Scientists are expecting a significant reduction in flow for the Colorado River. The fundamental problem is with the Colorado River Basin. Six species are already threatened or endangered due to invasive quagga mussels. The Colorado has severe water quality issues leading to a shortage of surface water. Hence communities are starting to mine groundwater. Agriculture is expected to take an immense hit from this. I found this article dismal yet extremely informative.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
"Colorado River water policy faces an age of limits"
Scientists are expecting a significant reduction in flow for the Colorado River. The fundamental problem is with the Colorado River Basin. Six species are already threatened or endangered due to invasive quagga mussels. The Colorado has severe water quality issues leading to a shortage of surface water. Hence communities are starting to mine groundwater. Agriculture is expected to take an immense hit from this. I found this article dismal yet extremely informative.
Friday, April 23, 2010
unit review
5 major sources of oil spills:
-natural seeps
-extraction
-transportation/tankers
-pipelines
-runoff
4 short term effects of oil spills:
-reduction of light transmissions
-reduction in dissolved oxygen
-damage to marine birds
-toxic effects to marine environments
2 long term effects:
-block taste receptors causing fish to eat harmful things
- it can concentrate poisons
Methods of cleanup:
-booms or barriers--used to contain the oil spill
-skimmers-- skim oil off surface and into boats
-sorbents--used to soak up and contain spill
-chemical dispersants--used to degrade the oil
-flames-- used to burn oil
Dow Life Earth Run for Water
On April 18th, the DOW Earth Run for Water is a charity run that had tens of thousands of participants around the world. The run is an event that celebrities and civilians alike could participate in. The purpose of the run was to raise awareness to the fact that we need to have cleaner water. Tonight on Bravo there is a special show to highlight the current water crisis through out the world. This year the run went very well, so they hope to do it next year too.
New species of killer whales
A new study has found strong genetic evidence which points to the presence of several different species of killer whales in the world's oceans. The research has appeared in the journal Genome Research.Scientists have suspected for some time that there was more than one species of killer whales because of differences in behaviour, feeding preferences and subtle physical features. But until now DNA analysis has been inconclusive because of the inability to map the entire genetic picture, or genome, of the whales' mitochondria inherited from the mother. As a result of the study, two types of killer whales in the Antarctic that eat fish and seals, respectively, are suggested as separate species, along with mammal-eating "transient" killer whales in the North Pacific.
http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_several-new-species-of-killer-whales-likely-to-be-found-in-oceans_1374822
Evolution of Earth Day
Earth Day began 40 years ago as a day to recognize the environment. 40 years ago, there was no talk of global warming or the green movement. Rather, the original purpose was to emphasize ecology and the power of cleaning up litter and pollution. Before earth day, Americans were rather uninformed about the environment other than a few radical environmentalists. Today, the green movement is sweeping the nation. Today, major environmental organizations like the EPA and WWF hold events to raise awareness. Also, major companies like UPS, P&G and Wells Fargo sponsor Earth Day events. Over the past 40 years, Earth Day has evolved from a hippie event to a major environmental awareness day.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRQcGJRPZAitgVuKGUNrYVYm0hAgD9F8CFL00
More Oil Spills
Feel free to head over to http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/22/oil.rig.explosion/index.html?hpt=T1 for a video of the explosion.
dEaD zOnEs
EARTH DAY
Oil Spills
Oil pollution sources: oil tankers, run-off from boats in the marinas, waste & sewage, off-shore drilling accidents, natural sepage, road run-off from cars and pipe line leaks.
Short term effects: the reduction of light transmition results in the reduction of dissolved H2O because of photosynthesis, oil getting on the aquatic life can drown them or make them handicap, and the toxic effects can destruct a huge range of species including fish, shellfish, worms, crabs, microcrustaceans and other invertebrates.
Long term effects:the oil compounds interfere with the chemical messangers of the marine life, and that can block receptors including taste and smell. The oil can also mimic the receptors, which causes disasterous effects. Oil can also sereve as a concentrated medium in fertalizers which makes it way into the marine food chain and then eventually into humans.
Clean-up methods: there are many cleanup methods that include using booms or barriers to contain the spill, skimmers to remove the oil from the surface, absorbents to absorb the oil that has gotten deeper than the surface,.chemical dispertants that degrade the oil, and flames which burn the oil spill. Personally, I feel like bioremediation is the best method to remove oil, and this involves using naturally occuring microorganisms that have been genetically engineered so they can degrade the petroleum.
hope this helps!
