Environmental groups suing gov for mistreatment of Mexican Grey Wolves Who - Environmental groups in AZ What - They are suing the government for mistreatment of gret wolves When - April 3rd Where - Arizona Why - They were mistreated and someone apparently has to pay My Opinion - I think its good that someone is taking a step to protect these wonderful animals but I dont know if suing the government is the best step to save them.. I mean wheres the money going to go? we all know it'll end up going to some big wig downtown who'll get richer and we'll all get poorer.
PARIS (AFP) – Ocean acidification driven by climate change is stripping away the protective shell of tiny yet vital organisms that absorb huge amounts of carbon pollution from the atmosphere, a new study has revealed.
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the calcium carapace of microscopic animals called foraminifera living in the Southern Ocean have fallen in weight by a third, the study found.
The amoeba-like organisms, about the size of a grain of sand, live in the surface waters of oceans around the world.
They are an important part of the ecological chain and also provide a bulwark against global warming.
They transform carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air into calcium-based shells. When they die, their carbon-rich shells sink to the ocean floor, effectively storing the atmospheric CO2 forever.
Previous studies have shown that other marine animals, notably corals, are losing their ability to form exoskeletons from calcium.
However, the potential causes for this are tangled, and include rising temperatures and nutrient runoff from coastal agriculture as well as acidification.
This is the first study to look specifically at acidification and pin it to greenhouse-gas pollution, which is driven especially by the invisible product of burning oil, gas and coal.
"It is the invasion of anthropogenic (man-made) CO2 that is causing this particular source of acidification," said co-author William Howard of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Center in Hobart, Tasmania.
Howard's team collected shells of one foraminifera species, Globigerina bulloides, as they drifted toward the sea floor, and compared them to older specimens that had sunk several hundred years earlier.
The newer shells had 30-to-35 percent less mass, they reported in the online edition of the journal Nature Geoscience.
"If forams and other shell makers are not making shells, that might change the transfer of carbon from the surface ocean into the deep ocean," said Howard.
"It changes the efficiency of the biological pump, and would tend to lessen the degree to which the ocean takes up carbon. That's a feedback that we have to be concerned about," he said in a phone interview.
Only in the last five years have scientists become aware of the extent of ocean acidification and its potential to disrupt Earth's carbon cycle, which balances the absorption and release of CO2 into the atmospshere.
"The problem with this impact is that it is so persistent and so long-lived, unlike other pollution carbons. We will have a harder time turning this impact around," Howard said.
The geo-chemical mechanisms that buffer acidification work very slowly, he explained.
"It is like taking an antacid tablet for an upset stomach and then having to wait hundreds -- or thousands -- of years for it to work."
If the loss of shell mass threatens the survival of the amoeba-like creatures, it could also disrupt a food chain reaching from the plankton they eat, all the way up to large sea mammal such as whales.
"We don't know yet what those impacts might be," Howard said.
Who - Scientist
What - The Marine life
Where- in all of the oceans.
Why- From our pollutions, we are killing the marine life of these animals. We are stripping away bits and pecies of them and sooner or later there going to die.
My Opinion - I really think theres not alot we can do, because people dont care. if people cared, we could save so many things and make our earth a better place. But we as people are to selfish and it takes a slapp in the face for us to realize that we have to change, and by that time its too late.
Brazil's contamination of soil and ground water are problems common to developed as well as developing countries; their effects on health and the deterioration of natural resources transcend national boundaries.
When: September 23 Where: Brazil Why:Industries are careless with their waste management
My opinion: I think its good that someone is bringing this issue to peoples attention. Even our western companies have this issue, its probably a irrelevant to the other larger issues, but in all fairness we need to by more aware.
World will not meet 2C warming target, climate change experts agreeSource: http://www.enn.com/climate/article/39667
Who: Climate scientists
What: A conference representing 26 different countries give there opinions as to weather or not the 2C warming target will be met. 60% says that it is technically and economically possible, while the rest say its impossible to stay under a 2C global warming temperature. Specialists believe that the temperature could rise from anywhere between 3-6C by the end of this century! Our planet is speeding up to global warming even faster than expected! We could be looking at a very HOT future.
Where: THE WORLD (a.k.a Global warming)
When: April 16, 2009
Why: This meeting was held to get the opinions of experts, reasearchers, scientists, political scientists, and the head of universities and laboratories who all knew the subject of global warming well. They wanted to see weather or not the world may have a chance at meeting a 2C global warming temperature. The experts believe there is a chance, but do to the soaring carbon emissions and political constraints a 4-5C temperature rise by the end of this decade is very likely.
