This article is about “the Grand Korean Waterway” which is one of Korean president’s promises. “The grand Korean Waterway” is the biggest construction project ever in Korean history. This project has been a big controversy due to obvious potential environmental damage. Basically what this project does is expand the river’s size and dig it dipper so that big cargo ships can go through.
Some critics say it is not necessary because Korea is a tiny peninsula country. Korea is surrounded by sea and the distance between Seoul and Busan, which is the canal’s planned way, is only about 450km.
Putting aside the fact that the presidents’ family own huge property along the canal way, there is a huge environmental issues over this project. The Han River is a good illustration of how we can destroy nature with political will. The Han River, which used to be a healthy, diverse ecosystem, was totally destroyed after a big construction project to dig it deeper and widen it with a cement river bank.
Even though there have been so many small and big protests against the project it continues; the construction has even accelerated. It seems like the president wants to finish this historically gigantic controversial project within his presidential term.
It shows the worst example of the political will can affect the environment in a bad way, especially when it’s related to certain people’s profit.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7202161.stm
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Save the whales
The National Marine Fisheries Service recently announced plans to save the habitat for a species of wales that are currently threatened in the Atlantic Ocean. By preserving the habitat it allows for the whale species to survive and possibly expand their numbers to a sustainable number.
This is refreshing after the past eight years when endangered species were not a focus for the previous administration. The preservation of species is a good thing because it preserves a fragile ecosystem and allows for certain species to recover to certain levels. This may be a small step but it is progress for what needs to be done to protect all the species of the world. Here is a link for you guys to check out.
http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3523
This is refreshing after the past eight years when endangered species were not a focus for the previous administration. The preservation of species is a good thing because it preserves a fragile ecosystem and allows for certain species to recover to certain levels. This may be a small step but it is progress for what needs to be done to protect all the species of the world. Here is a link for you guys to check out.
http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3523
Will wind be the future?
Everyday environmentally driven companies strive to create the technologies that will sustain our future. While ingenuity is present, the funds to back up renewable energy alternatives endeavors such as solar panels, hydro electric dams or win farms are not always there. Luckily strides have started to be made towards sustainable development.
Google and New York Financial have each agreed to invest in a 5 billion dollar transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard. The wind farm will stretch 350 miles and make it easier for electricity to be brought onshore in the New Jersey, Virginia and Delaware regions.
While offshore wind farms are more expensive than coal or oil, it will ultimately lower our nations footprint and hopefully contribute to the end of climate change. The trouble though, like other renewable energy plans is convincing the public and high powered industries to switch from a cheap abundant alternative to a new more technologically advanced resource.
Although it will take time, moving forward to a greener future is possible, especially with high corporate and government backing.
To read more about the proposed offshore wind farm visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/science/earth/12wind.html?_r=1&ref=earth
Google and New York Financial have each agreed to invest in a 5 billion dollar transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Seaboard. The wind farm will stretch 350 miles and make it easier for electricity to be brought onshore in the New Jersey, Virginia and Delaware regions.
While offshore wind farms are more expensive than coal or oil, it will ultimately lower our nations footprint and hopefully contribute to the end of climate change. The trouble though, like other renewable energy plans is convincing the public and high powered industries to switch from a cheap abundant alternative to a new more technologically advanced resource.
Although it will take time, moving forward to a greener future is possible, especially with high corporate and government backing.
To read more about the proposed offshore wind farm visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/science/earth/12wind.html?_r=1&ref=earth
Zoo-p-a-zee-zoo-za...
In our many, varied discussions of environmental politics, we have yet to mention what originally, as a kid, made me care about the environment: the conservation of animals. On a very visceral level, I care about the environment not only because, we, as humans, must live in it, but because all creatures great and small (amazing TV show, and the books by James Herriot they are based off of were some of my favorite childhood reads) must live in this world too.
SO! With that in mind, let's look in our own backyard for an organization that is doing amazing work in animal conversation, and by necessity, habitat conservation: Smithsonian's National Zoo! The zoo, which if you have never been to before, what have you been DOING these years in DC, is not just a place to house animals. The National Zoo IS HUGE. The number of research institutions, programs and projects they are undertaking is amazing! And it is all for saving animals. By saving animals, which doesn't mean just stopping a species from going extinct, but increasing genetic diversity, preserving habitat, encouraging sustainable practices locally in animals' habitats and globally with people are the world, the zoo works to help not just lions and tigers and bears and fish and birds, but you and me.
