Altered Foods

I want to start my research by first explaining what is "altered foods." According to Rick Chames, from Earthsave Boston, "Approximately 50% of all the soy and 38% of the corn acreage planted in the US this year is genetically altered. In addition, much of the canola oil in the US market is from genetically altered plants. Given the prevalence of these products in processed foods, unless you are eating all organically grown food chances are you're already consuming some of this food without knowing it. It remains unlabeled and typically not segregated from non-altered food, so if you are consuming vegetarian products containing any of these ingredients not labeled as organically grown, it is more than likely that some of what you are eating is genetically altered.
There are two common forms of genetic alteration of foodcrops. In the first, used frequently with soy, the plant is modified in order to be resistant to the Monsanto herbicide RoundupTM so that farmers can apply it to kill weeds without killing the young soy seedling. In the second, often used with corn, the plant is modified to contain within its genetic structure a pesticide called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
We are told that these genetic modifications are made in order to reduce the amount of chemicals applied externally. Yet, in part because of the increasing resistance to these chemicals by pests, all indications so far are that these genetic modifications may in fact be leading to their increased use.3
Contrary to its proponents' sweet-sounding words, genetic engineering is a form of plant breeding radically different from anything that humans have ever practiced in our history.4 All prior forms of plant breeding have relied on the plant's natural mechanisms of reproduction. Only related species can be bred together in this fashion. With genetic engineering, however, genes from one species are synthetically inserted into a different species with which it could never breed in nature. Furthermore, traditional breeding always takes place on the species level, whereas genetic alteration is done at the level of the gene.
In order for this to happen, the natural species barriers of the recipient plant are deliberately overcome and broken down. This process is typically affected by a virus that acts as a 'vector' to overcome the plant's normal protective mechanisms and insert the new genes into the recipient, and then as a 'promoter' in order to turn on the functionality of these new genes in the recipient plant. This process is called 'gene expression." (http://www.earthsave.org/ge.htm)

As a society it's very important that we watch what we consume each day. It is my opinion that because of the food that is being altered we find so many people getting sick. I think all these chemicals that are being used are making us sick, giving us cancer, and other diseases.

Environmental Ethics

(picture from www.peterkuper.com)

Environmental ethics is a branch of philosophy that considers the moral relations between human beings and their natural environment. As a field of study, it assumes that humans have certain responsibilities to the natural world, and it seeks to help people and their leaders become aware of them and to act responsibly when they do things that impact the natural world.

Most people recognize that some agreed-upon guidelines or general rules should exist between individuals when they interact with one another because if they did not, nothing in our lives would be predictable or safe. In other words, people need to know that besides actual laws, there are some basic, common ethics or principles of what is right and what is wrong that everyone agrees upon and usually follows or lives by. Ethics is sometimes called moral philosophy because it is concerned with what is morally good and bad or what is right and wrong. As a specialized part of ethics, environmental ethics is concerned with the morality (right and wrong) of human actions as they affect the environment or the natural world we live in. (www.scienceclafified.com)

Since we enjoy the rights to breathe fresh air, play in the sun, live among a vast variety of plant and wildlife, then shouldn’t our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their grandchildren, also have the chance to enjoy those same rights? My answer to that question is yes they do! We owe that to them so we all have to take a stand for our values, morals, ethics and actions regarding the preservation of a healthy and rich natural environment.

