links

Global Warming
http://timeforchange.org/pros-and-cons-of-global-warming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_global_warming/
http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2009/07/shading-the-earth.html
http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=285

Genetically Modified Foods – Pros and Cons
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312650/food.htm
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/jaeger/genetically_modified_foods.htm
http://organic.lovetoknow.com/natural-organic-food/genetically-modified-food-pros-cons
http://hubpages.com/hub/Genetically-Modified-Foods-Pros-and-Cons
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

Anthropogenic Kryptonite: It’s killing usForest Deforestation
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/Frames/pollution-health-effects-f.html
http://www.nrdc.org/
http://www.mnforsustain.org/climate_health_effects_of_air_pollution_mishra_pern.htm
http://www.cleanairtrust.org/ozone.html
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/health.htm
http://www.green-networld.com/facts/pollution.htm

Forest Deforestation
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/023673_Amazon_rainforest.htm
http://edu.udym.com/pros-and-cons-of-deforestation/

Meat Consumption
http://godsdirectcontact.us/com/vegetarian/alternativeliving/cost_of_meat/english.htm
http://www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm
http://www.ers.usda.gov/news/BSECoverage.htm
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/321/1/Meat-consumption-statistics.html
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/worldwfood8.htm

Habitat Loss
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Habitat-Loss.aspx
http://www.howard.k12.md.us/res/habitat/habitatloss.html
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/problems/habitat_loss_degradation/
http://amphibiaweb.org/declines/HabFrag.html

Nuclear Power Plants
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/nuclear.htm
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136288669/a-nuclear-powered-world
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power5.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/15/the-case-for-and-against-_n_781567.html#s178811&title=Con_Its_Safety

Hydro Power Plants: Friend or Foe
http://drake.marin.k12.ca.us/stuwork/rockwater/Upload%20this%20doc--dams%20and%20hydropower%20report/pros%20and%20cons.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hydropower-pros-and-cons.html
http://www.edubook.com/hydropower-pros-and-cons/15441/
http://www.energy-consumers-edge.com/hydropower_dams_pros_and_cons.html
http://www.bionomicfuel.com/pros-and-cons-of-hydropower/

Biodiversity
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/global-biodiversity-outlook/l-3/1-biodiversity-loss.htm#0p0
http://www.acoolerclimate.com/effects-of-global-warming/
http://www.globalissues.org/article/171/loss-of-biodiversity-and-extinctions#MassiveExtinctionsFromHumanActivity

Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2010/02/26/environment-weighs-up-pros-and-cons-of-biodiversity-commitment/
http://www.api.org/ehs/partnerships/environmental/conserv-wildlife.cfm
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/
http://www.globalissues.org/article/177/nature-and-animal-conservation
http://www.wcs.org/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6783/full/405208a0.html

Renewable energy against non-renewable energy

On the top of environmental issues in this country is energy. Where our energy comes from is dilemma. 88% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuel energy such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Oil alone makes up about 41% of fossil fuel usage, while counts for 24% and natural gas with 21%. Fossil fuel is the primary use to make energy simply because it’s generally cheaper, where renewable energies are more expensive. The problem with the use of fossil fuels is the carbon dioxide emission, which is the major contribution to global warming and the overall climate change. The reason to why it is now the modern world’s problem is due to the birth of the industrial age. Up until then, the carbon emission was insignificant, and after the industrial age, the carbon dioxide emission headed to a j curve, a massive increase. Even now, the industrial process grows, almost or even at its peak, and there’s still an increase of carbon dioxide with no signs of decrease. Along with that issue, fossil fuels are not renewable, meaning there’s a limited amount of supply, and it will be gone in the near future. Fossil fuels are estimated to last 250-300 years from now, and it last only that due to the abundant supplies of coal. Oil, where we get 41% of our energy from, is only estimated to last about only 30 years, so expect an enormous amount of increase in gas prices in 2040. It is mandatory to come up with a solution to fill in that 41% less energy gap. Humans now have to come up with new ideas for energy to replace it, but this time not only renewable, but also sustainable and have little to no negative impact on the environment, in the time frame of about 30 years. This means a large scale transition to green energy, or renewable energy. There is certainly usage of renewable energies today, but it’s just that there hasn’t been a large scale movement towards it, due to high investment to run it. The renewable energies are wind power, biomass, hydropower, solar energy, biofuel and geothermal energy. But the best bet is to turn to solar energy, due to its potential energy being very high. Using the sun as energy, it is considered an unlimited source of energy due to the fact that the sun will last for at least another 4 billion years. There is also are no drawbacks and negative environmental impact by converting to solar energy use, making it truly the best green energy out of many options. Non-renewable energies such as fossil fuels are cheap, but aren’t sustainable and renewable to be used for a primary source of energy. While renewable are the opposites, their prices could be more affordable for everyone if there is enough support or movement toward it.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, have an important role to play ecosystems can better can withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. And so y. for example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters. And so while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife. The variety of life on earth, its biological diversity is often referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests, and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth. Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach to preserving biodiversity. Almost all cultures have their roots in our biological diversity in some way or form. Declining biodiversity is therefore a concern for many reasons.
Extinction has always occurred natural. Almost all species that have lived on Earth have become extinct. Perhaps they could not cope with changes occurring in the environment, such as climate changes, the intensity of predation or disease. The extinction of any species is an irrevocable loss of part of the part of the biological richness of Earth, the only place in the universe known to support living creatures. Humans have been responsible for almost all of Earth’s recent extinctions. These extinctions are occurring so quickly that they represent a modern mass extinction of similar intensity to those documented in the geological record. Examples of recent extinctions caused by humans include such well-known cases as the dodo, passenger pigeon and great auk. Many other high-profile species have been taken to the brink of extinction, including the plains bison, whooping crane, ivory billed woodpecker, right whale and other marine animals. These losses have been caused by insatiable overhunting and intense disturbing or conversion of natural habitats.
Extinction and biodiversity can greatly impact the environment, specifically the ecosystems that are balanced by its species and animals, for example ecosystems are designed to sustain a certain type of animals/species, and they both have an essential role in the system such as the food web chain. They both keep the ecosystem and the environment in balance.

But how does Extinction affect the environment?
When an animal becomes extinct, their relationship with other organisms or animals might cause them to become extinct as well due to the relationship destruction. Foods or areas may also be exploited by other animals or organisms in the area.
Humans rely on a host of invisible services that ecosystems provide. For example, they provide foods, medicines, and energy. They also regulate nutrient and waste, lock up carbon, they maintain clean air and water, crop pollination, seed dispersal, pest and disease control, they preserve genetic diversity and provide recreation for us all. It is the biodiversity on Earth that allows (at the moment) for animals, plants, and humans to share the planet- if one species is destroyed, several, maybe hundreds more, may follow. Biodiversity is important because certain animals have economic and life values (such as rainforests’ plants being made for into medicine), they have value to the ecosystem (think of their spot on the food web), and they are a source of natural beauty and recreation.
Ecosystem Disruption caused by the loss of biodiversity in an ecosystem can also cause environmental changes. Loss of one species may cause a chain reaction, resulting in a change in the ecosystem itself. Once the organism is gone, their role cannot be taken by any other organism because that species had evolved to be in that specific role in the environment. As we do not always know what specific role specific organisms play to its environment, we cannot predict how the ecosystem will be affected if that species was to be extinct. The whole ecosystem may be weakened by the process of extinction. Overall, these two factors are very important to consider when it comes down to a sustainable environment. Though the loss of biodiversity and extinctions are similar, both can have a catastrophic impact on the ecosystems which can effect humans in the end.