The Religious Right and the Environment

Yesterday evening I watched the 3rd part of a CNN report titled God's Warriors. The issue of Evangelical Christians and the environment was discussed. In recent months more and more Evangelicals are starting to join the movement to reduce carbon emissions to save our planet. But this doesn't come without criticism from the Religious Right's loudest voices. If more Evangelicals join the movement to "Go Green" it could ensure a win for the most Earth-friendly candidate in 2008.

The First 100 Hours

The new Democratic House and Senate under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid have set their agenda for the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress. On Thursday January 18th the new Congress plans on ending subsidies for big oil and also plans on investing in renewable energy; let's hope they deliver!

Smog in America

Over half the people living in 10 of the 11 most populous states in the U.S. are affected by smog. This means that over 158 million people are living in areas where the smog is so bad it exceeds safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In five of the ten states, 75% of the counties fail to attain EPA air quality standards. One state, New Jersey, is so bad that every single resident suffers from smog. Not far behind is California, with a 94% rate of suffering, and New York, with 85%.
One problem is that many states lack enough inspectors to moniter industrial emissions. On average, each inspector is responsible for 145 facilities. Texas actually has only one inspector for every 352 sites. The reason for this is that funding has been cut back. Federal grants to state and local air quality agencies have declined by 25% and Bush's 2007 plan calls for yet another cutback. Smog can cause a number of diseases, including respiratory illness.

The Best Solution for Evolution

As John mentioned in a previous post, hemp is often used as an environmentally friendly approach to making items typically manufactured in large polluting factories. One os the best things that has developed out of the exposure of this is eco-friendly clothing articles.
Earth Ragz is my personal favorite example of these clothes, although companies such as Little Earth and Ixchel have adopted the same ideas. The most often donned garmet from Earth Ragz is the baja pullover, although they produce everything from pants to bookbags and more. Every garmet is made from 100% recycled fibers making them a perfect pick for the hippie in all of us. Although natural hemp made clothing tends to be a bit pricey, it is expected as almost all organic and natural products from food to toilet paper are tad more expensive than the generic brands. However, the pretty penny you save by switching to a clothing brand that is not genuinely recycled won't do you any good when you don't have a planet to live on anymore. The fibers are extremely durable and although not wind-proof, they are a perfect addition to your winter wardrobe since they are cozy and warm. A plethora of colors and patterns exist and the great part is that most are handmade so your garmet is 100% original. If you'd like to purchase some clothing from Earth Ragz, simply go to www.heavenlyideas.com/earthrags.htm
Like their motto implies, it really is The Best Solution for Evolution.

Environmental Science

Many people feel strongly about helping the environment. They may enjoy the outdoors, avoid littering at all costs, and sign petitions against deforestation and illegal dumping. A few decades ago, these people were looked at in a very different light than today. Before the effects of global warming became prominent and the neo-bohemian revolution began, the environment wasn't something that many people worried about. Obviously, it is a different story today. The fact is, people back then (our parents and grandparents generation) didn't see a need to promote a healthy outdoor environment not because they were ignorant but because they were uneducated about it. If the statistics of today had been exposed years and years ago, I'm sure that many more people would hav tried to do their part to make the world we live in today a healthy and happy place. This may not seem relevant to this day in age, but in fact, it is.
The generations before us may not have exactly done their part to help us, but we can do our part to help the generations coming after us. If more people were informed of the facts, we can help our children live in a world that isn't in fear of suddenly being surrounded by water. One way that younger people can do this is by taking advantage of an obscure yet important field of study; environmental science.
Environmental science wasn't always an option for college and high school students alike to become involved in. Science usually consisted of chemistry, biology, and physics, none of which concentrate on the earth and it's deterioration. Thankfully, with more and more people getting involved and interested in the environement, it is now offered at most any school in the united States and abroad. Although this is a small step, it shows that our generation is trying to do our part for the future by preserving our natural environment in the best ways we know how.
Environmental science focuses on everything from climate change, and biodiversity to water and soil contamination. It's not an easy science; contrary to popular belief environmental science majors aren't necessarily tree-huggers with nothing better to learn about. It is a complex study and is completely legitimate for a degree with high paying career opportunities. If you are interested in the environment and may want to make it your career, I strongly urge you to look into environmental science as an option. The world needs more people to care.

