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Snow Lizard is a design consultancy that creates a variety of client based products which are thoroughly researched and defined prior to our designers touching a sketch pad. This time around, the company, which operates from located in Park City Utah and Miami Beach Florida, has made it to the top list by making something extremely innovative. The company recently showcased their Aqua Tek S case, made exclusively for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Significant about the product is that the case features solar powered arrays that are used to boost battery power and provides the device with so much of ruggedness.

Though this case will add a substantial bit of bulk to the thin, sleek, and lovely iPhone, users will find it worth the extras. This case will come in signal orange, black night, and urban camo, and will collect sunlight through its back panel to power the iPhone inside.

Owners will be able to access the touchscreen, volume buttons, speakers, and camera with the case fully enclosed. The case will allow the user to drop the phone down a hill if he do so accidentally and it is waterproof up to 20 feet below the surface as well. It is made of tough poly-carbonate with rubber grips to keep it secure in the owner’s hand and in his pocket.

Andreas Haase, the developer behind this tech-gadget accessory was quoted as saying that the iPhone, being a fragile smartphone, made the company to think twice before approving designs for the accessories.

The Aqua Tek S will certainly prove to be a boon to iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S users, as the scare of their mobile getting broken will be completely eliminated with this case.

The company launched the case in a gamut of colors, including black night, urban camo and signal orange. The cases in some other colors, viz. reggae camo, navy camo, desert camo, jungle camo, pink camo and Leopard, are already on the cards.

VW has announced that its next generation Golf Plug-in Hybrid will get a release date for 2015. Though it would take 3 more years, the prototype plug-in hybrid will be based on the currently available Golf and not the next-generation vehicle.

Combining a 1.4 liter twin-charger Stratification Injection (TSI) engine with an 80 kilowatt electric motor, the VW Golf Plug-in Hybrid will be built upon the MQB platform which VW unveiled earlier this month.

Part of the credit for its impressive fuel economy lies in the TSI engine, which can run on just one or two cylinders when power demands are low, allowing the VW Golf Plug-in Hybrid to run on a low-power mode if most of the power needs are met by its electric motor.

The new MQB platform will also allow designers to mount the battery and electric motor in a way that doesn’t encroach on passenger or luggage space. The motor is so powerful; the engine is barely used on high-speed roads.

Designed to accommodate both a large battery pack and an electric motor without compromising in-car space, the new platform will form the basis of plug-in and non-plug-in VW Golf VII models and associated cars like the Audi A3.

VW says the Golf will have an electric-only range of around 30 miles and should be able to return 141mpg with overall CO2 emissions as low as 46g/km. At the heart of this will be an eight-inch touch screen display which VW has likened to Apple’s iPad.

According to VW, it expects the 2015 Golf VII Plug-in Hybrid to cost around the same as the new VW Golf GTi. The plug-in hybrid Golf concept is scheduled to be shown at the 2012 Paris Motor Show this September.

Though the Ford Focus Electric made it to top news in the automotive world during the past few weeks, folks only at the coasts can afford one right now. Money does matter, but it is not the main factor. It is availability that matters. Ford Global Electric Vehicle Infrastructure associate director Mike Tinskey has said that the car won’t be available to otherUSmarkets until September.

This new Ford EV is a modified 2009 ICE Focus platform called the Focus RV. Specifications of this Ford EV are similar to other EVs in this small sedan class.

A 105 kW electric motor will propel the car to 85 mph (137 kph) top speed with an average 100 mile (160 km) range. The Li-Ion battery pack holds 23 kWh.

The specs look good, and the Focus comes standard with: 10-speaker Sony stereo, backup camera, MyFord Touch navigation,  8-inch touch-screen display, rear parking sensor, passive entry system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, recycled materials interior, and push-button start.

Another aspect that makes the Focus Electric stand out as an EV is its fast charging capability that allows the car for a full charge in less than four hours with a 240-volt charging station. Ford also partnered with Best Buy to offer a special charging station, including installation.

Taking it one step further, Ford and Microsoft also worked to develop a value charging system that automatically charges the car during off-peak hours, thus guaranteeing the cheapest possible rates for the electricity used to charge the car. This helps reduce strain on the grid and save Focus Electric owners money.

