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(02/18/15 6:49pm)
By Neha Vachhani
Columnist
Climate change will always be a controversial topic of discussion. The ongoing debates about the truths behind the severity, causes and solutions of global warming will continue heatedly, but there scientific consensus has isolated a few key factors and policy suggestions.
One of the significant contributors to the planet’s increase in temperature is the emission of greenhouse gases, which absorb infrared radiation and excrete it back into the atmosphere, causing what is most commonly known as the greenhouse effect. These gases are primarily comprised of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Many people are consciously attempting to reduce their carbon footprints by simply altering a minor aspect of their lives, such as carpooling to work or recycling. However, another step the environmentally-cautious can take is to step away from beef and make the move towards chicken.
According to GRAIN, a nonprofit organization that advocates for locally produced and biodiversity-based food systems, the food we consume contributes to approximately 50 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The food we eat affects the climate a lot more than we are aware of, and there are easy steps to take in order to make an impactful change.
Farmers are doing their share as they improve the way they grow produce, and now it’s our turn to change the way we eat. Simply opting for chicken over beef as a meat option makes a substantial difference. In addition to cutting back on red meat, increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables is an effortless way to decrease your carbon footprint because they typically take less greenhouse gases to produce. Eating local foods is yet another way to help — it lessens the amount of emissions produced while transporting food. There are countless ways changing a minor component of your diet can help decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
There are, of course, many sides to everything, including the seemingly small changes you could make to your diet. Cutting out red meat could negatively affect anyone involved in raising and preparing cattle, and that could potentially put jobs at risk. There are nutritional risks to consider, as well. Although few would argue that eating more fruits and vegetables is harmful to your health, the decrease in red meat could lead to protein deficiencies if a balanced diet is not maintained. For people with lower incomes, it becomes increasingly difficult to afford red meat alternatives that contain the required amount of protein for a healthy diet.
Taking the many factors into consideration, it’s still easy enough to help decrease the amount of greenhouse gases that humans emit. A small sacrifice can reap substantial rewards if everyone contributes. Opting for chicken instead of beef for one meal a week is all it takes to begin reversing the detrimental effects that climate change has been causing to the planet and to all who inhabit it.
(10/29/14 7:58am)
By Neha Vachhani
Columnist
When thinking of renewable energy or sustainable resources, most people initially think of California and its tree-hugging residents. Although California takes the lead, New Jersey follows closely behind when it comes to solar energy. According to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the state reached the one gigawatt mark in total installed solar electric capacity this past February, which has continued to increase ever since. In 2013, approximately one third of all solar panels in the country were installed in New Jersey. Solar panels can be seen on suburban rooftops throughout New Jersey. However, the state prides itself on the government, business and nonprofit buildings that are powered with the renewable resource.
Among the nonresidential buildings powered with solar energy are the myriad of public schools throughout the state. Again, New Jersey ranks second in the nation when it comes to K-12 schools that use solar energy. Over 380 schools statewide have solar panels installed, generating nearly 100,000 kilowatts of solar electricity. Taking the lead with 6.1 megawatts, the Lawrenceville School in Mercer County has the most solar energy panels on a school in the United States. Solar power allows schools to save money, provide local jobs and, most importantly, provide power without harmful emissions. There are five times as many schools using solar energy than there were in 2008, providing students with access to more than they ever had before, according to NJ.com. Hopefully, this number only increases with time as people realize that solar energy is the future.
A study performed by the Solar Energy Industries Association displays that 16 school districts throughout New Jersey could save over $1 million in about 30 years with the help of solar power systems. In order to yield savings from the rather expensive investment, consumers must be patient because it does take a couple of years. Despite the price of installation, solar power systems are a worthy venture because it shows the world that schools and corporate businesses can take a step in the right direction to conserve resources and do something good for the planet, in addition to saving money in the long run.
(10/01/14 5:47pm)
By Neha Vachhani
Columnist
Director Louie Schwartzberg and writer Scott Z. Burns came together to create an inspirational, three-minute short film called “What’s Possible,” stressing that climate change is a grave problem that can be solved.
The video, narrated by Morgan Freeman, pans over windmill farms and solar panels intermittently with scenes of oceans and forests to display the possibility of a future where technology works harmoniously with the natural world. Freeman’s narration promotes an ideal way of living by using resources that do not pollute the air or the oceans. As he states, “the food we eat will be good for our bodies, and good for our planet,” the video suggests that saving the world we live in does not mean compromising our way of living, but merely changing the way we regard the environment.
