Towards Sustainable Development
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, one of the main concepts associated with sustainable development is meeting the needs, such as food, shelter, and physical aspirations, of our society. Currently, because of a lack of social equality, the needs of the people are not being met. Poverty can be seen in both developed and developing nations. In order to eradicate poverty there needs to be an increase in the growth of goods and services. However, such an increase must be followed by a greater and more equal distribution of these resources. Also, since our environment is our life support system, the companies who extract resources must ensure that overexploitation does not occur so that peoples’ needs can continue to be met in the future.
Part of the issue surrounding unsustainable exploitation of our resources stems from individual and corporate pursuit for profit. Our economy is based on a market system, and therefore considerations of the impacts to the environment are often ignored in light of the potential revenues that can be made from further resource extraction. Therefore, it is suggested that environmental considerations need to become mandated or integrated into all decision-making and planning processes. Institutional development, law enforcement, and educational facilities need to convey this message to the public so that economic pursuits and ecological sustainability can be united and hence benefit everyone.
Balancing the economy, the environment, and social needs is very difficult and seldom achieved. In order to satisfy the ecological needs on our environment, a compromise must be met in the economy. Since society’s welfare is dependent on the economy, the ability to meet our social needs is also affected. However, it must be realized that no matter how careful a company can be in extracting resources from the environment, the environment is going to be impacted in some way. Since some changes are inevitable, we will have to find ways to reduce the impacts of these changes.
Advances in technology can often help reduce the impacts on the environment. Innovations in creating more sustainable, eco-friendly buildings has reduced the energy usage and wastes that some companies produce when manufacturing products. However, the technology in industrial countries must also be implemented in developing nations. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in developed nations through the use of greener energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels would be beneficial, but the air quality around the globe will still be negatively affected by the energy produced from coal in lesser developed nations such as China. All the ecological systems on the planet are interconnected. The activities of one nation can be felt by the people in a nation that is on the other side of the globe.
Furthermore, in order to make the changes necessary to reduce the adverse affects on our environment, a change in societal attitudes and priorities may be required. Instead of simply reducing the way we manufacture and utilize goods and services, it may be necessary to reduce the overall consumption of resources. Consumerism is a major part of the culture for industrialized societies. This isn’t to say that people have to live without goods and services they want, but rather to say that consideration should be taken to examine which goods and services they find most important in their lives. The term voluntary simplicity is often used to describe the idea of living a simple life, or a life that corresponds to your values so that fulfillment and happiness can be met without the need for a great consumption of unnecessary materialistic objects.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 198-202.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Selection 23
Controversy at Love Canal
In 1953, the Hooker Electrochemical Corporation, which is now called the Hooker Chemical and Plastics, sold the Love Canal, a trench in the Niagara Falls, New York area, to the Niagara Falls Board of Education. This canal was full of toxic wastes from industrial processes, which the Board of Education was aware of when they decided to build a school over top of the site. It wasn’t until 1978 that the Health Department declared an emergency because toxic wastes were leaching out of the ground and significant health concerns were raised by community members. This declaration was the start of a large controversy over what was to be done for communities not only around the Love Canal, but also other communities near toxic waste dumps throughout the state. This controversy between the bureaucracy and the community stemmed from a disagreement on how to deal with the health issues that resulted from exposure to the chemicals.
Health agencies felt that if they took any action regarding the Love Canal community, further cost would have to be expended to cleanup other toxic waste dumps in the state. Therefore, what started out as a scientific issue, for it had been proven that the chemicals were causing adverse health effects to the resident in the area surrounding this canal, became an issue of ethical judgement. Instead of considering the health of the community, the Health Department was showing more concern over conserving their state resources. Research that the Health Department completed was never revealed. Any scientists interested in the situation were denied access to the findings and therefore could not verify the validity of the conclusions. Also, the community was not informed about the final conclusions of the study, and thus they did not receive any clear answers to their questions regarding the true effects of living in such close proximity to this area could cause. Members of the Health Department who showed any concern regarding the information collected, thus sympathizing with the community members, were harassed, transferred, or forced to leave the department.
As a result of such a prolonged event, similar situations that will arise in the future should be conducted in a way that reduces the amount of controversy over what the study should entail. Proper scientific procedures should be utilized, such as data that is open to speculation from all people concerned, publication of conclusions, and making sure that the study has been reviewed by several peers, or scientists, so that the procedure which the experiment was conducted by can be properly criticized.
As was mentioned, the Love Canal is only one of many events regarding improper management of hazardous wastes’ dumps. There are many examples that can be found, such as the Sydney, Nova Scotia, tar ponds (seen on the left), in which communities have been exposed to chemicals and are now suffering from a variety of health effects. Many of the synthetic chemicals that corporations are using in the manufacturing of their products are not thoroughly researched to find all the negative effects that they can cause in humans and the environment. Short term effects may be easier to identify, but because of many different contributing variables, the long term effects are hard to determine. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of all industrial chemicals combined, since they are often disposed of in the same area, are largely unknown. Therefore, more precaution should be taken when disposing of industrial chemicals, especially when the disposal sites are so close to communities.
In light of our anthropocentric views, our society often neglects to mention that the other living organisms, both plants and animals, suffer adverse effects from toxic chemicals in their environments. Extinctions, high mortality rates, and morphological defects can be noted in species in contaminated areas. Changes in the pH and inorganic substances in the soil have great impacts on the success of plant species. Since animals are mobile and can move away from areas that are not suitable to their survival, plants may be good indicators of contaminated sites since they are immobile.
Lastly, some companies are aware of the possible effects that the wastes from their manufacturing industries can have on the public. However, because of no legislative protection for whistleblowers, or the people in the company who voice concerns for procedures and scientific findings on the various products and wastes in the company, company employees often remain silent because their voice will go unheard. Corporations hold a lot of political power in our countries because of their ability to influence governments and thus, the government does not often charge corporations with immoral/illegal actions such as endangering hundreds or thousands of people.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 106-12.
Related links....
Beck EC. The Love Canal. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm [2009 Aug 12]
CBC. Details of tar ponds cleanup to be released Wednesday. [Online] Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/11/tarponds040511.html [2004 May 12]
Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. Together making history. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.tarpondscleanup.ca/ [2009]
In 1953, the Hooker Electrochemical Corporation, which is now called the Hooker Chemical and Plastics, sold the Love Canal, a trench in the Niagara Falls, New York area, to the Niagara Falls Board of Education. This canal was full of toxic wastes from industrial processes, which the Board of Education was aware of when they decided to build a school over top of the site. It wasn’t until 1978 that the Health Department declared an emergency because toxic wastes were leaching out of the ground and significant health concerns were raised by community members. This declaration was the start of a large controversy over what was to be done for communities not only around the Love Canal, but also other communities near toxic waste dumps throughout the state. This controversy between the bureaucracy and the community stemmed from a disagreement on how to deal with the health issues that resulted from exposure to the chemicals.
Health agencies felt that if they took any action regarding the Love Canal community, further cost would have to be expended to cleanup other toxic waste dumps in the state. Therefore, what started out as a scientific issue, for it had been proven that the chemicals were causing adverse health effects to the resident in the area surrounding this canal, became an issue of ethical judgement. Instead of considering the health of the community, the Health Department was showing more concern over conserving their state resources. Research that the Health Department completed was never revealed. Any scientists interested in the situation were denied access to the findings and therefore could not verify the validity of the conclusions. Also, the community was not informed about the final conclusions of the study, and thus they did not receive any clear answers to their questions regarding the true effects of living in such close proximity to this area could cause. Members of the Health Department who showed any concern regarding the information collected, thus sympathizing with the community members, were harassed, transferred, or forced to leave the department.
As a result of such a prolonged event, similar situations that will arise in the future should be conducted in a way that reduces the amount of controversy over what the study should entail. Proper scientific procedures should be utilized, such as data that is open to speculation from all people concerned, publication of conclusions, and making sure that the study has been reviewed by several peers, or scientists, so that the procedure which the experiment was conducted by can be properly criticized.
