Author Archives: Sherifa Baldeo

Posts by Sherifa Baldeo

Nearing the End, and Future Decisions

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

Nearing the semester’s end, I believe that the best way to write this final response is to not only reflect on all that I have learned but also to expound on the importance of this seminar to my life and everyone else’s in the world. I have learned to care about the environmental issues and their gravity. Even more, however, with the knowledge I have about the issues, I can spread awareness about these pertinent topics as well as take action to help rectify environmentally devastating impacts of humans.

Learning the facts, when one is taught any subject, is an objective way to expose one to the subject at hand, given that the facts are correct. In this class, I feel that I was given the correct facts, which made the environmental issues more real and, thus, scarier. Not only was I forced to accept the truth in front of me, but this truth also resonated in many of my everyday actions. I felt that I was paying attention to the amount of resources I used and connecting many news stories and situations, such as Hurricane Sandy, to what I learned in class.

Coming to terms with the facts made me feel unstable at times, because I felt as though a great overhaul of how humans live was needed. In fact, this may be what it takes to achieve a proper environmental equilibrium. I appreciated when the psychological aspect of accepting the facts was brought up in class because this reasoning, that humans will reject unpleasant facts, is probably a huge reason why many people do not want to face the issues and find solutions. They are overwhelmed by the daunting task at hand. In addition, accepting that there is a problem with the way they live their lives is unsettling because this acceptance means that they are doing something wrong. People do not like to be wrong!

For example, many companies and government officials may not want to accept that there is environmental injustice occurring when industries and different plants continuously set up in low-income, minority neighborhoods. Even for those who live in moderate- or high-income neighborhoods, this truth may be unsettling for them, because even though they may protest these plants in the low-income neighborhoods, they still are probably relieved that the plants are not in their neighborhoods. This relief may transpire into guilt, but what they do with this guilt is what is important.

If we all felt guilt and just pushed it to the side, as we do a lot in life, then not much would get done. We need to harness our passionate feelings about the environment and put them into great use, whether it is on a personal or cooperative scale. That is, we need to at least try and make a difference before we say that we cannot. We are not to fear either because there are many ways that we can accomplish a cleaner, sustainable environment, which is through proliferating the Five Paths to Enlightened Environmentalism and taking small but meaningful actions.

In one of the recent presentations, two students highlighted many small ways that New Yorkers can help build a greener society, such as through reducing waste and conserving energy. I appreciated the methods they put forward for doing such, like taking the subway, turning off lights when they are not in use, and recycling. In addition, there was conversation in class about spreading information through social media, such as Facebook. I feel that, although it is true that many people may not acknowledge Facebook posts associated with the environment, people may still read the posts, think about what they just read, and may spread what they now know.

The circulation of information is extremely powerful; we have all seen that ideas can go viral and translate into something more meaningful and tangible. For example, as said in class, by putting forth the issues and solutions that we learned about in great numbers, a response is bound to occur, even if the response if from the smallest audience. In the environmental crisis that we are in, we need as many people to have a paradigm shift about the environment via a messianic moment, such as after reading a meaningful Facebook status or watching an environmental awareness commercial, as was presented in class. Only when people are personally affected will they emotionally engage themselves in the issues, begin to care about their actions, and then actually resolve some of their own wrongs toward the environment.

Taking this seminar taught me to consider all of the details of an issue before jumping to a conclusion. This consideration may be difficult at times but worth it in the end, because then is when we can fully understand an issue and how to resolve that issue. When this class has concluded, as Professor Alexandratos has always noted, my classmates and I will know the facts. Be it as small as reducing our paper towel use or as large as preventing companies from polluting the environment, it is now up to us to spread environmental awareness and, for all of humanity at that, to practice limits and redeem ourselves from our environmental wrongs.

Sherifa Baldeo

Awareness about and Actions against Trash

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

The gravity of New York City’s daily waste cannot be told in its numbers only. To appreciate the full effect of the trash situation, one must delve into the implications that New York City’s trash has. That is, we must consider what this trash consists of, where this trash goes, and what happens to the trash after its exportation or deliverance elsewhere. When we consider these aspects of our trash and physically see our waste after it leaves our hands, then we realize our excessive nature as well as our destructive impacts on the Earth. These impacts and the prospect of running out of space to put the trash scare me the most and make even more urgent the need for change.

That Manhattan’s trash is shipped to Tullytown, Pennsylvania is quite disturbing because this fact means that we do not have room here in New York or must make great amendments to place our trash here. Our trash production rates, in my opinion, are bound to become worse if we do not make a change. If such does occur, we need to find more final destinations for our trash. What happens when we fill Tullytown until it overflows? We must find a new trash location, but then where would we go next? Space is limited and to begin shipping our trash further will cost more and be more unfavorable to the general public, the government, and companies. To find locations for transfer stations proves a difficulty now in New York City due to the ethical and health concerns of many people in the that area, although perhaps these people just do not want to see such unpleasant sights in their neighborhoods. Regardless, these sites are such huge issues that I see our only reasonable and environmentally ethical option is to find environmentally sustainable alternatives.

