Environment

Before you make your final decision about a topic, get to know it a bit. Check out the books and articles in the large study room and/or follow a couple of the links included below.
=== Questions to ask when selecting a topic: ===
 * 1) How much information is available? Is it readily available or do I have to dig deep?
 * 2) Is the information credible? written by an expert? current?
 * 3) Is the information written on a level I can understand?

How hard would it be for Americans to seriously reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably?
 * http://sustainableag.ces.ncsu.edu/
 * http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/about-sarep/def
 * http://green.harvard.edu/topics/energy-emissions/renewable-energy
 * http://www.gizmag.com/gizmag-top-10-sustainable-innovative-green-houses/34712/
 * http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/samso-attempts-100-percent-renewable-power/
 * http://www.architecturaldigest.com/blogs/daily/2014/07/sustainable-home-ideas-book-article
 * http://sustainable.org/living
 * http://sustainability.dartmouth.edu/purpose/what-can-i-do/live-a-more-sustainable-life/

How serious is the drought problem worldwide? Should the U.S. be concerned about it and try to mitigate its effects?
 * http://www.npr.org/2014/08/29/344193332/drought-conditions-wreak-havoc-on-latin-america

How will climate change affect North Carolina?
 * http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/climate/climate_change
 * http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/oee/programs/climate.html

Chocolate tastes great and might be medicinal, but does it have much of a future? >
 * http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-11/cocoa-shortage-seen-by-olam-as-beans-a-poor-man-s-crop-.html
 * http://www.rainforestpartnership.org/blog/207-cshocolate-in-the-rainforest
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/business/international/chocolate-prices-soar-as-appetites-get-bigger.html?pagewanted=all&module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C{%221%22%3A%22RI%3A10%22}
 * http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-could-melt-chocolate-production/
 * http://www.icco.org/home/latest-news.html
 * Note: this page looks like an article on a news website, but it is actually run by an organization: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/fairtrade-partner-zone/chocolate-cocoa-production-risk

Is poaching a world-wide issue of concern and should something be done about it?
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-03-04/environmental-outlook-new-strategies-stopping-elephant-ivory-trade
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-21/how-technology-transforming-conservation-efforts-worldwide

Do the benefits of drilling for oil in the Arctic outweigh the risks? > Is organic farming sustainable?
 * http://library.cqpress.com.proxy067.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2013092000

Will coral reefs soon be a thing of the past?
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-05/environmental-outlook-health-and-future-our-coral-reefs
 * https://www.sciencenews.org/article/corals-beat-heat-being-prepared
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/opinion/a-world-without-coral-reefs.html?pagewanted=all

Is a carbon tax a good idea environmentally and financially?

Might we be facing a sixth extinction? >
 * https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sixth-extinction

How can the risk of large chemical stockpiles be reduced?

Should off-shore drilling be restricted? What about drilling off the NC coast?
 * See recent CQ Researcher report.
 * http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/04/21/article/irony_aside_gop_trio_pushes_offshore_drilling
 * http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/12/02/1880323/drilling-banned-eyes-turn-to-wind.html#storylink=misearch

Do the problems and unknowns associated with the use of plastic mean that wise consumers should try to live without or with a lot less plastic?
 * http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=plastic-not-fantastic-with-bisphenol-a
 * http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/13/us-heart-chemical-plastics-s-idUSTRE60C0AR20100113
 * http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/10/now-they-want-you-to-microwave-your-toddlers-food-in-plastic-bowls.aspx

Are terminal groins a good long-term solution to beach erosion?
 * http://lincolntribune.com/?p=7245
 * http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/feb/28/WSMAIN01-banned-method-of-stopping-beach-erosion-c-ar-819008/
 * http://www.wcu.edu/4402.asp

Is it possible/feasible for a family to reduce its waste to zero or nearly zero?

How should countries be preparing to adapt to climate change?

Do we know enough about chemical risks? Should more be done to regulate toxic chemicals?

