Ending a Fairytale, Starting a New One

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     Once upon a time, there were 5 very incredibly normal kids. There was Dante, the 'poet'; Kelly, the 'cheerleader'; Mikayla, the 'musician', Nero, the 'artist', and The Dragon Writer, the...well, the 'dragon'. These children happened to study in the same science dungeon class. What they thought would be another normal science class turned out to be not so normal at all.

"The Blogging Project" logo

     Their teacher, the Urban Guru, assigned them a blogging project - they were to create a web log, documenting their last few months here, at the 'castle' known as The Learning Tree. Being kids of the 21st century, they had to use 21st century fluencies - the creativity fluency and media fluency, to name just a few. Cooperation and creativity were key to making this project a success. And so, these five children started out with their web log.

    Of course, they had to prepare to make this blog a success. For a few days, they discussed what to name the blog, who would write and revise posts, and matters related to making this blog. By the end of the week, they came up with the name "Burning Wood", to symbolize their theme for Science Week. Strangely enough, there weren't any problems whilst making this blog - the bond between the children was strong and they were able to work effectively as a team.

     Would they do this project again, given the chance? YES! The group found this an interesting way to learn about science, and it did help them acquire new writing skills. This project also helped them develop better team collaboration skills.

     However, no matter how much fun they had making the different posts, the group wished that maybe some parts of the project would be changed - one being the 'like' and voting system on Facebook and on the site itself. Instead of getting votes, the group members think that it would also be good to get comments on their posts. This would ensure that the people would actually go to the site and read what they posted. The group, along with the others who also started a blog, put a lot of effort into what was written in each post - and it would make them very happy to know that people are reading their work.  Nevertheless, the group was relieved that the voting only constituted a part of the grade, and would not determine the total score.

     Each person learned many things from this experience, but they all agreed that the most important thing they learned was to always, always work hard! If they were finished with one post, they would check and revise it if needed before posting it. Another important lesson they learned was to cooperate with each other, because teamwork in projects like these counts and is a very big factor that contributes to the project's success.

     And now, this wonderful fairytale is about to end... *sigh* it was fun while it lasted, and we will never forget this experience. Though it will be sad to go, with every door closing, another opens. And with every goodbye, there is a hello in store!

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     This is Dante, Kelly, Mikayla, Nero and The Dragon Writer, signing off.

The End...for now. 

To Nuke... Or Not to Nuke?

     The country awaits the decision apprehensively. People are gathering all around, talking amongst themselves, conversations hushed, yet each one knows what the other is talking about. Reporters all over the country are holding special coverages of what is about to take place - and all over the country, people are asking each other the same question --

     "Will the President allow the operation of the BNPP?"

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

     It is the year 2012. The President sits in her office, contemplating a very crucial decision. These are the thoughts that run through her mind - 

     "Never did I think I'd have to make a decision like this. Of course, it wouldn't have to be made, if not for the power crisis. It hit the country hard, to be honest -- harder than any power crisis in the past years. And where better to get power than from the BNPP? It's been standing for 28 years, and yet it's been mothballed for all that time! Isn't it a pity? Nuclear power is very cost-efficient and eco-friendly. It doesn't give off carbon dioxide or any other harmful substances to the environment. It's also very reliable as an energy source, and super effective! With one nod from me, I can finally make it operational... as the saying goes, why buy a car and not use it?

     But of course, there is a catch to this. Like all things, there are pros and cons. Do you know how big a risk we are taking if we power up the BNPP? VERY BIG! The BNPP is close to beaches, meaning many marine animals and plant life will be affected, should an accident at the power plant occur. Let's not forget, the power plant is only an 8-minute drive to.... *gasp* The PCC! All the poor marine turtles I saved would disappear, if one thing from the plant malfunctions or goes wrong. And though the chances of that happening are slim, the effect would be very, very bad.

     You know who else would be severely affected by a meltdown? Us humans - and we'd probably be the ones most affected by this!  Lives would be lost, and mutations and defects would take place due to the radiation. Furthermore, a large area of Bataan province will be inhabitable for  many years.

     Another problem the country will face will be the handling of nuclear wastes. Even if a nuclear meltdown were not to occur, what would the country do with the waste? Nations that use nuclear power like the USA have been met with the same problem, and have yet to find a solution to it. They keep the waste in storage, unsure of what they would do with it. May I also mention the reason why the BNPP was mothballed in the first place? Officials found nearly 3,000 minor defects in the system!

