Environmental Issues of Today and Tomorrow

Selection 33

2009-12-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima or Why Political Questions Are Not All Economic

How do you place a dollar value on something like the peacefulness of a forest, the gentle flow of a creek through a mountain pass, or the solitude of an open landscape? Can you? Environmental issues that involve the degradation of these landscapes are largely ignored. It has been decided that the cost of preserving such landscapes greatly outweighs the benefits that the land could be yielding to society in another form. Many of the decisions that companies and the legislative bodies make are based on what is most efficient and yields the largest number of benefits. The preservation of a landscape is often determined by the public’s willingness to pay for an unchanged environment, or their willingness to pay for the goods and services that may result from an industry established on that land. The government imposes regulations to control overexploitation of the land and ensure the safety of the public from the wastes that an industry may create. However, these regulations may impede the company’s ability to maximize efficiency and profit. Most regulations have minimal fines associated when they are broken, and thus companies can break the rules and still increase their profits after paying the fines.

It is difficult to perform a cost benefit analysis on the environment since there is no fixed dollar amount that can measure the costs and benefits associated with changes to the environment resulting from industrial development or when the environment is left unchanged. As a result, many people argue that the decisions made surrounding the preservation of the landscape should be based on value judgements that consider what is ethical, not on judgements that consider economical values such as wealth and efficiency. Altering a river’s course to provide water for irrigational purposes may result in larger profits for the farmer who can now grow more crops. However, if such a practice occurred, the environment surrounding the river will be greatly impacted and changed forever. Are the farmer’s profits worth the loss of life that would occur downstream from where the river was diverted? We have no means to measure this loss.

In a similar manner, decisions regarding the health and safety of the public should not be determined through economical judgements. Based on an economical approach, if the benefits associated with the production of goods or services exceed the costs associated with implementing practices to protect the workers, the company will endanger the workers as they strive for maximum profit. The amount of profit a company makes should not take precedence over the health of the workers who provide those goods and services.

In the corporation’s eyes, workers and the environment are simply commodities that can be bought and sold or discarded when no longer needed. Because people are not objects or things and since the environment consists of many different living things, commodifying either would be unethical. Life, which is preserved through good health and proper safety, has no price, and therefore can’t be considered in a cost benefit analysis when assessing the impacts associated with a corporation’s actions. A person is worth more than the labour that they can provide.

Furthermore, to endanger people through the exposure of toxic substances is the same as physically harming them. If a person walked up to another person on the street and stabbed him or her, the victim would suffer bodily harm or death and the person committing the assault would be classified a criminal according to the law. Corporations are not classified as criminals because their actions are not considered illegal, despite the number of people they affect. Laws often do not hold them responsible for their actions. More people are harmed through unsafe work places, indecent exposure to toxic chemicals, and malpractice than are murdered and physically assaulted on the streets. Since corporations greatly influence the politicians who make up the government through funding campaigns, governments hesitate to classify any corporations as criminals and risk losing the economic benefits to their countries or the funding they may require in the next campaign. Corporations will support the politicians that have the policies and regulations most favourable to their economic growth. Again, decisions made by the governments are based on economical judgements, and not the public’s well-being.

Reducing hazardous wastes, altering industrial practices to reduce their environmental impact, and seeking more environmentally sustainable products are issues that the public demand the government and corporations resolve. However, on an individual level, the person then becomes the consumer of the products that the company makes, often purchasing these products that harm the environment. For example, society complains that gas prices are too high and vehicles need to be made with greater gasoline efficiencies, yet these same people then buy SUV’s and 4X4 trucks.

Corporations argue that they only supply the goods that consumers wish to buy, often countering that consumers are the only ones who can decide what they spend their money on. Therefore, if consumers really have the power to control the actions of corporations through where they spend their money, why don’t they put their money where their mouth is? The main reason is that people are often irrational and constantly contradict themselves. Just like the company, they want to get the most out of what resources they have. People may argue that there are not enough environmentally sustainable products on the market, yet when presented with products that are environmentally friendly they often buy the generic brand because it is cheaper.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 166-71.

Selection 31

2009-12-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment

In past decades the number of cancer patients has increased dramatically. Why are so many people suffering from a disease that very few people suffered from in the past? What causes cancer, and what can we do to prevent more cases from occurring? Steingraber was diagnosed with bladder cancer and members of her immediate family were also diagnosed with other forms of cancer. Though she points out that cancer is the result of cellular division gone awry, she also recognizes that the substances found in the environment in which people live plays a significant role in determining the type of cancer people get.

Our environments are filled with a variety of chemicals that can enter the human body through a variety of sources such as the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The number of chemicals in our environments has increased since industries have begun creating and utilizing a number of synthetic chemicals in their products. Many of these chemicals have not been tested to identify the ecological problems they can cause when they enter the environment. Even more worrisome is the synergistic effect they might have when they mix with other toxic and synthetic materials. With this knowledge, why haven’t such substance been banned from industrial marketing and production?

It is true that the body is able to detoxify certain organic compounds. However, the body only has a certain number of cells programmed to create the enzymes necessary to break down unwanted and toxic substances that enter the body. These enzymes can easily be overwhelmed when a person is exposed to high concentrations of chemicals, thus causing mutations in the DNA of cells when they divide. Chemicals can resemble the enzymes that the body utilizes not only in division functions, but also in other functions such as the signalling and carrying out of messages between cells. As a result, DNA that is mutated can cause unnecessary growth because the proteins that are coded by the affected genes on the DNA are now coding for a different protein. Also, there are many new chemicals in the environment which our bodies have never been exposed too. For these chemicals, there are no specific detoxifying proteins in the body.

Since industries are aware of some of the effects that the chemicals they use in their products have, why doesn’t the government prevent the production and use of those chemicals? Many corporations hide the results from experiments to prevent the awareness of the negative effects their products may have on people. Because the public is not informed of these effects, little can be done when industrial wastes are disposed of in rivers, sewers, and landfill sites because no one has concrete evidence to support their claims should health effects arise. Disposal of the waste in public places further endangers human life and causes much suffering at the public’s expense while the corporation takes in the profit.

When scientists research the causes of cancer, they often look to heritable sources. However, it has been found that very few cancers are actually caused by inherited genes. Most cancers are caused by a variety of carcinogens which then cause certain genes to mutate. The carcinogens that cause certain forms of cancers have been identified by scientists, but since their research is funded by major corporations, they do not explicitly state which products these substances are located in or which company makes the products. If the researcher does find a correlation between a company’s products and a disease or illness found in society, the researcher would lose funding if the findings were presented to the public. When a company’s products are classified as unsafe, the consumer will not purchase them, and thus the corporation will lose its reputation and its profit.

Furthermore, since the government is supposed to be representing the good of the public, why haven’t any laws or regulations been enforced to reduce the chemicals that are contaminating the environment and negatively impacting all living organisms? The governments around the world are allowing corporations the power to harm people, often resulting in many deaths. This is a form of homicide. It may not be as quick a death as a gunshot wound, but the end result is inevitably the same. Also, since people are becoming more aware of the effects that certain chemicals have in the environment, it is a surprise to realize that no one is doing anything to stop the production and distribution of these substances. Direct connections have been made between certain chemicals and cancers that result when a person is exposed to the chemical, yet the chemicals are still present in the environment and still being used to make the products. Alternative substances need to be found for these chemicals and substituted into the production processes, even if the cost of production to the company may be slightly increased.

Lastly, people have the right to know what they are being exposed to in their environments, and they also have the right to know the effects that possibly may result. Work places are supposed to be safe, but safety is often disregarded so that companies can increase their profits as was noted in the previous article, “At the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima or Why Political Questions Are Not All Economic”. Children are supposed to be able to run in the fields and swim in the rivers without having to worry about what they may be exposed to in the air and water. In a sense, people have to recognize their ecological roots as well as their biological ones. The environment in which they live and grew up in has just as great an effect on their overall health and survival as their genetic make-up.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 157-61.

Related Links.....

CBC. Proposed Ont. Labelling law would target carcinogens. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/11/23/carcinogen-labels.html [2006 Nov 23]

CBC. Road salt may be hazardous to people’s health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2000/01/19/salt000119.html [2000 Nov 11]

CBC. Toxic herbicide could still be on army base, scientist says. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/15/agent-purple050615.html [2005 Jun 15]

Selection 10

2009-12-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Life and Death of the Salt Marsh

The ecological landscape of the eastern coast of North America largely consists of salt marshes. The expanse of green, consisting of grasses, marsh plants, and a variety of marsh organisms, forms the boundary between the land and the ocean. The grass roots prevent erosion of the shoreline from ocean tides and also provide many benefits to fisheries. Marshes provide the food and shelter necessary for young fish to survive. However, as the human population continues to increase and expand, many of the marshes along the coast are being destroyed. They are being filled in for developments or contaminated through the disposal of wastes. Hence, the once grass and salt scented air is now being replaced by the stench of rotting wastes and hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is commonly recognized by its rotten egg odour.

Many vulnerable ecosystems, such as those situated in regions between salt and freshwater, are being destroyed through urbanization and industrial developments. Marshes are being replaced with manufacturing warehouses and housing complexes. Because the governments wish to attract corporations to their states to improve economical growth, they do not often argue when a factory is built over a pre-existing marshland. Companies seek easy access to the ocean and its water so that its wastes can easily be diluted and transported. Also, some companies have productions processes that require large quantities of water, usually as a heating or cooling mechanism.

Though it is not possible to prevent all the negative impacts to marshes by human activities, some destruction can be prevented through public awareness and preservation of coastal areas. In order for the ecological functions of marshes to be maintained, it is necessary to preserve as much of the marsh area along the coast as possible. This is a very difficult feat and will require everyone’s involvement.

