Originally, I thought I was going to use Weebly because I have worked with it in the past during high school for a project. I am not very good with technology so I thought it would be easier to stick with what I know. However, after reading the article Wix vs Weebly and looking at past examples of people who used Wix as well as all the themes wix offered, I have come to the conclusion that wix will work the best for me. The article says wix is even easier to use than Weebly and it has a lot of creative freedom, so I hope if I learned Weebly, then I can learn wix!
Possible Content:
While the creative audiences such as grandparents really intrigued me, I think I will go the “basic” route and create a professional e-portfolio for future internships and jobs. If I had to think of a secondary audience, I think this is where it gets a little creative because I want it to be for myself. I have a tendency to always invalidate myself and my accomplishments (even while writing this I’m like well that’s because there’s nothing to validate lol oop), so through analyzing myself and making a portfolio for myself, I hope that it can help me be more confident in my abilities. However, back to the main audience, as I want to work for something environmental-related, the portfolio will definitely have a large focus on my environmental passions. I think tabs such as advocacy, passions, and extracurriculars (like what Nina did) could get the job done. Under advocacy, I could talk about my issue brief and my honors option for a class (which was a climate change survey and I analyzed how many people/ what types of people are concerned about climate change and I am now trying to tie it into education). For passions, I can talk about how I am passionate about trying to live a sustainable lifestyle and inspiring others (my example would be meatless Monday and I can either post pictures of the meals I have made or my civic issues blog where I talk about the importance of it) and potentially my love of art (I did studio art in high school so I have a bunch of pieces I can post) to show I can be creative. For extracurriculars, I am involved in blue band and thon most actively and these can be used to show I have teamwork skills and empathy. These are all subject to change and these ideas were all just what immediately came to my mind.
Hello everyone! Welcome to the last passion blog! Thank you so much for sticking with me on this educational journey (especially when these blogs are usually more than double what they are supposed to be). My passion for animals and saving the environment has only gotten stronger since researching about so many precious species that are being pushed to endangerment. This last blog was a request from my friend because it is her favorite species. Hope you enjoy it!
Endangered Species of the Week:Northern Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptesmoseleyi
The Northern Rockhoppers are striking in physical appearance. These penguins have a slate-colored back and head, and a white front and underside. The most unique morphological feature on these birds is certainly the long, frayed yellow feathers extending like long eyebrows across their forehead.
Rockhopper penguins earned their common name from their behavior on land: They can slide on their bellies as many penguins do, but to navigate the steep, rocky shores of their breeding islands, rockhoppers use their strong, thick-skinned feet and legs.See the connection?
Out of the 5 endangered penguin species, the Northern Rockhoppers have the largest number of mature individuals (413,700) in comparison to the GalapagosPenguin with the smallest number (1,200). However, the Northern Rockhoppers are considered endangered because of their significant decline in numbers in the last 50 years. A 2010 estimate estimated the species’ overall decline to be 57 percent over 27 years. Thus, according to the IUCN Red List, this species is labeled as endangered.
Where Do They Live?
Approximately 85 percent of the Northern Rockhopper Penguin’s global population is found in the South Atlantic Ocean and breeds at the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (in the British territory of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha). The remaining 15 percent is found in the Indian Ocean on Amsterdam and St. Paul islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands).
Fun Facts:
Penguins have strong eye muscles and flattened corneas, which enable them to focus clearly both above and below the water. Streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies and powerful flippers make them effective swimmers and divers.
Northern Rockhopper Penguins are pretty aggressive. They slap each other with their flippers, jab with open bills, and bray loudly as they tussle for nesting sites, mating rights, and food. Bowing, head-shaking, and preening movements demonstrate their “softer” side.
With noisy calls, these penguins communicate their location to mates and chicks or deliver a warning to pushy neighbors or predators. Listen to a variety of Northern Rockhopper calls here
Mated rockhopper pairs remain together for life😚. They return to the same breeding site each year, with males arriving first and females following a few weeks later.
Northern Rockhopper Penguins are also known as Moseley’s Penguin in honor of Henry Nottidge Moseley, a British naturalist who participated in the famed 19th century HMS Challenger expedition that laid the groundwork for the study of oceanography.
Why Are They Endangered?
Predation
Several introduced species pose threats to Northern Rockhopper Penguins. Chief among these species were feral pigs, until their eventual eradication in the 20th century. Dogs and introduced mice also pose certain threats, though there is a lack of data quantifying the magnitude of their impact on the birds.
