For EACH article, BLOG a SINGLE observation and a SINGLE question to share/ask of each of our student journalists. Use a SINGLE post at the thread below.
READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 1: ENERGY
August: Biomass.
Ally: New York Energy
Abby: Cape Wind
James: Fracking
READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 8: AGRICULTURE/ORCAS
Lisa: CSA
Bobcat: British Columbia forestry
Ryder: Erosion Happens.
Sarah: Orcas and Captivity
READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 15: CLIMATE CHANGE
Kelsey: Climate Refugees.
Rebecca: Sea Level Rise and Population Impact.
Marianna: End Of Snow
Caroline: Fukushima
Mike: Climate Change
August/Biomass:
ReplyDeleteObservation- While the article states that both Vermont and Austria will be working together to collaborate on the promotion of biomass heating as a renewable energy resource, it fails to note how they plan on keeping biomass a renewable resource. While trees, and other woody materials can be used as biomass, it can still be depleted if not “cared” for properly.
Question- How does each place plan to promote biomass while maintaining it as a renewable resource?
Ally/New York Energy:
Observation- I found it interesting that the co-author of the study, a professor from Cornell University, commented that the economics of the plan has been laid out, but that it was up to the political sphere now to make it happen. Granted, the political sphere technically involves all of us over 18 (through our right to vote) so it could happen, but I don’t know how smart or responsible it is to just write it off to the political sphere now.
Question- Though the plan for future New York energy looks great, how do they plan to implement such changes? (I’m sure they have plans, but its more than just getting the numbers down and it all looks a tad ambitious).
Abby/Cape Wind:
Observation- Honestly, the amount of money behind any kind of energy resource is astounding. The men behind coal, including Koch, are worth BILLIONS. But even Gordon, at a significantly lower bracket, is still worth millions.
Question- With this kind of money being thrown around, how is “democracy” and a decision for the good of the whole supposed to be made?
James/Fracking:
Observation- I think the fact that this conversation surrounding hydraulic fracturing has been around since July 2008 and the DEC study has been going on for 15 months highlights our government’s inability to make a decisive choice in a reasonable amount of time. It also serves to subtly point out why this decision hasn’t been made already, when so much evidence has been put forward against fracking, (hint: money).
Question- How much of an influence over policy can we attribute to the leverage industry has on our political atmosphere?
Topic 1- Wind in VT
ReplyDelete1. I think that seeing two different sides to the issue of wind in VT is a good way to get a wide audience involved in the topic. It may be helpful for you to view the documentary Windfall it gives NY as an example but has some good info on industrial wind.
2. Will you address potential alternatives to industrial wind in VT? For instance have there been any successfully proposed community wind projects?
Topic 2- Biomass
1. In the article, Governor Shumlin is quoted in saying, “Biomass is a local and renewable way to heat our homes and businesses that promotes job creation and economic development.” I think that it would be interesting if there are estimates on how many jobs may be created to use them in your news article to highlight this point.
2. Are there any big negatives that come with the use of biomass for heating?
Topic 3- NY Energy
1. I especially liked the breakdown of the ways that NY state could use renewable energy to meet its needs, it might be nice to put a chart of that in as a visual in your own news article.
2. Do you think that NY should be narrowing in on perfecting infrastructure for one type of renewable before it moves on to another? For instance put more effort into wind power and then move on to solar?
Topic 4- Cape Wind
1. I like that this article pointed specifically to some of the power elites that are weighing in on the decision making. I think for your article it might be nice to point to the amount aesthetics play a role in the wind debate.
2. Is it important to highlight the money that the Nantucket area has?
Topic 5- Fracking
1. Something that I had not thought of before was the gendered component to the fracking debate. I found it interesting to see the breakdown of genders where a poll found men narrowly support fracking while women strongly oppose it.
2. Do you think that you will bring in similar stats into your own writing? Or will you choose to focus more broadly on the issues associated with fracking?
Shawna-
ReplyDeleteObservation: Obviously this article is very biased. One thing that annoyed me was the stat about only 4% of the GHG emissions in Vermont coming from energy production while a third of from burning heating oil. Renewable energy sources like wind can be used for electric heating!
Question: Does this whole NIMBY attitude prevail throughout the entire state, or just in areas of proposed turbine construction?
Ally-
Observation: It is interesting that the WWS plan accounts for not only major power plants but also includes 5 million residential solar systems and commercial ones as well. This would definitely require further policy adjustments but is a cool idea.
Question: How much land area would be required for the installation of all the new plants/ turbines mentioned in the study?
Abby-
Observation: I am not related to this particular Koch family. From the article I gather that Bill Koch is a pragmatist, which is a good thing for a businessman, but times are changing. There needs to be some heart and emotion put into the future of renewable energy because pure business logic may not be enough.
Question: What type of suits have actually been filed against Cape Wind that are allowing Koch to keep his “delay, delay, delay” process running?
James-
Observation: I found it interesting that the people in the more rural upstate areas of NY were much more opposed to fracking than those in the city. The people upstate are more likely to gain financially from land-leasing and such, but still remain opposed. Perhaps Josh Fox has succeeded.
Question: Will the scientific study be released publicly before Cuomo makes his decision later in the year?
Shawna
ReplyDeleteObservation: I was surprised when I read the rebuttal because from the first article the author made it seem like most of VT was against the project. But, in the 2nd article they point out that 75% of voters in Lowell support the project.
Question: There are environmental costs to doing any new renewable energy projects, do the costs outweigh the benefits in the Lowell Mountains region?
August
Observation: I think the concept of a partnership model for this is very important because both companies can learn and grow from each other more quickly than would be solo.
Question: Stebbin says VT has a 90% renewables goal by 2050, how much do they hope to be from Biomass?
Ally
Observation: Their plan is very detailed and aggressive in making NY 100% renewable energy. Wind, water, and sunlight is feasible and will reduce climate damage.
Question: Is this plan being considered for action?
Abby
Observation: The complaint of "visual pollution" has come up so often when I hear about oppositions to Cape Wind and this article was no different.
Question: A significant amount of the article consistently mentioned the amount of money each man had, was that necessary?
James
Observation: The part that stuck out to me was that 52% of people in the upstate area were opposed to drilling, which shows that they are considering their risks and not just thinking about the money they would get.
Question: How much do you think the people's opinion will be taken into account in Cuomo's decision?
Shawna:
ReplyDeleteObservation- Only 4 percent of emissions in Vermont result from electricity generation so this project will not significantly reduce greenhouse gases.
Question-Why didn’t any environmental groups protest this project?
August:
Observation-Vermont has a goal of relying 90% on renewable energy by 2050.
Question-What does the article mean by Upper Austria? The Northern part of Austria?
Ally:
Observation-Just in New York switching to Wind, Water, and Solar energy, air pollution related deaths would decline by about 4,000 annually. Also, the state would save about $33 billion in related health costs every year.
Question-Why is the government looking more to pricey fracking instead of these alternatives?
Abby:
Observation-That people who are against the wind project are people who have waterfront properties that will be the first to be affected by climate change.
Question-Is there still controversy over the wind turbines that have now been put up in the sound?
James:
Observation-This fall a poll showed that 45 percent opposed fracking, while 37 percent supported it; the rest either did know enough about it or had no opinion.
Question-Has anything changed in the months since this article?
Shawna:
ReplyDelete1. After reading both articles I'm still undecided on which way I lean on the issue. The topic is very conflictive. Each option protects but also damages the environment.
2. Will you incorporate your option on the matter into your final essay?
August:
1. The article praises Vermont on its leadership in the use of biomass energy, however, it seems Austria is the true leader in this biomass development. It's interesting to consider what Austria may be getting out of this collaboration.
