This mass amount of mobile phones use is having a bad effect on gorilla habitat and this is because we are not recycling our old phones. Mobile phones contain the metal Coltan witch is mined in gorilla habitat, this is something that does not need to happen if we hand in our mobile phones for recycling then less mining needs to take place saving habitat.
How many phones have your been through? What did you do with them once you got a new one? If you don’t recycle your phone then you are potentially endangering the gorilla.
85% of Australians have a mobile phone witch is about 17.5 million phones this does not include the 12 million that are not in use.

Where can you drop them off?
The Melbourne zoo is currently in a program were they are recycling your mobile phone to support the gorillas but you can also drop them off at places like the post office.

Interview with average mobile phone user

Q.How many mobiles have you had?
A.7
Q.What do u do with them when you are done with them?
A.Pass them on to people who need the or put them in a draw I have about 5 in a draw at the moment
Q.Did you ever know about recycling?
A.No, thought had a idea that you could
Q.Have you ever thought about what goes into making a mobile?
A.I know that computers take a lot so I assume mobiles do to
Q.Do u think you should recycle in the future
A.I feel that I should start recycling in the future.

When leaving your house or not using certain rooms here is a check list of what you can do to reduce the amount of CO2 you are putting out into the air, these things will be simple and you will barely have to go out of your way to do.

• Turn of lights in rooms you are not using
• Turn off the air con when you’re not using a certain room or if you are not in the house.
• Turn of the TV when you are not watching it.
• Do your washing in big loads not bits and pieces (same goes with driers)
• Turn appliances off from the switch
• Don’t drive short distances (walk or ride if possible)
• Catch public transport when possible (bus, train..)
• Have double glazed windows to save on air con and heating
• Install a big water tank saving water.

These things are only the start of what you can do every day, you can think of other things to do to help reduce your carbon footprint in the earth. If you follow these steps every day you can easily lower the amount of carbon emissions been emitted into the atmosphere.

Melissa Miller

What ways can individuals help to lower their carbon emissions?
Individuals can help to lower their carbon emissions by doing simple things such as riding their bikes to school, catching public transport anywhere they want to go or even just walking. Shorter showers will help to reduce the amount on hot water they are using, which saves both energy and water. They could change light globes to energy saving globes or install solar panels on their rooves. Also, making sure that they have a recycling system both at home and at their place of work or school and making sure their house is insulated. By joining environmental groups they can help to spread awareness and create political pressure to change their ways.

Are you part of any environmental groups?
Yes, I am part of the ‘Change and Switch’ group, which over the summer will be working on the project ‘Greening of Schools’ project which will work with schools to help spread awareness of climate change. It will also work with the students to create environmental groups within the school to help make the school a ‘greener’ place.

What do you plan on introducing to those schools?
I plan to work with the students to find funding for things such as installing water tanks and solar panels, making sure there is a recycling program operating in the school and teaching the students to be more energy efficient, by doing things such as turning off computers when they are not in use, only using air conditioning or heating when they have to. Teaching them to do things like close the blinds to keep the heat out of putting jumpers or blazers on if they are cold, which don’t use any energy, except our own.

Read more here:

Students researching the Maldives

What is the aim of your group?
We are researching the Maldives.

What and where is the Maldives?
It is off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.

Do you think your programme is helping tackle Global Warming?
Ah look mate, here at geography we are all about the little things. Our philosophy is that little thing can be turned into big things. We’re doing the little things and over time they will become big things.

Intervewee: John Simsom

Design

What is the aim of your program?
To make a digital poster or something about climate change

Are you enjoying it?
It would be more fun if the teacher wasnt a dooley

How are you trying to help climate change?
Hmmmmmm. Thats a hard one. we are trying to promote global warming by creating ad campaigns and slogans.

Intervewee: Nicholas Quail

Art

Millie holding her project; a globe she has sewn with materials

What is the aim of your project?
Create awareness of Global Warming through art

Are you enjoying it?
Yeh. It’s not too bad

Do you believe this will help?
No, not really

Intervewee: Millie Leahy

Story Writers dooleying it up

You may of heard of COP15 it is Cop for Copenhagen and 15 for the 15 conference of the parties. The USA and 191 other countries around the world are all parities to this international climate treaty. We are up to our 15 meeting therefore COP15.

What COP has achieved in the last meting was in COP3 in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 resulted in the Koto Protocol, a document signed by over 180 countries and put into action in February 2005. The protocol set binding emissions targets for greenhouse gasses for 37 industrialized countries and the European Union. In bail 2 years ago cop13 had an I dear for Kyoto protocol and set this years as a deadline for this agreement. The only developed countries that did not ratified the Kyoto protocol is the U.S.A and is responsible for more emissions historically than any other country. The Kyoto protocol also includes actions by large developing countries like China, India, Brazil and Indonesia to reduce their emissions in ways that are appropriate and within their abilities.

The deal must also include significant financial and technical support for developing countries, especially the world’s most vulnerable places, like islands and African nations, to shift to low-carbon development and deal with the impacts of climate change that they are already facing today.

Interview with Pippa Howard, Environmental Expert

Q:What can we do to stop climate change?

A:We can do a lot reduce climate change some of the ways we can do this is take it more seriously and we need to start creating technologies that is more energy efficient these to things are like coupled so the greener technologies the less climate change.
Q: Do you think that China and USA will sign the Kyoto Protocol?

A:China will because they are more concerned about climate change but USA she was not sure on
Q: How Can we put a stop to climate change?

A:We can do Lots of things we just need a clear vision stronger visions and leaders who want to fix climate change and are willing to take the issue further
Q: Do you think that COP15 will be useful?

A:I think cop 15 is a good thing if the leader go there with a goal and not just go and argue over the whole climate change issue. I also think that if the Australian government can barely make up there minds about Australia how are they going to make up there mind on a global scale.