Deadly Deforestation

In the rural area that I live in, gas companies are continuously putting up gas wells to harvest the natural gas that is housed underground. While a large profit can be made, some of these wells cause much destruction to the environment. One large well is located right outside of Houston, Pennsylvania, about ten minutes from my house. The destruction caused by the gas company really caught my eye. Seemingly overnight, they managed to cut down all of the trees in what used to be a large wooded area, leaving a barren scar on the land. Witnessing the destruction occurring in this scenario can be used to defend the deforestation of rain forests. The forests contain very important resources that we can use, so harming the environment in this manner is unacceptable and needs to stop. The deforestation of rainforests not only destroys the aesthetic beauty of nature, but it is also very harmful to the environment.

Naturally, nature holds a certain beauty, and if possible, should be preserved. When nature is destroyed (in this case when the trees were cut down) the beauty is gone in an instant. In the example provided, the beauty of the wooded patch was stripped away very quickly through the use of chainsaws, bulldozers, and dump trucks. All of the trees were cut down along with the sense of wonder that one feels from experiencing nature with all senses. All of the smells, colors, and sounds of the woods were lost. No longer would the leaves of the trees change color in the fall, and there would be no song birds left to sing. Their home was destroyed and is now lost. I was affected by the deforestation more than I ever imagined I would be. When I first drove past this area I instantly noticed that something was missing, and I felt an emptiness inside me because of the ruination that occurred. Not only did this piece of land become unappealing to the eye, but also it showed me the harmful effects of deforestation.

In the small area of woods that was cut down outside of Houston, the flora and fauna were greatly affected; I could not imagine the extent to which the plants and animals would be affected by the destruction of rainforests, as well as humans. The rainforests are home to thousands and thousands of plant and animal species, and if their habitat is destroyed then there is no longer a home for them and they will quickly die. According to Rainforest Facts, “Nearly half of the world's species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation. Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal, and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year.” As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists (Rain-Tree Facts).” That is a very frightening fact, and it shows that destroying the beautiful forests causes harm on levels that may not be noticed by the general public. The site also states that nearly one and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second. If we continue down this road before long the rainforest areas of the world will be lost along with the benefits that rainforests provide us with. Luckily action is being taken to try to stop the deadly deforestation of rain-forests.

Rainforest Facts also states that, “Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting its many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber (Rain-Tree Facts).” Many are pushing this idea in hopes that those harvesting the lumber will realize that deforestation is not ideal; economically as well as environmentally. Also, experts say, “Promoting the use of sustainable and renewable sources could stop the destruction of the rainforests. By creating a new source of income harvesting the medicinal plants, fruits nuts, oil and other sustainable resources, the rainforests is be more valuable alive than cut and burned (Rain-Tree Facts).” Once again, experts are attempting to coax lumber harvesters by stating that they would be able to make just as much of a profit and more importantly, manage to keep the rain-forests intact. Reforestation is another important practice to focus on. Rainforest area inhabitants should learn a lesson from China. How to prevent Deforestation, tells of the policy China put into place; “In the past China set a requirement that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 is responsible for planting three to five trees per year or complete an equal amount of work in other areas of forestry. Since 1982, the government claims that at least one billion trees have been planted in China as a result of the program (How to Prevent Deforestation).” These forests are valuable to the plant and animal inhabitants as well as the human population and they need to be saved.

I saw the aftermath of the destruction of hundreds of trees, and through my own experience in nature I have come to realize that destroying nature is wrong. These forests are home to many forms of life, some of which can even benefit us. Although efforts are being made to save these magnificent areas of land, it is not enough and needs to be taken more seriously, or we will lose the rainforests all together.

Works Cited:

“How to Prevent Deforestation.” 17 May 2010.

“Rainforest Facts.” 20 March 2010. 17 May 2010.

Cliff Hanger

Nature is a very powerful force and has the ability to move individuals in very strong ways. I experienced firsthand, the great power and magnificence of nature. Nature is a very dominant force that affects our lives every single day and it is crucial that we learn to live in harmony with it. Nature has the power to provide as well as take away and it is extremely important to understand this concept. I learned that even though humans believe to have control over the forces of nature, we cannot control nature, but can only sit back and admire its beauty or watch it destroy.

