I love this topic! i’m very passionate about protecting and preserving the environment. i love how you made this local; it made the issue feel more important. keep up the good work!

I was really shocked by your findings Olivia. I knew light pollution affects being able to see stars in the night (unless you go to a rural area) but I was unaware off the negative influence on wildlife. I’m really interested in seeing what else you may be able to find including even solutions to light pollution.

Olivia I really enjoyed your article. I think it was well researched, and the statistics are very interesting. It is frightening to hear about the negative influences wildlife are experiencing. However, I am happy to hear that organizations are working to combat this. It isn’t a very well known threat, so thank you for educating me about it. I look forward to hearing more.

Although climate change is a very real and scary thing, you post offers me a little hope. I hope that it is not too late to stop the Earth from deteriorating to levels we cannot come back from. It is nice to know that a few small actions that anyone can do can make a difference. I will be sure to instate some into my life. Thanks for this post. It is well researched and written, and I look forward to hearing more about this subject!

Olivia, I am interested to know what the long-term effects of climate change are. I’ve always heard that temperatures are increasing so drastically that the polar ice caps will melt and flood the earth. Is that right? Also, what’s the deal with recycling? I heard it doesn’t help at all. Is that true too? Should I just stop recycling then? I’ve heard so many different sides of this issue and the info seem to be changing daily; I really don’t know what to believe. I’ll try to do what you recommended but from what you say and from what little we are doing to change right now, I feel like I should start investing in a scuba suit or trying to grow gills.

Olivia, so far your research is really great! Climate change is a very real and scary thing that seems hopeless. I’m curious to see what more you find out!

This is very interesting. I am a bit of a Scrooge myself and don’t live Christmas, or any holiday for that matter. The Germans have a Christmas tradition that I find pretty funny, der Krampus. Der Krampus punishes bad children by hitting them with sticks and takes them to the Underworld.
Here’s a link to an article I found explaining the history of the German tradition:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil/

Thanks for sharing, Heidi. What a bizarre tradition!

Olivia,
I, too, am a lover of conspiracy theories. To think that Santa Claus might be the anti-Christ blows my mind. Since you brought this to light, I don’t believe I can look at Santa the same way again. One question though, how does Mrs. Claus tie into this? For that matter, how do the reindeer, elves, workshop, and the North Pole tie into this. If you could clear that up for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

I feel that capital punishment or the death penalty is bad. As you said in the letter “They say that it’s an important tool for preserving law and order.” The government also believes in “ an eye for an eye”, but in most cases race plays into the issue. A white person could kill a black person and no justice would be done, but a black person could kill a white person and have the whole world against them.