Reflective Summary

From this research, I learnt that global climate change may result in shifting ocean currents, rising temperatures, melting ice caps and a myriad of other threats to penguins and other creatures.
The Earth is getting hotter, and temperatures will keep going up if we fail to reduce global warming pollution.
Global warming not only affects penguin and polar bears, it also affects us. Hotter weather enables deadly mosquitoes to travel greater distances; carbon dioxide in the air aggravates asthma and allergies.
Therefore, we must play a part in reducing global warming pollution.
Initially, I thought that global warming only increase the temperatures in the Earth. After the research, I know that it threatens the lives of penguins and polar bears.
There are many simple steps you can take right now to cut global warming pollution.
-Drive less. When possible, choose alternatives to driving (public transit, biking, walking and carpooling).-Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
-Always turn off your lights and electricity when not in use.
-Help keep the oceans clean by disposing of your trash properly, and picking up litter on the beach or in the street.
-Help slow climate change by reducing your daily energy use.
By doing so, we can save energy and fight global warming.
Encourage others to save energy. Every individual can play a part in reducing global warming.

Reflective Journal 5

Today, penguins face a number of threats, including destruction of nesting habitats, competition with fishermen for fish and shrimp, and introduced predators such as rats, dogs and foxes which eat penguin eggs and young.However, the greatest potential threat to penguins in global warming, as they are extremely sensitive to climate change.
And, people are a big part of the problem. Thankfully, people can also be a big part of the solution.
The world’s oceans are all connected and no matter where we live, our daily actions have an impact on them. Help keep the oceans clean by disposing of your trash properly, and picking up litter on the beach or in the street.
Global climate change may cause temperatures to increase, ice caps to melt and ocean levels to rise. Help slow climate change by reducing your daily energy use and driving less often.This reduces the greenhouse gases that might lead to global warming.

Source:
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/teacher_resources/classroom_resources/teacher_guides/penguin_teacher_guide/penguin_conservation.php http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/penguins/penguins.html

Reflective Journal 4

Big oil spills are horrible events.Perpetual small leaks, illegal dumping and poor regulations are actually much greater threats to penguins and other marine life.Oil kills penguins. It coats their feathers, leaving them without much-needed insulation. Penguins then ingest the toxic oil when they attempt to clean their feathers.
In recent years, as commercial fishing has become more efficient, people have been catching and eating more fish than ever before. Commercial fishing has depleted some fish populations to such a degree that there are sometimes not enough fish left to feed penguins and other fish-eating marine animals.
Global climate change may result in shifting ocean currents, rising temperatures, melting ice caps and a myriad of other threats to penguins and other creatures. Antarctica’s penguins—which have been largely spared most other human-caused threats—may suffer the most from climate change. These birds like the cold. They need the cold.
Penguins are also hunted for their meat, feathers, fat and eggs.

Source:
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/teacher_resources/classroom_resources/teacher_guides/penguin_teacher_guide/penguin_conservation.php http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/penguins/index.shtml

Reflective Journal 3

When one thinks of Antarctic wildlife, penguins are often the first animals that come to mind. Indeed these graceful, yet comical creatures are considered by many to be the signature species of the polar south. Some penguin species live as far north as the Galapagos Islands on the Equator and the subtropical coasts of South America, South Africa and Australia.
Though they are feathered they spend most of their lives at sea and must return to land to mate and lay eggs. On land, they either waddle on their feet or slide on their bellies.
Of the 17 species of penguins, only four breed on the Antarctic continent itself: the Adelie, the Emperor, the Chinstrap and the Gentoo penguins. Penguins are true flightless birds.To withstand the harsh conditions of the Antarctic, their bodies are insulated by a thick layer of blubber and a dense network of waterproof plumage.
Penguins also have natural predators such as leopards,seals,sharks and sea lions.
But, unfortunately, we humans, are the main predators ,responsible for the death of many penguins.

Source:
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/penguins/index.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguins http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/penguins/penguins.html

Reflective Journal 2

Global warming is the increase in average temperature of the earth atmosphere and ocean in the recent decades and it is projected continuation due to the buildup of green house gases causing green house effect.
Trouble is human activities are causing the increase in green house gases. Therefore, we need to take steps and find ways to prevent global warming.
We can do that by saving up electricity and being energy efficient by switching of electronics and other appliances which are not in use and replacing old appliance with less energy consuming goods.
The biggest cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels like oil and coal are burned for energy.
Here are some easy steps that you can take:
-Drive less. When possible, choose alternatives to driving (public transit, biking, walking, carpooling), and bundle your errands together so you'll make fewer trips.
-Buy energy-efficient appliances. You may spend a little more up front, but you'll save a lot on electricity, and you'll reduce pollution produced by power plants.
-Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. While compact fluorescents are initially more expensive than the incandescent bulbs most people use, they last 10 times as long. What's more, a compact fluorescent will lower your energy bills by about $15 a year, and by more than $60 during its life. It will also keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air.
- Always turn off your lights and electricity when not in use.

Source:
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Simple-Ways-to-Prevent-Global-Warming&id=1480383
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/gsteps.asp

Reflective Journal 1

Polar bears are carnivores, feeding primarily on Arctic ringed seals. Their partially webbed paws allow them to swim, at a pace of six miles per hour, for up to 60 miles without rest. They live and hunt on frozen ice floes during winter months, and survive on berries and stored fats.
Growing threats faced by polar bears are:
•Climate change and sea ice reduction
•Environmental contaminants and chemical pollutants.
•Hunting and Capture for public display
The burning of fossil fuels, the release of sequestered hydrocarbons into the Earth’s atmosphere, and extensive agriculture and deforestation are causing climate change, which in turn is causing the biggest threat faced by polar bears: the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice. Forcing the bears to feed for a shorter time, and also decreasing their prey base.
Habitat loss due to global warming in the Arctic is by far the most important factor potentially affecting the future survival of polar bears.
Overhunting is an additional stress on some polar bear populations.Polar bears are hunted for their sport and fur , because of slow reproduction, polar bears rely on high adult survival rates to maintain their numbers.

Source:
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/a_closer_look_at_marine_mammals/polar_bears/#Polar_bears http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/polarbear/threats.html

Childhood Memories

When I was a little kid,my sister always like to snatch my toys. And when I get very angry,I'll bite her hand till she cry. And I always like to ransack the cabinets and my mother had a hard time keeping it! That was what my mother told to me. I always play with my cousin, we were just siblings and we'll always go out together. My sister, cousin and I would always have alot of fun playing together. My cousin would stayover at my house during the holidays too. Being a child, life is just like a bed of roses.