How: Global warming has been an issue since the industrial revolution. The continual emission of carbon and nitrogen into the atmosphere is catastrophically rising the temperature of the earth much harder and faster than expected. This is due to fossil fuels, and large industries who continue to pollute the atmosphere. The conference invited over 1500 people, and app 250 scientific research experts responded with their opinion.
My opinion:
I think it is wise to discuss the matter with experts and researchers and combining a poll of opinions. It gives an overall summary of what could very likely happen to our world in the near future. It’s a very harsh reality that everyone on the face of this earth has to live with. The world is warming, and its going to hit us hard if we don’t stop the carbon emissions NOW! I know that when I have children, I want them to be able to enjoy the environment that God has created for them. What frightens me even more is not only that the world is warming, but the fact that it is warming much faster than expected! It shows how careless we have been to the idea of global warming, and obviously not enough has been done about it in order to make a dent of change in the right direction.
Carbon Tax Who – Canadians/Canadian Government What – Carbon Tax of anywhere between $100 - $200 per ton When – To be implemented by 2020 Why – To try and cut back on global warming My Opinion – With they Kyoto Protocol failure I doubt that taking more money is going to be the answer to the carbon problem. I think that a cut back on trade with any developed country that does not reach a set carbon goal would be better.
(Mr. Enns... I forgot to post it last night) blahh… Environmental Article Summary #12 Rebekah McMurphy April 18th, 2008 Geography 12
Nations Need to Cut Emissions by 70% http://www.environmentalleader.com/ 2009/04/16/global-warming-study- nations-need-to-cut-emissions-by-70-percent/ Who: Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) What: They talk about how the threat of global warming can be significantly lessened if nations cut emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 70% this century. And that we can no longer avoid significant warming during this century. When: By 2020… and the UK’s goal is to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. Where: The whole world (EARTH). Why: A catastrophe can be avoided if the world implements the recommended emission cuts of 70%. How: The EPA may soon announce an “endangerment finding” that will enable the agency to write regulations under the Clean Air Act that limit emissions, which will force the nations to cut emissions. My Opinion: Well, Scientists from the Tyndall Centre of Climate Change said in order to prevent temperatures from rising above a level that causes extreme weather events, droughts and food shortage, emissions cuts will have to run much deeper. I think its actually scary to think that our world might become very different if action doesn’t take place with global warming. It makes me wonder what the world is going to look like in the future, and what I can do... to help? Haha but at the same time it feels like my pollution would make no different to the whole rest of the world! But I guess it starts with just one person. I should walk and bike more!
Tentacles of Doomhttp://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/39683
Summary: Who: Cephalopods. What: Once believed to only be the realm of the Blue-Ringed octopus, recent discoveries have indicated that all octopus, cuttlefish, and some squid are venomous. Though the Blue-Ringed octopus is the only group that is dangerous to humans, the others have been secretly using their venom for predation, like paralyzing a clam into opening its shell. Dr Bryan Fry, from the Bio21 Institute said, "Venoms are toxic proteins with specialized functions such as paralyzing the nervous system." This discovery has also unlocked new avenues into drug discovery. Where: All over the world. When: April 15, 2009 3:30 pm Why: The new research indicates that all cephalopods ‘originate from a common, venomous ancestor’ and it also highlights new avenues in drug discovery. Dr Bryan Fry, from the Bio21 Institute said, "We hope that by understanding the structure and mode of action of venom proteins we can benefit drug design for a range of conditions such as pain management, allergies and cancer." While many other creatures have been examined as a basis in drug development, as of yet, cephalopods remain an untapped resource and their venom may represent a unique class of compounds and tissue samples have been collected from all across the globe. Researchers work on understanding why very different types of venoms seem to consistently relate to this venom protein composition, and which physical or chemical properties make them predisposed to be useful as toxin. How: Tissues are already being collected for research. Researchers all over the world are already looking into new ways to use this venom in drug development.