2. What is the main purpose behind this partnership, creating jobs in VT or promoting biomass development in the U.S. and Europe?
Ally:
1. It's interesting to see the figures on how many wind turbines, solar plants, etc would be needed to fulfil this clean energy goal in NY. The numbers give a sense of how expansive clean energy can be, and what it requires.
2. Are the people of New York for or against the number of wind turbines and other clean energy devices that would be installed in their areas?
Abby:
1. Bill Koch seems arogant when he says that alternative energy is "foolhardy". He is more concerned with the visual aesthetic of his ocean view than he is with integrating alternative renewable energy systems and ultimately moving towards clean energy throughout the U.S.
2. This article talks a lot about Gordon and Koch's relationship, will your article focus on their relationship as much as the article does?
James:
1. It seems right that those who live in rural NY would oppose hydrofracking, whereas metro residents would support it since it doesn't affect their area as much. Hydrofracking is unappealing because it threatens those who are looking for solitude.
2. Is it morally incorrect for metro citizens to approve hydrofracking simply because it doesn't affect their area?
1. Shawna
ReplyDelete- I was honestly surprised that the article was against wind power. However, unlike the coast, wind does not always blow in Vermont. The turbines would require power of their own to create the power that they should be generating without power.
-How does this article deny the rebuttal that 90% of Vermont residents are in favor of wind power, and 75% of Lowell residents are in favor of this project?
2. August
-I wasn’t even aware that Austria was a leader in biomass energy.
- I am interested in how Austria has had success and how we will use their practices to bring their success to America and other parts of the world. Why hasn’t it spread to other parts of Europe first?
3. Ally
-Amazing that a study found that the WWS plan would be economically feasible- this should help sway people towards supporting the project.
-What is the danger for wildlife with all of these new proposed structures?
4. Abby
- I can’t believe that Koch has a property tax bill of $342,000 and he is using an increase in his energy bill as an excuse to oppose the Cape Wind Project. Also he’s against all alternative energy? Who is this guy?!
-Is this Koch guy the antichrist- because I am actually wondering, I even drew devil horns on his picture “The environmentalists are already after me, so bring it on, baby”. Also how can he think alternative energy is “foolhardy”, and why does he even have such a big case?
5. James
- Interesting that the energy companies stopped pressuring New York once their gas prices dropped dramatically as it would be less of a profit for them- this shows where their priorities lie.
- How much energy would actually be extracted through the fracking? Is it even worth the debate or is it similar to the wind energy in Vermont issue- not as useful as it appears.
Shawna: Observation- After reading both articles my stance still remains that this project must go through. After seeing that the residents of Lowell highly support the project, the only other options are to try and reverse the closing of Yankee Nuclear, or increase the amount of fossil fuels and hydro power purchases from Quebec (which is already happening almost every day).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you support Vermont’s energy plan which calls for 90% renewables by 2050?
August: Observation- It seems that Vermont and Austria have similar goals in renewable energy standards, but from what I have previously learned it takes a lot of biomass to create a small amount of energy. However, I do like the idea of a wide range of renewable energy contributing to the big picture of heating a very cold state.
Question: Will Vermont biomass production be done at more of a commercial level or is this something individual homeowners will be able to tap into as well.
Ally: Observation- As a New Yorker it is interesting to see this plan laid out in such detail. While I entirely support this idea, I am picturing the political nightmare that would come from such an aggressive move away from fossil fuels so rapidly.
Question: Do you see this as something realistic, or do you think it is just an eye opener to try and promote the creation of any form of renewable energy as soon as possible?
Abby: Observation-I have followed this debate for a few years now and it is still shocking to me the wind mills have yet to be constructed. I always knew Bill Koch was extremely against the Cape Wind Project but his level of arrogance comes out in full force throughout this article.
Question: Would it surprise you that if Cape Wind is finally approved, Bill Koch will somehow find a way to invest in this project after years of protesting it?
James: Observation- This is a debate that will be occurring for quite some time. With so many shale deposits in our state, and so many people struggling with poverty, it only seems like a matter of time before fracking permits are issued in NYS. I feel Governor Patterson did the right thing by banning fracking when he did and now we have Pennsylvania to monitor and study as they continue to frack at exponential rates with little to no regulations.
Question: Do you think that as Governor Cuomo’s name is increasingly mentioned when discussing the next presidential election, he will begin issuing fracking permits to gain public support and even more so financial support?
Shawna - VT Wind
ReplyDelete1. Although there are some downfalls to the project, Vermonters are taking a stand to do what they think is right to produce clean, affordable, local energy by building wind turbines atop Mt. Lowell. The biases in these two articles would be a good thing to focus on and explore further.
2. Even though there is mass support for the wind turbines, is it economically efficient in terms of return on investment?
August - Biomass
1. The partnership between Vermont and Austria will help to spread knowledge of development, scientific and technological cooperation, and education and training. However the article does not state how exactly the two states plan on exchanging this knowledge.
2. To what degree will biomass help Vermont achieve the goal of being 90% renewable by the year 2050?
Ally - New York Energy
1. It is interesting that the study was not funded by an interest group, company or government agency and I wonder why New York was chosen for this study.
2. If this plan is a reasonable option for New York, would it be possible for the whole United States to follow this plan as well?
Abby - Cape Wind
1. Bill Koch and Jim Gordon represent the two bodies that oppose and support the building of the Cape Wind project respectively. The Gaia Theory is a very interesting viewpoint and I think you should definitely explore it.
2. What would the environmental effects of the Cape Wind project be?
James - Fracking
1. I think it is important to note and explore further that 52 percent of respondents upstate oppose hydro fracking as they are the ones that will be affected by the drilling.
2. Will citizens living on the Marcellus Shale have more of an input on the issue than those not living in an area of NY that is affected by hydro fracking?
Shawna: The contrast between the two articles was very dramatic. I was disappointed by the first article and the lack of support for a great project, but optimistic by the second one, and the statistic that 90% of Vermonters support wind power.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you think we’ll see more wind projects in Vermont soon?
August: While biomass can be a good source of energy, it needs to be carefully monitored in order to be considered renewable.
How carefully are they watching to make sure that the biomass is still considered “renewable?”
Abby: I thought it was interesting that they mentioned that it was a battle between the opposite sides of the 1%. I also thought it was interesting that again the main issue with the wind power was the aesthetics of them.
Wouldn’t the turbines be relatively difficult to see?
James: It frustrating to think that New York State has been fighting to keep Fracking out since 2008. It’s also interesting to learn that the state is evenly divided- though not surprising seeing as how long this debate has gone on.
Do you think that Cuomo wants to allow Fracking?
Shawna: “Not-so-Green Mountains”
ReplyDeleteObservation: The rebuttal article is written by Green Mountain Power, who is trying to convince the reader that the wind power project is the right thing to do. Just like with the response video to Gasland.
Question: If 75% of voters in the town of Lowell support the project, what is holding them back?
August: Biomass
Observation: The connection between Austria and Vermont is very interesting, I didn’t know that Austria was leading in biomass and that Vermont is not far behind and hopes to be up to 90% renewable goal by 2050.
Question: How much of the 90% renewable energy will come from biomass in VT?
Ally: New York Energy
Observation: the article seems to be biased and gave very little insight into why people may be against this.
Question: Would the fracking cause water pollution like we have seen in gasland?
James: fracking
Observation: Health commissioner Nirav Shah told reporters his review will continue to be done in private because science needs to be done in a “sacred space.” Or he just doesn’t want the public to know about all of the health risks that come with fracking.
Question: Do you think Cuomo is really taking into consideration the publics opinion on this topic?
Good engagement with our articles so far, posse...
ReplyDeleteLet's dive deep in class.
