Rainforests used to cover 14% of the earth, but now that number has been diminished into a mere 6%. Experts estimate that within the next 40 years the rainforest will be completely eliminated. The rainforest houses thousands of undiscovered plants with numerous medical advances that we are destroying every day. The actual amount of plants tested for these possible pharmaceutical advances only equates to about 1%. Of the 3,000 identified plants that fight against cancer, 70% of them are found only in the rainforest. With the destruction of the rainforest comes the dwindling hope for cures for numerous illnesses. Along with that, we are destroying several species. Not only do we lose knowledge of these unknown species, but also their possible curing abilities. Now just think about all the species we haven’t tested that could be useful, yet we lead to their demise. To top it all off, the destruction of the rainforest leads to increased global warming through the buildup of carbon dioxide not being absorbed by the once luscious rainforest. The rainforest is so pertinent to our existence and our survival on this planet, but every single day we destroy what helps make life possible.
For this blog project, Sebastian, David, and Annette have chosen to do a public service announcement on the destruction of the rainforest. Everyone knows this is a huge issue, especially after the emergence of an Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore which opened the eyes to many about the world wide crisis among us. The rainforest is one of the things, we as a mankind can help save. It is completely in our control, yet all the aspects of life distract from making a difference. We hope that with our project we can help enlighten others about the true facts of the disappearance of the rainforest and all the benefits we are losing as well as providing simple steps to help save the rainforest.
FACT URL: http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm
Posts
As a response during week 2 of our projects, I would like to agree with how your group has organized the importance of each aspect of the rainforest. The last thing that we need right now is more consumption and if we were to completely destroy the rainforest for the use of commercial land, it would surely fail. I believe it would fail because the economy cannoot handle new expedentures and it would be a waste of money and a waste of our precious resources. Even if there was a way that you could preserve the plant within the rainforest, there is no telling that laboratories can mimick that atmosphere for any extended period of time. The only part of their blog that I think needs to be extended on now is the work that is going towards discovering these "hidden plants" that have cures within their biostructure. If everyone were to just sit around and talk about the facts of why rainforests should not be destroyed instead of making strides towards achieving their goal, then more difference would be made. People understand the classic "actions speak louder than words" and I believe it would benifit greatly.
ReplyDelete