As was mentioned, the Love Canal is only one of many events regarding improper management of hazardous wastes’ dumps. There are many examples that can be found, such as the Sydney, Nova Scotia, tar ponds (seen on the left), in which communities have been exposed to chemicals and are now suffering from a variety of health effects. Many of the synthetic chemicals that corporations are using in the manufacturing of their products are not thoroughly researched to find all the negative effects that they can cause in humans and the environment. Short term effects may be easier to identify, but because of many different contributing variables, the long term effects are hard to determine. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of all industrial chemicals combined, since they are often disposed of in the same area, are largely unknown. Therefore, more precaution should be taken when disposing of industrial chemicals, especially when the disposal sites are so close to communities.
In light of our anthropocentric views, our society often neglects to mention that the other living organisms, both plants and animals, suffer adverse effects from toxic chemicals in their environments. Extinctions, high mortality rates, and morphological defects can be noted in species in contaminated areas. Changes in the pH and inorganic substances in the soil have great impacts on the success of plant species. Since animals are mobile and can move away from areas that are not suitable to their survival, plants may be good indicators of contaminated sites since they are immobile.
Lastly, some companies are aware of the possible effects that the wastes from their manufacturing industries can have on the public. However, because of no legislative protection for whistleblowers, or the people in the company who voice concerns for procedures and scientific findings on the various products and wastes in the company, company employees often remain silent because their voice will go unheard. Corporations hold a lot of political power in our countries because of their ability to influence governments and thus, the government does not often charge corporations with immoral/illegal actions such as endangering hundreds or thousands of people.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 106-12.
Related links....
Beck EC. The Love Canal. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm [2009 Aug 12]
CBC. Details of tar ponds cleanup to be released Wednesday. [Online] Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/11/tarponds040511.html [2004 May 12]
Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. Together making history. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.tarpondscleanup.ca/ [2009]
Selection 24
Restoring Rivers
Water quality has been degraded as human activities have altered rivers and streams through rechanneling, using them as sewage and industrial dumping sites, and damming them to create power sources. As a result of such changes, the quality and quantity of fresh water has decreased significantly as have the populations of organisms that depend on those water systems. When a river is altered, all of its associated ecological functions, such as the ability to store nutrients, to reduce erosion of river banks and trap sediments, and to store water, will be impacted in some way.
In order to protect the fresh water that remains, and to reverse some of the consequences that have resulted from human activities, restoration programs are needed to return rivers and streams to their previous conditions. Although restoration projects are underway, the quality of water continues to decline since there is no common criteria for restoration projects, there are no monitoring systems in place to determine the restoration techniques that work most effectively, and overall there are no mechanisms in place to determine the rivers and streams that need restoration
the most. Therefore, all political levels need to take initiative and contribute to the creation of a restoration system that allows for efficient funding, prioritization of rivers and streams in terms of which need the most attention, and to allow for continued monitoring so that techniques of restoration can be recorded and compared.
Throughout the Industrial Revolution, societies have dumped their wastes into waterways as a means to dilute and get rid of it. However, now that freshwater shortages are becoming more apparent as the global population’s demand for water increases, people are starting to realize that the lakes, rivers, and streams that were once clean drinking water sources are now contaminated to the point where they are not suitable for human consumption. As a result, shortages are becoming a greater issue.
When surface waters cannot be utilized, communities often rely on groundwater resources. However, groundwater sources are being depleted more quickly than they can be recharged, thus further complicating the water shortage issue. People are dependent on water resources for agricultural irrigation. Therefore, when water is short, food resources are also negatively impacted. Contamination of ground water is increasing as pollutants from the ground surfaces are being drawn down into aquifers through infiltration and percolation of the soil. Land subsidence can occur when the amount of water withdrawn exceeds the rate of recharge.
In the older parts of Winnipeg, storm sewers and raw sewage services both collect in the same area and are transported together to the treatment facility. However, because of increased amounts of runoff due to increased amounts of impervious materials, or asphalt and concrete, as well as an increased number of people utilizing this system, the sewers often become overburdened and discharge excessive amounts of untreated sewage into the Red River. Such discharges become more frequent when there are large amounts of rainfall, thus posing a problem to the natural ecosystem processes in and downstream from the area where such wastes are discharged. Raw sewage requires bacteria to break it down, which then reduces dissolved oxygen in the water, and releases large quantities of nutrients into the water which may cause excessive algae growth. Not to mention, pathogens from the organic materials will increase and pose concern to human health.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 113-7.
Related links....
City of Winnipeg. 2009 sewer service interruptions. [Online]. Accessed from: http://www.winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/sewage/service_int2009.stm [2009 Nov 4]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA restoration center celebrates 10-year anniversary. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag204.htm
Water quality has been degraded as human activities have altered rivers and streams through rechanneling, using them as sewage and industrial dumping sites, and damming them to create power sources. As a result of such changes, the quality and quantity of fresh water has decreased significantly as have the populations of organisms that depend on those water systems. When a river is altered, all of its associated ecological functions, such as the ability to store nutrients, to reduce erosion of river banks and trap sediments, and to store water, will be impacted in some way.
In order to protect the fresh water that remains, and to reverse some of the consequences that have resulted from human activities, restoration programs are needed to return rivers and streams to their previous conditions. Although restoration projects are underway, the quality of water continues to decline since there is no common criteria for restoration projects, there are no monitoring systems in place to determine the restoration techniques that work most effectively, and overall there are no mechanisms in place to determine the rivers and streams that need restoration
the most. Therefore, all political levels need to take initiative and contribute to the creation of a restoration system that allows for efficient funding, prioritization of rivers and streams in terms of which need the most attention, and to allow for continued monitoring so that techniques of restoration can be recorded and compared.Throughout the Industrial Revolution, societies have dumped their wastes into waterways as a means to dilute and get rid of it. However, now that freshwater shortages are becoming more apparent as the global population’s demand for water increases, people are starting to realize that the lakes, rivers, and streams that were once clean drinking water sources are now contaminated to the point where they are not suitable for human consumption. As a result, shortages are becoming a greater issue.
When surface waters cannot be utilized, communities often rely on groundwater resources. However, groundwater sources are being depleted more quickly than they can be recharged, thus further complicating the water shortage issue. People are dependent on water resources for agricultural irrigation. Therefore, when water is short, food resources are also negatively impacted. Contamination of ground water is increasing as pollutants from the ground surfaces are being drawn down into aquifers through infiltration and percolation of the soil. Land subsidence can occur when the amount of water withdrawn exceeds the rate of recharge.
In the older parts of Winnipeg, storm sewers and raw sewage services both collect in the same area and are transported together to the treatment facility. However, because of increased amounts of runoff due to increased amounts of impervious materials, or asphalt and concrete, as well as an increased number of people utilizing this system, the sewers often become overburdened and discharge excessive amounts of untreated sewage into the Red River. Such discharges become more frequent when there are large amounts of rainfall, thus posing a problem to the natural ecosystem processes in and downstream from the area where such wastes are discharged. Raw sewage requires bacteria to break it down, which then reduces dissolved oxygen in the water, and releases large quantities of nutrients into the water which may cause excessive algae growth. Not to mention, pathogens from the organic materials will increase and pose concern to human health.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 113-7.
Related links....
City of Winnipeg. 2009 sewer service interruptions. [Online]. Accessed from: http://www.winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/sewage/service_int2009.stm [2009 Nov 4]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA restoration center celebrates 10-year anniversary. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag204.htm
Online Activity...
Talks: Carol Honoré Praises Slowness
When you are eating supper, completing an assignment, or walking to school, do you ever hear the clock ticking in the back of your mind? According to Honoré, our society operates under a road-runner culture in which every aspect of our daily lives is based on the fast-lane. How fast can we get this task done? What can I do to speed this process up? Living in fast forward has become a part of our daily lives as we race the clock.
Time is often viewed as a finite resource, and therefore many people rush to accomplish as much as possible in the little time they believe they have. However, people who take the time to slow down and savour life, rather than rushing through it, are often more satisfied with their daily accomplishments. When a person takes the time to slow down, they can break free from this culture and complete tasks more effectively. It has been observed that people who have fewer work hours are often more productive and creative because they then have the time to unwind from work and get in touch with their creative juices. Relationships with people in their lives are also improved and more enjoyment is received from simple acts such as preparing and eating a meal. Hence, less can mean more and each individual should take the time to slow down and enjoy life.
