environmentalscienceblogs-blog

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

THE ROLE OF ZOOS IN CONSERVATION/EDUCATION

Zoos have an important role to play in the preservation of wild life and natural habitat and also in conservation and education. They are established to create awareness in regard to animals, wildlife and biodiversity as they make use of vast amount of land to either protect animals or reconnect humans to nature. Factors like greed, industrialization, pollution and loss of habitat are some of the major reasons why zoos are being established as a means of educating the general public about protecting, conserving and aiding animals in their natural environment.Animals can be kept in zoos to either protect them from poaching or extinction. Animals are kept in zoos for better understanding and research purposes but at the same time its best to leave them in their natural habitat. Zoos are make a lot of money from tourism which in turn produces revenue to keep up with the many activities they undertake. Zoos serve as a means of educating the public on the various environmental problems we face in our world today.

IS IT ETHICAL TO KEEP ANIMALS IN ZOOS

 I think keeping animals in zoos is a good thing as long as they are taken care of properly and protected from predators and the danger of extinction. If animals were in the wild they would be at a higher risk of extinction. The most important thing for me is that the zoos replicate their natural habitat as much as possible. Very large animals should not be in zoos where their natural habitat cannot be replicated and its natural behaviour cannot be expressed. I think smaller animals such as monkeys can be kept in zoos because it is easier to take care of them and they can interact with the environment even with little space. The type of zoo should fit the category of animal. Animals facing extinction should be kept in zoos with limited access to the public to ensure they reach a sustainable population. Attached is a video that explains why need zoos.

Video Source: TedxTalks. Guest speaker: Gabriela Mastromonaco. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBzwnTW-O4&frags=pl%2Cwn

VISITING ZOOS

I  enjoy visiting the zoo occasionally during summer as it helps me gain a deeper connection to nature and just admire the beauty and uniqueness of nature. Also, I get to see and discover more species of animals which is very fun for me and informative.It’s also cool to hang out with animals

FOOD 

What I like about my food system is that some food items i consume are organic. I try to reduce my consumption of canned foods. My food system is especially good because I help to support local farmers by buying fruits and vegetables directly from them and not from the grocery store. I also make sure i compost my organic waste. Examples of the food items I purchase regularly include:                    -Organic vegetables                                                                                               

     -Strawberries                                                                                                          

    -  Rice                                                                                                                    

    - Pasta                                                                                                                    

   -  Pineapples                                                                                                         

    - Tomatoes

There aren’t a lot of things i dislike in my food system. Although i wish organic food could be more affordable and had a longer shelf life. I also have to deal with the fact that organic foods are not readily available.

OCEANS

My primary concerns about the oceans is the threat too marine life as a result of of human activities/actions. Specifically plastic pollution in our oceans

Plastic wraps our food, our houses, and our technology. It is a remarkable substance that has contributed to advances in healthcare and helped raise millions pf people out of poverty. But, disposable consumer goods end up – often after a single, fleeting use – in land-fills, littering our landscapes, and polluting our Ocean. 80% of marine plastic pollution originates from land-based sources.

Global plastics consumption is predicted to grow dramatically, to reach 400 million tonnes a year by 2025.

If the rate at which plastic debris enters the Ocean goes unchecked, it is possible that the Ocean could contain 1 kg of plastic for every 3 kg of fish by 2025, and more plastic than fish by 2050.

Micro-plastics coming from synthetic fabrics washed in washing machines is the most common form of micro-plastic in the ocean.

CONSEQUENCES OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic material does not biodegrade: Over time, plastic material does not bio-degrade, but breaks down into tiny particles known as micro plastics, which can be eaten by small marine animals and enter the food chain. Tiny particles of plastic even build up in fish brains, altering their behaviour.

Plastic waste contains toxic chemicals: Plastic debris often contains chemicals added during manufacture that can absorb and concentrate contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (e.g. poly-chlorinated biphenyls or PCBs).

Pollution is very difficult to deal with: Plastic pollution is extremely difficult to remove from the environment or trace back to its source.

Health impacts on humans: A growing body of scientific research and evidence suggests that these harmful substances can transfer into the tissue of aquatic species – such as fish – that are consumed by humans    .