Climate change
Although scientific data quantifying the effect of climate change on penguins is still in the process of being conducted, researchers have reason to believe that abnormalities in the Earth’s natural climate can negatively affect birds like penguins. The main reason being studied is that rising ocean temperatures in the areas in which Northern Rockhoppers live are leading to the decline of fish for the penguins to eat.
Human activity
Human activity is by far the harshest threat to the Northern Rockhopper Penguin. For years, the birds were killed for feathers, hunting bait, and bushmeat. Their eggs were also harvested to feed the people of the island until as recently as 2011. The rapidly increasing development of human housing, roads and cities have led to a severe decrease in habitat availability for the penguins as well.
Commercial Fisheries
Nets entangle and drown penguins as they forage underwater, while overharvesting of fish can cause food shortages for the birds.
Oil Spills
Oil spills are a major threat to penguins, puffins, and other diving birds, since oiled feathers lose the waterproofing necessary to keep the birds warm and dry while feeding at great depths. In 2011, an oil spill on remote Tristan da Cunha greatly affected the Northern Rockhopper: Although an estimated 3,700 oiled penguins were collected for rehabilitation, only 10 percent survived due to challenges in establishing care facilities in a timely manner.
ABC has also created a 50-50-5 Action Plan to stem bird population declines. The Northern Rockhopper Penguin is one of 50 flagship bird species identified in this plan, along with 50 priority ecosystems and five major threats.
A series of laws recently passed in the Tristan Island community has sectioned off an entire island to the penguins for habitat without the threat of human intervention. This provides a large area for the penguins to hunt, breed and raise their young. Citizens have also taken action by putting up a fence to keep penguin predators away from the island.
What Can You Do?
A common theme with all endangered species is the threat of human activities- especially climate change. The biggest action you can take to help endangered species such as The Rockhopper Penguin is to educate yourself (which you do by reading these blogs!) and be more proactive in leading an environmentally friendly life.
1) World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been a huge help for me in these blogs. Take a moment to check out their website if you haven’t yet. They have so many resources for you to read through and learn about. Additionally, you can donate to them or support them by buying merchandise. I have “adopted” animals from them before and gifted them to friends because you not only cann help give back to a great organization, but you also get a physical reminder (if you choose) of what you are supporting.
2) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has also been a great resource for me and every scientist out there. I highly recommend checking out their website to see what they have to offer. I have been referring back to the IUCN Red List, so I also recommend searching for that specifically and taking a look at all world’s classified species. You can filter out endangered species if you want. The large number is eye-opening.
3) Lastly, I will leave you off with one of my favorite email newsletters. They are called Nowhere and Everywhereand if you subscribe to their newsletter, they send out weekly mail summarizing what is going on in the world- the good and the bad. They are truly amazing and informative and I highly highlyhighlyyy recommend checking them out!!
Hey guys! This week’s species is another one I have never heard of, but its nickname intrigued me! Find out what it is in the fun fact section 🐴📯🌈! This week’s blog is a little short given there is not much known about the species… also keep reading to find out about this hehe. Enjoy!
(Critically) Endangered Species of the Week: Saola
Pseudoryxnghetinhensis
The saola(sow-la) was discovered in May 1992 during a joint survey carried out by the Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and WWF in north-central Vietnam. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter’s home and knew it was something extraordinary. The find proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century.
Nearly 3 decades since discovery, little is still known about the saola. None exist in captivity and this rarely-seen mammal is already critically endangered. Scientists have categorically documented saola in the wild on only four occasions to date.
Saola are recognized by two parallel horns with sharp ends, which can reach 20 inches in length and are found on both males and females. Meaning “spindle horns” in Vietnamese, they are a cousin of cattle but resemble an antelope.
Where Do They Live?
The Saola occurs only in the Annamite Mountains, along the border of Vietnam and Laos. It has one of the smallest ranges of any large mammal.
The region is a subtropical/tropical moist environment which is characterized by evergreen or mixed evergreen and deciduous woodlands, and the species seems to prefer edge zones of the forests. Saola are presumed to reside in mountain forests during the wet seasons and move down to the lowlands in winter.
Why Are They Important?
With its unusually long horns and white markings on the face, the saola is a strong symbol for biodiversity in Lao and Vietnam.
They are also important to conserve and pay attention to because the actual size of the remaining population is unknown. Its rarity, distinctiveness and vulnerability make it one of the greatest priorities for conservation in the region. The current population is thought to be a few hundred at a maximum and possibly only a few dozen at a minimum.
