Author Archives: weavers

Winona LaDuke: Taking Action for the Environment

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College of Charleston had an amazing opportunity this past week by having Winona LaDuke come and talk. I was actually able to leave another one of my classes early to be able to make this presentation. After seeing some of her work in many of my classes I was very excited to listen to her live and in person. It was an absolute privilege. The talk began with her displaying beautiful art and explaining the origin and meaning behind it, all of the art presented related to her heritage.  She lives “where the wild things are” on an earth reservation in Minnesota. She has the ability to grow and harvest natural foods like rice and natural corn.  She went on to talk about today’s changing environment and how “America was great” when there were 50,000 buffalo as well as native grasses. Instead of the now 28 million cattle that require industry of fossil fuels to raise and produce them. She then asked us how to create a post carbon economy due to us having no plan for climate change. LaDuke introduced the “Sitting Bull Plan” which helps indigenous tribes plan for climate change, otherwise known as the Green New Deal. The first step is to not waste as much energy and get efficient. “The future is solar” it has more jobs than fossil fuels and can produce loads of energy. Another solution is solutionary rails, most of the world already has train tracks but don’t use them as much as they should. Steel on steel uses 1/5 of the friction used on roads. Lastly, hemp textiles were introduced. They can produce twice as much per acre than cotton and not use as much water to make. While also being able to make water bottles, clothing, rope, milk, etc. After that she asked for question, one of the questions that stood out the most was “what can college students do?” he response was to have the ability to be critical and coherent thinkers.

This relates to our class for many different reasons, her talk to make this word a more sustainable place for all with little recommendations to make. As well as the article that we read about her work. And lastly, her talk of environmental injustice, reminded me of the case study of Warren County and the PCB landfill. She fights for bans on pipeline and her area has been taken over with big businesses trying to put pipelines in her area and releasing more carbon into the air. She believes they are putting them in that area because of the minority and low income of the people that inhabit the area. Which is a direct correlation to the Warren County case study.

Although I did not get a photo of myself at the presentation, I have the flyer that was released for the talk. I am still honored to be able to attend such a wonderful event. Thank you to everyone that provided help to this talk!

Alaska Gold

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I love documentaries and a friend of mine recommended “Alaska Gold” because he watched it in his environmental economics class and knew I would like it. It aired in 2012 on the network “Frontline”. The documentary was based on the Bristol Bay community which is located in southwest Alaska. The opening scene displays beautiful Alaska with a single fisherman boat. The captain is explaining how it is “like Christmas morning” because it is the opening day for fishing season.  Then the explanation of why Bristol Bay is so popular, it is one of the few places that still have the wild sockeye salmon. Considered some of the best salmon in the world.  Sixteen million fish returning from a single boat trip, it makes the largest fishery for salmon in the world. Bristol Bay is one of the planets most successful and sustainable harvest of wild salmon.  In addition to the large fishery, this area also has some of minerals that are highly sought out for like gold, molybdenum, and copper. The issue that brings the “Frontline” to do the documentary is that large mining companies want a piece of this “Alaska Gold” when they are not native to this area. They want to try and mine in the largest “open-pit” mines which is located in Bristol Bay. This pit is otherwise known as “Pebble Mine”.  This open-pit would directly affect the salmon spawning territory if Pebble Mine were to be built. It would cause irreversible damage to this pristine salmon habitat. Which would later lead to fisheries, the people, and the wildlife that rely on the fisheries (rather economically, socially, or environmentally) to be negatively impacted. The end of the document discussed how this was politically being addressed. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will be helping to make the decision and will be a discussion for year to come on rather to allow these mines to be formed and how that will affect the fisheries.

This reminded me of the “Cup of Coffee” exercise and how everything can be affected in the environment just off one decision. The possible outcomes that could occur from Pebble Mine would spiral out and affect more things than it would help. But that also relates to the Triple Bottom Line concept. It would affect Alaska, more specifically Bristol Bay, socially because people eat this fish, celebrate this local fish, etc. and if they start to be depleted because of this mine that will directly impact people. In addition, economically this is a huge source of income for this area. If the salmon started to disappear it would drag people out of jobs, people will lose money, and would eventually lead a community into poverty. and lastly, it would directly impact the environment. The mining could do a number of things to affect this area like, distorting acres of salmon water areas like wetlands, ponds, and lakes. The risk of accident and pollution into these watersheds are also a high consideration.