Dr. Rob
Morgan/Lake Champlain Pollution
ReplyDelete1. Maroney states in this article that, “a statewide shift to all-organic farms would result in fewer synthetic fertilizers, less manure and a higher milk price for farmers” but I am left a little curious about what possible negative impacts would be. It might be cool to explore the financial behind scaling back and how many people would protest to switching to entirely organic. I also think that this is a really interesting topic considering VT has the iconic image of the dairy cow as well as the whole idea of being a green state.
2. Are the dairy farms the biggest source point of pollution in Lake Champlain?
Lisa/CSA
1. My favorite part about this article was the last sentence that said, “A CSA is about community building as well as food, all three farmers said. It’s a business with dirty hands and an open heart.” I think that pulling at that sense of accomplishment is something that you could bring to your own article.
2. Are there any negative drawbacks or problems with CSA in VT? For instance is it important to note the difficulty of local food in a state where the temps drop below zero?
Bobcat/British Columbia Deforestation
1. I thought that this article really illustrated the scientific end of the green beat. I think that it had a lot of great info but didn’t really pull me to want to take any action to help British Columbia end their deforestation problem.
2. Do you think there is a way to pull back from the scientific end of this issue? Maybe adding in personal stories about people affected?
Ryder/Erosion
1. I really enjoyed the mention of Beach SAMP and how they have been brought in to help deal with the issue of erosion. Their creation emphasizes to readers that erosion is a recognized problem that needs solutions. I also like that the images highlighted how important the shoreline is to attract tourists.
2. How do you think coastal erosion will affect the tourist industry of New England? Is that an important factor to consider financially?
Sarah/Orcas in Captivity
1. I think that it is interesting that similar animal rights like the elimination of dolphin shows have already been instituted and yet we are just seeing the problems with orcas. The creation of the Orca Welfare and Safety Act is interesting to look at and I would be curious to look further into what limits it can actually impose.
2. What do you think is the importance of creating stricter regulations and where should these regulations start? Should we implement them once the creatures are at SeaWorld or should there be a mandate about whether or not they can be taken in the first place?
Morgan-
ReplyDeleteObservation: It is pretty incredible how much political turmoil can be tied up in something like milk production. Obviously all runoff from farms eventually ends up in some watershed or other which can lead to eutrophication. However, even with a huge decrease in the overall number of cows in the state the condition of Lake Champlain in particular is still quite bad. Mahoney’s proposed plan is interesting, but see below.
Question: If Vermont were to adopt Mahoney’s proposed solution including the reduced spreading of manure, what would be done with the extra manure? Or would there be extra?
Lisa-
Observation: I always like to get straight to the economics of things like this, and it seems that if someone who runs a CSA project like the first people mentioned in the article managed the farm well they could make a respectable profit. Of course there is the initial capital outlay necessary to purchase the 40 acres in this case. It says they provide for 80 households at $1,175 a share. This totals $94,000 for the 28 weeks. Taking into account the price for the seeds, irrigation, transportation and whatever labor is required in addition to that which is provided by the shareholders, there is certainly the potential for profit.
Question: How well does this type of program translate to places with shorter growing seasons like Vermont?
Bobcat (What is your given birth-name?)-
Observation: It seems to me that this article is downplaying Canadian deforestation to some extent, and shunting the blame off on the rest of the world who are shown to contribute much more to the aggregate problem.
Question: In addition to the name question, how successful has the ILM process been? How much forest has been preserved as a result?
Ryder-
Observation: I found it interesting how most of the sand that is “lost” in storm surges and such is usually redistributed to other areas of beach. There seems to be very little that can be done about the loss of sand, but perhaps the way of the future will be to engineer solutions to more usefully control where that sand will go. I imagine this would be a big task, but certainly worthwhile.
Question: How will the “new normal” change traditional views of coastal living and culture?
Sarah-
Observation: It’s really cool to see that a documentary, Blackfish in this case, can potentially have such a great impact on the political sphere. Documentaries can do more than just inform the public, they can lead to political reform for the greater good. Now if only Gasland will catch on to this extent…
Question: Where are the other orcas that reside in captivity located and is there any chance that they too will soon be released?
Morgan-Observation: While it seems Maroney’s plan is slightly farfetched in today’s day and age of dairy farmers, his target audience is probably the only one that can make it happen if they so desire. It is very clear that Maroney and the author Molly Walsh do an excellent job in getting the attention of a wide variety of those who have a say in such matters. Not only do dairy farmers of both small and large contribute to this article, but also members of state government, local government and the EPA contribute as well.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Is Maroney taking this route because his organic dairy farm failed, or was advocacy of this nature his passion when he began dairy farming?
Lisa-Observation: This article does a great job in pointing out how creative and ambitious CSA programs and farmers really are. Many of the farmers mentioned in this article are not farmers by standards of college degrees, instead they are community driven people who find joy in helping others. The article demonstrates that CSA’s are on the rise across the country, as they should be. It is also made clear that any person can get involved with a CSA whether they want to lend a hand on the farms which produce the goods, or be someone who buys the fresh local food, which will in turn directly support neighbors or community members who are truly passionate and work extremely hard to benefit others.
Question: Do you think these farmers have other jobs as well, or is this something that you think can be profitable enough to provide basic life needs and cover operating costs?
Sarah-
Observation: I completely agree with the ban of orcas in captivity for human entertainment. The article does a great job in exposing how other areas of the world and country have responded to the science that does not favor keeping such creatures in captivity. Having seen Blackfish, the science in extremely overwhelming as to why these animals are in reality being tortured their whole lives. I can’t say I agree with even the idea of having a rehabilitating facility for Orcas for two reasons: 1 they have recently been observed killing Great White Sharks, they are not endangered and therefor don’t need human assistance to thrive in the wild, and 2 I think this would provide an opportunity for loopholes that places like SeaWorld could take advantage of.
Question: Did Blackfish inspire you to choose this topic?
Ryder-Observation: While erosion is clearly an issue for those who have chosen to build and live along coastlines, to me this is an issue they chose to deal with. I like how this article points out situations in which warnings were assessed and those warnings became reality. This article covers a great deal of aspects regarding erosion from the climate side of the argument to the engineering side of the argument. The author does a great job in covering the necessities which must be studied, taken into consideration, and addressed, as the near future is sure to bring higher water levels and increased erosion.
Question: Have you personally been affected by coastal erosion?
Bobcat-Observation: This article seems to shed the positive light on Canada’s deforestation practices. Being home to 10% of the world’s forest cover, Canada could log much more aggressively than they do, or did in 2005. While I’m sure Canada’s deforestation practices affects a great deal of citizens and animal species that live amongst these forests, Canada appears to be managing their forests quite well after having read this article. I would like to read an updated version of this publication.
Question: What are the main concerns with Canadian deforestation you were pointing out with this publication?
Morgan/Lake Champlain & Dairy Farming:
ReplyDeleteObservation- Lots of measures have been taken to clean up the lake- with a lot of money spent, but farmers are still getting a bad name, regardless of their efforts.
Question- How do Lake Champlain activists expect farmers, who already have a hard enough time making ends meet, to comply to these standards without taking a massive hit?
Lisa/CSA:
Observation- Although I knew that CSAs existed and that those who participate pay in advanced, I hadn’t ever considered how that would stabilize the farm’s ability to produce and account for expenses. It also unexpectedly compliments Morgan’s article on dairy farming, as some of the farmers moved from dairy to produce.
Question- Do CSA farms usually have their supporters come and volunteer some of their time as part of their deal?
Bobcat/British Columbia Forestry:
Observation- I guess I’m just not sure why we need to keep cutting down forested areas when we (as humans) have been living in these areas, farming and developing these areas, for hundreds of years...
