Blog # 4, Enviro 2000.

Section 10: Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Millennium Assessment 2005
1) Summary 2) In what ways does damage to the ecosystem affect human wellbeing?

1) All living organisms on Earth are completely dependent on their ecosystems and the services they provide to survive. The anthropogenic exploitation of commonly held resources within the last 50 years has caused a dramatic loss of global biodiversity throughout marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Homogenous species cultivation is threatening the biodiversity of plants and animals alike, causing species to become highly susceptible to resistant pathogens, which also increases their risk of developing a disease. Significant changes in governance, economic policies, institutions, social and behavioral practices are essential in order to create proper ecosystem management strategies that benefit the wellbeing of humans, species biodiversity as well as the environment for future generations.

2) As the human population continues to increase so does the demand for food and clean drinking water. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, aquaculture and deforestation are contributing to the global loss of biodiversity while increasing the greenhouse gas emissions accumulating in the atmosphere. Global climate change is increasing the frequency of sever droughts that cause soil degradation, compromise crop yields and ultimately leads to hunger and malnutrition. Water contamination is the main cause of child mortality and disease among vulnerable regions including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Government leaders that have chosen to ignore environmental protection policies are also responsible for exploiting marginalized communities. These international resource wars are a struggle to control food and water, causing stress and suffering on an ecological scale that is affecting every living organism on the Earth.

Section 28: Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment: Sandra Steingraber 1) Summary 2) What is wrong with the present system of regulating the use, release, and disposal of known and suspected carcinogens?

1) After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1983, Sandra Steingraber began collecting scientific documentation about genetic mutations occurring within the human body. Over the next 13 years, Steingraber’s research revealed that 85% of colon cancers were sporadic and lacking genetic inheritance. This knowledge caused Steingraber to shift her focus towards external factors such as carcinogens persisting within the environment. Manufacturing plants are responsible for releasing extremely toxic chemicals into the environment, which are threatening global ecosystem integrity as well as human health. Individuals have the right to know which chemicals are being introduced into their communities and what the long-term consequences will entail. We must regulate alternative, eco-friendly solutions within private sectors through corporate policies that protect the health of our global ecosystem, because the survival of our species depends on it.

2) The present carcinogen regulation system does not actively engage individuals whose health may be at risk due to proximity and or product consumption. Accurate labeling on food and clothing is lacking information about toxic chemicals that are being used during production. Environmental assessment reports are not released to the public, silencing the severity of these persistent organic pollutants contaminating freshwater, topsoil as well as atmospheric gasses without the consent of our communities. An evaluation of all known carcinogens including their sources, chemical reactions (with living organisms and molecules) and the routes of exposure need to be applied by Human Rights Authorities to legally force corporations to find eco-friendly alternatives of production. Corporations that fail to meet these environmental health standards must endure tax-based repercussions enforced by the government to ensure change is underway.

Section 29: Our Stolen Future: Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers
1) Summary 2) What is an environmental hormone mimic (or disrupter)?

1) In the late 1980’s Colborn began linking the effects of pollution with physiological problems affecting different groups of animals. Isolated studies about unusual sexual behavior, abnormal reproductive development, and neurological impairment were documented throughout the Great Lakes region, Florida, Northern Europe and the West Coast of the United States. Shortly after, a hypothesis was developed suggesting that these wildlife problems were manifestations of abnormal estrogenic activity[i]. Because animals and humans alike share the same evolutionary legacy as well as the same global ecosystem the conclusion seemed inescapable: the hormone disruptors that are threatening the survival of animals are also jeopardizing the human future[ii]. 

2) By the late 1980’s, fifty environmental hormone mimics were identified as synthetic chemical compounds that disrupt normal hormone functions such as the sexual development, fertility and ultimately species survival. Long-term accumulation of persistent chemical disruptors within human body tissues and fats increases susceptibility of the endocrine system. These toxic chemicals that are accumulating within the environment are a major threat to the loss of species diversity of humans and animals alike. 

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[i] Environmental Studies, Classic Edition. Sources: Section 29: Our Stolen Future: Colborn, Dumanoski& Myers (Dutton, 1996) pg. 140

[ii] Environmental Studies, Classic Edition. Sources: Section 29: Our Stolen Future: Colborn, Dumanoski& Myers (Dutton, 1996) pg. 142

Section 31: Environmental Justice for All: Robert D. Bullard 

1) Summary 2) What is “environmental justice”?

1) The environmental justice movement first began during the 1980’s when protesters began demonstrating opposition towards the disposal of PCB (poly-chlorinated biphenyls) in Warren Country, North Carolina. Consciously dumping highly volatile PCB toxins into First Nations and African American communities became known as an act of environmental racism. During the 1990’s, several grassroots organizations, government officials, researchers, academics, students and policy analysts started actively protesting environmental discrimination on a human rights level. Continuing to raise global awareness about toxicity in vulnerable communities will challenge companies like Shell and Monsanto to reassess their “business as usual” behavior in light of this homicide against humanity.

2) Environmental justice is the human right that protects the health and safety of all individuals. This includes access to, and protection of, an ecologically safe environment regardless of race, sex, or cultural beliefs. Individuals who have become physically subjected to toxic chemical abuse or illness due to geographical proximity to an industrial manufacturing plant should be provided with the opportunity to relocate at the company’s expense. All individuals should be given the correct information about health risks and environmental concerns associated with manufacturing companies in their communities as well as a vote about weather or not these facilities should be allowed to operate in these locations in the first place. 

