Monday, July 28, 2014

Romanian Forests

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 214-365

Romanian forests disaster: in the last 20 years were illegally cut 366,000 ha of forest.
According to a study by Greenpeace in Romania cut over 3 acres of forest every hour. The data / information submitted by Kerslake, indicates that average daily operated in 41 ha, of which a large part is the illegal logging. Reforestation costs are huge, for example, afforestation of 700 ha in Arges, the authorities must pay about 3 million Euro. 

1500 ha of cleared forest illegally in Alba region

On one street one day every day of the year there are 50 tracks with illegal logging.
It is a sad time in Romanian History
A lot of forest has been lost since Romania adhered to EU.
People say that there is no will to stop illegal forest destruction.

I asked what could be done? And the answer was a police check of the roads and large fees for those that cut the forest.
Apparently 20 politicians are .financed by the in logging industry.

Has something to do with the fact that IMF has sponsored logging industry
Has something to do with the fact that people got the ownership of the forest and the first thing they do they cut it?

Austrian company that have no factories in their country cut the Romanian Forest as there is no tomorrow, and open 6 offices. There is enough wood, while their country does not allow them the  destruction of their environment

One factory instead of using hemp for producing paper uses 20 tons of wood per day.
Another company PEHART TEC has a capacity of over 160 t/day

While watching TV the government had a new law that allowed logging companies to cut 3 ha of forest per hour.

It is a sad time in the history of environment of Romania.

15 January 2014 people protested against Austrian firm Holzindustrie Schweighfoer, that would open a new factory that use Romanian Wood. The acts of this company affect the environment in Romania for the profit of few. They got the approval from Consiliului Judeţean Covasna,

Transilvania Romania

Massive deforestation in the region has had dramatic consequences. For one, the floods of 1998, 1999 and 2005 had disproportionate knock-on effects due to the bare terrain, causing landslides for example. For another, Transylvania's very rich biodiversity is threatened: scientists estimate that ecosystems need at least 50% forest cover to be able to renew themselves, whereas cover has dropped to less than 35%.

Now in a positive note Japan plant trees in Romania

MET is a foundation specialized in running development projects with rural communities in Transylvania, Romania.

In partnership with the NGO Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET), Accor is linking up with schools for the planting and protection of forests in the Sibiu – Sighisoara region of Transylvania.

Accor ( power Plant in Japan that had the nuclear disaster) supports the planting of 19.200 cherry trees in memory of the 19.200 victims of the Japan tsunami. 10,000 trees planted in Romania

MET has more planting projects.

  • 27,275 trees planted over 20 hectares since the start of the project
  • 930 schoolchildren involved in awareness-raising and reforestation activities
This is small in report with the devastation created by  the Austrian company.

The rehabilitation of the forest cover will help to reduce debris from natural catastrophes such as floods and drought, as well as pollution from industrial activities.

 What Can Be Done?

  • Police should stop tracks with illegal logging.

  • The law should prevent forest destruction

  • Logging should be stopped. Tourism should be the focus of the economy not destruction of the environment.

    The companies should have revoked the license to log and instead to be provided tourism development and promotions.

  • A campaign of forestation should financed by the government.

 According to the Department for Water, Forests and Fisheries, the effects of deforestation to see in everyday life: landslides, floods, silting of water courses, emphasizing the effects of extreme weather events - especially drought and especially decreased quality of life due to the reduction effect you have forest on the air we breathe (green lung of the planet). "With massive cuts forests, floods are becoming more intense and more destructive and requires very large investments to protect life and property of the people," say representatives of the ministry.

In 2011, WWF developed the campaign Save Romania's virgin forests!, in order to put under legal protection last virgin forests in our country and among the last in Europe. In record time of 33 days, 100,000 people joined the endeavor initiated by WWF, signing the petition campaign. The result was the inclusion of virgin forests under forest protected by law and initiating a process of identification and mapping of virgin forests in Romania. Process in full swing on the ground will make it possible to create a national catalog of virgin forests in Romania.

Harvard University, the biggest owner of forests in Romania. The state has lost the right to first refusal to buy the 32,000 acres of forest owned by the American University in Romania Harvard because the lack of money.

Romania needs a forestation program of 10000 ha per year. 

 links

http://harta.plantamfaptebune.ro/Public .

http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/financiar/universitatea-harvard-cel-mai-mare-proprietar-de-paduri-din-romania-de-ce-a-ratat-statul-sansa-de-a-le-recupera.html

 

 




Friday, July 25, 2014

Magnetic field of a Tree

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 213-365

Choose three streets. One that has no trees, another one that has young Trees planted on the street, and the third one that has old trees on the boarder.
Then walk around 1 km on each street. See the difference in your feelings after 1 km walk on each street, in addition to the heat you endure or not in the summer on each street.