My Opinion: Personally, I just thought this whole thing was kind of cool. It just really makes me stand in awe of our creator, that for all this time, these creatures have possessed a venom that may help us help cure cancer and a variety of other diseases an we are discovering it now; God provided it for us. I think the researchers should really start to look into this because not only does it all point back to God and what an awesome creator he is, but it may help solve some of the medical issues we are currently stuggling with. "Not only will this allow us to understand how these animals have assembled their arsenals, but it will also allow us to better exploit them in the development of new drugs from venoms. It does not seem a coincidence that some of the same protein types have been recruited for use as toxins across the animal kingdom."
A previously unknown population of rare orangutans has been discovered in the forests of Indonesian Borneo, raising hopes for the species' survival, conservationists said Monday. Up to 5,000 endangered Bornean orangutans are believed to be living in limestone mountains in East Kalimantan province after surveyors in December found 219 orangutan "nests", Nature Conservancy scientist Erik Meijaard told AFP. The nests, sleeping platforms made of branches and leaves suspended in the trees, indicate there could be "several hundred to several thousand" orangutans living in the 2,500 square kilometre (965 square mile) area, Meijaard said.
Summary Who: Orangutans
What: A new population of endangered Bornean Orangutans were found
When: April 14, 2009
Where: In the forests of Indonesian Borneo
Why: 219 nests were discovered by surveyors in December and now those nests indicate that there could be several hundred to several thousand orangutans living in that area
How: People surveyed the area and came to the conclusion that there are many orangutans living there
My Opinion Again, its great to hear that an endangered species is slowly growing in numbers. It helps up know that these amazing creatures still have a chance in the world
Who - coastal wildlife including oysters, crabs and whooping cranes, the most endangered crane species.
What - A severe drought gripping Texas is causing unusually salty conditions along the Gulf Coast, upsetting the region's ecological balance and threatening coastal wildlife
When - April 21, 2009 11:15 AM
Where - Texas
Why - Drought
How - The drought is one of the driest on record for Texas and is currently the worst in the U.S., which has seen persistent dry weather across several Western states, Florida and even Hawaii, according to academic and government monitors. The scarcity of rain has reduced fresh-water flow from rivers and streams into coastal marshes, estuaries and bays that normally dilute the salt content of water from the Gulf of Mexico.
In my Opinion:
This is just another Earthly weather condition that we must live with.....droughts happen, but could droughts be worsening and occurring in usually locations because of Global warming? There is no way to really tell. So the most we can really do in these conditions without disturbing the wildlife's way of nature by taking them to Zoo's.....is to pray for rain!!!
Just in time for Earth Day (April 22) the faculty at the college, at which environmental issues are the sole focus, was asked to help prioritize the planet’s most pressing environmental problems.
Overpopulation came out on top, with several professors pointing out its ties to other problems that rank high on the list.
“Overpopulation is the only problem,” said Dr. Charles A. Hall, a systems ecologist. “If we had 100 million people on Earth — or better, 10 million — no others would be a problem.” (Current estimates put the planet’s population at more than six billion.)
Dr. Allan P. Drew, a forest ecologist, put it this way: “Overpopulation means that we are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than we should, just because more people are doing it and this is related to overconsumption by people in general, especially in the ‘developed’ world.”
“But, whether developed or developing,” said Dr. Susan Senecah, who teaches the history of the American environmental movement, “everyone is encouraged to ‘want’ and perceive that they ‘need’ to consume beyond the planet’s ability to provide.”
The ESF faculty pointed to climate change as the second most-pressing issue, with the need to develop renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels coming in third.
“Experimenting with the earth’s climate and chemistry has great risks,” said Dr. Thomas E. Amidon, who invented a process for removing energy-rich sugars from wood and fermenting those sugars into ethanol. “This is a driver in climate change and loss of biodiversity and is a fundamental problem underlying our need to strive for sustainability.”
Rounding out the top 10 issues on the ESF list are overconsumption, the need for more sustainable practices worldwide, the growing need for energy conservation, the need for humans to see themselves as part of the global ecosystem, overall carbon dioxide emissions, the need to develop ways to produce consumer products from renewable resources, and dwindling fresh water resources.
Who - The people What - The earth Where - Every where Why - because we are over populateing the earth or so they say.. My Opinion - I dont really think we are over populating the earth i think we are really just SUPER condensed in certin areas... I dont really think we have much to worry about couse we have enough food on this earth to feed everyone. But we do need to worry about how much we use things that pullute the earth... We all just have to be smarter and wiser on the choices we make and really consider what were using before we use it. But yeah anyways thats just what i think....
