The Oil Industry

The Oil Industry Today

In our local news, there has been controversy over our oil industry. One of the main controversies comes from the fact that the United States gas prices are rising at a rapid rate than normal. The rates are so rapid that it takes some people 70 and 80 dollars to fill up their cars every week to attend work. Oil is a major factor in the roles of our lives because we depend on oil to survive. Without oil, there will not be any transportation. Without transportation, people can not go to work. Without work, people can not make money to feed their families and will eventually lead to an outbreak of starvation.

CNN’s reporter, Eric Isaacs, states “Oil consumption in the United States continues to outpace domestic production. U.S. oil production peaked in 1970, and today 51% of our oil is imported. More than 70 percent of that oil is used for transportation” (Isaacs 2011). If our exporters continue to raise the prices of oil, the United States will not be able to import the oil to its country and the American people will have to find alternatives to living. Our nation is so dependent on oil that we really do not have any other means of survival and we will become a weak country if our dependency continues to get stronger.

The government is trying to fight for our country and make negotiations to lower the prices of oil with our exporters, but the fight seems to be a struggle. They are also trying to find alternative ways for us to use less oil and conserve energy. Eric Isaacs also states “That's bad news for the American economy, and it's bad news for American security. We cannot expect to remain a strong, vibrant and globally competitive nation if we do not end our dependence on foreign oil” (Isaacs 2011). I am a believer that in the future of America, we will face a catastrophe of problems and our country will be fighting for survival more than it is right now.

It is very important that we account for everything that we are doing to harm this country and we need to change our ways of living in the present so that we can look forward to a nice future. Transportation is very important to most people because this is how we get to and from work to make money for our families. We have to be kind to Mother Nature so that Mother Nature can be kind to us.

Isaacs, ER (June 2011). U.S. can break addiction to imported oil. http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/06/isaacs.oil.addiction/index.html?iref=allsearch

Cycling of Matter: The Carbon Cycle

Cycling of Matter: The Carbon Cycle

In class lectures, we learned that the carbon cycle is the movement of carbon between the environment and organisms. It is important because carbon is essential in manufacturing all organic molecules. Carbon is removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis; carbon returns to the atmosphere after respiration.

Carbon is very essential to the marine life. The way that humans harm the ocean life is very dangerous to their environment. Our ocean life is where the fish and other sea animals live. If the humans continue to harm the ocean, all of the species would eventually become distinct. CNN’s reporter, Thair Shaikh, states “Marine life is under severe threat from global warming, pollution and habitat loss, with a high risk of "major extinctions" according to a panel of experts” (Shaikh 2011). If the carbon cycle does not go through its process, the entire marine ecosystem would be at risk.

Coral Reefs are a major part of the ecosystem as well. With all of the acidification and over fishing, coral reefs are being harmed which causes the marine ecosystem to fade away. Thair Shaikh also states that “these three factors are present in the ocean today and gives examples of marine ecosystems suffering severe disturbance, such as the mass "coral bleaching" in 1998 that killed 16% of all the world's tropical coral reefs” (Shaikh 2011).

We need our marine ecosystems and we need for it to be clean and safe. We must go the extra mile to help maintain the safety of the marine life because the carbon cycle helps with the resources and nutrients of the ocean. If humans continue to harm the ocean, the carbon cycle can not function, the resources would be lost, and the ecosystem would be extinct. I believe that the marine life is very beautiful, but it will not stay this way if it continues to be harmed.

Shaikh, TH (2011). Marine life facing mass extinction. http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/06/21/ocean.extinction.global.warming/index.html?iref=allsearch

Health Care and Environmental Science

Health Care is a major problem in developing countries more than ever. Since the US has undergone a recession, people are losing their jobs and their benefits. The people who did not have a job previously to the recession can not find work now.
Many jobs are downsizing to cut budget costs, but this idea has turned into a nightmare. This affects developing nations because some of them depend on the US for help. If the US does not have enough resources to send over to developing nations, health conditions will rise higher.

