[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Service Dogs & Hotels - Do you have to notify?
I have a service dog, fully trained, marked with a vest, though I do not always keep it on him when in a hotel room. I recently checked into an Extended Stay, I did not speifically tell them I had a service dog, I didn't really feel a need. The clerk is stating now that he has seen me walk past with the dog I have to pay a 75.00 pet fee. I have attempted to explain that the dog is a service animal, not a pet but he claims since I did nto state that he was going to be there at checkin that I have to pay. This is breaking the law correct? I reread the American Disability Act and there is no law saying I have to notify beforehand.
I think that to deny you the right to have your service animal Would violate the Act.
Unless you were informed of the rule and the Fee beforehand, I would think you had the makings of a discrimination case. I would certainly refuse to pay this fee.
Someone with a dissability who has a service animal knows the dog is part of her, and vice versa. Many need to be educated about the "quiet" discrimination that the handicapped face.
Tara Service Dog In Training Test
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Losers & Bigger Losers - Surveying the Latin American Mining Carnage
Losers & bigger losers - Surveying the Latin American mining carnage
Christopher Ecclestone’s latest analysis of the effects of falling metals prices on the mining sectors and economies of the major Latin American nations.
The dramatic collapse in base metals prices can be one of two things. The first would be an end to the reflation that has reigned since 2002. The second would be a transitory reaction to the liquidity crisis with some semblance of normalcy restoring some but not all of the shine that the base metals have enjoyed in recent years. We are of the opinion that the last few years have not been "just an economic upcycle" in the commodities space but rather that the upcycle finally exposed the years of under-investment in the mining space which has resulted in a severe supply/demand imbalance.
Metals are returning the age before 1973 when they had real value. They are no longer the poor relatives of the economic system. They are finite resources in a resource-limited world.
On the second point we would agree that the liquidity crunch produced massive distress that went to the core of even the most convinced commodity groupies. When push came to shove, the baby went out with the bathwater (if we can mix our metaphors).
While some commentators have grasped onto the Baltic Dry Freight Index as an indicator of impending doom, one can't do much better in base metals than looking at LME, however imperfect and manipulable those numbers are. The key factor to note here is that stocks have really not gone ballistic as in the past when there has been a slump in demand. While they have moved up, and by sizeable percentages off their lows we would note that zinc going from a stockpile of three and half days of global usage to 4 days of global usage, scarcely ranks as a deluge of supply. The stocks are minimal compared to the "bad old days". Some metals, like zinc and nickel are trading at "bad old days'" levels without the stocks reflecting any commensurate "collapse" in demand.
Call us conspiracy theorists but the commodity space has been one of the easy spaces to rig prices to send signals to the market. If one has a goal of pumping the dollar to produce a false sense of security when it should be plunging then is it easier to short gold using massive CB gold holding as the backstop for the shorts or spend hundreds of billions buying treasuries? In this case they seemed to do both and it worked... for as long as it works. It is a Sisyphean task indeed but indicative of the PTBs desperation.
On the other hand we have our old friends the Chinese working the metals prices for all they are worth. To buy cheap metal (like they have done in quick dumping operations over recent years)? No, to buy cheap miners.. it's even better. Kill the metal and the owners of the mines will roll over to the minimal level of pressure when the Chinese (cnmining)come waving a checkbook (and a much thinner one than was waved at Peru Copper and Northern Peru Copper).
To believe current bad vibes out of China that production is slowing dramatically would also imply that one should be hacking Chinese growth expectations from a "modest" 10% to negative territory. No one is doing that, least of all the Chinese, so someone is speaking with forked tongue here.
So metals prices have been ground between the two millstones of two different sets of PTB.
LATIN AMERICAN MINING SECTOR
· Some countries are relatively unaffected by the metals price retreat. The ones largely immune, or unconcerned, are Argentina, Venezuela and Paraguay
· Brazil will see its nickel possibilities largely thwarted and faces a tough battle of the wills with China over iron-ore pricing. Gold prices are good enough (and the currency slump in the real large enough) that this activity should be sustainable.
· Bolivia, Mexico and Peru are going to encounter social pressures because of the
important role that mining has in job creation and the sustaining of isolated communities.
· Mexico could do with more currency relief to help out miners on their average dollar production costs.
· Ecuador's slowness in approving legislation means that the train has not left without it but has rather been permanently cancelled
· Peru is going to face big decisions once the Chinese come a'hunting after distressed Canadian-owned assets. They had better get some quick lessons in how to say "no" in Mandarin.
· Colombia is actually fairly well off. Coal prices remain firm and the internal dynamic means improved margins in this business rather than worsening margins. Gold is still in its formative stage there and so little was going on that the economic effect of lesser activity will scarcely be noticed
· We remain bulls on metals prices. The liquidity splurge to solve the financial crisis is here to stay and has produced a tidal wave of money that is yet to hit shore. Precious metals in particular will be beneficiaries of this squandering of monetary resources without commensurate creation of assets to back the extra money supply.
· Base metals are subject to some brutal manipulation at the current time combined with a liquidity crunch. Basically once the non-trade players are removed (already achieved in our opinion) then the eternal supply/demand factors will come into play. Capacity is being closed down left and right with commensurate supply reduction. This lays the ground for price spikes and, further down the track, the derailing of so many projects means an even tighter supply situation two years out for almost all metals we could imagine.
Argentina
Frankly Argentina couldn't give a damn about metals prices. Neither Bajo de la Alumbrera nor Cerro Castillo rank high in the thought processes of the Argentine economics ministry officials. The new mines coming on in the last year (Hochschild/MAI's San Jose and Coeur's Mina Marta amongst others) have added some small extra income and their start-ups have been graced, with enthusiasm, by the Kirchners (any peasant worth his salt has a perception of gold's relevance).
However, Argentina will neither live nor die (nor boom or default) on the back of lower or higher metals prices. Indeed, a pause (strike?) by mining companies in their investment programs may serve to focus the minds of some of the provincial administrations that tried to play the role of dog-in-the-manger or experienced overnight conversions to Greenness. A few have been showing signs of relenting... our words to you.. too late!
Lets put this in some perspective. Argentina's chief mining output has been gold and copper so far with a modicum of silver. The biggest project nearing completion is Silver Standard's Las Pirquita's in Jujuy. Silver is creeping back up. We perceive its problems were with its dangerously incestuous dependence for momentum upon the silver ETF (SLW). The panic selling cleared most of this crowd out and we feel a new ratio to gold is in the making. While the price has gone back above $10, we could see a firm gold price (trending towards $800 but not above) pulling silver back towards $13 where a lot of silver players are still doing very nicely. The addition of SSAM's mine will add Jujuy to the ranks of provinces that are doing a nice sideline in royalties and economic trickledown. This reinforces pro-mining sentiment in the province while making some of the more sniffy provinces all the more irate because they can't have their cake and eat it too.
While seeing SSAM going forward the ones that are in trouble are Exeter's promising finds and Aquiline's two projects. The latter should have made more hay while the sun shone with the market cap kicker that winning the La Navidad lawsuit gave them.
Having said all that we repeat that Argentina the country should weather any metals storm with little impact (though other storms might sink the ship of state).
Bolivia
The Latin leader who has expressed most openly his concerns on metals prices has been Evo Morales, supposedly the "enemy" of miners in the popular vilification. Tumbling zinc was his main focus, but well may he concern himself with any number of metals that Bolivia produces. Mining is a major source of jobs (30,000) in the upland areas of the country from which he draws most of his support.
As we have noted in our recent exposition on Bolivia, the Morales regime has not shown itself to be aggressive towards foreign miners and in fact is regarded as pro-mining by those in the know. The country still has its natgas exports going for it, but obviously there will be lower incomes for individuals and the state from the main export categories (silver, zinc, led, tin and antimony). The El Mutun iron ore mountain might have provided some consolation if it wasn't in the hands of the slowest moving pack of Indians on the planet.
Bolivia knows how to tighten the belt but the tightening doesn't come easy when the metals bonanza had just started to trickle through (Apex etc) and so few had yet to scramble onto the gravy train before it derailed.