Who: To whom it may concern What: Plastic bags Suck Where: Everywhere When: Now Why: Plastic bags end up as litter that fouls the landscape, and kill thousands of marine mammals every year that mistake the floating bags for food. Plastic bags that get buried in landfills may take up to 1,000 years to break down, and in the process they separate into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate soil and water. Furthermore, the production of plastic bags consume millions of gallons of oil that could be used for fuel and heating. • How: Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. They actually go through a process called photo degradation—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate both soil and water, and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them. • According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. Of those, approximately 100 billion are plastic shopping bags, which cost retailers about $4 billion annually. • According to various estimates, Taiwan consumes 20 billion plastic bags annually (900 per person), Japan consumes 300 billion bags each year (300 per person), and Australia consumes 6.9 billion plastic bags annually (326 per person). • Hundreds of thousands of whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine mammals die every year after eating discarded plastic bags they mistake for food. • Discarded plastic bags have become so common in Africa they have spawned a cottage industry. People there collect the bags and use them to weave hats, bags and other goods. According to the BBC, one such group routinely collects 30,000 bags every month. • Plastic bags as litter have even become commonplace in Antarctica and other remote areas. According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags have gone from being rare in the late 1980s and early 1990s to being almost everywhere in Antarctica. http://environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/reusablebags.htm
Who: Ahmed Hamdi What: A third grader that attends Samuel We. Tucker Elementary School was diagnosed with leukemia a year and a half ago. But with the technology we have today, as in laptops, he can stay in school. When: April 27, 2009 Where: Alexandria, Virginia Why: Why is the laptop helping him? Because he like, "beams" in from the technology land. How: It's helping him because he still gets to talk to his friends. While hes sick at home..
My Opinion: I think that schools should give out laptops to every student so when they are home sick they can still "beam" in from technology land and learn what they are supposed to.
Alaska's Melting Glaciers = Land Rising http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/science/earth/18juneau.html?ref=earth
Who: Alaskans
What:As the glaciers melt, the land is rising, causing the sea to retreat.
When:Now
Where: Alaskan glaciers
Why:Relieved of billions of tons of glacial weight, the land has risen much as a cushion regains its shape after someone gets up from a couch. The land is ascending so fast that the rising seas — a ubiquitous byproduct of global warming — cannot keep pace. As a result, the relative sea level is falling, at a rate “among the highest ever recorded,” according to a 2007 report by a panel of experts convened by Mayor Bruce Botelho of Juneau.
My Opinion: Its shocking that glaciers in Alaska are retreating as fast as 30 feet a year. Considering how long they have been there for, the fact that they are going away so fast is alarming.
Why: Sea ice is very important. It releases nutrients in the water, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, etc.
How: All the CO2 and other green house gases are a contributing factor to global warming which causes the sea ice to decrease each year.
My opinion: I think that more people should start walking or biking. There are so many obiece lazy people who do not want to exercise or walk anywere. The only thing they can do is drive cars. I think that Canada and other countries should implement a law that states obiece people should start walking instead of driving.
WHO: Affects everyone, but can only be solved by major powers such as britain, US, perhaps canada, Japan, and China.
WHAT: Everything energy, from comsumption to preservation, from hydro to fossil fuels.
WHEN: From around the fifties till now and the future.
WHERE: loss of economic value in third world countries, to nothing but benefits in first world countries.
WHY: The whole issue revolves around the another issue which is greed, AMERICAN GREED. The article is just putting info out on what is good and what is bad. Also who is good and who is bad.
HOW: If we are asking how to start being more energy efficient, then I think the only possible solution is for Canadians to move to africa and africans to move to Canada, same goes with any other mega-corp run country.
OPINION: From the article and the videos within the article, I think that Jesus is coming back soon. Mankind has become so greedy and only a few are wishing for it to stop. So the the few will be punish with the many. Put seriously we need to start saving God's earth and putting more money into research more natural energy sources (cough cough the sun) and quite burning off natural but unatural fossil fuels.
what-The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity, is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth
17 Comments:
Jesse
http://www.earthportal.org/news/?p=2285
Environmental groups suing gov for mistreatment of Mexican Grey Wolves
Who - Environmental groups in AZ
What - They are suing the government for mistreatment of gret wolves
When - April 3rd
Where - Arizona
Why - They were mistreated and someone apparently has to pay
My Opinion - I think its good that someone is taking a step to protect these wonderful animals but I dont know if suing the government is the best step to save them.. I mean wheres the money going to go? we all know it'll end up going to some big wig downtown who'll get richer and we'll all get poorer.
