Pollution

We hear it on the news, on the newspapers, on the radio, in magazines, in the World Wide Web, and yet we continue to do it. We continue to ignore it. Why must we deface our planet? Why must we destroy our home?

People think it doesn't affect them, that the consequences of our actions are far, far away in the future. But it is affecting them now. Air pollution causes lung cancer, heart disease, brain damage, damage to all our vital organs... and people don't seem to realise that other human beings, other living things are dying from this pollution.

We are killing our planet. Millions of sea animals, land animals and plants die every year from acid rain, nuclear emissions, factory wastes, exhaust fumes... even choking on the litter we carelessly strew around the world.

We must take action, otherwise the way we kill our planet will eventually kill us.

Global Warming

Ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding

Glaciers melting

Arctic and Antarctic warming

These are the signs you should look out for in Global Warming.

Spreading disease

Earlier spring arrival

Plant and animal range shifts and population changes

Coral reef bleaching

Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding

Droughts and fires

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

Global warming is a problem that is affecting Earth at the moment. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed although uncertainties exist about exactly how earth's climate responds to them.

What is being done?

Today, action is occurring at every level to reduce, to avoid, and to better understand the risks associated with climate change. Many cities and states across the country have prepared greenhouse gas inventories; and many are actively pursuing programs and policies that will result in greenhouse gas emission reductions. At the national level, the U.S. Global Change Research Program coordinates the world's most extensive research effort on climate change. In addition, EPA and other federal agencies are actively engaging the private sector, states, and localities in partnerships based on a win-win philosophy and aimed at addressing the challenge of global warming while, at the same time, strengthening the economy. At the global level, countries around the world have expressed a firm commitment to strengthening international responses to the risks of climate change. The U.S. is working to strengthen international action and broaden participation under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In the future!

The sea level has raised a lot in the past years as seen in this picture. Rising Global temperatures are expected to raise sea level, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our National Parks may be permanently altered.

Most of the United States is expected to warm, although sulfates may limit warming in some areas. Scientists currently are unable to determine which parts of the United States will become wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.

Unfortunately, many of the potentially most important impacts depend upon whether rainfall increases or decreases, which can not be reliably projected for specific areas.

These are some of the companies that are helping global warming:

EPA: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/index.html

BP:BP: http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1

ENVIROMENTALDEFENCE: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/actioncenter.cfm

By Zoyia Bandari

Poverty:

- 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
- About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children's Charter)
- Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
- One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. (source: Africa 2015)
- Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
- In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
- Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
- Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
- 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
- 64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
- Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
- For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank)

By Sabah Mamood 9t

I think that poverty is one of the most difficult and saddest thing to Happen to a human,. over the world millions of people Are homeless every one minute someone is thrown Out there homes are either is starving from the lack Of food and not having enough money to support Their families and themselves being poor is not an joke because people are actually getting effected by this

And I have seen and during the time I've seeing it, it has gotten worse than it was. but don't get me wrong the government has tried to prevent poverty but money is needed

By Sheneil Davis 9T

Poverty affects people all around the world and causes millions of deaths every month.

It leaves hundreds of thousands homeless and it causes diseases which often lead to death.

I think poverty is important because it is the cause of so many deaths and it is also the cause of pain and suffering.

On holiday when I see the poor people who are forced to make their homes on the dirty streets, I realize how lucky all of us really are to have food and a home to live in.

People who suffer from poverty often become homeless; they may also starve due to lack of food and water. Starvation and dehydration are two of the main reasons of diseases which spread rapidly through the homes of the poor. Unhygienic living conditions also play a part in bringing about disease.

In the UK, nearly 13 million people live in poverty. In other countries, its even more, 11 million people in the Horn of Africa suffer form hunger.

Mithila )