Summers Here, Time for Cheer....

In some places in the world, (like in most parts of the U.S.A) it is summer! School is out, time to play outside! But summer is also great for environmental activists like us, because we have more time to work on our projects and spread the word on world issues. So if you want to help the world, the summer is the PERFECT time! So get out (if it is not raining) and SPREAD THE WORD! If you have some free time and want some ideas, look at the previous posts. And about the survey, please hang in there as making it takes lots of work to make it. Remember, the survey is only for people we can't talk to on the phone or in person. Thanks!

Just Speak Up

You can do things that make the public aware (your school, neighborhood, or town.). Make posters, start your own blog, do a project on it for your school science fair, or talk about it in a conference. Use your creative thinking to start spreading awareness about climate change, endangered species, political progress, etc.

Google Green

Ever heard of Google?( The search engine, not the number) Well, guess what? Google is green! In the eco-friendly sense, that is. Google has done so much for Earth. We like people and companies that are green! If you want to learn more about all the green n' good stuff Google is doing, go to http://www.google.com/green/ Thank you Google!

Space Race

In October 2012, a capsule called the SpaceX Dragon launched into space carrying about 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds) of food, clothing, and equipment to deliver to the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon became the 1st private capsule to bring cargo to the ISS.

Coral Reef Destruction

Ten percent of the world's reefs have been completely destroyed. In the Philippines, where coral reef destruction is the worst, over 70% have been destroyed and only 5% can be said to be in good condition because of the very little clear water. What has happened to destroy so many reefs? 

There are two different ways in which humans have contributed to the destruction of the Earth's coral reefs, indirectly and directly. Indirectly, we have destroyed their environment. As you read earlier, coral reefs can live only in very clear water. The large population centers near coasts has led to silting of reefs, pollution by nutrients that lead to algal growth that smothers the coral, and overfishing that has led to increase in number of predators that eat corals.

Warming of the ocean causes corals to sicken and die. Even a rise of one degree in the average water temperature can hurt the coral. Due to global warming, 1998 was the hottest year in the last six centuries and 1998 was the worst year for coral.The most obvious sign that coral is sick is coral bleaching. That is when either the algae inside die, or the algae leave the coral. The algae are what give coral its color, so without the algae the coral has no color and the white of the limestone shell shines through the transparent coral bodies. People have been noticing coral bleaching since the turn of the century, but only since the 1980s has it gotten really bad.

For more,go to: http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral5.htm

Bubbles Full of Trouble

In a lake in Alberta, Canada, there is a lake with bubbles, not the good kind but the
effecting-the-Earth-in-a-bad-way-kind. These bubbles are filled with methane, a greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide. Like carbon dioxide, methane absorbs heat and makes the earth warmer. But if the ice that the methane is trapped under melts, all that methane will escape and-gulp- speed up climate change because of releasing millions of tons of methane EACH YEAR!

Rainforests of the Ocean-In Danger?

Did you know that over 75 percent of coral reefs are in danger of disappearing? The coral reefs face threats from fishing practices and tourism, and other threats such as ocean warming. That's where global warming plays a role: the oceans are warming only because of climate change due to global warming. But there is one more threat: ocean acidification. Ocean acidification happens because of the burning of fossil fuels such as coal to make electricity, heat homes, and power cars. Fossil fuels increase the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the air and some of that carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean, making it warmer. And that additional acid is affecting marine life, including making it hard for corals to grow affecting coral reefs. And coral reefs affect people. They have chemicals that can fight cancer, and protect shorelines from storms. But, people at Mote Marine Laboratory are working hard to save corals by growing them at a nursery. To learn more about corals and the Mote Marine Laboratory go to www.mote.org.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is of “esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people.” It further expressed concern that many of our nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct.

The purpose of the ESA is to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commerce Department’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The FWS has primary responsibility for terrestrial and freshwater organisms, while the responsibilities of NMFS are mainly marine wildlife such as whales and anadromons fish such as salmon.

Under the ESA, species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. “Endangered” means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. “Threatened” means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. All species of plants and animals, except pest insects, are eligible for listing as endangered or threatened. For the purposes of the ESA, Congress defined species to include subspecies, varieties, and, for vertebrates, distinct population segments.

For more go to: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/

Global Warming

What is it really? 

Global warming is a slow upward rise in Earth's surface temperature. This means global warming is impacting Earth's temperature. Global warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide exhaust from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth.