Youtube video blog 2

Video #1: What is "Coral Bleaching"
1. A polyp is a coral larva that finds a place to settle. When a polyp grows it resembles an upside down jellyfish.  To be considered "coral" the polyp must have zooxanthellae, the polyp then grows and multiplies. Hundreds of polyp form a colony that we call coral.

2.Coral is very sensitive to change.  A couple of degrees difference in temperature can put stress on the coral.

3. When the zooxanthellae leaves the coral when the temperature increases, and the coral loses its color and food supply.  This is called coral bleaching.  When temperatures stay warm for too long the coral will die.

4. Scientists believe that coral bleaching is occurring more now than ever because of climate change.  Our daily activities, such as driving, are causing climate change and are putting coral reefs at risk.

5. To reduce climate change people can do things such as turn off unused appliances, avoid using a car whenever it's not necessary, and reusing &recycling products.

Video #2: Why should we care about climate change/destruction of coral reefs?

1. The Great Barrier reef is home to:

-15 hundred species of fish

-360 species of hard coral

-one third of the world's soft coral

-22 species of sea birds

-32 species of shore birds

2. Climate change is responsible for warming our oceans.

3. Increased flooding pollutes the reef. Fish move to cooler offshore waters and this means less food for sea birds.

4 People can reduce climate change by:

-buying environmentally sustainable products
-opening windows instead of using air conditioners
-drying clothes on the line
Video #3/#4: Educating children about the effects of climate change.

1.This type of media is beneficial because it is informational, and it is good for teaching children about the reefs.  Some drawbacks are that it is childish and is not as good for informing adults about the effects of climate change, and some of these videos lack important information. 

2. Adults from Australia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQbRjE_c25w&feature=related  I thought this video was good for Adults from Australia because it is informational and it talks about the effects on not only the coral reefs, but the entire world as well.  They probably know a lot about the effects it has on the reefs and this video provides more of an overview.

Foreigners not from Australia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526n0WhyJGQ  This video is good because it it short and to the point.  It provides a lot of information on the harmful affects of climate change for those who may not know much about it.

Tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60jof35WuAo I thought that this video was good for tourists because it provides an explanation of coral bleaching in general and then goes into specifics on the Great Barrier Reef.  It reminds me if a video you would see at a tourist destination.

Youtube video blog 1

1. The Great Barrier Reed is considered to be the "largest living structure on earth".

2. To make solid tentacles, coral extracts calcium carbonate from the ocean.

3. Much of the construction of the coral is due to red algae.  It acts like pink glue and cements fragments of shell, sand and coral with sheets of calcium carbonate.

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

5. About 33% of the reef is protected from fishing.

6. Scientists believe that the current reef is about 20 thousand years old, but they have found that the ancient coral is about half a million years old.

Saying Sorry

The Aboriginal people were isolated from the world until 1788, when the English arrived.  When the British arrived there were about 300,000 Aboriginals in Australia and there was about 250 languages spoken.  Since the Aboriginal people did not have a government, the British quickly took over.  The British brought disease and foreign animals overseas with them.  Many of the Aboriginal people became sick with diseases like small pox and measles, and the foreign animals destroyed their land.  Aboriginal people were forced to move elsewhere. 

Although there were laws passed in every state to protect the Aboriginals, they were still given restrictions.  There were restrictions for owning land, where they could live, and who they could marry.  This is very unjust because it was originally the Aborigine's land and then the British came and took it for themselves. 

The stolen generation was a government policy in which 1 in 10 of all Aboriginal children were taken from their families in an effort to "civilize" them by placing them in white society.  The government expected that over time they would lose their heritage.  The stolen generation lasted from 1910 to 1971.

Being part of the stolen generation can greatly impact your life.  Many of the children who were part of the stolen generation were physically and sexually abused.  Because of their terrible childhoods, many people of the stolen generation turned to alcohol and violence. These hardships throughout their lives often resulted in early death.  Families who had children taken away from them suffered as well because the policy broke spiritual, cultural and family ties. 

Many of the people who were involved in the stolen generation and are still alive today suffer greatly.  They suffer from post traumatic stress, depression and anxiety because of their experiences.  Those who visited their birthplace can feel cultural alienation.  Many who have their own children don't know how to parent in either the conventional Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal way and some have their children taken away by welfare agencies. On May 26th, every year, the people in Australia celebrate Sorry Day- the day when Australia made an official national apology of the Aboriginal people.

An official apology needed to be made because the Aboriginal people suffered because of the white Australians.  They tried to get rid of the culture by taking their children and hoping their heritage would eventually vanish.  This event was very traumatic and it will continue to impact the lives of those involved.  Australia owes the Aboriginal people an apology for all the harm they have caused.