Ask Doctor Green
Dear Dr. Green,
Sometimes, I feel like I am the only kid in my high school that knows anything about the environment. Even in Northern California, I am surrounded by uninformed kids who litter as a gag and who rev their engines for sex appeal. The worst part is, when you try to explain environmental issues to them they simply shrug and claim that is a bunch of BS. It seems, however, that something inexplicable is happening: things are taking a turn for the better. I was sitting in Bio as we were talking about fuel alternatives, when a big shot mentioned the prospective idea of going yellow. Agape, I noticed that many other kids were chiming in once this idea was brought to the table. How do all of these deluded kids that you would least likely expect suddenly know so much about alternative fuel?!? And what on earth is going yellow?
– Baffled
Dear Baffled,
Ahhh, your peers have obviously done their homework by watching MTV on a regular basis. Welcome to the unshakable world of the media. Isn’t it amazing that once you put a few commercials about the environment on MTV, students are more likely to hear the needs of the environment? Perhaps we have reached a breakthrough. The Live Green Go Yellow movement began during the Olympics and will continue right through the year. Yellow refers to ethanol’s origin, corn. Ethanol is produced by fermenting and then distilling the sugars from corn in a process similar to making whisky. The promotion was created in order to make consumers, energy producers and policy makers aware of GM’s E85 (a much cleaner burning fuel) and its compatibility with current and future models. In terms of the environment, E85 is our friend. Here are a few reasons why:
1. E85 is an alternative fuel to gasoline; a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
2. E85 ethanol is a high-octane, domestically produced renewable fuel.
3. FlexFuel (GM’s marketing scheme) vehicles can run on E85 ethanol, gasoline, or any blend of both.
4. E85 ethanol helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on petroleum.
5. E85 ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, allowing for more horsepower. To many people, the idea of going green can be associated with being an environmentalist. Sadly, these days, environmentalism can have a negative connotation often associated with being a tree hugger or a granola lover. Although as environmentalists these nicknames only make us proud, others see them as something completely different. That is why GM’s brilliant campaign of going green by going yellow gives the environment a new, trendy twist that is being gobbled up like Paris Hilton’s love affairs. I'm really intrigued by going yellow because it's a modern day method of getting people to contribute to a better quality of life, whether they know they are doing it or not.
Here are three web references:
http://greencar.us/
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/01/gm_live_green_g.html
http://www.gm.com/company/onlygm/
Dear Dr. Green,
I am your typical shark fanatic whose most exciting life excursion begins during the Discovery Channel’s legendary Shark Week. Having always been fascinated by the shark’s dangerously haunting glare, news of the threat to their survival has not been welcome. Is this true? Are sharks really endangered?
– Shark Smitten
Dear Shark Smitten,
These creatures are more than just physically spellbinding. They are scavengers that help keep the water free of garbage and disease. They feed on the weak, which helps keep the gene pool of their prey species strong. They feed on certain prolific species, keeping balance by preventing over population. I am not pleased to inform you that sharks are in significant danger. Marine scientists have discovered that sharks no longer exist in the deepest points in the ocean, possibly because of scanty resources. Where are the sharks then? Contrary to our previous belief that we would find new species as we traveled deeper into the ocean, sharks are all in reach of fisherman and are confined to 30% of the world’s ocean waters. This finding by Aberdeen University researchers suggests sharks may be more vulnerable to overexploitation than was previously thought. Ironically, we fear sharks after only 10 human deaths per year when over 100 million sharks expire at the hands of humans annually. The most disturbing of all shark hunting is the product that drives the market – fins. In order to grasp the reality of shark abuse, I would suggest to take a look at the photos found at www.sharkattacks.com/sharksvictims.htm
and perhaps find a way to get involved. Get started by going to www.reefed.edu.au/students/reef_quest/save_our_sharks.html
– Dr. Green
See also
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4736380.stm_
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4736380.stm)
www.starbreezes.com/sharkring.html_
www.starbreezes.com/sharkring.html)
