BAMBOO BUZZ!

Bamboo this, bamboo that - What’s up with the bamboo buzz? Technically classified as a “weed”, the bamboo plant is strong, renewable and inexpensive. There are nearly 1000 different species of bamboo and it can be grown in almost any moderate climate. Bamboo can grow 20 meters in less than 60 days. However, extremely fast growth is not bamboo’s only environmentally friendly virtue. Bamboo also helps repair the devastating effects of deforestation and mining to soil and communities. Bamboo actually removes toxins from soil, prevents erosion and provides jobs and food for many people. It thrives in a diverse landscape up to 12,000 feet and releases 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Bamboo is the strongest plant known to humankind. Bamboo is also extremely versatile. It has thousands of uses, from paper to clothing, fences, construction, chop sticks, flooring, musical instruments - the list is endless. Furthermore, when manufacturing solid hardwood flooring from plantation timber, only 20-25% is used. Bamboo flooring, on the other hand, uses over 90% of the bamboo plant with no wastage. Its strength-to-weight ratio is better than graphite. The US Navy even used bamboo to reinforce concrete in World War II. In conclusion, the buzz about bamboo is quite legit. If you have the opportunity to buy things bamboo, we say go for it. Buy bamboo and keep the green going.

CHiNA

The United States and China should hold a summit featuring an agreement on climate change, helping to create international support for a new global pact by the end of 2009, a former White House adviser said on Thursday. China and the United States have often been icy rivals over trade and security, and they are also the world's top two emitters of the greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels that are stoking global warming. Kenneth Lieberthal, a former National Security Council officer on Asia in the Clinton administration and now at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., said the two powers should make fighting global warming a centerpiece under President Barack Obama. A summit between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao featuring clean energy and curtailing greenhouse gases as one of the major issues would help surmount domestic misgivings in each country and lift hopes for agreeing a successor to the current Kyoto Protocol by the end of 2009, Lieberthal said in Beijing. Kyoto is the United Nations' main weapon to fight climate change. "We should use Sino-U.S. cooperation in order to create momentum for other countries' efforts, which will in turn increase the chances for success at the global climate negotiations," he said. He was speaking at the release of a study by him and another former Clinton official, David Sandalow, advocating China-U.S. cooperation on climate change. The study is available on the Brookings website. Lieberthal's call came a week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Beijing, when she pushed the issue.

AH-CHOO

Researchers found that children born in the high mold season, which generally encompasses the fall and winter months, have three times the odds of developing wheezing - often an early sign of asthma - by age 2 compared with those born at other times of the year. The study results, to be reported online Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the journal Thorax, may help shed light on why babies born in the fall and winter appear to have a higher risk of eventually developing asthma than children born in the summer.Numerous factors have been linked to asthma risk, including heredity and exposure to air pollution, animal dander and tobacco smoke. A 2008 study of birth and medical records found that babies born in the fall are at greater risk of later developing childhood asthma. That study suggested an influence from early exposure to respiratory viruses, which is more common during the peak of cold and flu season.The researchers examined 514 children born in 1999 and 2000 in California's Salinas Valley, a region with mild, rainy winters and dry summers. They identified 27 spore and 48 pollen groups in the study, recording the average daily concentrations for the groups that accounted for more than 3 percent of the total during the first three months of life for each child in the study.The peak of the pollen and spore seasons did not always occur in the same months of each study year, but for this region, ambient mold levels begin to increase in November and December, and pollen peaks in the early spring months of March and April, the researchers said. After adjusting for such factors as family history of asthma, air pollution, secondhand smoke and signs of cockroaches, rodents or mold in the home, the researchers found that babies born in the fall and winter have triple the odds of developing early wheezing, often a precursor to asthma, by 24 months of age. High concentrations of two groups of fungal spores, basidiospores and ascospores - emitted from such sources as mushrooms, molds, and rusts on plants - had a significant association with early wheezing at age 2. Basidiospores and ascospores are common outdoor allergen-bearing particles that are more prevalent during periods of rain or high humidity. Total pollen concentration exposure during the first three months of life was also linked to greater risk of early wheezing. Of the groups of pollen, those from alder, pine and cypress trees had a greater effect than those from oak, mulberry or elm trees.

