Friday, December 11, 2009
Indian leader to attend Copenhagen climate talks
This article is about India attending a summit that is about the carbon footprint it has on the world. Although the U.S and China are up four more higher on the list that India, India still thinks that it should start reducing its population, so that it's 1 ton of carbon dioxide per person a year is decreased. India plans to start fixing fuel efficiency by 2011.
'Adapt or die' becomes mantra against warming
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34261272/ns/us_news-environment/
The world is losing the current battle against global warming. Emissions of greenhouse gases and lack of true, necessary environmental protection and regulation have contributed to global warming. Humans need to follow natures example of adaptation. Rising sea levels and temperatures have contributed to species endangerment and extinction; the threats have also caused displacement and discomfort to humans in several climate altering locations. Adaptation to these conditions is key for survival, not just for humans. Biologists have identified how nature is handling the changing climate. Societies such as England, the Netherlands, and U.S. cities such as Chicago and Boston have already taken the initiative to regulate environmental impacts. Other nations including the United States need to follow in their footsteps to ensure the survival for a wide variety of species and the future of the human race.
This article identifies a severe problem caused by global warming; and the article's idea must be noted. The Earth can NOT tolerate the current pace of alteration and destruction. If species, and humans, are to survive it is clear that actions or adaptation need to occur. Primarily, humans need to enact environmental protections that will reduce the size of the footprint humans leave on this planet. The current amount of greenhouse gas emissions and development is unacceptable. Although some parts of this world have already taken the necessary steps to protect the environment, more needs to be done. Species such as the rare Adonis blue butterfly of Britain looked as if it was going to become extinct as global warming was making its habitat unbearable; however via adaptation the butterfly was able to survive. The key to human survival includes adaptations of environmental impacts and policies.
Is the current change occurring at an unadaptable pace? What else can be done to prevent/slow global climate change?
Source: Associated Press "'Adapt or die' becomes mantra against warming" 3 Dec. 2009
The world is losing the current battle against global warming. Emissions of greenhouse gases and lack of true, necessary environmental protection and regulation have contributed to global warming. Humans need to follow natures example of adaptation. Rising sea levels and temperatures have contributed to species endangerment and extinction; the threats have also caused displacement and discomfort to humans in several climate altering locations. Adaptation to these conditions is key for survival, not just for humans. Biologists have identified how nature is handling the changing climate. Societies such as England, the Netherlands, and U.S. cities such as Chicago and Boston have already taken the initiative to regulate environmental impacts. Other nations including the United States need to follow in their footsteps to ensure the survival for a wide variety of species and the future of the human race.
This article identifies a severe problem caused by global warming; and the article's idea must be noted. The Earth can NOT tolerate the current pace of alteration and destruction. If species, and humans, are to survive it is clear that actions or adaptation need to occur. Primarily, humans need to enact environmental protections that will reduce the size of the footprint humans leave on this planet. The current amount of greenhouse gas emissions and development is unacceptable. Although some parts of this world have already taken the necessary steps to protect the environment, more needs to be done. Species such as the rare Adonis blue butterfly of Britain looked as if it was going to become extinct as global warming was making its habitat unbearable; however via adaptation the butterfly was able to survive. The key to human survival includes adaptations of environmental impacts and policies.
Is the current change occurring at an unadaptable pace? What else can be done to prevent/slow global climate change?
Source: Associated Press "'Adapt or die' becomes mantra against warming" 3 Dec. 2009
Feds changing Hawaii swordfish fishery regulations
Endangered species , now slightly becoming even more endangered. ! The federal government is now allowing the longline swordfish to be prey to humans again. Seeing as it was once not allowed because of the loggerhead sea turtles that might be caught in the process. But they are saying that up to 46 can be caught "accidentally" . Once the percentage goes from 17 back to 16 the restrictions will be back in affect.
Untold Levels of Oil Sands Pollution on Athabasca River Confirmed
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207151335.htm
The Athabasca Oil Sands stretch through most of Canada and into the Northern US. They contain near as much oil overall as much of the Middle East or even more. The only problem is that it requires much more work to extract from the oil sands than it does in oil fields. The pollution from the extracting is being found in the Athabasca River. It is an extreme amount of pollution as well. It is many times more than was originally thought to be in the River. Ecologists and other scientists are very worried about what the pollution is doing to most of North America.
This is very worrying, indeed. This pollution from the extraction process is many times as polluting as the pollution from regular oil extraction. The consequences for this pollution is even more deadly than the normal pollution. The River that is being polluted services much of the North and Northeast with water. Most of Canada is affected by this pollution. This has very large implications on much of the Americas.
The Athabasca Oil Sands stretch through most of Canada and into the Northern US. They contain near as much oil overall as much of the Middle East or even more. The only problem is that it requires much more work to extract from the oil sands than it does in oil fields. The pollution from the extracting is being found in the Athabasca River. It is an extreme amount of pollution as well. It is many times more than was originally thought to be in the River. Ecologists and other scientists are very worried about what the pollution is doing to most of North America.
This is very worrying, indeed. This pollution from the extraction process is many times as polluting as the pollution from regular oil extraction. The consequences for this pollution is even more deadly than the normal pollution. The River that is being polluted services much of the North and Northeast with water. Most of Canada is affected by this pollution. This has very large implications on much of the Americas.
