles, skin cancer, staph infections, strep infections, syphilis, toxemia, trenchfoot, all forms of viruses, warts and stomach ulcer.

University of North Texas has carried out a study that tests a colloidal silver product against a wide range of illness-causing pathogens. Although the study is specific to one colloidal silver product only, its implication convincingly suggests that colloidal silver at 15 ppm or above is chemically effective as an anti-biotic against Staph, Candidas, Salmonella and Psuedomonas [7 ].

The benefits of silver in medicine, and as a purifier have been well acknowledged for centuries. In ancient times, silver containers had been used in Greece, Rome and Vietnam to keep liquids fresh. Around 400 B.C. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, listed as a singular treatment for ulcers “the flowers of silver alone, in the finest powder.” Herodotus describes how the King of Persia carried with him boiled water in silver flagons to prevent sickness. In 69 B.C., silver nitrate was described in the contemporary pharmacopoeia. In 1869, Ravelin reported that silver exerted its germicidal effect at very low concentrations. In 1881, Crede advocated silver to prevent eye infections in newborns, and silver drops were used to prevent gonorrhea of the eye in newborns. In 1920, the microbiological action of silver was determined to be due to the Ag+ ions formed by tarnishing, surface-oxidation, or ionization.

How It Works

Colloidal Silver may be ingested by drinking it in a diluted form. When ingested, it takes one to two days for colloidal silver particles to go to the body cells in an amount sufficient for benefits to begin.

After the silver particles entered the body cells, they reacts with thiol (sulphydryl, SH) groups in the bacterial cell, producing structural change in the cell membranes. Silver particles further penetrate into the bacterial cell, interacting with nucleic acids. These process, in essence, disable the oxygen metabolism enzyme that all one celled bacteria, fungi and viruses use for their oxygen metabolism. Within a few minutes, the pathogen suffocates and dies, and is cleared out of the body by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems.

Colloidal silver will not remain in the body forever. After three months, it will be eliminated by the kidneys, lymph system and bowel. In general, increasing water intake tends to increase silver elimination through the urine.

Simplest Method of Making Your Own Colloidal Silver

First, prepare the following materials:

three 9-volt batteries,

a glass of distilled water,

two pieces of pure silver wire (.999 fine).

(Note: in the UK, you can buy distilled water from Boots, or Superdrugs, or some other chemists.)

Now, follow the following steps:

1/ Heat up the glass of distilled water to just below the boiling point. The purpose of this step is to improve the conductivity of the distilled water. (This step is optional.)

2/ Clean the silver wires (or silver electrodes) with alcohol.

3/ Insert the silver wires into the distilled water. Placement of wires is not critical, but they must not be touching each other.

4/ Connect a circuit in the following manner:

5/ Wait for about 30 minutes, or until the distilled water becomes slightly yellowish. The yellowish solution is called Colloidal Silver.

Caution: When the final solution turns milky white rather than yellow, the water you use may be mineral water rather than pure distilled water. This situation is very common in the UK, as bottled distilled water is not always available. Do not use mineral water to make colloidal silver. If one has to make colloidal silver out of mineral water, reduce the time duration in step 5, say from 30 minutes to 1 minute.

Caution: If you end up with brown stuff in your colloidal silver solution, this means that you have left the process for too long. The brown stuff is silver oxide.

Caution: Some people end up with a greyish solution at the end of the process. The greyish particles in the solution comes from the unwanted impurities in the silver electrodes. This means that the silver electrodes they use are not 0.999 pure. Do not use impure siliver electrodes because they may contains lead and other impurities which may harm your bodies. Use only the pure 99.99 fine silver electrodes provided.

Caution: Under normal circumstances, the smallest nanoparticles are a clear yellow color. Increases in size lead to amber, brown, and finally a cloudy brownish/green color, which are increasingly less effective as antimicrobial agents.

Storage

According to the author's experience, colloidal silver can be stored for more than a year. Since colloidal silver is photo reactive, the solution will become less clear after a prolonged exposure to light. Therefore, it should be placed in dark or brown glass containers or empty hydrogen peroxide bottles that exclude light and do not affect ion charge.

Colloidal Silver will NOT Reach the Large Intestine

However, although many studies have demonstrated the fact that colloidal silver can chemically inactivate almost all kinds of viruses or bacteria, the large intestine is the place where colloidal silver will not penetrate when taken in normal dosage. The majority of the colloidal silver that is taken orally is normally absorbed before reaching the large intestine, with very little ending up in the large intestine or colon. On the positive side, the friendly bacteria in the large intestine are mostly unaffected by the germicidal effects of colloidal silver. Unfortunately, a number of diseases such as cholera, canine parvovirus or other diseases where the problematic pathogen is active in the large intestine not only have negative impacts on our health, but are also life-threatening, mostly due to the dehydration caused by severe and prolonged diarrhoea and vomiting.

How to use Colloidal Silver

1/ As a liquid antibiotic for animals:

Colloidal silver can be used as an antibiotic for almost all kinds of infections caused by single-celled viruses or bacteria.

Colloidal silver can be mixed with colloidal gold.

For nonchronic conditions, the maximum daily dosage for humans is [10 ]:

12 x Your body weight (in Pounds) / concentration (in PPM) = Number of Drops per day.

According to a report published by WHO, United Nation, toxic intake of silver for humans is 60 mg/day, while lethal intake is 1.3 to 6.2 mg/day.

