I had no idea that humans use up to one-third of all fish in the ocean to produce animal feed.
Even though the fish that are being used to feed chickens, pigs and farm-raised fish are small, like anchovies, scientists are beginning to see how this can drastically affect both marine and human life.
Why is this so alarming?
Ninety percent of the 31.5 million tons of fish that are caught are used for fish meal or fish oil. This endangers the other marine life and birds who feed on the small fish.
It takes 5 pounds of this fish meal to produce only 1 pound of a farm-raised fish. Why do we have to waste 4 pounds of good fish?
Scientists believe we can solve this problem by having humans consume the extra 4 pounds of fish. But since these fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, we would have to monitor how much we consume.
Do you agree with this solution, or do you have a better idea?
Did you know that West Virginia provides enough coal to burn energy for over half of the United States?
Did you also know that in order to provide this energy the process of mountaintop coal removal has destroyed ecological habitats and family-owned land, and has contaminated local drinking water?
I watched this documentary, Burning the Future: Coal in America, on the Sundance Channel, and it definitely gave me a new perspective on West Virginians and the use of coal.
Most environmental and humanitarian efforts ask for dollar donations to help with their efforts, but if you’re like me and don’t have any extra money, you may feel like you can’t make a difference.
But I actually found a few great sites that will donate food, money and other valuables to their efforts just by making a few clicks on the computer. Here are my favorites:
Free Rice is an online quiz that lets you strengthen your English vocabulary. For every correct defintion that you pick 20 grains of rice will be donated to the United Nations World Food Program.
Who would have ever thought that recycled snow could be used to help power an airport’s cooling system?
Well, the great minds in Japan have.
Japan gets about 20-30 feet of extra snow every year, so the people at New Chitose Airport came up with the brilliant idea to store the extra snow under heat-insulating materials. These materials would keep the melted snow cold so the water could be used in warmer months to chill the cooling system.
This will prevent 2,100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
The airport plans to implement this idea fully by 2010.
We live in a country where we have access to clean drinking water 24 hours a day, but did you know that over 1 billion people do not even have access to a simple water supply system?
Many of these people come form developing countries like Africa, and that is why we need to help them get the clean water that they need for food and bathing, as well as for preventing the spread of diseases.
If we want someone in office who truly cares about the environment and all of its living creatures, maybe we should not support someone who wants to im-Palin them with a stake through the heart!
When I was in high school I didn’t like the idea of dissecting a poor, defenseless frog. But I must say that I never went as far as 19-year old CutoutDissection.com did.
Yes, CutoutDissection.com is her new name, but her real name is Jennifer Thornburg. She’s also interning at peta2.
Jennifer wanted to make a statement by legally changing her name to something that would “stand out” to people. Or maybe “leap out,” like a frog.
