http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-somerhalder/accounting-for-a-manmade-_b_850745.html
Post 7 Source 6
Summary:
One year after the worst oil spill in American history, the effects of the BP oil spill is washing ashore. Dozens of dead baby dolphins, oyster populations are devastated, loss of jobs that were dependent on the ocean, gulf residents complain of health problems which are believe to be caused by the oil spill. The oil from the spill washes ashore on a daily bases.
Anyone would think that a disaster of this magnitude would give cause for our country to stop and reflect on why we continue to drill in deep and treacherous waters, especially without an adequate safety net. If the oil industry made the same investments in safety and containment, as they do in research and development then the blowout could have been avoided.
Congress is just as responsible as BP. Congress has put in place a $75 million liability cap on offshore drilling rigs. The American taxpayer is the ones who paid for the cleanup, not BP. BP spent more money on public relations, then they did on reimbursement to families who lost their loved ones during the explosion, to businesses who took a financial loss from the tourist trade and for the cleanup of the oil. They cannot compensate for the lost of wildlife to the area. The Department of Interior is given only 30 days to respond to applications for offshore drilling, this is not enough time to review the complicated permit applications.
"Only Congress can enact laws that safeguard Americans from oil spill polluters, and that provide needed resources to the federal government so they can properly oversee high-risk ocean drilling. Unless they take these and other important steps recommended by the President's Oil Spill Commission, our lawmakers in Congress will continue to leave you, me and our oceans defenseless."
Evaluation:
As far as I am concern, this disaster was completely avoidable.
Congress wants to get rid of regulations, thinking that the lapse of regulations will give the economy a boost. I disagree, at the time of the oil spill we had regulations in place, but apparently they were not enough. Congress is to busy kissing corporations butts, that they are putting the life of our planet, therefore the lives of it's people at risk. They need to stop worrying about what corporations want, they need to start thinking what is best for the earth and its inhabitants.
But, the fault does not only goes to Congress and BP; it goes to the people as well. Americans are dependent on oil and we are also it's biggest consumer. We use oil in our automobiles, buildings, planes, making clothes, paint, and plastic. We are a disposable society, if our sock has a hole in it we throw it away, we don't try to mend it. We don't think about hopping in the car to drive 5 blocks to the store, instead of riding our bikes or walking. We can asked Congress to impose more regulations and laws to prevent a repeat of the BP oil spill, but the people also must take blame for what happened off the gulf coast.
However, BP should have paid for the cost of the clean up, not the American people. If you can't afford to clean up your mess, then why are you doing it.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Summary:
http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/
Post 6 Source 5
Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that changes the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. In some third world countries, it is not uncommon for dung to be used as a indoor heating source and it is also used as fuel for cooking. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases, which can be fatal. The health problems can include pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer. There is evidence that links air pollution to low birth weight, TB, heart disease and other forms of cancer.
Evaluation:
In developed countries, regulations have been put in place to curved the amount of pollutants that enter of air. But, is it to late? In undeveloped countries (third world) many people uses resources that is readily available to them such as dung to help provide heat and cooking fuel for their homes. They do not have the luxury of in-home heating, electricity or water as do the people that lived in developed countries. Many of the governments in the third world are poor and therefore cannot provide their citizens with the essentials that developed nations have.
The United Nations and other international organizations have looked into educating the officials and their citizens in other forms of heat and cooking fuel. But, many of these people cannot afford the financial cost that will allow them these alternatives. At the time of this writing the United States have an unemployment rate of 10%, unemployment rate in third world countries are as high as 35%. Their nations do not have programs in placed such as food stamps or unemployment. These families must used the only resources that are available to them in order to provide for their families, even if it causes pollution.
We can do more in developed nations to ease the strain on our atmosphere, but until a solution can be found to ease the burden imposed on poorer nations, what alternatives do they have?
http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/
Post 6 Source 5
Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that changes the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. In some third world countries, it is not uncommon for dung to be used as a indoor heating source and it is also used as fuel for cooking. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases, which can be fatal. The health problems can include pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer. There is evidence that links air pollution to low birth weight, TB, heart disease and other forms of cancer.
Evaluation:
In developed countries, regulations have been put in place to curved the amount of pollutants that enter of air. But, is it to late? In undeveloped countries (third world) many people uses resources that is readily available to them such as dung to help provide heat and cooking fuel for their homes. They do not have the luxury of in-home heating, electricity or water as do the people that lived in developed countries. Many of the governments in the third world are poor and therefore cannot provide their citizens with the essentials that developed nations have.
The United Nations and other international organizations have looked into educating the officials and their citizens in other forms of heat and cooking fuel. But, many of these people cannot afford the financial cost that will allow them these alternatives. At the time of this writing the United States have an unemployment rate of 10%, unemployment rate in third world countries are as high as 35%. Their nations do not have programs in placed such as food stamps or unemployment. These families must used the only resources that are available to them in order to provide for their families, even if it causes pollution.
