Baraka Film Review

Baraka is a very powerful film and demonstrates both human life as well as nature as a whole. This film is different because it is a non-verbal film that contains no script and no actors. This film is strictly a series of images shot from around the world that show both the beauty and obliteration in human acts and nature in our everyday lives. Baraka was filmed in 24 different countries around the world!

The film at first was difficult to really understand what the films purpose was. As the film goes on I realized there really was no plot but the film had a deeper purpose. The purpose was to really expand your mind and realize that one day in Africa was very much different from than in Israel as well as the other countries around the world. There may be many differences in the cultures around the world but we are similar in the grand scheme of things.

The photography in this film I thought was breathtaking! There were photos from all over, first you would see a scene of the mountains, and then it would go to a scene of a waterfall. The way that it was filmed definitely did a good job capturing you into the film.

The experience of watching the film I think is different for everyone because that there is no script. Each person has a different perspective of the film. The best way of really understand the film Baraka is watching it!

Demographic's of Maine

Demographics & Population



Overview....



Population of Maine in 2000: 1,274,923
Land Area: 30,862 square miles
Length of coastline: 3,500 miles
Forest: 17 million acres
Persons per square mile: 41.3
Home ownership rate (2000): 71.6%
Largest city by population: Portland
State Capital: Augusta


Portland (city), Maine
Further information




People QuickFacts
Portland
Maine

Population
1,305,728

Female
51.3%

White persons
96.9%

Black or African American persons
0.5%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons percent
0.6%

Asian persons, percent, 2000
0.7%

Persons reporting some other race
0.2%

Persons reporting two or more races
1.9%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin
0.7%

Foreign born persons
7.6%

Language other than English spoken at home
7.8%

High school graduates, percent of persons age
85.4%

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons
36.4%

U.S. Census Bureau

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/2360545.html

Precautions taken to prevent Biological Terrorist Attacks

What is Terrorism?

"Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom. "

FloridaDisaster.org



Florida has numerous departments that strickly focus on Terrist Attacks:

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida Department of Community Affairs

Florida Department of Emergency Management

Florida Department of Health

Florida Department of Law Enforcement


Florida also offers a Community Emergency Response Team.

This team is a local or neighborhood group that receives special training to enhance their ability to recognize, respond to and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation.


How you should be prepared!

1) Prepare to confront a terrorist incident by adapting many of the same techniques used to prepare for other crises.

2) Be alert and aware of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism suggests that there may be little or no warning.

3) Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers. Do not leave luggage unattended.

4) Learn where emergency exists are located. Think ahead about how to evacuate a building, subway or congested public area in a hurry. Learn where staircases are located.

5) Notice your immediate surroundings. Be aware of heavy or breakable objects that could move, fall or break in an explosion.





FloridaDisaster.org

Superfund Site's in Maine

Where is the Superfund Site nearest to you in Maine?



First off, what is a Superfund?


Basically Superfund is the name that was given to the enviromental program created to address hazardous waste sites. "It is also the name of the fund established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabilitiy Act of 1980. This law was enacted in the wake of the discovery of toxic waste dumps in the 1970s. The CERCLA statute allows the EPA to clean up such sites and to compel responsible parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-lead cleanups." (www.epa.gov)


Here is a list of all the Superfund Sites in Maine:


BRUNSWICK NAVAL AIR STATION Located in Brunswick, ME

CALLAHAN MINING CORP Located in Brooksville (Cape Rosier), ME

EASTERN SURPLUS COMPANY Located in Meddybemps, ME

EASTLAND WOOLEN MILL Located in Corinna, ME

LORING AIR FORCE BASE Located in Limestone, ME

MCKIN COMPANY Located in Gray, ME

O'CONNOR COMPANY Located in Augusta, ME

PINETTE'S SALVAGE YARD Located in Washburn, ME

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD Located in Kittery, ME

SACO MUNICIPAL LANDFILL Located in Saco, ME

SACO TANNERY WASTE PITS Located in Saco, ME

UNION CHEMICAL CO.,INC. Located in South Hope, ME

WEST SITE/HOWS CORNERS Located in Plymouth, ME

WINTHROP LANDFILL Located in Winthrop, ME

Genetically Altered Foods in Grocery Stores

How much are you consuming genetically altered foods?


