Research Paper. Killer Whales

Abstract:
The topic of this paper is the importance of preserving Killer Whales. It argues that humans are the causes of damages to these mammals. There are three possible solutions to help the Orcas. The first is creating protected areas to be habitat of Killer whales. Second, help the reproduction of the Orcas through a genetic way. Third, governments should help. Finally, the important point is that humans should fix the problem of the Killer whales, because they created the problem.

Killer Whales should survive

Did you know that Killer Whales in Western Washington’s waters “could disappear in a matter of a century or two?” (McClure, 2001, para. 3). Orcas do not have a lot of salmon to eat; “it looks like the whales have been starving to death” (Hume, 2008, para. 17). Orcas are fighting to survive in a warmer sea. The northern inhabitants are trying to get food to pass the winter. They are avoiding the oil spills, and the boat traffic, that cause a lot of pollution. Some killer whale protection groups are going to court “against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, alleging it has failed to protect whale habitat” (Chan, 2008, para. 6). The Orcas’ experts stress the importance of taking actions, because these sea animals do not have a lot of time. The behavior of the killer whales is “suggesting a breakdown in the killer whale social structure never before observed” (Plater, 2002, para. 5). Environmentalists agree with the idea of creating a recovery plan. In order to do that it is necessary to not lose time in paperwork. According to West (2007), Mr. Balcomb said that the whales do not eat words.

It is important to stress that because of human behaviors, Killer Whales could be extinct in a few centuries, so it is necessary to take actions about it. For example, first, create some protected area to be the new habitat of killer whales. Second, help the reproduction of the Orcas through a genetic way. Third, create a governmental solution. Finally, it is important to make clear the fact that humans cause the majority of whales’ habitats to be damaged, and it is people’s responsibility to fix it.

The idea of creating a protected area for the killer whales is a way to make a guaranteed habitat for them. The Orcas could eat and live in a place that is safe. This is a way to protect the amount of whales. The problem with this solution is the resources that people need to make the refuge. It is necessary to have a big place, because the Orcas are one of the biggest animals in the sea. This place should have a lot of food for them. It will have to be donated by a country. On the other hand, it is not only the resources to start the refuge, after that it is necessary to maintain it. It is important to have a lot of money in order to keep this place as the perfect refuge for killer whales.

Marking some areas as a critical habitat could help Orcas survive, but this should change a lot of current things. One of these things could be the commercial routes of boats. The ships cause a enormous damages in the Killer whales’ habitat. An oil spill could accelerate the risk of Orcas’ extinction enough to make them totally disappear in just one century (McClure, 2001).

Until now the refuge that are available are the conservation animal centers, such Sea World. Even when these centers took Orcas from their habitat long time ago, this is not the only reason for the decline (McClure, 2001). The mammals that live in these theme parks that are at the same time Conservation Centers could have all the supplies for their necessities. Also, the Orcas in there have good help to get good reproduction.

The problem with these Conservation centers is the fact that the Killer whales are not in their natural habitat, and the persons who maintain the centers are not available to have big numbers of Orcas, so there is not a lot of place for all the endangered Killer whales. Orcas need their place, their home, somewhere where they could live and eat without someone trying to kill them.

To help the reproduction of the Orcas through a genetic way could be the matter to try to resolve the problem of the amount of Killer whales. The population of Orcas has gone down quickly in the last few years. “Dr. Barrett-Lenneard said the southern resident population fell to 90 in the 2004 from a historic level of about 200 and now is at 83” (Hume, 2008, para.9). To do this possible it is necessary to find a lot of professional and experts in the topic. It is necessary have a place to do the process, such as a laboratory. It is important to make it possible to have a good place in which the new killer whales could live, so it is essential to create the refuge before starting the genetic reproduction. This can help to conserve the correct DNA of the Orcas, and increase the current amount of these animals, by being careful of the behavior and life of these mammals.

The difficulty with this idea is the fact that it requires a lot of money, because the process of reproduction through a genetic ways is not something easy to do. It is really expensive get the experts in this area to be focus in the life of Orcas, and make the dream of get a big amount of the Killer whales again come true.

To make the last two solutions possible, it is indispensable to create governmental solutions, because for big problems big solutions are necessary, and civilians cannot create those big solutions. The urgency is to take actions in the current time. It is not possible to lose time in arguments. It is not possible for governments to be selfish. The Orcas needs international help, because their threats are global. They need agreements and collaboration of everybody.

