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NASA has observed that Earth's climate is getting warmer.

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Weather is a specific event-like a rainstorm or hot day-that happens over a few hours, days or weeks. Climate is the average weather conditions in a place over 30 years or more. NASA has observed that Earth's climate is getting warmer.

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. 

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. 

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

Email

Online gaming communities

Special Concerns

With the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts, and content shared by individuals can often be viewed by strangers as well as acquaintances. The content an individual shares online - both their personal content as well as any negative, mean, or hurtful content - creates a kind of permanent public record of their views, activities, and behavior. This public record can be thought of as an online reputation, which may be accessible to schools, employers, colleges, clubs, and others who may be researching an individual now or in the future. Cyberbullying can harm the online reputations of everyone involved - not just the person being bullied, but those doing the bullying or participating in it. Cyberbullying has unique concerns in that it can be:

Persistent - Digital devices offer an ability to immediately and continuously communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be difficult for children experiencing cyberbullying to find relief.

Permanent - Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public, if not reported and removed. A negative online reputation, including for those who bully, can impact college admissions, employment, and other areas of life.

Hard to Notice - Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.

Laws and Sanctions

All states have laws requiring schools to respond to bullying. As cyberbullying has become more prevalent with the use of technology, many states now include cyberbullying, or mention cyberbullying offenses, under these laws. Schools may take action either as required by law, or with local or school policies that allow them to discipline or take other action. Some states also have provisions to address bullying if it affects school performance. You can learn about the laws and policies in each state, including if they cover cyberbullying.

Frequency of Cyberbullying

There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

The 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 16 percent of students in grades 9-12 experienced cyberbullying.

The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that an estimated 15.9% of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.

See also " Frequency of Bullying."

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.

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The National Wildlife Federation

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Habitat loss-due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat-is the primary threat to the survival of wildlife in the United States. When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities-such as agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial development, or water diversion-it may no longer be able to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young that wildlife need to survive. Every day there are fewer places left that wildlife can call home.

Major Kinds of Habitat Loss

Habitat destruction: A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction. Other ways people directly destroy habitat include filling in wetlands, dredging rivers, mowing fields, and cutting down trees.

Habitat fragmentation: Much of the remaining terrestrial wildlife habitat in the U.S. has been cut up into fragments by roads and development. Aquatic species' habitats have been fragmented by dams and water diversions. These fragments of habitat may not be large or connected enough to support species that need a large territory where they can find mates and food. The loss and fragmentation of habitats makes it difficult for migratory species to find places to rest and feed along their migration routes.

Habitat degradation: Pollution, invasive species, and disruption of ecosystem processes (such as changing the intensity of fires in an ecosystem) are some of the ways habitats can become so degraded, they no longer support native wildlife.

Main Causes of Habitat Loss

Agriculture: Much of the habitat loss from agriculture was done long ago when settlers converted forests and prairies to cropland. Today, there is increasing pressure to redevelop conservation lands for high-priced food and biofuel crops.

Land conversion for development: The conversion of lands that once provided wildlife habitat to housing developments, roads, office parks, strip malls, parking lots and industrial sites continues, even during the current economic crisis.

Water development: Dams and other water diversions siphon off and disconnect waters, changing hydrology and water chemistry (when nutrients are not able to flow downstream). During the dry season, the Colorado River has little to no water in it by the time it reaches the Sea of Cortez.

Pollution: Freshwater wildlife are most impacted by pollution. Pollutants such as untreated sewage, mining waste, acid rain, fertilizers and pesticides concentrate in rivers, lakes and wetlands and eventually end up in estuaries and the food web.

Climate change: The emerging driver of habitat loss is climate change. Wildlife that need the cool temperatures of high elevations, such as the American pika, may soon run out of habitat. Coastal wildlife may find their habitat underwater as sea levels rise.

How to Combat Habitat Loss

Combat habitat loss in your community by creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat® near your home, school, or business. Plant native plants and put out a water source so that you can provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young that wildlife need to survive.

Sources
In Search of Wildlife-friendly Biofuels: Are Native Prairie Plants the Answer?, Science Daily
Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States. Stein, B.A., J.S. Adams and L.S. Kutner. Oxford University Press, New York: 2000.

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Habitat Loss | National Wildlife Federation

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Habitat loss-due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat-is the primary threat to the survival of wildlife in the United States. Learn more.

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Ocean pollution: 11 facts you need to know

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With each passing year, we expose the ocean to more pollutants, from trash to chemicals. Fortunately, it’s not too late to clean up our act.

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Energy Conservation | National Wildlife Federation

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Americans consume a disproportionate amount of the world's energy. But we can make a difference by conserving energy in our everyday lives.

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There are many senior dogs for adoption at The Animal Foundation. Here are ten reasons you should consider adopting one of our oh-so-lovable senior dogs for adoption.

1. Senior dogs need homes, too.

Adult dogs are often passed over by potential adopters for puppies and younger dogs. Many senior dogs available for adoption were once owned and loved but, for one reason or another, found themselves in our care and in need of new homes through no fault of their own. They're just as loyal and loving as younger pups...and they'd love to prove it.

2. Old dogs can learn new tricks.

Dogs can be trained at any age, and older dogs are just as smart as younger ones. In fact, they can be easier to train because they're calmer and have a greater attention span than a puppy.

3. Your furniture...and carpet...will thank you.

Older dogs are more likely to be housebroken and have doggie manners. If their training is still a bit lacking, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick up skills fast, unlike puppies. Senior dogs also are much less likely to be destructive chewers.

4. Years of fun and love are still ahead.

Don't pass up that 5-year-old dog just because she's older. Dogs live 10-15 years, and many can live even longer depending on the dog. Talk to your veterinarian about ways you can help keep your adopted senior dog happy and healthy.

5. Experience laid back four-legged living.

If you're looking for a couch potato, an older dog might be right for you. Senior pups still need regular exercise, but they won't want to run a marathon every day and are often content taking it easy.

6. With senior dogs, what you see is what you get.

Adopting an older dog gives you instant knowledge, you'll know from the start important things like their full-grown size, personality and grooming requirements. This can make it easier to pick the right dog. If you're not into surprises, adopting a senior dog might be right for you!

7. Older dogs require less time and supervision.

Everyone loves puppies but not everyone is equipped or willing to take on a bundle of energy that can't make it through the night without a bathroom break and who requires hyper-vigilance during the housebreaking and teething stages, along with hours of training. Senior dogs are instant companions, ready to go on a long walk or to be the snuggle buddy or workout partner you need from the get-go.

