Signing Off for the Last Time

In our last days of US History, we watched an informational movie titled "Thirteen Days", which was about the Cuban Missle Crisis between the USSR and the US. It illustrated that this was a time where there was no one to look up to for answers and that, that generation was the first to experience this type of crisis. But through perseverance, new ideas were made to allow this Crisis begin or end in War and the launching of Nuclear Missiles. It also showed how by having civilians be in charge over the military can bring a new perspective to crisis situations, and also inhibit shortcoming to arise. US History has taught me many things ranging from US History (obviously), sympathy and empathy, and how to correctly write and compose an essay with correct references. Thanks to Mrs. Lawson this would the first and only time I have ever enjoyed a History class.

The Ozone Holes

To whom this may concern,
 As I am writing this, the year is 2016 in the United States. The main topic of this letter is to discuss climate change not just locally but globally. Climate change was first addressed in the mid-1980’s when pollution was at an all time high. Everyone knows of the concerns of climate change, its causes, and its solutions to help fix it. Whether or not in the year of 2216 you all are still having this issue over climate change, I'm here to inform you of how we saw it as an issue. My main concern and purpose of this letter are to talk about the 2 Antarctic ozone holes. If by any chance at this time they've completely disappeared then you'll have no use of this letter, but if still present then this letter might help point you toward the solution on how on to fix the problem.

(2)

              Here are some basic facts on what we know about the ozone holes. More specifically there are 2 large holes in the Antarctic region. Both were formed in the early 2000’s, one in 2000 and the other in 2006. One is approximately 29.8 million square kilometers and the other is 29.6 million square kilometers. According to the article (1)The Ozone Layer, “The natural balance of the ozone hole has been disrupted by the emissions and production of ODS’s (Ozone Depleting Substances).” Emissions of CFC, halogens, CH₃CCl₃, carbon tetrachloride, HCFC’s, and methyl bromide are the main source and cause of the ozone holes. These substances can be emitted by refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, aerosols, agricultural fumigants, and solvents used for cleaning electronic equipment. There is two cause to the depletion of the ozone human which was already stated and natural. Climate change caused by nature is a cycle, it can be dated back thousands of years, but in recent years,humans have added more to the change.

(4)

             When researching this topic I came across a very useful source, (2) About the Ozone Layer: 2010 Update, which not only have written information but charts as well to illustrate the information as well. Each question was a concern that was directed toward the ozone hole and was answered with specific data and information. The purpose of the ozone layer is to protect the Earth from harmful UV-A and UV-B radiations transmitted from the Sun. With the thinning of the ozone layer and creating the ozone holes, there are more chances of sickness such as cancer to occur for generations to come. This (3)article states how the ozone layer contributes to climate change, but it is not the sole reason for it. 

            (2) Protecting the ozone is the main concern and international efforts have been mad to help reduce the consumption and production of ODS’s. The “Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer” was an international agreement made by all United Nation members that would follow the rules on reducing consumption and productions of ODS’s. The Protocol has helped decrease the size of the hole and if everyone in the years to come comply with the rules decreasing ODS’s will happen throughout the 21^ST century. Between the years of 2050-2065, the ozone will be back to its form from before 1980.

                  It's important that we as humans take care of our environment. That we take the necessary steps to fix the wrongdoings that we have created as a race. If we want to be able to live on this Earth until the Sun explodes, in about 5 billion years, then we need to help keep the Earth to its almost perfect state once again. By taking the initiative and preserving the Earth, we take the burden off future generations' which leads them to have more productive and healthier lives.

 Sincerely,

Valeria Cowell

           

references:

1.The Ozone Layer: The Department of the Environment designs and implements the Australian Government’s policies and programmes to protect and conserve the environment, water, and heritage and promote climate action. The environmental framework is being delivered under four pillars: Clean air, Clean water, Clean land, and national heritage.2. 20 Questions and Answers About the Ozone Layer: 2010 Update: The update of this component of the Assessment was discussed by the 74 scientists who attended the Panel Review Meeting for the 2010 Ozone Assessment (Les Diablerets, Switzerland, 28 June–2 July 2010).
3.Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1998 Executive Summary: NOAA's Mission: Science, Service, and Stewardship:1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts. 2. To share that knowledge and information with others. 3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts

Charts:
(4)Causes of Climate Change: The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

      

Concerns Over Climate

When it comes to the word climate most associate it with "global warming" not really thinking of anything else. Climate change is real and it has its consequences that will not only affect the  present but will affect the future. I am personally interested in the concerns over climate change “How long can we sustain this amount of fossil fuel energy and have a livable climate?” “Are the humans affecting the climate or is it just natural? Or a combination of both?” “What will the long-term effects of climate change be?” “Are humans to blame for the drastic changes in the climate?” “What will people in the future think about our society today?” “Who is to "blame" those who created climate issues, or those stood by?” These are all driving questions that will lead my research that will hopefully lead to more questions that can be answered and help to answer or figure out a solution to the climate concerns and problems.