“What’s Possible” conveys the overarching message of exactly that – what possible improvements people can make and need to make in order for the world to cease deteriorating. Sea levels rising, species dying, pollution and climate change are samples of the ecological problems that are mentioned – problems that warrant people to take action. The short film ends with a message of hope, resonating with the notion that we need to unite to make a change.
Schwartzberg and Burns’s film was presented to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Summit, displaying that there are solutions to the global crisis that is climate change. The aim of the short film is for everyday people of the world to insist their leaders come together and create a better future for everyone. Motivational short films such as “What’s Possible” allow anyone with internet connection to spread awareness across the globe. The video was posted on a myriad of social networking websites, as well as popular web journals and online news blogs. On www.takepart.com/climate, you can watch the film, keep up with current climate events as well as sign petitions to make a political change advocating for the environment.
(09/16/14 4:55pm)
By Neha Vachhani
Columnist
The continuous drought throughout California has negatively impacted not only locals experiencing the water shortages firsthand, but also everyday consumers across the nation. Agriculturally, the drought has caused an immense lack of grass across the coast, which, by and large, takes away the main source of organic feed for livestock. As California farmers struggle to meet the requirements for an “organic” label, the USDA has put a hold on enforcing organic standards such as grazing periods or quality of feed for livestock, according to CNN. Ultimately, this results in a subpar quality of food available for purchase daily at the grocery store.
Californians are now facing their third year of a relentless drought that has forced farmers to abandon crops and left townsfolk to depend on alternate water sources. Despite the scarcity of water, residents of the dry state have been conserving a great deal of it. In July alone, Californians saved 17 billion gallons of water through simple actions like taking shorter showers and limiting the amount used to water lawns. Overall, water usage has been cut by 7.5 percent in July, according to the Huffington Post.
There are even businesses and corporations primarily in Northern California that have cut their consumption in half. The state has put in place mandatory conservation measures such as replacing turf and “water-thirsty” lawns with drought tolerant plants and other landscaping. Some areas have even banned residents from filling up their swimming pools in an effort to conserve as much water as possible.
While many Californians are doing everything in their power to save water, their efforts are washed away under big corporations like Dunkin’ Donuts as they sign off on million-dollar deals that largely impact the environment. As of early September, Dunkin’ Donuts has announced that they will be offering almond milk at most U.S. locations. The provider, Blue Diamond Growers, have many bases in California. Almonds are an extremely water-intensive crop, requiring over a gallon of water to grow one almond, according to the LA Times. Dunkin’ Donuts has nearly 8,000 U.S. locations, and it’s going to take a great deal of almond milk to stock them all. A higher demand of almond milk will increase production and possibly even cause Blue Diamond to expand, which would result in more water usage during one of the worst droughts in over a century.
(08/26/14 5:18pm)
By Neha Vachhani
Columnist
Although Californians are accustomed to the shaky rumble of frequent earthquakes, just this past Sunday, residents of Napa County awoke to an earthquake with an initial magnitude of 6.0. The earthquake struck around 3:15 a.m. and set off a multitude of car alarms as well as kickstarted widespread power outages in the Bay Area. In addition to power outages, dozens of people were reported with injuries. The Valley Medical Center in Napa has reported at least 70 people were being treated for concussions, bruises and injuries of the like due to the earthquake.
The earthquake was the largest in the Bay Area since the 6.9 Loma Prieta in 1989. The quake also sparked a fire at a mobile home park in Napa and has caused a great deal of damage to buildings in the area. Four homes have been destroyed, and firefighters were struggling to put out the blaze because of a broken water main. In addition to frequent earthquakes, residents of California are used to the sight of flames most often resulting from a drought or forest fire. Downtown Napa has been ridden with damage consisting of bricks, glass and other building debris littering the streets of the town.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the depth of the earthquake was a little less than seven miles, and the initial strike was followed by numerous aftershocks, ranging in magnitude but never exceeding 3.6. There is a certain level of fear that builds within the townsfolk as they feel the shaking of the quake, whether they witness food flying off the shelves at a grocery store or are literally shaken awake by the powerful natural disaster. Despite the resulting damages and injuries, California residents are grateful that there weren’t worse casualties. Power lines throughout nearby towns have been reported down, but major bridges and buildings in the Bay Area went untouched.
The 6.0 earthquake that many Californians were forced to endure is now over and the aftermath is substantial, but not irreparable. Residents are taking this in stride and are looking on the bright side as they approach the start of a full recovery.
