MIR ROR 20 April 2018 Vol. 86 Issue 11
Loma Linda Academy News Reflecting on LLA since 1940s
Polar Bears by Kaleo Smith
Plastic by Ivanna Vargas
pcture by S. Dumbar
This Sunday is the 48th annual Earth Day, and the theme for this year is Ending Plastic Pollution. As the day approaches, people are reminded of the damage that plastic pollution has created in our world. Already, many people have begun to take action and are coming together to help solve this issue. As of April 19, the United Kingdom has become the first country to take a step towards banning the use of plastic straws. According to BuzzFeed News, this is only their first step to-
ward their goal of banning all plastic waste by 2042. Recently a student in College English, Becky Bates (12), wrote a paper on the effects of the use of plastic straws, and how they damage our environment. In this paper she explains that “So much plastic is currently in the ocean that it endangers the marine animals who consume it, strangles those who are entangled by it, wastes valuable resources producing it, and kills the lowest creatures on the marine food chain whose habitat is covered by it... Recognizing that plas-
Giraffes by Ivanna Vargas
Dolphins by Chloe Hegstad
Over the last few years, a number of animals have begun to go extinct. Many of these animals, such as the panda and bees, have been in the news, and conservation efforts have slowly pushed them back out of extinction. However, animals such as the Northern White Rhino, which recently lost the last male of its species, and the giraffe have not been so lucky. According to National Geographic, the giraffe has lost 40% of its population in 30 years (1985-2015), and the number of giraffes continuing to disappear is rising. This is due to the growing amount of land being taken over by human activity, thus taking away food and shelter from the giraffes. However, one of the biggest issues affecting giraffes is the continuing separation of their herds. When each herd becomes smaller, the giraffes are more vulnerable to dangers such as poachers, deforestation, drought, and many other things. As time goes by, the creatures inch closer to extinction. If you want to help, organizations such as the Giraffe Conservation Foundation allow you to adopt and give to a specific giraffe or to organizations that help protect them. You can find out more information at http://giraffeconservation.org. picture by Grace Morales
04/22 EARTH DAY
Pollution has impacted many aspects of the earth, one of which is ocean life. Dolphins in particular, thought to be some of the most intelligent sea creatures, have been significantly harmed. Per year, three hundred thousand dolphins die from entanglement in nets and other pollutants. Dolphins’ health can be impacted by other factors such as trash, oil, and chemical spills. They eat up to 22-50 pounds of fish a day and can ingest toxins through biomagnification, or a process where toxicity is increased in the tissues as it travels up the food chain. These toxins can lower the dolphin’s immune system, making it more likely for them to get pneumonia or parasites that they can’t fight off. In recent studies, dolphins have 20 times more mercury in their system than the US government permits in food. Another cause of a lowered immune system is when a dolphin is exposed to PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls). These are highly toxic chemicals thought to cause skin disease, birth defects, and cancer.
04/25-30 BAND & CHOIR TOUR
05/05 CINCO DE MAYO
Polar bears are in danger. According to the World Wildlife Fund, polar bears were put on the endangered species list in 2008 due to habitat loss. Climate change is melting the polar ice caps at record-breaking rates and three subpopulations of polar bears are already in decline. One subpopulation in the Southern Beaufort Sea has already had a 40% decline in its population. According to National Geographic, polar bears rely on ice to hunt and maintain their 12,000 calorie diet. They are still-hunters, meaning that they wait for seals to come up through breathing holes in the ice. The disappearing ice sheets means that the bears are being forced to swim and walk more often. Swimming decreases the amount of time they can hunt and increases their caloric needs, which in turn is leading to starvation. These majestic creatures need our help. If you want to help their cause or donate to those who already do, go to https://polarbearsinternational.org/get-involved. picture by Ivanna Vargas
tics can harm the ocean in many ways and human dependence on the ocean for oxygen can be significant motivation [to make a change].” She then goes on to suggest that there are many ways to regulate the use of plastic straws, and that, in the end, it is up to us to begin this change. As Earth Day comes and goes, remember to keep this in mind and next time you use a straw don’t forget to stop and think twice about it.
picture by Ciara Rader
There are different types of pollution beyond chemicals and trash that people should be aware of that affects our earth. Noise pollution made from cars, boats, and construction can make a dolphin feel distressed and even kill them. Distress sometimes may temporarily or even permanently make dolphins lose their hearing. Even if the hearing isn’t lost permanently, it can be detrimental to their survival. This is because their hearing, or echolocation, is the basis through which they communicate. Without hearing, dolphins can’t find food, could lose their pod, or have difficulty swimming. If you are wondering about how you can help save the dolphins or give a dolphin a happier life, you can always adopt! The money goes for dolphin research and conservation. Go online to Adopt a Dolphin - Ocean Society or, Adopt a Dolphin - Pacific Whale Foundation. There are many other websites to go to. It’s simple - all you have to do is type “Adopt a Dolphin” and multiple search results will pop up!
Follow for More: P. 2 Please Recycle
YouTube @LLAVisualArt
Succulents by Noah Hernandez In the last few years, owning a succulent, cactus, or agave has become a popular trend. The uniqueness of these plants is in their water consumption, or more specifically lack thereof. These plants are native to the desert, so there must be something more to these plants than normal plants. According to Science Daily, the secret is an enhanced form of photosynthesis know as crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM. As everyone knows, part of a plant’s energy comes from the CO2 in the air, but what is unique about CAM plants is that they can absorb CO2 during the colder nights, which helps to reduce water loss. Inside the plant cell, CO2 is stored as a malic acid ready to be used the next day for photosynthesis, without losing water. Dr. James Hartwell says “Drought is a key cause of global crop losses, so understanding the mechanisms that some desert-adapted plants have evolved to survive water stress is vital for engineering improved drought tolerance in crop species…” The desert is a large holder of underground freshwater, and people dumping their trash everywhere doesn’t help. Clean water is a major issue around the world, and non-profit organizations like The Water Project share clean water with Sub-Saharan Africa. The more we learn about these incredible plants, the closer we will come to a better world.For more information, go to https://thewaterproject.org picture by Noah Hernandez
Instagram @lla.mirror
VSCO @llamirror