.. The scientists believe that a body similar to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change could help governments to tackle the
continuing loss of species. "Biodiversity is much more than counting species.
It's crucial to the functioning of the planet and the loss of species is
extremely serious," Dr Larigauderie said. "Everywhere we look, we are losing the
fabric of life. It's a major crisis." Species
under threat Land mammals
The first comprehensive inventory of land
mammals in 1996 found a quarter, including the Iberian lynx were in danger of
extinction. The situation has worsened since. Reptiles
& amphibians
The Chinese alligator is the most endangered crocodilian
- a survey in 1999 found just 150. Frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are the
most threatened land vertebrates. Birds One in five species are believed to be in danger of extinction;
that amounts to about 2,000 of the 9,775 named species. Most are at risk from
logging, intensive agriculture, trapping and habitat encroachment. Many experts
believe the Philippine eagle and wandering albatross could become extinct this
century.
Marine life
The oceans were thought to be immune from the
activities of man on land, but this is no longer true. Pollution, overfishing,
loss of marine habitats and global warming have a dramatic impact on biological
diversity. More than 100 species of fish, including the basking shark are on the
red list of threatened species.
Plants
Many plants have yet to be
formally described, classified and named - and some are being lost before they
have been discovered by scientists. Plants of every type are being
lost.
Insects & invertebrates
Many insects are wiped out by
pesticide-reliant intensive agriculture. Others, such as the partula tree snails
of Tahiti are menaced by invasive species.
Dr Larigauderie said. "We
know that extinction is a natural phenomenon but the rate of extinction is now
between 100 and 1,000 times higher than the background rate. It is an
unprecedented
loss." http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0720-08.htm Release
of the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals ongoing decline of the
status of plants and animals The number of known threatened species reaches
16,119. The ranks of those facing extinction are joined by familiar species like
the polar bear, hippopotamus and desert gazelles; together with ocean sharks,
freshwater fish and Mediterranean flowers. Positive action has helped the
white-tailed eagle and offers a glimmer of hope to Indian vultures.
WE
ARE NEXT IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW~Your Children will not be able to breathe without
Trees...Trees play a unique role in the global carbon cycle. They are the
largest land-based natural mechanism for removing CO2 from the air. (CO2 is also
removed by the oceans and ocean organisms.)
Trees are able to store a
large amount of CO2 in their structures. An acre of forest will absorb about 10
times the CO2 amount absorbed by an acre of crop land or grassland. One tree
absorbs about 13 pounds of CO2 per year, and each one acre of forest absorbs
about 2.8 tons of CO2.,, However, when trees are burned, the carbon locked in
the structure is released into the air in the form of CO2. Today, the shrinking
world forests are not able to absorb all the CO2 created by human beings while
burning fossil fuels. Everyday over 5500 acres of rain forest are destroyed, and
over 50 million acres are destroyed every year. Global CO2 levels rise
approximately 0.4 percent each year, to levels not experienced on this planet
for millions of years. Planting more trees and reducing timber cuts world-wide
will help restore the imbalance, and perhaps buy time as ways are found to
reduce world greenhouse gas emissions.
FIGHT BACK
or Watch Your Children and Your Children's Children Die A Horrible
Death!!! "Global warming will be the greatest environmental challenge in
the 21st century." - Vice President, Albert Gore.
TIME FOR
CHANGE....We Are Killing Ourselves and All Life On Earth...In Less Than 100
Years we have managed to cause more destruction to Earth and All Life On Earth
than any other time in history. We Do Not Die in Honor Until We Heal The Harm
Done~Each year, one million New Yorkers - including 300,000 children - suffer
from asthma. Many lung illnesses, including bronchitis, asthma and allergies are
triggered by unclean air. According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District,
75 percent of the pollution is caused by vehicle emissions. How to Protect From Pollution Effects
You can protect
yourself and your family from the effects of air pollution by doing the
following: Stay
indoors during days when pollution levels are high. Many pollutants will be at
lower levels indoors than outdoors. If you have to go outside, limit outside
activity to the early morning hours or wait until after sunset. This is
important in high ozone conditions because sunshine increases ozone levels.
Don't exercise or exert yourself outdoors when air-quality reports indicate
unhealthy conditions. The faster you breathe, the more pollution you take into
your lungs. Now We Learn that Our Indoor/Our Homes Are More Polluted than
the Outside World...We Are Doomed Unless We GET TO WORK AND CHANGE THE WAY WE
LIVE...The human respiratory system is dominated by our lungs, which bring fresh
oxygen (O2) into our bodies while expelling carbon dioxide (CO2). The oxygen
travels from the lungs through the bloodstream to the cells in all parts of the
body. The cells use the oxygen as fuel and give off carbon dioxide as a waste
gas. The waste gas is carried by the bloodstream back to the lungs to be
exhaled.
People who exercise outdoors on hot and smoggy days are also at
greater risk due to their increased exposure to pollutants in the air.
The deaths whch resulted from the smog can be attributed primarily to;
