What Can I Do?

Let’s face it. Humans are busy creatures; we are drained with the concept of time, of money, of health. There is a particular remoteness within us that detaches us from the natural world and our own effects on it. The good news is, that waking up from this trance, being more conscious in our lives, will do both the planet and our stress levels some good. Yearly, in the United States alone, each person will give off more than 20 tons of greenhouse gas. The place you work right now will account for half of that and another third will be from your commute. When you go home after work and fall asleep at night, the last third, home energy will take care of the lasting 25% of greenhouse gas. But, like we said, the good news is we can access consciously living. Take a look at these green-tips and integrate as many of them as you can into your day.

• If you make a cup of green tea, only boil water for one cup. Don’t waste water.
• Buy a car with good gas mileage and stop sustaining to the oil companies.
• Speak up—join a march to stop global warming, celebrate earth day, visit the Red Cross website to find out about how to handle a heat wave, be aware of different view points on The Heartland Institute website.
• Read! Read! Read! Some recommendations include: Field notes from a Catastrophe: Man Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert and Climate Change Begins at Home by Dave Reay
• Stay warm by lighting a natural gas fire place, or set up natural gas heating in your home.
• The paper industry tops third place as one of the greatest contributors to global warming pollution, so buy ONLY post-consumer recycled paper products.
• Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent's in both your home and your business. They will last about ten times longer! Meanwhile, check your energy bill and see the decreased sum--feel proud of your energy efficient home.
• Decrease methane in the atmosphere by eating less meat, dairy and rice—instead try fish, grains and soy.
• Put up a clothesline! It makes your clothing smell fresher.
• Put food (no meat or dog poop) into a compost to reduce methane in the atmosphere.
• Standby power consumes about 30 million tons of green house gasses a year. So, unplug your appliances—chargers, iPods, TV’s and DVD players.
• Plant a tree (not an invasive species) and reduce one-fourth of the carbon emissions in our environment that results from deforestation.
• Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! If you do not have a pick up service, you should complain to your community and take it to a recycle center.
• Regularly service your heater, air conditioning system, car engine and tires.
• Transportation: Carpool, bike or take public transit. Your stress-level, eyes and mind will be grateful.
• Work at home when possible.
• Look into mileage-per-gallon ratings. Your earth and your pocketbook will be grateful!

Print this list out and post it on your fridge as a daily reminder of how you can help save our planet.

Based on article by: Smith, Kendra. “50 Things You Can Do About Global Warming.” The Light Connection March 2007. Original publication in Greenlight Magazine

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Involvement With Environmentalism Can Be Fun:
The Opportunity for Craftsmanship

Your community can offer countless ways for you to get involved and learn about the environment. Taking part in our daily routines can be influential, exciting and beneficial for the earth. It is a matter of expanding your horizons; everyone can find something that appeals to them whether that is yoga or a workshop on converting your car from gas to electric power.

The C2EC2T: Commuter Conversion Electric Car Class for Teachers is the result of one man’s program centered on converting ICE cars to NICE cars (No Internal Combustion Engine). He designed his own program after his auto shop students were unable to keep up with the rapid changes in texts resulting from the auto industries expedient revolutions. The high price of gasoline and the patriotism fueling people to opt for such recreation is a cleaner option for the environment and cheaper for the low income family. Abran Quevedo’s workshop filled up during the first week of enrollment and was still attracting people from across the country.

Source:  Maynard, Mark. “Workshop Teaches How To Convert Gasoline-Fueled Cars to Battery Power.” The San Diego Union Tribune 15 July. 2006

The Benefits Of Alternative-energy Vehicles.
Electro Automotive Courtesy Information

Electric Car Facts

Converting a gas car to electric requires used batteries and emissions from the power plant. None-the-less, they are 85%-97% cleaner!

They won’t require the construction of new power plants.

They can do the freeway speed and travel 60-80 miles on a single charge.

They have VERY low EMF levels (sometimes even lower than the levels outside the car).

Even if the electric power transmission losses are included, electric cars are still 54% more efficient and even if the cost of a battery replacement is included they are 66% more economical to operate.