Switzerland is investing 10 million Swiss francs (about $10.8 million) into the production of a new breed of satellites dedicated to the collection and destruction of orbital debris that includes junk of wastes left behind by previous artificial satellites as well as space probes. The project will be completing its initial in 3 to 5 years from now.

The idea is to stem the tide of debris that is littering space around the Earth. Researchers at the Swiss Space Center at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne have been working on the necessary technology for 3 years, says Swiss Space Center Director Volker Gass.

Space junk is an increasing problem for space agencies. It ranges in size from entire satellites that are uncontrolled to rocket stages or fragments from collisions.

NASA tracks some 16,000 objects larger than 10 cm, but there are many more fragments smaller than this. Despite the objects’ small size, their velocity gives them the ability to do a lot of damage. Clean Space One is designed to take down larger pieces of junk.

The semiautomatic probe will need a sophisticated guidance and control system to insert itself into the right orbit to reach a target moving at 28,000 km/h. Cameras will be used to optically identify the target satellite and ion micro-thrusters will ease the probe right up to it.

The Swiss researchers are investigating biologically inspired gripping mechanisms to snag the target, such as one that has tentacles like a sea anemone.

Once captured, the combined object will have a new center of gravity and may be spinning in an uncontrolled way. The probe has to stabilize the trajectory and then guide itself onto a curve toward the atmosphere.

Being stuck in the wilderness along with your devices that are going to fail because there is just no way to charge them back up is a common camper nightmare. But to save the day, BioLite is here with their new intelli-stove.

The campstove features a thermoelectric system that will transform part of the heat of the fire into electrical energy by moving the internal fan. There are no batteries or other fuels required.

You can charge any USB device, from smartphones to LED lights. The overall device is quite small and packs away easily. BioLite develops and manufactures advanced energy products that make cooking with wood as clean safe and easy as modern fuels while also providing electricity to charge cell phones and LED lights off-grid.
BioLite brings in a strong sense of responsibility not just to develop products that work well but also to create businesses that make a positive contribution to the global community.

This product is great for camping, and a wonderful tool for emergencies.  If you lose power or access to cooking fuel, a handful of sticks can cook you a meal while you charge your mobile phone.

The stove also comes with its own stuff pack and measures in at 8 x 5 inches when packed away. It’s also very portable as the whole thing weighs in at only 2lbs. Priced at $129, the sales will start just before the coming Spring season. Ah, that’s actually the most suitable time for starting a camping trip.

Toyota is getting ready to pump up the production units so as to meet the demand their Prius C has amassed in Japan during the past few weeks. Toyota has reported that they have received 120,000 orders in Japan for their new compact hybrid sedan – 10 times more than the 12,000 they were targeting per month. The smaller compact hybrid, produced by Toyota subsidiary Kanto Auto Works Ltd in the northern prefecture of Iwate, could see a boost in production from 240,000 a year to 320,000 a year.

Currently a customer who orders the Aqua Hybrid in Japan will have to wait until at least July to get their vehicle, causing us to wonder how this will affect American availability.Toyota has already started selling the Toyota Prius V in the US, and it’s also very popular.

This leads us to wonder how the Prius Plug-in Hybrid will do when it’s released later this year. Currently, there aren’t any other plug-in hybrids on the road except the Chevy Volt which has had trouble getting a significant number of sales.

Toyota’s new Prius C is the smallest, least expensive and most fuel-efficient member of the Prius family. Intended as a gateway car to attract younger buyers to the Prius nameplate as well as theToyotabrand, the Prius c offers an impressive 53 mpg in the city along with a slightly sportier feel than other cars of the same segment.

The Prius C features Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drivewith a 1.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder, 16–valve with VVT-i gasoline engine with a high-output motor.

The hybrid system includes a new inverter, motor and battery. The hybrid powertrain weighs around 88 lb (40 kg) less than that the standard Prius Lift-back.

We have seen a series of leaked design photos of this future baby and this time the stuff is real. Patent office design illustrations of the Infiniti Emerg-E have leaked officially. The images tend to offer an initial glimpse at the Emerge-E’s styling, although certain elements -  such as the squashed C-pillar, flat front-end and subtly different rear end –  suggest the concept has taken on some changes since these new renderings were created.

Nissan’s luxury arm has yet to reveal any of the fine details on the car, although it has confirmed that the concept will focus on electric power, and it will be known as the Emerg-E.