8. Senior dogs are appreciative.

Many of our adopters strongly believe that senior dogs who they've adopted know how fortunate they are and that they greatly appreciate the second chance at happiness that their new person has given them. From their perspective, life is good and they are grateful for cuddle time, an extra treat, and-most of all-extra attention.

9. Older dogs are adorable.

Somehow, dogs retain their cuteness no matter what their age. Also, pretty is, is pretty does. Older or senior dogs seem eager to bond and settle into a new, loving home.

10. Select residents can score discounts on adoption fees for older dogs (and cats).

If you are 60 years or older, you can take $25 off the adoption fee of any cat 1 year and older or $50 off any dog 3 years and older. This means seniors can adopt a dog 3 years or older or a cat 1 year or older for free! This adoption discount is valid year-round, and photo ID must be provided at the time of adoption. Licensing fees still apply where required.

Love has no age limit! If you're ready to open your heart to one of The Animal Foundation's senior dogs for adoption who knows that love is the best treat there is, check out our adoptable animals on our website and call 702-955-5901 to make an appointment. Phone lines are open every day from 9am - 7pm. Adoptions are by appointment only. We can't wait to help you find your perfect canine companion!

You may also like:
10 Questions to Ask Before You Adopt a Pet 10 Tips for Successful Dog Introductions So You Want to Adopt a Fee-Waived Dog

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10 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog | The Animal Foundation

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There are many senior dogs for adoption at The Animal Foundation. Here are ten reasons you should consider adopting one of our oh-so-lovable senior dogs for adoption. Adult dogs are often passed over by potential adopters for puppies and younger dogs.

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How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters?

Facts about U.S. Animal Shelters:

The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011. The biggest decline was in dogs (from 3.9 million to 3.1 million).

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.

Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

About 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 710,000 are dogs and 100,000 are cats.

*These estimates are based in part on Shelter Animals Count data and other known and estimated sources, 2019. These are national estimates based on data obtained from shelters and rescues; the figures may vary from state to state.
Facts about Pet Ownership in the U.S.:

It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA))

Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. (Source: APPA)

According to the APPA, these are the most common sources from which primary methods cats and dogs are obtained as pets (Note: this information was based on a multiple response question, which results in the total % exceeding 100% individually for cats and dogs. In addition, the 'other' category includes all source categories that were reported by <10% of both dog and cat owners):

APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society.

Around 27% of cats are acquired as strays, down from 35% in 2012. (Source: APPA)

According to the ASPCA's National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn't handle.

The preceding data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
You may also wish to visit:

American Pet Products Association
https://www.americanpetproducts.org/

The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy (NCPPSP)
https://theaawa.org/page/nationalcouncil

The American Veterinary Medical Association
https://www.avma.org/ (see U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics)

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How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters? Get the answers to these and other questions about pet statistics.

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From elephants to polar bears, WWF fights to secure a future for animals on the planet we all share. WWF helped bring back the Amur tiger and Africa's black rhinos from the edge of extinction. We are giving isolated, dwindling populations of black footed ferrets and river dolphins a second chance.

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Introduction

Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries' economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.

In 2010, the UN General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation. Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use.

Drinking water services

Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. The target is tracked with the indicator of "safely managed drinking water services" - drinking water from an improved water source that is located on premises, available when needed, and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination.

In 2017, 5.3 billion people used safely managed drinking-water services - that is, they used improved water sources located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. The remaining 2.2 billion people without safely managed services in 2017 included:

1.4 billion people with basic services, meaning an improved water source located within a round trip of 30 minutes

206 million people with limited services, or an improved water source requiring more than 30 minutes to collect water

435 million people taking water from unprotected wells and springs

144 million people collecting untreated surface water from lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

Sharp geographic, sociocultural and economic inequalities persist, not only between rural and urban areas but also in towns and cities where people living in low-income, informal, or illegal settlements usually have less access to improved sources of drinking-water than other residents.

Water and health

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. Absent, inadequate, or inappropriately managed water and sanitation services expose individuals to preventable health risks. This is particularly the case in health care facilities where both patients and staff are placed at additional risk of infection and disease when water, sanitation, and hygiene services are lacking. Globally, 15% of patients develop an infection during a hospital stay, with the proportion much greater in low-income countries.

Inadequate management of urban, industrial, and agricultural wastewater means the drinking-water of hundreds of millions of people is dangerously contaminated or chemically polluted.

Some 829 000 people are estimated to die each year from diarrhoea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. Yet diarrhoea is largely preventable, and the deaths of 297 000 children aged under 5 years could be avoided each year if these risk factors were addressed. Where water is not readily available, people may decide handwashing is not a priority, thereby adding to the likelihood of diarrhoea and other diseases.

Diarrhoea is the most widely known disease linked to contaminated food and water but there are other hazards. In 2017, over 220 million people required preventative treatment for schistosomiasis - an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms contracted through exposure to infested water.

In many parts of the world, insects that live or breed in water carry and transmit diseases such as dengue fever. Some of these insects, known as vectors, breed in clean, rather than dirty water, and household drinking water containers can serve as breeding grounds. The simple intervention of covering water storage containers can reduce vector breeding and may also reduce faecal contamination of water at the household level.

Economic and social effects

When water comes from improved and more accessible sources, people spend less time and effort physically collecting it, meaning they can be productive in other ways. This can also result in greater personal safety by reducing the need to make long or risky journeys to collect water. Better water sources also mean less expenditure on health, as people are less likely to fall ill and incur medical costs, and are better able to remain economically productive.

With children particularly at risk from water-related diseases, access to improved sources of water can result in better health, and therefore better school attendance, with positive longer-term consequences for their lives.

Challenges

Climate change, increasing water scarcity, population growth, demographic changes and urbanization already pose challenges for water supply systems. By 2025, half of the world's population will be living in water-stressed areas. Re-use of wastewater, to recover water, nutrients, or energy, is becoming an important strategy. Increasingly countries are using wastewater for irrigation - in developing countries this represents 7% of irrigated land. While this practice if done inappropriately poses health risks, safe management of wastewater can yield multiple benefits, including increased food production.

