The Environment

Environment What is the environment? The natural environment encompasses all living & and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth 1. In your opinion, what is the importance of nature?

Questions to consider 2. What is the message of this video clip? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TartoYpK1yI 3. What do you believe is the most pressing environmental issue today?

Animal Issues 4. What is the purpose of these commercials? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrkESPFArdo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbq0lDeUd0E Are they effective? Discuss Do you think people are more or less willing to spend money to help animals vs. other important issues?

Air Issues 5. Why is air pollution such an important issue? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtAd4p22NRo Discuss – What impact did air pollution have on the 2008 Olympic Games (held in China)? 6. Which countries do you think comprise the top 10 air polluting countries? List as many as you can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAe1ALHcS7Y

Oil Spills 7.What is the impact of oil spills on animals? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWUIKmxoZ6k BP Oil Spill (1 year later) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvuzuyEKLd8 Deep Water Horizon Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39aCjvnRjEo

Climate Change 8. What is climate change? Consider DiCaprio’s documentary “Before the Flood” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoVa5M33Ljo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUJlWsw1sGU Sea Level Rising – the global sea level has risen by 8 in. since 1870 (EPA). As a result, there are 11 islands that may disappear (including Solomon Islands & Bangladesh) (optional if time permits … ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XG3T7lHhiA 9. What is the alternate perspective on climate change?

Global Warming 10. What is global warming? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs Discuss - How are politics related to global warming & different points of view? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfoRVfr6no

Presidential Policies on the Environment 11. Of the following four Presidents – Theodore Roosevelt, LBJ, Nixon, or Carter – which one do you think had the biggest impact on the environment? Justify/defend your answer.

Theodore Roosevelt John Muir & Conservation efforts of National Parks Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 Allowed the federal gov’t to create irrigation projects to make dry lands productive Yellowstone National Park (1872) Grand Canyon (1919)

LBJ’s “Great Society” Lyndon B. Johnson Wilderness Preservation Act (1964) Protected 9.1 million acres of nat’l forest from development Water Quality Act (1965) Required states to clean up rivers & lakes Clean Air Act Amendments (1965) Established exhaust emission standards for cars Air Quality Act (1967) Set guidelines on air pollution & increased federal gov’ts power to enforce clean air standards

Nixon’s Policies Silent Spring (1962) Clean Air Act (1970) Rachel Carson published; warned of the harmful effects of chemicals on the natural world Led to Earth Day demonstrations Clean Air Act (1970) Regulated levels of air pollution Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established (1970)

Carter’s Policies 3-Mile Island Love Canal, NY J. Carter Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Protected more than 100 million acres of land & doubled the size of the nation’s park & wildlife refuge system 3-Mile Island Love Canal, NY Environmental disaster Long-buried chemicals began seeping up through the ground Exposure was linked to high rates of birth defects

Environmental Issues Climate change Conservation Energy Global warming Global dimming Fossil fuels Sea level rise Greenhouse gas Ocean acidification Conservation Species extinction Pollinator decline Coral bleaching Poaching Endangered species Energy Energy conservation Renewable energy Efficient energy use Environmental Degradation Habitat destruction 12. Of the 4 environmental issues listed, which one do you think we should be most concerned with & why?

Issues continued… Genetic engineering Intensive farming Overpopulation Genetic pollution Genetically modified food controversies Intensive farming Overgrazing Irrigation Environmental effects of meat production Overpopulation Burial Land degradation Desertification Soil, Soil conservation, Soil Erosion, Soil Contamination, Soil salinization Land use Urban sprawl Habitat fragmentation Habitat destruction Nuclear Issues Nuclear power Radioactive waste 13. Of these 6 issues, which one do you think is most concerning & why?

Issues continued… Ozone Depletion Pollution Water pollution Acid Rain Marine pollution Ocean dumping Oil spills Ocean acidification Wastewater Air pollution Smog Indoor air quality Resource Depletion Exploitation of natural resources (over-consumerism) Fishing; Bottom trawling; Illegal & unregulated fishing; Shark finning; Whaling Logging / Clearcutting / Deforestation Mining Toxins Chlorofluorocarbons DDT Dioxin Heavy metals Herbicides Pesticides Toxic waste

GROUP PROJECT In assigned groups, you will research one of the following topics. Acid Rain Air Pollution Global Warming Animal/Species Extinction Deforestation Ozone Depletion Ocean Issues sea water rising, oil spills, wastewater, & pollution

TO DO Research Poster – bring your own! Presentation Each group member needs to research for your topic If you don’t have a cell phone w/ Internet access, print your research No Wikipedia Consider World Wildlife Federation (WWF) National Geographic IPCC EPA Poster – bring your own! Title At least 5 Visuals (pictures, charts, graphs, etc.) Background (5 W’s & How) Current Info & Research Changes in Policies, Future Implications, Recommendations Presentation Each group will present their topic to the class