While the new concept might draw some inspiration from the Essence, Infiniti says it will utilize a new platform unique to the Emerg-E. Power will be delivered by an electric motor and petrol range-extender engine will utilize technology that’s new to the brand.

Similar in concept to GM’s Chevrolet/Holden Volt, the Emerg-E will be propelled by its powerful electric motor exclusively, with the petrol engine kicking in only to recharge the batteries when needed.

Following in the performance image of the M Hybrid, Infiniti promises that the Emerg-E’s mid-mounted electric power-train will return “vivid performance” and “optimal handling”.

Of course, the performance is just part of the Emerg-E’s purpose, with the sports car also capable of zero-emissions motoring. Although the EMERG-E was not specifically named on these leaked design patents, the car’s overall look matches the teaser image released by Infiniti earlier this month.

Following a series of innovations, BRD has finally announced that the 2013 RedShift MX electric motocrosser will be unveiled at the 2012 Powersports Dealer Expo inIndianapolis, February 17-19. The RedShift MX shares the 40hp, 5.2kWh drivetrain and monocoque aluminum chassis with the RedShift SM that was unveiled inSan Franciscoin August of 2011.

At 250lbs in a full size race-ready chassis, the RedShift line is the most power- and energy-dense electric motorcycle planned for production.

BRD differs from most electric offerings to date in that the RedShift is designed to be directly competitive with the best and fastest gas-powered equivalents. RedShift’s proprietary chassis is based on standard MX dimensions and angles.

A monocoque design allows the batteries and motor to be stressed members while locating them ideally for weight distribution and packaging.

The MX bike will be available in street-legal form and weigh 250 pounds. Setting it up for off-road use drops it to 240. The SM is a street-legal super-moto. The idea, apparently, is to give riders a familiar package even if it does plug into an electrical outlet.

BRD claims the electric drivetrain delivers “more control, feedback, and confidence” compared to internal combustion. As for range, 5.2 kilowatt-hours is typically good for 50ish miles of commute-style riding, but BRD sees its bikes being ridden a little harder.

BRD is currently taking deposits via their website on their limited 2013 production of only 1,000 units. We here have a video that shows the capability of these bikes both power-wise as well as design-wise.

The era of the EV is fast approaching and every car maker wants to enter the segment with all their might. With the news from Mitsubishi that their battery electric Outlander crossover will be released by March of 2013, it is sure that, they also want to participate in the competition.

Details on specifications or price haven’t been confirmed yet, but the intention of the Japanese automaker is evident from the fact that Mitsubishi’s battery-electric crossover marks its continued efforts to cut its fleets’ carbon footprint by way of broader electrification.

Currently, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is amassing huge appreciation from its owners due to the enhanced features it offers along with decent mileage.

The new crossover SUV, seating up to five people, has been engineered to enhance fuel mileage. The MIVEC engine provides the driver with two options for powering the Outlander, electric battery or fuel powered.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport provides many features to enhance the vehicle’s ability to navigate in any weather condition, as well as the comfort and functionality of the vehicle and its operation.

Mitsubishi lays claim to their Outlander being the first ’Crossover’ in the market 11 years ago. The new version of the Mitsubishi Outlander, previewed as the PX-MiEV II Concept, has been revealed ahead of its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Toyota has released a teaser image of their FT-Bh concept, ahead of its world debut at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show set for March. The concept, which will go by the name FT-Bh, is a preview of a production-destined model.

Wearing the familiar ‘FT’ prefix carried by more than a few ofToyota’s concepts, the new car will be dubbed FT-Bh – pointing to the car’s B-segment city-car size, and a hybrid power-train.

The FT-Bh concept isToyota’s vision of a full hybrid city car study, lightweight with high fuel efficiency and low emissions.Toyotaengineers have ensured that the concept uses existing technology and there are no expensive materials or complex manufacturing processes involved in its production.

The hybrid system is expected to be the only power-train option for the production version of the FT-Bh, setting it apart from the petrol-powered Up! and the planned e-Up! electric vehicle.

The automaker says the city car has been designed to achieve low emissions within an economically viable production framework, which means that it is most certainly already cued for production.

Numerous other concept cars will be on display at theToyotabooth, including the NS4 and FCV-R Concepts. Accompanying these two will beToyota’s Diji concept that provides the owner a look at the future of car-driver interaction and personalization.