Compressed Air Vehicles

Countries all over the world are coming up with solutions aimed at making the environment safer. Guy Negre, a French engineer, has designed a car that runs on compressed air. While decreasing emissions it also takes about three minutes to refuel. This compressed air technology follows Tata Motors cheapest car—the $2,500 Tata Nano subcompact. When the $5,000 vehicle hits the market it will be sold in India within a year.

This vehicle begins to function when compressed air that is stored in carbon fiber tanks is released; pistons are driven by the pressure and power the engine. The pistons keep compressing the air into a reservoir and the process continues. This vehicle is designed to burn virtually any fuel and gets an equivalent of 120 miles per gallon when fuel is needed. Air powers the vehicle on short trips and liquid fuel heating and expanding compressed air increases the vehicles range, by increasing the pressure on the pistons.

Factories selling the vehicle directly to the consumers will help keep it affordable. This mode of sustainable transportation will attempt to save emissions and use eighty percent locally sourced materials.

Sharing Knowledge:
Courtesy of The Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego (EVAOSD)

“Each time you pull into a filling station, turn the rear-view mirror and look into your own eyes. Now you know who’s paying for this war.”
--Ex CIA Chief Jim Woolsey

Reference made suggesting individual action towards climate solutions, “Sometimes when it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”
--Dr. M. L King

“This country was not built on reducing anything. What we need is to increase gasoline prices and make our own fuel.”
--Boone Pickens

“Ten years from now, all the fuels we promote are considered mainstream, and oil is an alternative fuel.”
--Terry Tamminen

“Now I used to think that I was cool running around on fossil fuel; until I saw what I was doing was driving down the road of ruin.”
--James Taylor

“To depend on this part of the world for 97% of our transportation needs is sheer madness.”
Analogy on the Middle East oil dependence
--Jim Woolsey.

The world uses 1,000 barrels of oil per second, and the U.S. uses about 250 barrels every second.

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What are Emissions and Why are they Bad?

The American Lung Association and the Union of Concerned Scientists have both released statements confirming that the quality of the air is directly affecting our lives and our futures. Electric vehicle usage could assist in drastically lowering health problems and environmental damage, two reasons why humans might enjoy this beautiful planet much shorter than they planned. Let us examine what our drive down the block is releasing:

Carbon Monoxide (CO): Reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, aggravates lung and heart disease, and causes headaches, fatigue and dizziness.

Sulfur Dioxides: (Sox): When combined with water vapor in the air it becomes the major contributor to acid rain.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Cause the yellowish-brown haze over dirty cities, and when combined with oxygen becomes a poisonous gas that can damage lung tissue.

Hydrocarbons (HC): A group of pollutants that react to form ozone. Some Hydrocarbons react to cause cancer and others can irritate mucus membranes.

Ozone (O3): The white haze or smog looming over cities can irritate the respiratory system, decrease lung function, and aggravate chronic lung diseases like asthma.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Although it is naturally occurring it can cause problems where in large quantities it will allow more sunlight to enter the atmosphere than can escape—this traps excess heat that leads to global warming.

The American Lung Association states that the seriousness of the ozone threat is reflected in its high exposure, which ultimately results in higher rates of asthma and birth defects.

The Full Fuel Cycle: Where Emissions Come From:

Feedstock extraction and storage » Feedstock transportation » Storage and fuel processing »Process storage » Transportation of the fuel to bulk storage » Bulk Storage » Transportation to local distribution/gas stations » Local distribution/gas station » Vehicle

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The Impending Decline of Global Petroleum

Since the 1970’s, oil production has been on the decline while U.S. imports have risen by 67%. The U.S. houses 4% of the world’s population and consumes 25% of the worlds total oil production. Furthermore, the decline in production is driven by its resource constraints, not politics, and is a permanent condition! “Peak Oil: An Outlook on Crude Oil Depletion” states that while oil discovery peaked in the 1960’s we find only one barrel for every four consumed. Meanwhile, the Middle East’s share of production is set to rise in the short term. The rest of the world production peaked in 1997, and is therefore in fatal decline.

