A Brief Overview of the Blue Green Alliance
The Blue Green alliance is an essential part of the environmental movement. With a primary focus on global warming, fair trade, clean energy and reducing toxins, the blue green alliance has had a significant influence on the environmental movement today. The blue green alliance works closely with many industries in an attempt to create a cleaner environment and a safer world.
Formed between The United Steelworkers a union with 850,000 members and the Sierra Club a large grassroots environmental organization with 750,000 members, the alliance was created specifically to address the need for a cleaner environment and safer world. The blue green alliance in the United States is predominately an alliance between labor unions and environmentalist. The blue green alliance attempts to rid the country of the belief that being environmentally sound and friendly will have a negative impact on industry and labor. The idea behind the alliance essentially is to jointly promote a labor friendly strategy to aid in the fight against global warming. This unlikely alliance between blue-collar labor activist and green environmentalist has shaken up politics and presidential campaigns.
Executive director David Foster headquarters the blue green alliance in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The alliance also plans to have several branch offices located in united steel workers offices through out the country. The intention is to have close and direct contact between the two organizations. With heavy support by many politicians who feel that the alliance is exactly what our nation needs to move in the right direction, the alliance is off to a running start with action spreading through out the country and industries joining the movement at a rapid pace. With a primary focus on Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, this group is heavily focused on the creating a secure job market that utilizes energy efficiency and renewable energy sources the efforts of the blue green alliance are focused on these states currently the plans for expansion to additional states are already underway.
With 17 campaigns currently spread out through out the nation, the blue green alliance is hard at work. In California, they have formed a coalition that is fighting hard to clean up drinking water tainted by toxic chemicals. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita the coalition has focused its efforts on cleaning up the extremely toxic soil that has made it impossible for some resident s to return to their homes. In Utah the alliance paired with other groups to successfully stop the dumping of toxic chemicals into the Jordan River. These and several other initiatives nationwide have proven that this alliance is and will continue to be successful for years to come. It is these types of clean up efforts that make the blue-green alliance more and more appealing not only to government offices, but also to regular people like you and me. When they take the initiative to help regular people, we listen to them and see their efforts. We want to get involved and help. We want to learn more. This is one of the primary ways that the blue-green alliance is growing by leaps and bounds.
With important initiatives and strong alliances, the blue green alliance is no doubt a force to be reckoned with. Dispelling the misnomers that have plagued industry and blue-collar workers for years, the alliance is lifting the veil on corporate America and making the public aware that they absolutely have the ability to enjoy both job security and a better quality a life. We the people thank the blue green alliance for being on our side and helping us to see things for what they really are as well as helping the public in times of natural disaster.
Profiling the Typical Environmentalist
Environmentalists tend to be similar in belief and lifestyle. When you have strong beliefs as most environmentalists do, it is hard not to lead a certain type of existence. Whether they belong to a political or activist group, environmentalists are very outspoken and passionate about their cause. Most are peaceful advocates and do their best to educate and inform the public about their cause.
Often environmentalists are categorized as being extremist or anti- business. Although this is not true in most cases, it is perceived by many to be the case because of their level of intensity and passion for their causes. They will protest, debate and go with out for the betterment of mankind. To say that there is a typical environmentalist is a bit presumptuous. One might conjure up the image of a hippie or bohemian type when they first hear the word environmentalist. However, in today’s modern society that image is absolutely untrue. Many of those who consider themselves “environmentalist” are just like you and me, and one would probably have a hard time picking them out of a group. Politicians, celebrities and everyday average citizens make up this diverse group of passionate individuals.
The only thing that you might classify as typical when referring to an environmentalist is their beliefs. They believe in protecting the environment and always adjust their lifestyle according to those beliefs. Many environmentalists do not drive cars. They prefer to get from place to place on foot or by using carpool or mass transit. Those who do drive try to minimize their impact on the environment by either driving hybrid cars or using alternative fuel. Many are conscientious around their home as well, using alternative energy sources and energy efficient appliances. Additionally, they may compost, grow their own food, and recycle more conscientiously than the average citizen. However, each person is different and may even call themselves and environmentalist if they do the simplest things like recycling or using low wattage light bulbs!