I did some research to follow up and as of January of 2018, the EPA has announced that “The decision neither deters nor derails the application process of Pebble Limited Partnership’s proposed project.”. in other words, after many people fighting the incoming mines, the EPA suspended the decision until further notice. This documentary was very interesting and insightful for what is currently happening in the United States. This is one of the few sustainable examples of natural fishing and it is threatened by cherished mineral mining. I also provided the link below if other people care to watch it!

 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/alaska-gold/

References:

“Alaska’s Bristol Bay & The Pebble Mine.” Earthjustice, 5 Mar. 2019, earthjustice.org/features/alaska-s-bristol-bay-the-pebble-mine.

Personal Change

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Since transferring to the College two years ago, I was never aware of my carbon footprint or how much a single person could help the environment.  I always recycled and sometimes picked up trash off the ground but, that was about it for me being environmentally friendly. After coming to Charleston, it really changed my perspective on the environment. This change was because of my fellow peers being so passionate about sustainability and caring so much about the environment and the fact that this beautiful city was just far too pretty to be covered in trash! My first year I tried to walk everywhere I could and that was a little step, but it wasn’t until this year that I realized so many more little things I could do to help this world be a more sustainable place. I decided I would not bring my car with me to school because my roommate already had hers here and why bring two cars and pollute the air when we can carpool or walk everywhere. I thought I was really helping until I did an Ecological footprint test. I then decided I was never going to go to the store unless it was very necessary. A couple blocks from my apartment is Marion Square, every Saturday they hold a local farmers market. I knew if I could plan my weekly meals, I could get fresh produce which helps out local economy, reduces carbon pollutions because it does not have to be shipped from different places, and reduced packaging pollution like plastic. My roommate and I now write out what we need for our week, use a reusable wooden basket and go shopping for the week every Saturday morning! This not only enriched my life because I am able to put quality nutritional foods into my body, but I am also able to help the environment! I am still working on not also going to grocery stories and reduce trash, but I am not quite there yet (although I have reduced it significantly). I find that to be my biggest challenge because I do still need items that can not be found at farmers markets for recipes, household items, cleaning supplies, etc. Although, I do support food stores like Whole Foods where they encourage brining your own bags and allow you to bring your own containers for things such as flours, beans, rice, etc. This is a plan I am going to stick with, it has helped me in more ways than one. I am planning ahead for what I will be eating for the week which also helps with budgeting, I am eating quality foods, I am meeting and seeing local people weekly, and I am reducing my amount of waste. If you are scared about getting fresh fruits and vegetables… plan ahead! That was my biggest concern was buying and not having enough or having too much till the point it goes bad but, if you make a plan and write out the recipes it is so easy and fun.  I do not have a picture of me at the farmers market, but I have one of my roommates holding our reusable basket!

“The Challenge of Preparing for the Unexpected with Public Health Emergencies” Event

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“The Challenge of Preparing for the Unexpected with Public Health Emergencies”

The speaker, Stephen Redd, is the director of Public Health service and implementation science and the director for the center for preparedness and response at the centers for disease control and prevention. The CDC organization is a federal agency that supports health promotion and also deals with prevention and preparedness in the US. In Dr. Redd’s speech he explores the types of emergencies happening and what is driving them. When he focused on emergencies he talked about specific incidence he has dealt with. The first case study was for a pandemic of influenza. He was assigned to study and observe any correlation between cases in California and Mexico, which lead to other cases in different states near the west coast. Because the US health systems were better prepared and equipped to this viral infection,  the cases in Mexico were far more severe than any others. The second case study discussed was for the Ebola outbreak in 2014. The originated areas that were impacted the most by this virus were regions of central and east Africa such as, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Dr. Redd spoke of the Ebola cases in Dallas, Texas. The indecisive study information brought fear to the US because our advanced health system could not defeat and protect ill patients due to our lack of knowledge and preparation. They had dealt with Ebola in the regions of Africa but did not prepare for when it came to the US, doctors did not have the correct information to properly diagnose it. CDC’s method process after was to screen airports, revise PPE guidance reassessed, update monitoring and movement guidance released, and asses and prepare the healthcare system. This plan was put in place shortly after the cases appeared and now no one has contracted Ebola in the US since. The driving factors of emergencies Dr. Redd discussed were population growth, international border crossing, exposure from domesticated animals, and technology. All of these factors are rising and bringing harm to the people of the US. Although we always try to be prepared for emergencies, It is important that our country work with health systems in other countries, our workforce be prepared, acknowledge current outbreaks worldwide, and greater communication to the public during emergencies. Dr. Redd says that communication is everything and the key for our country to be able to take on all future emergencies.