University students are often caught up in the fast pace of campus life, rushing to and from classes, meeting friends for a quick bite to eat, then rushing off to catch the bus or go to work. There are many things that demand time and attention, and often leave the student feeling pressured or stressed because they feel they have little time to spend with friends and family. However, taking the time to set aside work and allow for simple pleasures such as catching a hockey game or baking a batch of cookies is often all the mind needs to unwind and recuperate from constantly being forced to race the clock.
Community involvement, such as participating in a recreational sport, can provide a necessary distraction for students and business people alike. However, even these activities can be rushed, so conscious effort must be taken to slow down and savour the moments when adrenaline isn’t pumping and the mind is clear of all the stresses of daily life. Relationships with the people around you are often the most affected by the fast pace of life. No one feels they have the time to get to know people, and therefore wake-up calls are often necessary to remind people to take the time to slow their pace and gain more from life then they would receive by rushing through it.
Connections to families, friends, nature, food, and even life are neglected when people spend all their time rushing from one moment to the next. Part of the slow movement is taking time to analyze your life and identify which parts are valued the most. Once identified, a person can then take the time to reconnect to those parts. Losing sight of what is important in life, such as people and food, is not difficult, and thus many people do not realize their importance. Nature is often completely forgotten as people shield themselves in a “bubble”, often through the use of technological advances such as iPods , that prevent people from experiencing the true benefits of nature such as listening to birds chirp and squirrels chatter.
Honoré C. Talks: Carl Honoré praises slowness. TED [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/carl_honore_praises_slowness.html
[2005 Jul]
Related Link...
Slow Movement. The slow movement: making a connection. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.slowmovement.com/ [2009]
When you are eating supper, completing an assignment, or walking to school, do you ever hear the clock ticking in the back of your mind? According to Honoré, our society operates under a road-runner culture in which every aspect of our daily lives is based on the fast-lane. How fast can we get this task done? What can I do to speed this process up? Living in fast forward has become a part of our daily lives as we race the clock.
Time is often viewed as a finite resource, and therefore many people rush to accomplish as much as possible in the little time they believe they have. However, people who take the time to slow down and savour life, rather than rushing through it, are often more satisfied with their daily accomplishments. When a person takes the time to slow down, they can break free from this culture and complete tasks more effectively. It has been observed that people who have fewer work hours are often more productive and creative because they then have the time to unwind from work and get in touch with their creative juices. Relationships with people in their lives are also improved and more enjoyment is received from simple acts such as preparing and eating a meal. Hence, less can mean more and each individual should take the time to slow down and enjoy life.
University students are often caught up in the fast pace of campus life, rushing to and from classes, meeting friends for a quick bite to eat, then rushing off to catch the bus or go to work. There are many things that demand time and attention, and often leave the student feeling pressured or stressed because they feel they have little time to spend with friends and family. However, taking the time to set aside work and allow for simple pleasures such as catching a hockey game or baking a batch of cookies is often all the mind needs to unwind and recuperate from constantly being forced to race the clock.
Community involvement, such as participating in a recreational sport, can provide a necessary distraction for students and business people alike. However, even these activities can be rushed, so conscious effort must be taken to slow down and savour the moments when adrenaline isn’t pumping and the mind is clear of all the stresses of daily life. Relationships with the people around you are often the most affected by the fast pace of life. No one feels they have the time to get to know people, and therefore wake-up calls are often necessary to remind people to take the time to slow their pace and gain more from life then they would receive by rushing through it.
Connections to families, friends, nature, food, and even life are neglected when people spend all their time rushing from one moment to the next. Part of the slow movement is taking time to analyze your life and identify which parts are valued the most. Once identified, a person can then take the time to reconnect to those parts. Losing sight of what is important in life, such as people and food, is not difficult, and thus many people do not realize their importance. Nature is often completely forgotten as people shield themselves in a “bubble”, often through the use of technological advances such as iPods , that prevent people from experiencing the true benefits of nature such as listening to birds chirp and squirrels chatter.
Honoré C. Talks: Carl Honoré praises slowness. TED [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/carl_honore_praises_slowness.html
[2005 Jul]
Related Link...
Slow Movement. The slow movement: making a connection. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.slowmovement.com/ [2009]
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Selection 28
Food Scarcity: An Environmental Wakeup Call
Are we headed for an ecosystem collapse? Global changes to our ecosystems brought on by degradation of our resources are becoming more apparent. While the population continues to grow at an alarming rate, there is also a noticeable decline in the materials necessary to meet the needs of this population. Degradation of the environment, which occurs as a result of over-exploitation and improper use, decreases the land’s productivity and ability to replenish itself. This decreased productivity reduces the amount of food produced, thus becoming a prominent environmental issue through its impacts to society. More land is being degraded resulting in fewer and fewer food supplies being produced. As a result, malnourishment and starvation will increase. Because the markets increase prices when supplies begin to drop and demands either remain the same or rise, poorer countries are affected the most since the people cann
ot afford to buy their food at these higher prices. With fewer people able to provide for their families, political instability will ensue as the government will be blamed for these price increases. Water supplies are being diverted to cities, thus decreasing the quantity available for agricultural practices and further decreasing the quantity of food grown. Therefore, in order to halt political instability and environmental degradation, which in turn affects food supplies, our society must adopt population and land-use policies to stabilize not only our growth rate, but also the degradation and improper use of our land.
In general, the amount of land that can be used for farming has decreased. Urbanization has taken over a lot of fertile land for suburbs and shopping malls. Improper management has led to desertification and erosion, which further decreases the amount of fertile land available. As a result of current climate changes, flooding, droughts, and rising temperatures have resulted in many crop failures as the crops can no longer adapt at the pace necessary to grow in locations once suitable. Arid regions are requiring more irrigation. Locations that once did not need irrigation have begun to divert water from reservoirs such as lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers to meet the needs of the agricultural industries. Therefore, the demand for food and the demand for water are conflicting forces in our market. As we increase the allocation of water to one location, we are then decreasing the allocation to the other.
Currently, one could argue that we are not experiencing a food scarcity despite the large levels of poverty and starvation around the world. Our planet is actually able to provide enough food resources to support the current population. Therefore, a lack of food in third world countries is not a matter of scarcity, but rather a matter of entitlement. Because our global economy is based on a market system, the prices are set by the industrialized countries that have the dollar vote. As a result, less developed countries cannot meet this price and therefore can’t purchase necessary food items. In other words, because they do not have the money buy these products, they are not entitled to them. Food suppliers are going to provide the products that are demanded by the industrialized countries rather than cater to the needs of the people who will not provide them with a high profitable income. Some croplands are being converted to grow luxury goods such as tea and coffee rather than more essential crops like corn and wheat. The people with money demand these products, and thus will make it more efficient and profitable for the farmer to grow them.
Furthermore, the majority of the food produced in developing countries is often exported to feed the wealthy in industrialized countries. If a person walks into a supermarket and looks at the produce, they will see labels from New Zealand, Australia, and possibly Africa. For countries like Africa who have a great food shortage, they sell their products only to have some of it shipped back in as poverty relief. Part of the problem stems from a lack of local markets and not enough infrastructure, such as roads, to move the food within the borders of its own country. Therefore, the notion of steal from the poor to feed the rich will continue so long as an unequal distribution of incomes and resources continues between industrialized and developing nations.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 141-5.
Picture from...
Alberta Irrigation Projects Association. Every drop counts. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.aipa.org/About_Us.html [2009 Nov 5]
Related link....