Also, preservation needs to be implemented at a national level, not a state level. The entire coastal ecosystem is in jeopardy. Therefore, planning ways to manage the marshes and still allow for human access are in order. Roadways must be constructed to allow access for the people who wish to explore the unique characteristics of the marshes as well as to allow access to regions around and on the other side of marsh locations. No roadways would create further destruction because people will then venture wherever they please. Wastes also need to be managed more efficiently since improper disposal can contaminate and kill many organisms, both plants and animals, which have major roles in this water environment.

The battle between industrial developments and conservation of a fragile or vulnerable ecosystem will prevail as our profit-minded, market-oriented society continues to seek maximum growth and development of all the Earth’s resources. Many people should consider the benefits of preserving the marshes, such as continued shoreline protection, compared to the costs that will accumulate as a result of losing them. There are many industries that indirectly rely on them, such as fisheries and tourism. More awareness of this situation needs to be made public so that everyone can decide on the fate of the salt marshes.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 41-2.

Related Links...

Environment Canada. Salt marsh conservation and restoration. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/salt_marsh/toc_e.html [2003 Jun 9]

Frankenberg D. Carolina environmental diversity explorations: a blackwater river from sea to source. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/cede_blackwaterriver/55 [1999]

Selection 20

2009-12-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services

Oceans make up a large proportion of our planet. Since they are so grand, they also offer numerous services, such as food production, to the human population as well as to other organisms. Human activities, such as overexploitation of fish species through large fishing practices, destruction of vulnerable marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and salt marshes from human development and pollution, as well as the mere human presence have led to a severe decline in the biodiversity of marine environments. Biodiversity, as observed through experimentation, has been shown to increase the productivity, efficiency, and stability of ecological systems. The more species present in a given location, the more ecological functions that can be performed, and thus the more benefits received from all species that utilize and live in this system.

Because of our dependence on ocean fish species for economic livelihood and food, people are starting to become concerned as fishing industries collapse because the fish populations that they depend on are showing significant declines in abundance. As fish populations decline, so do the abundances of the organisms that interact and possibly feed on these same fish species. All the components of a system are interdependent. Therefore, when one component, in this case fish, shows large changes, the other components, such as algae and zooplankton populations, will change as well.

Furthermore, people continue to move closer to the oceans, building water-front homes and encroaching on the marine environment. Local, regional, and global scale losses have been noted in species diversity, and hence economic losses have arisen. Also, when there is a loss in biodiversity of a system, the amount of variability in abundances of species’ populations greatly increases, thus causing a decrease in the stability of the system. A decrease in stability increases the risk of populations collapsing which can lead to extinction of the species that are most vulnerable. Increased biodiversity not only reduces the risk of the community collapsing in the future, but also increases the community’s ability to recover from natural disturbances and ecosystem changes brought on by climate change and an evolving landscape.

Tourism is a large economic business in many coastal communities. When the abundance of species decreases and ocean waters become filled with pollution, the overall water quality of the area decreases. Filter and suspension feeders are able to remove the suspended organic compounds that cause a decrease in water clarity, thus improving the overall water quality. Hence, when these organisms are removed, water quality decreases and people are less attracted to such locations for vacations. Therefore, it is no longer the economic industries and environmental systems that are suffering, but societal well-being as well. Reserves and sustainable management of oceanic environments has led to considerable recovery in some species, and thus increased tourism.

We must keep in mind too, that biodiversity and preservation of species richness can be applied to terrestrial ecosystems too. Human activities have greatly altered the prairies through increased agricultural practices and forested areas because of the large quantities of trees harvested. As a result of such activities, there are many organisms that are being lost, many of which are unidentified. Therefore, the true value of what we are losing is greatly unknown. Plants and animals alike have a great genetic diversity. Researchers are continuously finding plants and animals that can provide many benefits to the human population such as alternative food sources or natural compounds that can be used to make medications.

Currently, many people have not recognized the enormity of a loss of biodiversity, or the fact that the majority of our fisheries could collapse by the end of the century. On a global scale, a significant number of species, and the services that they provide, are continually being lost. This loss will not only affect people, but also a large number of organisms that depend on these species through direct and indirect interactions in the community.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 91-4.

Related Links....

Shah A. Global issues: loss of biodiversity and extinctions. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/171/loss-of-biodiversity-and-extinctions [2009 Nov 18]

GreenFacts. Scientific facts on biodiversity and human well-being. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/ [2009 Sep 10]

CBC. Canadian sport fishing stocks collapsing. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2002/02/12/fish020212.html [2002 Feb 12]

Great Green Gadgets. The widening gyre of plastic pollution in the ocean. [Online]. Avail from: http://greatgreengadgets.com/gadgets/2009/02/16/the-widening-gyre-of-plastic-pollution-in-the-ocean/ [2009 Feb 16]

In Class Discussion

2009-12-04T12:43:00.002-08:00

Are Diamonds Worth It?

In short, NO. Diamonds may be pretty to look at, and nice to own, but when it comes down to the means of acquiring such a precious stone, the costs are too great. Diamonds are found in select locations, specifically near pre-existing volcanoes. Diamonds are created when magma reaches a specific temperature and pressure. Some extinct volcanoes are merely depressions left in the Earth's crust, such as those volcanoes found in the Canadian Arctic, and lakes or ponds have formed over top. As result, to get to the diamonds large amounts of water must be drained and the many species that lived in that lake displaced. In the Arctic, displacing organisms greatly impacts this already fragile ecosystem. The loss of life and degradation to the landscape imposes a large cost on the environment. Minerals and rocks from deep within the Earth’s crust are brought to the surface and can contaminate the surrounding region.

When diamonds are mined in Africa, the proceeds go to tyrannical governments and terrorist groups, not to the people in the country who mined them. Thus, the people in countries like Africa are living in poverty with barely enough to survive. If, by chance, a person got caught extracting the diamonds for themselves or re-mining areas that had already been mined to find any diamonds that were left behind, he or she would be maimed or killed by the government. Therefore, the movie created to show diamond extraction processes in Africa was aptly named when they called it Blood Diamond.

Furthermore, large quantities of resources, such as water and energy, are necessary in the extraction process. Machines powered by combustion engines are required in the Arctic, and thus the emissions from such machines will further pollute the landscape. Large quantities of water are also required.

Therefore, each diamond has a story that is not depicted by its shiny surface. Companies that sell diamonds make women believe that they have to have them in their engagement rings, wedding bands, and other items of jewellery. Because of such a portrayal, women demand these stones without realizing where the diamond came from or the turmoil people may suffer to extract them.

In light of the environmental and human losses that occur for a small chunk of stone, I would not go out and purchase one myself. That isn’t to say that if given one I would not accept it. The costs associated with acquiring that diamond far outweigh the benefits and other gemstones can be retrieved in a lot more environmentally sustainable ways and look just as beautiful.

Related Links...

United Nations. Conflict diamonds: sanctions and war. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html [2001 Mar 21]

BusinessWeek. Green marketing: diamond quality. [Online]. Avail from: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/diamond_seller/source/2.htm

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Electric cars were first created in the 1920’s, and yet there does not currently appear to be anyone driving them. Why have they disappeared? With gas and oil reserves greatly decreasing as countries demand greater quantities as energy resources, a person would surmise that such vehicles would be highly promoted as an alternative form of transportation.

Car manufacturing companies promote combustion powered vehicles because of the influence they receive from their shareholders, the oil and gas companies. If a car manufacturing company were to create an electric vehicle and put it on the market for its consumers, then business would be taken away from the oil and gas companies since the vehicles being sold would no longer require oil and gas products. Since all industries are dependent on gas and oil companies for the energy resources that they provide, gas and oil companies hold a lot of power over what companies decide to create and produce.

In California, an electric car, called the EV1, was created to allow consumers to cut back on their gasoline expenditures and reduce the effects that combustion engines have on air pollution. Green house gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and sulphur dioxide that are produced from the burning of fossil fuels, have greatly altered the composition of our atmosphere. Increased global heating and smog have become frequent words in the media and the ecosystems around us are forced to adapt and change with the increased temperatures. Smog has become a great concern because many people are now experiencing respiratory problems and other side-effects to their health. As a result, it made sense to create a vehicle that does not pollute the air we breathe. Though such a car was created, it was never intended to be made a selling item. Therefore was not advertised and later removed from the market. Companies can claim that the electric car was never demanded by the consumer, but the real truth is the oil and gas companies did not like the threat it posed to their profits.

Online Activity

2009-12-04T12:43:00.001-08:00

eDump

Have you ever considered where the electronic wastes that are thrown out eventually end up? Sadly, the majority of our electronic wastes, often called e-wastes, are imported overseas to developing nations. China, India, and Thailand are just a few of the countries who deal with the e-wastes of developed nations. Once in developing nations, the computers, TVs, and other electronic devices are broken down into their component parts and these parts are sorted, recycled, and re-sold or thrown away. E-wastes contain large quantities of hazardous materials-a danger to the environment and people. As a result, regulations have been implemented to control the shipments of e-wastes from industrialized to developing nations. All industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States, have signed onto the Basel Convention, a convention which states that it is illegal to import e-wastes without permission to areas outside their borders. However, the wastes that have already accumulated in large quantities in developing nations have caused serious damage to the environment and have greatly affected the health of the people.

Large corporations need to take responsibility and decrease the number of toxic substances they utilize in the manufacturing of their products. Environmentally safe chemicals have been found for some of the substances, thus reducing the amounts of lead, mercury, antimony, cadmium, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) which can cause significant amounts of harm to people and the environment. The public and market competitors have increased the pressure on major corporations to find alternative chemicals for their products, thus decreasing the number of companies that still use toxic chemicals in their production processes. However, more pressure for change is still needed.

The government is often in charge of regulating and ensuring that corporations follow the laws regarding proper disposal of waste and protecting the environment. However, because of the power that many corporations have over the political groups in the international economic world, governments often hesitate to impose harsh regulations and policies for fear that the corporations will move their companies to other countries with fewer regulations. It is more economically beneficial for American companies to ship their electronic wastes to developing nations. The people in developing nations are willing to work long hours completing monotonous task for little pay. Many companies do not care whether or not their actions are unethical.