Section 17: Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services: Boris Worm et al.
1) Summary 2) Why do collapsed fisheries recover better in high-density ecosystems?

1) Loss of marine biodiversity threatens the stability of ecosystems as well as the ability for living organisms to successfully adapt to external influences such as climate. Anthropogenic activities including fishing, habitat destruction, pollution, resource exploitation and climate change are contributing to the loss of individual species, small populations, and entire functional groups within regional marine ecosystems. Increased occurrences of harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and declining water quality are caused by the loss of wetlands and seagrass beds that naturally provide filtering services. Long-term economic and ecological goals need to be set that provide species with enough time to recover after a harvest, while ensuring that marine ecosystems are protected from pollution, habitat destruction, resource exploitation as well as climate change.

2) Species that are closely related by taxa play complimentary and functional roles within marine ecosystems that support the productivity of fisheries by allowing targeted species to recover. This richness of species allows fishers to switch prey more easily without negatively impacting the biodiversity of marine ecosystems while successfully achieving their total catch amount for the year. Increased economic productivity and ecological stability encourages a diverse range of marine species to reproduce and fulfill a larger variety of ecological functions. 

Activity: Alex Steffen: The Route to a Sustainable Future 1) Summary& Reflection

1) In order to change the impact of our ecological footprint, humans need to concentrate on energy sharing systems and Eco-friendly alternatives to waste management and resource consumption. Bright green cities are an example of utopian grassroots models that reflect community sensibility, ecological wellbeing and high economic productivity. Leap Frogging towards contemporary technologies allows for different community based solutions that do not focus on capitalistic models. Global collaboration will become the foundation for crafting these new political infrastructures. Upwards of 200 million people are predicted to find themselves in refugee situations due to climate change and government instability by 2020. Concentrating on global collaboration projects such as green energy; grassroots solutions; and barefoot solar engineers will ripple out into smaller communities and cause positive off-grid change that just might save the planet. 

Blog Reflections
1) Reflect on your interactions with the economy. How do you currently or plan to in the future, contribute to a more environmentally sustainable economy? Are there local, sustainable businesses you support? Have you considered your financial investments and their ethics?

Local, organic, fair-trade eco-friendly food products are a top priority for my partner and I who recently chose to pursue a vegetarian diet as of 2011. Mondragon, Organic Planet, Tall Grass Prairie Bakery, The Human Bean, Boon Burger, Vita Health, Organza, Thrive, The Neighborhood Cafe and The Nook are among the top 10 local, organic, fair-trade eco-friendly restaurants that my circle of friends and I financially support. Wild Planet, Urban Waves, The Hempyrean, Fenton’s (local wine shop), Soul Survivors (tattoo& piercing shop) and Music Traders are our favorite local entertainment shops that we support in Winnipeg. I am extremely passionate about supporting the local eco-friendly economy in Winnipeg and these venues are worthy of recognition for their outstanding commitment to influencing positive change within the Winnipeg community. 

2) What are your primary concerns about oceans? What if anything, do you plan to do about it?

As a vegetarian my main concern about our global oceans is the loss of species biodiversity caused by an increased introduction of endocrine disrupters such as estrogen. I recently made the conscious decision to have a semi-permanent inter-uterine system (IUS) inserted into my uterus. This internal hormone regulator releases low doses of levonorgestrel instead of estrogen. I have intentionally reduced my estrogen output into our water systems by using this alternative birth control system. I also use biodegradable soap, shampoo, conditioner, detergent, and cleaning supplies that have no negative ecological impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems based on their natural-organic biological content.

Blog # 3, Enviro 2000.

Section 25: Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization? Lester R. Brown

1. Summary 2. According to Lester Brown, demand for food is growing faster than the supply. 

What are the effects of this trend likely to be? How can we prevent the worst effects?    

1) The absence of government control in developing nations is creating failed states that lack personal security, basic education, reliable health care and food security. These globally marginalized communities are highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of global warming, fresh water shortages, and loss of topsoil. As the global population continues to rise, the demand for finite resources will also increase. Long-term sustainability goals need to be achieved in order to protect the ecological integrity of the planet’s finite ecosystems. Eradicating poverty, restoring forests, soils and aquifers are long-term humanitarian goals- politically correct and morally appropriate. The projected cost to save civilization will be less than $200 billion, which is one sixth of current global military spending. Immediate government action must be taken to reduce 80% of global carbon emissions by implementing carbon taxes before 2020 to slow the impacts of (human induced) climate change. By stabilizing the global population at 8 billion individuals by 2040, international leaders will be able to moderate the long-term impact of global resource management.

2) By stabilizing the human population, rationing the global fresh water supply and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere all nations can achieve sustainable development without compromising finite resources for present and future generations. Elected officials should focus on stabilizing the global population by increasing sexual education programs, access to reproductive health care facilities, family planning services and preventative birth control methods. Leaders of the twenty-first century should also make it a top priority to reduce 80% of carbon emissions by 2020 to prevent irreversible ecological damage caused by global warming. Planting billions of tree’s that naturally perform cellular respiration by removing CO2 from the atmosphere can also offset accumulation of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Transforming our reliance on fossil fuels to solar, wind and hydro power will be the first step towards achieving sustainable resource management. 

