Technology

Sunday, 10 September 2017 05:41

Be The Transformer: Chip In To Save The Planet

Protecting and healing the planet is very important to me. I believe in climate change and I believe that we can reverse it. Lately, I haven’t felt like I’ve been doing enough activism to spread the word and inspire others to be eco-conscious. Perhaps that’s because it feels a little overwhelming and honestly even a bit more challenging than it used to feel. Sure, being vegan is one of the most Earth-friendly lifestyle choices, but there’s so much more we can do as individuals to make a difference. Can you relate to this at all? Is it just me, or does climate change feel confusing with all the conflicting information about what we should and shouldn’t do? 

One of the biggest issues is CO2 (carbon dioxide):

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is necessary for plants and trees to grow. Forests play a specific and important role in the global carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, storing carbon above and below the ground, and producing oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis (US Department of Agriculture Forest Service)

Through the many industries, especially transportation, we’re producing very high levels of emissions that have thrown off the balance in the atmosphere. Now our forests are close to CO2 neutral and trees are working overtime to remove CO2 from the air. Oxygen gets released back into the atmosphere and gives us clean air to breathe, while carbon gets stored in the trunk. That’s part of the reason going vegan makes a difference - this lifestyle and diet can reduce about 20 lbs of CO2 in the air every day (source: Cowspiracy). There are more solutions, and one of the latest and greatest is this new device called the OBRIST C-Transformer.  

The OBRIST C-Transformer is a machine that helps trees to pull CO2 from the air by taking char off their trucks and making the soil around them more fertile. Here’s how the company explains it, “before a tree dies and releases its carbon, which has been stored in its wood during its life span back into the atmosphere, the OBRIST C-Transformer will turn its trunk into biochar and introduce it into the forest's ground. In this manner, the carbon improves soil fertility and the release of carbon back into our atmosphere is prevented.” Through this process, the trees can do their jobs more effectively and new vegetation can grow in the extra fertile ground. This can revitalize the forests, make them healthier and biodiverse with mixed species, and reduce CO2 from the atmosphere. All this can be done with minimal human interference and allow the forests to become self-sustaining.

 

It’s a little nerdy, but this is exciting stuff for me (and the planet). 

So now we know the problem and a long-term solution. You’re probably wondering what you can do next. And that’s exactly why I’m writing this post. 

In order for the OBRIST C-Transformer to be implemented in forests, they need your support. They recently launched a campaign on Indiegogo in order to fund the next steps of their company. Up until now, they’ve been focused on gathering the scientific proof and developing the concept of the machine. Next, they need to get it into production (their goal is to complete this by 2025) and they expect this to cost upwards of a billion dollars. That’s why they’re crowdfunding - they could use some financial support while raising global awareness about the machine. You can help with a donation as small as $1 or $5, the latter of which includes a perk of planting a tree on your behalf. 

 

We can help the planet do it’s job faster and reverse the damage done by humankind to our atmosphere with the OBRIST C-Transformer. As they put it, “worldwide solutions need worldwide actions.” Please visit and share their Indiegogo campaign to help them take the next steps alongside Mother Nature: indiegogo.com/projects/obrist-c-transformer-nature

Want more details? Check out the OBRIST C-Transformer website, which has further information, explanations and videos from scientists and up to 100 answered questions: obrist-c-transformer.com/platform

 

Disclosure: I partnered with OBRIST C-Transformer to write this. My thoughts and opinions are my own, and I drew data from the company’s website and Indiegogo page. I’m passionate about the environment and I felt this was an important project to share with you. They compensated me financially to help spread the word, and I hope you enjoyed learning about them!

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 13:44

How To Use Your Mobile Phone For Good

Yesterday I reflected on the days before cell phones and wondered how I did without the GPS in my iPhone. Or the instant access to my email. And Facebook. Remember when you could only use those things on the computer? And how about when you needed a seperate device to take photos and videos - heck, there were years when the only camera I had was disposable! I sound a bit like an old lady right now... Of course now that most people have high tech mobile phones life seems so much easier and faster - it takes seconds to communicate with others from around the world. Sure, there are many times when these devices distract us from staying present and participating in the real, live world, but overall you can make quite an impact on your life and that of others.

We live in face paced world that is obsessed with technology. Most of us, in the US at least, are eager to get our hands on the latest and greatest gadgets, even if the model we currently own is in perfectly fine condition. Though I have the same compulsion, I work hard to restrain myself - example, I've been lusting after the iPhone 5 but my 4S serves me well (enough). As you'll see in this video, I waited through many generations of Apple mobile devices before I upgraded (and even felt a little guilty for buying a new one). So what did I do with my first generation iPhone and previous cell phones? I sold them through a recycling program - it was easy, I made a little money, and I felt great about doing so, and you can too.