Conservation

Conservation can take on many different faces and start down several different avenues and continue in a vast array of disciplines. Usually for one to persist in being conservative, it requires one to have knowledge, passion, appreciation and most of all, to be ready for serious work, even as Mr Thoreau implied.

Just a few are here noted that are in a persons' individual reach, to make a difference:

Water: A resource seemingly to be everywhere, yet as Samuel Taylor Coleridge stated "Water, water, everywhere. Nor any drop to drink."

The earth is the ONLY known planet to have enough water to sustain life. Hydrology, is the scientific study of that water. It is found in the air we breath; normally saturated to the point of being able to generate clouds capable of dropping rain over a square mile of earth equavalant to 17.4 million gallons of water. We are sourounded by streams, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, covering 70% of the earth's surface. Yet only 2.5% is fresh and less than 1% is drinkable.

Fresh Water: These are found in alluvial waters, such as in wells, streams, rivers, lakes and other watersheads. Sadly, these are being contaminated by industrial and agricultural runoffs, and other contaminent plums. How can it be conserved?

Turn off the tap while not in use, such as when brushing teeth
Fix leaks and dripping faucets
Use water effecient devices such as shower heads and toilets
Shorter showers
Shrink lawns and use draught resistant landscaping plants
Clean cars at the carwash

Salt Water: These are found in our oceans, seas and mouths of rivers. The salitiny content is normally between 3.1 and 3.8%, a perfect ballance for oceanic life and thearmal conductivity. And although we don't normally drink from it, it is responsible for supporting life by:

Producing half the oxygen we breath

Ballances and moderates the planet's atmospheric conditions such as temprature and weather

Major contributor to the bottom of the food chain for most organisims

One can participate in ocean preservation by:

Not dumping automotive products and fluids into storm drains
Use fewer plastic products that may end up in the ocean
Take care of our beaches and reef
Only eat seafood that is at a sustainable level

Stratospere: This is considered to be the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere as you travel away from the planet's surface. The other levels are Troposphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. The ozone in the Stratosphere absorbs harmful rays from the sun. This protects us from skin cancer, protects some plant life and plankton. This valuable resource can be preserved by:

Reducing vehicle emissions by proper engine tunning and maintaining exhaust systems
Make sure your vehicle's A/C is not leaking and is using a modern refrigerant such as R-134a

Using spray products that do not use CFCs for propellants

The following sites show the changing condition of our precious atmosphere:

Air: The most dense area this resource exists is in the Earth's Troposphere. This is where most of earth's organisims that breath air get their oxygen. The amount and type of pollutants put into the air, may effect the health of the organisms living on the planet and of the health of the planet itself. An example of this is regarding Acid Rain.

Use public transportation when possible
Gas and Oil heating systems have been inspected and cleand to work effeciently
Bicycle to work, school, shopping

Natural resources: The above mentioned water and air are just a few of the many resources that out found in the Earth's masive store houses. There are the great forests; such as the Boreal, coral reefs; such as the Great Barrier , precious metals, mineral deposits, coal and other fossil deposits, basalt, salt, lye to name just a few. Though these reserves seem endless, they are being exhausted. These need to be budgeted to ensure they last beyond a few decades from now. The following lists a few sites that focus on providing information on what is currently being done and how you can help:

Energy: Our generation is energy hungery. From your cell phone that you charge every other nite, tablet, notebook and computer, to your nite lamp and flood light. Whether it is your home security system or how you get to work, the transportation of the goods for the coffee or apple juice you drink, to the complex water system that allows you to drink fresh water and dispose of washing machine water. It all requires energy.

Where we obtain that energy, how it is processed, transmitted and consumed, all affects the world around us.

It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

FACE THE FACTS!

...The earth is has been called the blue jewel in space. However as our exosphere, land and ocean continues to be covered with our garbage, its luster is beginning to wane. Each of us can contribute to reducing the rate of its increase by:

Recyle home, automotive and office products and goods
Purchase products made with recyled components
Use containers and bags that can be used more than once, such as shopping bags
And for crying out loud, don't polute, in your community or on the highway.

There are many excellent web sites that provide great ideas and facts about recycling:

Wildlife: What does the golden toad, Hawaiian crow, Pyrenean ibex, Spix's macaw, Tasmanian tiger and Javan tiger have in common? It use to be that they all lived on the planet but now it is that they have all become extent within that last 100 years. This despite the fact that science continues to reveal the importants of the diversity of animal and insect life on this planet. Polution, hunting, destruction of natural resources have all contributed to these natural tragedies.

We can gain knownledge from these past irreversable events, by preserving our wildlife and protecting those near extinction. Act and donate to organizations who are really making a difference: