Giant Black Dog as Big as a Horse

This ‘doggy’ has really friendly face but It’s size is terrifying. Yet, his owner doesn’t have a problem with that. They look like they have great and sincere friendship.

The "Bone Yard" Near Davis Monthan Air Force Base

Plastic Bag Pollution

Deforestation

Stop Deforestation

ecologia tala de arboles

Giant Turtle Airships are the Way of the Future

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A turtle shaped airship is perhaps the last thing you might expect to see floating through the sky, but this eco-friendly craft might just be key to the next generation of humanitarian relief.
Powered by solar panels during the day and bio-diesel at night, the airship is an intriguing concept. It cruises at speeds comparable to some airplanes and can take off and land straight up and down like a helicopter. It can even to take on water ballast and act like a boat, enabling it to land just about anywhere - deserts, mountain lakes, swamps or the middle of the ocean - and the first prototype will make its maiden flight in 2009.
The plan is to use the airships to carry humanitarian relief to disaster victims around the world, where they can function as flying hospitals complete with emergency surgery rooms and medical equipment. The craft can also carry large amounts of supplies such as food, water purification systems and medicine, as well as doctors, nurses and search and rescue personnel. There's more in the press release about the company's investment plans ($200 million by 2012) and expected initial public offering ($3 billion in 2015), including dashed plans for deployment by the US Department of Defense as military transport.
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Image by Flickr user teamdarfur
And even though it might look like something out of Star Wars, if it works I don't think the people of impoverished regions all over the world will be complaining too much.

7 Unique Airport Hotels

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Even if the planet was disintegrating around us people would still use air travel to get around the globe, whether they’re wannabe tree-huggers or global warming naysayers. For all its faults environmentally, flying remains the quickest way to travel, and in some parts of the world is the only option to cover long distances where public transport is practically non-existent. So, instead of telling people to stay at home – which they won’t – it’s better to provide greener travel options so they can do their bit for the environment should they want to. This means staying in smaller hotels, where there’s often a slant towards the personal touch, or large hotels that have worked hard to incorporate environmental practices.
And because so many long-distance flights entail a stopover, it seems only right to take a look at the flurry of airport hotels catering to the weary traveler. Here are our top seven of hip airport hotels from around the globe:

CitizenM, Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam

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Located right next to Schiphol Airport, CitizenM – short for citizen mobile – oozes cool. Offering affordable but beautifully kitted out rooms, the hotel has a luxurious boutique feel without if affecting the bank balance too much. Each room is ergonomically designed, every inch of space is used without it seeming too claustrophobic. Both the shower and toilet are in the room but hidden within tube shaped privacy screen reminiscent of the beam-me-up-Scotty times. There’s also a plasma screen TV at the foot of the bed and Wifi is available for those who want to hole themselves away, though the ethos of this hotel is to come down to the lounge and meet other travelers. Doubles start at €73 for room only.
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Photo: Images and Sources 1, 2, 3, 4

Yotel, Gatwick Airport, London

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It’s a well known fact that space is precious in London, and those who know how use every teeny, weeny orifice they can find, so it’s no surprise to see a hotel for hobbitses in the metropolitan area. Inspired by British Airways’ first-class suites and the boxy Japanese pod hotels, Yotel Gatwick is the brainchild of Simon Woordroffe, founder of the Japanese fast-food sushi chain YoSushi, and unlike many of the does-what-it-says-on-the-tin Asian sleep pods, Yotel is a designers dream. Designed by exclusive company Conran & Partners, the rooms are small but perfectly functional with a shower room and toilet, though claustrophobia sufferers may want to opt for the premium cabin where there’s slightly more room – well, you can at least get the cat in there, not sure about the swinging of it though. Premium cabins cost from £40 for four hours; standard cabins cost from £25 for four hours, extra hours are charged from £6.50 per hour thereafter. There is also a Yotel Heathrow, London and Yotel Schiphol, Amsterdam.
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Aloft Hotel, Denver International Airport, Colorado

