Friday, May 2, 2008
Tribute to our professor
We have come to the end of the class Environmental studies, but we have just began our journey to save the earth. We give special thanks to our teacher professor Jiminez for making us aware of the things we need to do to save the earth both living and non-living. He has brought thirty brains together, and i was very surprised to see the things that we accomplished during the semester. I thank him specially for his patience and his humbleness, and for not stressing on cramming our brains for exams, but he taught us how to apply the knowledge we acquired to make this earth a better place to live now and for the future. I pray that God will continue to bless him abundantly, so that he will be able to make more people learn and be aware of the factors that affect the environment.
Tips that will impact the environment
.We are living in world that has been impacted by a lot of factors. These factors has led to the decrease in a lot of natural resources that we depend on everyday for our existence. Therefore it is everyone's responsibilty to play their part in saving the environment. Our group came up with five tips that will help in saving the environment. The link below is a video of the five tips that will show that a small part played by each one of us will go a far way in helping to save the earth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt08fuRcFfg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt08fuRcFfg:
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Mini-Project #7
Go to the U.S. census website and record demographic data about your hometown ie, population figures today, yesterday and projected. ethnic composition; economic data, housing data , etc.
I chose the town of Dania to elaborate on seeing it is the city that i live in. The city has grown enormously over the past ten years. This is evident in the expansions of roadways, businesses, increase in housing and most of all the increase of the popultion due to the relocation of people from all over the world and from U.S. cities. There are more than two hundred cultures, but the culture that has impacted the county is the increase of the Latino population, and becasue of this the Spanish language has been dominant next to english. Economic development has quadrupled also. This city is the home of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood international airport. Below is a link that will give a complete demographic report of the city.http://zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=33004
Hispanics account for almost 11% of the population. The average income is $33.000.
I chose the town of Dania to elaborate on seeing it is the city that i live in. The city has grown enormously over the past ten years. This is evident in the expansions of roadways, businesses, increase in housing and most of all the increase of the popultion due to the relocation of people from all over the world and from U.S. cities. There are more than two hundred cultures, but the culture that has impacted the county is the increase of the Latino population, and becasue of this the Spanish language has been dominant next to english. Economic development has quadrupled also. This city is the home of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood international airport. Below is a link that will give a complete demographic report of the city.http://zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=33004
Hispanics account for almost 11% of the population. The average income is $33.000.
Blue Mountain
The Blue Mountain is the highest peak in Jamaica, and is one of the landmarks of this beautiful island.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Biological Terrorism
Emergency Preparedness & Response
This site is intended to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
This site is intended to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
Mini-Project #6 Biological Terrorism
What precautions are the local officials in your city taking regarding a biological terrorism attack?
The local officials in Miami Dade and Broward county are always at a high level of preparedness for any biological terrorism attack by having routine practices to mimic a real life situation. They are also keeping a ear out for any rumours that is circulating on the news wire , with regards to a biological attack. Also they are always updating their equipment and vaccines so that remedial action can be taken of the highest quality.
There is a local branch of th Center for Disease Control in Hallandale about five miles from my home. This is the department that is responsible for organizing the clinics, hospitals, and the emergency services response a biological attack. Below is a summary of the actions that will be take if such an event ever occurs:
Hospitals and clinics may have the first opportunity to recognize and initiate a response
to a bioterrorism-related outbreak. Healthcare facilities should have IC policies in place
authorizing the healthcare epidemiologist, IC committee chairman, or designee to rapidly
implement prevention and control measures in response to a suspected outbreak. Should a
bioterrorism event be suspected, a network of communication must be activated to involve IC
personnel, healthcare administration, local and state health departments, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) field office, and CDC (see Reporting Requirements and Contact Information
below). Existing local emergency plans should be reviewed, and a multidisciplinary approach
outlined that includes local emergency medical services (EMS), police and fire departments, and
media relations in addition to healthcare providers and IC professionals. Annual disaster
preparedness drills held at many facilities can improve response capacity by incorporating a
bioterrorism scenario to test and refine Bioterrorism Readiness Plans at each individual facility.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/bt/13apr99APIC-CDCBioterrorism.PDF
The local officials in Miami Dade and Broward county are always at a high level of preparedness for any biological terrorism attack by having routine practices to mimic a real life situation. They are also keeping a ear out for any rumours that is circulating on the news wire , with regards to a biological attack. Also they are always updating their equipment and vaccines so that remedial action can be taken of the highest quality.