Magnetic levitation trains to cut smog

Ports are considering using magnetic levitation trains to cut smog when transporting cargo containers from Los Angeles to Long Beach ports. This is the first freight application of the technology anywhere in the world. The officials see this new technology as a clean, high-speed way to move goods inland, ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution. Maglev, or magnetic levitation, trains produce no air pollution along their routes and are powered by magnetic fields in guideways that pull them along at speeds up to 300 mph. So far this has been done in Japan and China but they were built for commercial passenger services. The plan will cost 2 billion dollars but it definately shows that at least some states are realizing the seriousness of pollution. Hopefully a dominoe effect will ensue, causing other states to realize the benefits of this. The state is also looking at alternative rail systems to help out pollution. We're already polluting the planet, and in future years we are going to have alot more people and cars, therefore a bigger chance for pollution. We need to start now if we want to help out the environment and save the planet.

What the F*%@ is A Clean Air Act?

A Clean Air Act is one of a number of pieces of legal bills relating to the reduction of smog and pollution in general. The United States Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1963, the Clean Air Act Amendment in 1966, the Clean Air Act Extension in 1970, and Clean Air Act Amendments in 1977 and 1990. Numerous state governments and local governments have enacted similar legislation, either implementing federal programs or filling in locally important gaps in federal programs.
The use of the federal government and state and local governments to enforce clean air standards has contributed to an improvement of the health of Americans and a longer life span for Americans. Critics argue it has also sapped corporate profits, and contributed to outsourcing abroad, while defenders counter that improved environmental air quality has increased more jobs than it has decreased. A Pennsylvania legislative supporter of clean air standards, Mark Cohen of Philadelphia , said "Vast progress has been made toward the development of clean air, but sufferers of asthma and other diseases need us to make much more progress in the future."
The Clean Air Act has spurred considerable action by individual states in the U.S. to pass parallel laws addressing air quality maintenance and enhancement. Just in case you were interested. :)

Hemp

Our nation's illegal War on Drugs is a great failure. Instead of going after criminals who commit violent crimes authorities are always going after dealers and users. I never knew that a person using marijuana was hurting others more than a pedophile. When cannabis is used to make non "drug" products it known as Hemp. Hemp production is illegal in the United States. Hemp is a safe renewable source of clothing. It doesn't harm the environment whatsoever but our earth killing government feels it necessary to ban hemp production. The ban of cannabis and its products is just like the prohibition during the 1920s which was unsuccessful and eventually that law was repealed, maybe one day the prohibition of cannabis will be repealed.

Global Warming: Even More Issues

Yes, once again, I am going back to global warming and another list of problems it may cause as a result of another scientifci study. It may seem excessive, but the first step in solving these problems is exposing them. So, it seems that carbon dioxide builup in the upper atmosphere may have negative effects on both GPS signals from satellites and falling debris from spacecraft. First of all, I'll describe the GPS issue. GPS satellites send signals back to earth that allow anything from a cell phone to a jet to have their exact location pinpointed. Carbon dioxide builup is causing the upper atmosphere to cool and contract, pulling closer to earth. This less dense atmosphere will be a psitive thing for GPS satellites flying in low orbit; they will be able to maneuvere more easily. The problem, however, is that the ionosphere resides in this part of the atmosphere. The ionosphere helps reflect radio waves back to earth. Changes in the ionosphere have been known to disrupt the way radio waves travel through the atmosphere. Scientists are unsure whether or not these cooling temperatures in the upper atmosphere will disrupt the radio waves significantly, but unforeseen consequences are always possible.

Another situation in this part of the atmosphere involves debris. Spacecraft often jettisone rockets and other debris back towards earth through the atmosphere. The dense upper atmosphere usually burns the debris up before it can reach the earth. With this atmosphere cooling and becoming less dense from carbon dioxide, though, it is possible that we masy have to rethink how we dispose of this debris, because it may not burn up.

Pollution rating rude awakening

The pollution ratings from the Sierra Legal defense Fund, focusing mainly on the poulltion of the Great Lakes in Canada and America. London, Canada got a pathetic C+ but they faired better then cities right here in the United States. Cleveland pulled out a D+ and Detroit managed a D. Although we had some bad cities, their are cities that are actually doing the right thing. Green Bay was at the top of the list with a B+ rating and and Dulith, Minnesota pulled out a B rating. The study found about 90 billion liters of untreated water enters the Great Lakes every year through both storm- and sanitary- sewer overflows. The irony in this is that a lot of people use the same lakes from which we get our drinking water as a toilet. London actually gets its drinking water from both lakes Erie and Huron. Billions of gallons of untreated urban sewage and toxic fluids are finding their way into the lakes each year, threatening fragile ecosystems and risking the water we all drink. Both the Canadian government and the United States government need to come together on this issue and try and resolve it. If we don't stop pollution we aren't going to get anywhere. I mean Detroit got a D rating, that's just pitiful. The government should be doing a lot more to help our cities out, a D and a D+ is just horrible. This just goes to show how much the government really cares about pollution.