The genetic engineering of plants and animals is at an all time high in the 21st century.
Grocery stores and our kitchen pantries are being invaded by genetically altered foods because our most important staple food crops are being corrupted.

Scientist discovered they take the genetic material from one organism and insert it into the permanent genetic code of another. They have now come up with some creations such as:

Potatoes with bacteria genes
Pigs with human growth genes
fish with cattle growth gene
Tomatoes with flounder genes

...and thousands of other plants, animals and insects.

Currently, up to 40 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered as is 80 percent of soybeans.

It has been estimated that around 60 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves contain genetically engineered ingredients. It could be anything from soda, soup, crackers to condiments.



How does genetically engineered food effects you?

Not only could genetically engineered foods pose a serious risk on humans, it also causes risk to animals, our enviroment and wildlife.

Human Health effects include:

Higher risks of toxicity
Allergenicity
Antibiotic resistance
Immune-suppression
Cancer


Environmental Impacts:

Biological pollution
Threatening numerous microbial
Plant Extinction
Animal Extinction
Potential contamination of all non-genetically engineered life forms












The Center for Food Safety

Endangered Species

ENDANGERED SPECIES IN MAINE:

Bald Eagle

Canada Lynx

Piping Plover

Atlantic Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon

Leatherback Sea turtle

Shortnose Sturgeon

Roseate Tern

Finback Whale

Humpback Whale

Right Whale

Carbon Cycle Diagram

THE CARBON CYCLE

Image from NASA Earth Observatory.

Environmental Organizations

Which organization would you join?


Greenpeace

© Greenpeace

Their mission statement is "Greenpeace is the leading independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful direct action and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future."

Greenpeace was created in 1971 when determined activist came together to make a change in the environment. They have grown to be an international organization with offices in more than 30 countries. The members of the organization provide all of their funding through individual contributions.




National Resource Defense Council


© Natural Resources Defense Council Photo Credit: © Steve Bloom

The National Resource Defense Council has a lengthy mission statement. Their mission statement is basically "The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural system on which life depends. We work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life --air, land and water -- and to defend endangered natural places."


NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists of the natural resources defense council. One of their most recent accomplishments happened two years ago when NRDC drafted sponsored and helped California pass the Global Warming Solutions Act which they say to be the nation's most ambitious law to limit statewide global warming pollution. The President of NRDC Frances Beinecke says "This is a group that looks at the world's most urgent environmental problems of our time -- global warming, oil dependence, toxic pollution, emptying oceans, disappearing wild lands -- and says, 'We can solve them."





Wild Spots Foundation



designed & maintained by Aydelette at akcreative.com
















Wild Spots Foundation missions statement is " Wild Spots Foundation saves habitats of endangered species. Wild Spots Foundation is uniquely dedicated to saving valuable habitats around the world through a variety of programs that promote, defend, and protect biodiversity through education, visual arts, ecotourism, science and technology."

Wild Spots was organized in March of 2002 by Dr. Barry Barker and a small group of individuals who had been traveling together since 1985. Wild Spots currently has two ongoing projects. One project in Wolong, China which takes places in the Wolong Panda Institute. The other project takes place in Baños, Ecuador and the San Martin Zoological Park. This park is now studying biodiversity.

designed & maintained by Aydelette at akcreative.com

Personally I would choose Wild Spots Foundation. The reason for this is because I would want to be apart of the research. I think with this Foundation I could be involved and travel to these two locations that they are currently apart of. It is a recent foundation so there are not many members and definitely not as known as the other two. Regardless the foundation has lots of love and concern for the environment and the habitat. Wild Spots may not have as much force or effect on the world as a whole, but can make just as much of an impact where they do travel and research.