2/ As a water purification agent:

Water can be purified by adding 1/2 to one teaspoon of 30 ppm colloidal silver and a few drops of iodine to one gallon of water. Legionella pnuemophilia (Legionnaire's disease) is lethal in water with a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It has been reported that water with a colloidal silver concentration of only 20 ppb (parts per billion) kills Legionella pnuemophilia.

3/ As an antibiotic for plants:

A colloidal silver solution can also be sprayed directly onto plants and shrubs in the garden or the water-reservoir of a self-watering planter. The action of the colloidal silver positive ions work on the outside of the plants to destroy bacteria, virus, fungus, etc. Garden food plants that have been sprayed with colloidal silver leave no residue, as do poison sprays, and are safe for human consumption.

Tests in a hydroponics greenhouse have shown that Colloidal Silver is absorbed and used by the living plant as are any other minerals. Hydroponics is an ideal gardening method having only one problem: Viruses, funguses and bacteria tend to thrive in the plant nutrient fluid. The presence of silver in the hydropnic solution will not only kill the viruses, fungues and bacteria present in the solution, but also prevent mosquitoes from hatching.

4/ Keeping algae, mosquito larvae and parasites out of still water:

Tests have shown that algae, larva of mosquitoes and eggs of some parasites are effectively killed by colloidal silver. Colloidal silver may not kill mosquitoes and parasities. However, since the eggs of mosquitos or parasites are mostly single-celled, their reproduction process will end in the presence of colloidal silver. It should be remembered that to remove mosquitoes or parasites by killing their eggs or larvae means that one must continue the course of treatment until all of the adults die.

5/ As a wound healing spray for burns:

As a trained first aider, I have been taught to spray pure water or Coca Cola onto burned flesh immediately following an accident. But according to an example shown in Young's famous book, entitled "Sick and Tired: Reclaim Your Inner Terrain ", colloidal silver solution is apparently much better and more reliable than pure water or Coca Cola. Colloidal silver is not only an effective cooling agent which can be absorbed into skin and flesh instantly, but also assists in regrowth of new tissues. However, pure water and Coca Cola are devoid of the tissue regrowth benefit.

6/ As a nasally administered medicine for treatment of sinus infection, nasal conjection, runny nose, sore throat, cough, flu, or the like:

Since most disease-causing organisms enter your body through the mucous membranes of the nose, the mouth, and/or the pulmonary system, it is possible to treat the disease by killing the disease-causing organisms through the same channel ---- i.e. the mucous membranes of the nose, the mouth, and/or the pulmonary system. Inhalation of colloidal silver can be a better alternative to oral ingestion of the same by virtue of the fact that the colloidal silver itself can directly irrigate and disinfect the loose foreign bodies and particulate debris from the nasal cavity and posterior nasopharynx.

An ultrasonic fogger is a device that uses ultrasonic energy to simulate low clouds and fog in the terrarium. It is mainly used for increasing humidity levels to create a naturally misty and damp environment. The mist from any ultrasonic fogger can be made with a colloidal silver solution, instead of just pure tap water. According to a message posted in curezone [8 ] , the colloidal silver mist can form an extremely effective yet easy lung/bronchial/nasal treatment that clears up sinus infections, nasal conjection and many related allergies.

Even without an ultrasonic fogger, one can nasally take coloidal silver solution by pouring, pumping or spraying colloidal silver solution directly through the nose in a way to achieve the similar effects. According to the author's experience, it is not difficult to use this method to treat a cold or other similar infections in less than one afternoon.

How to test if a Silver Solution is Actually Ionic Silver?

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding whether a solution is ionic silver. According to [11 ], you can easily test the presence of silver ions in a solution by mixing it with table salt (i.e. sodium chloride). If silver ions are present, then the chloride ions will combine with the silver ions and create a white, cloudy appearance.

Possible Tricks to Minimize the Chance of Getting Argyria

Argyria is the only known side-effect associated with excessive exposure to silver products. Whether or not an individual exposed to silver products contracts argyria depends on many factors, including the dose of exposure, the duration of exposure, the form of exposure (ie: ingested, inhaled, skin contact) and the chemistry of the silver products.

Although argyria is believed to be an irreversible condition that cannot be cured, some online literatures have uncovered successful cases of argyria cured (CLICK HERE FOR THE SOURCE ).

According to a document  released by European Comission, antioxidant deficiencies (e.g. vitamin E and selenium) appear to enhance silver toxicity. Some researchers believe that silver can reduce the intracellular content of selenium, with eventual inhibition of glutathione peroxidase synthesis, which is selenium-dependent. On the other hand, supplemental vitamin E and selenium in diets of rats and chickens have been shown to increase the animals' tolerance of high dose of silver.

A document from Environmental Protection Agency in the USA echoes the same finding. According to Environmental Protection Agency (CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ), individuals with low vitamin E and selenium levels are more susceptible to argyria.

A formula for curing argyria has been published on a website (CLICK HERE FOR THE SOURCE ), which surprisingly contains very high doses of vitamin E and selenium. The formula is as follows:

3 Vitamin E 1000 mg 100% Natural d-alpha Tocopheryl

1 Selenium 100mcg yeast free

2 vegetarian Vitamin C 1000 mg

1 teaspoon MSM organic

1 super potency Vitamin B 100,

1 teaspoon of Kelp powder.

(Taken every morning with 2 16oz glasses of water, with close to 3/4 of a gallon distilled water a day. This procedure may take from several weeks to several months to be totally effective, depending upon the severity of the Argyria.)

