Environment What is the environment? The natural environment encompasses all living & and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth

Questions to consider 1. What is nature worth? 2. In your opinion, what is the most pressing environmental issue today?

Animal Issues 3. What is “the cove?” shows/other/videos/blood-dolphins-return-to-the-cove.htm shows/other/videos/blood-dolphins-return-to-the-cove.htm 4. Discuss the significance of “Blackfish” opinion/keeping-animals-in-captivity-for-our-own- entertainment-must-stop y7uz.html opinion/keeping-animals-in-captivity-for-our-own- entertainment-must-stop y7uz.html What is the purpose of these commercials? Are they effective? Discuss

Air Issues 5. Discuss the impact of air pollution Discuss – What impact did air pollution have on the 2008 Olympic Games (held in China)? 6. How is air pollution a global issue?

Climate Change 7. What are the causes & effects of major weather events? 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 … )

Oil Spills 8.What is the impact of oil spills on animals? What was the impact of the Exxon-Valdez spill? (optional – if time permits…)

Global Warming 9. What is global warming? Discuss - How are politics related to global warming & different points of view?

Presidential Policies on the Environment 10. 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) 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 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 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 11. Of the 4 environmental issues listed, which one do you think we should be most concerned with & why?

Issues continued… Genetic engineering 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 12. 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 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