People employed in the e-waste business are constantly exposed to toxic chemicals. Poor ventilation and improper safety protection, or often no protection at all, leaves the people in this business inhaling and handling a large amount of toxic substances. Most people work from their homes, literally turning them into factories and warehouses for electronic wastes. As a result, young children are exposed too because they cannot escape the smoky air or the large piles of wastes since their homes and their surrounding community are filled with the piles of metals and plastics that make up the industry. Since there are no other jobs available to these people, they continue to work in unhealthy and possibly lethal conditions to gain what little money they can to provide for their families.

TV’s, computers, cell phones, MP3 players and many other devices are bought and discarded with little thought by the consumer as to where they end up. The life cycle of an electronic device needs to be increased so that they are not discarded as frequently. Also, electronic products need to be made more from recycled materials or in ways that allow people to update their product so that they do not have to throw it away and buy a new one each time an new version becomes available on the market. Consumer demand for products made of recycled materials would force companies to alter their production processes to incorporate more environmentally friendly and recycled materials into their products if they wish to continue selling them. However, since many people are unaware of what happens to electronic wastes, one of the first areas that need to be addressed is educating the public on their electronic device footprints as well as providing suggestions for ways to reduce this footprint.

Zhao M. eDump. From Babelgum [Online]. Avail from: http://www.babelgum.com/118286/edump.html
[2007 Dec]

Related Links...

Basel Convention. Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wases and their disposal. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php

Health Canada. PBDE flame retardants and human health. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/pbde-eng.php
[2009 Sep 3]

Selection 39

2009-11-19T20:39:00.000-08:00

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.

Selection 23

2009-11-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

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]

Selection 24

2009-11-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

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

Online Activity...

2009-11-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

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]

Selection 28

2009-11-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

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 cannot 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

2009-11-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

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]

Selection 27

2009-11-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

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.

Section 41

2009-11-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

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]

Online Activity.....

2009-11-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

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]

In Class Discussion

2009-11-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

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?

Offline Activity.....

2009-10-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

University of Winnipeg: Climate Change Connection Premieres “The Age of Stupid”

Where will we be forty years from now? How will the human activities of today influence the state our planet in the future? The documentary film, “The Age of Stupid”, starring Pete Postlethwaite, attempts to predict the answer to these questions. Postlethwaite plays and elderly man in 2050. He recounts events through news clips of 2008 and earlier years that should have been warning signs to what was to come should society continue along the same path of energy consumption and exploitation of the Earth’s resources. The clips were recorded in countries around the world, including the United States, Nigeria, France, India, and many more, and were showing great devastation and destruction.

The leading cause behind this devastation and destruction is oil exploration and refining. Because our economies and society are dependent on fossil fuels for profit and energy, the threat of a limited supply is causing wars and unrest between the countries with a supply and those wanting the supply. At the same time, the burning of these fuels to create goods and services as well as provide energy is having detrimental effects on our global climate, and thus all the ecosystems of Earth. Since oil companies have a significant amount of power, they are influencing politicians, the media, and the views of the public.

However, not only is oil being overexploited, but so are other resources like water, land, and animals. At current consumption levels we could destroy ourselves, causing the next mass extinction. Therefore, and as if in hindsight since this film is projected in the future, Postlethwaite poses the question of why didn’t we save ourselves when we had the chance?

Consider the last newspaper article you read, or the last broadcast you saw on television. Did you notice any particular view presented through the wording that described an event, by the types of products advertised, or in the way one organization was mentioned relative to another? Everything in society, whether it is the media or the politicians running the country, has been shaped by the influence of the major international corporations. This “everything” includes society’s way of thinking, values, and actions. Power through profit and ownership of significant amounts of capital has allowed companies to deter the public form believing there are alternative energy sources, and that these alternative energy sources may be just as profitable and efficient as current ones. Also, companies pretend climate change isn’t happening, and have been able to make the public believe it as well, by funding research that favors the interests of the company. A researcher that implies that the greenhouse gases and other impurities emitted by a company’s production are negatively impacting the environment or health of society will most likely see a decrease in their funding in the future.

Furthermore, when people participate in certain activities, they do not consider the consequences of these activities on future generations. The idea that I can do whatever I want because I won’t be around when the effects of my action are felt has become a more frequent logic in society. Everyone is centering more on their individual needs and wants rather than what may be the best course of action in the long run.

Also, when many people do show an interest in becoming more sustainable, they often balk at the ideas being implemented in their own communities. Arguments surrounding the aesthetical views of wind turbines in a field, or solar panels on community roofs, has negatively impacted further growth in sustainable energy. However, this is “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) mind-set should be applied to coal-run energy production plants, hydroelectric dams, and power lines. Are these features of our societies any more aesthetically pleasing than a wind turbine? Or have such structures become permanent fixtures in our minds as part of the landscape?

Lastly, the film presented many suggestions that may help to deal with the current dilemmas. Placing a global cap on fossil fuels, thus with the hope of creating more equity among countries, and carbon allowances or rationing for companies and individuals are two possibilities for the future as the demand for oil continues. Also, carbon labeling on products similar to a nutritional label on food items is mentioned. Through knowing the amount of oil used to produce a product, many people believe that the public will become more aware of their consumption and thus decrease the purchases of certain goods. Though these suggestions sound plausible, they may have only a minimal influence on the public. People don’t like to change their habits, and therefore will balk at the possibility of having to do so. The age of stupid may simply continue.

DUST Networks. Wind power. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.dustnetworks.com/applications/smart_grid/renewables_wind [2009]

Seed Media Group. Starts with a bang. [Online]. Avail from: http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2009/07/2012_the_real_milestone_the_re.php [2009]

Related links.....

Manitoba Eco Network. Climate change connections. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/science_tags.htm [2008 Feb 8]

Spanner Films. The age of stupid. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ageofstupid.net/synopsis_0 [2009]

Selection 15

2009-10-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

More Profit with Less Carbon

Fossil fuel consumption is a major concern when considering the economic stability of our planet. In light of a limited supply and an increasing demand for oil, our society has begun to look for alternative energy sources. According to Lovins, alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, show that alternative sources are more efficient in terms of the amount of energy gained for the amount of resources put in. Furthermore, alternative sources often cost the same as, or less than, oil produced energy. Also, designing a system to conserve energy is more productive and efficient when every part of the structure is considered. For example, and entire building can be updated to conserve more energy through the addition of insulation, new windows with tinted glass and multiple panes to allow heat in or keep it out, and the implementation of solar panels on the roof.

However, while buildings have seen significant advances, an area that still needs improvements is automobiles. Vehicles, because of their size and heavy materials, are very inefficient. This inefficiency is mainly the result of peoples’ unwillingness to change, the lack of recognition of benefits that such alternative sources provide, and the insecurities surrounding smaller and lighter vehicles. Therefore, since the benefits of alternative sources outweigh the cost of implementation, why haven’t more companies begun to use these sources?

As shown in “The Age of Stupid”, society is greatly influenced by the voices of major corporations. Oil and gas companies are not going to promote alternative energy sources, or the research for such sources, because it may lead to a shift in the demand for their products. Also, through lack of information, the public is often uninformed about the benefits of alternative energy. Start-up costs for individuals to change from oil or gas heating to solar panels and wind turbines may blind them to the long-term stability and efficiency of wind or solar power.

Furthermore, the public can be made more aware of new technologies and alternative sources by the action of the government. Since Manitoba Hydro is a public utility, it would only make sense for the government to wish to make it a more profitable business. After all, it would save them the costs associated with the coal used to generate almost one quarter of the province’s energy.

However, it is easy to recognize that the government may be leery to switch energy sources for several reasons. First, the company has been run the same way for about one hundred years. Since the outcome has been good, why change a good thing? Next, because of the influences of corporations involved with fossil fuels, the government may hesitate to change energy sources in case this supply of coal would not remain as a back-up should the alternative source of energy tried fail. Lastly, alternative energy sources must be researched so that they can be implemented in a way that is most successful. This research would require funds to find appropriate locations, to try wind turbines or solar panels, to change old systems over to the new ones, and to continue to monitor this new system to see what changes may be necessary for the future. Because the funds must come from the public through taxes or an investor, both may be influenced again by the oil and gas corporations. Supporting a project that goes against these corporations could make the investor unfavourable in the eyes of other corporations in society, thus degrading that investor’s reputation. The public may protest such a change should their taxes increase or funding be cut from important programs.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 65-9.

Selection 16

2009-10-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Reinventing the Energy System

Throughout history, society’s energy systems have been altered to best meet the needs of the people. In the beginning, our society had a very primitive lifestyle. The main focus was to meet the needs of the people through hunting and gathering, thus gaining energy from the land. Over time, a shift to animal power and later water power through new inventions, such as the water wheel and wind mills, can be seen. Finally, wind and water gave way to steam which was closely followed by the combustion of oil and gas. This final shift was the result of the need to meet the demands for energy associated with the Industrial Revolution. Improvements to technologies allowed for each transition, and comparing the trends of the past with the current situation, some people might say we are now in a transition to an energy source more conducive to the Information Revolution we are now entering. Factors that are influencing this current shift are resource limits and the environmental and health burdens associated with society’s fossil fuel dependence. And because of this dependence, many people have forgotten the connection between energy, human well-being, and the environment. Energy is often considered a commodity that can be purchased in whatever quantity desirable. However, many people in developing nations do not have access to oil resources, and therefore are looking at alternative technologies for the future. Therefore, renewable-resources-based energy systems are the future. Decentralizing our systems combined with new renewable energy productions could provide more accessible energy for people around the world.

Currently we have a centralized energy system, or everyone gets their energy from a few concentrated companies. Since the majority of these companies are oil and gas related, or are dependent on oil and gas corporations for funding, they are not going to be looking for alternative sources.