Although the cure for argyria has not been very much mentioned on the Internet, the role of selenium in detoxifying silver has been documented in medical and scientific literatures ( example ). According to an article from eMedicine (CLICK HERE FOR THE SOURCE ), for example, selenium has been shown to have favorable modifying effects on the metabolism and toxicity of silver by forming complexes with silver. Silver can react with selenium to form silver selenide in human bodies. Since silver selenide is inert and highly insoluble in vivo, monovalent silver becomes less available to interfere with normal enzymatic activities in tissues.

In human bodies, selenium is an essential constituent of a number of enzymes, most of which have antioxidant functions. For example, selenium protein complex (Biomin S-P-C) has been shown to neutralize free radicals on the skin, which is thought to minimize the aging effects of the sun. According to research as well as my experience, selenium can be taken in conjunction with Vitamin E to help prevent severe damage from sunburn.

Selenium also acts in conjunction with glutathione peroxidase by binding with toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium through a process called chelation and flushing them out of the body through urine (SOURCE ).

The link between argyria and deficiencies of selenium and/or Vitamin E is apparently stronger than many wish to believe. Perhaps, when taking colloidal silver, it is not a bad idea to consider a body cleansing protocol involving high doses of vitamin E and selenium. Wheat germ oil is the major source of Vitamin E (SOURCE ). Brazil nuts are probably the better choice, because brazil nuts are not only a very good source of Vitamin E, but also contain an unusually high amount of selenium (SOURCE ).

The Institute of Medicine in the US has set the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for selenium at 55 micrograms per day for adults. One single Brazil nut far exceeds the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of selenium (see below). Perhaps, one or two brazil nuts a day is more than enough.

Brazil Nut Nutrition Facts ( serving size, 1 oz, 6 nuts)

calories: 185

fat: 19 g

saturated fat: 4 g

fiber: 2 g

carbonhydrates: 3 g

protein: 4 g

Thiamin: 12% RDA

Iron: 4% RDA

Magnesium: 27% RDA

Phosphorus: 20% RDA

Potassium: 5% RDA

Zinc: 8% RDA

Copper: 25% RDA

Manganese: 17% RDA

Selenium: 774% RDA

Other Sources of Silver

Silver is present in food additive E174. E174 (Silver) is commonly used to decorate cakes, candies, and other sweets. In addition, silver can be found in a number of other foodstuffs. Refined wheat, for instance, contains approximately 0.3 microgram/gram, wheat bran 0.9 microgram/gram, and mushroom hundreds of microgram/gram (SOURCE ).

Current Uses of Colloidal Silver

1/ The American space agency NASA has chosen silver as the water-purification agent for its space shuttles; so do the Russians.

2/ Water-filters based on Colloidal Silver are approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency and also by the Swiss government for use in homes and offices.

3/ Silver-based water filters have been used by many airline companies, including Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Canadian Pacific, Japan Air Lines, KLM, Lufthansa, Olympic, Pan Am, SAS and Swissair, to curtail water borne diseases.

4/ Silver is often used in place of chlorine for disinfection in swimming pools, because, unlike silver, chlorine reacts with organic compounds and nitrogen compounds present in chlorinated swimming pools and forms objectionable by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and chloramines. These by-products are blamed for irritation of eyes, nasal passages, and skin, as well as with objectionable odors in the pool environment.

5/ A few Japanese companies have very good success in silver-based technologies for air purification. For instance, one Japanese firm managed to convert 50 ppm carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide by passing the carbon monoxide gas through a stack of filters coated with silver compounds. Another company successfully uses a similar technology to eliminate 200 ppm nitric oxide. One firm uses silver compounds to remove vinyl cyanide, methyl cyanide and hydrocyanic acid from its discharges.

Other Less-mentioned Concerns of Colloidal Silver

Whilst colloidal silver can kill almost all kinds of single-celled viruses, there is no evidence suggesting that colloidal silver can eliminate free-radicals. In fact, since silver is a reactive metal in human bodies, there is a likelihood that the opposite is true if the silver particles become too small [5 , 6 ].

Our grassroot wisdom has evolved to a level where we can fight Swine flu without even consulting a doctor. However, colloidal silver is not designed to fight free-radicals which are either naturally produced in our bodies in response of a virial attack, or multiplied when colliding with metal particles in our bodies. The outbreak of swine flu is due to our hunger for meat. Due to the presence of nano-silver particles in our bodies, swine flu or other animal bonre viiruses may not be able kill us immediately, but the excessive build-up of free-radicals because of the silver crystalioids in human bodies will eventually manifest themselves as one or more age-related diseases, which may or may not be life-threathening. Perhaps, this is the price we need to pay if we choose to consume meat, alcohol, cigaratte smoke and/or other additive drugs.

The oxidative stress due to excessive build-up of free-radicals is believed to be the main cause of many degenerative diseases, including heart disease, boss loss, aging, DNA damages, cancers and arthritis. Free-radicals, in general, come from pollution, over-cooked oil, smoking, alcohol drinking, meat-eating, excessive exercises, panicking, or drug abuse. The only way to combat unwanted free-radicals is to follow the following steps:

1) minimize exposure to pollution and ionizing radiations,

2) cut down consumption of meat, seafoods, cigarette smoke, alcohol and problematic drugs,

3) increase the intake of anti-oxidants from plants or from minerals, and optionally.

Disclaimer

This article is provided as a research tool for the purpose of education only. Most of the information in this article is pieced together from a variety of Internet and non-internet sources (including my own experimental results). Not all the sources are unbiased, accurate, reliable, current and complete. It is also important to understand that the Internet environment is variable and dynamic. This means that websites which I considered relevant in the first place may change from day to day.