Achieving these environmentally sustainable goals seem impossible, but as I referred to in previous responses, we can be successful with small actions. As was spoke about in class, San Francisco is a great example of how we can manage and even reuse the waste we produce. For example, by creating composts for individual households, we can provide fertilizer for farms or produce as opposed to dumping our organic waste. Also, creating different waste compartments and organizing our waste in the way that San Francisco does makes reusing our trash easier.

The informed, including myself, need to spread these possibilities to others. The first portion of the ad campaign that we saw in class was brilliant and really did seem a valid way to raise awareness about New York’s trash. Joseph also touched upon that the issue is all about changing the way we are. We must adapt to the Earth and its natural tendencies, rather than try to create a new, environmentally unfavorable equilibrium. If changing the paper products we use, increasing our usage of solar power, and building edifices with sustainable material will achieve a proper equilibrium for Earth, then these actions are what we will have to carry out. We must change our habits now because, if we do not, we may end up in dire situations, such as having to leave our familiar homes and neighborhoods.

An example of such a situation is Treece, Kansas, which should no longer be livable due to the high amounts of lead and zinc present due to certain human activity. The entire town, besides one couple, was evacuated, many, if not all, for a monetary incentive. If we continue on with our wasteful and careless ways, then will we not end up in the same situation? The answer to me is that we will have to face similar situations.

I, or anyone else, with an inkling of passion for the environmental welfare can inform others as much as we want about the issues; sometimes, though, the problem arises that others do not want to listen to what we have to say. Many a times when I begin to talk about the environment and doing what we must to stabilize the Earth, especially concerning car fuel, my father does not want to hear much of what I have to say. Sure he listens but he does not always agree with me. My mother can be the same way at times it seems, especially after I explained how the increased levels of carbon dioxide and melting glaciers that contributed to Hurricane Sandy were very much due to the actions of humans.

The point I try to make here is that people will not want to hear out the environmental side of the issue, and rather care more about the economics of the issue and what they are socially comfortable with. Here, then, we see that many people need a huge paradigm shift because, if they do not care and do not lend their small actions to mend the issues, then we may reach similar fates as those of the people of Treece, Kansas.

Sherifa Baldeo

The Fourth Path and PlaNYC

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

To have a genuine goal or purpose, especially in regards to the environment, is acknowledgeable. Having means or a plan, however, as alluded to in class, is noteworthy because this plan provides a way to achieve the goals. Even better than having a plan is putting the plan into action, which New York City demonstrated with its PlaNYC environmental initiative, which sets out to improve the land, water, transportation, energy, and air of New York City. This program may be the start of even more environmental programs and initiatives that will help us restore the Earth’s natural balance and maintain this equilibrium.

Personally, I am proud as a New Yorker that the government is tending to such goals. These goals show that the government apparently cares about the well being of the ecosystems on Earth and wish to preserve what is in its power to preserve. After all, besides federal funding and long-run benefits, there seems to be no quick, easy scams as incentives for implementing such environmental plans into New York City’s future. By this statement, I mean that government officials do care, or are taking into account the opinions of people that feel strongly about the environment, which probably explains partially why they would even form such a plan.

I must note that, although I am pleased that New York City is making an effort to practice limits and sustainability, I am a bit apprehensive about whether some of the substituents of the initiative are actually going to be effective. In addition, I am skeptical of whether the implemented plan is mostly intended to make a cleaner Earth for all biodiversity or just for New Yorkers, in which case, PlaNYC does not have the intrinsic value of Earth and it resources in mind. For example, I was a bit confused in class of why the program funds land cleanups to create parks that look more so like shopping areas. Perhaps the intent is that everywhere we go, whether it is the store, the bank, or the gym, greenery and sustainability surrounds us. My hope is that this reasoning is why this new area looks as it does, and not necessarily for the aesthetic wants of us humans. After all, we must remember that humans should be selfless if we truly want to mend our wrongs in the environment and must be willing to adapt ourselves to the favorable equilibrium of the Earth. We must learn to live according to ways, that is, that favor the natural, normal equilibrium of Earth.

This notion brings me to the fourth path of the Five Paths to Enlightened Environmentalism. That is, if we want to enjoy all that the Earth has to offer, such as its land and its resources, we must preserve the Earth as much as we can and not destroy the Earth’s multiple reservoirs of valuables, which we use daily and miss deeply if not readily available for us, such as natural gas or drinking water. The PlaNYC program promotes this fourth path by attempting to create a cleaner, more environmentally sensible New York City.

