LHS APES

blog check

2012-01-27T13:45:00.004-05:00

Link for Home : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU
Link for Too Hot Not Too Handle: not available for copy at school Google the video title and use the link that is video.google.com. running time is ~ 53 minutes

Please respond to the following: After watching the video Home: What was your immediate reaction to the situations and consequencces as presented in the film?

A new beginning ......................

2012-01-24T09:29:00.003-05:00

Welcome back APES. We are having a few issues with links on your calendar. I will post the documents on the blog as soon as I am finished with this workshop!! Looking forward to a great semester , with a great group of APES. Please find an ape photo and make it your profile picture , if you have not already done so........

World population set to hit 7 billion mark

2011-10-28T08:40:00.003-04:00

The National Geographic has released the following information:

World Population expected to reach 7 billion mark 31 October 2011.

Speculate on how this will impact you now; in your 30's ; in your 50's and in your 70's. Please interact with each other and comment on what you all have to say.

post by Sunday Oct. 30, 2011 by 11:59 pm

FYI Blogging Evaluation Form

2011-10-26T08:51:00.002-04:00

This is how you and your responses will be assessed . Please read so you are familiar with the document.

Blogging Evaluation /26

Blogging Responses (Excellent = 2 Satisfactory = 1 Unsatisfactory = 0)

Integration/synthesis of Concepts and Principles

Critical Thinking

Applications and Personal Examples

Writing standards

Timeliness

The blogging responses demonstrate an integration of concepts and principals from classroom discussions and reflect an understanding of fundamental principles surrounding the problems and myths surrounding homelessness.

Postings frequently demonstrate use of upper level thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation) and illustrate a thoughtful approach to the content.

The blogging responses share personal connections to the topic of homelessness while at the same time integrating the information from class readings. Postings apply course concepts insightfully.

The writing from blogging posts is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Ideas and responses are communicated clearly and coherently.

The responses are submitted on or before the due date.

Excellent

Satisfactory

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Whaling International issues

2011-10-24T08:11:00.015-04:00

DUE DATE: Have read and decided by no later than 25 October (Tuesday) ....... I will place you in a group if you do not indicate a preference!!! Please also note that there are 28 of you and 6 groups. That means 5 per group with two groups of 4. First come, first served on groupings....

So far:
1. ( 5 ) Greenpeace - Morgan , Keilor , Lorenzo , Jalen , Rachel (membership closed )
2. ( 5 ) International Covenant - Fitz , Jorge , Abbey , Caleb , Alan ( membership closed )
3. ( 5 ) High North Alliance - Christy, Gracie, Katie, Carson , Hana ( membership closed )
4. ( 5 ) Crest - Kaylon , Laurissa , Chelsea, Drake , Cassie ( membership closed )
5. ( 4 ) Sea Shepherd - Stuart, Zane , Cynthia, Austin ( membership closed )
6. ( 4 ) To be revealed later : Justin, Jose, Seattle, Gaige( membership closed )

The assignment: debate the Native peoples' rights to whaling. The positions:

1. Native people Viewpoint – We have a cultural right to these whales.

2. Greenpeace viewpoint - Native Peoples do not have a cultural right to these whales. We don’t believe that anyone has a cultural right to anything what so ever, and certainly not to a living organism that has inherent rights.

3. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – As members,we believe that the Native Peoples should be allowed to whale. However, instead of using the “culture” argument, we think the Native Peoples should focus on a different argument. That argument is simply this: They have a guarantee from their respective government that states they are allowed to whale.

4. High North Alliance - We believe whaling and seal hunting is ok and necessary. But we need to protect the areas.

5. Crest - your position on whaling is neutral. ( but there is a catch for you ! )

6. Sea Shepherd and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - non - profit, non- government agency involved with the investigation and documentation of violations of international laws, regulations and treaties protecting marine species.

Instructions:
1. Please look at these positions carefully and determine which most closely fits your viewpoint. That will be your group for the debate.
2. This debate will be not be solely graded as a group, your individual participation will be of supreme importance.
3. Your contribution to the debate will need to include statistics, document references , newspaper references , videos ( created or real ), props as are deemed fit for your particular group : things like signs , banners , clothing , etc.
4. The main stipulation is that you need to clear the prop ideas with me first.
5. From the point that the Welcome to My Jungle presentations are completed and Gorillas in the Mist has been viewed, you will have 1 week for preparation.
6.At the one week plus a day mark, the debate will begin and let the best man/woman/team win!

Sources

http://www.whales.org.au/alert/makah/index.html - pertinent legal documents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR2MEI1CcsA - Makah whaling video

http://www.makah.com/whaling.htm - Makah site on whaling

http://www.alamut.com/subj/the_other/misc/makahWhaling.html - historical information

http://www.cnie.org/NAE/cases/makah/index.html

http://content.lib.washington.edu/cmpweb/exhibits/makah/whaling-in-makah.html - whaling treaty being read in Makah native language

http://www.highnorth.no/Default.asp - High North Alliance home page

http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/estimate.htm - International Whaling Commission: includes population numbers and whale catch limits for aborignal peoples and scientific studies.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/- Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/- Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/whaling

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-061220-1.html- Sea Shepherd's view of Greenpeace

http://www.seashepherd.org/ - Sea Shepherd

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cescr.htm - International Covenant

http://www.cirp.org/library/ethics/UN-covenant/ - the document

http://www.highnorth.no/news/nedit.asp?which=172 - world council of whalers

http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm - Institute for Cetacean Research site . Lots of interesting pictures of whaling and up to date information about Japanese whaling etc.

Newspaper Articles: interesting! just a few to give you something to start working with and on...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003926767&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=whale05m&date=20071005

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003946019&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=webwhale13m&date=20071012

http://www.komonews.com/internal?st=print&id=4079361&path=/news/archive

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/v-printerfriendly/story/153177.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/17/world/main4610908.shtml?source=related_story

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,322472,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,312205,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,317471,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6425439

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fd20090830pb.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/02/the-war-over-wh.html

http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2009/WWFPresitem12741.html

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USTRE5111EV20090202

Misc. additional resources:

Inuit Case for whaling:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2005773.stm

http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Culture/cont-cul.htm

http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Culture/Recipes/no-wh-me.htm

http://www.highnorth.no/library/Policies/National/la-cl-ag.htm

http://www.highnorth.no/Library/Publications/iceland/wh-an-in.htm

Overview of laws protecting whales and marine mammals: will be distributed in class and on this site. Some of them are quite wordy and it would serve you well to skim them and choose portions pertinent to your case.
Please make a note to yourselves that the Endangered Species Act of 1972 was completely redesigned and rewritten in 1973 to include CITES.
CITIES

http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.php#II

Marine Mammals Protection Act

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/

Endangered Species Act

http://epw.senate.gov/esa73.pdf

Summary of some of the international laws protecting wildlife

http://www.pacificwildlife.org/info/Online%20Docs/wildlife_laws_summary.pdf

testing out the newest apes!

2011-10-06T16:42:00.001-04:00

Please respond to the thread I have created. I think you will like this site much better than the other one, as you can see all posts and responses......

Green President links

2010-01-26T19:13:00.002-05:00

Information for your state searches

US Census Bureau

National Center for Children in Poverty

Ethnic Harvest

Top 50 States

Do the right thing by your constituents......

Case Studies for Unit 2 and 3

2010-01-21T13:21:00.002-05:00

Links for case studies for units two and three
Unit two

Fish as Fertilizer: The Impacts of Salmon on Coastal Ecosystem

Watch Your Step: Understanding the Impact of Your Personal Consumption on the Environment

The Wolf, the Moose, and the Fir Tree: Who Controls Whom on Isle Royale? A Case Study of Trophic Interactions

Unit Three

The Deforestation of the Amazon:
A Case Study in Understanding Ecosystems and Their Value

The Petition: A Global Warming Case Study

A Killer Lake

Unit 1 case study links

2010-01-21T11:17:00.002-05:00

There are several case studies listed for each unit. I will provide the links to them on this blog.

The Case of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Rising Temperatures : Differing Viewpoints

Lunar Colony?

2010-01-03T10:17:00.003-05:00

So now they have found a way for us to colonize the moon.

Post by 4 January 2010 11 pm

Read the article and comment on the feasibility and practicality of such an endeavor. In addition, is it morally/ethically right to colonize other planets/moons?

Starting the New Year off right

2009-12-31T15:02:00.002-05:00

Please read this article and post comment by 3 January 2010.

The Great Debate in Midasville

2009-12-14T10:39:00.013-05:00

This is your next assignment. I will give you hard copy of this material , but please refer back to this page for mining information as well as the post which is titled Mining Readings.

Group Assignments

Mining Company:Emory, Clinton, Adair, Ross
City Council: Matt , Chrissy , Knox
Citizens for Economic Growth: Nathan,Lydia,Hollis, Angelica
Friends of Nature and History: Kenzie, Shelby, Maria, Colleen
Chamber of Commerce: Emilee,Nathan,Lydia,Hollis
Citizens for Quality of Life: Jonte ,Brittney , Ashlee, Kathryn
Tourist Board: Caitlin , Gabby, Hannah, Haley, Luke

helpful links

Pioneer Mining

origins of gold

mining and recovery

cyanide heap leaching pictures

cyanide heap leaching impacts

ban on cyanide mining

leach mining document

News articles and legislation

Cyanide-leach ban may be put on ballot again

ban on Montana cyanide mining

1872 Mining Reform Law

Gold Mining with Cyanide - a very important document for some of your positions!

the other side?

Mines of Interest:

Zortman and Landusky

Kendall Mine

EPA

Ridgeway Mine

Ridgeway Mine
SC mining - NY Times

Brewer Mine

The Great Debate in Midasville

You live in the quaint mountain town of Midasville, founded during the local gold-mining boom of 1886. The gold ran out and the mines closed in 1911; the town was practically abandoned. Those who did stay on worked in the small but steady timber industry. For 60 years, the town didn't change much. In 1971, a family was visiting the old mining site when their four-year-old fell into a shaft and was trapped for two days before being rescued, safe and sound. The incident focused attention on the hazard posed by the old mine.