Options for water sources used for drinking water and irrigation will continue to evolve, with an increasing reliance on groundwater and alternative sources, including wastewater. Climate change will lead to greater fluctuations in harvested rainwater. Management of all water resources will need to be improved to ensure provision and quality.

WHO's response

As the international authority on public health and water quality, WHO leads global efforts to prevent transmission of waterborne disease, advising governments on the development of health-based targets and regulations.

WHO produces a series of water quality guidelines, including on drinking-water, safe use of wastewater, and safe recreational water environments. The water quality guidelines are based on managing risks, and since 2004 the Guidelines for drinking-water quality promote the Framework for Safe Drinking-water. The Framework recommends establishment of health-based targets, the development and implementation of Water Safety Plans by water suppliers to most effectively identify and manage risks from catchment to consumer, and independent surveillance to ensure that Water Safety Plans are effective and health-based targets are being met.

WHO also supports countries to implement the drinking-water quality guidelines through the development of practical guidance materials and provision of direct country support. This includes the development of locally relevant drinking-water quality regulations aligned to the principles in the Guidelines, the development, implementation and auditing of Water Safety Plans and strengthening of surveillance practices.

Since 2014, WHO has been testing household water treatment products against WHO health-based performance criteria through the WHO International 'Scheme' to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that products protect users from the pathogens that cause diarrhoeal disease and to strengthen policy, regulatory, and monitoring mechanisms at the national level to support appropriate targeting and consistent and correct use of such products.

WHO works closely with UNICEF in a number of areas concerning water and health, including on water, sanitation, and hygiene in health care facilities. In 2015 the two agencies jointly developed WASH FIT (Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool), an adaptation of the water safety plan approach. WASH FIT aims to guide small, primary health care facilities in low- and middle-income settings through a continuous cycle of improvement through assessments, prioritization of risk, and definition of specific, targeted actions. A 2019 report describes practical steps that countries can take to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities.

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Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries' economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.

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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/

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EPA.gov

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Grey Muzzle is a good source to learn about senior dogs! -Aubrey

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Older dogs are too often overlooked by potential adopters at shelters and rescues. However, those who adopt senior dogs find them to be wonderful companions - more mellow, better mannered, and quicker to adjust to their new homes than younger dogs.

Whether you have been considering adopting an older dog for a long time or were just recently inspired by the story of one in need, your new grey-muzzled best friend may be a hop, skip, and a few clicks away.

How to Find Adoptable Senior Dogs

Senior dogs can be adopted from municipal and county shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, and sanctuaries, all of which commonly list their available dogs on pet adoption websites. These websites allow you to search by age group and location, in addition to size, breed, gender, and more. They usually include a description and photo of each dog. (Most shelters and rescue organizations list dogs over 7 years of age as "senior.") You can search for pets anywhere in the United States and Canada, with those nearest to you appearing first.

Adopt-a-Pet describes itself as "North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website," while Petfinder claims to host listings from more than 12,000 adoption groups from the U.S. and Canada. Adoptable pets can also be found with searches via All Paws, Petango, and the ASPCA's shelter database. UK residents can try Pet Adoption UK or visit the Oldies Club website.

If you don't find your perfect companion with your first online search, don't be discouraged. Listings change daily and you can also use your search results to find the names of local organizations that tend to have older dogs available for adoption. Shelters and rescue organizations (especially smaller rescues that depend on volunteers) can't always update their external listings regularly, so visiting their websites or following them on social media can provide more options.

If you do an online search for local rescues, you will likely learn about wonderful local organizations you never knew were there. You might even discover that you live near a rescue or sanctuary specializing in senior dogs! For additional information, check out The Grey Muzzle Organization's Who We Help page. It lists by state the organizations to which Grey Muzzle provides grants - a majority of which have senior dogs to adopt and/or foster. There is also a list and map, maintained by Resources for Dogs, showing senior dog rescues and sanctuaries, as well as some of the general or breed-specific rescues, shelters, humane societies, and SPCAs that have special programs for older dogs. See the interactive map below or visit it here.

Shelters, humane societies, and SPCAs will usually have adoption hours that are posted online. Rescues and sanctuaries (some of which are foster-based) may not have regular on-site adoption hours, so look for their weekly or monthly adoption events, such as at large chain pet stores like Petco and PetSmart. Most communities also have annual adoption events with participants from multiple local rescues. If you live in or near a large city, you can also check whether a Pet Expo, featuring dozens of rescue groups, is coming to town.

Nine-year-old Olivia is an adoptable dog from Young at Heart Senior Pet Rescue near Chicago, Illinois.

Anxious to begin your adventure with your new companion? If you visit a shelter, humane society, or SPCA during their adoption hours, you may be able to go home with your new senior dog that day. However, if you inquire with a smaller rescue about a particular dog, don't be surprised if you don't hear back immediately. Rescues don't always have the staff or volunteers to respond to every inquiry promptly. Send an email, and if necessary, follow it up with a phone call and voice message. If you are open to adopting a dog that the rescue thinks would be a better match, let them know. The more information you provide about you, your household, and what you are looking for, the easier it will be for them to help you find the right dog for you.

Finally, you can follow the wonderful Susie's Senior Dogs Facebook page, which helps senior dogs awaiting adoption nationwide get more exposure. You might learn of an older dog in need near you or of one you can share with a friend in another state; and at the very least, you will read some great stories of senior dog adoption!

Where to Adopt

You will find wonderful older dogs in need at most shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, and rescues, but how you go about finding your future companion and completing the adoption will partly depend on the type of animal welfare organization from which you choose to adopt.

Municipal and county shelters are typically "open intake," which means they accept all animals that are brought to them. They are tasked with caring for surrendered and lost pets, abuse and neglect cases, and in some cases, even hurt or displaced livestock and wildlife. Some have special senior dog care or adoption programs, but more often they find it difficult to give senior dogs the special care and attention they need, and their older animals are the most at risk when space runs out (see Grey Muzzle's report Old Dogs and Animal Shelters). Municipal and county shelters tend to have easier adoption procedures and lower fees than other organizations.

Humane societies and SPCAs vary considerably, as they are independent, privately-run nonprofits, and are not directly affiliated with a larger group, though some contract with a city or county to provide animal care and control services. They usually have shelter facilities, but may limit or otherwise manage the pets they take in so that they can better meet the needs of the animals they care for and avoid putting dogs at risk due to overcrowding. They may also offer a variety of programs that promote animal welfare in their community and assist pet owners and adopters, such as low-cost veterinary clinics.

