Photo Credit: Trent Hodges

Hey sliders, climbers, lovers, and nature conscience peoples,

It has been a while since I have checked in from down south in Guatemala.  I now have nearly spent eight months in the country supported by the Peace Corps.  My activities here have been varied, sea turtle conservation, environmental education, lifeguard training and management, and most recently, beginning the process of building a school room out of trash.  Though these varied activities may put one to think how busy, active, progressive, and inspiring this experience is, the truth is, my original optimism has been gradually replaced with understanding and humility.  The most fundamental aspect in creating change is creating new patterns of thought, new ways of seeing the world, and reinforcing this consciousness.

I would say the area I live is a near paradise, lush mangrove forests and black volcanic beaches with towering and formidable volcanoes looming in the background.  However, plastic and its introduction into these cultures has put a scar on the near flawless landscape.  Not only does it affect the aesthetic beauty, but poses serious threats to marine turtles and other sea life.

In a culture that is accustomed since birth to immediately toss all garbage into the air and let nature take its course, instigating trash consciousness and teaching the value of trash management is a formidable obstacle.  The question becomes how can you use the collection of trash to visibly benefit the community while at the same time educating the local people?  In come the idea of the Bottle School.

The bottle school project consists of packing plastic bottles with inorganic trash such as plastic bags.  Once the bottles are packed with the trash, they become Eco-Bricks.  These bricks are placed together inside metal caging to make the walls of the building.  After this process, the entire building can be covered with cement so that none of the bottles show, or can be left open in areas to prove that this building is indeed constructed of trash.

New schoolroom, less trash, more consciousness.  The project has many benefits, but the most important is to focus on having the whole community involved.  If the local people can see trash in a new way and learn the benefits of management, only then will change come.

So far, we have been collecting and packing bottles in three different schools to prepare for construction during the dry season.  The process is not easy and the results are unknown, but every bottle collected, every piece of trashed stuffed by a child is an opportunity to change customs and bring a higher awareness of the impact of plastics.

Photo Credit: Trent Hodges

After three months of intensive Spanish classes and technical training, I have finally settled down in the community I will be living for the next two years serving in Peace Corps.  When I originally came to Guatemala, I was informed that there were no sites on the coast. This at first was hard to swallow.  After spending four years in San Diego recreating in and studying the ocean, it took time to prepare myself for two years without salt in my veins.

However, the day we received our site locations, we were blindfolded and situated on a fake map of Guatemala.  Taking off the bandana, I looked down to see my feet resting on broken sticks meant to represent the border of the country.  I then looked at the packet in my hands, ALDEA HAWAII, SANTA ROSA.  Ironic and shocking, I was going to the southern coast of Guatemala to live a community called Hawaii…

So here I am writing while sweating profusely and listening to the long period ocean swells smash into the volcanic sand.  The area is beautiful with a long steep black sand beach and a large canal behind which constitutes a highly productive mangrove forest.  The people mainly subsist on fishing, running restaurants or hotels, and small scale agriculture.

My work here will involve many different tasks but mainly, I will be focusing on environmental education and trash management.  I will also be working with a nonprofit group that runs a sea turtle hatchery here and develop ecotourism and bird watching opportunities in the mangrove forest.  After spending Semana Santa (Holy Week) here at the beach and seeing the insane amounts of trash that either get burned or tossed in the ocean, it is obvious that the trash problem here is serious and needs to be addressed.

It’s my first week in site and I have a lot to learn.  However, I’m extremely excited and fortunate to be working near something I’m passionate about and participating in grassroots activities to help change perceptions and habits related to the marine environment.  I’ll check back in soon when things start moving down here and I find my place.  Until then, que les vaya bien and think green live clean.

Check out the Peace Corps Website

Trent Hodges

Buenos dias a todos, Trent or Guayo (my nickname in Spanish) reporting here from Santa Catarina Barahona Guatemala.  The above photo is the view from my house.  It’s currently raining ash from the volcanic eruption this morning and the haze of debris is creating an eerie bluish hue in the sky.  It’s a beautiful sight, but it doesn´t compare to the reddish glow of last night´s lava display.  This is a daily occurrence here and no cause for alarm in the community.  As I write, men are carrying recently chopped firewood to their homes while the women carry maiz and vegetables from the farms surrounding this community.  Needless to say, this is an area where the relationship between nature and humanity is amplified.