Taking actions is more than just saying that the killer whales are in danger. Taking actions means doing something about it. They should make laws, fines, and charges to those who destroy everything related with the Orcas’ problem. The obstacle for this is the time that people think they need to do right things. People and government could not think that they need to know all the aspects in front and begin the problem to solve it. This problem warrants immediate action no matter if people do not know more than the fact that killer whales are dying.

Orcas cannot wait until the government agrees on the way to help them. Those animals do not have time, place, or food to wait for the paperwork that politicians say that they need to do to protect the Orcas. Governments should know that even when the killer whales’ problem is not an issue, like a war or some of the other priorities that a country has, it is a big topic and people have to find a way to fix it. Governments can make quick but effective propositions; they just have to want do it. Orcas cannot resolve the problem by themselves; they need people’s help.

Currently a lot of environmental groups exist and they are fighting to protect animals at risk, but unfortunately those groups do not have the support of countries, or influential people, so they are fighting without hands. Environmentalists need more than just good intentions; they need support, money, and respect, because without these things they are talking with themselves; they do not have a real impact in people’s minds.

Some people do not understand the problems that this extinction can make. They do not think that a sea animal can affect their lives, so they are not taking any action to try to fix the problem or at least to not make it worse. However Killer whales are a really big part of the ecosystem. If they disappear the cycle and the balance of life could be destroyed. That is the reason they live for. The fact that the Orcas live in a very faraway place and most of the people never see one is not a determinate way to say that they are not important.

One of the actions of the government could be the idea of keeping people informed, but not just saying that killer whales are in danger. People should know how their actions hurt these animals. People should know how to help the Orcas. To make this possible a lot of money is necessary, because an awareness campaign is not something easy to do, so government and organizations should support this idea and make economic contributions. With this education people will know what small or big changes they can do in order to protect the killer whales or their habitats.

In conclusion, Killer whales are dying and humans, made most of the problems that are making Killer whales extinct, so humans should help the Orcas. In order to do this people should take some actions to save them. For example, we should create some protected area to be the new habitat of the killer whale, help the reproduction of the Orcas through a genetic way, and create a governmental solution. Finally, the facts that the Orcas are animals and they live in water are not excuses to not do anything to help them. They need human help desperately.

People should be conscious that humans cause the extinction of killer whales, and it is just simply impossible to think that they can survive without people’s help. Humans already made a lot of damage in Orca’s habitats. Now it is time to repair it and give then a decent life. “We’re on the path toward extinction for Orcas if we just continue with business as usual” (Gordon, 2008, para. 5). It is necessary to be aware; everybody should help; everyone should collaborate, because it is a problem that human created.

Bibliography:

Chan, C. (2008, October 09). Killer whales off Southern B.C. face extinction, experts warn. Calgary Herald. Retrieved on November 3. 2008, from http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=3b6bcbd3-e6b8-4112-9ad4-094317d3dbc4

Gordon, D. (n.d.). Puget Sound Orca recovery plan released. Puget Sound Organization. Retrieved on November 3, 2008, from http://www.pugetsound.org/sound-spotlight/the-orcas-of-puget-sound/

Hume, M. (2008, October 29). Killer whales disappearing off southern B.C. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on November 3, 2008, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081029.wbckillerwhales29/BNstory/National/home

McClure, R. (2001, February 21). Risk of Orca extinction underscored in analysis. Seattlepi.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2008, from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/orcas23.shtml

Plater, B. (2002, December 18). Killer whales in grave danger. Seattlepi.com. Retrieved on November 3, 2008, from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/100332_orcalisting18.shtml

West, C. (2007, January 23). The fight to save the orcas; Whale watchers protest a lack of action: ‘I can’t just count them until they’re all gone.’ The Globe and Mail. p: S3. Retrieved on October 22, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Practice Quiz. To Buy or Not To Buy

Carolina Borrero
Writer’s Workshop EAP 2-A
December 3, 2008

Quiz
To Buy or Not To Buy

Do you think it is the same shopping online or in real life? This is the debate between the buyers. Some people affirm that it is too dangerous, and others state that it is the best way to go shopping. There is no question that buying is one of the most popular things to do. Now there are more places that have extended their hours and their shopping options. Every day more and more stores are making shopping easier for the buyers. This will happen until the point that it is possible to buy in the most comfortable place for everyone, their own house. No matter what, each side of the debate defends their statement with a lot of proof. However it seems that the side pro shopping by Internet is winning because every day more and more people are using this method to find what they need.

