Joanna,+Taeyoon,+Andy's+Group

= Human Environment Interaction By ANDY O.P., = =Joanna Gong, and Taeyoon Kim =

**DESERTIFICATION OF THE SAHEL - Joanna Gong**


 * GLOBAL DESERTIFICATION

Global desertification is affecting one fifth of the world’s population. Desertification is a growing problem and is one of the most serious threats that humanity is facing today. Desertification can be dangerous because it is not an effect that can be seen clearly but it will come as a sudden impact once it becomes serious. Desertification is a negative phenomenon that isoccurring globally. Desertification can be simply defined as the increase of deserts. In a more complicated way, it can be defined as the affect of the land breaking down because of erosion and lack of vegetation. Desertification is known to occur frequently in dry areas, areas with overflowing human activity, or areas with sudden climate changes.

Global desertification is becoming a growing problem. The map shows us how much influence we have already caused and how worse it can get in our future too if we don't start changing what we do.

__ Why does our society have to care? __

In the past, desertification used to occur because of climate changes in drier regions, but this trend is slowly shifting. Desertification is becoming a problem that us, humans, have to bring awareness to. This is because the cause of desertification is becoming ‘us’. As humans started to industrialize the world, the freshwater supply and soil of earth started to get disrupted. Humans started to cut down trees and lush vegetation that caused desertification. Our society has to care because we caused the problem. Not only are we affecting our own planet, we are also affecting ourselves. The result of desertification of our world can be devastating. We have to start taking responsibility of our actions. Desertification destroys the topsoil of an area.This later on stops vegetation from flourishing. Desertification can also have negative effects on the world’s population. The lack of vegetation will later on lead to lack of food sources and the loss of biodiversity.

The Sahel is a region in Africa that lies south of the Sahara Desert. This region is known for being affected by the process of desertification. The land in this region is turning into a desert. As the Sahel turns into a desert, it will start to cause more problems for Africa and the whole world.
 * DESERTIFICATION OF THE SAHEL




 * CAUSE

__ So what are the causes for such a major problem? __

The causes of the desertification in the Sahel, seems to start when lush vegetation starts to die out. This can be done both naturally from climate change or industrially by humans as we cut and use the vegetation around us. If vegetation dies, the soil in the region will be left exposed. Day and night, the wind will blow away the dry and exposed soil. Another cause could be that the loss of vegetation will take away the leaves that intercepted rain fall. This will leave the soil unprotected to get washed away. If it doesn’t rain, the sun will bake the soil and cause cracks in the ground. All of these problems will lead to the soil’s degradation and result, leaving us with useless land with no fertility and structure. Never forget that humans are the biggest cause of desertification. As we overgraze, cut down too many trees and expand in population, we cause desertification. As we cause desertification, it ends up affecting us.


 * EFFECT

Some of the physical impacts we can receive from desertification are soil erosion, sun baked cracked soil, loss of biodiversity, lack of water sources(dried up rivers), growth of areas of deserts, increase of sand storms and so much more. Ironically enough, as we are the biggest cause of desertification, we also receive one of the greatest impacts. Desertification is causing higher death rates, death of crops and cattle, and lack of area of habitation. One of the biggest effects of desertification is that it causes lack of water sources. This is an extreme problem because water is the most essential part of every life and this may cause the great decline of biodiversity.

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One of the simplest solutions we can think of right now is to stop what we are doing. We have to stop pollution, cutting down of trees and stop overgrazing areas. Finding a better source of food can be another way as we wait for nutrients to fill up our soil again. There are already many NGOs that can help us plant trees and forests in desertifying regions.
 * POSSIBLE SOLUTION
 * WORKS CITED

Lee, Frank B. "The Problem of Global Desertification (Google / Thezeitgeistischanging) | DESERTIFICATION." // DESERTIFICATION | All about Drought, Desertification and Poverty in the Drylands //. 18 Oct. 2008. Web. 31 Apr. 2011. .  Maitre, Pascal. "NGM.com." // National Geographic Magazine //. Apr. 2008. Web. 31 Apr. 2011. .