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canada-Saskatchewan irrigation diversification centre. [Online]. Avail from: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1186153747182&lang=eng [2007 Aug 3]
Are we headed for an ecosystem collapse? Global changes to our ecosystems brought on by degradation of our resources are becoming more apparent. While the population continues to grow at an alarming rate, there is also a noticeable decline in the materials necessary to meet the needs of this population. Degradation of the environment, which occurs as a result of over-exploitation and improper use, decreases the land’s productivity and ability to replenish itself. This decreased productivity reduces the amount of food produced, thus becoming a prominent environmental issue through its impacts to society. More land is being degraded resulting in fewer and fewer food supplies being produced. As a result, malnourishment and starvation will increase. Because the markets increase prices when supplies begin to drop and demands either remain the same or rise, poorer countries are affected the most since the people cann
ot afford to buy their food at these higher prices. With fewer people able to provide for their families, political instability will ensue as the government will be blamed for these price increases. Water supplies are being diverted to cities, thus decreasing the quantity available for agricultural practices and further decreasing the quantity of food grown. Therefore, in order to halt political instability and environmental degradation, which in turn affects food supplies, our society must adopt population and land-use policies to stabilize not only our growth rate, but also the degradation and improper use of our land.In general, the amount of land that can be used for farming has decreased. Urbanization has taken over a lot of fertile land for suburbs and shopping malls. Improper management has led to desertification and erosion, which further decreases the amount of fertile land available. As a result of current climate changes, flooding, droughts, and rising temperatures have resulted in many crop failures as the crops can no longer adapt at the pace necessary to grow in locations once suitable. Arid regions are requiring more irrigation. Locations that once did not need irrigation have begun to divert water from reservoirs such as lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers to meet the needs of the agricultural industries. Therefore, the demand for food and the demand for water are conflicting forces in our market. As we increase the allocation of water to one location, we are then decreasing the allocation to the other.
Currently, one could argue that we are not experiencing a food scarcity despite the large levels of poverty and starvation around the world. Our planet is actually able to provide enough food resources to support the current population. Therefore, a lack of food in third world countries is not a matter of scarcity, but rather a matter of entitlement. Because our global economy is based on a market system, the prices are set by the industrialized countries that have the dollar vote. As a result, less developed countries cannot meet this price and therefore can’t purchase necessary food items. In other words, because they do not have the money buy these products, they are not entitled to them. Food suppliers are going to provide the products that are demanded by the industrialized countries rather than cater to the needs of the people who will not provide them with a high profitable income. Some croplands are being converted to grow luxury goods such as tea and coffee rather than more essential crops like corn and wheat. The people with money demand these products, and thus will make it more efficient and profitable for the farmer to grow them.
Furthermore, the majority of the food produced in developing countries is often exported to feed the wealthy in industrialized countries. If a person walks into a supermarket and looks at the produce, they will see labels from New Zealand, Australia, and possibly Africa. For countries like Africa who have a great food shortage, they sell their products only to have some of it shipped back in as poverty relief. Part of the problem stems from a lack of local markets and not enough infrastructure, such as roads, to move the food within the borders of its own country. Therefore, the notion of steal from the poor to feed the rich will continue so long as an unequal distribution of incomes and resources continues between industrialized and developing nations.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 141-5.
Picture from...
Alberta Irrigation Projects Association. Every drop counts. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.aipa.org/About_Us.html [2009 Nov 5]
Related link....
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canada-Saskatchewan irrigation diversification centre. [Online]. Avail from: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1186153747182&lang=eng [2007 Aug 3]
Selection 29
Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems
A controversial issue surrounding our farming practices today is whether or not farmers should use conventional farming methods or organic farming methods. The main argument to support conventional farming is that it provides a greater amount of output, and thus will provide food for more people. Since our population continues to grow, providing greater quantities of food is necessary to continue to support all the people. However, conventional farming practices use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to produce such desired yields. Are we increasing the quantity of our food only to also increase the amount of toxins we are putting into our bodies?
Pimentel et al. completed a study in Pennsylvania at the Rodale Institute to compare the differences between organic farming and conventional farming. They admitted that their conclusions may differ compared to other experiments conducted because of their chosen location, the amount of moisture in the area, and the length of the growing season. However, their findings were still significant. Based on the twenty-two year study, they found that organic farming increases the soil moisture because it often has larger amounts of organic matter. Increasing the water retention of the soil makes the land more tolerant to droughts. Also, organic farmland has a larger biodiversity. Earthworms and arthropods ensure that the organic matter is broken down as they tunnel through the soil. The paths that these invertebrates create also allows for percolation and aeration, thus reducing runoff and providing necessary oxygen to plant roots. Hence, organic farming has many benefits over conventional farming.
When the quantity of crops produced did differ between the two methods, it was most often a result of differing climatic conditions. Years of drought saw higher quantities produced in organic fields while years of high rainfall showed increases in the quantities of crops under conventional practices. A nitrogen deficiency often decreased the organic farm yields, but this issue was combated in the Rodale Institute study through the use of legumes and extra manure. Other studies, such as the one conducted in European countries can attribute their much lower yields in organic farming practices to this nitrogen deficiency.
Furthermore, the economical benefits differ between the two methods. Organic farming generally requires fewer fossil fuels and provides a higher return to the farmer. The demand for organic products has risen, and thus prices for such products have also risen. Conventional farming generally has higher production costs because it utilizes fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. These chemicals are not cheap and thus reduce the returns received from crop yields. In terms of efficiency, conventional farming practices often reduce the health of the soil whereas organic farming practices maintain that soil quality. As a result, organic farmlands are able to maintain the same quantities over a longer period of time.
Because our climate is becoming unstable, more of our agricultural practices should apply organic farming techniques such as crop rotations, manure as fertilizers, and reduced levels of synthetic chemicals. Increased drought tolerance as well as increased percolation would assist the land in providing a more suitable environment for the crops. Natural systems are better at adapting to changing weather patterns then systems that have been altered by people. A diverse number of fungi and invertebrates maintain the soil’s health, and thus help to maintain the levels of pests through community interactions. Fungi that are beneficial to crop growth may be able to out-compete fungi that are harmful, thus reducing the harmful fungi’s population. In human altered systems, fungicides have to be applied to kill the pests because the “good” fungi are often not present. Beneficial fungi are often destroyed by previous applications of fungicide or because of other synthetic chemicals that have been added to the soil. Therefore, removing these beneficial fungi also removes the mechanism that maintained the detrimental fungi, hence resulting in further fungicide application to remove the detrimental fungi.
Also, decreasing the number of chemicals that people are consuming would most likely improve the health of society. After all, aren’t we already exposing ourselves to enough toxins through the use of electronic gadgets and fumes from industries and automobiles? We do not need to ingest harmful toxins as well. Residues remain on fruits and vegetables as well as in the tissues of the plants and animals we consume. The synergistic effects of many harmful substances in our environment, whether they are on food items or in the gizmos that we buy in stores, are often unknown and therefore have not been connected to the multitude of health problems arising in today’s society.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 146-51.
Related Links...
CBC. Going organic; growing demand, tougher regulations. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/05/07/f-food-organic.html [2009 Jul 29]
Earthbound Farm. Organic farming 101: disease control. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ebfarm.com/WhyOrganic/101/DiseaseControl.aspx [2009]
Thurnell-Read J. What are the advantages of organic farming. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/What_Are_The_Advantages_of_Organic_Farming.php [2009]
A controversial issue surrounding our farming practices today is whether or not farmers should use conventional farming methods or organic farming methods. The main argument to support conventional farming is that it provides a greater amount of output, and thus will provide food for more people. Since our population continues to grow, providing greater quantities of food is necessary to continue to support all the people. However, conventional farming practices use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to produce such desired yields. Are we increasing the quantity of our food only to also increase the amount of toxins we are putting into our bodies?
Pimentel et al. completed a study in Pennsylvania at the Rodale Institute to compare the differences between organic farming and conventional farming. They admitted that their conclusions may differ compared to other experiments conducted because of their chosen location, the amount of moisture in the area, and the length of the growing season. However, their findings were still significant. Based on the twenty-two year study, they found that organic farming increases the soil moisture because it often has larger amounts of organic matter. Increasing the water retention of the soil makes the land more tolerant to droughts. Also, organic farmland has a larger biodiversity. Earthworms and arthropods ensure that the organic matter is broken down as they tunnel through the soil. The paths that these invertebrates create also allows for percolation and aeration, thus reducing runoff and providing necessary oxygen to plant roots. Hence, organic farming has many benefits over conventional farming.
When the quantity of crops produced did differ between the two methods, it was most often a result of differing climatic conditions. Years of drought saw higher quantities produced in organic fields while years of high rainfall showed increases in the quantities of crops under conventional practices. A nitrogen deficiency often decreased the organic farm yields, but this issue was combated in the Rodale Institute study through the use of legumes and extra manure. Other studies, such as the one conducted in European countries can attribute their much lower yields in organic farming practices to this nitrogen deficiency.
