Acacia's Fight To End Global Warming

Hi, my name is Acacia Edeluchel and I am in the 5th grade. My teacher assigned our class a end of the year project and I chose to do my project on Global Warming. I chose Global Warming as my topic because of my great love for the outdoors and natural world. I believe we need to take action and do what we can to stop Global Warming in it's tracks.I spent the first year of my life in North Eastern California. Just before my first Birthday, we moved to Central Utah. I think this is where seeds for my love and appreciation for the outdoors were planted. My Mother and Father would often take me for drives and hiking out into the high desert. There really is something so majestic about the red rocks of Utah. From Utah we moved to Alaska just after my third Birthday. Alaska is where my love for the outdoors blossomed and grew. We spent lots of time Hiking, fishing and canoeing in the wilds of Alaska. It was truly a magical place to call home for 7 years of my life. Living in Alaska showed me how fragile our planet is and if we don't take action, it may not be around for future generations to enjoy. Now, living in Central California and seeing the devastation that drought and insect infestation has had on our forests in California...I am saddened and ready to take action!Let me get scientific for a minute....Global Warming is the gradual increase of the earth's temperature. Global warming is caused when carbon dioxide, other pollutants, and green house gases collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that has bounced off the earth's surface. Usually, the radiation would escape into space, but due to the "Greenhouse Effect," these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter.The effects of Global Warming are vast. This rapid increase in the earth's temperature is responsible for larger and more catastrophic wildfires, more extreme weather, drought, flooding, and rising sea levels due to the rapid melting of glaciers and ice caps. Not so Fun Fact time.....* Did you know that, In 2012, scientists saw the smallest amount of Arctic ice cover ever recorded. Most analysis project that, within a matter of years, the Arctic Sea will be completely ice-free during the summer months.* Only 25 glaciers bigger than 25 acres are now found in Montana's Glacier National Park, where about 150 glaciers were once found, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A similar trend is seen in glacial areas worldwide.* As levels of CO2 increase, the oceans absorb some of that gas, which increases the acidity of seawater. When you dissolve CO2 in water, you get carbonic acid. This is the same exact thing that happens in cans of soda. When you pop the top on a can of Dr Pepper, the pH is 2 — quite acidic." This rise in the ocean's acidity is a problem for many marine organisms and coral reefs. The increased acidity causes coral reefs and shells of crabs and oysters, which are made of calcium, to dissolve in this acidic solution.....the ocean.* Global sea levels have risen about 8 inches since 1870, according to the EPA, and the rate of increase is expected to accelerate in the coming years. If current trends continue, many coastal areas, where roughly half of the Earth's human population lives, will be inundated.* Many species of plants and animals are already moving their range northward or to higher altitudes as a result of warming temperatures. Migratory birds and insects are now arriving in their summer feeding and nesting grounds several days or weeks earlier than they did in the 20th century. * Warmer temperatures will also expand the range of many disease-causing pathogens that were once confined to tropical and subtropical areas, killing off plant and animal species that formerly were protected from disease.Now is the time to get motivated to help end Global Warming.....What can one person do?* Educate your friends and family on the long lasting effects of Global Warming and encourage them to help. Hold you representatives accountable.* Switch to renewable energy sources such as wind or solar.* Switch to energy efficient appliances in your home.* Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize your home.* Try to use mass transit or carpool as much as possible.* Buy food that is in season and buy local and eat what you buy.* Donate to my cause so we can further the work that GreenPeace does.The main thing that will help when taking action to reduce Global Warming, is REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT!And finally, why we all should take action.....I am very passionate about caring for my planet. We only have one planet and if we don't take care of her, I am scared to see what will happen to Human Kind. Anything you can do to help will make a huge difference. If everyone did just a little to help, just imagine what we could do! I encourage you to take action and donate to my cause. The money will go to GreenPeace so that they can continue the great work they do by educating, advocating and working towards solutions.Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my cause. I hope you take action today to help save our planet.Thank you,Acacia Edeluchel