And, let’s not forget the European premiere of the Toyota GT 86 sports car. No other details have been released yet, though the first press day takes place on March 6 at the revealing ceremony.

Canned is now banned. Bottled water sales will be prohibited in Grand CanyonNational Parkfrom the first of March. Plastic littering has been a major problem at the Canyon and the ban comes as a measure to mitigate the crisis once and for all.

The National Park Service announced that it has approved a plan to eliminate the sale of the bottles within 30 days. They make up about 20 percent of the park’s waste and 30 percent of recyclables.

Visitors can fill up reusable containers at water stations, though the ban doesn’t keep them from bringing disposable bottles into the park.

TheGrand Canyonhas installed 10 water filling stations on the South Rim and three on the North Rim, and some of the park’s concessionaires have installed similar facilities at hotels or restaurants.

The new policy applies only to bottled water. Retail outlets within the park can still sell soda and juice in plastic bottles, and visitors can still bring plastic bottles into the park.

The new restrictions follow the example ofUtah’sZionNational Park, which launched a similar program in 2008, andHawaiiVolcanoesNational Park, which offers water stations and encourages visitors to bring their own bottles or buy a stainless steel re-usable bottle at theKilaueaVisitorsCenter.

What do you think about the new measure?

IKEA’s Solvinden (sol=sun and vinden=wind) line of products has added a few lamps and now the product line is starting to amass popularity from all over the world. IKEA’s new Solvinden lamps run on batteries that are charged from the sun or wind. The lamp shades are mini-wind turbines that, when spinning, power a mini-generator for battery charging.

The tops of the lamps have tiny solar panels that also offer green charging goodness. Simplicity and enhanced efficiency are the most intriguing attributes Solvinden products are offering the users.

With the latest lamps of this product line giving out 20,000 hours of uninterrupted brightness, it surely kicks away the negative feelings one has towards low life of LED lightings.

Moreover, they are cable-free that make them an ideal solution for outdoor lighting and guaranteeing that the lamps will generate all of their own power.

In a recent video uploaded by NOTCOT, product developer Philip Holm can be seen illustrating the working of these lamps. Watch him explain how they can change our lives in a positive manner.

Designer Omer Sagiv’s futuristic Solar Powered Vehicle (SPV) is absolutely a mind blowing concept that can give its users an ideal ride across deserts and open lands. The SPV almost resembles Nuon solar car, developed sometime ago by Delft University.

The shaft in the centre of the SPV functions as an inbuilt cooling system, integrated in its form. The aerodynamic form allows it to collect energy through a long drive in the desert (or any sunny environment).

Hence not only that it is powered by solar power, this car can also recharge your home power, with the extra energy collected using its solar panels.

Made out of an aluminum structure with flexible thin-film modules fixed on to it, the solar powered vehicle is sleek as well as futuristic.

The SPV comes with not only a solar option to charge. There is also an option to charge the electric car from home power outlets. Extra energy can be collected from sunlight on the move.

The SPV sports an attractive look  and, of course, thanks to its aluminum body, it is glossier. Sagiv has surfaced this solar powered vehicle design as an eco friendly option for riding.

In the future, manufactures might bring it into reality, and we guess the construction of the vehicle may not be much expensive.

With the base model priced at just below the $19K limit, Toyota has fulfilled the word it gave to the people all over the world. It has been quite a saga for Toyota to launch a smaller but worthier product, Prius C, under the Prius line of cars and with efficient mileage. The Prius C is, for sure, going to be a blast.

While nowhere near as cool as the Prius C concept from last year’sDetroitshow, the production C isn’t half bad-looking. The hatchback has clean styling punctuated by interesting details like the tall vertical taillights, and its aggressive grille treatment manages to avoid the fish face that characterizes the outlook other Priuses.

With a 100.4-inch wheelbase and overall length of 157.3 inches, a width of 66.7, and a height of 56.9, the Prius C is just a few inches longer thanToyota’s own Yaris.

Powering the Prius C is a downsized version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drivesystem: a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor paired with a CVT. The gas engine produces 73 hp and the electric motor 60; total system output is 99 hp.

If you would remember, the bigger Prius and Prius V both use a 98-hp, 1.8-liter four and an 80-hp electric motor, with total output of 134 hp. Energy storage is handled by nickel-metal hydride battery pack.

