Blog Eight; Conservation of the Reef

Coral Bleaching
1) A polyp is the second stage of growing coral, after coral larva. To be considered coral, a polyp needs to be a part of a colony of hundreds.
2) Coral is sensitive to many things in the ocean including water temperature.
3) Coral bleaching occurs when zooxanthellae "move out" of the coral due to an increase in temperature and stress of the coral, so the coral loses is main source of food, and its color.
4) Scientist think coral bleaching is occurring now more than ever due to climate change.
5) People can reduce their impact on climate change in many ways such as saving energy by turning off unused appliances, avoid unnecessary car use, and reusing and recycling.



Impacts of Climate Change
1) There are 1,500 species of fish, 360 species of hard coral,  1/3 of the world's soft coral, 22 species of sea birds, and 32 species of shore birds.
2) Climate changes are responsible for warming our oceans.
3) Increased flooding affects the reefs, fish, and birds living there by polluting the reef, so fish move to cooler off shore waters, resulting in less food for sea birds.
4) People can reduce climate change by buying environmentally sustainable products, drying clothes on the line, opening windows for air conditioning, donating things (not sending them to landfills), and inspire other to take action.



Educating Our Children
1) The benefits of using this media to inform children about the effects of climate change are that it's cute and fun and grabs the attention of kids. It's also pretty informative without being "scary." Some drawbacks on this are that the children need to be using energy to even come across this media, and it doesn't explain in detail all the things one can do to tell the coral reef.
2) a) Adults from Australia < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526n0WhyJGQ&feature=related > This video is very personal the citizens of Australia, and it shows the effects they have on their ocean and reef. It gives important facts about bleaching and climate change.
b) Foreigners not from Australia < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJbyC-eqrfs&feature=related > This video is not specific to the Great Barrier Reef, but shows how human behavior above the ocean is harming reef life. A person could watch this and relate it to any ocean, especially if they are familiar with one, making it more person and more crucial. It's also on a new station, which makes the situation seem more critical to everyone.
c) Tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inGov_ipVKk > This video does have some qualities of propaganda, but it is very informative on the Great Barrier Reef, and influences people to want to help, or least to keep from harming the reef.

Blog Seven; The Great Barrier Reef

1) The Great Barrier Reef is considered the "largest living structure on Earth."
2) Coral extracts the compound Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) from the ocean to create solid tentacles.
3) Red algae impacts the structure of coral because they act like a glue to hold together and for large mounds of coral.
4)The Great Barrier Reef became a national park in the year 1975.
5) About 33% of the reef is protected from fishing.
6) Scientists believe that the current reef is about 20 thousand years old. But the ancient reef is found to be about half a million years old.

Blog Six; An Official Apology

Prime Minister,

On behalf of being appointed into your Advisor group for the apology to be made to the Australian Aboriginals, I have gather some information that may be useful in this process.

Australia was the last immense ares to be discovered by Western Eurpoeans. Before Eurpoeans came however, native Aborigines have lived on the lands of Australia for tens of thousands of years. In 1788 the English arrived in Australia, bringing with them many new traditions and ideas. The British forced the Aborigines to move, claiming the land as their own. Due to their sudden movement, many Aborigines fell ill and died. Europeans also took the best land Australia had to offer, brought foreign animals to the country, and chopped down many native trees. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that laws were passed to protect the Aborigines.

The Stolen Generation refers to the force removal of mixed race children from their families and homes by invading Europeans between the years of 1906 and 1969. These children were given to white families to promote assimilation and turn the direction of the cultures from Aboriginal to European. The “stolen” children were raised with little education or love from their white families.

Many of the children were psychologically, physically or sexually abused while under the care of their white families. These major events so early on in life may cause depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress later on as these stolen children grow older. Many do find out about their history or background until very late in their life. This bring up a painful past, filled with memories desired to be forgotten.

Australia is still feeling this pain brought on by the “Stolen Generation.” Although the Aboriginal people were finally considered citizens in 1967, and in 1976 Aboriginals received their land back in the Northern Territory, they still are being hurt by long term effects of these stolen children. Many people only desire an apology. They simply want to be identified as the group of people that were wrongfully treated, and would like a few words, simple as “I’m sorry.” Refusing to apologize in 1997, saying that what happened in the past should stay in the past, has only made the Aborigines less willing to forgive the wrongful past acts.

The tension between Aboriginals and European settlers will calmed, if and only if an official apology is made. By showing that you are strong and brave enough to formally apologize for the Stolen Generation acts, you will gain respect and pardon from many people. Many Aboriginals just want a heartfelt “sorry” to reach peace between the Australia’s inhabitants. It is in our best interest to make an official apology.