We're in Bad Waters

How much water do you use every day? Think about it. I will give you a minute. I mean you need water for brushing teeth, watering plants, showers, and a multitude of other purposes. Oops I left the hose on for too long. No problem, right? Wrong. In the United States especially, it feels as though water comes out of a faucet on command, an indispensible source. Many people fail to realize that freshwater sources are diminishing, fleeting, and will soon be all gone. What then? According to The Science American in 2025 the amount of usable water on Earth will be so small that wars will be fought over it. The best thing to do is not to go to the store and buy every bottle in sight, but to conserve the water we already have today.

Conservation sounds like an abstract concept, but in reality it is quite simple. Opponents may claim that we should wait until there is no water to start worrying. However, what they do not realize is that, by then, it will be too late. The battles over water will begin, the bloodshed, the casualties, all because of the carelessness of humans.  Prevention always trumps clean up. Water conservation also promotes community collectiveness, because citizens can work together to preserve a precious resource. Simple adjustments to bad habits can do so much more than one can possible imagine; for example, taking shorter showers, not letting the water run while brushing teeth, or watering the lawn in the evening to minimize evaporation. According to Living in the Environment the average American uses 295 liters of water per day. Let that sink in. Per day. There is no need for such uneconomical waste. The worst part is that 41% of water is used for agriculture, there are children dying of thirst in developing countries and the majority of our fresh water is being wasted on crops. Crops possess the capability of being watered with recycled water, simply switching to using recycled water on plants conserves this valuable resource. Once people comprehend the magnitude of water scarcity, maybe then they can become proactive in the community. Conservation is something everyone should be a part of, something everyone should want to be a part of.

Only .024% of all water on earth remains available to us (USGS.gov). That sounds like a good a reason as any to maybe remember to turn off the hose. We humans need water to survive, and for this reason we should treasure it, we should protect it.

Works Cited:
Capelli, Kara. "How Much Water Is Available?" USGS.gov. U.S Department of Interior, 30 May 2012. Web. 02 May 2013.
Green, Emily. "Politics and Water Conservation." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2010. Web. 02 May 2013.
Moyer, Micheal. "How Much Is Left? The Limits of Earth's Resources: Scientific American." Scientific American. Scientific American Inc., 24 Aug. 2010. Web. 02 May 2013.

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E

As a kid, I watched a lot of TV; this meant that I watched a lot of commercials. One commercial that stood out to me was one with dancing bottles that had faces singing “R-E-C-Y-C-L-E that is what it means to me, REDUCE AND REUSE.” At the time I did not know what recycling, reducing, or reusing meant, but the song was catchy and that is why I liked it. Now, however, I realize recycling is more than just a song bottles sing about, but a way of saving the earth, saving the earth from waste. Recycling provides average citizens an opportunity to help the planet; recycling is an easy and effective way of reducing waste, saving resources, and lowering air pollution.

Some may wonder why recycling is important; they wonder whether it is really worth the time and effort put into it. By recycling just one newspaper trees are saved, because a recycled newspaper just needs to be washed and stripped of ink and it can be used again, but if a newspaper needs to be made from scratch a tree must be cut down and processed. The cutting down of the tree not only harms biodiversity, but also releases carbon dioxide in the air. This one act of recycling has not just saved species living in a forest, but also prevented the release of a greenhouse gas. One person may believe they cannot make a difference, but they could not be any farther from the truth. Imagine one person deciding not to recycle their water bottle because they are only a single person and not much harm could be done; now multiply this number by 315 million. If everyone in the United States were to think this way, then the amount of trash in landfills would skyrocket and resources would begin to deplete. Recycling is a way for everyone to help, it is a collective effort that all must contribute to. According to National Geographic the amount of energy that can be saved by recycling an aluminum can has the capability to power a television for 3 hours.  This energy could be used to heat a home or run a generator, recycling has now saved a valuable resource.

People underestimate the impacts of recycling and for this reason initiatives should be taken. The public needs to be informed of how they can help out their community and the world as a whole, through programs and projects. Classes in schools like Environmental Science provide insight for students on how to help their environment and teach them the importance of sustainability, these classes are vital to the earth’s survival. Recycling can do so much more than people can imagine, and once they learn this progress can begin to be made.

As I typed this paper the recycling jingle was on repeat in my head, those bottles taught me something that it would take me a couple years to figure out and that is the necessity of recycling. Recycling protects resources, brings communities together, and keeps the earth usable for future generations. Think about the children.  



