Dec
9
Environmental Activism
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When I was in high school and needed to rack up my community service hours, my first choice was doing beach clean-ups in the Jupiter area. Organizations often schedule these events once or twice a month, and anyone can participate! There are countless ways to volunteer, and why not do something that will better the environment?
For three years I worked at the Juno Beach Marine Life Center, where injured sea turtles are kept until they are able to be released into the wild again. It felt great doing something for these species, especially because the life expectancy of loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles are very low. And the upside- its really intersting and not at all boring. I was able to teach visitors about statistical facts and information about the animals. And helping the turtles survive made me feel great.
You could become involved in a cause you believe in, such as animal conservation, donations, local clean-ups, and working with children to teach them about environmental concerns. Besides contributing to the life and health of your community, you will also reap the benefits of doing good.
If you feel as strongly as I do, you can even become involved in local protests. Certain groups work hard to influence those causing detriment to the planet. Some groups and acts of activism include Camp for Climate Action, Earth Liberation Front, and tree sitting. I know it may seem a little hardcore, and maybe somewhat hippie-ish, sometimes becoming involved in certain protests can really make a difference. People listen.
Dec
9
Destroying Precious Property
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I was talking to my father on the phone recently and he was very upset with the current shape of his town in MA. I was born in raised in this beautiful, no-strings, down to earth area, and almost every weekend would go hiking or biking in its local forest. Well, it turns out, the big time supermarket up there, Stop and Shop, needed a good area of land to build a storage facility. The most ideal location? My forest. Acres of trees were cut down, resulting in less area for the wildlife to live. Countless deer are seen running through the roads because there isn’t enough room. I was devasted after hearing this news. How do big executives get the upper hand in situations like these? Why can’t nature be left alone?
Humans are almost always the cause of forest destruction or deforestation. There are a variety of reasons for doing so (besides building property), including wood for timber and fires, agriculture for small and large farms, and road contruction. Although there are some cases in which it may be neccessary to cut down trees, the fact remain that in doing so, more and more animals lose their home and often get killed in suburban areas. Is it really worth it?
Trees are more important to us then many realize; and not just because they produce paper. They provide shade, oxygen and homes for numerous species. Just like us, trees are living creatures. I feel that every species deserves some respect. Stop cutting and start saving!
Nov
12
I found an article by Guy Dauncey, coauthor of Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change, that significantly relates to my concern for the environment. The main purpose of the article is to inform the reader of newer, up-and-coming methods to produce clean energy. Dauncey includes facts and statistics about the harmful impact of pollution and a great deal of information regarding the modern eco-friendly energy sources.
Coal burning is detrimental to the environment, producing nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury, which can cause acid rain and polluted lakes and rivers. CO2 , among other harmful gases, are causing a greater increase in global warming- According to Dauncey, the Arctic summer icepack, normally three meters thick, has dwindled by 40 percent since 1970 and could potentially be totally gone by 2050. Although some feel that natural gas is a less harmful source, the fact remains that 85 percent of natural gas is methane. These facts are very important to our society and should make everyone consider converting to an environmentally sound way of life.
There areways to cut our electricity dependence by 75 percent, including the application of one to four star energy efficiency ratings to certain purchases (house appliances, and vehicles), the strengthening of the national energy code for buildings, and the establishment of a national electricity efficiency tax. Our demand for electricity is constantly growing, and something must be done to reduce it. I found the previously mentioned ideas to be quite ingenious.
The article mentions that a reasonable goal for our future is to make 80 percent of our electricity consumption come from clean energy. Such sources include hydrogen (particularly for vehicles), wind, solar, hot underground water, and ground source geothermal. In many countries, it has been found that using some of these sources would produce enough power to meet their needs. We should start converting…ASAP!
The four basic policies to launch a sustainable energy revolution includes renewable portfolio standards, carbon taxes, and tax and subsidy shifts. The portfolio standards state that a percentage of a state’s energy consumption must come from renewable energy by a particular date. Carbon taxes, which I feel to be a great concept, places taxes on all fuels that release CO2. The tax and subsidy shifts would transfer anything supporting fossils fuels to more efficient measures, such as renewable energy and hydrogen.
