Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
“You see that pale blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to seize this issue, it is our time to rise again to secure our future” (Al Gore, 2006).
There is no better time to celebrate the Earth than on Earth Day, which takes place on Wednesday, April 22. Every day, everything we do has an impact on the Earth. For the most part, it is a negative impact. On Saturday, April 4, 2009, according to CBC news, satellite images from the European Space Agency show that a 40-kilometre-long ice bridge connecting a vast Antarctic ice shelf to two islands shattered at its narrowest point. Scientists believe this occurrence is due to climate change.
Climate change is a natural occurrence and has been happening for as long as scientists can measure. But leading scientists and global warming propagandists, such as Al Gore and Dr. David Suzuki, have shown that it is occurring much more rapidly than what is natural and that we are the cause. The human race has sped up the process due to our mindless travels, our power plants, mining, deforestation, and our overall senseless behaviou
r resulting in too much pollution.
On March 11, 2009, approximately 42.5 tonnes of heavy fuel oil was spilled into the ocean and washed up onto Australian’s beaches. This happened after a Britain’s Swire Shipping Ltd. fuel tank was damaged when a container aboard the ship had slipped from the deck during a cyclone. The spill caused extensive environmental damage and the annihilation of birds and sea life.
Occurrences such as these are not rare, and happen in less extensive forms every day. On March 28, Earth Hour 2009 passed us by and with Earth Day coming up in April, there isn’t a better time to change our ways. Yes, there are many people that do not believe in global warming, but what about those who do? Every day is a fine day to make a difference, but for Earth Day 2009, why not take that extra step forward. There are so many effortless and insignificant things that we can do to help our planet that would have an overall huge impact: recycling to reduce waste, weather-proofing our homes to conserve energy, carpooling when possible and buying locally to help reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our overall energy consumption and most importantly, educating ourselves about what is occurring in our world and what we can do to help it.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
— Mahatma Gandhi
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Rrroll Up the Rrrim and... Litter.
It's morning. You are on your way out the door, ready to greet a new day. You rub your temple, anxious for that first serge of caffeine. You line up, and at last, the warmth touches your lips. And before you know it, it is running through your veins.
Suddenly, it's over. There is nothing left. You walk over to the trash and toss out that oh-so-familiar-browny-redish-Horton's cup. You walk away. And don't ever think twice about it.
Really what you have done, is not only complete your daily, thoughtless morning routine, but support the termination of trees for pulp, and the pollution-belching trucks that carry the infectious cups to their final destination-- a landfill site, where they rot and create even more greenhouse gases.
For this year's Roll Up the Rim to Win alone... 270 000 000 cups were printed. And where do they all go? Into the trash. Into landfills. Into the ocean. Contaminating the only home we've got. Do any of us really care? A few, sure, but it's not enough.
And it's not like Timmies, or anybody else for that matter, is trying to do anything about the situation. Sure our city's street gutters are filled with cups. Our garbages. Our parks. Our shorelines. But it's not just about the pollution. It's the waste. Millions and millions of cups wasted. Paper and plastic. Polluting our earth-- land, air, and water.
So until anybody really decides to stand up and do something about this, those of us that care are just going to have to keep our travel mugs handy and pocket our 10 cents.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A Forest Not Meant To Be Found: Mount Mabu, Mozambique, Africa
In the year of 2005, scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also known as RBG Kew, discovered a rainforest in northern Mozambique in Africa on the top of Mount Mabu. In the fall of 2008 an expedition of 28 scientist from the U.K., Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Switzerland had been organized. Jonathan Timberlake, a scientist from England led the expedition. They found approximately 7,000 hectares of untouched forest filled with rich biodiversity.
Sure, this may sound exciting... But as an environmentalist who is very concerned for our remaining forests I feel very disappointed. I think that it is wonderful that many new species have been found but I am certain that it won't be long until they are destroyed. And this makes me feel incredibly sad.
The team discovered thousands of different tropical plants, two hundred types of butterflies, birds, monkeys, and a species of giant snake.
The team collected samples and is still currently analyzing them in Britain.
I find this all very fascinating but I hope more than anything that we will learn from our mistakes in the past and protect this precious land.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Kenny Glenn- A Child Who Deserves To Suffer
As I signed onto my facebook this morning I expected to see nothing more than a few wall posts. Instead, my friend had sent me a link to join a group called "Avenge 'Dusty' (The Cat Abused by Kenny Glenn on YouTube)". I had never heard of this occurrence on YouTube and clicked on the video link on the group's page before I accepted the invitation to join. Within ten seconds I had to look away in disgust as my eye's filled with tears. This is a video of a 14 year old boy violently abusing a helpless cat.
YouTube has removed the videos from the site and has suspended Kenny Glenn's account. Unfortunately, the video had been viewed 30, 000 times before it was removed from the site. Edited versions of the video are now being shown on protest sites and on news stations across the globe.
With doing little research I have learned that Kenny Glenn and his brother, the camera man, have been identified. The boys were taken into police custody but have been released to their parents. They will not be meeting the DA until Tuesday March 3, 2009.
Many people, myself included, are hoping that these children will be locked away. Unfortunately, since they are minors, this will not happen. I hope more than anything that they will be taught a lesson. I cannot say how sad I feel for that poor cat or how disgusted I am in these monstrous kids.
Hundreds of people have been blogging about this case and all feel that these brothers could be a potential threat to society. As it turns out, most reported cases of serial killers have evidence of cruelty to animals and the abuse of small creatures. I feel that drastic measures should be taken to prevent this from happening. I don't see how these kids could possibly end up not becoming serial killers if something isn't done to stop this. Both of these boys obviously have something seriously wrong with them and something needs to be done.
I believe that the world would be a better place if they did not exist. I hope that they both get what they deserve.
If you wish to help, please sign this petition provided below:
To learn more please check out and join the facebook group by clicking on the link below:
The video (CAUTION):
MORE INFORMATION:
Friday, December 5, 2008
Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight.
With one week until the Christmas holidays it is only expected for one to become excited. The past few years, although they were the happiest years of my life, I found that I was a bit of a Grinch. It bothered me how big Christmas was. I disliked the fact that it was all anybody talked about and that you simply could not escape it. Everywhere you turned there were either big red ribbons, seasons greetings, or trees decorated with colourful lights. If anybody were to say anything about the holidays I just rolled my eyes at them. I am hoping this year will be different. Surprisingly, there are many things I enjoy about the holidays. For an example, I absolutely can’t contain myself when I walk into Starbucks for the first time once they have decorated for Christmas. I love that the menu changes and that the cups turn red. I love the bundled up couples who are trying to get warm after their walks downtown. I love the festival of lights along the water front of my hometown. I love the excuse for baking obscene amounts of cookies that the holiday provides for me. I love the smiles I get when I give them away. I love spending time thinking of the perfect gifts for my friends and loved ones. I love seeing there faces when they open whatever it is. I love the moment on Christmas morning when my mom finally goes to open my card and everyone says “get the tissues!” I love the way my house smells like cinnamon apples. I love the way people are more kind around the holiday season, more giving, and more forgiving. I love the way the holidays gives me a way to reach out to those I’ve lost, and long for. Most importantly I love spending time with my family, and the fact that we do everything the same, year after year. Every year we have the exact same breakfast and the exact same dinner, together. This year I will not be a Grinch. I will not wish for something I did not receive. I will not mourn for those who are no longer with me, and wish to spend the holidays with. I will think of all the things that I love about the holidays, that I never thought I did.
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.
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