Carbon Trading In The New Markets

It's interesting to observe bankers and investors immerse into environmental revolution, as full scale carbon trading takes shape in the United States. Experts believe the volume of carbon trading in the new markets is projected to surge from the equivalent of $64bn last year to $3,000 in a decade, which is quite phenomenal. This will happen only when and if the US ratifies the Kyoto Agreement, and then it's business. In an attempt to make the world a better place, the key players will not only revolutionize the concept but also reap huge profits. Let's watch and wait to see if it actually works.

Useful links:
www.earth-policy.org
www.carbonexpo.com
www.climos.com
www.grestech.com

Burmese Gem Ban

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill to place a total embargo on the importation of gemstones (rubies, jades, etc) from Burma reaching the United States, that are mined there and subsequently passed through third-party countries such as Thailand, etc. Earlier the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill and sent to President Bush to be signed into law. If enacted, the legislation will have a large impact on imports of Burmese rubies, since more than 90 percent of the world's rubies originate in Burma.

Useful links:
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.house.gov

I think it will hurt small gemstone dealers in Burma and the gem and jewelry industry that processes the goods in Thailand, more than the Burmese government.

The Batman Character

I am a huge fan of comics. Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight @ http://www.history.com/shows.do?episodeId=322796&action=detail is a fascinating show. If you are a fan of comics, don't miss it.

Useful link:
www.history.com

FATF Update

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has developed a guidance document in close consultation with representatives of the dealers in precious metals and dealers in precious stones industries. Go to www.fatf-gafi.org for further information.

InnoCentive

I found the article on Innocentive, a company that links organizations (seekers) with problems (challenges) to people all over the world (solvers) who win cash prizes for resolving them @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/science/22inno.htmlpagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=df5efa6eea21c9b7&ex=1216958400 brilliant.

Useful link:
www.innocentive.com

Random Thoughts

You give all of your inspiration and everything you want to do to the dancers, and it’s up to them to make it work, actually. The choreographer really depends on the dancers in the end.

- Alexei Ratmansky, Choreographer

How true!

Marcel Tabuteau

Marcel Tabuteau: How Do You Expect to Play the Oboe If You Can't Peel a Mushroom? by Laila Storch tells a remarkable story in an engaging style.

Solar Power From Saharan Sun

Alok Jha's article on solar power from Saharan sun + the impact @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/23/solarpower.windpower was interesting. As Doug Parr (Greenpeace UK) rightly put it, if it's cost-effective, a largescale renewable energy grid is just the kind of innovation we need if we're going to beat climate change.

Useful links:
www.esof2008.org
http://ie.jrc.ec.europa.eu
www.greenpeace.org.uk
www.jrc.ec.europa.eu