On January 28^th, I went to the seminar by Dr. Stephen Redd, who is a director of Preparedness Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The seminar was called  “The Changing Face of Public Health Emergency Response”.  I chose to attend this event in specific as I am a Public Health major and have an interest in epidemics, and I thought this seminar sounded super interesting.    He spoke about different types of emergencies; predictable, predicted, and emerging.

Predictable events are ones in which the government can respond almost instantly; they are prepared and have the resources to keep the event under control upon its arrival.  The only question in the air regarding predictable events is how bad it will be.  Predicted events are events that we don’t know if it will happen, but the government still prepares regardless because their effects are large.  The likelihood of predicted events is smaller than predictable. Anthrax and other bio terrorism attacks are examples of predicted events.  Emerging events are those that are more unpredictable.

Dr. Redd spoke about many emerging events, including Ebola, Zika virus, influenza, and the opioid epidemic that is currently going on.  He briefly went over many case studies that were very fascinating to me.  He spoke about the 2009 influenza pandemic of H1N1, which first started when a 10 year old boy was infected, and then spread to a 9 year old girl 3 days later, and from their it escalated.  He also spoke about the Ebola outbreak which was a boarder crossing event that began in central and east Africa and then came west, which was an unprecedented.  It began when one nurse was infected and then spread it to a second nurse.  The effects of this case resulted in extra measures being taken and implemented in order to prevent it from happening again, including new airport screening to catch it before it comes into our country.  Case identification and isolation were two strategies used to fix this issue.  Isolation for Ebola lasted 21 days.

One of the aspects I liked about the seminar was when Dr. Redd spoke about communication with the public.  He discussed the strategies that are used, being expressing empathy, setting expectations, and utilizing risk communications.  The most important thing to do is keep the public informed yet under to keep everyone calm so things don’t get out of control.  I think the CDC and other governmental Public Health organizations do a good job relaying information and helpful measures to take in times of an emergency, no matter the scale.

A member also asked Dr. Redd a question regarding the impact that these emerging events have on population, as our global population is growing substantially.  He spoke about our consumption and use of resources that occurs in times of events, and how population growth is a driver for these events.   This can relate most to our class regarding sustainability.

This seminar sparked an interest in preparedness and readiness that I hadn’t had previously.  Dr. Redd was incredibly interesting to listen to as he seemed very accredited and well knowledgeable in his field of expertise.

This afternoon I had the extreme pleasure of attending a presentation of solving the global water crisis. The presentation was run by Maude Barlow, who lives in Ottawa, Canada and has a decorated resume in environmental rights, specifically clean water acts. She has even helped construct laws at the United Nations level, so I was very fortunate to be able to hear her perspective and ideas on the environment and water scarcity. She also wrote the novel Blue Gold which was one of the first books discussing water and the scarcity of it in the near future. Barlow wants to prove to people that the problem of water scarcity and pollution is just as important and prevalent as climate change, if not more prevalent and terrifying. She discussed how many people in the past believed this good such as water and fossil fuels were endlessly abundant and led to people overusing the resources to an extreme degree. Now a large majority of the world is stuck with water shortage or stuck with extremely polluted water. Even the United States has extremely polluted water in areas such as Flint, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio, but most every place has at least harmful microplastics in the water. Barlow stated the fact that 2.5 billion people in the word do not have access to proper sanitation, which shocked me. It is unbelievable how sheltered and how lucky people like myself are to grow up in a place where we are never forced to worry if drinking water will be clean or if I will even have running water at home. I quite honestly cannot imagine going through some of the hardships third world countries are forced to go through just to receive a small amount of sanitary water, but that could be the very legitimate future if we proceed to waste water in the manner we have been. She had many points that truly opened my eyes regarding the danger of our future and water supply. She discussed how just recently the United States discovered that we only have half as much ground water as we originally believed. That other half is contaminated by chemicals or has absorbed too much salt water and has become undrinkable to humans. I also thought it was very interesting that she touched on the large algae blooms and bacterial growth in Lake Erie considering I discussed that problem and the voting of the Lake Erie bill just an hour before the talk. It was very disheartening when she said that the United States are moving in the complete opposite way of protecting natural environment and water. Barlow discussed how Trump just recently announced the largest cut back on the Clean Water Act since it was established in 1962. She opened my eyes showing that the fight for clean water is a fight that we must keep fighting and be extremely persistent with. Corporations will proceed to ignore the idea that we do not have enough sanitary water for the future, but we must keep fighting until everyone realizes and accepts the truth regarding the world water crisis.