Forget the trees! Save the children!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090309/sc_afp/environmentclimatewarmingoceansacidification
PARIS (AFP) – Ocean acidification driven by climate change is stripping away the protective shell of tiny yet vital organisms that absorb huge amounts of carbon pollution from the atmosphere, a new study has revealed.
Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the calcium carapace of microscopic animals called foraminifera living in the Southern Ocean have fallen in weight by a third, the study found.
The amoeba-like organisms, about the size of a grain of sand, live in the surface waters of oceans around the world.
They are an important part of the ecological chain and also provide a bulwark against global warming.
They transform carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air into calcium-based shells. When they die, their carbon-rich shells sink to the ocean floor, effectively storing the atmospheric CO2 forever.
Previous studies have shown that other marine animals, notably corals, are losing their ability to form exoskeletons from calcium.
However, the potential causes for this are tangled, and include rising temperatures and nutrient runoff from coastal agriculture as well as acidification.
This is the first study to look specifically at acidification and pin it to greenhouse-gas pollution, which is driven especially by the invisible product of burning oil, gas and coal.
"It is the invasion of anthropogenic (man-made) CO2 that is causing this particular source of acidification," said co-author William Howard of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Center in Hobart, Tasmania.
Howard's team collected shells of one foraminifera species, Globigerina bulloides, as they drifted toward the sea floor, and compared them to older specimens that had sunk several hundred years earlier.
The newer shells had 30-to-35 percent less mass, they reported in the online edition of the journal Nature Geoscience.
"If forams and other shell makers are not making shells, that might change the transfer of carbon from the surface ocean into the deep ocean," said Howard.
"It changes the efficiency of the biological pump, and would tend to lessen the degree to which the ocean takes up carbon. That's a feedback that we have to be concerned about," he said in a phone interview.
Only in the last five years have scientists become aware of the extent of ocean acidification and its potential to disrupt Earth's carbon cycle, which balances the absorption and release of CO2 into the atmospshere.
"The problem with this impact is that it is so persistent and so long-lived, unlike other pollution carbons. We will have a harder time turning this impact around," Howard said.
The geo-chemical mechanisms that buffer acidification work very slowly, he explained.
"It is like taking an antacid tablet for an upset stomach and then having to wait hundreds -- or thousands -- of years for it to work."
If the loss of shell mass threatens the survival of the amoeba-like creatures, it could also disrupt a food chain reaching from the plankton they eat, all the way up to large sea mammal such as whales.
"We don't know yet what those impacts might be," Howard said.
Who - Scientist
What - The Marine life
Where- in all of the oceans.
Why- From our pollutions, we are killing the marine life of these animals. We are stripping away bits and pecies of them and sooner or later there going to die.
My Opinion - I really think theres not alot we can do, because people dont care. if people cared, we could save so many things and make our earth a better place. But we as people are to selfish and it takes a slapp in the face for us to realize that we have to change, and by that time its too late.
Evan
www.cedb.asce.org
Brazil's contamination of soil and ground water are problems common to developed as well as developing countries; their effects on health and the deterioration of natural resources transcend national boundaries.
When: September 23
Where: Brazil
Why:Industries are careless with their waste management
My opinion: I think its good that someone is bringing this issue to peoples attention. Even our western companies have this issue, its probably a irrelevant to the other larger issues, but in all fairness we need to by more aware.
World will not meet 2C warming target, climate change experts agreeSource: http://www.enn.com/climate/article/39667
Who: Climate scientists
What: A conference representing 26 different countries give there opinions as to weather or not the 2C warming target will be met. 60% says that it is technically and economically possible, while the rest say its impossible to stay under a 2C global warming temperature. Specialists believe that the temperature could rise from anywhere between 3-6C by the end of this century! Our planet is speeding up to global warming even faster than expected! We could be looking at a very HOT future.
Where: THE WORLD (a.k.a Global warming)
When: April 16, 2009
Why: This meeting was held to get the opinions of experts, reasearchers, scientists, political scientists, and the head of universities and laboratories who all knew the subject of global warming well. They wanted to see weather or not the world may have a chance at meeting a 2C global warming temperature. The experts believe there is a chance, but do to the soaring carbon emissions and political constraints a 4-5C temperature rise by the end of this decade is very likely.
