Saving the Old Growth Forests America’s Old Growth Forests are an endangered resource that is quickly disappearing. The ancient forests are being unnecessarily wasted, and are growing smaller and smaller with each passing moment. Because the logging industry and the organizations in control of much of the remaining old growth (approx. 5%) are failing to see its value from an ecological/spiritual perspective, the children of tomorrow may never gaze upon the history of today if we do not take a stand now, and prevent the short-sightedness of others from destroying what ultimately belongs to us all. Alternatives to Destruction: Saving the Old Growth Forests. Imagine walking down an ancient path amidst a forest of tangled and twisted trees, some of which have existed since before a time even great grandparents can remember. The air echoes with sounds of life, and the fragrance is that of cedar or juniper… or something not quite either. The living things that dwell here, bridge a gap in time that many are totally unaware of and for the reasons about to be explained, may never become so. The beauty that surrounds this place is unexplainable in the tongue of man, yet its presence can be felt by all who choose to behold it. At least for now… “In addition to being places of magnificent beauty, the old growth forests of the world represent hundreds of years of life on this planet, and many of the trees are the tallest living things on the planet (Old Growth Forests, 2004).” Because of their size, these trees, and the forests they reside in, are targeted by logging companies such as Weyerhaeuser as highly profitable areas that provide supposed economical benefits to surrounding communities in the way of new jobs. Howe... ... middle of paper ... ...te, and one of world’s most precious and oldest resources will cease to exist, and the only bridge left that spans this ever widening gap in time will be forever closed to those who follow after us. References Brown, P. (1998). Issues and Opportunities Emerging from the Kyoto Protocol [Special issue]. Climate, and Forests. Abstract retrieved March 30, 2004, from http://www.wri.org/wri/biodiv Old Growth Forests. (2004). Saving the Tallest Living Things on Earth [Special issue]. Preserving America's Ancient Forests. Retrieved March 30, 2004, from http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/oldgrowthed.htm Rain Forest Action Network. (2004). Wake Up Weyerhaeuser. RAN. Retrieved March 30, 2004, from http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/old_growth/ Seideman, D. (1993). Out of the Woods: Vol. . A Forest of Voices (2nd ed.) [Conversations in Ecology].Mayfield.
These two sides of the issue bring about a major controversy in America today. Should the Pacific Northwest’s old growth forests and the welfare of the Northern Spotted Owl be sacrificed for America’s economy, and the jobs of the people in the logging industry? Which should be placed at a higher value, the forests in the Pacific Northwest and the northern spotted owl, or the American economy and the jobs and welfare of thousands and thousands of people?
Zielinski, E. (2012, April 25). The Northwest Forest Plan. Retrieved from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/history/sidebars/ecosystems/Northwest_Forest_Plan.html
In the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, written by Rebecca Skloot, there is a conflict inside the story about how the title character’s cells should be handled. Outside of the story is the conflict over who the person is that goes through the hero’s journey, is it Skloot or Deborah Lacks? Skloot was a student who became curious about Henrietta Lacks, a woman who had her cells taken away from her without her acknowledgment, and Skloot searches for answers with the help of Henrietta's daughter, Deborah. When everything from the book is taken into consideration it becomes overwhelmingly clear that the hero between these two characters is without question Rebecca.
In the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot focuses on two stories: the development of the HeLa cells and the lives of Henrietta’s family members. While in the scientific world of HeLa cells, the power is held by the doctors, such as George Gey and other doctors because of their superior intelligence to exploit the Lacks’. With that said, the Lacks family deny themselves power by remaining uneducated in the ever changing society we live in. People acquire intelligence to empower themselves, which explains how the uneducated Lacks family lose their privileges to more intelligent people. It is also apparent that Henrietta’s children were manipulated by people more powerful than them and it played a major role into who
Rebecca Skloot’s New York Times Bestseller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is an account of Skloot’s journey to uncover
Skloot first heard about Henrietta almost thirty years ago, as she explains that she “was sixteen and sitting in a community college biology class” (8). Although Henrietta’s immediate relatives were hesitant to speak with outsiders, Skloot was very stubborn to let the world know the Lacks family’s story. Not every author would wait years for an interview, yet the content and research in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” was carefully constructed over nearly a decade. While Skloot’s research is very thorough, however, the accuracy of her sources can sometimes be questionable. A primary source of information that is used throughout the book comes from an old man named Cootie. He is quoted as he mutters “‘I know I got some information on Henrietta in here somewhere,’ … from under the mattress” (Skloot 62). However, referencing Cootie only leaves a minor blemish on Skloot’s otherwise detailed research and does not heavily detract from the content of the
As long as humans have lived in forested areas, they have cut down trees for lumber and/or to clear space for agricultural purposes. However, this practice has resulted in the destruction and near extinction of our national forests. Today, fewer than five percent of our country's original forests remain (Thirteen) and the U.S. Forest Service continues to allow more than 136,000 square miles to be logged each year (Byrant). Even more alarming, is the fact that only twenty percent of the current public forest lands are permanently protected by law, leaving nearly eighty percent to be consumed by chainsaws and bulldozers (Heritage...).
Perry, D. A. (1998). The Scientific Basis of Forestry, Annual Review of Ecology and System Thematic 29:435-466, Retrieved July 9, 2005 from: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/policy_and_events/index.cfm
Rice, James Owen. "Efforts to Protect Forests Endanger Loggers' Livelihood." The Environment: Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. A.E. Sadler. San Diego: Greenhaven, Press, Inc., 1996. 124-127.
Rainforests once covered 14% of the worlds land surface, however now it only covers a mere 6%. It is estimated that all rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. Trees are becoming more needed and used everyday. We need them cut down for many reasons such as paper and timber, while also needing them ‘untouched’ for other reasons like oxygen, we have to ask ourselves, which is more important? At the current rate, most of the rainforests are being cut down for resources like paper and timber, but less importance is being placed on main resources like oxygen.
...e. A number of organizations are devoting their time and effort into increasing awareness and fighting the industry who through their thoughtlessness continue to scavenge the resources that the rainforests have to offer. Despite their efforts, the destruction of these vital ecosystems continues at an alarming rate. More and more species are dying off each day, and we continue to pump vast quantities of harmful gases into the atmosphere, leaving no natural means to cleanse the air we breathe. River basins are drying up because precipitation levels are falling with the absence of the foliage that stimulated them. Some may argue that the short term benefit to those utilizing the forests for survival outweigh the potential long term hazards. Whatever the case, the possible outcomes certainly are disturbing and should warrant more attention than they are presently given.
Despite substantial public health gains in recent years, heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death and major causes of disability in the United States. The goal of this paper is to provide an inventory of the successful interventions implemented and the theory or model applied in preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). According to a study by Stuart-Shor, et.al, 2012, most of the factors that contributes to CVD are modifiable and preventable and falls on social, environmental, biological, and systems factors. Black people are more affected by CVD compared with white Americans. High blood pressure, high
“Healthy forests help absorb greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions that are caused by human civilization and contribute to global climate change. Without trees, more carbon and greenhouse gasses enter the...
Eighty-five percent of the trees that are being cut down are old growth. Old growth forests are forests that provide a crucial habitat for wildlife, cleanse toxins out of the air and water, are the home to the cultural heritage of many indigenous groups and are the source of many useful plants. Only twenty-two percent of the world’s old growth remains intact. In the United States, less than four percent of its old growth forests are still standing.
State of the Forests (n.d.) World Rainforest Movement. Retrieved on January 30, 2007 from www.org.uy