However, by not acting now, developed nations may soon be passed by the developing nations in energy-related technological advances. Current systems in developed nations would have to replace or retrofit current energy-producing facilities. This would require large amounts of money, time, and labour. Developing nations on the other hand, would not. Since developing countries do not currently have many energy-producing facilities, they can start from scratch and skip the in-between stage of oil produced energy and go straight to renewable-resource energy production, provided that they can get the proper funding. For countries like China and India, this funding may come sooner than later. Hence, in the near future they could advance more quickly and create a new market of alternative energy sources faster than developed nations.

As shown in “The Age of Stupid”, and echoed again in this article, the ingrained habits of societies in developed nations has prevented any major transitions thus far. Should developing nations implement new and more sustainable systems before the developed nations, however, the people of these developed nations may see the error of their hesitation and inaction. Also, they may then be faced with a decline in the markets still dependent on gas and oil. A country has to utilize the resources that are available to it, including wind and solar power. By not tapping into these renewable resources, we are not efficiently exploiting our resources.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 70-5.

Selection 26

2009-10-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis

Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish chemist, predicted in 1896 that the Earth’s temperature would increase by four to six degrees Celsius if carbon dioxide had a two-fold increase as a result of humans burning fossil fuels. However, until 1960, this prediction was ignored until notable changes began to emerge across the planet. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased in the atmosphere, thus increasing the atmosphere’s overall warming. This warming has become apparent through increases in global average temperatures of the air, global average temperatures of the oceans, and the melting of snow and ice as well as the rise in sea levels. Furthermore, numerous changes are occurring to the climate including changes in the amounts of precipitation, ocean salinity, wind patterns, the frequency and intensity of storms, and Arctic ice melts. Such changes are largely the result of anthropogenic influences, especially through the burning of fossil fuels. Also, the effects of these excessive greenhouse gases are expected to continue regardless of whether or not we stop the burning of fossil fuels. In light of these expected changes, researchers have created several models to predict future scenarios. Therefore, and as depicted in one of the models, even if society switches to sustainable energy sources, the affects of current and past activities will still be felt for centuries to come.

The media often reports on the situations arising from extreme weather events around the globe such as storms, droughts, and major heat waves. Hurricane Katrina is one of the most memorable events because of the amount of destruction that resulted from storm surges, large amounts of rain, and high winds. Intense cyclonic storms on land, such as tornadoes, are also popping up on weather maps where they are not normally seen. Because of excessive heating, more significant pressure systems are being created, thus increasing the wind speeds and updrafts of warm air masses. Surface temperatures over either the water or land help to determine the intensity of the storms because higher temperatures cause increased evaporation and increased updrafts.

Furthermore, since these changes are occurring, the public is going to have to find ways of adapting to and reducing the amount of damage associated with more intensive weather. Such a feat can be more easily accomplished in developed countries where they have the funds and resources available to research new technologies to withstand the forces of nature. Lesser developed countries have no disaster relief systems, and therefore suffer greatly in droughts and floods when crops and livestock are killed.

Events that correlate with precipitation, such as forest fire frequencies, are also going to increase. Decreased precipitation levels will cause droughts which may lead to fires. With warmer temperatures, more water will be evaporated into the atmosphere, thus drying areas further. As a result, water sources are going to become more overburdened as they will be used to fight fires, assist agricultural practices through irrigation, and become reduced in size as a result of increased evaporation. Freshwater shortages are already occurring because of population and agricultural demands.

Through this dire forecast of the future, many people should be prompted to decrease their fossil fuel consumption in the hope of reducing the effects of climate change and ecosystem changes brought on by increased heating. For those people who believe there is no hope for the future because the changes necessary to adapt our current ways of thinking and lifestyles required to offset global heating and climate change are too numerous, they may choose to do nothing. After all, our existence on Earth is finite and we will one day die off, though mainly because of the consequences of our own actions, like many of the other species that we have seen disappear. It is just a matter of time, and global warming may only decrease the amount of time we have remaining.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 127-35.

Related link.....

CBC. In depth: Hurricane Katrina-Hurricane Katrina timeline. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/katrina/katrina_timeline.html#top [2009]

Selection 3

2009-10-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Principles of Conservation

The idea of conservation has often been mistaken to represent the proper use of resources so that these same resources are available for future generations. However, the three main principles of conservation are development, preservation, and the common good. In terms of development, the present generation must use or develop the available resources to their fullest capacity. Currently countries should strive for maximum efficiency, or get the most out of what they have been given. Preservation involves the idea of waste. Resources should not be wasted, and if waste is present, then it is often a sign that we aren’t efficiently using those resources. Since it is a duty for society to not waste, then controlling the earth is also a duty. Forest fires destroy large amounts of vegetation, or resources, thus representing a waste that has been recognized as one we are able to prevent. Lastly, through the development and preservation of these resources, they should be made accessible to everyone. Everyone has a right to those resources, and through proper development and preservation, a large enough quantity should be available so that everyone can have an equal and abundant share to meet their needs.

Therefore, this article prompts the question, is our society conserving our resources? In terms of following the three principles outlined, one could argue that for the most part we are. The one principle that may be considered an exception is the third one, or through the development and preservation of our resources, everyone should receive the benefits. Globally, only a select percentage of people actually get to utilize and develop the resources that they want to. Richer countries have begun to exploit resources in poorer countries when theirs’ are degraded to the point where they are no longer able to meet the needs of the people. This exploitation from other countries also occurs when one country never had quantities of a resource large enough to meet the demands of its people. For some countries, it is not a matter of not having resources, but rather a matter of not having the means to develop and utilize these resources. For others, the cost to extract the resources far outweighs the benefits gained in return. Even within the borders of one country, equal access and utilization of resources is not common. Part of this access involves a persons’ purchasing power, which is then related to the amount of income they receive relative to other people in their country, as well as the price for that resource.

However, while the distribution of resources may not meet the third principle of conservation, development of available resources certainly makes up for it. People are demanding products and companies are providing them as quickly and efficiently as possible, often without concerns for the environmental impacts. Since most products sold are based on a global or local market, preservation of our resources is important to our economical productivity. As noted, waste seen in a market is a sign of inefficiency, and therefore companies try to eradicate it.

Moving away from this global perspective, consider local provincial parks. These parks are managed on the principles of conservation. Flora and fauna are made accessible to the public throughout the year and in its natural habitat. Most parks offer the opportunity to go hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, or just sightseeing. Each of these activities utilizes the resources associated with that area. Furthermore, forestry, mining, and oil development area also allowed within park boundaries. Because people wish to see these green spaces maintained into the future, they often argue that the development of all the resources in the park should not be allowed. In other words, the removal of trees, mineral, and oil should be prohibited despite their economic and societal benefits.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 8-9.

Selection 4

2009-10-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

A Sand County Almanac

Leopold begins his article by describing the understanding and cooperation between a mountain and a wolf. The wolf depends on the mountain to provide a habitat for it and its prey, the deer. The mountain, in turn, depends on the wolves to keep the deer population in check so that they do not over take and destroy the mountain’s landscape. This cooperative relationship has since been destroyed because people have come in and removed the wolves, thus destroying the mountain because the deer eventually took over and overexploited the vegetation on the slopes. Through this event of removing the wolves, people have shown a lack of ethics for animals as well as the land. In the past, people have treated their fellow man the same way, or in other words as property, to be controlled and exploited. Ethics, or the right and wrong associated with such control over our fellow mans has evolved through time so that most people are considered equals. Therefore, a cooperative and competitive balance has been reached so that each person can survive yet maintain a distinct place in society without bringing harm to others. At present, people do not respect the land or the plants and animals upon it the same as they do each other. Conservation concerns the exploitation and development of resources, which often leads to degradation and extinction of environments and species. In other words, people do not have any ethics or values concerning the best way to govern and use the land. No cooperative relationship exists between giving from the earth to the people and the returning from the people to the land. However, as long as both the land and people exist, such a relationship may yet evolve. Thus, there is hope yet for the preservation of the land and its valuable resources.

Man’s need for power and domination of the earth has caused many species to flee their native lands or become extinct. There is not one ecosystem left on the planet that has not experienced some change either directly or indirectly through human activities. What began as small populations of hunters and gatherers has led to a global population exploiting all the resources that land has to offer. Children depend on their parents for food and sustenance until they are old enough to support themselves. Like this parent, Mother Nature has provided everything necessary for people to live, grow, and prosper in every way. However, unlike the respectful relationship usually seen between children to their parent or caregiver, people act ungratefully towards Nature and continue taking what she has to offer even when their needs are satisfied. Also, people give nothing back in return.

Extirpation of a species from an area is not uncommon if that species is thought to negatively impact human development. For example, humans may remove predators such as wolves, bears, or coyotes that are eating their livestock. Considerations to the wild populations that this predator may control are not considered. Once that predator is no longer present, people begin to realize, in hindsight, the critical role it once played.

In many areas deer have become a community problem now that no predators are present. This overabundance of deer has reduced crop production, threatened the lives of numerous motorists, and increased competition between other organisms that may share the same food source. A problem associated with the extinction of so many species today is that people are only now discovering so many ecological niches that they never knew existed when the species was present.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 10-2.

In Class Discussion...

2009-10-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

Wapusk National Park

Parks, when they are created, have a dual mandate. They are to protect the ecological integrity of the area while at the same time allow access to the public. However, for Wapusk National Park, is this dual mandate possible? Wapusk is located in northern Manitoba along the Hudson Bay. It is isolated from all communities, so human access is limited to planes, snowmobiles, and all terrain vehicles. There is nothing by way of roads, and traditional access has currently been the only human entry permitted. Because public access has been limited, the dual mandate has yet to be met.

In general, whenever humans are allowed into a new area, they impose changes on the organisms in that area by their mere presence. Also, people have a natural curiosity to explore their surroundings. This exploration includes locating the most common organisms, or both plants and animals, that are key components of that landscape. For Wapusk, people would seek out the polar bears and their cubs. As a result of such activities, most parks have been able to protect the main vegetation and organisms that represent that ecosystem, but we must keep in mind that not everything will be protected when a new species, in this case people, is introduced to the area.