Fun Facts:
Saola are often called the Asian unicorn 🐴📯🌈.
Saola have striking white markings on the face and large maxillary glands on the muzzle, which could be used to mark territory or attract mates.
Saolaremains an enigma into the 21st century due to being rarely seen in the wild.
It resembles an antelope, but DNA has proven they are more closely related to cow species—which is why they were designated Pseudoryx, or “false antelope.”
All known captive saola have died, leading to the belief that this species cannot live in captivity.
Why Are They Endangered?
HABITAT LOSS
As forests disappear under the chainsaw to make way for agriculture, plantations and infrastructure, saola are being squeezed into smaller spaces. The added pressure from rapid and large-scale infrastructure in the region is also fragmenting saola habitat. Conservationists are concerned that this is allowing hunters easy access to the once untouched forest of the saola and may reduce genetic diversity in the future.
HUNTING
Saola are often caught in snares set in the forest for wild boar, sambar or muntjac deer. Local villagers set some snares for subsistence use and crop protection. Recent increases in lowland people hunting to supply the illegal trade in wildlife has led to a massive increase in hunting, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos.
What Is Being Done?
IN 2006, the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group created the Saola Working Group to protect the saola and their habitat. WWF has been involved with the protection of the saola since its discovery, focused on strengthening and establishing protected areas as well as research, community-based forest management, and strengthening law enforcement. Management of Vu Quang Nature Reserve where the saola was discovered has improved in recent years.
Two new adjacent saola reserves have been established in Thua-Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces. The WWF has been involved in the setting up and management of protected areas and continues to work on projects in the region.
For my advocacy campaign, I would like to continue with my theme of educating students. Specifically, I want to advocate to the elementary students at my elementary school. I want to tell them about all the things they can do to act now and in the future and that they truly have the power to do big things. I want to do this through a video because I think that would be the easiest way to connect with children in a virtual setting. I think this would also be impactful because I was once a student in their position and while New York schools do have teaching about the environment in the curriculum, l think hearing it from someone a little older than them rather than their teacher or a textbook can inspire them.
Clicking through the photos and reading through the blurbs of Photographer of a Witness made me go through many different emotions. I think the main one was uncomfort and I am trying to decide if that is a good thing or not. I always hear that in order for change to happen, we need to be uncomfortable, and given we are debating if this is a piece of art or/and a piece of advocacy, I think it is important to consider that. Ultimately, I will have to say this is both ethical advocacy and art. I do not think the pictures themselves would directly lead me to this claim, but reading the photographer’s statement about the purpose of the pictures makes me able to say she is advocating to increase awareness of domestic violence. The pictures and blurbs need deeper analysis to see why this is spreading awareness of the struggles of a toxic relationship and how hard it can be to recognize it and get help. This part is why I claim this is art. The photographer could have said anything in the blurbs to describe the pictures. However, the blurbs do not mention anything explicitly about spreading awareness. If anything, she makes the purpose of the pictures ambiguous with shifting description words of Shane, the abuser, and the relationship he has with Maggie. The very first picture seemed like a redemption arc for Shane, and then we see how that is no longer the case. However, even after the assault, the photographer showed Shane hugging Memphis and being vulnerable pleading he still loves Maggie. Then you go to the next picture and it is an emotionless blurb of Maggie with bruises getting examined. I think this was an uncomfortable, yet purposeful choice. Now, as for why this is ethical, I am saying this because the photography got the permission of MAggie and Shane to document their loves, and then Maggie gave permission to show these pictures and that is the most important person. If Maggie ever decides she doesn’t want them up, I have faith the photographer would do the best she could to try and remove the images and articles about it. Saying this, I can’t not talk about the clear ethical concern of what happened during documentation. As the title says, the photographer was a witness to a domestic violence case, and instead of calling the police right away, getting Maggie’s children away, or anything like that, she took her camera out and recorded. The photographer claimed she only did so after she confirmed with a neighbor that they called the police, and there is the potential that if she got involved, she could only cause more harm or be harmed herself. However, I just can’t get over the fact that while a human was getting abused in front of her, she recorded the pain and anguish of Maggie. Nevertheless, what is done is done. She has the pictures and with the approval of Maggie, was able to use them to potentially help other victims of domestic abuse and spread awareness (although I also don’t see why they could’ve gotten staged actors to act out the pictures after describing them). Sorry, this is very rambly and probably doesn’t make sense, I just wanted to get all my thoughts down!
