Blog #4: A Bleak Future for World’s Mammals

I read a one page article in the StarTribune (by Juliet Eilperin) called, A Bleak Future for World’s Mammals. The article discussed the rapidly declining number of animals, mostly land, because of over-harvesting and habitat destruction. A new study, which involved 1,700 experts in 130 countries, shows that 25 percent of land mammal’s species are being threatened with extinction. Marine mammals are also in danger but for different reasons. They are being affected by things like accidental killing through fishing, ship strikes and pollution. No matter what type of animal or how they are being affected, it is obvious we are hurting these creatures. “Mammals are definitely declining, and the driving factors are habitat destruction and over-harvesting, ” said the study’s lead author and the IUCN’s global mammals assessment coordinator, Jan Schipper. But the fight to save many species isn’t over, there are things we can do to improve the standing of a large number of land mammals. Conservation International President Russ Mittermeier says “It comes down to protecting habitats effectively, through protected areas, and preventing hunting and other forms of exploitation.”
This article was a real eye opener, it showed me that our actions are not only affecting our lives but they are also affecting the creatures that we share this earth with. In this day and age, where global warmin is a big issue, we have to take responsibility for our actions and understand that we are destroying the place we live.

From:
http://www.startribune.com/nation/30548144.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Blog #1: A Span of Emotions

You have probably been hearing a lot about the opening of the new 35W bridge in the news lately. I read an article in the StarTribune called, A Span of Emotions by Pam Louwage, which expressed the mixed emotions that people may feel about the opening of the bridge. The article gave readers a few perspectives on the opening of the 10 lane bridge, ranging from acceptance to terror. It expressed the mixed feelings a survivor, like Andy Gannon might feel. Whether it be a feeling of closure or a feeling of total fear, it is obvious the bridge collapse had a big impact on Andy. "You just can't live in fear. It'll consume you," Gannon said, "You have to understand that these structures are safe and to live your life you have to use them, unless you want to hide in you house."
Although the collapse had the greatest affect on the people who survived, it also had an impact on normal-day commuters and how they get around town. Many people are tired of the bridge being closed and are ready to be able to cross the newly built 'safe' bridge. "I am confident that its a very safe bridge," she [Jean Forster] said, "I haven't had any trouble going acoss any other bridges, and this is undobtedly safer." Although the remains of the broken bridge are long gone and in their space is a newly built bridge it is obvious that that terrifying day in August 2005 will never leave Minnesotan's minds.



Louwage, Pam A span of emotions. (2008, September 18). StarTribune, p. A16