This class has proven to be a lot of fun for me. The assignments have been more entertaining than those in past classes because I was allowed to choose my own topic. I chose to write about environmental issues because I've always been interested in animals and the environment, and I've never really knew what to do to start being active in it. Throughout the course of this class, I've learned a lot about the environment and conservation. I've started recycling, and although it is a little extra work, I find it personally rewarding. I also find myself reaching back into the waste basket where I accidentally throw my soda cans without thinking. As I continue to read and learn more, I'm sure I'll find even more items that can be recycled.
Recycling wasn't the only aspect of conservation that I focused on. I also learned alot about electricity consumption and why it's so important for us to reduce our usage. If we're wasteful, then we're practically asking power companies like Dominion to destroy our land so we can keep taking 40 minute showers. There are alot of devices that have been produced and placed on the market in the past few years that help with energy conservation. One of my favorites are compact flourescent lightbulbs. I focused one of my blogs on these because they are affordable, easy to use, and can even save you money throughout the year.
In a few of my blogs, I veered off towards keeping wild animals in captivity. While these weren't directly related to environmental defense, animals also need the aid of conservation. Habitat destruction and capturing animals from their natural habitat has pushed certain species to extinction, and others aren't far from it.
My real passion is in animals, but I wasn't sure that I could keep my reader's attention by focusing soley on animals, so I decided to post primarily on the environment. I'm very glad that I did because I've learned alot and I have a deeper respect for present environmental issues. This experience has helped me to implement small changes in my life to help the world. I hope it has helped to inspire others to do the same.
5.09.2007
5.01.2007
The world's oceans are home to millions of species. Mammals, fish, invertabrates, and many other animals live near beaches, coral reefs, deep sea, and out in the open ocean. Pollution poses a major threat to these animals. The ocean is subject to pollution from beach-goers, fisherman, cruise ships, oil rigs, and runoff from rivers and streams.
I planned to focus this blog on oil spills, because I thought them to be one of the largest causes of pollution in the ocean. With a little reading, however, I found out that big oil spills only make up for about 5% of the ocean's oil pollution. In fact, the largest oil pollutant comes from oil that is put down the drain by people. Used car oil from getting your oil changed, for example, if not disposed of properly, could make its way to the ocean. The EPA and NOAA both are working towards eliminating ocean pollution.
Toxic waste products, pesticides, and garbage that is polluting the land, often seeps into or finds it flushed into local streams and rivers that in turn, fill into the ocean. By not taking care of the land and small bodies of water, we are indirectly affecting the ocean.
Still more laws must be made (and enforced!) about pollution, safety regulations for industrial plants and ships, and waste disposal for everyone. The world depends on its oceans already, and in the future, we will only become more dependent on them as we travel, explore, and find more ways to use its resources in our lives. It is very important that we keep it clean.
I planned to focus this blog on oil spills, because I thought them to be one of the largest causes of pollution in the ocean. With a little reading, however, I found out that big oil spills only make up for about 5% of the ocean's oil pollution. In fact, the largest oil pollutant comes from oil that is put down the drain by people. Used car oil from getting your oil changed, for example, if not disposed of properly, could make its way to the ocean. The EPA and NOAA both are working towards eliminating ocean pollution.
Toxic waste products, pesticides, and garbage that is polluting the land, often seeps into or finds it flushed into local streams and rivers that in turn, fill into the ocean. By not taking care of the land and small bodies of water, we are indirectly affecting the ocean.
Still more laws must be made (and enforced!) about pollution, safety regulations for industrial plants and ships, and waste disposal for everyone. The world depends on its oceans already, and in the future, we will only become more dependent on them as we travel, explore, and find more ways to use its resources in our lives. It is very important that we keep it clean.
We're Toast!
Last week I rented “An Inconvenient Truth”, Al Gore’s movie on global warming. It was an enjoyable movie, and I’d recommend you see it if you haven’t already.
Global warming has become a topic of great discussion in the past decade, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. I’m absolutely sure we’ll be hearing more and more about it in the coming years. I’m convinced that global warming is a real issue and that something needs to be done about it.
