Andy+I

=__**Drying Up Natural Resources in Ancient Rome**__=

Ancient Roman Facts:

 * 1) 1-Romans over-mined their resources too quickly, and used them in irresponsible ways. (Unhelpful distribution, not useful projects)
 * 2) 2-Romans at one point, clear cut a huge region, just so they could build more houses, and they ended up needing those trees that they chopped down shortly afterwards.
 * 3) 3-Because Roman resources were spread so unevenly throughout the Empire, people started to want to move towards the areas richer in resources, and use them all up, and move on to the next area, and with expansion ending, this used them up quite quickly.
 * 4) 4-With the rich buying land from farmers, food and fertile land was running out, which had a hand in starvation, another Roman problem
 * 5) 5-With expansion ending, and huge monuments being built all the time, Rome was getting a bit cramped, because space for living and housing was running out.
 * 6) 6-Due to pollution of the Tiber River, basic necessities such as clean water were even running out!
 * 7) 7-Rome was slowly but surely, turning to an unreliable, unhelpful economy, and because of this, some other countries noticed the decline, and trade started dying out in Rome, leaving them with little at all.
 * 8) 8-Rome tried desparately to ration their resources, but they cut down on necessities, and not extremities.
 * 9) 9-If the Romans had come to a standstill, and not built any more, they would have accumulated resources through trade, and in about two years, would have been set for over a decade resource-wise.
 * 10) 10-Many believe that if the Romans had relied on trade as opposed to mining and chopping trees down, they could have lasted for at least another twenty years.

Current Facts (USA):

 * 1) 1-The USA only has 3% of the world oil reserves, but we use 25% of all the oil in the whole world! Only 60% of our oil is imported, even though theoretically it should be in the 90%’s. This shows that we are one of the countries that consume the most oil, if not number one!
 * 2) 2-In the USA, 25 barrels of oil are consumed per person each year. In Japan, 14.5 per person. Spain is 13.8. Mexico is only six. In India? Less than a barrel per person!
 * 3) 3-Obviously, the simplest solution to this problem is to become more environmental. This is not as easy as it sounds. Each method of “green” energy has its unreliable points, and petroleum seems so appealing and easy. Not to mention that supplies to make things like solar panels are running out, too.
 * 4) 4-Our dwindling oil supply is being no help to society. There are more pollutants in the air, global warming appeared, gas prices are going up, and people are looking for the resources to solve the problem in all the wrong places.
 * 5) 5-We are trying to make solar panels to replace oil, but the material in solar panels that allows energy to be absorbed is pretty much as rare as fossil fuels, and is just as non-renewable.
 * 6) 6-There are literally, over five million companies looking into this as you read, and none of them are making as much money as oil producers or drillers. People are coming up with many solutions, such as fuel cells, hydro-electric dams, and solar panels, but none of them are making any progress, as they are expensive, energy consuming, and difficult to make.
 * 7) 7-Overall, America is one of the top oil consumers, and one of the top producers of “green” technology, but as fossil fuels run out, so do our chances of going green. If we want to make a difference, we have to make something set in stone, and reliable, that can produce energy just as well as burning oil.
 * 8) 8-Pollution from burning fuel is the leading contributer to global warming.
 * 9) 9-There is about twenty times as much oil consumtion in the US now then there was ten years ago. That is not OK.
 * 10) 10-When oil was discovered, it was the most valuable resource availiable for a time. Fifteen years ago it was in the bottom thirty percent value-wise. Now it's in the top ten percent. Uh-Oh.