     See? Along with the pros, there are many cons that go along with making the BNPP operational; therefore, I counter my own question with yet another - "Why buy a car, if we do not know if it works well?

     Still, I have to make a decision, and make it quickly. The entire country is at a standstill, awaiting my signal to power it up. To operate, or not to operate? That is the question - at least, for today it is. The thought wraps around my mind, the pros and the cons... we have so much to gain, though also much to lose...

     But we need the energy! The power! And as the leader of this country, I am supposed to solve these problems, attend to my people's needs...and attend I shall.

     The BNPP will be operational! The power crisis will be solved! Yes, there are cons to this, and the risks are severe... but these are outweighed by what we will gain! What the BNPP promises! And as the President of this country, I have to think of the welfare of the nation and its citizens as a whole."

Use the BNPP!

Nuclear Energy: Yay or Nay?

The nuclear power plant found in the TV comedy, "The Simpsons"

    
     What powers our appliances at home? Why, electrical energy, of course. Everyone needs electrical energy but there are downsides to it - take, for instance, the sky-rocketing electric bills we get each month! This is mostly due to the high cost of power generation which is done in power plants that use fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil. Now, think about it -- what if there could be a cheaper, yet equally effective alternative? Enter nuclear energy, or the "energy of tomorrow".

     But, what is nuclear energy, really? According to Wikipedia, nuclear energy, or nuclear power, is the use of sustained nuclear fission to produce heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide for about 6% of the world's energy, and about 13-14% of the world's electricity.

     What are some good things we can get out of nuclear energy? Well, with nuclear fission being used in uranium, nuclear plants provide a million times more energy than a wind powered or hydro powered plant. Because of this, a large amount of electricity can be generated. Another big advantage is that it releases no greenhouse gases during the nuclear reaction. Because of the lack of greenhouse gases being emitted, there is very little negative effect on the environment. Nuclear reactors also make use of uranium as fuel. Fission reaction to a small amount of uranium generates a large amount of energy. Currently, the amount of uranium on Earth is expected to last for another 100 years.

     These all sound very promising, right? However, there is a bad side to everything, even to nuclear energy. For one, nuclear power can be used for the production of nuclear weapons which can cause a great deal of devastation to people and the environment. Because the energy produced by nuclear power plants is large, it also requires a large capital cost. And the time required to build a plant would be 15-20 years! Waste from used uranium is also highly radioactive and harmful. The radioactivity does not go away for some time and there have been problems regarding the storage and disposal of nuclear wastes around the world.

     

Chernobyl nuclear power plant

     And the biggest disadvantage of nuclear plants? The threat of a nuclear meltdown. Though the chances of an accident occurring are small, one small mistake could lead to very, very disastrous consequences. The meltdown in Chernobyl led to the loss of many lives and many mutations (not the X-Men kind), due to the radiation that was spread in the accident.

Fukushima Power Plant

     A more recent nuclear-related incident would be the one in Japan, at the Fukushima Power Plant. Around the world, the Japanese are known to be very disciplined and always prepared for any kind of disaster or tragedy, but they were caught flatfooted by the tsunami that hit the coast of Sendai including its nuclear power plants. The aftermath of the tsunami showed a picture of panic as dozens of Japanese power plant workers raced against time to try and stop a meltdown from happening. Radiation levels were high around the area and even the ground water was found to have been contaminated. This tragedy was a reminder that there are uncontrollable forces at work that we need to consider before taking big risks like nuclear energy.

     So, why are we talking about nuclear energy? Well, after our trip to the PCC, we headed over to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (or BNPP) to learn more about nuclear energy. We were still tired from the coastal clean-up, nevertheless we were excited to visit the plant. We expected to learn about the workings of a nuclear power plant and to learn more about the uses of nuclear energy.
   
     Our expectations were high for this part of the field trip. The danger of radiation from a nuclear power plant usually makes it very undesirable as a tourist spot, but since this reactor was never used, it now makes for an excellent eco-tourism site.

     The tour felt quite short, actually, but it was very interesting. We went gaga over the control room. There were so many buttons around us, it took all of our willpower not to press all of them and see what would happen! But don't worry, they didn't teach us how to make some sort of nuclear weapon or anything... or did they? <Insert sinister laugh here.> Nah.