Brazil
There is more to the Brazilian economy than iron ore though one would not have known this from the furore of recent years. The rising Brazilian real over the boom period was having a deleterious effect on just about every Brazilian export sector excepting iron ore and soybeans, both of which could outrun the currency due to outsized price gains. Most other export categories went to hell. The shoe industry was pushed off the global store shelves by Chinese product on every battleground. Little concern was raised due to the booming domestic economy, fed by massive cash inflows, taking up the slack. The retreat in the real now gives industry a chance to start exporting again, and it will need to considering that the domestic economy will now need to revert back to being powered by its own financial resources rather =than the fleeting yen carry trade. Brazil's mining sector consist of three elements with substance: iron ore, gold and nickel. Starting with the gold we would note that while there are a few substantial names producing (Yamana, Jaguar and Eldorado springing to mind) most of the players linked to Brazilian gold in recent years remain in the explorer category and none we know of are in the imminent production category. In any case gold is not too bad in its current price range and all the current producers are still viable with the added kicker of lower costs due to the real dive and the retreat in oil prices (though the latter's benefit was somewhat blunted by the currency move).
Nickel miners and wannabes received no such joy. As we noted in our piece on Brazilian nickel earlier this year there are not a lot of players but the one's that there are signal Brazil's appearance as a major new nickel province. However, the cataclysmic fall in the nickel price does not bode well for the wannabes or the producers. Mirabela Nickel, the Australian company was the one most likely to add to production in the very near future. It had been seeking a US$280mn senior debt financing (being underwritten by Credit Suisse and Barclays) but recently announced a two month extension to this syndication's original December deadline. We feel ominous rumblings on this one unless the nickel price rises from the dead in pretty quick time. The company does however have an offtake deal with Norilsk which may yet result in Mirabela falling into the bear's arms.
Bears have done enough damage already with the 12mth high being $8 and the current price being $1.60. Being on the most slippery part of the explorer to producer time continuum has only taught Mirabela a lesson in Newton's Law of Gravity.
Gravity has extracted an even heavier toll at wannabe, International Nickel Ventures. The stock has melted from $1.20 when we wrote of it last to around 17 cents at the current time. That is not likely to be doing much for the near future.
So iron ore is the great hope. Only one month ago, Vale was riding high.. strutting about all cashed up and ready to share down the Chinese on price rise resistance. Sure it had been mauled price-wise but that too would pass. No such luck. Whether by accident or design the rumour got going that the Chinese were not only seeing big rises in steel inventory but that renegade buyers were defaulting on contracts. Suddenly Vale went from rooster to feather duster and started talking about cutting production (though not prices). This all remains to be seen. We repeat again that we think the Chinese are perpetrating many and various head-fakes through the commodity space at this time to further their long term goals. The financial community believes the bad vibes, some miners do not. Vale cutting production was the right approach to take. Better to leave it in the ground than let the Chinese get away with the current manouevre. Still the production scaleback should reduce Brazil's foreign earnings form iron ore, if only temporarily.
In its own head fake MMX announced its delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange. We couldn't help but suppress a smile at this and recall from the 1990s how certain Latin American empresarios like to have their stocks in the market where they can manipulate them best.
Chile
There was more panic in Chile a year ago at the danger of energy crises, water crises and a super expensive peso sabotaging the real economy. Copper is largely the unreal economy in Chile as so little of its benefits seep down to the 14 million people who aren't on that gravy train. We could muse that the pressure on the water and energy resources is off (if only temporarily) while the peso has corrected nicely giving the exporters who really do produce jobs (agricultural mainly) a bit of breathing room.
Still bad news for copper is bad news for Chile. Codelco announced last week that its output was down 7.83% YoY, in the January-September period, to 1.12 mn tonnes mainly due to conflicts with contractors, environmental issues at El Teniente and Andina and lower grades.
Meanwhile Minera Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, reported its production in the first nine months of this year fell 10.4% year-on-year to 997,000 tonnes due to lower grades, less availability of ore for cathode output and problems related to a SAG mill failure.
In a more dramatic, but lesser scale, sign of the times the ASX-listed Tamaya Resources, a copper miner, went into administration last week claiming it was unable to repay its debts in light of falling copper prices. The company is the owner of the Punitaqui mine in Chile. The company reported a AU$141.2 million loss in the first half of the 2008 calendar year.
Away from copper, in another announcement in late October, Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE) said that it had placed mining activities at its Cerro Bayo mine on standby, tactfully rationalizing it as being due to "an immediate focus on expanding and upgrading the mine's mineral reserves and resources and developing a three-year, sustainable mine plan with lower costs and higher production rates". CDE claimed it was in the best interests of the company's shareholders to preserve the valuable mineral reserves and resources at Cerro Bayo and not continue selling the silver and gold production at a loss. Chile is much more accustomed to the slings and arrows of fortune in the mining space and should weather the current downturn just fine.
This process however will cause damage to the hordes of smaller miners that have been looking to provide the partial replacement (on a smaller scale) for some of the mega mines in Chile that are seeing falling grades or face the prospect of exhaustion over the coming decade. It is a great pity that Chile never bothered to develop its own mining capital market (in contrast to Lima's push) while the going was good.
Colombia
Curiously Colombia misses out on the debacle for two reasons. As far as gold is concerned there are scarcely any companies involved in this area in the country. The rebel activity kept avid goldseekers at bay until too late for anyone to really get involved. Thus there are only a handful of Canadian explorers and no producers we know of.
Coal though is a different equation. This product has remained immune from the commodity debacle, at least thus far. As we pointed out in our recent Coalcorp note the dynamic for Colombian coal is one of tailwinds not headwinds. A major upgrade of the FENOCO rail system is resulting in dramatically improved transport margins for the miners and thus a quantum leap in net margins. Coal in Colombia is something that shall be getting a lot more airtime in the next year or two and deservedly so.
Otherwise, Colombia, for once, gets to stay out of the firing line, literally and figuratively.
Ecuador
Better late than never may turn out to be never for the Correa government that thought it was keeping its cool on its slow moving mining legislation. Instead cool was glacial and now looks like turning into an Ice Age in which Rafael will be the hunter-gatherer found preserved in the permafrost.
We noted some months back that certain countries felt that high oil prices gave them the luxury to eschew mining or at least put so many obstacles in the way that they could have "small but perfectly formed" mining industries. This was shortsighted to us because it actually made an economy entirely oil dependent and also it failed to grasp that oil did not provide substantial numbers of jobs and that oil was invariably somewhere else in the country than where the mining was undertaken. Thus in the specific Ecuadorian case the uplands indigenous population would be left to grow yams while a select groups of techies would run oil installations in the coastal and Amazonian lowlands.
We have no doubt that the mining legislation will finally get through and that it will still be usable by the mining industry. The key question is how many of the miners, kept in holding pattern burning cash for so long, will be around to touchdown at their projects when the greenlight appears. A foolhardy policy has meant that Ecuadorian projects are even lower on the exploration/production continuum than those specimens in Venezuela. That implies they are farther from production on average than their peers in other countries that makes them all the less attractive.
The 800-lb gorilla in the sector is now Kinross after their purchase of Aurelian to get their hands on the company's Fruta del Norte mine. Aurelian has established an inferred resource of 13.7 million ounces of gold and 22.4-million ounces of silver at FDN. Based on initial scoping work and mine planning the project could cost around $500-million. This is not small change even by Kinross' standards. They are lucky
indeed that gold is still in the range where this project looks viable. Ironically, despite the travails of all concerned in Ecuador, this project, even though still formative is more likely to be able to gain momentum than many other projects in many other countries, including those more advanced on the studies' front.
The other interesting project in Ecuador that would "make a difference" globally is the copper-gold prospect of Corriente (CTQ.to, ETQ) in the eponymous copper belt. This has passed the feasibility stage and a starter project at Mirador is on the planning board. This might find itself a non-starter project until copper picks up momentum again.
At least the Correa government will be able to boast of one mine after having effectively sabotaged all the "might-have-beens" by their tardiness.
Mexico
Doom mongers have a field day with Argentina's antics and Venezuela and Bolivia are on the list for vilification of those opposed to their politics but when it comes down to it, Mexico is really the current "country most likely to..." in Latin America. What it is most likely to do is in the eye of the beholder.
Our macro risk analyst Armen Kouyoumdjian, who has covered the country since the late 1970s used the words "failed state" the other day to give an idea of the direction in which Mexico is drifting. The metals collapse has come at a particularly bad time for Mexico. It has seen its oil price more than halved at a time of declining production, just as Mexican immigrants are sending home dramatically reduced remittances from the US (if not packing their bags and returning home due to lack of work or tightened persecution). The maquiladora industry is joined at the hip with the US auto industry and that is in free fall.