Populations of black rhino declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped by a sobering 98%, to less than 2,500.Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to around 5,600 today. However, the black rhino is still considered critically endangered, and a lot of work remains to bring the numbers up to even a fraction of what it once was—and to ensure that it stays there.
Where Do They Live?
While this species can naturally occur in a wide range of habitats, they only occur today in areas that are heavily guarded nature preserves. They can inhabit deserts, acacia savannahs, wooded grasslands, and woodlands. Because they are browsers of plants rather than grazer, which eat grass, this species must live in areas with dense vegetation.
Why Are They Important?
Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils. They play an important role in their habitats and in countries like Namibia, rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism. The protection of black rhinos creates large blocks of land for conservation purposes. This benefits many other species, including elephants.
Fun Facts:
Ironically enough, black rhinos are actually not black. Also ironically, white rhinos aren’t white! All five rhino species are a dull shade of grey.
Black rhinos are also known as hook-lipped rhinos. This is due to their pointed, prehensile upper lip. This lip differs from their other African neighbors, white rhinos. The black species uses their lip to browse for leaves and plants, and the white species uses their flat lip to graze for grass.
Rhinos are surprisingly tidy, and have a special location in their territories called a midden. Basically, it’s a poop pile. Instead of spreading their feces all around the territory, which can potentially spread disease, they choose a singular location to defecate in 💩.
Rhinos have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. They may find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind it on the landscape.
These large mammals have no natural predators as adults. While lions occasionally kill young rhinos, adult rhinos cause each other the most harm! Part of the reason lions don’t mess with these creatures is their long, defensive horn. The longest recorded horn length was an astounding 4.9 ft.!
Rhinos are wallowers. They often find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with a natural bug repellent and sun block.
Why Are They Endangered?
ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE
Of all the threats facing black rhinos, poachingis the deadliest. Black rhinos have two horns which make them lucrative targets for the illegal trade in rhino horn A wave of poaching for rhino horn rippled through Kenya and Tanzania, continued south through Zambia’s Luangwa Valley as far as the Zambezi River, and spread into Zimbabwe. Political instability and wars have greatly hampered rhino conservation work in Africa, notably in Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, and Sudan. This situation has exacerbated threats such as trade in rhino horn and increased poaching due to poverty.
Today, black rhinos remain critically endangered because of rising demand for rhino horn, from some Asian consumers, particularly in Vietnam and China, who use them in folk remedies. A recent increase in poaching in South Africa threatens to erase their conservation success, reaching an apex in 2014 when 1,215 rhinos were poached. Poaching numbers are slowly decreasing—594 were poached in 2019—but poaching continues unabated with numbers remaining unsustainably high.
POPULATION DENSITY, DISEASE, AND INBREEDING
High population density in some sites leads to lower breeding rates and increases the probability of disease transmission. Smaller, isolated populations can also be prone to genetic impacts from inbreeding.
HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION
Next to poaching, loss of habitat contributes to declines in rhino population. Human activities such as agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure development result in the loss and fragmentation of rhino habitat, which increases the risk of poaching and inbreeding.
What Is Being Done (WWF Edition)?
WWF launched an international effort to save wildlife in 1961, rescuing black rhinos—among many other species—from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, the total number of black rhinos grew from 2,410 in 1995 to more than 5,000 today.
To protect black rhinos from poaching and habitat loss, WWF is taking action in three African rhino range countries: Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa. Together, these nations hold about 87% of the total black rhino population.
TACKLING WILDLIFE CRIME
Poaching is the deadliest and most urgent threat to black rhinos. WWF is working with government agencies and partners in Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa to support law enforcement agencies, develop and build on innovative tech solutions, and equip and train rangers to stop poachers.
PROTECTING AND MANAGING KEY POPULATIONS
WWF supports annual aerial population surveys at key sites such as Etosha National Park in Namibia. The surveys are critical for evaluating breeding success, deterring poachers, and monitoring rhino mortality.
WWF is also working with partners to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies in Namibia, South Africa, and Kenya to closely monitor key populations. Innovative solutions like electronic identification and tracking tags, radio collars, drones, and camera traps provide conservationists with the data they need to make important decisions for black rhino populations going forward. They install new thermal and infrared camera and software systems that can identify poachers from afar and alert park rangers of their presence.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
Community support and engagement is a cornerstone of WWF’s work, particularly in Namibia. WWF assists communities to set up conservancies and help to foster the knowledge, skills, and capacity required to successfully govern their conservancies and manage their wildlife resources. These communal lands are now home to Africa’s largest remaining free-roaming black rhino population.
