"ScrAPES #20- Great Bear Rainforest Protected From Massive Logging"

Podcast- Living on Earth Podcast, Great Bear Rainforest Protected From Massive Logging, week of February 5, 2016, Start: 00:01 End: 07:43

Topic: Protection  

Summary:
     After many years of negotiation between 26 First Nations, five logging companies, three environmentalist groups, provincial government, and local governments they reached a decision that everyone could live with that involves the Great Bear Rainforest. 85% of the Great Bear Rainforest is protected, and 15% is open to logging. This balance is created after the incident of the threat of the markets campaign. 700 people where arrested and there were trials, and it gave the British Colombia's forest products a bad name which prompted them to start negotiating so it does not happen again in the future. In order to keep the balance the First Nations had to be consulted before the government choose a location that is open to logging. 
      I chose this podcast because I wanted to read more about the compromise that took place. What I found interesting was the fact that after so many years a compromise was finally settled. I also found interesting the way the Rainforest was divided up- it seems reasonable. 
     The podcast is important to environmental science because people finally came together and came up with a compromise that protects a large portion of the rainforest. The next step is to continue to come up with ways in which we can still protect the environment, but also cover our needs. We should now try to improve our environment by using alternatives, and looking closely at ways where a compromise can be met that is good for the environment and for us. 

EcoBook #28- Eutrophication

The example in this picture is algae that represents how an over abundance of it in lakes or other body of water can cause a pollution called Eutrophication which takes away oxygen in the water killing many  aquatic organisms. This is a sign where a body of water becomes rich with nutrients. 

EcoBook #27- Autotroph

Similar to many other plants, flowers use the sun's energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar that can be used by other organisms. 

EcoBook #26- Throw-away society

We are an example of a throw-away society that is influenced by consumerism. We constantly buy and throw away everything we get. 

"ScrAPES #19- How Tap Water became toxic in Flint"

Article- How Tap Water became toxic in Flint, Sara Ganim and Linh Tran, 1/13/2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/health/toxic-tap-water-flint-michigan/

Topic: Water Pollution 

Summary:
     During a financial state of emergency, the state decided to save money by switching Flint's water supples from Lake Huron to Flint River, which is dirty. As a result to the change, the residents did not have clean water due to the high iron content found in their new water supply. The state Department of Environmental Quality did not treat the Flint River water with an anti-corrosive agent which caused lead to also leach into the water supply. This problem has been going on for nearly 2 years. The city and state officials decided to reassure the worried residents that "everything was fine" by having Flint Mayor Walling drinking the water on TV to prove a point. The residents where kept in the dark for 18 months without understanding what was happening, and not knowing the consequences that came from drinking the contaminated water. A local doctor spoke up about the health issues that came from lead poisoning in the contaminated water: rashes, hair loss, and high blood lead levels, especially in toddlers, leading to lifelong consequences. In October, the city switched back to using Lake Huron water supplies; however, the damage was already done to the lead pipes. Everyone is blaming the state Department of Environmental Quality; they are being investigated. 
     I chose this article because I wanted to understand what was happing to the water supply in Flint. What I found upsetting is the fact that the state decided to switch Flint's water supplies even after they knew the water was filthy. The thing that I did not know is that lead poisoning lead to major health problems.
    This article is important to environmental science because pollution is becoming a major issue that is caused by us. Water pollution is not good for the environment and people. Our next step is to improve Flint by making it more safe and establish new homes, clean water, jobs, and markets because the city is going through tough times and is being abandoned. We should now focus in ways to prevent tragedies like this from happening, and try to stop pollution.  
        

"Food Miles" Reflection

     In the food miles activity we tried to predict the carbon footprint of certain items. The carbon foot print of each item where: waffles- 800 units, spaghetti and meatballs- 1600 units, whole grain cereal- 1224 units, and 1 fresh fruit- 84 units. This showed that the spaghetti and meatballs had the highest carbon footprint compared to the other products because a lot of process went into it from the point where it started to our plates, whereas fresh fruit had a lower carbon footprint because it went through less process to get to consumers. I learned that growing food closer to home is better for the environment and for us. Fruits and vegetables will have more nutrients because it grow in full ripeness instead of harvested early and ripened with chemicals gasses in transport and storage. Food grown further away results in large quantities of greenhouse gas emissions; the bigger the food footprint, the bigger the carbon footprint. 
     The food that I eat mostly comes from California, Florida, Canada, Mexico, Chile, etc. because I buy them at a Supermarket. I can reduce my own food miles by going to the Farmer's market in Boston, and buy locally grown food instead of buying oranges grown in Florida. I can also plant my own vegetable garden in the backyard during spring/summer time. Food miles is important to the environment because not growing food locally is producing major greenhouse emissions. Growing food far away is using up a lot of energy and food safety is also an issue. To reduce the carbon footprint we have to grow food locally and eat healthier. The smaller the distance the better it is. 

EcoBook #25- Nonrenewable resource

Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource. It is used for heating, cooking, and generating electricity. Natural Gas is an example of a fossil fuel that is finite.