PlaNYC is a great opportunity to emanate environmental responsibility and sustainability to New Yorkers and the rest of the world. That is, New Yorkers have the opportunity to see change first hand and can, thus, reproduce on a smaller scale the actions taken in light of PlaNYC. In addition, once other cities in America and around the world notice what we are doing in our city, they too may strive too achieve similar goals as ours for their own benefit. This increased awareness and dissemination of strategic ways of achieving sustainability goals have the potential to enhance the positive impact humans can have on the environment. Just as every small action counts, so do the larger actions of individuals, cities, and countries as well.

New York City’s plan highlights the role of government in creating solutions to the environmental crisis. Although I am not a strong advocate of the government’s hands in people’s lives, I do condone the government’s actions that work towards the interest of the people and what is right. PlaNYC is a program that I feel will work in the best interest of the people environmentally, economically, and socially.

Sherifa Baldeo

Hurricane Sandy, Sustainability, and Environmental Policies

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

In light of Hurricane Sandy and the devastation this storm has wrought upon many people’s lives, I cannot help but ponder the role that humans have played in this climate change. If it stands that humans have not contributed to the change, then I ponder the consequences that the storm will have on the environment, especially because many people are still without power and constantly need gas for their generators. I know this first-hand because, as of today, Friday, there is still no power in Far Rockaway, my hometown.

With the long gas lines and the need to restore many people’s lives back to normalcy, I am apprehensive that many people will forget or dismiss the environmental aspect of the storm and ultimately rebuild stably yet unsustainably. On a broader scale, if many industries and communities genuinely adhered to stricter environmental policies that make sustainability the norm, especially in New York State at this time, rebuilding sustainably would be easier and possibly cheaper. Perhaps we may even be able to prevent many of the climatic and environmental changes that are occurring at an extremely rapid pace.

I do not wish to sound unconcerned or insensitive to the situation at hand. I know that survival is the goal for many people at this time. Many people just want to restore their homes to normalcy. In fact, some people do not even have a home to go to and must start anew. The circumstances that many people are in now are utterly unacceptable and frustrating. I understand this completely and my sentiments go to all of those enduring the impacts of the storm, including much of my family. The point I bring to light is that we may be able to avoid such damage and loss if we take into account on a daily basis the environmental impact of our actions. If companies took the time to invest in green engineering and promoted sustainability policies, many of the products and processes used that alter the Earth’s equilibrium will be eliminated or, at least, reduced. I am certainly not saying that we can control nature. Rather, we can favorably work with nature and ultimately prevent having to clean up larger messes.

One example of preventing the disruption of Earth’s equilibrium is to eliminate fracking, or fracturing rocks for natural gas and oil. Fracking is possibly the cause for earthquakes that recently occurred in some places. We cannot choose to deny this apparent relationship in the face of our want for natural gas to fuel our cars that contribute to the imbalance, due to their carbon emissions. These carbon emissions adversely impact the air quality of many cities and contribute to global warming, which is, in essence, a climatic change. If the government, either at the local, state, or national level, restricts fracking, we can fix many problems with a comprehensive legislation. Sure, this legislation may be expensive initially, but once we make environmental sustainability the norm, the environmental sustainability option may become cheaper.

We see that natural gas is significant in our times, given the long gas lines of both cars and people that emerged due to the limited gas shipment after Hurricane Sandy. The prices of gas also affect society because much of the people’s money contributes to gas for their cars. We have the technology and the ability to use others means of energy, such as solar or biological energy, but we do not put such means into practice. We are not making the effort to create a paradigm shift for society in general; that is, companies and citizens are not making alternative energy sources the norm, and so we continue to use what is familiar and destructive.

Hurricane Sandy, much in its aftermath, brought to light the reality of the environmental impacts of humans. If we do not make a change, be it the smallest of them now, we will not be able to easily rectify greater issues in the near future. Although we may not have caused the storm, our energy needs and insensitive actions have contributed to the aftermath of the storm. To speak of people in such a way after the storm may be troubling for those affected directly by the storm. I do no mean to offend them; the main point I intend to highlight is that we must implement policies that will help us care for the Earth and maintain its balance, such as the implementation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating scale in the construction and maintenance of government edifices and constructs. By putting into place regulations for promoting sustainability, people generally feel obligated to comply with the rules. Even if individuals are reluctant, at first, to the laws, I hypothesize that they will come to appreciate them once they see the environmental, societal, and, especially, economic benefits.

Another such policy to help avoid added devastation is the Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act of 1996, which protects a major portion of New York City’s water supply in three watersheds, or the Catskills, Croton, and Delaware systems. By promoting the quality of our water, we reduce waste within the water, prevent extensive human activity from occurring around bodies of water, and protect other species. As of such, we can preserve biodiversity and reduce physical and emotional damage of humans when storms involving water occur.