Furthermore, the economical benefits differ between the two methods. Organic farming generally requires fewer fossil fuels and provides a higher return to the farmer. The demand for organic products has risen, and thus prices for such products have also risen. Conventional farming generally has higher production costs because it utilizes fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. These chemicals are not cheap and thus reduce the returns received from crop yields. In terms of efficiency, conventional farming practices often reduce the health of the soil whereas organic farming practices maintain that soil quality. As a result, organic farmlands are able to maintain the same quantities over a longer period of time.
Because our climate is becoming unstable, more of our agricultural practices should apply organic farming techniques such as crop rotations, manure as fertilizers, and reduced levels of synthetic chemicals. Increased drought tolerance as well as increased percolation would assist the land in providing a more suitable environment for the crops. Natural systems are better at adapting to changing weather patterns then systems that have been altered by people. A diverse number of fungi and invertebrates maintain the soil’s health, and thus help to maintain the levels of pests through community interactions. Fungi that are beneficial to crop growth may be able to out-compete fungi that are harmful, thus reducing the harmful fungi’s population. In human altered systems, fungicides have to be applied to kill the pests because the “good” fungi are often not present. Beneficial fungi are often destroyed by previous applications of fungicide or because of other synthetic chemicals that have been added to the soil. Therefore, removing these beneficial fungi also removes the mechanism that maintained the detrimental fungi, hence resulting in further fungicide application to remove the detrimental fungi.
Also, decreasing the number of chemicals that people are consuming would most likely improve the health of society. After all, aren’t we already exposing ourselves to enough toxins through the use of electronic gadgets and fumes from industries and automobiles? We do not need to ingest harmful toxins as well. Residues remain on fruits and vegetables as well as in the tissues of the plants and animals we consume. The synergistic effects of many harmful substances in our environment, whether they are on food items or in the gizmos that we buy in stores, are often unknown and therefore have not been connected to the multitude of health problems arising in today’s society.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 146-51.
Related Links...
CBC. Going organic; growing demand, tougher regulations. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/05/07/f-food-organic.html [2009 Jul 29]
Earthbound Farm. Organic farming 101: disease control. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ebfarm.com/WhyOrganic/101/DiseaseControl.aspx [2009]
Thurnell-Read J. What are the advantages of organic farming. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/What_Are_The_Advantages_of_Organic_Farming.php [2009]
Selection 27
The Agricultural Crisis as a Crisis of Culture
In recent years, a major shift in agriculture has resulted in the decline of farmers and farmland. Small farmers have been replaced by large-scale farms run by money-driven farmers and run on expensive machinery. The local markets and self-sufficiency have been replaced by global markets and dependence on these larger, more global, markets for survival. In short, our culture has changed in response to a distinct change in society’s values.
People are moving away from the land, not only physically but also mentally. Cities are expanding as people focus their efforts on consumerism and business and industrial related professions. Therefore, values associated with achieving an expendable income and a prestigious career are often considered simple compared to the values associated with the farmer. A farmer relies on experience, independence, authority, endurance, and personal judgement related to tasks necessary in the running of that farm to make a living. Overall, fragmentation, or the separation of the component parts of our culture, such as separating agriculture from technological and economic disciplines, creates competition, a lack of cooperation among people, and a reduction in the shared unity, or idea that we are all part of one creation, in our society.
All of earth’s systems are interdependent, and therefore competition, for example between agricultural practices and economical pursuits, may negatively impact our society. Farmers provide the raw resources for the industries to manufacture and process into select goods. These goods are then sold by companies in a market. This market then dictates the demands of the consumers, thus telling the farmers what to supply. Hence, our society working together and promoting cooperation will allow agricultural practices and economical pursuits to work hand-in-hand. Since each individual is part of the whole, unity in our cultural values is crucial for the maintaining of agricultural practices that do not simply exploit the planet, but rather use the resources in a sustainable, efficient manner.
Growing up in a farming community, I have been a witness to some of the drastic changes surrounding the loss of smaller farmers and the rise of large-scale farming. When farming becomes unprofitable because of increased taxes on the land and decreased grain prices, many small farmers have sold off their land and moved elsewhere. Very few small farmers remain, and those that do are not self-sufficient. Milk, eggs, and meat are often purchased in stores rather than produced by the farmers themselves. Even large-scale farms are not self-sufficient. Larger farms are often specialized in one area, such as just livestock production, as in cows and pigs, or just in grain crops. Hutterite colonies are the only farm-based communities that appear to have maintained self-sufficiency from produce grown and nurtured by their own land.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 137-40.
In recent years, a major shift in agriculture has resulted in the decline of farmers and farmland. Small farmers have been replaced by large-scale farms run by money-driven farmers and run on expensive machinery. The local markets and self-sufficiency have been replaced by global markets and dependence on these larger, more global, markets for survival. In short, our culture has changed in response to a distinct change in society’s values.
People are moving away from the land, not only physically but also mentally. Cities are expanding as people focus their efforts on consumerism and business and industrial related professions. Therefore, values associated with achieving an expendable income and a prestigious career are often considered simple compared to the values associated with the farmer. A farmer relies on experience, independence, authority, endurance, and personal judgement related to tasks necessary in the running of that farm to make a living. Overall, fragmentation, or the separation of the component parts of our culture, such as separating agriculture from technological and economic disciplines, creates competition, a lack of cooperation among people, and a reduction in the shared unity, or idea that we are all part of one creation, in our society.
All of earth’s systems are interdependent, and therefore competition, for example between agricultural practices and economical pursuits, may negatively impact our society. Farmers provide the raw resources for the industries to manufacture and process into select goods. These goods are then sold by companies in a market. This market then dictates the demands of the consumers, thus telling the farmers what to supply. Hence, our society working together and promoting cooperation will allow agricultural practices and economical pursuits to work hand-in-hand. Since each individual is part of the whole, unity in our cultural values is crucial for the maintaining of agricultural practices that do not simply exploit the planet, but rather use the resources in a sustainable, efficient manner.
Growing up in a farming community, I have been a witness to some of the drastic changes surrounding the loss of smaller farmers and the rise of large-scale farming. When farming becomes unprofitable because of increased taxes on the land and decreased grain prices, many small farmers have sold off their land and moved elsewhere. Very few small farmers remain, and those that do are not self-sufficient. Milk, eggs, and meat are often purchased in stores rather than produced by the farmers themselves. Even large-scale farms are not self-sufficient. Larger farms are often specialized in one area, such as just livestock production, as in cows and pigs, or just in grain crops. Hutterite colonies are the only farm-based communities that appear to have maintained self-sufficiency from produce grown and nurtured by their own land.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 137-40.
Section 41
Women’s Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation
Have you ever considered a connection between gender and diversity in our society? According to Shiva, there are many similarities between gender and diversity. In a patriarchal system, men are the dominant figure, or the figure that makes all the decisions and runs the production of food. Men not only see themselves as being superior to women, but also as being superior nature. Thus, they exploit nature by reducing diversity and creating monocultures in which only one specified crop is grown. This crop may then create a larger output and thus a larger income, but in order to increase its output, the diversity of other plant species had to be reduced. Women, on the other hand, recognize the need for diversity. They perform a variety of task in their everyday lives that often go unnoticed, let alone paid. Hence women, themselves, are not specialized to a single function, but rather are diverse and perform many different functions. For this reason, women see the connections between the various parts of a system, and the added benefit of having a diverse number of ways to move between the parts of that system.
Industrialized countries have adopted the monoculture means of production because technology has increased the efficiency of harvesting one type of crop in a given location. The people in Third World countries, however, still depend on their own self-sufficiency to maintain the system. Since women often perform the agricultural practices in these countries, they value their conservation of diversity so that they can maintain the ecological systems that they depend on for survival.
Because women do perform such a variety of tasks, from housework to farming, they often are not considered productive members of society since a distinct title for their role in society cannot be given. Also, they do not get paid wages for their labours, or if they do the wage is not a significant amount. Men tend to be more specialized, thus fragmenting our society into distinct parts to match their specializations. For example, men may view rice as only important for its market value as a food. Women do not fragment sectors, but rather recognize the various benefits of a product; rice is not just food for humans, but also provides straw that can then be used to create roofs for houses and provide animals with feed. Even a single plant has a diverse number of functions that it can fulfill.
Furthermore, corporations, in their need for control and increased power, have created genetically modified organisms on which they can put patents. These patents do not allow farmers to own the seed, only to grow it. Thus, corporations take the biodiversity being preserved by the custodianship of women in Third World countries through the collection and re-use of seeds, and claim ownership by altering one gene in that seed. This notion of owning a modified gene, and therefore the seed that houses that gene, represents another way in which people have found to dominate other life forms.
Equality has increased in many societies around the world. Women’s rights have been acknowledged, and the equity regarding wages and career positions has increased. However, certain task such as the running of the household remain distinctly a “woman’s task”. After completing a day in the workforce, women often face a second shift when they go home. This second shift involves the cooking, cleaning, preparation of meals, and shopping. All of these tasks are completed without a wage, and therefore are not considered part of that woman’s productivity associated with the market. Though in some households such tasks are now being divided between the spouses, women are still the main household occupants to carry out such tasks.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 209-12.
Related link...
Valente M. Latin America: while women pull double shift, state looks the other way. [Online]. Avail from: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47733 [2009]
Have you ever considered a connection between gender and diversity in our society? According to Shiva, there are many similarities between gender and diversity. In a patriarchal system, men are the dominant figure, or the figure that makes all the decisions and runs the production of food. Men not only see themselves as being superior to women, but also as being superior nature. Thus, they exploit nature by reducing diversity and creating monocultures in which only one specified crop is grown. This crop may then create a larger output and thus a larger income, but in order to increase its output, the diversity of other plant species had to be reduced. Women, on the other hand, recognize the need for diversity. They perform a variety of task in their everyday lives that often go unnoticed, let alone paid. Hence women, themselves, are not specialized to a single function, but rather are diverse and perform many different functions. For this reason, women see the connections between the various parts of a system, and the added benefit of having a diverse number of ways to move between the parts of that system.
Industrialized countries have adopted the monoculture means of production because technology has increased the efficiency of harvesting one type of crop in a given location. The people in Third World countries, however, still depend on their own self-sufficiency to maintain the system. Since women often perform the agricultural practices in these countries, they value their conservation of diversity so that they can maintain the ecological systems that they depend on for survival.
Because women do perform such a variety of tasks, from housework to farming, they often are not considered productive members of society since a distinct title for their role in society cannot be given. Also, they do not get paid wages for their labours, or if they do the wage is not a significant amount. Men tend to be more specialized, thus fragmenting our society into distinct parts to match their specializations. For example, men may view rice as only important for its market value as a food. Women do not fragment sectors, but rather recognize the various benefits of a product; rice is not just food for humans, but also provides straw that can then be used to create roofs for houses and provide animals with feed. Even a single plant has a diverse number of functions that it can fulfill.
Furthermore, corporations, in their need for control and increased power, have created genetically modified organisms on which they can put patents. These patents do not allow farmers to own the seed, only to grow it. Thus, corporations take the biodiversity being preserved by the custodianship of women in Third World countries through the collection and re-use of seeds, and claim ownership by altering one gene in that seed. This notion of owning a modified gene, and therefore the seed that houses that gene, represents another way in which people have found to dominate other life forms.
Equality has increased in many societies around the world. Women’s rights have been acknowledged, and the equity regarding wages and career positions has increased. However, certain task such as the running of the household remain distinctly a “woman’s task”. After completing a day in the workforce, women often face a second shift when they go home. This second shift involves the cooking, cleaning, preparation of meals, and shopping. All of these tasks are completed without a wage, and therefore are not considered part of that woman’s productivity associated with the market. Though in some households such tasks are now being divided between the spouses, women are still the main household occupants to carry out such tasks.
Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 209-12.
Related link...
Valente M. Latin America: while women pull double shift, state looks the other way. [Online]. Avail from: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47733 [2009]
Online Activity.....
Talks Cary Fowler: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food
Climate change has become a part of our everyday lives. Because of human activities which have caused global heating, organisms are having to adapt to changes in their environments such as increased temperatures and alterations in the distribution of precipitation. Are we headed for a global crisis if species can’t adapt quickly enough to survive the changes to their environments? The answer to this question remains to be seen. As our planet stands right now, biological diversity is declining at rates much faster than in the past decades. This loss of diversity means the loss of valuable genes that might be necessary for a particular species to adapt to future environmental changes.
Fowler stresses the importance of crop diversity. Agricultural practices are the foundation for food production, and because they are so important to our survival any loss of crop diversity could have significant impacts in the future. Life is based on evolution, or the ability to adapt and change as the surrounding environment changes. This adaptation can only be achieved through genetic diversity that has been passed on between generations and through the process of natural selection.
A large variety of different seeds for crops currently exist, but like other organisms, this diversity is also decreasing. There used to be over 7000 types of different apples in the United States. This number has since been reduced to just over 200. What happened to all the different apples? Well, the majority have become extinct; they have died off and will never be seen again. So why don’t we preserve the best seeds and therefore the best crops? The crop that may be the best adapted to current situations may not be the best suited in the future. All it takes is one good trait to allow a species to adapt, and that one good trait may not be selected through natural selection processes until sometime in the future. It takes generations for adaptations to occur. Therefore, since we are losing crop diversity, and essentially decreasing our ability to produce food for our growing population in the future, we need to begin to preserve what we already have.
Preservation of diversity has begun through the creation of a seed bank in northern Norway. On an international level, countries have gotten together and agreed that diversity must be preserved, if only through the seeds frozen in a vault so that they can be brought out and researched or grown in the future. Climate change will continue, and through this continuation crops will have to adapt to the changes despite the decreases in genetic diversity that are now occurring.
Many people are not aware of the losses associated with climate change in our genetic diversity. When the majority of society does not have a direct part in the food production processes of the world, they do not recognize or care about the struggles that many farmers face. Agriculture has experienced many set-backs as a result of decreases in precipitation, increased evaporation from soil, loss of topsoil because it has dried out and blown away, and pollution from industries that are contaminating the soils. Each of these events has resulted in crop failure. As droughts and floods become more prominent events, more significant crop failures can be expected. Thus, the threat of a global food shortage may be in the near future.
Through the use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides, many of the pests that have been damaging crops have now become resistant to measures that used to destroy them. This resistance has led to a further destruction in crop production because crops no longer have natural means to fight off these “super bugs”. Genetically modified organisms are not the answer either. Modifying the genetic codes of plants may only cause further problems in the future because mechanically altering the diversity of plants goes against natural measures that this plant may have adapted over time. Also, many people are unaware of the true affects that genetically modified organisms may have to human health or the synergistic effects associated with the environment. Many of the new genetically modified seeds and crops have not been thoroughly tested or researched to see their affects on not only the people who will be eating them, but also on the other plants that are part of that same community. Pollen created by a genetically modified plant may pollinate a native plant causing negative impacts such as decreased success of that native plant in the future.
People are choosing to play the hand of God when they create their own plant diversities. This method of creating plant diversity is not sustainable and may actually prove harmful to the plant in the future because it has the possibility of removing natural genes on a particular locus that may prove to be beneficial for future survival. All it takes is one gene for a plant to ensure an increased rate of survival to the next generation. After all, genes code for proteins, and these proteins then run the cells of the organisms. Changes in temperature and water availability can severely denature proteins and cause damaging effects to the overall functioning of the cells, and thus the processes and roles of the effected plant in that environment.
As food becomes a larger issue because global populations continue to increase, being able to maintain the quality and quantities of crop productions despite the drastic changes to the environment will be essential to support our hungry planet. We must keep in mind that not only are crops being affected, but so are the other forms of vegetation that we do not rely on for food. These forms of vegetation contain valuable genetic diversity and functions for the environment as well. Also, other species of animals will be influenced when their food becomes in shorter supply, or the patches of suitable habitat begin to dwindle. Climate change doesn’t just affect people, it affects every living and non-living thing on the planet.
Fowler C. Talks Cary Fowler: one seed at a time, protecting the future of food. TED [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/cary_fowler_one_seed_at_a_time_protecting_the_future_of_food.html [2009 Jul]
Related Movie...
CBC. Genetically modified food: a growing debate. [Online]. Avail from: http://archives.cbc.ca/lifestyle/food/topics/1597/ [1994-2004]
Climate change has become a part of our everyday lives. Because of human activities which have caused global heating, organisms are having to adapt to changes in their environments such as increased temperatures and alterations in the distribution of precipitation. Are we headed for a global crisis if species can’t adapt quickly enough to survive the changes to their environments? The answer to this question remains to be seen. As our planet stands right now, biological diversity is declining at rates much faster than in the past decades. This loss of diversity means the loss of valuable genes that might be necessary for a particular species to adapt to future environmental changes.