Oil Spills
Ships with oil breaking
Runoff from boats
Waste that is put in the ocean
Off Shore drilling
Natural seepage
and road runoff
When the oil is spilled it goes in to oceans lakes and rivers
The effects of these spills cause reduction of light transmission, reduction of dissolved oxygen, the oil sticks to marine mammals and birds, and it destroys the marine environment.
There are 6 ways of cleaning up the oil: Mechanicals-booms, Skimmers, absorbents, chemicals dispersants and detergents, burning the oil and bioremediation.
Airplanes in Ash Clouds
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid69900095001?bctid=78324298001
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Oil Rig Explosion
Just today in class we briefly looked at the oil rig explosion in the gulf of mexico. More news in beginning to come in about that explosion and its effects on the environment. In an article in the New York Times they said that it is getting more and more complicating to contain the damage from the burning rig that left a one-by-five-mile sheen of what the authorities said was “crude oil mix.” They are saying that it has great potential to have to be a major spill. There were 115 survivors from the explosion and they are saying that there is a very small chance that the lost 11 workers are alive. The owners of the rig said they are not sure if the rig is still emitting gas or oil underwater because they said that the workers “were not able to stem the flow of hydrocarbons” before the rig sank. There is also potentially 700000 gallons of diesel fuel that was on the rig could be part of the leak. BP now released 30 skimming vessels to try to contain the spill. This whole situation has brought up old fears about the safety of offshore oil rigs and their relationship to the environment
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/us/23rig.html?src=mv
Water Testing
- Water temperature
- Ammonia Nitrogen
- pH
- Chlorine
- Chromium
- Copper
- Iron
- Nitrate Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Silica (sand)
- Sulfide
UPcycling
Heres a link about upcycling old TOMS , http://www.toms.com/earthday
Freshwater Distribution
- Brazil … 8,233 ckpy (14.9% of world total)
- Russia … 4,498 (8.1%)
- Canada … 3,300 (6%)
- United States … 3,069 (5.6%)
- Indonesia … 2,838 (5.1%)
- China … 2,830 (5.1%)
- Colombia … 2,132 (3.9%)
- Peru … 1,913 (3.5%)
- India … 1,908 (3.5%)
- Democratic Republic of Congo … 1,283 (2.3%)
Read Resources http://internationaltrade.suite101.com/article.cfm/richest_water_countries#ixzz0lt2ds4Ku
EARTH DAY!
In the spirit of Earth Day 2010, I dedicated my unit post to discussing some Earth Day facts. -This year, it was the 40th anniversary of the celebration for our Earth -Every year, Earth Day is held on April 22nd. -Earth Day was started in 1970 by a U.S. Senator named Gaylord Nelson. -This year, at the National Mall in Washington D.C., the EPA held free exhibits and events for the public. "EPA will have exhibits on an environmental forensics demonstration, cutting edge automotive technology, climate change, habitat loss exhibits, environmental videos, an interactive kids booth about environmental hazards, backyard composting demonstrations, a Chesapeake Bay water model, and live mascots teaching kids about recycling and protecting nature, and others.
EPA will also be showcasing the creative efforts of more than 40 college teams and their design solutions to sustainability challenges around the world. The participants of the exhibit will compete for a $75,000 prize. The expo highlights designs that address alternative energy technologies; collection, purification and distribution of water; agricultural practices to reduce pesticide run-off; new technologies for green buildings and other innovative approaches to improve society’s sustainability." (http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/41247)
-Many nations all around the world celebrate Earth Week, and other environmental awareness days.
