Climate change?

     Recently in New York, the UN along with some other dignitaries and heads of state, met to begin discussions on a global deal to be completed in 2015, in Paris. The meeting created an onslaught of people marching for climate change initiatives to help the earth, but there were also those going against the meeting.

     According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who will meet again in
Copenhagen, Denmark next week, there are several key predictions that will occur in years to come, towards the end of the century.
     They predict with almost "100 percent probability" that there will be 1.) "Warmer and/or fewer cold days and nights over most land masses."and 2.)" Warmer and/or more frequent hot days and nights over most land masses."
     They also predict, in "90-100 percent very likely" 1.) "Warm spells/heat waves-frequency and/or duration increase over land masses, 2."Heavy Precipitation events..." and 3.) "Increased incidence and/or magnitude of extreme high sea level."

     Living an hour away from the coast, climate change to us in Houston means that the rise in sea-levels will progress faster than it is happening now. We will also have longer heat spells and more, heavy rain spells.

     However, the longer hot days also bring with it the high possibility of drought and dry spells in our state, as well as other areas of the country and the world.
 
     I can only surmise that this type of weather will also occur in Extremadura, without fear of sea-level rise. That is not to say it won't adversely affect them in one way or another.

     
Whatever side of the debate of climate change you are in,  here are some facts that are known to be true:
   1. Humans are putting way too much carbon emissions that pollute the clean air for healthy living.
   2. We are also producing too much waste that landfills can not support it.

 Even with all the government intervention and laws, it is up to all of us to do our part to

regulate greenhouse gases by limiting harmful pollutants in the air.

So what can we do, besides staying informed to reduce our carbon footprint?

Aside from being energy efficient, we can begin to help the environment with doing a few simple things.

1. Produce less garbage: Did you know that all the garbage in landfills produce methane, which is a very harmful greenhouse gas? Let's keep items such as paper, plastic, metal and glass in recycling centers and out of landfills. Carry your families groceries in your own bags to limit the use of plastic ones.
Compost more of your meals to keep out of landfills or take your organic waste to someone who has a garden or our school's garden.

2.  Eat more plant based foods: About 18% of emissions come from diary and meat production."Meatless Monday": All of us could have one day to eat meatless meals to stop less emissions being produced. Alternatively, eat one meatless meal a day.  Grow your own or buy locally. Eat more organic meals and less processed foods.

     And speaking of plants, start a garden or help someone start a garden. Continue to plant more trees.

If we live simply, we create less things that we need to throw away. We will be taking care of ourselves and taking care of the earth at the same time.

Raquel Aguilar

Pen Pals In the News....

    

     Clara a Spanish student and new penpal, recently wrote an article about our project that was published in two local newspapers. Clara is also a student in Pershing's journalism class.

     Below is the article that appeared on page twelve on The Village News and The Southwest News.
Ms. Aguilar

INTERNATIONAL PEN PAL PROGRAM

THRIVING at PERSHING

by Clara Brotzen-Smith

   "Pershing foreign language students are making friends in other countries around the world. A pen pal program that has been in existence for the last two years allows students from Pershing Middle School and students in Spain to make a connection through the written word. This program is headed by Ms. Aguilar. Pershing students have been given the opportunity to not only exchange letters in Spanish, but also French. This is because the students in Spain are learning French along with English.

   A number of students have been writing to pen-pals in towns throughout rural Spain for a year now, and have formed strong bonds with the Spanish students they have been corresponding with. Kirsty Leech says, “It has definitely improved my Spanish skills, and it’s great to know there is someone else looking out for me that isn’t just a face I see every day.”

  “The project benefits lots of students. Not just my students, but students in French and native speaker classes too.”  Says Ms. Aguilar “It has benefitted in the fact that I have seen students using more advanced vocabulary.”

  In a time that we see such unrest among the different countries in the world this program seems to bridge relationships with students from both the United States and Spain."

Clara's efriend is Fatima from Burguillos.

R. Aguilar