Emily Bartnicki
10/18/13
Period 3
Muckraking Essay: Save the Polar Bears!
We all know about the polar bears, how they are becoming extinct and
their homes are being destroyed. Yes, we have all seen those depressing
commercials. These oppressed animals stare at viewers with their poor,
tired eyes, and then the screen flips to a celebrity asking for money to
save these “precious creatures”. These commercials continue to spark
our interest, but are they really effective? We know polar bears face a
struggle, but how much do we really know? Before the Industrial
Revolution, and before the international scare we call global warming,
polar bears were abundant mammals in the Arctic Circle. Now, they face
the ever-present danger of extinction. Why is this? The answer,
according to the World Wildlife Foundation and other organizations, is
global warming. As shown by various charts and graphs on NASA’s
website, Earth’s overall temperature is quickly accelerating to record
temperatures, threatening the polar bears’ way of life. I am passionate
about the idea that we, as ordinary people, can help the polar bears
survive and possibly restore their homes, without giving up our money.
The Arctic Circle is slowly getting smaller, the glaciers are melting, and polar bears are losing their homes. They live on the ice, and even though they are classified as “good swimmers” by Polar Bears International, they are not able to survive for long periods of time in the freezing waters that represent the remains of their home. Forced to live on extremely small plots of ice, they are limited as to what they can find for food. When the inevitable occurs and these small icebergs melt, the polar bears follow their natural instincts and jump into the freezing water to try and survive there, a nearly certain death for these helpless creatures. Polar Bears International says in their latest study, “polar bears depend on sea ice for hunting, breeding, and in some cases, denning. Summer ice loss in the Arctic now equals an area the size of Alaska, Texas, and the state of Washington combined ”.
Well, how can we help? We can try our best to recycle paper and plastic, and we can save energy by turning off pluggable electronics when not in use. These simple acts could possibly reduce global warming, saving the polar bears and their homes. These precious animals have a population of only 20,000-25,000, about the size of Wilmington, and they need our help more than ever. Whether we donate time or money, or simply conserve energy to reduce global warming, we are helping to save them, and it is beginning to make an impact. Luckily, organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation and Polar Bears International are working to help this situation and provide comfort to these creatures.
The Arctic Circle is slowly getting smaller, the glaciers are melting, and polar bears are losing their homes. They live on the ice, and even though they are classified as “good swimmers” by Polar Bears International, they are not able to survive for long periods of time in the freezing waters that represent the remains of their home. Forced to live on extremely small plots of ice, they are limited as to what they can find for food. When the inevitable occurs and these small icebergs melt, the polar bears follow their natural instincts and jump into the freezing water to try and survive there, a nearly certain death for these helpless creatures. Polar Bears International says in their latest study, “polar bears depend on sea ice for hunting, breeding, and in some cases, denning. Summer ice loss in the Arctic now equals an area the size of Alaska, Texas, and the state of Washington combined ”.
Well, how can we help? We can try our best to recycle paper and plastic, and we can save energy by turning off pluggable electronics when not in use. These simple acts could possibly reduce global warming, saving the polar bears and their homes. These precious animals have a population of only 20,000-25,000, about the size of Wilmington, and they need our help more than ever. Whether we donate time or money, or simply conserve energy to reduce global warming, we are helping to save them, and it is beginning to make an impact. Luckily, organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation and Polar Bears International are working to help this situation and provide comfort to these creatures.
Muckraking Essay Bibliography
"Key Indicators." Global Climate Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"Polar Bear Facts & Information." Polar Bears International. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"Polar Bear." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
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