Community engagement will also play a role in South Africa, where conservationists are looking to conserve black rhino through community governance, training, and identification of alternative livelihood opportunities.
Title: Environmental Education: Using the Power of Education to Create a More Sustainable Future
Intro
-refer to last blog
-still touching it up, but I will probably just get rid of half of it before I start going into facts about phys ed classes already mandated.I will go more in detail to why we need to care about our future.
–Thesis?:One way to engage students with climate science and related topics is through the implementation of American state mandates on requiring courses to be taught about environmental literacy in grades k-12. This can help young people grasp the reality of the climate crisis and push them to be more involved in reaching a climate-safe future for themselves and those who come after them.
Note: Still researching the feasibility of this idea. Instead of mandating that the course be required for graduation (which may run into political/religious conflicts and be an “extreme” change), I might make the claim of making sure that every school has at least one environmental related course offered and push that educators bring up environmental conversations.
The Climate Crisis
-this section will go further in depth at what the intro talked about relating to the urgency of climate change (what is the issue, why is it happening, and who should be concerned). I will also talk about how many people are concerned about the environment, how many learned about the environment growing up, and any related statistics to show that this is an issue many are starting to be wary of.
-this section will talk about what classes are required for graduation in most schools/ which ones are mandated. Planning to talk about Earth science and its similarities. The importance of them will also be talked about and then in the next section I cancompare to why environmental classes shouldbe mandated.
-this section will talk about how skills learned relating to environmental literacy are also skills about being an engaged, globally aware citizen. This will probably be a subsection of environmental literacy.
Conclusion
Bibliography
Note: Title headers are subject to change and gain subheaders as I look to see how the research spreads out.
Sea lions are sea mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long fore flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short, thick hair, big chest, and belly.They are marine mammals and members of the suborder Pinnipedia (which in Latin means ‘fin-footed’ or ‘winged foot’). Together with the fur seals, they constitute the Otariidae family, collectively known as eared seals.There are seven species of Sea Lion worldwide but are all put together in the same family.
They are classified as endangeredby the IUCN.
Make sure not to confuse them with seals (which shocker, they are also low in number and considered vulnerable)!
Where Are They Found?
Sea Lions are found in all sorts of waters except the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Some species live in sub-arctic regions while others prefer warmer climates such as the Californian Sea Lion.
Fun Facts!
The sea lion is the most common mammal in the Galápagos.
Males are considerably larger than females. Males are very large and can weigh from 1,500 pounds up to 1 ton. They can measure up to 12 feet in length. Female sea lions are much smaller with a weight of 700 pounds and average about 9 feet in length.
Sea lions do not have very good eyesight and it is believed that they are nearsighted. There is evidence to indicate that Sea Lions can see better in the water than they can on land.
The males are called bulls and the females are called cows. Their offspring are called pups.
Sea Lions are capable of diving up to 600 feet when searching for food in the water. They can remain under the water for up to 40 minutes before they must surface for air.
Sea Lions are considered to behighly intelligent animals. As well as being able to learn tricks, they have also been trained to help the United States Navy with their in water needs.
What is Threatening Them?
The huntingof Sea Lions is a huge threat to their survival. In some areas they are hunted as a source of food. The Sea Lion has only two other predators apart from man. They are sharks, in particular theGreat White Shark and alsoKiller Whales. The Sea Lions are much more likely to encounter these predators when they have to further out into the waters to find food.
Sea Lions often suffer from an array of health problems associated with humans. They include pneumonia, epilepsy, and various types of cancers. Research shows that the pups are immune to such problems as long as they are fed milk from their mothers. Those that are in captivity from an early age may develop these problems in the first year and the only difference is the milk they are given.
The future is unsure for many species of Sea Lions. Years of them being destroyed by humanshas taken a toll on them. Environmental concerns continue to cause problems for them in their natural habitats. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impacts their fish prey abundance. They are also victims of bycatch in fisheries.
What is Being Done?
Here I listed conservation efforts for some of the 7 sea lion species.
Conservation of Australian Sea Lions
Due to the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1972, it is illegal to harm or kill an Australian Sea Lion. Although there has been such protection in the habitat, there aren’t more than 10,000 of the species remaining in the world. There has been funding put into place to protect of the Australian Sea Lions and to learn the threats that have hunted them to death.