Today I was lucky enough to attend a talk by Maude Barlow on Solving the World Water Crises. Maude Barlow has been all around the world from UN conferences to the slums in search of solutions for these crises. What the event was about was to raise the awareness about water and to show people it’s just as big of a problem as global warming/climate change. Along with how Humans have a right to water, and how the world has denied millions that right. It so amazing to see her speak because of how much she has down to raise awareness and in taking action to help fix this massive crisis. She highlighted two twin crises that our world faces today, one Ecological, the other Human. Industries today have and continue to use water as a source of human development and disregards how much they use, pollute, and completed destroy. Some of the information she presented was jaw-dropping, to the point where it makes you sit and ponder what is going to happen to our world once we pass. What I really learned today, that I had no idea about, was the massive source of groundwater that many countries have, but are exploiting and polluting. Maude referred to them as the underground “seas”, but what was so interesting was how little governments care about how much industries are polluting these water sources. Along with that, we are taking so much more from these “seas” then earth can replenish. This is such a scary and to be honest an aggravating problem because people and along with governments push this problem to the side as if it’s going to fix itself when really it’ll get to a point of no return that causes conflict/wars. I thought this connected very well with what we have been talking about in class and relating to the triple bottom line of sustainability. We talked about the triple bottom line of sustainability during our third lecture and after learning how it all works this is a perfect example of how society isn’t even thinking about the triple bottom line. In order for our society to be sustainable, we need to be able to maintain change in a balanced environment. Where the social, economic, and environment are all in harmony which increases current/future potential. The problems Maude was discussing show how industries are doing exactly the opposite. Instead of finding a more sustainable way and respecting the environment, industries are destroying them and taking so much from them that ecosystems are just fully failing. I’m very happy I attended her talk because it really broadened my knowledge of our water crises. More importantly, it inspired me to want to do more than just sit and read about. Usually, I’m just reading an article about these problems and it makes me upset, but nothing more comes from it, but after seeing Maude speak I want to take action even if it’s small contributions to start.

Personal change is something that is sometimes necessary for the everyday human being; whether it be eating healthier, exercising more, or just trying to get rid of bad habits, it is necessary for those who want to change their current way of living. My personal change goal was to stop depending on eating so much meat that was not produced locally. When we did the ecological footprint assignment that told you how many Earths would be needed to sustain our planet if everyone lived like me, I was astonished. If everyone lived the way I had, then we would need 5.3 Earths to sustain us. To me, that was a shock, and something that made me feel uncomfortable. The change that I decided to bring to my life, not only for my own benefit, but for the earth’s, was to consume less processed and shipped in meat. This change from me, if done by many, could make the world a much better place. Meat that isn’t local has to go through many processes to get to our stomachs, including excess plastic usage during packaging, and the fossil fuels needed for the transportation of it, as well as the sheer amount I (as long as many others) were consuming, made for a higher demand for processed goods in the local area. When I changed this aspect of my everyday life, I decided to take the ecological footprint test again, and I was now using 3.8 earths instead of 5.3. This still is not the best, but is definitely a major step for me towards sustainability. In my efforts to reduce my ecological footprint, I started buying more local grown and raised foods for the past week. This past week has been a triumph for me, as I like a better human being as well as feeling much healthier by eating more plant based products and less processed foods. I have been more energized and have felt an overall shift in my actions. During my journey towards ecological benefit, I have since noticed a change in my behaviors as well, like going outside and getting more exercise rather than staying in and playing video games, and have been a more overall positive person towards my peers and have been more invested in my classes. I have noticed that I have also been spending less money by cooking most of my foods rather than buying fast food and other expensive products from the grocery stores. This is a change that I definitely will stick with, not only for my own good, but the Earth’s good as well.One challenge I have encountered was the time it takes to cook and prepare my foods, but has not been that much of a shift, and has been a better use of my time rather than the past activities I was engaging in. My advice to others who would also like to embark on a personal goal of ecological sustainability and living a healthier life is to stick with it! Even though it may seem tough, it is for the benefit of everyone, and mainly yourself! By reducing the amount of processed foods, you are not only making a better and more healthy life for yourself, but you are also helping the future generations to be able to experience the beauty of the Earth, which we would most likely not have if everyone continued to live like I once did.

For this blog experience, I chose to attend the SEWE festival. This is also known as the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, where all different species are shown to the public. This was very fascinating to me, as I have always marveled at how many different types of animals there are out there and how they all come from different ecosystems and locations. All the animals shown at this expo hail from the southeastern area of the United States, so it is interesting to see the similar adaptations they have. This includes being of certain color to combat heat absorption, hunting specific prey that is plentiful to the area, among other interesting facts. Among the animals shown at this event, there were also art exhibits and food events, so this expo really can appeal to all different types of people with different interests.