There is a local branch of th Center for Disease Control in Hallandale about five miles from my home. This is the department that is responsible for organizing the clinics, hospitals, and the emergency services response a biological attack. Below is a summary of the actions that will be take if such an event ever occurs:
Hospitals and clinics may have the first opportunity to recognize and initiate a response
to a bioterrorism-related outbreak. Healthcare facilities should have IC policies in place
authorizing the healthcare epidemiologist, IC committee chairman, or designee to rapidly
implement prevention and control measures in response to a suspected outbreak. Should a
bioterrorism event be suspected, a network of communication must be activated to involve IC
personnel, healthcare administration, local and state health departments, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) field office, and CDC (see Reporting Requirements and Contact Information
below). Existing local emergency plans should be reviewed, and a multidisciplinary approach
outlined that includes local emergency medical services (EMS), police and fire departments, and
media relations in addition to healthcare providers and IC professionals. Annual disaster
preparedness drills held at many facilities can improve response capacity by incorporating a
bioterrorism scenario to test and refine Bioterrorism Readiness Plans at each individual facility.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/bt/13apr99APIC-CDCBioterrorism.PDF
Mini-Project #5
Go to the EPA's website at www.epa.com and use the enviro-mapper feature to find the closest superfund site to my house.
The closest superfund site to my house is Davie Landfill, 4001 Sw 142nd avenue, Davie, Florida 33314.
Site Location and Description
The Davie Landfill is a 210-acre site located at 4001 S.W. 142 Avenue in the Town of Davie,
Florida. The landfill is situated between two major drainage canals. The North New River Canal
is approximately 3.5 miles north of the landfill and the South New River Canal (C-11) is
approximately 0.25 miles south of the landfill. To the east and west of the landfill are northsouth
drainage ditches that empty into the C-11 Canal. Figure 1 is a site location map of the
landfill and the surrounding area.
The 210-acre site is comprised of a closed 68- acre trash landfill, closed 48-acre sanitary
landfill, a former 8-acre sludge lagoon, and three onsite borrow pits which are now known as
lakes 1, 2, and 3. The site features are shown in Figure 2.
The landfill overlies the Biscayne Aquifer which is approximately 100 feet thick in the vicinity
of the landfill. The property surrounding the landfill is located above the floodplain and is
not classified as a wetlands area. Camp Seminole of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts
of America is located north of the landfill. Imagination Farms, a dairy farm, lies along the
western, southern, and most of the eastern boundaries of the landfill. A South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) telemetry tower is located southeast of the site along Boy Scout
Road, and adjacent to the C-11 canal which is in the jurisdiction of the Central Broward
Drainage District. Just south of the C-11 canal is the single- family residential development,
Sunshine Ranches.
1.3 Site History
Operation of the site began in 1964 with the startup of Broward County's garbage incinerator and
the opening of the trash landfill to accept trash, construction and demolition debris, and ash
from the County's garbage incinerator. In November 1971, the sludge lagoon was created in a
natural depression on- site to receive grease trap waste, septic tank wastes, and treated
municipal wastewater treatment plant sludges. In 1973, a water quality monitoring program was
initiated by Broward County in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). In June
1975, the County incinerator closed because particulate matter emissions failed to meet new air
regulations and the sanitary landfill was opened for garbage only. The sanitary landfill
operated from 1975 until December 1987 when the entire site was closed to all incoming waste.