Conservation of Galapagos Sea Lions
There are approximately 50,000 Galapagos Sea Lions remaining. Although so, there has been a very heavy protection to conserve them. The islands where they live has been a very interesting tourist destiny. People offer a great place to watch these animals in their natural habitat. The safety of the Sea Lions stays a priority though. Any visitors that violate the rules can come in contact with the authorities or have to pay fines.
Conservation of New Zealand Sea Lions
The numbers left of the New Zealand sea lion are around 10,000 and they are probably the world’s rarest sea lion species. The New Zealand government has provided protection to New Zealand Sea Lions. There are three main management strategies currently in place to mitigate New Zealand Sea Lion, including input control, output control, and Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLED). For the input control, a Marine Mammal Sanctuary and Marine Reserve limits the Auckland Islands extending 22.2 km offshore where no trawling or any other form of fishing is allowed.
Conservation of Guadalupe fur Seals
The Guadalupe fur seal population is slowly recovering from the extinction threats. The conservation group has published the viewing guidelines to protect the fur seals. The government of Mexico has declared the Guadalupe Island as a pinniped sanctuary. National Marine Fisheries Service has classified the U.S. Guadalupe fur seal stock as a strategic stock.
What Can You Do?
NOAA: Learn more about the Sea Lion’s habitat, threats, and efforts being made for conservation.
World Wildlife Fund: Learn more about the Indus River Dolphin, conservation efforts, and what you can do to help ensure the species’ survival.
The Marine Mammal Center: Get detailed information about this species and what you can do to help.
A Climate Crisis: Educating the Future for Their Future
Education has had a key role in preparing young people to gain the skills necessary to enter the workplace. However, as the world changes and society evolves, the reason for our education must change along with it. Children need to be capable of civically engaging in their communities, countries, and worldwide as their decisions can have long-lasting impacts far beyond what they see. This is especially important in the sector of environmental education ashuman activity, especially greenhouse gas emissions, is considered the dominant cause of temperature increases related to climate change [1].The world has already warmed by more than 1°C directly contributing to ocean warming, shrinking ice sheets, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification to name a few [2]. The scientific evidence of reaching the point of no return is unequivocal and urgent action needs to be taken to reverse the effects and put into place a sustainable way of living. One way to follow through with this goal is through the implementation of American state mandates on requiring courses to be taught about environmental literacy in grades k-12. In America, many states already have requirements relating to physical and health education for students to graduate.According to the 2016 Shape of the Nation study of 50 states and the District of Columbia, 39 require elementary school students to take physical education, 37 have that requirement for junior high school students, and 44 make physical education mandatory for high school students [3]. Given that these classes are required to improve a student’s mental and physical wellbeing that influence their quality of life, why is environmental education also not taught? The changes happening in the world due to an unsustainable living will have a direct impact on all living things on earth no matter where you live. Interestingly, one survey from the Teachers College of Columbia University found that 77% of Americans already support mandating teaching primary and secondary school students about global warming and climate change [4].Now, it is only a matter of creating a curriculum that encompasses environmental awareness and its impacts and mandating it. By engaging students with climate science and related topics, it can help young people grasp the reality of the climate crisis and push them to be more involved in reaching a climate-safe future for themselves and those who come after them.
Title: I am considering “Environmental Education: Using the Power of Education to Create a More Sustainable Future” because it explains the topic better, but it has less of a ring to it haha.
The intro kind of has a lot of topics in it so I am thinking of separating it into a couple of paragraphs (1=the traditional point of education- pragmatic and economic-based to what we need now-social and civic based, 2=climate crisis facts and why it is urgent, and 3= explaining why climate education is important)? But maybe this is stuff I should go more in detail to in the actual brief because there are already a lot of sources in my intro which probably isn’t good
My thesis is in the middle of the paragraph which is also weird and kind of confusing so I need to figure a way to change that
I was planning on talking about America specifically because it would be too hard to focus on education systems from around the world and be specific with facts, but I think I am not making that very clear.
Overall this intro seems to need a lot of work but I am hoping with a more solid plan of where I want to go with this issue brief that things will fall into place? Hopefully
Also, my sources arent cited correctly because I am sure things will change so I just left them as links
Hello everyone! Welcome to our last official civic issues blog! I am so sad because there is still so much I want to learn and teach others about. Choosing a topic for this week was difficult because there were so many options. I relied on my memory as a child and thought of some of the basic advice I received on Earth Day to help save the planet.
“Turn off the tap water when brushing your teeth.”
Since I have received that advice in elementary school, I have followed through in being conscientious of my water usage. But why do we need to do this? In America, we have plenty offresh, filtered water to drink from. Why do we need to care about water conservation and how much is turning off the tap for a couple of minutes a day going to help the issue?
