Tahj Washington

Chapter 14 Discussion Questions

1. Describe the impact of overpopulation on global resources and the
environment. Describe how various countries are handling the crisis of
overpopulation. What do you think can be done to ease the burden of
overpopulation?
Overpopulation has a huge impact on global resources and the environment.
Many other species are struggling to exist, and 23% of mammals as well as
30%
of amphibians are already nearly gone. There is a huge impact on our food
supply,
famine is occurring in many regions of the world with increasing frequency.
The land is degrading and drinking water is being contaminated.
The energy consumption is creating the demand for fossil fuels which are
being used at an
unprecedented rate. Many countries have been encouraging people to limit
their
family sizes. More than 20 countries have zero or negative population
growth, meaning deaths equal or surpass births. Ukraine is expected to lose
28% of its population between the present and 2050, with Russia losing 22%,
and Japan losing 21%. Women achieving equal pay are also creating
declining fertility rates. Also, the implementation of birth control has allowed
people to have fewer children.
2. Describe the "greenhouse effect and its role in climate change.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon in which greenhouse gases,
such
as CO2, warm the planet. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and
land
clearing have increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting in
the
enhanced greenhouse effect, in which excess solar heat is trapped, raising
the
planets overall temperature and leading to an increase in extreme weather
and
climate change in areas around the globe.
3. Describe how the community in which you live addresses: Land pollution,
traffic pollution, and pollution in the water. What areas in your community do
you feel need to be better addressed?

In Baton Rouge, we have many landfills. We also have laws that state you
must
pay a fine if you litter, which can be from $500-$3000 dollars. When it comes
to traffic pollution, its pretty bad. There is often traffic during most times of
the day, and the city is always bustling. I also have noticed, when I have
ventured to the different lakes and basins that towards the shore there is
quite a bit of trash, but for the most part its pretty clear. We have so many
swamps and trees everywhere, which I think, helps balance out the pollution
we are doing by allowing for CO2 to be absorbed and transformed into
oxygen.
4. List the major culprits of indoor pollution and the corresponding
consequences of each of those sources. Describe the three main ways to
prevent indoor pollution.
Environmental tobacco smoke: smoke from cigarette, cigar, and pope
smoking
Home heating: increases Carbon monoxide in the home
Asbestos: If the tiny fibers become loosened and airborne, they can embed
themselves in the lungs, causing a person to get sick
Formaldehyde: creates offgasing which can last for many years in a building.
Radon: gas found in soil that can penetrate through homes and is the second
leading cause of lung cancer. The three main ways to prevent indoor
pollution is
by source control (eliminating individual contaminants), ventilation
improvements (increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors), and air
cleaners (removing particulates from the air)
5. Follow your "carbon footprint for one day. List activities such as your
mode of transportation, paper/plastic use, waste and recycling practices,
home appliance and water and electrical use, foods you eat, environmental
care practices, etc. Be sure to include the frequency and amount of your
activities (e.g., driving at least 10 miles a day; drinking out of plastic water
bottles 3 times a day etc.)
A typical Monday for me includes waking up at 9:30am and turning on my
room and
bathroom light, brushing my teeth and washing my face once done in the
bathroom I
turn off the light and proceed to my closet. While in my closet I turn my light
on to pick
out an outfit for the day. Once I am dressed I turn off my closet light and
bedroom light. I
then proceed to my kitchen and turn on the light and warm up some oatmeal
in my

microwave. After I eat my oatmeal I rinse my bowl out in the sink and turn off
the
kitchen light and proceed outside to catch the bus to campus. LSU transit
bus from my
house to campus is about 2/3 miles and I usually catch the bus kind of early
around 10:00
to ensure that I make it to class I time without being late due to traffic in the
morning. I
make it to class by 10:30 and I am done at 11:30. I then catch the transit bus
back home
(about 2/3 miles). Once home I drink a bottle of water with whatever lunch I
have
decided on for the day. I do homework or nap for a few hours before I drive to
work
(about 8 miles) at 3pm. While at work I drink another bottle of water during
my shift.
After I get off work I drive back home (about 8 miles) turn the lights on in my
room and
bathroom and take a shower before I go to bed. After my shower I wash my
face and
brush my teeth and again and I turn the bathroom light off before exiting.
Once I am
back in my bedroom I turn my TV on and turn my bedroom light off and get
into bed.
Before falling asleep I set an 80-minute timer on my TV so it automatically
cuts off while
I am sleeping.