The question though, that is brought into questions with zoos is the idea of preservation vs. conservation. Preservation essentially says get rid of human use of certain ecosystems all together, while conservation is saying we need to regulate human use. The zoo falls into the conservation category, realizing that we cannot get rid of humans, we're here to stay, but we can find ways to sustainably develop how we treat animals and their habitats, for the reasons I've already mentioned, but also, to quote from one of my favorite books, Last Chance to See (by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine): "There is one last reason for caring, and I believe no other reason is necessary. It is certainly the reason why so many people have devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos, and dolphins. And it is simply this: the world would be a poorer, darker, lonelier place without them."
And now, pictures of the SEVEN, COUNT THEM SEVEN, lion cubs born within the last two months at the National Zoo!
(Click to be overwhelmed by adorableness)
Shera's four cubs
and
Naba's three cubs' first exam!
I am in overwhelmed.
SO! With that in mind, let's look in our own backyard for an organization that is doing amazing work in animal conversation, and by necessity, habitat conservation: Smithsonian's National Zoo! The zoo, which if you have never been to before, what have you been DOING these years in DC, is not just a place to house animals. The National Zoo IS HUGE. The number of research institutions, programs and projects they are undertaking is amazing! And it is all for saving animals. By saving animals, which doesn't mean just stopping a species from going extinct, but increasing genetic diversity, preserving habitat, encouraging sustainable practices locally in animals' habitats and globally with people are the world, the zoo works to help not just lions and tigers and bears and fish and birds, but you and me.
The question though, that is brought into questions with zoos is the idea of preservation vs. conservation. Preservation essentially says get rid of human use of certain ecosystems all together, while conservation is saying we need to regulate human use. The zoo falls into the conservation category, realizing that we cannot get rid of humans, we're here to stay, but we can find ways to sustainably develop how we treat animals and their habitats, for the reasons I've already mentioned, but also, to quote from one of my favorite books, Last Chance to See (by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine): "There is one last reason for caring, and I believe no other reason is necessary. It is certainly the reason why so many people have devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos, and dolphins. And it is simply this: the world would be a poorer, darker, lonelier place without them."
And now, pictures of the SEVEN, COUNT THEM SEVEN, lion cubs born within the last two months at the National Zoo!
(Click to be overwhelmed by adorableness)
Shera's four cubs
and
Naba's three cubs' first exam!
I am in overwhelmed.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
I am an ordinary environmentally conscious college student
I would say that I think like other environmentally conscious college students when I make food choices. Here is a “model” list that any good college students should think about before they buy food: First, it should be organic or proven that the producers treated animals well in its production. Second, local is better.
First of all, I respect all life forms as much as humans--except roaches and mosquitoes. However, I don’t think that I should be a vegetarian. I admit that eating meat is natural. What is unnatural is raising animals inhumanely, like by feeding cows corn, feeding non-vegetarian forage to vegetarian animals, and squeezing them into a cell-like cage. I am more environmentally conscious when I am emotionally involved in an issue. That must be why I am not that passionate about organic vegetables. Second, I support local farms for less fossil fuel consumption and local communities’ development. I hope that eventually local farms replace the big corporations’ farms. I believe these things are the best practical actions for environment with my food purchases.
On the other hand, there are other factors that affect my food choices. First, it shouldn’t be irrationally expensive. I can take few dollars difference as investing in my health and for supporting organic farms. However, I don’t think I will ever easily buy vegetables that are double the price at Whole Foods. Second, it is hard to quit my favorite foods. It seems as if my favorite foods are sacred. When I have Korean food that I miss so much I will not even think for a second what kind of meat it is, or whether it is organic.
Overall, I try to make good food choices and make consider the environment. But I confront some obstacles that are deep-seeded in my mind. I am satisfied with my food choices and its impact on environment and that is all I can do as an individual consumer.
In the past few days, I ate a fancy hamburger at Chef Geoff’s, Korean pork barbeque at home, and a burrito at Chipotle. Among my last three food choices, my fancy hamburger must have had the greatest environmental impact. I am sure that my hamburger patty was made out of “good beef,” but not the one from the factory farm. However, in general our big beef consumption has the greatest impact on environment. First of all, cows take a lot of energy to become beef; this means they need a lot of crops or corn (that cows are not supposed to eat) to grow up and get fat. A huge portion of Amazon’s deforestation is attributed not only to the raising cows, but also to growing beans and crops to feed cows. Also, the methane that cows produce has 25 times stronger impact on global warming than carbon dioxide.
By the way, I don’t like to measure my consumption simply by thinking about environmental impacts without consideration for animal rights; it’s too selfish reason to think just about our (humans’) food.