Furthermore, access to areas will require some form of infrastructure. Designated areas for overnight use or small lodging facilities will be essential along with roads and walking paths so that no one entering the park would get lost. Wapusk and other parks are remote and expansive areas, and for some people unfamiliar to these areas it is easy to get disorientated when paths are not given or marked. Wapusk is far from everything human-related, so major developments must take place if the government wishes for more people to have access. However, such developments will inevitably cause major changes, especially to such a fragile environment as Wapusk.

Possible activities for Wapusk may include guided tours in designated areas by people familiar with the terrain. Helicopters and small bush planes may be used for aerial views, but the costs associated with such activities may be uneconomical because not everyone can afford the fare. Also, the noise associated with helicopters, planes, and other vehicles necessary for tours, since people would most likely cause greater impacts to the environment should they be left up to their own devices, may negatively influence animal species. Noise often scares animals so they will leave areas that are noisy for quieter areas. With more frequent noise, some animals may move to new locations entirely. Thus, natural ranges and migratory routes may be influenced.

In conclusion, Wapusk would not be able to fulfill this dual mandate if government officials wish for all the ecological components of this ecosystem to be protected. However, a happy medium may be reached by allowing some access through tours, thus reducing the effects the public may cause through their own explorations. However, in order to do so, some infrastructure will be necessary.

Related links....

Outdoorsica. Wapusk National Park. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.outdoorsica.com/guidebook/wapusk_national_park/# [2009]

Parks Canada. Wapusk National Park of Canada. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mb/wapusk/index.aspx [2009 Oct 8]

Selection 6

2009-10-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis

Today’s society is faced with an ecological crisis. According to Lynn White Jr., this crisis is the result of our culture, particularly our religious beliefs. Technology has created a way to further degrade the environment, and it is being used to exploit our planet further. Whether a person claims to be a Christian or a Zen Buddhist, White argues that all religions believe in the domination of the planet. From the time humans invented the plow, which was later followed by automobiles and steam engines, they were on their path to destruction. Each change facilitated by advances in the technological world affects nature both directly and indirectly. An example used to depict this fact involved creating cars, which meant horses were no longer the main means of transportation, and as result flocks of sparrows died off. These sparrows relied on the horse manure along roadways for food. Hence, in order to halt our ecological crisis and begin cleaning up our planet, people have to consider their relationship with nature. A necessary relationship for the future would involve a new way of thinking, or religion, for society so that everyone will work together in the preservation of our planet.

While there are people who hold the belief that the planet was given to us by God, so we therefore have the right to exploit it however we choose, there are also people who believe in the stewardship and preservation of the planet. These two conflicting beliefs are both supported by biblical texts and religious teachings. Living in a multicultural society, Canadians should recognize that each culture holds slightly different perspectives on how the resources we are given should be utilized. Certain animal species are considered sacred, such as the cow in Hindu beliefs, holding great importance as either sustenance or as a means to provide the labour necessary in crop production.

Canadians have the privilege of living a very pampered lifestyle. They are able to experience luxuries that others, such as people in Africa or South America, can only dream about. This poses the question, how did Canadians become so wealthy? Well, it began with the exploitation of our resources. When traders first began the long journey from England to Canada, beavers pelts were in great demand, as were other animal skins. The fact that we almost extirpated the beaver shows how little people considered the consequences their actions may have. In many ways, society today still shows few considerations for the consequences of mining, logging, and fishing. It is only now that the resources are no longer available to exploit do people realize their mistakes.

Culture is so ingrained into us that we often do not consider something as simple as where the food on the table came from, or how far it travelled to get to that table. Think about a meal consisting of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, a salad with cucumber, lettuce, mushrooms, and celery, as well as buns, and gravy. After this meal, I had a discussion with a family member regarding culture and how ingrained our norms are. It didn’t take her long to point out that there was only one thing a sophist would eat; the cucumber in the salad. Sophists do not eat meat, nor do they eat any fruit or vegetables that were provided as a result of killing the plant. For me, I hadn’t even considered these possibilities. The food was provided, I could eat it happily, and that was it.

Such a discussion led me to consider how many other situations I take for granted through my ingrained culture. We drive vehicles, filling them will gas and driving to our destinations. Where did this gas come from? In order to fuel our vehicles we have to drill into the ground and extract it, a process that often destroys entire ecosystems. Yet, because the consumption of fossil fuels is a necessity of society, we don’t think much about it.

Therefore, considering our daily lives may make us realize just how society’s way of thinking has led to our current environmental situation. Consumers demand goods and services, and companies find a way to produce them, even at the cost of exploiting non-renewable resources and spilling harmful toxins into the environment in the process. Hence, what we believe greatly influences how we exploit and take for granted the resources around us.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 18-22.

Selection 7

2009-10-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

The Tragedy of the Commons

The oceans, air, and land are all common property. Everyone shares these resources and responsibility for the degradation that results from improper management. This idea, presented by Garrett Hardin, of the “common pasture” school of thought, describes societies’ use of these resources. He begins by discussing how primitive agricultural practice was the first event that later resulted in the overuse of the land. Since people do not hold the same respect for public lands as for their personal property, they often do not care what consequences their actions may have upon the public lands. Furthermore, the more people we have on the planet, the greater the amount of overexploitation of our common grounds. Therefore, overpopulation is of major concern. A technical solution does not exist for the problem associated with the commons because in order for any changes to be seen in our current situation, we must first change the mindset or values of society. Though fewer commons exist-privatization has decreased the number of lands still available for public access-problems associated with the usage of the common grounds still need to be addressed. Pollution through sewage dumped into waterways, toxins spewed into the atmosphere, and chemicals from garbage leaching into the soils, has badly degraded our water, air, and soils. We, as a society, cannot in good conscience allow this to continue. Thus, action is necessary to restore and protect our common resources.

Our society today is faced with a wide variety of issues. Many of these issues are currently being debated to find the best solution. However, while many people recognize the need for immediate action, others dig in their heels and will not agree on any mediation practices until the perfect solution is created. Though the perfect solution would be ideal, let’s face it, there is rarely a perfect solution present at the time of a debate.

In would seem that a prominent issue of the environmental world is overpopulation. Overpopulation is most often used in relation to lesser developed countries because they usually have the largest populations and higher growth rates when compared to developed nations. While they are exploiting the land through primitive agricultural practises, developed nations are exploiting the atmosphere through emitting greenhouse gases. Both utilize “common” resources in a negative way.

Parks and other areas designated for the conservation of nature are increasingly becoming influenced by human actions. Boating, hiking, and camping are all activities provided so that people can connect with nature outside an urban or suburban setting. Logging and mining are also permitted in parks by the government so companies have access to these valuable resources. However, such activities can negatively affect these areas. Litter such as pop cans, plastic bags, and fast-food wrappers, is easily visible beside walking paths and along shorelines. Designated areas must be made accessible for resource extraction. Surely people should recognize this is not good for the organisms that live in these areas!

Many people are familiar with Lake Winnipeg. Eutrophication has resulted from the dumping of sewage into this watershed, or from nutrients leaching through the soil as a result of farming practices and the use of lawn chemicals. The state of the lake has gotten to the point where people will no longer use it for recreational purposes because of the discomfort associated with a green soupy bath. Eutrophication causes increased algal growth that degrades water quality and negatively impacts native species of plants and animals who share the same waters. Also, a similar situation occurs in Killarney Lake every summer, with algal blooms causing nasty odours and degraded habitats for native species and cottagers alike. Sadly, many lakes are now beginning to resemble Lake Winnipeg, and people are not changing their actions to prevent such events as this increased algal growth.

Though I am not convinced overpopulation is our worst issue today, the actions of many people in society do cause great concern. We need to take responsibility for our actions and show nature the same respect we (or most of us) show our personal, material belongings. Shirking our responsibility now will only cause many problems in the future.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 23-7.

Related links.....

Boesveld S. Fish farms put squeeze on marine resources. The Globe and Mail [Online]. Avail from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/fish-farms-put-squeeze-on-marine-resources/article1279812/ [2009 Sep 8]

CBC News. A sea of troubles: Lake Winnipeg in crisis. [Online]. Accessed Oct 6, 2009. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/features/lakewinnipeg/web.html [2004]

David Suzuki Foundation. Conserving our oceans: healthy oceans. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/Healthy_Oceans/default.asp [2009]

eBrandon.ca. Photos: Killarney Lake. [Online]. Avail from:
http://www.ebrandon.ca/photo.aspx?picture_id=12142 [2009 Aug]

Moola, F & Suzuki D. It’s time to rethink our approach to garbage. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/about_us/Dr_David_Suzuki/Article_Archives/weekly09180901.asp [2009 Sep 18]

The Canadian Press. Lake Winnipeg shows nitrogen, phosphorus spike. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/08/17/manitoba-lake-winnipeg.html [2009 Aug 17]

Selection 11

2009-10-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Will Hurricane Katrina Impact Shoreline Management?

Over recent decades, meteorologists have found that storms, such as hurricanes, have been increasing in strength. Because of this added strength, hurricanes have become greater sources of destruction for coastal communities. As a result, Pilkey and Young pose the question: should communities and corporations be allowed to re-build on the same vulnerable land after their homes and buildings have been demolished?

Technology continues to create materials and designs that are able to strengthen our buildings so that when re-building does occur, the infrastructure will hopefully withstand more storms. However, as technology increases, so does the intensity of the storms. Building on shorelines also increases the amount of erosion of soil into the ocean, decreases the biodiversity and ecosystem features through this erosion, and requires a large amount of funds from the government. Thus, many areas vulnerable to frequent and powerful storms have been re-built time after time. Should we allow this to continue, or should funds be cut and shoreline communities be discouraged?

It would seem that a lot of goods, services, and raw resources are being wasted on re-building. Because of the weather systems, building in vulnerable areas seems pointless and inefficient. All the funds that have been transferred into beach management, disaster relief, and re-building and strengthening entire communities could have been put towards other, more secure developments. Since each time an area is re-built the buildings become bigger, more money is required. Overall, this allocation of resources, funds, and services seems greatly displaced in light of economic issues in other parts of the country.

