Drought face-lift: California paints lawns green

Escondido: The heat is stifling, the soil dry as a bone, and a new law in drought-stricken California restricts sprinklers.

But far from saying farewell to their beloved lawn, some Californians are coping with the drought by... painting it green.

With a simple squeeze of a spray gun, dried-out yellow grass regains its lush green color before the eyes of its proud owners.

It is a kind of make-over which is becoming increasingly common among home-owners in California, which is now in the fourth year of a historic drought.

Paula Pearson, who lives in Escondido, just north of San Diego, is one of those who has turned off her sprinkler faucet. She took the plunge after governor Jerry Brown announced unprecedented water-saving measures in April.

Unsurprisingly, her lawn rapidly turned yellow. But she is determined to fight against nature.

"If I wanted yellow I`d throw rocks down there. Green grass is supposed to be green in my opinion," said Pearson, her eyes protected by shades from the dazzling midday sun.

"I love it! This is the color of my grass when I water it every day. I absolutely love it. I am thrilled," she told AFP.The first time she heard about the possibility of painting her lawn, she laughed -- before admitting, maybe it could be a good idea.

Neat houses with green front lawns are a traditional part of American culture and the landscape in suburbs across the country.

Taking care of your garden is a question of pride -- and can impact on home prices.

"We want to have a perfect lawn, it`s a reflection of you," said Jim Power, founder of Lawnlift, a company specialized in painting grass.

"It`s like if your car is dirty all the time, or your house is messy all the time, or if your lawn is overgrown or dead. It just shows that you don`t take care of things. People want it to look nice and it`s an instant fix to that problem."

California`s extreme drought also has made many homeowners swap their lush lawns for desert plants like cacti or agaves, which need hardly any water.

Some California cities have offered financial incentives, like Los Angeles with its "Cash for Grass" rebate scheme, which offers homeowners $1-2 for every square foot of grass replaced with water-efficient landscaping.

In San Francisco they have an "Ugliest Yard" contest, the winner of which gets a yard makeover featuring drought-tolerant and native plants.

But Power says classic lawn-based yards can survive the drought.

"We had similar drought conditions in the 1970s -- people ripped out their lawns and then lawns came back. So lawns are here to stay," he said.Wasting no time, a Lawnlift employee gets to work in Pearson`s yard by mixing up a potion of water and natural pigments which bring to mind cosmetics used by women every day.

Within minutes, the dessicated lawn is rejuvenated before its owner`s astonished eyes.

"I love it! This is the color of my grass when I water it every day. I absolutely love it. I am thrilled," she said.

The product is non-toxic, lasts for 12 weeks and is water-resistant -- even if the lack of rain is the main threat to California`s gardens.

Power acknowledges that his company is cashing in on the drought, in particular over the last 12 months.

"Sales from last March to this March have easily doubled and in fact we are 150 percent higher than last year and we attribute most of that to the drought," he said.

California is not the only market for his products: he also sells in Canada, and a few weeks ago made a $15,000 sale to Algeria.

"Most people that buy the product are looking for an instant cosmetic fix to their lawn problem. They don`t want to look at a dead lawn every time they leave the house and come back to the house.

"They want to look at a green lawn," he said.

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Indian-American boy wins 'Young Scientist' award at Intel International Science Fair

Pittsburgh: An 18-year-old Indian-American boy has been awarded the prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award in the US for inventing a device that can quickly shut down undersea oil spills.

Karan Jerath of Friendswood, Texas, claimed USD 50,000 top prize on Friday at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (IISEF).

He was also one of the five students selected for the Intel and Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Visit to India Award.

Jerath won the prize for designing a sturdy device that can collect the oil, gas and water spewing from a broken well on the seafloor.

According to Jerath, “sensors inside the 350-ton device would measure the temperature, pressure and density of the mix of gases and fluids erupting from a well.”

“A computer would then calculate how valves in the gadget should be adjusted so that the gas and oil can be collected. That should stop a spill in its tracks.The device could help prevent an ecological catastrophe. It also would reduce cleanup costs,” Jerath said.

He shared the top position with two other teen researchers.

One developed a technique to more quickly diagnose infections by HIV. The other used sophisticated software to improve the flow of air inside aircraft cabins that could reduce the transmission of disease among passengers.

Maya Ajmera, who heads the Society for Science and the Public that conducts the IISEF, congratulated the winners and said, “These talented young students are the problem solvers and innovators of their generation.”

Apart from Jerath, many Indian-American students won awards in various categories, five of them getting the first award in their specialisations, biochemistry, behavioural sciences, environmental engineering, mathematics and energy physics.

This year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair featured approximately 1,700 young scientists selected from 422 affiliate fairs in more than 75 countries, regions and territories.