Al Gore is working towards making people aware of the situation. In “An Inconvenient Truth”, he takes a stance that humans are the cause of global warming, primarily due to our burning of the world’s fossil fuels at an alarming rate. The best known fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas, and output a very high amount of carbon dioxide when they are used. This in turn, “clouds” the earth’s atmosphere, preventing the sun’s heat from leaving. With the solar heat building up inside our atmosphere, the temperature will continue to rise until it becomes a threat to humans and animals alike.
The movie is full of rather disturbing facts about the climate changes and events that have occurred over the past 10 years. He names off hurricanes that have occurred in parts of the world for the first time in recordable history, and that they are becoming more and more frequent. He showed photographs of some of the world’s most renowned icy attractions, and how they have changed over the past decade. They all showed that the ice had melted significantly. The same was true of the north and south poles. More so, he showed computer generated previews of how this melting would affect places near water level. Thousands of acres of land and homes all over the world would become lost to the rising tides of the oceans.
Some may think it rubbish, and others may believe every word out of Gore’s mouth. This movie proved convincing enough to get me concerned about global warming. I have a bit of skepticism towards the movie, not so much by what it did say, but by what it failed to say. I believe that we are undoubtedly a factor in global warming and we need to make some big changes before its too late (which will be in about 10 years, according to Gore).
StopGlobalWarming.org has a growing list of things you can do to help prevent global warming, and an idea of how much you could save by implementing a small change in your lifestyle! Here's a few:
Global warming has become a topic of great discussion in the past decade, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. I’m absolutely sure we’ll be hearing more and more about it in the coming years. I’m convinced that global warming is a real issue and that something needs to be done about it.
Al Gore is working towards making people aware of the situation. In “An Inconvenient Truth”, he takes a stance that humans are the cause of global warming, primarily due to our burning of the world’s fossil fuels at an alarming rate. The best known fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas, and output a very high amount of carbon dioxide when they are used. This in turn, “clouds” the earth’s atmosphere, preventing the sun’s heat from leaving. With the solar heat building up inside our atmosphere, the temperature will continue to rise until it becomes a threat to humans and animals alike.
The movie is full of rather disturbing facts about the climate changes and events that have occurred over the past 10 years. He names off hurricanes that have occurred in parts of the world for the first time in recordable history, and that they are becoming more and more frequent. He showed photographs of some of the world’s most renowned icy attractions, and how they have changed over the past decade. They all showed that the ice had melted significantly. The same was true of the north and south poles. More so, he showed computer generated previews of how this melting would affect places near water level. Thousands of acres of land and homes all over the world would become lost to the rising tides of the oceans.
Some may think it rubbish, and others may believe every word out of Gore’s mouth. This movie proved convincing enough to get me concerned about global warming. I have a bit of skepticism towards the movie, not so much by what it did say, but by what it failed to say. I believe that we are undoubtedly a factor in global warming and we need to make some big changes before its too late (which will be in about 10 years, according to Gore).
StopGlobalWarming.org has a growing list of things you can do to help prevent global warming, and an idea of how much you could save by implementing a small change in your lifestyle! Here's a few:
- Hybrid Cars
- Recycling!
- Solar, Wind, Tidal Power
- Car pool
- Turn down the thermostat
4.24.2007
RECYCLE!
Just wanted to give an update on my growing pile of items to be recycled!
- I got lucky enough to visit my brother after one of his weekend get-togethers. I gathered 32 aluminum cans from his apartment, and then 14 more from my house, for a total of 46 aluminum cans to be recycled.
- Six 750 ml glass bottles and two 1 liter bottles that had been accumulating in one of my kitchen cabinets.
- Approximately 6.5 pounds of paper products, mainly newspaper, that were hiding throughout my living room and bedroom.
Not too shabby, if you ask me. Of course, I won’t be gathering recyclables at this rate on a regular basis. Most of these items had been adding up for quite some time before I decided to recycle them. I’ll be making a trip to the dump to sort them out in a week or so.
4.19.2007
in class writing
(I got a little carried away on this post, but I think I got my point across.)