One week recently, Mexico spent US$10bn defending the peso. Why bother? Better to have devoted that to make work infrastructure projects than fight the reality. In any case a weaker local currency might help those miners already producing by lowering their comparative costs. We note that it is major Mexican corporations, Controladora and Vitro that have hit the rocks before any corporates in other parts of LatAm.
Mining could have been (and maybe still will be) a great job creator. It has the benefit of bringing jobs to out of the way places where nothing is going on. Talking to a Canadian mining company this week, we discussed the local village of 250 and asked "what had been done with them?" and the response was "we hired them all" and this is only in the exploratory phase. Conceivably the mine in operation would transform the district and support a town of 1,000 or more.
The story is repeated across northern Mexico and down to a few more southern areas like Oaxaca.
Mexico was also the country with the most Canadian juniors running loose. This was a product of a great government attitude towards foreign miners and sheer prospectivity of one of the greatest mineral provinces in the world. The government rightly did not pursue a nationalist tack for once in recognition that the few domestic miners that the country has range from the torpid to the blatantly unpleasant in their promotion of improved local communities or worker relations. Of course, the more juniors one has the more inactivity looms as this group run short on cash.
The majors in Mexico consist of the big three locals (four if Fresnillo is counted as a truly separate entity to Peñoles) and now a handful of foreign mines making a good contribution to job creation, royalties and the trade balance in world-scale mines. This crowd are somewhat cushioned by silver staging a rebound and gold having found some footing in the mid-$700 range.
Once again we repeat that a weaker currency against the dollar would help. Those with an over-dependence on zinc or lead are over a barrel at the current time and the highly prospective El Boleo of Baja Mining has fallen victim to the low copper price and the financing freeze, despite having a truckload of money in the bank from the deal with Kores.
The freeze may eventually ease but the sheer size of this (and a few other projects being mooted like Geologix's San Anton) may make big not beautiful compared to small and doable (like Fortuna's San Jose project in Oaxaca).
Thus Mexico may not be an unalloyed disaster if silver can creep back to the $12 range in short order, gold holds its ground and copper tops $2 again. We repeat that we feel zinc could do a spike to over 80 cents on the massive production shutdowns currently in the works. That should at least bring comfort to those relying on byproduct credits, though new projects shall remain stuck in the starting gates.
Peru
The members of the Peruvian government had better start learning Chinese or at least come up with a China policy pretty fast because it's about to become a major issue for them. Those Conquistadores were not mistaken Peru is a treasure trove of minerals. Peru has the most prospectivity for large scale mines in a wide variety of metals than anywhere except Australia. The Australians have already made clear to the Chinese that they can nibble but cannot bite. The Peruvians are seemingly blithely unaware of the attentions being paid to their trove. The mere fact that the assets are largely in Canadian hands (with some serious Brazilian attention from Votorantim) does not make it a case of six of one half a dozen of the other when the Chinese come calling. Its all well and good to have customers for one's output but when one is deemed a "sphere of influence" then watch out. The DRC is a sphere of Chinese influence these days and it isn't pretty.
Of course one could always let the Chinese in (via snapping up bargain basement Canadian stocks) and then expropriate them later. This is the traditional treatment for uppity foreigners. But maybe they should throw away the 1950-70s editions of this book and go back and check the 1880s when the British wanted nitrates and Bolivia and Peru were made to disgorge them through the Chilean factotum.
Back to our conspiracy theory. If you feel that the manipulation of the news flow regarding metals "demand" is designed to get prices down and facilitate a grab for copper mines and not just for a few shiploads in the short term then the mines that are in the target range are largely in Peru and they are projects like those of Candente and Chariot Resources.
Clearly tired of negotiating for top dollar at Peru Copper and Northern Peru Copper with hard nosed Canadians like the Global Copper team, the Chinese must be licking their chops at the prospect of ravaging some of the mine owners who have seen their prices turn turtle. As any Chinese market stall owner knows the best way to gut your turtle is when its on its back waving its legs in the air. Not a pretty prospect for Candente or Chariot (or their look-alikes).
It's no skin off the Peruvians' nose at this juncture to see a change of ownership (indeed it might even speed development) but it is a serious mistake for institutional holders to not properly assess the longer term values of these projects.
Just last week the first shot was fired with Cardero announcing the sale of one of its magnetite "mountains to a private Chinese company. This may be out head-faking the Chinese and we remain to be surprised by seeing this settle, but it just highlights that the Chinese are seeking to secure their upstream supply and intimidate Vale and Rio Tinto into acquiescence on iron-ore pricing.
Longer term the Peruvians may rue the day when the razor-wire surrounded encampments appear with the PLA-seconded security teams roaming around with machine guns. Won't happen here? Happened in Africa... No somos africanos! To a Chinese mining executive all you non-Chinese peones look the same! Keep digging and shut your mouth..
Whether the Garcia regime wakes up or not is not clear. Some say he is a great admirer of Deng Xaio Ping... hmmmm.. These Latin quasi-leftists are nothing if not retro. Peru has done one of the worst jobs in helping achieve trickledown from mining development to the masses. Up close and personal, local communities, like that around Fortuna's Caylloma mine or Vena's Macusani prospect have been treated well but others (like those at La Oroya in the fallout zone from the Doe Run smelter) have only received lead poisoning for their troubles. Mining inflation became
generalized inflation and the solution from on high was denial with some jiggery- pokery of the statistics with a distinct Argentine flavour to the manoeuvre. The Garcia administration must be hoping it gets a second chance to get this right by mining prices staging a comeback. In the meantime, it had better starting learning the Chinese word for "no" and be prepared to use it.
Venezuela
Like Ecuador, this country has the irony that it might see a major project that has been stalled moving ahead while all around them are in stasis. That said, the two mines (Brisas and Las Cristinas) might have been in production years ago and enjoying peak gold prices rather than being Johnny-come-latelys to the scene. In the meantime, Hugo Chavez has given himself the reputation of being fickle and radioactive towards miners. His latest love affair is the quasi-Russian Rusoro. Embrace the Bear if you dare...
Chavez may yet come to regret his latest infatuation. These two mines (one extracted from Gold Reserve and the other from Crystallex) might be developed as one complex due to their proximity but frankly who cares? Venezuela has shown its disinterest in mining except as a political football. No-one new will appear on the scene and what might have been will not be. Oil at the mid-$60s
level is good for Venezuela but not as good as at $150.
As long as bread and circuses keep the rabble from revolting, all is well, but when they actually need some gainful employment, which mining might have supplied, they will need to tone up their basket-weaving skills because mining will not be an option in creating jobs, or perish the thought, a diversified source of foreign earnings.
CONCLUSION
One imagines from the havoc wreaked on local currencies that the retreat in metals prices (and some grains) is going to ravage the economies of places like Brazil and Argentina. Certainly the earnings and exports from these activities will be less but scarcely a bloodbath. There have been no suggestions that we have heard that there is any lessened demand for the agricultural outputs of either of these places. As for Brazil its iron ore shall see lower volumes but they seem determined to hold the line on price.
The precious metals are battered but unbowed and they make up much of the export output of the mining sectors of many countries.
Chile is the prime sufferer from lower copper prices, but we are not perceiving any great suffering in the news flow because the domestic Chilean economy has seemingly been insulated by distance and design from copper's mood swings. Still there will be a negative employment effect across the region from marginal mines being shut down and the investment flow to exploration drying up.
Confidence wise some of the plans of governments on the infrastructure front had mining in the background as the eventual or indirect paymaster. Those plans will now need to be tailored to a lesser quality and quantity of cloth.
Governments and companies need to keep their cool at this time and look back to the fundamentals of their metals, which are almost invariably good. In the meantime beware of Chinese bearing checkbooks, it is not a mutually beneficial trade.
About the Author
http://www.cnmining.org/news/?id=346
Reno Dog Training Go's GREEN
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[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Can a wild (baby) hawk be trained for hunting?
I have seen on tv hawks (and eagles) used for hunting, mostly by arabs in the Middle East. Are these birds breeded as with dogs in order to become a man's companion. Can someone start from "scratch," as I had this chance these days (see my previous 2 questions.) Of couse I am a city dweller and that was not my intend.
