One Life. Live It.

No, I'm not advertising for M1. I'm saying, you've got only one life. Live it. It's really a great motto that I think everybody should follow. Isn't it true? Don't you agree with me?
In this one life that you have, that you're living right now, you've got to really live. Do what you should do, because it's the right thing to do.
Have you noticed something with recent blog posts? That we aren't providing as much information about saving the Earth in them now as we are trying to convince you to try? Huh? It's not because we're lazy to provide you information. It's because we know that unless people start listening (or, in this case, reading) we aren't going to make a difference by telling you how to do it. What's the use of knowledge that goes unused?

Just one extra tip that I'll squeeze in here: ours is not the only site you can find 'Save The Earth' messages on. It's not the only place you'll see where people are trying to get the message across the public. There are so many different organizations and big companies out there who are doing something like this for a good cause: our home.
Look out for these places and actually go there. Or, if you're all THAT lazy, you can always simply take note of how many people are saying the same thing as we are. Now, I say 'how many people' a lot, don't I? Well, see here, there's a problem. Do you know what it is?

It's that there aren't enough people trying.

Some things just CAN'T be ignored.....

Namely, the creatures of this earth. Yes, that includes you, your friends, your family...etc. What I'm saying is, how can you be so heartless? Ok, maybe not you, but humans in general. How can humans know that the earth with all its beautiful creatures is slowly being destroyed and not do anything to help? But instead worsen the problem? If you're one of those such people, I'm personally ashamed that you and I are of the same species and hope that you feel terribly guilty. Change your ways now!
Or perhaps you're one of those people who say "Yeah! Save the earth! Go green!" but don't mean it? One of those people who, in a moment of comfort and luxury, forget their promise. Once again, I'm ashamed to be of your species. Please, mean what you say. Don't get our hopes up only to let them come crashing down.
Its not too late if we ALL work together and do our part.

Now, this may seem odd, but I'm going to quote something I heard on the radio:
We've all got 1 life.
What are you doing with yours?


Take a good long look at the following photos.





What have you done?
What are you doing?
What are you gonna do?

Sharing the same Home

If one of your family members, someone who lived with you, shared the same home as you were dying, would you bother to try to save him or her? Of course you would. But if that home happened to mean the entire planet, and that someone living with you were an animal, would your answer be the same?

Come to think of it, the Earth is our home, and we are living with the animals, sharing the same home as them. So why has it been forced into most human minds that the Earth belongs to humans and the animals are simply borrowing it from us? Some animals existed even before the human population came about! So why such selfishness?

Whatever it is, it has to stop now. We have to save endangered animals from extinction and other animals from endangerment itself!

It's getting hot in here!

http://transienttravels.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/polar_meltdown_13_a_627162h.jpg

http://www.travel-images.com/russia429.jpg

http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/162/yellow-eyed-penguin_3585.jpg

With the ice melting by the second, it's no surpise that the polar bears are threatened. As Samantha has said before, the bears rely heavily on the ice for hunting and for a home. Without the ice, they have no food and no place to rest, which means they have to swim a very long distance.

So shouldn't we be doing something to this from happening anymore?

Long-Distance Swimmers

Yup, that's them. The polar bears whose homes are melting slowly now, as a result of global warming. Recently, I read an article about how polar bears are having to swim long distances just to get somewhere stable on the ice they once knew as their home. Would you like it if you had to keep moving to stay alive? No, of course you wouldn't. But then, most people, I guess wouldn't understand how it must feel to be in their shoes.
These polar bears, I imagine, having to move about so much, don't know where home is anymore. In humans, we need something stable, something constant, something reliable that we can always turn back to during troubled times. But these bears don't have that. They must be getting so confused by now. Wondering why this is happening to them for the older ones. The younger ones, some of which were born into an unstable, unpredictable world, will never know safety as their ancestors and elders did.
Just like how some of our future children will never know what glaciers look like, because maybe by the time they enter this beautiful world of ours that is being destroyed so mercilessly, all the ice and glaciers would have melted. Who knows, maybe you've never thought about all this before. So that's why I'm telling you now.

Think about it.

Cornucopias

Never seen that word before? It has a couple of meanings, one of which is 'a mix of many different things'. What does that have to do with Earth, you ask me next.
Recently, I went to a park near my house, and I saw so many healthy trees in there, helping us all to have enough oxygen to breathe. I snapped pictures - yes, that's the picture on the left of these words- because I knew that people in the world like to see something natural and intrinsic once in a while. Even the most industrious businessman will know what true Nature is when he sees it, and with the urbanization of the world these days, some/most don't take the time to take a stroll in the park to enjoy seeing all the greenery - like the scene I shot that I uploaded above.
If we don't treasure these little places on Earth and make sure that they are still in existence 50 years down the road or so...
Remember this: once they're gone, they're never coming back. What's done can't be undone, so we have to prevent it from happening.

