ENVR 1301-Oscar Molina

  Six-Point Critical Analysis of Current Event     1. Exploratory                                      Relative to a comparable site with hot season grazing and no beaver, the study shows that streamside vegetation can be 10–40% more productive where conservation-oriented grazing approaches are applied, and beaver are at work. ( Fesenmyer ) This means there is more food for grazing animals and leads to more diverse wildlife in the area. The What’s more, the study shows to get comparable gains in vegetation at sites with hot season grazing and without beaver, you would have to move a site 800 feet up in elevation or increase annual precipitation by almost 10 inches, nearly doubling the average annual precipitation at some sites. ( Fesenmyer ) study also demonstrates that conservation-...

  Davis, C. B., & Lewicki, R. J. (2003) Bryan, T. (2003). Environmental Framing Consortium. (2005). Identity Frames The concept of identity focuses on how individuals answer the question, “Who am I? Demographic Environment The demographic environment contains “characteristics of the population such as age, gender, race, religion and ethnic categories” (Rainey, 1997). Identity Frames Address the question, "Who am I?" Characterization Frames Characterization frames mirror identity frames in that they are statements made by individuals about how they understand someone else to be; that is, who are they?   Characterization Frames Address the question, "Who are they? Conflict Management Frames. Conflict management frames focus on disputants’ preferences for how the conflict management process should be managed. Political...

  From the early days when Europeans immigrated to North America to the modern policies of today, people have always tried to protect the resources we have. Throughout history you can see policies improve with the education of the environment. Environmental protection is not just one country’s issue to solve but a global issue. When the first Europeans immigrated to North America the resources were viewed as unlimited. “This is not surprising, when one stand of trees was consumed for housing or fuel, another was nearby; when one field was eroded to the point of limited fertility, expansion further inland was relatively simple; when rivers became silted so that fisheries were impaired, one moved further upstream; and when confronted with endless herds of wild animals, it was inconceivable that one might over-consume to the point of extinction.”(Theis) In the beginning it was a Connecticut minister named Jared Elliott that was leading the change for better farming techniques. Altho...

  CANADA AIMS TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS BY 2021   What I am learning is that single use plastic is one of the largest pollutants on the planet. This includes disposable plates, utensils, straws, and plastic bags. From activity 3.3.3 I have learned the lingering effects plastics have once they start to degrade in the environment. If we produce less single use plastics than less will contaminate the environment. Prime Minister Trudeau stated in this article “Canada recycles less than 10 percent of its disposable plastics and is on track to throw away $11 billion worth of disposable plastic by 2030 unless things change.” (Howard) This article is to inform the reader the steps Canada is doing to reduce plastic pollution in the environment. The ban on single use plastics is a step in the right way to reduce the amount plastics in the environment. Although this article does not state which items are being banned or the timeframe it has joined 60 other countries in this type o...

 I did not do a whole day but the first five minutes of waking up From the highest mountain to the lowest point of the ocean plastics can be found everywhere. It is impossible to go a day without feeling the impact plastics have had on the planet. One issue that we are starting to realize is what happens when these plastics start to breakdown. We have been engrained that if we do not see it then it does not exist but now we are learning that is not true. As plastics start to break down microscopic particles are being released in the environment. And since plastics are everywhere this has become a major issue. When talking about these microscopic pieces of plastic we call them microplastics. Microplastics, which are plastic particles or fibers smaller than 5 millimeters (mm) in size. (Haab) Microplastics are mostly derived from petroleum which is an additive used in a variety items. Because microplastics are derived from petroleum, they are not biodegradable, which means that they...

  Air Pollution Basics Sulfur Pollutants Sulfur gas is colorless and has a pungent smell. Naturally volcanoes release sulfur pollutants in the air but since the Industrial Revolution sulfur pollutants have increased. Wildfires are another source of sulfur in the air. Anthropogenic emissions of SO2 have increased enormously since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere when things are burning, whether that is fossil fuels or burning resources. Emissions in 1860 were about 5-million tonnes, compared with about 150-million tonnes in 2000. (Freedman) Although there is technology to help reduce sulfur emissions from the energy industry, we are still going to see an increase of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere due to the growth and reliance of coal and natural gases. Overexposure to sulfur gas can severely damage vegetation. Sulfur dioxide can lead to circulatory and lung issues for humans and animals that are overexposed. “It is rare...