Current Event #13 "The Endangered Monk Seal"

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/videos/Saving-the-Endangered-Monk-Seal.html#ooid=ZzNmd1MToklu_CQzrd3dkyBe7qLC1Lxf

The endangered monk seals are due to human contact and habitat destruction. More than 2/3rds of the population has decreased. Humans was fished out the primary prey species for the seals. Also, marine debri allows the seals o get tangeled or trapped. In the main Hawaiian Islands the number of monk seals are increasing due to an effort by governments to protect the species. A downside of such an increase is that many do not have a place to go and according to the video find themselves facing humanity with little to no place to go. It is likely that they will be affected by human activity, even if humans are careful and aware.

Current Event #12 "Otterly Fascinating"

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/otterly.html
Although otters are endangered, the biodiverse waterscape in Brazil attracts thousands of otters that tourists are enjoying. The unspoiled, biodiverse waterscape is a place were " giant river otters" can reside. The area was unknown until a decade ago, which goes to show how we should protect and cherish our planet. The area is made up of wetland which is about the size of kansas and in 1994 an opera singer took over surronding area, but agencies came in and the area is now protected. The area is a major tourist attraction and many people from all over, as well as locals visit to see the amount of diversity and otter play. Helen Waldemarin, a27 year old graduate student in ecology at Rio de JaneiroStateUniversity is surveying the otter population for CI and feels that ecotourism can be a win or lost. She feels everyone views the area differently and that showing people the area, some may feel it's a waste and others may see the beauty in it. Hope fully it will encourage conservation.

Current Event #11 " Increasing Population and Food Shortage"

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/Rosamond-Naylor-on-Feeding-the-World.html
The article explains the problems with climate change and an increase in the worlds population, and how both will effect food supply. The following question is asked,"By 2050, there will be an estimated nine billion people in the world. Do we have the land and water to feed them?" Rosamond Naylor proposes that there will need to be a lot more agriculture and raising of live stock to support people, and since agriculture requires vast amounts of water, there may be water shortages. Also, farms are dynamic in production rate. A farm could be providing well and then create scarcity. Certain foundations such as The Gates Foundation, The McKnight Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation are trying to help world hunger and poverty. Trying to make rural areas places of economical sucess is important.

Current Event #10"Is Global Warming Responsible for Crazy Weather"

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/09/the-truth-behind-wild-weather-and-global-warming.html

In the last couple of years there has been a lor of crazy weather. This article states that in Brooklyn,a tornado seemed so out of range, this was in 2007. The northern hemisphere has been reaching coldest temperature records and many are wondering why? The question is why these changes are so dramatic? The overall increase in Earth temperatue will cause a change ain sea levels, rain patterns and wind conditions. According to this article scientists feel it unfair to say that one big storm or happening is all caused to global warming. According again to the article, It may not be to global warming but man made problems. One can argue that man made problems coencides with global problems.

Current Event #9 "Tiger-Endangered Species"

http://www.suite101.com/content/the-tiger-the-worlds-most-endangered-species-a187988


This article mentions an interview with the founder of Save China's Tigers Project, by Li Quan. Written in January, 2010 Tigers are said to be on of the most endangered spcies in the world. According to the WWF, tigers are the worlds most endangered species. There are less than 30 tigers left and only 60 in zoo's. This is specificaly in China. It is important and sad to note that more tigers are in the zoo than in there natural habitat. There are many types of tigers, such as the Bali Tiger, the Javan tiger and the Caspian Tiger which tragically no longer exist.

Current Event#8 "Deep Sea Mining"

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/20/is-deep-sea-mining-bad-for-the-environment.html

According to this Newsweek article, Coal companies are venturing out to places such as Australia to mine. This simply means more digging up of the Ocean floor. This harms sea life and can rupture the environment. A big power in this situation is the Chinese whom are willing to scrounge up all of earths materials for their needs. They are said to have been simply doing research on the ocean floor, but sources in this article state that their research includes ripping up much of the floor. The article states, "volcanic activity beneath the earth’s crust sends sulfur-rich plumes spewing up from gashes in the seafloor into the ocean, where the plumes support unique ecosystems of animals and microbes."

Current Event #7 "100 Places To Remember"

http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/100-places-to-remember.html
According to this newsweek article, not only animals or plants are endangered, locations on the planet are. Beautiful places and vital places are being destroyed or may be destroyed due to human intervention or climatic changes. On this page you can clock on a part of the world and find out what places are endangered, and there are a lot.

If you click on the Americas, there are many places, an example :
Kauai, Hawaii, U.S.A.
The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is one of the wettest spots on earth. Large parts of the mountainous island are swathed in cloud. These lush and mossy forests are home to the colorful Hawaiian honeycreeper, an endangered bird species. Even small shifts in rainfall patterns could cause major local changes, putting the islands’ distinct ecosystem under severe stress.

-- the article also shows great pictures. It is important to be aware of environments in trouble.

Current Event #6 "The Gulf Explosion May Revive Energy Debate"

www.newsweek.com/2010/09/02/will-latest-gulf-explosion-revive-senate-energy-debate.html

Many environmentalists are hoping that the oil spill becomes an example or turning point for all negative "happeneings" to the environment, in that there is hope for change. The energy and climate crisis has been proposed to congress many times and defeated, however the oil spill may be a real reason to start acting differently torwards the environment. Majority leader Harry Reid supports environmentalist ideas, however stated he did not have enough votes to be elected ( this was over the summer). The writer of the article feels that the republicans will not back Reid and will back away more if Obama get's involved., but people are hoping that the topic will come up again.

Current Event #5 "Cruises Have Environmental Effect"

http://www.newsday.com/travel/direct-flight-1.1394325/cruise-lines-get-f-for-human-health-environmental-impact-1.1928810

This article provides insight to the idea that cruises are bad for health and the environment. 113 ships from 11 cruise lines were rated on air pollution reduction, water quality , the ease of finding environmental information on a line's website and sewage treatment. Research found that a lot of the waste from cruise ships were simply dumped into the ocean.

Current Event #4 "Should We Clean Animals From Oil Spill?"

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/08/should-we-clean-oiled-animals.html

Animals have been greatly effected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest and most recent spills. The article states that as of June 6th, 820 birds and 289 turtles were rescued, but most were already dead. Many are also stuck suffering in "black goo". Some scietists say that to clean the animals up would dramatize them and would cause more stress for the animal. Other say we should try and send them back into wild even if they have trouble. Due to human fualt the birds are struggling. The birds feathers rgulate temperature and help them move. They are unable to get food and do daily activites. Not just birds but turtles and other animals have no habitat. Even if sceintists were to clean up animals and let them go back they are most likely to get caught in oil again and/or have no home.

Current Event #3 "Oil Spills in Nigeria"

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/18/oil-s-shame-in-africa.html

This article is about how the media has made a huge effort at fitting in the big oil spill in the gulf, meanwhile they are going on every day in Africa, as well as other places. The article states the U.S uses a quarter of the worlds oil, 10% of this oil is from Nigeria. There have been an estimated amount of 7,000 spills. On top of this locals compain their eyes and skin are irritated. This article proposees a disapointed view on how so much attention is drawn to the big problems, when all the little problems are adding up before us. Regulations of oil extraction and spills are reported to be very weak. The Nigerian people would like to stop having spills and such but they can't because they need companies to extract money so they can make money; even though Nigeria has a lot of poverty. This is just an example of how we are ruining our environment, and it's effect on people.

Current Event # 2 "Walruses"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/ns/technology_and_science
.... go down to bottom of page
OR
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39266714#39266714

The video talks about Walruses in Alaska unable to get settledin water due to a lack of ice. There is little food and it's habitat is destroyed. 20,000 walruses line the shore and are actully running over eachother. They are said to be trampeling eachother to death. It is the 3rd lowest artic sea level in 30 years. Scientists say the lack of ice is of course due to global warming. Actions by the government have been to stop planes going across or near the area as well as keeping people away from area, as natives swim in water. It is the end to their summer now, but the cold weather is not coming back. The problem is that these animals are struggling due to what can be argued our (humans) actions.

Current Event #1 "The Good Earth"

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/02/food-for-thought-the-farmer-as-superstar.html

This article confronts the issue that food sources over time have become more unsanitary and unatural. It proposes that after The World Wars people looked for more convenient foods. Groceries became preserved with added chemicals or pesticides. The reliance on local farmers declined dramatically. But, today many restuarants or "Star Chefs"are using fresh produce from farms to cook. In the article a woman is described of being scared to come to the U.S and eat our food. She felt uncomfortable, but did take notice of a "Farm to Table" movement. She felt people where in someway going back to old ways by using local farms or buying more organic foods.