How: Global warming has been an issue since the industrial revolution. The continual emission of carbon and nitrogen into the atmosphere is catastrophically rising the temperature of the earth much harder and faster than expected. This is due to fossil fuels, and large industries who continue to pollute the atmosphere. The conference invited over 1500 people, and app 250 scientific research experts responded with their opinion.
My opinion:
I think it is wise to discuss the matter with experts and researchers and combining a poll of opinions. It gives an overall summary of what could very likely happen to our world in the near future. It’s a very harsh reality that everyone on the face of this earth has to live with. The world is warming, and its going to hit us hard if we don’t stop the carbon emissions NOW! I know that when I have children, I want them to be able to enjoy the environment that God has created for them. What frightens me even more is not only that the world is warming, but the fact that it is warming much faster than expected! It shows how careless we have been to the idea of global warming, and obviously not enough has been done about it in order to make a dent of change in the right direction.
Carbon Tax
Who – Canadians/Canadian Government
What – Carbon Tax of anywhere between $100 - $200 per ton
When – To be implemented by 2020
Why – To try and cut back on global warming
My Opinion – With they Kyoto Protocol failure I doubt that taking more money is going to be the answer to the carbon problem. I think that a cut back on trade with any developed country that does not reach a set carbon goal would be better.
(Mr. Enns... I forgot to post it last night) blahh…
Environmental Article Summary #12
Rebekah McMurphy
April 18th, 2008
Geography 12
Nations Need to Cut Emissions by 70% http://www.environmentalleader.com/
2009/04/16/global-warming-study-
nations-need-to-cut-emissions-by-70-percent/ Who:
Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
What:
They talk about how the threat of global warming can be significantly lessened if nations cut emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 70% this century. And that we can no longer avoid significant warming during this century.
When:
By 2020… and the UK’s goal is to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Where:
The whole world (EARTH).
Why:
A catastrophe can be avoided if the world implements the recommended emission cuts of 70%.
How:
The EPA may soon announce an “endangerment finding” that will enable the agency to write regulations under the Clean Air Act that limit emissions, which will force the nations to cut emissions.
My Opinion:
Well, Scientists from the Tyndall Centre of Climate Change said in order to prevent temperatures from rising above a level that causes extreme weather events, droughts and food shortage, emissions cuts will have to run much deeper. I think its actually scary to think that our world might become very different if action doesn’t take place with global warming. It makes me wonder what the world is going to look like in the future, and what I can do... to help? Haha but at the same time it feels like my pollution would make no different to the whole rest of the world! But I guess it starts with just one person. I should walk and bike more!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tentacles of Doomhttp://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/39683
Summary: Who: Cephalopods.
What: Once believed to only be the realm of the Blue-Ringed octopus, recent discoveries have indicated that all octopus, cuttlefish, and some squid are venomous. Though the Blue-Ringed octopus is the only group that is dangerous to humans, the others have been secretly using their venom for predation, like paralyzing a clam into opening its shell. Dr Bryan Fry, from the Bio21 Institute said, "Venoms are toxic proteins with specialized functions such as paralyzing the nervous system." This discovery has also unlocked new avenues into drug discovery.
Where: All over the world.
When: April 15, 2009 3:30 pm
Why: The new research indicates that all cephalopods ‘originate from a common, venomous ancestor’ and it also highlights new avenues in drug discovery. Dr Bryan Fry, from the Bio21 Institute said, "We hope that by understanding the structure and mode of action of venom proteins we can benefit drug design for a range of conditions such as pain management, allergies and cancer." While many other creatures have been examined as a basis in drug development, as of yet, cephalopods remain an untapped resource and their venom may represent a unique class of compounds and tissue samples have been collected from all across the globe. Researchers work on understanding why very different types of venoms seem to consistently relate to this venom protein composition, and which physical or chemical properties make them predisposed to be useful as toxin.
How: Tissues are already being collected for research. Researchers all over the world are already looking into new ways to use this venom in drug development.
My Opinion: Personally, I just thought this whole thing was kind of cool. It just really makes me stand in awe of our creator, that for all this time, these creatures have possessed a venom that may help us help cure cancer and a variety of other diseases an we are discovering it now; God provided it for us. I think the researchers should really start to look into this because not only does it all point back to God and what an awesome creator he is, but it may help solve some of the medical issues we are currently stuggling with. "Not only will this allow us to understand how these animals have assembled their arsenals, but it will also allow us to better exploit them in the development of new drugs from venoms. It does not seem a coincidence that some of the same protein types have been recruited for use as toxins across the animal kingdom."