Works Cited:
Cathy. "How Many Trees Do You save by Recycling Paper?" Green Home Realty. Social Media Advisors, 19 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
Hutchinson, Alex. "Recycling By the Numbers: The Truth About Recycling." Popular Mechanics. Hearst Communications, 13 Nov. 2008. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
Kazmayer, Milton. "How Much Energy Does Recycling Save? | National Geographic." Green Living. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

Sign Ordinance

     Driving down the streets of Myrtle Beach I am bombarded with signs advertising "Pete's Putt-Putt Palace" and "Wings Surf Shop." Instead of seeing a beautiful view of the ocean I am stuck looking at bright, flashy, and obnoxious billboards. However while driving down the streets of Cary I see quaint suburban homes and not twenty foot long flashing posters. The lack of unnecessary visual pollution is due to the strict sign ordinances the Town of Cary enforces.

     Some people argue that strict sign ordinances are unnecessary and limit expression; however, according to “North Carolina Living” one of the main reasons people move to Cary is the atmosphere. There are people specifically moving to areas because of the attractive environment that is not overwhelmed with needless advertisements. Sign ordinances and regulations provide a uniform area that is pleasing to look at. Sometimes Cary is called “the city for families” because it gives off a kid-friendly atmosphere, an atmosphere that does not include large billboards advertising the new bar downtown. Currently, out of the whole country Cary was voted one of the “best” places to live.  Cary enforces strict ordinances so that they can keep their reputation, they want more families to migrate to their city and contribute to their local economy. The “homey” feeling people get when they visit Cary is due to the open skies and visually appealing ambiance.

     Sign ordinances provide regulation and uniformity to areas, allowing them to be appealing and welcoming. Yes, maybe “Pete’s Putt-Putt Palace” does sound like a good time, but I would rather be able to see the beach than the distracting monstrous sign. 

Work Cited:

City ordinance keeps stars bright and city lights low. (2001). Building Operating Management, 48(5), 22-22. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203452627?accountid=45237

Cocke, A. (2001). Savannah ordinance questioned. Architecture, 90(8), 35-35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/227806403?accountid=45237

Stryker, R. (2011, Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. The Camping Magazine, 84, 8-8,10. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/893925148?accountid=45237

Junk Food Tax

Once in a restaurant I heard a woman say “Hmm, I think I will order the double cheeseburger, large fries, but to be healthy, a diet coke.” I hate to break it to you ma’am, but I think it is going to take a lot more adjustments than a “diet” coke to make your lifestyle healthy. Bad eating habits like these have led to the health epidemic known as obesity. According to Professor Barry Popkin, one of every six people in the world is suffering from obesity.  America is the worst offender. With over 34% of Americans obese (Huffington Post), it is time to make a change. A tax should be implemented on sugary drinks such as soda and unhealthy foods to deter people from wanting to buy them.

Trust me; I understand how good junk food can taste, but the detrimental effect it has on the body is not worth it. Obesity can cause diabetes, heart failure, and premature death. A “junk food tax” as it is being called is supposed to be placing a 20% tax on sugary and harmful foods. Opponents of the junk food tax say that one of the main reasons they buy junk food is because of its cheap price, and they need the price to stay low because they cannot afford to buy healthier foods. To this I say, fast forward. Fast forward ten years later of eating junk food and look at the medical bill. In the long run the money that was saved by buying such cheap food is now being spent on medicine for diabetes or atherosclerosis. According to a study done by the National Institute of Health 75-125 billion dollars is spent either directly or indirectly on obesity-related problems. The tax will obviously not stop people from eating junk food indefinitely, but it can discourage people who drink a gallon of soda a day to cut down, and maybe eventually quit drinking soda altogether.  According to Sara Haan, registered dietician, it is easy to rack up 800 calories in just one day by drinking soda.

One thing that I find hard to believe, is that there are now more people in the world that are overweight than there are under nourished (Popkin). It is official, while even though there are people starving in Africa, there are more people out there who are overweight. Ironically, people who are obese and peole who are undernourished suffer some of the same health problems. One main problem is that children are now developing diabetes, because of their terrible eating habits. However, they cannot really be blamed for this; they eat whatever their parents buy for them. Many parents buy junk food, because it is cheap and ready to eat. The junk food tax would thwart parents away from the “chips and snack aisle” towards the “fruits and vegetables aisle.” The tax was not made out of malice, but with the safety and health of consumers in mind. Proponents of the 20% tax hope it will be enough to push shoppers more towards the greens and less towards the fried beans.

The world needs a wakeup call, and while a diet coke does have the word diet in it, I do not think it will be enough to save the millions of people from the devastating health crisis known as obesity.