We can do more in developed nations to ease the strain on our atmosphere, but until a solution can be found to ease the burden imposed on poorer nations, what alternatives do they have?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Land Pollution
http://www.earthplatform.com/c/pollution/land
Post 5 Source 4
Summary:
Land pollution is contaminated, with bad toxic chemicals and waste that is either left on purpose or dumped on the land. Human activities continue to leave waste throughout the nation due in particular to much unnecessary packaging, We do not recycle enough of the waste we have created to make our lives more easier, food is wrapped in paper and plastic. A number of drinks are in thrown-away cans and bottles. A popular solution to land pollution is the 3 R's; Reduce, reuse and recycle. We can try to prevent pollution by disposing of waste correctly. We can cut down on the waste we use by recycling or donating certain items where they will be reused. The long term effects of pollution can and will affect health as time goes by.
Evaluation:
Common sense would tell a person to pick up after yourself. People are more protective of their bank accounts than the earth, you can have a million of dollars but it will not buy you clean air to breathe, clean water is drink, nor healthy food to eat. If people do not get serious about environmental issues and do not work on cleaning, maintaining and protecting our land from chemicals that can be deadly to the all creatures. Our species can join the ranks of the dinosaurs into extinction.
Post 5 Source 4
Summary:
Land pollution is contaminated, with bad toxic chemicals and waste that is either left on purpose or dumped on the land. Human activities continue to leave waste throughout the nation due in particular to much unnecessary packaging, We do not recycle enough of the waste we have created to make our lives more easier, food is wrapped in paper and plastic. A number of drinks are in thrown-away cans and bottles. A popular solution to land pollution is the 3 R's; Reduce, reuse and recycle. We can try to prevent pollution by disposing of waste correctly. We can cut down on the waste we use by recycling or donating certain items where they will be reused. The long term effects of pollution can and will affect health as time goes by.
Evaluation:
Common sense would tell a person to pick up after yourself. People are more protective of their bank accounts than the earth, you can have a million of dollars but it will not buy you clean air to breathe, clean water is drink, nor healthy food to eat. If people do not get serious about environmental issues and do not work on cleaning, maintaining and protecting our land from chemicals that can be deadly to the all creatures. Our species can join the ranks of the dinosaurs into extinction.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
water bottle pollution in the environment
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/water-bottle-pollution-2947.html?source=glmore
Post 4 Source 3
Summary:
Consumers drink approximately 30 gallons more per person of bottle water then they did in 1976. Bottled water creates more pollution than tap water annually, do to the production and transportation cost of the plastic bottles which requires millions of barrels of oil per year. Americans are the top consumers of bottle water, purchasing an estimated 29 billion bottles a year. The recycling rate of these bottles are only 13% where as the rest finds themselves in landfills throughout the country where some will find their way into the ocean and other water sources.
Evaluation:
If consumers would cut back on their bottle water consumption, it would benefit the environment are us dramatically. If the amount of bottle water consumed by each person was reduce, then less oil would be used for the production and transportation of this product.
Post 4 Source 3
Summary:
Consumers drink approximately 30 gallons more per person of bottle water then they did in 1976. Bottled water creates more pollution than tap water annually, do to the production and transportation cost of the plastic bottles which requires millions of barrels of oil per year. Americans are the top consumers of bottle water, purchasing an estimated 29 billion bottles a year. The recycling rate of these bottles are only 13% where as the rest finds themselves in landfills throughout the country where some will find their way into the ocean and other water sources.
Evaluation:
If consumers would cut back on their bottle water consumption, it would benefit the environment are us dramatically. If the amount of bottle water consumed by each person was reduce, then less oil would be used for the production and transportation of this product.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Deforestation of the Environment
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview.html
Post 3 Source 2
Summary:
The deforestation of our trees should be a concern of everyone. Forest still covered 30% of the earth, but with deforestation the Rain Forest will be gone within a 100 years. Forest's are cut for many reasons but the biggest are agriculture and money.
"Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Deforestation also drives climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without protection from sun-blocking tree cover they quickly dry out. Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can quickly become barren deserts. Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the sun’s rays during the day and holds in heat at night. This disruption leads to more extreme temperatures swings that can be harmful to plants and animals. Trees also play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity of global warming" (NG). I could not had said it better.
There are possible solutions to deforestation, one is stop cutting down trees. That won't happen. How about for each tree cut down a new one is planted.
Evaluation:
I can understand people's fascination with paper products, but do we really need all of them? I tried my best not to use paper plates, cups or towels. They are fast and convenient, yet they don't appeal to me. I grew up using a real plate, a real cup, a cloth napkin or a cloth towel to clean something up. I understand that trees are important to other species, just as I am aware they are important to our own. However, I do understand that logging companies will lose money if they took the time and expense to replace a tree, but they need to realize without trees they won't have a job. Since, our very existence is tied to the forest it would be easier to replant the trees.