Global Warming Causes Severe Storms

Research Meteorologists found that the temperature changes brought on by global warming are significant enough to cause an increase in the occurrence of severe storms. Severe storms are those that cause flooding, have damaging winds, hail and could cause tornados. Their study revealed that by the end of this century, the number of days that favor severe storms could more than double certain locations, such as Atlanta and New York. Researchers also found that this increase would occur during typical stormy seasons and not during dry seasons when it may be beneficial.

#17

Over the break I was itching to get a new piercing. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to get but I decided to get my nose and my upper lip done. When I know the piercing is about to start I always hestiate at the last minute to get it done. For some reason I get so scared before the needle goes in. The first thing I did was get my nose done and it hurted so much. I was bleeding all over and I thought I was going to pass out! After I recovered from that I got my upper lip pierced. It didn't hurt at all but it got swollen really bad. I am now up to 17 piercings and I have 4 more to go!

CAN GEO-ENGiNEERiNG REBUiLD THE PLANET?

In the 1960s, two Russian scientists set out ambitious plans to reshape the world around us: to reverse the flow of rivers, shoot tiny white particles into space to illuminate the night sky, and melt the Arctic to water fields of Soviet wheat. "If we want to improve our planet and make it more suitable for life," wrote NP Rusin and L Flit, "we must alter its climate."Four decades later, we have done plenty to alter the climate, but not for the better. And as we grapple with the problems of global warming, the standard prescription cutting greenhouse gas emissions is proving problematic. "I cannot see that we will be able to keep carbon levels low enough to prevent catastrophe," says Professor Brian Launder, of the University of Manchester. "Over the past five years, emissions have gone up, not down."Which means that "geo-engineering" using technology on an almost unimaginable scale to tinker with the environment and correct our mistakes could move from fantasy to necessity. Professor James Lovelock, who came up with the "Gaia" hypothesis, in which the Earth is thought to behave rather like a living, self-regulating organism, thinks we have exceeded the planet's natural capacity to counteract the changes we have made, and are rapidly heading towards a situation that will be calamitous for our species. "Whatever we do is likely to lead to death on a scale that makes all previous wars, famines and disasters small," he says. "To continue business as usual will probably kill most of us during the century."

FiRE!

Scientists say that Australia can expect more of the scorching conditions that fanned the firestorms that killed at least 181 people this month, prompting a nationwide debate about how to prepare for a hotter, more fire-prone future. As investigators pick through the tangled wreckage left by Australia's deadliest wildfires, which flattened townships and destroyed more than 1,000 homes starting Feb. 7, a wide ranging discussion has begun about the way the country handles wildfires - from greenhouse-gas emissions standards to planning codes to an emergency protocol that encourages people to stay and defend their properties.Wildfires have been a feature of the Australian landscape for centuries; thousands of fires burn across the continent each year. But scientists warn that the "Black Saturday" disaster is a sign of things to come as climate change brings hotter weather land less rain. The government Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization concluded in 2007 that average temperatures in Australia would increase by as much as 2 degrees Celsius by 2030 and 6 degrees Celsius by 2070 unless greenhouse emissions are drastically cut. That would be a difference of 3.6 degrees and 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit.Days of high or extreme fire danger are forecast to increase by 5 percent to 25 percent if the effects of climate change are low and by 15 percent to 65 percent if they are high, the report said.

CONFUSED MUCH...

