Climate Disruption: What Do We Do Now?
2/3/17
Summary:
Because of climate disruption, there are several serious threats being made towards coastlines, food, weather, and water. A scientist, named Darling, thinks that the cause of this climate disruption is due to the burning of fossil fuels, which emits carbon dioxide. They say that the carbon dioxide levels have increased up to forty percent in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. Due to this, negative effects are happening. These effects include glaciers melting all over the planet, the planet is getting extremely warmer, and the methane that is contained in permafrost is being released since the permafrost is thawing. Some solutions that scientists have come up with were mitigation, adaptation, and geoengineering.
Because of climate disruption, there are several serious threats being made towards coastlines, food, weather, and water. A scientist, named Darling, thinks that the cause of this climate disruption is due to the burning of fossil fuels, which emits carbon dioxide. They say that the carbon dioxide levels have increased up to forty percent in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. Due to this, negative effects are happening. These effects include glaciers melting all over the planet, the planet is getting extremely warmer, and the methane that is contained in permafrost is being released since the permafrost is thawing. Some solutions that scientists have come up with were mitigation, adaptation, and geoengineering.
List Of Important/Interesting Facts:
1. The planet is most strongly warming in the poles.
2. A lot of the carbon dioxide that is being put into the air is also being absorbed by the oceans, which is making the oceans more acidic.
3. There are going to be more droughts and stronger hurricanes.
4. Oceans have been steadily rising by 8 inches, but it will be higher in the future.
1. The planet is most strongly warming in the poles.
2. A lot of the carbon dioxide that is being put into the air is also being absorbed by the oceans, which is making the oceans more acidic.
3. There are going to be more droughts and stronger hurricanes.
4. Oceans have been steadily rising by 8 inches, but it will be higher in the future.
My Opinion:
It is shocking to know that all of there negative things are happening, and they will eventually even get worse as the future approaches. To know that humans are the main cause of this climate disruption is disgraceful. I don't think many people realize what they are doing to the planet as they constantly continue their harmful actions. I just think that we aren't going to stop doing this until it is actually too late, it may even be too late at this point in time.
It is shocking to know that all of there negative things are happening, and they will eventually even get worse as the future approaches. To know that humans are the main cause of this climate disruption is disgraceful. I don't think many people realize what they are doing to the planet as they constantly continue their harmful actions. I just think that we aren't going to stop doing this until it is actually too late, it may even be too late at this point in time.
The Plastic Plague: Can Our Oceans Be Saved From Environmental Ruin?
2/10/17
Summary:
When filmmaker, Jo Ruxton, went to visit the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" to see how much trash was in the ocean, her nets were coming up filled with only plastic pieces. She described the pieces as being small enough to mingle with plankton. She then went to different oceans to visit, and every place she visited was filled with plastic waste. It covered the Mediterranean bed. Her and her crew constantly came across dead birds which were all filled with plastic when examined. The most disturbing site she visited was on the South Pacific island of Tuvalu. The island lacks the infrastructure to properly dispose of plastic when it is imported of used. We are not comprehending the damages caused by plastic pollution.
When filmmaker, Jo Ruxton, went to visit the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" to see how much trash was in the ocean, her nets were coming up filled with only plastic pieces. She described the pieces as being small enough to mingle with plankton. She then went to different oceans to visit, and every place she visited was filled with plastic waste. It covered the Mediterranean bed. Her and her crew constantly came across dead birds which were all filled with plastic when examined. The most disturbing site she visited was on the South Pacific island of Tuvalu. The island lacks the infrastructure to properly dispose of plastic when it is imported of used. We are not comprehending the damages caused by plastic pollution.
List of Important/Interesting Facts:
1. Researchers have found 750,000 micro plastic pieces per square kilometer in the Garbage Patch
2. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation estimates that 311 million tons of plastic were produced in 2014, which will double within 20 years, and projects that there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.
3. The volume of plastic has tripled in the gyres since the turn of the century
4. Plastic is disproportionately consumed by fish at the bottom of the food chains
1. Researchers have found 750,000 micro plastic pieces per square kilometer in the Garbage Patch
2. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation estimates that 311 million tons of plastic were produced in 2014, which will double within 20 years, and projects that there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.
3. The volume of plastic has tripled in the gyres since the turn of the century
4. Plastic is disproportionately consumed by fish at the bottom of the food chains
My Opinion:
We need to rapidly decrease out plastic pollution as a whole. If one country decides to try and end plastic pollution, it still would not work due to the amount of damage that is already done and how much plastic pollution every other country creates. We are killing our oceanic species, which is bad because at some point, we will end up not having enough food supply. If the amount of plastic is that bad in the Garbage Patch and Tuvalu, then it must be even worse or close to it in other bodies of water. We need to have control on the plastic pollution issue.