This article will be actively updated when correction is warranted and/or new information on colloidal silver becomes available. If there are any errors found in this article, please let me know and I will be happy to correct them. Meanwhile, I recommend that my readers exercise good judgement when reading this article.

Recommended Literatures

1/ Dog's cataract healed with colloidal silver  

2/ Colloidal silver beats the swine flu!  

3/ This War Against Germs Has a Silver Lining - Wall Street Journal 

4/ Biotoxicity of Nano-silver 

5/ Scientists Study Health Implications Of Products Using Nanosilver 

6/ Nanosilver disinfects — but at what price?  

7/ University of North Texas: Time-Kill Study on SilverKare Colloidal Silver 

9/ Colloidal silver using ultrasonic humidifier for sinu infection, etc. 

10/ THE SILVER SAFETY AUTO-CALCULATOR 

11/ New Guidelines for Safe Usage of Colloidal Silver  

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Arctic ice in 1979 and 2005

Data Source: NASA

 

Left: Arctic sea ice minimum in 1979 Right: Arctic sea ice minimum in 2005

pH preference of various plants

Soil pH preference of various plants:

Flowers, Ornamental Trees, & Shrubs

• Abelia 6.0 - 8.0
• Acacia 6.0 - 8.0
• Acanthus 6.0 - 7.0
• Aconitum 5.0 - 6.0
• Adonis 6.0 - 8.0
• Ageratum 6.0 - 7.5
• Ailanthus 6.0 - 7.5
• Ajuga 4.0 - 6.0
• Althea 6.0 - 7.5
• Alyssum 6.0 - 7.5
• Amaranthus 6.0 - 6.5
• Anchusa 6.0 - 7.5
• Androsace 5.0 - 6.0
• Anemone 6.0 - 7.5
• Anthyllis 5.0 - 6.0
• Arbutus 4.0 - 6.0
• Arenaria 6.0 - 8.0
• Aristea 6.0 - 7.5
• Armeria 6.0 - 7.5
• Arnica 5.0 - 6.5
• Asperula 6.0 - 8.0
• Asphodoline 6.0 - 8.0
• Aster 5.5 - 7.5
• Aubrieta 6.0 - 7.5
• Avena 6.0 - 7.5
• Azalea 4.5 - 6.0
• Beauty Bush 6.0 - 7.5
• Bergenia 6.0 - 7.5
• Bluebell 6.0 - 7.5
• Broom 5.0 - 6.0
• Buddleia 6.0 - 7.0
• Buphthalum 6.0 - 8.0
• Calendula 5.5 - 7.0
• Camassis 6.0 - 8.0
• Candytuft 6.0 - 7.5
• Canna 6.0 - 8.0
• Canterbury Bells 6.0 - 7.5
• Carnation 6.0 - 7.5
• Catalpa 6.0 - 8.0
• Celosia 6.0 - 7.0
• Centaurea 5.0 - 6.5
• Cerastium 6.0 - 7.0
• Chrysanthemum 6.0 - 7.0
• Cissus 6.0 - 7.5
• Cistus 6.0 - 7.5
• Clarkia 6.0 - 6.5
• Clianthus 6.0 - 7.5
• Clematis 5.5 - 7.0
• Colchicum 5.5 - 6.5
• Columbine 6.0 - 7.0
• Convolvulus 6.0 - 8.0
• Coreopsis 5.0 - 6.0
• Coronilla 6.5 - 7.5
• Corydalis 6.0 - 8.0
• Cosmos 5.0 - 8.0
• Cotoneaster 6.0 - 8.0
• Crab Apple 6.0 - 7.5
• Crocus 6.0 - 8.0
• Cynoglossum 6.0 - 7.5
• Daffodil 6.0 - 6.5
• Dahlia 6.0 - 7.5
• Day Lily 6.0 - 8.0
• Delphinium 6.0 - 7.5
• Deutzia 6.0 - 7.5
• Dianthus 6.0 - 7.5
• Dogwood 5.0 - 7.0
• Edelweiss 6.5 - 7.5
• Elaeagnus 5.0 - 7.5
• Enkianthus 5.0 - 6.0
• Erica 4.5 - 6.0
• Euphorbia 6.0 - 7.0
• Everlasting Flower 5.0 - 6.0
• Firethorn 6.0 - 8.0
• Forget-me-not 6.0 - 8.0
• Forsythia 6.0 - 8.0
• Foxglove 6.0 - 7.5
• Fritillaria 6.0 - 7.5
• Fuchsia 5.5 - 6.5
• Gaillardia 6.0 - 7.5
• Gazania 5.5 - 7.0
• Gentiana 5.0 - 7.5
• Geum 6.0 - 7.5
• Gladiolus 6.0 - 7.0
• Globularia 5.5 - 7.0
• Godetia 6.0 - 7.5
• Golden Rod 5.0 - 7.0
• Gourd 6.0 - 7.0
• Grass, Bent 5.5 - 6.5
• Grass, Clover 6.0 - 7.0
• Grass, Fescue 6.0 - 7.5
• Grass, Meadow 6.0 - 7.5
• Grass, Pampas 6.0 - 8.0
• Grass, Rye 6.0 - 7.0
• Gypsophila 6.0 - 7.5
• Hawthorn 6.0 - 7.0
• Helianthus 5.0 - 7.0
• Helleborus 6.0 - 7.5
• Holly 5.0 - 6.5
• Hollyhock 6.0 - 7.5
• Honeysuckle 6.0 - 7.5
• Hyacinth 6.5 - 7.5
• Hydrangea, Blue 4.0 - 5.0
• Hydrangea, Pink 6.0 - 7.0
• Hydrangea, White 6.5 - 8.0
• Hypericum 5.5 - 7.0
• Iris 5.0 - 6.5
• Ivy 6.0 - 7.5
• Juniper 5.0 - 6.5
• Kalmia 4.5 - 5.5
• Kerria 6.0 - 7.0
• Laburnum 6.0 - 7.0
• Laurel 5.0 - 6.0
• Lavender 6.5 - 7.5
• Listris 5.5 - 7.5
• Ligustrum 5.0 - 7.5
• Lilac 6.0 - 7.5
• Lily Of The Valley 4.5 - 6.0
• Lithospernum 5.0 - 6.5
• Lobelia 6.0 - 7.5
• Lupinus 5.5 - 7.0
• Magnolia 5.0 - 6.0
• Mahonia 6.0 - 7.0
• Marguerite 6.0 - 7.5
• Marigold 5.5 - 7.0
• Molinia 4.0 - 5.0
• Moraea 5.5 - 6.5
• Morning Glory 6.0 - 7.5
• Moss 6.0 - 8.0
• Moss, Sphagnum 3.5 - 5.0
• Myosotis 6.0 - 7.0
• Narcissus 6.0 - 7.5
• Nasturtium 5.5 - 7.5
• Nicotiana 5.5 - 6.5
• Pachysandra 5.0 - 8.0
• Paeonia 6.0 - 7.5
• Pansy 5.5 - 7.0
• Passion Flower 6.0 - 8.0
• Pasque Flower 5.0 - 6.0
• Paulownia 6.0 - 8.0
• Pea, Sweet 6.0 - 7.5
• Penstemon 5.5 - 7.0
• Paeonia 6.0 - 7.5
• Periwinkle 6.0 - 7.5
• Petunia 6.0 - 7.5
• Pinks 6.0 - 7.5
• Polygonum 6.0 - 7.5
• Polyanthus 6.0 - 7.5
• Poppy 6.0 - 7.5
• Portulaca 5.5 - 7.5
• Primrose 5.5 - 6.5
• Primula 6.0 - 7.5
• Privet 6.0 - 7.0
• Prunella 6.0 - 7.5
• Prunus 6.5 - 7.5
• Pyracantha 5.0 - 6.0
• Pyrethrum 6.0 - 7.5
• Red Hot Poker 6.0 - 7.5
• Rhododendron 4.5 - 6.0
• Rose, Hybrid Tea 5.5 - 7.0
• Rose, Climbing 6.0 - 7.0
• Rose, Rambling 5.5 - 7.0
• Salvia 6.0 - 7.5
• Saintpaulia 6.0 - 7.0
• Scabiosa 5.0 - 7.5
• Sea Grape 5.0 - 6.5
• Sedum 6.0 - 8.0
• Snapdragon 5.5 - 7.0
• Snowdrop 6.0 - 8.0
• Soapwort 6.0 - 7.5
• Speedwell 5.5 - 6.5
• Spiraea 6.0 - 7.5
• Spruce 4.0 - 5.0
• Stock 6.0 - 7.5
• Stonecrop 6.5 - 7.5
• Sumach 5.0 - 6.5
• Sunflower 6.0 - 7.5
• Sweet William 6.0 - 7.5
• Syringe 6.0 - 8.0
• Tamarix 6.5 - 8.0
• Tobacco 5.5 - 7.5
• Trillium 5.0 - 6.5
• Tulip 6.0 - 7.0
• Viburnum 5.0 - 7.5
• Viola 5.5 - 6.5
• Violet 5.0 - 7.5
• Virginia Creeper 5.0 - 7.5
• Wallflower 5.5 - 7.5
• Water Lily 5.5 - 6.5
• Weigela 6.0 - 7.0
• Wistaria 6.0 - 8.0
• Zinnia 5.5 - 7.5