Question- Don’t we already have enough established farmland, etc.- WHY do areas continue to be deforested?
Ryder/Erosion:
Observation- I really like the metaphor used in the introductory paragraph; putting it in terms of allies and enemies created a nice picture. I also think that putting together a specialized committee on shoreline erosion in Rhode Island is very forward thinking and hopefully sees some success in its ability to get things done.
Question- If there is no real solution, what is the best possible outcome or option for beaches in the Northeast? Should we just let the houses and beaches be washed away?
Sarah/Orcas:
Observation- I wish it was surprising that higher-ups in SeaWorld continue to outright ignore the proven, serious problems associated with keeping orcas in captivity. I think it would be a HUGE win for environmentalists everywhere, animal activists in particular, if the California bill went through.
Question- Does keeping orcas in captivity ever serve some greater good or gain?
Morgan – Dairy Farming
ReplyDelete1. Although Maroney’s long-term goals which are aimed at dairy farms to help reduce runoff into Lake Champlain, perhaps explore if this would have a big impact on the pollution of the lake, as the article states that other factors are at play as well, including storm-water runoff from developed areas and the impact of sewage plants.
2. What are the repercussions of not meeting federal and state water-quality standards?
Lisa – CSA
1. I would like to see you explore the numbers a bit in your article, as it states that Working Hands shareholders pay $1,175 for 28 weeks of produce, at Sun Gold Farm they pay $440 for 18 weeks, and at Dairy Creek Farm and Produce they pay $675 for a full season.
2. Is it economical to buy a share in a CSA (is the shareholder paying too much for bulk produce they may not use in it’s entirety?), and what types of benefits does the buyer get by taking part in this type of program?
Bobcat – British Columbia Forestry
1. I’m wondering what direction you are going to take with your article, as deforestation is a problem worldwide, in Canada it doesn’t seem to be too big of an issue. I am also interested in current stats, as this article cites statistics from 2005, and it has been nearly 10 years since then.
2. Based off of that, how do you think deforestation is going to progress into the future – is it a bigger problem now than in 2005? If so, will it continue to be a problem unless it addressed now?
Ryder – Costal Erosion
1. I think you should explore how people who live right on the coastline are reacting to the erosion and whether they are staying or leaving, trying to rebuild or letting nature run its course. It’s interesting that most of the sand ‘lost’ by Sandy was eventually returned, and perhaps explore how when nature runs it’s course, the shoreline is better off than if humans intervene.
2. In your opinion, is it better to install temporary precautions against coastline erosion, or should we just retreat from the coast and let storms and the ocean slowly change the shoreline as we know it?
Sarah – Orca Captivity
1. I would further explore the proposition and idea of sea pens, as although they are better in terms of space, they are not the wide-open ocean, the whales would still be confined to an extent.
2. If the California ban is passed, could this create a precedent, which could be applied to other animal based businesses such as aquariums and zoos?
Morgan
ReplyDeleteObservation: I'm surprised farm pollution is the primary cause of pollution!
Question: Why did his dairy farm go out of business?
Lisa
Observation: Seems like it's expensive to participate in CSA, how are they marketing this to lower income families?
Question: Why is the economic benefit in produce now instead of dairy?
Bobcat
Observation: I'm surprised that agriculture is a larger factor than energy production and industry.
Question: How are canadians reacting to the deforestation?
Ryder
Observation: Seems like more emphasis needs to be placed on combatting climate change and new real estate as opposed to "stopping" erosion.
Question: How involved are town officials in promoting green practices? Are Maine and New Hampshire being impacted by erosion as well?
Lisa
ReplyDeleteObservation: This article was interesting in looking at community supported agriculture all around the world even in places like Uganda and Haiti.
Question: What is the difference between community supported agriculture vs grocery stores in terms of public acceptance?
Bobcat
Observation: I liked how this article set forth in simple facts the issue of deforestation in British Columbia and as a whole. I did not know that Canada’s forests account for 10% of the world’s forest cover.
Question: Are Canadians understanding of the issue or are they looking more at the economic benefit of logging?
Ryder
Observation: 30 feet of beach shoreline can be washed away in one storm. This article seems to be focused primarily on the effects that coastal erosion has on the people who want to have a waterfront property for aesthetics and rather the environmental issue at hand.
Question: What are the environmental effects of coastal erosion?
Sarah
Observation: If the bill passes the orcas will be released into the wild or kept in sea pens and it would disband SeaWorld-type shows.
Question: Where else in the world and the United States are orcas kept as entertainment pieces?
Morgan:
ReplyDelete1. It is interesting that there is a connection between dairy farming and the water pollution in lake Champlain.
2. Obviously the dairy farming requires cows which requires manure, but why are dairy farms specifically targeted and not farms that slaughter for meat, etc.?
Lisa:
1. I was fascinated to see that Brian Martin and Jess Powers have employed their vegetable-growing expertise in seemingly random locations of Uganda, Haiti, and Massachusetts.
2. Is there any way to reduce the charge that people have to pay in order to participate in CSA?
Bobcat:
1. It is so fascinating that most of the deforestation is not from forestry but actually from areas like agriculture and urban development.
2. Aside from creating awareness about deforestation in Canada, are there any actual employment opportunities for those in the anti-deforestation "sector" per se?
Ryder:
1. The efforts of my project, Cape Wind, offer one solution to eliminating bad energy sources and perhaps slowing down such climate changes as coastal erosion and rising sea water levels.
2. Granted the erosion is largely occurring due to climate change, why is it happening so rapidly in the Northeast? Is there something geographical or physical about this area that might also be a catalyst for erosion? Aren't we consuming less energy than the rest of the country?
Sarah:
1. I saw Blackfish a few months ago and was horrified. Bloom is not an extreme animal rights activist; he's simply humane and rational. It astounds me that there isn't legislature against zoos as well.
2. Bloom proposed a ban on "keeping killer whales in captivity for purposes of human entertainment," but what other reasons are there to keep them in captivity at all?
Morgan
ReplyDelete1. The article mentions the dairy economy which shifted dramatically in the 80s, dropping the number of total dairy farms of about 11,000 to the current 900. This is something Derek and I cover in our capstone documentary film. It was interesting to learn more about how having less but larger dairy farms is worse for the environment than having more smaller dairy farms.
2. Where do you see this issue headed? Do you think having 100% organic dairy farms is a possibility? How has the dairy economy and this topic changed since the article was published in 2011?
Bobcat
1. Recreation causes 19% of the deforestation in Canada which leads me to my question:
2. How does this conflict with a tourist expectation of Canada and its natural beauty? Isn’t is counterproductive to be destroying the forests which attract visitors? What exactly are these recreational activities that are leading to the deforestation?
Ryder
1. Months ago I came across some simulated images of what major US cities will look like in 500 years with rising sea levels and there is one of Boston: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/nickolay-lamm-sea-level-rise-us-cities-photos_n_3062480.html#slide=2327016
2. Why do Mass. residents want to use so much tax payer money on temporary fixes? I know it’s a terrible problem that the coastal residents face, but it seems that all of the temporary solutions aren’t good enough and the only long-term solution available at the moment is to relocate. Why not focus more funds on rebuilding a safe distance from the coast?
Sarah
1. SeaWorld did not comment on the proposed ban, which is expected, but leads me to my question:
2. Has the public reacted to SeaWorld’s inhumane treatment of orcas with a boycott and encouragement of all to stop visiting SeaWorld, or at least the orca exhibit? I wonder if a public initiative such as this could bring SeaWorld to change once they realize they will lose significant profits, along with their reputation, by continuing in their ways.
Morgan:
ReplyDelete1. You wouldn’t think that something as common and rural as dairy farming would lead to lake pollution.