Some of the arguments that shopping online is the best thing that people can do are first shopping online is very safe. Second, it is easy to do, and third Internet provides everything that people need.

A lot of people do not trust in the Internet because they think is very dangerous. However, “online shopping is quite safe, as long as you follow precautions. According to the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumers Protections, the majority of identity theft occurred off-line with criminals intercepting mail or skimming data from carelessly discarded credit card receipts (Ball, 2008, para. 2).

Every day more and more stores are making easier the life of their consumers. Now the buyers can do car shopping, save their shopping list, and compare prices and products. In this case, Internet gives people one of the easier methods to find the best offers in one click, in their own homes (Ball, 2008).

The possibility of finding everything that people need in one place is one of the most attractive points that shopping online has. “There’s no question that shopping online is convenient. Online buying is not only timesaver, but it allows you to get great deals when you compare prices of the same item from different online shops. The internet is like a central shopping mall, where you can find just about everything you might need –from groceries and clothing to collectibles and hard-to-find replacement parts” (Robertson, 2006, para.1).

In conclusion, there always will be two sides because not everybody agrees with the idea of giving confidential information online. Shopping online is a delicate topic that at the end is very personal and subjective. The real question here is thinking of in the possibility of losing the human skills because of the lack of contact with other people, because more and more people prefer shopping online to shopping in a real store.

Reference:

Ball, G. (2008, April 15). Is using a credit-card for online purchase safe? Education Redefined. Retrieved on May 5, 2008, from http://www.bsu.edu/security/article/0,1384,86674-5031-17009,00.html

Robertson, C. (2006, January 03). Stay safe while shopping online. Majon International. Retrieved on May 5, 2008, from http://www.majon.com/articles/Shopping_-_General/shopping_online_126.html

F.E #7 Venezuelan food

When people go to live in another country, generally the food is one of their biggest problems. Each country has their own style of food. Sometimes it is very difficult the adaptation on this topic. For me, it was not too hard to eat American food, because I am used to eating it. However, after almost four months of eating the American food, I can say that I really miss the Venezuelan food. I think that the foodstuff here is too plastic. The food in my country is more real; I do not how explain the differences. I think the problem is in the traditions and the use of flavors. There are some styles of cooking that the United States does not have.

Hw 6. Memories

I think are a lot of things that remind me important moments in my life. Depends on the moment. In what of that moment made a difference in my life. For example, maybe some moments are made it by a song. Maybe another moment could be made it by a movie. Some phrases are important to me, and remind a moment. In Venezuela we play games that are part of my childhood. One of those games we called “Policia y ladron” (Police and robber). In this game we had teams. One were polices, and the other one were the robbers. The idea of the game is that polices had to try to catch all the robbers. At the beginning of the game the teams had to mark a place as a prision. Polices should put robbers into that place. The only way that robbers could go out was if another of their team touches him. I think the game finish when all robbers were in prision, or when we decided stop playing. For me, my memories are like a successive, when something remind me a moment; I start remembering all thing related with that fact. In this case, when I remember a game I began seeing all memories about my childhood. But, how I said there are a lot of factors that remind me a place or a time.

F.E #6 Vacations

Almost all the vacations are good for me. It is a time to relax and enjoy with family and friends. For me, I like go to the beach with my friends in spring break. I especially like to go to a Venezuelan Island called Margarita. However I really love my familiar Christmas vacations. Generally, my father and I go to Orlando, Florida. Maybe we can go with other friends' families. I love to spend time with my father. Now we don’t really go to the theme parks. We just go shopping, and visit my aunt, and my cousins. The problem is these vacations in my family have began disappearing because now I have a job and I cannot take the time that I had before.

Hw 5. A time for me

I think some time alone is important to anybody. In this time people can think everything better. For me, sometimes I need to clear my head off so I can think straight. Maybe I not do anything in that time, but that time is healthy for me. It is like a peaceful time. I love be with people and friends. I just need a little space once in a while. It is not necessary an entire day for me, maybe while I take a shower or when I am stock in the traffic. I just love play some music and sing, watch TV, think, or sleep. I don’t have anything prepared for that moment is what I feel I want to do. I don’t think that people should have this time alone like an appointment. People enjoy more something improvised. It is necessary a moment that occur without premeditation.