First of all, I respect all life forms as much as humans--except roaches and mosquitoes. However, I don’t think that I should be a vegetarian. I admit that eating meat is natural. What is unnatural is raising animals inhumanely, like by feeding cows corn, feeding non-vegetarian forage to vegetarian animals, and squeezing them into a cell-like cage. I am more environmentally conscious when I am emotionally involved in an issue. That must be why I am not that passionate about organic vegetables. Second, I support local farms for less fossil fuel consumption and local communities’ development. I hope that eventually local farms replace the big corporations’ farms. I believe these things are the best practical actions for environment with my food purchases.
On the other hand, there are other factors that affect my food choices. First, it shouldn’t be irrationally expensive. I can take few dollars difference as investing in my health and for supporting organic farms. However, I don’t think I will ever easily buy vegetables that are double the price at Whole Foods. Second, it is hard to quit my favorite foods. It seems as if my favorite foods are sacred. When I have Korean food that I miss so much I will not even think for a second what kind of meat it is, or whether it is organic.
Overall, I try to make good food choices and make consider the environment. But I confront some obstacles that are deep-seeded in my mind. I am satisfied with my food choices and its impact on environment and that is all I can do as an individual consumer.
In the past few days, I ate a fancy hamburger at Chef Geoff’s, Korean pork barbeque at home, and a burrito at Chipotle. Among my last three food choices, my fancy hamburger must have had the greatest environmental impact. I am sure that my hamburger patty was made out of “good beef,” but not the one from the factory farm. However, in general our big beef consumption has the greatest impact on environment. First of all, cows take a lot of energy to become beef; this means they need a lot of crops or corn (that cows are not supposed to eat) to grow up and get fat. A huge portion of Amazon’s deforestation is attributed not only to the raising cows, but also to growing beans and crops to feed cows. Also, the methane that cows produce has 25 times stronger impact on global warming than carbon dioxide.
By the way, I don’t like to measure my consumption simply by thinking about environmental impacts without consideration for animal rights; it’s too selfish reason to think just about our (humans’) food.
Food Glorious Food
I personally do not think before I eat simply because since I rely on the school dining room for my meals I personally can not make the choices available. Honestly, I usually just grab the foods that look the best and I am in the mood for. Ideally, I try to cut down my intake of meats because they are bad for the environment since they cost more to make than other food sources. The environmental considerations for me are that I hope that the food being prepared is made in a way that reflects proper environmentally sustainability but I feel individually it is up to the food companies to make sure they are following enviromental standards. I feel indivually if consumers can exert pressure on the food producers but this can take a lot of organizing and willpower which I feel most people do not have the stomach for their food sources.
The past weekend I took the LSATs so I honestly did not eat or drink much this past weekend. I only consumed water because I do not drink caffeine. This decesion was made for health reasons because I feel caffeine is bad for you and messes up your body's natural way of doing things. This also could play a role enviromentally since water would be easier to make than caffeine products. Food wise I eat local foods since I was back home. I eat two Italian hoagies from Wawa with lettuce mayo, salt and pepper. These foods I feel have less of an impact since they are locally made. Lastly, I had a bowl of cereal frosted flakes for breakfast with that potentially have the greatest impact due to all the ways that the cow is maintained along with the methane gas that the cow releases.
The past weekend I took the LSATs so I honestly did not eat or drink much this past weekend. I only consumed water because I do not drink caffeine. This decesion was made for health reasons because I feel caffeine is bad for you and messes up your body's natural way of doing things. This also could play a role enviromentally since water would be easier to make than caffeine products. Food wise I eat local foods since I was back home. I eat two Italian hoagies from Wawa with lettuce mayo, salt and pepper. These foods I feel have less of an impact since they are locally made. Lastly, I had a bowl of cereal frosted flakes for breakfast with that potentially have the greatest impact due to all the ways that the cow is maintained along with the methane gas that the cow releases.
Apple of My Eye
First: I am a foodie. I am a ridiculous epicurean who is living on a college student's budget. I love to cook, this weekend in fact, I had a dessert party where I served: dulce de leche cheesecake, brothers, cookie sandwiches with a nutella-chocolate filling, a fruit dip, bruschetta and cucumber dip (okay those last two aren't desserts but realized too many sweets isn't a good idea). All of that was made by me! I LOVE TO COOK! And not just easy stuff, like pasta, but crazy ridiculous stuff, like homemade dulce de leche for a cheesecake. Yeah, college student with aspirations of something bigger.