Fruits

• Almond (resistant to drought, cold temperatures and high soil pH) 7.90 - 8.50
• Apple 5.0 - 6.5
• Apricot 6.0 - 7.0
• Avocado 6.0 - 7.5
• Banana 5.0 - 7.0
• Blackberry 5.0 - 6.0
• Cherry 6.0 - 7.5
• Cranberry 5.5 - 6.5
• Currant, Black 6.0 - 8.0
• Currant, Red 5.5 - 7.0
• Currant, White 6.0 - 8.0
• Damson 6.0 - 7.5
• Gooseberry 5.0 - 6.5
• Grapevine 6.0 - 7.0
• Grapefruit 6.0 - 7.5
• Hazelnut 6.0 - 7.0
• Hop 6.0 - 7.5
• Lemon 6.0 - 7.0
• Lychee 6.0 - 7.0
• Mango 5.0 - 6.0
• Melon 5.5 - 6.5
• Mulberry 6.0 - 7.5
• Nectarine 6.0 - 7.5
• Papaw 6.0 - 7.5
• Peach 6.0 - 7.5
• Pear 6.0 - 7.5
• Pineapple 5.0 - 6.0
• Plum 6.0 - 7.5
• Pomegranate 5.5 - 6.5
• Quince 6.0 - 7.5
• Raspberry 5.0 - 6.5
• Rhubarb 5.5 - 7.0
• Strawberry 5.0 - 7.5
• Watermelon 5.5 - 6.5