Environmentalist tends to be more active in displaying and discussing their beliefs as well. Many campaign and advertise on behalf of their chosen organizations. They also tend to want to be influential on others habits as well and make an effort to educate the general public on the effects of global warming and the impacts modern society has on the climate. They take great pride in their lifestyle choices and want very much for others to join them. Naturally environmentalist tends to be lovers of nature and wildlife. They tend to have hobbies an interest that relate to nature and usually love animals.
Many people view environmentalism as crazy or even call it and “alternative” lifestyle. This is simply untrue, of course, as with any group, there are some who go overboard. This does not pertain to the group as a whole. Most environmentalists live average lives in regular neighborhoods and dress and look like normal people. Environmentalists get a bad rap from extremists who resort to false statements and scare tactics rather than relying on the truth. Most environmentalist only desire to make a difference in this world and have no desire to do that under false pretenses. Environmentalists are moral, conscientious, good responsible citizens. Their movement focuses on the greater good. While some of them may seem eccentric and appear to be going overboard, they are normal people with an above average awareness of the planet and its needs and are, at times, making up for the short comings of those who do nothing to help the environment or those who don’t do nearly enough. Profiling anyone is hard to do, but an environmentalist can be summed up by simply saying that it is “one who does their part to protect the environment.
How Energy Conservation Can Help Save the World
Energy efficiency is a worthy answer to the question of how to handle multiple environmental issues. To be energy efficient means getting the most productivity from every unit of energy, while eliminating energy waste. To do this, one must strive to use advanced state-of-the art technologies in order to reduce energy use, without the need to have to remember to do it daily on your own. When using the newest appliances and electronics, as well as a combination of the “common sense” energy practices such as turning off lights, televisions, computers, etc when not being used, the benefits are enhanced. Conserving energy protects the environment, enhances the economy and therefore can promote national security. A key in promoting conservative action is in implementing educational programs worldwide. Education can inform people of the wide spectrum of environmental issues as well as change attitudes and empower them to look at issues at a local level, and develop practical solutions.
The term “conservation” can be suggestive of a mode of behavior that requires an individual to give up personal comforts. Turning down the thermostat, walking instead of driving, and taking short showers is viewed as a sacrifice by some. Conservation should not be looked at as an inconvenience, but instead as a way of smart living. With the use of today’s energy efficient technology, it is easier than ever before to incorporate conservation into daily life. High-efficiency furnaces, hybrid vehicles, energy management control systems, lighting sensors are some examples. If there is a need to commute an hour to work in a community where there is no public transportation, an individual can feel free to avoid the car pools and just drive a gas/electric hybrid automobile or buy an auto with the best possible gas mileage. When a home happens to be a 4,000 square foot castle just make sure that the walls are insulated well and that the heating and cooling system has an aggressive energy-efficiency rating.
It is estimated that over the next 20 years much of the expected increase in energy needs will be met by coal-based electric generation, with another feasible option being nuclear power, which raises waste management worries. Increase of importation of energy from other countries can negatively affect the United States trade balance and can cause a serious national security risk. The development of new technologies can take several years before they are readily available to all, so it is imperative that conservation is a priority.
Conservation by the use of energy efficient improvement is the most inexpensive, fastest and safest way to extend the energy supplies, thus the public should insist on this approach by allowing Congress to address the energy dilemma aggressively. Governments are critical to conservation, yet they sometimes face huge burdens when merging conservation issues with financial limits and political realities. Law makers should continue to be encouraged to put policies in place that will place limits of size of automobiles, and American auto makers are introducing new hybrids each year. The IRS qualifies several models of hybrid autos for income tax deductions, which are positive steps in the right direction for reinforcing the importance of conservation.
