Reflection, Weeks 8-14!

Overview: In this second half of the semester I have really learned how I can better help the environment through abilities I've acquired though this class. In this first half of the class I learned about what was going on and how I could avoid contributing negatively to the environment. In this half of the course I learned what it meant to be an advocate and to actually work towards change and not just prevention. While the first half of the class felt like a lot of "knowing", the second half dealt with a lot of "doing".

Posts: The first series of posts that we introduced this semester was the advocacy project posts. In these posts we found an environmental issue/bill that was currently on the government table and researched it. All of the work we did on find officials, facts, and a stance culminated in the writing of a letter to a government official asking them to vote in a particular direction on the bills we each researched. I found this project to be rather difficult at times with information not always being the easiest to find. That said, I thought this was a great learning experience for me on how to get in contact with my political representatives.

The second type of posts we did this semester were Share and Voice posts. For these posts we would write about some environmental site, blog, video, book, etc. that we found interesting. These post were really fun to do because they gave me more freedom to look into things that I was interested in. It was fun to look at the posts that others put on their blogs and compair them to what I was doing. From what I gathered, everyone in the class had a good idea about what they enjoy about the environment and were able to convey their interests through their Share and Voices.

The third post type we did was our Photo Essay Project. For this we were to put together a collection of photos that conveyed an understanding and appreciation of the environment or recycling. For this project I took pictures of various objects around the UMD campus that promoted recycling and being green. I was pleasantly surprised by how much UMD currently offers in the way of recycling options and green technology. That said, I feel we still have a long ways to go.

Conclusion: All in all, I found this semester to be eye opening and fun. My background knowledge of being environmental was greatly supplemented by this class, and my interest in advocacy has been established. I look forward to utilizing my gains from this class in the near future by working with my friends and family to help improve my environment around me. 

Share and Voice 4!

For this share and voice I decided to find a new and cool blog that was pro-environment and being green. The blog that I found was EcoGeek.org. This blog is all about how we can reuse old materials and objects in new ways which are green. The page is also talks about ways that green technology is being used in a multitude of different and innovative ways. One of the first articles I saw posted on the site talked about how old would was being used in the construction of new buildings, and another article I saw talked about how solar power was being integrated into some prisons. All in all I think this would be a great blog for you all to go and check out. 

Advocacy Project: Letter to an Elected Official!

Chip Cravaak

House of Representatives

508 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515

VOTE YES ON H.R.235: CENTURY INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 2011

I am a college student from Minnesota who is concerned with the wellbeing of our environment. The outcome of this bill will have a large effect on the environment and members of communities that are near industries and factories. This bill aims to decrease the levels of toxic emissions, which come from major sources from 0.8 million tons to 0.7 million tons by 2020. I believe that it is important for you to vote yes on this bill to help preserve the environment.

By reducing toxic emissions in the environment this program will be able to improve the quality of life of the citizens living around industries and factories. Prolonged exposure to these emissions can lead to several health problems that range from birth defects to several forms of cancer. A number of measures have been taken to help the environment in the past with emissions, but much more is needed to clean up the environment.

What opponents will say is that big businesses will be negatively affected by new regulations brought about by this bill. They will argue that the costs wont justify the gain to the environment and decrease in pollution. This is wrong however, because further decreasing toxic emissions will likely prove beneficial to the public relations of the company and improve the health conditions of their employees. These two factors will ensure the sale and quality of the products that the industries produce.

I hope you realize the importance of H.R. 235 and vote yes. If you want any further information from me feel free to send me a letter at my enclosed address or at creamyjohnson@gmail.com.

Alex Johnson 

Share and Voice 3!

For this share and voice I wanted to challenge you all on an environmental topic that I'm passionate about. This topic happens to be flushing the toilet, or more that we flush it way more then we should. Most modern toilets require around six liters of water to flush, older toilets can require up to eleven liters to be flushed. In both cases, over the course of the day that's a lot of water being wasted in the name of flushing, and I don't like it. While I understand the desire, if not the need to flush the toilet after you poop, I find it ridiculous to flush the toilet after each urination. Urine is not off putting enough of a substance to merit being flushed away immediately. The standard I go by is to only flush after every five urinations. Though the water in the toilet has a more yellow appearance I've noticed no other side effects from not flushing the toilet as frequently, but I have noticed how much water I save by not flushing. I challenge you all to live by the moto: "If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down."  


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_water_goes_down_the_toilet_when_you_flush

Advocacy Project: Fact Sheet!

Toxic Emissions

What are they?

They are chemicals and other harmful materials in the air that are hazardous to our health and wellbeing.

Where do they come from?

These emission come from fuel burning devices like cars and machinery, as well as industrial facilities. 

How are people exposed to the emissions?

While inhalation is the easiest way to be exposed to the emissions, one can also be exposed through contaminated food, water, and physical contact with the substances.

What these emissions can lead to?

prolonged exposure to toxic emissions can lead to several health problems which range from birth defects to various forms of cancer.

What has been done about the emissions so far?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a number of measures to limit and regulate toxic emissions created by industries and vehicles, but still emission rates are at large. 

Resource

http://www.epa.gov/oar/toxicair/newtoxics.html#from

Eye Opener: Photo Essay!

For this eye opener we were to find a topic that interested us and then document it through photographs that we take. The topic that I went with was recycling and sustainability on campus here at UMD. I walked around the outside and inside of the various buildings here on campus to find what our campus is doing to recycle and promote sustainability. The following photos are various things I found across campus that I feel reflect my chosen topic.