Not everybody likes spend time alone. Someone feels they are wasting their time. However I think everybody have this time, even when they don’t know it. It is something that people do unconscious. I really enjoy some minutes alone. I like see the big picture of the thing, and these times help me to do it. Maybe we’re very different, who knows?

F.E #5. Elections

Having the opportunity to experience the elections being in the United States was really good. I could see how the theory that I learned in my University was applied to real life. Actually, I learned about the popular election and the states elections. I did not know that each candidate was fighting for 270 points. I thought it was for the majority, such as it is in my country. One of the most interesting things that I saw was the fact that the elections in the U.S. always are on a Tuesday. People and communities need a lot of organization to vote in a workday without any problem. In Venezuela the election are on Sunday, so people just pass all day watching the elections news. Here it is so different; that day is like a regular day, the only difference is that in the night they have a new government. But, definitely the election works in the United States; everything happened with not problem or mistake; maybe we have to change our style

Hw. 4 Dreams of my life

I think dreams are a huge topic, because everybody could have an idea of dream. Everybody has a different dream. In my case my family always thought me how to be independent, so for me one of my biggest dreams is be a successful person. I don’t want to be dependent of anyone or anything. To make this possible I need to be ready in my career and my life. I am studying all the levels of my profession to be the best one. I am living my values to find someone who think like me. The successful of my life, all the aspects, love, profession, relations are the way that I can live in happiness. For me, happiness is a style of life, is not something that we can get with some steps. In other words, my dreams and aspirations are do whatever I want that make me feel happy, because I don’t want to think in the future Why I didn’t do something?

My biggest fear is broke my dreams. I don’t want to lose the chance of do anything. I don’t want to regret any of my actions. I don’t want that my personal aspiration will be destroy by my professional aspirations. I don’t want that my professional dreams will be destroy by my personal dreams. So, my idea is be in balance, or at least try it. The important thing is do what make you feel good. If that action doesn’t have relations with your initial dream, maybe this new one is better. People should be happy with their decisions. Those decisions are pieces of their life, and because of those they have the life that they make. I don’t know I think this is a very controversial topic, and everyone has their own answer for this!

S/R 2. It is not just the lack of food

Carolina Borrero (Carola)
Writer’s Workshop EAP 2-A
October 29, 2008

Summary Response #2
It is not just the lack of food

According to McClure (2001), in his article “Risk of Orca extinction underscored in analysis”, The Orcas who live in waters of Western Washington, Puget Sound, and San Juan Islands could disappear in one or two centuries. The Orcas on the first place are threat because of the lack of food, especially Salmon, caused by pollution. The Orcas on the other two places could be extinction by an oil spill. The author affirms that it is really important to take actions, because every minute is essential to killer whales. The author also explains how the information of the whales came from the investigations of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor started in 1976. Looking at those records, McClure said that are some factors, which can tell people what is happening with Orcas. As an example of these factors the author mentioned the 1950s, years when the United States and Canadian Air force used the killer whale as target practice. The author states that one of the most important solutions could be to learn about the PCBs and how that affects the salmon’s population. However, McClure affirms that changes in the world’s climate could be one warning factor, but is not really notorious. Finally, the author said that it is time to cross our fingers to watch the future reactions of killer whales, trying to not make the same mistakes that people made in the past.

The author establishes something really important. That is the fact that people should not be alert just about the physical problems that cause the threat to killer whales. He said that it is necessary to pay attention to the problems of the environment because those issues affect the life of the organisms in the sea. In order to protect the Orcas it is necessary set responsibilities, take actions, and be concerned about the environment effects on these mammals.

If you ask about responsibility of those who disturbed few years ago the killer whales’ life, as the author said, governments, theme parks, or scientists were responsible. All these persons prejudiced the Orcas or its habitats with no cost. After that, the killer whales have had a very bad time; some people are trying to help but they need economics resources that maybe those who disturbed it years ago could have.

Taking actions is more than just saying that the killer whales are in danger. Taking actions means doing something about it. They should make laws, fines, and charges to those who destroy everything related with Orcas’ problem. The obstacle for this is the time that people think they need to do right things. People and government could not think that they need to know all the aspects in front and begin the problem to solve it. This problem warrants immediate action no matter if people do not know more than the fact that killer whales are dying.

