Mini Project # 7

This week the project was to go to the US Census website and to record information about my hometown. I am from South Merrick, Long Island. I found this graph that shows infromation such as population figures, ethic composition, economic data, and housing data.


General Characteristics -

Total population: 35,606

Male: 17,246 (48.4%)
Female: 18,360 (51.6%)

One race: 35,224 (98.9%)

White: 33,692 (94.6%)
Black or African American: 263 (0.7%)
American Indian and Alaska Native: 34 (0.1%)
Asian: 91.6 (2.6%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 8 (0.0%)
Some other race: 311 (0.9%)
Two or more races: 382 (1.1%)
Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 1,315 (3.7%)

Household population: 35,560 (99.9%)
Group quarters population: 46 (0.1%)
Average household size: 3.01(X)2.59
Average family size: 3.28(X)3.14
Total housing units: 11,935
Occupied housing units: 11,806 (98.9%)

Economic Characteristics -

In labor force (population 16 years and over): 18,218 (67.3%)
Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and older): 35.2(X)25.5
Families below poverty level: 209 (2.1%)
Individuals below poverty level: 1,184 (3.3%)

Housing Characteristics -

Single-family owner-occupied homes: 10,646
Median value (dollars): 260,500(X)119,600
With a mortgage (dollars): 1,981(X)1,088
Not mortgaged (dollars): 817(X)295


(X) Not applicable.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Summary File 1 (SF 1) and Summary File 3 (SF 3)

(http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=86000US11566&_geoContext=01000US%7C86000US11566&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=&_zip=07731&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=860&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=)

Mini Project # 6

A biological terrorism attack is the release of viruses, bacteria, or any other type of germs that are used to cause death or illness in animals, people, or plants. These items are mostly found in places such as nature. There are also some biological agents that can be spread through the air, food or water. A biological terrorism attack occurs when terrorists use biological agents that are extremely difficult to detect. Often what happens is the illness does not spread for several hours or even up to days after they are released. The Smallpox Virus can be spread from person to person and thsi is a perfect example of a bioterrorism agent.

The local officials in my city are taking safety precautions to protect us from any type of biological terrorism attack. There has been an Exercise Design Workshop that has designed certain exercises for practicing coordinated responses to acts of terrorism. The city has presented a WMD Law Enforcement Awareness Training Course to many of the local law enforcement officers, an Emergency Response to Terrorism Operations Training Course to multiple-agency emergency responders, an Emergency Response to Terrorism Train the Trainer Course to instructors of first responder agencies in Broward County, and an Emergency Response to Domestic Biological Incidents Training Course to a countywide audience.

In addition, the city has also increased the permanent staffing of the city’s Fire-Rescue Hazardous Materials Response Team. The city has also completed a Terrorism Annex, which offers shared common protocols for countywide first responder use in WMD events, and procured additional equipment in the area of detection, personal protection and decontamination for the city’s first responders. City employees and regional participants have participated in residential training in Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Training. They also have secured grant funding to provide personal protective equipment to Fort Lauderdale Police Department personnel and enhanced equipment for the department’s bomb squad.

The thought of a biological terrorism attack is very scary. I get so nervous to even think about it but I really do believe that city officials are doing their absolute best to protect us from any type of harm! =)

(http://www.emergency.com/cbwlesn1.htm)

Mini-Project # 5

I went to the EPA's web site and used the Enviromapper feature. This was a picture of the closest Superfund Site to my home.
(www.epa.gov)

Mini-Project # 4

After a visit to the grocery store, I made a list of genetically altered foods that are on sale for public consumption. First off, genetically altered foods are foods that are produced from genetically modified organisms that have had their own DNA altered through genetic engineering. These items are modified to increase resistance to pests and disease, improve flavor of the item, and delays the ripening or increase the items shelf life. Corn and potatoes are modified with a gene to produce an endotoxin that protects them against the corn-borer pest and the potato beetle. Soybeans can be genetically modified with a gene from a particular bacterium to make the soybeans herbicide resistant. Squash and tomatoes are also genetically altered.

(picture taken from http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pictures/soybean%20varieties.jpg)

Mini-Project # 3

Even though I spend eight months out of the year down here in sunny Florida, I am originally from and will always consider myself a true New Yorker. I was born and raised on Long Island and that is my true home. When I first thought about the question of what kind of endangered animals found within 100 miles of my home, I honestly didn't really know of any. After doing some thorough research, I've come to a very different conclusion. Within 100 miles of my South Merrick home, there are two very particular birds that are considered to be endangered animals. They are the Piping Plover (Charadrius Melodus) and the Long Island Colonial Waterbird. The Long Island Field Office coordinates with its private and public partners in providing equipment to help the recovery of the endangered species. They also work hard to make some recovery actions to support the piping plovers with the Federal, State, and local governments, private organizations and landowners. One major thing the office assists with is the Long Island Colonial Waterbird and Piping Plover Survey. They also install special fencing that protects breeding areas and nest exclosures to protects the nests of these birds. They most importantly pay sharp attention to the people around and make sure they take necessary actions to anything or anyone who may hurt these birds. After researching all about these birds I've realized how important it is to truly take after our beautiful world!

(http://www.loving-long-island.com/image-files/map-of-long-island-big.jpg)

Mini-Project # 2

The carbon cycle begins when carbon reaches water and precipitates to form calcium carbonate. Then a suitable environment is created by corals and algae build up in limestone reefs through this carbon precipitation process. During this part, there are plants on land and in water that convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates through photosynthesis. Carbon is then let into the atmosphere, eaten by animals when plants eventually die, or decomposed into the soil. Carbon dioxide is most resourceful in the winter when vegetation releases more carbon dioxide by respiration than it uses for photosynthesis. Atmospheric carbon dioxide increasing by .5% every year and will continue this pattern for a while. Increasing this will enhance the greenhouse effect and eventually lead to global warming. Carbon dioxide is often used for all greenhouse gases because it counts for a solid 64% of the "greenhouse effect." Breathing control centers in our lungs depend on recycling carbon. This is what allows us to be able to breathe in and breathe out. Our carbon dioxide levels in our blood are controlled through disposables as we exhale. When we do things such as exercising, there is an excess of carbon dioxide that is eliminated in exhaled air. This causes breathing to stop until our carbon dioxide levels increases enough to set the breathing centers back on. The carbon dioxide involved in our breathing process is taken from the Calvin cycle in our cell respiration. This is why we must continue to make a conscious effort to keep the air we breathe in clean and our world beautiful!

(http://www.visionlearning.com/library/modules/mid95/Image/VLObject-2637-031218011217.jpg)

Mini-Project # 1

In 1971 was when the organization known as Greenpeace was created. It’s a group founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada, to oppose the U.S. testing nuclear devices in Alaska. The group was stopped by the United States Coast Guard, but strongly showed the rest of the world the many dangers of nuclear testing. The group then began to look at other environmental problems such as global warming and ancient forest destruction. Greenpeace started as a small group and currently has national and regional offices in 28 countries and receives an estimated 2.8 million financial supporters as well as grants from many foundations. Greenpeace continues today to make the world a better place and truly proves that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. I truly believe that if each and every one of us can just do one simple thing each day, such as recycling, the world will be able to remain as beautiful as it always has been. =)