In English class we soon have to write a paper about what we are doing in class. To start off the paper we all have to come up with a thesis for our research paper and I am stuck! I am stuck because the thesis can not be broad but, I'm not sure what's broad and what isn't. I got this book that Al Gore wrote talking about Global Warming and the crisis we are in now. It touched subjects such as a new atlas, hazards to our health and, technology's side effects. Everything thats in here I like but, Im unsure of how I could do one of these subjects without them being too broad. I know for sure I want to write about Global Warming's effect it has on the world and humans as well. But, I don't know how to turn that into a thesis that is good enough. There is so much to prove and different things I could do but narrowing it done is tough. In some shape or form all the subjects ties in with each other so if I pick one thing Im going into the next...I just need help!

DAY 0NE

Tonight I had my first real meeting with my sponsor. We met up at the Borough Hall at seven for the environmental commission meeting. At first for a about an hour they talked within themselves. Mrs. Suckiel hadn't gotten there at first so I was just busy taken notes and listening, finally they opened up the meeting to the public and of course I was the only one there and Mrs.Suckiel came in just in time. She introduced me to the board and I told them about the Senior Project and how I wanted to become an Environmental Scientist. They were all amazed especially about my trash sculpture, they really can't wait until I do that. I also got a lot of people in on my little project that can help me in the long run. I talked to a lady who offered me a job in college and once I get out also the local recycle company wants to interview me and work with my school to make every one aware. I feel so accomplished because I feel like I'm finally getting some where on working towards my dream. I feel like I have everything in the palm of my hands now. While I was there, I also asked about the styrofoam issue and what I had did in class and they loved it! The only problem is money right now because we are in this recession no one is funding in recycling. I also, learned so many facts such as hot tea and foods in plastics are bad, 61 tons of trash is recycled here in Camden County area, and New Jersey was once the top state in recycling. At the meeting I felt like I was in heaven. I was there with people who were actually interested in the same things I were and it felt great. I really am excitied about getting started right away.

THE PRiCE 0F 0UR FUTURE

Just $400 billion - 0.8% of global GDP. That's how much money one of the world's leading economists says governments around the world need to put towards "green" policies that will ensure global finances and the global environment prosper in the 21st century.There's a catch, and it's a big one: the money needs to be set aside by this summer and spent by mid-2010.The former chief economist of the world bank, Nicholas Stern, and three leading economists have compiled their report under the auspices of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change. Their aim was to determine whether it made sense to solve "the two great crises of our time" one financial, one environmental - in one fell swoop.The four were co-authors of the 2006 Stern Review, which estimated the economic cost of tackling climate change.

i W0NDER

One day last week I was in chemistry class and we were learning about polar and nonpolar chemicals. To help us better understand how polar and nonpolar chemicals interact with other chemicals, Mrs.Wenzel did a mini experiment. Stryofoam is a nondegradable material that builds up over time in landfills. Acetone, gasoline, kerosene and etc. are nonpolar chemicals and can break down stryfoam. These chemicals if concentrated well enough can not affected the human body and can be used to recylce styrofoam materials. If we were able to think of this in high school, why hasn't this been used to help our land fills out. Doing this could be a BIG help for our pollution levels and could change out future. Tonight when I meet with my sponsor I am going to present this information with her and hopefully spread my information with the world. I figured I have to start small first and then I will eventually get some where with this. There is no reason to have this knowledge and not do anything about it. I hope my plan works out and I can get this going making it a law. It's amazing what you can find out!

GETTiNG RiD OF PLASTiC

Mr. Abrams brought to my attention an article in the Philadelphia Inqurier about a women by the name of Beth Terry who got rid of plastics in her life. For two years now she hasn't used or brought any items that were kept in plastic containers such as mustard, because her favorite mustards are all in plastic containers, she makes her own. Even though she has not gotten rid of her telephone and computer moniter she is trying to become a conscious consumer in those areas as well. This article is close to my project because I'm all about reduce, reuse, and recycle and it's nice to see other people are as compassionate as me. I start my volunteering this Thursday and I can not wait! There are many things I would like to bring up such as nondegradable things such as sterofoam and ways we can recycle them. I also can't wait to go to Medford and Camden to the aquarium and to a wild life relief site. Seeing stories like these makes me feel like I'm not alone on my fight about trash. I also want to start on my trash sculpture soon.http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/39300712.html