In general, privately-run rescues and sanctuaries limit their intake of new dogs, so that each dog has as long as it needs to get adopted. This also helps them get to know the temperament and personality of the dogs they rescue and to afford to give their dogs full medical examinations and treatment. The dogs in their care are often pulled from shelters where they were deemed "rescue only," due to a need for medical care or behavioral rehabilitation that the shelter could not provide. Many operate out of a private home or network of homes (fosters). Senior dog rescues and sanctuaries will usually have dogs available for adoption in addition to permanent foster or hospice. Breed specific rescues will be able to give you more information and support relevant to your dog's breed.

Eight-year-old Rico is an adoptable dog at Lionel's Legacy Senior Dog Rescue near San Diego, CA. Photo ©Ashley Rose

If you decide to focus your search for an adoptable senior dog at one shelter or rescue, your best bet is to do some research locally and check the websites of organizations near you. You can compare your local organizations not only with respect to the number of senior dogs in their care, but also:

Adoption procedures and fees;

Help with finding a good match;

Health and behavioral evaluation and treatment prior to adoption;

Support offered after adoption;

Policy if adopter's home proves not to be a good fit or adopter passes away (or is otherwise unable to care for their dog);

Need of the dogs in their care.

If possible, ask a friend or neighbor who has had a positive adoption experience for a recommendation.

Ultimately, although there are benefits to adopting a senior dog from a group that can provide your future dog with high-level evaluation and care prior to adoption and support for the adoption after, the senior dog that is the best match for you and your family is just as likely to be found at an open-intake shelter as at a senior rescue.

Find Your Match

Dogs become less active and tend to mellow as they age, but when adopting a senior dog, it is still important to consider what would make a good match for you in terms of temperament, energy-level, emotional and health care needs, and exercise requirements. A senior rescue or sanctuary may be able to offer the most help in finding the right dog for you, but large community shelters also do temperament testing, and some use a version of ASPCA's "Meet Your Match" program.

Don't be intimidated by a lengthy adoption application or questionnaire. It means that the shelter or rescue is looking for a safe, loving, and permanent home for each dog and also a good fit, so that both dog and adopter are happy. The questions are often designed to help potential adopters think through what they hope and expect when adopting a dog. Old Dog Haven in Washington reminds its adopters, "Each dog available for adoption is unique and requires a different kind of home. Our goal is to make wonderful matches so the dogs are truly home forever and so we have happy adopters."

If asked to fill out a questionnaire, you will likely be queried about your plans for caring for your new dog, as well as about your home, lifestyle, work schedule, household members, frequent visitors, and other pets - all issues which are good to keep in mind, even if you are not directly asked about them.

Also, consider whether you want a low-key companion to cuddle with on the couch, or an adventurous friend with whom to explore the world. Not all senior dogs are content to be couch potatoes any more than all older humans are, and it is generally recommended that you get a dog with an energy level the same as or lower than yourself. Any dog you adopt will need exercise and can motivate you to get out walking, but there are some dogs who will need hikes, games of fetch, or other forms of energetic play throughout their later years in order to stay happy and healthy.

13-year-old Mr. Banks is an adoptable dog from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, CA.

In addition to reading an available dog's listing carefully, ask staff and volunteers questions, spend time with your potential new dog in a playroom, and take him or her for a walk. Some rescues even provide the foster-to-adopt option to make sure that the home environment and adopter's lifestyle click with the dog's needs and personality. Although one of the things that makes senior dogs great is "what you see is what you get" and they tend to settle quite quickly into their new homes, any homeless dog's behavior may be affected by the stress of being in a shelter or losing their home and family, and as a result, its personality may take a couple days or even weeks to fully emerge.

Many rescues and some humane societies and SPCAs do home visits and contact current or previous veterinarians before placement. Also, as individual dogs of any age differ in how well they do with new people, young children, and other animals, it is highly recommended that you arrange meetings between your potential dog and members of your household prior to adoption.

How Much Is That Doggie...

Adoption fees range from waived fees to several hundred dollars. At many municipal and county shelters, adoption fees for senior dogs are discounted and are usually under $100. Smaller rescues tend to have the highest adoption fees, often to offset the cost of expensive medical care or training for dogs needing rehabilitation.

Some shelters and rescues participate in national adoption promotions sponsored by organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society by offering discounted adoption fees for special occasions. If you are a senior citizen yourself, keep an eye out for seniors-for-seniors programs which discount or waive adoption fees when seniors adopt senior pets. For instance, at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue (a Grey Muzzle grantee in San Francisco, CA), anyone 62 or older can have the $200 adoption fee waived and receive an adoption kit.

If you are adopting from a responsible shelter or rescue, your dog will have received a basic veterinary exam and updated vaccinations (and spay-neuter, if needed), which will be covered by the adoption fee. Some organizations may need to skip more expensive tests, so if potential health problems are a worry for you, you may want to ask about their medical evaluation procedures. Other rescue groups, in addition to treating dogs for any life-threatening illnesses, treat for common ailments of older dogs, such as dental disease and skin growths, before making senior dogs available for adoption. Occasionally, microchipping, a month's supply of medication, a bag of food, or other supplies are also covered by the adoption fee.

Be an Old Dog's Hero

If you are considering adopting a senior dog, you likely not only want a wonderful companion, but also want to transform the life of a dog in need. For every old dog that gets its own viral social media post, there are thousands more just as endearing, with stories equally poignant, and you will find them right in your own community.

Regardless of where you adopt, you will be a homeless dog's hero. Open-intake shelters have the most difficulty marketing senior dogs, which are then at risk when the shelter is overcrowded. However, every dog adopted from a shelter or rescue of any kind opens up room for that organization to rescue another. (For more about how old dogs become homeless, read our article.)

Most shelters and rescues have older dogs that have been routinely overlooked, often for superficial reasons. If you want to help the dog with the greatest need, have an honest conversation with shelter or rescue personnel about dogs that have been there for a long time to see if your home is a good match for one of them. And remember, some of the best dogs may require a little extra work.

If you determine that you are not ready to adopt but still want to care for an older dog in need, you might want to contact your local rescue or shelter to ask about senior dogs that require short-term, long-term, or hospice foster care. Foster families are typically expected to pay for food and are responsible for getting dogs to veterinary appointments and giving medications or other daily supplementary care, while the rescue or shelter pays for the veterinary care, including vet visits, treatment, medications, and supplies.

