environment

World Environment Day

wcl staff

Did you know that Wellington is hosting the World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5, 2008? I’m sure you are wondering what this is all about. Well it is a major international event that aims to promote awareness and action on global environmental issues.

 

The Wellington Zoo is also into it. There will be talks in the Wild Theatre from 11am–2pm and native tree planting around the zoo at 11am. The cool thing about it is that ten percent of all Zoo admissions on the day will go to the Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund to help us support the protection of the New Zealand frog species.

 

So do your share and try to help make the earth a better place to live in!

NZ Post Book Awards finalist – Weather Watch New Zealand

wcl staff

NZ Post Book Awards finalist – Non Fiction category
Weather Watch New Zealand

By Sandra Carrod, published by Reed 2007

Why is the West Coast so wet? Why is Wellington so windy? Why is Auckland’s weather so changeable?

Here at last is a weather book with all NZ content. A large format book, it is attractively set out and generously illustrated with diagrams and photographs (all NZ). Interesting facts and explanations are accompanied by simple practical activities.

A two-page map of NZ on which the chapters are rearranged according to location follows the contents page. A detailed index completes the package.

This is a great book, which would be enjoyed by all young NZ weather watchers and, has also been shortlisted in the non-fiction section of the New Zealand Post Awards for Children and Young People.

This review comes from: http://createreaders.natlib.govt.nz

New Zealand Post Book Awards: Weather Watch New Zealand.

admin

After reading the post by Bridget about the book awards I decided to check out some of the books on the website. Weather watch New Zealand by Sandra Carrod is full of the most coolest weather stuff. Did you know that there are about 25 tornadoes a year in New Zealand? I didn’t. I thought that only the United States got tornadoes. It even tells you how to read a weather map like the weather reporters do when they give a weather report on the TV news. It’s got really neat experiments in it too, like how to make a barometer or a hot air balloon! Excellent ideas for school projects or science fair projects. But wait there’s more….. there’s a chapter called ‘Why is Wellington so windy?’. You’re gonna have to read it to find out! I’m not telling! It’s a really cool book!

Save the Earth, Be a Super Hero!

wcl staff 1 Comment

Do you know what is one of the greatest, major, as in super nova problem of the earth is? If you said global warming then you would be correct! Do you know what global warming is? Well it seems that global warming is linked to the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere and it stays in the atmosphere, acting like a warm blanket, holding in the heat which is why we call it ‘global warming’. Where does all this come from you might ask. Everytime we cook, travel, use electricity etc. we unknowingly contribute to the global warming.  Relentlessly we overfill the atmosphere with heat-trapping gases which in turn can cause  devastating changes to our environment.  Examples of this would be we will experience extreme temperatures, rising sea levels and storms of unimaginable destructive fury. Did that get your attention? ALARMING!!! Well all’s not lost yet. Here are some ways you can help and do your share in your own little way. Turn off electrical appliances or lights not in use. Electricity is a major contributor to the global warming. Walk , eat less meat and of course recycle!!!!

To find out more about ways to save the planet from global warming try out this websites:

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/

http://tiki.oneworld.net/global_warming/climate_home.html

Get to it Super Hero!!!!

Rubbish

wcl staff

Have you ever stopped to think how long it takes for things to rot or decompose?
· Aluminium cans – 200 to 500 years
· Glass bottles – 1000 years
· Tin cans – 100 years
· Disposable nappies – 75 years
· Plastic bottles/Styrofoam/polystyrene – NEVER!
That is such a scary thought, especially since all of these things (except disposable nappies) can be recycled.

Did you know that heaps of litter ends up in the sea, and can kill or hurt sea animals and birds?  I once heard of a dolphin that ate a tiny piece of plastic, which got stuck in its stomach.  The plastic stopped the dolphin from eating – and this is really sad – he died of starvation.

So make sure you and your family recycle all your paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and cans – and throw everything else into a bin – DON’T EVER LITTER!

The library has heaps of books and web pages on recycling, just ask a librarian to show you where to find them, or check out 363.72 in the junior non-fiction section of the library.