The Intel ISEF awards are based on students’ abilities to tackle challenging scientific questions, use authentic research practices, and create solutions for the problems of tomorrow.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Task force to study growing habitat of Asiatic lions in Guj

Ahmedabad: Gujarat government has decided to form a high-level task force to study the growing habitat of Asiatic lions, after the latest census revealed that their population has increased outside the protected area of Gir National Park and Sanctuary.

The forest department will form the task force to analyse the census data in the wake of growing lion population outside Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, the sole home of the Asiatic lions, officials said.

The aim of the task force will be to prepare a report about growing habitat of lions outside the sanctuary and suggest measures to reduce man-animal conflicts, they said.

"We will chalk out a plan based on the census data, which suggests increase in habitat area of lions. I have asked the officials to form a task force comprising 4-5 senior officials to suggest corrective measures on how to reduce threat on lions and decrease man-animal conflicts," Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) in state forest and environment department P K Taneja said.

As per the 14th lion census, the results of which were revealed on May 10 this year, the lion population has gone up to 523, which was 411 in the 2010 census.

While the Gir sanctuary is spread across 1,412 sq kms, the census report of 2015 suggests that the habitat area of the lions has increased to around 22,000 sq kms, which is almost double than 2010.

Out of total 523 lions spotted during this census, 268 were registered in Junagadh district, 44 in adjoining Gir-Somnath district, 174 in Amreli and 37 in Bhavnagar.

When asked if the state government was considering to extend the sanctuary limits or form a new sanctuary where lion habitat is found, Taneja said the committee will also look into these aspects. He also pointed out the need for re-deployment of forest staff to keep a check on lion movement outside the sanctuary.

"The task force will also suggest us all necessary steps to be taken for re-deployment of forest staff in areas outside the sanctuary. Before taking any decision on forming a new sanctuary, we need to analyse several aspects about the availability of herbivores as well as quality of forests," Taneja said.

Officials also admitted that lion population has significantly increased outside the sanctuary, particularly in Amreli district, where the number of the big cats has gone up from 108 in 2010 to 174 in 2015.

"Amreli as well as Bhavnagar are showing significant presence of lions. To avoid chances of man-animal conflict, we are now establishing regular communication with locals and farmers. We are also providing training to social forestry staff to handle the situation," Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) C N Pandey said.

"We have also launched an Asiatic Lion Landscape Scheme last year to handle lion population outside the sanctuary. Our main aim is to improve the habitat of lions in those areas and take measures for better conflict management," Pandey added.

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Alipore Zoo has its first animal dietitian

Kolkata: Alipore Zoo, the country's oldest formally stated zoological park, is for the first time availing the services of a dietitian for its animals.

The zoo, which has 1400 animals, reptiles and birds as its inhabitants, was till now dependent on veterinary physicians to check the quality and quantity of food provided to them.

"This is an unique initiative. Since January-February this year we have appointed a dietitian. He is presently looking into the diet of the animals," Alipore Zoo director Kanailal Ghosh said.

The dietitian, he said, looks after the quantity, tests the quality, checks the nutrient value of the food given to the animals, besides changing the menu according to the season.

"Earlier veterinary doctors and the zoo staff looked after the animal diet. But now the dietitian does the job although we provide best quality foods to the animals," Ghosh told PTI.

The dietitian's job, much like one for people, starts early in the morning after the food for the animal starts arriving in the zoo kitchen. The dietitian works in close coordination with the veterinary doctors working in the zoo.

"We have been working on this idea for quite some time. Especially in summer, food is an important element in keeping the animals cool and saving then from the hot and humid weather," he said.

The dietitian is on a year's contract, Ghosh said adding the zoo has also appointed a sanitary supervisor to keep the cages and moats of the animals and birds clean.

"Most of the time we receive complaints that the cages are in very poor condition. It is untidy, irrespective of the efforts by the zoo staff to keep it clean. Now with the appointment of the sanitary supervisor for the animals, the cages and the places where animals are kept will be more neat and clean," Ghosh said.

The zoo, which opened in 1876 and covers 19 hectares, has among other animals nine tigers and four lions and a rare species of Aldabra giant tortoise. It is also home to a large number of winter migratory birds and regularly receives hundreds of visitors. 

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German intelligence halts internet surveillance for NSA – reports

The German secret service BND has pulled the plug on the internet surveillance program for the US National Security Agency (NSA) amid the growing scandal over its extent of cooperation in spying on its EU partners, German media reported.

