Step it up - stop global warming!

On April 14 2007, Saturday was a national day of protesting against Global warming. There are about 1410 actions that are happening under banners "Step it up, Congress! Cut carbon 80% by 2050"

Step it up was found in January, 2007 by environmentalist and a writer Bill McKibben, who's also the author on the stepitup2007.org. The goal is to reduce greenhouse emissions 80 % by 2050. That's why different events are being organized all over the US.

Also the fact of rising of the ocean level is pressuring. Scientists say melting of polar ice caps and glaciers will cause sea level rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has projected that the sea level is likely to rise 7 to 23 inches this century, but other scientists believe it can rise 10 feet or more, which is enough to flood Lower Manhattan and other low-lying coastal areas.

Depressing predictions about global warming and the future has been already made. Cutting down the level of carbon in the atmosphere is a big and serious step that The Congress should focus on.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci said at the meeting in Portland:

"The most important things that we have a responsibility to do in government are to prepare our children for a bright future and to preserve and protect our natural resources,"

Now it is exactly the time to act, until it's not too late. You can be a part of this great action. Just sing it up.

The official site od Step it up 2007. Learn more about this action.

How air pollution damages your health

Air pollution is an enormous topic to talk about. I want just to mention some of the most important issues which affect our health.

The Earth is becoming dirtier and dirtier day by day. Undoubtedly, one of the most evident causes is air pollution. Air pollution is chemical, physical (e.g. particulate matter), or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Industrialization is also on the list. There is a great number of factories, plants that throw million tonnes of poison substances into the atmosphere. Pollution sources include chemical plants, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, nuclear waste disposal activity, incinerators and other heavy industry. Adverse air quality can kill a lot of organisms including humans. Ozone pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain and congestion. Water pollution causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to contamination of drinking water by untreated sewage in developing countries. Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress and sleep disturbance.

Charles Kassotis mentions the interesting fact:

Heavy air pollution can be damaging even to the most healthy of people. Mexico City, the largest city in the world, has major air pollution problems. It is said that just breathing the air each day is like smoking more than a pack of cigarettes. If the pollution is heavy enough, serious health problems, including cancer, can result from the toxins constantly breathed in through the air.

Doctors warn that harmful chemical substances get into our lungs with every breath we take and accumulate there. Also doctors are advising to keep a healthy life-style; in that case your health will be stronger and the immunity steadier against different dangerous diseases. Generally speaking your organism will be less endangered to them.

See also:

All about Health Effects of Air Pollution, diagramms of diseases in percents.

Where is a Blue Eye of Siberia?

Lake Baikal, which is also known as Blue Eye of Siberia, lies in Southern Siberia in Russia. It is the 2^nd largest lake on the earth by volume. It contains over one fifth of the world's liquid fresh surface water and more than 90% of Russia's liquid fresh surface water. Olkhon, by far the largest island in Lake Baikal, is the second largest lake-bound island in the world.

Lake Baikal is the deepest and oldest lake in the world. Its max depth is 1741, but in some places it's even deeper. Lake Baikal is not only the deepest, but also the biggest one between all freshwater lakes of the world. Its area is 30 500 km ² and the volume of water mass is 23 000 km ³ .

The lake is the huge water reserve of freshwater, inexhaustible resource of water-power. Scientists have found out that there's oil and gas in the Lake Baikal. Oil was noticed in some cracks of ancient crystalline rocks. However the source of these mineral resources is a big riddle for scientists.

The nature of the Lake Baikal is picturesque and gorgeous.The lake is surrounded by forests and big mountains. More than that it's opened for tourists that come to the Lake Baikal to relax and get stronger, during all seasons. From ancient times water of the lake Baikal has been considered as curative and healthy.

Lake Baikal is rich with wildlife and flora. There are more that 2600 kinds of animals and plants. Forests are full with different species of fur bearing animals (minks, squirrels, red foxes, muskrats and others).

The ecology of the lake is under a risk. The greatest threat of pollution is Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM). It was constructed in 1966 directly on the shore line. The BPPM bleaches its paper with chlorine and discharges the waste into Baikal. Despite numerous protests, the BPPM is still in production. Environmental activists are now in a struggle to make the pollution less harmful rather than end BPPM's production, since a plant shutdown would be problematic due to local socioeconomic issues. Also harmful chemical substances that are used in agriculture get into the lake and pollute its value and damage its inhabitants.

Lake Baikal on the map

See also:

About the Lake Baikal, its ecology, wildlife.

Ecology of my town

My native town Novotroitsk is industrial. A big metal work plant the "Ural Steel" gives work to a half of the population, produces steel things (i.e. for bridges, ships) but a lack of good modern cleaning equipment leads to the damage of our beautiful nature and the environment. So look at my town and its nature.

A view in the town:

















The factory is smoking:





























How looks our town:

















What is really being polluted: