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Friday, December 11, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Thursday unveiled a tool that lets scientists and defenders of the environment use the Internet to keep an eye on what is left of the Earth's forests."We hope this technology will help stop the destruction of the world's rapidly-disappearing forests," Rebecca Moore and Amy Luers of the US Internet giant's philanthropic arm Google.org said in a blog post.The technology lets scientists analyze raw satellite imagery data and extract information such as locations and measurements of deforestation or even regeneration of forest.The system is hosted in the Google "cloud," the technology firm's Internet-linked data centers, and has the potential to reveal in seconds when forests are being chopped down, burned or bulldozed."Being able to detect illegal logging activities faster can help support local law enforcement and prevent further deforestation from happening," Moore and Luers wrote.Emissions...

Sunday, August 23, 2009 ATHENS: The Greek government declared a state of emergency and troops called in on Saturday as a large forest fire burned out of control on the northeastern outskirts of Athens, sending thick black smoke over the city and damaging dozens of homes.Fire fighters say the blaze that broke out in the early hours of Saturday near Marathon, 25 miles northeast of Athens is being fanned by gale-force winds. Nine small planes, five helicopters and 35 ground vehicles are trying to contain the fire, which is burning forest, brush and farmland.Locals said it was heading towards the town of Marathon after flames reached houses in the villages of Grammatiko and Varnavas. Residents with hoses, shovels and buckets of water are said to be trying to save their properties. So far no casualties have been reported. It is a very difficult fire because it rages in a mixed zone of residential areas and forest land," Greek fire brigade spokesman Giannis Kapakis told reporters. He u...