I loved this article so much. I know it may seem boring to you, but it is critical to our understanding of the devastating state of our environment. Clean energy is something that should be taken seriously by all, because if it’s not, the environment will continue to suffer from the current degrading and harmful sources.
Guy Dauncey. “Renewable Energy Can Help Conserve the Environment.” Opposing Viewpoints: Conserving the Environment. Ed. Douglas Dupler. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. CCLA, Palm Beach Comm College. 12 Nov. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010430212&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=lincclin_pbcc&version=1.0>.
Nov
11
Living Organic
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I’m sure everyone is familiar with the term “organic”, seeing as though it is becoming an ultra-popular and somewhat trendy way of life. Organically grown food means that its ingrdients were grown using soil that is healthy and good for the environment, with no pesticides or artificial chemicals. Stores like Whole Foods and Publix Greenwise feature a variety of organic foods, including vegetables and fruit, meats and various snacks, breads, etc. We’re lucky to have such accessible places, and although the prices may be a few bucks more than we’re used to, in the end it is worth it to your body AND to the environment.
It is important to pay close attention when shopping for your weekly groceries. Meats, fruits and vegetables are especially vital to our health and should be free of anything artificial. Animals who are fed a vegetarian diet with no artificial growth hormones produce healthy meat. Big marketing industries want to make their product appealing by making bigger cuts of meat; what they’re not telling you is the cow was previously pumped up with steroids. On organic farms, vegetables and fruits are grown without the use of pesticides. These harmful chemicals can hurt the soil, and the more places that use them, the more pollution is produced.
Obviously it is beneficial for our bodies to eat naturally, the way humans did before supermarkets and restaurants. Food should be eaten as a source of sustenance; adding artificial ingredients to give food longer shelf life and to look or taste better is irrelevant. The fact is these chemicals can hurt us, the earth, and more generations to come.
Oct
7
An Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
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As you’ve probably seen and heard in the media, environmentally safe power sources, transportation, and household supplies are becoming a popular investment among consumers. One or two changes in your everyday lifestyle could reduce the harmful impact on our environment. It is time to start considering clean, free energy.
Solar and wind power are up and coming ways to power houses, businesses and industries alike.If used enough, these new sources could lower fuel costs and more importantly, reduce our dependence on oil and solve the climate crisis. Wind turbines are becoming strong and very modernized and could potentially power much of the country. Solar panels are also becoming a popular source, and if used on every rooftop, could you imagine the change we could make?
Like I’ve mentioned previously, little things can also make a difference. Just keeping the lights off when you leave your house and setting the A.C down a few degrees lower could help the environment and your energy bills. Also, investing in some eco-friendly products is a great idea. Although you may be turned off by the high prices, the outcome will leave the planet in better condition by reducing pollution and waste.
I do believe that with some small steps and serious dedication, each person could help turn the current climate crisis around. I have hope for this fragile environment, and I hope you do too.
Sep
24
Hope for a “Green” President
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I read a great blog about environmental concerns , which pertains to this year’s Presidential debate. It is a very important fact to be considered when voting– who will do the best job making our country “green” and preventing more damage to our environment? Other issues, like the economy and health care, certainly deserve attention. But, what if those are the ONLY important issues to some people?
When the elected candidate attends the meeting about the Kyoto Protocol, major decisions must be made. I thought it was smart to mention the meeting in the blog because it could be informative by letting people know that this issue shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Kyoto Protocol limits the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, and discusses issues such as global warming. As I’ve mentioned before, greenhouse gas is a major concern for the environment and contributes to the gradual rise in temperature each year. This can and will take a toll on the Earth if something isn’t done. Therefore, it makes sense that our President and other nation’s leaders should have this topic on the top of their agenda.
This quote that I read in the blog should be read by all: “The next president can secure a place in history by mobilizing America to confront climate change, while starting a clean energy revolution that will strengthen American security and create the next wave of economic growth.” (David Wheeler,The Whitehouse and the World: A Global Development Agenda for the Next President). We need a leader who not only can make us feel financially secure and safe as a whole, but can also ensure a future that encompasses a clean, non-toxic environment and a world that will be around for generations to come.