(Now, Please do not preach me on the legallity of this question/activities and similar nonsenses, OK?)
this is a 'theoretical' question and I expect thoughtful answers, thank you! Thak you, Kelly, for sharing your knowledge. Your answers are on the lead. I listen to the call from one of your links -- very much like my little chick's voice, only a mature version.
Yes it can be done it is called Falconry... go here for more info on the training... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falconry_%28training%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falconry
Just so you know it looks like you have a Northern Harrier also known as "Marsh Hawk". These birds do not hunt in the traditional hawk way...rather they hunt as thier name implies harrying thier prey in open fields flying about 10-20 feet off the ground. They do not generally catch other birds in flight and instead use thier hearing and eyesight to catch small prey upon the ground as they cruise around. I used to live near a meadow and there was a pair of these birds I was able to watch every day, they are beautiful animals!!
EDIT... You are welcome! Glad I could help.
As Seen On TV: Secrets To Training The Perfect Dog Infomercial
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Phoenix Dog Training: Understanding Dog Aggression and Aggressive Dogs
Treating Severe Dog Aggression
Part I: Understanding Your Dog With Aggression
READ THIS BEFORE EUTHANIZING YOUR DOG
Figure 1 Severe Dog Aggression Training Solutions
By: Bill Glatzel, M.S. Animal Behaviorist ,
FACT: 95% of aggression can be managed and controlled, yet over 80% of dogs reported to have severe aggression die each year and are euthanize because of lack of training or the wrong kind of training.
Most Veterinarians, and most Dog Trainers, are well intentioned, but don't have a clue how to deal with aggression effectively. The first thing that needs to be said is aggression is very serious. No one should ever attempt to deal with aggression without the help of an experienced and professional dog trainer who specializes in aggression. Two things usually happen. The dog gets put to death, or a poor attempt is made to fix the problem with someone or some dogs getting hurt, in some cases very seriously hurt.
Q: Do I need a Dog Trainer, an Animal Behaviorist, a Veterinarian, or Someone who specializes in Behavioral Medicine?
A: It is best to consult with an Animal Behaviorist who specializes in Behavioral Medicine and one who works with many Veterinarians' who have a good understanding of many complicated medical factors that typically involve neurochemical, hormonal, metabolic, and genetic factors, and sometimes dietary and nutritional components as well.
Figure 2 Severe Dog Bite Training
Q: I've always been told I should go see my vet first. Why is this not correct?
A: Probably not alone. Most dog trainers teach basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come. They may also help with basic manners, stop jumping, and stop barking, potty training. But when it comes to severe aggression, this is not basic manners; this is not just about training. The best person to help you is an Animal Behaviorist that is also a trainer and one who specializes in Behavioral Medicine. Most dog trainers often can't deal with severe aggression and tell you to put the dog down, or they make the dog more aggressive because they don't understand canine behavior from a multifaceted approach and perspective. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. There are no standards, no licensing, and no qualification requirements. On the other hand an Animal Behaviorist has earned either a Masters Degree or a PhD, from an accredited college or university and has extensive education in animal behavior along with real field work and research. An Animal Behaviorist is a Behavioral Scientist. Many dog trainers may mean well and be very well intentioned, but they ethically should except their limitations in training, education and experience, and refer you to an Animal Behaviorist.
Q: Isn't aggression in dogs kind of normal? Aren't they predators by nature?
A: NO. Aggression in dogs is abnormal. Most all dogs are not aggressive; most all dogs do not bite. Most severe aggression is a combination of unwanted learned behavior, genetics, neurochemical imbalance, hormonal imbalance, metabolic deficiencies, and also possible diet and nutritional factors. There are other medical factors that can be implicated in a causative factor in aggression such as diabetes, encephalitis, seizure disorders, spinal cord and brain injuries, head trauma, these are just to name a few.
Q: I watch Cesar Milan on the "Dog Whisperer." Can't I do what he does and fix my dogs aggression?
Figure 3 Dog Bite Prevention with Kids
A: Cesar has been bit many times; he also always recommends you hire a professional. Cesar admits he is not a behaviorist. Most Animal Behaviorists disagree with many of his methods and consider them to be of more hurt and danger to the dog that real help. We don't recommend his training methods for severe behavioral problems like aggression and anxiety.
TLC K9 ACADEMY is known Nationwide as the premier Aggression experts and Off-LeashObedience specialists. Their approach to aggression may be a bit different, but the fact is it works! TLC K9 ACADEMY saves the lives of many extremely aggressive dogs when other trainers/behaviorists and Veterinarians offer no hope but to euthanize and put to death the dog, someone's beloved pet and companion. Our goal is to manage the dog's aggression and manage the space of the dog so to prevent aggression. All aggression is because of a "real" or "perceived" threat. It is important to evaluate if the threat is real or not. A reaction that manifests itself in aggression may be very real. In some of these instances, we need to evaluate if the response of aggression is appropriate or not. If a person is attempting to hurt you or your dog, an aggressive response by your dog may be very appropriate and welcomed by you in this type of situation. However, having family guests over for the holidays and having your dog tear into uncle Ted just because he sits on the couch in your living room is very inappropriate and unwelcomed. Next in Part II; First Steps to Managing Aggression.
Bill Glatzel, M.S. is an Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Master Dog Trainer, who specializes in severe dog aggression, dog fears and dog phobias, and behavioral medicine in companion animals, high end obedience training off-leash with heavy distractions. He is the Founder, CEO and Owner of TLC K9 Academy, a Nationally recognized center for Dog Behavior Solutions and Expert Dog Training in Phoenix Arizona. Call local 480-502-3647, or toll free 1-888-502-3647 for additional information and visit them on the web at http://www.tlck9academy.com
Phoenix Dog Training (Grumpy Puppy Training)
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The one dog that has the potential to do just about anything is the German shepherd. A well trained, correctly bred German shepherd can turn into the kind of dog that you are looking for; a wonderful pet for the family, competitive obedience dog, or a trained attack dog, you name it and they can probably do it. All around working skills is what this breed of dog was designed for. German shepherd dog training will be the glue that holds the pieces together.
These great dogs are capable of learning at the early age of seven weeks old. As long as the commands are simple, the puppy’s brain is able to begin to absorb them at seven weeks old; an important note to remember is it will take awhile for the body to catch up. Teach your puppy games that he will enjoy for years to come.
Exercise will help your dog improve physically and mentally. It’s fun to teach tricks and enjoyable to do. Your dog will become more self assured the more he learns. Your dog will learn new commands and signals that can used at a later time. Offer your dog treats while teaching tricks. As your puppy matures, doing some tricks for some praise will be very exciting for him.
German shepherd training is best done with positive methods. Training your dog without hurting them is the best way. Positive training uses positive reinforcements to reach the desired behavior. Training your dog using the positive method doesn’t mean the dog gets to do whatever it wants to do. Acceptable behavior allows them to get their reward. Using positive training produces a dog that is happy and eager. Positive training lets your dog obey out of trust. Your dog and you will become a team.
In the beginning, while walking your dog, they might want to carry the leash in their mouth. They can carry the leash for the first few times, but aren’t allowed to chew on it. While holding the leash in your left hand, keep the dog to your left side. The dog should always be trained with short lessons. It could take several lessons before the dog starts to figure out leash training.
The Sit and The Down
Positive training using treats for teaching the sit. The treat is held in front of the dog’s nose, and then lift it up and back. This helps the dog fold his legs under him. While you’re using the treat to get him to sit, don’t forget to say “sit”. When the dog sits give him his treat.
You start in the sit position, when teaching the down. Slowly move the treat down and forward in front of the dog. The dog will lower his front legs. Don’t forget to say “down”, while lowering the treat and after the dog lays down reward with the treat and lots of praise.
In Closing
Many German shepherd dogs have been ruined by incorrect training or lack of training. The experience that you have in training these dogs will be very exciting. Living with a well trained German shepherd dog is a trip of a life time.
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[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] House training a puppy.?
I haven't a puppy in 5ish years, so i need some new tips. Shes a 4 month aussie/beagle. rescued 1. after feeding when should i bring her out? 2. Any training tips. ( Shes going to go to a training school at end of this month. Any more tips. Thanks :D
I used a crate with my second dog and he was reliably housetrained within a month. Our first dog wasn't reliable until around 6 months old. If you aren't comfortable with using a crate, you need to keep the puppy tethered to you (long leash) at all times. If you can't watch him he needs to be confined in a safe area.