 

 

 

Work Cited:

Benson, Lorna. "'Junk Food' Tax Proposal Goes to Committee." MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2013

Kaladis, Jen. "Should the U.S. Adopt a Fat Tax?" The Week. The Week Publication Inc, 25 Feb. 203. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.

Matthews, Deb. "No Junk Food Tax Letters." Well and Tribune. Canoe Sun Media, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.

Deforestation

     In 100 years how will things be different? Will the world finally receive the hover boards Back to the Future promised us? Will families be living like the Jetsons?  Will there be a way of eating as much food as you want without getting fat? That last one would be pretty convenient. However, I know something that will not be around, and that is rain forests. If the deforestation rate does not decrease radically, in 100 years there will be no existing rain forests.  There will no longer be homes for half of the worlds living organisms.
     Now, I understand that people cut down trees to use for paper and fuel wood, but what people do not realize, is that there are other sustainable methods that can be used. Instead of cutting down trees for their pulp that is used in making paper, there is another alternative called the kudzu vine. The kudzu vine was initially introduced to America to help battle soil erosion; however it began to grow uncontrollably. Kudzu vine if left uncontrolled can take over anything near it, including vegetation. It has been proven however that this vine can be used for making paper. This destructive plant that has had a rampant growth can finally be used for good, it can save many forests from being cut down and degraded. As for fuel wood sundried roots such as gourds and squash can be burned instead to prevent the detrimental effects of going into the forests and cutting down all the trees.
      Rain forests are homes for millions of plant and animal species, and destroying them leads to the premature extinction of these species. Many people do not understand the ecological services rain forests provide. Rain forests play a large role in the carbon cycle; they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen that humans need to live. By cutting down these trees enormous amounts of carbon dioxide are being emitted, this increase in carbon dioxide warms the atmosphere and increases temperatures worldwide. Humans are also losing oxygen needed for survival that these forests provide. So if the destruction of habitats for animals is not enough to raise awareness for deforestation, then maybe more carbon dioxide and less oxygen will wake people up.
      If the Amazon rain forest were a country it would be the ninth largest country in the world. This rain forest holds 20-40 million species. Yet, very little has been done to protect this store-house of biodiversity. Education is one of the best ways to fight deforestation. Many logging companies cut down trees to fulfill the needs of consumers. However, if consumers were to start demanding wood that is not cut down from nonrenewable sources and were to stop buying products that were made from old-growth forests, the company would want to change to satisfy the new needs. Another reason education is important is because a lot of deforestation in the Amazon is done by the local people living in the forest. They do not really know the long term effects of cutting down the trees. These people want the forest to survive; they need to live off of it. They could be taught more sustainable ways of harvesting the forests and using its resources. Community-based conservation is based on enlisting the local people to protect their environment.
     By the end of today at least 147 plants and animals will be lost due to deforestation.  Forests are worth protecting, they are homes for plants, animals, and people. In 100 years would it not be cool to ride your hover board through a rain forest?

Work Cited:
Darlington, Shasta. "Brazil Delays Vote on Bill Regulating Deforestation." CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, 06 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.
Leader, Jessica. "Amazon Deforestation: NASA Images Show The Great Rainforest Disappearing." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Aug. 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2013
Rodriguez, Alex. "Pakistan Flood Crisis Blamed Partly on Deforestation." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2010. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

Endangered Species

"Cruella De Vill, Cruella De Vill, if she does not scare you no evil thing will, Cruella Cruella De Vill"  Cruella De Vill is one of the most nefarious villains in cartoon history, but why? What makes Cruella De Vill such a terrible woman, what makes her have such a negative connotation?  Simple, her want to skin innocent animals for their fur. Many people can agree that they did not cheer Cruella on, they wanted her stopped, they did not want her to kill the Dalmatians. Yet, in real life, many animals, for example tigers, leopards, and cheetahs are being killed for their precious fur. Not only are animals being killed for their furs, but also for their horns, or for their fins. Stricter laws need to be enforced to prevent poachers from claiming another life. Sometimes, the animals are not killed directly, but taken from their habitats to be sold as exotic pets.

Animals cannot speak for themselves, they cannot protest being taken from their homes and shipped across the ocean, where in fact two thirds of them die. I understand that some people may say that animal skins are beautiful and portray a wealthy status; however that is both selfish and insensitive reasoning. Humans do not have the right to put themselves above animals. Something poachers do not realize is that killing off even just one species has an everlasting effect on the whole ecosystem. Taking one species  away, takes the food source away from a different species, leading to the destruction of a whole habitat. Poachers and illegal trading have led to the extinction of more than million species, and yet they have not been stopped. Many organized crime groups have even switched to illegal trading of animals because of the high wages and the low risk of getting caught. Even when caught, they face a small fine.

