The Happy Trumpet
Keep Club official · Edition 2 · Founded in October, 2022
January and February, 2023
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FRANCESCO M. CARRATELLI, ADEN HOCHBERG, NOAM K. KASHER,
WILLIAM DELUCIA, ELAD ALTER & DANIEL KHATCHATRIAN.
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Dear readers, here at the Happy Trumpet we hope when you read these articles your mind will alter to a state of hope and happiness, and in the Happy Trumpet you will learn how all things are going worldwide .
THE OZONE LAYER IS CLOSING UP!
Written by: Francesco Malcolm Carratelli Source: UN News Pt.1
It all started when the British Antarctic Survey, (The British Antarctic Survey is an organization that goes to and studies the north and south pole, to get more data about the earth from a different outlook) found out that some man-made chemicals were opening up the Ozone layer (a type of shield that covers earth and protects us from most of the sun’s ultraviolet rays; we can't live without it). Three researchers from the British Antarctic Survey found this out in 1985. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was created by the UN, keeping the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) under control. Scientists around the world predict that the Ozone layer will completely close up around 2065. This protocol has made so much progress, this agreement has decreased global warming and climate change by 0.5 celsius (0.9 fahrenheit)!
MORE MORE MORE!
In 2016 another agreement was created, the Kigali Amendment. It orders a decline in the production of hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs (HFC’s, a chemical used to make air conditioning & refrigerators). HFC’s do not harm the ozone layer immediately but they are very strong gasses that make climate change worse.
The panel (a group of scientists) says that by 2100 of heating we will avoid another 0.3-0.5 celsius (0.5 - 0.9 fahrenheit). Learn more in part 2!
Blobfish
Information from Newsweek and WBO By Elad Alter
Blobfish are one of the world's most interesting animals and according to a vote organized in 2013 by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, it’s also the ugliest one, but is it really that ugly?
“That blobfish is ugly” says Arnott, a science communicator with Incredible Oceans "You wouldn't look so great either if you'd just undergone a rapid depressurisation of 120 atmospheres." What he means is that because the blobfish lives 2,000+ feet underwater and has soft bones, muscles and flesh to help handle the water pressure, when it gets pulled up it looks like a blob. Lots of fish can have that happen to them when being pulled up rapidly from that deep because unfortunately that is the best way to learn about deep sea fish.
Blobfish are an endangered species that are threatened by a deep sea fishing called trawling. Trawling involves dragging nets across the sea floor which accidentally catches many blobfish and ruins their habitat. There are only around 420 blobfish left, but if we work together we can keep them alive. Blobfish serve an important role in our ecosystem stopping overpopulation from animals like crustaceans and mollusks and they keep our ocean floor clean.
So, while at first look they may seem like an ugly and useless animal, after reading this article and looking at the pictures below, I hope you appreciate the blobfish and understand why it may be unfair to call it the world's ugliest animal.
It is important to help keep the blobfish alive, let's help keep this amazing animal in our environment!
Parrotfish and Coral Reefs:
Helping Each Other Survive?
By Aden Hochberg Source: The Nature Conservancy
Parrotfish eat algae and seaweed. Now you might be wondering, what could parrotfish eating algae and seaweed have to do with parrotfish and coral helping each other survive? Well, Seaweed and Algae are actually very harmful to coral. This is because if parrotfish don’t eat the algae and seaweed, the coral would be suffocated by these. But, every person and fish make mistakes, so sometimes parrotfish will eat tiny parts of coral. When they eat those bits of coral, they get digested and turned into white sand that they poop out. Take a guess on how many pounds of sand they poop out each year. 5? 20? 100? Nope. Parrotfish poop about 2000 pounds of sand each year! This sand can also be used for beaches. But remember, all this comes from tiny bits of coral! That just shows how much parrotfish eat in a year. In fact, they spend a whopping 90% of their day eating seaweed and algae! Parrotfish are also keeping the algae population under control, so they don’t get overpopulated. This also creates new space for baby coral to grow! But, if all this algae and seaweed wasn’t growing on the coral, the parrotfish would go extinct. This is because algae and seaweed is the primary food source for parrotfish. But if parrotfish go extinct due to fishermen catching them, coral would go extinct. In conclusion, Parrotfish and Coral are the key to helping each other survive.
THE OZONE LAYER IS CLOSING UP! Pt.2
Source: Good News Network By Francesco Malcolm Carratelli
Do you want to learn more about the Ozone layer closing up? Well this is the right opportunity to learn more!
According to the Good News Network the Ozone hole opens up more during the summer and closes a little during the winter but now because of the Montreal Protocol, everything has changed.
At the beginning, when the British Antarctic Survey found out that the Ozone layer had a hole, the UN acted immediately! Another good thing is that all of the UN parties voted for the Montreal Protocol.
Some of the bad things that are happening in OUR environment CAN be fixed like the Ozone layer. This event is symbolic to me because what just happened and is still going on is proof that we can CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER GOOD!
Food Waste. It’s a big problem, but we can help!
By Aden Hochberg Source: NPR
As you may know, food waste is such a huge problem. Getting rid of food waste has two main benefits. The first is that it helps the environment so much. Any of this wasted food could get composted, which creates fertilizer for soil, which then makes more fruits and veggies. Some animals are giving their lives to you, just to be thrown in the garbage? In fact, “Over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, and food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated across the nation.” Farmers' work is also just thrown out the window. Just makes no sense. But not only is the food wasted, all the resources used to produce, process, transport, and store this food is also wasted. The second is much less significant, but adults will certainly like it. It is that it saves money. Think about it. The less food you purchase, the less money spent. And if you throw food away, it’s practically throwing money away.