Bella, Toy Pomeranian, Puppy Pre-School, November 2007
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Dog Aggression Training-Tips For Dog Aggression Training
Are you fed up with the aggressive ways of your four legged companion? With proper dog aggression training this problem could be dramatically reduced. Although aggression is a difficult issue to deal with, there are different ways in which the issue can be resolved.
1 - Consult a Veterinarian – If your dog hasn’t had a history of being aggressive and beings growling, biting or snapping at people, talk about it to your vet. This sudden change in his behavior can be a sign of a medical problem which needs immediate medical attention.
2 - Determine the situations - Determine the situations in which your dog displays aggressive behavior and avoid them. An important part of dog aggression training is discovering the reason behind the aggression.
3- Make a behavior modification program – This can be achieved with the help of a professional behaviorist. For example, if your dog growls when you or someone else from your family approaches his food bowl then you might be asked to approach an empty food bowl and drop some food in it. This way your dog will understand when someone approaches his food bowl he will get a treat and there is no need for him to be aggressive.
4- Never punish your dog for behaving aggressively- You should never punish your dog for acting aggressively. As they say, aggression breeds aggression. If a dog is punished for being aggressive, it may cause him to show more aggression.
5- Be consistent and patient – If you want to provide proper dog aggression training than you need to be consistent in your efforts in training him and stay patient, as dog aggression is a problem that cannot be curbed overnight.
6 – Socialize Your Dog – The most common reason for dogs to show aggressive behavior is due to the lack of their socialization when they were young. A dog will find it hard to trust people and other dogs that he doesn’t know, if he did not have lot of chances to interact with them while he was young. So, if you have a puppy socialize him during his early stages of his life and you should never deal with dog aggression problems in future.
As you can see here dog aggression training can be a difficult and tedious process. When working with an aggressive dog, a good dog training course can be very useful. You will want to look for the one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.
[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Is it true that dogs eat grass to make themselves throw up?
If so, is it because their stomachs are upset? When my dog eats grass, he throws up later in the day and it's like water with some blades of grass in it. I know this because he always throws up on my bed. Why on my bed? Is he sending me a message? Is there some way I can train him to throw up somewhere else? What would happen if I prevent him from eating grass - would that keep him from throwing up? Would there be any reason why I should not prevent him from eating grass? Thanks for any advice.
I read somewhere (a while back so I don't recall where) that a lot of the lawn grasses (& weeds) that dogs usually have access to, have tiny little barbs on them, which irritate their stomachs. . .
Dogs are supposed to eat *some* plants, so I give my dogs a small helping of Spirulina with each meal. Their coats are much softer, and I *think* I've noticed less grass-eating behavior from them.
Sometimes I think dogs eat grass when they are hungry and nothing else acceptable is available for them to eat. I have wondered whether --at least sometimes-- it is out of a desire for the nutrients the grasses contain. . . Some people grow special kinds of grass that don't cause their pets to vomit, so they can eat it without having to vomit. I would like to try that sometime, as I like to provide the necessities for my pets. http://watchtower.org/e/20040222a/article_02.htm
Dog Training : How to Keep Dogs Off Grass
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The horse is a hoofed (ungulate) mammal, a subspecies of one of seven extant species of the family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC; by 2000 BC the use of domesticated horses had spread throughout the Eurasian continent. Although most horses today are domesticated, there are still endangered populations of the Przewalski's Horse, the only remaining true wild horse, as well as more common feral horses which live in the wild but are descended from domesticated ancestors.
There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior. Horses are anatomically designed to use speed to escape predators, and have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. Female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years.
Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are over 300 breeds of horses in the world today, developed for many different uses.
NicePets4you.weebly.com is all about dogs! Free information on dog breeds,puppies, pets, dog training, food and so much more.http://nicepets4you.weebly.com/
About the Author
This article has written by Fazal Zubair. He is a full time IT Manager and It Consultant in Lahore,Pakistan. He runs several websites and blogs.
Petland Investigation: Pet Store Sells Puppy Mill Dogs
[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] How do you register you're dog as a service dog in training or a service dog?
I'm training my dog and would like to do public training with him. For a service animal that is, would I have to procure a licensee.
If you're in the US, the simple answer is, you don't. There is no nationally recognized certification or registration for service dogs. Some states offer a special license for a service dog, but it is not required for access that is protected under federal law.
In order to have a service dog, you must meet the legal definition of "disabled" and the dog must meet the legal definition of "service animal". It typically takes between 18 and 24 months to fully train a service dog.
I recommend you speak with your doctor to make sure you are actually disabled and speak with a trainer who can properly evaluate your dog for the proper temperament to be a service animal. Service work is incredibly stressful and very demanding. The majority of dogs not specifically chosen for the job do not make it.
Service Dog Training :: AJ Alerting To Doorbell
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Does Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, Really Have it Right When it Comes to Dog Training?
I know it sounds crazy, but I love AND hate that Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer show.
It's fascinating to watch him re-shape dog's behavior, but it's really hard to understand his concepts and how to actually make the dog change his behavior.
I have trained dogs before, and I have watched Cesar's TV show and read his books.
He brings a lot of "intuitive energy" to dog training. He talks about doing "centering" exercises and meditation at home. He says it's important to have calm and positive thoughts in your mind when you are interacting with your dog. However, I think he falls short on a lot of communication to people in general, about how to get their dog to do what they want.
I have watched the show a dozen times or more, and I just don't have a solid grasp of how he would train a dog to do something simple, like Sit.
Maybe Cesar focuses more on rehabilitating dogs, not just training them. But for most of us, we need to learn solid dog training techniques that can get our dog to behave a little better at home. We're not trying to heal him from some traumatic past or redress other major problems. We just want the simple things - come when called, don't beg for food, stop barking, etc.
One thing that I do like about Cesar's dog training ideas is that he focuses on helping your dog get exercise and meet his other "breed" needs - like playing fetch, scent tracking, and so forth.
Truthfully, I think a lot of neurotic or anxious dog behavior can be traced to people just not having enough time to spend with their dogs to get them a good variety of routines in their day that are active (we Americans aren't very active, are we?).
For every person who jogs 3 miles with their dog after work, there are probably 10 others who just let the dog out into the back yard and hope he runs himself around.
Unless you have a dog breed that doesn't need much exercise, this can be a real problem.
However, all this and more is covered in the dog training manual I recommend. It is much more concrete and actionable than the "philosophies" that Cesar discusses in his books. I think Cesar's techniques are fascinating to watch, but not very duplicable for the average dog owner.
For a real easy-to-understand and implement dog training system, I think Cesar's approach is a little too murky.
Find out what I recommend instead.
About the Author
If you're frustrated by hearing dog training ideas that aren't actionable, I suggest you check out this refreshing alternative dog training manual.
It's called Sit Stay Fetch, (now also known as Secrets To Dog Training. You will find it easy to absorb and very effective at helping you change your dog's behavior.
Dog Training Group Class, Dog Whisperer Style www.K9-1.com
I have a 50 pound dog that will not respond to my wife's commands and would like to try this method for training the dog, but don't know what brand of collar to get. Does anyone have a good suggestion?
Both tri-Tronics and Dogtra make many models of great collars without the need to buy their top of the line collars. More important than the collar you would choose to use is the training program you choose. Just strapping a collar on does not train a dog, you first need to learn what to do with it.
Dog Training Commands - Command to Train Your Dogs
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[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Dog training classes?
I have a verrry spoiled chihuahua, I was thinking of putting him in training classes at our local petstore which teaches him basic commands, house manners, socializing etc. He has gotten bad, meaning nobody could come near me because he snaps at them, if anything comes to my house he'll snap at them, if other dogs try to play with him, he tries to attack them..Has anyone used these classes? Should I try it?
The classes are great, but they require you to spend time daily with your dog practicing what you learn in class.
Las Vegas Dog Training Group Class with Deaf Bull Terrier
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When people hunt small prey, they usually use hunting dogs to bring their kills. If hunting dogs didn't exist, hunters would need to go find the prey they hit on their own, losing time. A hunting dog that is trained properly will reduce the amount of useless work that the hunter needs to do.
