Cancer is Now the Leading Cause of Death in China

http://www.grist.org/pollution/2011-05-25-cancer-now-leading-cause-of-death-in-china

Summary: Two of China's biggest cities, Shanghai and Beijing, have 30% lung cancer deaths of all cancer deaths in their cities. This is because of particulates in the air. The amount of particulates in the air in those cities is 4 times the amount of particulates in New York CIty. Polluted air doesn't only bring about more cancers, but also heart disease, respiratory disease, and stroke. "Reports from the countryside reveal a dangerous epidemic of "cancer villages" linked to pollution from some of the very industries motivating China's explosive economy", Earth Policy Institute explains of China. In recent years, thousands of children have been poisoned by mines, shelters, and battery plants. The air is just not safe. And China is not the only country responsible for this issue. A lot of other countries take their waste and dump it in China.

Reflection: I never actually knew how polluted China really was. Just like we watched in the trash video in class, China is polluted everywhere. There are fields of dumps that are just lying around and the city streets are pilled high with trash. Also, the big industry in China contributes to this pollution as well. Burning coal is putting more and more sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air. It is becoming extremely unsafe. The government really needs to take action on this. I remember learning about how China has bad quality water back in the hydrosphere unit. It just shows how very unsafe the country is. China is not only the leading power of the world, but also a leading country of pollution.

Questions:
1. What other diseases other then cancer have been brought about in China from the air pollution?
2. If you were someone living in China, how could you help this issue?
3. How could the government contribute to preventing this issue from getting worse?
4. Do you think America is becoming more like this?

Climate Change Now! Birds Start Migrating Later & Plants Releasing Less Water Into Atmosphere

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/injecting-aerosols-slow-global-warming-environmentally-economically-risky.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29

summary: there are some things that continue to show the impacts that affect the migration of birds and the water in the air.  the rain forest its getting as much rain and because of that the birds are not migrating back to the north. there is not enough water being released into the air. the amount of water released into the air from plants is ten percent of the water in the air. the low amounts of water decrease the number of insects and food sources for birds that also cause problems with migration and when they choose to go. the quesiton is whether the birds will adapt to the problems or they will suffer because of it.

reflection: i think it is interesting how the climate is affecting the plants so much that they cant produce the same amount of water for the air. also it is horrible the matter that the migration and lives of the birds are being affected because of it. its extrodinary how the atmosphere has such an effect on the things living within it. like we learned about how the different levels of danger and how severely they can effect us.

1. why are the birds not migrating?
2. what do you think the long term effects of this will be?
3. do you believe the birds willl adapt or they will suffer?
4. what percentage of water in the air comes from plants?

Crazy Weather is the New Normal, Thanks to Climate Change



Wierd weather is becoming a normal thing in the U.S. recently. Heavy rain, big stowfalls, giant floods and draughts are a "new normal" for the United States. Climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe said it's described it best as "global wierding." Americans are used to certain weather patterns and there's a lot of different things happening that people aren't used to. For instance an increase in rainstorms throughout the U.S. Also there as been a record- length dry spell in west Texas over the past five years.

The terem global warming is kind of 'stupid' to say the least because there are certain area that have gotten colder since the "global warming" scare started. For instance in the article it said that heavy snowfalls have been the result to the climate changes in some areas. In my opinion Hayhoe put best when she described it as "global wierding." Though, grant it in most areas you do here about it getting warmer. However, the term global warming is to general in my book.

1) How did climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe describe climate change?
2) What was one of the new normal changes in clime throughout the U.S.?
3) Do you think the term global warming is too general for what is happening to the climate?
4) Over the past five years what has been happening in west Texas?

Solar Plane Makes First International Flight

Apparently a new airplane has been invented power solely by the sun. The first solar power airplane has been invented by Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg in Switzerland. The SolarImpulse piloted by Andre Borschberg will be attempting to fly to Brussels Airport from Payerne airfield in Switzerland. The plane will rise to 3600 meters start for France go over Luxembourg and land in Brussels at approximately 21:00 hours. The flight will take a predicted 12 hours.

To be completely honest it's kind of amazing that this is even possible to do. To power and entire plane that will actually fly on the sun almost sounds impossible. I mean I guess we should be able to do it considering all of the other things we've done with the sun of the years. It does still sound like something that should be from a movie though. It is one thing to be able to power a UAV on the sun but a plane with a pilot inside is just insane.

1) How high in the air did the pilot get the plane?
2) How long will the plane be in the air from Switzerland to Brussels.
3) Do you think this should be possible?
4) Why do you think we didn't try this before now?

Threatened Tortoises Slow Down Desert Solar Project

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/05/threatened-tortoises-slow-down-desert-solar-project.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29

summary: In the Mojave Desert they are building a solar project that is supposed to take up 5.6 square miles. During the building of the project they were stopped because it could destroy 3,000 acres of tortoise habitat. 600 tortoises could die from the already endangered speacies. Although the developer says that it would only 38 will be distrubed in their actions. Environmentalist dont want the solar pannels to disturb the habitat. They would like it if the pannels were out of the way on rooftops. The tortoises that are 80-100 years old have wide ranges of food sources but because of the move they will have to take diseases are more prone to them and they will die. They are trying to find another habitat to move the tortoises but as of now they have found nothing.

reflection: I feel that alternative energies are great, but when the making and space needed for them destroys animals habitat its not worth it. alternative energy resources are there to help the environment and where we live. Destroying land/ homes of tortoises is not a way to do so. im glad to see they have stopped production so they can figure out what to do in this situation. I dont believe that finding another location just to move the tortoises to isnt going to help much. It will cause an unblanced atmosphere. like we learned earlier in the year when intruducing a different species to new land it can mess things up serverly. with what we are learning now about alternative energies we know that for an energy source putting the pannels in this area would be greatly benificial.  The emmense amount of sunlight would bring in tons of energy to be used. All actions have consequences though.

