Toxins

I think it would depend if I found out if there were toxins in my enviorment. It depends on the type of toxin. How hazardous is it? Deadly? If it was something that wouldn't affect me is very minimal ammounts then i dont think I would care to much. If they're deadly then it's a different story. If they aren't harmful to me but are to plants and other parts of the enviorment, then I would care also. I strongly agree that some sort of action should be taken to clean up the mining waste. We shouldn't wait till we see the effects of the waste start to take effect. We should locate the mines and look for waste and clean up if there is. Waiting can bring lots of damage to the enviorment and people. Scary thing is people that live in an affected area probably don't know it because of money. So I how think we should take issue after seeing how toxic to the enviorment and us it is. Will it have a major affect, cause death, significantly hurt the enviorment. I know money is a big issue right now, but this isn't something you should wait too long for. When the toxic is cleaned up, it should be dissposed of properly. I'm not sure how this would be done, but take caution and not take something like this lightly. To try and avoid adding more toxins to our enviorment, we need to take more interest in the affects they may have. Develop ways that are more friendly to us and the enviorment. Cleaner machines, cars, fuels, and more efficent ways to produce what we need. I wasn't really aware of this issue before Mike Thornton came in. After hearing his presentation you start to think about and wonder what the consequences may be due to these toxins. People need to become aware of this issue as they may as well be living in a toxic area.

Mike Thornton

Mike Thornton's presentation about Mining's Toxic was very surprising in ways. It seems scary to think that public places such as parks and schools can be contaminated and we may not even know. Then we may find out and people do not want to clean it up because of costs. That seems like a lame reason to not help the well being of people that may being living or playing in a contaminated area. Mike's presentation really helped to give information about how and why this is happening. Also helped give good info how to help spread the word about the risks that are involved with envoirment and health of humans. I would hope people would think twice about mining and what it can do to in the long run and is it worth it.

Gary Noy

Gary Noy had a very interesting presentation. I learned alot about the Sierra Nevada. Before I had very little knowledge about the Sierra Nevada. I had no idea how popular it was and all the interesting thins it contains. It is cool to know how popular the Sierra Nevada is to the rest of the world. I have never biked, hiked or anything there but would really like to now and check out how beautiful it is up there. The way he presented his information was cool, it kept me interested and he was very knowledgeable about the Sierra Nevada. After hearing it, I now have a new found respect for this Moutain Range that is so close to us.

Choosing

I think chosing and what makes a species more valuable than others is sort of the same. Ones that we should choose to conserve are ones that are more important to other species and help keep the circle of life, and food chain stable. Species that we seem to choose more are cute, beautiful and loving species like pandas, tigers, polar bears. I think a clue that shows its not a part of evolution is if there loss affects other species and there way off life. Like the video in class, no one thinks about endangered insects. Insects affect many things like plants, bigger species, humans. I think we should try to get introduced species back to there natural type of locations. By moving them, they adapt to the new enviorment and will not have the same traits as they would if they were living in there natural habitat. Then other species from there natural habitat may not be able to live without them around. Animals live with each other, and taking into consideration species that have a greater effect on others as a whole I beleive are the species that we should take into account helping and saving first.