Fowler stresses the importance of crop diversity. Agricultural practices are the foundation for food production, and because they are so important to our survival any loss of crop diversity could have significant impacts in the future. Life is based on evolution, or the ability to adapt and change as the surrounding environment changes. This adaptation can only be achieved through genetic diversity that has been passed on between generations and through the process of natural selection.
A large variety of different seeds for crops currently exist, but like other organisms, this diversity is also decreasing. There used to be over 7000 types of different apples in the United States. This number has since been reduced to just over 200. What happened to all the different apples? Well, the majority have become extinct; they have died off and will never be seen again. So why don’t we preserve the best seeds and therefore the best crops? The crop that may be the best adapted to current situations may not be the best suited in the future. All it takes is one good trait to allow a species to adapt, and that one good trait may not be selected through natural selection processes until sometime in the future. It takes generations for adaptations to occur. Therefore, since we are losing crop diversity, and essentially decreasing our ability to produce food for our growing population in the future, we need to begin to preserve what we already have.
Preservation of diversity has begun through the creation of a seed bank in northern Norway. On an international level, countries have gotten together and agreed that diversity must be preserved, if only through the seeds frozen in a vault so that they can be brought out and researched or grown in the future. Climate change will continue, and through this continuation crops will have to adapt to the changes despite the decreases in genetic diversity that are now occurring.
Many people are not aware of the losses associated with climate change in our genetic diversity. When the majority of society does not have a direct part in the food production processes of the world, they do not recognize or care about the struggles that many farmers face. Agriculture has experienced many set-backs as a result of decreases in precipitation, increased evaporation from soil, loss of topsoil because it has dried out and blown away, and pollution from industries that are contaminating the soils. Each of these events has resulted in crop failure. As droughts and floods become more prominent events, more significant crop failures can be expected. Thus, the threat of a global food shortage may be in the near future.
Through the use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides, many of the pests that have been damaging crops have now become resistant to measures that used to destroy them. This resistance has led to a further destruction in crop production because crops no longer have natural means to fight off these “super bugs”. Genetically modified organisms are not the answer either. Modifying the genetic codes of plants may only cause further problems in the future because mechanically altering the diversity of plants goes against natural measures that this plant may have adapted over time. Also, many people are unaware of the true affects that genetically modified organisms may have to human health or the synergistic effects associated with the environment. Many of the new genetically modified seeds and crops have not been thoroughly tested or researched to see their affects on not only the people who will be eating them, but also on the other plants that are part of that same community. Pollen created by a genetically modified plant may pollinate a native plant causing negative impacts such as decreased success of that native plant in the future.
People are choosing to play the hand of God when they create their own plant diversities. This method of creating plant diversity is not sustainable and may actually prove harmful to the plant in the future because it has the possibility of removing natural genes on a particular locus that may prove to be beneficial for future survival. All it takes is one gene for a plant to ensure an increased rate of survival to the next generation. After all, genes code for proteins, and these proteins then run the cells of the organisms. Changes in temperature and water availability can severely denature proteins and cause damaging effects to the overall functioning of the cells, and thus the processes and roles of the effected plant in that environment.
As food becomes a larger issue because global populations continue to increase, being able to maintain the quality and quantities of crop productions despite the drastic changes to the environment will be essential to support our hungry planet. We must keep in mind that not only are crops being affected, but so are the other forms of vegetation that we do not rely on for food. These forms of vegetation contain valuable genetic diversity and functions for the environment as well. Also, other species of animals will be influenced when their food becomes in shorter supply, or the patches of suitable habitat begin to dwindle. Climate change doesn’t just affect people, it affects every living and non-living thing on the planet.
Fowler C. Talks Cary Fowler: one seed at a time, protecting the future of food. TED [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/cary_fowler_one_seed_at_a_time_protecting_the_future_of_food.html [2009 Jul]
Related Movie...
CBC. Genetically modified food: a growing debate. [Online]. Avail from: http://archives.cbc.ca/lifestyle/food/topics/1597/ [1994-2004]
In Class Discussion
Food: The Past 48 hours.....
Over the past 48 hours I have eaten a variety of different foods. These foods include bananas, roast beef, potatoes, pasta, cheese, bread, cereal, lettuce, pickles, peanut butter, carrots, lettuce, and a variety of Halloween candy. Milk, orange juice, and water have been my main beverages. On a regular basis, I consume a variety of fruit and vegetables as well as bread and milk.
Whenever possible, my family buys locally. Vegetables are either grown in the garden behind the house or purchased at the local farmer’s market. The meat also came from a local butcher shop. Therefore, the environmental
concerns lean towards the energy from fossil fuels used to harvest and provide these products. Energy expended by local produce farmers mostly comes from self-labour. They hand pick the corn, the lettuce, and the carrots or use minimal tools. However, it may have been necessary to use a tiller or garden tractor to prepare the soil. It is often difficult to break up the soil or distribute both natural and man-made fertilizers without the use of a tool larger than a pitch fork. Some gardens are very large in size, and hand-working all of it would be very time consuming.
Since the roast was also from a local market, consideration must also be taken regarding the energy consumed to provide the feed and care for the animals. Energy costs to provide the meat are much greater than those costs associated with just produce. Grains have to be grown, harvested, and distributed in large quantities for meat producers. After that, the animals then have to be transported between the farm, the local butcher shop, and then the store. Similar consideration and concerns arise for the bakery. The bread may be made on site, thus not requiring the energy to distribute it, but there are still the requirements of transportation and production of the ingredients to make the bread. These ingredients, such as flour, may have come from a variety of locations.
Overall, products that are not from local markets provide the greatest environmental concern because these goods have a lot of travel and production time. Each step in the process, the growing, harvesting, packaging, and distribution, has varying amounts of energy requirements. This energy is usually provided through the combustion of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and impurities such as nitrogen and sulphur into the air when they are burned. These gases then play a major role in increasing the heating of or our atmosphere which results in global climate change. The processes and systems on our planet are all interconnected, or activities that take place in one area of our environment will inevitably have either direct or indirect effects on other activities. For example, when a crop is removed from a field, the organic matter necessary for the restoration of nutrients in the soil is then no longer available. Hence, nutrient cycles, the organisms that depend on that organic matter for food, and vegetation that will grow the following year will all be negatively affected.
Furthermore, for items purchased in supermarkets, the consumer is unaware of the pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and so forth that went into the creation of the products then presented on the shelves. Such substances may provide harmful effects to the consumer through direct consumption and then possible accumulation of this chemical in the body over time. Negative impacts may also arise through the contamination of soil and water around where such substances were applied. Also, the ethics associated with factory farming and over exploitation of the land in some conventional farming practices poses concern for all the animals and environments involved. Sadly, the majority of food production services are not sustainable or environmentally healthy because of their dependence on fossil fuels, a resource which is non-renewable.
Lastly, there is concern for the amount of water used in the production of grains and meat and the processing of the final products. Not all areas are suitable to support crops, and therefore irrigation is introduced to ensure that enough moisture is available for crops to grow. Watering systems must also be developed for livestock when there is not enough water for them to drink. Irrigation often increases the salinity of the soil, thus resulting in many soils becoming too saline for plant growth. This water for irrigation may also have been taken away from people that needed it to drink. A practice that has become very common is to import food products when water is becoming scarce. Importing food is essentially importing water. Meats and grains contain large quantities of water and therefore distribute this resource with them when they are transported from one country to another. Therefore, we must consider not only the final product that we are importing and exporting, but also the amount of water that we are moving in and out of the country through our various food items. The demand for water is rising since droughts and pollution have decreased the amounts of freshwater on the planet.
Picture from:
Wild Alaskan Salmon Company. Upcoming events. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.seabeef.com/images/farmers-market.jpg [2009]
Related Link...
