An Alberta Oil Sands Toxic Lake. One of Many.

At one point or another we have all witnessed the effects of a much too free market economy when it comes to the oil industry. Massive oil spills, serious deforestation, and now, of course, global warming are all byproducts (or externalities for the eco-nomists) of the carbon intensive lifestyle that we are so accustomed to.  Without current government regulation, our planet’s health would be in even more jeopardy than it already is, which, for me, is hard to fathom.

So with that said, what happens to two million square miles of pristine forest, known as Canada’s Boreal Forest, when the worlds second largest oil deposits lie deep below the forest floor, the government turns a blind eye  because it’s making billions off of lease sales and royalties, and oil prices skyrocket as they did in the summer of 2008 and are forecasted to again in 2030?

The answer is serious and devastating. “No where on Earth is more earth being moved these days than in the Athabasca Valley” in Alberta, according to National Geographic. Five story tractors tear up the earth 24 hours a day 365 days of the year in order to reach the Alberta Oil Sands, which, by no means, are ‘standard’ oil deposits. Sand grains encrusted in Bitumen (hydrocarbons) are being mined and through an extraordinarily energy intensive process (one that emits three times more CO2 than ‘standard’ oil refining) the Bitumen is removed from the sand and turned into the gas found at the gas pump. Miles and miles of toxic lakes filled with mine tailings now remain where forest once stood. Flocks of birds have been known to make the most unfortunate decision of landing in these lakes never to fly again. Rivers are being polluted and villages downstream are suffering from the effects.

And who consumes a majority of the ‘worlds dirtiest oil’? Yes, the United States. The U.S. actually imports more oil from Canada than anywhere else in the world. Anything that reduces our dependence on Middle Eastern oil right?

When I learned of our neighbor’s toxic oil boom, I was blown away and knew it must be shared. Change begins with knowledge. Here’s another major reason to support clean energy.

To read more check out the full article at National Geographic

Graphic Credit: Christian Guthier

Last December, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the findings of its investigation on the harmful effects of greenhouse gases.  Greenhouse gases not only drive the climate change we are experiencing which is causing freak weather and the endangerment of the few all natural habitats left in the earth, but, more close to home, the EPA found that the climate change that greenhouse gases drive can cause heat waves that are a danger to people prone to strokes and the ground-level ozone pollution can be linked to respiratory illness.

With this endangerment report in mind, the EPA looks to pass some environmental legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  “These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. This report could provide enormous evidence for future clean energy reform, thus improving the quality of life of people in the U.S. and doing our part to help preserve the one Earth that we have for future generations.

However, the EPA has been receiving recent criticism for their efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.  In February, the state of Texas was the first to challenge the endangerment findings, due to the fact that environmental reform could have an impact on the Texas economy. The state of Virginia joins Texas in its questioning of the EPA’s report on greenhouse gases, along with other conservative organizations like Americans for Prosperity, agreeing with the popular argument repeated by Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul.  “Their agenda is capitalism, not pollution.”

Apparently, Rand Paul’s agenda is the same.  Capitalism may suffer, but the long term benefits of environmental legislation include the end of dependence on oil, an un-renewable fossil fuel, a reduction in the effects of global climate change, a cleaner and healthier environment for all, and an increased awareness and greater demand for clean, energy efficient technology. People and governments alike should not be tearing environmental legislation down, especially if that state leads the country in greenhouse gas emissions (ahem, Texas).

To read the full NY Times article, click here.

Photo credit: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA

When we consider the ocean, most of us imagine it’s life-giving properties- like supplying oxygen to Earth’s creatures.  What most of us don’t realize is that the ocean itself can be suffocated.  This is exactly what has begun to occur in the planet’s youngest sea, resulting in a damaged Baltic ecosystem and the creation of one of the largest “dead zones” in the world.

A dead zone is an area where the sea’s oxygen has been used up by seabed bacteria that decompose masses of dead algae.  Although it appears a natural phenomenon on the surface, the damage stems from agricultural fertilizers and sewage full of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are washed into the sea.  The result:  an explosion of microscopic algae called phytoplankton that suck up the sea’s oxygen and in turn choke aquatic life.  And that isn’t the only problem.

The overfishing of Baltic cod has also intensified the issue.   The cod eat sprats (a small, herring-like species), which then eat microscopic marine creatures called zooplankton that in turn eat the algae.  Do the math: Fewer cod equals more algae…and less oxygen.  And to complete the vicious cycle, the spreading dead zones are beginning to engulf the cod’s breeding grounds.

