Indigenous Communities & Food Security

By Caroline Zuba

When discussing sustainability, indigenous communities are a top priority.

Tourists tend to be indiscriminate in their vacation choices. Palau, for example, is an archipelago of 700 islands heavily reliant on tourism. Yet, a recent study has taken note of the effects of tourists consuming the fish that they have been gawking at on their trips. According to the study, tourism on the islands surpasses the local populations by around nine times.

“Dive tourists taking a lunchtime break in Palau. Image by Colette Wabnitz. Credit: University of British Columbia.”

This presents a massive problem when many indigenous communities, including those in Palau, rely mainly on coastal fish populations. Not only is fishing a food source, it is also one of their links to the culture that defines them. In fact, it is a maintenance of an identity, and the depopulation of fish in the area endangers lives and cultures. Food security is thus at the forefront of discussions regarding Indigenous rights, and tourism is increasing the vulnerability of these groups by increasing changes in the ecosystem.

The study found a potential solution: The health of the reefs can be sustained by shifting to consuming open water fish, including sustainably-harvested tuna. The notion of sustainable tourism is addressed, and the article mentions that this sort of tourism should also include protecting the food of the local people.

Sustainability

A Sustainable Future Powered by SeaThe blades of this five-blade turbine are made of a soft material and they rotate on their axis when influenced by ocean waves -- the diameter of the turbine is about 0.7 meters. The axis is attached to a permanent magnet electric generator, which is the part of the turbine that transforms the ocean wave energy into usable electricity. The ceramic mechanical seal protects the electrical components inside of the body from any saltwater leakage. This design allows the turbine to function for ten years before it need replacing. Credit: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit

This water turbine converts water currents and waves into energy. Professor Tsumoru Shintake at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University developed this turbine to create energy from the currents off the coast of Japan. Not only do these turbines improve life on land but they also protect the land by being used as wave breakers that prevent erosion of the shores. This is a new development is still in its beginning stages but are projected to be ready for installation.

This is a perfect example of sustainability.  This turbine can be a clean replacement for fossil fuels and their pollution into the environment. It can also protect the land form erosion. While they are still looking for a cheaper and easier method to maintain the turbine, the other pillars of sustainability are certainly there. The environment is enhanced and the society benefits for the energy that is created “Using just 1% of the seashore of mainland Japan can [generate] about 10 gigawats [of energy], which is equivalent to 10 nuclear power plants.” Using this alternative energy can mean making a difference in our lives and the lives of the next generation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170922094047.htm

 

Urban Sustainability: NYC Bag Fee

Steven Cohen, executive director of Columbia University’s Earth institute, writes about a recent law that was passed by the New York City government to charge a fee for paper and plastic bags that are currently given away for free to shoppers. This bill has stirred great debate and finally passed after two years of resistance. Mayor Bill de Blasio is in full support of the law. The purpose of the fee is not to collect money from shoppers but to raise awareness of the extra unnecessary consumption of paper and plastic that New Yorkers take advantage of everyday. The hope is that this fee will lead to New Yorkers bringing in their own plastic bags when shopping. The overuse bagging has filled up our landfills. According to J. David Goodman of the New York Times, the Sanitation Department has claimed to collect 10 billion plastic bags, that have only being used once, annually.  What might seem like a minor change can have  huge impact on the environment and our landfills.

More laws like this that will force people to ponder their actions and reduce the over-consumption of a product. For instance, beverage containers are all of one time use. As a initiative to force New Yorkers to recycle, five sets are awarded of every water bottle returned. This should extend to all beverages, the water bottle initiative should be applied to states other than New York. Cohen advises that all truck deliveries should have a “two-way commerce.” When dropping off products, drivers should pick up reusable containers and packaging. This is known as a circular economy, where goods are reused and recycled.  As an example, my family has water containers delivered to our home every month, and the used containers are picked up with every delivery.