Houseplants & Greenhouse Plants

• Abutilon 5.5 - 6.5
• Acorus 5.0 - 6.5
• Aechmea 5.0 - 5.5
• African Violet 6.0 - 7.0
• Aglaonema 5.0 - 6.0
• Amaryllis 5.5 - 6.5
• Anthurium 5.0 - 6.0
• Aphelandra 5.0 - 6.0
• Araucaria 5.0 - 6.0
• Asparagus Fern 6.0 - 8.0
• Aspidistra 4.0 - 5.5
• Azalea 4.5 - 6.0
• Begonia 5.5 - 7.0
• Bird Of Paradise 6.0 - 6.5
• Bishop's Cap 5.0 - 6.0
• Black-eyed Susan 5.5 - 7.5
• Blood Leaf 5.5 - 6.5
• Bottlebrush 6.0 - 7.5
• Bougainvillea 5.5 - 7.5
• Bromeliads 5.0 - 7.5
• Butterfly Flower 6.0 - 7.5
• Cacti 4.5 - 6.0
• Calceolaria 6.0 - 7.0
• Caladium 6.0 - 7.5
• Calla Lily 6.0 - 7.0
• Camellia 4.5 - 5.5
• Campanula 5.5 - 6.5
• Capsicum 5.0 - 6.5
• Cardinal Flower 5.0 - 6.0
• Castor Oil Plant 5.5 - 6.5
• Century Plant 5.0 - 6.5
• Chinese Primrose 6.0 - 7.5
• Christmas Cactus 5.0 - 6.5
• Cineraria 5.5 - 7.0
• Clerodendrum 5.0 - 6.0
• Clivia 5.5 - 6.5
• Cockscomb 6.0 - 7.0
• Coffee Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Coleus 6.0 - 7.0
• Columnea 4.5 - 5.5
• Coral Berry 5.5 - 7.5
• Crassula 5.0 - 6.0
• Creeping Fig 5.0 - 6.0
• Croton 5.0 - 6.0
• Crown Of Thorns 6.0 - 7.5
• Cuphea 6.0 - 7.5
• Cyclamen 6.0 - 7.0
• Cyperus 5.0 - 7.5
• Dieffenbachia 5.0 - 6.0
• Dipladenia 6.0 - 7.5
• Dizygotheca 6.0 - 7.5
• Dracaena 5.0 - 6.0
• Easter Lily 6.0 - 7.0
• Elephant's Ear 5.0 - 6.0
• Episcia 6.0 - 7.0
• Eucalyptus 6.0 - 8.0
• Euonymus 5.5 - 7.0
• Fern, Bird's Nest 5.0 - 5.5
• Fern, Boston 5.5 - 6.5
• Fern, Button 6.0 - 8.0
• Fern, Christmas 6.0 - 7.5
• Fern, Cloak 6.0 - 7.5
• Fern, Feather 5.5 - 6.5
• Fern, Hart's Tongue 7.0 - 8.0
• Fern, Holly 4.5 - 6.0
• Fern, Maidenhair 6.0 - 8.0
• Fern, Rabbits Foot 6.0 - 7.5
• Fern, Spleenwort 6.0 - 7.5
• Fig 5.0 - 6.0
• Fittonia 5.5 - 6.5
• Freesia 6.0 - 7.5
• Gardenia 5.0 - 6.0
• Genista 6.5 - 7.5
• Geranium 6.0 - 8.0
• Gloxinia 5.5 - 6.5
• Grape Ivy 5.0 - 6.5
• Grevillea 5.5 - 6.5
• Gynura 5.5 - 6.5
• Hedera (Ivy) 6.0 - 7.5
• Heliotropium 6.0 - 8.0
• Helxine 5.0 - 5.5
• Herringbone Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Hibiscus 6.0 - 8.0
• Hoya 5.0 - 6.5
• Impatiens 5.5 - 6.5
• Iresine 5.0 - 6.5
• Ivy Tree 6.0 - 7.0
• Jacaranda 6.0 - 7.5
• Japanese Sedge 6.0 - 8.0
• Jasminum 6.0 - 7.5
• Jerusalem Cherry 6.0 - 7.5
• Jessamine 5.5 - 7.0
• Kalanchoe 6.0 - 7.5
• Kangaroo Thorn 6.0 - 8.0
• Kangaroo Vine 5.0 - 6.5
• Lace Flower 6.0 - 7.0
• Lantana 5.5 - 7.0
• Laurus 5.0 - 6.0
• Lemon Plant 6.0 - 7.5
• Mimosa 5.0 - 7.0
• Mind Your Own Business 5.0 - 5.5
• Monsters 5.0 - 6.0
• Myrtle 6.0 - 8.0
• Never Never Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Nicodemia 6.0 - 8.0
• Oleander 6.0 - 7.5
• Oplismenus 5.0 - 6.0
• Orchid 4.5 - 5.5
• Oxalis 6.0 - 8.0
• Palms 6.0 - 7.5
• Pandanus 5.0 - 6.0
• Patient Lucy 5.5 - 6.5
• Peacock Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Pellionia 5.0 - 6.0
• Peperomia 5.0 - 6.0
• Philodendron 5.0 - 6.0
• Piles 6.0 - 8.0
• Plumbago 5.5 - 6.5
• Podocarpus 5.0 - 6.5
• Poinsettia 6.0 - 7.5
• Polyscias 6.0 - 7.5
• Prayer Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Punica 5.5 - 6.5
• Rubber Plant 5.0 - 6.0
• Sansevieria 4.5 - 7.0
• Saxifraga 6.0 - 8.0
• Schizanthus 6.0 - 7.0
• Scindapsus 5.0 - 6.0
• Selaginella 6.0 - 7.0
• Shrimp Plant 5.5 - 6.5
• Spanish Bayonet 6.0 - 7.5
• Spider Plant 6.0 - 7.5
• Succulents 5.0 - 6.5
• Syngonium 5.0 - 6.0
• Thunbergia 5.5 - 7.5
• Tolmiea 5.0 - 6.0
• Tradescantia 5.0 - 6.0
• Umbrella Tree 5.0 - 7.5
• Venus Fly Trap 4.0 - 5.0
• Weeping Fig 5.0 - 6.0
• Yucca 6.0 - 7.5
• Zebrina 5.0 - 6.0

