An Inconvenient Truth was such an interesting movie in which Al Gore explains our (humans') impacts on Global warming and the effects of it. We are thickening green house gasses and that results in more and more heat trapped in atmosphere and higher and higher temperature. Unfortunately we all think world is huge enough that driving our old and polluting car cannot harm anything but lets put it that way, billions and billions of people around the world think the same way and we all are sharing a planet so me and you even if we are in different continents can affect one another's lives.
Global Warming is a real and worldwide issue and requires EVERYBODY's help! Sometimes I think maybe Global Warming would be a good excuse and reason for countries and governments to unite and little by little save our Earth. Global Warming might seem like an emotional issue but if anybody listens to the reasons and datas Al Gore explains in his slide shows in the movie, they would believe that this is a SERIOUS issue that needs serious attention!
We do not lend the earth to our children,but we have borrowed it from our future generations! so lets take a good care of it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Energy, Pros and Cons of Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation.Grand Coulee is the largest dam in the Columbia River Basin and one of the largest in the world. Everything about the dam is large: it is 550 feet (167.6 meters) tall, measured from its foundation in solid granite, or approximately 350 feet (106.7 meters) from the downstream river surface to the top of the dam. It is 5,223 feet (1,592 meters) long, or 57 feet short of a mile.
Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure ever built. Several other dams in the world are larger, but they include earthen berms (when completed 2009, the Three Gorges Dam in China will be roughly three times the size of Grand Coulee). Grand Coulee is 450-500 feet thick at its base and 30 feet thick at the top, and it contains 11,975,521 cubic yards (9,155,944 cubic meters) of concrete, three times as much as Hoover Dam.
Pros:
Irrigation:
Water is pumped via the Pump-Generating Plant's 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter pipes 280 ft (85 m) from Lake Roosevelt to a 1.6 mi (2.6 km) feeder canal. From the feeder canal, the water is transferred to Banks Lake which has an active storage of 715,000 acre ft (882,000,000 m3). The plant's twelve 65,000–70,000 horsepower pumps can transfer up to 1,605 cu ft/s (45 m3/s) to the lake. Currently, the Columbia Basin Project irrigates 670,000 acres (2,700 km2) with a potential for 1.1 million.Over 60 different crops are grown within the project and distributed throughout the United States.
Power:
The dam has four power plants. The two original power plants, the first of which began producing power in 1941, are called the Left Power Plant and the Right Power Plant. The two power plants, each of which houses nine large generators, are split by the spillway, which is 1,300 feet wide and covers an area of 13.26 acres. According to the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, the Left Powerhouse has three generators with a total capacity of 3 megawatts to provide power at the dam site, plus nine generators rated at 125 megawatts each. The Right Powerhouse has nine generators rated at 125 megawatts apiece. The original 18 generators began operating between 1941 and 1950. The Third Power Plant contains three generators rated at 600 megawatts apiece and three rated at 805 megawatts. These first of these six generators began operating in 1975, and the sixth in 1980. The Pump-Generator Plant, which is located on the west bank of the river, contains 12 pumps that lift water up the hillside to a canal that flows into Banks Lake, the 27-mile-long reservoir for the Columbia basin project. Six of the pumps can be reserved to generate about 50 megawatts each.
Cons
The dam had severe negative consequences for the local Native American tribes whose traditional way of life revolved around salmon and the original shrub steppe habitat of the area. Because it lacks a fish ladder, Grand Coulee Dam permanently blocks fish migration, removing over 1,100 mi (1,770 km) of natural spawning habitat.[ By largely eliminating anadromous fish above the Okanogan River, the Grand Coulee Dam also set the stage for the subsequent decision not to provide for fish passage at Chief Joseph Dam (built in 1953). Chinook, Steelhead, Sockeye and Coho salmon (as well as other important species including Lamprey) are now unable to spawn in the reaches of the Upper Columbia Basin. The extinction of the spawning grounds upstream from the dam has prevented the Spokane and other tribes from holding the first salmon ceremony.