If you cannot adopt or foster, there are still ways to help homeless senior dogs. For instance, you can volunteer for or donate to a senior dog program. Volunteers are needed at all shelters and rescues to help socialize and exercise the animals, but if you have special skills or extra time, there are many other important contributions you can make - from keeping kennels safe and clean to promoting adoptable dogs. Also, not only rescues, but also humane societies, SPCAs, and shelters depend heavily on private donations, and some may have special funds for their senior dogs. The support of donors is also what makes it possible for The Grey Muzzle Organization to help fund senior dog programs.

Be assured that if you decide to adopt, there is a senior dog waiting for you. If you want more reasons why senior dogs make wonderful pets, check them out here. Although the time you will have with an adopted senior dog may be shorter, your life will be forever enriched and you will have the honor and joy of being part of their final adventures.

Additional Resources:
"Tips for adopting the best shelter dog" by Victoria Stillwell
"Adopting a Senior Dog" by The Grey Muzzle Organization
The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other nonprofit groups nationwide. This post was written by K.E. Magoon, Grey Matters Blog Manager and Editor.

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Adopting a Senior Dog: How to Find Your New Best Friend by K.E. Magoon

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Adopters of senior dogs find them to be more mellow, better mannered, and quicker to adjust to their new homes than younger dogs. Whether you have been considering adopting a senior dog for a long time or were just recently touched by the story of an older dog in need, your new grey-muzzled best friend may be a hop, skip, and a few clicks away.

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https://www.adoptaseniorpet.com/who-we-are/what-young-at-heart-does

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Pollution

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Back to Blue - An initiative of The Economist Group and The Nippon Foundation

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The ocean is Earth's largest ecosystem and faces critical challenges. Back to Blue, an initiative of The Economist Group and The Nippon Foundation, brings together two organisations that share a common understanding of the need to improve evidence-based approaches and solutions to the pressing issues faced by the ocean, and to restoring ocean health and promoting sustainability. The initiative will focus initially on aspects of the vexing challenge of pollution.

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Back to Blue - An initiative of The Economist Group and The Nippon Foundation

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Back to Blue, an initiative of The Economist Group and The Nippon Foundation, brings together two organisations that share a common understanding of the need to improve evidence-based approaches and solutions to the pressing issues faced by the ocean, and to restoring ocean health and promoting sustainability.

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Johan Joseph

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Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying, so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities and online. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.

How does PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center help?

Promotes a shared conversation and response to bullying in which everyone works together responsibly and collaboratively to create safe environments for students

Inspires entire communities to get involved with social change and promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion

Offers classroom activities, toolkits, and lesson plans for educators

Provides informative guides for parents to understand the dynamics of bullying, help their children through bullying situations, and learn how to communicate with school staff

Educates students with age-appropriate resources and information to manage bullying situations, be supportive of their peers, and take action to prevent bullying in their school, community, and online

Creates school-wide opportunities to address bullying, including National Bullying Prevention Month in October and Unity Day, initiatives both founded by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

Welcome to PACER | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 1

The first video of the new series, PACERTalks About Bullying, where each week we will be talking about all things bullying. In our first episode, we share more about PACER Center and what we do.

Watch more videos from the series.
2019 Benefit Video: We Have Hope, The Story of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

Premiering at PACER's Annual Benefit in May 2019, this video features Paula Goldberg, PACER's Executive Director, sharing the behind-the-scenes story that inspired the creation of PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006, and the path to becoming to an internationally renowned resource.

View all Benefit Videos
Websites

PACER offers digital-based resources for parents, schools, teens and youth, including:

PACER.org/Bullying: Parents and educators can access bullying prevention resources, which include educational toolkits, awareness toolkits, contest ideas, promotional products and more.

PACERTeensAgainstBullying: Created by and for teens, this is the place where middle and high school students can find ways to address bullying, take action, be heard, and own an important social cause.

PACERKidsAgainstBullying: This creative, innovative and educational website designed for elementary school students to learn about bullying prevention, engage in activities and be inspired to take action.

PACER's National Bullying Prevention Month-October

In 2006, PACER founded National Bullying Prevention Month, which is held annually during October. This is a time for communities nationwide to unite and raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities and education.

During National Bullying Prevention Month- and throughout the year -the community is encouraged to use these creative resources to engage, educate and inspire others to join the movement.

PACER Center-Champions for Children with Disabilities

Founded in 1977, PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. Today, PACER Center expands opportunities and enhances the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families. PACER is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities.

With assistance to individual families, workshops, materials for parents and professionals, and leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children, PACER's work affects and encourages families in Minnesota and across the nation.

2018 Program Highlights

A Look Back at 2018 | PACERTalks About Bullying: Season 2, Episode 16

In this week's episode of PACERTalks About Bullying, we wanted to recap a few exciting highlights from 2018, as well as share a few things to expect in this new year.

COMMENTS

From students:
"Thank you guys so much for this website! Knowing I'm not alone has helped me so much! Thank you for helping me through all of this!" "Thank you so much for making this website. It has opened up a new door for me in my life." "I am glad this site is alive and running. For some kids this site may be their only resort." "I am one of those people getting bullied right now. It hurts so much. They won't stop and I told an adult and nothing happened. I really will come back to this website almost every day because I want it to stop!" "This website is one of the best I have ever seen. I love how they made everything clear and understandable. I have gone through bullying and even left school because of it. Thank you so much for what you do to help kids. I will make sure my friends know about this and get my school involved."
From Parents and Educators:
"I have studied your website up and down and find you one of the most influential and inspirational resources out there." "Thank you for your passionate commitment to this important issue!" "I think all of PACER's resources are thorough and comprehensive, as well as extremely relevant to today's issues with bullying. Thank you!" "It's the best information I've seen. I appreciate your hard work."
OUTCOMES

After visiting PACER's bullying prevention online resources:

100% - Workshop attendees reported that the information learned will help them to help their child or student more effectively build their self-advocacy skills.

100% - Individuals found "The WE WILL Generation" materials to be a helpful bullying prevention resource.

98% - Students who were more likely to help someone being bullied after using PACER resources.

97% - Students who were bullied learned about how to get help.

94% - Teachers indicated PACER resources have provided useful information to help their students.

90% - Poster recipients reported Unity Day was useful in raising awareness of bullying prevention.