The problem of extinctions of the killer whales does not lie just in the past or the new issue with Salmon. The Orcas also suffer from all environmental crises that the world is having. Global warming implies the temperature changes in the water and that affects sea life, including killer whales. So, the small thing that someone in the other part of the planet does, actually can have an effect on the Orcas.

In conclusion, killer whales are dying and it is necessary to help it. In order to do that it is possible establish some responsibilities, take actions, and be worried about the effects that environmental problems have on these mammals. People should be conscious that anything that they do can affect the animals, even when they think it is too far away to do it. It is necessary to be aware; everybody should help; everyone should collaborate, because it is a problem that human created.

Reference:

McClure, R. (2001, February 21). Risk of Orca extinction underscored in analysis. Seattlepi.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2008, from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/orcas23.shtml

F.E #4. Halloween with no costumes

Halloween is a very famous holiday. However not in all the countries it is celebrated in the same way. In the United States (U.S.) Halloween even is something very expected. Everybody uses a costume. Actually, people spend a lot of money on dress up, candies, and house decoration. In Venezuela this holiday is a little different. Generally, just children use costumes to go around their building asking for candies. Some people use costumes and go to a bar, but it’s not too traditional like in the U.S. Halloween is known as a terror evening, but in Venezuela it is not too expected. Almost anybody decorates their house with allegoric items. No matter what, a holiday is a date to enjoy, even when people do not spend so much time preparing it for that evening.

Hw 3. Halloween in Venezuela

In Venezuela be celebrate Halloween but is not too important for us. We enjoy costume parties. Some kids go to ask for candy. However is not too usual like in the United States, because almost everybody live in buildings. The fact is that we don’t really preparated ourselves to this holiday. Halloween is a death festivity. We enjoy the scary stories, and movies, but in the United States is a real important holiday. It is like a law that everyone should use a costume. Everybody should make faces on the pumpkin.

Both, Venezuela and the United States commemorated deaths but in a different ways. In Venezuela not everybody is concern about which costume will use or where they will go to have a party. We don’t have a lot of Halloween advertisements. In Venezuela we don’t have rules about the way to knock neighbors doors, or the hours when people can do that. I’m not sure but I think we don’t have hunting houses. For Venezuelan Halloween is another party day but using a costume or something black and orange.

Actually this year was the first one that I used a costume. No matter what I think almost everybody celebrate a death day. The issue is the publicity or the importance that each country gives it. Everybody do whatever is approving in their culture and traditions.

F.E #3 Communications Are Changing

Humans began communicating since the beginning of their exists. In other words, people could not live without communication. Not just the verbal communication; humans have a lot of ways to transmit their messages and be understood by the other person. People every day are trying to improve the communication skill, but sometimes maybe they do the opposite. An example of this is the online communications, like Messenger or Skype. Those programs really help to cut distances. However when people are too attached to those ways of communication they can really lose skills of interpersonal communication, like a real conversation face to face. In the past, people could know other people just by looking at them, but now people cannot know the intention of the other person just with one look. The fact that everybody needs communicate ideas is real. On the other hand, it is necessary to be conscious that all ways of communications have their advantages and disadvantages.

1 S/R. The Orcas Can Not Wait for Governments

Carolina Borrero
Writer’s Workshop EAP 2-A
October 23, 2008

Summary Response #1

The Orcas Can Not Wait for Governments

According to West (2007) in her article, “Whale watchers protest a lack of action: ‘I can’t just count them until they’re all gone’” the Killer whales, or Orcas, that roam in Vancouver Island and Washington State’ waters are in risk of extinction, and this risk is caused by the delay of the Canadian government. The author explains the increase of Orcas’ deaths since 2001, and the biggest number of those deaths is from last year when five killer whales died. West said that the Canadian government is following a new federal policy in which they have to define what a “critical habitat”. The author states that one of the most important threats for Orcas is the fact of lack of salmon; one of their biggest food resources, and this problem could affect them in winter, because they do not have a big layer of fat. Finally, West affirms that both sides of the governments, American and Canadian, should recognize that the only way to preserve this species is giving them a large area of critical habitat so that people could be worried about those places and try to find the way to guarantee food for killer whales there.

The author is right when she states the solution for Orca’s problem. Those animals do not have time to wait for government solutions or perfections. They need something to survive, like the author said, a big protected space with food, or simply they would die in the near future. People should realize the importance of the problem. Orcas are part of a food cycle and if they die the ecosystem will lose its balance. In order to protect the whale habitat it is essential to keep people informed about the real problem of killer whales, to not lose time in paperwork, and to support the environmental groups.

