Climate and Justice Science Fair

Junior Projects Research Include:
Population Overload:
I learned about Overshoot Day - for 2010 this date is August 21st.  After that day we are using up resource reserves.  We used 150% of  of the resources that the earth can generate in one year.

The Anti- Consumption Movement:
This group organized about 30 perople who committed to reduces comsumption in their households and persona lives for a week. In one week they calculated 11,489.7 lb of CO2 reduction. Just 30 people can make a difference in electricity consumption and fuel savings.

Hurricanes:

Since the 1970's the destructive potential of these storms have increased by 50%, a direct correlation with the increase of sea surface temperatures which continue to rise.

Hold Your Breath:

We are killing ourselvs because asthma and other respiratory illness are on the rise due to buring of fossil fuels, deforestation, and putting noxious gases into the atmosphere.  The most vulnerable populations of our society are impacted:  children and the elderly.

Sinking Cities:

Rising temperatures melt glaciers, cause sea levels to rise which also causes cities to sink.  Human activity such as exploitation of ground water and mushrooming of skyscrapers also contributes to a city's land subsidence.

Deforestation:

As defined by the UN, it is the conversion of forest to non-forest.  The main causes are trees being used for fuel, urbanization, construction, and the paper industry. Trees and rainforests are housing for 90% of animals and this deforestation is unjust to the natural habitats.  Consider supporting American Forests, a non-profit which plants trees.

Wind Energy:
Problem - Greenhouse Gasses created by burning fossil fuels pollute the air, make holes in the Ozone and increase world temperatures.  The U.S. uses 20 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Solution:  Wind energy is a safe efficient form of energy that never runs out and can be put just about anywhere.  It reduces dependence on oil and is emission free.

Acid Rain:
This is basically caused by nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide released by the burning of coal, man-made machinery emissions and also natural occurrances during volcanic eruptions and forest fires.  This is damaging to ecosystems and the food supply as it seeps into the soil.  The Clean Air Act of 1990 is devoted to the reduction of acid rain, among other things.  Emissions were reduced 41% from 1980.  This also led to the Acid Rain Program which helped reduce sulfur.  The EPA has been the driving force behind these solutions.  Until we use alternative energy sources, the problem will persist.

Composting:
Composting is the process of arranging and maniulating organic wastes so that they are gradually borken down or decomposed by soil microorganisms and animals.  Compostable waster is about 700 pounds per family per year which is generally just put into landfills.  Composting waste at home reduces unnecessary transportation of waste.

"Locally Grown Food" and "Green Architecture" were also at the fair.  Did not get a chance today to explore those topics with students.