The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) – the German Federal Intelligence Service – stopped sharing internet surveillance data with the NSA on Monday, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, public broadcasters NDR and WDR, and national news agency DPA reported.
Berlin has demanded that the US spy agency first file an official request explaining the need for the internet-based data from Germany’s Bad Aibling listening post in Bavaria, where 120 BND employees and some NSA technicians work, according to reports.
The NSA has reportedly refused to comply with the request due to short notice. Washington has not yet commented on the issue.
READ MORE: BND helped NSA spy on EU politicians & companies ‘against German interests’
However, the BND will continue to garner telephone calls and fax messages for Washington as this service falls under a different agreement.
German media reported on Thursday that the Chancellery made the decision to limit cooperation with the NSA in order to reshape future relations with the agency.
The request comes amid an investigation into recent revelations that suggested the BND had been spying on European politicians and enterprises for Washington for over a decade.
READ MORE: German opposition demands probe into BND/NSA surveillance & industrial espionage
Konstantin von Notz, an opposition Green party member on the investigation committee, confirmed the significant curtailment of cooperation in an interview to ARD television, saying “This is a drastic step.”
"I think they've pulled the emergency brake because, even in 2015, they still can't control the search terms for Internet traffic."
He also accused the German government of failing to “protect German and European interests."
On Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel, who heads the foreign intelligence agency, tried to defend its spying activities saying that she will fully cooperate with a parliamentary investigation and provide “all the details” necessary.
She added that it was imperative both agencies continue cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, but reiterated that it’s unacceptable to spy on friendly nations.
READ MORE: German govt accused of lying to parliament about NSA spying
Members of Merkel’s cabinet have been testifying before the parliamentary investigation committee over allegations that the BND acted against national interests. Among the latest was the testimony of current Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, who oversaw the foreign agency’s activities from 2005 to 2009 when he was the chancellor's chief of staff.
After a closed testimony on Wednesday, De Maiziere told reporters that he knew nothing of the "search terms from the US side, selectors or similar, for the purpose of economic espionage in Germany."
In April, Der Spiegel reported that the NSA had sent the BND thousands of so-called ‘selectors’, which included IP addresses, emails, and phone numbers, over the course of 10 years. The BND downloaded the NSA selectors into their monitoring system and used them to spy on targets, among which were European politicians, including French authorities, and European companies such as European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), Eurocopter, and the European aviation consortium Airbus.

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Your own 3D-printable Snowden bust! Artists upload instructions online

Collectors of action figures, rejoice – for the more politically-inclined out there, an 8-inch, 3D-printable version of the famed 4-foot tall, illegal Edward Snowden bust has now been made available online, to spread the word about surveillance.

The creators of Snowden’s likeness have uploaded the 3D-printable file online on to Thingiverse – the world’s leading source for such work. This happened shortly after the NYPD finally agreed to release the original bust back to the artists – they erected the 4-foot likeness of the NSA whistleblower illegally last month, leading to its removal from its resting place at Brooklyn park.

“We thought, ‘Let’s put the data out there, and find a way for it to proliferate to anyone who wants it,'”

Andrew Tider, one of the creators, told Wired. Now, anyone can download, print and make their own Snowden head – even go crazy with the colors, as the sky’s the limit with 3D printing.

Tider had opted to remain anonymous initially, but was then outed by the police, along with fellow artist Jeff Greenspan, when called to pick up the statue from police custody last week. They each had to pay a $50 fine for entering the park after hours and erecting the bust, which has now achieved worldwide renown and will be featured at a Brooklyn art show.

“We’ve heard from people that they want one for their lawn or to put in their home … so we’re letting the world do whatever it wants to do with this,”

Tider added.

The artists said they’re not out to encourage illicit behavior, but Greenspan admitted he’d be excited to see replicas or variations on the theme appear in places around the United States, or worldwide.

“It would be great if people put these in public spaces and Instagrammed them, or put photos on Twitter and Facebook to project them around the world,”

Greenspan said. “Anywhere it can get people thinking about surveillance, your rights and liberties, it would be wonderful.”

But the mission is more serious than that: the pair figure if they can get people talking about surveillance, that’s their work done. Even more importantly, the very idea that it is Snowden up there – and not, say, Beethoven – is tied to the notion that anyone can be made into a statue and canonized; it just depends on how willing you are to go with an official line on things.

“We accept sometimes without thinking that if there’s a bronze statue of some person, they must be good,”

Greenspan says. “We wanted to raise this question, whether the people you’ve been told are heroes are heroes or whether your enemies are really enemies … How your ideas are being massaged and manipulated.”

And the idea has supporters: just hours after police had toppled the original Snowden likeness, a visual art collective projected a hologram of the bust along with Snowden’s name on the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in protest.

Tider and Greenspan initially created a high-resolution model of the original bust for future reference. Then sculptor Doyle Tankina set about making a clay version, scanned with a handheld scanner before being made into a cast. The whole thing was then cast in fiberglass and concrete, before being covered in bronze and set on a pedestal at Fort Greene Park.

It looks like the pair’s enthusiasm is paying off – the model for 3D-printing is receiving wide acclaim, and many artists are coming up with their own versions; one was recently erected in Berlin, together with statues of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning, while a 9-foot version has been making the rounds in New York.

On Thursday, volunteers moved the original statue to The Boiler, an art gallery, where it will be exhibited as a “special guest project”

in an annual collaborative exhibition called SEVEN. This year’s theme is: “Anonymity, no longer an option.” The show will begin on Friday. It features seven galleries from New York and London, with each presenting work by one artist.

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