Dear President-Elect-Obama-
I am writing to inform you about an environmental issue that is threatening our nation. The United States of America is a great nation. Its people are intelligent and hardworking, however, they are also extremely wasteful. This nation produces about 1,609 pounds of garbage a year per person making the US the top garbage producing country in the world. To put that another way, 5 percent of the world’s population produces 40 percent of the world’s garbage (Solarflair). That is an outrageous percentage that has to be changed. I think with the change in leadership of this country can come a change in disregard for the environment. There are many reasons the people of America do not recycle. Some are unaware of the problem while some are aware but recycling places are inaccessible. These problems have very real solutions. As president, it would be unfortunate if you chose to ignore this issue.
Many people are just purely uneducated and unaware when it comes to waste verse recycling. As president, you have the power to bring the spotlight on this issue. Running public service announcement and starting a nation wide recycling movement would defiantly bring it to the forefront. Bring the statistics to the average American would influence the amount of recycling that takes place. Letting people know that if each person recycled one tenth of their newspapers then America would save on average 25 million trees (Solarflair). It would be even better if people were able to access the news through other outlets than even more trees would be saved. Newspapers are just one example of how something so small can affect the environment so much. If we applied this to paper, plastic, metals, and other recyclable materials, our environment would not be deteriorating at such a fast pace. Educating and making people aware of the situation would greatly improve at least the probability of recycling, if not actually recycling.
Many people understand the effects of not recycling however, places to recycle are not very accessible. Helping states to get better recycling programs is a very real solution to this problem. Having a reward system to states that implement these recycling programs up to a certain set standard may make recycling a higher priority. When the government makes recycling a higher priority would help to encourage more people to think the next time they drink a bottle of water. When a recycling bin is right next to the garbage can, it is just as easy to throw the bottle in the recycling bin, as it is to throw it in the regular garbage. The decision is much easier to make when no extra effort is involved. Also in this time of economic recession many more people would recycle if they knew that it would save them some money. To have garbage incinerated or taken away to landfills cost on average more than to recycle it. If recycling were made easier, more people would participate.
President-elect-Obama, I know that you have very strong environmental policies that you plan to put into action once you are sworn into office. I am asking you to look into recycling. This issue could help to solve some of the bigger issues that are affecting our environment. Educating people and making recycling more accessible are just some suggestions that might help to get recycling into the mainstream public of America. I look forward to what you are going to be able to accomplish when you are president. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Liann Correia
Works Cited
"Environment." Barack Obama: US Senator for Illinois. 17 Nov. 2008 .
"Recycling Facts." A Recycling Revolution-Solarflair. 17 Nov. 2008 .
Showing posts with label environmental issue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmental issue. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Natural Phenomenon - Red Tides
A common natural phenomenon that is not completely understood is red tide. Red tides are also known as toxic algae blooms because that is the cause of the tides. Red tides occur when microscopic algae and phytoplankton become so densely populated that the pigments they release are visible without a microscope. The name Red Tide is misleading for a couple of reasons. First, Red Tide has nothing to do with the tide at all. The 
growth of these algae is not affected by the tidal cycle. Second, the pigments of the algae and phytoplankton that cause red tides do not always have to be red. In fact they can also be orange, brown and sometimes green. The accurate name for red tides is actually HAB or harmful algal bloom. Another false fact about red tides is that the algae and phytoplankton are toxic, that is not the case. In fact these organisms are essential to the ocean’s food web and are very valuable to the environment. The pigment that the algae or plankton releases is the toxic element. Red tides or HABs can be triggered by nutrient rich water mixed with prime temperatures and conditions for growth and reproduction of these single celled micro -organisms. Red tides are in fact a growing threat to most coastal water. Red tides can be so harmful those scientists have gone as far to call HABs, marine bio-toxins. Red Tides negatively influence both humans and nature alike.
Red Tides have many negative effects on the environment. Red Tides or HABs can harm many marine organisms. They can kill anything from a simple plant to a very large humpback whale. It is
true that algae and phytoplankton are at the base of the food web in the marine environment. They are essential to the survival of many marine animals that depend on algae and plankton for nutrients. However, when these toxic blooms occur, these once essential micro-organisms become like poison to their predators and the effects are catastrophic. These HABs are just harmful to marine life if they are ingested, they can also become so dense that they can actually suffocate other organisms. These algae and their pigments do not necessarily kill directly. Everyday organisms compete for dissolved oxygen and other nutrients in the water, when a bloom occurs the increase in organisms is exponential. Not only are resources being used at an increased rate but also decomposition and waste products in the water are also increased. Some species of these algae and phytoplankton actually carry toxins in their pigments. These toxins are neurotoxins that will harm and destroy normal nerve function. The toxins are not found in all red tides but they are often the cause of shellfish and larger organisms perishing. The Red Tides have many negative effects that affect the marine life and their environment.