After expounding on humans, their environmental impact, and the importance of environmental policies, I am left to say that we should all take example from Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring. She is a role model because she took a step that catalyzed a paradigm shift for many people. Her messianic moment induced emotional engagement in others towards the environment. Like Carson, we should all spread our awareness and knowledge about the environment; in doing such, we can increase support for sustainability policies. In addition, it is only until we all practice limits and care about the environment that we can truly commit to a sustainable, balanced Earth.

An Absolutely Brilliant Movie!

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

Francis Ford Coppola’s Koyaanisqatsi is a reflection of the events on Earth, starting with its creation, leading up to the rise of humans, and ending with the destruction of all that is man-made. According to Coppola’s film, we are our own destruction, especially in light of all of the changes and amendments that we have made to planet Earth. These changes are, ultimately, the ones that will destroy us in the end. In persuading the viewers of the film to see this prediction as well as to realize the beauty and purity that is nature, Coppola employs dark-toned music, emotional outreach, and strategic effects and symbolism.

Koyaanisqatsi begins with a still of what seems to be cave drawings, and cryptic ones at that. That is, the drawings are somber and create a dark tone for the movie. These drawings may foreshadow that what the viewer is about to see has a grave ending, especially because the drawings depict human-like figures in constrained forms. After the shot of these drawings, the viewer sees explosions occurring, which I felt were synonymous with the big bang theory, or the predicted mechanism by which the universe came to be.

Supporting further my inference about the explosions are the subsequent shots of different locations on Earth, such as natural rock forms, moving clouds, cascading and glistening waters, green mountains, and endless rows of plants. These shots were, in essence, of an untouched Earth; that is, an Earth untouched by humans in which nature runs high and low, and far and wide.

The films comes to a pivotal point once the camera approaches and then travels over a rock-like projection, which perhaps represents a transition to a different time in the Earth’s history. This new timeframe introduces humans on Earth. The film wastes no time in demonstrating that the effect humans have on the Earth is a destructive one, for the clips after the camera makes it way over the rock projection involve many explosions of rock forms, which may be for the creation of human mines, caves, or industries.

Coppola expounds on the devilish nature of humans with regards to the Earth in the film when he introduces the viewer to a machine or industrial vehicle that strategically has the number six on its structure. Although this notion may be far-fetched, I felt as though the number 6 may have been a reference to the devil in lieu of 666. Even more, the machine becomes engulfed by a black smoke, which might be a reference to the ashes of hell.

After this scene, the viewer observes different clips of man-made creations, such as power plants, highways, buildings, and the atomic bomb, symbolizing the intrusion of humans, their intellectual superiority, and advancements on Earth. Again, the film reaches another pivotal point, in which the camera moves across abandoned, run-down buildings. Many buildings are then demolished by the traditional, anthropocentric manner. In other words, the buildings are blown up.

Following the demolition of the buildings are clips of cities and people within those cities. We see that life becomes structured and industrial goods and services become the norm. Long lines, crowded streets, and overpopulated cities do not seem to bother people. An interesting scene in one of the clips of the city life was an electronic sign with the words “Grand Illusion” forming. I believe that this was an ironic suggestion, in that our lives are like a grand illusion because we often live them as though we are most important and no other issues are as important as the ones we have. In actuality, this mindset is highly unrealistic, because our actions have consequences on other organisms and the balance of the Earth and all of its ecosystems. In a way, we see that the demolitions and the cities highlight our anthropocentric views because they demonstrate that we feel at liberty to build, destroy, and then rebuild again without regards for our environmental, societal, and economic consequences.

Just as we feel at liberty to create cities and places for humans to comfort themselves, the film also demonstrates that we tend to produce excessively and, consequently, indulge excessively. Coppola includes in the film many clips of industrial workers and processes in which all sorts of products are mass-produced, including jeans, sliced meat, hot dogs, cars, and Twinkies. This production adheres to the notion that society is constantly on the upward move. That is, much of society wants to increase its profit and status, since with such achievements comes power. I believe that power drives the actions of many people, since being in a position of power gives a person the right to be right. Once again, however, reality shows us that, in the environmental crisis that we are in, we cannot focus on power and who has more money or investments than everyone else. Of essence to the survival of other organisms, the Earth, and ourselves is minimization. I do not imply that we should not be able to enjoy life. Rather, I mean that we should practice limits.

With this said, I can see why Coppola included many of the different forms of recreation in Koyaanisqatsi, such as the people playing Pacman, bowling, watching movies, and shopping in malls and grocery stores. We are consumed with playing the best video games, buying the best products, and having luxurious-type lifestyles, many of the times at the abuse of depleting materials and energy resources. In the film, we also see the individuals increasingly consuming fast foods, which mirrors the increasing consumer activity in the world on products that we probably do not need but want for personal pleasure.

Like the swipe of a public transportation card, as seen in the film, our lives have become extremely predictable and mechanical. We are machines that run on schedules and so we want machines and products in our lives that ensure that our schedules run smoothly. Our need to satisfy our schedules means producing speedy cars, unhealthy electronics such as cellular phones, and other environmentally unfriendly products. In addition, companies feed off of the wants of consumers and, resultantly, seek cheap labor, which dehumanizes people in many other countries and causes the quality of life to decrease for many people. Here we see that environmental issues run deeper than just the environment.

An interesting scene to me, which is probably one of the last pivotal points in the film, is one in which the television displays different products, issues, news stories, obscenities, sports games, and other programs. After this shot, the setting of each clip becomes more frantic and the people look flashier. Eventually, another scene related to television sets appears in which the sets all explode, perhaps representing an overload of consumer wants, business greed and profits, and environmental havoc. After all of the franticness, Coppola employs pathos in the film to invoke emotional engagement, in my opinion, for the environmental issues. He does so by appealing to the human heart by displaying what many of us consider unfortunate and immoral ways of living life. It is as though we are all brought back to reality and realize that…oh yes…our actions do have an impact on the world. In a sense, when we see the impacts, such as depression, poverty, substance abuse including cigarettes, prostitution, and violence, we have a partial messianic moment and realize that action must be taken to overcome the environmental issues to rectify the social adversity. I mention partial because it may not be that viewers feel completely ready or able to do something about the issue; the viewers simply know that they must do something.

One of the most brilliant parts of Koyaanisqatsi is, perhaps, the last scene, in which a rocket ship blasts off into the air and blows up while in the air. The whole ship burns and eventually a small piece remains and slowly deteriorates. The dwindling piece of rocket ship represents our society. If we cannot find ways to restore the Earth’s balance, it is this slow, sad demise that we are headed for. Only we can stop this atrocity from occurring, and only such can be done if we all employ environmental sustainability and remain emotionally involved with the issue.

Coppola makes sure that the audience realizes its impending doom via the strategic, dark-toned music of the movie. The song where the singer repeats “koyaanisqatsi” is quite chilling. This song is present at both the beginning and end of the movie and is a reminder that we must act fast to correct our environmental wrongs. Even more, the film provides several definitions for koyaanisqatsi, which all ultimately culminate to a meaning of an inefficient way of living that needs to be changed. The human-like drawings, which were present at the beginning of the film, and the Hopi prophecies are symbols that represent the wrongdoings of humans toward the environment and the consequences we will have to pay if we continue to live the way we do.

Koyaanisqatsi is a brilliant reflection of what the Earth has become largely because of the actions of human beings. The film compels us to evaluate our own lives and pinpoint what it is that we are doing wrong and what we can ultimately do to amend our wrong actions. Even more, the film juxtaposes a beautiful, natural world with a polluted, corrupt one to probably show us that our actions are more detrimental than we think. To walk away from this film feeling defeated by the simmering rocket ship part is not the intention, then, that I feel Coppola had for us all. Rather, I feel that he wanted to make us think about the issue and realize, in a messianic-like moment, that the Earth is in a critical state and we must do something about the environmental issues. By taking such actions, we can change our predicted fate and prevent our society from becoming the simmering rocket ship piece.

Sherifa Baldeo

 

Perseverance and Messianic Moments

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

At this point along the arc of the course, clearly it is the responsibility of every individual to do his or her part to mend the environmental issues and to restore the Earth’s equilibrium. The realization that we all must do something and can do something is essential to taking on this individual responsibility. Each person must also realize that our lives and society must be balanced and conservative with regards to the environment. That is, we must practice limits and produce and use according to necessary rather than wasteful capacities.

A notion about society brought up in class instantly caught my attention and greatly interested me. That is, humans are constantly concerned with moving upwards and improving and advancing, sometimes at the cost of vital and limited resources. With this improvement and advancement, such as with cars, comes the want to make bigger products with greater capacities and capabilities. I do not wish to imply that improvement is wrong or should not be a constant presence in society. Rather, I mean that certain types of improvement are better than others. Specifically, those that require humans to use resources that we should not use liberally and that move the environment towards increased imbalance are among the advancements that are detrimental to the society, the economy, and the environment.

The key is that we must not create or engineer products to capacities to which we do not need. Similar to the conversation in class, why do we need cars that drive at up to 120 miles per hour when the speed limits in several areas are half that amount? What is the purpose of preparing extra large portions of food that people eventually throw away? Why do we need three-ply bathroom tissue paper when two-ply can suffice? To me, small changes to the wasteful items and processes we use everyday are what can save us from an irreversible environmental crisis. It is at this moment, when we realize that we can take effective action, that we have, as Tony Kushner put it, a messianic moment.

Even after having such a messianic moment, however, many of us may still fear the great responsibility of undertaking the issues of the environment. One must remember, though, that no matter how overwhelming the issue seems or appears, if we persevere, we are bound to see positive results, given that the changes to our lives are reasonable and make sense in terms of environmental sustainability.

