Global Warming and Whales:

Schools must teach more about environmental threats to wildlife

By Hannah Bloomquist

Hannah is a sophomore at Conard High School in West Hartford, CT, where she is a member of the Environment Club.

Global warming is becoming a significant problem for our planet. Most people know that warmer temperatures resulting from global warming are bringing numerous problems to mankind. What some people don't know, however, is how this abnormal warmth is affecting whales and other species of marine wildlife.

In schools today, students are being taught the reasons behind global warming, and research showing the impact humans have on it. We are learning how the ozone layer is depleting and how carbon dioxide emissions are increasing. Educational criteria presently focus on how humans will survive and not on how whales will survive during this heat phenomenon. The rising ocean levels are realistically related to students through how coastal cities will endure, instead of how whales will.

Kids are tested on various consequences of global warming such as how crops will suffer greatly and how as a result there will be less food. But what about the disruptions to food sources like plankton and fish for whales? There is also a lack of teaching on the habitats of whales and how they are being affected by rising sea levels. This consequently brings more pollution to our oceans, further harming the wildlife. While it is important to educate teenagers on how humans are responsible for and affected by global warming, explaining how other species are involved is crucial as well. Humans do not own this planet and we must care for all kinds of animals to continue living naturally.

Common sense would tell us that warmer waters and melting ice means hardship for any animals relying on the opposite: cold waters and frozen ice. Yet another problem that global warming produces is how the breeding and migration patterns of whales are distorted. This dilemma can seriously injure whales in many ways. All of these difficulties are major parts in both global warming and also the world in general. So one might ask, why aren't schools telling their students about them?

Schools in America not including facts about wildlife in their teaching is puzzling. It's chance if even one multiple choice question on a global warming test relates to animals in any way. The fact of the matter is that students should and need to learn how this problem, which they currently think isn't that extensive, has a huge impact on animals and their ability to survive. It would be easy for educational supervisors to include how whales are living and suffering due to global warming in their teaching. Doing so would be beneficial to students in that they would understand what a problem global warming is, and what things they can do to help whales and other wildlife.