Obviously, the problems of conservation are intricate and ever-changing challenges that involve politics, economics and cultures. Political leaders and business leaders worldwide will take the lead in initiating an active vision for research, policy advocacy, education, and communication that will enable public and private partnerships to collaborate with strategies to optimize renewable resources and provide continuing growth in technology to provide energy efficiency. The U.S. has significantly impacted the global conservation efforts and is the largest contributor of funding internationally. Working together globally, in the spirit of protecting the greatest resource this great planet Earth will influence future generations to come.
Great Ideas to Get your Kids on a Permanent Earth Friendly Kick
Teaching children to respect and appreciate this beautiful planet Earth will insure that future generations are empowered to take the actions needed to remain environmentally conscientious. Here are some fun and practical ideals to be sure the legacy of responsibility continues.
Plan a day to clean up the neighborhood, including the parks. Ask many friends to help out too. Have plenty of garbage bags ready for the clean up. This same plan can be used to have a clean up day at school. It can be fun to create posters and have contests with an environmental theme. Have these posters placed at nearby businesses to spread the word.
Help parents to choose plants and trees to place in the yard to create shade which will be helpful in cooling the home, as well as provide cleaner air. Grow a vegetable garden too. Start a compost pile to help with fertilization of the planting. Tell parents about using organic pesticides, such as the ones made from orange extract. Water the garden in the early morning to safe on water.
When shopping with parents, always look for symbols that state the product has been recycled. Use recyclable packaging and encourage the rest of the family to stay away from products that have excessive packaging. Buying everyday necessities in bulk supply is a great way to decrease package waste. Share the idea of the three R’s with the family: Recycle, reuse and reduce.
Ask parents to start using reusable cotton bags to bring home groceries. Plastic bags are a huge problem for the environment. Every year hundreds of thousands of marine mammals such as sea turtles and whales die from eating discarded plastic bags. Plastic bags are not biodegradable, instead then break down into smaller toxic bits that contaminate the soil and waterways, which endanger many animals. If it is necessary to purchase six-packs of soda, always take the extra time to cut the plastic rings into pieces, as they can pose dangers to raccoons, possums, and small animals with strangulation. It is estimated that each year 500 billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter. In the United States, the estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion (100 billion bags). In Africa, plastic bags that have been blowing in the wind are so common that a young industry has sprung up harvesting bags and using them to weave hats, and even bags.
Instead of taking a bus or car to school, if possible, use a bicycle or walk. Ride and walk with a friend and be sure the route is safe; have friendly homes or businesses along the way in case assistance is needed.
When you leave a room in the house be sure to turn off all the lights, fans and the television. Remind siblings to do the same. Help your parents look through the home for leaky faucets and toilets, then help them fix them. While washing your face and brushing
teeth, do not leave the water running. Turn it off until needed for rinsing. Take quick showers. Use less water when doing household chores; use a broom instead of the hose for cleaning the porch, sidewalks, driveway. Save water by asking parents to wash the car less often, and remind them that it will save them money too. Another way for parents to save money is by raising the thermostat a few degrees in the summer and lower it in the winter. This will save energy. When the sun is out and strong, lower the window blinds to keep the heat out of the house. Open them up in the winter months. Replace air filters often to aid in more efficient heating and cooling
Saving the World Starts at Home
Environmental problems can sometimes appear overwhelming or too far away for an individual to be able to do anything about. But, when the focus of the environment is brought closer to the house there are a many ways to protect that small piece of the planet, which is called home.
To use less energy, look for energy efficient products for your home. The right choices can save families about 30% and also decrease emission of greenhouse gases. Use the Energy Star Program when replacing old appliances, remodeling or buying a new house. Energy Star s the government backed plan for energy efficiency. This program makes it easy to know which products to buy without sacrificing features style or comfort that today’s consumers expect. Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room. Use the microwave to cook small meals, as it uses less power than an oven. Purchase “Green Power” for your home’s electricity, by contacting a power supplier to see where and if it is available. Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired and/or cut back on air conditioning and heating use when possible. Insulate the home, water heater and pipes. Keep in mind that every trip in the automobile adds to air pollution. Use a bicycle or public transportation when possible.