It is of much relief to know that there are frameworks and guidelines to follow to persevere in environmental sustainability. The framework through which to view the environmental sustainability is the cradle-to-cradle design, which essentially denotes that we should make use of waste, a variety of renewable energy resources such as solar energy, and different methods of production. To remain faithful to this framework for environmental sustainability, engineers, manufacturers, business owners, politicians, and consumers should pay attention and adhere to the twelve principles of green engineering, which convey that we should try to create as little waste as possible. If we do create waste, we should try to create little waste and, if possible, be able to use that waste as the reactants or starting materials for other products.

Personally, I believe that all of these principles are important to the wellbeing of the environment and humans. In addition to adhering to these principles, we must continuously engage ourselves emotionally to the issue and remain in the mindset of environmental sustainability. That is, if we forget our goals and the intrinsic value of what we are doing, we will lose focus and fall into old, destructive habits.

In our efforts to stay true to the principles of environmental sustainability, it is key to remember that we can make what seems impossible, possible. It is simply a matter of believing in ourselves that we can do something about the environmental crisis and then actually putting our beliefs into action.

Sherifa Baldeo

A Balanced Earth is Possible!

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

To rectify the environmental havoc that toxic processes and materials created and continue to have seems virtually impossible due to the large scale of the problem. With the right consumer choices and habitual practices, however, by industries, small businesses, families, and individuals, our small yet significant actions can make a difference and solve many, if not all, of the ecological problems we face today and will in the future.

Making such choices requires a paradigm shift, or a change in the way we think about and deal with the issues. We need to be certain that the products we use, the processes used to create those items, and the effects of those products are of little to no danger or present no hazard to the environment and biodiversity. Intrinsically wise, the purpose of such is to ensure that the environment reaches a sound balance in which mostly natural forces act upon the organisms and ecological constructs present rather than human forces. Instrumentally wise, the essence of correcting our environmental wrongs in a holistic manner is to ensure that future generations and we may exist sustainably.

To attain these environmental goals, it is necessary for industries to adapt cradle-to-cradle mechanisms, even if doing so requires a total overhaul of previous systems used, because these closed-loop processes promote the development of sustainability. That is, these processes assist in diminishing the environmental mark that humans have made and are making yet provide options for humans to continue to live in ways they are generally familiar with. In my opinion, the essence of cradle-to-cradle engineering is to create little to no waste. We must do so in a way, then, that mirrors natural processes on Earth, or create technological metabolic processes that resemble biological metabolic processes.

Earlier in the semester, we discussed the Gaia Hypothesis, which has a similar viewpoint to cradle-to-cradle design. The Gaia Hypothesis encompasses viewing the Earth as an organism with natural processes that maintain equilibrium within that organism. In a sense, we must use a viewpoint of the Earth that is a fusion of the Gaia Hypothesis and of modern ideologies, or the Earth as a machine, to restore the Earth to equilibrium while practicing limits.

While industries adopt such cradle-to-cradle policies, they can use “The 12 Principles of Green Engineering” to aid them in attaining environmentally, socially, and economically beneficial businesses. As industries make these changes, citizens have the responsibility of making the right choices. That is, they should consume products that are made in environmentally sustainable ways to make such products the norm. For example, as opposed to spending large sums of money on a vehicle that uses a lot of fuel, one might opt for a hybrid or one with higher miles per gallon. By making sustainable industries commonplace, not only will citizens contribute their efforts to a cleaner, balanced environment but also their efforts may effectively drive the cost down of the products of the industries, ultimately creating an all-around beneficial system. In this case, one does not have to stress too much upon finding energy or material sources because the cradle-to-cradle designs inherently account for such supplies.

By committing to a paradigm shift and by combining the cradle-to-cradle policies with “The 12 Principles of Green Engineering”, it is possible to achieve a healthy, clean, balanced Earth. In order to certainly reach such goals, however, I believe that one essential element must exist within all of us. This fundamental is emotional engagement. Without genuinely caring about what we are doing, future generations, other organisms, the intrinsic value of the Earth, and ourselves, we would be innovating and acting because we are supposed to rather than because we want to. In this case, if there is no one to tell us what to do and why to care, we will lose all interest eventually and return to our old ways. Emotional engagement is, thus, important to constantly remind us to act sustainably and environmentally friendly as well as remind us of why it is essential to act in such a way.

Sherifa Baldeo

All Connected

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

Now more than ever it is evident that the environmental crisis requires an elimination of the source of the problem more than the effects of harmful processes and products that industries and civilians use. Part of the solution to the crisis is balancing the environment, the society, and the economy, which contributes to closing the loop in many industrial manufacturing or production processes. A major portion of the solution, however, does not necessarily consist of overt actions but rather internal deliberation and consideration. That is, one must acknowledge or develop an emotional engagement with the environment, its issues, and its wellbeing.