Why Should We Care About Our Water Usage?
There is a common misconception that there is an unlimited supply of water for human usage. This is a misconception because while water is renewable, water is not always easily accessible.Different stages of the water cycle can take a long time to complete. Water can also be located in different areas of the world, in uneven quantities. This means that sometimes, depending on your location, water can be very difficult to access.
This all becomes important when we think of our usage of water. Humans mainly use water in the form of freshwater. If freshwater in the water cycle is hard for us to access, then it can’t be used by humans.For example, water that is frozen in glaciers is very difficult, if not impossible to extract for human use. But what about the vast seas and oceans?
Sea water can’t be used directly to provide drinking water as its salt content is too high and the processes to remove the salt come at a huge financial cost. There is also a large energy requirement and environmental impact of the desalination of sea water (the heat from the sun naturally does this in the water cycle, turning the sea water into gas through evaporation and leaving behind the salt).
From an environmental point of view, by looking to use sea water you would be taking a natural habitat away from the world’s marine creatures and organisms. The occasional use of sea water is of course an option that gets looked at, but would the negatives of such a large-scale operation outweigh the positives?
This is important when looking at percentages. Ninety-seven percent of all water on the earth is saltwater, which is not suitable for drinking. Only 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater, and only 0.5% is available for drinking. The other 2.5% of freshwater is locked in ice caps, glaciers, the atmosphere, soil, or under the earth’s surface, or is too polluted for consumption.
The bottom line?
Water usage needs to be carefully monitored and not taken advantage of as everyone is susceptible to a water shortage. Climate change is only amplifying this problem as precipitation and weather conditions are more volatile making it hard to ensure stable water supplies.
Water Usage in Less Developed Countries
When first thinking of a water crisis, images of less developed countries come to mind. While more developed countries certainly have to worry as well, let’s discuss water shortages in places we traditionally associate it with.
Water connects every aspect of life. Access to safe water and sanitation can quickly turn problems into potential – empowering people with time for school and work, and contributing to improved health for women, children, and families around the world.
Today, 785 million people – 1 in 9 – lack access to safe water and 2 billion people – 1 in 3 – lack access to a toilet. These are the people we empower.
Reasons why people don’t have access to clean water:
Lack of infrastructure and poor management of services.
Efforts have been made to reach more people with more water. However, governments need to do more in ensuring water supplies are sustainable and commit to improving infrastructure.
Poverty and inequality
Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene are a basic human right and yet some people are still unable to access these services due to their ethnicity, gender, social status, disability or inability to afford the high costs.
Climate change
Climate change and an increase in unpredictable and extreme weather is a growing challenge. Long periods of drought affect clean water supplies while flooding can pollute clean water sources and cause outbreaks of disease.
Population increase
The world’s population is predicted to grow to 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. This is going to create a high demand and put a strain on already scarce and fragile water sources.
Impact of lack of access to clean water:
Women and Girls
In many communities girls are tasked with collecting the households water. If supplies are scarce or the community is isolated it means girls are spending hours of their day to walk great distances to collect water from streams, rivers and unprotected wells. This means less time for paid work and going to school.
Livelihood
Rural communities who rely on farming for their livelihoods are the most vulnerable to climate change and water shortages. Increased temperatures, changes in season, and prolonged dry spells affect crops and livestock and therefore a person’s ability to earn a living.
Health
As the effects of climate change and rising temperatures increase, so does the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as cholera and trachoma. The World Health Organisation also warns that incidences of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue will also rise. Another impact of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene is malnutrition. In factup to 50% of malnutrition cases are said to be a result of this.
Water Usage in the United States
Now, if you are thinking that it’s sad others have to deal with having no/ limited access to a human need, but it doesn’t directly affect you, keep reading. Water shortages will have an impact on you no matter where you are.
The United States has immense amounts of water. The country has an estimated 4.3 percent of the world’s populationyet contains more than 7 percent of global renewable freshwater resources. It is home to the largest freshwater lake system in the world, the Great Lakes, which holds 6 quadrillion gallons of water (that’s a 6 followed by 15 zeros). And the Mississippi River flows at 4.4 million gallons per second at its mouth in New Orleans, which supplies water to about 15 million people along the way.
However, the U.S. also faces some stark realities
On average, each American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water every day, with the nation’s estimated total daily usage topping 345 billion gallons—enough to sink the state of Rhode Island under a foot of water.