Compared to killing animals for their skin, selling them as pets seems humane and reasonable; however, many animals die on the journey to wherever they are being sold. They can die from insufficient food or the extreme stress and trauma they feel from being captured and ripped away from their homes. For every live animal captured and then sold in pet market, 50 others are killed from the journey. Keeping an exotic pet is ethically wrong and unjust. It is not fair to the animal to be kidnapped and snatched from their native land to serve the mere purpose of fulfilling selfish wants. In fact, some people do not realize that some exotic pets are actually dangerous. Keeping an exotic pet bird doubles the chances of developing lung cancer. The most important weapon that can be employed against illegal animal trading is becoming informed. Once people were to learn all the negative side effects that killing animals for trade brings, their mindset may begin to change. They can talk to their friends, and make them too realize how terrible animal trading is, and help gain their support for stricter laws. If stricter laws were enforced, the number of poachers would decrease substantially. A small fine is not enough to stop people from selling exotic animals, a harsh punishment needs to be employed to prevent anyone from wanting to harm another vulnerable animal again.

The next time you watch 101 Dalmatians, remember the sympathy you feel for the puppies, remember the gut wrenching feeling of them almost getting caught, and most importantly, remember the relief you feel when they are safe. 

 

 Work Cited:

Ehrenberg, R. (2008, Nov 08). Poaching's long reach threatens elephants anew. Science News, 174, 5-6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/197452810?accountid=45237

 

Herro, A. (2008, Demand for exotic creatures widespread. World Watch, 21, 7-7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230020931?accountid=45237

Mark, C. S., & Jane, S. S. (1997). The economics of saving endangered species: A teaching activity. Social Education, 61(6), 334-336. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/210631924?accountid=45237

 

 

 

Teen Tanning Ban

     Adolescence is a period marked by awkwardness, new beginnings, but most importantly responsibility. Teens are supposed to be able to make their own decisions that will help prepare them for the real world; but how are teens supposed to be prepared for the world when laws keep being passed to restrict their freedoms? Recent legislature has passed a bill banning teens under 18 years old from using indoor tanning beds. The excuse is that tanning beds are dangerous and cancerous, while true, why only ban 18 year olds? Tanning beds will still be dangerous when they turn 19 and yet they have not been outlawed. Teenagers should be allowed the privilege of deciding whether or not they want to use a tanning bed, state governments should not be deciding this for them.
     I understand that the purpose behind the law is prevent teenagers from developing skin cancer, but just because they cannot go to a salon does not mean they will be stopped from tanning ever again. Banning the use of tanning salons will only cause teens to lie out in the sun for longer amounts of time or invest in getting their own tanning bed. It has been proven that people who invest in their own tanning beds use them more frequently because they are so readily available. So, the ban that is supposed to be protecting teens from cancer is actually serving as a catalyst. This law will not only affect teens wanting to get an even tan, but local and small businesses. Banning teenagers under 18 years old will impact 25% of local businesses, putting more than 5,000 people out of jobs. Most of the customers of a tanning salon are teenagers, and taking away one of their main sources of income could have a detrimental effect on the community.
     Something people do not know about tanning beds, is that they are actually useful in the case of people with Vitamin D deficiency, though there are a lot of people that do not go to tanning beds for this reason, there are still some good in tanning beds. The bill is called the “Youth Skin Cancer Prevention Act”, and it’s main purpose to stop teenagers from developing early onset skin cancer. However, it is not like the state is banning all tanning salons, so they are still allowing some people to develop skin cancer. It is not fair to only ban teenagers from tanning salons, because all people using tanning salons run the risk of getting skin cancer. Then again, there is a chance that an airplane may crash; does that mean teenagers should not be permitted to ride on another airplane until they turn the proper age of 18?
     Laws like these are giving teenagers mixed signals. Teenagers are supposed to be responsible and make choices for themselves, yet they are also supposed to be told what to do and have the decisions made for them? Confusing. Babying teenagers until they turn 18 is not going to help them; they deserve the responsibility that comes with being an adolescent, and deserve the right to choose whether or not they are going to use a tanning bed.

Work Cited:
Harvey, Anna. "Bill Tries to Ban Teens from Tanning Salons." Carolina Coast Online. BLOX Content Management, 23 Feb. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Leslie, Laura. "Teen Tanning Ban Passes Committee." WRAL.com. Capital Broadcasting Company, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Tozzi, John. "The Tanning Industry FightsTeen Bans." Bloomberg Buisnessweek. Bloomberg, 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.