Global warming

The world is in danger from global warming, and we’ve brought it on ourselves. Hot temperatures, rising sea levels from melting glaciers are some of the most devastating effects. Hurricanes have become increasingly devastating, smashing into the coasts of Florida and Louisiana and destroying habitats. All of this can be traced to mass production of co2. People all over the world try to do their part to stop emitting co2 and destroying habitats and one small battle to save a habitat of some burrowing owls may help us understand the importance of animals and how where they live impacts our world. In the book Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, Roy, Mullet fingers and Beatrice are the main characters in a novel about protecting the environment. Mother Paula’s is an all American pancake company that’s going to destroy owl habitats by building its 647th pancake house. Roy, Mullet fingers and Beatrice try to stop them. The setting of the book is in Coconut Cove, Florida.

I relate to Roy, Mullet fingers and Beatrice because I’m against destroying animal, insect and arachnid habitats. Mother Paula’s is like many other giant companies because they don’t care if they harm animals by destroying their habitats with their buildings and products. Roy, Mullet fingers and Beatrice try and succeed in stopping the owls from dying. They can’t stand to let the owls die. I feel the same way. I mean, how would you like it if someone came up and said “Sorry you can’t live here any more, this is going to be a factory. Get out!” I wouldn’t like it one bit, and I bet you a million dollars that nobody else would like it either! Let’s stop destroying habitats!

For example, if we continue to destroy habitats in the rainforests we’ll lose some foods, the basic building blocks for medicines and lots of interesting species. Chocolate, lots of nuts, bananas, rubber, healing herbs, plantains (a relative to the banana), insects, lizards, fish and other fruits will be lost. Here are a few animals that may die with the climate change. The second largest fish in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. The Piraricu spans 6 feet in length, 2 feet in diameter. They are more like mammals than fish. They nurse their young for 6 to 8 weeks, and they have an air bladder, so they breathe air, unlike fish. But we’d lose this amazing species if we destroy the Amazon rainforest.

Another rare animal lives in the Amazon River. The Boto is a pink river dolphin that’s about as big as a bottle-nosed dolphin. Pygmy Marmosets are so small you could hold one in your cupped hands. They are unique to the rainforests of the world. Ocelots are like a giant house cat. They are solitary and secretive just like other cats. White tent bats live in rainforests. They are like miniature engineers because they make their houses out of chewed up leaves. The Red brocket is a relative to the deer and looks just like one. Manatees are endangered and live in tropical areas, such as Florida, where Hoot takes place. They look like walruses without the tusks. They were originally thought to be mermaids because of their tails.

Sharks are misunderstood animals. But research is proving that shark blood contains properties that may cure cancer. Sponges also may have medicines that may help arthritis and cancer.

Destroying rainforests increases global warming because trees take in 180 tons of carbon dioxide in one life time. Trees create oxygen for us to breathe. If there are fewer trees there’s more carbon dioxide and less oxygen. Also, the north and south poles are melting and Greenland is a lot smaller without ice. Everything’s getting hotter. In Delaware, we had rain for Christmas and no snow all winter! Last year in Idaho during the summer it wasn’t very hot. This year, the high was 95 degrees! It’s not supposed to be 120 degrees in South Dakota, but it is reaching that temperature in the summer.

These are things you can do to help slowdown global warming and the destruction of habitats. Open a window to cool off. Use cold water in showers. Recycle paper, cans and other items. Rake the leaves so you don’t use all the power it takes to blow them. Turn off lights when no one’s using them. Buy solar panels. Wear hand-me-downs. Ride a bike to places that are in your development.

Some of the biggest contributors to global warming are manufacturers and cars. These two alone give off millions of tons of co2 a year! Our energy sources must change because they give off harmful gases that go to our atmosphere. Solar and wind energy don’t give off harmful gases, and they do the same work in houses as harmful energy sources.

When co2 is released it goes into the atmosphere and the planet heats up. Studies show that if this continues, in 10 years many places near water will be flooded. For example, half of Florida will be underwater. The World Trade Center Memorial will be underwater.

Many animals will be lost if we continue to destroy habitats. Without habitats they will die from starvation or hypothermia.

If we stop destroying habitats lots of good things will happen. If we stop, animals will live in more places. It will not be so hot and there will be more snow, and glaciers.

Roy, Mullet fingers and Beatrice find out that Mother Paula’s wasn’t allowed to build on the property in Coconut Cove, Florida. I relate to the main characters because I am against destroying habitats. They stood up for the owls in their time of need.

We can all learn something from this book. We can all defend something that means something to us with a little determination. We can all save the Earth from destruction together, just like Roy, Mullet Fingers, and Beatrice.