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THE INCREDIBLE COMPLEXITIES AND PERFECTIONS OF A TREE

the tree of life

T

rees are so integrated into daily

life that it is easy to forget the whole

0

02 MAKES OXYGEN

variety of benefits that they provide. Trees

02

provide useful products. This is the most obvious

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and direct benefit that trees can provide. Even in towns, trees provide traditional products such as timber and fruit as well as new products, including wood chip mulch and renewable fuel. A mature oak tree can provide support

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for over 460 different species of insects, birds and mammals in shelters and hollows, as well as fruit, flowers and foliage that attract a huge variety of birds and insects. trees can provide a seasonal barrier to harmful ultraviolet radiation creating areas of dappled shade where people can escape from the famous heat of the British summer. On sloping sites, tree roots act to prevent erosion and stabilise the soil. Over time, decaying wood and leaves will enrich the soil. With the increasing cases of asthma,

02 MAKES FOOD

the benefits trees provide in cleaning the air should not be underestimated. The canopies of trees act as a physical filter, absorbing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen

02

dioxide and sulphur dioxide and effective at trapping fine dusts and toxic particles, the trapped dust being washed to the ground by

SEQUESTURES CARBON

co

rain. There are many small and some large businesses within Medway that depend on trees both directly and indirectly.

N2O

CREATES MICROCLIMATES co2

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02 ABSORBS SOLAR ENERGY

02

02

PROVIDES ANIMAL HABITATS

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what could happen to our trees When you come to think about it, a future without trees or vegetation would not only be scary, but deadly for all mankind. Many animals, including human beings, would not

FIXES NITROGEN

o2

survive without any vegetation on Earth. Plants

SELF REPLICATES

are necessary for multiple reasons—they provide us with oxygen and they are at the

N2O

foundation of all food chains. Furthermore, they play a fundamental role in ecology—they cleanse the atmosphere of excessively large quantities of carbon dioxide emissions. So,

co2

when we think of sustainable development and environmental protection, these are not the fads of the moment. They are essential to

TREE VOLUME 57,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN A 10-12 INCH FLOOD

our survival. We can all start working to protect our planet by pledging to take action in favor of our planet on Earth Day and every day.

the carbon tax

A

more expensive, thereby making it possible

on energy products and motor vehicles, rather

for other products produced through cleaner

than on CO2 emissions directly. Opposition

processes to compete on price. Yes, that’s

to increased environmental regulation such

right. The pricing’s of certain goods that are reliant on

“The objective is to lower income taxes and introduce a carbon tax”

as carbon taxes often centres on concerns that firms might relocate

carbon pollution for their production will go up.

and/or people might lose their jobs. It has

t the centre of the government’s

However, the majority of Australians will be

been argued, however, that carbon taxes

policy on climate change is pricing

compensated for this cost, and this cost will be

are more efficient than direct regulation and

carbon. Many commentators and politicians

relatively small for most items.

may even lead to higher employment. Many

have referred to this as a “carbon tax”. The

How will this drive a move towards a cleaner

large users of carbon resources in electricity

idea is that polluters will pay per tonne of

future you might wonder. Well, it’s not hard to

generation, such as the United States, Russia

carbon they release into the atmosphere. This

see that if pollution-intensive processes make

and China, are resisting carbon taxation.

cost will initially be set at $23, and increase

goods more expensive, companies will look

gradually until 2015, when we will shift to

to reduce their pollution footprint in order to

Senator Dodd anchored his presidential

a trading scheme that will let the market set

lower their costs. That’s what businesses do

candidacy for the U.s. senate to a Corporate

the cost. This is widely thought of as the most

improve efficiency year on year. It’s one of

Carbon Tax. As he explained in the CNN/

effective and least costly mechanism to reduce

the key drivers of growth. For this reason, it is

YouTube Democratic Presidential Candidate

carbon output and reduce the level of climate

actually not necessary for the consuming public

Debate: “Until you deal with the issue of price,

change that is occurring.

to change their practices,although

until you impose a corporate carbon tax, we

Right now, when you purchase a product

that would help drive you own costs

will never get away from fossil fuels. It’s the

that relies on carbon-intensive materials or

down. A number of countries have

only way this can be achieved. You have to

manufacturing processes, the price you

implemented carbon taxes or

advocate that if you’re serious about global

pay does not represent the cost incurred by the environment. The iron ore used

energy taxes that

warming.”

are related

The best way to think of the carbon tax is that

to create the product could

to carbon

you are being rewarded for being energy

be sourced from the highest

content.

efficient for something which serves an almost

polluting mine in the world, the

identical purpose to the fossil fuel based

electricity used to power the

product. The reward serving purposes of

manufacturing plant could

wind , solar and other kinetic and eco-friendly will help to reduce the carbon footprint with households producing a large amount of the co2 will if anything improve the air around you.