Six years ago, I was vacationing with my family in Atlantic City. I was walking down the boardwalk and spotted an aquarium in one of the shops. I looked into it and saw about thirty small green lizards. They were absolutely adorable.
Crowded into a twenty gallon aquarium, some were crawling over top of the others, while others lay motionless at the bottom of the tank. I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for the little guys; they didn’t have room to walk, the cage was soiled with feces, and I didn’t see any food or water. I knew what I had to do.
“Mom! Mom! I really want to save one of these lizards! Can I, Mom! Please?”
She finally gave in to my desperate pleads. $12.50 bought me a “critter carrier” and one green iguana hatchling. The worker at the shop told me to feed it carrots, and assured my mother it wouldn’t get any bigger.
Yeah, right.
Today, I’m the proud owner of a four foot lizard, whose enclosure takes up half a room.
So what’s the point?
A lot of people get suckered into buying “spur of the moment” pets. People sometimes think it’s a good idea to give pets out as gifts, whether it be for Christmas, or a prize at a carnival. Others try to help animals by opening rescues or refuges. Each of these examples contributes to the pet trade, and often are an aide in poor husbandry and irresponsible decisions.
Sudden decisions to bring a pet into your life often bring unforeseen troubles along with them. Parents sometimes have their kids take “the sunflower test” where the child has to keep a sunflower alive and well-watered for a month, and if they do, then they’ve proven their responsibility. This analogy is far from acceptable for determining one’s ability to care for a pet. Puppies, for example, sure are cute, but it can take a lot of work for potty training, exercise, proper diet, vet trips, and attention. On top of that, some breeds are more prone to health issues than others. Other types of pets, like my iguana, require special heat and lighting, a custom enclosure, and a high pain tolerance (his claws are sharp!).
More so, these irresponsible actions are encouraged by carnivals and fairs that give out animals as prizes. While some counties have laws against this, few provide active enforcement to prevent it. I’ve seen bunnies, goldfish, iguanas, and chicks as prizes in carnivals, and I’ve never seen any correct care guides handed out along with the prize. The carnivals aren’t interested in these creatures’ fates; they’re just there for the money.
I’m sure it’s hard to see why an animal rescue could be detrimental to animals. After all, their sole purpose is to help animals. It’s exciting to see everyday people spending their morning showing off their collection of rescued animals, or bottle-feeding a bear cub. These are the images we see constantly on animal documentaries and other shows. What we don’t focus on that the owners make large sacrifices in order to help these animals. They have to work whether they are sick or tired, whether it’s snowing or 100 degrees out, not to mention that they often must give up family vacations because these animals depend on them day in and day out to survive. Some people become inspired by these rescues and decide they want to start their own. More often than not, it ends in disaster. Things work out for a while, but over time, the daily responsibilities overwhelm them and the rescue starts going down hill. There was even a special on Animal Planet a few weeks ago, where Jeff Corwin visited a bird sanctuary that had gone severely downhill, and helped to get it up and running again.
All of these examples make it easier for people to bring home pets, and not to worry about what may be wrong with how they’re caring for the pet. They fuel the pet trade in promoting more and more careless owners and breeders to produce more homeless pets, or to throw the ones they own back into the loop. Since they rarely get stuck with the end result, they have no idea where these animals are ending up. Out of sight, out of mind, you know?
Sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back and look at the big picture. When you do, you’ll probably come to the same realization that I did. It might sound cruel, but the only way to stop (or help stop) the overabundance of animals out there, is not to be a part of it. Some animals must be sacrificed in order to make changes. I played a role when I bought that little green lizard six years ago. Looking back, I would have appreciated the knowledge I now have about iguanas and the pet trade. I could have researched iguanas as pets before I bought one and realized that owning one was going to cause big changes in my lifestyle. There are also many existing rescues throughout the U.S. where you can volunteer or adopt a pet, without contributing to the import or production of more for the pet trade.
I certainly wouldn’t go back and change my decision because the experience has helped me to learn a lot about reptiles and the career I want to go into. The best thing to do when thinking about bringing a new pet into your life is to make sure you read up on it! Find out what kind of care it requires, how much attention it needs, and what kinds of issues it is prone to developing before bringing it home. This will ensure that you’ve made the right decision and that your home will be a “forever home” for your new pet.
