Missing Monarchs

Typically monarch butterflies arrive in Mexico just in time for their holiday The Day of the Dead, however, for the first time in history, the monarchs came in about a week later than this event just this year. Not only did they arrive late however, their numbers decreased by over 57 million from last year's already low amount of 60 million. It doesn't end there though, other insects such as the wild bee are facing similar troubles.

One of the main causes for this is a pesticide called neonicotinoid, still even if the pesticide wasn't used, insects would still be in trouble because of many other causes such as loss of vegetation. This is because farmers have recently increased their acreage, even extending into land that was originally preserved for conversational uses. 

In addition to this cause, the common herbicide, Roundup, kills many native plants, particularly milkweed, the main source of nutrients for monarch larvae. 

Also, many insects suffer from diseases, which, on top of everything else, makes there life that much harder.

Finally, humans have built roads and parking lots in areas where insect-supporting wildlife would have grown. Plus, many of the pretty plants we grow in our yards are completely useless for supporting insect life.  

Although one may not consider loss of bugs a significant impact to our world, bugs are in fact essential to our eco-system. Not only are they one of the main food sources for birds, they decompose plants, spread seeds, and pollinate about 80% of our crops. Although many organizations are working to fix this problem, the fact still remains that if we don't do something soon, this could become a huge problem for humanity. What will you do? 

For more information, check out http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/sunday-review/the-year-the-monarch-didnt-appear.html?emc=eta1

Next week: Happy Holidays!!

Mind-altering Video

Green Shipping

Check out this tip about Green Shipping! 

http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/tips/avoid-overnight-shipping-461204?src=email

International Climate Change Conference

“My farm has been washed away,” Mr. Abdi said. It was the second year in a row of unusually heavy storms to have destroyed his livelihood, leaving him uncertain about how he will provide for his six children. “God knows,” he added, “but I don’t have anything to give now.” (New York Times)

   Soon after the tragic typhoon in the Philippines, the 2013 international climate change conference took place. It has been known ever since climate change was officiated, that the lesser contributors to it will suffer the most from the consequences. Due to this "climate injustice", many natural disasters, such as the typhoon in the Philippines, have occurred, threatening the smaller islands' entire existence. However, we still do not agree how to take care of this problem, and that is what the 2013 international climate change conference's main topic was. 

     Lately, the poorer, smaller nations have been suggesting something even more than just reducing our carbon footprint: the world's richest, more developed countries that cause most of the world's global warming pay for the damage done to the nations effected by the pollution. However this compromise comes a long with much political and financial complexity - especially if it's for something like the typhoon in the Philippines, which, although some natural disasters are, may not have even been caused by climate change.

     Many politicians and public speakers, even from the larger countries, think this is a good idea as they themselves feel responsible and are seeing the effects of global warming such as land-loss, diseases, as well as much more.

     However, even with this new contribution to the pool of ideas, the world is still arguing over what to do, what do you think (comment below)? Whatever happens, global warming is already in action and the only way to prevent horrible consequences is to take action now. 

For more information, check out: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/world/growing-clamor-about-inequities-of-climate-crisis.html (it includes an interesting video explaining how climate change effects natural disasters)

Next Week: The Death of Nelson Mandela (this will be on my World page) and Missing Monarchs