The idea of keeping people informed is not just saying that killer whales are in danger. People should know how their actions hurt these animals. People should know how to help the Orcas. To make this possible a lot of money is necessary, because an awareness campaign is not something easy to do, so government and organizations should support this idea and make economic contributions. With this education people will know what small or big changes they can do in order to protect the killer whales or their habitats.

Orcas cannot wait until the government agrees on the way to help them. Those animals do not have time, place, or food to wait for the paperwork that politicians say that they need to do to protect the Orcas. Governments should know that even when the killer whales’ problem is not an issue, like a war or some of the other priorities that a country has, it is a big topic and people have to find a way to fix it. Governments can make quickly but effective proposition, they just have to want do it. Orcas cannot resolve the problem by themselves; they need people’s help.

Currently a lot of environmental groups exist and they are fighting to protect animals at risk, but unfortunately those groups do not have the support of countries, or influential people, so they are fighting without hands. Environmentalists need more than just good intentions; they need support, money, and respect, because without these things they are talking with themselves; they do not have a real impact in people’s minds.

In conclusion, keeping people informed, not losing time, and supporting the environmental groups could be the key to helping and protecting the Orcas. People should be conscious that humans cause the extinction of killer whales, and it is just simply impossible to think that they can survive without people’s help. Humans already made a lot of damage in Orca’s habitats. Now it is time to repair it and give then a decent life.

Reference:

West, C. (2007, January 23). The fight to save the orcas; Whale watchers protest a lack of action: ‘I can’t just count them until they’re all gone.’ The Globe and Mail. p: S3. Retrieved on October 22, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Hw 2. Relationships

I’m not in a relationship right now, but I had my last boyfriend four years ago. I meet Victor at the University. He was a law student. Both, Victor and I were on first year of the career. At the first moment we were friends, but with some attraction between us. Then, we started dating for few weeks like friends in groups of people. We always said things related to a relationship like a joke. After that, we meet in a friend’s party and we decided be together. We were in this relationship for almost ten months. I broke up with him because I could not breathe. I thought he was so possessive. Actually, I think I am perfect with my life. I was so busy studying my career that I did not have time to think in a romance. However, now is time to reopen my mind to a relationship. I think the best way to find a husband knows the person in all his aspects. In order to do that is necessary dating, talking, and sharing experiences. I am not agreeing with the idea of been married with a man that you just know him for a short time or some random stranger. I think people should know the background of the future prospect, like the family and friend because with this thing people would identify a little bit of his matters. For me, when people are dating you can ask about his goals in life so that you can know his attitude and determinate if is the perfect man for you. No matter what, everybody has their idea of an ideal relationship and is not a discussion with just one resolution.

F.E #2. Knowing the world

Generally people around the world think their own country or city is the best one, but even when I think in the same way, I should say that after visiting a few cities in the United States, and some countries in the Caribbean, I think that Chicago is a very good place to go. The interesting thing about Chicago is the fact that it is a city with a lot of diversity. There is not only diversity of people, there is all kind of music, religions or cultures. It is a city where everyone can be comfortable and enjoy their visit. Chicago is a place with a lot of things to do, like going shopping, visiting museums, and going to natural parks. People could see every kind of thing in Chicago. It is like a city where everything can happen. I just went there for four days but I really got a good impression of the city, and in my opinion, that is what a city needs to be recommended.

0 Practice S/R. Everybody should be worried about

Carolina Borrero
EAP 2-A Writer’s Workshop
October 20, 2008

Practice Summary Response

Everybody should be worried about

According to Hirsch (2005) in his article “Animals ‘hit by global warming,’” warming already is affecting the life style of some animals. Also, the author explains a few examples of this problem, which were presented in a meeting of E.U. Nature Conservation Chiefs in Scotland. First, warming is changing the routes of migration of birds. Second, some animals are able to adapt to the new weather condition, but this is not an option for animals like the polar bears, because the habitants where it lives are disappearing. Third, environment changes are so fast that is very difficult for the animals to adapt; also, it is difficult for humans to agree to try to find solutions. Finally, the author said that the solutions should be fast and radical because global warming is happening and it is not waiting for a green light to destroy the ecosystem.

