Monthly Nonfiction Reading Response - Dissection Ban

"A staggering 19 million insects and animals belonging to a variety of species will be saved every academic year when the ban on dissection in laboratories for undergraduate and postgraduate is fully implemented."

This article taught me that many elementary, middle and high schools dissect animals in science class. They don't only dissect frogs. But also cats, mice, rats, worms, dogs, rabbits, fetal pigs and fish. More than 19 million animals wind up being dissected each year. Also with more branches of life sciences, that 19 million will quickly turn into a much higher number in the upcoming years.

"More than 2.5 million undergraduate and postgraduate students of Zoology and other branches of life science in the country end up dissecting approximately 19 million animals every academic year. And with emergence of newer branches of life sciences including biophysics, biochemistry and biodiversity, and an increase in the number of educational institutions, the number of animals dissected was also expected to grow substantially in the coming years."

Every year, millions of undergraduate students dissect animals. Totals up to 19 million each year. And if we continue to dissect the harmless animals, those numbers will become sky high. They might even reach up to the billions if we don't stop soon. Also, after the students dissect the animal, they just throw them out. That is just a complete waste of a life. How would you feel if you were taken away from your home to be killed and thrown away?

"Dissection is not just cruel, it is also antiquated. Studies have shown that non-animal methods teach anatomy and complex biological processes as well as or better than do animal laboratories, and they have proved much more effective and humane."

Some dissection classes in schools don't even teach the correct way of dissecting the animals. Also, most students don't pay any attention to the teacher when he/she is demonstrating the dissection. So the students are just playing with the animal. Which is another reason why dissection should be banned. And if you make a mistake when dissecting the animal, you can't start over.

"At the same time, their use will save universities an enormous amount of money compared to the expense of purchasing animals year after year, explains B.K. Sharma, Associate Professor and head of Zoology Department at R.L Saharia Government PG College, Kaladera (Jaipur), Rajasthan. He was a member of the UGC Core Expert Committee that was set up to consider ‘Discontinuation of Dissection of Animals in Zoology/Life Science Education in Indian Universities and Colleges.'"

After reading this article, I have come to the understanding that the world is in the middle of animal abuse. But other people think that is for a good cause - education. When really, student who have no choice but to take this class have a different opinion about the dissection. I would consider dissection abuse. Because the people who obtain those animals are taking them from shelters, just to kill them. Which is extremely cruel. Also many children don't enjoy dissecting these animals. But if we stop animal dissection, then more than 19 million animals and insects will be saved each year.

Works Cited

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dissection-ban-will-save-19-million-animals-every-year/article2704638.ece

Monthly Nonfiction Reading Response - Arctic Meltdown by Justin Gillis

"Every summer, the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean melts as the region heats up. And every year, as fall arrives and temperatures drop, the ice begins to build up again."

This article taught me that every season the temperature changes. In the summer it gets hot and in the winter it gets cold. But in the Arctic, during the summer the ice melts and in the winter the water turns back into ice. But lately, not all of the water has frozen back. And the animals there are in danger.

"Most scientists have long believed that the climate's warming--roughly 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit over land in the past century, with most of that occurring since 1980--is caused largely by the human release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels."

Over the past century, temperatures have risen about 2.5°F. It might not seem like a lot, but it makes a huge difference to our climate and our planet. The Arctic isn't the only place in the world that is in trouble. But it is also one of the worst defenders. In the United States, there have been hurricanes, droughts and other violent and extreme storms and weather patterns. The warmer the planet gets, the more we have to suffer.

"Some of them (scientists) think the shrinking Arctic sea ice has already started to alter atmospheric patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, contributing more extreme weather in the United States and other countries, buy that link is not considered proved."

In addition to the temperatures rising, scientists also think that the global warming is altering atmospheric patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists also think that extreme weather will become more common as the planet warms. But there might be other changes in other parts of the world. Such as extreme weather and natural disasters. But the weather problems will become more and more frequent in the future if we don't try to make a change.

"A vast majority of scientists, however, agree that extreme weather events--everything from heat waves to blizzards--will become more common as the planet warms."

After reading this article, I have come to understand that the world is in the middle of severe global warming. It is not only harming the Arctic, but it is also hurting other parts of the world. Not just places in the cold, but also the United States and the United Kingdom. More and more violent storms and crazy weather are going to be coming our way. And if we don't try to stop it, we will be in serious trouble in the future. Every year, the average global temperature has gone up a lot. And eventually it will be too high and the whole world will be underwater. Hopefully before then, we can try to help the environment.

Works Cited:

Gillis, Justin. "Arctic Meltdown." The New York Times Upfront 19 Nov. 2012: 8-11. Web.