-Ashleigh Miller
New orangutan population found on Borneo
"http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/39680"
A previously unknown population of rare orangutans has been discovered in the forests of Indonesian Borneo, raising hopes for the species' survival, conservationists said Monday. Up to 5,000 endangered Bornean orangutans are believed to be living in limestone mountains in East Kalimantan province after surveyors in December found 219 orangutan "nests", Nature Conservancy scientist Erik Meijaard told AFP. The nests, sleeping platforms made of branches and leaves suspended in the trees, indicate there could be "several hundred to several thousand" orangutans living in the 2,500 square kilometre (965 square mile) area, Meijaard said.
Summary
Who: Orangutans
What: A new population of endangered Bornean Orangutans were found
When: April 14, 2009
Where: In the forests of Indonesian Borneo
Why: 219 nests were discovered by surveyors in December and now those nests indicate that there could be several hundred to several thousand orangutans living in that area
How: People surveyed the area and came to the conclusion that there are many orangutans living there
My Opinion
Again, its great to hear that an endangered species is slowly growing in numbers. It helps up know that these amazing creatures still have a chance in the world
Severe Texas Drought Threatens Coastal Wildlife
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/39736
Summary:
Who - coastal wildlife including oysters, crabs and whooping cranes, the most endangered crane species.
What - A severe drought gripping Texas is causing unusually salty conditions along the Gulf Coast, upsetting the region's ecological balance and threatening coastal wildlife
When - April 21, 2009 11:15 AM
Where - Texas
Why - Drought
How - The drought is one of the driest on record for Texas and is currently the worst in the U.S., which has seen persistent dry weather across several Western states, Florida and even Hawaii, according to academic and government monitors. The scarcity of rain has reduced fresh-water flow from rivers and streams into coastal marshes, estuaries and bays that normally dilute the salt content of water from the Gulf of Mexico.
In my Opinion:
This is just another Earthly weather condition that we must live with.....droughts happen, but could droughts be worsening and occurring in usually locations because of Global warming? There is no way to really tell. So the most we can really do in these conditions without disturbing the wildlife's way of nature by taking them to Zoo's.....is to pray for rain!!!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418075752.htm
Over population!
Just in time for Earth Day (April 22) the faculty at the college, at which environmental issues are the sole focus, was asked to help prioritize the planet’s most pressing environmental problems.
Overpopulation came out on top, with several professors pointing out its ties to other problems that rank high on the list.
“Overpopulation is the only problem,” said Dr. Charles A. Hall, a systems ecologist. “If we had 100 million people on Earth — or better, 10 million — no others would be a problem.” (Current estimates put the planet’s population at more than six billion.)
Dr. Allan P. Drew, a forest ecologist, put it this way: “Overpopulation means that we are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than we should, just because more people are doing it and this is related to overconsumption by people in general, especially in the ‘developed’ world.”
“But, whether developed or developing,” said Dr. Susan Senecah, who teaches the history of the American environmental movement, “everyone is encouraged to ‘want’ and perceive that they ‘need’ to consume beyond the planet’s ability to provide.”
The ESF faculty pointed to climate change as the second most-pressing issue, with the need to develop renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels coming in third.
“Experimenting with the earth’s climate and chemistry has great risks,” said Dr. Thomas E. Amidon, who invented a process for removing energy-rich sugars from wood and fermenting those sugars into ethanol. “This is a driver in climate change and loss of biodiversity and is a fundamental problem underlying our need to strive for sustainability.”
Rounding out the top 10 issues on the ESF list are overconsumption, the need for more sustainable practices worldwide, the growing need for energy conservation, the need for humans to see themselves as part of the global ecosystem, overall carbon dioxide emissions, the need to develop ways to produce consumer products from renewable resources, and dwindling fresh water resources.
Who - The people
What - The earth
Where - Every where
Why - because we are over populateing the earth or so they say..
My Opinion - I dont really think we are over populating the earth i think we are really just SUPER condensed in certin areas... I dont really think we have much to worry about couse we have enough food on this earth to feed everyone. But we do need to worry about how much we use things that pullute the earth...
We all just have to be smarter and wiser on the choices we make and really consider what were using before we use it.
But yeah anyways thats just what i think....
