Category Archives: Environment

Generational Dialogue on the Environment.

Because it is worth reading the History that follows and is a translation of the text in Greek.
The peers of the generation 1950-1960 they will definitely enjoy it!!!
Our history evolves in the superstore.
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Going to pay leaving the store, the young cashier indicated to the very old lady, how she had to bring her own shopping bags, because plastic bags are not good for the environment. The woman apologized to the girl and explained to her,
"Yes, we did not have this 'green' issue’ in my youth"… The young clerk answered,
"That is our problem today. Your own generation didn't care enough to save our environment for future generations." The old lady told her she was right –
"Yes, my generation didn't have that green thing’ in my time". Continue, to explain to her how it was then:
"Then, we were returning the glass milk bottles, of soft drinks and beer in the store. The store would send them back to the factory to be washed and sterilized and refilled, to be used again and again. So they were actually recycling them. But, we didn't have it green thing’ nowadays… The grocers used to put our groceries in brown paper bags that we used for many things. The most memorable – except for their use for household waste bags – was the use of brown paper for the cover of our school books. This ensured that public property (the books provided by the school for our use) they would not be disfigured by our smudges. So, we could give them our personal preference in appearance, onto the brown wrapping paper. What a pity, that we didn't green thing’ then. We walked up the stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery store. We didn't ride a motorcycle 300 of horses every time we needed to cross two blocks. But you're right… we didn't have it "green thing" nowadays… Then we wash the baby's diapers, since we didn't have the disposable kind to throw away. We used to dry the clothes on a stretched rope, not in a devouring tumble dryer 220 volts of electricity. Wind and solar power did dry our clothes back then, nowadays. The children had second-hand clothes, from their brothers or sisters, and not always new clothes. But yes, my girl, you're right – we didn't have it green thing’ in the old days. Back then we only had one TV or radio in the house – not one TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen, the size of a handkerchief (Do you remember them?
), and not a room-sized screen. In the kitchen we mixed and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do it all for us. When packing a fragile item to mail, we used old newspapers to protect it, and not synthetic Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Then, we didn't start an engine and burn gas to mow the lawn. We used a push mower that "burned" human energy. We used to work out, so we didn't have to go to a gym to run on electric treadmills. But you're right. We didn't have it green thing’ then. We drank from a tap or fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a glass or plastic bottle every time we drank water. We refilled the writing pens with ink, instead of buying a new one, and put a new razor in the shaver instead of throwing the whole thing away just because the razor blade wasn't cutting well anymore…. But we didn't have the 'green thing'’ then. Then, people took the tram or bus and children cycled to school – or they were walking – instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service with their SUV $45.000 or the family van – which cost as much as a whole house.... before the green thing.’ We had a socket in every room, and not a whole set of sockets to power twelve devices. And we didn't need a computer gadget to receive a signal broadcast by satellites 23.000 miles out in space, to find the nearest hamburger shop.

It's not pathetic, the present generation to lament how wasteful we old men were, just because – and well- we didn't have that green thing’ then; Please forward this message to another selfish old man who needs a lesson in maintenance from a young smartass. We don't like being old anyway, so we don't need much to get our blood fired up… especially from a multi-pierced and tattooed smartass, who doesn't know how much change to give, without the cash register recording it

Noise pollution is out of control in Greece

The whole of Europe suffers from noise pollution, but in Greece the decibels break every limit. Above 100 millions of Europeans suffer from harmful noise levels, according to a recent survey by the European Environment Agency. Noise pollution, according to the EEA, is considered one of the most fundamental environmental and health problems in Europe, with transport being the main culprit, mainly road transport. The noise from the streets bombards the hearing approx 100 million citizens in 33 countries of Europe (countries outside the EU also participate in the EEA.), with levels exceeding 55 decibels (dB) on the day and 50 dB at night. In fact, 32 millions of people are estimated to be exposed to very high levels of noise pollution, above the 65 dB, due to proximity to roads. Railroads and airplanes (around major airports) affect 19 and 4,1 million people respectively, while the noise from the factories reaches a million people.
Noise pollution from road transport is rated by the World Health Organization as the second most serious environmental stressor in Europe, after air pollution. Stress due to noise, during the day but also during the night and sleep (which is particularly aggravating), connected to overcurrent, sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, even with premature deaths.
For’ that in many European cities noise pollution is treated as a very serious problem and special measures are taken to limit it. From the special provision for low speeds within cities, sound barriers on highways and railway lines, when they pass close by residential areas, but also the reduction of speed limits in similar cases.

Cleaner air for Europe

According to the European Environment Agency approx 430.000 people die every year around the world due to the atmosphere polluted by industry and exhaust gas. Millions of people suffer from asthma and bronchitis, a fact that burdens health funds with billions of euros.
Specialists in environmental issues from 27 EU countries sought solutions last Friday in Brussels, in order to protect the health of citizens, and considered proposals that could lead to tackling air pollution. So they agreed on a draft 77 of pages that determines the permissible limit of pollutants with which they will burden the atmosphere 55.000 industries of Europe. These are primarily mercury emissions, suspended particles, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The draft also sets out which exemptions and which deadlines still apply in the EU.