Natural Resources

Water doesn't usually appear on corporate balance sheets. But, that may change in the near future as investors begin linking water responsibility to companies' financial risk and overarching health. The increasing demand for clean water due to population growth, ecosystem pollution and disruption, economic development, changing consumption patterns, rapid industrialization and lack of sufficient wastewater treatment facilities isn't only hurting the developing world. It's beginning to take its toll on business and the economy. We not only need water to survive and for the global food chain, we need it for virtually all production processes. For example, a recent report by Ceres, points out that "vast quantities of ultra clean water are used to make the silicon chips that help power our computers, servers, and cell phones. Electric power plants depend heavily on water, and account for a staggering 40 percent of freshwater withdrawals in the United States."

According to ancient medicine, Meringa leaves may prevent up to 300 different types of disease. Although, that has yet to be quantified, there are clearly some very interesting facts about the Moringa Tree. The non-profit, Trees for Life International, believes these tiny leaves could save millions of lives around the world. After you read a bit more and discover its nutrient packed statistics and possible applications, you'll wonder why you haven't heard of tree and aren't taking it yourself. It could turn into the hottest new trend or turn into a potential cure for malnutrition in developing countries.

20% of global greenhouse emissions are a result of tropical forest destruction. According to Google.org's blog, "emissions from forest deforestation are comparable to the emissions of all the European Union, and are greater than those of all cars, trucks, planes, ships and trains worldwide. However, deforestation has been difficult to track and quantify until now thanks to Google.org and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Their prototype called CLASlite was demonstrated at the International Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen last Thursday on December 10, 2009.