Who: To whom it may concern
What: Plastic bags Suck
Where: Everywhere
When: Now
Why: Plastic bags end up as litter that fouls the landscape, and kill thousands of marine mammals every year that mistake the floating bags for food. Plastic bags that get buried in landfills may take up to 1,000 years to break down, and in the process they separate into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate soil and water. Furthermore, the production of plastic bags consume millions of gallons of oil that could be used for fuel and heating.
• How: Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. They actually go through a process called photo degradation—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate both soil and water, and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. Of those, approximately 100 billion are plastic shopping bags, which cost retailers about $4 billion annually.
• According to various estimates, Taiwan consumes 20 billion plastic bags annually (900 per person), Japan consumes 300 billion bags each year (300 per person), and Australia consumes 6.9 billion plastic bags annually (326 per person).
• Hundreds of thousands of whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine mammals die every year after eating discarded plastic bags they mistake for food.
• Discarded plastic bags have become so common in Africa they have spawned a cottage industry. People there collect the bags and use them to weave hats, bags and other goods. According to the BBC, one such group routinely collects 30,000 bags every month.
• Plastic bags as litter have even become commonplace in Antarctica and other remote areas. According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags have gone from being rare in the late 1980s and early 1990s to being almost everywhere in Antarctica.
http://environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/reusablebags.htm
Laptops help sick kids stay connected to school, friends
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/27/hm.sick.kids.satellite.connection/index.html
Who: Ahmed Hamdi
What: A third grader that attends Samuel We. Tucker Elementary School was diagnosed with leukemia a year and a half ago. But with the technology we have today, as in laptops, he can stay in school.
When: April 27, 2009
Where: Alexandria, Virginia
Why: Why is the laptop helping him? Because he like, "beams" in from the technology land.
How: It's helping him because he still gets to talk to his friends. While hes sick at home..
My Opinion: I think that schools should give out laptops to every student so when they are home sick they can still "beam" in from technology land and learn what they are supposed to.
Alaska's Melting Glaciers = Land Rising http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/science/earth/18juneau.html?ref=earth
Who: Alaskans
What:As the glaciers melt, the land is rising, causing the sea to retreat.
When:Now
Where: Alaskan glaciers
Why:Relieved of billions of tons of glacial weight, the land has risen much as a cushion regains its shape after someone gets up from a couch. The land is ascending so fast that the rising seas — a ubiquitous byproduct of global warming — cannot keep pace. As a result, the relative sea level is falling, at a rate “among the highest ever recorded,” according to a 2007 report by a panel of experts convened by Mayor Bruce Botelho of Juneau.
My Opinion: Its shocking that glaciers in Alaska are retreating as fast as 30 feet a year. Considering how long they have been there for, the fact that they are going away so fast is alarming.
Andrei
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/SeaIce/
Sea Ice
Who: People
What: Sea Ice
When: April 20, 2009
Where: Antarctica
Why: Sea ice is very important. It releases nutrients in the water, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, etc.
How: All the CO2 and other green house gases are a contributing factor to global warming which causes the sea ice to decrease each year.
My opinion: I think that more people should start walking or biking. There are so many obiece lazy people who do not want to exercise or walk anywere. The only thing they can do is drive cars. I think that Canada and other countries should implement a law that states obiece people should start walking instead of driving.
ARTICLE:http://www.globalissues.org/article/595/energy-security
WHO: Affects everyone, but can only be solved by major powers such as britain, US, perhaps canada, Japan, and China.
WHAT: Everything energy, from comsumption to preservation, from hydro to fossil fuels.
WHEN: From around the fifties till now and the future.
WHERE: loss of economic value in third world countries, to nothing but benefits in first world countries.
WHY: The whole issue revolves around the another issue which is greed, AMERICAN GREED. The article is just putting info out on what is good and what is bad. Also who is good and who is bad.
HOW: If we are asking how to start being more energy efficient, then I think the only possible solution is for Canadians to move to africa and africans to move to Canada, same goes with any other mega-corp run country.
OPINION: From the article and the videos within the article, I think that Jesus is coming back soon. Mankind has become so greedy and only a few are wishing for it to stop. So the the few will be punish with the many. Put seriously we need to start saving God's earth and putting more money into research more natural energy sources (cough cough the sun) and quite burning off natural but unatural fossil fuels.
Biodiversity
when-Monday, May 04, 2009.
who-global issues web site
what-The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity, is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth
where- everywhere
why-humans are distroying
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