Vegetable & Herb

• Artichoke 6.5 - 7.5
• Asparagus 6.0 - 8.0
• Basil 5.5 - 6.5
• Bean 6.0 - 7.5
• Beetroot 6.0 - 7.5
• Broccoli 6.0 - 7.0
• Brussels 6.0 - 7.5
• Cabbage 6.0 - 7.5
• Calabrese 6.5 - 7.5
• Carrot 5.5 - 7.0
• Cauliflower 5.5 - 7.5
• Celery 6.0 - 7.0
• Chicory 5.0 - 6.5
• Chinese Cabbage 6.0 - 7.5
• Chives 6.0 - 7.0
• Corn, Sweet 5.5 - 7.5
• Cress 6.0 - 7.0
• Courgettes 5.5 - 7.0
• Cucumber 5.5 - 7.5
• Fennel 5.0 - 6.0
• Garlic 5.5 - 7.5
• Ginger 6.0 - 8.0
• Horseradish 6.0 - 7.0
• Kale 6.0 - 7.5
• Kohlrabi 6.0 - 7.5
• Leek 6.0 - 8.0
• Lentil 5.5 - 7.0
• Lettuce 6.0 - 7.0
• Marjoram 6.0 - 8.0
• Marrow 6.0 - 7.5
• Millet 6.0 - 6.5
• Mint 7.0 - 8.0
• Mushroom 6.5 - 7.5
• Mustard 6.0 - 7.5
• Olive 5.5 - 6.5
• Onion 6.0 - 7.0
• Paprika 7.0 - 8.5
• Parsley 5.0 - 7.0
• Parsnip 5.5 - 7.5
• Pea 6.0 - 7.5
• Peanut 5.0 - 6.5
• Pepper 5.5 - 7.0
• Peppermint 6.0 - 7.5
• Pistacio 5.0 - 6.0
• Potato, Sweet 4.5 - 6.0
• Potato 5.5 - 6.0
• Pumpkin 5.5 - 7.5
• Radish 6.0 - 7.0
• Rice 5.0 - 6.5
• Rosemary 5.0 - 6.0
• Sage 5.5 - 6.5
• Shallot 5.5 - 7.0
• Sorghum 5.5 - 7.5
• Soybean 5.5 - 6.5
• Spearmint 5.5 - 7.5
• Spinach 6.0 - 7.5
• Swede 5.5 - 7.0
• Thyme 5.5 - 7.0
• Tomato 5.5 - 7.5
• Turnip 5.5 - 7.0
• Watercress 6.0 - 8.0

Note:

1) If the soil is overly acidic, lime or lime compounds (ground limestone, marl, hydrated lime) should be added to raise the pH or reduce the acidity of the soil.

2) If the soil is overly alkaline, sulphur or coffee should be used to lower pH or increase the acidity of the soil. The PH of coffee is anywhere between 4.9 to 6. I personally prefer coffee as a soil amendment, because it is one of the most convenient sources of nitrogen.

3) Whilst different plants have different PH preference, most garden crops will do well with a soil pH of 6.2 to 6.8.

4) A pH of 6.5 is found to be the most favorable for the availability of all plant nutrients [1].

Reference [1]: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/publist/600series/637100-1.pdf 

Map of World Happiness, 2006

 

Index of Happiness

The following is so-called the Index of Workplace Happiness done in 2004 by a British organization called City and Guilds. According to the index, care assistants, hairdressers, plumbers and chefs are in general the happiest people at work. No matter why those engaged in care profession always smile. The index also suggests that the most miserable workers in the workplace are those estate agents, media workers, pharmacists and accountants. This is something hard to understand.

1. Care assistants 40% (very happy)

2. Hairdressers 32%

3. Plumbers 32%

4. Chefs 30%

5. Florists 20%

6. Chartered engineers 18%

7. Lawyers 16%

8. Mechanics 14%

9. IT specialists 14%

10. R&D scientists 14%

11. Architects 8%

12. Electricians 6%

13. Accountants 4%

14. Pharmacists - 4%

15. Media workers - 4%

16. Estate agents - 4%

How to cure diarrhea naturally?

Just eat pineapple. It works for me very well. I got this trick from HERE .

Pineapples contain bromelain which is a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes. According to a study, bromelain can prevent diarrhea in piglets infected with pathogenic E. coli. The study suggests that, in about 30 hours, bromelain blocks receptors on gut endothelium necessary for successful invasion by the bacteria and apparently directly interferes with bacterial toxins.

Thanks to the NDEr who offered such a simple but effective trick.

Huge Losses Found in Arctic Ozone Layer -- old news, published in April 6, 2000

"Huge Losses Found in Arctic Ozone Layer

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2000/2000-04-06-06.asp 

"By Cat Lazaroff

"WASHINGTON, DC, April 6, 2000 (ENS) - More than 60 percent of the ozone layer blanketing the Arctic Circle was lost this past winter, due to record cold and continued pollution by humans, scientists from the United States and the European Union said Wednesday. The researchers also warned that global warming may speed up ozone loss and slow the recovery of the ozone layer.