Electric-only range is less than a mile at speeds up to 25 mph. There’s also an Eco mode that controls throttle response and climate-control functionality to maximize efficiency. Finally, there’s a Normal mode that’s, well, normal.

Toyotaclaims the C will get a city rating of 53 mpg, beating any non-plug-in hybrid currently available and a 46-mpg figure on the highway.

The city number is 2 mpg higher than that of the standard Prius, though the highway efficiency is 2 mpg lower; both cars share a 50-mpg combined rating.

Toyota claims the C tips the scales at a feathery (for a hybrid) 2500 pounds, roughly 500 pounds less than a normal-size 2012 Prius.

It looks like Nissan wants to change customers’ perspective regarding small cars.  They are planning to do that with their newest B segment car that they call Invitation. The Invitation is a concept set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The show will preview the upcoming subcompact from the automaker packed with cutting edge technology to assist in both avoiding accidents and mitigating their effects.

Nissan says the production Invitation hatchback will be sold alongside the Micra city car and the Juke crossover. Many publications are speculating that the production version of the Invitation will replace the Nissan Note, which is due for replacement as the first generation has been around since 2004.

On the exterior, you can see that the car is designed with a great deal of attention given to details. Well sculpted front and rear wings and distinct character lines on its sides are note worthy.

Internally too, the Invitation offers practical and modern luxury features that ensures both comfort and space to occupants. Speaking of the apt name given to the concept, Francois Bancon, Deputy General Manager, Product Strategy and Product Planning Division said that the car is designed in such a way that it is an open invitation to buyers who will find it difficult to resist its class leading efficiency, performance, agility and economy.

Using a combination of cameras and radar, Safety Shield monitors the area around the car and can intervene in several ways if a threat is detected. Details exactly what systems will be featured on the Invitation are yet to be revealed, but other versions of Safety Sheild are able to automatically brake the car if an obstacle appears in front of it, override the accelerator if it is determined that there is a pedal misapplication in progress, and actively steer the car away from vehicles in its blind spot if the driver attempts to change lanes. In the event of a collision, the car can autonomously contact emergency services.

In New York City, there took place a Cleanweb Hackathon on January 25th. The event saw over a 100 environment-conscious app developers taking part. It was a competition conducted to show how IT can help people and businesses minimize their energy use and carbon impact. A hackathon, to be more precise, is an event where programmers meet to do collaborative computer programming. The spirit of a hackathon is to collaboratively build programs and applications.

Hackathons are typically between several days and a week in length. A hackathon refers not simply to one time hacks, but to a specific time when many people come together to hack on what they want to, how they want to with little to no restrictions on direction or goal of the programming.

The New York cleanweb hackathon organizers, who include Sunil, Blake Burris of Dynamo Labs, Micah Kotch from NYC ACRE, Nicholas Eisenberger of Pure Energy Partners, Matt Solt of Civvic, and a number of others, put on a great show and took a big step forward in evangelizing the cleanweb movement.

Judging by the turnout, “cleanweb”, the increasingly popular term for applying IT solutions to global resource constraint problems, was a hit amongst the East Coast digerati.

The apps developed by teams there, touched on everything from streamlining the solar business model to identifying municipal buildings inNew Yorkthat most badly need an energy efficiency upgrade.

The overall winner, as determined both by the judges and other participants, was an application called Econofy that helps online shoppers find the most efficient appliances.

The web app pulls data from EnergyStar ratings and popular products on Amazon to show consumers how much they would save by purchasing a more efficient model and the purchase price.

In the process, the developers hope to create more competition among manufacturers to make efficient air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions, and the like.

A look at racing history would reveal that Audi has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a total of ten times since 2000 and is, as a result, the most successful brand in the recent history of the race. Audi competes in the 80th running of the 24 Hours ofLe Manson June 16 and 17, 2012 with a total of four LMP1 sports cars.

Two of the four cars in action will be equipped with hybrid drive for the first time. Audi Sport Team Joest also follows this two-pronged approach in the newly created FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) during the 2012 season.

At the 80th running of the French endurance classic, Audi competes with the start numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 where the first two will be the hybrid drives.

As stipulated by the regulations, one driver per car is now nominated. Those drivers are Andre Lotterer, Allan McNish, Timo Bernhard and Oliver Jarvis.