Scientists Detect PCBs on South America’s Highest Peak
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207150739.htm
This article is about the dramatic find of a banned toxin on the tallest mountain in the Americas. This is shocking as the toxin, PCB, has been banned since 2001. This shows that mountains and other areas of high elevation are trapping areas for organic molecules and air pollution. Many other mountains are planned to be tested for other harmful chemicals as well.
This definitely a shocking find. It could come back to harm life below the mountains as the Earth heats up. The snow containing the toxins would melt, with the run-off still holding on to the chemicals. This means that a toxin, like PCB, could come back to haunt us even though it's been banned since 2001. It could poison our water supply and that is something that we don't need at all right now in our planet's delicate stage. It just goes to show us that no matter what, all of our actions have drastic consequences.
This article is about the dramatic find of a banned toxin on the tallest mountain in the Americas. This is shocking as the toxin, PCB, has been banned since 2001. This shows that mountains and other areas of high elevation are trapping areas for organic molecules and air pollution. Many other mountains are planned to be tested for other harmful chemicals as well.
This definitely a shocking find. It could come back to harm life below the mountains as the Earth heats up. The snow containing the toxins would melt, with the run-off still holding on to the chemicals. This means that a toxin, like PCB, could come back to haunt us even though it's been banned since 2001. It could poison our water supply and that is something that we don't need at all right now in our planet's delicate stage. It just goes to show us that no matter what, all of our actions have drastic consequences.
EU Commits Billions in climate aid for poor nations
The Associated Press. "EU Commits Billions In Climate Aid For Poor Nations." Web log post. National Public Radio, 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121334878.
Europe is becoming the leader in Copenhagen for stopping the global climate change issue. They are giving up billions in order to try and stop the emissions that the world is putting into the atmosphere. Europe hopes to start other nations to help the cause and Europe is paying the poorer countries so that they will help stop their harmful emissions. Europe is also cutting its own emissions to try and set a good example for the other nations. Europe hopes that the US and China will cut their emissions to set a good example for the rest of the world. Europe is promising to cut emissions by 30 percent and the US has only promised a 3 percent withdrawal from the 1990 standards. This puts Europe far ahead of any other country in means of protecting the environment.
Europe states that all of these limitations and regulations are necessary to protect our environment. China and the US are hesitant to do the same because of the costs. Some say it is too expensive and wont have save much. Others believe that this needs to be done in order to save the environment. Some protesters have appeared at Copenhagen trying to save the economy, while other protesters are there to save the environment. The choice that needs to be made is whether or not the world needs money now, or they need to have a long lasting source. If the economy is saved at the environments expense, then we could loose everything. If the environment is saved, then poverty will be a much bigger issue than it is now. The discussion at Copenhagen is to find a middle ground between these two issues. Europe decided that the environment is a higher priority, while the US is already in an economical crisis and is working on that problem, so the environment isn't as high as a priority.
Women 'bearing brunt' of climate change
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/11/18/climate.change.women/index.html?iref=allsearch
People in Bolivia are beginning to feel the effects of climate change, with women bearing the brunt of the suffering. Most people living in high altitude areas of Bolivia rely on nearby glaciers for water and money, but climate change has caused many of these glaciers to dissapear. The glaciers were the source of a major ski industry that has recently gone belly-up due to the dissapearence of permafrost. The lack of an economy on the mountains has put into effect a massive migration; the men in the families are forced to move to larger cities where jobs are available while the women have to stay home and gather water from far away streams. Due to lack of education and acess to birth control the women have many kids that they have to provide water for, which is becoming increasingly difficult. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to assist these women by working to curb climate change in addition to acess to birth control and education.
It just isn’t fair that the poorest people in the poorest parts of the world are forced to bear the brunt of climate change. In my opinion, it is one of the major reasons why not more is done to prevent climate change. The most powerful and wealthiest people in the world hardly notice the affects but they are the ones contributing the most. If anything Is ever to be done in response to climate change the poor people need to find a voice, more affluent people need to help them instead of just being concerned about themselves. Since we are the ones causing the problem it is up to us to help these people through it. With the environmental conference in Copenhagan under way hopefully something will be done to curb carbon emissions world-wide. However, governments aren’t the only things that can make a global difference, by getting involved in grass roots organizations, anyone has the power to make a difference in the world.
People in Bolivia are beginning to feel the effects of climate change, with women bearing the brunt of the suffering. Most people living in high altitude areas of Bolivia rely on nearby glaciers for water and money, but climate change has caused many of these glaciers to dissapear. The glaciers were the source of a major ski industry that has recently gone belly-up due to the dissapearence of permafrost. The lack of an economy on the mountains has put into effect a massive migration; the men in the families are forced to move to larger cities where jobs are available while the women have to stay home and gather water from far away streams. Due to lack of education and acess to birth control the women have many kids that they have to provide water for, which is becoming increasingly difficult. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to assist these women by working to curb climate change in addition to acess to birth control and education.
It just isn’t fair that the poorest people in the poorest parts of the world are forced to bear the brunt of climate change. In my opinion, it is one of the major reasons why not more is done to prevent climate change. The most powerful and wealthiest people in the world hardly notice the affects but they are the ones contributing the most. If anything Is ever to be done in response to climate change the poor people need to find a voice, more affluent people need to help them instead of just being concerned about themselves. Since we are the ones causing the problem it is up to us to help these people through it. With the environmental conference in Copenhagan under way hopefully something will be done to curb carbon emissions world-wide. However, governments aren’t the only things that can make a global difference, by getting involved in grass roots organizations, anyone has the power to make a difference in the world.
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