I am here with the Peace Corps working on a project called Sustainable Community Tourism.  The idea behind the project is to create income for communities through preserving their natural surroundings and implementing tourism.  At first, it may sound contradictory to instigate tourism to preserve the environment, but if it is created and managed correctly, this form of ecotourism bridges the divide between human necessities and conservation.  The idea is to create small scale tourism in local communities where the monetary benefits go straight to the people.  In this manner, the community derives more benefit from conserving their natural surroundings rather than the alternatives such as deforestation, hunting, and intrusive development.  As an extra plus, the community becomes better educated about environmental issues in their own town and understands the value of unaltered nature, economically and aesthetically.

This is just a window into the purpose of my two year journey here.  I have only been here two months and there is a long road ahead of me.  Join me on this adventure as I will continue to update this section.  Take it easy and always think green live clean.

Though energy policy and the passing of climate change legislation is a time consuming process, President Obama displayed on Monday the power of an executive order.  Obama has called on all federal agencies to set goals for deep emissions cuts by 2020.  These agencies must create individual plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within 90 days.  After the creation of these goals, the agencies must employ new strategies and technologies to meet targeted emission levels by 2020.

The executive order issued by Obama also includes environmental measures such as reducing petroleum use, improving the efficiency of water usage, and increasing rates of recycling.  All of these measures, according to Obama, allow the federal government to lead by example in the fight against climate change.  As the federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the US economy, this not only shows a leadership initiative, but will cut down on emissions substantially.

By using executive authority, Obama has greased the gears for a more energy efficient and low emission economy.  This political move has come at an important time as the Senate attempt s to pass a clean energy bill (see my last post) and the United Nations meet in December to discuss a global warming treaty in Copenhagen.  Sometimes, presidential power can get things moving pretty quickly and Obama has made smart use of his authority to direct the US economy towards a clean energy future.

Read the full article at Reuters

Photo Credit: David Boyle

Climate Change policy is like putting together a puzzle. There are many different pieces and all must come together and fit before the big picture is realized.

Two big important pieces of the puzzle came together today as the Senate introduced its climate bill called the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The second piece of the puzzle regards the EPA as it revealed today, for the first time, that they will regulate carbon emissions from big industry. This is a huge day in energy policy as two separate forms of government have made their respective strides towards a clean energy future.

The Senate Climate Bill, an 800 page document, revolves around the cap and trade system where companies who emit CO2 buy or trade pollution permits in order to operate. The bill includes steep emission reduction targets such as 20% by 2020. The bill also includes more incentives for nuclear power and more affordable carbon offsets. The EPA’s legitimacy for regulating greenhouse gas emissions comes from the Clean Air Act. Under this legislation, the EPA intends to require operating permits for facilities that emit more than 25,000 tons of CO2 a year. This measure essentially targets big industries who are the main contributors of CO2 while giving small businesses a break.

Both of these new measures in climate change policy are great steps toward the goal of minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately, will help to cool our warming planet. However, the puzzle is yet to be completed. The senate bill must be passed and then merged with the climate bill from the House of Representatives (see my post from June). After a final bill is created and passed by both houses, it will reach the desk of Barack Obama. The EPA measure will undergo litigation, but hopefully will stand and the regulation of carbon in big industries will be realized.

It is exciting to see that Climate Change policy has not been shoved aside from the distractions by the economy, the war in Afghanistan, and international turmoil. It has finally become a certainty in society and the American government that Climate Change is one of the most pressing and challenging issues facing the world today.

Read more from the New York Times and Treehugger

Photo Credit: Dalliedee

What is the role of man in balancing, controlling, and restoring the natural world?  This is a question that is fiercely debated and difficult to answer.  In Idaho, a state that possesses a vast amount of wilderness and species, this question is one of the most prominent topics in assessing environmental issues.

Wolves were once an important predator that roamed Idaho’s forests.  However, due to their impact on farmer’s livestock, they were completely eradicated from Idaho.  In 1995, the wolf was reintroduced and under federal protection, the population has increased dramatically.  The rapid growth of wolves in Idaho has led to ecological changes such as a decrease in deer and elk populations.  Now, for the first time ever, there will be a hunting season for wolves in Idaho in an effort to control the population and restore ecological balance in Idaho’s forests.  The hunting of wolves in Idaho is heavily supported by farmers, hunters, and Idaho’s Fish and Game department.  It is opposed by most environmental groups and many Idaho citizens.

This issue truly highlights and begs the question of man’s role in nature.  I believe most of us would like to see nature minimally impacted, allowing the laws of nature to control species population numbers and ecological balance.  However, in most cases today, the ecological balance of species has already been disturbed previously as is the case of the wolf in Idaho.  Should humans be the shepherds of the animal kingdom, or should we allow the laws of nature to control species populations and diversity?