     When we regrouped, it came as no surprise that we had mixed answers when it came to this one crucial question - "Should we harness nuclear energy from power plants?" Dante, Nero and The Dragon Writer vote in favor of this. "The risks are easily outweighed by the advantages we would gain from this," Dante said. The Dragon Writer added, "It's like buying a car and not using it." Mikayla and Kelly, however, don't want to harness this energy, stating that "though it is more cost-efficient, the risks are far too dangerous, so why should we willingly put ourselves in danger?" How about you? Where do you stand?

     Well, that's all we have for now, BUT stay tuned for more updates about nuclear energy!

     Until the next post!

Save the Pawikan!

     In our last post, we talked about our trip to the PCC and about sea turtles, or in Filipino, pawikan. Sadly, these lovable creatures are slowly decreasing in number, and do you know who's causing this decline? MAN. Yes, WE. ARE. RESPONSIBLE.

     Now, you may think, "What's the big deal? They're just sea turtles anyway. And besides, what have they ever done for us?" True, these small creatures may seem unimportant, but to other organisms of the marine ecosystem, these sea turtles do a mighty lot.

     For example, green sea turtles eat sea grass. Sea grass has to be kept short in order for it to remain healthy. A number of marine organisms depend on sea grass beds because it is used for developmental and breeding grounds. Without green sea turtles, sea grass beds would become less healthy, meaning less and less breeding grounds for other marine wildlife - ergo, less and less marine wildlife altogether!

Green sea turtles munching on seagrass

     Some of us may not know we are causing harm to these turtles - but that's only because most of us do it indirectly. How, you may wonder? Through global warming. Global warming is the thinning of the ozone layer. Global warming is one of the reasons why we have very unpredictable weather. When the ozone layer thins, ice caps also melt. When they melt, they'd turn into water, which could result in overflowing and floods.

     And why are we responsible for global warming? It's the little things we do -- littering, riding smoke-belching cars, smoking and many other activities contribute to the slow destruction of our world.

     And how about our poor little pawikan? When people litter on beaches, sea turtles lose more and more of their initial grounds for laying eggs. Thus, they cannot breed anymore, and the population of sea turtles slowly decreases. But how about the ones living in the ocean already, all grown up? Well, due to the effects of cyanide and dynamite fishing, these poor animals no longer have a home. Furthermore, other big fish like sharks lose their initial food source. What do they end up eating?  Sea turtles! Don't you feel at least a little pang of guilt from this?

     As students, we may not be able to make radical global changes, yet we can certainly do our share in protecting our sea turtles. After all, to complete a puzzle, even the smallest piece matters. One thing we can do, for instance, is refrain from littering near the beach. Sea turtles, who eat jellyfish, might mistake the plastic we throw into the water for a jellyfish. Plastic, when swallowed, cannot be digested, eventually killing the turtle. Another valuable action is to report anyone abusing these animals. If you find a pawikan, you can bring it to the conservation center or set it free as well. Do not keep sea turtles as pets. If you know anyone who sells sea turtles, report them to:

Bantay Pawikan Inc.

Nida: +63.928.7185721 / Manolo: +63.906.6155546 

bantay_pawikan@yahoo.com

     However, the most important thing one can do to save the pawikan? SPREAD THE WORD! Let everyone know about the importance of keeping these sea turtles alive, be it through personal encounters or through the Internet (like now!). Encourage people to take part in saving sea turtles! Remember, it all starts with YOU.

"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."

     Oh, how time flies! In just a few weeks, we will leave our second home, The Learning Tree. BUT, our teachers promised that these last few weeks would be filled with fun and excitement. And wow, have they been making good on that promise!

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     A few weeks ago, our whole batch embarked on a field trip to the Pawikan Conservation Center (PCC) in Morong, Bataan. Pawikan is the Filipino word for sea turtle, a reptile that lives in a marine environment. Unlike their relatives, the regular turtles or pagong, pawikans have flippers that are long and quite paddle-like, making it easy for them to swim in water, but also makes it harder for them to walk on land. 

     The field trip's goal was to promote environmental awareness of marine life -- sea turtles are an endangered species and if their number continues to decline, it would disrupt the peaceful balance of the marine ecosystem. We joined the field trip because we knew it was going to be a unique learning experience. We were also certain that this trip would be one that we would fondly remember, especially because we were going to release hatchlings! Yes, female sea turtles lay their eggs on land.