But, you can't just train any dog to help with hunting. There are special breeds designed to perform best in the conditions that hunting requires.
But, you can't find a hunting dog like you would any other normal dog breed. These dogs are well trained to be able to meet the requirements of hunting. The training process for a hunting dog is usually a long one, that needs the trainer to be patient and to know how to work with the dog. As for the dog, he needs to have the right attributes to become a proper hunting dog.
Choosing the right breed
As I said before, you can't use just any type of dog to train for hunting. You should work with a dog breed that is specially designed for this, and that has a history of serving men in this capacity. You need a dog breed that is made to do this kind of job.
Some of the dog breeds that are well suited to be hunters include pointers, spaniels and retrievers. Each of these three have their own traits that are unique to them. Once you choose such a dog, the trainer needs to make the most out of their unique traits.
One trait that all hunting dogs have is a great sense of smell. This helps them track the prey in the field. Another trait is that they're adapted to outdoor life and can be easily trained. If you want the best possible hunting dog, choose a breed that meets all the requirements. In most cases, people choose Beagles, Dachshunds, Bloodhounds or Labradors as hunting dogs.
What dog to choose?
If you want to train a dog to hunt, you shouldn't choose one that is already fully grown. You should go with a puppy, since his behavior isn't formed yet and he can be trained easily. The second requirement would be for the dog to have some affinity to the handler. You can't expect for that affinity to form alone. This is why you should train the dog personally, or at least assist the trainer with it.
What does training usually entail?
A hunting dog needs to be able to master these six tasks:
a) Quartering b) Retrieving c) Steadying d) Marking e) Shaking f) Following hand signals
What about scent and gun fire?
Some dogs will be scared when they hear gun fire. So they need to be specially trained to get used to it. Usually, this is done by conditioning the dog, by getting him used both with game birds and gun fire.
Game birds will be associated this way with gun fire. When he will hear it in the future, he will know that when the hunter shoots, he needs to look for the bird. After they get the prey, they will expect to hear the gun fire again.
One thing you should do when training the dog, is getting him used to a certain scent, depending on what you want to hunt with him. If you're looking to hunt boar, than he should know the boar scent, so he can track it.
It's much harder to do dog training than it is to train them in other areas. But, if you're a true hunter, you will need a great dog to assist you.
Gun Dog Training "Whoa" Part 1 German Shorthair at Willow Creek Kennels
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Understanding Psychology Of Dog Training: Pack Behavior & Establishing Control
Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of dog training and understand the pack hierarchal system of dogs, we must go back and examine their ancestor - wolves.
Wolves live naturally in packs of at least 2 and more... They live in a dictatorship system with strictly defined hierarchies of males and females. In their system, a leader - usually always a male, the biggest and toughest wolf also known as alpha leader would be in charge of the pack and will have the right to everything. The rest of the dogs in the pack would be followers and follow their leader willingly. This hierarchy system is not static and would change when another dominant member challenge the leader's authority and win.
For your dog, your family is the pack and every member is part of the hierarchy system. From the moment a new puppy or dog is introduce to the family, the new dog will start to pick up signals and indicators to figure out his own status in the family and who's in charge. If your dog see you as a "alpha leader", he will follow your commands willingly and this will allows you to train him easily.
On the other hand, if your dog is very dominant (because you allow him to pick up the wrong signals) and starts to challenge your "alpha leader" position, he may refuse to follow your command and turn aggressive against you easily. This situation usually happens in children where dogs see their chain of command higher than that of them. This also explains why children suffer more dog bites than adults do.
If you would prefer to own an obedient dog that pay attention to your command, assuming the role of the “alpha leader' and establishing control over your dog is extremely important!
Your dog must learn that he is the lowest ranking in the family, subordinate to you, to the children, and must recognize you to be the leader. If such hierarchy is not set up properly, the dog will try to take charge and assume the role of the leader. This'll eventually lead the dog to turn into “dominant dog” and thus tend to misbehave. If this happens, you'll face an uphill task to properly train your dog.
As we live in a democratic society, most of us will find it hard to understand the dog's concept of dictatorship. Nevertheless, it is necessary that we adjust ourselves to understand how the dog live and think. By being dictating, you would think that this is cruel or even inhumane to the dog. If you think so, you are very wrong!
In fact, dogs are more than happy to be a follower and taking instructions from a leader. You have to give your dog directions, organize his space and activities for him, and he'll be more clued-up and know his boundaries of life, which means knowing what is expected of him when he's indoor or outdoor.
Your dog will be able to lead a less stressful and happy life and so will you.
Dog Training Tip -- A Subtle Way To Be The Alpha Dog
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Does anyone know anything about the Illusion Dog Training Collar?
I am training a 5 mo. pitbull, even though he does not pull when I am walking I was told that this was something good to have?
The Illusion collar is just a nylon slip collar that is held up in the proper position (just behind the ears, high on the neck) by the use of a contraption made of stiff stays and nylon webbing. Many people who do not know what they are doing or have not seen other options might find the $39.95 collar to be an attractive option.
The problem with most slip collars is that the collar must be large enough to go over the dog's head and the dog's neck is a smaller diameter than its head. If a regular slip collar will fit over your dog's head, it will also lay too low on the dog's neck and be out of the proper position.
For $12.50 you could have this nylon slip collar in 1" increments that fastens around your dog's neck and stays where it belongs: http://leerburg.com/746.htm provided you order the right size!
I'm not a big fan of choke chains, but they are also slip collars. I learned from an Army military war dog trainer that once a choke chain is on your dog, you can take up the slack and put a key chain ring through the chain to keep it from going slack again. Of course the key chain ring must be of a larger diameter than the rings on the chain. I already had a choke chain and the key ring was free from my hardware store.
Personally, I feel that a 5 month old puppy is a bit too young for training collars of any sort and should still be on a flat collar at all times. Wait a few more months before introducing training collars to your puppy, OK? The Illusion collar page says to wait until the puppy is one year of age, but under certain conditions, I think 8 months is fine.
Have you looked into prong collars for later? They look mean, but are actually more humane than slip collars.
DT Systems 1852 Beeper Training Collar Video by Pointer Supply
How do I train my dog to be aggressive when it needs to be? kind of like a police dog?
Basically I don't want my dog to go around mauling people but I would like to train her to respond to certain commands if I need her to be aggressive and to also show her to be friendly when I want her to be. Again I do not want to make my dog a fight dog or anything of the like she is my baby I just want her to be trained to be alert and cautious when I give the command.
You need to train her to do those things. But training is not always easy because oftentimes, you need a professional trainer to have your dog trained. You can research more on dog training tips on the internet or ask fellow dog owners in your area if they have a similar experience in training their dogs to do special tasks.
Pollution, contamination of Earth’s environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of ecosystems (living organisms and their physical surroundings). Although some environmental pollution is a result of natural causes such as volcanic eruptions, most is caused by human activities.
Thermal Inversion Smog surrounds the Angel Monument in Mexico City, Mexico, during a thermal inversion. Air pollution increases dramatically when a mass of cold air is trapped below a mass of warmer air. The absence of air circulation prevents pollution near Earth’s surface from escaping.
There are two main categories of polluting materials, or pollutants. Biodegradable pollutants are materials, such as sewage, that rapidly decompose by natural processes. These pollutants become a problem when added to the environment faster than they can decompose (see Sewage Disposal). Nondegradable pollutants are materials that either do not decompose or decompose slowly in the natural environment. Once contamination occurs, it is difficult or impossible to remove these pollutants from the environment.
Nondegradable compounds such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and radioactive materials can reach dangerous levels of accumulation as they are passed up the food chain into the bodies of progressively larger animals. For example, molecules of toxic compounds may collect on the surface of aquatic plants without doing much damage to the plants. A small fish that grazes on these plants accumulates a high concentration of the toxin. Larger fish or other carnivores that eat the small fish will accumulate even greater, and possibly life-threatening, concentrations of the compound. This process is known as bioaccumulation.
II IMPACTS OF POLLUTION
Because humans are at the top of the food chain, they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of nondegradable pollutants. This was clearly illustrated in the 1950s and 1960s when residents living near Minamata Bay, Japan, developed nervous disorders, tremors, and paralysis in a mysterious epidemic. More than 400 people died before authorities discovered that a local industry had released mercury into Minamata Bay. This highly toxic element accumulated in the bodies of local fish and eventually in the bodies of people who consumed the fish. More recently research has revealed that many chemical pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs, mimic sex hormones and interfere with the human body’s reproductive and developmental functions. These substances are known as endocrine disrupters.