Grand Coulee Dam flooded over 21,000 acres (85 km²) of prime bottom land where Native Americans had been living and hunting for thousands of years, forcing the relocation of settlements and graveyards. Kettle Falls, once a primary Native American fishing grounds, was inundated. The average catch of over 600,000 salmon per year was eliminated. In one study, the Army Corps of Engineers estimated the annual loss was over 1 million fish. In June 1941, Native Americans throughout the Northwest met at the Falls for a Ceremony of Tears, marking the end of fishing there. One month later, the falls were inundated. The town of Kettle Falls, Washington was relocated. The Columbia Basin Project has affected habitat ranges for species such as whitetail and mule deer, pygmy rabbits and burrowing owls, resulting in decreased populations. However, it has created new habitats such as wetlands, and riparian corridors. The environmental impact of the dam effectively ended the traditional way of life of the native inhabitants. The government eventually compensated the Colville Indians in the 1990s with a lump settlement of approximately $53 million, plus annual payments of approximately $15 million.
Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure ever built. Several other dams in the world are larger, but they include earthen berms (when completed 2009, the Three Gorges Dam in China will be roughly three times the size of Grand Coulee). Grand Coulee is 450-500 feet thick at its base and 30 feet thick at the top, and it contains 11,975,521 cubic yards (9,155,944 cubic meters) of concrete, three times as much as Hoover Dam.
Pros:
Irrigation:
Water is pumped via the Pump-Generating Plant's 12-foot (3.7 m) diameter pipes 280 ft (85 m) from Lake Roosevelt to a 1.6 mi (2.6 km) feeder canal. From the feeder canal, the water is transferred to Banks Lake which has an active storage of 715,000 acre ft (882,000,000 m3). The plant's twelve 65,000–70,000 horsepower pumps can transfer up to 1,605 cu ft/s (45 m3/s) to the lake. Currently, the Columbia Basin Project irrigates 670,000 acres (2,700 km2) with a potential for 1.1 million.Over 60 different crops are grown within the project and distributed throughout the United States.
Power:
The dam has four power plants. The two original power plants, the first of which began producing power in 1941, are called the Left Power Plant and the Right Power Plant. The two power plants, each of which houses nine large generators, are split by the spillway, which is 1,300 feet wide and covers an area of 13.26 acres. According to the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, the Left Powerhouse has three generators with a total capacity of 3 megawatts to provide power at the dam site, plus nine generators rated at 125 megawatts each. The Right Powerhouse has nine generators rated at 125 megawatts apiece. The original 18 generators began operating between 1941 and 1950. The Third Power Plant contains three generators rated at 600 megawatts apiece and three rated at 805 megawatts. These first of these six generators began operating in 1975, and the sixth in 1980. The Pump-Generator Plant, which is located on the west bank of the river, contains 12 pumps that lift water up the hillside to a canal that flows into Banks Lake, the 27-mile-long reservoir for the Columbia basin project. Six of the pumps can be reserved to generate about 50 megawatts each.
Cons
The dam had severe negative consequences for the local Native American tribes whose traditional way of life revolved around salmon and the original shrub steppe habitat of the area. Because it lacks a fish ladder, Grand Coulee Dam permanently blocks fish migration, removing over 1,100 mi (1,770 km) of natural spawning habitat.[ By largely eliminating anadromous fish above the Okanogan River, the Grand Coulee Dam also set the stage for the subsequent decision not to provide for fish passage at Chief Joseph Dam (built in 1953). Chinook, Steelhead, Sockeye and Coho salmon (as well as other important species including Lamprey) are now unable to spawn in the reaches of the Upper Columbia Basin. The extinction of the spawning grounds upstream from the dam has prevented the Spokane and other tribes from holding the first salmon ceremony.