To use less water, do not allow the water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Take short showers instead of tub baths. Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool. Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads. Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine. Buy high-efficient plumbing fixtures & appliances. Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day). Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day, such as early morning. Water plants differently according to what they need. Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only and not to water the street or sidewalk. Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
Exercise the three R’s: first reduce how much you use, and then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what’s left in the most environmentally friendly way. To reduce: Buy permanent items instead of disposables. Buy and use only what you need. Buy products with less packaging. Buy products that use less toxic chemicals. To reuse: Repair items as much as possible. Use durable coffee mugs. Use cloth napkins or towels. Clean out juice bottles and use them for water. Use empty jars to hold leftover food. Reuse boxes. Purchase refillable pens and pencils. Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away. To recycle: Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn’t collect at the curb, take them to a collection center. Recycle electronics. Recycle used motor oil. Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants. Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. That’s what makes recycling economically possible.
Common household items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides contain hazardous components and need to be handled properly. Although we cannot completely stop using hazardous products, we can make sure that leftovers are managed properly. The best way to handle household hazardous waste is to give leftovers to someone else to use. Many communities have set up collection programs to keep hazardous products out of landfills and combustors. Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency
Renewable Energy to Renew the World
Sources of renewable energy include biomass, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. Renewable energy is constant and is self-replenishing. It is also cleaner and more friendly to the environment. Renewable energy sources have made a huge impact in decreasing emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the Earth’s atmosphere. It is expected that renewable energy sources, especially wind energy, small hydro electrid power stations, biomass energy and solar energy will become economically competitive to conventional energy sources in the future, however they are not expected to overtake fossil fuels in keeping up with the global energy demand due to the fact that renewables have limitations.
Sun radiation is major contributor to energy sources. Solar technology uses the sun’s energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity and also for cooling homes, business and industries. Solar power is expanding as technology advances and cost becomes more competitive. These methods use photovoltaic systems, passive solar heating and solar process heat and space cooling.
Using the wind as a source of energy provides a clean, inexhaustible way to generate enough electricity to power millions of people. Wind power is the world’s fastest growing source of energy after solar. The United States can currently generate more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the wind, which is enough to power 2.5 million average American homes. Industry experts estimate that, with proper refinement and development, wind energy could provide 20% of the U.S. energy needs.
Biomass energy uses plant matter like trees, grasses, agricultural crops or other biological material. This can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gaseous forms, for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels. By incorporating a diversity of biomass conversion processes, all of these products can be made in one facility, which is called a biorefinery. This technology will provide a cost effective, environmentally friendly way of obtaining energy, and will decrease the dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality and support rural economies.
Geothermal energy, which derives heat from the earth’s inner core, is meeting a vast portion of electrical power demand in several developing countries. Approximately 8,000 megawatts of geothermal electricity is now being produced globally. To use geothermal energy, several new technologies have been developed to produce electricity from hydrothermal (hot water/steam) resources. In the future, it might be possible to use the heat of the deep, hot, dry rock formations of Earth’s crust, and possibly the even the deeper and nearly unlimited energy in the Earth’s magma. There are two basic types of geothermal power plants used today: Steam and binary. The steam plants use very hot (more than 300° F) steam and hot water resources. The steam then turns turbines, which drive generators that generate electricity. The only significant emission from these plants is steam (water vapor). Minute amounts of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and sulfur are emitted, but are nearly 50 times less than the traditional fossil-fuel power plants. Energy produced this way currently costs about 4-6 cents per kWh. Binary plants use lower temperature, but much more common, hot water resources (100° F – 300° F). The hot water is passed through a heat exchanger in conjunction with a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point. The secondary fluid vaporizes, which turns the turbines, which drive the generators. The remaining secondary fluid is simply recycled through the heat exchanger. With binary plants nothing is emitted. Energy produced by binary plants currently costs about 5 to 8 cents per kWh.