"arctic

"A computer generated image of the thinning ozone layer, with the thinnest areas shown in dark blue (All photos courtesy NASA)

"The ozone losses are likely to affect the ozone levels over Europe during spring, the scientists said.

"Studies by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Union have revealed ozone losses of over 60 percent in the Arctic stratosphere around 18 kilometers (11 miles) above the Earth, during one of the coldest stratospheric winters on record. This is one of the most substantial ozone losses at this altitude ever recorded in the Arctic.

""Last winter's results have heightened concerns that ozone levels over the north polar region may continue to decline despite the benefits of international agreements to stop production and release of ozone-destroying chemicals," said Dr. Hanjürg Jost of NASA's Ames Research Center, located in California's Silicon Valley.

"More than a decade ago scientists determined that ozone depletion is caused mostly by man-made chlorine and bromine compounds. Manufacturers made the chlorine compounds, chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, for use as refrigerants, aerosol sprays, solvents and foam-blowing agents. Fire fighters used bromine-containing halons to put out fires. Manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons ceased in 1996 in developed countries under the terms of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments.

"But climate change in the stratosphere will likely result in increased ozone losses in the Arctic winter in the coming decades, even as the amount of chlorine and bromine introduced into the atmosphere is decreased, the researchers said. The buildup of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, tends to trap more heat near the Earth's surface, while at the same time colder than normal temperatures are experienced in the stratosphere, where the ozone breakdown occurs, scientists explained.

"clouds

"Opalescent polar stratospheric clouds help turn chlorine into the ozone destroyer chlorine monoxide

"The cold air helps form high altitude clouds (at about 18 kilometers or 60,000 feet), called "polar stratospheric clouds" or PSCs, which play a unique role in atmospheric ozone loss. The opalescent clouds form only in the cold temperatures found at the poles. These clouds help trigger the conversion of chlorine from relatively non-reactive forms to a form (chlorine monoxide, or ClO) that, in combination with sunlight, destroys ozone.

"PSCs were observed to extend widely over the Arctic region from early December to early March. "We were somewhat surprised to see PSCs so early in December," said Dr. Mark Schoeberl, who was the SOLVE co-project scientist for observations made from NASA's DC-8 aircraft. "Some of the PSC types and their locations which we observed in December did not fit within our current understanding."

"The last PSCs were observed on March 8 by instruments aboard the DC-8, and on March 15 by satellite.

"The polar stratosphere temperatures were extremely low over the course of this last winter. At 20 kilometers (66,000 feet) on January 28, the area covered by temperatures low enough to form PSCs was 14.8 million square kilometers (5.7 million square miles), which is larger than the continental United States. This is the largest area coverage recorded in more than 40 years of Northern Hemisphere stratospheric analyses.

""The polar stratospheric clouds covered a larger area, and persisted for a longer period of time, than for any other Arctic winter during the past 20 years. These conditions heighten our concern regarding possible couplings between climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion," said ozone researcher Dr. Ross Salawitch of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

"DC-8

"One of NASA's DC-8 aircraft prepares for a data gathering flight

"The mixing of polar air into middle latitudes, both during the winter and as the polar circulation broke down in late March, influences ozone levels over the populated middle regions, particularly in Europe.

"In March, the World Meteorological Organisation Mapping Centre at the University of Thessaloniki reported that the average ozone amounts over Europe were 15 percent below the pre-1976 average, lending credence to concerns that thinning ozone will significantly impact species living outside the Arctic Circle.

"More than 350 researchers from the United States, Europe, Canada, Russia and Japan took part in the combined NASA/European Union-sponsored field campaign, said project manager Mike Craig of NASA Ames. Researchers measured ozone, other atmospheric gases, particle amounts and air motions in the Arctic stratosphere, the atmospheric layer between roughly eight and 50 kilometers (five to 31 miles) altitude.

"From November 1999 to March 2000, investigators used spacecraft, aircraft, large, small and long-duration balloons, and ground-based instruments to gather data. The aircraft and large balloon launch teams were based in Kiruna, Sweden.

"A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ozone instrument aboard NASA's high altitude ER-2 aircraft was used to measure ozone losses in the lower stratosphere. Data from the ER-2 show ozone in the Arctic decreasing by about 60 percent between January and mid-March, said ER-2 co-project scientist Paul Newman of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

"balloon

"Researchers prepare to send an instrument package up on a weather balloon

"These measurements are comparable to the large ozone losses in the lower stratosphere observed during several winters in the mid-1990s. Total ozone losses throughout the depth of the atmosphere were slightly reduced because ozone losses were smaller above 66,000 feet (20 kilometers). Spacecraft observations by NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer-Earth Probe clearly showed an area of low ozone over the polar region during February and March.

"The average total polar ozone for the first two weeks of March was 16 percent lower than scientists observed during the same time period in the early 1980s.

"The campaign - the biggest field measurement campaign yet undertaken - included the NASA-sponsored Stratospheric Aerosols and Gas Experiment (SAGE III) Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE), and European Union-sponsored Third European Stratospheric Experiment on Ozone (THESEO-2000).

"balloon

"A weather balloon heads for the Arctic stratosphere

"The joint investigations into the Arctic stratosphere have provided better insights into the processes that control polar ozone. These insights considerably add to scientists' ability to predict ozone levels in the future as chlorine levels decline and as greenhouse gases increase.

""European cooperation within an international team has made it possible to achieve these research results," said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "They will provide the best possible scientific advice to the regulatory process concerning ozone depleting substances in the framework of the Montreal Protocol and, equally important, to the citizens."