Blog #8 - Stuart Farmer

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/02/tech/innovation/solar-tower-arizona/index.html

1. What advantages does hot air power have over the current renewable resources? (wind, solar, etc.)

2. Is this technology an example of passive or active solar power?

3. Could this technology be present in Cleveland, Ohio? Why or why not?

Blog #8 - Zach Voigt

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/13/tech/innovation/pavegen-kinetic-pavements/index.html

1.      Where can a technology that relies on heavy foot traffic be useful? What purposes can such a publicly visible idea serve, considering the fact the need for public education on environmental issues?

2.      What problems can the PaveGen solve by using recyclable materials?

3.      What are potential pros of adding PaveGen technology to less-developed areas, such as the provided example of Mumbai? What are the cons? What are the obstacles?

Blog #7 - Chelsea Bonner

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/nyregion/in-cooperstowns-fight-over-gas-drilling-civility-is-fading.html?ref=waterpollution

1.      1)  Do you think that only the state should have the power to ban fracking? Or should citizens of a town be able to enforce a law prohibiting fracking and natural gas drilling?

2.      2)  Do you think the methods used by antifracking people in Cooperstown, New York to protest and boycott will ultimately ban fracking in their state? 

3.     3)   What do you think can be done to better inform people about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing? 

Blog #7 - Jenna Foti

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/science/earth/bringing-up-the-issue-of-population-growth.html?_r=1&ref=earth

1. Do you think that overpopulation should be dealt with as an environmental issue or a moral issue? Why?

2. Do you think that there is an "ideal number" of kids that people should have? Or is there another hard and fast solution?

3. What is the relationship between overpopulation and the environment?

Blog #6 - Jeremy Simmons

http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/report_great_lakes_algae_probl.html

1. Do you think that this algae bloom has come about from natural causes, or has this problem come about from man made means?

2. Could this large algae bloom instead of being looked at as something bad be used to benefit the Great Lakes Region?

3. What can be done to help to lower the amount of runoff that is getting into the Great Lakes and assisting in the growth of the algae?

Blog #6 - Meggie Pernsteiner

http://www.enn.com/energy/article/43404

1. Will the pros of clean energy outweigh the potential cons (interference with shipping industry, disturbance of wildlife, etc.) of off shore wind farms? Are there any possible ways to combat these possible problems?

2. If this wind farm is successful, do you think converting all of our electricity needs to wind farms, off shore or on, could be possible?

3. Could Cleveland pull off a similar project to the ones off the coast of New Jersey and Rhode Island?

Blog #5 - Zac Bartel

http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/acidification/default.asp

What can the worlds population as a whole do to reduce CO2 emissions so that these ecosystems can be presevered?


Who has more of an effect in reducing CO2 emissions, individuals or large companies?


Because ocean acidification destroys aquatic ecosystems, what effect does it have on organisms that rely on aquatic life to survive? 

Blog #5 - Reed von Mehren

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007102916.htm 

1) Do you think that the migration of species can really have that large of an effect on the earth and its ecosystems?

2) Is there any way you can think of that could have effected the scientists' tests to change the results of their study?

3) Could the fact that some species cannot migrate fast enough and those would die out leaving just the species that do have mobility be a positive thing?

Blog #4 - Issac Yeh

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2011/09/16/researchers-seek-gain-alternative-energy-algae

Do you think there will be any problems with this alternative energy that is extracted from algae?

Will the costs of these oil extracted from the algae be a lot more than the costs of nonrenewable sources, if so, how will that impact our economy?

Will this alternative energy from algae eventually solve our problems?

Blog #4 - Annie Artz

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/137295524/great-lakes-may-beat-atlantic-to-offshore-wind  

My questions are:

1.  How would the wind farm benefit the future of Cleveland and Cleveland's reputation?

2.    In your opinion, is constructing the wind farm worth the money?

3.    Besides making turbines tolerant of the icy weather, can you think of any other possible issues that arise with the construction of the offshore wind farm? 

4. What do you think are other steps Cleveland can make to become a "greener" city? 

Blog #3 - Nic Ranallo

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9903-instant-expert-climate-change.html

1. Why, in spite of significant evidence and possible consequences to the global climate, do people continue to ignore Global Warning as a threat?


2. Will our society ever begin to understand and make efforts to try to stop Global Warming. Why or why don't you think so?


3. What do you you think would be a big first step in slowing Global Warming and the global climate change it would bring about?

Blog #3 - David Nelson

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110908124505.htm 

Does this mean we should stick to using coal over natural gas?

Should there be more studies done on the chance of methane leakage?

Does this mean we have to spend more time looking for different solutions because neither of these seems to work?

Blog #2 - Tommy Willen

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/08/the-environment-vs-the-economy-in-2012.html

Do you think the survey/results are fair?

Why do you think people are more inclined to favor economy over environment?

Which do you believe is more important?

Blog #2 - Kate Anagnostos

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/greening_the_cuyahoga_river_ma.html 

Do you think that these floating islands will help bring back or boost the economy in Cleveland?

What are the possible effects these islands could have have on the Cuyahoga River?

After the Cuyahoga River caught on fire, no fish or aquatic organisms have been able to survive. Do you think that these small stretches of islands can bring back the fish population and bring life back to the Cuyahoga River? Or should scientists be looking for a different method altogether? 

Blog Post #1 - Kaylee Gialamas

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/us/28climate.html

1. Would you agree that climate change is making hurricanes and other storms worse?

2. Do you think that stopping development along coastal areas will help reduce the severity of hurricanes? (last 3 paragraphs)

3. Should scientists continue to focus on the Atlantic Ocean's rising temperature or should they look elsewhere for things that could be effecting the severity of storms?

Blog Post #1 - Nick Barnett

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/us/24trout.html?_r=1&ref=invasivespecies

Questions:

1.What other possible effects could killing the trout have on the ecosystem? Could it actually end up doing more harm than good?

2. Are there other ways to save the cutthroats rather than killing the lake trout? Are there other ways to handle the trout?

3. Is human intervention in this situation sincerely to preserve the ecosystem for nature and the good of the planet, or is it actually just another way for humans to establish control in this region and fix the ecosystem for their own gain?