gair rhydd: Science & Environment

Love Wales, keep it tidy

As the June 23 approaches you will be unable to avoid the slogan of ‘Keep Wales Tidy’. Even in the first week of the new month ‘please show your love for Wales’ has infiltrated the multi media outlets of Cardiff. With television adverts, Internet sites and posted pamphlets, it is evident that a nationwide campaign has been launched by the organisation.

Why science doesn't sell

Archie Cochrane. Does that name mean anything to you? It should. His work, which largely took place in Cardiff where he was a Professor at the University of Wales School of Medicine, has probably saved more lives than that of any other doctor.

The Wind of Change

As the students of today and the leaders of tomorrow, we are saturated in the most environmentally conscious of eras. Living among the green discourse, everywhere we turn there is an advert, a product or an individual mentioning global warming, climate change and carbon foot prints, encouraging us to adapt our lives to the needs of the planet for future generations to come.

Devastation in Burma

On May 2, Burma was hit by a devastating cyclone, which has left the Irrawaddy Delta under water, destroyed Ragoon (the largest city) and left 22,000 dead and 41,000 missing.

Could mobile phones be worse than smoking?

As a nation we are bombarded with a plethora of modern gadgetry, most of which we do not totally understand the full capabilities of, but buy none the less for fear of being without the newest of new gadgets.

University Nobel Prize Winner

Sir Martin Evans won the most prestigious award in science, the Nobel Prize. He was awarded this for “a series of ground-breaking discoveries concerning embryonic stem cells and DNA recombination in mammals.”

How to defeat the hangover

As the end of the term approaches, the summer draws nearer and the evenings stay lighter for longer an increase in intoxicating nights can be expected. The season of the barbeque brings with it ‘Pimms O’Clock’ and the end of university means those celebratory shots. Enter the hangover.

Does Wembley have the power to turn fans green?

The typical student relishes in those moments where they are allowed to be ignorant and naïve. I mean, on a diet of Neighbours and How to Look Good Naked for current affairs, who needs to worry of the supposed wilting planet or those famished polar bears. Such topics can be expelled from thought and avoided among daily routine…or so you thought.

Introducing: Freeganism

Discuss this article [4]

Advertising is everywhere, we are constantly being encouraged to “buy buy buy”. We are instructed to discard our old goods and replace them with new ones. However, this can have a detrimental effect on the environment and the people in it. Masses of energy are consumed, and pollution emitted, by producing these goods. Freeganism is a movement trying to combat this system

God goes green

God goes Green…not with envy that David Beckham maybe overtaking as icon of all things good but with awareness for the environment. ‘Recycle or go to hell’ may be the next slogan used by County Councils, as ‘Thou shalt not pollute the Earth’ is now one of seven new sins.

Put your best foot forward...into cyberspace

You may think Goldie Lookin’ Chain, a bunch of local MPs and some environmental activists would make unlikely comrades; aside from sharing the concrete jungle of Newport as their home turf perhaps. But all are voicing their support for the Friends of the Earth Big Ask Climate Change Campaign.

Food for thought

I completely understand the irony of me, a first year student, writing an article on optimum nutrition for benefit of revision! I do not deny the fact that I, quite frankly, am sounding like my Mum.

Cardiff, look to and embrace the future

Scientists and engineers of all ages are soon to take part in the annual event that is National Science and Engineering Week.

The week, which was formerly known as National Science Week, began on Friday and ends on the 16th of this month.

Are these actions really plane stupid?

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Last week saw two demonstrations against the construction of the third runway at Heathrow airport.

Each was performed by separate activist groups; both of equal spectacle. Monday’s media was infiltrated by the images of four Greenpeace campaigners breaching security at Heathrow Airport by climbing on top of a British Airways aeroplane and branding it with the slogan ‘Climate Emergency – No Third Runway’.

Has non-organic food reached its sell-by date?

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Humans are designed to live for 120 years, but who knows anyone who has lived to that age? The justifications for this are multi-factorial. Medics suggest the main reason for this is an unhealthy lifestyle, with the lack of nutrition being a key component.

Council may hinder green efforts

So, here we are, a week on from the Students’ Union’s ‘Go Green’ campaign, those who got involved should still be basking in the ‘I took one for the planet’ lime-light; initiatives which were thrust into our student domain included a Cathays wide litter pick, increased recycling bins within University buildings, give-aways of ‘Go Green’ bags of goodness and the elusive bundles of green recycling bin-bags.

Gair Rhydd

Science & Environment