International scientists found that inefficiency in the use of fossil fuels increased levels of CO2 by 17%.

The other 18% came from a decline in the natural ability of land and oceans to soak up CO2 from the atmosphere.

About half of emissions from human activity are absorbed by natural "sinks" but the efficiency of these sinks has fallen, the study suggests.

"In addition to the growth of global population and wealth, we now know that significant contributions to the growth of atmospheric CO2 arise from the slow-down of natural sinks and the halt to improvements in the carbon intensity of wealth production," said the study's lead author, Dr Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project.

The weakening of the Earth's ability to cope with greenhouse gases is thought to be a result of changing wind patterns over seas and droughts on land.

"The decline in global sink efficiency suggests that stabilisation of atmospheric CO2 is even more difficult to achieve than previously thought," said report co-author Dr Corinne Le Quere of the British Antarctic Survey.

"We found that nearly half of the decline in the efficiency of the ocean CO2 sink is due to the intensification of the winds in the Southern Ocean."

• Protect and promote the integrity of the region while conserving its natural resources
• Promote bilingual education while maintaining ethnic identity
• Renew and strengthen traditional and spiritual medicine, including medicinal plants, healers, practices and songs
• Protect traditional knowledge.
• Watch over the social dignity and integrity of the native community and its members, food, shelter, health, education and labor
• Strengthen ties between the communities of the Rio Pisqui, as well as with other native communities and national and international sectors.
• Work toward a constitution of a native Amazonian organization
• Promote the organizing of multi-communal enterprises creating a consciousness of solidarity and efficiency.
• Promote community work and participation through incentives.

Save the North Pole Holiday Poster Contest!

Tell Mr. Bill Ford Jr., President of Ford Motor Company, not to be a Global Warming Grinch!

Posters due by Thursday, December 15th!

Rainforests in the Classroom is sponsoring a Holiday Poster Contest to encourage using less oil to help stop global warming. The top entries will be featured on the Rainforest Action Network website! We are focusing on the North Pole, because it's the holidays and because the Arctic is already being changed in a big way due to global warming. Posters make for a great art project and can also be a positive experience that helps to make a difference. We welcome posters from students with all levels of artistic ability.

The student and student’s teacher with the winning poster will each receive $75 gift certificates to the Discovery Store.

Download the poster contest packet (here's a zip of the whole packet):

1. Ford, Global Warming and the North Pole student fact sheet
2. What is Global Warming? fact sheet (courtesy of SFEnvironment)
3. Poster contest flyer
4. Sample holiday wish letter to Mr. Bill Ford, Jr., CEO of Ford Motor Company
5. Rainforest Hero certificates to copy and distribute to students

Please send all posters (or letters) by Thursday, December 15th to:

Tracy Solum
Rainforest Action Network
221 Pine Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104

If you plan to send in posters, please let us know. Also, don’t hesitate to email us with any questions. Together we can help reduce our use of oil and keep global warming from getting worse in the future. Thank you so much for getting involved!