EMISSIONS
Cement is a vary basic material with no obvious substitutes in terms of satisfying basic needs of housing and infrastructure all over the world. Building construction eats up concrete, and to make one tonne of cement, a key ingredient of concrete, 900kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released into the atmosphere. Production of cement causes twice as many carbon emissions as the world's airline industry currently does. Eighteen major cement manufacturers produce a combined one billion tonnes of cement a year, just under half the global output.
WASTE
The paperless office, predicted in an 1975 article called the Office of the Future, has proven to be greatly exaggerated. Although an estimated nine trillion pages a year are confined to computer screens, the number of printed pages stands at between 2.5 and 2.8 trillion pages worldwide, a figure that is expected to grow over the next 10 years. About one trillion of these sheets, churned out by office printers, are estimated to be thrown out within hours. Xerox found that office workers throw away 48 per cent of everything they print within a day."
RAIL
Canada's railways collectively operate one of the largest railway systems in the world and are fully integrated with the U.S. rail system. According to industry figures, Canada's freight railways handle more than 65 per cent of surface traffic, more than 4.3 million carloads of freight and containers annually. Passenger railways move over 60.6 million commuters annually. Overall, Canada's railways directly employ 34,500 people and contribute approximately $10-billion to the Canadian economy.
MAFIA
Revenue from organized crime amounts to an estimated US$127-billion annually in Italy, making it the largest segment of the economy. The figure, representing about 7 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, is made from illicit activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, loan sharking and prostitution."
TECHNOLOGY
When the northern pygmies of Congo-Brazzaville go into the forest these days, besides their traditional bows and arrows, they are carrying hand-held satellite tracking systems. They use the GPS handsets to pinpoint sacred sites and hunting areas. They are protecting their livelihoods and habitats against the chainsaws and bulldozers of commercial logging.
COAL
The coal that has powered China's economic growth is also choking its people. The country is home to 16 of the world's most polluted cities. Coal provides about 70 per cent of China's energy needs. The country consumed some 2.4 billion tons in 2006, more than the U.S., Japan and the United Kingdom combined. In 2000, China anticipated doubling its coal consumption by 2020. It is now expected to have done so by the end of 2007.
SUNSCREEN
New research shows that broccoli juice is better than conventional sunscreens when it comes to protecting against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. The extract reduced sunburn symptoms by up to 78 per cent.
Thank you for reading the A & A Economic News Digest. For more information visit our website www.aacb.com or contact A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. at strehler@aacb.com.
Past issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp
Cement is a vary basic material with no obvious substitutes in terms of satisfying basic needs of housing and infrastructure all over the world. Building construction eats up concrete, and to make one tonne of cement, a key ingredient of concrete, 900kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released into the atmosphere. Production of cement causes twice as many carbon emissions as the world's airline industry currently does. Eighteen major cement manufacturers produce a combined one billion tonnes of cement a year, just under half the global output.
WASTE
The paperless office, predicted in an 1975 article called the Office of the Future, has proven to be greatly exaggerated. Although an estimated nine trillion pages a year are confined to computer screens, the number of printed pages stands at between 2.5 and 2.8 trillion pages worldwide, a figure that is expected to grow over the next 10 years. About one trillion of these sheets, churned out by office printers, are estimated to be thrown out within hours. Xerox found that office workers throw away 48 per cent of everything they print within a day."
RAIL
Canada's railways collectively operate one of the largest railway systems in the world and are fully integrated with the U.S. rail system. According to industry figures, Canada's freight railways handle more than 65 per cent of surface traffic, more than 4.3 million carloads of freight and containers annually. Passenger railways move over 60.6 million commuters annually. Overall, Canada's railways directly employ 34,500 people and contribute approximately $10-billion to the Canadian economy.
MAFIA
Revenue from organized crime amounts to an estimated US$127-billion annually in Italy, making it the largest segment of the economy. The figure, representing about 7 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, is made from illicit activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, loan sharking and prostitution."
TECHNOLOGY
When the northern pygmies of Congo-Brazzaville go into the forest these days, besides their traditional bows and arrows, they are carrying hand-held satellite tracking systems. They use the GPS handsets to pinpoint sacred sites and hunting areas. They are protecting their livelihoods and habitats against the chainsaws and bulldozers of commercial logging.
COAL
The coal that has powered China's economic growth is also choking its people. The country is home to 16 of the world's most polluted cities. Coal provides about 70 per cent of China's energy needs. The country consumed some 2.4 billion tons in 2006, more than the U.S., Japan and the United Kingdom combined. In 2000, China anticipated doubling its coal consumption by 2020. It is now expected to have done so by the end of 2007.
SUNSCREEN
New research shows that broccoli juice is better than conventional sunscreens when it comes to protecting against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. The extract reduced sunburn symptoms by up to 78 per cent.
Thank you for reading the A & A Economic News Digest. For more information visit our website www.aacb.com or contact A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. at strehler@aacb.com.
Past issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp