Category: Enviroment

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Ice

Our world has been around for many years. Throughout those years our world was shaped by giant ice glaciers that carved out valleys through the mountains. Sometimes, the glaciers meet the sea and become large ice flows that ride the waves. These sheets of ice occasionally break off and become huge ice islands.

This happened recently when a large chunk of ice broke off. The massive sheet of ice takes up about 100 square miles and contains enough fresh water to supply America for 120 days. The ice flow broke from Greenland’s biggest glacier and is expected to reach the Atlantic Ocean in about two years.

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Seafood

The giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has put a dent in the local economy. Thousands of people who live in the gulf area were put out of work and have been suffering financially. Now that the spill is over, there are still lingering effects. The seafood industry is having trouble rebounding.

People around the country are concerned about the safety of fish and shrimp that are caught in the gulf. Now those fishermen have been allowed to start fishing again, they are having trouble selling the catch. I will do my part and make sure that I order fish and shrimp from the gulf.

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Clean up the bay

One item that is in the news around our neck of the woods is health and safety of our Chesapeake Bay waters. It seems as though two groups of people have different ideas as to how to keep it clean. One group that includes the environmental protection agency wants to enforce an even stricter ban on pollution by setting a so-called “pollution diet” standard.

Another group wants to keep things how they are. They say the bay is cleaner than ever and that new regulations will cost too many jobs. For now, the two sides are expressing their points and a resolution should soon be found. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

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Bottled Water

I have never understood why people pay for bottled water. That is of course until I learned that it is a big seller in Mexico. I have always heard that when you go to Mexico, don’t drink the water. It seems that Mexicans are taking their own advice and are buying bottled water in record numbers.

The water infrastructure in Mexico is in serious disrepair. Due to natural factors as well as a 1985 earthquake, the water system is in shambles. Mexicans believe that the water they drink is unsafe. The Mexican government disputes the charges and says that water quality has improved over the years. I guess only time will tell!

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Good ideas

The weather has been wonderful lately and we are taking full advantage of it. We have been spending a lot of time out in the yard getting it into shape. Our garden area has received most of the attention so far, but we have also been concentrating on the recreational portion we have started. We were thinking how nice it would be to have an arbor as the centerpiece of the area.

Both my wife and I like the idea of using arbors to anchor the part of the yard we plan to spend the most time in. We want to have a place to eat as well as just relax. We were hoping to find one of those wooden arbors that vines love to climb on and cover. We think it would be so cool to eat under the protection that Mother Nature provides. I know the kids would like it too.

We first got the idea after purchasing some garden arbors for our garden plants. The plants love it and are doing well. They are producing fruit and look great. They look so happy that they are able to climb up to get the best light. We are excited about the whole idea and are planning to add more of them to our yard very soon.

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Cap the well!!

Despite the promises of oil giant BP to cap the well, the oil is still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico at an astonishing rate. Once again we hear that they are trying another method to stop the flow. This time, they plan to pump heavy mud into the wellhead to plug the wellhead. There are millions of people who are hoping this plan will work.

Bp has said it is unsure whether the plan will work or not. Since the leak is over a mile deep, there are no methods of capping the well that are proven. In the meantime, wildlife is suffering from the estimated 7 million gallons of oil that has escaped from the broken well. I surly hope that BP will find an answer to the problem soon!

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Economic impact

The huge spill that looms just off the coast has many worried about their economic future. The oil threatens to shut down dozens of industries that provide a living for thousands of people. Restaurants, fisherman, and the tourism industry could all be shut down, some of them for many years to come.

Louisiana produces oysters, shrimp, crabs, and crawfish. All these seafood industries could face major interruptions and be damaged for years. Many people are scared about what to do as their incomes are threatened. I sure hope BP will hurry up and fix the mess they made!!

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Recycle

I was glad to see that the local kids around my house are learning a good lesson. It seems that a bunch of them have gotten together and are cleaning up the neighborhood. They plan to take the cans they find to the recycling center and get some money for their efforts. I am all for this type of thing!

I believe that our country would be much better off if everyone did a little more in the recycling department. It’s good to know that the next generation is more aware of the problem and willing to find solutions. I believe there is some hope for this world yet!!

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Another Exxon Valdez?

About a month ago, President Barack Obama lifted the ban on offshore drilling. This has opened up the coastlines of America to a new threat. This threat includes incidents like the one that happened a few days ago and is still in progress. An oil rig exploded and burned for days before it finally sank. The possibility that thousands of gallons of oil are seeping into the sea is very real.

The Gulf of Mexico has been a major site of oil exploration. One deepwater oil platform named the Deepwater Horizon exploded and killed 11 workers. The problem is that the environmental impact is still unknown. Crude oil could be contaminating the Gulf and will cause havoc if it reaches the shore. I hope the president will review the safety measures that are in place and strengthen them!

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Tigers in China

Siberian tigers are very rare. With only an estimated 300 left in the wild, they are endangered. The good news is that there are many tigers held in farms or zoos. The bad news is even those animals are in danger. Such is the case when 11 tigers recently died in a Chinese wildlife park.

Some people feel that these tigers were deliberately starved and maltreated. The tiger carcasses are worth a great deal of money if sold to dealers for their parts. Some farms may be raising the tigers in hopes of making a profit. I hope the Chinese government will crackdown on those who abuse animals for money!