I was ten years old when my family took a vacation to California; while we were there we took a trip out to a set of tide pools to see the different plant and animal life. We spent a long time exploring the pools and I took a particular interest in the plants and animals that inhabited the area. The pools teemed with many different species of fish and had a variety of interesting coral and other sea plant life. The plant and animal life held my attention for a while, but being a daring kid I decided to explore the area where the rock face dropped off into the ocean. Since it was low tide the water was below the surface we were standing on, and had dropped so low that there was a ten foot cliff that dropped to the water. I got the brilliant idea to walk out to the very edge even though giant waves were crashing into the rocks and spraying water into the air. Once I reached the edge a wave hit me and knocked me over; when I fell off the cliff I somehow managed to grab onto the edge that was covered with mussels. Luckily my dad pulled me to safety before another wave came that could have knocked me into the water. When I was pulled to safety I was clearly shaken, but from that moment on I knew the power that nature held and could unleash, even though the wave that knocked me over was small in comparison to other disasters nature can cause. This experience gave me a much greater appreciation for nature and it allowed me to understand that although we as humans may think we have control over nature that we, in fact, do not. Just as I thought that I was in control of my own safety while standing on the edge, nature, specifically the wave that over powered me, showed me that I had a lot less control than I actually thought.

This experience was life changing for me; not only did it give me a greater respect for nature, but it showed me that although nature is powerful we can learn to live along with it in harmony. This idea has become much stronger in the recent decade with a more environmentally conscious attitude. It may not be easy to live in nature without attempting to control it, but if this can be accomplished we could develop a happier and healthier planet. In my case, had I just stood back and continued to admire the beauty of the tide pools instead of standing on the edge of the cliff I would have avoided this near death experience. This experience also gave me an example of how nature has the ability to give as well as take away. Sometimes nature provides that light rain that allows crops to grow and flourish, but nature can also bring a tsunami that causes death and destruction. In my circumstance, had I not grabbed onto the edge I very well may have died, and I learned that I had no control over nature whatsoever.

Many people tend to think that they have control, but no one can control the awesome power that nature holds. When I was standing on the edge I felt a sense of control, but the wave that knocked me over thought different. While we cannot control nature, we can alter the way nature affects us, as well as the severity of its effects. Most people live in a house under a roof that shields them from the rain, snow, and cold and the levies in New Orleans prevent the city from being under water. Even with these prevention methods, scenarios arise where these anticipation techniques fail; for example, the levies in New Orleans broke and allowed the flood waters of hurricane Katrina to devastate the city. We also tend to think that because of technology we can avoid the wrath of nature. The most recent example would be the snow storm in February that covered much of the north east in two feet of powder. This storm knocked out the power in thousands of homes in the Washington area alone, and most vehicles were totally useless unless they were dug out of the snow. Even with the advanced technology that we possess today, disasters that are large enough can render this technology completely and utterly useless. It is important to not be completely reliant on technology, because when a catastrophe happens it may be necessary to function without technology.

My experience changed my life in more than one way. It taught me that humans must learn to peacefully coexist with nature and not attempt to control it. Nature has the power to bestow great gifts, and also destroy life, as it almost did in my case. I developed a greater appreciation for the magnificence of nature, and a better understanding of the incredible power that it is capable of unleashing. Most importantly, I learned not to stand on the edge of a cliff when gigantic waves are crashing into it and that have the ability to knock a ten year old, not even 100 pound kid over. Standing on the edge of a cliff that was constantly being pounded by huge waves was unsafe, and clearly it was a terrible idea, and the near death experience I had could have easily been avoided.

