Cane Toads Presence in Australia

    

     Cane toads are amphibians with dry warty skins, when moving they move in short rapid hops. Cane toads very in color, they can range from being grey, yellowish, olive-brown or reddish-brown. Their mating call is a long loud purring trill. Cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935. They originally originated in Hawaii. They were brought to Australia to control scarap beetles that were pests of sugar cane. Primarily the cane toad can be found in the eastern and northern half of Queensland. They are also found in New South Wales, they occur on the coast as far south as Yamba. Cane toads are considered a pest in Australia because they poisen pets and ingure humans with their toxins, poisen many native animals whose diet includes frogs, tadpoles and frogs eggs, prey on native fauna, and may carry diseasses that can be transmitted to native frogs and fishes. In 2001 scientists began investigating gene technology as a mechanism of control. The main controls in southern Australoa are quarentine checks and public awareness and response.

     A Barbados gooseberry is located in Hawii, It is native to the west indies and the northern coast of south America. introduved intentionallt for horiculture (as an ornamental or for its fruit). This plant forms dense thorny thickets in low elevations not allowing other plants to grow. This plant is spread by birds and animals that eat the fruit. The unripe berries are very poisonous. In order to try and control the problem people have tried to cut down the plant and hope it doesn't reproduce.

Rabbit Proof Fence -The Decline of Aboriginal Society

  1.)   As the European settlers began to colonize the werstern coast of Australia the Aboriginals faced many hardships. Dehumanization is an issue that has been occuring for thousands of years across the world. The idea that a certain race, ethnicity or gender has greater power is what causes the dehumanization of humans. In chapter 3 the Aboriginals were faced with not being able to have freedon of belief and religon. The aboriginals were forced to move away from there sacred land, "they had to fight to find ways to return to their secret and sacred sites to perfom their dances and other ceremonies that were crucial to their culture and whole way of life" (16). This idea that there religion was of lower class then americans way of life was pushed forth onto the Aboriginals. As well the Aboriginals were looked as better workers then americans. The reason for this is "we can never afford to pay to pay English servants the high wages they expect besides feeding them so well. The black fellows receive little more than rice - their simple diet" (16). The universal declaration of Human rights explains that humans should have the freedom from slavery. The aboriginals were looked as only labourers. Children were taken away from families and transported down south. Every mother "was aware that their offspring could be taken from them at any time and they were powerless to stop the abductors" (40). The idea that children can be taken away from family goes against the idea of freedom from interference with privacy, family, home, and correspondence. The government should not be able to go and take children away just because of a racial issue.

2.)     The civilizing of Australia corresponds to the history of american because when European settlers arrived in the United States they had the idea of manifest destiny. Manifest Destiny is the idea that moving westward is the Europeans destiny. The Europeans went against their word and began to slowly push native americans out of their sacred land.  Soon that wasn't enough for the europeans, they began making deals with the Native Americans and suggested that they live on a reservation. The idea of reservations corresponds to the novel Rabbit Proof Fence when the children were taken away from family and moved into institutions like Carralup Settlement and Moore River Native Settlement. Europeans had the ideal image that they had higher power then the Native Americans.

3.)     The government was not just by taking control over the children of mixed descent. Any child deserves the chance to live with their born parents. To take a child away from their mother and father is taking a child away from a story. A chance to know their history and their past. A child needs that opportunity in life to grow from. Children taken away from parents do not get the opportunity to know certain family members like distant cousins, or aunts and uncles. Governement should not get involved in family situations unless a child is being brutally beat, or something along the lines of ruining a childs future.

The Marine Park Authority of the Australian Government - (video)

Video #1:
1.)  A polyp is what use to be a coral larvae, but when it begins growing it turns into what is called a polyp. When growing it looks like an upside down jelly fish. The polyp then absorbs algae inside. Once the algae is inside it begins converting sunlight into food. In order to be considered coral there must be multiple polyps growing in a colony.

2.) Coral is very sensitive to the temperature of the water. If the temperature of the water changes even the slightest bit then the coral can become stressed and the algae begin to move out causing the coral to turn white.

3.) Coral bleaching occurs when the coral begins to get stressed over a change within the water and the algae move out causing the coral to lose its color.

 4.)Scientists believe coral bleaching is occuring now more then ever because of climate change.
   
 5.) Ways that people can reduce their impact on climate changes is reducing energy (turning off unused lights or appliances), avoiding unnecesary car journeys, Reusing and recycling used products

Video #2:

1.) #'s of species of :
    Fish:
    Hard Coral: 360
    Soft Coral: 1/3 of the worlds soft coral
    Sea birds:22
    Shore Birds:32

2.)Climate change is warming our oceans.

3.) Increased flooding pollutes the reef, fish moves off to cooler off shore water, which means less food for sea birds.

4.)  Three ways to reduce climate change open windows, dry clothes on a line, donate things, inspire others to help

Video #3/4:
1.) two benefits by aiming these videos towards children is that, they are teaching children at a young age about global warming, and also relating to kids by using animations.Two possible drawbacks is these videos are aimed towards younger children rather than adults and there not getting there points across to the right crowd, as well as kids might be fearful of the sea animals life and begin to hate the world.

2.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liG_ZV289VM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw_WjN-4n3U&feature=related

Exploring Oceans: Great Barrier Reef (video)

1.) The Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the largest living structure on earth

2.) Coral extracts calcium carbonate from the surrounding water to make solid

3.) Red algae impacts the structure of a coral by acting like pink glue by coating it with sheets of calcium carbonate.

4.) The Great Barrier Reef was established a national park in 1975

5.) Over 33 percent of the Great Barrier Reef is protected from fishing.

6.) Many scientists believe the current reef is 20 thousand years old, and the ancient reef is half a million years old.