Freecycle Means Free Stuff and a Cleaner EnvironmentWritten by Joe Hickman, HaLife.com
Over one million members in almost 3,000 communities worldwide are sharing their unwanted stuff.All getting and giving is possible through an organization called Freecycle, a grassroots movement of people who give away things for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator. All of trading is done online. Membership is free. Freecycle is open to individuals and non-profit organizations. The Freecycle Network was started in 2003 in Tucson, Arizona, to promote waste reduction and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. In just two years idea has spread worldwide. The process is quite simple. Go to www.freecycle.org and find a group near you. (If there's not one close, consider starting one yourself.) Then when you want to find a new home for something, just send an e-mail offering it to members of your Freecycle group. Some groups have restrictions on what you can and cannot post, but most limitations are simply that item needs to be completely free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. What you offer doesn't matter: computer parts, couch, clothing, an old window, broken car, perfume, whatever. If you have it and don't want it, someone else probably can put it to good use. If something is posted that you're interested in obtaining, simply respond to member's offer. The giver decides who receives gift and sets up a pickup time for passing on treasure. Sometimes it's as simple as "I'll leave it on front porch of 123 Main St., come by anytime."
| | Cormorant Overabundance in WisconsinWritten by Kevin Doberstein
Article intro: In 1970’s, Cormorant was nearly wiped out from existence when its habitat was loaded with toxic chemicals. With very little control with use of toxic chemicals in that decade. The wildlife environment was being contaminated. The bald eagle was also nearly wiped out from eating contaminated food (fish) during this period. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as resource box is included. A notice, courtesy copy of newsletter or URL emailed to natureboy_bodybuilding@hotmail.com is appreciated. Nothing can be changed in article. All links must live and working that is in article. Cormorant Overabundance in Wisconsin by Kevin Doberstein Copyright Protected 2005 What is a Cormorant? The double-crested cormorant is just a bit more than two feet long on average with a wingspan of about four feet. Its color is dark brown to black feathers and has a long hooked bill. The males and females look quite similar. They are a migrating traveler from Alaskan coast to Mexico. It loves to eat fish. It tends to live in a freshwater habitat. In 1970’s, it was nearly wiped out from existence when its habitat was loaded with toxic chemicals. With very little control with use of toxic chemicals in that decade. The wildlife environment was being contaminated. The bald eagle was also nearly wiped out from eating contaminated food (fish) during this period. Finally people started to realize fact that dumping these chemicals in mother earth was not a good idea. Now we have to work to clean father sky from acid rain. Rebounding Cormorant. In early 1970’s, there were about 130 remaining. Since then cormorant population exploded to nearly 40,000 pairs! With huge increase of cormorant, fishing sportsmen are saying they are excessively eating game fish in Green Bay, Wisconsin area waters. Particularly Yellow Perch. Environmentalists claim that invasive zebra muzzles and white perch are also taking a toll on Yellow Perch. Also increase of game fish like walleye is consuming their share. Because cormorant are protected by Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal permit had to be obtained in 2004 to try to control birds in Green Bay area waters. A total of 436 cormorants were killed in 2004. They all had fish in them from eating according to officials. (What were they expecting from a fish eating bird, apples or oranges?)
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