As I believe with most issues, the smartest course of action must be based on sound science and fact.  First of all, the reintroduction of the wolf was a human initiated activity and not a natural occurrence.  Therefore, the control of wolves is a regulation of an ecological disturbance that we have caused.  If the wolf in Idaho is upsetting the ecological balance as the scientists in the department of fish and game perceive, it is justified for the wolves to be controlled for the greater good of all species.  From a citizen’s perspective, one must be certain that the decision is ecologically based and founded on science and not that of interest groups, politicians, or business.

The wolf issue in Idaho evokes philosophical, economical, and emotional responses.  In order to find true compromise and balance for nature and civilization alike, the decisions surrounding species ecology must be based on scientific fact and allow for a path to human and species ecological prosperity.

Read more at Idaho Mountain Express

For this reason, NOAA or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gets two big thumbs up for recently banning the commercial harvesting of krill.  These small crustaceans are a vital food source in the marine food web and only recently came under fishery pressure.  As Mark Helvey, a regional administrator for NOAA sustainable fisheries put it “Protecting this vital food source will help protect and maintain marine resources and put federal regulations in line with West-Coast states.”  Fishing for krill not only has implications in disrupting the marine food web, but threatens other marine creatures through destructive fishing practices that are similar to the fishery for shrimp (Check out www.shrimpsuck.org to find out more).

This ban is inspiring because it displays true willpower and efficiency of federal agencies and specifically NOAA.  I believe one of the most powerful instruments in instigating environmental change is having a regulatory body that bases its decisions on sound science.  It is so important in the future of our planet to have the powerful integration of science and politics to ensure that all decisions are rooted in fact, and then initiated into the social and economic aspects of society.

The new legislation released on July 13, 2009 bans all commercial harvesting of krill in the EEZ or exclusive economic zones of the United States.  The experts on marine food resources have made it clear that the economic return for krill is not worth the environmental price.  Good news for krill and the health of our oceans for a change.

Read more about the new legislation from NOAA

If passed, this bill will fundamentally change the fossil fuel based society that has infiltrated the US.  It is a sign that America has decided to pursue the route of sustainability and provide a habitable country for generations to come.

Though the bill still must pass through the senate and it will be a couple years before the changes begin to occur, the ice has been broken in climate change policy.  Now, we can only expect and demand the enforcement and continued passage of effective climate change policy. Washington has delivered a clear message that climate change will no longer be an issue put on the bookshelves for a later date.

Check out the full article at Reuters

At first, this may sound like another easy way for our leaders to change the wording of a policy in order to ensure the public that things are getting accomplished.  However, if you think deeply about what this new approach means it may mark a distinct improvement in the efficiency and actuality of climate negotiations.

First of all, it is a transformation in vision, a focus on future growth rather than inefficient measures to cut emissions for preexisting infrastructure and technology.   Second, it shows that the US is finally taking a firm, and more importantly smart leadership role in global climate negotiations.

The policy change comes in the form of proposals which must be accepted by the US legislative as well as all other countries involved in the UN Convention on Climate Change.  With the US finally getting serious about global warming, fresh perspectives are beginning to emerge and policies enacted.  The new approach of focusing on future growth and the reduction of emissions through effective agreement, cooperation and feasibility rather than cuts and ultimatums may prove to be the path to a comfortable, cool, and happy planet.

Check out the full article from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Photo found at ESRI.com

U.S lawmakers recently created a new agency within the Energy Department that focuses on clean energy investments.  Essentially, this means that the agency will provide loans and loan guarantees to American businesses investing in clean energy systems and technologies.  Historically, there has been hesitation from the private business sector to invest in clean energy systems due to the initial high costs.  The new agency however, will facilitate private businesses in their transition to clean energy in the form of loans.  The agency has acquired $6 billion through the stimulus package for transmission loan guarantees for businesses.

The creation of this agency seems to be a great step on the road to a clean energy future.  However, this agency does not require businesses to use the loans but only encourages the process through loan guarantees.  Though energy investments by the government are a great way to jumpstart the private sector towards the transition to clean energy, it is only one piece of the puzzle.  Regulation and the enforcement of standards must also become integrated into the economic system.  The addition of energy standards coupled with loan guarantees ensures that all of America’s businesses are pulling their personal carbon weight in creating a clean energy future.

Check out the full article at Reuters