Revise my Geography Report?

[HatBoy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:47pm

*Edit*GAHHH edited to fix tags.*Edit*

Okay, so this totally isn't my thing to make a post like this, but most of you on this board (I use that VERY loosely) seem very intelligent, and intent on proper grammar, so I'm hoping you can help me.

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I'm just a freshman in highschool, so it's not top of the notch, and I'm sure you could help me make some changes and fix any typos and/or mistakes.

Also, I'm fairly certain I have *no* idea whether to use "affect" or "effect" in a sentence, because I can't properly distinguish them. So if you could correct that for me as well, I'd greatly appreciate it.

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Logging Canada’s Forests
Written by: Aaron

I believe that forestry and logging are issues that many people are not concerned about, due to the belief that they are not directly affected by them. However, the truth is that not only is our environment – the forests of Canada – suffering, but our economy is as well. Even with a policy that ensures substantial use of our forests resources, they are quickly deteriorating in front of our eyes.

First of all, we must pay attention to the main focus at hand, the deterioration of our forests, and the wildlife within them. Many species are being wiped out because their habitats are being destroyed from logging. The term “clear-cutting” refers to the cutting of a large section of trees in a specific area, as oppose to smaller, more spread out areas. (Driving Forces: Forestry in Canada.) This process not only extinguishes the wildlife that lives among the area, but it destroys trees of all age, size and maturity. Clear-cutting is less expensive, because it is easier to cut down an entire area at once. However, it is extremely damaging to the entire forest ecosystem, and it is very difficult to ensure that the area will once again prosper. Salmon streams are affected, and it has been stated that there is a casual connection between changes in the climate and biodiversity. (Ranjan K. Agarwal) These trees provide maple syrup, habitats, Christmas trees, food for wild species and nutrients for the soil. On top of that, they provide an oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, they regulate the water cycle and the climate, and they slow down soil erosion. The forests also create jobs for many people. Over 300,000 Canadians are workers in the forestry industry. The resources from the forest are used to make furniture, books and newspaper, as well as a variety of wood products. Lumber is also used to build homes, and provide heat, and can be exported for trade with other countries. (www.statscan.ca) Further, employees around the world are being directly and indirectly affected.

With a large amount of lumber being used up, there are more sawmills than forest, creating an unstable ratio between product and productivity. Sawmills are being closed because there are too many, and too little lumber. Workers must be laid-off, “14,000 in one month,” says Jennifer Hunter. (Business: Worried in the Woods) Pulp and paper workers are also being laid-off because of low pulp purchases. When pulp and paper aren’t being produced as numerously as they once were, the pulp and paper industry cannot increase sales. This ricocheted affect has drastically lowered net earnings for both industries. The logging industry in Canada had a net earning of $51 billion in 1996, which dropped to $17 billion in 1997. (Jennifer Hunter) A higher demand for lumber means increased sale prices. Soon, companies will not be able to afford resources needed to run their business, and this will result in more workers being laid-off. “With the sawmills being shuttered, workers are losing their jobs and pulp and paper production is being strangled by the Asian currency crisis,” says Jennifer Hunter, “it’s become ridiculously expensive to cut down British Columbian softwood.” So, what can we do to prevent these consequences?

In the 1990’s, World Bank stopped lending money to logging companies after lobbying by environmental NGO’s. Now they will only lend to companies that practice “sustainable harvesting.” (Ranjan K. Agarwal) Banks now promote low-impact logging and sustainable use, but Greenpeace International claims that this forestry policy will be irrelevant because of agricultural expansion and road-building programs. “Old-growth forests and many species of wildlife are being wiped out. Clear-cutting needs to stop, and no more new forest roads.” – Greenpeace. Many companies have tried to use a method of “selective cutting”, choosing only specific areas to cut. Unfortunately, this is costly because of the extra time and care put into it, and the prices are less competitive. This less destructive process is often overlooked and Greenpeace has continued to try and save old-growth forests in British Columbia. To halt the logging process, Greenpeace representatives blockaded roads and chained themselves to worker’s tools. To comply to Greenpeace’s wishes is unthinkable, for fear of lost jobs. Forestry is the province’s biggest industry in British Columbia, with a turnover above C$12,000,000,000. The industry directly employs 97,500 people. (The Economist Newspaper Group) As you can see, the actions being taken will not help in the long-run, but merely provide a temporary quick fix.

So what is to be done? Our environment and forest ecosystems are suffering from destruction and deterioration, and we are unable to prevent this without further causing damage to the forests or substantially effecting our economy. Until something is done, these outrageous effects from logging will continue to destroy our forests, and we will continue to watch the deforestation occurring all around us.

Updated On: 5/15/06 at 11:47 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:59pm

fyi, re: affect vs effect, the way I learned it was that first comes the affect, in order to have an effect- the affect is the influence, the effect is the result. When you affect something, you have an effect on it.

So this should be "This ricocheted effect has drastically lowered net earnings for both industries." I believe.

[HatBoy]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 12:03am

Thank you, I appreciate it.

I also got a lot of other handy tips about contractions, defining biodiversity, awkward choice of words, improper use of apostrophes and improper use of citations.

So, if anyone notices that as well, I'm sure I've edited it on my paper in front of me, but you may still notice it from my original post, a result of me being too lazy to edit.

[KelRel]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 10:51am

Student board..and you should learn to edit and correct yourself. Having strangers on a message board do your homework for you is a cop out and pure laziness.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 10:57am

Use dictionary.com to check for meaning and spelling when unsure (nary a day goes by without me consulting it at least once). There is also a terrific book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves, which should answer a lot of your questions...in an entertaining manner, no less.
Eats, Shoots and Leaves

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 12:02pm

sorry, no.......I am assuming your parents would not do this for you....why should I?

Not trying to be mean or rude...but I had to do my own work in school....so should you.

Updated On: 5/16/06 at 12:02 PM

[HatBoy]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:28pm

I was asked to get my report peer-edited, next time you decide to be so parental about how I complete my homework.

After getting classmates to edit it, I decided I would extend my sources. I happened to be posting on this site, so it was convenient.

Thanks though, your concern is appreciated.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:41pm

I am sorry, but the middle-aged show queens and jaded young women that post on this board do not want to read and edit your damn geography homework.

You may have luck on the student board but editing your own work is a far more valuable skill to develop.

[HatBoy]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:49pm

I apologize for my ignorance, for at the time I didn't know about the student board.

However, I think a lot of the comments I got were unnecessary, and had that genuine nastiness that BWW is famous for.

I've already handed in the assignment, so I don't need anymore critique, however I do want to thank those that did help me. And for the record, after all of the necessary peer-editting, I also went over it again to correct any further mistakes.

[etoile]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:54pm

You think people were nasty? Then you don't know nasty!

[HatBoy]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:57pm

I believe there was a subtle bit of nastiness, yes.

Don't worry though, I've seen the extent BWW'ers will go.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/20/06 at 10:40pm

you want nasty,...I'll show you nasty......DO YOUR OWN DAMN HOMEWORK......

and etoile....certainly he does not know nasty.......