Endangered Animals of Colombia

Species: The following list includes all mammals which occur in Colombia and are rated as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.
Critically Endangered:
Gorgas's Rice Rat (Oryzomys gorgasi). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Handley's Slender Mouse Opossum (Marmosops handleyi). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Endangered:
Colombian Weasel (Mustela felipei).
Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Dryland Mouse Opossum (Marmosa xerophila).
Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus).
Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque).
Pacarana (Dinomys branickii).
Variegated Spider Monkey (Ateles hybridus). (Recognized as a subspecies, Ateles belzebuth hybridus, in 1996.)
Vulnerable:
Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis).
American Manatee (Trichechus manatus).
Boto (Amazon River Dolphin) (Inia geoffrensis).
Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine (Sphiggurus vestitus).
Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus).
Carriker's Round-eared Bat (Tonatia carrikeri).
Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii).
Central American Woolly Opossum (Caluromys derbianus).
Choco Broad-nosed Bat (Platyrrhinus chocoensis). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Colombian Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lugens). (Recognized as a subspecies, Lagothrix lagotricha lugens, in 1996.)
Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).
Goeldi's Marmoset (Callimico goeldii).
Greater Ghost Bat (Diclidurus ingens).
Greater Long-tailed Bat (Choeroniscus periosus).
Handley's Nectar Bat (Lonchophylla handleyi).
Least Big-eared Bat (Micronycteris pusilla).
Lemurine Night Monkey (Aotus lemurinus).
Long-haired Spider Monkey (Ateles belzebuth).
Marinkelle's Sword-nosed Bat (Lonchorhina marinkellei). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Medem's Collared Titi (Callicebus medemi). (Previously recognized as a subspecies, Callicebus torquatus medemi.)
Ornate Titi Monkey (Callicebus ornatus). (Recognized as a subspecies, Callicebus cupreus ornatus, in 1996.)
Red Crested Tree Rat (Diplomys rufodorsalis). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Red Uakari (Cacajao calvus).
Southern Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris curasoae).
Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus).
Sperm Whale (Physeter catodon).
White-footed Tamarin (Saguinus leucopus). (Endemic to Colombia.)
Other:
Red Uakari (Cacajao calvus). Rated Vulnerable in the 2002 Red List; rated Lower Risk: Near Threatened in the 2003 Red List.)

(for more information, please view www.animalinfo.org)

(picture from www.euro-map.org/south-america/colombia-map.htm)

Colombia is a country of contrasts. From snowy white peaks to brilliant coral reefs, Colombia has an extraordinary array of biological diversity, climates, cultures and people. Roughly 10% of all the Earth’s living species are found here, and Colombia ranks number one in the world in terms of bird, amphibian and butterfly species. More than 90 different indigenous communities live in Colombia from Wayuu people who live in the desert of La Guajira to the Cofán Pueblo in the foothills of Amazonia.
Colombia’s biological diversity is due to its privileged geographical position. The country is located in northern South America and is the only South American country with shores on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The Andes mountain range runs north to south and divides the country into several regions: the tropical Andes, Caribbean, Llanos grasslands, and Amazonia. Each region has particular characteristics that have allowed for the proliferation of unique species that are found nowhere else on Earth. The Conservancy and its partners have projects in each region that help to ensure the effective conservation of Colombia’s amazing biological richness.
The Conservancy collaborates closely with numerous entities that include governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, research institutes and multilateral agencies to support strategies such as the creation of new public protected areas, strengthening of conservation in private lands, establishment of alliances with indigenous communities and community groups, and the integration of biodiversity conservation into national and local development policies and regulations. One recent accomplishment was the creation of a Debt for Nature Swap to re-direct $10 million of Colombian debt towards protected area conservation.

Did you know?

• Colombia has more vertebrate species than any other country on Earth. Colombia is estimated to have more than 3,300 vertebrate species. • Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the tallest coastal mountain in the world. There are just 26 km from its snowy peaks to the Caribbean Sea • Colombia has more than 1,762 bird species that represent around 19% of all birds on Earth. • The country has five major habitat types in its territory: moist tropical forests, dry tropical forests, tropical grasslands, mountain grasslands and deserts and scrublands.

(information from www.nature.org)

Endangered Animals in Florida

(For more information, please view www.endangeredspecie.com)

