Month: September 2015

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China’s Water Pollution

 

Adopt a Topic: Water Pollution   Phase: World

Hsu, S. (2014, May 28). China’s Water Pollution Mire. Retrieved August 24, 2015, from http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/chinas-water-pollution-mire/

 

China’s well-known problem regarding air pollution overshadows its dilemma involving water pollution. It is a large problem that is a big health hazard. Pollution in water has been known to cause gastrointestinal cancer as well as other types. In many of these cases, factories dumping chemicals and waste in the water are to blame. There are other problematic areas as well. “Dumping of industrial chemicals, agricultural waste, and urban wastewater has contaminated China’s water resources such that over half of all rivers in the country are unsafe for human contact” (Hsu). A large percentage of the nation’s water pollution comes from agricultural pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste are dumped into bodies of water with little thought. Potable water is scarce in China due to its large population and lack of consideration regarding water pollution. China’s water situation is dire.

 

This shows what can happen when a large population treats the environment poorly. There is a lack of healthy drinking water in the most populated nation in the world, which affects environmental science. Farmers provide a large portion of the food for the Chinese people. They are rewarded for this. However, they have a very negative impact on China’s water. Poor farming techniques contribute to over 70% of the pollution in the water. The article shocked me because I was not aware of how much pollution can come from agricultural waste.

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A Massive Coastal Cleanup

Izadi, Elahe. “Mountains of Debris from the Japanese Tsunami Have Floated to the West Coast.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Aug. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/08/05/mountains-of-debris-from-the-japanese-tsunami-have-floated-to-the-west-coast/>.

In whole month of July 2015, a massive coastal cleanup took place. Large amounts of debris some form the 2011 Japan tsunami, have been clogging up the United States’ west coast. Last month, a massive project took place to help remove the waste all the way from Alaska to Seattle. The debris will be either recycled or sent to an Oregon landfill. This cleanup was largely funded by Japan who gave 6 million dollars to the US and Canada to promote it.

I think it is good to see the governments of several different countries coming together to fight for one communal cause: the environment. Our oceans and waterways have become extremely polluted and full of debris over the last couple decades and it is necessary that we take action. This cleanup is a step in the right direction to protecting our environment.

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Can Plants End our Environmental Problems?

#4)

Mole, Beth. “Engineered Plants Demolish Toxic Waste.” Science News. EPA, 21 Oct. 2014. Web. 23 Aug. 2015. <https://www.sciencenews.org/article/engineered-plants-demolish-toxic-waste>.

Scientists have recently been researching the possibility that greenery could help cleanup oil spills and air pollution. With the help of science, plants can now digest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are peculiar to the ooze of oil spills and smog of air pollution. Plant environmental cleanups are estimated to be one tenth the price of current methods being used. The economy could save from the 50 billion dollars spent on cleaning up waste throughout the globe.

Although this research is not fully developed, it could be the answer to many of our problems. I think it is a area in science that should really be explored in order to provide a more economical way to protect and cleanup our environment. It makes me hopeful to see scientists finding solutions to very current problems.

 

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Why does the government take so long to fix environmental issues?

 

The Associated Press. “Bankruptcy Judge Approves Cleanup Deal in W.Va. Spill Case.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 July 2015. Web. 23 Aug. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/08/us/ap-us-chemical-spill-bankruptcy.html>.

After a year, a judged has approved a 2.5 million dollar deal to cleanup an chemical spill in West Virginia. Back in January 2014, a chemical spill caused the ban of tap water for 300,000 people in Charleston, West Virginia. Now, there has finally been a settlement on how much money will be given to help with the cleanup process. Freedom industries will give 1.4 million dollars while its parent, Chemstream Holdings will give 1.1 million dollars. This is a win for the DEP who was originally only offered 150,000 dollars.

Once again, I think it is good that the federal court is recognizing the importance of protecting our environments. It is crucial to get these type of spills cleaned up so they don’t cause permanent damage to us, our community, or the ecosystems. I find it somewhat ridiculous though that the economic side to the environmental cleanup took over a year to figure out.

 

 

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Lake is Reborn

 

Reuters. “Swimmers Take Dip in Long-Polluted New York Lake to Hail Cleanup.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 July 2015. Web. 23 Aug. 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/07/23/us/23reuters-usa-new-york-lake.html

For the first time in 75 years, people can swim in Onondaga Lake near Syracuse New York. Onondaga Lake was considered one of the U.S.’s most polluted waterbodies. Starting in 2012, the community as well as many government leaders have united to restore this lake. It underwent a 1 billion dollar restoration in order to take away 125 years of pollution. Now, the lake is fully recovered and people can enjoy swimming in it.

I think this is a great sign of progress in protecting the environment. It shows that with time and effort, we can help reverse the damage that we have caused in previous years, decades, or centuries. It is refreshing to see that people care about nature and will put work into preserving it.

 

 

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Can Ecotourism save the D.R.? (Ecotourism #5)

Lerner, M. (2015, June 1). Can ecotourism save the D.R.? Retrieved August 24, 2015, from http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatsciencehealth/2015/06/01/can-ecotourism-save-the-d-r-s-environment/

Although more people are starting to visit the Dominican Republic people are starting to notice that there is a lot of garbage. However, the Senator Euclides Sánchez of La Vega said that the litter was not because of the tourists but because of the people who live in the Dominican Republic. Apparently the people are not conscious of there actions toward the environment and how the affect it. If ecotourism grows then maybe it will lead the people of the Dominican Republic to become more aware of their affects on the environment. Tourists groups will go explore the environment and see all the garbage everywhere however; tourists still seem to want to come.