Grand Coulee Dam flooded over 21,000 acres (85 km²) of prime bottom land where Native Americans had been living and hunting for thousands of years, forcing the relocation of settlements and graveyards. Kettle Falls, once a primary Native American fishing grounds, was inundated. The average catch of over 600,000 salmon per year was eliminated. In one study, the Army Corps of Engineers estimated the annual loss was over 1 million fish. In June 1941, Native Americans throughout the Northwest met at the Falls for a Ceremony of Tears, marking the end of fishing there. One month later, the falls were inundated. The town of Kettle Falls, Washington was relocated. The Columbia Basin Project has affected habitat ranges for species such as whitetail and mule deer, pygmy rabbits and burrowing owls, resulting in decreased populations. However, it has created new habitats such as wetlands, and riparian corridors. The environmental impact of the dam effectively ended the traditional way of life of the native inhabitants. The government eventually compensated the Colville Indians in the 1990s with a lump settlement of approximately $53 million, plus annual payments of approximately $15 million.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tap Water vs. Bottled Water
The human body is composed primarily of water, somewhere between 55% to 78%. It is vital to life, and, although people can live for several weeks on water alone, they cannot survive for more than a few days without water.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). | Some water is carried in lead pipes from utility companies to homes, which means lead can leach from pipes into the water. |
| Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) of 1996 have made drinking water safer. | The EPA allows tap water to have 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in it, although scientists now know there is no safe level of arsenic. |
| Numerous tests are conducted to ensure safety of tap water and there are drinking water standards for regulated contaminants. | Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) get introduced into the water supplies by individuals or agribusiness either through sewer lines, regular use of the products, or improper disposal. |
| Most community water supplies have the added benefit of fluoridation and that promotes strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. | According to neurosurgeon, Russell L. Blaylock, in his book Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life, fluoride does not reduce cavities, and it is neurotoxic at .5 parts per million. Furthermore, he claims fluoride causes dental and skeletal fluorosis, damages DNA repair enzymes, and increases your risk for cancer, hypothyroidism, genetic damage, and osteoporosis. |
| Water system operators have to be certified. | Higher lead levels are allowed in tap water than bottled water because lead pipes usually carry water from utility companies to homes. Tap water lead levels are set at 15 ppb and bottled water is set at 5 ppb. |
| To make water safe, bacteria and other organisms are killed when chlorine or another disinfectant is added. | Potential health affectsfrom microorganisms, disinfectants and their byproducts, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radionuclides include everything from eye/nose irritations to kidney and liver diseases. |
| The EPA gives you access to your annual local water quality report. | Giardia and Cryptosporidium are resistant to chlorine and can make their way into tap water if there are sanitation breakdowns. |
| No recycling issues as is the case for bottled water. | There are 170,000 different water suppliers, which means the quality of water in one area can be worse or better than the quality of water in another area. |
Pros | Cons |
Monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). | Some water is carried in lead pipes from utility companies to homes, which means lead can leach from pipes into the water. |
Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) of 1996 have made drinking water safer. | The EPA allows tap water to have 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in it, although scientists now know there is no safe level of arsenic. |
Numerous tests are conducted to ensure safety of tap water and there are drinking water standards for regulated contaminants. | Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) get introduced into the water supplies by individuals or agribusiness either through sewer lines, regular use of the products, or improper disposal. |
Most community water supplies have the added benefit of fluoridation and that promotes strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. | According to neurosurgeon, Russell L. Blaylock, in his book Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life, |
Water system operators have to be certified. | Higher lead levels are allowed in tap water than bottled water because lead pipes usually carry water from utility companies to homes. Tap water lead levels are set at 15 ppb and bottled water is set at 5 ppb. |
To make water safe, bacteria and other organisms are killed when chlorine or another disinfectant is added. | Potential health affectsfrom microorganisms, disinfectants and their byproducts, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radionuclides include everything from eye/nose irritations to kidney and liver diseases. |