The Baltic Sea, while susceptible to environmental changes due to its unique makeup of fresh water and marine species, can still possibly be saved.  A new action plan entitled the Baltic Sea Strategy was proposed by the EU in hopes of revitalizing the shared body of water.  While there are no quick fixes, hopefully we will see steps taken that can potentially curb the issue in the long run.

To find out more about what is being done to help the Baltic Sea, visit National Geographic here.

Photo Credit: Cristian Bortes

Ok, so maybe it isn’t exactly in the curriculum…but D.C. Public Schools is continuing to make a difference in the community by planting numerous trees throughout the city. Students, faculty and staff  in our nation’s capital have the opportunity to partner with an organization called Casey Trees in an effort to take some time out of the school day to plant trees around many of the district’s schools.

One school that is taking advantage of this opportunity is Noyes Education Campus, a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School. In late March, led by Principal Wayne Ryan, students, faculty and staff from Noyes will take an hour out of the day to put away their school books, and take out their shovels and gloves. Everyone will work together to plant several trees, improving the environment as well as the campus atmosphere (no pun intended). The trees are provided by Casey Trees, and students will be able to apply knowledge of environmental and life science as they prepare the trees for a healthy and prosperous life.

Casey Trees is a local organization that supplies trees to any group, organization or individual wishing to plant 10 or more trees. Through their Community Tree Planting Program, these trees are donated for free, and staff from Casey will even come help put them in the ground! Although Casey Trees is only in D.C., it is a part of a national organization called Alliance for Community Trees (ACT), which serves largely the same purpose on a national level. Check out the ACT website if you want to get involved and make a difference…every tree helps.

Check out the website for Casey Trees and Alliance for Community Trees.

Photo Credit: The U.S. Army

“Ten years ago, you would have had three- or four-star generals stomping up and down. Now they just ask, ‘How do I get it done?’ ” said Tad Davis, the Army’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health. What Tad Davis is referring to are major conservation orders given by the Pentagon requiring the military to spend millions on protecting endangered plants and animals all over the country.

At Fort Stewart, Georgia about $3 million is spent every year to promote wildlife rehabilitation. Among other environmental initiatives, controlled fires are set for an endangered eight-inch red-cockaded woodpecker, which needs frequent pine fires to sustain it’s livelihood. In Eglin, Florida the Air Force has toiled to repair streams for the Okaloosa darter. During certain times of the year, training at Camp Pendleton, California is limited to a fraction of the beach out of concern for nesting shorebirds like the California gnatcather. And the list goes on…

The armed forces never used to be so eco-savvy, arguing that military efforts to preserve our earth would only take away from efforts to protect our country. However, commanders are now beginning to understand that preserving the environment is in our country’s best interest. “There is a strong understanding now that land is a limited resource, and that even our military is part of a larger ecosystem,” said L. Peter Boice, the Pentagon’s Deputy Director of Natural Resources. “If that degrades, it is harder for us to do our mission.”

Obviously, there are still some major environmental issues revolving around military operation that must be worked out, like the use of mid-frequency sonar in whale and dolphin hotspots, but this new military outlook is a huge step in the right direction and one that is desperately needed.

To read more check out the New York Times

Photo Credit: Devon Fisher

The holy Ganges River has a long history of reverence in India, as it is the most sacred river in the country. The river signifies divine consciousness for Hindus who come from all over the country to bathe, worship and honor dead relatives in the divine waters. Thousands of Hindu followers have their bodies committed to the Ganges each year in belief that the river’s waters will carry their souls to eternal salvation. With an estimated 2 million people visiting the river each day, the high level of pollution in it is not so surprising. However, the waste from the ritual bathing, the laundry sites, corpse disposals and cremation rituals along the river are not the main concern, rather, the river is also a sewage dump and today, one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

India’s explosive population growth during the last three decades, combined with industrialization and rapid urbanization has put tremendous pressure on the sacred stream. Nearly 89 million liters of raw sewage flow into the Ganges each day, causing the river to choke with filth. Those who drink from the river risk contracting waterborne diseases such as typhoid, polio, and jaundice. Contact and ingestion of the water has been known to lead to skin problems, disabilities and high infant mortality rates. In hopes of improving the river’s fate, concerned advocates are threatening India’s government, who has already dedicated 51 billion rupees (US$1.2 billion) to clean the Ganges since 1982, mostly through the construction of sewage treatment plants. Yet frequent power failures minimize the facilities’ effectiveness.

