Environmental facts about the state of the world that we are inheriting

Deforestation:

• Each year 40 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area larger than the state of California) is destroyed through burning, or logging.
• Since 1950, over half of the world’s tropical forests have been lost.
• At the current rate of destruction the Amazon Rainforest will be gone in two decades.
• The destruction of the world’s rainforests displaces and destroys the cultures of indigenous people who inhabit them. Once 9 million people inhabited the Brazilian rainforest now only 200,000 exist.
• In the tropical rainforests about 27 million acres are permanently destroyed each year, mostly to raise beef that is exported to other countries around the world.
• A typical four-ounce hamburger made from rainforest beef involves the destruction of about 55 square feet of tropical forest. Each hamburger represents the destruction of 1,000 pounds of living matter, including; one large tree, 50 saplings and seedlings, thousands of insects of several hundred species, and a variety of mosses, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Ten to one is the rate of deforestation to reforestation

Air Pollution:

• An estimated 110 million Americans (nearly half) live in areas with levels of air pollution that the federal government considers harmful.
• Air pollution contributes to asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart disease, and tens of thousands of birth defects and premature deaths each year.
• Each gallon of gas used by a car contributes almost 20 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
• Scientists predict that if our rate of pollution doesn’t change, we would have a hole in the ozone layer above the United States in just ten years.
• In Australia skin cancer rates have risen 75% since a hole has been forming over Australia.
• Since 1979, more than 20% of the polar ice caps have melted away, at a rate of 9% a decade. At this shrinkage rate summer in the Arctic could become ice-free by 2099.

Water Pollution:

• Americans alone dump 16 tons of sewage into their water every minute of every day.
• An estimated 14 billion lbs. of trash are dumped into the sea every year worldwide.
• If the present rate of destruction continues 75% of the worlds coral reefs will be destroyed within the next two decades.
• Just in America people use about 1 billion gallons of motor oil each year, and about 350 million gallons of it end up in the environment.
• One quart of motor oil can contaminate up two million gallons of fresh water.
• At least 20% of all fresh water species globally are extinct or at risk.

Endangered/ Extinct Species:

• 137 species are driven into extinction every day totaling 50,000 species annually.
• In Colorado there are 33 plant and animal species on the endangered species list, just to mention one state.

Overpopulation:

• Every 20 minutes, the human population grows by about 3,000.
• At the same time, another plant or animal becomes extinct.
• During the 20th century the population just in the United States tripled, and their consumption increased 17-fold.

Diminishing Resources:

• Two-thirds of the oil is used for transportation (primarily automobiles).
• Just in America, people consume 840 million gallons of oil per day.
• If everyone turned down the thermostat by one degree we could save 121 million gallons of oil each day.
• Americans throw away enough steel and iron to continuously supply all of the country’s automakers.
• In most households, about 40 percent of the water is literally flushed down the toilet.
• A low-flush toilet can cut household water usage by 20 percent
• or more.
• If you just turn on the water when you wet and rinse your toothbrush (opposed to leaving the water running the whole time), you use only half a gallon of water. Savings: Up to 5 gallons each time you brush.
• “There is simply no way to overstate the water crisis of the planet today. Many now predict that the wars of this century will be over water.” –Maude Barlow

Consumerism:

• If everyone on earth consumed as much as the U.S. we would need four other planets to sustain the entire population.
• The average American family produces about 100 lbs. of trash every week.
• Every year, 3 billion bags are given away by supermarkets that’s enough plastic to make a carrier bag big enough to hold the moon twice over.
• According to Diet for a new American: If just Americans reduced their meat intake by just 10%, the savings in grains and soybeans could adequately feed 60 million people- the number of people who starve to death, worldwide, each year.

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Resources to Further Educate Yourself and Get Involved to Create a Sustainable World

Earth Restoration Corps/ERC
www.earthrestorationcorps.org
ERC’s main objective is to train trainers over the next three years in 18 countries in partnership with local and international organizations for sustainable jobs in Earth restoration, creating alternative livelihoods, and to alleviate unemployment by developing a new ecologically sensitive economy .

Youth for Environmental Sanity/YES
www.yesworld.org
YES! is a non-profit organization that connects, inspires and empowers young change makers to join forces for a thriving, just, and sustainable way of life for all. They host worldwide summer Action Camps that empower youth ages to take action on environmental issues.