The EPA gives you access to your annual local water quality report. | Giardia and Cryptosporidium are resistant to chlorine and can make their way into tap water if there are sanitation breakdowns. |
No recycling issues as is the case for bottled water. | There are 170,000 different water suppliers, which means the quality of water in one area can be worse or better than the quality of water in another area. |
Pros | Cons |
Monitored and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). | The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) claims plastic bottles contain phthalates, which can leach into bottled drinking water. |
Versatile and easy to take places. | According to NRDC, there are no strict limitations as to the number of contaminants that can be found in bottled water, such as E coli, arsenic, or pthalates. |
According to Competitive Enterprize Institute (CEI), special treatments to remove impurities—such as distillation or ozonation—are performed on top of municipal filtrations by certain bottled water manufacturers, such as Aquafina and Dasani. | Seventeen million barrels of oil are used to make and deliver bottled water. According to the website, Ask Pablo, that amounts to 22 cents for every imported bottle of water. |
According to CEI, bottled water offers consistent quality control, as each bottle is of the same quality as the previous one. | Bottled water processes often remove fluoridation benefits. |
Lead levels for tap water are lower for bottled water than tap. According to Mama’s Health, tap water is set at 15 parts per billion (ppb) and bottled water is set at 5 ppb. | According to the NRDC, bottled water manufacturer’s do not have to list the water’s source, so bottled water could conceivably come from one of the 170,000 municipal water suppliers. |
Bottled water comes in alot of varieties, from fizzy to flavored to vitamin enhanced. | According to the NRDC, bottled water manufacturer’s do not have to list how the water has been treated. Moreover, bottled water undergoes less testing than tap water. |
According to Mama’s Health, EPA and FDA water standards are nearly identical because the FDA usually adopts the EPA’s standards for bottled water. | According to a 2005 MSNBC report, 40 million bottled a day are going into the trash and only 12% of plastic bottled are recycled, which is hard on the environment. |
Bottled mineral water offers health benefits. | According to Search Warp, bottled water is only regulated across states lines, so if a company sells their water in the same state as they bottle it, FDA regulations don’t apply. |
Now which one is better? Tap water or Bottled water?!
I believe the best thing to do is to check your local drinking water quality and if your are concerned about the amount of fluoride or lead in your drinking water purchase a home water filter and save money as well as saving environment! here is a link that you can find where your drinking water comes from and how it's treated: http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/index.cfm
So I would choose tap water over bottled water, how about you?!
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). | Some water is carried in lead pipes from utility companies to homes, which means lead can leach from pipes into the water. |
| Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) of 1996 have made drinking water safer. | The EPA allows tap water to have 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in it, although scientists now know there is no safe level of arsenic. |
| Numerous tests are conducted to ensure safety of tap water and there are drinking water standards for regulated contaminants. | Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) get introduced into the water supplies by individuals or agribusiness either through sewer lines, regular use of the products, or improper disposal. |
| Most community water supplies have the added benefit of fluoridation and that promotes strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. | According to neurosurgeon, Russell L. Blaylock, in his book Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life,fluoride does not reduce cavities, and it is neurotoxic at .5 parts per million. Furthermore, he claims fluoride causes dental and skeletal fluorosis, damages DNA repair enzymes, and increases your risk for cancer, hypothyroidism, genetic damage, and osteoporosis. |
| Water system operators have to be certified. | Higher lead levels are allowed in tap water than bottled water because lead pipes usually carry water from utility companies to homes. Tap water lead levels are set at 15 ppb and bottled water is set at 5 ppb. |
| To make water safe, bacteria and other organisms are killed when chlorine or another disinfectant is added. | Potential health affectsfrom microorganisms, disinfectants and their byproducts, inorganic and organic chemicals, and radionuclides include everything from eye/nose irritations to kidney and liver diseases. |
| The EPA gives you access to your annual local water quality report. | Giardia and Cryptosporidium are resistant to chlorine and can make their way into tap water if there are sanitation breakdowns. |
| No recycling issues as is the case for bottled water. | There are 170,000 different water suppliers, which means the quality of water in one area can be worse or better than the quality of water in another area. |
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