In the sacred Hindu text, the Ramayana, Lord Vishnu (preserver of the universe), says “Man becomes pure by the touch of the water, or by consuming it, or by expressing its name,” while referring to the Ganges. Unfortunately, however, this romantic view of the Ganges has collided with India’s grim realities.

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.

Wolfgang Staudt

Inhabitants of paradise are the first to feel the real impact of global warming. Villagers that live on the Atoll islands are forced to pack up and leave their homes for good due to rising sea levels. Islands are likely to be the areas that are hit hardest by global warming and entire island chains may disappear within the next century.

The village of Leteu on Tegua island used to be a popular vacation spot. However, it has endured the consequences of global warming resulting in the loss of habitat, wildlife, and vacationers. A typhoon destroyed its only beach, the rising sea levels have washed away the roots of vegetation, and homes have been completely wiped out. People are forced to move inland as the edges of their island disappear.

The situation is dire, however not everything is going bad on these islands. Marine and coastal reserves have been established. Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society are working to create more reserves on the islands being affected as well as islands that may not be threatened yet in order to preserve them. Donations have been given to small islands that have already been affected badly by global warming in order to build sound structures on higher elevation areas.

Although these efforts may be helpful in the prevention and restoration of island destruction, elimination of the problem would be the only way to completely stop these islands from disappearing. Curbing the emission of greenhouse gases is the first step to saving these islands.

Check out the full article at commondreams.org

After hearing years of depressing news about our enormously depleted fish populations, and how many of our solution-oriented fish farms are each actually more polluting than the combined “raw human sewage from a town of several thousand people,” I was about to put my last can of tuna in the closet as a proof for my grandkids of the days when we had fish. But now, with much improved technology and the concerned investment of a few business-minded individuals, your goldfish may have something more to smile about tomorrow.

Welcome to Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, or RAS, and the future of your salmon dinner. RAS systems are closed-loop, meaning they recycle over 99% of the water, produce natural fertilizers for local farms, allow for both fresh and saltwater varieties, and release miniscule to no pollution. Plus, their performance requires so little water they offer a world of commercial possibilities in places with limited water resources.

And, although it may seem challenging to compete with the many off-shore fish farmers with free water and low-start up costs, RAS systems have proven to be incredibly marketable with their healthy fish (anti-biotic and hormone free) and “green” production methods. With sales doubling each year, you may soon be seeing RAS raised fish in your local store and finally feel a more hope that you can have your fish, and eat it too.

For more information on this awesome development, check out the full article at csmonitor.com

Dan McKay

The city of Los Angeles has the highest recycling rate of the ten largest cities in the U.S. (about 65% of L.A. population reduce, reuses, and recycles). Recently, a new pilot program was announced that will encourage an even greater participation of such practices. Known as the RecycleBank, the program allots points to residents who recycle daily with the intention of creating the “cleanest, greenest big city in America” as declared by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. According to the mayor the program will work to better the city’s reputation for sustainability while stimulating the local economy.

The program, set to start on April 5th will encompass over 15,000 single-family homes in the city. Participants will have their blue recycling bins identified with tags that will indicate that the waste collected will be weighed and correspond to a point system. The points collected can then be redeemed to many various stores and retailers such as CVS Pharmacy, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc. Several national chains are participating alongside local L.A. businesses. These RecycleBank points can be used throughout the nation in over 1,000 stores.

RecycleBank Chief Executive Ron Gonen explains his initial motivation for the creation of the program: For too long, people viewed doing things for the environment as the right thing to do but costly. I wanted to start a movement that said smart environmental decisions were also smart economic decisions. Recycling could have the biggest impact in terms of changing that view and behavior because it touches every house.”

RecyleBank actually has its headquarters in NY and is affiliated with more than 50 cities in the United States. The Los Angeles neighborhoods that are participation include Topanga, Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Northridge, Lincoln Hights, Cypress Park, and others.

Before the inception of the program, residents will be instructed on what can be recycled and how their existing blue bin will have a bar code and stickers that have microchips that record the house’s participation. The weight will correspond to the amount of points.

Los Angeles makes $25 for every ton of recyclables processed. This is juxtaposed to the $30 cost of disposing of the waste. After the trial period, the RecycleBank program could expand to include 745,000 homes and apartments. The projected goal is to reach 1.2 million households. If successful, the program could act as a model for private business and schools who could enact their own RecycleBank in order to inspire their localized community.

Information at LA Times

RecycleBank