In the future, the use of renewable energy will significantly increase because the number of non-renewable energy supplies will diminish over time, as well as the desire to provide a less damaging effect on the environment.
Defining the Different Types of Water Power
Using water to harness power is a tradition, which goes back over two thousand years ago when the Greeks learned how to turn massive wheels to rotate shafts for their wheat flour grinders. In the 18th century, there were literally thousands of communities around the world that used water energy (hydro energy). Hydro power uses the form of falling water by gravity to produce useful energy. The falling water is directed through a turbine, causing it to spin. The spinning turbine is connected to a generator, which produces energy. Small-scale hydro systems have several advantages. The generation process produces no pollution. It doesn’t require a large dam or reservoir; some systems can be powered by only a small stream so that a little bit of water goes a long way. More recently, many people have been using water on a smaller scale to generate electricity without the problems and costs involved with fossil fuels or large dams. Small-scale water power is one of the most environmentally sound and friendly ways to produce electricity.
In today’s world, there are small hydropower projects are in place in remote communities such as India, China, Peru and Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, and also in highly industrialized counties including the United States. This type of hydro power offers an emissions-free solution. Hydro power systems take the energy in flowing water to make electricity.
Hydro energy is a significant renewable energy source, competitive to fossil fuels and nuclear energy. In approximately the last thirty years, the production of energy in water power plants has tripled. Nuclear power plants have, in that same period, almost hundred times more production growth, due to restrictions that hydro energy has. It can not be used in all locations due to the need of an abundance of fast flowing water, and the need to have the power to last throughout the year. To negate effect of water level’s fluctuation, water gates, as well as accumulation lakes are built, which significantly increases whole power plant’s expenditures, and also raises the level of underground waters near the accumulation. Underground water level has a large influence on flora and fauna, so hydro-energy isn’t completely harmless for environment. It is estimated that only about 25% of world’s hydro energetic potential is used. Most of the unused potential is located in the under developed countries.
There are three main kinds of hydro electrics: Fluid, accumulative (hydro electric dam), and the reversible (pumped-storage plants) hydro electric. By explanation, fluid hydro electrics are the ones that do not have upstream accumulation or its accumulation can be emptied for less than two hours with nominal power. This means that almost direct use of kinetic energy of the water is used for the turbine’s movement. These hydro electrics are the simplest to construct, but are very dependant upon the fluidity of the water. With hydro electric dams the critical parts are accumulation, dam, clench, gravity intake, water chamber, rail chamber, pressure pipelines, engine room and water vent. There are two types of hydro electric dams: Near the dam and derivational. Near the dam is located under the dam itself, and derivational is located much more below the dam with pipelines as connectors to accumulation. Hydro electric dams are the most often used source of gaining electricity from water’s energy. Problems occur during the summer months, when natural flow gets too small for hydro electric’s functioning. In that case, the dam must be sealed and it is necessary to at least maintain water level, which is biological minimum. A problem can arise when the underground water level decreases, but the growing desire for renewable fuel, as well as the concern for a cleaner environment, makes the performance of hydro power an exceptional solution for solving energy needs.
Lassoing the Wind to Power the World
In order for humanity to continue to thrive, it is critical to find alternative sources of renewable, virtually inexhaustible energy. Wind energy conversion is a viable option and one that does not add stress to the ecosystem of this great planet Earth. Although fossil fuel is currently in abundance, the eventual reduction of these sources of energy will cause a quick increase in price. We can no longer make do with fossil fuels and Middle Eastern oils, and there is the real threat of global warming, which is well proven and is quickly becoming a priority issue in environmentalist circles. The federal government’s involvement in wind energy research began full steam following the Arab Oil Crisis of 1973, however it was slow to show results due to political factors and lack of financial support. Wind energy is in abundance, is renewable, clean, and limits toxic greenhouse gas emissions when used to replace fossil fuel electricity.