2. How would Vermonters react to a 100% organic milk switchover? Organic milk can be significantly more expensive than conventional milk. Is a total switchover to organic milk really necessary?
Lisa:
1. This article definitely emphasizes the momentum CSA farming is picking up. Martin and Powers added various farm animals to their business. With this they plan to start raising and selling beef, which will expand the farms margin of profit significantly. CSA’s are “proliferating in Washington county and across America”, with 6,000 nationwide.
2. Are there any areas in the U.S. where CSA’s are uncommon and sparse?
Derek:
1. Deforestation in Canada does seem very minor when compared to the worldwide deforestation total. Their forests have been kept intact very well considering that they account for 10% of global forest coverage. Also, the primary cause for the deforestation is agriculture, which I consider to be a suitable reason to remove forestry.
2. Is it possible that Canada’s level of deforestation could increase significantly as time goes on?
Sara
1. If orcas weren’t such large, sociable animals then the proposed bill may not have as much firepower. However, using such a large, interactive, and smart animal simply for human entertainment shows humans cruel will to enslave an intelligent species like the orca. It is interesting how many animal cruelty laws have been passed in recent years. Animal rights issues seem to be picking up momentum.
2. Would the orcas be able to adjust to life in the wild after being in captivity for so long? I feel as though the adjustment would be a difficult one.
Morgan: It was interesting to learn that 20% of Vermont farms are organic, and that if all Vermont farms were organic there would be less farms and less dairy jobs.
ReplyDeleteWhy is are they so focused on dairy farming when they talk about the cleanup in lake Champlain?
Lisa: It’s always exciting to see more and more CSA’s getting started. People might need to be willing to pay a little more for the local food prices.
What does the CSA offer during the winter?
Bobcat: I didn’t realize what a large percent of the world’s forests that Canada has- 10%.
It seems like this would be a major issue relating to carbon sinks? And as biomass becomes a more widely used source of energy will deforestation become more of a problem?
Ryder: I was surprised to learn that in the past few decades sections of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have experienced coast line retreat or 1 to 4 feet.
Are people still willing to move into the coastlines even thought they know that living/ adapting could be more difficult? How are insurance companies dealing with the knowledge of this?
Sarah: I think that it’s interesting that the ban would be in California, seeing as California has SeaWorld, and many captive Orcas.
Is it safe to release orcas into the wild after they’ve been in captivity for so many years?
Morgan
ReplyDeleteObservation - I find it interesting that some farmers, such as Philip Livingston, are rejecting the idea of a lack of effort on their part in fighting the pollution of the lake.
Question - What/Who else contributes to the lake pollution?
Lisa
Observation - This article was up-lifting in the sense that community agriculture, well, can create strong communities.
Question - Is there documentation of CSA not working in places with short farming seasons? Would be interesting to see those statistics.
Bobcat
Observation - I was surprised to learn that agriculture places a huge role in deforestation in Canada.
Question - What are the deforestation statistics around the globe?
Ryder
Observation - I was alarmed to read that coastal erosion in the Northeast is worse than anywhere else, and that the solutions which are working elsewhere do not work here. I wonder why that is?
Question - Because mother nature will take its course and beach erosion will continue to occur, has there been any thought of leaving more distance between shore homes and the beach?
Sarah
Observation - This article surfaces the simple idea, which I feel people do not realize too often, that we are literally using these beautiful creatures for entertainment purposes. It really brings to light how corrupt man can be in the most absurd ways.
Question - How are other parts of the world reacting to Orca captivity?
Fine FOOD/AGRICULTURE reflections, #ENV posse.
ReplyDeleteAnd a field trip today in class - don't be late!
Dr. Rov
Morgan:
ReplyDelete- I never would have considered manure a pollutant. That’s why Vermont always spells like poop.
- Will the new regulations that James Maroney wants to put in place effect the state economically?
Lisa:
- Very interesting that they started in Uganda and Haiti.
- Why did the economics go out of dairy farming?
Bobcat:
- Great article, nice layout and very informative
- What are some opinions of Canadians on this issue? Do they see it as a problem as well?
Ryder:
- Very interesting to read. Being from Fairfield, Connecticut I saw many beautiful homes on the waterfront washed away from Sandy. All the houses are now on stilts.
- “The best option is to allow a beach to do what it wants to do naturally.” What about all of the property damage?
Sarah:
- Are orca whales indangered?
-How will that affect California’s economy, does SeaWorld make a lot of income to the state?
Shawna
ReplyDeleteObservation: The author uses several strong, hard-hitting words – “bulldozers,” “desecration,” ecologically disastrous,” “terrible error,” “profound failure,” etc. – to evoke emotion and take a clear stance on the industrial wind. While it is an opinionated piece, he still briefly mentions the other arguments for industrial wind.
Question: This piece didn’t have any call to action. Will you use your story to promote action?
August
Observation: This article felt more like news for the business beat, not environment. It talks in more detail about the partnership and what the two groups can learn from each other vis-Ã -vis biomass.
Question: Why are Vermont and Austria the only groups in this partnership? Are there no other states/countries using biomass as a renewable energy source?
Ally
Observation: The study seems like a great possibility for NY and a great opportunity for the state to set an example for the nation. The article does not describe any roadblocks this idea would face, like governmental policy and opposition from the industry.
Question: What progress has there been in NY to convert to entirely sustainable energy since this proposed idea and article came out in 2013?
Abby
Observation: I liked that the article used a few people to focus on and use to tell the story. It made it more engaging and showed exactly who is for and against Cape wind.
Question: Has the project moved forward? Have residents of the Cape put the project to a vote to maybe outweigh the voices of the few elite who are fighting this project?
James
Observation: Like we discussed in class, I find it interesting how polarized men and women are on their support for/opposition against fracking.
Question: Those who have drilling near their homes are more opposed to fracking (52%) and for obvious reasons. We’ve read in our textbook that people are more passionate to take action when something is happening in their backyard. How can we educate those metro residents (34% of whom are against fracking) about the dangers of fracking and that, although it is not happening in their backyard, it will still effect them?
Morgan
ReplyDeleteObservation: Organic dairy farming can help in the health and well being of not only the state and its population, but the cows as well.
Question: Is the main cause of extra phosphorus in Lake Champlain, due to dairy farming?
Lisa
Observation: I liked the breakdown of the prices, number of households sold to, and season length to get a good sense of the scales of various CSA’s.
Question: What happens on the buyers end if the growing season goes rogue?
Bobcat
Observation: Interesting to see the breakdown of what the reasons of deforestation are in Canada. I was surprised that 53% was for agriculture.
Question: How are Canadians responding to deforestation as a whole?
Ryder
Observation: The article says there is no reason to panic because sea level rise is a creeping hazard, but that is part of the overall issue in dealing with resulting hazards like erosion and other coastline effects.
Question: What would the effects be like on the tourism and real estate industries?
Sara
Observation: Bloom was criticized for working with extreme animal rights activists on the film, but the message and outcome is still the same whether or not she worked with extremists.
Question: What is the survival rate of released orcas in the wild?
Kelsey:
ReplyDelete1. I am glad to see how candid and frank the President of the Maldives is with the UN. It is important that he is part of the decision-making process, as his country is clearly experiencing the effects of climate change before others.
2. Clearly moving away from his home is not an option to President Nasheed; what are some of his own ideas in reducing climate change? Do his ideas start locally and then move internationally, or has he placed the blame on larger countries like the U.S.?
Rebecca:
1. I was astounded to see that from 1880 to 2009, the "global average sea level" rose more than eight inches.
2. It said in the first article that many coastal towns are pooling billions of dollars into fighting erosion--how?
Marianna:
1. I had no idea that sixteen million cubits of snow was set aside last year to be preserved for the 2014 Olympics.
2. Though the planet is getting warmer, it has only risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1800s. That doesn't seem like too much. So what are people doing NOW educationally to help future generations who will have to deal with this issue on a bigger scale?