To state that one must develop an emotional attachment with the environment sounds trivial and stereotypic. Such a mindset is necessary, however, to ensure that our intentions are clear and genuine. We need to know to ourselves that we are correcting the environmental problems for the betterment of future generations, for the insurance of our personal future existences, and for the preservation of ecological and biological diversity. We also need to be sure that we know the consequences of not taking care of the Earth’s resources and its inhabitants. That is, the effects of our activities extend to species endangerment, habitat destruction, poverty, dehumanization, business corruption, polluted communities, human endangerment…in short, almost every aspect of life with which we all share some connection with. Important to this emotional engagement is the persistence of such an attitude, as opposed to one that fluctuates based on the stability of the environment.

Once one fully acknowledges, in the full sense of the word, the environment, one can then understand what is essential to correct out wrongs. One important way of doing this, especially for industries, is closing the loop. This concept entails utilizing wastes generated by the manufacturing and production processes, or reducing waste generation with resource utilization. I believe that closing the loop is an excellent way to mend many problems in the environment, but one problem surfaces in the face of these methods: economic costs. Many companies may have to expend extra money to harness, store, and valorize their wastes. While many huge companies have considerable profits, they do not wish to use such perhaps for their own convenience or wants. One must consider, however, the environmental and economic benefits that making use of waste can have. Like transportation methods, as discussed in class, certain new business ventures can become the norm after older and less efficient businesses phase out or become unsatisfactory to the needs of the present. Perhaps the norm may become resource utilization. In addition, by using waste that companies already have, they can limit or cease investing in many sources of limited energy or materials. As such, the companies may save money if such practices are made long-term. Once again, we come to terms with the notion that people must be emotionally engaged with the issues to acknowledge these goals.

Here is where a discrepancy occurs, however, because many people think about the here and now, due to unfortunate circumstances in life, such as poverty or lack of education on the issue. One example noted in class that I will comment upon was the workers in Guyana who extracted gold from rocks using mercury, some of who experienced adverse health effects. Some of the workers may not know of the effects of mercury and, thus, are not troubled about using the materials. Others who do know, yet still do the work, probably do so because the money they earn to feed their families and upkeep the little they do have is more important than the wellbeing of themselves. Most of my family is from Guyana, and were amongst the lower class. Although I do not believe any of them were or are gold workers, some surely did, and still do, have the mentality of getting the job done to support the family and live for today. In order to get others involved in finding methods to avoid environmental problems, those educated on the issues need to share their awareness with others the gravity of the issue. A method of effectively getting across the messages to others, I feel, is to appeal to the issues that directly affect them in the environment, such as their physical health.

Here we see that it is of importance to tackle many social issues in solving many environmental problems. There is a need to raise the standard of living and to create an educated society. This need demonstrates how interconnected the environmental issues are with our lives, which is one of the major reasons why we need to find solutions to the problems. Even further, when we have managed to maintain a balance with society, the environment, and the economy, we must continue to practice limits and remain emotionally engaged with the environment to ensure that we do not make way for a renewed crisis.

Sherifa Baldeo

Naive or Concerned?

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

Of essence to the environmental state of the Earth is planning ahead. Companies are constantly setting up shop without seeing too far beyond profits and economics, all at the cost of the ecological equilibrium. It is a lesson learned so often that industries, specifically manufacturing ones, become profitable, wreak havoc on the environment, and are unable to clean up the mess. Many industries established to make life more convenient and even deluxe, ultimately, jeopardize humans, other species, and the environment.

To say that we must do away with industries is virtually impossible on Earth, as long as humans are existent on this planet. I, thus, believe that instead of contributing to the environmental issues, such as the introduction of toxic wastes and excessive garbage into different habitats, we should try to practice limits in how many destructive industrial edifices and structures are built. Industries should also practice limits in how much material they use in the production of their products as well as try to find ways to use the wastes generated in the production of and by their products. Looking ahead, this practice may even help save the companies money and resources in the future, which is an incentive for everyone. That is, the company saves economically, the government does not have to give tax breaks to or make excuses for the company, and the consumers and the environment does not have to suffer the costs. Call me naïve for believing that the world can work in this way, but would we all, including the companies, consumers, and the government, rather continue on with how we are living and operating now? Other methods, obviously, have not been effective.

If we do not start helping ourselves now and fixing the source of the problem rather than the problem itself, we are leading up to the destruction of land and all that we know since the rate of change that the Earth is experiencing and its deviation from equilibrium are, respectively, rapid and extreme. We saw with the New Bedford Case Study that the agricultural, whaling, textile, fishing, and several other industries all contributed to the various toxicities present in the area now, such as the toxic water filled with dyes and PCBs. People lived in New Bedford, just as we all live in our hometowns, and dealt with such filth, especially that generated from sewage, which ended up in the water. If many of us do not become aware of the issues at hand and make an effort to fix the environmental wrongs, devastatingly polluted cities, such as New Bedford, may become the norm.