It is important to stress the idea of the author about the solution, because it is necessary make an effort to find global answers. The problem is not just that the interest of one country is something that everyone has to deal with. In order to make solutions, it cold be good to educate people about causes and consequences of global warming, invest money in research to find new ways to control the environment, and create new laws made by the environmental organizations.

Educating people is a way to teach them causes and consequences of global problems like global warming, so that people could be conscious and try to help to protect the planet and the sources of our products. People should try to think like all the resources in the world are in extinction, so that they can protect it more and try to causes less damage. Also, protecting the planet people indirectly will help animals that are affected by the environmental problems, because with small changes people will reduce the destruction of animal habitats.

In order to protect the environment it is necessary to invest a lot of money, because it is important to create campaigns against the planet destruction; it is necessary to find alternative ways to do the thing that threat the ecosystem, like aerosols or deforestation. The problem with this idea is the fact that not all the countries have money to invest. Moreover maybe countries with better economic status could help countries in bad situations. In other words it has to be a global campaign paid by all governments.

Currently there exist few organizations that focus on global environmental problems but obviously those organizations are not enough. Consequently, is essential to make new laws and organizations that could be truly impartial. They have to ensure the survival of the planet no matter who or what is affecting it. These organizations should give a penalty to countries that attempt against the planet. It could not be possible the idea of moving these global problems because it other priorities appear.

It is very important to find global solutions, so that people around the world can help to resolve the problem. Teaching causes and consequences of global warming, investing money in research and creating new laws could help to resolve in some way the issues that global warming produces so that the animals may enjoy and live peacefully in their habitat. But the most relevant thing is to remember that global warming is not an individual problem; it is something that everyone should be worried about. For this reason, everybody should put their grain of sand and start the solution by themselves.

Reference:

Hirsch, T. (2005, October 5). Animals ‘hit by global warming’. BBC News. Retrieved on October 15, 2008 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4313726.stm

Hw. 1 My break in Chicago

On the classes break I went to Chicago. I was hosted in The Palmer House of Hilton. The hotel was on Chicago downtown, near Michigan Avenue. It was fantastic; it was really pretty. I went to Chicago with Vanessa. We arrived to Chicago on Saturday and leaved on Tuesday. I was so exiting to be there, because Chicago is a real city for me. I am used to be in those kinds of places and Carbondale it is nor like that. When I was there I felt like if I was in home with traffic, people, street sound, and diversity. I needed these things. I did not want to come to Carbondale again. We went to a lot of place, like the Planetarium, Field Museum, Michigan Avenue, Sears Tower, and some parks. I really enjoy the experience of been in Chicago. I hope be there again.

F.E #1 Caracas Vs Carbondale

Caracas is the capital city of Venezuela. As a capital, is a very big metropolis. It has ten million in habitants, even when the city has a small space. However, Caracas has variety and diversity of thoughts, religions, and cultures. On the other hand, Carbondale is a littler town of The United States (U.S.), specifically in Illinois. This small town has equal diversity as Venezuela, but in this case it is caused by all the Southern Illinois University’ (SIU) students. SIU has so many students from all countries, and that helps Carbondale to be a city. The biggest difference between Caracas and Carbondale is the fact that the first one is the capital of Venezuela, is where everything happens, and is the only big city with facilities in Venezuela. The second one is just one of many U.S cities, and generally every city in the U.S. has similar facilities. None of these are better than the other; they are just different.

Hw. 6 Venezuela's school

In Venezuela classes are structured a little different. School is from kinder to sixth grade. High School is from first year to fifth year. During the three first years of high school people decide what they want to study at the University and in the last two years of high school they go to science or humanistic studies. After that people should go to University. Generally classes star in first week of October to middle of July. Obviously with Christmas vacations, “Semana Santa” vacation is like spring break in March, and other small holidays.

Venezuelan students have to use uniforms, in school there are a white chemise with the symbol of the school. Between first and third year of high school they have to use a blue chemise with the symbol of the institution. When the students are in fourth or fifth year of high school they should use a beige chemise with the symbol of the high school. Depends on the school’s rules if students have to use pants or skirt.

In the institutions where I studied I had a classroom and my teacher had to go there, except for the science lab or specials subjects. I really never had an experience in American school, but I think the most important difference is the fact that here at the United States school are located in each county and people of that county go to that school. In Venezuela is completely different people choose the school no matter where is located. Other big difference is the numbers of students; in the U.S are more students per school that in Venezuela. Definitely, no matter what, the high school time is the best one.