Earth Charter
www.earthcharter.org
The Earth Charter a global campaign linked to projects to achieve the United Nations Millennium Goals and the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.)

World Watch Institute
www.worldwatch.org
Washington based non-profit dedicated to fostering the evolution of an environmentally sustainable society .

Education for a Sustainable Future
csf.concord.org
Information for creating a more local, sustainable world, Topics include: Designing Sustainable Communities, Global Issues, Is Hunger a Global Problem?, Stewardship of Resources, Habitats, Water Conservation, Saving Energy, Energy Sources for a Sustainable Word, Stewardship and Mathematics, Sustainable Economics, Thinking About and Affecting the Future, Sustainable Architecture, Forestry

Earth First
http://www.earthfirst.org/
"No compromise in defense of Mother Earth." Direct action, deep ecology

Planet-Tech
www.planet-tech.com/preferred_future/index.htm
An online course in future thinking, teaching students how to create preferred futures for themselves and for society

Global Learning
www.GlobalLearningNJ.org/
Global Learning, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization that translates the world's growing interdependence into educational activities for teachers, students, librarians, and educational systems

The Earth Council
www.ecouncil.ac.cr/linksetc.html
The decision-makers' entry point to sustainable development information on the Internet. The SD Gateway provides direct access to some of the best independent sustainable development institutes in the world.

Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org
Variety of links to educational activities and information on sprawl, wild lands, and global warming. Visit the "Take Action" page to find out what students across the country are doing.

The Coral Reef Alliance
www.coralreefalliance.org
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) promotes coral reef conservation around the world by working with the dive industry, governments, local communities and other organizations to protect and manage coral reefs, establish marine parks, fund conservation efforts, and raise public awareness with the mission to keep coral reefs alive for future generations.

Action Network
www.actionnetwork.org
Environmental Defense (formerly Environmental Defense Fund) website.

Kids! Renew America
http://sol.crest.org/environment/renew_america/mainkids2.htm
K-12 students can network with other schools across the country on various community projects.

The National Arbor Day Foundation
www.arborday.org
Information on receiving free trees for organized school events.

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Take Action Now - One Click Makes a Difference…

The Rainforest Site
www.rainforestsite.com
…One click has funded the preservation of 11.4 square feet of endangered rainforest.

The Hunger Site
www.hungersite.com
…One click helps feed the hungry with the value of 1.1 cups of staple food.

Action Network
www.actionnetwork.org
*This site helps you send faxes and e-mails to members of Congress and other decision makers on behalf of dozens of national and local environmental groups.

Ecomall.com
www.ecomall.com
“Earth’s Largest Environmental Shopping Center. Your First Stop to Shop for Green Products That Are Good for People and the Environment.”

The White House

Web: www.whitehouse.gov
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
Phone: (202) 456-1414
White House Comment Line: To register your opinion on an issue: (202) 456-1111
When bill is signed or vetoed: (202) 456-2226
Vice President: (202) 456-2326 or (202) 456-7125

Rock the Vote
Web: www.rockthevote.org/
E-mail: mail@rockthevote.org
Phone: (310)234-0665
*Rock the vote is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and empowering young people to change their world.

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Consumption/ Understanding Our Individual and Global Impact

Redefining Progress
www.rprogress.org/
Information on Ecological Footprint and GPI.

Rocky Mountain Institute
www.rmi.org
Information on Natural Capitalism and other restorative uses of natural and human resources. Mission Statement: "Our mission is to foster the efficient and restorative use of natural and human capital to create a secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world."

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
www.rbrc.org
Downloadable lesson plans (no fee) for classroom activities and information on recycling rechargeable batteries.

EarthHope Action Network
earthhopenetwork.net
A network of conservation groups dedicated to furthering online environment action and general public awareness of environmental issues.

Earth Action Network
www.eanetwork.org
Online environmental/human rights letter-writing community. With minimal time investment you can really make a difference by downloading, signing and sending our action letters to the people who have the power to change the situation.

Earth Challenge
www.earthchallenge.org
Fundraising for environmental causes through endurance events such as long distance bike rides and mountain climbs. They raise non-profit funds and awareness to protect the environment and encourage sustainable living.

Public Interest Research Groups (PIGR)
www.pirg.org
State based consumer and environmental advocacy groups active across the country. Action alerts and reports on many environmental, consumer and student issues.