What it Means to be Green

Many believe that when someone says their actions are “green” or that they are trying to benefit the environment by being “green”, that they are some sort of hippy tree hugger activist who are against technological improvements because they could cause serious harm to the environment. Many people tend to think of the most extreme example when this word is brought into conversation. While this may be an extreme form of living the “green” life, most people who want to live green just need to change a few simple things in their everyday life to avoid causing more harm to our planet. It is important to know the definition that is being expanded in order to understand the argument to be brought forth.

The word green originated before the year 900 A.D. and comes from the Middle English word, as well as the Old English word. Green also has German origins, in grün, which means to grow. The German form of green best fits the definition of green because it involves the environment. The dictionary definition of green in this context is, “environmentally sound or beneficial.” I agree with this definition, but it can easily be misinterpreted.

Those that are uninformed sometimes believe that in order to live green you must completely abandon your normal lifestyle, and make drastic changes in your transportation, eating habits and a variety of other things that would cause great inconvenience. When a majority of the population envisions green living they tend to think of families like that of Colin Beavin’s; this man, his wife, Michelle Conlin, and their daughter, Isabella, “went green to the extreme,” according to CBS News. This family lived for one year without using items that they considered wasteful, including toilet paper. So, for an entire year, they neither flew nor drove, to reduce the emitting of harmful exhaust, they only ate unpackaged locally grown food, and they did not shop for anything new. Many believe that in order to be green, you must be entirely green, like the family above, but this is not reasonable to expect from the average American family. Although Colin Beavin and his family are a prime example of living completely green, there are many ways that small changes in the household can be made to support green living.

According to National Geographic’s Green Guide to Everyday Life, there are a variety of simple things you can do that will help you to live more green. For example, “Reducing your speed to 55 mph from 65 mph may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent; cut it to 55 from 70, and you could get a 23 percent improvement.” Another problem is the excess amounts of garbage due to packaging materials. A quick fix for this would be buying items in bulk to avoid all of the extra packaging. Also, “cooking just one more dinner and packing just one more lunch a week will have a big impact on unnecessary waste and will save you money.” Last but not least, National Geographic’s Green Guide to Everyday Life reports that much of the average household’s energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling the home. By hanging curtains or drapes over windows and installing weather-stripping you can increase your home’s energy efficiency. These may seem like straightforward things to do, but it is surprising how many Americans do not do any of them. These little changes can make a big difference and should be practiced. Going green should not be viewed as a bad or extremist outlook on life, because there are many benefits to be had by being more environmentally conscious. The purpose of going green is to make a positive impact on the environment, and there are many benefits that can come from doing this.

Although there are many benefits, and Going Green Hints lists five major benefits that come from going green; save the earth, save your health, save money, save the economy, and it just feels good. Saving the earth is obviously the most important benefit, and the site states that, “While our collective actions have done huge amounts of damage to our planet, it is those same collective actions that can save it.” This statement is entirely true, and should be taken seriously. Saving your health is a very important benefit. According to the website, household cleaning supplies and pesticides contain many harmful chemicals, but green products do not include these dangerous chemicals. Everyone enjoys saving money, and that simple fact makes going green very beneficial. There are green ways to save money on household energy costs, as well as ways to improve gas mileage as noted above. The economy will also benefit if the United States makes the choice to go green. The site suggests a way of promoting green living while at the same time giving the economy a much needed boost. “Looking at the world economy, it is very difficult for the United States to compete in many traditional areas like manufacturing. One of the best ways for us to “keep our edge” and continue to compete is by being the leader in green technologies.” Finally, going green just feels good. Knowing that you took the incentive and did the little extra to protect the planet that we live on gives you that feeling that you know you did the right thing.

All in all, green, or the phrase going green, should not be taken as completely changing your lifestyle, but instead making small changes to better and protect the environment. In other words, being completely “environmentally sound or beneficial,” should not be the goal, but small steps should be taken to create a healthier environment, and attempt to stop or reverse some of the harmful things that we as a human race have caused. Not only is it important to protect our environment, but it is our responsibility. As of now, we only have one planet to live on, so it is important that we do our best to care for it.

Works Cited:

“Green Guide for Everyday Living.” 17 May 2010.

“5 Benefits of Going Green.” 17 May 2010.