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Sustainable Development & Living

PART I: SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES

1. Agro Forestry:

Agroforestry is a great way to conserve biodiversity because it allows trees to grow in crop and livestock areas. This commerce uses trees in the agricultural system and makes very careful and precise selections so the species undergo proper management and crops maximize the production of trees and minimize their own negative impacts. Farm or family forestry is the term used for this industry because it is a commitment between people to manage an establishment of forests on their own land. Humans and habitat destruction is a rampantly growing danger and increases the loss of biodiversity.

2. Eco Forestry:

Holistic practices aim towards restoration and protecting ecosystems and don’t prioritize economic productivity. These industries selectively cut trees for home use and consider landscapes, soil, precipitation and the animals inhabiting the terrain. These natural processes confine energy that is cycling nutrients and water. The stability of these forests is a result of complex interactions that promote both diversity and health. Eco forestry is a much broader social movement because it regards science, education, economy and medicine.

3. Green Building:

Development and architecture are elements of the building industry. They require careful planning and consideration of the environment that they will be working and expanding in. The purpose of going green is that the design, construction, materials, preservation, processes, extractions and use of energy and water are all elements that have the potential to reduce negative environmental impacts. There are many non-toxic and renewable resources like straw and bamboo, recycled metal and other renewable/reusable materials that minimize the use of energy and can be locally transported. There is an array of green building practices like using energy efficient machinery for both cooling and heating systems, using organic/milk-based paints, reducing the materials going to land fills through buildings designed to generate wastes, reducing the impact of wells by using rainwater collectors. Most countries have green building councils and serve as a great way to monitor both developments and environmental progression.

4. Green Chemistry:

Environmental chemistry breaks down to the foundation of the environment. Green chemistry focuses mainly on industrial applications, but maximizes the amount of raw material in a particular product so that pollution is prevented or reduced. Depletion, on the other hand, uses fossil fuels instead of agricultural products making up renewable feedstock. The point here is to stop creating waste products, promote the use of energy efficient processes and avoid chemical derivatives. The final product essentially contains the maximum starting materials in proportion to the modifications and uses design chemical syntheses which use substances with minimal or no toxicity levels.

5. Sustainable Energy:

Renewable energy and energy efficiency are the backbone of carbon emissions reduction. Rising clean energy supplies decrease the use of fossil fuels and efficiency decreases the growth of energy demand. The best and most beneficial part of sustainable energy is that it will not be depleted in the timeframe of the human race and would therefore sustain all species inhabiting the earth. The main sources in this sustainable revolution are wood, wind, water and sun. The center technologies propelling this natural management of living are companies who use solar power, wave power, and wind power, geothermal or tide power.

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PART II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMICS

1. Development:

The main focus is economic growth in underdeveloped/low-income countries—just as the term suggests. Both social and political factors are undertaken to implement policies and practices at the domestic and the international levels. Not all countries have the capacity for progression towards low tariffs, fair court systems, and higher education.

2. Green Economics:

*Incorporates non-human species, nature, the biosphere, earth sciences and the planet, into economic ideas. The established principles of green economics are founded upon the ideas that-- 

1. It is impossible to expand forever into a finite space.
2. It is impossible to take forever from a finite resource.
3. Everything on the surface of the Earth is interconnected.

3. Hydrogen Economy:

Source: http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/systems_integration.html (DOE)

This economy proposition suggests that energy for motive power and electricity be derived from hydrogen and oxygen composition. It proposes a cleaner use of energy, which will emit less pollutants and greenhouse gases.

4. Liquid Nitrogen Economy:

This is a proposal for a future economy that is based on nitrogen gas used to power vehicles and generate electricity.  It is anticipated as a substitute to liquid hydrogen in some transport modes and proposed for locally storing energy confined from renewable sources.

5. Low Carbon Economy:

The reduction of the use of coal, oil and gas in primary sectors such as agriculture, crops, livestock, forestry, hunting, fishing, mining and in secondary sectors such as, the processing of basic metals, non-metallic products, wood, paper, pulp and food processing and essentially in the tertiary sector of retail and transportation services.

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PART III: SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

1. Environmental Design:

This is the basic process of addressing environmental concerns and implications of industrial designs of projects—solar equipment, wind-generated electricity. Main considerations are given towards developing plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products that require somewhat of an interdisciplinary approach because of the complex social interventions, meanings, and systems of tools, technologies and materials as well as cultural meanings.