Earth Island Institute
www.earthisland.org/
Develop & support projects that counteract environmental threats. Issues: sustainable development, biodiversity, restoration, global warming, social justice, oceans, forests.

The Hunger Site
www.thehungersite.com
By clicking on this web site, you can learn about hunger in the world and the advertising sponsors will donate one cup of food to the world’s hungry.

The Rainforest Site
www.therainforestsite.com
By clicking on this web site, you can learn about destruction of the rain forest and the advertising sponsors will preserve 14 square feet of rainforest.

The Kids AIDS Site
www.thekidsaidssite.com
By clicking on this web site, you can learn about the infection of children with the HIV virus worldwide and the advertising sponsors will donation of 15 seconds of time toward the prevention and treatment of childhood AIDS.

World Wildlife Organization
takeaction.worldwildlife.org/
Guide to organizations for Environmental Action

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Energy Conservation / Renewable Energies (Solar, Wind, etc.)

Village Power
www.villagepower2000.org
Follow the development of this project to provide electricity and internet access to isolated villages in developing countries.

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
www.rbrc.org
Downloadable lesson plans (no fee) for classroom activities and information on recycling rechargeable batteries.

The National Hydropower Association
www.hydro.org
Developed Water Works curriculum (3-8) that explores water and the energy it produces.

The Foundation for Water and Energy Education
www.fwee.org/education
Downloadable curriculum on water and energy issues.

Energy Smart Schools
www.eren.doe.gov/energysmartschools/
This site is designed primarily to help teachers and students locate resources for teaching and learning about energy, acting as a clearinghouse of information so that you can easily get and apply what is most useful for you.

Alliance to Save Energy
www.ase.org
Multidisciplinary, hands-on educational opportunities, offering free energy-related lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students online.

U.S. Department of Energy
www.eren.doe.gov/buildings
Free downloadable teacher’s guides, learning activities, worksheets and resources on energy efficiency and solar energy/k-12activities/shows how to save energy and money and reduce pollution at the same time.

www.eren.doe.gov/kids/
Lists best web sites for kids to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy, including links to info on wind, solar, geothermal and alternative fuels.

Tennessee Energy Network
www.state.tn.us/ecd/energy_teen.htm
Energy education materials and resources available for your use.

Florida Solar Energy Center
www.fsec.ucf.edu
Award winning science curricula on energy conservation and solar energy.

Solar Host
www.solarhost.com
Internet company powered by the sun. Great place to find solar science fairs and examples of companies going solar.

Home Performance
www.homeperformance.org
A how to on making your house energy efficient.

Home Energy Magazine
www.homeenergy.org
Good reading on energy conservation for 8-12.

Weatherization
www.weathrization.com
Good for principles of thermal energy and how you can reduce pollution from houses by weatherproofing your home.

Home Energy Saver
www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov
Information from Lawrence Berkley Labs on how to make homes more energy efficient.

Affordable Comfort
www.affordablecomfort.org
Promotes energy and resource efficiency in buildings.

Schools Going Solar
www.schoolsgoingsolar.org
The website of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's PV for YOU Program's Schools Going Solar Project, where solar and other renewable energy systems are going up on or near school buildings, most often integrated with a curriculum and data-monitoring that gives students hands-on experience with a clean energy technology.

Energy Quest
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
Great graphics and learning activities about energy.

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Environmental Education/General

EPA Student Center
www.epa.gov/students/
Information about environmental careers, ideas for projects, and primers on ecosystems, environmental regulations, and key eco-issues.

International Rivers Network
http://irn.org/
IRN supports local communities working to protect their rivers and watersheds.

Books for Young People on Environmental Issues fiction and nonfiction selections for grades K-12 plus activity resources for teachers.

Acorn Naturalists
www.acorn-group.com
Curriculum and other resources for hands-on environmental education

Pesticides and Food
www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/
EPA information on pesticide residues and pesticide awareness.

National Geographic Society
www.nationalgeographic.com
Maps, articles and film information.

Learning in the Real World
www.realworld.org/
Informational website for topical issues.

North American Association for Environmental Education
eelink.net/classroomresources-directories.html
A project of the North American Association for Environmental Education, this web site lists classroom activities, resources and directories

PBS
www.pbs.org/teachersource/science_tech/planetearth/
Based on the provocative mini-series Journey to Planet Earth, this Web site transports your class on a trip around the globe to explore the health of three of the world's river systems, the fate of four of its major metropolitan cities, and the future of its food supplies.