Xtranormal: Global Warming Video

This video was created on xtranormal.com. It is a simplistic overview of how ignorant some people are about global warming, and how much of the world it is really hurting. Share it with friends and family to help raise awareness and stop more greenhouse gasses from being emitted into the atmosphere.

The Arctic Food Chain

The loss of the ice caps goes far beyond the polar bears. The Arctic environment has a food chain. It all revolves around the ice algae that grows under beneath the ice. You can see it in the diagram above, it's the green stuck to the bottom of the iceberg. This algae is the main food source for copepods. Fish feed off of the copepods, and both the seals and the birds feed off of the fish. Polar bears, who are at the top of the food chain, are getting less and less seals to eat because the situation gets worse as it goes up the line. Global warming is destroying the entire Arctic lifestyle, and something has to be done to stop it.

The New York Times

The media plays a crucial role in raising awareness for the dangers of global warming and the potential destruction it could cause the polar bears. In the article below, the infamous New York Times newspaper first declares that the polar bears are becoming threatened. Seeing this article kick-started many activist groups and shut up many of the skeptics.

"Nations Near Arctic Declare Polar Bears Threatened by Climate Change"

This is a great start, but we need to raise more awareness and create more movements to create publicity for the polar bears. If enough people jump in, a change could be mad that would be as impactful as saving an entire species.

Rally Time: Bear Bikers Unite

Please join us for the largest polar bear stand-up our nation has ever seen.

Who: You, me, your neighbors, everyone you know. Everyone that cares about global warming, our arctic environment, our planet, our polar bears

What: An awareness movement in form of a bike rally. Bring your bike, a donation, and prepare for a good time

When: October 28, 2013 from 12:00 pm through 4:00 pm; lunch and refreshments will be provided

Where: Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder, CO

Why: By making this a big event, it will open the eyes to many people that didn't know about the situation the polar bears find themselves in. Many people don't know that the main reason this is happening is because of the greenhouse gases WE the people have placed in the atmosphere. It's time to take responsibility and turn this all around.

See you there.

Not-So-Normal Facts

• Polar bears are so strong that they can kill an animal with one blow
• Cubs learn to stay still and "freeze" while their mother is hunting. If they move, they are disciplined with a whack on the head
• Female bears always dig dens for their cubs, sometimes they are elaborate and have different rooms
• Polar bears are thought to be as smart as apes
• Polar bear skin is actually black, and their fur is translucent, but the light bounces off of it making it appear to be white
• Polar bears can typically swim up to 100 miles at a time, at 6 mph
• They overheat more often than they are cold
• They obsess over clean fur because dirt can mess with their insulation
• They have a mix of body language and vocals that they communicate with. For example, head wagging occurs when a bear wants to play, and deep growls are warnings.
• On bitterly cold days, polar bears will dig shelters in snow banks and curl up into tight balls. Sometimes they cover their muzzles, which radiate heat, with their fur paws.

It Doesn't Add Up

This video posted by the National Wildlife Federation on October 27, 2011 explains the situation that global warming has put the polar bears in. It also lays out the basics of polar bear survival in an easy 1-2-3 "math" equation that is easy to grasp. They stress the importance of the sea ice habitat. Please share this video with friends and family through Facebook to raise awareness for our cause.

Polar Bear Basics

• Adult male bears weigh anywhere from 775 - 1200 lbs
• Adult female bears weigh anywhere from 330 - 650 lbs
• The Arctic as well as five other nations have polar bear populations: US (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway
• A mother usually has 2 cubs, but can have 1 or 3 depending on her health
• Cubs stay with their mothers for 2 - 2.5 years before they're on their own
• Their main diet consists of the ringed seal, but occasionally they will hunt a trapped whale or a sleeping walrus
• Polar bears only eat the seal's blubber, they actually leave the muscle and organs for other scavengers as they lack interest in it
• They can eat 100 lbs of blubber in a single sitting
• Their diet consists of feasting (all winter) and fasting (all summer)
• Walk at about 5-6 km/hr 
• Run up to 40 km/hr, but only for short distances as they quickly overheat
• Newborns are born 12-14 inches long and weigh little over one pound, but they grow very rapidly thanks to their mother's milk
• Polar bears have to layers of fur and up to 4.5" of fat that provide perfect insulation. Their metabolic rate doesn't even change when it is -34 degrees outside. They have the same body temperature that a human does.

On Thin Ice

These videos portray just how different the polar bear's lifestyle has become due to the effects of a warming world. They are often caught off guard by the thin ice, and fall into the water. They have adapted to their surroundings by learning how to spread their body weight and not break the ice. Unfortunately, sometimes the bears do not make it out of the water.