Most of the old mine workings were owned by Pioneer Mining Company, but fell within the town limits. The Midasville city council prepared a proposal to Pioneer Mining Company to lease and eventually purchase the old workings for a nominal cost. They wanted to take advantage of interest in old mines and their history, and turn the mine into a safe and rehabilitated tourist attraction. Pioneer agreed to the proposal since they would no longer be liable for the safety of visitors, and the gold was gone anyway. The restoration project began. Over the next 10 years, Midasville prospered. Today the area offers a small railroad that takes people into the mine, a rebuilt stamp mill and smelter, a gift shop, and a restaurant that serves hearty mining camp-style food. Tourists can pan for gold, or ride mules like the forty-niners did. The project has been a great success.

The town receives profits from the operation and has purchased the old mine in full. Merchants have improved the old Victorian buildings for their shops, which cater to the tourist crowd. Midasville's year-round population is still relatively low, and most townspeople are employed at the Midasville Mine or in one of the shops. Nobody makes a lot of money, but everyone has an adequate income. Last week, the city council was approached by MicroGold Inc., an out-of-state company that wants to extract microscopic bits of gold from old waste-rock around the mine. MicroGold would use a modern method called cyanide heap leaching. This new method makes it economical to recover gold left in the hills of Midasville when technology was not yet so advanced. Yet if MicroGold re-opened the Midasville mines, a mining economy would replace the tourist business. The town would receive some of the mining profits, and a number of people would get high-paying jobs.

The townspeople have many different viewpoints on the issue. They and the mining company representatives will attend a city council meeting tomorrow to present their positions on how the town should answer MicroGold's offer.

1. Tourist Board : The tourist board is a public agency that promotes the town as a tourist attraction. They advertise the Midasville mine in national magazines and prepare brochures and other materials designed to draw visitors. They want Midasville to remain a tourist attraction. Board members' input to the city council will include the following:
a. Tourism provides 70 percent of the town's 450 jobs in such businesses as motels, restaurants, guide services, gas stations, souvenir shops and facility maintenance.
b. Tourism contributes a lot to the town's tax base, so that residents can enjoy low property taxes and have such benefits as a library and an ambulance service.
c. The historical aspects of the town and the mine should be preserved as a chapter of our history. A price cannot be put on their worth.

2. Citizens For Quality Of Life :The Citizens for Quality of Life is a new group formed with the goal of fighting MicroGold's proposal. The 30-member group is made up retirees, families supported by the tourist and timber industry, and artisans. Points the group will make the city council include the following:
a. Quality of life is very good in Midasville-Little pollution, uncrowded schools, and low crime. All of this could change by shifting to mining and brining in outsiders to be miners.
b. Midasville will be a boom town again, with a lot of short term gain for a few people. Most people won't profit from the mine, and when the gold is gone in a few years, the town will be left with nothing.
c. The cost of living will go up, and retired people on fixed incomes will suffer.

3. Chamber Of Commerce:The Chamber of Commerce is made up of local merchants who promote the community's business interests. They are divided over MicroGold's proposal, yet if they can agree among themselves, the Chamber of Commerce could have a strong influence on the city council. The issue dividing the group is the fact that some business will prosper with a shift to a mining economy, while others will suffer.
a. Those businesses that would benefit from accepting MicroGold's offer include those that service a larger resident population, such as car dealers, department and hardware stores, real estate agencies, and medical businesses.
b. Those who would suffer include those that primarily service tourists, including car rental agencies, motels and guest houses, restaurants, souvenir shops, and guide services.

4. Friends Of Nature And History: The Friends of Nature and History Club works to preserve the natural environment and historic sites. The 75 members strongly oppose MicroGold's proposal. Their reasons include the following:
a. Most people in the town would want to see their historic heritage and way of life preserved, even if it means working for less money.
b. You cannot put a dollar value on historic and natural resources; both are very important to the health and well-being of the townspeople.
c. Mining will cause pollution, and an accident could cause terrible damage to the environment.

5. Citizens For Economic Growth : Citizens for Economic Growth is a new group that formed to help promote MicroGold's proposal. Most of the 28 members are professionals with young families. They want the opportunity to make a better income without having to leave Midasville, and they see mining as an opportunity for them to move up the economic ladder. The points they will move away from to the city include the following:
a. Midasville needs to improve economic opportunity for professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, and accountants or they will move away from the area.
b. The town is living in the past. We need to join the modern world by having an industrial-based economy.
c. While it is true that tourism provides jobs, most of the jobs pay low salaries.

6. City Council : The city council is an elected board that must represent the townspeople and make decisions concerning the welfare of Midasville.
a) It must weigh the consequences of its decisions for both today and the future.
b) It also needs to consider the overall quality of the life for the townspeople.

7. Mining Company :MicroGold, Inc., is a company with an okay record on environmental matters. It has had two serious accidents with its cyanide heap-leach process in another state, but it cleaned up immediately without damaging the environment. It is known to be civic-minded. Points it will make to the city council include the following:
a) MicroGold will employ 200 people at higher wages than most of the town currently makes, and a few people will be hired at a much higher salary.
b) The town will receive more money from royalties from the mine than they do from tourists.
c) MicroGold will build a new swimming pool and gymnasium for the town.
d) Supporting mining is the patriotic thing to do, since it builds our county’s wealth.

The Great Debate in Midasville : Assignment Guidelines and steps to follow:

Ø Read the background passage and then form small groups
Ø Each group will be assigned a position based on interest.
Ø Each group will prepare to defend its position and choose a spokesperson.
Ø The city council group will sit in front of the class, as in a public meeting.
Ø Each group will have five minutes in which to state its position to the council, who can then question the spokesperson – however, each person needs to plan on making some sort of comment on their position during the presentation.
Ø Once every group has presented its opinion, the floor will be opened for general questioning as lead by the city council leader.
Ø The council must then vote on whether or not to approve the mining corporation's proposal. ( you will be convincing a council this time, who's grade depends on an accurate vote)

Volcano impacts environment?

2009-12-10T11:27:00.003-05:00

Comment on the following article:
Due Date: 11pm 15 December 2009

volcano

Mining readings

2009-12-08T10:56:00.006-05:00

Stayed Tuned - Mining articles and information to follow...................

Definition:
Easier - Mining is the work or business of taking minerals from the earth. A hole or tunnel is dug in the ground to take out metals, coal, salt, or other minerals.

Harder - Most substances obtained from the earth are gotten by mining. Mining provides iron for steel making, salt for food, coal for fuel, and gold, silver, and diamonds for jewelry. Mined materials also include stone for building, phosphate for fertilizer, and gravel for highways.

There are many methods of mining, dependent on where and how a coal or mineral deposit is found. Some substances are mined relatively cheap because they can be found at or near the earth's surface. Some minerals are found as a compact mass, while others are widely scattered. Other mined materials are found far beneath the surface and removed by tunneling deep underground. Some mined substances are located beneath oceans, lakes, and rivers. Other minerals are concentrated in large bodies of water and are obtained by pumping.

Types of Mining:

Placer Placer - involves any type of mining where raw minerals are depostied in sand or gravel or on the surface and are picked up without having to drive, use dynamite or any other signifigant means. The word placer means "sand bank" in Spanish. Specific types of placer mining are panning, dredging, sluicing, using a Rocker, or just picking up what lies on the ground.

Surface mining is the method of getting material in the surface of the earth. There are three types of surface mining, open-pit mining, strip mining, and quarrying.

Wanted posters

2009-12-04T10:06:00.004-05:00

Please note the posting response date is different than the wanted poster DUE date.

Posting Due date - 11 pm 9 December

Wanted poster due date - 14 December

This is a presentation for class, so please make sure you understand and know what is on your wanted poster. If you have an alternate to use in place of my choices listed , please indicate that on this blog. No missing criteria will be exempted unless cleared through me by the Friday before the due date (11 December ).

Comment on this quote

2009-12-04T09:57:00.005-05:00

POSTING DEADLINE 9 WEDNESDAY 11 pm

"We've arranged a global civilization in which the most crucial elements...profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster."

Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Articles for Ebola assignment

2009-11-23T11:23:00.007-05:00

POSTING DUE DATE: 11pm 6 December 2009
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE: 7 December 2009

Use the following links to articles and fact sheets on Ebola. Read them and then answer the questions on the disease assignment sheet .

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5005a1.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebola.htm

articles about Lassa, Marburg and other hemorrhagic diseases.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/virlfvr/virlfvr.htm

When you are finished with the sheet and questions, use the links and the answers to your questions for reference and answer the following:

1. If an outbreak of something like Ebola or Marburg or Lassa fever were to occur in the United States, what is the potential ( in your opinion) of complete devastation of certain populations in the United States?
2. What populations do you feel would be at the greatest risk?
3. What preventative measures, if any , can be taken to help prevent such an occurence?
4. Is it moral to allow the effects of any hemorrhagic disease to take their natural course in a third world country or should the industrialized world step in and " fix" the problem?

Study Guide Posted!

2009-11-16T10:35:00.010-05:00

DUE DATES: LORAX V ONCE-LER TRIAL STARTS 1 DECEMBER 2009

QUIZ ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS: TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER - STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!!!!

STUDY GUIDE:

Alternative Fuels Study Guide

What are the three important reasons that alternative fuels are being so strongly considered?
What US Act of 1992 (was amended in 1999) identified the 8 choices?
Which of the choices involve either plant matter or animal matter in some form?
What is a drawback for Ethanol? For Bio- diesel?
What is a “pro” for Natural gas?
Why are auto factories/ companies discontinuing the use/manufacture of methane fueled vehicles?
If we are trying to phase out the usage of fossil fuels in any capacity, which of the alternative fuels would we also eliminate due to the connection with fossil fuels?
What is the major component in a P-series fuel?
Be able to define each alternative fuel.
Which fuel is most realistically the one that we should focus our time and significant funds in developing?

Create a chart: listing the following : Name of fuel,Source , Pros, Cons , and Availability

Federal Laws

2009-11-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

This is a great federal law site with a ton of information that is useful.