**__Pocast Stuff:__**
People presented to count: __010__

Script:
__Julianna__: The Ancient Roman’s are being very irresponsible with their resources. If they keep heading down this road that they’re on they will run out of natural resources entirely.  __Andy__: Yeah, I know. Did you know that Romans at one point, clear cut an abnormally huge region, just so they could build more houses, and they ended up needing those trees that they chopped down shortly afterwards?  __Julianna__: No I didn’t, did you know that wood was a primary source of heating used in the industry? Wood was essential fuel in industries like mining, smelting, and the making of ceramics. Wood and charcoal were the primary ancient fuels in public facilities. __Andy__: Wow! And they’re still deforesting like that? It surprises’ me that even though resources are so precious to them, they’re still sucking their land dry. __Julianna__: I know. Forest areas around mining centers are deforested first, consuming all the natural resources around the area of work. Once all the natural resources around that area of production were consumed, wood was then shipped and carried in to supply the furnaces and smelters for the mining centers. Eventually, these centers would shut down and move to areas within the roman territory to repeat the same cycle of deforestation again.  __Andy__: Yikes! That’s bad! Did you know that with expansion ending, and huge monuments being built all the time, Rome is getting a bit cramped, because space for living and housing are running out. Due to pollution of the Tiber River, basic necessities such as clean water are even running out! __Julianna__: Wow! Even the aqueducts aren’t working anymore? __Andy__: Yep. __Julianna__: That’s terrible, no wonder Rome is going to fall. Rome is trying desperately to ration their resources, but they are cutting down on necessities, and not extremities. Andy: Yeah, if the Romans come to a standstill, and do not build any more, they will accumulate resources through trade, and in about two years, they would be set for over a decade, resource-wise. __Julianna__: Oh my gosh! Also small farms are gradually being replaced by latifundias, bought for booty and the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. At the same time victorious leaders have new opportunities of political careers. __Andy__: Yeah, and small farms are being destroyed so they can’t grow crops.Animals and overgrazing are also causing the decline. Consumption in the empire consists of about 90% wood fuel. That’s causing deforestation.  __Julianna__: I didn’t know that, but I did know that there is deforestation in Ancient Rome because of roads and houses being built, so trees are being cut down. Wood is the primarily used structure to build houses. Heating is done by wood products. Almost all of the roman industries require wood. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> __Andy__: Rome is slowly but surely, turning to an unreliable, unhelpful economy, and because of this, some other countries are noticing the decline. Trade is starting to die out in Rome, leaving them with little at all. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> __Julianna__: Since we’re from the future, and things like reduced plant [|biomass], reduced biological diversity, loss of valuable species of economic/medicinal value,reduced <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ecosystem stability, disturbed habitats, broken food chainsand species extinction are going on, we know better than anyone what you should do to put an end to all of this. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> __Andy__: Yes, not to mention the USA only has 3% of the world’s oil reserves, but we use 25% of all the oil in the whole world! Only 60% of our oil is imported, even though theoretically it should be in the 90%’s. This shows that we are one of the countries that consume the most oil, if not number one! Also, in the USA, 25 barrels of oil are consumed per person each year. In Japan, 14.5 per person are consumed. Spain is 13.8. Mexico is only six. In India, less than a barrel per person! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Julianna: Wow! Well we //are// trying to make solar panels to replace oil, but the material in solar panels that allows energy to be absorbed is pretty much as rare as fossil fuels, and is just as non-renewable. There is literally, over five million companies looking into this as you hear this right now, and none of them are making as much money as oil producers or drillers. People are coming up with many solutions, such as fuel cells, hydro-electric dams, and solar panels, but none of them are making any progress, as they are expensive, energy consuming, and difficult to make. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Andy__: Did you know that pollution from burning fuel is the leading contributor to global warming? Well, anyway overall, America is one of the top oil consumers, and one of the top producers of “green” technology, but as fossil fuels run out, so do our chances of going green. If we want to make a difference, we have to make something set in stone and reliable, that can produce energy just as well as burning oil. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Julianna__: So to sum it all up, the best solution to Rome’s deforestation problem is for every tree you chop down, you must plant 3 trees. Also limit the amount of trees you chop down, so the smaller trees have time to grow. If a company does not follow these guidelines consumers aren’t able to purchase their products. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Andy__: That’s great. Now it seems the best solution for Rome’s over mining problem would be to set up a system where every 3 months you cannot create more than one temple that is made of something other than timber. If you are mining, you can’t mine more than half of the resources in the cave in under two months. Also prices of mined resources must be increased by125% to control consumption. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Julianna__: Well I think that would work out just fine. We hope that you take this to mind, Numerianus. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">__Andy__: And remember, Rome doesn’t have to come to an end.

Contacts used:
<span style="color: #003399; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">investor-relations@stillwatermining.com (miners) capps01@aol.com (logger) alog@williamstonnc.com (logger)

Questions to ask:
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Questions to ask loggers:
 * 1) Explain why specifically is deforestation such a threat?
 * 2) How do you try to prevent it or what would be some counter-measures against it?
 * 3) Define the consequences of deforestation?
 * 4) What would you do to try to make up for or “start over” on deforested land that you need?
 * 5) How can you support one way or the other?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Questions to ask miners:
 * 1) Can you justify over-mining?
 * 2) What causes or defines over-mining?
 * 3) What are the consequences of over-mining and how do you prevent it?
 * 4) Can you measure the hazards of mining?
 * 5) What problems or complications come with the job, and how do you stop them?

Template for Email:
Dear __,

I am a seventh grader at Nagel Middle School, and I am doing a project on the drying up of natural resources in Ancient Rome. I am in need of an expert contact, and I thought of your business. I found your email, and thought if you had the time, you could help me on my project. I have a few questions for you to answer:


 * Questions based upon occupation*

Thank you for your time.

-Andy I.

__**Possible Solutions:**__
1-We could start to develop a systematic way of cutting down forests, instead of just clear-cutting land. 2-We could pause construction of temples and unessecary amenities. 3-We could create a business of trade solely based on resources. ==

==

__**Helpful sites/Sources:**__
Deforestation: []

General loss: [] []

Contacts: [] []

**__Bibliography:__**
"Roman Society Research Center." //International conference Land and natural resources in the Roman World//. Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, 25/05/2011. Web. 31 Jan 2012.

. "To what extent were economic factors to blame for the deterioration of the Roman Empire in the Third Century A.D?." //Ancient Rome//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan 2012. <http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/article-018.html>.

. "Edited Guide Entry." //H2G2//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan 2012. <http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A2184473>.

Gaston, Leonard. //Resource Shortages: How Serious?//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb 2012. <http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1983/jul-aug/gaston.html>.

Traudt, Jon. "Oil Crisis." //Health and Energy//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb 2012. <http://healthandenergy.com/oil_crisis.htm>.