In the not too distant future, energy derived from the wind will be the most cost effective way to harness electrical power. It is not really known what the true cost of the fossil fuel life cycle is, from mining/extraction to the transportation, including political costs, but certainly it is more than the current wholesale rates. Commercial wind turbines are now harnessing energy in more than 65 countries, which makes wind power the world’s quickest growing source of energy after solar power. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy released their first Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation Cost and Performance Trends: 2006. This report provides a comprehensive look at the developing trends in the wind power market in the United States. A significant finding the Report found out is that the U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006; and that the U.S. had the fastest growing wind power volume in the world in 2005 and 2006. More than 61 percent of the U.S.’s total wind capacity - over 7,300 Megawatts (MW) - has been installed since President Bush took office in 2001. For the second straight year, in 2006, the U.S. led the world by installing 2,454 MW of wind power capacity, enough to provide energy in the homes of a city the size of Philadelphia. The U.S. produced roughly 16 percent of the worldwide wind market, followed by Germany, India, Spain, and China. The recent Report looks at trends in the marketplace, which include wind power prices compared to wholesale electricity prices, project costs, turbine sizes, and developer consolidation. In addition, it also describes the increasing performance of wind projects, current ownership and financing structures, and trends among major wind power purchasers. By compiling this information in one document, the report provides an important resource to industry participants, energy regulators, and state and local policymakers.
Modern wind power is made in the form of electricity, by converting turbine blades into electrical current with the use of an electrical generator. The older technology employed with windmills used wind energy to turn mechanical machinery to do physical labor such as pumping water. Wind power on wind farms is used on a large scale for national electrical grids, and also for with smaller individual turbines to give electricity to rural residences. While there is a need for refinement and improvements in the area of harnessing wind power, the major technology developments that will provide commercialization of wind power have already begun. Certainly, the outlook for change is looking bright, and it is inevitable that environmentalists, politicians, and the public will eagerly more forward in insuring that technology continually finds a way to provide a renewable source of energy in wind power.
The Effect of Erosion on our Earth
Soil is removed naturally by ocean currents, water, ice, wind or living organisms and is called erosion. This displacement of soil, mud, rock and other particles has been occurring for over 450 million years. This is a downward movement in response to gravity. Erosion is a natural process and can be healthy for the ecosystem, but oftentimes is made worse by human use such as deforestation/removal of vegetation, overgrazing, unmanaged construction or building of roads. Improved land use techniques such as terrace-building and tree planting can limit erosion. Excessive erosion can produce trouble such as ecosystem damage, loss of soil and receiving water sedimentation. The effects of erosion is sometimes linked to overpopulation
Generally speaking, erosion removes soil at approximately the same rate that soil is formed. However, increased soil erosion at a much faster rate that it is formed is a recent problem and has always due to mankind’s actions which leave the land unprotected and vulnerable. Coupled with naturally occurring erosive rainfalls or windstorms makes erosion a huge environmental issue. This occurs in both agricultural/farming areas as well as the natural environment. The effects of erosion impact two places, on-site (where the soil has become detached), as well as off-site (where the eroded soil goes).
With the use of today’s powerful farming tools in parts of the world the damage of soil is called tillage erosion. Soil erosion must be studied over short term and long-term timespans, since it is affected by both common and rare events, which can make it difficult to understand. The large storms cause deep gullies, which are obvious, but erosion due to smaller events can seem of no consequence when in fact there is a cumulative effect over the long term.
A main impact from erosion is the reduction of soil quality. Crops are especially reliant on the upper portion of the soil, which is susceptible to erosion from water and wind. This, in turn causes loss of nutrient rich upper layers of soil, as well as the reduction in water holding capacity of eroded soils. Erosion removes the “cream of the soil”. In countries with more affluence this accelerated water erosion problem can be fought against with the use of artificial fertilizers and technology, but in the poorer countries this is not an option. Loss of soil is a long term problem. Globally, the most serious consequence of erosion is the threat to long term sustainability of agricultural productivity.
