GreenHouse Effect & its Benefits

Greenhouse Effect

There are two meanings of the term "greenhouse effect". There is a "natural" greenhouse effect that keeps the Earth's climate warm and habitable. There is also the "man-made" greenhouse effect, which is the enhancement of Earth's natural greenhouse effect by the addition of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels (mainly petroleum, coal, and natural gas).

 In order to understand how the greenhouse effect operates, we need to first understand "infrared radiation". Greenhouse gases trap some of the infrared radiation that escapes from the Earth, making the Earth warmer that it would otherwise be. You can think of greenhouse gases as sort of a "blanket" for infrared radiation-- it keeps the lower layers of the atmosphere warmer, and the upper layers colder, than if the greenhouse gases were not there.

 About 80-90% of the Earth's natural greenhouse effect is due to water vapor, a strong greenhouse gas. The remainder is due to carbon dioxide, methane, and a few other minor gases.

 It is the carbon dioxide concentration that is increasing, due to the burning of fossil fuels (as well as from some rainforest burning). This is the man-made portion of the greenhouse effect, and it is believed by many scientists to be responsible for the global warming of the last 150 years.

Benefits of Greenhouse effect

The presence of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere produces the greenhouse effect, which keeps the atmosphere warm. The warm atmosphere is very essential for the survival of life on Earth in the following ways:

• Precipitation of water, formation of clouds, and rainfall etc. life in the biosphere depend on these resources.

• The warm atmosphere helps in the growth of vegetation and forest etc. These are sources of food, shelter etc.

• This effect helps in rapid bio-degradation of dead plants and animals.

These are the benefits of the greenhouse effect.

 It is becoming apparent that the world may not be able to survive without fossil fuels. This means that we must develop renewable sources of energy which are environmentally sustainable. Fortunately, we already possess the technology at hand to provide clean and reliable sources of energy for meeting human needs. Renewable systems include solar photo voltaic power systems, solar hot water systems, wind turbines, bio-fuel plantations, hydroelectric systems and so on. These energy sources are sustainable because they never 'run out'. 

Most importantly, many renewable energy sources, such as wind power and solar thermal, are already cheaper than conventional fuels, even though the price of fossil fuels and nuclear power does not reflect their full environmental and economic costs.

Industrial sector in Pakistan

Industry of Pakistan

Pakistan ranks forty-first in the world and fifty-fifth worldwide in factory output.

Pakistan's industrial sector accounts for about 24% of GDP. Cotton textile production and apparel manufacturing are Pakistan's largest industries, accounting for about 66% of the merchandise exports and almost 40% of the employed labor force. Cotton and cotton-based products account for 61% of export earnings of Pakistan. The consumption of cotton increased by 5.7% over the past five years while the economic growth rate was 7%. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) predicts that by 2010 the spinning capacity is expected to increase to 15 million spindles and textile exports hit 15.5$ billion. Other major industries include cement, fertilizer, edible oil, sugar, steel, tobacco, chemicals, machinery and food processing.

The government is privatizing large-scale parastatal units, and the public sector accounts for a shrinking proportion of industrial output, while growth in overall industrial output (including the private sector) has accelerated. Government policies aim to diversify the country's industrial base and bolster export industries.

Manufacturing

In FY 2002-03, real growth in manufacturing was 7.7%. In the twelve months ending 30 June 2004, large-scale manufacturing grew by more than 18% compared to the previous twelve-month period. The textile and garment industry's share in the economy along with its contribution to exports, employment, foreign-exchange earnings, investment and value added make it Pakistan’s single largest manufacturing sector. The industry comprises 453 textile mills: 50 integrated units; and 403 spinning units, with 9.33 million spindles and 148,000 rotors, the capacity utilization was 83% for spindles and 47% for rotors during 2003.

Pakistan has ten fertilizer plants, six state-owned and four private, with a total annual production capacity of 4.65 million tons. Production in 2000/01 was 3.66 million tons, up 10.5% from 1999/00. There are 21 cement plants, four state-owned and 17 private, with an annual production capacity of 19.2 million tons. Production in 1999/00 was 9.9 million tons, up 4% from 1999/98. Pakistan's chemical industry produces a number of basic chemicals used in its other industries, including soda ash, caustic soda and sulfuric acid. Industrial output from other major industries also includes refined sugar, vegetable ghee, urea, rubber tubes, electric motors, electrical consumer products (light bulbs, air conditioners, fans refrigerators, freezers, TV sets, radios, and sewing machines), and pharmaceuticals

Fossil Fuels & their Importance

Fossil Fuel

Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years. The fossil fuels, which contain high percentages of carbon, include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Fossil fuels range from volatile materials with low carbon:hydrogen ratios like methane, to liquid petroleum to nonvolatile materials composed of almost pure carbon, like anthracite coal. Methane can be found in hydrocarbon fields, alone, associated with oil, or in the form of methane clathrates. It is generally accepted that they formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over millions of years. It was estimated by the Energy Information Administration that in 2007 primary sources of energy consisted of petroleum 36.0%, coal 27.4%, natural gas 23.0%, amounting to an 86.4% share for fossil fuels in primary energy consumption in the world. Non-fossil sources in 2006 included hydroelectric 6.3%, nuclear 8.5%, and others (geothermal, solar, tide, wind, wood, waste) amounting to 0.9 percent.  World energy consumption was growing about 2.3% per year.