2. Sustainable Architecture:

The process of designing buildings with environmental goals in mind. The main elements include heating, ventilation and cooling system efficiency, alternative energy production and building design, building placement, sustainable building materials, waste management, re-using structures and materials, and social sustainability in architecture (a.k.a. Art). The picture below is an exceptional example of sustainable architecture. This building in Australia features a passive solar design, recycled and sustainable materials, photovoltaic cells, wastewater treatment, rainwater collection and solar hot water.

3. Sustainable Landscape Architecture:

TThe process of planning and design of out door space that includes ecological, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. For example, drainage systems like the sustainable urban system, which would improve the habitats of flora and fauna.

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PART IV: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

1. Food Security:

This outlines the basic rights for access to healthy and nutritious food at all times and in sufficient quantity. The people shouldn’t fear that their situation will change in the future and they should be ensured that they have enough to eat to be healthy and active individuals. To achieve food security, three fundamental aspects must be considered.

First, the availability of food must be considered. Sufficient amounts of food must be grown to guarantee that all people can be adequately fed. The second aspect is the economic and physical access to food at both the household and national levels. If food is not sufficient at the national level then it should be imported. International food aid should make up the deficit for poor countries unable to purchase food in the international market as well as make food available in all marketplaces for the household level. The last aspect is utilization. This means that household access has taken into consideration sanitation, production and purchase.

2. Forest Gardening:

Diagram by Graham Burnett (quercus robur)

A system of food production where woodland ecosystems are replicated. It is a polyculture landscape made up of seven levels where each ‘layer’ has a supply of food.

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PART V: TECHNOLOGY

1. Air Engine:

This engine converts potential energy from compressed air into kinetic energy then the expansion of externally supplied pressurized gas performs work against one or more pistons or rotors to move wheels or other tools. In general, there are many benefits to an air-powered vehicle. They have a fast recharge time, low self-discharge, lower initial cost and zero pollutant emissions.

2. Solar Chimney:

Improves the natural ventilation of buildings by using the transmission of passive solar energy heated air.

3. Cool Roof:

The application of a reflective roof coating to bulk attic insulation under roofs. This is an alternative to dark colored roofs with tar, gravel or red and brown tile which increase the need for cooling energy, raised electricity production costs, increase air pollution and accelerate the deterioration of roofing materials, and increase the roofing waste which is sent to landfills.

4. Autonomous Building:

These buildings are operated autonomously from infrastructural support services such as the electric power grid, municipal water systems, sewage treatment systems, storm drains, communication services, and in some cases public roads. Advantages include reduced environmental impacts, increased security, and cost efficiencies. Off-grid buildings often rely very little on civil services and are therefore safer and more comfortable during civil disaster or military attacks (Off-grid buildings would not lose power or water if public supplies were compromised for some reason).

( Source: "Autonomous Building." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2007. Answers.com 22 Jan. 2008. http://www.answers.com/topic/autonomous-building )

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PART VI: ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

1. Ecosystems Services:

The achievement of a human development that sustains the natural resources of the planet.

1. Provisioning such as the production of food and water.
2. Regulating, such as the control of climate and disease.
3. Supporting, such as nutrient cycles and crop pollination.
4. Cultural, such as spiritual and recreational benefits.
5. Preserving, which includes guarding against uncertainty through the maintenance of species diversity.

2. Sustainable Development:

• This website screens these eight films on sustainable development:

http://www.csid.com.cn/list.asp?columnId=401
Note: If the website isn’t screening, another great link is http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/environmental_movies.htm

1. Because They're Worth It.
2. Jane Goodall: China Diary
3. Land of the Rising Waters
4. Mongolia: A Steppe Ahead
5. Sink of Surf
6. The Long March to a Sustainable Future
7. " The Sea": NOWPAP
8. Warming Up in Mongolia

1. Sustainable Living:

Environmentally friendly lifestyle tradeoffs, which are exercised by choice and include: transport, energy, diet and housing.