-Visit the Earth Day Network website, http://www.earthday.org/ , and learn more about Earth Day. Also, enter in your "Act of Green", any way you have made a sacrifice to save water, electricity, etc, and help them reach 1 billion acts of green. So far they have 31,467,348
Unit Review
water contaminants
chlorine
sources: water additive
effects: eye/nose irritation, stomach discomfort, anemia
iron
sources: minerals found in drinking water supplies
effects: unpleasant taste/odor
copper
sources: corrosion from plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits
effects: gastrointestinal disease, liver/kidney damage
sulfide
sources: decay of plant materials
effects: nausea, illness, and death
silica
sources: naturally found in water
effects: harmless
ph
sources: leaching from pipes and fixtures, acid rain
effect: no health threats
phosphates
sources: human/animal waste, fertilizer, manure
effects: eutrophication, changes in aquatic life
nitrates
sources: fertilizers, sweewage erosion, leaching from septic tanks
effects: eutrophication, death
chromium
sources: discharge from steel and pulp mills, erosion
effects: allergic dermatitis
ammonia nitrogen
sources: runoff from fertilizer, leaching from septic tanks, sewage erosion
effects: harmful to infants
fecal coliform
sources: human and animal feed waste
effects: can indicate presence of other bacteria
DINOSHARK
A little while ago, I remembered that I had recorded Dinoshark on my DVR after Ms. Meyer told us about it and decided to watch it. If you're looking for something hilarious passed off as a serious movie, then I highly recommend it. Even if you aren't, it's still highly entertaining. The general plot is that there is a string of disappearances of people at a resort in Mexico. The main character (played by Eric Balfour) is out on the ocean and notices a creature (dinoshark) that is killing people (with great special effects). He and his friends go on a mission to kill it so that the people can enjoy their vacation in peace. After a few entertaining scenes, one of which involving a chopper being eaten, they have a final confrontation with dinoshark. I won't give away the ending, but it's pretty amazing. see this movie and look out for the next installment in the series, which is going to be called Dinocroc vs. Supergator.
New Species Discovered In Borneo
123 new species have been discovered in the great rainforest known as Borneo. The project to find them has been going since 2007, in an effort to help conserve the rainforest. The project was known as "Heart Of Borneo", and was sponsored by the WWF. Some of the more interesting species are totally unique. One was a bright orange snake which can turn shades of blue when threatened. Another is a flat looking frog that breathes through its skin because it has no lungs. Another is a slug with its tail almost 3 times the size of its head. Borneo is home to thousands of species found nowhere else.
Trouble Waters Video, test
Hermaphroditic Frogs: Caused from Atrazine which produced Estrogen within male frogs.
Beluga Whales: Cancer found within them.
Plants and Mercury: Scientists genetically modifying plants to absorb mercury making fish less likely to eat mercury.
Crown of Thorns: Massive outbreak of sea-stars in tropic reefs, believed to be linked to pollution in water. They destroy reefs.
Global Warming Creating More Frequent and Violent?
Water Pollution Unit Review Post - Oil Spills
OiL Spills! -
Major Sources of Oil Spills:
A Planet Without Methane
Recently, NASA's Spitzer Telescope found that there is no methane on a distant planet. Methane, which is present on Earth, is created by microbes that live in cows and, surprisingly, rice fields. It can also be found in dead stars, or "brown dwarfs." This planet, called GJ436b, is about the size of Neptune which not only makes it the smallest planet (it is 33 light years away) to be analyzed from such a distance but also lacks the one element that the planets in the solar system have: methane. Scientists expected to find methane because, according the principle investigator of the search, the type of planet that it is made the production of the chemical likely. Though scientists are thoroughly puzzled, they are glad to know what is going on in the atmosphere of planets in far away constellations.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-137&cid=release_2010-137
Water Pollution Test Review
Oil Spill in The Gulf of Mexico
A few nights ago, on Tuesday April 20th, an oil rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana. Two days later, the once burning oil rig has now sunk to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico and has left a 5-square-mile trail of spreading oil. Not only is burning oil being released into the atmosphere and leaking into the gulf, but the explosion caused 11 workers to be blown into the gulf of mexico and there is currently a search out looking for them. Out of the 115 people on board at the time of the explosion, 11 are missing, 17 are injured, are the remaining 94 were taken ashore with no apparent injuries. They are determined to find the missing workers as soon as possible because they longer they go unfound, the more likely it is that they will be dead. The oil released into the gulf is estimated to be around 336,000 gallons. Along with that oil, it is estimated that 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel also leaked out.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Botany of Desire
I found this book to be very interesting and I personally really enjoyed how it opened my eyes to a new look at the relationship between humans and plants. I had to skim through certain parts of the book because i felt like some of it was unnecessary details but for the most part I was very interested by the details the story goes into about the plants. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding the relationship between humans and the plants we surround ourselves with.