Importance of Fossil Fuel

Fossil fuels are of great importance because they can be burned (oxidized to carbon dioxide and water), producing significant amounts of energy per unit weight. The use of coal as a fuel predates recorded history. Coal was used to run furnaces for the melting of metal ore. Semi-solid hydrocarbons from seeps were also burned in ancient times, but these materials were mostly used for waterproofing and embalming.[8]Commercial exploitation of petroleum, largely as a replacement for oils from animal sources (notably whale oil), for use in oil lamps began in the 19th century. Natural gas, once flared-off as an unneeded byproduct of petroleum production, is now considered a very valuable resource.

Advantages of Fossil Fuels

·         A major advantage of fossil fuels is their capacity to generate huge amounts of electricity in just a single location. 

·         Fossil fuels are very easy to find. 

·         When coal is used in power plants, they are very cost effective. Coal is also in abundant supply. 

·         Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be made through the use of pipes making it an easy task. 

·         Power plants that utilize gas are very efficient. 

·         Power stations that make use of fossil fuel can be constructed in almost any location. This is possible as long as large quantities of fuel can be easily brought to the power plants.  

Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels

·         Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. This is because they give off carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a greenhouse effect. This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth today. 

·         Coal also produces carbon dioxide when burned compared to burning oil or gas. Additionally, it gives off sulphur dioxide, a kind of gas that creates acid rain. 

Use of natural gas can cause unpleasant odors and some problems especially with transportation. 

Court releases terror kingpin, alleged killer of 70

LAHORE:  Fida Hussain Ghalvi is scared. Twelve members of his family were killed in cold blood in 1997 and the alleged killer, Malik Ishaq, has been released on bail from Kot Lakhpat jail by the Supreme Court Lahore registry on Thursday.

Ishaq, however, is no ordinary killer. He is one of the founders of the dreaded terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), key suspect in the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009 and 43 other cases in which 70 people have been killed.

He was granted bail by the apex court after the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the case of attack on Sri Lankan cricket team.

Ishaq was acquitted in 34 out of 44 cases while in the remaining 10, including the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team, he had already been granted bail, official documents revealed.

A terrorist who was supposed to be punished severely was bailed out and millions of other prisoners who are not even guilty but still capt imprisoned because they don’t have the “Upper Hand” like he does. He is not released yet but the sign of bailing him out shows that he may get released soon. The government must take notice of it because this man has big hand in ruining Pakistan cricket & image of Pakistan as well.

Pakistan-China Relations

Pakistan has a long and symbiotic relationship with China. The long-standing ties between the two countries have been mutually supportive. A close identity of views and mutuality of interest remain the hallmark of bilateral ties. Since the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Pakistan has supported China on most issues of importance to the latter, especially those related to the question of China's sovereignty like Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Tibet and other sensitive issues such as human rights.

The Chinese leadership has acknowledged Pakistan's steadfast support on key issues. Pakistan aided China in reestablishing formal ties with the West, where they helped make possible the 1972 Nixon visit to China. Pakistan has collaborated with China in extensive military and economic projects, seeing China as a counterweight to India and the United States. Pakistan has also served as a conduit for China's influence in the Muslim world.

China also has a consistent record of supporting Pakistan in regional issues. During the Pakistan-Indian tensions in 2008, it indicated that it would support Pakistan. Pakistan's military depends heavily on Chinese armaments, and joint projects of both economic and militaristic importance are ongoing. China has supplied equipment to support Pakistan's nuclear program, and has been accused of giving nuclear technology to Pakistan.

Economic trade between Pakistan and China is at an all time high, and free trade zones have recently been established. In October 2009, Pakistan and China agreed to 'propel' trade between the two countries, where a Five Year Development program on increased economic trade was signed. China also agreed to further develop and boost Pakistan’s Mineral and Energy sector as well as broaden financial and banking sector cooperation.

Pak-China friendship is time -tested and progressing by leaps and bounds. The exemplary friendship between the two countries is higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the ocean. We all are proud of the friendship with China and it is in the heart of every individual no matter what government comes or goes. In this materialistic age, friendships are based on this new trend, but Pakistan’s friendship with China is above all such interests and the time has proved that the two countries enjoy commendable relations with each other. A close neighbor can be more helpful than a relative living far away. China and Pakistan are close neighboring countries linked with common rivers and mountains. The friendship between the two peoples is of long standing and has become even stronger as time goes by. We have been sympathizing with, understanding, supporting each other in international affairs and in the cause of national construction.

Deforestation in Pakistan

Importance of Forests

Forest has been of great importance to mankind since prehistoric days. 60% of the earth once covered with forest. With the development of civilization, large areas have been cleared to make way for farms, mines, towns and roads. Today about 30% of earth is still forested.
The economic value of forests, supply many products like wood from trees as lumber, plywood and fuel wood or charcoal. Timber is used in furniture making, building houses, ships and railway sleepers. Pulp and paper are made from the cellulose of trees. Processed wood products include cellophane, plastics, synthetic fibers like rayon and nylon. Latex from trees such as the rubber tree goes to make tyre, tunes and a wide range of rubber goods.
Forests help to conserve soil by preventing rapid runoff of water after heavy rain and minimizing flooding. Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into air, which is a great benefit to mankind.
Forests influence local and global climate. The forest is also vital as a watershed. Because of the thick humus layer, loose soil, and soil-retaining powers of the trees' long roots, forests are vitally important for preserving adequate water supplies. 

Pakistan has highest deforestation rate in Asia

Pakistan has only 2.5 percent of forest cover with an alarming rate of deforestation. The annual rate of deforestation in Pakistan is -2.1 percent, no Asian country has a forest degradation rate higher than this. The largest conversions of forest land have taken place in Punjab and Sindh, corresponding to 99,711 acres and 27,874 acres respectively and this is distressing as the government continues with deforestation.