Water

Aren't you glad that clean, fresh water is always somewhere near you, where you can easily access it? Do you ever stop to think what would happen if it weren't?
The world is using up our water resources too fast and making the rest of the water on Earth dirty. Why? We're getting a bit too luxurious in our water usage, not really limiting well.
I posted this because I feel that water conservation is something we should all be able to do easily - in fact, conservation is actually doing less, in a way. Doing less water wastage.
I'm not asking you to do something hard, like do some more. I'm asking the smallest favor possible - just reduce.
I've posted a poem below that tells us how important conserving water is. If you want to have the real version, as a picture (a little prettier - you can post it on your blog and help promote the message to conserve water - then please email the Green Team, telling us your email address. All information will be kept confidential.) Mind you, I would have posted the picture, but it took too long.
I found it one day while surfing the Internet - just read it, and you'll understand my feelings.
Sparkle in moonlight,
Dance in twilight,
Sing in the air,
Roars against it's self.
Elemental beauty that cannot compare,
And one of four on Nature's shelf.
Lawless it be.
Seeming stillness one can see,
Yet swiftly churning at light speed.
Bending light in every bead,
Laughing across horizons of sea,
Crying and breaking free.
The most important in balance,
Destructive with a vengeance.
The nectar for life,
Water...

Deforestation

Did you know that deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands?

Of course doing this will have its consequences.
It is estimated that deforestation contributes one-third of all CO2 releases caused by people.
And we all know that CO2 is the major contributor to the greenhouse effect.
The effect of deforestation could also be a drier climate.
THE BEST PART IS THAT WE CAN HELP!
The website says that we can:
-use wood sparingly
-plant indigenous trees
Here comes the info about THE CARBON CYCLE.
Forests act as a major carbon store because carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken up from the atmosphere and used to produce the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up the tree. When forests are cleared, and the trees are either burnt or rot, this carbon is released as CO2. This leads to an increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Here comes the info about THE WATER CYCLE.
Trees draw ground water up through their roots and release it into the atmosphere (transpiration). In Amazonia over half of all the water circulating through the region's ecosystem remains within the plants. With removal of part of the forest, the region cannot hold as much water. This causes a drier climate.

A tiger...a turtle.

So, what do a tiger and a turtle have in common? Take a guess. Go on. I'll give you 3 seconds.

Ok! Time's up. If your guess was that they're both reptiles, go revise your science. Seriously. If your answer is they are both carnivorous, that's even worse. Finally, if your answer was that they are both affected by global warming/climate change, then congratulations. You're on the right track mate. The correct answer is....
They are both endangered by global warming. Climate change. You get the message.
Okay, so what if tigers and turtles aren't exactly the cutest animals around? So what if they aren't even cute? (Except when they're little babies of course) But my point is, they are animals all the same. Living beings. And I believe every living thing on this earth has the right to live. Not just tigers and turtles.
So...who's with me on this one? Every creature has its rights. And we don't have the right to just cut down their forests, pollute their waters...etc. Basically I'm telling all of you people out there: Do your part to stop global warming!!! Save mother earth's animals...before its too late.

The Earth is MELTING...

Ha ha. No, I'm just kidding. the earth isn't MELTING, but with the crazy temperatures we get these days, you would think so.
However, the ice certainly is melting. Just imagine the poor creatures living in the arctic.
If global warming continues at its rapid pace, they won't have solid ground beneath their feet. Imagine if you had to keep swimming and jumping around just because there was no solid ground for you to rest. How would you feel?
Most people wouldn't think that. We just eat, sleep, watch TV...basically lead a wonderful, relaxing life. Well, the next time you do something fun/relaxing/not environmentally friendly, spare a thought for others. Meaning other species that is. Doesn't the picture of those stranded polar bears just about break your heart?

Do your part to slow down (if not stop completely) global warming!