1.do you thing they should build the pannels? why?
2.What will the effects be of moving the tortoises?
3.What are the advantages of building the pannels?
4. do you the right thing to do and whta will actually happen will be the same thing?

How to go green: Alternative Energy

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/how-to-go-green-alternative-energy.php

                                                                             SUMMARY:

People all around the world want to switch to an alternative source to power their house, but it is too overwhelming. There are so many choices to choose from. For example, Wind, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, all of these are good energy sources but to choose one is a tough decision. Because of this debate, most people just decide to throw away the idea of choosing an alternative energy source. If you do pick one of the listed sources, start off slow to see how it goes. Start off by doing the simplest thing of all; cut down on your electricity you use now. Using less energy will make it easier to provide your own. In the picture, that house is using solar power. Solar power is a good alternative energy source but it has its downfalls. For example, the panels will not generate electricity if it is a cloudy day and the sun is not out. You really have to trust the area you live in before switching to solar power. A positive thing about solar power is that if you generate more electricity than you use, the government will pay you. You need to think about your decision and research the area you live in.

                                                                        REFLECTION:

I agree with this article that it is overwhelming to make a big switch to an alternative energy resource. I think that people should definitely invest in new technology like solar panels. We learned in class that we are running out of coal and oil and need to find an alternative energy resource. People need to stop worrying about the negatives and think about the positives. For example, they are getting one step closer to saving the world. I say this because they are cutting down on coal and oil use, and influencing people around them to do the same. If people all around the world switch to alternative energy resource, we will be able to save a lot of coal and oil and stop polluting the world.

                                                                      QUESTIONS:

1) Do you think it is overwhelming to switch to an alternative energy resource?
2) What are some choices people have to switch to?
3) What are some pros and cons of solar power?
4) Do you think it is possible for everybody to switch to an alternative energy resource at any time?

GOP Launches Push to Expand Offshore Drilling

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/05/gop-launches-push-expand-drilling.php?campaign=top_news

By Brian Merchant, TreeHugger.com, 5/03/11

Summary:

Just one year after the tragic BP Oil Spill, GOP is pushing to expand offshore drilling for oil. The oil spill one year ago in the Gulf of Mexico, spilled 210,000,000 gallons of oil in to the water, killing tons of marine life and damaging the local fishing-based economies of Louisiana and Florida. The GOP has proposed 3 bills, presenting three plans and conditions for where they wish to begin their drilling. These bills would allow drilling in a wide range of coastal waters through Alaska, the East Coast from Maine through North Carolina, and also in Southern California. This bill also states that if it takes more than thirty days for the government to review drilling permit applications or they will automatically be granted permission.

Reflection:

I think that it is ridiculous for the GOP to be promoting drilling for oil. It has only been one year since such a tragedy of an oil spill, and it seems like they haven’t learned anything. Obviously, if that happened once, it can happen again. In class, I learned that drilling for oil is not only bad for the marine life surrounding it, but burning it is horrible for the environment, because it omits carbon and contributes to green house gases. I also learned that there are many sources of alternative energy, and we should be cutting down on the use of fossil fuels. Instead of spending valuable time and money on drilling for more fossil fuels, companies should be concentrating on improving alternative and renewable energy resources that are more cost effective and better for the environment.

Questions:

1) Do you support fossil fuels?

2) Do you agree with the GOP, in that it is necessary to drill for more oil?

3) What are ways, other than fossil fuels, to provide energy?

Los Angeles to Stop Using Coal by 2020

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/los-angeles-to-stop-using-coal-by-2020/

Summary: The major of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, said that Los Angeles in the year 2020, will completely eliminate the usage of coal and turn to alternative energy resources. He said that the wind and the sun and other resources will be used for energy instead. Now in Los Angeles, about 20% of the power used is renewable and they have been taking many strides to using cleaner energy. By cutting coal, they will be cutting carbon emissions as well, since coal produces a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)'s goal is to cut carbon emissions by 60% in 2020.

Reflection: I agree with the mayor's decision on cutting the usage of coal in Los Angeles. Obviously it won't really affect us since we live on the other side of the country, however, it may inspire other cities to do the same. This movement towards alternative energy could really have some great outcomes for our environment. Also, we can't even rely on fossil fuels for much longer anyway, since they are quickly running out. By replacing fossil fuels with alternative energies, we can help the atmosphere and the land so much. Carbon emissions are letting excess carbon into the atmosphere as well as dusts and other wastes are being put into the atmosphere as well. Drilling and mining are damaging the land. When we filled out the fossil fuels chart in class, we wrote down that coal puts particulates and mercury into the air also. Mercury is very dangerous and by cutting coal this could be eliminated. Yes, it may be expensive to turn to alternative energies, however, its our best switch from coal and other fossil fuels.

Questions:

1. Do you think that mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is making the right choice for Los Angeles? Why?

2. Even though turning to alternative energies may hurt the economy, do you think its worth it?

3. What percentage does the LADWP wish to cut carbon emissions by?

4. Are there any disadvantages to alternative energies? If so, list some.