A similar issue to the shoreline habitation is the California wildfires’ situation. Erosion along the canyons was occurring, so people introduced trees to the area to reduce the amount of soil and rock lost. These trees appealed to many people so communities were established and the controlled fires to maintain the trees were ended. Controlled fires are essential for the well-being of forests. They prevent large disastrous wildfires. People often neglect to consider this, as we can now see in this state today. Huge deadly wildfires have begun and communities across California are being greatly impacted.

However, some members of society wish to defy Mother Nature and live wherever they so choose. Through the governments funding re-building, they essentially are supporting these peoples’ decisions. Both canyon and ocean fronts have remarkable views of nature, and they also share in being locations that experience some of the worst disasters because of nature.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 43-7.

US Global Change Research Program. Climate change impacts on the United States-the potential consequences of climate variability and change overview: coastal areas and marine resources. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/LargerImages/SectorGraphics/Coastal/USMap.jpg [2003 Oct 12]

Selection 12

2009-10-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ecosystems and Human Well-being

The improper use of ecosystem services to meet the demands of the global society has resulted in environmental degradation, increased poverty, and unsustainable practices associated with resource use. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment acknowledged these issues in 2005 when they developed eight goals influenced by our current environmental situation. They recognized that the poor are often members of society most greatly impacted by environmental problems and changes, while the rich gain economic success and improved luxurious goods. Furthermore, they recognized that in order to make any significant changes to the current situation we must first make changes to our policies, institutions, and practices. Humans are altering our planet, driving ecosystem changes through overexploitation, introduction of alien species, and pollution. Therefore, better ecosystem management is needed in order to reduce the changes to natural systems and improve the quality of life for poorer people and the rest of society.

Whenever disaster strikes, lesser developed nations are always the hardest hit. They do not have the means, through emergency supplies and government funds, to offer relief and assistance to their communities most affected. As a result, famines and diseases spread throughout the improvised communities.

How have people changed ecosystems so that they provide greater services for people? Having grown up in an agricultural community, I have seen the tilling of soils, the draining of wetlands into lakes and rivers so that more land can be planted, and the creation of pig barns and cattle feedlots. Because community members wish to improve their economic standings, they will convert natural grasslands into large-scale agricultural fields. These fields will grow crops and meet the demands of a growing nation’s hunger, all the while providing funds to satisfy the farmer and his family. Negative consequences that arise, such as increased flooding in the spring as a result of fewer reservoirs (wetlands) to hold the water, are dealt with through drainage techniques and genetically modified crops. If extensive farming continues, the soils will not be returned to their natural state, and they then are only fit for pasture. Large deposits of salts are becoming visible through increased evaporation which results in a greater loss of water from the soil. This salt further degrades the land.

Africa has seen the degradation of the landscape as a result of their poorly managed agricultural practices. Desertification has developed leaving numerous places no longer habitable or productive. Economic gains may have been reached before overuse degraded the quality of the soils. Now hunger and famine prevail, and are suspected to be prolonged as population demands for food continue. Global climate change will further affect this situation because it affects weather patterns and precipitation patterns. Certain amounts of rainfall are essential for optimal crop production. Areas experiencing decreased levels of moisture have begun to use irrigation and re-route rivers to keep croplands producing.

Overall, if we want to see any changes in current practices, we need to first see changes in policies, institutions, and current practices. The increased awareness of the environment through media and education facilities has begun to prompt changes in technology as well as make demands on the government to halt or regulate companies that are overexploiting their resources. Technology has become more ecologically sustainable, such as alternative sources of power through wind turbines and solar panels. Such alternatives have reduced some of the demands on fossil fuels, and show promise for further decreasing fossil fuel usage in the future. Many environmental and economic models have been created to predict possible scenarios for these future years. Some of these models appear quite bleak, while others show positive outcomes through the implementation of this improved technology. However, our future is dependent on the actions of today’s people, and the consequences and impacts that the environment may suffer as a result of such actions.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 48-54.

Related Article.....

York, G. 2009 September 30. Millions more face malnutrition in warmer climate. The Globe and Mail; Sect A: 14.

Offline Activity...My Reconnection with Nature

2009-10-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Being a university student, I often get caught up in the fast pace of city life, running to and from classes, balancing time with family and friends, and fitting in enough time to study. Through this all, it is easy to forget my surroundings and ignore the tranquility and reprieve from a hectic schedule that nature has to offer. Therefore, on my walk home from classes one afternoon, I decided to ignore the thoughts in my mind and concentrate only on what I saw, felt, heard, tasted, and touched around me. Since this was a cool fall day, it did not take long to feel the crispness of the air, and know that winter is fast approaching. Because of recent rain, there was moisture in the air, increasing the coolness of my surroundings. As I moved from the campus to a residential area, I could hear dogs barking, squirrels chirping, and birds calling out as they began to stage in preparation for their long journey south. I recognized this changing of the seasons, and what it would mean for the trees and the animals. It was a time to shut down, or move on, depending on their ability to withstand the winter.

As I continued along, there was the smell of wet pavement mingled with decaying leaves and the aroma of freshly cut grass. Ripening apples that had fallen to the cement and been crushed added their own aroma to the mix. The leaves were rustling overhead, and the rocks crunching under my shoes. Small critters would cross my path only to dart for cover in the nearest bush. There were so many activities going on around me, and I had often forgotten to notice, or even care, about their significance. That single leaf, if examined very closely, would reveal a process that makes living on Earth possible. It involves the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates through the harnessing of solar energy. This energy, then stored in the plant tissue, could then be utilized by other organisms to go about their daily activities. That little squirrel with the peanut was just one example of an organism using what nature provided. As I moved through the gate, I saw what remained of the garden. I recognized that the soil had provided a foundation for the plants grown. That soil was then re-nourished through the addition of compost materials so that it could be just as productive the following year. Each tree that I had passed offered up similar services....it created the oxygen from water through the process of photosynthesis, it took in nutrients and moisture from the soil, growing big and tall. On warm summer days it would offer shade, and in the winter it would stand stark and barren against the crisp blue sky.

Though it saddened me for a time to think of the end of summer and how everything would turn to burnt orange and yellow, I was once again gladdened to realize that winter would provide its own picturesque moments. The snow will fall, and the ice will form, but through it all, nature will keep its services going to provide what is essential for all living forms. Summer will come again, as will winter, and spring, and fall. Each season has its own beauty, and we must recognize nature as that artist.

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. ~Kahlil Gibran

In Class Discussions.....

2009-10-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

How I rely on the physical environment....

The day is overcast and drizzling as I sit on a chair in my kitchen reading a university textbook. Because of the darkness, I rely on the assistance of a light. Everything around me is the product of a natural system in my physical environment. The air that I am breathing was first purified by trees and other autotrophic organism, for carbon dioxide was removed and oxygen released in its place. The light above me is powered by electricity. Electricity is generated through a hydroelectric dam. This involves the water cycles and the movement of electrons through an electrical power system. Since the temperature has dropped with the approach of winter, I also rely on the furnace to keep me warm. The heat produced from the furnace was created through the combustion of natural gas. Natural gas, before it could be used in the furnace, had to be mined and purified. It then had to be transported from the mining area to a location where it could be transferred through pipes to our homes. Also, the clothing that I am wearing offers up some warmth. My sweatshirt is a mixture of synthetic fabrics, hence also coming from mined gas and oil. Before reaching the store, however, it had to be manufactured and then transported. Manufacturing and transportation both require large amounts of energy. This energy also must come from the environment, either through electrical power or again, mined fossil fuels. Jeans and a cotton-blended t-shirt were most likely created in the United States, for cotton is a crop that they produce and harvest. Cotton plants not only provide the proteins that make up the fibres of the material for the shirt, but also assist in the purification of air.

Trees are also the providers of the paper in which a publisher wrote the text on for my book. Trees must be taken to the mill and processed before later being converted into paper and finally the textbook. Inks and glosses were created from vegetable based dies and clay respectively. Again, the completed product was then transported to its final destination, my kitchen table. In order to read for an extended period of time, I sat upon a chair. This chair was made from wood and plastic. It was held together with glue and bolts. Wood would come from trees once again, and plastic from mined fossil fuels. The glue would be a product of harvesting horse hooves, and the bolts would be made from metal extracts found in rock sediments, which were later refined and manufactured. Since I also happened to be drinking a glass of water, the glass would be from heated sand, and the water would be pumped from a water resource outside the city (Shoal Lake). This water was purified by the natural vegetation, microorganisms, and sediments of the lake before later being processed in a treatment facility. Therefore, everything that surrounds me, whether I realize it or not, was first part of a natural system that our society has manipulated to meet everyone’s personal needs.

Connect vs. Disconnect

People can participate in many activities that connect them to nature. Growing up in the city does not stop parents from experiencing the joys of going to the beach, on nature hikes, and camping in national and provincial parks with their children. Planting a garden or assisting in the restoring of wetlands, riparian areas, or just planting trees and flowers are excellent ways that people are able to connect to the systems that they depend on for their very survival. Nature provides adventures, discoveries, and breath-taking views that appeal to many people through rushing brooks, sharp ridges that hide a beautiful flower from the eyes not willing to explore to the very crevice of a mountain, and the overall picture of land meeting water and endless masses of air. Enjoying a sunrise, a sunset, or the fog rising off a pond, one will know that forces that are not in man’s control have created such sights.

In contrast, it is easy for people to get disconnected from nature. We often argue that life gets in the way of fully enjoying what nature has to offer. Technology is often a shield, blocking natural forces from influencing the human beneath. IPods block the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels chattering. Vehicles are equipped with barriers such as windshields and a metal frame to prevent the wind from caressing your skin. Instead of watching the sunset, people are often in front of a TV screen, laughing at a hilarious joke. When families travel to parks, they often bring the technologies from home. TV’s, IPods, and cell phones should not be necessities, especially when people go to parks and green areas to “get away” from the city or town.

