Tuesday, January 02, 2007

world's tallest man saves dolphins

a bbc article, via things magazine:

The world's tallest man has saved two dolphins by using his long arms to reach into their stomachs and pull out dangerous plastic shards.
[...]
Mongolian herdsman Bao Xishun was called in after the dolphins swallowed plastic used around their pool at an aquarium in Fushun, north-east China.
[...]
Guinness World Records list Mr Bao, 54, as the world's tallest living man at 2.36m (7ft 8.95in).
[...]
The mammals had lost their appetite and were suffering depression, aquarium officials said.

norway offsetting green house gasses

via the bbc:

Norway has announced plans to offset the greenhouse gases produced by public employees when they fly abroad by buying emissions credits.
[...]
The estimated cost of the scheme would be around 2.5 million kroner ($400,000, £200,000) per year [ed: that's it?], according to the Norwegian news agency NTB
[...]
Although the announcement was received favourably by some businesses and environmental groups, at least one organisation reacted with scepticism.

Norway's Nature and Youth environmental group said: "The government should first reduce its ambitions for the oil and gas sector in Norway, which accounts for a third of emissions of greenhouse gases."

Norway is the world's third largest oil exporter and a major exporter of natural gas.