     We expected to discover loads of new knowledge about sea turtles on this trip; the buzz of excitement didn't die down as we neared our destination. On the contrary, the grins on our faces seemed to grow wider and wider with each passing minute, regardless of how tired everyone felt for getting up earlier than usual.

    There were lots to see, lots to learn. Sitting in the bus, we expected to get a lecture about pawikans - about their habitats, their importance, and general information about their lives. In short, we expected to have a deeper understanding of pawikans after this trip. Perhaps they hid an ancient secret that would hold the key to life and the future? Nah.

    As we arrived at the PCC, we were awestruck by the beauty of the far-stretching beach with relatively clean water. The center itself was like a warm beach house, with lots of posters and sayings about pawikans on the walls. As expected, our visit there began with a short lecture about the sea turtle's natural habitat, life cycle and the steady decline in population, which is mainly caused by... man. Yes, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DECREASING NUMBER.

Life cycle of a sea turtle
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     After the short briefing, we were given the hatchlings we had paid for -- to "adopt" and release into the sea, to let them live their own lives. They squirmed in our hands so much, it was a miracle these li'l munchkins didn't try to jump into the water. When we were told to let go, we couldn't help but treat it like a race; there was a lot of shouting and hollering of, "HA! Mine reached the water first!" Aww, they left home so soon!

     The species of hatchlings we released, by the way, was Olive Ridley, or, in scientific terms, Lepidochelys olivacea. The Olive Ridley is also known as the Pacific Ridley, and sea turtles of this species are usually found in coastal bays.

  The taxonomic classification of Olive Ridley turtles is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Cheloniidae

Genus: Lepidochelys

Species: L. olivacea

     The Olive Ridley is a small sea turtle, with an adult carpace length averaging 60 to 70 cm. According to Wikipedia, Olive Ridleys are unique because "they can have a variable and asymmetrical lateral scute count ranging from five to nine plates on each side, with six to eight being most commonly observed." They were the most common species in the center, and their size and color made them the cutest sea turtles around!

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     Due to the lack of historical information, some of the past ecological functions of sea turtles have been forgotten. This is because sea turtles are not in abundance as they used to be, and this affects their productivity in nature. Although we cannot fully understand their roles hundreds of years ago, it is important to discover these as much as possible to help us determine their roles in the marine ecosystem thereby giving us a chance to save them. If we find out about the conditions they lived in centuries ago, we could help them increase their population. 

     What we do know about sea turtles is that they have a great impact on ocean ecosystems because they help maintain healthy sea grass beds and coral reefs, keep balance in marine food-webs, and facilitate nutrient recycling from water to land even at diminished population levels.

     Leatherbacks are the largest species of sea turtles in the world, and do you know where they get their energy from? Jellyfish! The average leatherback eats at least 440 pounds of jellyfish a day (nearly the weight of an adult lion)! Leatherbacks play a crucial role in the ecosystem as jellyfish predators. If the jellyfish population is left unchecked, it would prey upon the other fishes and tilt the balance in the ecosystem.

     In addition to their role in the food chain, an item in New World Encyclopedia says that sea turtles play key roles in two ecosystems that are critical to them as well as to humans: the oceans and beaches/dunes. If sea turtles were to become extinct, the negative impact on beaches and oceans would be significant.

     In the oceans, for example, sea turtles, especially the green variety, are one of the very few creatures that eat a type of vegetation called sea grass that grows on the sea floor. Sea grass must be kept short to remain healthy, and beds of healthy sea grass are essential breeding and development areas for many species of fish and other marine life. A decline or loss of sea grass beds would mean a loss of the marine species that directly depend on the beds, which would trigger a chain reaction and negatively impact marine and human life. When one part of an ecosystem is destroyed, the other parts will follow.

     Here's a piece of trivia: did you know that Crush, the 150-year-old sea turtle from "Finding Nemo", is a green turtle? Totally righteous!

     If you think that's all we've learned about these sea turtles, think again! Next week, we'll tell you more about these small lovable creatures. Excited? We know we are!

     And with this friendly reminder:

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... we say goodbye for now!

Cheers!


* The title is a reference to the beloved Pixar movie "Finding Nemo", a classic that includes two sea turtles - Crush and his son Squirt.