Sep
17
Pollution
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I’m sure we’ve all admired an orange-yellow sunset a time or two, but although the site is beautiful, the cause is most certainly not. It’s pollution- that dirty word referring to gases in the atmosphere that can deteriorate the Ozone and make the air unhealthy to breathe. An abundance of pollutants are present throughout the world coming from a variety of sources. To prevent further damage to the atmosphere, we must first learn what pollution is all about.
Perhaps the most talked about problem contributing to air pollution is transportation, such as SUVs, semi-trucks, and trains. These motor vehicles omit carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. With more and more Eco-friendly choices of vehicles being put on the market, maybe more people should invest. Hybrid cars are becoming quite common, which run on electric fuel and do not require the gasoline like other makes and models.
Coal burning power plants are major factors of pollution as well; they are the dominant source of sulfur dioxide in the air. CO2 is one of the many pollutants- one of which I’m sure you’ve heard of. Deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels are where much of the CO2 comes from. This brings up the popular subject of global warming. CO2 partially restricts infrared radiation going back to space, which causes the “greenhouse effect”, which limits the amount of colling in the Earth overnight. The fact is, if something isn’t done, the average temperature around the world will continue to rise each year, one day making it unmanageable to live.
Hopefully some of the information I find so important will have the same effect on you. Clean air, clean water, clean EVERYTHING- it would all be so great, wouldn’t it?
Sep
9
Re-use, Recycle and Reduce
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The three Rs present a simple way to remind us as a society to take care of the environment. There are tasks at home, work, etc. that could significantly reduce the waste piling up around the world. And unless you’re really that lazy, it shouldn’t be hard to do.
Anyone who lives on their own will understand the amazingly high amount of cardboard, paper, and plastic that accumulates in a home. Grocery shopping trips alone will bring in a large quantity of material- all of which can be recycled. In my home, I keep bins in the laundry room for these materials, each separately labeled. Every few days, when the bins fill up, everything is brought to the recycling drop-off area at my complex. If you don’t have such a convenience, then all you have to do is bring it to the nearest facility. Even Publix has bins at the entrance and exit, so take advantage!
As you probably already know, most of the materials I’ve mentioned are NOT biodegradable, which is why they must either be recycled or….re-used. This is a great concept which requires even less work (thank goodness, right?!) than recycling. If you have the chance, invest in a water filter. If you’re often on the run and like to take water bottles with you, refill the bottles when empty with the filtered water. This saves money and the environment! If you have food in your home that has expired, put it in your backyard or garden as compost (if available). Other things such as plastic containers and cardboard boxes can be used again for multiple purposes.
I hope you now feel like a tree hugging evironmentalist!
Sep
3
Why The Environment Is Important to Me
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Since I was a young girl, the environment has been something that I respect, cherish and admire. It is not something to take for granted. I have always appreciated the outdoors for its natural beauty, but if this planet is not managed well now and for years to come, it could one day lack the magnificence it has today.
Personally, I do my best every day to reduce the harmful impacts on the environment. I recycle everything I can, including plastic bottles, cardboard, newspapers and catalogs, cans and paper bags. Also, I am very strict about conserving electricity. When I’m home, I can’t leave a light on in a room if no one is in it or run water for too long. I also can’t stand it when people leave their houses with televisions on or the A.C down to 68 degrees. What’s the point? If you’re not using something at the moment, it doesn’t need to be working for nothing.
Global warming, renewable energy, green power and pollution are areas I try to involve myself in and research. I was in the environmental magnet at Jupiter High School, so I’ve had years of schooling in some of the areas pertaining to the subject. Something needs to be done quickly to slow down global warming and reduce the amount of pollution in the air. Hybrid cars, biodiesel, and other earth friendly machines and products could all be a major help to restoring the environment.
I have hope for the generations to come. If everyone could just try to be more aware of their actions and take care of the environment, the future may be a better, cleaner place, and the issues today could be a thing of the past.