Most

be provided by the dirtiest

environmentally

coal mine in the world, and the

related

trucks used to transport the product to

taxes with

its final destination in a supermarket could run on the dirtiest fuels in the world, and it would make no difference to the

implications for greenhouse gas emissions

price. With a price on carbon, this equation

in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-

would change. The amount of carbon pollution

operation and Development)countries (which

involved in producing a product would start

are an international economic organisation

to be factored into its final price. Products

of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate

produced through dirty processes will become

economic progress and world trade). are levied

Arthur Cecil Pigou proposed taxing the goods (in this case hydrocarbon fuels), which were the source of the negative externality (carbon dioxide)

THE CARBON TAX

Federal government imposes carbon tax on top 1000 polluters

Gives assistance to the top 50 polluters giving them a 1/3 discount of the tax intake

Low to middle income house holders get tax/welfare relif from the government

Government rewards the public if they cut fossil fuel levels and use energy efficient technology

WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AT OUR DISPOSAL WE COULD LITERALLY REDUCE THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT BY 90% -kenny ausubel

O

wing to the overall rise in the

world temperature, the glaciers in

appliances should be switched off instead

reducing the

to hold it in stand by mode. This will save

carbon footprint

the Antarctic region begin to melt which has

more power since stand-by mode consumes

increased the overall sea level. If this situation

40% of the energy. People should use only an informative guide on how the carbon footprint

continues, many low lying areas will submerge in

energy efficient appliances. Thermostats should

reduction process will kick in

the near future. Global warming also increases

be used for air conditioners since they reduce

the occurrences of hurricanes. There are many easy solutions to reduce

the temperature automatically. Consumption of organic food should be

global warming and its impact. First of all, people should understand

increased because organic soil absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide.

the problem and take measures accordingly to save the world. People

Buying local food reduces the consumption of fuel. Cows emits large

should reduce the usage of electrical appliances which emits

amount of methane due to their vegetarian diet. Hence meat consumption should be reduced. Also tetra packs

green house gases. For example; the refrigerator

should be used instead of tinned food.

releases carbon and the incandescent

Periodic maintenance of the vehicles

light lamp emits 300 pounds of

helps in efficient usage of fuel

carbon dioxide a year. This

and reduces release of

can be replaced through

green house gases.

a compact fluorescent light bulb which saves

Proper inflation of

much

tyres should be

energy.

done and fuel

Follow RRR-

wastage should

Reduce, Reuse,

be avoided.

Recycle.

Teach your local

People should

neighborhood

not dump waste

and relatives

products in the

about the cause

ground.

Plant

and impacts of

products, food waste,

global warming and

vegetable dump undergo

methods to reduce it.

Conservation of forests

anaerobic decomposition

also forms a factor to reduce

i.e. they break down to produce

global warming. Hence, individuals

methane, a green house gas instead of oxygen. Hence the product usage and wastage

and government should be concerned about the environment and stop the incoming danger due to global

should be reduced or recycled for a healthy atmosphere. Trees absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide. Many trees should be

warming. It can stop by having the whole entire country go green, have

planted since they involve in photosynthesis, food preparation with the

car plants switch to electric cars, try and “limit” the green house gases,

help of sunlight. During this process, trees absorb carbon dioxide and

and by living off of solar wind/power. Man produces roughly 0.28%

exhale oxygen. Also, existing forests should be saved and usage of plant

of all green house gases. Completely shutting down all of mankind and

by-products shouldn’t be wasted. Usage of green power prevents 300

allowing millions to die would have almost zero affect on the overall

kg of carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere. The electricity

ghg levels for thousands of years. But in comparison to what we created

obtained from the renewable resources like wind and water is called

according to the the carbon cycle, man releases about 29 billion tonnes

green power. The cost is also low in case of green power. Insulation of the ceiling of a house and power saving is the important factor to reduce global warming. The electric

“People often ask me what can I do? well you’ve made the first choice you know you have to do something” -Kenny Ausubel

of CO2 a year, mostly from burning fossil fuels and cement production. This works out at 79,452,000 tonnes every day (nearly 80 million tonnes or 88 million US tons).

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