4.17.2007
brighten your day
Enlighten! is a new and improved way to be an energy efficient person. It's an organized effort to reduce electricity intake, and conserve energy! It came about due to the Dominion Power Line issues in Virginia. It implements the usage of CFL's (compact flourescent lightbulbs) that combine low wattage with high light output.
Unlike earlier attempts at earth-friendly lighting, these newer bulbs don't take time to light up to their full potential. The makers must have realized that when my phone starts ringing in the middle of the night, and in my half-asleep stupor I knock it into my pile of dirty clothes, I don't want to wait five minutes for my lamp to light up to be able to find my phone.
Now there are other alternatives to the everyday incandescent light bulbs, halogens, and flourescents. Solar lighting can operate with little or no electricity. Besides the hefty price that is required for installation of solar powered lighting, their performance may become impaired if it is dark or cloudy outside.
These new CFL's are a more affordable alternative and have been proven to reduce electric bills by over $300.00 a year! According to EnlightenVA.org, replacing just 12 household bulbs can "reduce as much pollution as an acre of forest". Prices on these bulbs have been dramatically reduced over the past few years since they were introduced into the market, and now you can find CFL's for about $3.00 each. Not too bad considering they last longer and use 75% less energy than the standard light bulb (Enlighten).
Give it a try!
references
Enlighten! USA. 03/07/2007. Enlighten! USA. 04/12/2007. www.enlightenusa.org
Unlike earlier attempts at earth-friendly lighting, these newer bulbs don't take time to light up to their full potential. The makers must have realized that when my phone starts ringing in the middle of the night, and in my half-asleep stupor I knock it into my pile of dirty clothes, I don't want to wait five minutes for my lamp to light up to be able to find my phone.
Now there are other alternatives to the everyday incandescent light bulbs, halogens, and flourescents. Solar lighting can operate with little or no electricity. Besides the hefty price that is required for installation of solar powered lighting, their performance may become impaired if it is dark or cloudy outside.
These new CFL's are a more affordable alternative and have been proven to reduce electric bills by over $300.00 a year! According to EnlightenVA.org, replacing just 12 household bulbs can "reduce as much pollution as an acre of forest". Prices on these bulbs have been dramatically reduced over the past few years since they were introduced into the market, and now you can find CFL's for about $3.00 each. Not too bad considering they last longer and use 75% less energy than the standard light bulb (Enlighten).
Give it a try!
references
Enlighten! USA. 03/07/2007. Enlighten! USA. 04/12/2007. www.enlightenusa.org
4.12.2007
Great move, Scholastic, but aren’t you six books late?
I am proud to announce the seventh Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows, is being printed on FSC approved paper that consists of at least 30% post-consumer waste.The first U.S. printing will consist of approximately 12 million copies ("Paper Decision").This is a big step for the U.S. considering the fact that U.S. publisher, Scholastic, Inc., declined to produce the sixth book on recycled paper back in 2005. This is an improvement for Americans, but it doesn’t stand up to the Canadian edition, which was created with 100% PCW fiber for both the sixth and seventh books!("Half-Good Prints")Studies show that one million copies printed on recycled paper helped save over 40,000 trees. Environmentalists are putting forth efforts to get more books printed on FSC certified paper in the future. Some of the most prominent struggles include availability, quality, and price ("Publisher Conversation").Luckily, there are many ways we can help out to increase the amount of books printed on recycled paper. We can increase the demand by purchasing those books that bear an FSC certified seal. For example, Harry Potter fans in the U.S. can order the Canadian edition of the final book, rather than the U.S. edition. And if you’re worried about the price, don’t! According to Oanda.com, a currency conversion website, it would actually cost less to purchase it there! And if you’re worried about shipping, Amazon.com (US and Canada) offer the seventh book with free super saver shipping! You can also make your support for recycling known by writing publishers. Ask them to support the FSC and its stand to preserve the world’s ancient forests!