So when I shop, I shop with a mindset of a not-so-average college chef in mind. Meaning the frozen food (prepared) aisle holds little interest for me, unless maybe frozen veggies.
Here's how my brain prioritizes when grocery shopping: 1. Menu for the week. I plan out what recipes I want to try/make before I go shopping. Saves me from impulse buys. 2. Price. This is pretty much tied with number one, because I set a budget for myself each week of how much I can spend. At the store, unless I know of a noticeable taste difference between the brand-name and store-band items, I go for the cheaper store-band stuff. 3. Shelf life. I may not buy a head of lettuce if I think, "No, I really won't be making salad for the rest of the week, that'd be a waste." 4. How hungry I am when I shop. I try not to go grocery shopping when I'm hungry, because that's when I make impulse buys. "What? Dinosaur chicken nuggets for only $2? I MUST HAVE THEM!"...Situations like that I try to avoid. Just because I love to cook and in general don't go for a lot of "processed" foods, doesn't mean I don't find them delicious. Realistically, though, it's usually cheaper for me to make my food and have leftovers for the next few days.
Thinking of what I ate over the past few days...it's hard to determine what had the most impact. I'll pick something random, then, because at least I can focus on it. I had some apples from New Zealand this week. ('sup Professor Nicholson) I know that apple farmers in New Zealand actually have an amazing industry that's committed to growing the apples, if not completely organically, in an integrated system. Here's a pretty fun publication on agricultural exports from New Zealand: http://www.hortresearch.co.nz/files/aboutus/factsandfigs/ff2007.pdf.
Anyway, so despite the fact that New Zealand is doing this amazing sustainability program, all these apples to had to come to the US. I've been to New Zealand. It is a FOURTEEN HOUR FLIGHT THERE FROM LA. How long does a cargo ship take? How much fuel is burned in the transportation? And since I had this apple here, in DC, not only does it have to get to the US, it has to get to the other side of the US. So many fossil fuels burnt! Oooooooh no CO2 whoa!
But why do we have apples from New Zealand? The US has got the apple market covered, right? Johnny Appleseed and all that? Well. There's this idea of demand. Even if apples aren't in season (though they are here), people demand apples. So New Zealand, on an opposite seasonal system than us (hey spring!), can provide that, at the cost of the environment. Good times.
The apple was pretty tasty though.
So when I shop, I shop with a mindset of a not-so-average college chef in mind. Meaning the frozen food (prepared) aisle holds little interest for me, unless maybe frozen veggies.
Here's how my brain prioritizes when grocery shopping: 1. Menu for the week. I plan out what recipes I want to try/make before I go shopping. Saves me from impulse buys. 2. Price. This is pretty much tied with number one, because I set a budget for myself each week of how much I can spend. At the store, unless I know of a noticeable taste difference between the brand-name and store-band items, I go for the cheaper store-band stuff. 3. Shelf life. I may not buy a head of lettuce if I think, "No, I really won't be making salad for the rest of the week, that'd be a waste." 4. How hungry I am when I shop. I try not to go grocery shopping when I'm hungry, because that's when I make impulse buys. "What? Dinosaur chicken nuggets for only $2? I MUST HAVE THEM!"...Situations like that I try to avoid. Just because I love to cook and in general don't go for a lot of "processed" foods, doesn't mean I don't find them delicious. Realistically, though, it's usually cheaper for me to make my food and have leftovers for the next few days.
Thinking of what I ate over the past few days...it's hard to determine what had the most impact. I'll pick something random, then, because at least I can focus on it. I had some apples from New Zealand this week. ('sup Professor Nicholson) I know that apple farmers in New Zealand actually have an amazing industry that's committed to growing the apples, if not completely organically, in an integrated system. Here's a pretty fun publication on agricultural exports from New Zealand: http://www.hortresearch.co.nz/files/aboutus/factsandfigs/ff2007.pdf.
Anyway, so despite the fact that New Zealand is doing this amazing sustainability program, all these apples to had to come to the US. I've been to New Zealand. It is a FOURTEEN HOUR FLIGHT THERE FROM LA. How long does a cargo ship take? How much fuel is burned in the transportation? And since I had this apple here, in DC, not only does it have to get to the US, it has to get to the other side of the US. So many fossil fuels burnt! Oooooooh no CO2 whoa!
But why do we have apples from New Zealand? The US has got the apple market covered, right? Johnny Appleseed and all that? Well. There's this idea of demand. Even if apples aren't in season (though they are here), people demand apples. So New Zealand, on an opposite seasonal system than us (hey spring!), can provide that, at the cost of the environment. Good times.
The apple was pretty tasty though.
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