These are my best friends from high school, We were in second year of high school.


These are my classmate on our last year of high school. We were of sciences studies.

Hw 5. Coffee Vs Tea

In Venezuela coffee is very popular at the morning or after every food time. Tea is very popular when people is sick or for old people. In fact Venezuela produce a very good coffee called “Fama de America”. In my country we don’t have stores like Starbucks but we have in almost everywhere coffee machines from Nescafe.

In my particular case I really love the coffee but when is like latte vanilla, because I love a very sparkling coffee with a lot of milk and sugar! In the United States is something like White Chocolate Mocca from Starbucks. This coffee makes me feel peaceful, calm, and warm if I’m cold. I don’t like the strong coffee I prefer sweet tastes. Actually I don’t feel the energy from the caffeine of the coffee maybe is because I don’t drink just coffee or expresso coffee.

HW. 4 Movie industry

Venezuela is striving to created a movie industry. Actually we have a lot of support to promote the movie industry, like movies festivals. The problem is the way that everybody think because they always use the same subjects and stories so the people obviously is bored about that. This is the reason why the people prefer international films, most of them from The United States; of course Hollywood is the biggest movie industry in America. However Venezuela is a really movie fan all the theaters are full at all time.

In my opinion I really want to support the national films, because I studied that career, my specialization is moviemaker, but the true is that Venezuela is not prepared yet to understand the things that public likes to see. In the other hand, I really like the Hollywood’s movies and some time the Europeans. My favorite movies from the U.S are the love stories like “The Notebook” because the story really hooks me, and make me feel different. From Europe, I really enjoy Amelie because the colors and the photography of the movie is just amazing, and of course the way that she really appreciated the simply thing of the life. For example introduce the hand in a boll of beans.

Hw 3. My Favorite Music

I like almost all kinds of music as long as the song express something, and of course the tempo it’s very important. The tempo must hook me and make feel the music inside, and all my stress or fears should go away. Even if I can listen all music styles I have my preferences, which are balada-pop (slow and romantic pop), and dancing music like salsa, merengue bachata, etc. I hear these styles when I am really angry or sad, and I need think about the problem that I have.

My favorite balada-pop artist is a group from Venezuela called A.5. I had the opportunity to meet them, and we build a good friendship so that I like all their song. But I love one entitle “Supervisor de tus sueños” because it remained me a very special night. On the other hand my favorite dancing artist is Marc Anthony. I really love a song called “Aguanile” because I can feel the energy in the music of this song.

I still remember the first time a listen A.5 when my mom show me their first song eigth years ago and since then I like the group. Marc Anthony was a little different I hear the song in my salsa casino class and it was like a click immediately I love it.


P.D: I could not upload the songs! I do not why. sorry... if you want listen it I can show you I have the two song in my Ipod.

HW 2. My favorite food

My favorite food is Empanadas, is a traditional food of Venezuela and is in everywhere in my country. Is very easy to made but is necessary use Harina Pan, is a corn flour from Venezuela. In the United States it is possible find this ingredient maybe at the internationals stores. With the Harina pan and water make a mass, then the chef have to do a little ball. After that is indispensable push the ball until be like a Mexican tortilla. When the tortilla is ready must be filled with whatever you like. For an example it can be cheese, chicken or beef. The empada have to be fried and finally you can eat it. In Venezuela is tradition eating empanadas on the beach so that some ladies have their small sales. Also in the port is mini mall with a lot of selling empanadas. I love empanadas because it remind me my childhood and of course days at the beach.

Hw 1. My first visit to United States

The first time I came to United States I was very young maybe three years old so I cannot remember much, and after that I came to this country once a year. However I have good memories about my visits. First when I was a littler child I came with my parent and they were so happy and friendly. I always went to Orlando, Florida so we went to Disney so many times. It was just the three of us nobody else to disturbed. Second when I was ten years old my parents bought our first house in Orlando, It was so beautiful and the house was so big, for me that was a mansion. Third I remember my last Santa Claus’s present it was a Discman player, one Christmas t-shirt, and many compact disks. I also remember all the details of our last trip together I was eleven years old. In conclusion United States for me is a happy place. I really want not live here because it is not my country but I always enjoy mi visits and my vacations.

My new life

Here I am! In a new country, new apartment, and new university so it is time to grown up and make my life work.