Partial Vocabulary list

2009-11-12T11:25:00.005-05:00

APES vocabulary list - not complete but a good starting point

Easter Island *Tragedy of the commons * Garret Hardin *American bison story *How old is the earth *How long have humans been around * Hunter *Gatherer*Agricultural*Industrial Revolution *Information Rev olution * John Muir * Aldo Leopald * Land Ethic *Rachel Carson & Silent Spring * Exxon Valdez (1989) * Sagebrush Rebellion (1978) * Antiquities Act (1906)
National Park service act (1916) * Soil conservation act (1935) *Atomic energy act (1954) Wilderness act (1964) *NEPA (1969) * Endangered Species act (1973) *Clean Water act (1972) Montreal Protocol (1987) *Clean Air Act (1990) * Kyoto meeting (1997) * Cuyahoga River Fire (1969) * Santa Barbara oil blowout (1969) *Love Canal (1978) * Three Mile Island (1979)
Bhopal disaster (1984) * Eco-efficiency vs. Eco-effective (next industrial revolution) *
biological and technical nutrients * cradle to grave vs. cradle to cradle concepts * Three Es (Equity, Economy, Ecology) * Biomimicry

Human Population *population size * population density * population dispersion * age structure * zero population growth * biotic potential *intrinsic rate of increase * environmental resistance * carrying capacity * exponential growth * logistic growth * r-strategist *k-strategist * survivorship curve * population change * zero population growth (ZPG) * birth rate * crude birth rate * replacement-level fertility * total fertility rate (TFR) * life expectancy * infant mortality rate migration carrying capacity *ecological footprint

Ecology *eukaryotic* prokaryotic * protist * fungus * plant *perennial * adaptation * ecological niche * fundamental niche * realized niche * habitat * extinction * keystone species * annual *species interactions * ecological succession *generalist * specialist * native species *nonnative species (exotic, alien) * indicator species * interspecific competition *predation * symbiosis * parasitism *commensalism * resource partitioning * predator-prey relationship * pursuit * ambush *camouflage *mimicry (Mullerian & Batesian) * chemical warfare * warning coloration *behavorial strategies * host * species richness *species abundance * primary succession *secondary succession *pioneer species * early succession plants * midsuccession plants * late succession plants * facilitation * tolerance * Intermediate disturbance hypothesis * ecology
disturbance * stability species *theory of island biogeography *organism * population * genetic diversity * community * ecosystem * asexual reproduction * sexual reproduction * ecotone *abiotic *biotic * range of tolerance ( law of tolerance) * limiting factor * principle producer *autotroph * photosynthesis * consumer * heterotroph * herbivore * primary consumer *secondary consumer *tertiary consumer * omnivore * scavenger * detritivore * detritus *decomposer *food web * biomass * ecological efficiency (10% rule ) *pyramid of energy flow gross primary productivity net primary productivity
* biodiversity * species diversity * trophic level *food chain * fermentation *productivity*
abundance * diversity* complexity *resilience * closed ecosystem * open ecosystem *
uniform distribution * random distribution *clumping distribution *stable population growth *irruptive population growth *cyclic population growth *irregular population growth *Top down control hypothesis * Bottom up control hypothesis * Intrinsic rate of increase (r) * Exponential growth

atmosphere * troposphere * stratosphere *hydrosphere *lithosphere *biosphere *global warming * ozone depletion * lichen *air pollution * primary pollutant * secondary pollutant *photochemical smog * industrial smog * temperature inversion *acid rain * clean air act *CFC
clear skies * greenhouse effect *Kyoto Protocol *weather * climate *Coriolis effect *El Nino* La Nina *greenhouse gas * wind *carbon cycle *nitrogen cycle *phosphorus cycle * sulfur cycle *water cycle * biogeochemical cycles *sink vs source *Henry Ford Case Study *Dioxin *conduction * convection *warm front * cold front * biomagnification *7 pollutants identified by CAA * Cap and Trade *Emissions Trading System * Community Right to Know Act

Biofuels: Pros and Cons

2009-10-16T09:50:00.001-04:00

So, biofuels are the wave of the future, right? They are the answer to all of our energy issues, right? It is time for you to make a stand on alternative fuels - folks we are going to need something and in your life time .I have listed some information on alternative fuels. Please read the material associated with each link and comment about the pros and cons of each. Describe each of the fuels potential imapct on the atmosphere and or earth surface. At the end of your post, make a final statement regarding which fuel alternative you believe is most viable, cost efficient, easy to make and or use etc.
Start with the first article which introduces you to the top 8 alternative fuels:
1. Ethanol
2. Natural gas
3. Electricity
4. Hydrogen
5. Propane
6.Biodiesel
7. Methanol
8. P-series fuels

*** I would suggest maybe making a personal chart for these fuels for quick reference at a later date ) ****
Reviewing the carbon cycle link on the contradiction blog will help you as well.

Postings are due by 11pm 30 October ( Friday ) That is the better part of two weeks , folks! Really, Really pay attention to this material.

http://environment.about.com/od/fossilfuels/tp/top_alt_fuels.htm

http://biofuelguide.net/the-pros-and-cons-of-biofuels/

http://www.biofuelswatch.com/biofuels-pros-and-cons/

http://environment.about.com/od/ethanolfaq/f/ethanol_benefit.htm -ethanol ( follow the links at the bottom of the page for additional material

http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-article_46/

http://earth2tech.com/2008/07/09/10-things-you-should-know-about-natural-gas-vehicles/

http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/2126.aspx

http://blog.homestars.com/archives/2009/08/11/the-pros-and-cons-of-green-electricity/

http://ezinearticles.com/?Water4Gas---Pros-and-Cons-of-Hydrogen-Fuel&id=1117787

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-86577.html

http://e85.whipnet.net/yellow/methanol.html

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/pseries/a/Pseries101.htm

Green Roof

2009-10-13T19:50:00.001-04:00

POST ALL INTIAL COMMENTS BY FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 2009
Please keep this blog active as we develope roof plans

I spoke with Mr. Worley about creating a green roof on the roof over the cafeteria outside my window. He was hesitant to say the least and I suspect it is because we don't have a presentation of what and how and why we want to do this......Are we serious about creating a green roof over the year?

Here are some starter articles to get you going.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090920/ELANSING01/909200497/1001/NEWS

http://science.howstuffworks.com/green-rooftop.htm

http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/green-roof.htm

*NEW **** PLEASE NOTE

2009-10-09T12:35:00.000-04:00

To help you when you are gathering information on climate change/global warming , I have included the link to a very good reference source from Discovery Channel. It is definitely something you need to look at.......

You do not have to post , but please look at the link.....somevery good information.

Location of link is on the right hand side of the blog above the population clock.

Green Buildings.....follow up to to 11th hour concept

2009-10-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

Read and post by 11pm 14 October.....

Interesting article that is a great follow -up to the idea of planting and using roof areas.......

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/10/06/green-roofs-carbon.html

article describing the green roof concept -

http://science.howstuffworks.com/green-rooftop.htm/printable

Makah Whaling Debate

2009-10-07T10:22:00.000-04:00

DUE DATE: Have read and decided by no later than 14 October (Wednesday) ....... I will place you in a group if you do not indicate a preference!!! Please also note that there are 25 of you and 6 groups. That means 4 per group with a group of 5. First come, first served on groupings....

So far:

1.( 4 ) Makah: Jonte , Ross , Shelby, Lydia ( membership closed)

2. ( 4 ) Greenpeace: Kenzie , Kathryn, Haley, Ashlee ( Greenpeace is now closed for membership)

3. ( 4 ) International Covenant : Colleen , Maria , Angelica , Hollis ( closed for membership)

4. ( 5 ) North High Alliance: Knox , Emory , Nathan , Emilee, Clinton ( closed for membership)

5. (4 ) Crest: Luke , Caitlin, Hannah, Gabby ( Crest is now closed for membership)

6. ( 4 ) Sea Shepherd : Chrissy, Matt, Adair , Brittney ( Sea Shepherds is now closed for membership )

The assignment: debate the Makah rights to whaling. The positions:

1. Makah Tribal Viewpoint – We have a cultural right to these whales.

2. Greenpeace viewpoint - Makah do not have a cultural right to these whales. We don’t believe that anyone has a cultural right to anything what so ever, and certainly not to a living organism that has inherent rights.

3. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – As members,we believe that the Makah should be allowed to whale. However, instead of using the “culture” argument, we think the Makah should focus on a different argument. That argument is simply this: They have a guarantee from the US government that states they are allowed to whale.

4. High North Alliance - We believe whaling and seal hunting is ok and necessary. But we need to protect the areas.

5. Crest - your position on whaling is neutral. ( but there is a catch for you ! )

6. Sea Shepherd and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - non - profit, non- government agency involved with the investigation and documentation of violations of international laws, regulations and treaties protecting marine species.

Instructions:
1. Please look at these positions carefully and determine which most closely fits your viewpoint. That will be your group for the debate.
2. This debate will be not be soley graded as a group, your individual participation will be of supreme importance.
3. Your contribution to the debate will need to include statistics, document references , newspaper references , videos ( created or real ), props as are deemed fit for your particular group : things like signs , banners , clothing , etc.
4. The main stipulation is that you need to clear the prop ideas with me first.
5. From the point the prairie project presentations are completed and you receive your group description card, you will have 1 week for preparation.
6.at the one week plus a day mark, the debate will begin and let the best man/woman/team win!

Sources

http://www.whales.org.au/alert/makah/index.html - pertinent legal documents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR2MEI1CcsA - Makah whaling video

http://www.makah.com/whaling.htm - Makah site on whaling

http://www.alamut.com/subj/the_other/misc/makahWhaling.html - historical information

http://www.cnie.org/NAE/cases/makah/index.html

http://content.lib.washington.edu/cmpweb/exhibits/makah/whaling-in-makah.html - whaling treaty being read in Makah native language

http://www.highnorth.no/Default.asp - High North Alliance home page

http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/estimate.htm - International Whaling Commission: includes population numbers and whale catch limits for aborignal peoples and scientific studies.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/- Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/- Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/whaling

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/editorial-061220-1.html- Sea Shepherd's view of Greenpeace

http://www.seashepherd.org/ - Sea Shepherd

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cescr.htm - International Covenant

http://www.cirp.org/library/ethics/UN-covenant/ - the document

http://www.highnorth.no/news/nedit.asp?which=172 - world council of whalers

http://www.icrwhale.org/eng-index.htm - Institute for Cetacean Research site . Lots of interesting pictures of whaling and up to date information about Japanese whaling etc.

Newspaper Articles: interesting! just a few to give you something to start working with and on...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003926767&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=whale05m&date=20071005

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003946019&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=webwhale13m&date=20071012

http://www.komonews.com/internal?st=print&id=4079361&path=/news/archive

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/v-printerfriendly/story/153177.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/17/world/main4610908.shtml?source=related_story

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,322472,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,312205,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,317471,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6425439

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/fd20090830pb.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/02/the-war-over-wh.html

http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2009/WWFPresitem12741.html

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USTRE5111EV20090202

Overview of laws protecting whales and marine mammals: will be distributed in class.
Please make a note to yourselves that the Endangered Species Act of 1972 was completely redesigned and rewritten in 1973 to include CITES.

Contradiction or not?

2009-10-06T10:34:00.000-04:00

This seems to be a conundrum.......please read the articles by 15 October and post your comments, viewpoints and explanations for how scientists can say two different things relating to the carbon issue. Finally, which do you perceive as correct?

Due date: post initial comment by 11 pm 15 October

Acidic Clouds Nourish World's Oceans

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005102645.htm

Global Warming From Carbon Dioxide Will Increase Five-fold Over The Next Millennium, Scientists Predict

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128104533.htm

and just in case you don't remember the carbon budget

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070509161113.htm

11th hour

2009-10-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

Read and ponder the first set of questions by 9 October ( Friday ) . Also DO NOT FORGET to post your final copy of Rip van Winkle in an email.

You may comment at will.....but at least comment that you read the assignment.

After prairie presentations are completed, we are going to take a wee break and look at experts and how " expert" information is presented by these " experts" . Please read the following synopsis of the 11th Hour ( as presented by Leonardo DiCaprio ) and ponder the questions that follow.

The 11th Hour: A Synopsis of the Film

The expression “the eleventh hour” means the last moment when change can happen to avert possible disaster. In the film The 11th Hour a variety of world experts explore how humanity has arrived at the current convergence of environmental crises while exploring steps that people can take to avert global disaster. In summary, the earth is nearing meltdown, beyond climate change. The process began with the Industrial Revolution, when people started mistakenly looking on nature as external to themselves and exploitable without limits. Forests have undergone major destruction. The ocean is becoming stagnant. Almost everywhere, the soil itself is largely damaged. In addition, 50,000 species a year are becoming extinct; no ecosystem can be identified as improving. Humans suffer from increasing numbers of diseases caused by pollution. At fault is the overproduction of non-sustainable manufactures, immense waste and destruction, and an unsupportable population. The primary cause for much of the crisis is the fuels we use, petroleum being the primary one.Through nature itself, the technology exists to solve some of these crises, and part of the solution is for people to live more consciously in harmony with nature as opposed to dominating it. According to the film, in a few years we will have reached the point of no return. We are not only at the eleventh hour, but at the last few seconds of that hour. Within this century, if nothing effective is achieved, planetary damage will be dramatic and total in every area. Although impossible to predict, extreme disaster could be quick once the balance is decisively tipped in the wrong direction, and it will happen everywhere.The 11th Hour features leading experts from around the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA James Woolsey, and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau, along with over 50 other scientists and world leaders who discuss the most important environmental issues facing the earth while presenting strategies to avert the crisis.

Glossary: ( Just in case )

Global Warming: Climate change is the long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, and all other aspects of the earth's climate. Global warming is defined by the United Nations Convention on Climate Change as “change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.”

Greenhouse Gases : Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds in the atmosphere that trap heat there. They retain a proportion of the sun’s heat through a mechanism known as the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), are naturally present in the atmosphere in small quantities (less than 1%). Greenhouse gases are those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation emitted by the earth’s surface, the atmosphere and clouds. It is very likely that greenhouse gases released by human activities are responsible for most of the global warming observed in the past 50 years. The warming is projected to continue and to increase over the course of the 21st century and beyond.

Biodiversity : The variety of life on earth—or its biological diversity—is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, and the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rain forests, and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse earth. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, has an important role to play, and it is this combination that enables the ecosystem to possess the ability to prevent and recover from a variety of natural disasters. This is useful for humanity as a larger number of species of plants means more variety of crops and a larger number of species of animals ensures that the ecosystem is naturally sustained.

Carbon Footprint : A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts: the direct, primary footprint and the indirect, secondary footprint. The primary footprint is a measure of the direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. This includes domestic energy consumption and transportation from, for example, cars and planes. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole life cycle of products we use, those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown.

"Green" Building: Green” building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources—energy, water, and materials—while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better site planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal—the complete building life cycle. Other similarly used terms include sustainable design and green architecture.

While watching the 11th hour, you need to write " gut" reactions to what is being shown and/or being said.

Questions:

What do you see as today’s most urgent environmental crisis?

Where have you gotten information about environmental issues?

Do you think the mainstream media present environmental issues clearly and accurately?

What actions have you taken to conserve and preserve the earth’s resources?

In assessing your skills as an advocate for something you care about, what do you see as your strengths?

After you watch the video: think about and be ready to answer these:

Describe some of the emotions you felt during the film.

Which aspects of the video had the greatest impact on you and why?

What information contained in the video was new to you?

What topics presented in the film would you like to explore further? Do you know what you need to know in order to continue learning about environmental issues? If the answer to that question is no, how can you find out what you need to know?

Discuss the ways that eating locally produced food is an environmental issue. What can individuals do to support the local production and consumption of foods?

Who should see this film and for what purposes?

Who might be unreceptive to the ideas in the film and why?

Share one issue or item that you wrote on your index card while you were watching The 11th Hour.

As a result of your having seen this film, what, if any, specific actions do you think you will take?

After we discuss the merits or demerits ( as the case may be) of this film, you will watch Earth: Population Zero. Musings and writing assignment to follow.

Green Goo........What do you think?

2009-09-27T21:32:00.000-04:00

Read and post comments by the evening ( 11 pm of Tuesday 29 September ). Be ready to comment in class on Wednesday 30 September.

Use the link to see pictures of this foul smelling goo....it is quite interesting.

http://news.aol.com/article/smelly-glue-green-algae-kills-dogs/689236?icid=main%7Cmain%7Cdl1%7Clink1%7Chttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.aol.com%252Farticle%252Fsmelly-glue-green-algae-kills-dogs%252F689236

Smelly Algae Kills Dogs, Sickens People
WAUSAU, Wis. (Sept. 27) — Waterways across the upper Midwest are increasingly plagued with ugly, smelly and potentially deadly blue-green algae, bloomed by drought and fertilizer runoffs from farm fields, that’s killed dozens of dogs and sickened many people. Aquatic biologists say it’s a problem that falls somewhere between a human health concern and a nuisance, but will eventually lead to more human poisoning. State officials are telling people who live on algae covered lakes to close their windows, stop taking walks along the picturesque shorelines
and keep their dogs from drinking the rank water. Peggy McAloon, 62, lives on Wisconsin’s
Tainter Lake and calls the algae blooms the “cockroach on the water.” “It is like living in the sewer for three weeks. You gag. You cannot go outside,” she said. “We have pictures of squirrels that are dead underneath the scum and fish that are dead. ... It has gotten out of control because
of the nutrient loads we as humans are adding to the waters.”
Blue-green algae are common in waters but not every lake develops serious problems
until plentiful “man-induced” nutrients like phosphorous arrive, said Jim Vennie, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources expert. The toxins released by the algae can be deadly. Symptoms include rash, hives, runny nose, irritated eyes and throat irritation. No people have died in the U.S. from the algae’s toxins, according to Wayne Carmichael, a retired aquatic biologist and toxicology professor in Oregon.
Many, however, have gotten sick: “Sooner or later, we are going to have more acute
human poisoning,” Carmichael said. The scum has killed dozens of dogs over the years — including at least four in Oregon, three in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota this summer. Wisconsin wildlife experts are warning duck hunters with dogs to be extra cautious this fall. “If the water is pea-soup green, be sure to have clean water along to wash the dog off,” Vennie said.
“Don’t let it drink the water.” Fewer than 100 lakes in Wisconsin typically have some problems with algae bloom each summer and the ones in western Wisconsin causing so much discomfort this year are being fueled by a perfect storm, Vennie said. The last month has seen little
rain, warm, sunshiny days and little wind. The blooms just sit there, growing, then decaying and smelling.
“Some people say they have gotten nauseous and vomited from smelling it,” said Ken Schreiber, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources water quality specialist. Officials have banned recreational activities at some lakes in Washington state because of blooms. And in Oregon, the bluegreen algae is the number one water quality issue, Carmichael said. Yet other countries have worse problems, Carmichael said, because many have waters with even more nutrients than exist in U.S. lakes. In France, a horse died on a beach in July after falling into some decaying algae sludge. Last year, the Chinese government brought in the army to remove the slimy growths so the Olympic sailing competition could be held. Stephanie Marquis, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said her agency had received 41 complaints related to health concerns with blue-green algae so far this season. Rashes, sore
throats and eye irritation among the problems, she said.
In Minnesota, Matt Lindon is a pollution control specialist for the state and he called 2009 a typical year for complaints about algae scums. But for some reason this summer, Bagley Lake in northwest Minnesota, an “historically clean lake,” generated respiratory and odor problems, he said. “It may be related to the water level or some new runoff source,” he said. Loren Hake, 71, has lived about two blocks from a Lake Menomin in western Wisconsin since 1963. He feels like a prisoner in his own home, isolated by a stench “something like a pig pen” that forces he and his wife to run the air conditioner although it’s not that hot because they can’t leave the windows open, he said. For the first time, the couple hasn’t set on an outside deck because of the smell
from the algae-covered bay. “I don’t know what they can do about it,” Hake said. There’s little anybody can do besides wait for cooler temperatures, Vennie said. John Plaza, president of the Chetek Lakes Protection Association, which represents six lakes in northwest Wisconsin, said
farm runoff, lawn fertilizers, septic systems and even ashes from leaves being burned on the shorelines are among factors contributing to the algae problems. “I have been a user of these lakes since 1962,” he said. “I have never experienced anything like this before. It’s nasty. People
are saying we can’t live with this any more."

