Land Use Current Event Discussion Board by Benjamin Williams https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo If you're not first, you're last. en-us 2018-03-23 15:41:12 UTC 2024-11-03 06:53:51 UTC hello@padlet.com “Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar” (An Article on Renewable Energy) -Libby M 833469 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/245549170 My article was about a utility company, Xcel Energy, that has asked Colorado to construct a power plant consisting of wind turbines and solar panels. More importantly, it stated that the price it will take to build and operate these renewable energy plants is less than the price of coal-burning power plants. The company wants to replace two of the coal-burning power plants with the new plants. It is likely that these plants will be built soon. Xcel is working hard to replace its old electricity with renewable energy power plants, and predicts a majority of their electricity will be renewed in the mid-2020s. The lower price for the solar panels and wind turbines stands out and makes it more possible to produce these new plants. The lowered prices is thought to have come from the mass production of the products. I think this is a great idea, because over time the harm done to our environment will lessen by using renewable resources and environmentally friendly products to receive energy.
My question is, should other utility companies take this step too? Why? Also, do you think our country, or even world, will ever get to the point of using nothing but renewable resources for our energy?

Gillis, Justin, and Hal Harvey. "Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar." The New York Times, 6 Feb. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/utility-embracing-wind-solar.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FSolar%20Energy&action=click&contentCollection=energy-environment®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=4&pgtype=collection. 
]]> 2018-03-23 16:20:20 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/245549170 Agent Orange and the effects today 1207605 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/245554002 In the Vietnam War a herbicide called Agent Orange was used to eliminate the forest cover and crops for the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong Troops. Agent Orange contained significant amounts of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, often called TCDD, a type of dioxin. In total, 13 million gallons of Agent Orange was used in the Vietnam war with some other herbicides. By far, Agent Orange was the worst. Studies done on laboratory animals have proven that dioxin is highly toxic even in minute doses. It is universally known to be a carcinogen (a cancer-causing agent). Short-term exposure to dioxin can cause darkening of the skin, liver problems and a severe acne-like skin disease called chloracne. Additionally, dioxin is linked to type 2 diabetes, immune system dysfunction, nerve disorders, muscular dysfunction, hormone disruption and heart disease. Developing fetuses are particularly sensitive to dioxin, which is also linked to miscarriages, spina bifida and other problems with fetal brain and nervous system development. After Vietnam veterans got home they starting getting cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease, prostate cancer and leukemia. People are still going to the VA for issues and Vietnam is still recovering from this awful herbicide.
Was it worth it at the time to put herbicides in Vietnam. Would you put herbicides in Vietnam if you were put in the situation? What do you value more, winning the war or American lives?
https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange

]]> 2018-03-23 16:29:37 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/245554002 GMOs 5939717535 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246146269 If you don’t happen to know what GMOs are, the name stands for Genetically Modified Organism meaning an organism has been artificially altered to meet a specific standard or goal of some sort. 

The GMO process starts off by taking genes from an organism for a desired trait they possess. The genes then are injected into the test subject like corn for example. A majority of our country's processed foods has some sort of genetically modified ingredient which can range from simple ingredients like wheat, to fruits like strawberries or to our meats like fish. 

Genetically modified ingredients are typically banned in places like Europe but are not required to be labeled on products in your typical Frosted Flakes here in the USA. 

These genetically modified foods have been proven to be one of the major causes of allergic reactions, sickness, sterility, dead livestock, and damage to every organ in lab animals.

Pros of genetically modified foods are resistance to insects but what comes with those pros comes with cons. For example, cotton plants are genetically modified to produce pesticide but the toxins are so strong that they may potentially harm or end the life of any animal that consumes them.

What do you think about GMOs? Do you think that there should be more actions held against them? What should be done to prevent livestock or any animal that consumes this from dying? Are GMOs just a negative thing or a positive thing? If you believe they are a positive invention, explain why. Do you only buy Non-GMO foods/produce when shopping for groceries? Do you care if a produce or food you are eating contains GM ingredients?