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT

More effort is needed by governments to take leadership on environmental policy to cooperate and tackle this global scourge. Action is needed now, not ten years from now.

We must transition away from a linear (make, use, dispose) economy towards a circular economy where resources, such as plastics, are used, recovered and reused over and over again, instead of heading directly to the landfill or the Ocean.

We all also need to take personal responsibility and significantly limit our use of plastic. For example, we can carry a reusable water bottle or coffee cup, bring our own cloth bag or other reusable bag when shopping, buy second-hand products, dramatically cut down our consumption of single-use plastic such as food contained in plastic packaging or plastic straws in our take-away drinks, and make sure we recycle whenever possible.

All Governments should incorporate education about plastics, waste management and recycling into their school curriculum. This is a helpful strategy and public education efforts should be amplified. But they also need to go further, faster to encourage businesses to change and to also adopt procurement policies that reduce their plastic footprint.

Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CK_inDmuoU

WHAT DO I PLAN TO DO ABOUT IT

 I will try to reduce the amount of plastic I use and encourage people to use less plastic. I will also look into better alternatives. I will sign multiple petitions advocating the ban of single-use straws. 

REFERENCES

Our Team. MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION – Ocean Unite. Ocean Unite https://www.oceanunite.org/issues/marine-plastic-pollution/

VATSALA SINGHANIA. 10 Pros And Cons Of Eating Organic Foods. STYLECRAZE. https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-eating-organic-foods/#gref

Definition of time poverty | New Word Suggestion | Collins Dictionary. Collinsdictionary.com https://www.collinsdictionary.com/submission/17594/time+poverty

8 Reasons that Zoos are Critically Important for Conservation – Dr. James Borrell. Dr. James Borrell. http://www.jamesborrell.com/8-reasons-that-zoos-are-critically-important-for-conservation/

The Role of Zoos in Endangered Species Conservation. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/zoos-and-endangered-species-conservation-1182068

Why We Need Zoos | Gabriela Mastromonaco | TEDxToronto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBzwnTW-O4&frags=pl%2Cwn

A sea of plastic: Shocking images show how bottles, bags and rubbish are choking our oceans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CK_inDmuoU  

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

SLOW MOVEMENT

After listening to the “Welcome to New Slow City” podcast in regards to New York i was able to find three(3) major challenges which are 

   Time Poverty; which refers to lacking the ability to connect with our natural environment and having little time for leisure activities outside of work. We do not keep up with the issues going on in our environment and therefore miss out on a lot.

   Inefficient time schedule; although we make out time to go to work and perform other unnecessary activities we barely make time for things that matter like spending time with our family and spending time enjoying nature.

   Lack of Space; for New York City residents space is a luxury as most live in small apartments. This becomes an issue because there is no space for to plant small crops of grow little gardens.

   Opportunities would be:

        Smart Filtering: This refers to selectively paying attention to things that matter. Willingness to ignore unnecessary stimuli indication we can be more proactive in our decision making.

        Random acts of Kindness: Saying hello to strangers to brighten up their day goes a long way to affecting peoples lives. And it provides us with a feeling of connectivity.

        Pacing your life; By taking time while walking outside to take stock of all that is around you observing patiently your immediate surroundings.

  INVESTIGATION OF THE CHEMICALS IN MY PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Some personal care products i make use of daily are :

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline body lotion and Cantu Shea Butter

After prolonged investigation Colgate optic white toothpaste has low concerns when it comes to hazards with moderate use restrictions, no allergies and immunotoxicity concerns, no developmental, reproductive and cancer concerns.The Vaseline petroleum jelly has a low overall hazard level and an almost moderate use restriction with concerns such as organic system toxicity and contamination. The  overall moderate hazard concern with low developmental and reproductive toxicity, above moderate Allergies and immunotoxicity and moderate use restrictions. With the Cantu Shea Butter the overall hazard is low with low allergies and immunotoxicity and above moderate use restrictions. other high concerns includes multiple, additive exposure source, irritation, occupational hazard and many more.