Typhoid Fever
A Super Fun Review of Water Pollution
There are two types of water pollution:
Biomagnification
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hermaphrodite Frogs
Since the movie we watched touched on some male frogs becoming hermaphrodites, I thought I would elaborate on the topic:
Murcury In Rice!!!!
a study was done to the rice in a specific area in china and it turns out that the Mercury in their fish is not what they have to worry about, its the rice. this area was down wind from a coal plant. the fact is that rice paddies carry the types of bacteria that can convert inorganic mercury to its more toxic, methylated form. The rice sucks up the Mercury! It averaged 9.3 micrograms of this especially toxic mercury per kilogram of rice in an area where people down an average of more than a half-kilogram of the grain each day. why does this concern you do you say? Any tainted rice may not stay put for very long in our increasingly global economy.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58350/title/Mercury_surprise_Rice_can_be_risky
Wewage Treatment
Primary Treatment: Primary treatment is when all of the sewage is put in large tanks and allowed to settle. this separates each individual material. the sludge sinks to the bottom and is sent to a separate sludge treatment area and the grease and oil is scraped off the top. the treatable liquid id then sent to the next stage.
Secondary treatment: in the secondary treatment, aerobic and biological processes are used. there are two types of secondary treatment. fixed film treatment is when a fixed biomass is grown and the sewage passes over it. suspended growth is when the biomass i suspended within the sewage. these processes remove BOD or biochemical oxygen demand.
Tertiary Treatment: this is the last and most rare form of sewage treatment. it uses bacteria to denitrify nitrates in the water producing nitrogen gas which id then released into the atmosphere. the major purpose is to remove nitrogen and phosphates
Hopefully after all this you can drink some of it!
Cholera
Because Cholera is spread through insanitation and water pollution, I thought it would be interesting to find more details about this disease.
What is it: Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea (pleasant, I know.)
Symptoms:
Abdominal cramps
Dry mucus membranes or mouth
Dry skin
Excessive thirst
Glassy or sunken eyes
Lack of tears
Lethargy
Low urine output
Nausea
Rapid dehydration
Rapid pulse (heart rate)
Sunken "soft spots" (fontanelles) in infants
Unusual sleepiness or tiredness
Vomiting
Watery diarrhea that starts sudden
Causes: Cholera is caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae. The bacteria releases a toxin that causes increased release of water in the intestines, which produces severe diarrhea.
Cholera occurs in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Common locations for cholera include:
Africa
Asia
India
Mexico
South and Central America
The Mediterranean
People get the infection by ingesting contaminated food or water.
A type of vibrio bacteria also has been associated with shellfish, especially raw oysters.
Treatment: The objective of treatment is to replace fluid and electrolytes lost through diarrhea. Fluids may be given by mouth or through a vein. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed an oral rehydration solution that is cheaper and easier to use than the typical intravenous fluid. Their solution of sugar and electrolytes is now being used internationally.
Types of Water Pollution
1.) Sewage: Wastewater from household drains.
Detroit Residents Press EPA for Stronger Air Pollution Monitoring
Residents of Detroit's industrial southwest neighborhoods have demanded higher air quality standards. A computer that measures air pollution has recently been revealing spikes around the industrial plants of southwest Detroit. Around these industrial plants are whole neighborhoods surrounded by oil recycling plants, asphalt makers, a steel plant, a stinky composting yard, a salt factory and an expanding oil refinery. A woman who lives in the area decided to take her own air samples with the help of the national environmental monitoring group, Global Community Monitor, and found lead-laden dust, which could come from a steel mill nearby. Additionally, a few months ago, similar sampling found a dangerous chemical in the air -- methyl ethyl ketone, a gas that can cause numbness, tremors and gait problems. Methyl ethyl ketone, is commonly found in manufacturing plant emissions as well as specific products such as industrial glue and the exhaust of cars and trucks, according to the Centers for Disease Control's toxic substances registry. Fewer than 50 air monitors are present in the state of Michigan and residents would like to see this improve in the near future. I thought this article was interesting because it is a specific example of how air pollution has been becoming such a problem.
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/04/19/detroit-residents-press-epa-for-stronger-air-pollution-monitoring/
Water and Water Pollution
Available Water:
Sea water -97.5%
Freshwater- 2.5%
Surface Water-1%
Groundwater- 20%
Ice caps/Glaciers-79%
Three main uses of water:
1. Domestic (drinking, cooking, toilets)
2. Industrial (Electric power, producing paper)
3. Agricultural (irrigation, animals, crops)
Water pollution: Any chemical, biological or physical change in water quality that has a harfull affect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses
Two types:
-Point source
Can be traced to a specific location
Ex) sewage or drain pipes, leaky gas tanks, ditchs
-Nonpoint source
Pollution that enters streams and waterways from a widespread area and cannot be traced to one particular site
Ex) agricultural, residential and industrial runoff, atmospheric deposition
Monday, April 19, 2010
Eutrophication and Dead Zones Review
Click on the picture to see the whole thing, it's helpful to understanding dead zones!
Eutrophication means "nutrient pollution", and a dead zone is an area where there is no to low oxygen in water.
Dead zones are caused by excess nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, industrial runoff, and runoff from homes entering water sources. (Freshwater areas are affected more by the phosphates, while salt water areas are affected more by the nitrates). These excess nutrients cause an algal bloom. When all these algae die, they sink to the bottom. Decomposing bacteria consume the phytoplankton, and with all this excess food creates a growth in the population of the bacteria. They consume all the oxygen dissolved in the area, while the algae reduce the amount of light that reaches the depths of the ocean, and aquatic life begins to die. Anaerobic bacteria soon take over, and release hydrogen and sulfuric gas, making the water even more acidic and unsuitable for life.
More Related Terms:
Hypoxia- Waters that have dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations less than 2mg/L
Anoxia- No DO present in the water.
Oxygen depletion is further caused by stratification preventing oxygen refreshment.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Preparing for the Big One
In Defense of Food
In his non-fiction book, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan argues that most of the stuff we put into our mouths is not actually food. At least it’s not the food our great, great grandmothers would have recognized as food. Instead of food, we're consuming "edible foodlike substances,” which are produced by food science, rather than nature. Many of them come packaged with health claims, such as “trans-fat free,” that make us think they are healthy, but in reality, are most likely distracting us from the fact that they are actually not healthy. The result is what Michael Pollan calls the American paradox: The more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become. To solve this problem, Pollan offers some simple and catchy advice: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. By urging us to once again eat real food, he challenges the popular nutrient-by-nutrient approach, what he calls nutritionism -- and proposes an alternative way of eating that is informed by the traditions of real, unprocessed food. I really enjoyed this book because it is current and relatable. In society today, everyone is looking for the new fad diet that “really works.” Whether it’s Atkins or Jenny Craig, we’re being told that nutrients enrich food, instead of depleting it, which is what Pollan argues. Therefore, it was very interesting and informative to get an alternate perspective. Because, to be honest, Pollan’s simple advice makes much more sense than the crazy dietary rules of the fad-diet companies!
Pompeii Book Review
Another Eruption in Iceland?
The article I read discussed the fact that the recent eruption of a vent on the volcano Eyjafjallajökul (pronounced AY-ya-fyat-la-yo-kult) could be the least of Iceland's worries. There's another bigger, more dangerous volcano called Katla to the east which scientists have been keeping an eye on. In the past Katla has erupted along with the other or on its own. Katla is said to be more dangerous because it is a lot larger, and because it lies beneath a glacier. If Katla were to erupt, there would be a lot of flooding as the ice is melted by the hot lava. Katla would also cause more ash clouds, which we know are a problem to all the air traffic in many countries. The article also described some of Iceland's past troubles with its volcanoes; Iceland is located above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a place prone to volcanic activity. In 1783 and 84 a volcano erupted and spewed out sulfur dioxide and ash, killing thousands of people, and they had a couple of eruptions in the 1960's and 70's. The end of the article did give some good news, as a result of all the ash in the atmosphere people in Europe might be able to see some pretty red sunsets.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58333/title/Ash_from_Icelandic_eruption_may_just_be_the_start
Friday, April 16, 2010
Giardia
Giardia thrives within intestines of infected humans or animals. One becomes infected through ingesting or coming into contact with contaminated water, food or soil. The Giardia parasite spreads when a person accidently ingests it, this can originate from contaminated items and surfaces that have been tainted by the feces of an infected human or animal. The parasite can also transfer from consuming unsanitary food or water
The symptoms of Giardia include: diarrhea, excess gas, stomach or abdominal cramps, and upset stomach or nausea. This can result in weight loss or dehydration, which can be harmful if not treated immediately. Typical infection within an individual is around 2-6 weeks, but medicine can shorten this time. In rare cases giardia can become a chronic disease.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/giardiasis-topic-overview
Whale Hunting
Unit Review
Mercury
Mercury is released into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels. Coal is responsible for 87 percent of mercury emissions through oxy-coal combustion. One way factories try to reduce their coal emission is through cleaning the coal.
