Impact of Climate Change

Each time a bigger storm like Cyclone Yasi unleashed itself the subject of climate change always came to mind. The caution of potential food shortage by World Bank president is no coincidence, they are inter related.

Scientists held the view that the world is now 2 deg. C (doesn't matter if some say 1 deg. C) warmer than pre-industrial days. There is also view of carbon discharge unlikely to contain at current levels. So projections are around what the world may be like with a 4 deg. C increase.

A video clip from National Geographic paints a possible scenario.



The "Green House" effect of global warming.















Energy stored in grounds and oceans when released back into atmosphere affects climate too.















Water stress to regions of human agriculture can be severely affected. Ever wonder impact to the habitats of the swiftlets feeding grounds?
















Civilizations collapse at 5 deg. C increase.



Mass extinctions at 6 deg. C increase



At individual level there seem very little we can do about climate change - a sense of helplessness. Least we can do is reducing individual carbon/energy footprint to minimum and raise awareness to people around us, especially to younger generation. For it is the world they will confront into the future.

Consolation for now is that the 4 deg. C projection is the year 2070! A worrying situation still. Of course there are some who claims this being alarmist. We may continue debate on this, will it lead to a better world without action?

I won't be around by then, meanwhile I do find meaning engaging an eco-lifestyle on my hobby farm activities.

Ever read how civilization on Easter Islands drove themselves to extinction by exhausting resources led to destruction of local ecology?

It is not dooms day, I have faith in human ingenuity to face this challenge too. Hot topic in Australian politics now is "Climate change & Carbon Tax", a step in right direction. The ensuing public awareness is heartening. Wish more countries in the world do the same.


In the Year 2525, "If man still alive". Ponder into the future with the lyrics of this 1968 hit.



So are we humans too smart for our own good?

Just as I finish revision to this post, results of robot marathon in Osaka hit the news. On a lighter note, if mankind drives ourselves to extinction eventually; perhaps these are the descendants that may continue life in our image :o)











LOL.. this is really funny!

Rising Food Prices reaching danger point!

Bangkok Post reported today on G20 meeting in Paris,
Quote
"World Bank president Robert Zoellick warned leaders of the top global economies Saturday that the world is reaching a danger point where soaring food prices threaten further political instability." Unquote

A rather alarming statement coming from the World Bank president on such an occasion. It reminds of global rice shortage in Mar to May of 2008, prompting some rice producing countries to restrict exports.











It gives a sense I am in the right direction with organic rice planting. Took a bit of convincing myself into this. After all, how much rice do I eat? Besides I am into a calorie restriction diet.

The primarily motivation comes from an eco-lifestyle rather than fear of food security actually. Also the self sufficiency idea advocated by H.M. The King of Thailand is appealing.

Coping with dry season

Only a few months ago, there were flooding all around. But little rains fell in catchment areas so it will limit reservoir water release during the dry season. Petchaburi is now among list of 15 provinces affected by drought.

Pond water level fell by 50cm last year through evaporation alone, below the water intake point. Though I won't run out of water, its management has to be improved.

Recently 6" PVC pipes were laid to interconnect the ponds and valves installed at inlets. Excavator was called in and I took opportunity to improve the landscape around.

To have municipal water to the farm, 800M length of pipes had to be laid. These were buried 50cm deep to avoid accidental damage by road traffic and occasional burning of bushes.

Laying the last stretch to the rest house. Finally I get running water there.













When you have a farm, improvements never seem to end!

Extending swiftlet feeding hours

Swiftlets are often seen feeding over the fields around the farm in evening hours. Many would continue to feed into fading light. I am doubtful if they could see the insects but could it be they are feeding like whale sharks? Simply feed with mouth wide open. Certainly there are plenty of insects around, seen through head lights whenever I leave after dark.

So I rethink the necessity of attracting insects into a feeding room during the night. Why not just extend their feeding time instead? Good that there is an unused pole to install some lights.



















See the wide open fields - a natural insects breeding ground. How can I do better?





An hour or so extension should be good enough. A timer will take care of that. Lamp replacement is not so easy though! Well, take it as it comes.

An organic rice field next

Made a call to a friend today who owns 6 rai (1 rai = 40m x 40m) of rice fields 850m from my farm. He has kindly granted permission to proceed with organic rice planting this coming season.

You can imagine my joy of breaking into new ground - something I never contemplate when starting off with vermi-composting! So I might as well let the cat out of the bag. The rice field plot is marked in RED.











The land is 40m wide by 240m long - mark by coconut tree at far end.









Of course, growing rice is beyond me. I would out source planting to a rice farmer and share the harvest.

Scaling up my vermi-compost nursery

My worm beds start up is doing fine for a while now. Started off with 5Kg of worms in aerated plastic containers, confidence has established to scale it to the next level.













The initial focus is to multiply the worm population. To accelerate the process, I've procured another 20Kg of worms - this is to buy time rather to rely on internal organic growth. A multi-tier worm bed was constructed to expand the nursery.













Meanwhile we are studying into mechanizing the vermi-cast production process by some level of automation. Plenty of scope for DIY activity again!

A bigger plan is the prime motivation behind. Let's see how it unfold over time.