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Taking North America by storm, Aloft are a new breed of budget luxury hotels from Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The high-design/low-cost brand of hotels offer a new, contemporary take on the average airport hotel. Swathed in vibrant colors throughout, Aloft hotels veer away from the usual corporate beige coloring of so many other airport hotels, making a stay there seem not so banal. With a nod to the sleek, clean designs of northern Europe, or as one reviewer put it: “If Ikea opened a hotel, this is what it would look like”, Aloft manage to bring airport hotels into the 21st century, without the tantrums. Check out the interactive menu in the lobby restaurant or have a relaxing game of pool in the lounge before bedding down for the night. Doubles from $189, room only. A number of hotels are dotted across North America with one also in Beijing.
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Plush Hotel, Bristol Airport, England

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Although not in the airport grounds, Plush Hotel is the best place to stay if you want to escape the impersonal chain hotels that surround Bristol airport, and it’s very, very sexy. Nestled in the Somerset countryside, just over a mile from the airport, Plush is a small, independently-run boutique hotel that’s built up a loyal fan-base of customers over the years. Each room is luxuriously and uniquely decorated and offers guests the chance to unwind in the most beautiful setting overlooking the Mendip Hills. Prices vary according to which room is preferred and whether airport parking is included. A seven day airport package, which includes one night’s stay and seven days parking in the hotel’s exclusive airport car park, costs £129 ($182) per room.
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Jumbo Jet Hostel, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Sweden

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The first jumbo jet hostel opened its doors (or should that be gangway) just over a year ago to much acclaim. Created from the remains of an abandoned Boeing 747, the plane hotel is proving to be a big hit among travelers. It was 37-year-old businessman Oscar Dios that first thought of bringing the metal giant back to life, and he hasn’t looked back since. Able to cater for up to 72 people at any one time, the 25-room jumbo hostel offers a much more comfy sleep than is usual on a flight, albeit still in a small area. It might be the most comfortable night’s sleep you’ll ever have on a plane! And if you’re worried about it being hijacked and taking off in the middle of the night, the jumbo is securely fastened to the ground with concrete and steel fixtures. Prices start at 350 SEK ($43) for a dorm bed, with breakfast included.
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Vila Aeroport Hotel, Tirana Airport, Albania

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Here's another plane hotel, well, half a plane. There’s not much information available about it but of what we can find it looks set to join the cool ranks of airport hotels. Located in Tirana, Albania, the hotel is on the road to the north of the airport, next to an existing hotel that is reported to be more Dallas than Dracula. This new quirky pit stop was set to open in late 2008, so if you’re heading that way, take some pics and tell us more. No prices as yet.
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Aviator, Farnborough, Hampshire UK

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Possibly one of the most luxurious airport hotels available, the Aviator serves those who use the adjoining private aviation grounds at Farnborough airport, so it’s only frequented by those who have enough cash to splash. Rooms have been given the once over by interior designer Amanda Rosa, who has tried to get away from the usual airport hotel décor by sassing it up a little, although there’s still a touch too much beige and brown to give it the gold standard. And if you’re bored with the bland color palette there’s a Bose sound system and huge flat screen TV to keep you occupied. Doubles start from £95 for room only.
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Electricity Pylons Inspired by Nature

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All images via: Dezeen
Surely everyone agrees. Electricity pylons or transmission towers are terribly unsightly constructions at the best of times. Maybe the Australians say it best, calling them Iron Men, but that gives each cloned metallic colossus a rather too human aspect. All the same, architects Arphenotype are looking to change such preconceptions with their newly born design for a power transmission network in Iceland.
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What do you think? With their sci-fi styling, these conceptual pylons do look easier on the eye than your average steel lattice monstrosity, although it could just be lack of familiarity that inspires this attraction. Those graceful, curved lines definitely have a freshness and imagination about them though. Could this be love at first sight?
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Standing at between 17 and 32 metres tall, the height of each tower would vary according to its individual latitude and longitude. Arphenotype compare the concept to adaptability in nature, waxing lyrical about "evolution through phenotypes" and how the pylons are intended to be adaptable to specific landscapes in different locations:

"Architectural form and its relationship to nature, environment and society has rich antecedents to the human body. The idea is that the power net is building one main spine of nowadays society which enables living on a high standard in an age of communication; therefore the spines of the power net reflects an organic language."