Don't Move to Vermont

I recently found out about an ongoing situation from my friend who goes to school in Vermont. He told me that one of the dozens of organizations who are trying to "help" the environment and make a better name for themselves had the bright idea to burn old used tires for energy and/or to produce electricity. This seems like a great idea; getting rid of waste while creating new alternitive forms of energy. However, the problem comes because of the toxic fumes that are created. THis company that is oh so concerned with our environment failed to take into consideration the fact that tires aren't simply made of rubber. There are thousands of other chemicals and compounds that are pressed together to create these tires. When some of these chemicals are burned, the fumes rise and blow the toxic air all over New England. This is occuring in New York. The thing is that people in New York aren't bothered by these fumes because they simply blow over their precious state and pollute areas foreign to New Yorkers. Mainly Vermont and New Hampshire. The actions of this company have been brought to the attention of many important figures, however, the UNited States seems to have put it on the bottom of their To-Do list. Also, the United States recently was the only industrilized country to NOT sign the revised Clean Air act which would make the non-regulated burning of tires illegal. Obviously, the people who happen to be in office don't seem to be very concerned with our earth.

The Third World and Kyoto

While I believe the United States should sign on to the Kyoto Protocol I don't like the idea that Third World countries, like emerging superpowers of China and India, don't have be upheld to the same guidelines. China is probably the most powerful nation in the world and they are being given special privileges while other nations in Europe are held to strict rules. Now I wouldn't complain about this issue with President Bush because his solution to problems usually is a unending war, like Iraq. Instead of finding alternative energy he decided to make his friends in the oil business happy by going to war with a sovereign nation, overthrowing its leader and "liberated" a country that didn't want to be liberated. I could just imagine the new Democratic Senate approving the Kyoto Protocol and then having our President find a reason to go to war with China, that is war we CANNOT win!

Prehistoric Predator

I had to add the photo because it was what originally drew me to this article. When I started reading, it only got better. This type of old environmental stuff can be pretty interesting. This photo is the skull of an old fish whose bite, researchers say, could rival the power of T-rex. Researchers discovered this when studying the jaw on the skull of this giant fish known as Dunkleosteus terrelli, or "terrible fish". This 33 foot long ocean predator lived 400 million years ago in the area that would now be Ohio.

When scientists used this fish's skull to recreate the musculature of it's head, they found it's bite could deliver 1,100 pounds of force. This power was focused at it's front fangs, where it could deliver 8,000 pounds per square inch of pressure- enough to crack concrete. Researchers believe this fish was at the top of the food chain and could feed on anything in it's environment at will. It's jaw could literally sheer sharks in half. They believe it was one of the world's first rulers of the food chain.

Save a Breath, Buy a Hybrid

So, I decided I’d start reading some news as to complete the 11 blog entries assignment, and found some interesting stuff.
Apparently the amount of carbon dioxide humans have been pumping out into the air has since the 1990’s more than doubled. In the last four years the amount has increased significantly as each year comes to pass. This is some pretty ridiculous stuff.
As of now about half of the carbon dioxide that we pass from cars and certain power plants goes straight into the atmosphere; the other half is absorbed into the land and oceans. As we increase the level of emissions, the amount in the atmosphere will also increase, leaving us with polluted, filthy air.
The obvious cause for all this is our automobiles. The bigger, the cooler, and the better, is our American outlook. This is a horrible attitude, and if we don’t start to shift our thinking we might not have the breath to speak. Hybrids, hybrids, hybrids! Buy one, ditch your SUVs; we’ll be just as safe if we are all driving tiny hybrid cars, and you’ll still be just as “cool,” I promise.
The other easy solution is to convert the entire nation to the wonderfully clean nuclear power. So, if you are reading this and have some sort of political power, lets get some plants made, try and convince ole Georgey. This might be a difficult process since the last ones built were in the 70’s, but good luck.