A huge thing that contributes to food waste is actually pretty simple. Shoving something in the back of your fridge, and forgetting all about it, until it goes bad. One way to stop this, and also not run to the store for the ingredients to a recipe, which can also end up in the back of your fridge, is by looking at the ingredients you already have. Instead of deciding on a recipe, and then looking for ingredients, look around your kitchen to see ingredients that you already have, and create a recipe based off of those. A lot of ingredients can also be substituted for others. A benefit of doing this is also that you can cook up something very creative and delicious. Another way to stop food waste is making sure you know what is and what isn’t edible. For example, in a lot of recipes, only the head of broccoli is used, while the stem is overlooked, yet still edible. Also, if you go to a restaurant and don’t finish your meal, just take them home as leftovers. You could even add stuff to those leftovers if you wanted to. But, if you are now thinking that trying new stuff that you may not like will create even more food waste, don’t think like that! One way to fix this is by smalling new foods in smaller quantities. For example, if you wanted to try a new fruit, you could just buy one off the shelf, instead of buying a whole pack. If you use these methods, you will not only help the environment, but you will also find and create new recipes, and enjoy even more delicious food!
Jacobson is coming up with an inexpensive eco-friendly solution to climate change!
by : daniel khatchatrian & Francesco malcolm carratelli
SourCE: The Guardian
The Guardian article starts with this quote “Combustion is the problem - when you’re continuing to burn something, that’s not solving the problem.”
Climate change activist Professor Mark Jacobson of Stanford University says that using eco-friendly power sources such as solar, wind, hydro (water) and geothermal energies can become much cheaper than fossil fuels. These sources are already less expensive than fossil fuels, but they can become even less expensive. These inexpensive solutions will convince people to go toward the more eco-friendly option.
Prof. Jacobson believes in a “100% renewable energy system”! However, his creed is controversial because he is against current energy systems that are being financed, like biofuels and carbon capture and storage systems, as these options don’t help climate change and these options have lobbyists! Instead, if people start using these eco-friendly sources that Prof. Jacobson proposes, fossil fuels will be used MUCH less and a big part of stopping climate change will be accomplished.
By 2050 Jacobson says we could have 100% eco-friendly power sources. Not only are “green” power sources less expensive but also it can take less time and energy to build a plantation. Currently 100% renewable grids are already being used in at least 10 countries. If more countries start doing the same and more politicians use Jacobson’s solutions then maybe humankind will be saved.
KEEP SUGGESTS…
Tips YOU should do NOW to help:
use rechargeable batteries instead of single use ones.
try to walk more.
bike.
use public transit instead of driving a lot.
Improve your home insulation, better windows and get solar panels (if you can).
BEAVERS, BEAVERS, AND MORE BEAVERS!
A microscopic article by: F.M.C. (Francesco Malcolm Carratelli) Source: The Beaver Institute
You all know that beavers cut down trees, right? Do you think it is something bad? Well, if you do, you are incorrect. Why? I will answer your question in a few words. The trees that beavers cut down will become part of a dam the beaver is building, which will then make it so that animals can find a place to live. In the end, when the dam breaks, the soil that was at the bottom of the river will have become so healthy that lots of new trees will grow. IT’S A CYCLE, A PERFECT CYCLE!
Environmental product of the month
Throwing a party? Use Ecofetti!
By William DeLucia and Elad Alter
Source: Ecofetti
Don't you hate picking up tiny scraps of confetti? Well Ecofetti has you covered! What is Ecofetti you may ask? Ecofetti is a biodegradable solution to confetti, perfect for all your parties. Ecofetti comes in 14 colors (White, Watermelon, Peach etc.). Ecofetti requires no cleanup; you can hose it or just sweep it off concrete and nature will do its thing. In our opinion, Ecofetti is the best confetti because it's good for the environment and all packaging is completely compostable or recyclable. This eco-friendly product is a great party favor and we hope you will see that too.
Great Britain IS ahead of the game!
By Aden Hochberg and William Delucia Source: NPR
Great Britain is in the process of doing something huge for the environment. Single use plastic plates and cutlery will soon be long gone in England, while Scotland and Wales already banned them! Types of plastic plates and cutlery that will be banned that include bowls, utensils, plates, cups, food containers, etc. This is another step for England after their ban of single use straws and increase of prices for plastic bags in 2020. A main point in this ban is addressing the food packaging from restaurants and cafes. A follow up address to supermarkets and stores will hopefully be coming in 2024. On average, each person in England uses 37 pieces of plastic cutlery and 18 plastic plates a year. With a population of about 60 million people in England, that is 2,220,000,000 (Two billion and 220 million) pieces of plastic cutlery, and 1,080,000,000 (1 billion and 80 million) plastic plates used every year in England. And only 10% of these items are actually recycled! But thanks to Great Britain we won't have those stinky statistics anymore. Way to go Great Britain!
New Law For Tree Protection
A few weeks ago, the Town Meeting in Brookline, MA (U.S.A.) passed a tree bylaw protecting trees on private property. The law states that if you cut down a tree on your private property, you need to replant it. If you don't, you would need to pay a fine of $500 per square inch at breast height (breast height is 4.5 feet, 137.16 cm). However, you are allowed to cut down any tree on your private property that is within 20 feet (609.6 cm) of the building itself. In the past 7 years there have been 41 acres, (165,921m²) of trees cut down just in Brookline and half of them were on people’s private property. Forty one acres is around 5 Fenway parks. This law will stop all those trees from being cut down and will both protect trees on private property and help grow new trees, because the money collected from the fines will be used by the town to plant and grow new trees. This is only one of the steps to saving our environment but there is much more work to be done.
We hope you liked these articles and don’t miss the next copy of …
The Happy Trumpet!