Pollution also has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and rivers perform many important services for Earth’s environment. They enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be impaired or destroyed by pollution. Moreover, because of the complex relationships among the many types of organisms and ecosystems, environmental contamination may have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or that are difficult to predict. For instance, scientists can only speculate on some of the potential impacts of the depletion of the ozone layer, the protective layer in the atmosphere that shields Earth from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Another major effect of pollution is the tremendous cost of pollution cleanup and prevention. The global effort to control emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas produced from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, or of other organic materials like wood, is one such example. The cost of maintaining annual national carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels is estimated to be 2 percent of the gross domestic product for developed countries. Expenditures to reduce pollution in the United States in 1993 totaled $109 billion: $105.4 billion on reduction, $1.9 billion on regulation, and $1.7 billion on research and development. Twenty-nine percent of the total cost went toward air pollution, 36 percent to water pollution, and 36 percent to solid waste management.
In addition to its effects on the economy, health, and natural resources, pollution has social implications. Research has shown that low-income populations and minorities do not receive the same protection from environmental contamination as do higher-income communities. Toxic waste incinerators, chemical plants, and solid waste dumps are often located in low-income communities because of a lack of organized, informed community involvement in municipal decision-making processes.
III TYPES OF POLLUTION
Pollution exists in many forms and affects many different aspects of Earth’s environment. Point-source pollution comes from specific, localized, and identifiable sources, such as sewage pipelines or industrial smokestacks. Nonpoint-source pollution comes from dispersed or uncontained sources, such as contaminated water runoff from urban areas or automobile emissions.
The effects of these pollutants may be immediate or delayed. Primary effects of pollution occur immediately after contamination occurs, such as the death of marine plants and wildlife after an oil spill at sea. Secondary effects may be delayed or may persist in the environment into the future, perhaps going unnoticed for many years. DDT, a nondegradable compound, seldom poisons birds immediately, but gradually accumulates in their bodies. Birds with high concentrations of this pesticide lay thin-shelled eggs that fail to hatch or produce deformed offspring. These secondary effects, publicized by Rachel Carson in her 1962 book, Silent Spring, threatened the survival of species such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, and aroused public concern over the hidden effects of nondegradable chemical compounds.
A Air Pollution
Brown Smog Over Phoenix, Arizona Smog is caused by industrial and automobile pollution. It is compounded by temperature inversions, which cause the air pollution to be kept in a particular area for extended periods. Continued exposure to smog can result in respiratory problems, eye irritation, and even death.
Human contamination of Earth’s atmosphere can take many forms and has existed since humans first began to use fire for agriculture, heating, and cooking. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, however, air pollution became a major problem. As early as 1661 British author and founding member of the British Royal Society John Evelyn reported of London in his treatise Fumifugium, "… the weary Traveller, at many Miles distance, sooner smells, than sees the City to which he repairs. This is that pernicious Smoake which fullyes all her Glory, superinducing a sooty Crust or Furr upon all that it lights.…"
Urban air pollution is commonly known as smog. The dark London smog that Evelyn wrote of is generally a smoky mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds from incomplete combustion (burning) of fossil fuels such as coal, and sulfur dioxide from impurities in the fuels. As the smog ages and reacts with oxygen, organic and sulfuric acids condense as droplets, increasing the haze. Smog developed into a major health hazard by the 20th century. In 1948, 19 people died and thousands were sickened by smog in the small U.S. steel-mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania. In 1952, about 4,000 Londoners died of its effects.
A second type of smog, photochemical smog, began reducing air quality over large cities like Los Angeles in the 1930s. This smog is caused by combustion in car, truck, and airplane engines, which produce nitrogen oxides and release hydrocarbons from unburned fuels. Sunlight causes the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to combine and turn oxygen into ozone, a chemical agent that attacks rubber, injures plants, and irritates lungs. The hydrocarbons are oxidized into materials that condense and form a visible, pungent haze.
Eventually most pollutants are washed out of the air by rain, snow, fog, or mist, but only after traveling large distances, sometimes across continents. As pollutants build up in the atmosphere, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are converted into acids that mix with rain. This acid rain falls in lakes and on forests, where it can lead to the death of fish and plants, and damage entire ecosystems. Eventually the contaminated lakes and forests may become lifeless. Regions that are downwind of heavily industrialized areas, such as Europe and the eastern United States and Canada, are the hardest hit by acid rain. Acid rain can also affect human health and man-made objects; it is slowly dissolving historic stone statues and building facades in London, Athens, and Rome.
One of the greatest challenges caused by air pollution is global warming, an increase in Earth’s temperature due to the buildup of certain atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide. With the heavy use of fossil fuels in the 20th century, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have risen dramatically. Carbon dioxide and other gases, known as greenhouse gases, reduce the escape of heat from the planet without blocking radiation coming from the Sun. Because of this greenhouse effect, average global temperatures are expected to rise 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius degrees (2.5 to 10.4 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. Although this trend appears to be a small change, the increase would make the Earth warmer than it has been in the last 125,000 years, possibly changing climate patterns, affecting crop production, disrupting wildlife distributions, and raising the sea level.
Air pollution can also damage the upper atmospheric region known as the stratosphere. Excessive production of chlorine-containing compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (compounds formerly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and in the manufacture of polystyrene products) has depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, creating a hole above Antarctica that lasts for several weeks each year. As a result, exposure to the Sun’s harmful rays has damaged aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and threatens human health in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres.
B Water Pollution
The demand for fresh water rises continuously as the world’s population grows. From 1940 to 1990 withdrawals of fresh water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other sources increased fourfold. Of the water consumed in the United States in 1995, 39 percent was used for irrigation, 39 percent was used for electric power generation, and 12 percent was used for other utilities; industry and mining used 7 percent, and the rest was used for agricultural livestock and commercial purposes.
Sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are the main causes of water pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that about 37 percent of the country’s lakes and estuaries, and 36 percent of its rivers, are too polluted for basic uses such as fishing or swimming during all or part of the year. In developing nations, more than 95 percent of urban sewage is discharged untreated into rivers and bays, creating a major human health hazard.
Polluted River in the United Kingdom The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one of the most critical environmental problems of the 20th century. Waterborne chemical pollution entering rivers and streams comes from two major sources: point pollution and nonpoint pollution. Point pollution involves those pollution sources from which distinct chemicals can be identified, such as factories, refineries or outfall pipes. Nonpoint pollution involves pollution from sources that cannot be precisely identified, such as runoff from agricultural or mining operations or seepage from septic tanks or sewage drain fields. It is estimated that each year 10 million people die worldwide from drinking contaminated water.
Water runoff, a nonpoint source of pollution, carries fertilizing chemicals such as phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fields and yards into lakes, streams, and rivers. These combine with the phosphates and nitrates from sewage to speed the growth of algae, a type of plantlike organism. The water body may then become choked with decaying algae, which severely depletes the oxygen supply. This process, called eutrophication, can cause the death of fish and other aquatic life. Agricultural runoff may be to blame for the growth of a toxic form of algae called Pfiesteria piscicida, which was responsible for killing large amounts of fish in bodies of water from the Delaware Bay to the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1990s. Runoff also carries toxic pesticides and urban and industrial wastes into lakes and streams.
Erosion, the wearing away of topsoil by wind and rain, also contributes to water pollution. Soil and silt (a fine sediment) washed from logged hillsides, plowed fields, or construction sites, can clog waterways and kill aquatic vegetation. Even small amounts of silt can eliminate desirable fish species. For example, when logging removes the protective plant cover from hillsides, rain may wash soil and silt into streams, covering the gravel beds that trout or salmon use for spawning.
The marine fisheries supported by ocean ecosystems are an essential source of protein, particularly for people in developing countries. Yet pollution in coastal bays, estuaries, and wetlands threatens fish stocks already depleted by overfishing. In 1989, 260,000 barrels of oil was spilled from the oil tanker Exxon Valdez into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, a pristine and rich fishing ground. In 1999 there were 8,539 reported spills in and around U.S. waters, involving 4.4 billion liters (1.2 billion gallons) of oil.