Here is my point. Each living organism has an electromagnetic field. Humans do,
 
 animals and plants do.
 
The electromagnetic field of an old tree is greater that the electromagnetic field of a young tree.

The electromagnetic field of a tree can be proven using the Kirilian Photography (and infrared photography not sure). Also same method is used to prove the humans electromagnetic energy.

While passing near trees our energy interact with the energy of the tree.
An old tree has a bigger field that the young trees. The effect of an old tree is bigger on humans that the effect of a young trees.

The interaction between the energy of an old tree and us give a well being feeling. That-s why when we walk into a forest we feel so good.
 
If you consider that an Aura of energy is proof of the existence of spirit, then science has already discovered it. The tip of this leaf was cut off prior to having it's aura photographed, yet the outline of the cut tip of the leaf is still there.

It is possible that the tree have conscience? It is possible that they have likes and dislikes?
What is the damage that we are doing while logging? It is possible that the damage is more that the loss of tree? It is possible that while logging the society or those that cut the forest affect more that the forest and environment they affect the electromagnetic field of the land in the affected area?

Thursday, July 24, 2014

White Willow Bark and Leaves - Natural Pain Relief

by Liliana Usvat
Blog 212 -365

History


The use of willow bark dates back thousands of years, to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation.

Willow bark has been used throughout the centuries in China and Europe, and continues to be used today for the treatment of pain (particularly low back pain and osteoarthritis), headache, and inflammatory conditions, such as bursitis and tendinitis.

Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder and others knew willow bark could ease aches and pains and reduce fevers. It has long been used in Europe and China for the treatment of these conditions.This remedy is also mentioned in texts from ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Assyria.
 
The Reverend Edmund Stone, a vicar from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, England, noted in 1763 that willow bark was effective in reducing a fever. The bark is often macerated in ethanol to produce a tincture.

In an article published in 1652, Nicholas Culpeper had suggested that physicians use the burnt residues of the white willow bark blended with vinegar to remove warts, corns as well as unnecessary flesh from the body.

How to Use
 
White Willow Bark: A Natural Alternative to Aspirin for Pain Relief

WHITE WILLOW tea- Natural Pain Relief 15-20 cups White Willow bark has been used for many many years as a pain reliever. Willow contains glucoside.
 
White willow bark contains salicylic acid that is also found in aspirin. It is recommended that one drink 3 to 4 cups of this tea to benefit from its use. Although the tea may be slower acting than aspirin, it has longer lasting effects.

Start by adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of white willow bark to 8 ounces of water.
 

Allow this to boil for about 5 to 10 minutes. Once it has boiled, turn off the heat and allow it to steep between 20 and 30 minutes. You will notice the herbs drop down to the bottom of the pan and the tea is taking on a beautiful red color.
 
Add cinnamon and honey to your steeped white willow bark for a better tasting tea.

Once the bark is done steeping, strain the bark out and compost it. 

Common Name
White Willow

Other Known Names
Cartkins Willow, European Willow, Pussywillow, Willow, Withe Withy
Botanical Name
Salix alba

Whats it look like
Willows range in size from the statuesque weeping willow tree to plants barely 2 inches high. The many varieties of willow—close to 500—are now considered interchangeable for medicinal use. Its bark has a spicy scent and a bitter flavor.

What part of the plant is used
Bark, leaves
Properties
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Expectorant
  • Antiseptic
  • Analgesic
  • Astringent
Uses

  • Bronchitis
  • Coughs
  • Headaches
  • Fevers
  • Rheumatism
  • Gout
  • Diarrhea
  • Dysentery
  • Neuralgia
  • Gastrointestinal distress
  • Pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Flu
  • Tendonitis
  • Bursitis
Cautions-Adverse Reactions-Side Effects
Do not take if you have a bleeding disorder


Headache
Willow bark has been shown to relieve headaches. There is some evidence that it is less likely to cause gastrointestinal side effects than other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, do.

Low back pain
Willow bark appears to be effective for back pain. People who received higher doses of willow bark (240 mg salicin) had more significant pain relief than those who received low doses (120 mg salicin).

Hot Flashes and sweating

White willow is also useful for women as the herb helps in lowering night sweating and hot flashes through menopause period.