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 One of the first things I came across while walking around campus where these recycling devices. The unique recycling bins collect a variety of different recyclable items and compress them to improve total storage. The coolest part of the whole process is that these devices are solar powered, which means that they're pretty green! I have just a few photos of them hear, but these guys are all over the place on campus.

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This  photo is of an ash receptacle that I found outside of football field. I found it a little odd to have an ash receptacle on a smoke free campus at first, but I reasoned that it might be used to collect the ash from some others sources (i.e. Hand warming barrels). Should that be the case, ash can be good for plant growth and by collecting it could be put to good use in the spring.

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As I moved to the interior of campus I began to scan around for receptacles that would be used for recycling. Almost immediately I came across a variety of recycling bins.

The first type of recycling bin I came across was this blue paper only bin. Though I understand the importants and need to separate the various types of recyclables, I question how many people actually stop to use a paper only recycling bin in the hallway. 

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These two photos are of different types of bottle/can recycling bins found around campus. The first photo has separate holes to keep plastics and cans away from each other. The second photo is taken from within a bin that only has one hole and is meant for cans only. It is good to see numerous recycling bins around campus but I find it frustrating when I have to search for bins that are meant for my particular recyclable, which takes me to my next photo...

  As you can see from looking though the gumball machine there is one of every type of recycling bin sitting next to each other. I often see cans in plastic only bins and vice versa, so I feel it's both effective and necessary to keep all types of recycling bins near each other. 

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These last three photographs are of some interesting measures that our campus is taking to become more sustainable.

This is a photo of a water bottle re-filler that I found on campus. There are only a few of these on campus at this time but they are rather useful. These devices promote sustainability by making it easy to get good water and reinforcing the behavior to do so by letting fillers know how much plastic bottle waste they're preventing. 

This is a photo description of an innovative toilet found in the civil engineering on campus. In short, these toilets are able to use water amounts specific to the user's needs. This cuts back on excess water waste and promotes water conservation. The downside is that there still are very few toilets with this feature on campus.

This final photo is of a program proposal I found in the engineering building. I don't know how old it is or how well the program has panned out, but it was cool to see that our students here on campus are getting opportunities to find solutions to environmental problems.

On the whole, I would say that our university is doing a pretty awesome job recycling and making it easy for students to recycling as well. I also like the steps that UMD is taking to become more sustainable and green by implementing various service devices on campus that have smaller impacts on the environment. That said, UMD still seems to be in the start up phase of becoming more sustainable and I feel that we have a long ways to go before we can get too excited about anything.

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview!

Introduction

The current issue that I’m looking at is toxic emissions from major sources (i.e. industries).

A bill regarding this issue that’s currently being reviewed is H.R.235: Cut Unsustainable and Top-Heavy Spending Act of 2011. The title of this bill is 21st Century Energy Independence Act of 2011. Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2011)

Whom does this issue affect?

The people that are affected the most by this issue are low-income citizens who live in areas polluted by toxic emissions from factories and the owner’s of the businesses with the factories in question. The owners have the most to lose out of this bill because it would force them to have to change the current methods of product development in their factories. The people who stand to gain the most are those who live in the polluted areas and would see a decrease in the toxic emissions in the air around them.

What are the consequences?

For those who own the factories they may have to spend extra money on either new manufacturing systems or more expensive, cleaner ways to produce products. That said, they likely will still have lots of money so their families shouldn’t be affected at all. The low-income population will likely see an increase in health conditions for themselves and their families. Society in areas affected by toxic emissions will see an increase in quality of life while other locations will see little change.

What is the economic impact?

The industries that create the toxic emissions will carry most of the financial burden in regards to reducing emissions, though I’m sure State or National funding will play a role as well. I don’t think anyone will benefit directly from this bill in an economic sense.

 

What’s the social impact of the issue?

The only social costs I can see would be on the industries that have to change the ways. New methods of product may take a toll on the employees at the factories. Social benefits will be apparent in the civilian populations living around the factories and will be reflected in quality of life

What are the barriers?

The only barriers I could see would come from oppositions to the bill by the heads of the affected industries of contrary view points from the apposing political party in the House of Representatives. I think they could be overcome with factual data support the bill’s cause and overwhelming evidence of the publics support of the bill.

What are the resources?

The resources that will be needed are funding and regulation of the program. I believe both of these resources would be best supplied through the US Government. Founding could be achieved by a raise in taxes on certain forms of waste disposal or raised taxes on the general population.

What is the history of the issue?

The issue of toxic emissions hasn’t been around for to terribly long, and measures to control it have only been developed in the past 30 years or so. That said, there have already been extensive amounts of bill past on the regulation of toxic emissions into the environment. Though most programs have found a degree of success, there still is much more that needs to be done.

Allies & Opponents

People who would support this issue are environmentalist and citizens who live in areas polluted by the toxic emissions of large industries. Those who oppose it would consist of affected business executives and individuals resistant to government intervention and regulation. I can involve the two sides of the issue by trying to take an increased value approach. By finding a way to improve profits and productivity for industries through cleaner emissions and product development I believe we could reach a win/win scenario.

My Recommendation

I would want policy makers to vote in favor of the bill. The industries that produce the toxic emissions will make profit even with cleaner practices so I see ne reason not to try and improve their effect on the air in our environment.