In Environmental Science, we discussed how the population is growing at a rapid rate. This rapid rate of population is adding to the number of people who do not have jobs and those who can not find work. The health care of an individual is very important to the environment because without it, parasites can weaken an individual. This means that more people will end up sick, in a hospital, and maybe death. The resources available are not quit enough for an entire population like the people in Nigeria.
Nigeria is one of the developing nations where their population growth is rapidly increasing. Many women in Nigeria are constantly having babies, but in the end this is not good for the environment. It hurts the environment because Nigeria does not have enough resources to account for all the people living there. Many parents die when their children are so young, leaving the children to care for themselves. They have to live a life with no parents, no food, no clean water, and no where to live. This is so heartbreaking to me.

Olusegun Obasanjo, author of Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, states “A major challenge in the years ahead must surely be the need to confront the challenges of ending abject poverty in Africa through the framework of wealth creation. Poverty in Africa remains a major cause for concern. Sympathy, bailouts, token programs, and perfunctory lip service will not address the challenges in this respect.” (Obasanjo 2008). Olusegun Obasnjo’s view point is that Africa is still a nation in poverty and that they need more than people feeling sorry for them. They want out of the poverty lifestyle. Denis Drechsler and Johannes Jutting have a different viewpoint on poverty. They do believe that poverty is a major deal in Africa and that the people there should have private health insurance. They also believe that “the role of private insurance varies depending on the economic, social, and institutional settings in a country or region. Private health insurance schemes can be valuable tools to complement existing health-financing options only if they are carefully managed and adapted to local needs and preferences” (Drechsler and Jutting 2007).

My viewpoint is that if we, the US, could send over the tools to make water wells and food, this country would be at a better state as far as the environment goes. Water wells and food is not much but if we send it over at least 3 times a month, it can go a long way.

Drechsler, DE and Jutting, JO (2007). Different Countries, Different Needs: The Role of Private Health Insurance in Developing Countries. Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, Jun 2007; 32: 497-534

Obnasnjo, OL (2008). Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Mediterranean Quarterly, Jan 2008: 19: 6-12

Debate on Evolution

Debate on Evolution

In our class lecture, we learned what evolution really is.  We learned that evolution is simply genetic change over time.  For so long there has been a controversy about evolution.  People tend to say that if you believe in evolution, that you do not believe in God.  From the class lecture, I found out that this is NOT TRUE.

Growing up, I learned that evolution denies the belief in Christianity.  I was taught this in elementary school and in my own home.  I could not understand why this topic stirred up a big deal among the people.  I just thought that if you believe in evolution, then you do not believe in God.  Even growing up in the church, the pastor would say that if you believe in the all mighty God, then evolution does not exist.  Honestly, this class is my first understanding as to what evolution really is and how it does not mean that there is no God.  As a whole, our society is NOT educated on the cycle of evolution and how it works.  Therefore, we are not knowledge enough to say that evolution is bad.  From the way we were taught, no one took the time out to explain where evolution came from and that it is OK if you understand how evolution works and still believe in the almighty GOD. 

CNN’s Political Reporter, Peter Hamby, wrote an article on Michele Bachmann and her theory of evolution.  In the report, Mrs. Bachmann stated, "I support intelligent design," Bachmann told reporters in New Orleans following her speech to the Republican Leadership Conference. "What I support is putting all science on the table and then letting students decide. I don't think it's a good idea for government to come down on one side of scientific issue or another, when there is reasonable doubt on both sides” (Hamby 2011).  Mrs. Bachmann made it clear that students should be taught intelligent design in the school.

Evolution has nothing to do with not believing in God, but in fact, it could actually attribute to one another.  Evolution is things that can be tested opposed to faith and belief which can not be tested.  Just because you can not test a person’s faith or belief does not mean that it does not exist.  My argument is that I now understand HOW evolution works, but I DO believe in the almighty God.  Does that make me weird or wrong just because I do?  That is the point that gets misunderstood throughout our society.  I am

NOT weird or wrong in my understandings and beliefs of the 2 aspects.  In fact, I think it made me wiser to know the actual knowledge of evolution and still have my faith in God. 

My final statement about this debate is that I do agree with Michele Bachmann and her proposal on evolution.  Her statements are logical and they make sense.  The statement that best describes her theory is "I would prefer that students have the ability to learn all aspects of an issue," Bachmann said. "And that's why I believe the federal government should not be involved in local education to the most minimal possible process" (Hamby 2011).