“GMO Education.” Institute for Responsible Technology, WordPress, responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/.
]]> 2018-03-26 15:40:49 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246146269 Rapid Urbanization of Land 1821957 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246944635 As everyone knows, the human population is a very large number, and is continuing to grow. With all the new children being born, and medical advancements, nothing is holding our species back. Although thriving, a large population requires a large amount of food, water, and space. This uncontrollable development means quite negative impacts on the area's renewable, and nonrenewable resources. Take in to consideration, as an example, water quality through out cities. Land clearing's waste can be pushed into community streams or rivers and be cycled through the cities water cycle. Although there are many different resources affected, more will come with time.

Urbanization Land Use Issues, webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4928836/FID1596/html/modules/landuse/lmurblnu.htm.

Do you think there are ways other than recycling that people can help to avoid rapid resource loss? Why is this necessary for our species to flourish?]]> 2018-03-28 15:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246944635 Hunter B https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246945891 2018-03-28 15:21:24 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246945891 In response to JG 5939717535 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246952242 2018-03-28 15:34:33 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246952242 Tesla's improvements in eletric cars 1024398 https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246953367 Tesla has been the leader in electric car improvements. Currently the Model S can travel 620 miles on one charge! That’s means you could drive from Moorseville to Orlando on almost one charge! The electric cars that Tesla makes don’t directly elite emissions, but unless your house has solar panel on the roof, the power plants that supply the energy for recharge still emits tons of greenhouse gasses. But at least you can feel good about Tesla recycling old batteries.

I like Tesla’s goal of trying to improve the battery life in their cars as much as possible and trying to cut down on pollution. Whether it be recycling batteries or increasing the distance their car can go. What we need to do is push for improvements in solar, wind, and tidal energy harnessing technologies. I think then we could really cut back of Greenhouse gas emissions. 

Reuters, Thomson. "0 to 60 in 1.9 seconds, 1,000 miles on single charge, new $200,000 Tesla Roadster steals show from electric big-rig." Financial Post, Postmedia, 17 Nov. 2017, business.financialpost.com/transportation/autos/update-6-new-200000-tesla-roadster-speeds-in-front-of-electric-big-rig-truck.

How far do you think we can go with improvements in making the life of batteries much longer?
]]> 2018-03-28 15:36:46 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/246953367 Bella https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247070646 This action was honestly just futile. There was an outstanding ratio of cons in this situation. The dioxin is now an issue because of a the toxin levels it produces. People died and as well, animals. Herbicides are not necessary in-fact pointless.]]> 2018-03-28 20:14:03 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247070646 Bella https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247073531 Wind turbines and solar panels have by far a much better effect in our atmosphere than fossil fuels and gasses. Renewable energy is the smarter alternative for our society. Think about it what would happen if we ran out of non-renewable resources? What would we do?]]> 2018-03-28 20:25:00 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247073531 Bella https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247078827 Ive never really cared for GMO's. But honestly at this point we cant stop it. The are in everything even our healthy , "healthy" foods. Who wants to eat something after its been injected with artificial substances. And all for what, so our food can stay in the fridge or on the counter longer. Honestly i feel like we could do better than that or at least find a better alternative.]]> 2018-03-28 20:45:33 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247078827 Bella https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247082671 Lessening our use on non-renewable resources would be very beneficial to our environment. If we used more renewable resources in place of our non-renewable resource we'd be saving our selves a lot. Though, recycling is a major reliable source that everyone should consider.]]> 2018-03-28 21:04:53 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247082671 Bella https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247083531 I think we honestly could get very far on figuring out how to make our batteries last much longer. Look out how far all of our technology has progressed. I think all cars should be battery operated. Our pollution would definitely decrease and for the better. And solar cars sound even cooler. If we could figure out how to generate enough solar energy a car needs and learn how to mold and shape solar panels into the body of a car, we could cut down the use of gasoline to a very small amount.]]> 2018-03-28 21:09:54 UTC https://padlet.com/benjaminwilliams2/fi9b3g9axjyo/wish/247083531