Caroline:
1. It's nice to see that the engineers know putting contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean is a bad idea; yet it is still somewhat scary to see that they're simply storing it in "hastily" made tanks.
2. Clearly TEPCO is being poorly run and perhaps mismanaged. Besides outside studies and some discussion, what kind of real, physical foreign aid is being provided / can be provided to help the people at Fukushima?
Mike:
1. My initial reaction to Pachauri's idea to cut out meat entirely from our diet is that people have been eating meat nearly since the dawn of time! If people centuries and centuries ago did just fine, then we should not have to cut out meat either. Granted the food industry is responsible for 1/3 of green-house gases, the other 2/3 might just be more important and more harmful. Even the article says it's not the meat itself--it's the industrialized turn that farming has taken.
2. If we stopped eating meat, what would we do with the eventual over-population of livestock and other meat-bearing animals? Isn't Pachauri a little ambitious and non-realistic to ask people to cut out meat?
Kelsey
ReplyDeleteObservation: I was surprised that more than 20 million people were already displaced in 2008 alone.
Question: For places like the Maldives where they know there is a possibility of relocation, are they making better arrangements than camps for them since the possibility is so near?
Marianna
Observation: I was shocked to see the decreasing number of previous Olympic game cities that would be equipped to host the games again in 2100.
Question: What does snowmelt mean for the 70 million people in the Western United States who rely on snowmelt for fresh drinking water?
Caroline
Observation: I was bothered by the fact that it took weeks for the foot-patrol team to notice that one of the makeshift containers had sprung a leak.
Question: TEPCO seems to be using a lot of band-aid solutions, what kinds of long term goals have they established?
Mike
Observation: Around 33% of the total climate change effects can be attributed to the global food system and a big reason for that is the industrialization of our food systems.
Question: How possible is a turn to local eating for countries around the world?
Kelsey – Climate Change Refugees
ReplyDelete1. I like that the EJF director, Steve Trent, stated that the legal definition of ‘refugee’ needs to be altered to encompass those affected by climate change. I think that this is an interesting concept to further explore.
2. If a mass migration were to happen in a costal country, what would the economic effects of this be, and how would the country cope with the displaced people? Are there plans in place that prepare for situations like this?
Rebecca – Sea Level Rise
1. I thought the part about the sinking land in the Chesapeake Bay was very interesting, as well as the projections that the sea level could rise by eight inches, or an astounding 6.5 feet by 2100.
2. This article focused a lot on what is happening, but didn’t explain suggestions as to how we can help prevent the sea from rising that 6.5 feet. So, what are some preventative measures?
Caroline – Fukushima
1. I think that it’s really interesting that the Japanese would rather spend their time quickly fixing small problems around Fukushima rather than focusing on creating large-scale, long-term preventative measures and asking for foreign or expertise help.
2. What do the Japanese plan to do with the 1,000 tanks filled with contaminated water?
Mike – Food and Climate Change
1. I didn’t know that so much of our food transport was so unnecessary. I think that if you are focusing your article on Vermont, you should definitely get into how the state as a whole buys and sells more local food than many other areas in the United States.
2. If you are going to tie Vermont into your article, how do the numbers (carbon emission, methane emission, mean food transport mileage, etc.) in Vermont compare to the numbers mentioned in this article?
Kelsey-
ReplyDeleteObservation: I have heard of many of the climate disasters mentioned in the short article. I was also aware of the pressing issue of sea level rise and climate change on the Maldives and Bangladesh. I was surprised by many of the other countries that the article stated would see significant impacts from potential change. Also, I feel like I certainly should have heard of cyclone Nargris, but much to my chagrin I had not.
Question: Will international discussions and agreements be able to keep warming to below 2C quick enough to save the Maldives from catastrophic erosion and/or destruction?
Rebecca-
Observation: Doing the math through for some of the stats in the first article yielded some cool results. The low end of the projected sea level rise is about 0.7 feet (not entirely sure how the spread of projections can be so large, but that’s science I suppose) and that would displace 1.3 million people. If one applies 1.3 million people per to the high estimate of 6.6 feet of sea level rise, you would get 12.26 million rather than the projected 7.8 million. This must mean that population density is much greater very close to the shore than slightly further inland.
Question: This may be dumb but it is something I have never understood. Looking at the graph in the second article, I have never understood how sea level rise can be different in different areas of the coast. Aren’t all oceans connected, so the levels are equal? No idea really.
Marianna-
Observation: I was really struck by how poetic and beautifully written the article is. Something about the pink-stained snow in Morocco got to me. This is an excellent example of playing to people’s emotions to reach a desired outcome or effect. I feel that even a non-enthusiast of skiing could appreciate this.
Question: It is all well and good that Obama issues his statement about the importance of mountains and such, but has anything really been done to combat this issue? The US still seems wishy washy about solid climate policies.
Caroline-
Observation: It is really interesting how this article touches on a cultural aspect that I have not seen in many of the other pieces we have read for this class yet. The Japanese loath to ask for help from abroad, but environmental issues, or disasters in this case, often require collaborative efforts.
Question: I am just curious of the details of the ground-freezing plan. This sounds very interesting, but I imagine that freezing such a large area (perhaps with liquid nitrogen or similar substance?) would be very expensive and probably harmful in itself.
Mike-
Observation: It is amazing that humans have in fact been able to turn agriculture- a net producer of energy, into an industry that wastes incredible amounts of fuel and contributes to the destruction of the planet. The groundwork was seemingly all there, and yet we failed pretty badly as a people.
Question: I was unclear on whether or not livestock actually produces less methane when it eats the grasses that it is supposed to, or whether the problem is simply that there are too many cows and such?
CLIMATE CHANGE TOPICS:
ReplyDeleteRebecca on Sea Level Rise and Population Impact
1. I think that the graphic on the areas that are expected to see the effects of sea level rise on the East Coast first would be good to include in your own news story. It makes the issue easier for readers here in VT to relate to. I also was alarmed that from 1880-2009 best estimates suggest the global average in sea level rose a little over eight inches. #crazy
2. Do you plan on placing more of an emphasis on the East Coast than the Maldives?
Marianna on The End of Snow
1. I knew that climate change was making winter Olympic events difficult, but I had no idea to what magnitude. I think that an interesting quote in this article was when Daniel Scott talked about the limited regions left to hold the winter Olympics if global warming continues. I also think that a good point to highlight is how much money the winter sports industry brings in to the nation, I had no idea it was $66 billion annually.
2. Do you plan on highlighting how much VT’s ski season has changed economically? For instance how many of the ski mountains have had to add on to summer activities or diversify what they offer?
Caroline on Fukushima
1. I had no idea that TEPCO was planning to freeze the ground around the reactor. The end of the article sounded like something out of science fiction. Really crazy to think that years later ground water contamination likely is still occurring.
2. Are you planning on highlighting the similarity in the Fukushima reactor to VT Yankee? Or to the others of the same design that are still open in the United States? Link to interesting Boston Globe article that I read in my global enviro politics course--- http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2013/09/21/nuclear-unplugged-the-problem-with-closing-vermont-yankee-plant/AlKvY7XcUExTUzxrapFAUK/story.html
Mike on Climate Change
1. The point in this article that really stuck out to me was when the author stated, “unlike industrial farms, small-scale organic and sustainable farms rely on people power, not heavy machinery, and depend on nature, not manmade chemicals for soil fertility and pest management”.
2. Do you think you will bring in anything on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and the unsustainability of mass-producing meat?