References
Hall, Randy. "Harry Potter Recycled Paper Decision 'Works Magic For Forests'". 3/22/2007. Cybercast News Service. 4/12/2007. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200703/CUL20070322c.html
Conversation With A Publisher. 08/10/2003. GreanPeace. 04/12/2007. www.greenpeace.org/international/news/conversation-with-a-publisher
Harry Potter and the Half Good Prints. 07/13/2005. GreenPeace. 04/12/2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/harry-potter-111
The Currency Site FX - Converter. 04/12/2007. OANDA.COM. 04/12/2007. http://oanda.com
References
Hall, Randy. "Harry Potter Recycled Paper Decision 'Works Magic For Forests'". 3/22/2007. Cybercast News Service. 4/12/2007. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200703/CUL20070322c.html
Conversation With A Publisher. 08/10/2003. GreanPeace. 04/12/2007. www.greenpeace.org/international/news/conversation-with-a-publisher
Harry Potter and the Half Good Prints. 07/13/2005. GreenPeace. 04/12/2007. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/harry-potter-111
The Currency Site FX - Converter. 04/12/2007. OANDA.COM. 04/12/2007. http://oanda.com
4.10.2007
Food for thought
I had a teacher a few years ago who was a die-hard conservationist and animal rights activist. She constantly promoted organic foods, recycling, and animal rights. She disapproved of fast food and raved about the book "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser. She spoke to the class with such passion, and I found it quite inspiring. So off to the store I went. I was ready to fight the good fight.
Walking down the aisles proved to me that this task was much easier said than done.
Few grocery stores offer a large variety of organic foods. Whole Foods and Ukrops are probably the best known ones. Many grocery stores use large signs to advertise organic foods, especially in the produce section. You can find tomatoes, lettuce, beans, and all sorts of hybrid fruits that have been organically grown. In the meat section, neon "free-range" stickers stand out on the packaging to gain buyers' attention. Dairy products like milk and eggs also offer an organic variety.
One thing, however, that they don't try to exploit is the price.
Sure, I feel bad for the chickens that spend all their time cooped up in a tiny cage, and I wouldn't want to see a cow living in a pen that it can barely turn around in. Of course I don't want to ingest pesticides on a daily basis. . . who knows what kind of health effects will come of that!? But with all this said and done, I don't have a clue how my meals grew up. And my pocket book doesn't really allow for me to make a big deal out of it. I've seen organic items at the grocery store up to a few dollars higher than "other" items. The bottom line is everyone can't afford to eat organically. Lately, I stick to "Bonus Buy" items at Shoppers and the Dollar Menu.
I love animals, but I can still manage to down a burger without thinking I'm a heartless jerk.
One thing is for sure, though. Once the prices become more competitive on organic items, I'll definitely jump on the bandwagon.
Walking down the aisles proved to me that this task was much easier said than done.
Few grocery stores offer a large variety of organic foods. Whole Foods and Ukrops are probably the best known ones. Many grocery stores use large signs to advertise organic foods, especially in the produce section. You can find tomatoes, lettuce, beans, and all sorts of hybrid fruits that have been organically grown. In the meat section, neon "free-range" stickers stand out on the packaging to gain buyers' attention. Dairy products like milk and eggs also offer an organic variety.
One thing, however, that they don't try to exploit is the price.
Sure, I feel bad for the chickens that spend all their time cooped up in a tiny cage, and I wouldn't want to see a cow living in a pen that it can barely turn around in. Of course I don't want to ingest pesticides on a daily basis. . . who knows what kind of health effects will come of that!? But with all this said and done, I don't have a clue how my meals grew up. And my pocket book doesn't really allow for me to make a big deal out of it. I've seen organic items at the grocery store up to a few dollars higher than "other" items. The bottom line is everyone can't afford to eat organically. Lately, I stick to "Bonus Buy" items at Shoppers and the Dollar Menu.
I love animals, but I can still manage to down a burger without thinking I'm a heartless jerk.
One thing is for sure, though. Once the prices become more competitive on organic items, I'll definitely jump on the bandwagon.
