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Peruvian proposal of painting melting glaciers white was chosen by World Bank

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change Congress, Isaac Mekler, announced that the Peruvian proposal of painting melting Peruvian glaciers white as a way to prevent and reduce global warming around the world has been included among the 26 winners of the "100 ideas to save the planet" contest.

A total of 1,775 proposals were submitted from around the world.

The Peruvian proposal was presented and supported in Washington by the scientist and Director of the Association of Glaciers of Peru, Eduardo Gold.

Mekler recalled that Peru has 77% of the world's glaciers, and added that the original idea is to paint 3,000km of the mountains to reduce global warming by a half degree.

The initiative will start with the painting of the Razuillca peak, with the support of the Regional Government of Ayacucho.

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# David N says :
16 November, 2009 [ 21:17 ]

Instead of mountains they should start painting all the filthy buildings in Lima.  The city is a total mess.

# Pablo Piccaso says :
17 November, 2009 [ 07:02 ]

The News sometimes misses a few thiings, since the ice n snow of a glaciers is all ready white,, this simple and effective Project to protect them is to Paint the sourrounding non ice rocks white.  To paint the black rocks white.  Since black heats up a few deg C causing the ice to melt faster, thus   Painting the Black heat absorbing non ice rock or bare peaks  white will help prevent Loosing the ice that has not melted yet.
If this project will be funded, and exicuted in large scales, Peru could save much of its magestic ice from melting.
Pressure paint aplacation like crop dusting aircraft could be used to paint large areas.  There is a unlimated potential to this project in moblizing large numbers of people to Paint and save the snow capped peaks.
This project would generate large amount of internatonal Press with a positive note  promoting Peru all over the world.
PP

# Anita Gateley says :
17 November, 2009 [ 08:03 ]

Peru has 77% of the world's glaciers? Really? Where is the source for this information?

This article is very confusing. There is not enough information. Will they paint pictures of the glaciers or actually paint the physical glaciers? How will the painting help global warming? Seriously, very badly written with very little to no relevant information. 

AMG

# Pablo Picasso says :
17 November, 2009 [ 09:58 ]

Yes Anita, confusing news item at the least.
the 77% quoted in the story is for glaciers is for the tropical zone of the planet, meaning between the tropic of cancer and tropic of capricorn, the number seams rather high % , since bolivia ecuador have a large amount of glaciers as well.
None the less,, this project has a very nice video on Youtube, in Huaras where they are painting the black rocks white, they show the proof with a thermomater in the differance of tempture white painted rock is lower than black rock.
It is a very simple and effective way that many can activly participate, they have a paint that is not harmful to the envrioment.  Very Creative and inovative solucion to loosing the beautiful glaciers of Peru.   We can only hope that funding will result in large scale action.  Or our dhildren and grandchildren will only know that there were majestic glaciers in Peru by seeing fotos in school books and hearing old grandpas storys.

# Wayne says :
17 November, 2009 [ 12:16 ]

While it sounds theoretically plausible, one must exercise some caution due to the inevitable unforseen and unintended consequences.  Global warming is a naturally occuring phenomenom and the current warming in some areas is only a function of these natural cycles. 

# presidente region X says :
17 November, 2009 [ 13:48 ]

wayne,
dont worry,, If there is a big amount of $$$ only a fraction of the money will ever make it to paint the rocks,, enugh for some fotos, most all of it .. hmmm. .  you know  adminstraion costs, estuidos and ect ect and a few more ect.  the price of ect.... has gone up alot.

# jb says :
17 November, 2009 [ 19:01 ]

I'm buying stock in Sherwin Williams -- they say they already "Cover the Earth". 

# Bernard says :
17 November, 2009 [ 21:01 ]

try 77% of the worlds tropical glaciers

# WOW says :
17 November, 2009 [ 21:05 ]

Wayne you are an idiot. You must be a scientist for republican party. Maybe you went to school with Bullwinkle the moose or George W. Bush

# Devilmaycare says :
18 November, 2009 [ 07:28 ]

These people are smart. Keep dumping paint on the mountains until it pollutes the runoff, runs down the mountain gets into the groundwater and kills a few hundred thousand people. Helps the environment, the economy and cuts down on those troublesome things we call humans that we are supposed to be trying to save the planet for.  

I have a better idea and with faster results too. Everyone should just shoot themselves in the head and the planet will be saved.

# EMERALDTUMI says :
23 November, 2009 [ 13:56 ]

HEY INSTEAD OF SPENDING MONEY ON SOMETHING RETARDED LIKE THIS TRY SPENDING MONEY BUIDLING SCHOOLS AND BRINGING TEACHERS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE,OR BETTERING INFRASTRUCTURE,OR TEACHING ACTUAL SKILLS TO THE MASSES,INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM PAINT ROCKS TO MAINTAIN THE IMAGE OF THE COUNTRY ABROAD, THE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS FACING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS. TRYING GETING THEM ADEQUATE CLOTHING SO SMALL CHILDREN DON'T DIE FROM PNUEUMONIA.

# reality guy says :
24 November, 2009 [ 08:58 ]

emerald tumi
very good obsurvation, and who would not agree with you
since the world bank does not address your points of helping the people directly and spends money on other things like painting rocks  it should be very obviouse what they consider important.
As well as what they do not consider important.
Painting Rocks  money is spend
schools infrastrutur feeding n clothing small children     well  you see there is no money for that.

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