Kelsey: Climate Refugees.
ReplyDeleteComment: It’s devastating to hear that Bangladesh has experienced 70 climate-related natural disasters in just the past decade alone.
Question: If they do redefine the meaning of refugee, what will that mean for those involved?
Rebecca: Sea Level Rise and Population Impact.
Comment: I found it interesting that the land of the East Coast is sinking because of the ice that used to cover it.
Question: The prediction range from 6.5 feet above the 1992 sea level to just another 8 inches in quite the difference. How exactly do they expect the public to react when it is such a varied prediction?
Marianna: End Of Snow
Comment: It’s startling that 9 of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000.
Question: What will this do to the economy if the ski industry is no longer?
Caroline: Fukushima
Comment: I find it astounding that the Fukushima disaster was categorized as a level 7 incident and that it was a result of using “the wrong containers in the wrong place made of the wrong material, in the wrong way”.
Question: Do they have any other solutions in mind or is freezing the ground around the complex really the best option?
Mike: Climate Change
Comment: I was extremely surprised to read that livestock alone produces more emissions than all of Earth’s cars, planes, and trains combined.
Question: How do they propose getting people to limit their meat consumption?
Kelsey: Observation: I was surprised to learn that nearly 10% of the world’s populations are at risk of displacement by climate change. It’s also scary to think of “ghost states,” and the idea of people living in “virtual states.”
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Are countries prepared to deal with the mass migrations that are expected?
Rebecca: Observation: The highest projection affects 7.8 million Americans, however even the most modest sea level rise projects affect 1.3 million Americans. I was also surprised that they have data on sea level back to the 1850s.
Question: Will the US ever stop investing in coastline repairs and move further inland?
Marianna: Observation: I didn’t realize how high the percentage of ski resorts at risk for closing is as a result of climate change. Two-thirds of European ski resorts are likely to be closed by 2100 if climate change is not slowed- and the same in the US. More than half of ski resorts may not continue to operate in 30 years in the northeast.
Question: Do you think skiing will become more expensive as the snow becomes less available?
Caroline: Observation: It seems like Japan should have taken help from abroad immediately if the radioactive leakage was affecting the ocean water, because this is something that is going to affect more than just Japan.
Question: Do you think they’ll discover that the leakage is affecting the fish in areas across the world?
Mike: Observation: They should place extra taxes on meat to get people to purchase less of it. One reason people by so much meat is because it’s relatively inexpensive. It would be hard to convince people to give up eating meat all together- but reducing their meat consumption would be possible.
Question: Are people aware of the carbon footprint that meat has?
Kelsey – Climate refugees
ReplyDeleteObservation: Most Maldives climate refugees are moving to areas close by. Is this due to their (rightly) opposition to move further than that from their homes or because the government is unable to help place them in more permanent locations?
Question: Where else are they seeking to reestablish their homes and lives? What locations will be most popular/able to take in the grand number of climate refugees expected in the next 50 years?
Rebecca – Sea level rise
Observation: I really liked the descriptive first paragraphs in the NYT article which set the scene.
Question: The intense images/graphs that appeared alongside the NYT article made the piece that much more engaging. How do you plan to use images to support your article?
Marianna – End of snow
Observation: The paragraph that begins with “The facts are straightforward” was incredibly effective. It laid out the numbers concisely and boldly.
Question: The author uses his personal relation to the story, bringing a human aspect. Do you plan on following a similar approach in your writing?
Caroline – Fukushima
Observation: It’s interesting to see that other countries are using Fukushima as a lesson and that nuclear officers of American nuclear power plant reactors are traveling to Japan to see the damage first-hand.
Question: What are the impacts of releasing this contaminated water into the ocean?
Mike – Agriculture/climate change
Observation: The statistic that livestock production contributes to 18% of global warming was astonishing, especially because that is more than the emissions from vehicles.
Question: What about eating meat that is raised on a small, local farm? What are the emissions from that and is that a suitable alternative to cutting out meat from your diet altogether?
Kelsey
ReplyDeleteObservation: The title alone is incredibly alarming, as 2050 is a date, I hope, that many of us will still be alive for.
Question: What is the US doing to plan for the future in terms of re-locating these potential refugees?
Rebecca
Observation: I noticed the article said coastal towns every where are having to spend billions of dollars on fighting erosion. Why spend money fighting nature, as it takes its course, over spending to nurture it?
Question: From 1880-2009 the global sea level rose eight inches. What years did it rise the most?
Marianna
Observation: I really like this article, it had a nice subjective bite to it. I have also never though much about the lack of snow around the world, it was interesting to read about.
Question: This article explains how detrimental a lack of snow is for the winter sports industry, but what does this lack of snow mean for the environment around the world?
Caroline
Observation: It was alarming to read that TEPCO is "veritably drowning in contaminated water."
Question: What kinds of long term solutions are there to stop the leakage and spread of the contamination?
Kelsey/Climate Refugees:
ReplyDeleteObservation- Its interesting to look at an article from 2009 and see what we, as the human population, has or hasn’t done in the past 5 years. The hope surrounding the climate treaty in Copenhagen in particular was something to note, especially since the summit ended up being disappointing in terms of climate action.
Question- How many people have been displaced since this article was written?
Rebecca/Sea Level Rise:
Observation- Its astounding that from 1880 - 2009, sea level rise has been 8 inches, but by the end of the century it will be an additional 3 feet. Considering how close to sea level most of the east coast already is, the rise in sea level will leave most of the east coast devastated.
Question- What are the attempts at mitigation that can be made?
Marianna/End of Snow:
Observation- The idea that the Olympic games- a world-wide event that has been held for hundreds of years- might not be able to be supported in upcoming years is terrible. Under 20 places in the entire world would be able to sustain temperatures and conditions that would make the winter games possible by 2100.
Question- If colder regions throughout the world will eventually be unable to sustain snowy weather conditions, what does that mean for places like Vermont?
Caroline/Fukushima:
Observation- Even though Fukushima crumbled in 2011, the aftermath of the disaster is still entirely prevalent three years later. It just seems to serve as a reminder that every impact we have on this Earth lasts far longer than we could generally foresee. Its incredibly disheartening to see that they are just stumbling from crisis to crisis, without a conceivable solution in sight.
Question- What can we learn from Fukushima about disaster management or prevention plans?
Mike/Climate Change:
Observation- Maybe its just because we live on a college campus, in an unusually aware area of the US, but it didn’t come to a surprise to me that cutting out meat would significantly reduce carbon emissions. Behind fossil fuel companies, and probably cars, its the largest producer of carbon. Cutting out meat, or eating less meat, or even producing meat more sustainably could definitely be a viable, more approachable place to start when coming up with solutions for climate change.
Question- Is there any suggestions as to how to convince people with meat-heavy diets to reduce? Perhaps any external incentives?
ReplyDeleteMarianna: End of Snow
Observation- I was most taken back by the dramatic decrease in cities which would be able to host the winter Olympics by 2100. At an average rise of 7 degrees farenheit only 6 of 19 cities are predicted to be able to host the games again, that puts great perspective on this situation.
Question-Is tourism your main concern for a warming climate and lack of snow at the mountains, or are drinking water and the irrigation aspect of less snow more important?
Caroline: Fukushima
Observation- With so many incidents happening at the sight, it is not making sense to me why TEPCO has only two people on foot patrol. I understand the dangers of being around such a catastrophic sight but the company’s need to take responsibility and prevent any further degradation.
Question-Do you know if TEPCO is a branch of an American company or is this a company overseen entirely by the Japanese and their government?
Kelsey: Climate Refugees
Observation- It is surprising to me that currently 10 percent of the world’s population is at risk if displacement caused by climate change. It is hard to grasp the fact that the world’s population is roughly 7billiion people and rising, and now we are essentially running out of habitable areas of to live.