Power Line Controversy
I'm sure by now you’ve heard about the controversy that’s going on with Dominion Power. Last fall, the situation exploded into the public eye when Dominion had proposed a route to build high-voltage power lines through many pristine and protected areas in
In retaliation from the strong opposition, Dominion officials stated that
Last month, Dominion proposed a new line that would bypass many of the controversial areas in
If the transmission line must be built, Dominion should bury the line. Those affected by the line obviously are against it being constructed above-ground. Although the extra cost will undoubtedly be passed along to its customers, it would be well worth the price. The construction that will take place will be an annoyance during the length of the project, but the end result will be aesthetically pleasing and seems to be the best compromise for both sides.
Dominion Virginia Power. 04/10/07. Dominion®. 04/10/07.
PEC. 04/09/07. Piedmont Environmental Council. 04/10/07.
Power Line To Track Existing N.Va. Route. 02/12/07. The Washington Post. 04/10/07. <www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
4.03.2007
Choosing a Pet: Captive VS Wild Caught
When you’re browsing the Puppies for
Conservation- You can make a difference
When you put things into perspective as an environmental activist or conservationist, or just as a caring individual, the world is an very big place to try to change. When it comes to conservation, you have to think smaller. . . Focus on improving your county, your neighborhood, or your home. There are many small changes you can implement into your daily life to assist in conservation. In the long run you can make a bigger difference than you’d think!
For example, if you recycle paper products, you might not be able to save a rainforest. Perhaps you could only save one tree a year by recycling. Now think if 10 people recycled… that’s 10 trees saved each year. Now picture this- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of conservation is “A careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect”.3
You can help conserve our forests by recycling paper. Other items can be recycled as well, including glass, plastic, and metals. This helps to reduce the amount of waste building up in landfills and conserves our natural resources. Compost piles are a great way to recycle organic matter by breaking it down. Then, it can be re-used as fertilizer for a spring garden!
Conservation isn’t all about recycling though, you can prevent pollution by carpooling to work each day, turning lights off when you are not using them, and planting trees. You’ll be able to read more about these topics on my blog over the next few weeks.
Believe it or not, I don’t currently recycle. I have decided to take up the hobby and see how it goes. Later in the blog, I’ll be able to post to give you an idea of how much I am recycling and let you know how recycling has affected me.
1. POPClocks.
2. E.P.A..
3. Merriam-Webster. 2007. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
3.27.2007
introduction
Growing up in the sticks isn't so bad, especially if you don't know what you're missing. I grew up on a farm in Port Orchard, Washington with no computer, no cell phones, and 3 television channels. "Playing" didn't involve fancy video games or reality t.v. shows. My brother and I would spend hours navigating the 15 acres my parents owned. We spent our afternoons going on treasure hunts, building forts, catching frogs and of course, taking care of the animals on the farm.
I don't regret growing up like that, though. In fact, I'd prefer it over the daily routine of most youths in the U.S. today. I feel like most people my age and younger haven't the slightest idea of how precious the environment and it's creatures are. They are too caught up in today's technological entertainment. I honestly think they are missing out on something amazing. My blog is going to focus on the environment, it's residents (to include humans and animals), it's changes, and my views on various articles on the topics. I'm not up to date on what's going on these days with the environment, so I will be reading up on it quite a bit over the next few weeks. This class is providing me with the perfect opportunity to learn about today's issues with the environment and wildlife, and form opinions of my own about new and ongoing situations. I hope my blog will help to make others aware of the issues that we are faced with today.
I don't regret growing up like that, though. In fact, I'd prefer it over the daily routine of most youths in the U.S. today. I feel like most people my age and younger haven't the slightest idea of how precious the environment and it's creatures are. They are too caught up in today's technological entertainment. I honestly think they are missing out on something amazing. My blog is going to focus on the environment, it's residents (to include humans and animals), it's changes, and my views on various articles on the topics. I'm not up to date on what's going on these days with the environment, so I will be reading up on it quite a bit over the next few weeks. This class is providing me with the perfect opportunity to learn about today's issues with the environment and wildlife, and form opinions of my own about new and ongoing situations. I hope my blog will help to make others aware of the issues that we are faced with today.
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