The government needs to place restrictions on littering and waste disposal in order to clean up the environment. If there is less garbage it will increase the tourism because it will make the Dominican Republic cleaner and more appealing. The people of the Dominican Republic should be educated on the environment and the impact they have this will lead to less waste and will preserve/protect the environment.

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Ecotourism in Cuba: A Model for Sustainable Economic Development (Ecotourism #4)

Rader, D. (2015, March 3). Ecotourism in Cuba: A model for sustainable economic development. Retrieved August 22,2015, from https://www.edf.org/blog/2015/03/03/ecotourism-cuba-model-sustainable-economic-development

Cuba has maintained a small sustainable environment by limiting the number of tourists that come. In the Gardens of the Queen, the government has put a limit on the number of people who visit which was protected endangered species. The Gardens of the Queen still has tourism, which allows the local businesses to profit and grow. The Garden of the Queens is only sustainable because of the limited number of people. It would be hard to expand and grow the Gardens of the Queens because it is so small.

It is important to protect animals and the coral reefs in Cuba and to not risk losing them due to wanting more money. Putting a limit on how many visitors can come helps to reduce the risk of endangering a species. However, it is important to have a flow of tourists so the economy of Cuba doesn’t decrease. Also because there are only a certain number of tourists it means you can raise the price because it is something special and unique.

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Are Human Viruses Killing World’s Last Remaining Gorillas? (Ecotourism #3)

Verjee, Z., Said-Moorhouse, L., & Whaley, T. (2014, April 22). Are human viruses killing world’s last remaining gorillas? -CNN.com. Retrieved August 17,2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/22/world/africa/are-human-viruses-killing-worlds-gorillas/index.html

 

Without proper protection and prevention from human diseases animals could possibly die from these diseases. Many gorillas are facing extinction, as there are about 880 mountain gorillas left in the world. Humans and gorillas share some genetic material therefore gorillas can easily contract some diseases from humans. When tourists come to visit it can help the local economy benefit however, it may be hurting the gorillas if humans are giving them illnesses. The group Conservation Through Public Health is helping to keep gorillas healthy without reducing the number of tourists.

It is important for tourists to not visit these animals if they are very sick as we now know they can catch them. People who live near the gorillas should stay healthy and improve their health because this will also improve the health of the gorillas. Tourism is still needed to help fund the gorilla organizations and groups that can help keep gorillas healthy. The tourism is providing lots of jobs and income for the community near the gorillas so they are willing to help protect and preserve the life of the gorillas. The more tourist visits each year will help raise money for the Conservation Through Public Health organization; thus, helping the gorillas.

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Elephants are Worth 76 Times More Alive Than Dead (Ecotourism #2)

Platt, J. (2014, October 8,0. Elephants are Worth 76 Times More Alive Than Dead: Report. Retrieved August 15, 2015, from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/elephants-are-worth-76-times-more-alive-than-dead-report/

Elephant tusks sell for a high price in the black market however, people are now wondering it that is making more money than if tourists were to pay to come see elephants. In 2014 17.8 metric tons of ivory were shipped illegally worldwide to make a profit but this is probably only a small portion of ivory being shipped. Although there are some elephants, which aren’t accessible to the public, there are still others where people can visit to help the cause. Tourists will not only decrease the number of ivory being shipped they will also cause the price of an elephant’s life to increase. This will mean that it is more valuable for an elephant to live than die, which is what the iWorry Ivory awareness campaign is trying to make known.

Ecotourism is saving the lives of elephants because it is increasing the worth of their lives. Not only will the elephants benefit from tourism but also the local economy. Every ivory tusk being sold usually correlates to the amount of elephants dying which is a significant number. The amount of ivory being sold of the black market is slowly decreasing as elephants become more popular and more endangered. In order for the price of ivory to decrease more people need to travel to visit elephants.

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Ivory Coast Tries Ecotourism to Save Chimpanzees (ecotourism #1)

Ivory Coast Tries Ecotourism to Save Chimpanzees. (2014, May 3). Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/05/03/world/africa/ap-af-ivory-coast-chimpanzees.html

In the Tai National Park in the Ivory Coast are trying to use ecotourism to save the chimpanzees. In the article the director of West Africa’s Wild Chimpanzee Foundation said, “Through ecotourism, local people gain something. They see the value of the forest…and they will preserve it.” Which means the more tourists that can come visit the chimpanzees the higher chimpanzee population will be. Environmental degradation is an issue facing the Ivory Coast, which is affecting the Chimpanzee and causing them to die. The wild life’s area to roam and live has been decreasing over time as people are burning down the forest to convert them into fields, violence near the Tai National Park, and people are illegally hunting chimpanzees. In the end, the Tai National Park hopes for more tourists to come visit in order to increase the lifespan and population of the chimpanzee.

This article demonstrates the importance of tourism and how it can impact the world. These chimpanzees rely on people coming to see them if they want to live longer and expand. Tourism to the Ivory Coast will not only help the chimpanzees but also those who live there as it will bring a new source of income. Over the years more and more tourists have visited the island however, it is still not that many people because it the Ivory Coast isn’t considered the safest place to be. Ecotourism is a key part to helping endangered species stay alive.