This relates to our class due to many different factors. Emergencies could happen because of natural disasters, chemical or radiological accidents, etc. all of which are environmentally based. Although, it was not really talked about much in the presentation it is a very common emergency.  When natural disasters or chemical spills happen it can dramatically hurt not only the environment but the people in the region, which results in an emergency. It could also relate back to the triple bottom line model. When emergencies happen every part of the model is affected rather it is from social due to people getting sick or hurt and then it therefore effects the economic section because people are not able to keep an economy going while people are in an emergency. And lastly, the environment will also be affected directly because of emergencies like a natural disaster.

Microplastic Contamination Found in Common Source of Groundwater

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Article: “Microplastic Contamination Found in Common Source of Groundwater”

Source: Science Daily

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190125112312.htm

Citations:

Banjot Kaur. “For the First Time, Study Confirms Presence of Microplastics in Indian Cosmetics.” Down To Earth, www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/for-the-first-time-study-confirms-presence-of-microplastics-in-indian-cosmetics-60365.

“Causes and Effects of Groundwater Contamination (ULTIMATE LIST).” ALL ABOUT WATER FILTERS, 6 Sept. 2018, all-about-water-filters.com/causes-effects-groundwater-contamination/.

Louise Prance-Miles. “Japan Passes Bill to Reduce Microplastics in Order to Combat Pollution.” Global Cosmetics News, 22 June 2018, globalcosmeticsnews.com/japan-passes-bill-to-reduce-microplastics-in-order-to-combat-pollution/.

 

Santa Rosa Water. “Groundwater.” 2018 Ballot Measures | Santa Rosa, CA, www.srcity.org/857/Groundwater.

 

Steinmetz, Katy. “Microbeads: States Set to Battle Over Face Wash.” Time, Time, 10 Dec. 2014, time.com/3628392/microbead-ban-states/.

Tomiwa Isiaka. “Microplastic Pollution Is All around Us.” SustyVibes, 1 May 2018, sustyvibes.com/microplastic-pollution-is-all-around-us/.

 

The Questions:

  • What: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic in the environment that are contaminating our water sources (both surface waters and groundwaters). Microplastics can be found as little beads in toothpaste, facewashes, etc. or can be broken down larger pieces of polluted plastic.
  • Who: University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign conducted a study to see how much microplastic is in groundwater around metropolitan St. Louis and rural northwestern Illinois.
  • Why: Wildlife is already being affected by microplastics due to them eating them and then either killing them, giving them health problems, or humans eating the wildlife and then we have the after effects of health problems because plastic is not meant to be in the human body. That was when we would eat wildlife but when it is directly in our water source it will cause more direct health problems.
  • When: Study was posted on January 25th, 2019 (does not mention when that actual study was conducted)
  • Where: Globally people are affected by microplastics, but this study was done in Illinois (metropolitan St. Louis and rural northwestern Illinois)
  • How:  Pollution of plastics or microplastics being found in cosmetics, toothpaste, or facewashes

 

Impact of the event:

We were already aware of the problems of microplastics in surface water and how it will affect wildlife and human health. It was through eating marine life that we would ingest plastic which could be very dangerous to human health let alone wildlife health. Now with this study it shows that humans could be directly drinking microplastics.

Relevance to society: 

Some people only have access to groundwater, and this could be a massive health issue if this is not fixed or there is not proper filtration of these microplastics. Although there is little research on microplastics and human health that does not mean that it is good for our health. It has been shown to migrate through intestinal walls and absorb toxic chemicals and release them in the digestive system.

Relevance to the course: 

This is clearly not a sustainable way to live due to the pollution of plastics. It affects the wildlife population, wildlife health, and human health. Clean drinking water is a essential this human life. Even if we stopped using plastic today, we would still have a long problem of pollution.

Any pertinent questions raised by the story: 

What is an alternative way to dispose of plastics and microplastics? How do we directly fix this? Where is it coming from most?