Bio Blitz 2017

Bio Blitz 2017 was definitely an interesting experience. It is always exciting to explore new things, and it was great to get to do so with new friends! Our mentor for the day was a man who loved fish and fishing more than I have seen anyone care about something in a long time. Hearing about the different fish at Alley Pond Park was eye-opening to understanding the diverse amount of species present, even though we were only able to catch blue gills when we started fishing. It was sad to hear about the eutrophication occurring due to the phosphate in the water and excessive algae growth in the lake that is toxic to both humans and certain species that live in the lake. I think more emphasis was put on this disheartening situation because it was being explained to us by a man who really cared about the ecosystem that was being affected due to the changes in the lake. We were also joined by people from fish associations in the state and they entertained us with some life size fish models and fun facts, as well as let us take some funky photos with their array of fish!  Ultimately, it was fun to relax and spend some time fishing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but it was also interesting to learn about the different species and issues in a little unsuspecting lake such as the one we spent time at in Alley Pond Park.

Urban Sustainability—Making the Oil Companies Build California’s Sea Walls

Though the environmental world often has a dicey relationship when it comes to interests of the law/politics, lawyers in San Francisco and Oakland are now joining forces with environmentalists to hold oil companies accountable for their misdemeanors. According to Scientific American, as of yesterday, five top oil companies have been sued on the charges of encouraging use of fossil fuels and other actions that have been linked to climate change and a rise in sea-levels. Being coastal cities, Oakland and San Francisco residents especially feel the pressure of their situation. Plans and maps of buildings including the main Oakland airport underwater by 2100 are a cause for concern. Furthermore, these aren’t just any lawyers involved; names such as Matt Pawa and David Bookbinder are familiar in past cases won against American Electric Power Co. and Exxon. Should they win, they plan to make these companies fund California’s climate change adaptation arsenal. Though the oil companies did not cite a response, evidence showing that over 90 companies are responsible for over half of the current climate changes does not necessarily work in their favor.

Of the ‘big’ companies I’ve heard about, oil companies are some of the few that frequently grace newspaper covers and media reports. In the past, I’ve read about individuals or groups of scientists taking action here and there to undo damage made by these companies—whether it be cleaning up spills or searching for cleaner alternatives. However, I was surprised to find this issue was being addressed in an entirely different perspective—via the law. This reminded me of our conversation in class about the way in which our view of urban sustainability is maturing to encompass aspects of our lives outside of just the environment, now including social and economic visions as well. Although the timing is a bit late, I see a glimpse of growth in this situation. Simply by filing this case under ‘protection of people and property’ and proposing funding for sustainable goals as their winnings, these lawyers have made a statement in recognizing that should environmental infrastructure fail, so too will our social and economic constructs.

 

News, Benjamin HulacE&E. “Cities Sue Big Oil for Damages from Rising Seas.” Scientific American, 21 Sept. 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/cities-sue-big-oil-for-damages-from-rising-seas/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa-editorial-social&utm_content=&utm_term=sustainability_partner_&sf115859895=1.

Sustainability In Regards to Electric Powered Cars

 

Sustainability consists of three different aspects of civilization: society, economy, and the environment. All three aspects must be taken into account whenever making decisions about how to prosper in the present and in the future, by balancing economic progress, social progress, and conservation of Earth’s resources. This NY Times article was about different countries planning to eventually ban gasoline and diesel powered cars. The chief executive of General Motors put emphasis that this decision should be made by the customers, rather than forcing them to buy electric cars, that the customers have a right to choose the “technology that meets their needs” (Bradsher). G.M. in China have been attempting to create plug-in hybrid vehicles that can drive 50 miles per charge on the electric battery and 100 miles after that on the gas engine. The decision and her statements have come into debate on whether vehicles should be allowed to progress to become more green.

In order for our society to progress, we need to take into account all three aspects of sustainability. It is important to introduce the idea that cars should be altered to be more environmentally friendly, because diesel and gasoline powered cars contribute a significant amount of CO2 emissions that increase air pollution and global warming. However, it is also important to ensure that the economic and social aspects of society can support this decision based on the concept of complete sustainability. If the electric car is not as efficient and more expensive than a gasoline car, a majority of people, unless committed to helping the environment, will go for that option. The chief executive made a fair point that the customers will choose according to their needs. The only way to promote the greatest amount of sustainability and progress for society is to continue trying to improve the efficiency of environmentally friendly cars to the point that they reach the efficiency level of gasoline and diesel powered cars in technology and mileage, and then proceed to phase out a need for gasoline cars. They must also take into account the cost of the cars and the living styles of the majority population, whether they afford to be environmentally friendly. Despite everything, it was also important for countries to announce their inclination to introduce and promote electric powered cars as being an important and hopefully established part for the future of our society if we want to continue living on Earth comfortably.

