Friday, May 13, 2011

Fossil fuels is not something the majority of people think much about on a daily basis even though the majority uses at least some form of coal, natural gas and oil on a daily basis. If you drive a car, have heat in your home, and had something to eat today than you have probably used some form of fossil fuel. Have you ever considered where fossil fuels come from? Fossil fuels are made from decomposed matter from animals and plants under the earth's surface. I think of it as really old compost. This old resource will not last forever.

With the industrializaion of developing countries the use of fossil fuels has greatly increased over the last 150 years. What use to be done by human and animal power is now done by a machine. Farming is a good example. Small, family owned farms are now replaced with large farming operations that require an enourmous amount of fossil fuels to keep their tractors, plows, and harvest equipment going. After the harvest is over the product has to be shipped to market and this requires even more fossil fuel.
Machine power has greatly changed the way lives are lived. Instead of spending the majority of our days gardening, chopping wood, hanging our clothes to dry we are free to go and persure many other ventures. These ventures give us an income so we can buy food that was transported from another state or another country. We work to buy gasoline for our cars and to pay our home's fuel bills. Life is good, but there are just a few problems with this senario. The resources of fossil fuels will not last forever and the by products of this power are polluting the earth's atmosphere.
Have you ever thought about one way you could cut down on the amount of fossil fuel you use? A few ideas are: walking to work or sharing a ride, hanging your clothes out to dry, and growing a garden are just a few ways to save fossil fuels. If you walked to work; you would get some exercise. If you grew a garden; the produce would be fresh and more nutritious. Your clothes would smell fresh like a sunny day. This little changes would make a big difference.

 

This website lists some additional ways to put a few changes in your life, check it out.

 

http://www.life123.com/home-garden/green-living/back-to-basics/back-to-basics.shtml

 

I challenge you to try at least one of these ways of saving fossil fuels or come up with your own ideas and share them with me.
　
　
　
　

The Benefits of Pet Ownership

http://www.stress.about.com/

The Benefits of Owning a Dog

                        A pet is a special member of a family and there are many benefits that are the

result. A pet is always there to greet you when you come home, tail wagging and plenty of kisses

to give. Owning a pet when children are old enough to care for them is a great way to teach them

responsibility. Pet owners are healthier. According to an article on the web site

www.stress.about.com studies have shown that owning a pet can lower blood pressure and you

are less likely to suffer from depression. If your household does not own a pet it might be a great

thing to consider.

            I have two adorable dogs and one cat that are part of my family. My dogs love to go for

walks and this is and incentive for me to get out and exercise also. This is also a way to meet

people in your neighborhood when you are out strolling around with your dog. There are also dog

parks that offer socialization for both dogs and the owners. Hiking trails are also fun places to take

your dogs for a day of play and exercise.

            My pets bring a smile to my face often and that makes me happy. Who can resist those

sweet eyes? It is a fun and happy time when pets are running and chasing a toy, this creates

laughter and happy feelings enhancing the mood. People who own pets are less likely to suffer

from depression. Pets help people with heart related diseases also. High blood pressure is

lowered and cholesterol is also at a healthy level when pets are present in the home.

            Many retirement homes now have dogs on the premises to create a more caring and

homey atmosphere. Many of the people that live there are not able to care for pets on there own.

Many of these people don't receive touch on a regular basis and a pet on the premises provides

this.

             A pet can provide protection as well. A big dog or even just a barking dog can distract a

potential burglar.

            A child can learn to be responsible for a living thing as a result of pet ownership at the

 right age. Around the age of twelve a child is ready for the responsibility of pet ownership. This

begins to train the child to care for something that is living and that life is not all about them.

            Owning a pet is very much like having a young child in the home. The pet is relying on you

for all of it's needs. So before taking on the responsiblily make sure you will be able to make the

committment for the lifetime of the pet. There are many unwanted pets as a result not considering

all that is required to own a pet. There are many unwanted pets that need good homes. So if you

are considering becoming a pet owner please consider adopting from an animal rescue facility.

            These are just a few of the ways that owning a pet can be beneficial to you and your

family. Your family will get off of the couch more to take rover for a walk. There will be lots of

kisses and tail wagging each time you come home from school or work. You will smile more and

have lower blood pressure.