Rip Van Winkle effect

2009-09-18T10:07:00.000-04:00

The following assignment is due 25 September @ 11 pm. ( Rough draft)

Final Draft due 30 October @ 11pm
Please respond on the blog:
#1. you have read the assignment
# 2. you have sent the assignment to either my gmail account lhs.apes@gmail.com or my school account kbosiak@lincoln.k12.nc.us

Really use your imginations , but be careful to stay within the realm of possibility.

What if You Were Asleep for 100 Years? : A Rip Van Winkle Proposal for the Restoration of Nature.

You have been asleep for 100 years. The date is now 2109. What will you see when you awake? How will things have changed? What will have changed? Will humans still be the dominating animal on the planet? What will the climate be like? What will your home be like? Use your extreme imaginations, but keep it within the realm of plausibility. Your job is to write a thoughtful, reflective essay. You will accomplish this by first considering several potential “futures “that could exist 100 years from now. After you have brainstormed your different outcomes; pick one. This will be the platform for you to elaborate and discuss what you see and discover as you step out into a new 22nd Century world. Your rough draft will be due to me via email .Identify yourself because I delete all unknown correspondents. Do not attempt to cloud the issues or bluff your way through this assignment. I will comment to you on your rough draft and you will then complete the final essay. Have fun thinking about what might happen………….

New thread just because you asked!

2009-09-15T11:32:00.000-04:00

This thread may be used to ask questions or start discussions not already being addressed. Please keep it to related material ( Earth or Environmental Science) or it will be deleted........have fun! This one is not for a grade, but to help you out!

Smallville Prairie groups...just in case you forget

2009-09-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

Here are the groupings for the next project. I would like to see what each of you has for skills and by staying with the same people with whom you are comfortable, that doesn't always emerge. As best I could, I left you with at least one from your group , but added a new partner....Maybe someone from last year's APES can offer you guidance when you fell like you might stumble...........just a thought?

Commonwealth Franklin: Angelica, Maria & Caitlin
10 Banners over Smallville : Jonte, Emory & Ross
Prairie Rover Autos: Knox , Nathan & Clinton
WRIGHT built homes : Gabby , Luke & Shelby
Prairiefield Mall : Adair , Emilee & Brittney
Scent of the Prairie landfill: Matt, Hannah & Haley
Pride of the Prairie Internet warehouse: Colleen , Ashlee, Hollis & Lydia
PAC : Chrissy, Kenzie & Kathryn

Law :Upcoming bottle ban aims to increase recycling. Throwing soda bottles in trash will soon be illegal

2009-09-13T19:34:00.000-04:00

please look at this new legislation and comment accordingly.

Read and post by Thursday 17 September 2009.

http://www.technicianonline.com/news/upcoming-bottle-ban-aims-to-increase-recycling-1.1873957

Geoengineering's effect on Climate change

2009-09-10T10:09:00.000-04:00

Blog due:
Wednesday 16 September

Readings due:
Tuesday 15 September

Hot on the heels of the discussion today about potential ways to cool the Earth's runaway heating problem are these articles.

As you can clearly see, this is not a new idea, nor new proposal. What are your opinions about geoengineering? Is it a viable option? Obama would like to see it in action ASAP. Does anything about the concept scare you? Will it work? Should nature just take its course?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127190338.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527155519.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901104846.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721135559.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080217094602.htm

Gorilla pictures

2009-09-10T09:39:00.000-04:00

The gorilla pictures are coming along nicely. You have great taste and they are remarkable reminiscent of each of your personalities. You do not have a deadline on the pictures, however - remember that longer you wait, the likelyhood of that perfect gorilla being gone will increase.

Interesting articles about the most influential animal on Earth

2009-09-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Below are three links that discuss the possible pathways that early North Americans took when colonizing the continent. Two are non traditional and the third is the traditional viewpoint.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/11/17/carolina.dig/index.html

( map of Topper location) http://www.cnn.com/interactive/maps/us/topper.site/frameset.exclude.html

Topper site
http://www.allendale-expedition.net/

Traditional viewpoint of expansion
http://www.comp-archaeology.org/USPaleo-Indian.htm

The last link seems to be a bit defensive when discussing the previous discoveries. What are you feelings/viewpoints/ideas about this topic. It is important to understand that the generally perceived idea is that human beings migrated to and and settled in North America where they began the systematic extinction of a variety of Ice Age animals.

*** Anjelica - ask your question about Ice Ages again here, please. ****

New Gadgets!!

2009-09-03T11:30:00.000-04:00

Check out the new gadgets!! Pretty neat!

Posting information

2009-09-02T09:54:00.000-04:00

Remember that after this start-up post, you will only have three days to post your initial comment to subsequent posts. That does not mean only three days to continue a conversation ...that conversation could go on for days! It means that first comment that you will be graded on. Remember also that a comment is not a " one -liner" . Comments are your reflections/questions/ideas about a topic. That kind of communication cannot be accomplished in a single statement ( at least usually! ) Each of you has fantastic ideas and I look forward to hearing them and seeing the interaction between you all and the former APES. This should be a blast!!!

Welcome to the next step before the next step.....

2009-08-31T10:10:00.000-04:00

This is the fall semester of your APES experience. Each of you will need to create a gmail account and use the password and username that I gave you in class. We will do a lot of communicating through this forum and you need to be logged in and on. Please use these blogs to ask questions to me or your classmates; to work out answers to problems ( do not give each other the answers, but rather help work them out) ; to catch up on what you might have missed or to post interesting things for me and the class.

I am looking forward to a great year with all of you! The challenge has been set. The APES of 2008-2009 think that you can never be quite the APES that they were. Are you up to the challenge?

Nat Geo contest

2009-05-06T21:39:00.000-04:00

Take a look at this....you are entered in the National Geographic Environmental Contest.....you have 2.5 stars already and a comment....please read it!! Your work goes on and on!!! Kudos to you APES of 2009!!

http://greeneffect.nationalgeographic.com/ideas/

Easter Island Readings

2009-05-05T07:04:00.001-04:00

There are some very interesting controversies about Easter Island and how/why the island fell into ecological disarray.

The following links are most enlightening:

http://www.netaxs.com/~trance/rapanui.html ( if your system allows, listen to the music of the Rapa Nui people. The system at school won't let us.

Jared Diamond's article is quoted often : http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/24/042.html

http://www.primitivism.com/easter-island.htm

A new perspective: http://www.livescience.com/history/060309_easter_island.html

Those blasted rats! Seems they are at work again!!

Food for thought: http://www.netaxs.com/~trance/cannibal.html

wasterwater treatment animation

2009-04-29T12:12:00.001-04:00

This is something you should become familiar with......

http://www.wef.org/AboutWater/ForThePublic/WastewaterTreatment/

click the link...then the link that says go with the flow ( english) and follow the directions. It is pretty clear and a much better way to see it than in your book.

Q& A about swine flu

2009-04-28T21:30:00.000-04:00

This is a very good link that may answer some of your questions. There is also a link for a map of the outbreak sites ( not too update based on SC information) with info about history etc.

http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2009/04/swine_flu_q_and.html
http://www.boston.com/interactive/graphics/generic_page_20090428005501/

some extra online study sites

2009-04-28T11:16:00.001-04:00

Here are some sites with animations and some explanations that may or may not mirror mine. Sometimes a different viewpoint makes things clearer.

We will have afternoon reviews and maybe a Saturday afternoon coffee session review the Saturday before your exam.

http://www.ucopenaccess.org/course/view.php?id=58

http://go.ucsusa.org/game/

Newest List of 10 most endangered rivers

2009-04-10T11:36:00.000-04:00

Well, imagine SC being included in this list......if I am not mistaken, the Saluda River starts in Greenville SC right on the border of NC....hmmm. Wonder if the Tarheels are having any effect on the Saluda?

By the way, the Saluda River is a major Tributary of the Congaree River that flows through the Congaree National Park..........

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/07/rivers.endangered.list/#cnnSTCText

6) Saluda River
Location: South Carolina
Excess levels of sewage waste threaten the drinking water of more than 500,000 South Carolina residents, conservationists say. Sewage in the river increases phosphorous and algae levels, depletes oxygen, and kills fish and other aquatic life. American Rivers is asking the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to improve sewage-treatment standards and ensure the river reduces its phosphorous levels by 25 to 50 percent.

Geoengineering to fix the Earth? Don't know about you all, but after reading this article I am a bit concerned...

2009-04-10T11:24:00.000-04:00

Where are our Brains? Oh wait! I see them.....

Here is the link to an interesting solution being proposed by President Obama's staff Chief Scientific Advisor.

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/39644/print

This should spark some interesting discussion amongst you all and I can't wait to read it.....tell me what you think.....

Red Sox and others led the way to " green" stadiums

2009-04-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

.............Even the nation's oldest MLB stadium still in use—Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, the Yanks's biggest rivals—is getting in on the greening (puns about its legendary "Green Monster" wall in left field aside). Some 28 newly installed solar panels on the fifth floor's slanted roof offset 37 percent of the natural gas burned to heat the stadium's water supply, says Katie Haas, a team spokesperson. The park also sports 11 BigBelly solar-powered trash compacters on the premises.

Some of the statistics are pretty impressive when you look at the energy reduction, carbon footprint decrease etc.