Alligator, American ( Alligator mississippiensis)
Bankclimber, purple ( Elliptoideus sloatianus)
Bat, gray ( Myotis grisescens)
Butterfly, Schaus swallowtail ( Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus)
Caracara, Audubon's crested (FL pop.) ( Polyborus plancus audubonii)
Crane, whooping [XN] ( Grus americana)
Crocodile, American ( Crocodylus acutus)
Darter, Okaloosa ( Etheostoma okaloosae)
Deer, Key ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium)
Eagle, bald (lower 48 States) ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Jay, Florida scrub ( Aphelocoma coerulescens)
Kite, Everglade snail (FL pop.) ( Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)
Manatee, West Indian ( Trichechus manatus)
Moccasinshell, Gulf ( Medionidus penicillatus)
Moccasinshell, Ochlockonee ( Medionidus simpsonianus)
Mouse, Anastasia Island beach ( Peromyscus polionotus phasma)
Mouse, Choctawhatchee beach ( Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)
Mouse, Key Largo cotton ( Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)
Mouse, Perdido Key beach ( Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
Mouse, southeastern beach ( Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)
Mouse, St. Andrew beach ( Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)
Panther, Florida ( Puma concolor coryi)
Pigtoe, oval ( Pleurobema pyriforme)
Plover, piping (except Great Lakes watershed) ( Charadrius melodus)
Pocketbook, shinyrayed ( Lampsilis subangulata)
Puma (FL) ( Puma concolor)
Rabbit, Lower Keys marsh ( Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)
Rice rat (lower FL Keys) ( Oryzomys palustris natator)
Salamander, flatwoods ( Ambystoma cingulatum)
Sea turtle, green (FL, Mexico nesting pops.) ( Chelonia mydas)
Sea turtle, green (except where endangered) ( Chelonia mydas)
Sea turtle, hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata)
Sea turtle, Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii)
Sea turtle, leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea)
Sea turtle, loggerhead ( Caretta caretta)
Seal, Caribbean monk ( Monachus tropicalis)
Shrimp, Squirrel Chimney Cave ( Palaemonetes cummingi)
Skink, bluetail mole ( Eumeces egregius lividus)
Skink, sand ( Neoseps reynoldsi)
Slabshell, Chipola ( Elliptio chipolaensis)
Snail, Stock Island tree ( Orthalicus reses)
Snake, Atlantic salt marsh ( Nerodia clarkii taeniata)
Snake, eastern indigo ( Drymarchon corais couperi)
Sparrow, Cape Sable seaside ( Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)
Sparrow, Florida grasshopper ( Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)
Stork, wood (AL, FL, GA, SC) ( Mycteria americana)
Sturgeon, Gulf ( Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)
Sturgeon, shortnose ( Acipenser brevirostrum)
Tern, roseate (Western Hemisphere except NE U.S.) ( Sterna dougallii dougallii)
Three-ridge, fat ( Amblema neislerii)
Vole, Florida salt marsh ( Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)
Whale, finback ( Balaenoptera physalus)
Whale, humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae)
Whale, right ( Balaena glacialis)
Woodpecker, red-cockaded ( Picoides borealis)
Woodrat, Key Largo ( Neotoma floridana smalli)

Carbon Cycle Diagram

(picture from WWW. users.rcn.com)

According to Woods Hole Research, carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), is the major greenhouse gas released to the atmosphere as a result of human activities. The continued release of greenhouse gases is raising the temperature of the earth, disrupting the climates we and our agricultural systems depend on, and raising sea-level. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has already increased by about 30% since the start of the industrial revolution sometime around the middle of the 19th century and will continue to increase unless societies choose to change their ways.
Most of the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations came from and will continue to come from the use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, but about 25% of the increase over the last 150 years came from changes in land use, for example, the clearing of forests and the cultivation of soils for food production.

Natural Resources Defense Counsel

(Picture from www.Globalsolarproject.org)



I would join the Natural Resources Defence Counsel because i believe they fight for a great cause. It is very important for me to fight for our environment problems and try to protect it from destruction. I know that i can't do this alone but i know i can be part of a great cause.

One of my main concerns is global warming. The earth is getting warmer the changes are small, so far, but they are expected to grow and speed up. Within the next 50 to 100 years, the earth will continue to heat up hotter than it has been in the past million years. As oceans warm and glaciers melt, land and cities along coasts may be flooded. Heat and drought may cause forests to die and food crops to fail. Global warming will effect weather everywhere, plants and animals everywhere and people everywhere. Humans are warming the earth's atmosphere by burning fuels, cutting down forests, and by taking part in other activities that release certain heat- trapping gasses into the air. Humans all over the world need to get together and solve these problems and that is why organizations like this one help with said problems.