Section 37: Women’s Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation: Vandana Shiva 
1. Summary 2. In what sense according to Vandana Shiva, is Third World- women’s work in agriculture “invisible”?

1) By maintaining a balance between survival and sustainable agricultural practices, twenty-first century indigenous women are continuing to perform spiritual rituals that celebrate the renewal of life and the propagation of biodiversity. These highly intelligent women are maintaining their traditional ecological knowledge about seed preparation, germination, and soil maintenance in order to conserve species richness and biodiversity for future generations. The destruction of biodiversity in exchange for industrial monocultures is a capitalist endeavor wrongfully claiming the royalties that belong to indigenous Third World communities. Agricultural biodiversity is threatened by biotechnology, which encourages uniformity of species through genetic cloning, decreasing natural reproductive variation and ultimately weakening the species immune system. To compensate for these enzymatic deficiencies, scientists spray their genetically modified organisms with pesticides that encourage insects to increase resilience and successfully pursue these susceptible monocultures.  Laden with toxic chemicals, these genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are detrimental to human health, environmental integrity and ecological wellbeing. 

2) Deeply rooted agricultural knowledge belonging to Third World indigenous women reflects their spiritual connection to the earth. This ecological understanding of balance and sustainability does not fall into an economically viable “production boundary” rendering these highly efficient indigenous cultures of women to be corporately invisible. The generational wisdom of seed preparation and maintenance is not taken into commercial consideration and therefore completely undermines the very fabric of Third World indigenous agricultural intelligence. Neither credit nor compensation is given to the people who suffer from the long-term consequences of corporate piracy and this needs to change. We must reach out and globally acknowledge these indigenous women as strong, wise mothers of the earth by boycotting corporations that take advantage of marginalized communities. We can start this movement today by practicing sustainable methods of organic agriculture right here, in our own back yards. 

Section 9: Human Domination of Earth’s Ecosystems: Peter M. Vitousek, Harold A. Mooney, and Jerry M. Melillo 
1. Summary 2. Would it help to reduce the human impact on the Earth if we could reduce the human population?

1) Urbanization and land transformation have lead to industrial agriculture, clear cutting and deforestation throughout terrestrial ecosystems. The accumulation of greenhouse gasses within the atmosphere such as methane and nitrous oxide are contributing to global climate change as a result of fossil fuel combustion, fertilizer production and pesticide runoff. Insecticides such as DDT as well as synthetic organic chemicals including chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) are persisting within the stratosphere and causing ozone layer depletion. By inadvertently altering the nitrogen cycle, humans have increased the frequency of photochemical smog and acid rain throughout the atmosphere. Flowing directly into our globally finite fresh water supply are highly toxic metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury released during mining and mobilization of phosphorus. Rapid extinction rates of marine species are an indication that toxic contaminants are persisting throughout coastal ecosystems. Invasive species also challenge the survival rate of native species by out-competing them for shared resources. Humans must take responsibility for our carbon footprints by applying an economic cost to the ecological damage we have induced to ensure that sustainable development will persevere for future generations. 

2) The global population of human beings is 7 billion and climbing while the earth’s finite resources such as fresh water and oil are steadily declining. Competition for limited resources is an international issue displaced by corporate endeavors that casually exploit developing nations. This megalomaniac behavior is an inexcusable crime. Finding a balance between resource management and growing populations will be a difficult challenge for humans. Educating women and men about preventative birth control methods such as vasectomies, intrauterine devices and abortions should be an international priority for individuals that find themselves in questionable living situations. A global decline in population will not completely alleviate the anthropogenic stress put onto the earth due to persisting chemicals, long-term consequences of ozone layer depletion, droughts, soil erosion, water contamination and intense storms but it’s survival is our only option, we cannot give up!

Activity: Ted Talk Video: Cary Fowler

One seed at a time, protecting the future of food. Summary.

Crop diversity is a genetic resource that stands between human survival and catastrophic starvation on a global scale. Biodiversity is the foundation of evolution and it is currently crumbling into global species extinction. Apple diversity for example, has decreased by 90% within the last 100 years due to industrial agriculture, pesticide use and genetic modification. Individual taste preferences have selectively chosen for apples that are more satisfying than those with less appealing qualities. In the grand scale of evolution, maintaining biodiversity is essential for building strong immune systems with resilience to pests and environmental variation. Global warming is a new trend that will affect agriculture consistency as early as 2030 by increasing the temperature of cold growing seasons. In Southern Africa for example, individuals will likely experience a 30% reduction of maize production due to climbing temperatures, ultimately causing food shortages throughout vulnerable communities. Owned by the Norwegian government, the Svalbard Seed bank is in place to ensure that conservation of biological diversity is maintained in a remote location, independent of mechanical refrigeration. Currently 425,000 samples of unique crop varieties are housed within this storage facility and are expected to exceed 1 million varieties of seeds in the near future. Crop diversity is a conservative approach to combating climate change that requires global consent and economic support. 

Blog Reflections

1) Consider your food system: what do you like about it? What you dislike about it (consider taste, nutrition, cost, equality and environmental issues)?