For more information about Michele Bachmann’s theory on evolution, please follow the link at: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/17/bachmann-schools-should-teach-intelligent-design/?iref=allsearch

Hamby, P (2011). Bachmann: Schools should teach intelligent design. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/17/bachmann-schools-should-teach-intelligent-design/?iref=allsearch

Africa's Air Pollution

Water Pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater) (absoluteastronomy.com/topics/waterpollution).


Water Pollution is a tough subject for many people to discuss. In everyday life, we use water for almost everything we do. We use water for food, to drink, to bathe, to swim, and the list continues. Some areas, such as Africa and China, have water pollution that is so bad that the people there can barely live near these bodies of water because it is so polluted. They are exposed to many toxins and chemicals that can potentially be fatal to their health. Christopher Gordon, author of
 　
Africa is a country where they do not have the proper resources to acquire clean, freshwater. This is a country where almost all the people live below the poverty line of making less than $2 a day for purchasing power (Berg and Hager 2009). Africa's water is contaminated and the chemicals are released into the bodies of the individuals. The individuals are then exposed to the contaminated water, become very ill, and their lives might end in death. This is an unfortunate situation and something must be done to help this nation recover.
In my opinion, I believe that the water pollution in Africa is unsafe and unhealthy. It is devastating that a country, such as Africa, has to endure the pain and suffering of their water being polluted. I do not agree with the government by allowing their own people to be in an environment where it is unsafe. I think that the government should do a better job of regulating the toxins and chemicals being dumped in the bodies of water. One way that the government can regulate this is by setting laws that do not allow waste dumping at all. They could take tiny steps by making a public service announcement to inform the people what waste dumping does to the water and the consequences that come along with it. It is a small step but it could work miracles for this country. Freshwater Ecosystems in West Africa: Problems and Overlooked Potentials, states, "Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development, and the environment" (Gordon, 1998). When water pollution becomes a high risk factor, people of that area are not able to live there comfortably. They have to be careful of how and when they use the water and take extreme measures to protect themselves and their families.

Berg, RL and Hager MC (2009). Visualizing Environmental Science. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. NJ.

Gordon, C (1998). Freshwater Ecosystems in West Africa: Problems and Overlooked Potentials. http://www.aaas.org/international/africa/ewmi/gordon.htm

Water pollution. (absoluteastronomy.com/topics/waterpollution)

Air Pollution is the WORST!!!!

When we think of Air Pollution, we automatically think that it has something to do with the well-being of our health. This is true on many different levels, but Air Pollution can also harm the environment we live in. The formal definition of Air Pollution is the "introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural environment, into the atmosphere" (Reilly 2010). With this definition of Air Pollution, Do you think that the city we live in has a high density of Air Pollution that can harm our health and our environment? Or do you think that our city is clean enough for us to escape this problem? From an ecological standpoint, air pollution is very harmful to the environment.

Many people in St. Louis, however, do not know that their city ranks 9th on the list of the 25 worst polluted metropolitan areas (Reilly 2010) which is sad because their health and environment is in great danger. The Air Pollution in St. Louis will eventually cause long term affects, specifically, on children with Asthma. In order for the children to have at least some type of future, citizens particularly in St. Louis must take action to prevent an amount of Air Pollution from endangering the environment they live in and the health of their children. 

If citizens are educated, they will have some background as to what air pollution does to the environment and they can begin to make a change in their everyday lives. Think about it. If the people in St. Louis and in the city we live in could make a SMALL change, like taking public transportation to work and school at least 2 times a day, this could eventually lead to a MAJOR change. 

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the first-ever national standards for air pollution from power plants. The new rules would require many power plants to install technologies to control mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollutants" (LaCapra 2011).

My opinion of the Air Pollution in St. Louis is that the government should educate the people and let them know exactly how much of the air is being polluted and what they can do to minimize it. I believe that the St. Louis citizens love their environment because it is a tourist city and to keep tourist coming back, it would be a great deal to them to help clean the environment. I remember my grandmother saying life is too short to sit around and waste it. Little did I know that what she was implying was that if you enjoy your life, you should keep it clean of waste!! How awesome!

Reilly, A (8 July 2010). Major issues facing St. Louis: air pollution. St. Louis Liberal Examiner.

http://www.examiner.com/liberal-in-st-louis/major-issues-facing-st-louis-air-pollution

LaCapra, V (16 March 2011). EPA proposes first-ever national air pollution standards for power plants. 

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/epa-proposes-first-ever-national-air-pollution-standards-power-plants