Rehydrate-Replenish-Refuel

One-fifth of the population of the entire world is lacking clean drinking water.
This fact stuck me as fascinating. Water seems like something I so greatly take for granted. Whether I’m taking a shower, washing clothes, or just taking a drink from the fountain, I never even think about the fact that this water has been filtered and purified to cleanliness.
Pollution along with climate changes, i.e. drought, are lowering the level of clean water available. These are not only third-world countries that are being affected by this crisis. Parts in New York, China, and England as well are lacking the quantity of water necessary for health and survival.
The solution starts with the individual. We must watch what we hurl out our car window, or what trash we drop as we walk. Also, protesting against polluting industries can be effective. This as well as petition composure and signing can truly change the planet. Get out there when u have free time and help cure the thirst of our world.

Hunger on the Holidays

The holiday season is here. Time to spend, spend, spend, laugh, and be merry.
This is the time of the year where money doesn’t matter. We hop in our cars and travel any lengths to get that special present.
I’m not going to try to bring down your holiday spirits with environmentalist bitching, but I will encourage you to help in anyway possibly the poor and less fortunate people of the world. Whether it is donating time or money, anything helps. Just as animals, trees, and plants are part of the environment, so are humans. And some of us aren’t so fortunate.
Here are some places to check out regarding this blog:
www.salvationarmyusa.org
www.goodwill.org
www.thehungersite.com

A Solution That Cannot Be Seen

One of the largest problems for the the U.S. Department of Energy is the hundreds of billions of groundwater contaminated uranium and other toxic chemicals. A solution has been found for this problem, however, in a tiny microorganism too small to be seen by the naked eye. This microorganism, known as Geobacter sulferreducens, passes electrons onto metal in order to get energy from it's food. Humans do this too, except we breathe in oxygen to break down our food. So basically through this process these microorganism cause the hazardous metals in the groundwater to be converted from a dissolved to a solid form. Because of this, the metals fall out of the groundwater. According to Derek Lovley, a microbiologist, it will be easier to extract the metals from the water once they are solid and in a discreet area, rather the dissolved in the water over a widespread area.
Though this is a great solution to the problem, it has not yet been put into effect because Lovley and his colleagues are still in their third year of developing the Geobacter for the project. It is much needed, however, because current solutions are not very productive. Right now the department of energy pumps groundwater to the surface, where it is treated for contaminants, and injected back into the ground. This process usually does not completely remove the contaminants and cannot remove certain contaminants such as uranium. Uranium is a major contaminant because back in the Cold War the United States produced millions of tons of uranium oxide to build nuclear bombs. When mills were shut down, the radioactive waste was left behind. Luckily, geobacter sulferreducens will specialize in removing uranium.

Self Examination

Today I was in deep thought on my basic ideals concerning my “environmentalist” title and I’m kind of thinking they are lies.
I drove miles on a highway in order to have band practice with my friends. We plugged in our energy eating amps and jammed away for hours. With the lights on, music blasting, we cared little (not at all) about our energy consumption. And I know I do stuff like this all the time, whether it be burning gasoline or natural gas, I just do what I want and to hell with what I’m destroying.
I suppose I could be a lot worse. I don’t litter, and I appreciate the environment in all her glory. I mean, I’m doing this blog for God’s sake; that’s gotta be worth something.
Do what you do, and try to keep a look out for the environment, even if it just as small as picking up a gum wrapper, or turning off some lights you aren’t using. You don’t need to be a legend. It’s the little things you do and don’t do everyday that can change the world. So look out for the things you should be doing and aren't, and the things you are doing that you shouldnt, change yourself a bit, and enjoy the world.

meat is murder?

My little sister told me over the weekend that she is now a vegetarian. That struck me as shocking at first, and now I’m starting to question myself. Plants and animals alike are an important part of the environment. So should I, as an environmentalist, not eat animals? I took some time over break to mull this over a bit and here’s what I came up with.
Feeding off of Mr. Charles Darwin, we are the fittest being on Earth and we should exemplify our superiority by surviving. Me must eat, sleep, and procreate. Healthy eating includes proteins and other things found in animal meat. That is why we eat them, to stay healthy, full, and fat; i.e. be the “fittest” animals alive. Since we too are part of this world, we should be allowed to eat other animals without distress, and continue our survival.
My second theory was that we should all be vegetarians. Mankind has evolved so to the point where we can artificially generate what we gain from eating meat. We don’t need to barbarically slaughter animals and consume their flesh, and fashion their skin to our liking. But we do. And we like doing it. The chief reason we eat it is because of taste. Our society no longer needs to worry about eating to survive; we are beyond that phase in evolution. In fact, most of the nation is worrying about eating too much to survive. We are humans, we are selfish, and we are pigs. We eat for pleasure and meat is our lure.