In an article titled Global Concern about Climate Change, Broad Support for Limiting Emissions, it talked about how major world powers are coming together to help limit and stop the emission of pollution that is affecting the climate. These countries are trying to help solve the concerns over the climate in the future or to help lessen the concerns people have. 1. Concern about Climate Change and Its Consequences is an article that clearly stated the sad truth. "Despite such overwhelming concern, worries about climate change vary substntailly by region and country.". The reason this true is because some countries are more cautous about what they are emmiting than others (aka China). We don't want these concerns and questions over climate change to become real. We want them to be solved.

Future Oriented

When I looking through the various topics and questions that dealt with climate and its connection to history I found myself gravitating to the topic titled "Concerns". This topic is very future oriented which is why I want to focus on it. To answer these questions you have to know both the past and the present to be able to formulate an answer for the future, and in some cases, you just have to create different scenarios to answer. Answering anything that deals with the future is always up in the air because we will never know what the future will be until it comes.

The Great Depression

Read about the Great Depression (Links to an external site.).  According to this article, what was wrong with President Hoover's response?  Why did people blame themselves when things went wrong, and how valid or invalid was this response?

President Hoover believed and told Americans that the "Great Depression" would end in 60 days (not 10 years). He had said that "this is a passing incident in our national lives." Hoover also believed in "individualism" meaning that he thought that the government should help out the poor. American then began to feel ashamed and felt that they were guilty of "causing" the depression, this was an invalid response. People were living how they wanted and in some cases, this meant them spending all of their money and not saving it. They didn't cause the stock market to crash when it did.

Read about Black Sunday (Links to an external site.). How would you have felt if you'd been there on that day? What kinds of fears, concerns, or questions would be going through your mind during, and after, the event described?

If I were in the same situation as others did on April 14, 1935, find myself afraid for my life. I am already afraid of the dark and to just be surrounded by in for 4 hours would have me deathly afraid especially because I would also worry about my family. If this storm was to destroy everything I would have multiple questions. How long will this darkness last? What will happen in the end? Will I lose any or everything? What will I do now? 

Read about The Drought (Links to an external site.).  What areas were affected by it?  What caused it.  The author ends this article with a pithy quote.  Do you agree or disagree with this historian's perspective? Why or why not?

The Great Plains (" the western third of Kansas, Southeastern Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, the northern two-thirds of the Texas Panhandle, and northeastern New Mexico” )were affected by the Great Drought. The Dust Bowl was caused by overuse, overgrazing, and "thin flimsy top soil" that the wind would pick up and what ultimately cause the storm. I agree with the authors that The Drought and The Dustbowl were created from miss use and because of no regulation on the use of the land.

Read about Mass Exodus from the Plains (Links to an external site.).  Where does the migration of people out of the Dust Bowl rank in terms of other migrations in US History?  What made life hard for people once they arrived in California?

The migration of people out of the Dust Bowl ranks as the largest migrations in US History. One aspect of California that made life hard for those migrating in was that the state was overcrowded. There was also the point that the crops between the great plains and California were complete different and that the jobd that the farmers did receive paid little to none.

History Speech Feedback

1. In general, I felt as though the  speeches allowed us to have a better understanding of the 1920's, but there were still minor mistakes such as stuttering and miss reading.

2. In my opinion, Madi, Avani, and Liddy were the ones that stood out the most. Their extensive use of vocabulary, way if speaking to the class, and their connection and understanding of what they wrote about.

3. I learned that for the next time I write a speech I will be more concise, use more extensive vocabulary, and try to know my speech better before reading out aloud.

Entertainment of the 1930's: The Radio

By the end of the 1920's almost every household had a radio in the United States. Listening to the radio was a popular type of pass time in the 1930's. According to the Prologue: Radio and the Great Depression, "Radios provided a much-needed distraction from the hardships of the Great Depression. They provided a social as well. In some areas, neighbors would gather from miles around to listen to a favorite program playing on the one set in town." Popular programs included: Amos 'n' Andy, Little Orphan Annie, Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Dick Tracy, The Lone Ranger, Edger Bergen nad Charlie McCarthy, and Buck Rodgers. these programs were divided up by genres such as news, music, family series, sports, soap operas, and dramas. According to an article published by PBS, The Radio in the 1930's "It (the radio) marked the advent of the soap opera, a running story that people could return to, with characters the could sympathize with and love. The series "Our Gal Sunday'- about a small town girl finding love with a wealthy Englishman- had the young women of the country glued to their sets." What all these programs had in common was that they provided Americans with not only a 'distraction' but would also be a type of entertainment would bring people together then and later on in the future.