Deforestation

Yesterday we talked about the rainforests and why they are important. Environmental groups want to protect the rainforests because they are home to millions of species of plants and animals. The trees in the Amazon Forets alone also provide 25% of the world's oxygen.

We also discussed why some groups of people believe it is okay to cut down the trees in the rainforest. Groups like logging companies and cattle ranchers believe that cutting down trees to get timber (wood) and to create farmland helps the economy and creates jobs. Some poor families also support cutting down trees so they can have land to support themselves.

Remember that the definition for deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests. Once these rainforests are cut down, they may never grow back again. See a photo slide show about deforestation on the National Geographic website. You can also explore that website for more information about the deforestation debate.

The "Working Poor" in Mexico

In class yesterday we talked about the "haves" and the "have nots" in Mexico City. The "working poor" are "have nots". They are people who have a job (sometimes more than one job), but still struggle to support themselves and their families. There was an article in the Washington Post today about a pawn shop in Mexico City. A pawn shop is a place where you can bring your possessions to exchange for a loan. You can get your possessions back when you repay the loan. This is a way for people to get money they need to pay bills and buy food. This pawn shop is called the National Mountain of Pity, or the Nacional Monte de Piedad. Some people call it Aunt Pity. Read more about the pawn shop and Mexico's economy in the article: When Families Seek Help, Aunt Pity is There. The photo is by William Booth for the Washington Post.

Snow, Snow, Snow

By the end of the day we might have up to 30 inches of snow in Arlington! Check out the records for biggest snowfalls of all time from Factmonster.com: http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0001381.html.

We know we live in a seasonal climate zone, so we have snow in the winter and it is hot in the summers. Part of our climate is determined by us living the middle latitudes, but climate is also affected by closeness to the water, elevation, and air currents.

Today might be a cold day for us, but at the South Pole the same temperature would be considered warm. The record high temperature at the South Pole is only 7.5 degrees Fahrenheit! Check out other record high and low temperatures here: http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0001382.html.