Could Americans do more to reduce our food-related carbon footprint (hoofprint)?
 * http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-07-01/environmental-outlook-meat-consumption-and-its-effects-planet
 * http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421161338.htm
 * http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/04/16/reducing_foods_carbon_footprint/

Has the “green revolution” set the stage for world famine and water shortages?

Is geo-engineering the answer to our climate change problems?
 * http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/28/2559779/that-co2-warming-the-world-lock.html#storylink=misearch

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Should the U.S. pass a Climate Change Bill which significantly reduces our total greenhouse gas emissions?

What should be done to protect coastal areas and cities like New Orleans from future devastation?

Should the population of feral cats be controlled to protect birds?

Is light pollution a serious concern?

Should clean air emission standards apply to Sports Utility Vehicles?

To what extent should individual homes and coastal communities be preserved and protected from the effects of climate change?

Is it possible for the U.S. to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through conservation?

What can be done to protect low-income and minority communities from environmental degradation?

Should the EPA declare coal ash a hazardous waste?

Should more be done to protect sharks?
Should more be done to preserve and increase forested areas around the world? (Hunting & Conservation)

Should the U.S. be doing more to protect the worldwide stock of fish?
Should more be done to ensure that almost all our e-waste is recycled safely?
 * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100131277
 * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17988109

2012-2013 Topics
Food Waste in America

Should the U.S. be doing more to preserve and develop small farms?

** 2010-11 topics **

 * Should more be done to conserve and protect water worldwid e?
 * Check the CQ Researcher for a recent report.
 * **Melting glaciers**: Nova online video: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/extremeice/; Antarctica - http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0625/Antarctic-glacier-melt-explained; http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63847/title/Glacier_found_to_be_deeply_cracked
 * **Water wars**: Frontline online videos: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frow03n411cq1cc and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frow03pefd (original 2005 program on play pumps: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frow03pab2; NewsHour: Indian farmers vs. Coca-ColaL: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec08/waterwars_11-17.html
 * **Should water's price reflect its value to us?** NewsHour 2007: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/insider/environment/july-dec07/waterresources_11-20.html
 * **Access:** http://www.globalwater.org/
 * **Australia:** NewsHour 2009: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec09/drought_12-01.html
 * **Conservation strategies:** water use calculator - http://www.tampagov.net/dept_water/information_resources/Saving_water/Water_use_calculator.asp; http://www.h20conserve.org/home.php?pd=index;
 * **Water footprint/virtual water:** Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123483638138996305.html; websites: http://www.slowfood.com/international/food-for-thought/focus/81455/the-water-footprint-of-food/q=71D982?-session=query_session:42F9418716aee2A323KuU2E28922; http://www.gdrc.org/uem/footprints/water-footprint.html; http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/home; National Geograhic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/; http://www.virtualwater.eu/
 * **Documentaries about water:** http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/five-documentaries-to-understand-water-crisis.php
 * **Solutions?:** http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-25649-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

Will the Gulf of Mexico become a healthy water system in our lifetime?
 * Loss of wetlands & importance of wetlands: (NPR) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130101851 and http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128952049 and (PBS) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/in-louisiana-wetlands-erosion-is-slow-moving-crisis.html
 * Oil eating bacteria (NPR): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129408584 and (PBS) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/study-oil-eating-microbes-plentiful-in-gulf-oil-spill.html
 * Coastal erosion (PBS): http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/video/blog/2010/09/after_gulf_spill_coastal_erosi.html
 * **Dead zone basics:** http://news.discovery.com/animals/gulf-dead-zone-oil-spill.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter and http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/08/dead_zone_as_big_as_massachuse.html and http://www.physorg.com/news200589904.html
 * **Dead zone overlaps oil spill:** http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6713YZ20100802 and http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/crude-marred-gulf-of-mexico-s-dead-zone-grows-as-spill-impact-is-studied.html and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100607092141.htm
 * **Coastal Reconstruction:** http://lacoast.gov/new/, http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20100921/NEWS01/100921038/Gulf+coast+groups+press+for+funds+to+protect+coast,