SnowingEwe0. "YouTube - Desertification in the Sahel." // YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. // 20 Nov. 2010. Web. 01 May 2011. .

=**OIL POLLUTION IN THE NIGERIAN DELTA - Taeyoon Kim**=

__A Global Phenomenon__

Oil pollution is an issue that makes headlines all throughout the world. Every year, numerous nations report the occurrence of catastrophic events concerning oil, such as oil spills. Oil spills, gas flaring, as well as waste dumping are well-known incidents today. Causes of oil spills are such things as leaks and human error, corrosion of oil pipelines, or the poor maintenance of infrastructure. Surprisingly, vandalism as well as oil theft or even sabotage are considered causes of oil spills. The most recent disastrous oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, an event also referred to as the BP oil spill or the BP oil disaster. It has been documented as the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, releasing a total of an approximate 4.9 million barrels of crude oil - a crippling blow to the petroleum industry as well as to the environment. Natural oil leaks are also a major contributor to the amount of oil pollution occurring each year. While disasters make headlines, hundreds of millions of barrels are quietly being released into the seas.



__Situation in the Nigerian Delta__

By no means is the situation in the Niger Delta concerning oil pollution a natural phenomenon. Dating back to the 1960s, the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies have relentlessly exploited Nigeria's immense oil deposits for the sole purpose of extracting as much profit as possible. Since then, the total value of the oil extracted from Nigeria amounts to a staggering US$600 billion. This process of persistent extrication of petroleum from Nigeria was only made possible by the inability of the Nigerian government to effectively hold oil companies responsible for the pollution their operations have caused. The UNDP (United Nations Development Program) explains how the region has been suffering from //"administrative neglect, crumbling social infrastructure and services, high unemployment, social deprivation, abject poverty, filth and squalor, and endemic conflict." // Thanks to such regulatory inefficiency on the Nigerian government's part, oil companies have been able to prosper from extraordinary amounts of oil extricated from Nigerian grounds with little or no authoritative opposition attempting to oust them from this prosperous activity. The operator on land is the renown Shell Petroleum Development Company (SHELL). The poverty that is predominant within Nigeria plus the contrast created by the generating of huge amounts of wealth from its own oil, enables it to be the perfect, world's most disturbing example of the "resource curse."





Other major causes of oil pollution in the Niger Delta are: 1) corrosion of pipelines and/or tankers, 2) sabotage, and last but not least 3) oil production operations throughout the region. The largest contributor to oil pollution in the area is none other than the corrosion of pipelines and tankers. This process involves the breaching or leaking of production infrastructures resulting from age and inadequate amounts of regular inspections and proper maintenance. Pipelines are estimated to have a lifespan of around 15 years, beyond that would result in very fragile lines, which can result in terrible events if even slightly damaged. Considering this fact, many of the pipelines currently in use in the region are up to 20 or more years of age. Another justification that enables corrosion to be the number one contributor to massive amounts of oil pollution is the fact that while the oilfields located in the Nigerian Delta are quite small in size, there is an extensive, complex network of pipelines and flow-lines packed into such a small area, providing the perfect environment for many opportunities for leaks to occur. This plus the fact that most pipelines are located in onshore areas are laid above ground, makes them all the more vulnerable than when below ground level. Sabotage, or oil theft, is primarily performed through a process called "bunkering" in which the saboteur attempts to tap the pipeline. Predictably, this process often carries a lot of risk as throughout the process of extraction, the pipeline can be damaged or even destroyed. Damaged lines may go unnoticed for days while the actual repairing process may take even longer, contributing to further environmental degradation.



