The Amazon

In Geography we have been talking a little about rainforests. After we watched the National Geographic on rainforests I figured out how amazing they really are. There are very little places in the world like it. The Amazon is unique because it replenishes almost all of the earth oxygen. It is the home to many unique plants and animals that are only found in the rain forest. The Amazon is being cleared at an alarming rate: Well over one square mile in an hour. We have to save the rain forest before it is to late. Did you know that all the sickness that kill the most people in the earth most likely had cures. Such as AIDS various types of Cancers and many others. Do you know why people are still dying of theses diseases if there is a cure? Because of the destruction of the Amazon. There are so many different species of plants and animals in the rain forest most likely among them there is some sort of a cure to illnesses. But since the forest is being cleared at such a fast rate, theses species are not being discovered therefore never being tested as an effective drug. Many drugs used today are only found from sources in the Amazon. The rainforests of the world are disappearing at a rate of 80 acres per minute, day and night major climatic and other environmental changes will occur if this continues. The destruction of the rainforests cause carbon dioxide to be released, which in turn allows the greenhouse effect to occur. The greenhouse effect raises the temperatures all around the world, and can cause ice caps to melt. When ice caps melt, the sea level rises, causing major flooding around the world. There are three major causes of destruction to the rainforest: farming, ranching, and logging. Worldwide boycotts are the most effective ways of stopping rainforest destruction. Boycotting fast food restaurants that serve hamburgers that came from cattle raised on rainforest land. Also another way that could help is to not buy furniture products made from rosewood, mahogany, ebony, and teakwood, because they come from the rainforests. It is believed by many ecologists that some tropical rainforests can be harvested without causing damage to the great variety of plants and animals that live there. I hope that people will understand the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and respect it like it should be. At the very fast destruction rate anything could happen because somehow everything can be traced back to the Amazon. I am worried that people will finally realize that when it is too late and everything is already gone.