96 of the 204 water basins that supply most of the country’s freshwater could fail to meet monthly demands starting in 2071.
Rising sea levels due to climate change can taint freshwater coastal aquifers, salinating otherwise usable drinking water.
In terms of water usage, Americans use nearly twice the global amount. This presents issues like lower availability and equity in water distribution.
Certain areas of the country already experience decreased water levels because of high demand.
Recent droughts have been some of the worst in history. For example, in 2012, 81% of the country experienced abnormally dry conditions.
A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Tetra Tech found that 70 percent of US counties could face water shortages by 2050 because of pressure from climate change, population increases and economic growth.
Droughtin the United States can cause a number of significant challenges, including:
Reduced agricultural output
Transportation disruption
Wildfires
Energy unreliability
Water Demand
As the U.S. water supply decreases, demand is set to increase. By 2100 the U.S. population will have increased by nearly 200 million, with a total population of some 514 million people. Given that we use water for everything, the simple math is that more people mean more water stress across the country.
The effects of decreasing supply and increasing demand are already being felt.The Colorado River carved its way 1,450 miles from the Rockies to the Gulf of California for millions of years, but now no longer reaches the sea. In 2018, parts of the Rio Grande recorded their lowest water levels ever; Arizona essentially lives under permanent drought conditions; and in South Florida’s freshwater aquifers are increasingly susceptible to salt water intrusion due to over-extraction.
Hope?
A promising trend has emerged over the past 20 years or more with people and enterprises in the United States withdrawing and using less water. Since the previous USGS water report in 2010, the US has reduced its water withdrawals by 9 percent, which is the lowest recorded level in 45 years. Much of this is due to greater deployment of water and energy-efficient fixtures, technologies and processes, yet much more must be done.
So, Will Turning the Tap Off Help?
We discussed how large the issue of water usage and the shortage is, so what can we do to help?
People are recommended to brush their teeth for two minutes. If the tap runs in that time, an average of 4.4 gallons of water will be used. Multiply this for the twice-recommended daily brushing, and that’s 8.8 gallons of water used needlessly per day by only a single individual.
While that can be hard to picture, think of it this way: a family of four who diligently turns off their faucet every time they brush will save 11,000 gallons a year — more than a month of average water usage.So by doing this simple action, that household can cut their water use from 12 months to 10-and-a-half months, saving 13 percent on their water bill — about $65 a year for the average household.
While this may not seem much to the average American, and the relatively cheap bill is a reason many do not see value in conserving water, it is a huge privilege. Many people in the world today don’t have access to clean water and would be appalled to see water casually running out of the faucet unused while we brush our teeth.
But according to a survey from Red Fuse Communications, 42 percent of Americans still leave the water running while they brush. That’s a lot of water going straight down the drain
It’s not just water that’s wasted when it runs down the drain, but electricity as well. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, electricity is needed to run a pump to push water from a water tower, a large container where a city’s water is held, to your sink. If you brush your teeth with warm water, you further waste the electricity your water heater used to heat that water.
Concluding Thoughts
Every individual can save more water at home in multiple ways, such as turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. These are such small actions, but taken by many, they could amount to the biggest water savings―and we’re going to need every drop!
We are always hearing we will soon enter a period of no return in relation to climate change and its impacts. Social media helped spread this message and educate others, as well as key activists inspiring young people to act. With the rise of a global pandemic, it seemed thoughts of climate change were put on a backburner. However, there is still an urgency in the issue of climate change, especially as the issue is still very grave. In order to keep a sense of exigency with this topic, I will take advantage of the fact that we have a new president who believes in climate change, and that it is 2021. The global views and opinions of the people are changing to be more anxious about the future state of the world. I think it would be a good idea to include information about the percentof people concerned about Climate change to create a sense of unity in the issue. I also hope to show how many people supported Biden because they knew he was more serious about fighting climate change. Lastly, it would be silly not to mention the current statistics of climate change (how bad it is, water levels, CO2 levels, etc…).
My audience for this brief will be aimed at educational facilities/ their board/ whoever controls what can be taught and students in America. Educational facilities because I need them to understand why it is an issue that climate change is not being taught in schools unless students choose to take a course (if even offered). I need them to rethink their requirements for courses or at the very least offer more appealing offers or be more open and attentive to teaching students about the topic. The students are also the audience because they are the true target in this brief. I need students to become educated and interested in climate change so they can grow up being aware of the problem and taking action to help stop it. We need a generation of educated individuals who value the planet they live on and see value in not destroying it.
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