MY PURCHASE ANALYSIS FOR ONE WEEK

My purchase analysis from the 24th of February 2019 to the 2nd of March 2018 includes

​

Item                         amount in $                    Good(G) or Bad(B)

Clothing                          50                                              G

Alcohol                           15                                               B 

Cigarettes                       15                                               B

Skip                                16                                               B                                    

unicity taxi                      12.50                                          B                                    

Groceries                      140                                            G                                      

Laundry Soap               16                                              G                                      

Notebooks                    10                                               G                                    

Good Total: $216           Bad Total: $58.50

Determining whether an item should be considered good or bad was based on long term impact to my health. The reason why i categorized taxi, take-out, alcohol and cigarettes was because i could have went in the direction of better alternatives but lacked the willpower to do so. The categories i considered good were because the had an overall advantage to my well-being.

HOUSEHOLD E-WASTE

 My roommate and i do not currently produce e-waste but concerning our future e-waste we’d pawn it off or donate it to a charity but we make sure it does not go into the trash. We do not send e-waste to the land fill or mix it up with the normal waste because few materials can still be harvested from it.

FOOD SYSTEM AND SUSTAINABILITY

 I do think that my housemate and i can make improvements in terms of the sustainability of the food that we consume and throw away. We will start shopping for items/groceries that we need not want. This will ensure that food is not wasted and will also save us money in the long-term. Unfortunately, I do not think growing our own food is doable at this point because we do not have access to land, and we lack the skills necessary to grow food on a sufficient level. Collectively, my housemate and i can improve sustainability of the food we consume and dispose by shopping for items/groceries that we need, limiting the amount of perishable goods that we buy and storing food appropriately.

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

HUMAN ENVIRONMENT CONNECTIONS

What promotes human connection to nature?

      Experience is the first answer that comes to mind when thinking about this question. The more we immerse ourselves with our natural surroundings the greater we feel connected to nature. Activities such as camping, hiking and mountain climbing help to register beautiful feelings of being part of a greater whole. Performing occupations such as farming, fishing and hunting reminds of how grateful we should be for the variety of way our natural environments provides for our daily needs. Also in a way i find quite interesting natural disasters sometimes provoked by human activities serve as a reminder of how although we see ourselves as being numero uno in our ecosystem we are merely cogs in a really big wheel

What promotes human disconnection from nature

      Indiscriminate exploitation. When we begin to see nature as some sort of bank account that we can take from without putting anything in we disconnect from what literally provides us with life. Activities such as industrial agriculture and perpetuate the attitude that we can bend nature and it’s resources however we like without  giving a thought to how far the ramifications will go. Believing we are apart from nature only serves to disconnect from the larger whole.

https://goo.gl/images/AuH233

https://goo.gl/images/rk2hnD

https://goo.gl/images/WEfi11

Is there a danger to a growing disconnect from nature?

       Of course there is. Without nature we have no chance of survival. We are not apart from nature no how much we want to believe so. Neither are we above nature though technology might make us provide us with this false feeling. A growing disconnect should serve as a warning to us to reconnect with our environment. A complete disconnect from nature will only destroy us in the end. We are one with nature and therefore should strive to enhance that relationship.

Where do your environmental ethics lie?

        Honestly i would like to believe i fall completely into the biocentric category but sometimes my actions reflect those of an anthropocentric lifestyle. I am working on being completely immersed in a biocentric way of living. Because this way of relating to the environment provides me with the opportunity to do my part in ensuring the health and longevity of our ecosystem. 

Can parks meet its dual mandate of access and protection?

       Parks can meet its duality of access and protection but it will be difficult to achieve such balance as it requires a lot of manpower and enforcement of rules that may seem completely pointless and easy to flaunt. It will be difficult because how do you categorize activities that will be harmful to the ecosystem especially if the effects are not immediately felt. Also the nature of human beings to exploit nature solely for their benefit is an issue that needs to be tackled. But approaching this challenge with the right intentions and plan of action would go a long way to make sure such duality is achieved.  

How can this be achieved in Wapusk 

     This can be achieved in Wapusk through collaboration with the park management and members of the public. They such seek to create a system where there is little or no interaction with wildlife but still enjoy the pleasure of seeing them in their respective habitats. The aboriginal inhabitants should also be consulted because they have lived alongside wildlife. Restricting the viewing of some animals to certain times in the year would also help.