The new Audi sports prototype with hybrid drive will be presented at the end of February.

The first competitive showcase follows in the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps on May 5. For the World Championship opener at Sebring on March 17 Audi Sport Team Joest relies on the Audi R18 TDI that proved victorious at Le Mans last year.

We’ve been bombarded over the past few years with news about the dangers of BPA (Bisphenol-A), a suspected toxic chemical in many plastics.

Almost every plastic item these days has a label declaring it to be BPA-free and all healthy and good for the environment – as good as plastic can be, I suppose.

But many of us were surprised by the news a couple years back that cash register receipts had even more BPA than many plastic bottles and the like. It never gained as much traction, I suppose, because receipts aren’t as sexy to write about as baby bottles.

So the New York Times re-discovered the study in the fall, and a new round of examination began.

No surprise that Lemon, a startup that helps you organize your receipts online, came out with this infographic on the issues of BPA in paper receipts, but it does break down the data nicely and offer some suggestions on how to handle receipts.

For example – did you know that alcohol-based cleaners speed up absorption of BPA on your skin? So those hand sanitizers are no good to help you out. I’m not sure who gives receipts to their children to play with, but I suppose it’s a good reminder not to do that, either.

According to a previous story we did on the study, BPA is used in cash register receipts because it acts as a color developer in carbonless copy paper, as well as in thermal paper.

Anyhow, you can see a previous story we did on the study, back in 2010, and then this infographic from Lemon for the skinny on BPA in paper receipts:

A bill sponsored by Senator Stewart Greenleaf was passed by Pennsylvania Senate and it would allow the operation of low speed electric vehicles on certain roadways there. A low speed electric vehicle, also referred to as Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), is defined by the National Highway Safety Administration as any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour.

Regulations for operating an NEV vary with each  state. The Federal government allows state and local governments to add additional safety requirements beyond those of Title 49 Part 571.500.

For instance, the State ofNew Yorkrequires additional safety equipment to include windshield wipers, window defroster, speedometer, odometer and a back-up light.

Generally, they must be titled and registered, and the driver must be licensed. Because airbags are not required theNEVcannot normally travel on highways or freeways. NEVs in many states are restricted to roads with a speed limit of 35 mph (56 km/h) or less.

The bill also gives local municipalities the authority to prohibit the operation of these vehicles on any roadway under their jurisdiction if they determine it is in the interest of safety. As per the bill, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles are considered motor vehicles and must comply with the rules of the road and safety provisions.

These electric vehicles would be equipped with federal safety requirements such as headlights, turn signals, windshields, and seat belts. Golf carts are not included in this legislation because their top speed does not exceed 20 mph.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles also cannot be homemade vehicles or modified golf carts. These vehicles are currently street legal in 46 states. The average Neighborhood Electric Vehicle can be plugged into a standard, 110-volt outlet and become fully charged in eight hours. Price ranges between $7,000 and $9,000, with a fully charged battery lasting about 40 miles.

Plastic pollution is becoming a huge problem in the world’s oceans. As per the Ocean Conservancy’s 2008 International Coastal Cleanup, a total of 11,439,086 items of debris were collected worldwide. Microplastics used as exfoliators in many facial cleansers are thought to pose a high risk to the marine environment.

Their tiny size means they pass through wastewater treatment facilities and end up in the ocean. They are ingested by plankton and then passed up the food chain and eventually end up in higher organisms such as marine mammals – especially the whales. Their persistence in the environment means they could have a marked effect on marine life in the future.

We are now seeing more animals washing up on our beaches with their stomachs full of plastic. When they swallow so much plastic debris, indigestion happens and therefore death occurs. An estimated 100,000 whales, dolphin, turtles and seals die each year from the consumption of plastics.

It is probably a common concept that marine debris consists of just a few pieces of rubbish scattered along the strand line of beaches and is of no harm to anyone. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Marine debris has become a pervasive pollution problem affecting all of the world’s oceans. It is known to be the cause of injuries and deaths of numerous marine animals and birds, either because they become entangled in it or they mistake it for prey and eat it.

Plastic and synthetic materials are the most common types of marine debris and cause the most problems for marine animals and birds. At least 267 different species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris including seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales and fish.

Though whales are massive, they are the species nearest to extinction and there should be actions taken by authorities to seal this slaughtering at the earliest. What do you have to say about this?