trees

this morning before chemistry i overheard a conversation between this lady who really shouldn't be in a chemistry class and some other classmates.  they started off talking about global warming and how people are so upset about it and people are freaking out.  the lady made a good point about how the earth's environment has been changing since it was created, and it was hotter in the cretaceous than it is now.  the earth is constantly changing. 

then they started saying that recycling doesn't help, it just costs money.  .... okay...

then the lady said they should make plastic bags that decompose in 2-3 years instead of 20-30 years.  a guy told her we should just go back to paper.  and she said but then you have to cut down trees.  the south americans have been cutting down trees and they need to plant new ones where they cut them down.

that's where i wanted to join the conversation.

one thing i learned in biology this semester: south americans have been cutting down trees so they can have cattle farms.  the cattle farms have been failing because they can't grow enough grass to feed the cattle.  they can't grow grass because when they cut down all the trees, they got rid of all the nutrients.  eventually all the deforested areas will turn into deserts.

alas, i did not have my moment of glory, because some people just never shut up long enough to listen to other people.  and class was about to start.  so i'm telling you!