Say what? It’s got to do with offering an organic kind of design, although perhaps more specific information is needed on how exactly it relates to the human body – and not one of the aliens from Starship Troopers. Simpler terms might be nice too; all this highfalutin language may not be the best way to win new fans.
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In terms of construction, the design is based on a tripod shape, which again is linked to an effort to integrate the structures with the surrounding topography. The pylons are to form a continuous gradient, and each one will be blessed with a unique quality – though how this will work when it comes to replacing parts remains to be seen.
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Taking fibrous systems in – where else? – biology as inspiration, Arphenotype propose that an “aramid-fibre-matrix bounded with eco resin” be used as the main material for their pylons. Not sure exactly what this is, but it isn't steel, and apparently it's to be coated in a reflective colour that "will be cleaned through natural weather conditions and will reflect the nature itself.” Charming.
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Less superficial observers – those less smitten with the physical aesthetics of these things – might raise doubts about the practicality of pylons that come in all shapes and sizes – as long as they're curvaceous – not to mention their potential overheads. As pure designs though, they have a futuristic aesthetic that's hard not to appreciate. In short, they look simply darling.
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20 Most Creative Environmental Ads

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All images via ACT Responsible.
Like it or not, we're bombarded with advertisements from companies encouraging us to purchase the latest and greatest products they have to offer each and everyday. Slick magazine ads and TV commercials feature great photography, memorable taglines, models and more to lead us into temptation.
More recently, some of that advertising space has been filled with a different kind of message created by ad agencies who've teamed up with environmental groups, government and others to ask us to buy into something else: the protection of the planet. Whether or not you think these ads make us think and act differently, one thing's for sure - it's nice to see some socially responsible ads out there! Read on, and you'll discover 20 awesomely creative environmental ads from around the world.
To see larger resolution images, click on the campaign name link or name of the ad.

1. Face for Green Korea United

Agency: Daehong Communications
Campaign Name: Rescue us
Tagline: We are drowning. Rescue us from global warming.
Produced in South Korea.
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A powerful ad showing that rising sea levels directly impact humans. The companion ad in this campaign depicts an island in the shape of a hand, slowly being overtaken by the sea.

2. Swimming Pool for Regional Environmental Awareness

Agency: Naga DDB Malaysia
Produced in Malaysia.
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Swimming pool is a really cool ad where a city's skyline is completely immersed in water. The writing on the wall: "Don't let this be our future. Save our rainforest, stop global warming."

3. Industrial Pollution for China Environmental Protection Foundation

Campaign Name: Shan Shui
Agency: JWT
Produced in China.
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A familiar style of Chinese painting called "Shan Shui" - literally "mountain-water" - where artists depict spectacular natural vistas for viewers' admiration is updated for the reality of the 21st century; a closer inspection of Industrial Revolution reveals "mountains" of high-rise buildings, endless hydro towers and a set of highways. The set of three ads also includes beautiful "paintings" of Global Warming and Automotive Pollution.

4. Lady for Evergreen

Campaign Name: Be the root
Tagline: Be the root. Nature in the city begins with all of us. The harder you try, the more it will thrive. We need your help.
Agency: ZiG Inc.
Produced in Canada.
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Putting down your roots has new meaning in this ad that urges us to bring nature back to the city.

5. Green Song for MTV

Agency: 180 Amsterdam
Produced in the Netherlands

A catchy tune and colourful graphics makes this a memorable ad for the MTV generation.

6. Ice for WWF

Campaign Name: Light On
Tagline: When you leave the light on, you are not the only one who pays.
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
Produced in the Ukraine.
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This is a cool series of three ads where nature's flora and fauna are represented in wallpaper you might find in a child's bedroom. Ice features cute polar bears and penguins floating on small ice floes.

7. Dolphin for Veolia Environnement

Campaign Name: Veolia Environnement 2009
Tagline: The environment is an industrial challenge
Agency: BETC Euro RSCG
Produced in France.
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Dolphin is one of six print ads in the 2009 Veolia Environnement campaign. All feature aerial views of sprawling cities with a strategically placed animal or plant image embedded in the city-scape to create a thought-provoking series of ads.

8. Sand Specimen for Khaleej Times

Tagline: On average 50 to 100 feet of beach is lost for every foot of sea-level rise. How long before land disappears all together? You decide. Help stop global warming.
Agency: Percept Gulf
Produced in the Unite Arab Emirates.
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This picture, called Sand Specimen, shows a little bit of sand stored in a jar, and reminds us of those old museum specimens of extinct species.