Worldwatch Institute. Making better energy choices. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/808 [2008]
Affluence + Influenza = Affluenza
When was the last time you went to a shopping mall? Was it yesterday...last week...two months ago? When you were at that mall, did you buy anything or did you just meander through the aisles? For a lot people in society today, they head to shopping centers to hang out with friends, to buy toys and clothing, and, as some might claim, for therapy. Personally, what therapy people receive from entering the loud stampeding crowd of rushing individuals as they seek out the bargain of the day, I will never know.
However, the constant need to buy more, have more, consume more has become an ingrained part of our culture. Everywhere you look, people are spending their money on materialistic items that will eventually end up in the garbage. The latest fashions of clothing change from one season to the next. There are clothes for fall, winter, spring, and summer. With each consecutive year, these trends continue to change. Therefore, in order to keep up with the current trends, people must keep going back to the stores to purchase the new items so that they can remain “in style”. The same idea goes for vehicles, I-pods, houses, and many other gadgets that people buy. Often, these purchases are used as status symbols to make others envious and to show who has the largest expendable income.
The North American society suffers some of the worst effects of affluenza. Companies are continuously promoting their products, and because of, in general, a wealthy society, North Americans have the money to spend on these products. Friends and family members have the latest I-pods, cell phones, and video games. Play Station, Wi, and Guitar Hero are just some of the games that most people insist they can’t do without.
In order to combat affluenza, a person must start in his or her own life. How much do I need that item, or how much do I want it, are questions that they should ask their self before making a purchase. Consideration to the quality of the product, the longevity of it, the packaging, where it was made, and if it can be recycled when it has fulfilled its purpose must be part of the decision making process regarding whether or not to purchase that item. Instead of spending money on small frivolous items, it is often better to save the money and spend it on experiences. Vacation and family times have longer lasting rewards.
On a societal level, affluenza can be reduced through a luxury tax. A tax placed on the items that are not necessary for a person’s happiness and survival would reduce the number of purchases of such items, thus decreasing the amount of materialist purchases. Some may argue that a decrease in spending may harm the economy. If you consider it, however, the economy won’t suffer because people will simply shift their money from one area to another. If the taxes on products increase, then people will spend their money elsewhere, such as on vacation and leisure activities. People genuinely like to spend their money where they can get the most out of it. Hence, areas of the economy surrounding tourism and leisure events will grow. Areas in England already use such a tax, so why can’t North America?
Over the past 48 hours I have eaten a variety of different foods. These foods include bananas, roast beef, potatoes, pasta, cheese, bread, cereal, lettuce, pickles, peanut butter, carrots, lettuce, and a variety of Halloween candy. Milk, orange juice, and water have been my main beverages. On a regular basis, I consume a variety of fruit and vegetables as well as bread and milk.
Whenever possible, my family buys locally. Vegetables are either grown in the garden behind the house or purchased at the local farmer’s market. The meat also came from a local butcher shop. Therefore, the environmental
concerns lean towards the energy from fossil fuels used to harvest and provide these products. Energy expended by local produce farmers mostly comes from self-labour. They hand pick the corn, the lettuce, and the carrots or use minimal tools. However, it may have been necessary to use a tiller or garden tractor to prepare the soil. It is often difficult to break up the soil or distribute both natural and man-made fertilizers without the use of a tool larger than a pitch fork. Some gardens are very large in size, and hand-working all of it would be very time consuming.Since the roast was also from a local market, consideration must also be taken regarding the energy consumed to provide the feed and care for the animals. Energy costs to provide the meat are much greater than those costs associated with just produce. Grains have to be grown, harvested, and distributed in large quantities for meat producers. After that, the animals then have to be transported between the farm, the local butcher shop, and then the store. Similar consideration and concerns arise for the bakery. The bread may be made on site, thus not requiring the energy to distribute it, but there are still the requirements of transportation and production of the ingredients to make the bread. These ingredients, such as flour, may have come from a variety of locations.
Overall, products that are not from local markets provide the greatest environmental concern because these goods have a lot of travel and production time. Each step in the process, the growing, harvesting, packaging, and distribution, has varying amounts of energy requirements. This energy is usually provided through the combustion of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and impurities such as nitrogen and sulphur into the air when they are burned. These gases then play a major role in increasing the heating of or our atmosphere which results in global climate change. The processes and systems on our planet are all interconnected, or activities that take place in one area of our environment will inevitably have either direct or indirect effects on other activities. For example, when a crop is removed from a field, the organic matter necessary for the restoration of nutrients in the soil is then no longer available. Hence, nutrient cycles, the organisms that depend on that organic matter for food, and vegetation that will grow the following year will all be negatively affected.
Furthermore, for items purchased in supermarkets, the consumer is unaware of the pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and so forth that went into the creation of the products then presented on the shelves. Such substances may provide harmful effects to the consumer through direct consumption and then possible accumulation of this chemical in the body over time. Negative impacts may also arise through the contamination of soil and water around where such substances were applied. Also, the ethics associated with factory farming and over exploitation of the land in some conventional farming practices poses concern for all the animals and environments involved. Sadly, the majority of food production services are not sustainable or environmentally healthy because of their dependence on fossil fuels, a resource which is non-renewable.
Lastly, there is concern for the amount of water used in the production of grains and meat and the processing of the final products. Not all areas are suitable to support crops, and therefore irrigation is introduced to ensure that enough moisture is available for crops to grow. Watering systems must also be developed for livestock when there is not enough water for them to drink. Irrigation often increases the salinity of the soil, thus resulting in many soils becoming too saline for plant growth. This water for irrigation may also have been taken away from people that needed it to drink. A practice that has become very common is to import food products when water is becoming scarce. Importing food is essentially importing water. Meats and grains contain large quantities of water and therefore distribute this resource with them when they are transported from one country to another. Therefore, we must consider not only the final product that we are importing and exporting, but also the amount of water that we are moving in and out of the country through our various food items. The demand for water is rising since droughts and pollution have decreased the amounts of freshwater on the planet.
Picture from:
Wild Alaskan Salmon Company. Upcoming events. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.seabeef.com/images/farmers-market.jpg [2009]
Related Link...
Worldwatch Institute. Making better energy choices. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/808 [2008]
Affluence + Influenza = Affluenza
When was the last time you went to a shopping mall? Was it yesterday...last week...two months ago? When you were at that mall, did you buy anything or did you just meander through the aisles? For a lot people in society today, they head to shopping centers to hang out with friends, to buy toys and clothing, and, as some might claim, for therapy. Personally, what therapy people receive from entering the loud stampeding crowd of rushing individuals as they seek out the bargain of the day, I will never know.
However, the constant need to buy more, have more, consume more has become an ingrained part of our culture. Everywhere you look, people are spending their money on materialistic items that will eventually end up in the garbage. The latest fashions of clothing change from one season to the next. There are clothes for fall, winter, spring, and summer. With each consecutive year, these trends continue to change. Therefore, in order to keep up with the current trends, people must keep going back to the stores to purchase the new items so that they can remain “in style”. The same idea goes for vehicles, I-pods, houses, and many other gadgets that people buy. Often, these purchases are used as status symbols to make others envious and to show who has the largest expendable income.
The North American society suffers some of the worst effects of affluenza. Companies are continuously promoting their products, and because of, in general, a wealthy society, North Americans have the money to spend on these products. Friends and family members have the latest I-pods, cell phones, and video games. Play Station, Wi, and Guitar Hero are just some of the games that most people insist they can’t do without.
In order to combat affluenza, a person must start in his or her own life. How much do I need that item, or how much do I want it, are questions that they should ask their self before making a purchase. Consideration to the quality of the product, the longevity of it, the packaging, where it was made, and if it can be recycled when it has fulfilled its purpose must be part of the decision making process regarding whether or not to purchase that item. Instead of spending money on small frivolous items, it is often better to save the money and spend it on experiences. Vacation and family times have longer lasting rewards.
On a societal level, affluenza can be reduced through a luxury tax. A tax placed on the items that are not necessary for a person’s happiness and survival would reduce the number of purchases of such items, thus decreasing the amount of materialist purchases. Some may argue that a decrease in spending may harm the economy. If you consider it, however, the economy won’t suffer because people will simply shift their money from one area to another. If the taxes on products increase, then people will spend their money elsewhere, such as on vacation and leisure activities. People genuinely like to spend their money where they can get the most out of it. Hence, areas of the economy surrounding tourism and leisure events will grow. Areas in England already use such a tax, so why can’t North America?
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