In 1975, the sludge lagoon received an estimated 2,500 tons per month of waste. In 1977, dikes
were constructed around two sides of the sludge lagoon to increase the capacity of the lagoon to
handle the volume of sludge disposal. Later these dikes were raised to receive increased loads.
By 1980, the volume of sludge placed in the lagoon had increased to approximately 7,100 tons per
month. In November 1981, concern regarding groundwater contamination from the sludge lagoon
resulted in the EPA designating the site as a Hazardous Waste Site under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and prompted Broward County to
cease all disposal operations at the lagoon.
In August 1982, EPA sampled the sludge in the lagoon and found high levels of total cyanides and
total sulfides. The site was placed on EPA’s National Priority List (NPL) in September 1983 due
to concerns related to the sludge lagoon. Subsequent sampling performed in 1983 and 1985 showed
reduced concentrations of both these elements. However, the sludge lagoon was still considered a
major source for potential contamination, and on September 27, 1985, EPA issued a Record of
Decision (ROD) regarding remediation of the sludge lagoon at the site.http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/fiveyear/f94-04003.pdf
The closest superfund site to my house is Davie Landfill, 4001 Sw 142nd avenue, Davie, Florida 33314.
Site Location and Description
The Davie Landfill is a 210-acre site located at 4001 S.W. 142 Avenue in the Town of Davie,
Florida. The landfill is situated between two major drainage canals. The North New River Canal
is approximately 3.5 miles north of the landfill and the South New River Canal (C-11) is
approximately 0.25 miles south of the landfill. To the east and west of the landfill are northsouth
drainage ditches that empty into the C-11 Canal. Figure 1 is a site location map of the
landfill and the surrounding area.
The 210-acre site is comprised of a closed 68- acre trash landfill, closed 48-acre sanitary
landfill, a former 8-acre sludge lagoon, and three onsite borrow pits which are now known as
lakes 1, 2, and 3. The site features are shown in Figure 2.
The landfill overlies the Biscayne Aquifer which is approximately 100 feet thick in the vicinity
of the landfill. The property surrounding the landfill is located above the floodplain and is
not classified as a wetlands area. Camp Seminole of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts
of America is located north of the landfill. Imagination Farms, a dairy farm, lies along the
western, southern, and most of the eastern boundaries of the landfill. A South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) telemetry tower is located southeast of the site along Boy Scout
Road, and adjacent to the C-11 canal which is in the jurisdiction of the Central Broward
Drainage District. Just south of the C-11 canal is the single- family residential development,
Sunshine Ranches.
1.3 Site History
Operation of the site began in 1964 with the startup of Broward County's garbage incinerator and
the opening of the trash landfill to accept trash, construction and demolition debris, and ash
from the County's garbage incinerator. In November 1971, the sludge lagoon was created in a
natural depression on- site to receive grease trap waste, septic tank wastes, and treated
municipal wastewater treatment plant sludges. In 1973, a water quality monitoring program was
initiated by Broward County in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). In June
1975, the County incinerator closed because particulate matter emissions failed to meet new air
regulations and the sanitary landfill was opened for garbage only. The sanitary landfill
operated from 1975 until December 1987 when the entire site was closed to all incoming waste.
In 1975, the sludge lagoon received an estimated 2,500 tons per month of waste. In 1977, dikes
were constructed around two sides of the sludge lagoon to increase the capacity of the lagoon to
handle the volume of sludge disposal. Later these dikes were raised to receive increased loads.
By 1980, the volume of sludge placed in the lagoon had increased to approximately 7,100 tons per
month. In November 1981, concern regarding groundwater contamination from the sludge lagoon
resulted in the EPA designating the site as a Hazardous Waste Site under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and prompted Broward County to
cease all disposal operations at the lagoon.