4. Green Map:

Search green at www.greenmap.org

5. Renewable Energy:

6. Self-Sufficiency:

Citation: "Self-sufficient." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2007. Answers.com 23 Jan. 2008.http://www.answers.com/topic/self-sufficiency

• Post-Modern Self-Sufficiency:

The key focus of the movement is the use of modern technology to create a significantly high level of quality of life rather than sacrificing quality of life for non-participation in capitalist society.

Most individuals who proscribe to escape capitalism work greatly reduced hours in highly educated ‘contract’ roles that require great expertise. This income supplements their life style for areas like travel, health care and building passive income investment streams.

• Escape Capitalism Economic Considerations:

The following is a hieratical assessment of needs to be fulfilled progressively:

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PART VII: ENERGY CONVERSION

1. Electricity Generation:

Environmental concerns with electricity are due to the large usage of electrical power, typically produced at power plants. The main concern is that there are more economical and resourceful modes of producing safer energy. A significant repository of carbon in the ground is contained within fossil fuels. The process of burning these fuels contains a large amount of toxic emissions containing radioactive materials, mercury and arsenic, all of which contribute to our supply of smog and acid rain.

*Microgeneration is the process of individuals and small businesses lowering carbon output by using renewable energy like wind and water turbines, ground source heat pumps, solar thermal collectors, solar electricity and micro CHP (waste energy is used to produce/heat electricity) for scale down generation effects.

2. Biological Energy:

Biomass is an alternative industrial use of organic materials such as leaves, roots, bark, stalks, minerals and carbohydrates. It is a great source of renewability where plants utilize sunlight and metabolize atmospheric carbon dioxide for its production. It is then used as a fuel or in industrial manufactures.

Anaerobic Digestion is the process of waste being used to produce biogas and soil improving material called anaerobic digestate. This process prevents the emission of methane into the atmosphere. Two key bacterial groups are used to treat this organic material, acetogens and methanogens. Acetogens generate acetate from habitats that lack oxygen and methanogens produce methane from decomposing organic material.

3. Chemical Energy:

Fuel cells convert chemical energy from gas fuel into electrical energy. Fuel cells contain reactant, as opposed to electrical energy which batteries store, and must be replenished. There are many different types of fuel cells and they operate through a range of efficiencies and are used for base load power plants, electric hybrid vehicles, off grid and auxiliary power, small electronics and notebook computers.

Hydrogen production can be generated from natural gas or produced biologically by algae when the algae is deprived of sulfur, and from renewable sources like water, heat and wind.

4. Geothermal Power:

Earth Cooling Tubes is a process that uses the planets subterranean temperature to warm or cool air for use in residential, agricultural and industrial sectors. No chemicals, burners or compressors are needed to move the air because blowers are used.
Deep Lake Water Cooling begins when cold water is pumped from the bottom of the lake. It is then used as a heat sink for climate control systems, which reduce electrical demand by improving efficiency as the heat sinks temperature decreases.

5. Hydro Electricity:

Tidal Power/Water and Turbine/Wave power are modes that generate electricity by utilizing the tide to operate turbines. Barrages use the potential energy resulting from high/low tides to generate power from a non-polluting energy source moving water.

6. Nuclear Power:

The process for generating this energy begins with finding/mining/refining uranium. The uranium is then enriched, fuel elements are fabricated, and spent fuel is then stored and cooled and reprocessed to recover uranium. It is then fabricated for more energy and the waste is reprocessed. This generation occurs in the nuclear reactors where energy is released and radioactive wastes threaten the safety of both humans and the environment.

7. Waste to Energy:

Prolysis is a chemical decomposition, which occurs through heating organic material in the absence of oxygen or reagents.
Gasification is the process of converting substances into gas.

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Depleting Resources

The End of Our Beginning: Depleting Resources

Excessive consumption in the industrialized world enforces a demand on the environment that, unfortunately, exceeds its natural capacity. The per capita doubling consumption of energy, meat, timber, steel and copper is a reflection of the unquenchable demands which humankind is rampantly driving. It is estimated that a seventy five year old American has produced 52 tons of garbage, consumed 162 million tires of water and used 3,375 barrels of oil in their lifetime. 