Read complete article @ http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=green-baseball-diamonds-energy-efficiency

EPA adds to Superfund priority sites

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

Check this out folks! Article on superfunds that is at the very least interesting...at the most a bit disturbing.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/39630/print

Barite Hill/Nevada Goldfields (McCormick, S.C.) (3 hours away)

Proposed to be added:

Ore Knob Mine (Ashe County, N.C.) ( 2 hours away)
GMH Electronics (Roxboro, N.C.) ( 3 hours away)

tomato activity......starting Monday 20 April 2009

2009-04-08T11:52:00.000-04:00

Plants and light (or Energy input into ecosystems )

Green plants are the primary source for all of the biotic energy requirements of an ecosystem.
Photosynthesis vs respiration.In green plants both photosynthesis and respiration occur. In relatively bright light photosynthesis is the dominant process (meaning that the plant produces more food than it uses during respiration). At night, or in the absence of light, photosynthesis essentially ceases, and respiration is the dominant process; the plant consumes food (for growth and other metabolic processes). Photosynthesis absorbs energy (from sunlight) whereas aerobic respiration yields energy (as a result of the oxidation of glucose, the carbohydrate molecule shown here). These are essentially "competing" processes, one producing glucose (photosynthesis) and the other consuming glucose (respiration).

Factors Affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis

1. Compensation point for light

One simple way to get an estimate of the level of phototsynthetic activity in a green plant is to place the plant in a sealed container and measure the rate at which oxygen is produced.
When such an experiment is actually performed it is found that increasing the brightness (intensity) of the light increases the rate of photosynthesis, but only up to a certain point, beyond which increasing the brightenss of the light has little or no effect on the rate of photosynthesis.
Conversely, reducing the brightness of the light causes a decrease in photosynthetic activity.
The light intensity at which the net amount of oxygen produced is exactly zero, is called the compensation point for light. At this point the consumption of oxygen by the plant due to cellular respiration is equal to the rate at which oxygen is produced by photosynthesis.
The compensation point for light intensity varies according to the type of plant, but it is typically 40 to 60 W/m2 for sunlight. The compensation point for light can be reduced (somewhat) by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide available to the plant, allowing the plant to grow under conditions of lower illumination.

2. Compensation point for carbon dioxide

Under conditions of constant and uniform illumination the rate of photosynthesis can be increased by simply increasing the amount of carbon dioxide (i.e. increasing the atmospheric partial pressure) available to plants. As before, one can measure the rate of photosysthesis as a function of carbon dioxide pressure by placing a green plant in a sealed container and measuring the rate at which oxygen is produced. As the partial pressure of carbon dioxide increases there is an almost linear increase in the rate of oxygen production, which implies an identical increase in the rate of phtotosythesis. This increase eventually levels off, and further increases in the concentration of carbon dioxide have no further effect.
Conversely, reducing the carbon dioxide concentration reduces the rate of photosynthetic activity. The level at which the oxygen production rate drops to zero is called the compensation point for carbon dioxide.

3. A Day in the Life of a Plant
Compensation Point for Light (of photosynthetic plants) is the intensity of light at which the rate of carbon dioxide uptake (photosynthesis) is exactly balanced by the rate of carbon dioxide production (respiration) or equivalently, the light intensity at which the rate of oxygen production is exactly balanced by the rate of oxygen consumption.
Since it is primarily food production we are interested in, we will consider the third equivalency, the rate at which the food produced (carbohydrates) is exactly balanced by the rate at which the food is consumed.
In the figure above, to the left the red line shows the rate of carbohydrate production due to plant photosynthesis. The green line shows the rate of carbohydrate consumption due to respiration.
The shape of the photosynthesis curve is due to increased sunlight during the day and the shape of the respiration curve is due to increased temperature during the day.
Since photosynthesis produces carbohydrates, the rate at which the amount the carbohydrates change is positive for photosynthesis, that is, the amount increases.
On the other hand, respiration consumes carbohydrates, hence the rate at which carbohydrates change is negative for respiration, that is, the amount decreases.
This is shown in the graph to the right.
The area in yellow represents the total amount of carbohydrate produced in a 24h period (due to photosynthesis). The area in green represents the total amount of carbohydrate consumed due to respiration.
For a green plant to survive, grow, and produce mature fruit, area (a) (yellow), must exceed area (b) (green).
The area (a), that is the total amount of carbohydrate production due to photosynthesis, can be increased in two ways:

1. Increase the intensity (brightness) of the light.
The danger is that if the light is too intense the heat it produces can damage the delicate plant cells, as well as increasing the transpiration rate, causing the leaves to wilt.
Of course, there is a limit beyond which increasing the light intensity has no significant effect on the rate of photosynthesis. This occurs for most plants at a light intensity of about 40% full daytime sunlight.

2. Increasing the duration of the light which illuminates the plant leaves.
In the case of natural sunlight it is generally not possible to increase the time during which the plants receive light beyond the length of natural daylight hours.
To increase the length of time during which photosynthesis occurs requires the use of artificial lights.
If there is enough electrical energy available both the duration and intensity of the light can be controlled to provide optimum growing conditions for green plants.
The problem is that using artificial light to grow plants is an extremely inefficient use of energy.

Things that we know about the relationship between plants and light :
All green plants need some light.
Too little light is bad for green plants (below the compensation point).
Too much light is bad for all plants.
Increasing the carbon dioxide concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis (over a small range of carbon dioxide enhancement).
Things we would like to know about tomato plants
What is the absolute minimum light intensity needed for tomato plants to survive?
To what extent can the duration of light exposure compensate for low light intensity?
How does low light exposure affect a tomato plant's ability to produce fruit?
Although the maximum intensity (brightness) of sunlight on Mars is much less than on the Earth, the seasons are twice as long as on Earth. It is assumed that in the beginning all Mars habitation will occur near the Martian equator where seasonal changes are less noticeable.

Student activity: How much light?

1. You will investigate the relationship between plant growth and the duration of available light. Begin by setting up a gro-light system on an ordinary household light timer. ( I will be your timer)
2. You will use your Tomatosphere seedlings for this experiment makesure they all belong to the same group - M or N).
3. Your shelf to use will be the middle shelf where the seed trays were intially placed. The gro-lights will be aimed at the shelf. In this investigation all lights will be at exactly the same height above the plants, to ensure that, as much as possible, the light intensity is the same for all plants.
The variable in this experiment is the light duration, not the light intensity.
All other growing conditions must not be varied. Water, fertilize, and warm all plants identically.
Once your test site has been established, set the light timers to provide six (6), twelve (12) and eighteen (18) hours respectively.
Create a daily journal in which to record your observations.
Measure and record the following:

1. Daily -
Temperature
General appearance (healthy, spindly, limp, and so on)
Condition of the soil (dry, wet , moist)

2. Weekly -
Height of the plant
Number of branches
As required
Watering
Fertilizing
Appearance of first flowers
Number of flowers
First appearance of fruit
First mature fruit

Can't wait till the little plants start really growing!!

What is an Ice Age?

2009-04-04T08:18:00.001-04:00

Please read the following articles:

1. Milutin Milankovitch: Seeking the Cause of the Ice Ages

http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/web/essaybooks/earth/p_milankovitch.html

2. Milankovitch cycles:
http://geography.about.com/od/learnabouttheearth/a/milankovitch.htm
http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/student/howard2/theory.htm

3. Little Ice Age:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/little_ice_age.html
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/lia/little_ice_age.html

Tomatosphere

2009-04-02T11:52:00.000-04:00

The tomato planting went well.......hope you remember to water them.
Tomatosphere link: http://tomatosphere.org/

look here often for information about things we will be doing with tomato plants!

NEW Projects

2009-04-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

Natalie says:

I believe we should all bring in stuff for the breakfast..instead of the foods class..but we need to keep in mind staying local..i'm not against the foods class idea..but I believe we could do it ourselves!

I think she has a great idea!!!!!!!

Earth Hour Sucesses.....

2009-03-29T18:39:00.000-04:00

Horray for the GREAT APES!!! the greatest of great apes in the world...... You were magnificent!! thanks to everyone who worked hard and couldn't be there last night; thanks to Matt for getting us the fellowship hall at his church ( that was so awesome!); thanks to Chris and Justin for their continued dedication; thanks to everyone who brought family and friends with them; thanks for all the food; thanks Joe Morton !!! what a great surprise; thanks to the roof crew for making the stars shine even brighter than they finally did; thanks to Mrs. Nantz for her never ending support;thanks for the opportunity to spend " quality" time with a bunch of APES; thanks to anyone and everyone who I may have forgotten in my zealousness ; Billy - you never fail to amaze me; Wolfie and Logan puddles will never be the same and spiral staircases will also be an area that in the long run may cause me to jump ; Sara, Brittney, Caitlin, Mollie ( ha! spelled right) - your enthusiasm was contaigious; Alisha - way awesome you made it! ;Lawson and Brett- way to work out a work situation ; Ben - great Earth Hour soldier! Jimmy and Tripper - there are no words - your help was invaluable; Megan - a better reporter we couldn't have had - make sure we get the photos.

The Gaston Gazette has posted a slide show of last night..if you would like to view it the link is as follows....
http://gastongazette.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=720651&CategoryID=15927

Enjoy your sucesses!!!

If I missed ANYONE that was there...please let me know.....it is still such a blur...................

Fair warning for your chapter to write questions on/for...

2009-03-27T14:12:00.001-04:00

I will post, probably Saturday morning , a list of the chapter numbers and titles that are assigned to each chapter. It is your responsibility to create a series of questions that will address the major concepts of each of the chapters . Create questions that will help you and your classmates hear the concept and challenge themselves when playing review games.
I will send the Earth Science powerpoints to the following APES that have requested them:
Matt Rachel Logan
Natalie Olivia
Billy Ashton
Ariel Ben
Lawson Wolfie

As of 2:30 on Friday 27 March 2009, these are the only people that said they needed them. If I missed you , let me know or if you change your mind, let me know..............

request from Sarah

2009-03-25T21:05:00.001-04:00

Hey Mrs. B,
It's Sarah. I just wanted to tell you that I highly doubt ill be at school tomorrow. My grandma, mom, and sister are all puking sick and I have a fever. So, that sucks.
BUT i really think that someone needs to explain earth hour in detail over the announcements because today in US history Mr. Cowie had asked me about my shirt that i wore yesterday and when earth hour was and the time. EVERYONE in the class thought that earth hour was from 8-9 AM instead of at night, so i really think that needs to be cleared up.