Therefore, society needs to break down the shield of technology so that they can enjoy what nature has to offer and appreciate its beauty and systems that make our existence possible.

What is the Purpose of this Connection?

Recognizing that we influence the natural systems and environment around us is the first step in connecting with nature. Humans and nature are interconnected, even though many people believe the two to be separate entities. Furthermore, we must also recognize how we influence nature. When people are connected to nature, they begin to consider their impacts that their actions have on natural systems around them. Everyone becomes more conscious of their surroundings as well as changes in their lives that could significantly alter nature. Instead of hopping in the car, people may instead decide to ride a bike or walk. Carpooling and public transportation may be other alternatives. Purchasing a more fuel efficient vehicle would reduce green house gases, thus reducing ecological footprints.

A connection to nature may also change a person’s values. Freshwater and clean air are provided through the purification in natural systems. Hence, valuing freshwater and clean air may lead people to conserve the water and reduce their emissions, such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. When we value friendship, honesty, and justice, we stand up for these beliefs and argue with anyone who feels differently. The same goes for environmental degradation. If a company is mining or logging in a park, and you happen to value the green space of the park and what it represents, then you would argue that such actions are unethical and shouldn’t be allowed to continue. Valuing freshwater would cause conflict between groups of people if one group was dumping toxic wastes into rivers and streams. How we value a resource is often depicted in the way we then manage that resource and protect it. Therefore, through connecting ourselves to nature, we begin to value the services and resources that it has to offer.

Where do your Environmental Ethics Lie?

While I value the various life forms around me, I also value the overall system and how it functions to keep everything alive. Therefore, I could say that I am between the biocentric and ecocentric viewpoints. In terms of the biocentric, I believe that every species has the right to live where it chooses and that we must not prevent its survival. However, I also believe that some management of certain species may be required should human actions remove population barriers that used to control that species’ numbers.

Biodiversity is important because each species fills a certain function, or niche, in its ecosystem. It therefore assists in the running of that system. However, in some cases there are more than one species that can fulfill a niche in an ecosystem. The biocentric would argue that both species must be preserved, and the ecocentric would argue that as long as the system continues to work, either species can be protected. In this case, I agree with the biocentric, saying that both species should be preserved, but I also agree with the ecocentric saying that overall, we need the system to continue working properly.

People are top predators in every ecosystem, for we have adapted to almost every part of the planet. Though we have conquered most of the planet, this does not give us the right to exploit the resources so fully that other species cannot also share in their benefit. In the definition of sustainable development, it says “the ability to meet humanity’s current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”(World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). This implies not only the human generations, but the generations of important species that we directly and indirectly rely on to run these ecological systems.

World Commission on Environment and Development. Our common future, chapter 2: towards sustainable development. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.un-documents.net/k-001303.htm [1987 June]

In Class Discussion....

2009-09-24T06:35:00.000-07:00

Precautionary Principle

The precautionary principle, which states “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation,” should be considered when discussing all of our environmental regulations (CEPA Environmental Registry, 2007). This isn’t to say that all chemicals and substances require a thorough assessment; rather that chemicals and substances that have the potential to harm human health or the health of the environment should be evaluated. Many companies research only the aspects of their product that they want to promote, thus ignoring significant effects that it may have under other circumstances. Only so much research can be completed before funds and time run out. But this doesn’t mean that caution shouldn’t be used once the product leaves the trial run stages.

Should there be any negative consequences to applying the precautionary principle, major companies will initially be the ones to show any adverse effects. In order to make the effort of preventing a major crisis, time, effort, and funds are required for proper planning and assessment of products and services. Major companies depend on the success of their products, which then provide many jobs and benefits to the public. By applying this principle, it may take a lot longer to get the product or service onto the market, thus decreasing the amount of profit coming in. However, if this principle is not considered, then the negative effects will be felt by the public. If this was the case, then a clean-up would be in order, which in many cases costs the company and the government more time and effort then the research that could have been done in the first place.

The Media in a Critical Light

The media is responsible for presenting the current issues that members in society are debating. How seriously the viewer or reader may take the presented information depends on the source it came from. There are two main forms of media, print and non-print. Printed material can further be divided into investigative journalism and columns. All these forms vary in their amount of credibility.

Non-print media, or what people see on news stations or hear on the radio, often presents a story summarized into a thirty second event with the hope of getting a certain reaction. Therefore, the accuracy, precision, breadth, and depth of the information does not exist. At the time it may seem relevant and even logical, but upon further consideration it will show contradictions and a lack of information. The purpose is often to get a reaction from the public, not to present the story. In this fashion, the telling of what happened during this event would have many holes in the plot, for details are often omitted for the sake of getting the headline told more quickly. This is not said to prevent people from watching news channels, but rather to remind them to keep an open mind.

Columns in newspapers share many similarities with the broadcast perspective. Columnists are presenting one take on the event, concentrating on the details that he or she deem important. As a result, clarity is provided because the columnist will make sure that the public understands why this perspective is the right view. Therefore precision, or detail, and support relevant to that view will be provided. However, in terms of breadth and depth of an argument, this is where the article will lack. A perspective must show both views so that a person can establish his or her own opinion. Accuracy of information is most clearly seen when both views with supporting evidence are written side-by-side. However, columns can be credited for sticking to the purpose of making the public share their opinions on a given event or topic.

Hence, investigative journalism is said to be the most accurate of media forms because they are supposed to present all the observed details on a given situation. The article should have clarity, or be written in a way that everyone understands what happened and how this event may play out. Therefore, precision through necessary details about the event, as well as relevance and accuracy should be shown. Breadth can be revealed through insights from other related incidents, and depth may be shown with further analysis of the situation. Though no point of view is supposed to be evident, it is not possible to keep certain assumptions out of the work.

A good way to compare media sources is to find related reports in a journal, a newspaper column, and a television broadcast. For example, the news is often comparing the various government parties and the actions of certain key members. How the television channel portrays that person is completely different than the papers. The images published of a given politician or celebrity often reveals the biases of the person writing the story.

CEPA Environmental Registry. CEPA 1999 guiding principles and other policies. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ceparegistry/subs_list/
ExSubOverview/overviewofesp_p2.cfm [2007 Apr 19]

Online Activity...

2009-09-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Talks Yann Arthus-Bertrand Captures Fragile Earth in Wide-Angle

“We don’t want to believe what we know” (Arthrus-Bertrand, 2009). This line was repeated several times throughout Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s discussion on the impact people are having on our planet. People are aware of the degradation they are causing, as well as the knowledge that many of the Earth’s resources will be depleted in the near future. Yet, this looming catastrophe has often been ignored as people continue to meet their needs without considering the needs of the natural systems which provide these goods and services. Through unsustainable practices, the trees, the fish, and many other resources have begun to disappear. Everything in life is dependent on the well-being of our planet, hence binding people together as we all share the need for what the Earth has to offer. Therefore, as a whole, we need to begin implementing solutions and change our ways so as to not further endanger our future. We know what we are doing; we just do not want to admit the changes that are necessary in order to combat the consequences of today’s actions.

As I have come to understand, change is not a fast process. In fact, it is often a very slow or gradual process. Why does change occur so slowly? For many people, change is something they fear. We all fear the unknown. We fear losing control as well as changing our patterns and actions that make up our daily routines. Without a routine, how would we know where to go? How would we know what to do? Well, you just put one foot in front of the other and start down the path presented before you. Sometimes wrong turns may be taken, but who hasn’t heard of mistakes and corrections? In some ways this is how we must approach the future. Obviously, our current actions, such as motor vehicle use, our need for plastic, and consumptive goods, have not created a sustainable environment. This brings up the question, what is a sustainable environment? At one of the first environmental meetings, the Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as “the ability to meet humanity’s current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). Therefore, creating a sustainable environment would involve people implementing ways to gather what they need from the natural systems around them, such as the forests, watersheds, and soils, without in any way degrading that system so that the same goods or services could be received in the future.

Sustainability also depends on balancing the social, economic, and environmental pillars of society. Each of these categories is interconnected. For example, the fish population has seen drastic declines in recent years. Environmentally, we need to stop fishing and allow that population to grow back to original levels. Economically and socially we cannot allow that. People depend on the fish for food and to make a living. Similar situations include our forests, the coral reefs, which are major tourist attractions, and oil exploitation. For many years, people only considered the social and economic pillars. Yet, without the environment providing that resource or system, there would be nothing to exploit.

So, where does this change need to begin? That is not an easy question to answer. Everyone must get involved. Becoming aware of our own actions, and the consequences of those actions, is often the first step. Small steps forward will encourage others around you to do the same. People can be a powerful force, and when they work together amazing things can be accomplished. Many animal species that we currently share our environment with have begun to adapt to the changes, and society can to.

Arthus-Bertrand Y. Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle. TED [Online]. Avail from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/yann_arthus_
bertrand_captures_fragile_earth_ in_wide_angle.html [2009 Feb]

World Commission on Environment and Development. Our common future, chapter 2: towards sustainable development. [Online]. Avail from: http://www.un-documents.net/k-001303.htm [1987 June]

Selection 36

2009-09-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do About It

The degradation of our environment has been linked to the expansion of our human population. However, Ehrlich and Ehrlich have pointed out that the dramatic increase in recent years of our population is not the only issue surrounding environmental degradation. Summarized in the formula I=PAT, where I is the environmental impact, A represents affluence and consumption of goods, and T stands for the effects surrounding technology such as energy consumption and creation, we can do basic calculations of our overall impact to the planet. In light of this knowledge, it soon becomes apparent that not every country consumes the same amount of resources, or uses the same amount of energy. Therefore, there is a difference between the largest population that our planet is able to sustain versus the optimal population. More people can be supported if they choose to give up unnecessary aspects of their lifestyles. At the current rates of growth, many people believe our planet will eventually be unable to support the demands of the people. In order to control our population, which in turn may address some of the other issues surrounding environmental degradation, birth rates need to be reduced. This goal is met through improvements in health care and sanitation, education and economic opportunities for both men and women, the control of important resources, and the implementation of a fair and responsible government. In short, the human population plays a key role in the degradation of our environment. The overconsumption of resources and energy and a large population growth rate will soon irreversibly degrade the earth.