This continual consumption will essentially lead to a collapse of our resource base and increase biosphere pollution an intolerable amount. Founded upon a consistently evolving purpose, technology and industrialization rely on convenience and profit. The strain on earth resources is getting heavier with the pace that civilization is moving in. 

The global agenda must make the effort to plan resource use and distribution effectively. The salvation of our depleting resources lies in the planet’s flourishing life support system (water, wind, sunlight) and sustainable development. Humans produce and partake in a ‘life-style’ and have therefore already begun the move forward without a discernable end. People have different purposes in their ‘functions’ and therefore they hold different views about what should be developed and sustained. 

Consequently, conflict arises in crucial areas of potential resolution and illuminates politics, financial resources, equity, and the competition for attention of the decision makers. The bottom line is that there is a diverse set of goals. Critical challenges and opportunities in pursuing the most effective and conventional goals must be clarified. In the end transitions will maintain efforts to attain internationally sanctioned goals for the welfare of both humans and the environment. Change requires an analytical understanding of the past so that trends of both social and environmental transition can express the native pathways of the threats and opportunities that lie ahead. 

Necessity is a critical aspect to consider while tackling preservation. Many social trends contribute to the degradation of our life support system. Expedience and greed, negligence, like ocean dumping of radio active wastes, the use of ozone depleting substances, animal removal like whales, elephants, seals and fishing stocks from their natural environments strays from the basic structure of ‘needs.’ Sustainable management and restoration is targeted in water, land (arid and forestland) as well as ecosystems. Preserving human health but failing to emphasize the importance of ecosystem health is futile. 

Greenhouse gases are building up, marine fisheries are on a decline, tropical deforestation is rampant in order to keep up with the social demand for utility, the loss of species and their valued habitats and services is just a snippet of the ugly face revealed in human domination. Efforts that decrease emissions, like reforestation, and the expansion of endangered species accelerate our shift towards sustainability. Individual trends will not suffice in matching the speed of industrialization and population growth haunting the future. 

This is why the integration of models that assess the complex interactions between developments and redefine problems between environmental negotiations on issues like whaling and ozone depletion deserve reviews. Culture, values, and lifestyles are all dimensions that require a reflection about possible uncertainties on the range of pathways that international mediation attempts to instigate. Successful sustainable transitions are closely integrated through a framework of basic knowledge such as scientific regional information systems which should be accessible to non-specialists for use in surveys, grassroots activities and public supports which demand this knowledge for the opportunity to progress towards a process of review, assessment, evaluation and, essentially, action. 

Unindustrialized countries have different circumstances that deal with elements like history, which reflects their current social and political conditions, region, and standard of living. The interactions of these elements shift through a range of priorities in the industrialized realm, like climate change versus floods and disease epidemics. Balance between the sectors that regulate and administer their approaches instead of treating them as distinct or separate, are critical. It is clear that multiple details chart the progression of these diverse goals but the networks of human communication, awareness, and travel are systems, which propel, not impede the management of a transformation. 

The navigation of this process relies heavily on our trial and error experimentations which emphasize the importance of action through programs and media as well as social learning, and the production of relevant knowledge to identify mistakes and analysis omissions sooner rather than later.

Focus Points for Solutions:

» Develop research framework
» Initiate research solutions
» Promote better utilization linked with knowledge and intelligence
» Collaboration
» Sustain historic trends in agricultural productions
» Improve energy use.
» Restore degraded ecosystems.

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Deforestation

“To know the forest, we must study it in all aspects, as birds soaring above
its roof, as earth-bound bipeds creeping slowly over its roots.”
-Alexander F. Skutch, in A Naturalist in Costa Rica (1971)

Deforestation & Disparity

The art of managing our resources is highly dependant on sustaining them. Lacking resources, like the lack of clean energy and clean air, largely contribute to the vast array of health and mental problems in our every day lives. Nationwide environmental demolition can be traced back to illegitimate sustainable management and social, industrial and environmental development.

Underdeveloped countries are the main housing centers for most of the world’s forestland. Forestry opposes preservation and its aftermath outweighs any possibility of strengthening this valuable and disintegrating ecosystem. The key to this dilemma is hiding in effective economic management, planning and development that prioritize resourcefulness and conservation.