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

MY TIME IN NATURE

I spent precisely an hour on the balcony of my apartment in order to complete this question. Initially i’d wanted to do this in January but alas i do not have the resilience of those who settled on this land had to withstand the horrendous temperature. So i decided to wait until March when the temperature would have reduced and hopefully become slightly bearable. I could see cars as they sped along pembina highway heading to their various destinations coated with dust and snow. I could hear the chattering of my teeth as i struggled against the cold willing myself to endure the cold telling myself it will only be an hour then i can go back to the warmth of my bed. I could feel the piercing cold as if it were biting on my ear. I couldn’t smell anything. My nose was blocked. What i did notice however was the fact that sun rays bounce off the snow making it seem brighter than it actually is. Surprisingly i could also feel the heat being given off by the sun. A lot of thoughts were racing through my mind at during this hour. What is the point of such high temperatures? Why don’t human beings have some sort of natural fur as animals? (not talking about hair as we know it’s not sufficient). What could have drawn the early settlers to this land? Were they running away from something? Could that be why they were able to to justify staying in a place as cold as this? Staying in cold for an hour made me appreciate summer more and the beautiful heat it brings.

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

The Ted Talks

The ted talk about how trees talk to each other was really insightful. It showed how forests are really important to our ecosystem and how connected nature really is. It also got me thinking that maybe the reason we do not really respect nature as we should is because we cannot perceive things such as carbon molecules in the air with our naked eye. We are unable to see how they affect us directly without the use of machines which might probably be why we take all that is around us for granted. I believe that if we were able to see( with our naked eyes) how much nature directly affects us we would take better care of our environment. I also think nature is trying to talk to us the similar to the way trees talk to each other but we are consumed by greed and therefore unable to pay attention and correct our ways. The ted talk about vultures opened my eyes to how nature is self sustaining while our version of self sustaining is basically relying on nature in other words we need nature to survive but it does not need us. Also every aspect of our ecosystem no matter how small or how we perceive them is relevant to the greater whole

The aspects of nature i feel we should protect and ensure biodiversity would be our forests as we get our our primary resource from i.e oxygen. I also feel we should protect our seas too because they constitute an abundant source of food and energy both for us and the animals we consume. We should set up game reserves and parks to protect our trees and make sure that when we cut them down we have looked into alternatives and made sure there were none to what we plan to used them for. Concerning the seas we protect the seas by fishing less and disposing of pollutants such as plastics in ways that benefit the environment.

[environmentalscienceblogs-blog]

 Truth and Reconciliation of Canada and the United Nations(U.N)

https://goo.gl/images/68Dt4S

The truth and reconciliation commission was set up in an attempt to write the wrongs of Canada's past i.e the residential school system and the genocide of indigenous peoples in Canada. Reconciliation in this case means establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people in this country. The goal for setting up the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada can be related to some of the goal set by the U.N to achieve sustainable development. From the list of goals set by the U.N toward sustainable development i have picked five that have great significance to the Truth and Reconciliation goals of Canada.

https://goo.gl/images/bZQbyC

Quality Education is important because it provides people with the means to make the most of their circumstances. It is an enabler of change. Education creates awareness which in turn promotes growth and development. It ensures that we are equipped with sufficient knowledge to make the world a better place.

https://goo.gl/images/ec191C

Gender Equality makes sure that women are part of the decision making processes that affect them. Women and girls make up half of the world population. Ensuring that women have access to the the same opportunities as would promote a healthy society.

https://goo.gl/images/wnNmhX

Decent work and economic work and growth would mean providing people with the means to contribute the economy while not harming the environment. This in turn would help in the eradication of poverty. More people are able to partake in the benefits of progress

https://goo.gl/images/UeG8CR

Reduced Inequalities is all about ensuring that perceived differences do not serve as barriers to opportunities. It is important because we cannot achieve sustainable development if people are excluded from opportunities.

https://www.google.com/imgres?

This goal is geared toward achieving peace in our societies and promoting inclusion. It is also about protecting the individual rights of people 

All these goals are related to the truth and reconciliation in Canada in the sense that they affect majority of the aboriginal population in Canada and are a step forward to making sure the wrongs of the past can be resolved to promote the progress of all those involved.

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300