We need to rapidly decrease out plastic pollution as a whole. If one country decides to try and end plastic pollution, it still would not work due to the amount of damage that is already done and how much plastic pollution every other country creates. We are killing our oceanic species, which is bad because at some point, we will end up not having enough food supply. If the amount of plastic is that bad in the Garbage Patch and Tuvalu, then it must be even worse or close to it in other bodies of water. We need to have control on the plastic pollution issue.
How Bad Is Ocean Garbage, Really?
2/17/17
Summary:
Chelsea Rochman, and ecologist at the University of California, and her colleagues examined more than a hundred papers and articles on the impact of marine debris from 2013. In most of the cases, the perceived dangers of ocean trash came out to be true. In the rest of the remaining cases, Rochman and her group found the studies unreliable to conclude from. Her and her colleagues did find one article that was well designed, but failed to find the impact/effect it was looking for. The article talked about mussels that contained plastic in their stomachs. In this article, the author did give reasons why ocean debris can be harmful.
Chelsea Rochman, and ecologist at the University of California, and her colleagues examined more than a hundred papers and articles on the impact of marine debris from 2013. In most of the cases, the perceived dangers of ocean trash came out to be true. In the rest of the remaining cases, Rochman and her group found the studies unreliable to conclude from. Her and her colleagues did find one article that was well designed, but failed to find the impact/effect it was looking for. The article talked about mussels that contained plastic in their stomachs. In this article, the author did give reasons why ocean debris can be harmful.
List Of Important/Interesting Facts:
1. Within the studies they looked at in the article, most of the proven threats came from the plastic debris, rather than other materials such as wood or metal.
2. A lot of ocean debris is microscopic, which Rochman did not find too much information on in the article about how they can also affect the oceans.
1. Within the studies they looked at in the article, most of the proven threats came from the plastic debris, rather than other materials such as wood or metal.
2. A lot of ocean debris is microscopic, which Rochman did not find too much information on in the article about how they can also affect the oceans.
My Opinion:
I believe Rochman and her colleagues had a great motive about investigating different papers and articles to find if all of them had proven facts about ocean debris and how it has a harmful impact. But then again, I feel as though we all know for a fact that the oceans are for certain being contaminated and harmed by plastic and other waste. It was a nice try for her to try and say, maybe ocean debris isn't as bad as people make it seem, but it is not very realistic idea.
I believe Rochman and her colleagues had a great motive about investigating different papers and articles to find if all of them had proven facts about ocean debris and how it has a harmful impact. But then again, I feel as though we all know for a fact that the oceans are for certain being contaminated and harmed by plastic and other waste. It was a nice try for her to try and say, maybe ocean debris isn't as bad as people make it seem, but it is not very realistic idea.
Cruel Slaughter Practices
2/24/17
Summary:
They talk about imagining being hung, shocked into paralysis, drowned in hot water, etc.. to be prepared to be killed for food. They then tell how this happens to hundreds of animals on a daily basis. They specifically emphasize how this happens and affects birds. Nearly all animals killed for food consist of birds and turkeys. This is because the U.S. Department of Agriculture exempts birds from its enforcement. The animals have no protection from being slaughtered and abused.
They talk about imagining being hung, shocked into paralysis, drowned in hot water, etc.. to be prepared to be killed for food. They then tell how this happens to hundreds of animals on a daily basis. They specifically emphasize how this happens and affects birds. Nearly all animals killed for food consist of birds and turkeys. This is because the U.S. Department of Agriculture exempts birds from its enforcement. The animals have no protection from being slaughtered and abused.
List of Important/Interesting Facts:
1. More than nine billion birds and turkeys are killed for food each year.
2. They are paralyzed by electrified water, and dragged over throat-cutting machines while being conscious.
3. US Department of Agriculture exempts birds from its enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, requires that animals be insensible to pain before they are shackled and killed.
1. More than nine billion birds and turkeys are killed for food each year.
2. They are paralyzed by electrified water, and dragged over throat-cutting machines while being conscious.
3. US Department of Agriculture exempts birds from its enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, requires that animals be insensible to pain before they are shackled and killed.
My Opinion:
To be honest, killing animals is how most of us get our food, but how the industry kills the animals is inhumane. To hurt the animals the way they do, while they are fully conscious and alive, is wrong. The animals practically get tortured. To do this to millions of animals all in a short period of time is also bad. When you watch the videos of how the animals are tortured and killed just makes you feel bad for even eating these animals. Some people don't know what these animals go through when they consume them, but when you actually know what happens to the animals, it makes you not want to eat meat or fish anymore.
To be honest, killing animals is how most of us get our food, but how the industry kills the animals is inhumane. To hurt the animals the way they do, while they are fully conscious and alive, is wrong. The animals practically get tortured. To do this to millions of animals all in a short period of time is also bad. When you watch the videos of how the animals are tortured and killed just makes you feel bad for even eating these animals. Some people don't know what these animals go through when they consume them, but when you actually know what happens to the animals, it makes you not want to eat meat or fish anymore.