Replacing Plastic?

An inexpensive biomaterial that can be used to sustainably replace plastic barrier coatings in packaging and many other applications has been developed by researchers, who predict its adoption would greatly reduce pollution. Completely compostable, the material — a polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complex — is comprised of nearly equal parts of treated cellulose pulp from wood or cotton, and chitosan, which is derived from chitin — the primary ingredient in the exoskeletons of arthropods and crustaceans. The main source of chitin is the mountains of leftover shells from lobsters, crabs and shrimp consumed by humans.

These environmentally friendly barrier coatings have numerous applications ranging from water-resistant paper, to coatings for ceiling tiles and wallboard, to food coatings to seal in freshness, according to lead researcher Jeffrey Catchmark, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences.
The potential reduction of pollution is immense if these barrier coatings replace millions of tons of petroleum-based plastic associated with food packaging used every year in the United States — and much more globally, Catchmark noted.

He pointed out that the global production of plastic is approaching 300 million tons per year. In a recent year, more than 29 million tons of plastic became municipal solid waste in the U.S. and almost half was plastic packaging. It is anticipated that 10 percent of all plastic produced globally will become ocean debris, representing a significant ecological and human health threat.

Source:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170920144704.htm

Urban Sustainability

https://twitter.com/gabicohen6/status/909804813377994752

This article discusses Freshkills Park, which is a park built on what used to be a landfill in Staten Island. In PlaNYC 2030’s original 2007 urban sustainability plan, the Bloomberg administration set a goal that every city resident would live within a ten minute walk of a city park, showing how important parks are to urban life. While we know that they are an enjoyable place to spend time outdoors, there are also ecological benefits. Green space absorbs heat and carbon dioxide, assists in controlling storm water runoff, and can help preserve biodiversity.

In rural settings, people have their own outdoor land to enjoy alone. However, in cities, people depends on parks to enjoy the outdoors. Park design can vary by topography, climate, culture, public demand and capital investment. A lot of thought is put into placing a waterfall to drown out the noise of people or where to place a Pond so there aren’t too many people in one area. But not many times are parks placed on landfills. I think Staten Island is setting a great example of urban sustainability. If you can’t tell what used to be there, and you’re getting good use of the space, why not turn a garbage dump into a park?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Macaulay Bio Blitz Salamander

This little guy is a spotted salamander which we found underneath a log. Unlike the red striped salamander, this spotted amphibian has lungs, though he does take in a lot of moisture through his skin as well. It was rare to find 4 separate salamanders so early because the majority of them are still hibernating under the ground. I hope to go back and find a few again because it was a very interesting experience, finding that there were these amazing creatures in the same park that I’ve been to since I could walk. It makes you realize that ecosystems are everywhere and you just have to know where to look.

Greenbelts and Nitrogen Dioxide

In “Roadside trees trap asthma-inducing pollutants“, a new study challenges the popular notion that having more trees automatically means having cleaner air.  A new study looked at the wooded areas net to roadways. A common pollutant from vehicle exhaust, nitrogen dioxide,  may be trapping it and causing the ground levels to as much as 21%. Nitrogen Dioxide can make it harder to  breathe for people with respiratory disorders.

Urban Ecologist Heikki Setälä from the University of Helsinki measured air quality in and around 10 greenbelts. After taking these measurements, they found that percentages of Nitrogen Dioxide were on average; 14% higher than in the fields some distance away from it. Setälä suggested that wind might be the cause in the study. The denseness of the trees make it more difficult for pollutants to disperse.

I was attracted to this article because of how it challenges the belief that to combat climate change and pollution, we just have to plant more trees. We have to be more strategic with how we implement environmentally friendly infrastructure.  As noted by Sara Janhäll, who says, “We can use vegetation much more than we do, but the design can be totally wrong, and then you won’t get an air pollution-reducing effect.”