1) Three years ago my partner and I decided to adopt a strict vegetarian diet. Currently we are living in Osborne village where we have access to Safeway, Vita Health and Organza. With competitive prices, Vita Health offers an excellent organic produce selection often in support of local farm cooperatives. In order to maintain healthy protein requirements we eat free- run, organic grass fed eggs. Another excellent meat alternative can be found in hemp hearts and hemp protein containing high concentrations of Omgea-6 and Omega-3, iron, and fiber. The conscious transition away from junk food and cheap GMO alternatives has been an upward battle but the rewards are in the form of a strong immune system and cognitive awareness. It has become artistic mission to raise awareness about how these corporate giants how conceal the truth to preserve their profits at the cost of human health, environmental integrity and biological diversity. By eliminating toxic chemicals from my diet and expressing this message in my art I hope to change the perspectives of people around me via the ripple effect. 

2) What role, if any, should zoos play in conservation/ education? Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? 

If so, what size/ type of animal or zoo? Do you enjoy visiting zoos?

2) Raising awareness by through public education about current extinction issues and species conservation should be the goal for sustainable zoo management.  Realistically, humans have built imprisoning environments that deny social interaction between different species and limit natural environmental variation. Isolating animals to monitor their behaviors also compromises their immune systems and naturally leads to species extinction. I do not condone the capture of wild animals for educational or entertainment purposes because the limited space allocated to these animals causes extremely stressful experiences and perpetuates an imbalance within the global ecosystem. I fully supportive of animal sanctuaries that promote protection, rehabilitation and conservation of endangered or threatened species to preserve global biological diversity. 
 

3) What am I doing to promote sustainability and happiness in my life?

What would I like to do? I pledge to: 

3) I have adopted a vegetarian diet to boycott the industrial meat market. I use biodegradable cleaners around my home to limit the input of toxic chemicals in my drinking water. I have moved into Osborne village to be closer to my place of work, school and friends. I walk, ride my bike or take the bus to all of my desired destinations. For the last 3 years I have rode my bike to the Winnipeg Folk Festival at Birds Hill Park to help reduce carbon emissions. I work at the Hempyrean at the Forks market where I get to speak with people from the community on a daily basis about environmentally friendly fibers such as Hemp and Bamboo. I am raising public awareness about sustainability and healthy living at work, in my everyday life and through my video installation work. I pledge to complete my education degree by 2016 and begin teaching high school students about sustainable lifestyle choices through science and art. I will be the change I wish to see in the world and I will lead by example.  

Toxic Prophecy: MEME interview (Prosper Street Productions) 2013

Support a ban on shipping crude oil by rail through Churchill, 2013

Toxic Prophecy 2D Series, 2013.

Blog # 2, Enviro 2000.

Section 6: The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis: Lynn White Jr. 

1. Summary 2. What is the “purpose” of nature?

1) The religion of Christianity uses symbolism to describe our anthropogenic disconnection from nature by devaluing the fundamental principles of ecological evolution. By perceiving time as a linear event, Christianity fails to acknowledge the cyclical patterns of nature, ultimately discrediting the potential for science to define life as a continual, and gradual process. This omnipotent religious mentality encourages individuals to exploit nature, regardless of the ecological consequences. The advent of scientific technology has changed our anthropocentric perception of democracy, agriculture and development.

2) According to Lynn White Jr. the “purpose” of nature in the Christian religion is to reveal God’s omnipotence through allegorical representations of anthropomorphic experiences, providing humans with the power to exploit nature as an assertion of their supreme dominance. 

Section 4: A Sand Country Almanac: Aldo Leopold 

1. Summary 2. What is the basic lesson of Aldo Leopold’s “Thinking Like a Mountain”?

1) The German zoologist Ernst Haeckel coined the term ecology in 1866, deriving from the Greek word oikos, meaning “household” having the same origin as economics[1]. In 1935 Leopold developed the philosophy of land ethics to encompass an ecocentric perspective of biotic and abiotic interconnected relationships. The land ethics argument is deeply rooted in environmental integrity and should be referenced when proceeding with economic development of commonly held resources. This ecological assessment recognizes that long-term goals for sustainability that are relevant among plants, animals, the environment and the economy.

2) The mountain is an allegory for balance and wellbeing within an ecosystem that represents the sociological theory suggesting, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Leopold emphasizes that ecological integrity is inevitably linked to successful economic development. By investing in sustainable resource management beneficial to contemporary society as well as future generations, we take our place on the mountain to fulfill our biotic niche. This ecocentric perspective encompasses living organisms and the environments that influence their development as one functioning entity, deserving of our deepest respect and most sincere gratitude. 

Canmore, Alberta.

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[1] Smith, Smith& Waters: Elements of Ecology: Canadian Edition. Chapter 1. The Nature of Ecology: History of Ecology: Ecology is Rooted in Many Scientific Disciplines p.3.

Section 23: Summary for Policymakers: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 1. Summary 2. What consequences can we expect from global warming?