In August 1982, EPA sampled the sludge in the lagoon and found high levels of total cyanides and
total sulfides. The site was placed on EPA’s National Priority List (NPL) in September 1983 due
to concerns related to the sludge lagoon. Subsequent sampling performed in 1983 and 1985 showed
reduced concentrations of both these elements. However, the sludge lagoon was still considered a
major source for potential contamination, and on September 27, 1985, EPA issued a Record of
Decision (ROD) regarding remediation of the sludge lagoon at the site.http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/fiveyear/f94-04003.pdf
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Mini Project #4-genetically engineered foods
On your next to the grocery store, make a list of genetically altered foods that are on sale for public consumption.
Its very hard to compile a list of genetically altered food that are found in the grocery store, because they are so many, also a lot is used as byproducts in the manufacture of other foods. In the grocery store there are meats, friuts,vegetables and milk products that are genetically altered for 1. greater yield, 2. longer shelf life, 3. provide year round availability, 4. to diversify.
vGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism to another, also non-related species.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/
Its very hard to compile a list of genetically altered food that are found in the grocery store, because they are so many, also a lot is used as byproducts in the manufacture of other foods. In the grocery store there are meats, friuts,vegetables and milk products that are genetically altered for 1. greater yield, 2. longer shelf life, 3. provide year round availability, 4. to diversify.
vGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism to another, also non-related species.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/
The foods that are genetically engineered are tomatoes, corn, vegeburger, nutritional bars, chicken, eggs, soyabeans,beets just to name a few.
To find a list of genetically engineered food, click this linkhttp://truefoodnow.org/shoppersguide/guide_printable.html
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Mini-Project # 3 - Endangered Animals
Black-Billed Parrot
Mini Project #3. Provide a list of all the endangered animals found in your country. In Jamaica there are 28 species that are on the endangered list. I am going to list four of the popular ones. They are:
1. Iguana
2. Yellow bill parrot
3. Ylack bill parrot
4. Woodpecker
ii
2. Yellow bill parrot
3. Ylack bill parrot
4. Woodpecker
ii
Iguana
Woodpecker
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Mini Project #2
Complete the missing link: Insert Carbon Cycle diagram here.
The Carbon Cycle plays a very important part in our ecosystem in that it impact global warming and the greenhouse effect. This is due to the movement of carbon in many forms between the oceans, geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. The absense of carbon will cause an imbalance in the cycle and also affects the environment and all living things including plants and animals. The presense of carbon in the cycle causes a balance whereby the environment and all living things exchange this precious commodity in order for their existence. One example of this is photosynthesis whereby plants are able to manufacture thier food from the exchange of carbon between plants and animals.
The Carbon Cycle plays a very important part in our ecosystem in that it impact global warming and the greenhouse effect. This is due to the movement of carbon in many forms between the oceans, geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. The absense of carbon will cause an imbalance in the cycle and also affects the environment and all living things including plants and animals. The presense of carbon in the cycle causes a balance whereby the environment and all living things exchange this precious commodity in order for their existence. One example of this is photosynthesis whereby plants are able to manufacture thier food from the exchange of carbon between plants and animals.
Mini Project #1
Conduct an internet search to determine in which of the three environmental organization you wish to join. You need to analyze the mission of each organization, then state your reason for joining a particular one. The three are Greenpeace, National Resource Defense Council, and the Wild Spot Foundation.
I chose the Wild Spot Foundation because i am fascinated by the broad meaning of the word "biodiversity" which covers not only living things but the environment and its surrounding at large. To help in defending the environment and all living creatures they promote their message through visual aids, education, ecotourism, science and technology. i believe these mediums will help to sustain and help to promote conservation because it is able to touch people from the grass root level to the leaders of the different countries.
Another reason for choosing this foundation is because it was founded by our department head Dr. Barry Barker and i intend to support him to achieve the objectives he has for saving the environment.
Monday, April 7, 2008
INTRODUCTION
The purpose for creating this blog is to fulfill the requirements for the course Biology 1040, Environmental Studies, Nova Southeastern University. Also it is my desire to bring an awareness to everyone to do something in thier power to help in the preservation of the environment.
I am from the beautiful island of Jamaica and therefore throughout this blog i will try to educate the viewers about various facets of the country.
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