Thanks,
Sarah s.

Ashton, Natalie and everyone.......let's see if we can fix this problem..................

Earth Science powerpoints

2009-03-25T20:57:00.000-04:00

If you would like the powerpoints that I use for my earth science classes, let me know and I will be happy to get them to you................

Ha! Ha! to my professor...............

2009-03-20T12:12:00.000-04:00

You guys caught my grad prof..........and he is adjusting all quiz grades.........you are so cool!!!!!

here is a very good diagram to show you that the epicenter is on the surface and the focus of an earthquake is underground..............

Charts to remind you of the cycles

2009-03-19T12:08:00.001-04:00

Vocabulary for the ocean current studies

2009-03-17T12:34:00.001-04:00

Current: water in the surface ocean flowing consistently in a particular direction. Ocean currents are driven by wind!!!!!

Latitude: an angle north or south of the equator

Longitude: an angle east or west of the prime meridian in Greenwich, England

Kuroshio Current: a warm ocean current that flows northward, theneastward on the west side of the Pacific Ocean

Oyashio Current: a cold ocean current that flows southward along the coast of Siberia and Kamchatka

Alaska Current : a cold ocean current that flows northward , then westward towards Alaska

California Current: A cold ocean current that flows southward along the west coast of North America

North Pacific gyre: a circular system of ocean currents that together flowi n a clockwise pattern all around the North Pacific portion of the Pacific basin.

GLOBE AT NIGHT!!! Don't Forget

2009-03-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

the star observations start tonight...of course because it is cloudy!! and rainy!!

You will need to either down load the forms or look at them and write your information down. Keep a record of it and if you are planning to submit the data yourself, then make sure I have a copy of what you are submitting. IF I am submitting your data , I MUST have it the class following your observation.........

This is not an optional assignment!

Assignment

2009-03-16T12:12:00.001-04:00

Please read chapter 10 - geologic processes and chapter 15 geologic resources by Thursday....

Newest of the new!!

2009-03-12T22:18:00.000-04:00

And the news keeps on rolling in.................

we made the front page of the Lincoln Tribune ( http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=11155 ), the LCS home page and the county office is sending out your flyers to every LCS employee.........

Linda Yoder - lead science teacher for LCS has sent all science teachers and teachers she knows a note about your classroom visits.......Mr. Mitch Sherrill at the county office endorsed your plans and approves and.......

you made the Twitter blog on the Earth Hour US home page.......right hand side of the page under Lincoln tribune heading....folks you are with the big boys!!!! The Empire State building and even Concord, NH.................... http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php

Mr Worley sent out an email about the carolina green sense listing.....to all LHS teachers...( tee hee)

best of all.......your presentation has already been requested in a classroom at Kiser............

heady times folks........I am humbled to be a part of your success............

Newsest UPDATE!!!!!

2009-03-11T12:42:00.000-04:00

We are in Carolina Green Sense!!!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Lead on, Lincolnton!
This just in: the first Earth Hour 2009 city in the Carolinas is Lincolnton, NC. Or Lovable Lincolnton, according to their web site. This town of around 10,000 is near Lake Norman and north of Gastonia. Thanks for leading the way!
Labels: Earth Hour 2009, Lincolnton NC

APES can swim!!! Well some of them got a little cold.

2009-03-10T19:26:00.001-04:00

Always knew that APES were very talented; some evidently prefer the warmer climates though. Good Job this morning......here are a few pics for your entertainment.

Earth Hour update!!

2009-03-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

Check this out!!!! we are listed in the Earth Hour Blog!!

" Just got a call from Lincolnton, NC has just issued an #earthhour proclamation. Enfuego baby!about 9 hours ago from web ...posted by Dan Forman (Public Relations ManagerWorld Wildlife Fund1250 24th Street, NWWashington, DC 20037-1193)

and the map has us on it too.......you guys rock!!

http://www.earthhourus.org/map.php#

some thoughts on coral reproduction for those a little unsure..

2009-03-08T22:49:00.000-04:00

the best way to tell you is to show you pictures and diagrams....makes it easier to understand.

MOVIE MAKERS - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-03-06T12:37:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Check this out!!!!.......want to be famous across the state of NC? Want more notarity than ever dreamed before? Then take this challenge - I dare you!!!!

Create a commercial for use in NC across the state. The particulars are listed at the website below...... I double dare you!!!! : )

http://www.re3.org/contest.htm

(like the green bend? tee hee!!)

Coral and the oceans

2009-03-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

One of the topics that you will need to become more familiar with is corals.....to start you off, here is an article that you should find interesting. It describes the mechanisms that corals use to stave off extinction and the resulting problems that oceanographers and biologists have in classifying them. Please post your comments and/or questions below. I will post more coral related articles, but this will get you going.....

the picture in this posting is of the fairly rare bamboo coral......

link to article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090223221343.htm

The Great APES Earth Hour Team......

2009-03-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

Thought you all might like a copy of this picture........your team spoke well for you and about you and made us all proud. You are truly an unusal group of APES.........

Oh Boy! New fun stuff!!!! 16 March - 28 March

2009-03-05T12:19:00.000-05:00

We have been invited to be a part of NASA's Globe at night. It will run from 16 March through 28 March so it will be fun to see the difference in the sky from the earlier date through Earth Hour.

This is not an optional assignment! You can pick the times based on what your work schedules etc. Try to make your observations at the same time every evening.

Please go to the site and download a form for the nights that you will track the stars. The site is self explanatory and very easy to follow. I will need the sheets or at least a piece of notebook paper with all the information on it that you have kept for the time that the assignment covers.

Your paperwork is due to me on 30 March. However, if you are not going to post the data yourself, I need to have the information the day after you do your observations.

Find your location by using the link on the homepage for the project.

Ex: LHS is at 35.479 degrees N. Latitude

-81.26 degrees W. Longitude ( the - sign indicates a west longitudinal direction)

the link to the NASA site is: http://www.globe.gov/GaN/

clueless

2009-03-01T07:45:00.001-05:00

Folks- Natalie has posted that her businesses seemed clueless; Chris has the movie on line....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26xFJxfeGQ4 ; seems that little old Lincolnton doesn't know what Earth Hour is........we need ways to help them understand.

Tragedy question....let's get some good comments on the last two posts I have made.....

2009-02-25T11:57:00.000-05:00

APES,
Don't forget the reading on Malthus and the chapters in the book....the questions are secondary at this moment to those readings. I know you all have very strong opinions.... So, lets get something going here about the question of " selective breeding to eliminate people of conscience". You all had very interesting comments on your quizzes....now bounce them off each other. My comment is this: Are we striving for a perfect human? and how can we ever eliminate something by selective breeding for a trait that isn't a breedable trait?

Thomas Malthus theory on population - does it differ from Hardin's ideas?

2009-02-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to an article about Thomas Malthus.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/malthus.html

Malthus's views were largely developed in reaction to the optimistic views of his father and his associates. He predicted population would outrun food supply, leading to a decrease in food per person. This prediction was based on the idea that population if unchecked increases at a geometric rate whereas the food supply grows at an arithmetic rate. Only misery, moral restraint and vice (which for Malthus included contraception) could check excessive population growth. Malthus favoured "moral restraint" (including late marriage and sexual abstinence) as a check on population growth. He did however favor visiting the houses of ill repute (prostitution) so that the married women would have less chance of becoming pregnant.

Malthusian catastrophe: is a return to subsistence - level conditions as a result of agricultural (or, in later societies; economic production being eventually outstripped by growth in population.

arithmetic growth for resources: in this case ,subsistence level food resources are at best exhibit arithmetic growth, which means food increasing by a fixed absolute amount in a fixed amount of time.

geometric growth: in this instance the fixed doubling time for population

So what does Malthus suggest? Misery and Vice. The acting agents of misery and vice are war, famine, and disease. Misery can also be accelerated by:

A. Tillage over pasturage: Grains, legumes to more efficiently feed
B. Agriculture over manufacture: Can't afford to lose sources of food production
C. Moral restraint: Don't have children until you can feed them!
D. Free labor market: People should be free to move about and freely take work wherever it is available.
E. Abolish parish-laws and establish workhouses: Avoid the vicious cycle initiated by public assistance for the poor, which only encourages people to have children beyond their means.

Please understand that he is not predicting the end of the world due to poverty and hunger; rather that at some point humans will hit the " glass ceiling" and that some type of check will necessarily have to fall into place.

Readings......

2009-02-22T18:13:00.000-05:00

This week you will need to read chapters 7 & 8. This will finish up all the basic stuff...biomes, habitats, and the rest of the primarily review from bio and chem. Be prepared for a test on chapters 1,2 and 3. It will be in the form of a take home test.....approximately 70- 75 questions, right from the book ( s ). I will post the questions Monday evening for review. Chapter question and readings will not be due until Tuesday of next week. But do not procrastinate. You have a lot to do this week .The test will be given to you Wednesday and you will have until Sunday evening at midnight to submit it to me. Please mark the answers on your sheet , but when you submit it , you may do so in the following format:
1. B
2. C
etc. You will recieve a posting with the correct answers.
Fret not, Apes..they are multiple choice.

Earth Hour - 36 days and counting

2009-02-20T12:25:00.000-05:00

The activity level today was intense! Signs are going up! Contacts are being made and we are all getting excited! Keep it up! Don't let down.......

Some terms and an illustration that may help with the " Law of the Sea" concept

2009-02-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

The drawing shows where national and international waters extend. Please be aware of terms like internal waters, international waters, Exclusive Economic Zone.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place from 1973 through 1982. The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.