I really enjoyed this event because it showed off how unique different species are and how amazing they truly can be. I have been to many dog shows in the past, but they were a lot stuffier than what was going on at this expo. Dogs’ talents were truly put to light, and owners were able to show off how special their dogs are and how much training has gone into their abilities. This shows a true connection between dog and owner, which I really admire as I have two dogs and it is very difficult to train them. I have also always admired how loyal a dog can be to their owner, and that different dogs absolutely have different personalities. My one dog has a very loyal personality, always aiming to please and feeling so guilty when he misbehaves. On the other hand, my other dog feels no remorse and has no problem being bad. This expo really shows the differences between animals and how these differences are important in have a diverse system.

Relating back to this class, I think that biodiversity is a huge environmental importance and this was really highlighted at the SEWE event. There were different species of owls, snakes, and other native creatures that really shows how different each animal is from one another. Each animal is crucial to the food chain and sustaining life. Owls and snakes share the same prey of mice, but they also have variations in their diet that allows them to live in similar environments and still have a steady food supply. It is so important to maintain this level of biodiversity so that all species can live sustainably. The impact of this event is to bring light to different species in a fun, interactive way. Not all people care about the environment, but this event was great in the sense that it really included every type of person and tried to make sustainability interesting to people who might not otherwise care or be interested in it. It is hard to get everyone on the same page of supporting the environment, but small steps like this SEWE event is a gateway to gathering people in on the pro-environmental movement.

Dawson O’Brien

Prof. Saunders & Welch

ENVT 200

17 February, 2019

Co-Exist

This past Friday, February 15^th, 2019, I was lucky enough to attend the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, if only for a short while. The SEWE has been held for the past 36 years, this year being the 37^th, and has been carrying on the tradition of celebrating the things that are enjoyable about nature, but often forgotten about. Nature contains so many wonderful components, all of which are gorgeous, and so there must be time to revel in that fact. The SEWE has events for connoisseurs, or even children. For the younger-crowds there are demonstrations of live birds, live ocean/zoo animals, and even wildlife sanctuary shows. For those not looking for trying experiences, there are auctions, food cooking events, and art viewings! And for those who want an immersive experience without being too immature, there are events like the one I attended: dog demonstrations!

Because of time restraints and class, I was not able to experience as much of the SEWE as I had wanted, but I was able to get out there for their series of dog demonstrations. Essentially, because of the high popularity of hunting in the state of South Carolina, the SEWE gives owners the chance to show just how able their pets truly are! I witnessed solely the search and rescue dog demos that were later in the afternoon. However, if I had been able to come earlier, I would have been able to see sheep and herding demos, and if I stayed later there would have been a retrieving show! Overall, the experience was incredible. For the average individual, it is difficult to grasp just how well-trained service dogs really are. The dogs are professionals at what they do and it shows when they are performing their individual tasks.

What was so brilliant about the performances of the dogs was that when the dog was displaying its training it was so receptive to the trainers, and when the dog was not in training it was so loveable and friendly. I found it fascinating that the four-legged animals could separate their training from their enjoyment time. Upon seeing this same interactions, I had a thought that related the event back to being sustainable; humans need to co-exist with nature. Although dogs are domesticated, they have natural instincts and tendencies that remain, causing them to appear to symbolize nature to me. The cohesiveness seen with dogs and people reminded me that nature and humans are one in the same, and in order for a more sustainable future, humans must co-exist. From goat-herding to live camels, the SEWE was a brilliant experience that causes people to take a moment out of their day to remember how grateful people should be for the world around them.

The Amazon is being destroyed for gold

Kann, D. “Record levels of gold mining are destroying one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, study shows.” CNN, 8 Feb. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/08/world/gold-mining-deforestation-peru-record-levels-trnd/index.html Accessed 11 Feb. 2019.

The Amazon is being destroyed for gold, from the CNN article “Record levels of gold mining are destroying one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, study shows.”

Who: The people of the Southern Peruvian Amazon What: the illegal destruction of one of the most biodiverse ecosystems Where: the protected Southern Peruvian Amazon When: since 2017 Why: for the incentive of $100/day for gold How: clearing forest and harmful mining methods

The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth, and the biomass of these forests is responsible for cleaning much of the earth’s air. People have been over-harvesting resources in the Amazon for decades, and now in one of the most untouched parts of the Amazon rainforest, Peruvians are contributing to this deforestation and polluting their own areas with mercury so they can find gold to make money. In the past 2 years alone, 45,565 acres of forest have been felled for gold mining. Mercury is known to damage immune, digestive and nervous systems in people. The river systems being polluted carry water all over South America and are sources of water and livelihood for people and organisms all over the continent. This illegal gold mining affects innumerable people and the long term effects of high amounts of mercury can be deadly.

