Tip: Sleep very well to cure emotional pain (New Study: Overnight Therapy, REM sleep heals)

"MRI scans performed during REM sleep revealed that brain activity fell in the amygdala—the emotion-processing part of the brain—possibly allowing the more rational prefrontal cortex to soften the images' impact. (See an interactive brain map.) In addition, recordings of the subjects' electrical brain activity during sleep made with electroencephalograms showed a decrease in the levels of brain chemicals linked to stress. When people experience an emotional event, stress chemicals are released to flag and prioritize that event, essentially reminding the brain to work through it during sleep, according to Walker, whose study appeared November 23 in the journal Current Biology. "Somewhere between the initial event and the later point of recollecting, the brain has performed an elegant trick of divorcing emotions from memory, so it's no longer itself emotional," Walker said."

'via Blog this'Why Do We Dream? To Ease Painful Memories, Study Hints:

Alternative Energy: A new way of life and a new generation of wealth

"Because while natural gas will likely be our main source of power generation for decades to come, wind, solar, and geothermal will also be getting a bigger piece of that pie. And while we'll suck every last ounce of oil from anywhere we can economically produce it, we are actively developing alternative modes of transportation right now that will either require less oil or no oil at all. From natural gas trucks and buses to more efficient internal combustion engines to electric cars, this is happening right now. And this is our opportunity to make a choice...
Either embrace it and profit from it, or miscalculate the enormity of the change that is about to take place — much in the way the former Michigan Savings Bank president did when he insisted the automobile was nothing more than a novelty. When it comes to energy in the 21st century, the only novelty or fad is the outdated and delusional mentality that the world is not transitioning its energy economy to one that will rely less and less on finite resources." Jeff Siegel, Editor, Energy and Capital

'via Blog this'Alternative Energy Warnings:

United States: Agreed to take its emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020

"Added together, all of the nations' proposed cuts — if successful — would lead to about 5.8 degrees F (3.2 degrees C) warming by the year 2100, a significant distance from the target of 3.6 degree F, according to calculations by the independent science-based project Climate Action Tracker. These voluntary commitments to reduce emissions are a "very, very positive sign," said Niklas Höhne, director of energy and climate policy for the independent research and consulting company Ecofys, one of the organizations behind Climate Action Tracker."

'via Blog this'Durban climate change talks: Experts see warmer world as inevitable - CSMonitor.com:

Tip: Avoid Playing Violent Games. New Brain Study reveals Emotion decreases after playing

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists were able to document altered brain responses after video game play. What's more, some of those changes were still present a week later. "We found that functioning has been changed in the brain by violent video games," said Dr. Yang Wang, an assistant research professor in the department of radiology and imaging sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. "We found that activation [of an area of the brain that controls emotion] is decreased after playing violent video games.""

'via Blog this'Violent Video Games May Alter Brain Function: Study - US News and World Report:

China: Top Nation in Total Clean Energy Investments

"Third Way cites data from Ernst and Young showing for the first time, in 2010, China beat the United States in terms of its attractiveness for renewable energy investment, receiving 20% of total global clean energy investment in 2010, compared with the 19% drawn by the United States. Just 7 years ago China had only 3% of the total, while the United States drew 20% of investment. Furthermore, China attracted US$54.4bn in clean energy financing in 2010, a 39% increase over 2009 and equal to the entire amount of clean energy investment worldwide in 2004. Similar financing in the United States stagnated last year at US$34.4bn, approximately equal to 2007 levels.

Leading innovations. In the realm of innovation, China is expected to lead the world in overall number of patents filed in 2011, surpassing the United States and Japan for the first time. China ranks second in the estimated number of people engaged in scientific and engineering research and development."

'via Blog this'Renewable Energy Focus - China passes US in clean energy investment:

Climate change is "a matter of life and death", South African President Jacob Zuma

But, "Canada will not make further cuts in its greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, and may begin formally withdrawing next month. Though not a surprise, the news will anger poor countries that say the rich are reneging on pledges made 14 years ago when the protocol was signed. They see the protocol as the only way to make emission cuts legally binding. Also on the first day of the UN climate summit in South Africa, the UK was criticised over support for tar sands. In the main conference hall, delegates heard South African President Jacob Zuma call for meaningful progress. "For most people in the developing world and Africa, climate change is a matter of life and death," he said. "In these talks, states, parties will need to look beyond their national interests to find a global solution for the common good and benefit of all humanity.""

'via Blog this'BBC News - Climate summit sees Canadian strike on Kyoto treaty:

DURBAN CLIMATE CONFERENCE

• Summit will attempt to agree the roadmap for a future global deal on reducing carbon emissions
• Developing countries are insisting rich nations pledge further emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol
• Delegates also aim to finalise some deals struck at last year's summit
• These include speeding up the roll-out of clean technology to developing nations…
• … and a system for managing the Green Climate Fund, scheduled to gather and distribute billions of dollars per year to developing countries
• Progress may also be made on funding forest protection

Tip: Dealing w/ Loss & Grief: Awareness is important to make sure we're not stuck & we can process emotions & move forward

"The experience of losing something we value is a part of life no one can escape from. Loss has many shapes and forms, it could be a relationship that comes to an end, a loved one dies, a break up comes, children leave or any other sort of transition that brings about a feeling of loss. When a feeling of loss happens, learning to cope is essential to be able to bounce back. When we lose something, we go through a period of grieving process which can generally start with denial and then go to feelings of anger, sadness and then acceptance"

'via Blog this'Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD: 7 Steps for Dealing With Loss and Grief: