Thursday, December 21, 2006

Artifact Three: Global Warming

Tidwell, Mike. "Fight global warming for $1 a day ... and still live comfortably; a Maryland freelance writer combines solar energy, efficient appliances and a corn-burning stove to lighten his family's impact on the planet.(Statistical Data Included)." Natural Life (May-June 2002): 8(2). Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 21 Dec. 2006
T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A86194373&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=elli29753&version=1.0>


This article shows how one family in the Western United States understands the effects of global warming and the things that are causing it in our everyday lives. This family knows about the planetary warming of approximately 10.4 degrees by 2100. They were frustrated with the government not taking any action so they decided to do it on their own. They use "photovoltaic panels on the roof" for electricity, a "potbellied stove that burns corn kernels" to provide cooking and heat, and "a separate rooftop panel that converts sunlight to heat energy" for hot water. The family only pays $30 for all of these devices and they are available for many North Americans. This family also said, "We switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs, bought an extremely high efficiency refrigerator and we began drying our clothes on a line." All of these actions dramatically help to reduce the amount of energy used and it was very easily done. They cut their electricity use by 52%.

Not only will you immensely cut your bills, but even here in Maryland, they will offer you a grant "up to $3600 toward solar photovoltaic systems plus a generous tax deduction." How could anyone deny an offer like this? Also, thanks to a subside from the U.S. Department of Energy the Virginia Alliance for Solar Electricity dropped the prices of solar panels. By making all of these switches this family saves $578.00 a year. But more importantly than any of the money, all of these changes will help save the enviornment. If everyone made theses changes, it would make such a big difference. I find myself in my day to day making changes in the way s i do things. I will make sure there arent any unecessary lights or electronics on, i recycle more and more, and i'm informing my friends about the effects of their daily activities on the enviornment. I know i will keep up the changes i have made in my lifestyle and i hope that many more people can change the way that they live so that global warming can get under control.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Artifact Two: Global Warming

Mohammadi, Kamin. "Calling Robinson Crusoe: the Maldive islands are
renowned for their pristine beaches and spectacular diving. But global
warming is a dark cloud on their horizon. (Responsible travel)."
Geographical 74.5 (May 2002): 88(5). Student Resource Center - Gold.
Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 12 Dec. 2006
.



The Maldives are a "chain of about 1,192 small coral islands arranged
in a series of clusters, or atolls." They are located in the southern
part of the Indian Ocean, about 600km south of Sri Lanka. They stretch
up from the equator to cover a vertical strip of about 750 km. Only 202
of the 1,192 islands are inhabited and "99% of the country's territory
is made up by the sea." "There are no rivers or mountains and the
islands lie low in the ocean, averaging only about a meter above sea
level." Not only are the actually islands beautiful but the aquatic
life is breathtaking. There are reefs and lagoons filled with an
assortment of brilliant fish. "The waters of the Maldives contain
three-quarters of the world's reef-fish species and are world famous
for diving."
As far back as 1992 after the Rio de Janero's Earth Summit, President Gayoom
warned people of the effects of global warming. He said that "his
country could well disappear some time during the 21st century." The
Maldives along with many other small islands are very worried about the
rising sea level. Scientists also believe that global warming can lead
to increases in maximum tropical clyclone wind speed and lower the
central pressures, which can lead to more damaging storms. These storms
can destroy not only the islands but the coral reefs. The Maldives
coral reef suffered much damage in 1988 after the EL Nino storm and the effects of global warming could do much more damage.
The danger to the Maldives is real and the islanders are doing their part to help. At the Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa every night they host a "'Fish Talk.' It is a serious 45 minute lecture given by the resorts marine biologist and aimed at raising awareness of the underwater environment, including the creation of coral and the recent bleaching phenomenon." The Alliance of Small Island Nations (AOSIS) has helped recognize the plight of the Maldives and many other small islands. The Four Seasons Hotel has also launched a "adopt a reef ball project." This project aims to help the damaged reef around the resort. At the Soneva Fushi resort on the Baa Atoll, the owners were so concerned about maintaining the natural habitat that they asked their guests to cycle through therain forest to their cottages and they recycled everything that they could. Many resorts are big on recycling and shops refuse to stock endangered corals and shells. The truly sad part about this situation is that the Maldives islands are paying the price of global warming even though
they had little cause for global warming. The Maldives have no heavy industries and they own fewer than 3,000 carbondioxide-emitting vehicles. The natives may loose everything and a precious part of our earth is slipping away.


My Questions:
1. What else can be done to help prevent the Maldives from slipping away?
2. What can we do to help the Maldives?
3. How are the rising sea levels due to global warming effecting other areas such as the Inner Harbor in Baltimore?

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Artifact One: Global Warming

Janes, Patricia. "On thin ice: drowning polar bears? Stranded walrus calves? A Science World editor travels north to report on the effects of global warming.(GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE SERIES)." Science World 63.7 (Dec 11, 2006): 12(6). Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 7 Dec. 2006
&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A155404664&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=elli29753&version=1.0>


One thing that really concerns me with global warming is the effects that it will have on our ecosystems. In this article it explains some of the effects that global warming has on the arctic region. Because of the increase in temperature the ice is melting. With animals such as the polar bears weighting around
770 kilograms (1,700 pounds), the ice has to be thick and plentiful to support them. If the polar bears have no where to rest, they will drown. Similar situations are also happening to walrus'. A researcher said he spotted nine baby walrus' motherless and in 3,000 meters (1.8 miles) of ocean water. These walrus' as well as many more did not survive with these conditions. Not only can't the newly born animals survive, but mother animals can not birth their babies without solid ice. With all these animals declining, the ecosystem will become a mess. If you take out one element of the ecosystem everything goes insane. The decline in one species will then hurt all the others. It is a domino effect.

I really do not want to see any more animals become extint or their population drop down a lot. One of my favorite pastimes was going to the zoo with my family and looking at all the different animals. I really want to be able to show my children all the different animals that i loved as a young child and still love today. I don't just want to show my kids pictures, I want to show them the real thing. There is nothing more special than seeing a little kid react to an animal; it's priceless. I think if we all do our part and take steps to stop global warming, we can do it. Although it will be hard i think it is definitly do able. I think schools should take a big step in not only teaching kids how they can help but also showing them by doing activities such as recycling. Even these small steps will help stop global warming.