In lieu of environmental structure, association and expansion the human capacity to recognize morality and ration reside within the soil, with the trees, with the air, the water, the heat from the sun and navigational skills of the cosmic realms. Sure, humans around the world have different reserves and sources for survival (climate, topography, age of landscape and soil) but, essentially, our purpose is all the same-to protect our living planet.

The solution considers the same basic needs--love, food, and shelter. Humans are incapable of being satisfied with natural resources, because they are aware of the possibilities that rapid movements of new centuries and societies offer. If you live in a particular underdeveloped country, you don’t need a new market (hypothetically), because you don’t know one exists. You would only desire such a thing, just as forestry desires development, because you would imagine that others would desire it as well.

The proposal is to look at the mistakes of the past. Forestry and deforestation maximize income at the expense of the rural resource base, all the while, countries and farmers could be working with the resources that they already have.

Success is possible through strengthening research and access to trade, as well as policy and the capacity for resistance to the pressure of large countries. A battle against change is a preempted affair and its likelihood will remain high. One group and their investment will continually look away from any possibilities of a transition when their profit, however minimal, could be at stake.     

Presuming that knowledge of the macro or even micro sector is at stake, the need for additional and even new resources rises. The political reality is that these groups scapegoat deforestation to receive more funding. For this reason, development for community and industrial purposes is burdened by ignorance and the unethical approach of environmental degradation. Most farmers in underdeveloped countries use natural resources in an industry dominated market and are forced to prioritize profit through mismanaging forestland. Looking to the past exemplifies the need for exchanging not just knowledge on processes and perspective but also a solution aimed at decreasing demand and implementing sustainability.

Deforestation Facts

Why would we want to preserve our forests?

1.) They have a magnitude of herbs and medicines to offer.
2.) They sustain our animal kingdom and house most of the earth’s species.
3.) Our clean air and health depend on them.
4.) 50% of the world’s forests have already been cleared.
5.) Approximately 100 species become extinct EVERY DAY

» The main problem that faces deforestation is the human need for wood products, the main culprit of our crumbling forests.
» Clearing forestland for crop and grazing releases carbon stored in the wood into the atmosphere.
» During extended droughts peat, or decayed organic matter, becomes extremely flammable and threatens the release of more carbon dioxide into the air, like in Indonesia’s swampy lowland forests.

What to do?

» Encourage low impact agricultural activities (shade farming).
» Tropical countries should integrate information on human impacts on the ecosystem into their development plans.
» Sustainable harvesting of non-wood products
i.e.- plants with medicinal properties, rubber, cork, produce

Other Triggers:

• Accidental fire
• Selective logging
• Economic development incentives such as timber concessions and agricultural subsidies.

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Oceanic Issues

Ocean and Coastal Objectification

Many organizations and conservancy groups struggle with industries and corporations against development, distribution, production and policies that are of imminent danger to the coasts of the Unites States. The U.S economy accounts for a large amount of traffic in our bays. Furthermore, tourism to coastal areas is rampant and endangers species and general ocean conditions. Stakeholders manage our waters and compromise the health and productivity of our oceans and coasts. The nation struggles to maintain power in oil, shipping, gas, exploration and development. The worsening quality of ocean management and the ecosystems inhabiting our waters, reflects the aftermath of this pursuit.

Dangerous toxicities affect both mammals that are ingesting the plants and smaller fish and ultimately—humans! The reality is that human health is a direct reflection of the surrounding environment and its given resources, and vice-versa! The interchangeable effects of human development and the environment can range from our diets to our dependence on natural resources and, furthermore, our proposed independence from them!

The manufacturing industries find cheap production material—most of which has no natural way to decompose—and concurrently increase the number of organisms and mammals heading towards extinction. The energy of the oceans ultimately regulates the coastal climates and perpetuates hazardous conditions to other ecosystems beyond the coasts.

Many elements actively contribute to these ocean conditions. Clashing perspectives, governance, and the insatiable economy, are the hands behind power plants, which burn fossil fuels, like coal, and return run-off. Rain and snow accumulate unnatural levels of mercury in all sorts of bodies of water—not necessarily just oceans!