Post 3 Source 2
Summary:
The deforestation of our trees should be a concern of everyone. Forest still covered 30% of the earth, but with deforestation the Rain Forest will be gone within a 100 years. Forest's are cut for many reasons but the biggest are agriculture and money.
"Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Deforestation also drives climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without protection from sun-blocking tree cover they quickly dry out. Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can quickly become barren deserts. Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the sun’s rays during the day and holds in heat at night. This disruption leads to more extreme temperatures swings that can be harmful to plants and animals. Trees also play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity of global warming" (NG). I could not had said it better.
There are possible solutions to deforestation, one is stop cutting down trees. That won't happen. How about for each tree cut down a new one is planted.
Evaluation:
I can understand people's fascination with paper products, but do we really need all of them? I tried my best not to use paper plates, cups or towels. They are fast and convenient, yet they don't appeal to me. I grew up using a real plate, a real cup, a cloth napkin or a cloth towel to clean something up. I understand that trees are important to other species, just as I am aware they are important to our own. However, I do understand that logging companies will lose money if they took the time and expense to replace a tree, but they need to realize without trees they won't have a job. Since, our very existence is tied to the forest it would be easier to replant the trees.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The environment
Source:
www.acriticaldecision.org./links/why-is-the-environment-so-important.html
Post 2 Source 1
Summary:
The survival of the human race, depends on all species of plants, animals and insects. If one animal, plant or insect becomes extinct, the lost of that species affects others who lives depend on it. Eventually, it's lost is felt by other species, ours included. All life on this planet interconnects and are dependent on one another. In our race for earth dominance we have destroyed hundreds of habitats that will never recover. We have imported exotic species for pets, and when we realized we can not maintain and control them we release them into our forests and swaps. These invasive species threatens the existence of ingenious species. We have over harvest many forests of its trees, where we have left the land barren. We are leaving cities to move into the country, where wetlands are destroyed so we can have a country setting. How can we forget that the environment is our life support system ?
Evaluation:
I have seen many of the things mention above. I have seen farm land and wooded areas bought by developers who destroyed habitats in order to provide people a new subdivision in a country setting. The country setting normally does not last long, the little town you live in today is a city tomorrow. We cut down trees not just for consumption of the wood for paper and for building materials, only to build another shopping center.
Granted, I live in a subdivision but it has been here for a number of decades. It was already established when we bought our home. Personally, I would never evict an animal from its home so I could build me one. I would rather take an old home in the city and renovate it.
We never think of the invasive species that we dump in the marsh, but we do when we see one, in our backyard looking for food. And then we have the nerve to wonder how it got there. I know that I have never owned an exotic species and I never will.
www.acriticaldecision.org./links/why-is-the-environment-so-important.html
Post 2 Source 1
Summary:
The survival of the human race, depends on all species of plants, animals and insects. If one animal, plant or insect becomes extinct, the lost of that species affects others who lives depend on it. Eventually, it's lost is felt by other species, ours included. All life on this planet interconnects and are dependent on one another. In our race for earth dominance we have destroyed hundreds of habitats that will never recover. We have imported exotic species for pets, and when we realized we can not maintain and control them we release them into our forests and swaps. These invasive species threatens the existence of ingenious species. We have over harvest many forests of its trees, where we have left the land barren. We are leaving cities to move into the country, where wetlands are destroyed so we can have a country setting. How can we forget that the environment is our life support system ?
Evaluation:
I have seen many of the things mention above. I have seen farm land and wooded areas bought by developers who destroyed habitats in order to provide people a new subdivision in a country setting. The country setting normally does not last long, the little town you live in today is a city tomorrow. We cut down trees not just for consumption of the wood for paper and for building materials, only to build another shopping center.
Granted, I live in a subdivision but it has been here for a number of decades. It was already established when we bought our home. Personally, I would never evict an animal from its home so I could build me one. I would rather take an old home in the city and renovate it.
We never think of the invasive species that we dump in the marsh, but we do when we see one, in our backyard looking for food. And then we have the nerve to wonder how it got there. I know that I have never owned an exotic species and I never will.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Introduction: Environment
My name is Lois Wright and I am a student at Delta College. One of our assignments is a research blog based on a subject of interest that we have. For my research blog, I have chosen the environment. In so doing I will examine the importance of it, what is happening to it, how we can repair it and how to protect it. I will also explain who cares about it and why they do care. I did not think that many people realized how one piece of plastic, can effect the living conditions of wildlife and how their loss will affect us. I like a clean house and a nice yard. I want a clean planet, I want to see wildlife where they lived. I don't want to remember them in zoo's, books or on the Internet. Many people believe that going green is the way to do it. But that is only part of the solution, it won't solve the problem of abandon buildings and trash along the roads. I hope to make as many people aware of their actions and the effects they could have on the environment.
Post 1
Post 1
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