Droughts
Droughts occur when there is not enough water to meet people’s basic needs. Since water is such an essential part of life, droughts trigger a chain reaction of disasters. Without water, farmers have trouble producing crops and feeding livestock. A decrease in crop production and livestock occurs, and this leads to famine. Without moisture to hold down the soil, wind can easily pick up mounds of dirt and sand. An increase in dust storms occurs, and this leads to increased respiratory problems for humans. Wildfires are also common in times of drought. They destroy precious vegetation and animal habitats.
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The U.S. Oil Embargo of Japan
     In 1931, Japan invaded a country called Manchuria. Six years later, it invaded mainland China. Japan was an ally of Germany and Italy, both under the control of Adolf Hitler. Most countries were worried about this alliance because these nations were attacking their neighbors. The United States was among the nations who shared a concern about these aggressive countries called "the Axis."      Soon after Japan invaded China, World War II started. Japan attacked lands belonging to other countries; many of them were allied with the United States. Though the United States was not at war yet with Japan, President Roosevelt took action because of these attacks. The United States refused to sell Japan steel and oil. This is a situation called an "embargo." Steel is used in the manufacture of weapons of war, and oil is used as fuel for war machines. The United States claimed that it was refusing to sell these resources to Japan because it did not want to help Japan wage war.     Japan decided to attack the U.S. soon after the embargo began. Japan wanted to force the U.S. to surrender quickly. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II, and the Axis countries were defeated four years later.
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To drill or not to drill: that is the question. Prudhoe Bay in Alaska is home to North America's largest oil field. Many think this would be a prime drilling spot to help the U.S.'s energy crisis. However, the bay is located just west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Anti-drillers believe that gas prices will not go down with this drilling. They argue that drilling near the wildlife refuge will instead endanger the lives of the animals living there. Many animals will lose their water supply, their food, and their homes. Anti-drillers also claim that the amount of oil under the bay will only satisfy the nation's oil needs for six months. Anti-drillers have been arguing against Prudhoe Bay drilling for over 30 years.

Flowers can brighten up a room with their colors and their scents. When it comes to choosing flowers, some people have to choose between real and silk flowers. Fresh flowers give life to the room with its smell and the fact that they are real. Also, these flowers can be very expensive because they have to be grown. They can be very fragile as well. In contrast, silk flowers are made of more durable material and will not wilt like real flowers. Depending on how they are made, these flowers can be less expensive. Sometimes, silk flowers do not look real. This causes the flowers to lose their appeal. Either way, flowers, real or silk, give much cheer to a room.
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There are many climate regions around the world. Some of them can vary from mild temperatures to very extreme ones. One of the harshest regions is the tundra. The tundra is an area of land that has no tree growth due to its cold, windy, and dry nature. Tundras can be found in the northern parts of the globe, in the Arctic, and the tops of mountains. They have a layer of frozen ground called permafrost, which prevents almost anything from growing in the soil. Therefore, only a few animals and plants can survive in these conditions.
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    Heavy rains have left the Midwest in despair. At least 36 levees have collapsed because of the ongoing storms. As a result, the Mississippi River poured through a number of towns along the banks.
 The hit to one of the world’s largest food exporters will have a huge influence on the economy. The damage amounts to over $6 billion, and over 5 million acres of corn and soybeans have been destroyed. Consumers should expect to see a sharp increase in prices for corn products and livestock.
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 There is a great debate that takes place every morning for breakfast. A decision has to be made—should there be pancakes or waffles? Both of these breakfast foods are made from a batter. Then, that batter is poured onto a griddle or into a waffle maker. Pancakes are thin flat cakes, which tend to be light and fluffy. In contrast, waffles are crisp thick cakes with ridges. After being made, pancakes and waffles can have a variety of toppings. They can have syrup, fruit, or whip cream. Therefore, reaching a decision is difficult because their differences, though few, make a world of difference.
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 The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is asking the world's paper producers to be more careful from whom they buy their wood.
 RAN is asking them to buy wood that has been certified and stamped by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC marks some wood with a stamp of its logo. This stamp shows that the wood comes from sustainable forests. It also shows that the wood is collected in a way that is good for the environment. 
 Producers who choose FSC stamped wood are helping to protect rainforests. As a result, these rainforests will provide clean air and water for centuries to come. Healthy rainforests play an important role in pest control, prevention of erosion, and the discovery of new medicines.
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Many vaccines battle different diseases that can harm the population. One of these diseases that a vaccine fights is measles. Measles is an infection caused by a virus. This virus affects the organs that help a person breathe. It can spread to another person easily by a sneeze or cough. Some of the symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. There is no cure for measles, but there are ways to help relieve the pain. A person should get plenty of rest and use a vaporizer so that he or she can breathe 
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Unlike the Nike Free 5.0, the Nike Free 3.0's upper (the part of the shoe that covers the top of the foot) includes a large patch of mesh and a tongue. The mesh lets the 3.0 breathe better than the 5.0. The tongue is thinner than any other material on the shoe, and rarely stays in place. Since the 5.0 did not have a tongue, this was not a problem. The 3.0 also features the solid heel that the 5.0 lacks. The solid heel makes the back half of the 3.0 stiff. A person who has flat feet quickly finds that the stiff heel rubs the ankles, causing discomfort. The Lycra heel on the 5.0 does not have this problem
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Every day, technology has a huge effect on our lives. However, do we ever wonder what it changes? We are constantly connected with world with e-mail, Internet, and cell phones. This overload of technology causes us to be overexcited. In effect, technology can be distracting. It can make us forget the simplest of tasks as well as hinder creativity. As a result, we are less efficient as workers and as learners.
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People learn to read in two different ways. Some people learn to read by using phonics. Phonics teaches people to sound out words as they read. Other people learn to read by using the whole language method. They learn to read by listening to others read and by writing out their thoughts so that they learn how sentences are put together.
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The "Fall of Rome" happened after many years of trouble in the Roman Empire. Many Roman citizens were poor because of the high taxes they paid. The Roman army became disorganized. It could not keep the empire safe from invasions. People cared less and less about their country and did not perform their civic duties.
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Like otters, minks are animals that live in the wilderness near the water. They are dark-colored and meat-eating animals. Minks are mainly nocturnal, or active at night, and do not hibernate during the winter. There are two main types of minks: American mink and European mink.
 American minks can be found in Canada and in the U.S. They sometimes have a white patch on the nose, but most often, they have glossy black fur. European minks can be in some parts of Europe. They are an endangered species due to the American minks, who take their food and their land. These minks always have a white patch on their nose. Both minks are considered valuable for their furs, which are made into clothing.
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