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About Us - National Bullying Prevention Center

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Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.

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https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/habitat-destruction

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.

Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides-chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects-seep into waterways and harm wildlife.

All living things-from one-celled microbes to blue whales-depend on Earth's supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened.

Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet. In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country.

In the past, visitors to Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas could see 290 kilometers (180 miles) across the vast landscape. Now, coal-burning power plants in Texas and the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Mexico have spewed so much pollution into the air that visitors to Big Bend can sometimes see only 50 kilometers (30 miles).

The three major types of pollution are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.

Air Pollution
Sometimes, air pollution is visible. A person can see dark smoke pour from the exhaust pipes of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, however, air pollution is invisible.

Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people's eyes burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer.

Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 people died within days. Hundreds of thousands more were permanently injured.

Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt, they eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere. Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europe and North America. For years, meteorologists tracked what was known as the "equatorial smoke stream." In fact, this smoke stream was a jet stream, a wind high in Earth's atmosphere that Krakatoa's air pollution made visible.

Volcanic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for years. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, famously erupted in 79, killing hundreds of residents of the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most victims of Vesuvius were not killed by lava or landslides caused by the eruption. They were choked, or asphyxiated, by deadly volcanic gases.

In 1986, a toxic cloud developed over Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Lake Nyos sits in the crater of a volcano. Though the volcano did not erupt, it did eject volcanic gases into the lake. The heated gases passed through the water of the lake and collected as a cloud that descended the slopes of the volcano and into nearby valleys. As the toxic cloud moved across the landscape, it killed birds and other organisms in their natural habitat. This air pollution also killed thousands of cattle and as many as 1,700 people.

Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels-coal, oil, and natural gas. When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations, or amounts. City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide.

Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons. These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog, a thick fog or haze of air pollution. The smog is so thick in Linfen, China, that people can seldom see the sun. Smog can be brown or grayish blue, depending on which pollutants are in it.

Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that suffer from extreme smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as running or swimming) when smog is very thick.

When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change into acids. They then fall back to earth as acid rain. Wind often carries acid rain far from the pollution source. Pollutants produced by factories and power plants in Spain can fall as acid rain in Norway.

Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest. It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish can't survive. In Sweden, acid rain created thousands of "dead lakes," where fish no longer live.

Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone. It has erased the words on gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments. The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, was once gleaming white. Years of exposure to acid rain has left it pale.

Governments have tried to prevent acid rain by limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. In Europe and North America, they have had some success, but acid rain remains a major problem in the developing world, especially Asia.

Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called the greenhouse effect.

But human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human activity, is called global warming.

Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea levels to rise at a rate of two millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually flood low-lying coastal regions. Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened by this climate change.

Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans.

Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms. It will also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others.

The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food, and their numbers are shrinking.

People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in foam products, and in aerosol cans.

CFCs damage the ozone layer, a region in Earth's upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. When people are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other illnesses.

In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often called the "ozone hole." No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the United States, now severely limit the production of CFCs.

Water Pollution
Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can't see or smell.

Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water.

Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh.

There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps. The world's largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby beaches. Tar balls are small, sticky pieces of pollution that eventually decompose in the ocean.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB). Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated with "dead zones" in the world's lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface water.

Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines. Acid helps miners remove coal from the surrounding rocks. The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich in sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous sources of water for drinking and hygiene.

Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the ocean floor. In the following months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as pelicans, became coated in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than two million animals died as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years, people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the 1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York, suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects. It was discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area's water. In 1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to abandon their homes.

If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water.

Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than 21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces the river's fishery, resulting in less food for the local community.

A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture. Fertilizer is material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus, which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms.

Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it into storm drains, which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams. Pesticides can also seep into groundwater, the water beneath the surface of the Earth.

Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as a coolant. Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms.

Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins as they eat the fish.

Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are covered with chemical pollutants.

Land Pollution
Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous chemicals.

Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases.

A pesticide called DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was once commonly used to kill insects, especially mosquitoes. In many parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria, which kills a million people every year. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize for his understanding of how DDT can control insects and other pests. DDT is responsible for reducing malaria in places such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka.

In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called combat malaria.

Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Litter makes it difficult for plants and other producers in the food web to create nutrients. Animals can die if they mistakenly eat plastic.

Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people.

Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill. Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out of places to dump their trash.

A massive landfill near Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a land pollution tragedy in 2000. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure. Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing 218 people.

Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation.

Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.

Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U.S. state of Hawai'i, is littered with plastic bags and bottles carried in by the tide. The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Tourism is Hawai'i's largest industry. Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing in the area's hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities.

Some cities incinerate, or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution.

Reducing Pollution
Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, Silent Spring, which discussed the dangers of DDT. She argued that it could contribute to cancer in humans. She also explained how it was destroying bird eggs, which caused the number of bald eagles, brown pelicans, and ospreys to drop. In 1972, the United States banned the use of DDT. Many other countries also banned it. But DDT didn't disappear entirely. Today, many governments support the use of DDT because it remains the most effective way to aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused. Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper.

Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage.

Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted.

International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by 191 countries. The United States, the world's second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the agreement. Other countries, such as China, the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases, have not met their goals.

Still, many gains have been made. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, in the U.S. state of Ohio, was so clogged with oil and trash that it caught on fire. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be. Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive.

But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants.

Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use.

Fast Fact

How Long Does It Last?
Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down?

Fast Fact

Indoor Air Pollution
The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.

Fast Fact

Light Pollution
Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night. Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy.

The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution. This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere.

Fast Fact

Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports.

Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution. The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrators

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

Editors

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

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7 Reasons To Adopt A Senior Dog | Cesar's Way

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68% of teens agree that cyberbullying is a serious problem.

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Sponsor Senior Dogs Rock!

The Grey Muzzle Organization is hosting its first-ever online auction, Senior Dogs Rock! We might not be able to gather together in person, but we can come together virtually to celebrate what we all love: swag, style, and seniors. Senior Dogs Rock! is scheduled to run from June 6-June 27, 2021, and will feature unique items and fun activities for people and dogs. Learn more about the auction and sponsorship opportunities.

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The Grey Muzzle Organization is hosting its first-ever online auction, Senior Dogs Rock! We might not be able to gather together in person, but we can come together virtually to celebrate what we all love: swag, style, and seniors. Senior Dogs Rock!