More Than Just Climate Change

Ok everyone, listen up!
It is common knowledge now that we are slowly ruining Mother Earth. How?
Global Warming. The greenhouse effect. Us human beings producing just too much carbon dioxide.
This is causing climate change. That, as you may have guessed, is the change of climate. Of weather. More freak storms, higher temperatures..etc. But recently, I found that isn't the only effect.
Human emissions of C02 is also causing...(drumroll)...the alteration of the chemistry of the ocean-often called the cradle of life on earth. This can cause damage to marine animals, so just imagine the beauty of the oceans around the world being destroyed. Just like that. And that is inclusive of the renowned Great Barrier Reef! (And of course the others) Warmer waters are bleaching their lovely corals. Oh how can anyone even stand for this?
So, how does global warming cause ocean acidification? Well, for your information, ocean acidification is a side-effect of putting too much carbon dioxide into the skies. This gas ultimately ends up dissolved in the oceans where it forms weak carbon acid. Get it people? Still with me here? You'd better be. That's the simplest way I can put it.
Your next question may be: So how do we stop this? If you've been carefully reading the above, you'll know how. Its obvious really.
Just do your part to stop global warming!

Hurricanes, Floods, and my oh my...

Hurricanes: Also known as a tropical cyclone.

Its primary energy source is the heat that is released from condensation when water vapour consenses at high altitudes. The warmer temperatures caused by Global Warming means there is more evaporation, more condensation, and more chances of hurricanes.

Floods: A flood occurs when there is too much water, and the volume of water in lakes, rivers et cetera exceeds the capacity of the lake or river et cetera, and the water overflows and submerges land. Hurricanes or typhoons can lead to floods, and so can the increase of rainfall.

Droughts: Droughts are periods of time when an area experiences a lack of water. A drought is caused when there is a lack of water vapour in the atmosphere, or when the upward forcing of the air mass containing that water vapour is reduced. This could happen because of Global Warming.

With the advance of Global Warming, all this could happen more frequently. Who knows, maybe the sea will even rise so much that Singapore becomes a submerged island. Not a nice way to live.

This is only one of the many reasons for us to take action against Global Warming.

Reasons for Concern

Hi!
This is why you should be concerned.

Reasons for Concern

Scientists cannot tell just how warm Earth may get over time. Some guess an increase between 2.5° F and 10.4° F (1.4° C and 5.8° C) by the year 2100. Warmer weather could make glaciers and the polar ice caps melt, causing sea levels to rise drastically. Plants, animals, and buildings along coastlines all could be in danger. The warmer temperatures might be a welcome change for some people in colder regions. However, people in areas that are already warm might suffer from more heat-related health problems. Likewise, some animals may not be able to take the change to their environment.

Bye!
Afrein

Causes of Global Warming

Hi-ya!
Well, the cause for global warming is not only the greenhouse effect or us...

Causes

For much of Earth's history, greenhouse gases were not a problem. This situation changed as people came to depend on fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal). People burn fossil fuels to power factories, run cars, produce electricity, and heat houses. As fossil fuels burn, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Also, people have cut down many forests. Trees use carbon dioxide when they make their own food. Fewer trees mean that less carbon dioxide is being taken out of the atmosphere.


These are the causes of the total destruction, Global Warming.
Afrein

Greenhouse Effect

Hi guys!
I found some information about the Greenhouse Effect...Let me tell you more about it...

Greenhouse Effect

To understand global warming, it helps to first understand something called the greenhouse effect. A greenhouse is a glass house in which plants grow. The glass lets light in and at the same time keeps heat from getting out. This trapped heat keeps the plants warm even when it is cold outside.

Likewise, Earth's atmosphere traps energy from the sun. Carbon dioxide and other gases—called greenhouse gases—in the air do this trapping. Without these gases too much heat would go back into space, and living things could not survive. However, as more greenhouse gases get into the air, they also trap more heat. This leads to global warming.


Well, I hope you understand global warming now!
Bye!
Afrein

Effects

Hi everyone, Rachel here! Okay, so today I went around on Google searching for "The Effects of Global Warming", and I found a few websites, like this website, and this website, and this website. You should really go and check it out! It's really worrying to me, knowing what the world is facing.

Still, my greatest worry is not my survival, but rather, the survival of the Artic, and the artic animals. Polar bears, penguins and seals are now threatened, which means they might become endangered soon.

I advise you to try and read the information on the websites above. It really makes you open your eyes, doesn't it? It opened mine. More reason to take action against GW.

Greenhouse gases

Hiya everyone, Rachel here from The Green Team 094 HQ! I'm gonna share with you a little bit more about greenhouse gases, so everyone can understand.

What are greenhouse gases? Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. As the amount of greenhouse gases in the air increases, so does the heat (this is known as the greenhouse effect). Stated by Wikipedia,

"Greenhouse gases are essential to maintaining the temperature of the Earth; without them the planet would be so cold as to be uninhabitable. However, an excess of greenhouse gases can raise the temperature of a planet to lethal levels, as on Venus where the 96.5% carbon dioxide (CO2) 93 bar atmosphere results in surface temperatures of about 467 °C (872 °F)."