1) The accumulation of carbon, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere is causing ocean acidification, rise in sea level, and melting of icecaps. The increasing atmospheric temperature is causing hot nights, hot days, heat waves and droughts throughout South Africa, the Mediterranean, and parts of southern Asia. Tropical sea surface temperatures have been correlated with tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic Ocean. The anthropogenic aerosols accumulating in the stratosphere are causing the tropospheric ozone layer to deplete and solar irradiance to increase. Most permafrost regions will experience an increase in thaw depth while sea ice is projected to shrink in the Arctic, Antarctica and Greenland by the end of the 21^st century. The timescale required to remove anthropogenic greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, stratosphere, troposphere and ocean will take longer than a millennium even if emissions are stabilized by the end of the 21^st century. 

2) Within the last 200 years of anthropogenic activity, fossil fuel use has caused atmospheric warming while industrial agriculture has caused tropospheric cooling. Ozone-forming chemicals (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons) contributing to the atmospheric water vapor content are causing hot nights, hot days, heat waves and droughts to increase throughout the Mediterranean, South Africa, and parts of Southern Asia.

Stratospheric cooling coupled with atmospheric warming is causing ozone layer depletion and the melting of ice formations throughout the Arctic, Antarctica and Greenland. Solar irradiance is melting sea ice in the Arctic, releasing carbon into the atmosphere and dissolving hydrogen into the North Atlantic Ocean. The permafrost areas in Churchill, Manitoba are expected to increase in thaw depth by the end of the 21^st century, reducing the habitat for organisms and individuals that require the cold climate to survive.

A significant increase in precipitation has been observed throughout north and South America, northern and central Asia and northern Europe between 1900- 2005. Tropical cyclone activity circulating in the North Atlantic Ocean was most recently observed on October 12, 2013 off the coast of India in the town of Gopalpur where Cyclone Phailin unleashed copious amounts of precipitation with winds gusting up at 100-120km/ hour and a storm surge of 3-meter high waves. In wake of the storm as many as 500,000 people were told to evacuate their homes and find relief shelters until the dangerous weather patterns subside.

If anthropogenic emissions are stabilized by the end of the 21^st century, the amount of time required for these chemicals to be removed from the atmosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere is predicted to be a millennium. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24487130

Section 13: A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030: Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi. 

1. Summary 2. What is the most effective way to cutback on greenhouse gas emissions?

1) Global leaders have the responsibility to shift our contemporary industrial focus from dirty fossil fuel use towards an environmentally friendly perspective of sustainable energy. The transition away from coal and gas exploitation will extend into commercial, industrial and transportation sectors of our global economy. By challenging the mainstream international markets to reconsider the long-term benefits of finite resources, carbon taxation should be used as a tool to discourage continuation of fossil fuel use. Incentives should be awarded to companies that are striving to encourage sustainable use of wind, water and solar power as alternative energy practices. The reduction greenhouse gas emissions will minimize the ecological impact of maintenance, transmission, supply, cost of capital, and land operations throughout the world. Scientific evidence suggests that sustainable energy can become a competitive resource as early as 2030 if the wellbeing of human health and environmental integrity are added into the equation of economic growth.

2) By implementing carbon taxes on fossil fuel use, global leaders can encourage an international reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This reduction strategy puts an economic value on human health, environmental integrity and the overall wellbeing of our global resources. Positive incentives should be respectively awarded to companies and communities that aspire to preserve ecological integrity of commonly held resources. Sustainable development of wind, water and solar energy will require long-distance transmission systems, smart grids and electric cars, which should become competitive alternatives to coal and gas by 2030 if carbon taxes are put into effect. 

 

Activity: Rob Hopkins: Transition to a World Without Oil: Summary

The entire concept of economic growth is based on the supply and demand market that is primarily concerned with fossil fuel profits instead of sustainable resource development and ecological wellbeing. Humans of the 21^st century are experiencing a finite petroleum resource movement that is directly linked to the consumption of fossil fuels. Our dependence on oil is measured at a vulnerable ratio of 4:1 (barrels consumed: to those extracted). Fragile ecosystems have been excavated and polluted, greenhouse gas emissions have increased, ice sheets are melting and ocean acidification has caused intense tropical storm activity throughout the North and South Atlantic Coasts. Global leaders must take action now and redefine the concept of economic growth by stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions to help preserve the wellbeing of the planet for future generations. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/rob_hopkins_transition_to_a_world_without_oil.html

Blog Reflections:

1)Can parks meet it’s dual mandate of access and protection? How can this be achieved in Wapusk?

1) Wapusk National Park has the ability to maintain its dual mandate of access and protection by limiting public assess to university level research, professional wildlife documentation and minimalistic ecotourism. Individuals with aspirations of pursuing research at this remote location should prepare a written entrance request letter, academic reference (preferably a university professor with experience in the field of ecology), artist portfolio and project goals upon completion of the work. A protection agreement ensuring ecological sustainability of Wapusk Park will be signed, understood and maintained by the visitor throughout their visit. The warden should charge a small fee to the visitor for each day spent at the park. The visitor will need to sign out at the end of their stay and fill out a review of their experience.

National Geographic Image 2010

2) What future would you like to see for the Alberta Tar Sands Project? Continue current path; stop development; some modified continuation?