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The globe is heating up. Both land and oceans are warmer now than they were when record keeping began, in 1880, and temperatures are still ticking upward. This rise in heat is global warming, in a nutshell.

Here are the bare numbers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Between 1880 and 1980, the global annual temperature increased at a rate of 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit (0.07 degrees Celsius) per decade, on average. Since 1981, the rate of increase has sped up, to 0.32 degrees F (0.18 degrees C) per decade. This has led to an overall 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) increase in global average temperature today compared to the preindustrial era. In 2019, the average global temperature over land and ocean was 1.75 degrees F (0.95 degrees C) above the 20th-century average. That made 2019 the second hottest year on record, trailing only 2016.

This rise in heat is caused by humans. The burning of fossil fuels has released greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap warmth from the sun and drive up surface and air temperatures.

How the greenhouse effect plays a role

The main driver of today's warming is the combustion of fossil fuels. These hydrocarbons heat up the planet via the greenhouse effect, which is caused by the interaction between Earth's atmosphere and incoming radiation from the sun.

"The basic physics of the greenhouse effect were figured out more than a hundred years ago by a smart guy using only pencil and paper," Josef Werne, a professor of geology and environmental science at the University of Pittsburgh, told Live Science.

That "smart guy" was Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist and eventual Nobel Prize winner. Simply put, solar radiation hits Earth's surface and then bounces back toward the atmosphere as heat. Gases in the atmosphere trap this heat, preventing it from escaping into the void of space (good news for life on the planet). In a paper presented in 1895, Arrhenius figured out that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide could trap heat close to the 's surface, and that small changes in the amount of those gases could make a big difference in how much heat was trapped.

Where the greenhouse gases come from

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, humans have been rapidly changing the balance of gases in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil releases water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), ozone and nitrous oxide (N2O), the primary greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas. Between about 800,000 years ago and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, CO2's presence in the atmosphere amounted to about 280 parts per million (ppm, meaning there were about 208 molecules of CO2 in the air per every million air molecules). As of 2018 (the last year when full data are available), the average CO2 in the atmosphere was 407.4 ppm, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

That may not sound like much, but according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, levels of CO2 haven't been that high since the Pliocene epoch, which occurred between 3 million and 5 million years ago. At that time, the Arctic was ice-free at least part of the year and significantly warmer than it is today, according to 2013 research published in the journal .

In 2016, CO2 accounted for 81.6% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to an analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"We know through high-accuracy instrumental measurements that there is an unprecedented increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. We know that CO2 absorbs infrared radiation [heat] and the global mean temperature is increasing," Keith Peterman, a professor of chemistry at York College of Pennsylvania, and his research partner, Gregory Foy, an associate professor of chemistry at York College of Pennsylvania, told Live Science in a joint email message.

CO2 makes its way into the atmosphere through a variety of routes. Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 and is, by far, the biggest U.S. contribution to emissions that warm the globe. According to the 2018 EPA report, U.S. fossil fuel combustion, including electricity generation, released just over 5.8 billion tons (5.3 billion metric tons) of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2016. Other processes - such as nonenergy use of fuels, iron and steel production, cement production, and waste incineration - boost the total annual CO2 release in the U.S. to 7 billion tons (6.5 billion metric tons).

Deforestation is also a large contributor to excess CO2 in the atmosphere. In fact, deforestation is the second largest anthropogenic (human-made) source of carbon dioxide, according to research published by Duke University. After trees die, they release the carbon they have stored during photosynthesis. According to the 2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment, deforestation releases nearly a billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year.

Globally, methane is the second most common greenhouse gas, but it is the most efficient at trapping heat. The EPA reports that methane is 25 times more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. In 2016, the gas accounted for about 10% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Methane can come from many natural sources, but humans cause a large portion of methane emissions through mining, the use of natural gas, the mass raising of livestock and the use of landfills. Cattle constitute the largest single source of methane in the U.S., according to the EPA, with the animals producing nearly 26% of total methane emissions.

There are some hopeful trends in the numbers for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. According to the 2018 EPA report, these emissions rose 2.4% between 1990 and 2016 but declined by 1.9% between 2015 and 2016.

Part of that decline was driven by a warm winter in 2016, which required less heating fuel than usual. But another significant reason for this recent decline is the replacement of coal with natural gas, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. The U.S. is also transitioning from a manufacturing-based economy to a less carbon-intensive service economy. Fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficiency standards for buildings have also improved emissions, according to the EPA.

Effects of global warming

Global warming doesn't just mean warming, which is why "climate change" has become the favored term among researchers and policymakers. While the globe is becoming hotter on average, this temperature increase can have paradoxical effects, such as more frequent and severe snowstorms. Climate change can and will affect the globe in several big ways: by melting ice, by drying out already-arid areas, by causing weather extremes and by disrupting the delicate balance of the oceans.
Melting ice
Perhaps the most visible effect of climate change so far is the melting of glaciers and sea ice. The ice sheets have been retreating since the end of the last ice age, about 11,700 years ago, but the last century's warming has hastened their demise. A 2016 study found that there is a 99% chance that global warming has caused the recent retreat of glaciers; in fact, the research showed, these rivers of ice retreated 10 to 15 times the distance they would have if the climate had stayed stable. Glacier National Park in Montana had 150 glaciers in the late 1800s. Today, it has 26. The loss of glaciers can cause the loss of human life, when icy dams holding back glacier lakes destabilize and burst or when avalanches caused by unstable ice bury villages.

At the North Pole, warming is proceeding twice as quickly as it is at middle latitudes, and the sea ice is showing the strain. Fall and winter ice in the Arctic hit record lows in both 2015 and 2016, meaning the ice expanse did not cover as much of the open sea as previously observed. According to NASA, the 13 smallest values for maximum winter extent of sea ice in the Arctic were all measured in the last 13 years. The ice also forms later in the season and melts more readily in spring. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, January sea ice extent has declined 3.15% per decade over the past 40 years. Some scientists think the Arctic Ocean will see ice-free summers within 20 or 30 years.

In the Antarctic, the picture has been a little less clear. The Western Antarctic Peninsula is warming faster than anywhere else besides some parts of the Arctic, according to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. The peninsula is where the Larsen C ice shelf just broke in July 2017, spawning an iceberg the size of Delaware. Now, scientists say that a quarter of West Antarctica's ice is in danger of collapse and the enormous Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers are flowing five times faster than they did in 1992.