QU0TE 0F THE WEEK

Today while I was in Freshman Seminar class, my students had to read a quote and write about it in their journals. The quote said " No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys." After I got done reading that quote, I sat back and said Wow! That is so true. The quote is basically saying no one can put you in a bad mood unless you let them do so. I had a very bad weekend this pass week and it wasn't because somone got me mad but, I allowed them to. If you don't let them break you you can't go wrong. I now will live life by this quote because I tend to let people break my spirits and either put me in a good or bad mood. I think this will also be heathier for me because if I become very upset I tend to lay in bed more and become lazy. I am pretty sure life will be a lot easier to handle and put less stress on me. Once I figure out if this helps out I will tell others to do the same.

VALENTiNE'S DAY

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and I'm excitied. It is my favorite holiday and brings me joy. On that day I always wear pink or red and buy little Valentine's Day cards to put in all my friends lockers. i love to get gifts such as chocolate and cards and go out to dinner or movies. I also enjoy it a lot because the best movies come on during the week of Valentine's day. I love watching sappy movies such as The Notebook, which is my favorite movie because it always has a happy ending. This year I think I am going to Atlantic City and enjoy dinner at the Rain Forest. I never been there before but, I think I will have a good time. Also, for many of my friends they have boyfriends and always say "What should I get my boyfriend?" I say "Nothing." I don't think boys should get anything for Valentine's Day because it is a girl's holiday. It's made to show how much you appreciate females and to basically make up for anything you have done wrong in the past. Valentine's Day is on Saturday and I can't wait.

NEW 0BESSi0N

DRAG QUEENS! I have a new obession with drag queens and I love it. I have a lot of gay friends who are boys and I absoluetly adore them. I found myself being more comfortable with them then actual females. To me, they have a better taste and more sense then some girls and that's what makes them so unique. On comcast, there is a channel called LOGO(163) and it is the best. The channel is strictly for gays and lesbians and they show movies, t.v shows, and videos. One show I started watching was called Noah's Arc and it has the best story line. When I was in lunch I was talking about the show with Torrin and I found out that Mrs. Pat also watches it too. She then put me on to a new show called "Ru Paul's Drag Queen." It's a reality show to see who is the best drag queen. Who ever is the last man standing gets 10,000 dollars in cash. The men on the show do things such as design clothes and walk down run ways. The reason I love it so much is because the dedication they put into their make up, hair, and clothes is amazing. Everything has to be so perfect and it's a work of art once they get done it all. I love their confidence and boldness they each have and that makes them individuals. I would love to see drag queens perform someday and get tips about clothing and make up.

PARENTS JUST D0N'T UNDERSTAND

Why are parents so hard to understand? It's hard to believe that they once were teenagers because they sure act like they don't understand what goes on in our life. I understand that times are a lot more different then they were before but, come on give me a break. It seems like they want you to be their precious little babies FOREVER and it doesn't work like that. When does it become okay for you to grow up? When will they see you as an adult making adult choices? Well, you know what my answer is, NEVER. It was always wait until your 18 that's when you can do what you want and be look at as an adult. Helloooo, I turned 18 4 months ago and I still don't get any respect. Now that I am 18 its, what until you graduate. This becoming too stressful, wanting to pull out my hair. When will I be old enough for anything? Your able to vote on your next president, go to the army, and get a license but, not old enough to drink or smoke. I'm not saying I want to do these things but, come on now. Even though, I try to become more responsible and become an adult, everybody thinks Im just trying to be "Grown" but isn't that the purpose? I mean if I was trying to be "Young" then wouldn't that be even more of an issue? I think right now is the time for that I should be getting ready for my future because graduation is right around the corner. It's better now then never and I would hate to still be living with my mom at 30 saying I'm grown. So here I am still bothered by this question, when will I be old enough?