Global+Warming


==Global Warming Student Speakout ==

Concerned with Global Warming, students began their study by joining in a project, [|Global Warming Student Speakout], that gave them a chance to collectively brainstorm strategies for fighting global warming using [|Google Docs & Spreadsheet]. Students collaborated within our school to list their own ideas first, and then shared their ideas with students participating in other schools around the world. The top 50 Ideas were selected and spotlighted in full-page ad in USA Today on November 27.

The students' initial study of Global Warming sparked a passionate interest in furthering their study through the project [|Race to the Tipping Point: Global Warming,] a collaborative project between MAGPI, the Future Earth Institute Inc. of Spring City, PA. (FEI), and other classrooms using videoconferencing. The students involved in this project conducted real research to assist FEI in assessing public attitude of global warming/climate change and educational outreach needs.

Students surveyed individuals on their awareness and understanding of global climate change. The results from all interviews conducted across the project audience were compiled and analyzed. Students will then worked collaboratively to develop presentations to educate their school and community about global warming and climate change and what they can do to help combat it.


Google recently partnered with [|Global SchoolNet] to invite teachers and students to use [|Google Docs & Spreadsheets] collaborative software in a project to brainstorm strategies for combating global warming. Children of all ages from more than 80 schools around the world participated, and on November 27th we took out a [|full-page ad] in //USA Today// to put their ideas in the spotlight. Without further ado, here are their top 50 ideas:

=Students worked collaboratively, presenting their ideas to educate others in the school and community about global warming and climate change and what they can do to help combat it. View portions of their presentations below:=
 * 1. **** Include global warming/climate change in school curricula (as part of National Science Standards), so when the students are in charge they can make educated decisions. **
 * 2. **** Increase availability of low-interest Energy Efficient Mortgages to support homeowners who increase the energy efficiency of their homes. **
 * 3. **** Put light sensors in all office and school buildings so all lights go off when the rooms are empty. **
 * 4. **** Require that all products contributing to global warming be marked with a specific color (e.g., chemical pesticides could be marked with a red sticker for being extremely dangerous to the environment). **
 * 5. **** Use less paper; use the back of the paper to print on or write on; use recyled paper. **
 * 6. **** Plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. **
 * 7. **** Teach recycling techniques in classes and school-wide programs. **
 * 8. **** Make recycling mandatory in all public facilities, such as schools, parks and beaches. **
 * 9. **** Do public service announcements on TV featuring celebrities promoting carpooling, walking, riding bikes, using public transportation, conserving electricity and recycling. **
 * 10. **** Give grants and tax credits to companies that invest in alternative, sustainable, emission-free fuel technologies while ending such subsidies for fosssil fuel production. **
 * 11. **** The media should conduct interviews of legislators to help the public become aware of their ability and willingness to help solve the problem. **
 * 12.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Replace incandescence light bulbs with fluorescence light bulbs. **
 * 13.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Restrict the use of chemical fertilizer in agriculture. **
 * 14.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Provide incentives and policies to encourage car makers to make more fuel efficient cars. **
 * 15.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Protect wetlands and preserve more open space. **
 * 16.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Provide tax incentives for regular recyclers and car poolers. **
 * 17.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Use solar panels in the construction of new homes and office buildings. **
 * 18.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Substitute local community transportation fleets with hybrid vehicles. **
 * 19.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Require that car dealers hand out fact sheets that inform car buyers about the pollution levels of different cars. **
 * 20.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Send scientists to talk about global warming in schools. They can bring hands-on activities so students feel more involved. **
 * 21.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Unplug all electronics from the wall when they're not in use. **
 * 22.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Have another Global Warming Student Speakout in one year - to see if any of these ideas have been implemented. **
 * 23.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Raise mandatory emissions standards for cars and other vehicles sold in the US. **
 * 24.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Use solar power in the day and use electricity at night when needed. **
 * 25.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Give tax rebates for using solar power. **
 * 26.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Congress should ratify the Kyoto Agreement. **
 * 27.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Establish off-shore wind farms - saves land space and produces reliable power. **
 * 28.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Levy higher taxes on companies that pollute the air. **
 * 29.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Wait until you have a lot of clothes to wash before using the washing machine. **
 * 30.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Provide tax incentives for companies that create Hybrid cars. That will reduce the need for oil. **
 * 31.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Schools and businesses should be fined for not having recycling bins available to the people on their premises. **
 * 32.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** The media should tell us about what is really going on with global warming. We don't think that we have all the information we need. **
 * 33.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** At the end of the weather forecast, report “CO2 emissions levels today…” or comparative average temperatures (i.e., this year's temperature as it compares to the past several years). **
 * 34.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Lead by example and convert 50% of government vehicles to environmentally friendly cars by the year 2020. **
 * 35.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Place recycling bins throughout the city wherever there is a trash can. **
 * 36.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Require companies to limit the amount of packaging an item can have and it must be recyclable. **
 * 37.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Block bills that cause more damage to the environment. **
 * 38.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Media could reduce advertising costs for alternative energy products to inform and increase sales in these areas. **
 * 39.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Keep your tires fully inflated to improve gas mileage. **
 * 40.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Replace old appliances with Energy Star appliances. **
 * 41.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Promote awareness of local recycling centers. **
 * 42.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Require college and high school students to take a global warming class. **
 * 43.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Give tax reductions to public transportation users. **
 * 44.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Protect our oceans - prevent plankton in the ocean from dying. **
 * 45.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** People running for elections should use email, radio and other media to campaign and stop using so many paper signs and flyers that use up our natural resources and then get left out and become pollution. **
 * 46.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Reuse newspapers as wrapping paper for gifts. **
 * 47.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Enforce laws about littering. **
 * 48.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Use less electricity, turn off the TV, read books, walk, run, bike, surf, play tennis. **
 * 49.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Business should require employees to telecommute several days a week. **
 * 50.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> **** Provide scientists appropriate resources to help them research the future of energy and the freedom to explore innovative ideas. **

media type="custom" key="613427"

media type="custom" key="623315"