(04/29/14 11:02pm)
As the genetically-altered nature of America’s produce becomes public knowledge, the demand for organic fruits and vegetables has increased. The West Coast is the country’s consistent advocate for hormone-free crops, and now farms in the Northeast are beginning to follow in its footsteps.
Although cities in the Northeast may not seem like the ideal location to initialize the growth of organic produce, Gotham Greens, the urban greenhouse business, is taking strides in introducing New York City to the world of agriculture. Co-Founders Eric Haley and Viraj Puri created the business to implement organic, pesticide-free produce to consumers in the city.
Gotham Greens uses a climate-controlled environment that grows fruits and vegetables year-round. Earlier this year, the organization opened its second greenhouse on the top of a Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn. The 20,000 square-foot greenhouse produces over 200 tons of non-GMO, pesticide-free crops annually. The organic grocery store chains like Whole Foods and Fresh Direct rely on Gotham Greens for their fresh produce, thus calling for heavier demand.
The greenhouse was designed specifically for urban areas where rich soil and vast farmland are scarce. The co-founders developed a hydroponic technique that allows plants to grow without soil, gaining nutrients strictly from a water supply.
In addition to the preservation of soil, the greenhouse recycles all of its water. With droughts becoming more and more problematic throughout the country, this component of the hydroponic method particularly appeals to regions awaiting rainfall for their crops.
Urban agricultural projects like Gotham Greens are gaining popularity with today’s society as the demand for higher quality, better-for-you produce becomes more prominent.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Library, approximately 15 percent of the world’s produce is now grown in urban areas. Since communities around the world are abandoning their rural roots and becoming more urban in nature, the increase in urban agriculture will only continue to increase. With the sustainability of modern technology and the removal of hormone-ridden fruits and vegetables, the concept of urban agriculture appeals to the masses.
Ultimately, Haley and Puri have taken the first step into the future of the farming industry.
(04/15/14 5:14pm)
Wind energy is becoming the go-to environmentally cautious option for energy-consuming corporations across the country. Windmill farms are primarily composed of multiple wind turbines that convert kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power that can be used to power factories.
Corporations like Intel, Whole Foods, Walmart and Google have been active investors in wind power as well as alternative renewable energy sources, and the popular Swedish furniture store Ikea has joined the club. The Ikea Company recently purchased a 98-megawatt wind farm in Illinois, acquiring the company’s largest source of renewable energy.
The company has been taking steps in hopes to lessen its carbon footprint — it has committed to using renewable energy and minimizing its carbon emissions as much as possible. Although things such as solar panels are not the fiscally responsible choice, there are many environmentally friendly options that double as economically smart business decisions. With goals to be energy independent by 2020, Ikea, along with a handful of other corporations, has taken an initiative to keep the planet safe.The company hopes to have the wind farm up and running by 2015. It is expected to generate up to 380-gigawatt hours of renewable energy a year. This amount of energy is equivalent to removing over 50,000 cars off the road each year. Ikea executives say the proposed outlook is that the wind energy will cover up to 18 percent of the electricity used by the Ikea organization worldwide.
Ikea is not an American company, so although this is its first wind farm in the U.S., Ikea owns a substantial amount of wind farms in various countries such as Canada, France, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. In addition to wind energy, the Ikea Company has been increasing its reliance on solar power. As of 2012, 90 percent of Ikea stores within the United States generate solar power. As Ikea proceeds to move into the environmentally cautious business world, we can only hope that others will follow.
(04/01/14 1:42pm)
The farming industry on the west coast is taking a serious toll with the lack of rainfall in California. As the drought continues, agricultural requirements are becoming more and more difficult to meet, and California farmers are suffering immensely.
It’s no secret Californians are very proactive about organic, free- range farming methods, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet FDA standards for the “organic” label. As of last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun to allow organic livestock farmers in the state of California to temporarily discard feeding standards that grant them the “organic” label. The drought has caused a significant lack of grass across the coast, which takes away the main source of organic feed for livestock. The animals are to graze for at least four months a year to be labeled as organic, but the sparse amount of grass has left farmers at a disadvantage during grazing months — which is why the USDA is officially cutting organic requirements in half.
The USDA is no longer enforcing neither a fixed amount of grazing time nor pasture intake for the livestock during the drought. The severity of the drought is monumental, and it has affected the majority of farms in the state. The new regulations are applied to 53 out of the 58 counties because they have been declared natural disaster areas due to their high lack of organic feed. The California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Marin Organic Certified Agriculture were the first to request a variance in the requirements to label their products as organic. Although this puts farmers at ease and allows them to remain on their feet through the drought, it also forces the industry to lower standards at a significant level.