Question- Which do you think will be more of an issue in the future, trying to find safe places for these affected people to live, or finding ways to cultivate food while having safe drinking water as well?
Mike: Agriculture/climate change
Observation- It is very alarming to see just how devastating the industrialized food system has been to the climate. The most alarming fact which as stuck with me is that agriculture production has changed more in the past two generations than it had in the previous 12,000 years.
Question-Have you thought of any ways to go about promoting the idea of local food in our country?
Rebecca: Sea Level Rise
Observation-Having read this article it puts a better perspective on how this topic will affect people here in the United States. Obviously there is a serious situation going on in the Maldives, as they are in the middle of the ocean, but understanding the scale of this potential disaster relating it to New York City has strengthened my interest in the topic.
Question-Does it interest you to think of an estimate of property value that will be lost in NYC and Norfolk if we go about business as usual and wait for a serious disaster/dramatic rise to fix this problem?
Kelsey/Climate Refugees
ReplyDelete1. It is terrible to see so many people displaced by climate change, especially when there are still so many people who do not think it is actually happening.
2. How will countries be able to function with their populations so cut down?
Rebecca/Sea Level Rising and Population Impact
1. It is amazing that an increase of three to five feet in the seas level can have such a devastating effect on the coastline.
2. Since there is so much money being poured into these towns to raise roads, would it be easier or harder for some just relocate to another community?
Marianna/End of Snow
1. As a skier, it is troubling to see that what we have done as a society, and it is crazy to think that half of the crazy resorts in our own country may not be usable in the next thirty years. The fact that these areas cannot have as much of their own natural snow destroys not just tourism, but also regional identity.
2. Since I understand that artificial snow needs to be made for the mountains to stay open, but what kind of fuel is used for these snow machines?
Caroline/ Fukushima
1. Even after three years, Fukushima is still a problem in our world. It reminds me of the disaster at Chernobyl. Granted, there are nations that have been able to figure out how to use nuclear power effectively, but even the occasional missteps have the most devastating results.
2. I thought it was interesting that one of the solutions is to build a steel barrier to prevent further leakage of waste. Are there any concerns that that may not work?
Mike/Agriculture
1. It is really not surprising that we spend so much energy and fuel to feed livestock. In many ways, it seems like livestock are a middleman. We give them soy and produce to eat so that we can later consume their meat. But if we cut down on the amount of livestock we raise, not only could that cut down on carbon emissions, it could help in our battle against poverty and hunger in struggling nations since we would have more food to give.
2. If more people became vegetarian, 100,000 this instant, and the desire for meat consumption would go down, how much could that decrease carbon emissions?
Kelsey:
ReplyDelete1. It’s interesting how so many island states have made their distress clear yet very little has been done to actually slow down the climate change process and revamp the islanders life. I wonder what the United States would do if one of our islands was in a drastic situation regarding climate change.
2. If all the people mentioned in the article actually need to leave their homes, were would they be placed? Do we have enough space in cities to compensate for them?
Rebecca:
1. I was not aware that land on the east coast was sinking from southern Maine to Florida. The story of Holland Island is extremely concerning.
2. Does the sinking of east coast land have any drastic negative effects on our land? Does it pose an immediate danger?
Marianna:
1. I enjoyed hearing about the writers experiences skiing across the globe in various countries, however, I wasn’t as thrilled to hear how long U.S. ski resorts have left until the snow diminishes completely, not to mention the lack of destinations for future winter Olympics. I hope this issue picks up more attention soon enough.
2. How big of a hit would New England’s economy actually take if skiing was no longer a main tourist attraction?
Caroline:
1. I’m still undecided on whether or not I approve of nuclear energy. It’s one of those methods that is ultimately a clean energy source, but can be catastrophic to the environment if it isn’t run correctly; such is the case with Fukushima.
2. Is keeping the contaminated water in dozens of water tanks really safe? Where will the water then go?
Mike:
1. I feel as though giving up meat is more of a sacrifice to some people than using less energy or renewable energy. Meat is integrated into various cultures whereas energy is simply a mean to use machinery and live more comfortably.
2. How would farmers who specialize in producing meat transform their farm when the rest of the country (or even world) is producing everything but meat?
Fantastic climate change reflections and questions, #ENV Journalism posse.
ReplyDeleteLet's dive in during class,
W
Kelsey
ReplyDeleteObservation: It's crazy to think that 500 million to 600 million people, about 10% of the world's population are at risk from displacement by climate change.
Question:How does this relate to the new findings that poorer people are more susceptible to being affected by climate change?
Rebecca
Observation: As a New Englander reading that the East Coast will be hit harder because as the seawater rises, the land in this part of the world is sinking.
Question: Why do you think people spend billions of dollars on helping the houses on the coast instead of on cleaner energy?
Marianna
Observation: Of the 19 cities that have hosted the Winter Olympics, as few as 10 might be cold enough by midcentury to host them again, and that number shrinks to 6 by 2100.
Question: Is the ski industry helping the environment or does it hurt the environment more?
Caroline
Observation: It took weeks for two patrol guards to see a tank leak. The amount of waste that leaked out of it is huge.
Question: Why are Americans going to investigate Fukushima when we don't have a lot of experience with nuclear plants?
Mike
Observation: 33% of the total global warming effect can be attributed to the food system.
Question: Are people more likely to eat locally and use better agricultural techniques to help end animal cruelty or to help the environment?
Shawna
ReplyDelete1. I think it is interesting how conflicting this issue is. But I think in the long term., I think it would be in the best interest of Vermont to go through with this project.
2. I wonder if there is enough wind that goes through Vermont that would make these wind turbines a sound investment?
August
1. This is just such an interesting partnership to me. It is definitely something worth working on by both Vermont and Upper Austria, but it is great to see this kind of movements take place, especially for a form of renewable energy whose availability is probably not as well known by the general public.
2. I wonder if other states in the U.S or Austria could get in on this partnership?
Ally
1. It is interested in hearing the statistics that if NY State moves to more renewable forms of energy, health expenses will decrease. It is always interesting to see those kind of ripple effects coming from choosing better forms of energy.
2. If the fracking ban is lifted, how will it affect the efforts by these organizations trying to find more renewable forms of energy?
Abby
1. I just can’t believe that we are talking about the aesthetic appeal of wind turbines, devices that could help point our species in the right direction in terms of energy consumption.
2. I wonder if climate change comes and devastates the coast, those people who do not like the wind turbines will be singing a different tune.
Week 2.
ReplyDeleteMorgan
1. Even though I have been living in Vermont in a while, it is always good to see the work by the state to improve organic farming and buy local.
2. It is interesting to hear about the impact of dairy farming on Lake Champlain, but what is being done to take care of the other pollutants in the lake?
Lisa
1. It is cool to hear that these people had a background in some sort of humanitarian work before they were getting involved in CSA.
2. I wonder what other states are working on more community supported agriculture programs?
Bobcat
1. It is interesting that there is a distinction made between deforestation and logging. I would only hope that there is some use put to the trees cut down.
2. Since there will always be a need for agriculture and the global population will continue to increase, how can we provide a better growth of food while clear cutting less?
Ryder
1. I wonder if eventually more and more people will have to move inland if the erosion continues.
2. How much money will be spent to prevent further erosion before it is decided to move further inland?
Sarah
1. I think it is interesting that it has taken this long for a conversation on the captivity of wild animals to take place. I understand that some need to be ion captivity for their own survival, but it is arrogance on the part of our species that we get to pick and choose animals that we would like to see perform against their will.
2. Are there programs that can help orcas successfully integrate back into the wild?