Guesses on the relationship between soil erosion and crop productivity are made only at the plot scale and do not allow for general conclusions due to the large variability in outcomes. Monitoring the effects of erosion on yields is impossible since erosion is generally a gradual process and because of the long time-spans involved, its effect on productivity is often obscured. The risk of thwarting the effect of erosion on productivity, as erosion is a spatially variable process, it will have a considerable effect on the water availability and soil depth in certain locations but not in others, causing land uses that put a high demand on soil and soil water to migrate to areas with lower erosion rates. However, this will only happen in areas where the impact of erosion on productivity is significant, i.e. where erosion rates are high, and general productivity is low. The destructive impact of erosion is well known in developing countries such as Africa and Asia, but even in the prosperous countries there is a huge environmental concern. Erosion caused by water is a serious issue in Austria, New Zealand, Southern and Eastern Europe as well as some part of the United States.
Conservation and Environmentalism – Almost the Same?
The definition of conservation is ‘sane use’. This is a political and social movement that strives to protect natural resources, including plant and animal species, as well as their natural habitat for the future, the conservation movement includes fisheries, wildlife management, water and soil conservation and forestry. Today’s modern conservation movement has widened it’s spectrum since the early 1900s, when it placed emphasis on sustaining natural resources and the preservation of wilderness areas to now include preservation of biodiversity. Thus, the conservation movement is part of a wider and more far reaching environmental movement. Environmentalism encompasses preservation, restoration and improvement of the natural environment; for example, conservation of natural resources and the prevention of pollution. In today’s modern language, the term environmentalism is associated with resource efficiency, minimizing waste and the ethics and morals of environmental responsibility. The ethics of conservation is to protect against exploitation of the Earth’s natural resources, with the primary focus that of maintaining the health of the natural world and create biological diversity. A secondary focus is placed on materials and energy conservation, both of which are important to protect the natural world.
It was the mid to late 19th Century conservationists such as Henry David Thoreau and John Muir who brought to attention to the people that one should become friendly with nature, to respect the natural environment. It was the principles in conservation, including the intrinsic privilege of the natural world, which was to become the foundation of today’s environmentalism. The modern environmental movement is a term that includes the conservation and green movements. It is a varied scientific, social and political movement whose goal is to advocate management of resources of the natural environment through changes in policy and individual behavior. Environmental groups advocate that humanity has the critical responsibility to participate in maintaining ecosystems, human rights, health and ecology.
Ex-situ conservation “off-site conservation”. This method of conservation compromises some of the oldest and well-known conservation methods as it utilizes controversial laboratory techniques. This is done in order to protect endangered species of plants or anmials by removing part of the population from its habitat and putting it in a new location, within the care of humans. Ex-situ conservation takes the species from its natural ecological area and preserves it in semi-isolated conditions in the hopes that natural evolution is halted or altered in this unnatural habitat. This method is rarely enough to save a species from extinction and is used as a last resort. It is thought better to save a species at least in part, rather than to allow it to die out completely. The techniques are usually costly, and there are many other factors which come into play when making a decision to employ ex-situ conservation.
Environmental organizations are global, regional, national or local. These groups are government-run or private and they research information, participate in public hearings, lobby for changes, hold demonstrations or acquire land for preservation. Such groups include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, whose speciality is in lawsuits. Other groups include National Wildlife Federation, World Wide Fund for Nature, Friends of the Earth and the Wilderness Society. Environmental policy can refer to either the private sector or the public sector. In the public sector it usually means a government’s use and creation of the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues. In the private sector it usually means the compliance with those tools, or the independent development of self-regulation and law-making that can go beyond what is required by governments.
Individuals who think themselves as being environmentalists take great care to at least conserve water, energy and recycle waste. These may seem like small issues, but they are part of the vast conservation sphere to become environmentally responsible and to protect this great Earth.