Many directors of local environmental organizations have been distraught over the variance and finally concluded that they’ll “support this variance if that’s the only alternative,” according to OCA’s Ronnie Cummuns. Although the USDA stresses that the alteration is temporary, it also stated that it is not averse to taking further action if the drought continues at its devastating rate.
A major concern for the public is that the standards for the farming industry to deem their products as organic is already so lenient, and the drought is only allowing for more wiggle room. Organic meat and produce are already overpriced and have a very narrow consumer market, so those few who actually choose to pay the extra dollar in efforts to make a healthier choice get the short end of the stick in this scenario. Grass-fed livestock, namely cows, produce milk and meat that carry higher levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6, but with the change in feed, there comes a change in health benefits. Farmers are forced to feed their animals grain they shouldn’t be eating due to a lack of a better alternative. The poor feed results in negative effects to the animals and by in large the environment and consumers, as well.
(03/18/14 3:15pm)
It’s no secret that synthetically-developed plastics are among the worst products for the environment, yet they are consistently manufactured nationwide. Regardless of BPA-free, recycled and supposedly “eco-friendly” replacements to traditional plastic products, the industry overall still negatively impacts the environment at an alarming rate. Plastic is so fiscally attainable that it has come to replace many other mediums. Petroleum-based plastics often omit toxic chemicals while being used, and once they are discarded, the waste builds up in oceans and continues to spread toxic pollutants that affect marine life.
Postdoctoral bio-engineer of Harvard University Javier Fernandez created black and white chess pieces made of plastic — but not the traditional hormone-ridden plastic that we have come to know. The plastic pieces are composed of a compostable material called “Chitin.” It is primarily composed of animal and insect byproducts — such as shrimp shells and butterfly wings. Fernandez raves about the abundance and how affordable it is because it can be found in almost every living organism aside from vertebrates and plants. Many audiences find themselves initially shying away from the concept of Tupperware made with fly wings.
However, the reality of what plastic containers are made with currently are much more detrimental to people’s health, as well as the environment.
Since most of the components of the Chitin-based bioplastic comes from animals (primarily marine animals), the material is completely compostable and can be used as soil for household gardens. Fernandez and his colleagues are in the works of processing a form of Chitin, called Chitosan, that could potentially be manufactured on a larger scale. In today’s society, everything comes down to cost and if this new form of plastic is healthier all-around and produced at a cheaper rate, the $375-billion-a-year plastic industry is going to need to reevaluate their sources.
The Food and Drug Administration dictate that their approval is necessary before any chitosan-based plastic materials are used to package food products. Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency is placing a watchful eye on the manufacturing of variations of the chitosan plastics. There are other alternatives to petroleum-based plastics in the works, such as plant-based bioplastics. Brands like NatureWorks derive sugar from crops such as corn and create clothing, water bottles and other consumer goods. Chitin offers a different solution to the plastic problem — one that uses discarded materials to create one of the most-used materials in the world.
(02/25/14 2:47pm)
It’s no secret that plants are vital to people on Earth. Whether providing food, medicine, fuel or clothing, they are a necessity to humankind. Plants are used for educational, recreational and cultural purposes, and without them, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Although plants are purposeful and valued, climate change and the excessive industrial pollution that humans inflict on the environment are constantly destroying them. Plants are dying at an accelerating pace and albeit humans are the cause, they are also the solution.
The seeds of all plants allow them to continue to grow anew and carry on. Holding all genetic information, seeds are the future of plants. In order to save plants, we must save the seeds. In Sussex, England resides the center of the world’s largest seed bank — The Millennium Seed Bank — in which scientists and ecologists store plant seeds in order to preserve the plant’s future. The bank also extends across the globe, encompassing over 120 institutions and organizations in over 50 countries. All of these people in various locations across the globe unite in an effort to achieve one goal — to save the plants.
In approaching this monumental task, they have to start somewhere. It only seems fitting that those plants that are endangered are saved first. The dry land species are the plants that are most under threat, so those residing in areas where these plants are inhabitants come to Sussex to learn how to preserve them. They then venture off and tag the exact locations of the plants, and then return again once the plants have flowered. The seeds are collected, examined, separated and labeled in their packages. They are also dried in a very specific manner for optimal preservation. They are stored in -4 degrees with little to no moisture. The seeds will be capable of germination for centuries to come, thus proving that humans are indeed capable of doing some good for the environment after all.