Dosage and Administration Adult

General dosing guidelines for willow bark are as follows:
  • Dried herb (used to make tea): boil 1 - 2 tsp of dried bark in 8 oz of water and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes; let steep for ½ hour; drink 3 - 4 cups daily.
  • Powdered herb or liquid: 60 - 240 mg of standardized salicin per day;
  • Tincture (1:5, 30% alcohol): 4 - 6 mL 3 times per day. 
Leaves
INFUSION - infusions prepared from white willow leaves can be consumed following meals with a view to cure digestive problems as well as enhance the digestive process.

Chase-away-your-pain aperitif

  • 3 cups (750 ml) Sweet white wine (Alsatian Muscat, Muscadet)
  • 3 T (50 g) Willow bark, dried and crushed
Macerate month. Strain. Drink 2 T (30 ml) during attacks.

Habitat and cultivation

Basically indigenous to European countries, white willow is now found abundantly in North America as well as in Asia.

The tree best thrives in humid areas like riverbanks and can be grown from partially matured cuttings during the summer or from hard wood cuttings during the winter.

 Normally, the white willow trees are often pollarded and the bark of the tree is shredded during spring from branches of trees that are two to five years old.





Sunday, July 20, 2014

Forest of Halkidiki Greece

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 211-365

I was visiting Greece and while in Thessaloniki we were invited by a group of young people to tste the products of the area cheese tomatoes to see what they will loose because of an Canadian company wants to destroy to find and extract Gold.


It was a cry for help from people of Greece, country that i fell in love with while visiting it, to stop the destruction of the land of Halkidiki.

I felt for the cause so I decided to write about this in my Blog.

The destruction of Halkidiki has begun.
 
Since mid -June 2012 the Canradian company Eldorado Gold together with the construction company Aktor  with the blessing of the Greek State started razing the ancient forest in Skouries to turn into a huge open - pit mine.

The pharaonic project will turn Halkidiki into a wasteland and drain every single drop of water.

Poverty is not having water to drink.
Wounds of the past means total destruction in the future.

The "investment" planned by Hellas Gold ( 95% owned by Canadian company Eldorado Gold and 5% by Aktor) is a barbaric intervention in a small densely populated region with a rich natural and cultural environment.

The Scale of future plans is massive 33 millions tons were excavated in the past 2500 years with the plans is to extract 380 millions tons in the next 25 years, until the last metal is removed from the ground.

All mining activities and installations are located on an active seismic faultline which has already caused earthquakes of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale.

The upcoming disaster is of biblical proportions. In addition to the existing underground metal mining activities the plan is to develop a series of new open pit mines as well as a metallurgy complex. The processing of raw ore to produce pure metals is the most polluting industrial activity in the world.

What the independent scientific institution say?

Forest
  • The region ancient fores will incur permanent and irreversible damage, destroying the landscape and its biodiversity.

Water:  
  • Draining of mountain aquifers will cause the water table to drop by 600m causing desertification. 
  • Surface and ground water will be contaminated with sulphuric acid, heavy metals as a result of mine drainage.
  • The intensity of dangerousness of floods will increase.
  • Deep mining in Olympiada will cause salinization of underground aquifer.
Soil
  • The pollution from heavy metals carried in water will contaminate the soil, flora, fauna and crops, even at a big distance from mining activities.
Atmosphere
  • The atmosphere will be contaminated with airborne particles and heavy metals in particular arsenic. 3116tons of dust per hour will be generated by Skouries mine alone. This toxic dust will travel over large distances, in a similar way to the sand dust from Sahara Desert.
Health,

Contamination of the environment and food chain with heavy metals ( lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, copper) will cause disease such as affection of the nervous system of children, anemia, kidney failure, gastroenteritis, nephritis, liver failure, hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice cancer

Conclusion

And all of this so few thousands of people maximum to make a profit. Is it worth it?
And you may ask why the health of the planet, the existence of the forest and people is less important that the profit of few?

  • It is possible that these massive environmental destructions to be made because some companies that make the fesability study spend the majority of money taken from investors for these studies and let the investor hope that in the future they will make money while in the end the environment suffer? For them ( the investors) they invest in Gold.
  •  It is also possible that because of the level of math education in Canada these studies to have massive math errors?
  •  It is also possible that the profit would not be there and the investors would loose all the money because their money were used for the fesability study and the result was not fully understood by investors?

Links

http://antigoldgr.org/en/tag/halkidiki/page/6/

http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/content/protesters-greece-clash-police-over-gold-mine-again