C Soil Pollution
Pest Control or Pollution? Pest control has become a difficult issue for farmers because of its potential environmental impact. Although the insecticide being sprayed on this potato field will eliminate a generation of Colorado potato beetles, it may also contaminate local food and water sources.
Soil is a mixture of mineral, plant, and animal materials that forms during a long process that may take thousands of years. It is necessary for most plant growth and is essential for all agricultural production. Soil pollution is a buildup of toxic chemical compounds, salts, pathogens (disease-causing organisms), or radioactive materials that can affect plant and animal life.
Unhealthy soil management methods have seriously degraded soil quality, caused soil pollution, and enhanced erosion. Treating the soil with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides interferes with the natural processes occurring within the soil and destroys useful organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. For instance, strawberry farmers in California fumigate the soil with methyl bromide to destroy organisms that may harm young strawberry plants. This process indiscriminately kills even beneficial microorganisms and leaves the soil sterile and dependent upon fertilizer to support plant growth. This results in heavy fertilizer use and increases polluted runoff into lakes and streams.
Improper irrigation practices in areas with poorly drained soil may result in salt deposits that inhibit plant growth and may lead to crop failure. In 2000 bc, the ancient Sumerian cities of the southern Tigris-Euphrates Valley in Mesopotamia depended on thriving agriculture. By 1500 bc, these cities had collapsed largely because of crop failure due to high soil salinity. The same soil pollution problem exists today in the Indus Valley in Pakistan, the Nile Valley in Egypt, and the Imperial Valley in California.
D Solid Waste
Components of Municipal Solid Waste A person living in an industrialized nation produces a great variety of solid waste, often a mix of potentially reusable or recyclable items (such as paper and yard waste) and largely nonrecyclable material (such as food waste and many types of plastic). Of the municipal solid waste (the waste collected from residences and businesses) produced in the United States in 2000, about two-fifths of the paper, metal, and yard waste was recycled, and about one-quarter of the glass was recycled.
Solid wastes are unwanted solid materials such as garbage, paper, plastics and other synthetic materials, metals, and wood. Billions of tons of solid waste are thrown out annually. The United States alone produces about 200 million metric tons of municipal solid waste each year (see Solid Waste Disposal). A typical American generates an average of 2 kg (4 lb) of solid waste each day. Cities in economically developed countries produce far more solid waste per capita than those in developing countries. Moreover, waste from developed countries typically contains a high percentage of synthetic materials that take longer to decompose than the primarily biodegradable waste materials of developing countries.
Overflowing Landfill An average city dweller may produce a ton of refuse in a year, a volume that rapidly overflows local dumps. Cities running out of space for landfill often turn to incinerating their waste or transporting it to other areas, although up to 90 percent of the material might have been recycled.
Areas where wastes are buried, called landfills, are the cheapest and most common disposal method for solid wastes worldwide. But landfills quickly become overfilled and may contaminate air, soil, and water. Incineration, or burning, of waste reduces the volume of solid waste but produces dense ashen wastes (some of which become airborne) that often contain dangerous concentrations of hazardous materials such as heavy metals and toxic compounds. Composting, using natural biological processes to speed the decomposition of organic wastes, is an effective strategy for dealing with organic garbage and produces a material that can be used as a natural fertilizer. Recycling, extracting and reusing certain waste materials, has become an important part of municipal solid waste strategies in developed countries. According to the EPA, more than one-fourth of the municipal solid waste produced in the United States is now recycled or composted. Recycling also plays a significant, informal role in solid waste management for many Asian countries, such as India, where organized waste-pickers comb streets and dumps for items such as plastics, which they use or resell.
Expanding recycling programs worldwide can help reduce solid waste pollution, but the key to solving severe solid waste problems lies in reducing the amount of waste generated. Waste prevention, or source reduction, such as altering the way products are designed or manufactured to make them easier to reuse, reduces the high costs associated with environmental pollution.
E Hazardous Waste
Toxic Waste in Love Canal Residents of the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls were forced to evacuate when hazardous wastes leaking from a former disposal site threatened their health and homes in the late 1970s. One of the most notorious cases of toxic waste leakage, the crisis received attention on both local and national levels. Investigation spurred by public outrage revealed that many waste disposal sites like Love Canal existed nationwide; New York alone had several hundred. Several states passed stricter regulations on industrial waste disposal and allocated billions of dollars for the cleanup of contaminated areas.
Hazardous wastes are solid, liquid, or gas wastes that may be deadly or harmful to people or the environment and tend to be persistent or nondegradable in nature. Such wastes include toxic chemicals and flammable or radioactive substances, including industrial wastes from chemical plants or nuclear reactors, agricultural wastes such as pesticides and fertilizers, medical wastes, and household hazardous wastes such as toxic paints and solvents.
About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are generated each year. The United States alone produces about 250 million metric tons—70 percent from the chemical industry. The use, storage, transportation, and disposal of these substances pose serious environmental and health risks. Even brief exposure to some of these materials can cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, and death. Large-scale releases of hazardous materials may cause thousands of deaths and contaminate air, water, and soil for many years. The world’s worst nuclear reactor accident took place near Chernobyl’, Ukraine, in 1986 (see Chernobyl’ Accident). The accident killed at least 31 people, forced the evacuation and relocation of more than 200,000 more, and sent a plume of radioactive material into the atmosphere that contaminated areas as far away as Norway and the United Kingdom.
Until the Minamata Bay contamination was discovered in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s, most hazardous wastes were legally dumped in solid waste landfills, buried, or dumped into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Legal regulations now restrict how such materials may be used or disposed, but such laws are difficult to enforce and often contested by industry. It is not uncommon for industrial firms in developed countries to pay poorer countries to accept shipments of solid and hazardous wastes, a practice that has become known as the waste trade. Moreover, cleaning up the careless dumping of the mid-20th century is costing billions of dollars and progressing very slowly, if at all. The United States has an estimated 217,000 hazardous waste dumps that need immediate action. Cleaning them up could take more than 30 years and cost $187 billion.
Hazardous wastes of particular concern are the radioactive wastes from the nuclear power and weapons industries. To date there is no safe method for permanent disposal of old fuel elements from nuclear reactors. Most are kept in storage facilities at the original reactor sites where they were generated. With the end of the Cold War, nuclear warheads that are decommissioned, or no longer in use, also pose storage and disposal problems.
F Noise Pollution
Sound Intensities Sound intensities are measured in decibels (dB). For example, the intensity at the threshold of hearing is 0 dB, the intensity of whispering is typically about 10 dB, and the intensity of rustling leaves reaches almost 20 dB. Sound intensities are arranged on a logarithmic scale, which means that an increase of 10 dB corresponds to an increase in intensity by a factor of 10. Thus, rustling leaves are about 10 times louder than whispering.
Unwanted sound, or noise, such as that produced by airplanes, traffic, or industrial machinery, is considered a form of pollution. Noise pollution is at its worst in densely populated areas. It can cause hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction, and lost productivity.
Sounds are produced by objects that vibrate at a rate that the ear can detect. This rate is called frequency and is measured in hertz, or vibrations per second. Most humans can hear sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear high-pitched sounds up to 50,000 hertz. While high-frequency sounds tend to be more hazardous and more annoying to hearing than low-frequency sounds, most noise pollution damage is related to the intensity of the sound, or the amount of energy it has. Measured in decibels, noise intensity can range from zero, the quietest sound the human ear can detect, to over 160 decibels. Conversation takes place at around 40 decibels, a subway train is about 80 decibels, and a rock concert is from 80 to 100 decibels. The intensity of a nearby jet taking off is about 110 decibels. The threshold for pain, tissue damage, and potential hearing loss in humans is 120 decibels. Long-lasting, high-intensity sounds are the most damaging to hearing and produce the most stress in humans.
Solutions to noise pollution include adding insulation and sound-proofing to doors, walls, and ceilings; using ear protection, particularly in industrial working areas; planting vegetation to absorb and screen out noise pollution; and zoning urban areas to maintain a separation between residential areas and zones of excessive noise.
About the Author
My name is MIAN AFAQ TARIQ. I am student of 2nd year in MTB Higher Secondry School. I am living in Sadiqabad(PAKISTAN). My contect numbers are 03342527785 and 03023357300.
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