2) The Alberta Tar Sands project is a desperate endeavor based on unethical exploitation of resources at the cost of human health, ecological integrity and global warming. Ecological assessments need to be added to the equation of economic growth in order to understand the magnitude of our negative anthropogenic actions. Air quality, soil pollution, chemical runoff into Lake Athabasca, ecological integrity and livelihood of First Nations communities is strong enough scientific evidence to have companies reconsider the safety protocols and long-term consequences for extracting, refining and transporting fossil fuels. I would like to see the Tar Sands project completely shut down in the future and properly cleaned up to restore the ecological integrity of the Boreal Forest.

http://www.funzug.com/index.php/miscellaneous/most-amazing-aerial-views.html

Reflection on course content and the world around you

            The various levels of ecological damage resulting from fossil fuel extraction in remote areas of the world have lead to the victimization of economically vulnerable communities failing to be compensated for their loss. There seems to be a pattern between minimizing corporate responsibility to clean up the aftermath of these projects, and the increasing wealth of these corporate giants. Ecological degradation, loss of biodiversity, land erosion, poisonous air, polluted water, community livelihood and decline in human health, that have all been scientifically linked to the chemicals used within these excavation sites. We have looked at the toxic levels of corexit in the Gulf of Mexico left by BP in 2010; the benzene (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) persisting since the 1989 in Alaska after the Exxon oil spill; The Fort McMurry Tar Sands project leaking carcinogenic compounds into Lake Athabasca since 2006; The pollution of the Niger Delta seeing over 300 spills per year. Ultimate disregard for the wellbeing of communities is an omnipotent attitude that cannot persist. Global leaders who ignore science are not fit to lead, and Stephan Harper needs to reconsider his plan to ignore the scientific reality of our 21^st: people are dying because of these toxic chemicals, oil is disappearing, and we need to transition from this finite resource to an ecological and economically sustainable energy source by 2030 to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.hope-project.org/energy/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-solar-panels/

Blog #1, Enviro 2000.

Section 38. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

3. How do the choices of people (individually and as societies) affect whether a society collapses due to environmental damage? 

The human population has been accelerating at such a rapid rate that the impact of our daily anthropogenic actions are constantly compromising the earth’s finite resources through pollution, deforestation, overfishing, overhunting, and soil problems (including erosion, salinization, and soil fertility losses). Other serious environmental issues induced by humans include water management, effects of introduced species on native species, and increased per capita impact of people[1]. Within the animal kingdom successful communities are known to have mutualistic relationships with their ecological neighbors depending on the type of benefit, degree of dependency, specificity, and duration[2]. The majority of contemporary societies living within urban communities are failing to participate as mutualistic beings within their given ecosystems. This disconnection from Mother Nature has “upset the balance[3]” by destroying our precious resources and denying responsibility for our actions. Selfish leaders who fail to cooperate as mutualistic beings are exhibiting symptoms of intraspecific competition[4] where they take on the role of dominant individuals who claim and abuse the earths resources while denying protection rights emphasized by environmentalists. Humans have developed this superior mentality throughout the course of evolution by exploiting resources as a negligent excuse for economic growth. “The economy is not a force of nature or some kind of immutable, infallible entity. We created it[5]” and this arbitrary system has now become a reflection of our unsustainable resource acquisition habits. As the earth continues to suffer from human exploitation we watch as the severity of storms and extreme temperatures continue to increase ultimately affecting the well being of our Mother Earth as well as own human health because “everything in nature is interconnected.[6]” Politicians who reject science are not fit to lead[7] and perhaps we, as an ecological species are doomed to become either physically or spiritually extinct as a result of our insatiable hunger for economic growth at the expense of our devolution. As the Cree prophecy warns, “only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.”

Section 35. Human Carrying Capacity

1. What is carrying capacity?

            Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that can be sustained in a given environment typically limited by the resources available during the most unfavorable period[8]. Populations do not increase indefinitely. As resources become limiting, birthrate decreases and/or mortality increases, slowing growth. At very low density, positive feedback associated with the Allee effect can drive a population to local extinction[9]. Humans are exclusively responsible for consuming excessive amounts of resources faster than the earth can replace them and this is a primary concern for the long-term sustainability of the earth’s resources. Within the last hundred years humans have become extremely dependent upon fossil fuels. Consequently this resource has reached its peak and is now declining. The decrease of our global oil supply has been reinforced by the general cost increase of oil within the last 50 years, exploiting the tar sands in Canada, as well as the American drilling boom that desperately sent companies such as Shell and BP looking for reserves offshore throughout the world[10]. The American dream is about to expire leaving our entire human civilization at a carrying capacity of 6 billion (and growing) with a serious addiction to cheap oil that in its absence could trigger an economic and cultural depression. International governments are now facing economic, agricultural, and industrial challenges that have lead to innovative alternative energy and resource management strategies. “Along with protecting clean water supplies and human health, addressing climate change will strengthen the economy. An analysis conducted in 2010 by the Western Climate Initiative showed that addressing climate change and fostering clean-energy solutions could lead to cost savings of about US100 billion by 2020 for the initiative’s member states and provinces[11].” This economic scenario must be taken into serious consideration if humans hope to sustain the overall wellbeing of our growing population and the planet to which we all belong. 