Red tides do not only affect nature negatively but they also affect humans. These tides can affect humans both directly and indirectly. Humans are directly affected because it is true that some of the toxins released in the pigments of the algae and plankton can be harmful. Especially during a very dense bloom of algae, these toxins would be in high concentration and have the potential to be fatal even to humans. Humans are affected indirectly through our food resources as well as our source of economy. Because the algae invade the habitats of many organisms that are caught and eaten, many companies and restaurants are affected greatly by Red Tides. Shellfish and other fish are often taken off the market when a Red Tide occurs due to that fact that some types of algae are toxic. If the mussel or clam or even bigger fish, like haddock, ate the algae they could carry the toxin and harm the person who ate it. Also beaches are closed in an event of a HAB. Swimming is prohibited and even boating is discouraged. Red Tides have caused millions of dollars in damages. When beaches are closed, shell fishing and fishing halted, along with the closure of ports, Red Tides can prove to be extremely harmful to the economy. Red Tides are harmful to humans in many ways, whether directly or indirectly.
Scientists have been studying red tides all over the world. As of now, it is still impossible to predict or control these HABs. Scientists are trying to understand the cause of these red tides in order to create a solution. Knowledge about this phenomenon and its consequences will help to reduce the effects on humans. In the future, it may be possible to end these destructive tides.
Works Cited
Anderson, Don. "Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides." Toxic Blooms: a seminar. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Collins, Jocelyn, comp. "Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning." Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning. 11 May 2006. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"Harmful Algae and Red Tides." Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Picture Credits:
Red Tide
Shellfish affected by Red Tide
growth of these algae is not affected by the tidal cycle. Second, the pigments of the algae and phytoplankton that cause red tides do not always have to be red. In fact they can also be orange, brown and sometimes green. The accurate name for red tides is actually HAB or harmful algal bloom. Another false fact about red tides is that the algae and phytoplankton are toxic, that is not the case. In fact these organisms are essential to the ocean’s food web and are very valuable to the environment. The pigment that the algae or plankton releases is the toxic element. Red tides or HABs can be triggered by nutrient rich water mixed with prime temperatures and conditions for growth and reproduction of these single celled micro -organisms. Red tides are in fact a growing threat to most coastal water. Red tides can be so harmful those scientists have gone as far to call HABs, marine bio-toxins. Red Tides negatively influence both humans and nature alike.Red Tides have many negative effects on the environment. Red Tides or HABs can harm many marine organisms. They can kill anything from a simple plant to a very large humpback whale. It is
true that algae and phytoplankton are at the base of the food web in the marine environment. They are essential to the survival of many marine animals that depend on algae and plankton for nutrients. However, when these toxic blooms occur, these once essential micro-organisms become like poison to their predators and the effects are catastrophic. These HABs are just harmful to marine life if they are ingested, they can also become so dense that they can actually suffocate other organisms. These algae and their pigments do not necessarily kill directly. Everyday organisms compete for dissolved oxygen and other nutrients in the water, when a bloom occurs the increase in organisms is exponential. Not only are resources being used at an increased rate but also decomposition and waste products in the water are also increased. Some species of these algae and phytoplankton actually carry toxins in their pigments. These toxins are neurotoxins that will harm and destroy normal nerve function. The toxins are not found in all red tides but they are often the cause of shellfish and larger organisms perishing. The Red Tides have many negative effects that affect the marine life and their environment.Red tides do not only affect nature negatively but they also affect humans. These tides can affect humans both directly and indirectly. Humans are directly affected because it is true that some of the toxins released in the pigments of the algae and plankton can be harmful. Especially during a very dense bloom of algae, these toxins would be in high concentration and have the potential to be fatal even to humans. Humans are affected indirectly through our food resources as well as our source of economy. Because the algae invade the habitats of many organisms that are caught and eaten, many companies and restaurants are affected greatly by Red Tides. Shellfish and other fish are often taken off the market when a Red Tide occurs due to that fact that some types of algae are toxic. If the mussel or clam or even bigger fish, like haddock, ate the algae they could carry the toxin and harm the person who ate it. Also beaches are closed in an event of a HAB. Swimming is prohibited and even boating is discouraged. Red Tides have caused millions of dollars in damages. When beaches are closed, shell fishing and fishing halted, along with the closure of ports, Red Tides can prove to be extremely harmful to the economy. Red Tides are harmful to humans in many ways, whether directly or indirectly.
Scientists have been studying red tides all over the world. As of now, it is still impossible to predict or control these HABs. Scientists are trying to understand the cause of these red tides in order to create a solution. Knowledge about this phenomenon and its consequences will help to reduce the effects on humans. In the future, it may be possible to end these destructive tides.
Works Cited
Anderson, Don. "Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides." Toxic Blooms: a seminar. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Collins, Jocelyn, comp. "Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning." Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning. 11 May 2006. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"Harmful Algae and Red Tides." Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Picture Credits:
Red Tide
Shellfish affected by Red Tide
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