Project Seeks to Map and Reduce Ocean Noise Pollution

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/science/project-seeks-to-map-and-reduce-ocean-noise-pollution.html?ref=earth

1) What are the causes of the ocean noise and how does it impact the marine life?

2) Do you think the efforts of the federal government to reduce the noise pollution will be effective?

Rancher Brings Pollution Battle to WA Supreme Court

http://earthfix.opb.org/water/article/rancher-brings-pollution-battle-to-wa-supreme-cour/

1. What future environmental/societal problems could arise if livestock continue to pollute rivers and streams?

2. Do you think that pollution should be prioritized over property rights or the other way around and why?

A Sixth Mass Extinction

Click on the link and answer the questions
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/are-we-in-the-midst-of-a-sixth-mass-extinction.html?_r=0

1. What are some ways  endangered animals are being helped as stated in the article, and what do they do?

2.Why is saving the animals important to humans and the environment?
.

Sea Ice in the Polar Regions

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121111153813.htm

1. Why is there such a large difference between the changes in the amount of sea-ice present in the two polar regions?

2. What purpose does the sea-ice have in these regions? What are the different consequences for the Arctic and Antarctic?

Mountain Meadows Dwindling

http://earthfix.opb.org/land/article/mountain-meadows-dwindling-in-the-pacific-northwes/

1. What could have prevented the disappearance of these mountain meadows?

2. What are the potential consequences if Mountain Meadows continue disappearing?

Extinction of Dolphin in Yangtze River

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/12/061214-dolphin-extinct.html

1. What are the major factors of the extinction of the Baiji, and are there ways in which its extinction could have been prevented?

2. What would be good ways to prevent future river animal extinctions? In china specifically, and in general.

Marine Environment in Baltic Sea at Risk

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121022080148.htm

1. What is eutrophication? What are its causes and effects in the Baltic Sea?

2. What is a possible solution? Is there a possible solution? Explain.

Pollution in China
 

http://www.chinadialogue.net/books/5212/en

what would be a reason for the Chinese government to manipulate and mask the results rather than publicize the hazardous pollution? what would be a reasonable action to lower the pollution?

What is a fine particle? what are the dangers of  fine particles?

Debating the Clean Water Act

http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2012/commentary/editorial-in-the-circle-fresh-focus/voices-from-the-past-debating-the-clean-water-act/

1. How large of a role should the federal government play in enforcing laws like the Clean Water Act? Are there alternative solutions to government intervention?

2. What do you think the main obstacle for the Clean Water Act would be in the present? Do you think it would be worth enacting even with this obstacle?

Council asks Ecology to identify county as Staging Area as part of oil spill planning

                             
Read the following article and answer the following questions:

1. What effect would another oil spill have on the ecosystem  of San Juan?

2. How do the ecological effects differ between sinking oil and spilt oil?

The Lionfish Creates an Uproar, Bringing Out the Hunters

Read the following article and answer the following questions:


1. What solutions for removing the invasive lionfish are divers using and do you think that these solutions are effective/have any drawbacks?

2. In your opinion, would setting up a market system with the governments aid drastically reduce the number of lionfish in the marine ecosystem? Or is the intense reproductive rate of lionfish too much for a market to make a substantial difference?

World Wildlife Federation Calls for Nations to Increase Anti-Poaching Measures

Read the article and answer the following questions.

1. Can the West justify holding developing countries responsible for setting aside resources to protect endangered species, or is it unfair to impoverished people to prioritize the environment? Or, conversely, do you think that better regulation of natural resources (specifically game) could help alleviate poverty?

2. What areas of development in these countries do you think are most likely to help reduce poaching? (For example: education, utilities, industry, law enforcement, etc.)

Carbon Tax?

Read the following article and answer these questions.

1. The article says that this tax would not be enough to cut carbon emissions in order to reach the US goal. Discuss ways the US could develop "other clean-energy measures in order to make a significant dent in tackling global warming" on a large scale.

2. Discuss graph 1 and the four options presented. Why would some benefit one extreme over the other? 

Read the following article and answer these questions.

1.What effect does global warming have on the cycle described in the article?

2. If the Sahara were to stay green, and the fishing tribes were able to continue to exists, developing into modern society; how different do you think North Africa would be today?

Mayan Civilization

Read this short article about the Mayan civilization and its rise and fall. We will be studying more about the collapse in the New Green History readings. Feel free to watch the video linked at the bottom of the article from NOVA Science Now.

1. What do you think caused the collapse of the Mayan civilization?

2. How could this scenario have been avoided? Does this hold lessons for current environmental management?