In order to make sure the seeds are still viable, germination tests are performed every 10 years on every sample of seeds. The seed preservation industry has been expanding in the past few decades and as of 2011, the Millennium Seed Bank has stored its three billionth seed, which represents 10 percent of the plants on Earth. The 24,000 species that have been saved are no longer at risk of extinction — at least not within the next couple centuries. At the rate in which seed preservation is occurring now, 25 percent of the world’s population of plants will be preserved by 2020. Saving a species of plants through seed storage costs less than $3,000 on average, which proves the methodology to be fiscally attainable in today’s society.
(02/11/14 6:46pm)
If you live in the northeast, it’s no secret that there have been some severe drops in temperature for the past few weeks. As you reap the perks of classes canceled due to icy roads, take a moment to consider the effects of climate change in other areas of the country.
The ongoing drought in California has not only left residents with little water, but also invoked wildfires. The possibility of many impoverished and rural areas of California running out of water is becoming a staggering reality. Over 17 communities on the west coast are at risk of running out of water in as soon as 60 days.
California only received seven inches of rain last year, a fraction of the average 22 inches. The shortage in rainfall results in wells running dry, as well as low water levels in numerous reservoirs.
Many are unaware of and simply do not care about the drought in California, since those on the east coast have their own climate troubles to deal with. However, the bone-dry atmosphere of the West does impact the rest of the country. The agricultural industry in California accounts for a significant amount of crop sales throughout the United States. The scarcity of water has left farmers in dilemma of raising prices and troubling the public. The smaller farms are in peril of drying up completely.
Livestock have less to eat due to the lack of sufficient grass. Grape growers of Napa Valley have noticed their grapes ripening early, causing chaos amongst wineries in the state. The agricultural community in California is struggling to make ends meet in order to provide for not only their state, but also for the country as a whole.
In addition to the food industry suffering, the environment is quickly disintegrating due to the baked state California remains in. Although wildfires are common throughout the state, the month of January has been affected with an astonishing 406 wildfires. Compared to the average 69 fires around this time of year, the increasing number is leaving residents helpless and afraid. In this time of predicament, Californians have come together to search for an end to the misery. The next time you complain about the heating bill, be grateful that the east coast snow does not wreak havoc half as badly as the west
The drought has also led to many wildfires, some of which are nearing homes. Many rural areas are at risk of running out of water. (AP Photo)
coast dry spell does.
(01/21/14 5:48pm)
When it comes to hot sauce, there are a handful of brand names that take the lead for the best. Sriracha, although pronounced in a myriad of different ways, is one of the most well-known and distinctly flavorful condiments that Americans have grown to love. Whether spread across General Tso’s Chicken or doused onto a slice of pizza, Sriracha adds a savory kick to everyone’s favorite foods. With such a large following, it is no secret there has been an ongoing controversy over the health and environmental concerns that the Sriracha factory poses to the public.
Toward the end of 2013, the townsfolk of Irwindale, Cali. came together to create a lawsuit against the Huy Fong Foods CEO in an effort to either have a better filtration process implemented within the Sriracha Factory or have the factory shut down altogether. An accumulation of filed complaints about the toxins that the factory releases into the air was the premise of the ongoing debate. It was claimed that the fumes released when the red jalapeño peppers are processed affected those residing within a close proximity to the factory. The severity of the health risks never exceeded watery eyes, coughing fits and sore throats, but the main concern was that there should be no health risks in the first place.
After an escalating dispute amongst the Huy Fong Foods Company, Sriracha lovers and those affected by the factory’s noxious odors, the CEO halted Sriracha production until further notice. It was also rumored that the factory would be moving to Texas to continue production, but that will be unnecessary because it has been officially announced that shipment of the beloved hot sauce will resume at the end of the month. During the 30-day freeze of the factory, the California Department of Health Services tested the fumes for any toxins or components that might be detrimental to public’s health. It was declared that the Sriracha Factory emissions are free of any toxic or harmful microorganisms, and will pick up production as soon as possible. The Sriracha shortage has ceased and spicy food lovers have rejoiced.
Although the majority of the public is grateful for the continuation of Sriracha production, the townsfolk of the Irwindale are left with the short end of the straw. Initially they had simply asked for a more effective filtration system so that the gases omitted would not affect the environment. This suggestion was dismissed early on due to the money that Huy Fong Foods would have to put into it. Making compromises to better the environment and lessen the health risks for the public will come second to making economical decisions, especially when it comes to companies in the food industry in America. This popular debacle amongst Americans and the uncompromising outcome did not go unnoticed to the environmental protection organizations and it is unlikely that this is the end of it.