In the early 20th century some nations expressed their desire to extend national claims: to include mineral resources, to protect fish stocks, and to provide the means to enforce pollution controls. Using customery international law principle of a nation's right to protect its natural resources, President Truman in 1945 extended United States right control to all the natural resources of its continental shelf. Other nations were quick to follow suit. Between 1946 and 1950, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador extended their rights to a distance of 200 nautical miles to cover their Humboldt Current fishing grounds. Other nations extended their territorial seas to 12 nautical miles.
By 1967, only 25 nations still used the old 3-mile limit, while 66 nations had set a 12-mile territorial limit and eight had set a 200-mile limit. As of May 28, 2008, only two countries still use the 3-mile limit: Jordan and Palau That limit is also used in certain Australian islands, an area of Belize, some Japanese straits, certain areas of Papua New Guinea, and a few British Oversees Territories, such as Anguilla. TheUnited Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was convened in New York in 1967.

The convention introduced a number of provisions. The most significant issues covered were setting limits, navigation, archipelagic status and transit regimes, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), continental shelf jurisdiction, deep seabed mining, the exploitation regime, protection of the marine environment, scientific research, and settlement of disputes.

Internal waters: Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. The coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal waters.

Territorial waters:Out to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Vessels were given the right of "innocent passage" through any territorial waters, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as "transit passage", in that naval vessels are allowed to maintain postures that would be illegal in territorial waters. "Innocent passage" is defined by the convention as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not “prejudicial to the peace, good order or the security” of the coastal state. Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not “innocent", and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. Nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so is essential for the protection of its security.

Contiguous Zone: Beyond the 12 nautical mile limit there was a further 12 nautical miles or 24 nautical miles from the territorial sea baselines limit, the contiguous zone, in which a state could continue to enforce laws in four specific areas: pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.

EEZs: Extend 200 nautical miles from the baseline. Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources. The EEZs were introduced to halt the increasingly heated clashes over fishing rights, although oil was also becoming important. The success of an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in 1947 was soon repeated elsewhere in the world, and by 1970 it was technically feasible to operate in waters 4000 metres deep. Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and overflight, subject to the regulation of the coastal states. Foreign states may also lay submarine pipes and cables.

Continental Shelf:The continental shelf is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental margin's outer edge, or 200 nautical miles from the coastal state’s baseline, whichever is greater. State’s continental shelf may exceed 200 nautical miles until the natural prolongation ends. However, it may never exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline.

Tragedy of the Commons? Really now, says who?

2009-02-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

Read the article and the rebuttal by Wednesday.......be ready to discuss. We will be playing a tragedy game with food...so be ready......if you can't discuss, you can't eat!

The Lights of the Cities Go Dark.....How serious are you?

2009-02-11T19:02:00.000-05:00

http://www.earthhourus.org/

Let's get involved!!

Rubber Duckie, you're the one.......

2009-02-10T11:21:00.000-05:00

One of the topics covered in your current set of chapters deals with currents. We will be doing an activity based on this " spill" in class. Please familiarize yourself with the incident and then comment.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0731/p01s04-woeu.html

NEW PROFILE PICTURES!!!!!!

2009-02-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

Hey!!!! I think it would be a smashing idea if everyone changed their profile picture to an ape picture that reflects his or her personality. I already changed mine...Editorial rights permit me not to say who I stole the idea from, but if you APES are as smart as I know you are....it will be easy to see who already is in ape fromat.....can't wait to see what you all look like!!!!!!!

The Iceman says more than originally thought....

2009-02-08T20:19:00.000-05:00

The Iceman cometh? No, according to DNA, he went......the last of his kind.

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,445385,00.html

APES in films and other endeavors

2009-02-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

The following question has been posted in an effort to focus the content of the potential LHS Movie entitled " The Inconvenient Freezer". Your input is extremely important so please take the time to think about your responses, comments and other input.

1.What do you think should be the main theme of the " Inconvenient Freezer" ?

2.What aspects of climate change should be addressed, especially those which you think are a common misconception?

3.What powerful ways do you see being utilized to illustrate these points in the movie?

Reading Assignment

2009-02-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

Read chapters 4-6 by Friday 13 February.
Question list to follow...

If you run across something that totally puzzles you, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me by email or bring the question up in class.

APES get to pondering as all good APES do...

2009-02-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

One of your classmates would like comments and discussion on the following statement:

Why does it seem that nobody talks about global warming in the winter , but they go crazy with the topic in the summer?

Assignment : Bats dying? So what? Big Deal?

2009-02-04T16:28:00.002-05:00

How do you think this will impact us? Will it impact us? Will it impact our bat populations?

Assignment - Great Barrier Reef dying?

2009-02-01T18:43:00.000-05:00

In 2006, when I was snorkling the Great Barrier Reef, I was dismayed to see something that was so far from the beautiful pictures on the Discovery Channel. I know that I looked stunned because our guide asked me if I was ok. I started to ask him questions about the reef and the life or lack of life on it and he quickly clammed up.
There were no massive schools of exotic, brightly colored fish - there were tons of needle fish! We had to really, really hunt for the little clown fish and the corals had taken on a sort of ashy hue. It made me hurt inside......Read the article and then comment.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,475068,00.html?sPage=fnc/scitech/naturalscience

Chapters 1-3 questions

2009-01-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

The following are the questions from each chapter that you are responsible for by 6 Feb ( that is next Friday). Please remember to save them as a word document and send them to me as an email attachment to lhs.apes@gmail.com .

Chapter 1: Review questions: 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18 , 22
Critical thinking : 3 & 9

Chapter 2: Review questions: 7, 13, 16, 18
Critical thinking: 4, 5, 7

Chapter 3 : Review Questions: 2,7, 9, 10 ,27, 29, 30
Critical thinking: 4,5 , 9, 11

Remember these are due Friday 6 Feb 2009 by class time.

New Gorilla babies! Good news or is it?

2009-01-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,483374,00.html

check out the good news......or is it? Read on and comment.

Toxic Waste disposal....assignment # 2

2009-01-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

According to your article, "Why Not Dispose of Waste in Ocean Trenches?", it would be disasterous to dispose of nuclear material in trenches; but according to the authors , it is not feasible to send it to space and not desirable to plant it under Yucca Mountain, Nevada. You are head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Since you can't please everyone all the time and few people most of the time, what is your solution to the disposal of our toxic waste , which remains dangerous for thousands of years?

Please post all replies on the blog site.

Powerpoints for Chapters 1-3

2009-01-27T12:43:00.000-05:00

If you would like a copy of several different versions of the powerpoints for the first three chapters, email me at lhs.apes@gmail.com.
I have also posted the links to the Meatrix and Store Wars on the blog as well.

Assigment 1 due by 6 Feb. ( Friday)

2009-01-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

Once you get your books:

Read Chapters 1-3 making sure that you read the sections in blue at the start of each chapter, carefully, the connections boxes and the guest essays.
If you are unfamiliar with a bold faced word, you may want to look it up. I will not be assigning vocabulary per se .
Each chapter will have selected questions to accompany it. I will post those in a day or so.
http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&discipline_number=22&product_isbn_issn=0534397980 link to the website for your book

Welcome to the next step before the next step....

2009-01-16T07:13:00.000-05:00

Hi Apes!

This is your forum to write comments and reply to those comments. I expect an on going exchange of ideas and opinions throughout the course of the semester. You may also use this blog to ask each other class related questions ( ex: you do not understand the basics of a concept we are discussing or you are missing an assignment). I will try to get all assignments posted so that if you do miss class, you can stay current.

This will be a graded part of your classwork. Please do not ignore, misuse or abuse it. I am looking forward to reading all of your deepest thoughts!!!

Enjoy the rest of your mini - vacation.

Mrs. B

LHS APES

blog check

A new beginning ......................

World population set to hit 7 billion mark

FYI Blogging Evaluation Form

Whaling International issues

testing out the newest apes!

Green President links

Case Studies for Unit 2 and 3

Unit 1 case study links

Lunar Colony?

Starting the New Year off right

The Great Debate in Midasville

Volcano impacts environment?

Mining readings

Wanted posters

Comment on this quote

Articles for Ebola assignment

Study Guide Posted!

Federal Laws

Partial Vocabulary list

Biofuels: Pros and Cons

Green Roof

*****NEW ******** PLEASE NOTE

Green Buildings.....follow up to to 11th hour concept

Makah Whaling Debate

Contradiction or not?

Global Warming From Carbon Dioxide Will Increase Five-fold Over The Next Millennium, Scientists Predict

11th hour

Green Goo........What do you think?

Rip Van Winkle effect

New thread just because you asked!

Smallville Prairie groups...just in case you forget

Law :Upcoming bottle ban aims to increase recycling. Throwing soda bottles in trash will soon be illegal

Geoengineering's effect on Climate change

Gorilla pictures

Interesting articles about the most influential animal on Earth

New Gadgets!!

Posting information

Welcome to the next step before the next step.....

Nat Geo contest

Easter Island Readings

wasterwater treatment animation

Q& A about swine flu

some extra online study sites

Newest List of 10 most endangered rivers

Geoengineering to fix the Earth? Don't know about you all, but after reading this article I am a bit concerned...

Red Sox and others led the way to " green" stadiums

EPA adds to Superfund priority sites

tomato activity......starting Monday 20 April 2009

What is an Ice Age?

Tomatosphere

NEW Projects

Earth Hour Sucesses.....

Fair warning for your chapter to write questions on/for...

request from Sarah

Earth Science powerpoints

Ha! Ha! to my professor...............

Charts to remind you of the cycles

Vocabulary for the ocean current studies

GLOBE AT NIGHT!!! Don't Forget

Assignment

Newest of the new!!

Newsest UPDATE!!!!!

APES can swim!!! Well some of them got a little cold.

Earth Hour update!!

some thoughts on coral reproduction for those a little unsure..

MOVIE MAKERS - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Coral and the oceans

The Great APES Earth Hour Team......

Oh Boy! New fun stuff!!!! 16 March - 28 March

clueless

Tragedy question....let's get some good comments on the last two posts I have made.....

Thomas Malthus theory on population - does it differ from Hardin's ideas?

Readings......

Earth Hour - 36 days and counting

Some terms and an illustration that may help with the " Law of the Sea" concept

Tragedy of the Commons? Really now, says who?

The Lights of the Cities Go Dark.....How serious are you?

Rubber Duckie, you're the one.......

*NEW **** PLEASE NOTE