The sea ice off Antarctica is extremely variable, though, and some areas have actually hit record highs in recent years. However, those records could bear the fingerprints of climate change, as they may result from land-based ice moving out to sea as the glaciers melt or from warming-related changes to wind. In 2017, though, this pattern of record-high ice abruptly reversed, with the occurrence of a record low. On March 3, 2017, Antarctic sea ice was measured at an extent of 71,000 square miles (184,000 square kilometers) less than the previous low, from 1997.
Heating up
Global warming will change things between the poles, too. Many already-dry areas are expected to get even drier as the world warms. The southwest and central plains of the United States, for example, are expected to experience decades-long "megadroughts" harsher than anything else in human memory.

"The future of in western North America is likely to be worse than anybody has experienced in the history of the United States," Benjamin Cook, a climate scientist at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City who published research in 2015 projecting these droughts, told Live Science. "These are droughts that are so far beyond our contemporary experience that they are almost impossible to even think about."

The study predicted an 85% chance of droughts lasting at least 35 years in the region by 2100. The main driver, the researchers found, is the increasing evaporation of water from hotter and hotter soil. Much of the precipitation that does fall in these arid regions will be lost.

Meanwhile, 2014 research found that many areas will likely see less rainfall as the climate warms. Subtropical regions, including the Mediterranean, the Amazon, Central America and Indonesia, will likely be hardest hit, that study found, while South Africa, Mexico, western Australia and California will also dry out.
Extreme weather
Another impact of global warming: extreme weather. Hurricanes and typhoons are expected to become more intense as the planet warms. Hotter oceans evaporate more moisture, which is the engine that drives these storms. The U.N Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC) predicts that even if the world diversifies its energy sources and transitions to a less fossil-fuel-intensive economy (known as the A1B scenario), tropical cyclones are likely to be up to 11% more intense on average. That means more wind and water damage on vulnerable coastlines.

Paradoxically, climate change may also cause more frequent extreme snowstorms. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, extreme snowstorms in the eastern United States have become twice as common as they were in the early 1900s. Here again, this change comes because warming ocean temperatures lead to increased evaporation of moisture into the atmosphere. This moisture powers storms that hit the continental United States.
Ocean disruption
Some of the most immediate impacts of global warming are beneath the waves. Oceans act as carbon sinks, which means they absorb dissolved carbon dioxide. That's not a bad thing for the atmosphere, but it isn't great for the marine ecosystem. When carbon dioxide reacts with seawater, the pH of the water declines (that is, it becomes more acidic), a process known as ocean acidification. This increased acidity eats away at the calcium carbonate shells and skeletons that many ocean organisms depend on for survival. These creatures include shellfish, pteropods and corals, according to NOAA.

Corals, in particular, are the canary in a coal mine for climate change in the oceans. Marine scientists have observed alarming levels of coral bleaching, events in which coral expel the symbiotic algae that provide the coral with nutrients and give them their vivid colors. Bleaching occurs when corals are stressed, and stressors can include high temperatures. In 2016 and 2017, Australia's Great Barrier Reef experienced back-to-back bleaching events. Coral can survive bleaching, but repeated bleaching events make survival less and less likely.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There wasn't a climate hiatus

Despite overwhelming scientific consensus about the causes and reality of global warming, the issue is contentious politically. For instance, deniers of climate change have argued that warming slowed between 1998 and 2012, a phenomenon known as the "climate change hiatus."

Unfortunately for the planet, the hiatus never happened. Two studies, one published in the journal in 2015 and one published in 2017 in the journal Science Advances, reanalyzed the ocean temperature data that showed the warming slowdown and found that it was a mere measurement error. Between the 1950s and 1990s, most measurements of ocean temperature were taken aboard research boats. Water would be pumped into pipes through the engine room, which ended up heating the water slightly. After the 1990s, scientists began using ocean buoy-based systems, which were more accurate, to measure ocean temperatures. The problem came because no one corrected for the change in measurements between boats and buoys. Making those corrections showed that the oceans warmed 0.22 degrees F (0.12 degrees C) on average per decade since 2000, almost twice as fast as earlier estimates of 0.12 degrees F (0.07 degrees C) per decade.

Global warming fast facts

According to NASA:

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are 412 ppm in 2020, their highest levels in 650,000 years.

Average global temperature is up 1.9 degrees F (3.4 degrees C) since 1880.

The minimum expanse of Arctic summer sea ice has declined 12.85% per decade since satellite measurements began, in 1979.

Land ice has declined at the poles by 413 gigatons a year since 2002.

Global sea level has risen 7 inches (176 millimeters) in the past century.

Additional resources:

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Stephanie Pappas - Live Science Contributor

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The globe is heating up. Both land and oceans are warmer now than they were when record keeping began, in 1880, and temperatures are still ticking upward. This rise in heat is global warming, in a nutshell.

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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/rainforest-threats

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Rain Forest Threats Information and Facts

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Learn about what threatens them and what you can do to help from National Geographic.

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Emma
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/hawksbill-turtle

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https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/poaching/

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National Geographic Society.   Pollution runoff kills the air and seeps into the ground. It is very deadly to humans and all wildlife.

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https://www.livescience.com/37057-global-warming-effects.html

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https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know

Colton

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https://climate.nasa.gov/

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Prevented Ocean Plastic is recycled plastic collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution. It's fully traceable and certified, which allows businesses and supermarkets around the world to use it, instead of them adding new 'virgin' plastic to the world.

This ocean bound plastic, according to academic definitions, would likely end up in the ocean if not collected for recycling.

So far our amazing teams around the globe have collected 10 million bottles and sent over $250 million to some of the world's poorest communities, preventing plastic from reaching the ocean whilst supporting bottle collectors since 2005.

However, we still have a long way to go...

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Prevented Ocean Plastic - Ocean Plastic Facts

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Prevented Ocean Plastic is recycled plastic collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution. It's fully traceable and certified, which allows businesses and supermarkets around the world to use it, instead of them adding new 'virgin' plastic to the world.

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https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation

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https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?sort=extinction_status&direction=desc

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If we let the water be polluted we are killing billions of billions o fish and if we keep this up there will be no fish to eat,cook, and save

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Ekaterina

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Species List | Endangered, Vulnerable, and Threatened Animals | WWF

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WWF is committed to saving endangered species. Learn more about the species we are working to protecting from becoming endangered or extinct.

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https://saveanimalsfacingextinction.org/