And that's why there's Global Warming (GW).

The most abundant examples of greenhouse gases are:

1. Water Vapour (causes 36% to 70% of the greenhouse effect)
2. Carbon Dioxide (causes 9% to 26%)
3. Methane (causes 4% to 9%)
4. Ozone (causes 3% to 7%)
5. Nitrous Oxide (a.k.a. Laughing Gas)
6. CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
   

As the amount of warming by CO² increases, so does the amount of water vapour. Which is why GW is accelerating so fast.

So why exactly is the amount of greenhouse gases in the air increasing?

The main carbon emission are from cars, powerplants, airplanes, deforestation and even buildings. Methane is derived from rice patties, bovine flatulence (a.k.a. *giggles* cow fart! :D) and fossil fuel production. Cited from Ecobridge,

"Nitrous oxide is naturally produced by oceans and rainforests. Man-made sources of nitrous oxide include nylon and nitric acid production, the use offertilisers in agriculture, cars with catalytic converters and the burning of organic matter. Nitrous oxide is broken down in the atmosphere by chemical reactions that involve sunlight."

The atmosphere contains about 750 billion tons of carbon, while 1020 billion tons are dissolved in the surface layers of the world's ocean. 

The whats, whys and hows of PERMAFROST

Permafrost is a solid structure of frozen soil, 2 200 feet deep in some areas of the artic and subartic regions. Permafrost is under 85% of Alaska's land surface and much of Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia and holds about 14% of the world's carbon! It has locked away many greenhouse gases for thousands of years, but now permafrost in some areas are beginning to give back carbon. This could result in the acceleration of the greenhouse effect.

Ultimately, the greenhouse effect, which causes Global Warming, is gonna kill us all if we don't try and reduce the emissions.

Turtle soup

How many of you people who read this blog have tried turtle soup/snapper soup? Come on, admit it if you have. Truth is, I am appalled that you didn't stop before bringing that spoon to your mouth to wonder, "Is what I am doing now okay? Will it have too bad an effect, make not much of a difference, or none at all?"
Actually, I would rather you did that, than thinking that but just ignoring the thought and drinking the soup anyway. That would not appall me - that would induce me to shout and scream at you, that is, if I could.
Green turtles, along with snapper turtles (used in the US) are used to make turtle soup. In many jurisdictions, turtle soup is illegal because many species are considered endangered, and so cannot legally be captured and killed. This is true. Generally, turtle populations cannot quickly recover from the loss of a breeding adult. Thus, making turtle soup could indirectly cause populations to dive below sustainable levels. Now do you understand why I seem to consider it a crime to drink turtle soup?
I once heard that once the demand stops, the killing will too. That's true of turtles.
I am fully aware of the fact that the Chinese believe that turtle soup is beneficial. But I just cannot stand the thought of people killing off innocent creatures because they believe the creature will help.
I don't have anything against eating animals - I'm not vegetarian - but I do have a problem with people eating endangered animals.

The Sixth mass extinction...

Over 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct. That was a shocker, wasn't it? It was to me too, when I first read it. Anyway, there have been five past mass extinctions, and scientists think that we are in the middle of the sixth one.
Scientists think that we are losing 30,000 species a year. That's three distinct species lost forever, every hour.
So what does this mean for Earth, and of course, the animals that live on this planet? In the next 25 years, almost a quarter of the world's mammal species, and one in eight bird species are likely to become extinct.
The last mass five extinctions were caused by major geographical events, but the cause this time round - that is, for the sixth one - is different. Just one species on Earth damaging habitats and altering the atmosphere. Makes you think, doesn't it?

How do we know global warming is caused by us?

That has got to be a question you asked at some point. Isn't it strange to you, even now, that everybody seems to assume that we cause global warming?
Here's the answer to that question:
Human greenhouse gases cause global warming. It's as simple as that. All the fumes from cars, trucks, vans, lorries, factories, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, contribute to global warming. So even if you take public transport, you contribute to global warming - though it wouldn't be as bad 'cos you're in the same vehicle as loads of other people who would otherwise be contributing fumes from each of their own cars. So that's why.

To add a funny note to this blog post, (though it's actually a rather serious problem) I'm going to talk about the danger from cows' bottoms.
Methane is increasing and it is eight times better at warming the Earth than carbon dioxide! Methane comes from rotting waste and wet paddy fields. It is also... uhh, released from both end - in huge quantities from grass-eating animals like cows. The more people there are on Earth eating meat, rice, and throwing out rubbish, the more methane is produced.
So all vegetarians, give yourselves a pat on the back for saving Earth - though the way in which you do it may be laughed at.