Companies may, furthermore, be emitting toxic carbon emissions into the air, which contribute to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect entails that the Earth becomes warmer due to trapped heat, which disturbs the Earth’s equilibrium, leading to climate and even ecological changes. As of such, companies should be on the lookout for environmental-friendly ways to produce their products and conserve energy. To say such is definitely easier than to do, but, perhaps, this next statement shall give companies some motivations: If we do not prepare for the worst as of now, we will have to deal with the worst eventually!

Unless certain businesses, government officials, and even consumers stop treating the environment like a business deal and pretending as if they care about the environment’s welfare and equilibrium, then much cannot be done about the environment. This notion rings true to me because a problem this enormous can only be solved with the dedicated efforts of every individual, no matter how young or old. Pertinent to every individual doing his or her part is the understanding of every individual of the issue, about what he or she should do to help, and about why he or she is taking actions. Even after the masses are educated and taking action, however, everyone must continue to be driven to do their part in the environment. Sure we would all rather blot such troubling information from our minds and not worry about the issue, but if we are not thinking about the state of the future, then how can we ensure that we will even be here to live our lives and fulfill our goals in the future?

Sherifa Baldeo

Every Small Action Counts

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Sherifa Baldeo

After reviewing many case studies about the toxic presence that certain practices present to not only the environment but also people, I understand even further the necessity of making meaning of our waste. What I mean by waste is not only the garbage we produce daily on an individual basis but also the waste we encounter when we travel or work. We have seemingly accepted the presence of incinerators, power plants, and other man-made commodities in places where we live and go to school. While all of these constructions make our lives easier, in terms of accessing power and dealing with the aftermath of our waste, they present a huge problem to our health and the environment. As is always the question, what shall we do then to rectify the problem? In my opinion, the solution is in awareness and small actions taken by everyone.

One case study that exemplifies the acceptance of waste or residue in our everyday lives is one in which researchers detected steel via monitors carried with students during the winter and the summer. In the winter, there were higher steel measures detected by the monitors due to the braking of trains; the students inhaled the steel particles when the trains braked. That no one, mainly speaking policy makers, did anything with this knowledge demonstrates the, at times, lackadaisical transportation system, which seems more concerned with convenience and profits, rather than the people’s safety. Just a few small changes may help implement safer conditions for travelers, especially those in New York City, who are so closely affected by the steel particles from the train brakes. If more money was invested into research to devise a more efficient and healthier system, many health problems and exposure to toxicity can be avoided. The problem still rests at, however, who is responsible for financing such an effort. In the end, matters become dust under the rug and nothing seems to get done.

Similar to this are the landfills and brownfields that are growing in size with waste such as plastic containers, paper, and disposable pampers. One cannot bypass the fact that humans produce waste. The focus, then, is not the cessation of waste production but rather the limitation of waste production. Although it may sound personal, one example of limiting waste is using less toilet paper or paper towels; that is, one should use what is necessary. The following question then surfaces: what are the limits of necessary? To me, necessary is the minimal amount required to effectively carry out a task without producing excess waste. In order to practice limits, as I have highlighted in previous responses, we must work towards a common goal of finding what necessary means to assist in preserving the environment and the safety and wellbeing of humans.

To not give the wrong impression, I must say that I have, at times, accepted toxicity in the environment and do use excess materials in life. To expound on this acceptance, I point to an example in my hometown and one in the area of the high school I attended. For a great portion of my life, I have lived in one house, which is located next to a light plant. Although the light plant does not produce any obvious danger, such as black fumes or wretched smells, I often ponder the effects on the health of my family and myself of having such a plant in close proximity. Thinking about the plant now, I never really took the time to look up the hazards of light plants next to homes. This example demonstrates that I accepted this juxtaposed light plant in my hometown. Similar to this is the sewage treatment plant in Rockaway Park, which is right across the block from the high school I graduated from. This institution had a greater impact on my senses than the light plant because the sewage treatment often produced a wretched smell. Even more, the plant is located extremely close to water and presents a problem to the cleanliness of the water. I did not once, however, take the time to do some research about or volunteer work in this area, and rather accepted that the problem was present and the neighborhood would find some way to fix the problem. My experiences with these two environmental hazards exemplifies that with small actions, such as educating oneself about the problem and then making efforts to eradicate the issue, we can collectively make the Earth a cleaner, healthier place.

It may sound cliché to say that every act counts, but in term of the environment, this notion may be true. If we all make the effort to reduce our waste production, such as using less or reusing resources, then we can reduce the adverse impact we have on the Earth, such as the toxicity that follows with landfills, brownfields, light plants, and more. A fortunate aspect of this science and technology course is that I gain exposure to the details of the issues. On a more generalized level, these details are helping me form a renewed appreciation for the environment and are making me feel uncomfortable, in the sense that I feel the need to take action, even in the smallest way, to resolve the environmental crisis.

Sherifa Baldeo

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