The National Academy of Science study on toxic effects of methylmercury said that, “Because of the beneficial effects of fish consumption, the long term goal needs to be a reduction in the concentrations of mercury in fish rather than the replacement of fish in the diet by other foods. In the interim, the best method of maintaining fish consumption and minimizing mercury exposure [and the exposure to other poisons] is the consumption of fish known to have lower methylmercury concentrations.”

The condition of the ocean is a high priority for resource uses. About 70% of our oxygen comes from kelp and algae, but not all algae are good. The input of nitrogen to the coastal waters of the U.S. creates harmful nutrient run-off, which ultimately results in a loss of sea grass and kelp beds. And areas called dead zones that impact the coral reefs, which support the biodiversity of marine life. The importance of these habitats is enormous.

The Deep Coral Report, done by the State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the U.S, states the significance of preserving the deep coral communities reporting that, “The high biodiversity associated with deep coral communities is intrinsically valuable and may provide biological research on marine organisms. For example, several deep-water sponges have been shown to contain bioactive compounds of pharmaceutical interest; sponges are often associated with deep coral communities. [Bamboo corals] are being investigated for their medical potential as bone grafts and for the properties of their collagen--like gorgonian.”

As a result of the widespread distribution of underwater coral, and especially some gorgonian and stony coral species living for hundreds of years, deep corals could be the possible alternative to recreating past transformations in the global climate and oceanographic states. The report also states that the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals incorporate trace elements and isotopes that reflect the physical and chemical conditions in which they grew.  In general, the study of the coral’s microchemistry has helped reconstruct the past conditions of our ocean.

In any case, over then next hundred years climate change will impact both the marine and coastal ecosystems. Upwelling will impact the distribution of marine resources due to changes within atmospheric circulation. The largest public domain, the ocean, will only tolerate so much interference. The vast resources and medical properties of our oceans become more strained when the interdependence of the land and sea is not reflecting proper institutional governance.

Controlling runoff and managing pollution is a matter of Congress conditioning its reforms and policies towards protecting water quality on a water shed basis, protecting habitats crucial for developing ecosystems, instituting government programs directed towards restoration and creating a framework that addresses emerging problems. First and foremost, the prioritized areas for consideration should be the endangered, threatened or contaminated. What U.S exemption from regulations fails to consider is that the accountability of a fast-paced economy, evolving technology and military expansion is at the cost of our health, our species, our air and our potential at preservation and resourcefulness.

The future is hopeful, which is why humans need to be conscious of their consumption, of what they are draining into the gutters, and most importantly, of the political realm. Writing letters to political representatives and joining good non-profit organizations is a great way to support proper management of our natural ecosystems! Most of these groups function as the watchdogs of powerful corporations like the oil and shipping industries and they need the support of people like you!

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Global Warming

The Greenhouse Effect

Only 5°C separates today’s world from the ice age. It is predicted that in the next hundred years that global temperature could increase between 1.5 and 4.5°C. Predictions are based on research, observing patterns and recording, for example, precipitation. Recently, the National Geographic channel noted that carbon dioxide was at its highest level since the past 450,000 years! Extreme weather patterns put both humans and resources at risk. Hurricanes, droughts and a decrease of species’ habitats make the natural adaptations of various ecosystems almost impossible.

Ever since the industrial revolution, rates of extinction have escalated. Emerging diseases already attribute to 40% of human deaths from environmental causes. Rising coastlines, the increase in disease, and falling agricultural output is mainly attributed to wealthy nations. These countries have had rising emissions and absolutely NO decreases like the KYOTO protocol mandated.

This climate change treaty was negotiated in 1997 and became law on February 8, 2008. The purpose was to set targets for the emissions of greenhouse gases. Ratification from the countries that are responsible for over half of the global greenhouse emissions (i.e. U.S. and Russia) would need to ratify the treaty in order for it to be binding. In Japan, specific targets were agreed on by developed countries, which presented a general framework for the maximum amount of CO2 pollution that these countries are allowed to emit.

The U.S. Government refuses to comply with standards of the protocol due to the value of its investments. Switching from polluting fossil fuels to clean power and endorsing cost-effective business solutions like energy efficiency should be the priority, if not for the government, then for corporations and people.

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