When inhaled mercury can cause problems in the mouth, lungs and respiratory system. It is said that it's likely to cause cancer in humans. For females the mercury can be harmful for their babies through the breast milk. This would lead to neurological problems.
Boimagnification in the increase in concentration of a substance up the food chain. In result eating larger fish is a greater health risk than eating smaller non predatory fish. The toxic chemicals bioaccumulatre and work their way through a food web.
Water Quality Index:
Chlorine- water additive _>eye/nose irritation, stomach discomfort
Iron- natural sources, corrosion of pipes -> discolored, gross taste
Copper- corrosion of household plumbing systems -> liver or kidney damage
Sulfied- sewage -> salty taste
Silica- sand
pH- corrosion and deposits -> bitter metallic taste
Phosphate- fertilizers, soap/detergents -> interfer with digestion
Nitrate- sewage, fertilizers ->blue baby syndrom, infant death, shortness of breath
Chromium- discharges through steel mills -> allergic dermatis
Ammonia nitrogen- agriculture run-offs, fertilizers -> suffocatoin of babies, blueish skin
Fecal coliform -> bacteria, indicator of other pollutants -> stomach discomfort
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Botany of Desire
Who would believe that a flower holds the meaning of life? Or that human history would be so correlated with that of plants? Clearly Michael Pollan did and decided to write The Botany of Desire. The book is divided into 4 parts, each part comparing a human desire to a plant. First, Pollan ties the desire for sweetness to the apple. By chronicling Johnny Appleseed and the spread of the apple around the world, Pollan says humans have long been obsessed with apples. Next, he ties the desire of beauty to the tulip. He chronicles the history of the tulip and how it has always been a sign of power and wealth as well as beauty. Third, he uses the desire of intoxication and ties it to the cannabis plant (marijuana). Pollan looks at the history of marijuana and how the plant has adapted. He notes that only recently the crop began to be altered to grow indoor and outside and to be more potent. Lastly, he looks at the desire for control and ties it to the potato. He says humans desire to alter the potato represents a larger idea that people are in a desperate need to control everything. All of this plays into a larger picture that Pollan is trying to paint; humans and plants are more closely tied than people might believe.
What first felt like a quick read turned into a dense, overly detailed book about an obscure topic. Although there were parts I enjoyed, and I did learn a lot, it was hard not to fall asleep while he described how King Louis XIV felt about tulips. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology and human development or in botany. Other than that, stay away.
In Defense of Food
Pompeii Book Review
Monday, April 12, 2010
Free Trade
In our modern economy, money trumps environmental responsibility. In order to change this, the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) takes place every few years. The purpose is to take endangered species and place them on lists that prevent the trade of these animals. This year, the meeting in Doha failed to make substantial changes to animal trade. Because there were so many purposed animals, countries sent their top negotiators to make sure their economies were not effected. Japan turned out 30 strong to battle the conservationists. For example, 80% of blue fin tuna is consumed in Japan. Because of this, Japan made sure that blue fin tuna, although endangered, was kept off the no trade list. The European Union was also responsible for blocking legislation. Sharks were also kept off the most protected list. CITES kept a ban on elephant trading in Africa, but other than that, it was not a productive convention. Hopefully by their next meeting in 2013, they will be able to put their economic greed aside and take a stand on animal trade.
http://www.economist.com/science-technology/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15767253
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Pompeii
2,000,000 year old ancestor
Recent discoveries in South Africa of a human skeleton lead researchers to believe that species unknown until this discovery could have existed during the transition of the ape-like Australopithecus species to "the early members of the genus Homo". In Johannesburg, South Africa two skeletons, a juvenile male and and adult female, were discovered dating from almost 2,000,000 years ago. As the skeletons were completed they concluded that these skeletons are far too advanced for the average Australopithecus, but are also not as physically mature as any species in the Homo genus. This new species of hominid is named Australopithecus sebida and they are currently searching the grounds of Johannesburg for more insight into this interesting new species.
Botany of Desire
I read The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. What caught my eye about this book was simply in the title, The Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of The World. This book contains viewpoints from both humans and plants, and even insight into animals' minds as well. Pollan's book contains detailed descriptions of the history of four different plants' lives on this Earth: the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato. Pollan shares his own experiences and observations of these plants and their affects on the world. He describes their "life story", how they have been changed or mutated from their natural state, what their significance is to humans and animals, and how that significance has changed over time.