FMHS APES Fourth Spring 2019

Sharks have been feared ever since people first observed them swimming in the vast ocean. Yet today, sharks are declining rapidly on a global scale because humans have replaced them as the ocean's top predators. Shark populations face the threat of extinction in nearly every part of the world primarily due to overfishing driven by the high demand of shark fins. Shark finning is the practice of removing the shark fins after it has been caught in a fishery. The fins are kept and the body of the shark is typically returned to the sea, often while the shark is still alive. Unable to swim or pass water across its gills, the shark dies from suffocation, blood loss, or predation by other species. Shark fins are tempting targets for fishermen because they have high monetary and cultural value. They are used in a popular dish called shark fin soup, which is a symbol of status in Chinese culture. This popularity has not faded with time and has even expanded with China's growing popu...

IS A ZERO WASTE LIFESTYLE REALLY POSSIBLE? OR IS IT JUST A MYTH? The average American throws out approximately 4.4 pounds of trash per day. With this in mind, many Americans are joining the zero waste movement, a movement in which people are cutting out disposable packaging, making a commitment to reusable products. With a little bit of creativity, joining the zero-waste movement can be a lot easier than it sounds. The zero-waste movement is a lifestyle where people aim to eliminate their trash output completely: meaning no plastic, no wrappers, and no garbage. Even items such as basic toiletries come in plastic packaging that can take hundreds or even thousands of years to decompose in landfills. For this reason, many people have switched to a zero-waste lifestyle. Although it may seem unrealistic, many everyday people have made zero-waste cleaning supplies, toiletries, makeup and much more. By reevaluating the way in which they approach the concept of anthropogenic waste, the...