  

Section 7. The Tragedy of the Commons

2. List some examples of resources held in common by all the citizens of society that have suffered by overuse.

            The year is 2013 and our civilization has become extremely addicted to fossil fuels. As the world watches our global oil supply disappear due to extreme exploitation we will need to seriously consider sustainable alternatives for the long road ahead in a world without petroleum products. Urban communities casually pollute the atmosphere with cheap fuel while the clock continues to tick towards midnight. Monsanto quietly injects its genetically modified organisms with Agent Orange, BT toxin and Bovine Growth Hormones while consumers continue to be sedated by their chemicals. Monocrops and large-scale farms are preventing plants from reproducing by means of natural selection, which is how organisms develop resistant genetics that are linked to environmental variation. Our oceans have become dumping grounds for the garbage that humans fail to recycle and as a result leak harmful toxins into the food supply of fish that omnivores regularly ingest. Instead of considering sustainable fibers like hemp and bamboo as alternatives to industrial materials we pursue cotton and polyester, which require harsh chemical processes to purify the material.

            Clean air, clean water, forests and fertile soil are four of the most essential resources that our planet naturally provides for all living organisms. Each living individual requires specific minerals and nutrients to survive that often overlap the requirements of others. Contemporary civilizations should be consciously striving to maintain healthy relationships with their ecosystems in order to understand the vital connection we share with the earth. In reality humans have been exploiting the majority of our shared global resources, which has become a contemporary cultural norm. Our destructive behavior has led to pollution, over fishing, over hunting, clear cutting, mining, as well as oil and gas development. Habitat destruction is one of the major negative impacts of modern civilization’s progress. These ecological issues are at the heart of our environmental battle between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism. Unfortunately our social system rewards selfish intraspecific competition so that people will continue to disconnect from the earth both physically and spiritually with each new generation. On September 12^th, 1975 Pink Floyd released the album with the self-titled track Wish You Were Here. Thirty eight years later that song still successfully conveys a strong premonition about the state of depression that humans have self-induced at the expense of our own devolution from the natural world into a dystopia of temporary satisfaction and serious environmental consequences:

“So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain. Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell? Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?”

Activity: Spend 1 hour in silence with nature.

On Saturday September 14^th my friends and I took a day trip out to Winnipeg Beach to enjoy the last fleeting moments of summer. As we walked down the dirt road towards the boardwalk the wind chased us, rustling the leaves, stirring up the water and scenting the air with an autumn undertone. The strength of the wind was changing the oxygen concentration within the atmosphere because suddenly my head felt like it had submerged (despite my terrestrial position on the peer) as my lungs filled with hydrogen; I could feel the hydrogen molecules enter my trachea. The breath I inhaled at that moment in time was confirmation of my individual existence. Down the road we passed a marsh where the algae was so photosynthetically active that it seemed to be radiating a luminescent glow. This exquisitely vibrant pallet that nature bestows before us is a gift for those who wish to embrace magic. Approaching the sand and grass naturally lead me to remove my sandals which instantly activated all of my senses as I began to embrace all of the elements viscerally, cognitively and spiritually. The first step I took from the land into the water brought about so much joy as I felt the waves rock the sand beneath my toes and sweep away the tiny stones. This pattern of constant change and renewal is a mesmerizing metaphor for interconnectedness among all organisms and elements within the universe. As my footprints began to dissolve with the flowing tides my awareness of unity brought peace to my soul as I openly embraced the galaxy with every inhalation and exhalation. That day I realized that I am an extension those same cosmic elements and my body is simply a vessel for the journey. 

Blog Reflections

1) What promotes human connection to nature?

            I currently work at the Hempyrean, which is an eco friendly clothing shop at the forks that locally supports pesticide free, chemical free, fair trade, natural, organic, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic food/ clothing. Our mission is to raise awareness about the positive economic and social benefits of minimizing our carbon footprint by using eco-friendly fibers that are sustainable for the planet to produce. Focusing on a society that does not require poisonous chemicals to thrive allows us to imagine a utopian world where organic resources cultivation is the primary goal for our ecological survival. When more time is spent within nature we see individuals express a deeper sense of gratitude for the gifts that the earth provides. By welcoming the elements of nature into our daily lives we experience life as a reflection of the earth’s well being instead of our general income.
 

2) What promotes disconnection from nature?

            The mainstream media is by far the most powerful socioeconomic tool in the first world fueled by ruthless corporate giants such as Monsanto and Shell responsible for distributing information to millions of people. These selfish companies (among others) strategically manipulate people by distorting their perception of wellbeing to equate with their unnecessary and sometimes harmful corporate products. This extremely intelligent method of control is achieved through product symbolism, which is meant to reflect the social status of an individual. This complex web is designed to trap vulnerable individuals who have no knowledge about the current state of the world with little to no interest in pursuing questions about the how the system is designed to function. “According to relative depravation theory, people who are satisfied with their present condition are less likely to seek social change (Rose, 1982).[12]” Ignorance is comforting to those who prefer to be sedated by a temporary solution regardless of the long-term consequences of their decisions. This negligent behavior is a frightening social epidemic because it has removed the environment from the equation of wellbeing and replaced it with money to look something like this: Individual+ money = product. Individual + product = happiness.

·      William Kentridge: Felix in Exile 1994. Charcoal& pastels, stop motion animation.
 http://youtu.be/vF5cngcXqSs 

 

3) Is there a danger to growing a disconnection from nature?