Six billion people. This is a staggering number that is only going to increase in the near future. Yet, in light of the fact that no one knows for sure how many more people our planet can support, our population continues in its exponential growth. These figures are unimaginable, just as picturing over six million dollars sitting in front of you on a table (or several tables). This may be why many people cannot begin to comprehend the overall effect of so many people on one planet. What keeps coming to mind is the fact that for every person we add, we have to cut out some other organism or plant to make room for that person. Sharing resources and habitat with other life forms is also an essential component for our planet’s survival. Therefore, for the sake of everyone’s well being, wouldn’t we at least want to try and alter our growth rate and our rate of consumption?

Both education and access to technology have allowed Canadians, Americans, and many others to experience the freedom of living a very different life from those in less developed countries. When it comes down to the debate of who harms the environment more, the lesser developed countries often become the scapegoat because they have higher populations and population growth rates. In the eyes of society, more people mean more problems. However, this is not a fair accusation. Those areas may have more people, and therefore may require more resources, but we must also consider the over-consumption of energy and resources of developed countries. Developed countries have a higher per capita consumption than lesser developed countries. Vehicles, factories, shopping malls, and food production all demand energy. To get that energy we have been burning immense amounts of fossil fuels. Lesser developed countries use energy as well, but they use it to meet their basic needs, not to enjoy a good lifestyle. If blame is to be placed for our current situation, it should be accepted equally by all parties.

Instead of placing blame, however, it would be more logical to look towards rectifying the problem of overpopulation, which in turn is causing environmental degradation. Actually dealing with an issue is harder than pointing fingers and implying it’s not our problem so we don’t have to fix it, but ignoring this responsibility will only make the situation worse in the future. We all share one planet, and therefore we all share the responsibility of looking after it.

If developed countries were to go into lesser developed countries and provide some basic education and technology, population growth rates would decline. In less developed countries, families are often required to be large so that the labour force is present to provide the means for survival. Education leads to the discovery of technology, which in turn leads to the creation of machines that would reduce the need for so many people. Of a greater importance would be to educate the women. In most cases, though obviously not all, women are the ones to raise the families. Raising families involves passing on knowledge so that those individuals in the next generation can improve their living standard and support their own families. As a result of inequality, many women are not allowed the privilege of being educated, so their placement in their country or society remains the same, as does their families.

Though this selection shares the view of a population biologist, it also brings into focus many of the economic struggles that countries are facing. Inefficiency of resource production, unemployment, and improper distribution of resources are prominent issues in today’s societies. Comparing various countries in terms of their energy usage, and then looking to a global scale to predict the amount needed in future years was a good eye opener as to how much we consume. It also highlighted how much damage or degradation we can do to our environment by trying to meet this demand. In the end, a large population may not be beneficial to the well-being of our planet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find economical and environmental ways of dealing with it.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 183-8.

Selection 32

2009-09-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Our Stolen Future

Humans and animals share one environment. To hear many people speak of the environment, it seems that these two entities are separate. Though different in many aspects, such as intelligence, appearance, and overall body systems, we share the natural systems that provide the framework of our existence. Humans and animals fight for the same resources of water, air, and space to live. Everything living is interconnected either directly or indirectly. Therefore, changes to our environment may have similar effects on both animals and people. The introduction of synthetic chemicals into the ecosystems by man not only affects animals, but has also been seen to affect humans. Synthetic chemicals, since they are man-made, do not break down in natural systems including the body. Instead, they accumulate in the adipose tissues, eventually leading to contamination. There has also been a noted effect of these chemicals on the endocrine system. In the endocrine systems, it has been observed that chemicals take the place of or interfere with the hormones responsible for transmitting messages of the body. Scientists have come to startling conclusions through the testing of various chemicals on laboratory animals, and have issued several warnings. But, because of their belief that animals and humans have no connection, many people do not heed these warnings. In the past, the warnings concerning effects seen on animals have come true for humans. Chemicals in our environments may not show apparent problems in the present, but if these warnings are not heeded they may become prominent problems in the future.

Newspapers and magazines often rave about the newest medication, the must-have lawn chemicals, and the newest beautifying products. However, these products are often introduced to the market before they are fully tested. If it was just created, how do we know what the long term effects are, either on people or our environment where these substances will eventually end up? With an ever-changing planet, it is hard to predict the reactions that chemicals might have once they are introduced to the external surroundings. Chemicals may be fine on their own, but once mixed with several others, they may be bad news. Hence, when first presented to the public, we should use a precautionary step and only try a sample. Only then, if no severely harmful effects are found, should more of the substance be introduced. Likewise, chemicals that might be causing problems should be examined. Are the consequences of inaction going to lead to severe damage, or is there the chance that the environment will balance out the effect? Because we are unsure of the answer, ignoring what we don’t fully understand could lead to many harmful problems in the long run. For me, one of the most memorable examples where caution was not used involved the bald eagles. The pesticide DDT was sprayed on fields, and inevitably ended up in water systems. It later became a major factor in the rapid decline of bald eagle populations because it affected their eggs and reproductive cycles. Though this is only one example, we could be creating more similar situations by introducing new products to our markets.

Overall, this selection was accurate and logical. Since everything is interconnected it only makes sense for one thing to affect another, either through indirect means or direct means. It could, however, have offered up some recent events where warnings had been presented, yet not heeded. Relevant data would have made the argument a little more authoritative. Just mentioning that cases had been seen where chemicals affected animals and humans alike does not prove to the reader that it was a significant situation. Knowledge of how that particular chemical similarly and conversely affected the animal and human, combined with what we have learned from that case, would be beneficial to the public so that an accurate interpretation of future cases can be made when they are presented by the media and scientists.

It should be noted that our market today often provides natural products that can be used instead of the well-advertised synthetic product. Consumers can be reducing their use of synthetic materials through purchasing and using natural products. This in turn would reduce a lot of the chemicals being added to the environment, even though the major polluters are manufacturing companies. In order to see a major decrease in the use of synthetic chemicals, the government needs to provide incentives or laws directed at the public and the companies.

Easton T. Classic edition sources: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 162-4.

Selection 42

2009-09-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

People fear the thought of history repeating itself, and the idea that our society may be the next in line to collapse. Smaller societies have been known to vanish in the past, while others have learned from their mistakes and re-built themselves. However, instead of addressing such a small scale, we are now discussing global proportions. Diamond talks of ecocide-ecological suicide-that seems to be a pronounced cause for a society’s collapse. He is quick to mention, though, that ecocide is not the only factor contributing to the collapse of a society. Climate change, hostile neighbours, the dependence of societies on their friendly neighbours, and the responses of a society to address such problems also plays a major role. The fact that not all societies vanish completely, but rather that some have avoided catastrophe and now manage themselves according to the resources available, provides the hope that our planet will not burn itself out. The past mistakes along with present advancements, such as technology and improved health care, must be considered when predicting the outcome of society. Technology has already removed us from some problems and looks as though it may have to do so in the future as well. This poses another issue; the issue of businesses and environmentalists working together to promote longevity of our resources, and decrease the amount of harm brought to the environment on which we depend. Everyone must set aside their misconceptions of where other people stand in society and work together to provide a healthy, sustainable planet for the future.

From the point of view of a biologist, it is easy to observe why Diamond focused first on environmental degradation as the leading cause of a society’s collapse. Biologists often consider the interactions between a species and their environment. However, he showed good insight to mention other factors that also contribute to such outcomes, providing accurate historical events to back them up. For example, through history we have learned about the escapades of the barbarians and the Romans fighting each other in hopes of conquering the continent. Each factor was well explained, and also informed the reader on the consequences of one factor coupled with another in terms of a society’s outcome.

In terms of technology saving us, my feelings are mixed. If advancements are made soon enough, we can create systems that will begin to fix the problems that we have created. It may not return the topsoil that was once part of productive croplands, or return the lakes in oil sand areas to their former condition, but it can reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reduce the amount of waste that is put into landfills. But, if we don’t act before irreversible changes occur, then there is no hope whatsoever of technology saving us. The United States is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world today, especially in health care. Yet, they have thousands of people dying as a result of no access to that health care. This, in turn, brings in the knowledge that technology is not evenly distributed. Lesser developed countries have very little technology when compared to countries like Canada and the United States. In many ways one can see the conflict rich versus poor, and the fight for equality within each nation.

There is also the concern of war and hostile relationships between neighbouring countries. Entire communities have been devastated by war, and many continue to feel the effects of present and past events. Whether it is for religious reasons, over resources, or just a result of plain stupidity, fighting is not going to solve the problem. One group of people will easily fill the place of the other in the line for the land, necessary amenities, and title. Also, the energy spent on combat and making weapons could be used instead to provide some of the technological capital to meet the needs of its people. Every person has different thoughts, views, and opinions on how something should be done, so just think how much of this undiscovered knowledge is being wasted on a battle field.

While getting the business world and the environmental world to work together is a great start, it is also necessary to note that government involvement is necessary as well. Governments have the power to enforce changes on their people. They can take what the corporations and scientists have to say and then make decisions that they feel are best for the society as a whole. As it stands, many governments do not seem to be making much progress on environmental issues, but at least they are starting. Ten years ago there was hardly any mention of how human activities were influencing the environment. Now, the media is often filled with stories of shifting weather patterns, water scarcities, and growing amounts of waste. Change is a slow process sometimes, but at least members of the population recognize this and are starting to make small, but mighty leaps to change bad habits and become friendlier to the environment, and thus sustain their society.

Easton T. Classic edition courses: environmental studies. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. pp. 213-8.