9. Revenge for Cencosud

Tagline: Bring Your Bag.
Agency: Kepel & Mata
Produced in Argentina.

This is a great video to remind us to bring our own bags to the store. A bit Lion King-ish, but that's not a bad thing! Translated, the text at the end of the video reads: "We're all innocent. We're all guilty. Plastic bags destroy the environment. Bring your bag."

10. Koala for DHKD

Campaign Name: Nature preservation
Tagline: The world needs more trees.
Agency: DDB&Co.
Produced in Turkey.
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Look closely and you'll see that each inch of the tree trunk is covered in koala bears: it's the only tree they can find!

11. Air Conditioners for Columbia Sportswear Company

Tagline: The air cooling your home is heating the world.
Agency: Prolam/Y&R S.A.
Produced in Chile.
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From ACT's website:

"Columbia Sportswear Company has sponsored a warning to Santiago residents with an outdoor advertisement challenging the use of air conditioners. A banner held against an apartment block wall shows a man and his child struggling to cope in a flood. Air conditioning units project through the art work. 'El aire que enfria tu hogar. Calienta el mundo' is translated in English as 'The air cooling your home is heating the world.'"

12. City Again Forest for Greenpeace

Tagline: Forests for life
Agency: Beijing Dentsu Advertising Co., Ltd.
Produced in China.
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Our furry friends have been pushed to the brink of a cliff (read: extinction) in the war between animals and the machines (powered by us humans) in this ad, called City Again Forest.

13. The dying screensaver for Red Sea Coral Rescue Team

Agency: Shimoni Finkelstein DraftFCB
Produced in Isreal.
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The text in the 2nd screen in The dying screensaver ad says, "Beauty doesn't last forever. Only 30% of the red coral sea reef is still alive. Please help protect it. www.redsearescue.org" It's an interesting take on those pretty desktop aquariums that pop up when computers are left idle; imagine if that aquarium imitated what was really happening in the real world? It wouldn't be a pretty sight.

14. Agbar desert for Aigües de Barcelona

Tagline: Our water is thirsty.
Agency: road
Produced in Spain.
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Instead of green roofs, here's a cracked, dry land called Agbar desert sitting atop an urban landscape. It's not a nice sight at all.

15. Treebike for Livegreentoronto

Tagline: Resources. Tips. Debates. Live Green at Toronto.
Agency: Agency59
Produced in Canada.
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The City of Toronto's Live Green Toronto program is a five-year, $20-million initiative that aims to promote and support actions at the local level to reduce emissions, clean the air and protect the climate. Represented by the Treebike here, the program includes community animators who help people find information, link them to environmental groups and cash in on rebates - all to reach Toronto's target of an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

16. Printer for Trees for Africa

Tagline: Think before you print
Agency: Lowe Bull
Produced in South Africa.

A pretty neat ad that brings the message home about the impact that printing reams of paper has on the African forest.

17. Sea for Biocorner

Campaign Name: Protect our colors
Tagline: Protect our colors
Agency: Air
Produced in Belgium.
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This side-by-side comparison of a colourful sea and murky waters packs a real punch.

18. Bomb for Greenpeace

Tagline: Stop the catastrophe
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi
Produced in Romania.
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In Bomb, an image of a tree in the shape of a mushroom cloud sends a powerful message about the consequences of cutting it down.

19. Iceberg candle for NRDC

Agency: Beijing Dentsu Advertising Co., Ltd.
Produced in China.
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A small family of penguins stand on a shrinking Iceberg candle. Sadly, they've got no place to go.

20. Banana for BUND/Friends of the Earth

Campaign Name: Travelling Fruits
Tagline: Travelling fruits cause pollution.
Agency: McCann-Erickson Brand Communications Agency GmbH
Produced in Germany.
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In 2005, the estimated environmental cost of transporting food in the UK was 9 billion pounds. This banana boat is one of three ads in a campaign about the polluting effects of food transport, specifically targeted around fruits. Along with the banana, there's also a coconut truck and a pineapple airplane.
Visit ACT Responsible for many more amazing environmental ads. ACT is a nonprofit that promotes responsible communication on sustainability, equitable development, and social responsibility.
And Webecoist has also a gathered a couple of lists of disturbingly creative ads here and here. These are not for the faint of heart!