This trend affects people, the planet and profit.There are many points where intervention can occur to stop the deforestation and pollution, and where people and the planet can benefit as opposed to how they are suffering now. The Peruvian government has tried for years to enforce the protection of the Southern Peruvian Amazon with no progress, and the incentive for people to continue mining is the pay. If the government could create opportunities for these people to make good wages at the same time as stopping the deforestation and hopefully taking steps to reverse the damage done, they would be closer to being sustainable.

If the people need money this badly, can the government incentivise protecting the areas instead? Can they create jobs to contribute to re-vitalizing the forest? Is there anything that can be done to remove mercury from the environment?

On Monday, February 4th, I attended a seminar on global climate change and sea turtles. Dr. Joseph Pfaller spoke at the seminar about the Caretta Research project which studies sea turtles, their migration/mating/laying patterns, their nests, etc. At this event, I learned about several different types of turtles that lay eggs along the east coast, primarily in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I learned that female turtles come onto dry land, dig a hole, lay their eggs, cover them up, and then return to the ocean. During their laying season, females will usually lay 4-8 batches of eggs 13 days apart; so, in all, they lay anywhere from 80-180 eggs. The Caretta Research project typically collects data from these turtles while they’re laying their eggs by tagging them with various forms of identification. They also protect the turtle nests by tagging them, covering them, and sometimes relocating them. After the eggs hatch, the research team uses the discarded egg sacks to determine more information about the babies and their mother.

This seminar was informational with regards to our class in the sense that it showed me how our pollution can harm and even kill these sea turtles. Global warming is forcing these turtles to move farther north (to colder weather) where places have not been prepared and made safe for them. This global warming is also causing future generations of turtles to become primarily female (which can lead to extinction) because turtle gender is determined by temperature (hotter temperatures mean more females). Rising sea levels and ravenous storms due to global warming have been washing away turtle nests as well. Rising temperatures have also changed and slowed the currents that guide these turtles to food, mating partners, and laying grounds. Also, some of these sea turtles eat primarily jellyfish and thus have downward pointing spirals in their throats to lock prey inside; it just so happens that our plastic bags and many other man-made debris look a lot like a meal to many sea turtles.

Title: SC’s Coal Power Plant Turning to Natural Gas?

Peterson, Bo. “Uncertainty in the air for workers at SC’s largest coal burning power plant.” The Post and Courier, 4 February 2019, https://www.postandcourier.com/news/uncertainty-in-the-air-for-workers-at-sc-s-largest/article_275fdfee-1e79-11e9-863a-9bf403ef4cfc.html. Accessed 5 February 2019.

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/uncertainty-in-the-air-for-workers-at-sc-s-largest/article_275fdfee-1e79-11e9-863a-9bf403ef4cfc.html

What? Santee Cooper Cross Generating Station debating to be sold and whether to be converted to natural gas (implications)

Who? Converting to natural gas would affect hundreds of workers and community members who have well paying jobs in this coal plant

Why? The switch from coal to natural gas has some pros and cons depending on the social, economic, and environmental impact it has.

When? The article was posted on February 4, 2019, so this is very recent news. The Santee Cooper is still being debated whether to sell to a buyer/converting to gas.

Where? Cross Generating Station, Pineville, SC rural Lowcountry area near Charleston, SC

How? Most buyers want to switch to natural gas because it is economically more beneficial

Relevance to Society?

This news affects our very own South Carolina land and communities, especially those living in or around Charleston, SC. The huge amounts of job losses and fluctuations in electricity bills would be detrimental to society.

Relevance to the course?

We learned about the Triple Bottom Line and how it is used to solve wicked problems, such as the converting of the Santee Cooper Cross coal plant to a natural gas plant. The triple bottom line can be seen at play here since it shows the social, economic, and environmental issues that arise and should be addressed. The social side is the workers losing their jobs, the economic side is the natural gas as the cheaper option but the pipelines are not cost-effective, and lastly, the environmental impact of both the coal and natural gas, which both largely contribute to global warming.

Pertinent Questions raised?

Is Natural Gas really the way to go? Can South Carolina take further steps towards renewable energy despite the job and economic complications? More solar/hydroelectric energy use?