The most overwhelming feeling in a time of danger is one of helplessness, which consumes my entire being as I continue to unearth the truth about our current environmental crisis. The most valuable tool of our technological genertion is the Internet because it allows information to circulate internationally without corporate interference or bias. The information I have gathered throughout university has lead me on a quest to accurately identify and expose selfish corporations that are heavily responsible for recklessly destroying the earth’s precious resources. Instead of respecting the earth as an abundant source of life the Western mentality entertains the notion of entitlement and righteousness for ones own selfishness and greed. Blindly supporting organizations that exploit Mother Earth’s has become socially acceptable behavior with zero criminal consequences despite the serious damage our global ecosystems. Sadly, humans have come to embrace this cold-hearted voice as the lexicon of the machine and have gone great lengths to fuel the fire of this prodigious beast. As we continue to dance and feast our lives away while the waves quietly rise[13], and like moths to a flame, humans are advancing into a dangerous territory of resource wars where our political and corporate leaders will delegate the course of action for the entire world to endure.

·      Black Sabbath, War Pigs. 1970, Paranoid.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGPD0ZBiMs0 

 

4) Where do your environmental ethics lie? Anthropocentric/ Biocentric/ Ecocentric?

            I strongly support an Ecocentric ideology when discussing environmental ethics because it fully encompasses the wellbeing of our entire ecosystem including abiotic environmental factors as well as the biotic organisms that exist within a wide range of exquisite habitats across the globe. I have become increasingly aware of my carbon foot print within these last 7 years and I have made respectable efforts to live sustainably by pursuing a vegetarian diet, riding my bike to work, supporting fair-trade, local/ organic markets and consuming less petroleum products. I currently work at an eco-friendly clothing store called the Hempyrean where we sell fair- trade, organic, herbicide/ pesticide free, hypoallergenic, antibacterial clothing, cosmetics and health food. I have sincerely adopted the role of an Eco Warrior through my lifestyle choices as well as fashion statements within the last 7 years because just like the Lorax, I too speak for the trees. As a visual artist I have made it my mission to depict the delusional state of the world through performance and installation art. I have also studied psychology, sociology, biology, ecology, art history, mathematics and botany to further enhance my understanding about the evolution life on earth through the journey of awareness that is human consciousness. I consider myself to be an urban shaman conveying a Toxic Prophecy about our socioeconomic addiction to oil. The traditional practice of Shamanism is a sacred Aboriginal ceremony where chosen individuals enter the spirit world through chanting, singing, dancing and fasting with intensions of collecting information from the creator at a higher level of consciousness. This ritual of transformation is one of the most amazing methods of transcendence that humans will ever experience in terms of understanding the origins of life and universal interconnectedness. As a student of art, science and evolution I have made many attempts to enter trace-like states in order to attain universal consciousness to spiritually connect with plants, animals and the elements to better understand life, death and decomposition with deep underlying respect for Mother Earth. These experiences are exactly why I consider Ecocentrism to be the most accurate method of assessment when addressing environmental issues because everything on earth and within the universe is connected.    

Sarah Paradis: Toxic Prophecy, Trail Blazer Video Still, 2012.

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[1] Thomas A. Easton: Classic Edition Sources: Environmental Studies, Fourth Edition. Section 38. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond p.185.

[2] Smith, Smith& Waters: Elements of Ecology: Canadian Edition. Chapter 15. Mutualism Categories: There are Many Types of Mutualisms p.316.

[3] David Suzuki& Ian Hanington: Everything Under the Sun, Toward a Brighter Future on a Small Blue Planet. Chapter 6. It’s Getting Hot Down Here p. 138.

[4] Smith, Smith& Waters: Elements of Ecology: Canadian Edition. Chapter 11. Intraspecific Population Regulation: Intraspecific Competition p.237.

[5] David Suzuki& Ian Hanington: Everything Under the Sun, Toward a Brighter Future on a Small Blue Planet. Chapter 5. Is the Economy… Stupid? p. 105.

[6] David Suzuki& Ian Hanington: Everything Under the Sun, Toward a Brighter Future on a Small Blue Planet. Chapter 6. It’s Getting Hot Down Here p. 139.

[7] David Suzuki& Ian Hanington: Everything Under the Sun, Toward a Brighter Future on a Small Blue Planet. Chapter 4. Science Holds a Mirror to Existence p. 95.

[8] Smith, Smith& Waters: Elements of Ecology: Canadian Edition. Glossary. G-4.

[9] Smith, Smith& Waters: Elements of Ecology: Canadian Edition. Chapter 11. Intraspecific Population Regulation: Density Dependence p.237.

[10] Gelpke& McCormack: A Crude awakening: The Oil Crash. Docuramafilms. 2006- 2007.

[11] David Suzuki& Ian Hanington: Everything Under the Sun, Toward a Brighter Future on a Small Blue Planet. Chapter 8. Healthy People, Healthy Planet p. 215.

[12] Kendall, Murray& Linden: Sociology in our Times, Fourth Edition. Chapter 20. Collective Behavior: Relative Deprivation Theory p.644.

[13] Alive: Our Environment, A Duty to be Green. Canada’s Health and Wellness Magazine. July 2007 Ann-Marie Metten: Ticking Time Bomb. P48.