Devastating consequences to such horrendous circumstances are inevitable. A shocking figure of more than 60% of the population of Nigeria depend on the natural environment for their survival. Yet, we have oil pollution resulting from the petroleum industry that is destroying this very source of which the majority of the population depend on. As a result, numerous people living in the oil-producing regions have to drink, cook, and wash with oil-contaminated water as well as eating fish that are also contaminated with oil as well as other deadly toxins. Another severe form of environmental degradation that directly affects Nigerian livelihood is the fact that oil spills and waste dumping basically kill agricultural land, resulting in long-term defects such as drastically reduced soil fertility and agricultural productivity, which can last for decades. This destruction of the civilians' only source of survival added with the government's inefficient regulatory terms for oil also results in increased vandalism of oil infrastructures as well as oil siphoning (stealing), often in order to gain compensation or clean-up contracts. Most of the time, these acts are met with fierce punishment by the Nigerian government, only deepening the resentment and anger of the people.

__What solutions are there to resolve this issue?__

There is no definite set of solutions that could effectively resolve this grave issue. A possible move could be increased government interaction in the oil extraction process. Considering that the oil fields are located within the Nigerian government's jurisdiction, it is only fit that the Nigerian government have absolute control over the petroleum-seeking operations of the multinational oil companies. The Nigerian government can enforce stricter laws concerning the extent of which companies can go to in order to obtain maximum profits. One viable method is by imposing heavy fines on oil leaks, which would force companies to improve their maintenance and overall treatment of oil production infrastructures. Unfortunately this is highly unlikely considering the fact that this activity has remained uninterrupted by the government for nearly 50 years now, and now doesn't seem like the propitious time for such action to be taken. To further encourage revision of this system, international intervention of such activities is necessary. However, this too doesn't seem very likely, due to the fact that oil is becoming increasingly scarce while the demand for it is constantly rising. Such a phenomenon can only call for more desperate but dangerous grabs at remaining oil deposits.



__Works Cited__

"Oil industry has brought poverty and pollution to Niger Delta | Amnesty International."//Amnesty International | Working to Protect Human Rights//. Amnesty International, 30 June 2009. Web. 1 May 2011. .

"Environmental issues in the Niger Delta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. .

Crowley, D.. "Students' Guide To Oil Spills." //URHOBO WAADO, Web site of Urhobo Historical Society//. Urhobo Historical Society, n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. .

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">"Deepwater Horizon oil spill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">Crowley, D.. "Students' Guide To Oil Spills." //URHOBO WAADO, Web site of Urhobo Historical Society//. Urhobo Historical Society, n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://www.waado.org/NigerDelta/Essays/Pollution/StudentsGuide.html>.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 140%;">**THE ASWAN DAM - ANDY**

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 140%;">**The Aswan Dam, the world's most grandiloquent and gargantuan artificial dam, was promulgated by the Egyptian government so as to capitalize upon the annual deluges, deriving duly depositories, if not superfluities, of water for various desiderata, from irrigation to energy.**

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 140%;">**The Dam itself has disparaged, discommoded, and disenfranchised numerous denizens of Aswan in proximity to its initial construction. Furthermore, several billions of cubic meters of freshwater from the Nile are evaporating exponentially, with contemporary estimates asseverating that nigh-on "30%" of Egypt's water supplies having evanesced.**



As evident in the two pictures, the amount of freshwater sources available in Africa will greatly diminish in due time.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 140%;">**Thirdly, the circumstances, vicissitudes, and tribulations under which the zone had been transfigured and transmogrified as it had render the water conducive to the breeding of snails, which propagate the parasite bilharzia (schistosomiasis). To elucidate, standing water entrenched within certain regions will allow for said parasitic portents of such profoundly perturbing perniciousness to flourish.**



<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 140%;">**It is imperative the Aswan Dam is not proclaimed some perpetual panacea by the Egyptian government. Decades of usage has rendered the concomitants of their quotidian conventions, from agriculture to hydroelectricity, revolving around the dam. Yet, appurtenances or embellishments for said structure which allocate silt and nutrients to fertilize the adjacent agrarian regions would certainly revivify, revitalize, and reinvigorate the zone. Furthermore, the salubrity and sanitation of the waters warrant scrutiny.**

"Aswan Dam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. The Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aswan_Dam>. "Schistosomiasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. The Wikimedia Foundation N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilharzia>. "Relocation ." Human Impacts on the Nile River. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sec004_gp5/the_aswan_dam_disadvantages>