After watching "GASLAND", I thought up a few questions....

1) has there been any development in regulation policies (ie: disposing-of-waste procedures, stricter fracking-near-homes law) since 2009 when the film was released?

2) Josh Fox pointed out that large metropolitan areas such as Phili and NYC procure their water from one large watershed that lies in the tri-state area--have these cities experienced any disturbances in their water quality?...or is it just the remote, satellite towns feeling the fracking affects..?

3) Fox states in the conclusion that countries such as Africa and Canada are well on their way to begin fracking for gas, have they begun fracking this the movies release? Have their residents experienced water problems? 

Vita Coco, but actually.

class reflection

Both policy articles stressed the importance of domestic energy production, along with having a diverse energy portfolio.  In the US, the primary energy source (85%) is fossil fuels, and though there are remnants of a developing renewable portfolio, it isn't comparable to the amount of fossil fuels due to stay in use.  Brazil, on the other hand, relies heavily on renewable energy, such as their biofuels and hydroelectric plants, the trouble with this is the environmental stress. Biofuel growth requires continued deforestation to meet future energy demands, not to mention the nutrient depletion within the soils caused by monocultural planting methods.  Hydroelectric plants are incredibly disruptive, both socially and environmentally, AND when you account for the decreased generation capacity during the dry season, they can be economically disruptive as well, as they lead to black out....so they key will be to develop a diverse renewable portfolio, to scale down the magnitude of individual resources, and create a mosaic of renewables

power surge

Write 500-700 words discussing the topics below

1.     What do they propose be the solution to the energy crisis is?

The film proposes technology as the solution, while heeding the strategy of Pacala’s Wedge Theory.  The first wedge is efficiency. Efficient lighting, transportation, heating, and overall electricity production are all examples of keystone variables in satisfying this first wedge. The second wedge pertains to nuclear power: that there must occur a three-fold increase in nuclear plants over the next 50 years.  As the video also points out, we’d likewise fulfill this wedge’s criteria by replacing 800 coal plants with nuclear reactors.  Of course, there’s a cultural taboo against nuclear plants, and though there have been nasty meltdowns in the past, many politicians and much of the general public should be brought up to speed in the real value in nuclear energy: 1) meltdowns are extremely rare and are due to out-of-date technology( like poor cooling methods), along with extreme environmental stress (like the case with Fukushima)—and furthermore, nuclear energy is presently the only source of energy capable of providing base-load energy (24/7) without releasing greenhouse gases.  The third wedge is burying emissions from power plants which, as was explained in the video, will only occur the day that releasing GHG serves as a direct economic burden.  Finally, the last which is harnessing the energy of the sun: be it through biofuels, solar PV, solar thermal, or wind.  The video explains that the earth receives energy from the sun at a rate of 100,000 TW—and our modern, global society requires only 18 TW.  So the energy is there, we need develop the capacity to harness it sustainably.  

2.     Do you agree or disagree with their assessment of how to solve the problem?

Technology, in my opinion, represents a large portion of steps necessary for implementing sustainable infrastructure.  As we see today, in both developed and developing countries, energy-intensive technology is required for fundamental stability, such as transportation of agricultural goods, electricity generation and distribution, shipments of imports and exports, labor and manufacturing.  All require abundant amounts of energy.  In Power Surge, technology is portrayed as the means to and end, that our mechanical innovation will enable us to remain operating in this globalized, economically-oriented society—and for the most part, our technological headway will allow this paradigm to continue.  But there are a few other infrastructural traits—on both the macro and micro levels—that should be implemented for the purpose of sustainable development.  First and foremost: fuel policies—the damage fossil fuels do to the environment should be reflected in their values.  Fossil fuels should be more expensive, this maneuver would speed up the research and implementation of more sustainable fuel sources—as well as methods for carbon burying, as is inherent to wedge #3.  Then there’s the issue of regional infrastructure: that our globalized economy and reliance on foreign goods should down-scale from what it is now—regions should do there best to utilize their proximate ecosystems for food and energy production, rather than relying on the resources of distant locations.  Scaling down our globalized resource-consuming behavior allows individual regions to set consumption standards in accordance with the capacity of their ecosystems.  And if an ecosystem cannot provide an essential good—like water—than the costs of living there should be weighed.  Finally, urbanization rates are growing rapidly, and by 2050, roughly 75% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas.  This creates huge stress on the local environment, no to mention human health.  Surely, technology will play a huge role in cutting down, say, the pollutants emitted by vehicles.  But, if you were to dovetail these mpg innovations with city planning techniques that promote greater connectivity between a neighborhood’s residential area and a office area, the result would be less vehicle miles traveled anyway.  Technology is essential for sustainability, but there must be a confluence between it and urban, environmental, social, an economic policy.

3.     Do they accurately address the effects of the environment, society and economy when they consider what alternative energies to use?

Not to much of an extent.  I’d like to know what environmental and resource pressures are inherent to a successful implementation of the wedge theory—for instance, is there enough silicon to create a sufficient amount of solar panels? Isn’t the production of solar panels energy intensive? 

an inconvenient truth

Answer these questions on your blog DUE Day 3- July 8^th Before Class

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

 http://documentarylovers.com/an-inconvenient-truth/

Based on the video; please answer the questions below in thoughtful and complete sentences.

1.     What image started the modern day environmental movement?

    A picture of the Earth taken from space during the 1960’s: “Earth Rise” was its name.

2.     What is considered the most vulnerable part of the earth system?

The atmosphere is considered the most valuable part of the earth system.

3.     Relatively speaking, compared to the earth, how thick is the atmosphere? Like the coat of varnish on a painted globe.

4.     How can trapping infrared radiation by the earth’s atmosphere be a GOOD thing?

It moderates Earth’s temperature, making it habitable.

5.     How can trapping infrared radiation by the earth’s atmosphere be a BAD thing?

The Atmosphere will absorb infrared radiation to an excessive extent, causing global warming.

6.      What percentage of people depend on glacial melt for their drinking water?

Roughly 40% of people depend on glacial melt for their drinking water.

7.     Why is studying ice cores important?  Studying ice cores can measure CO2 content in ice cores and approximate how much C02 was in the atmosphere the year those particles of snow fell.

8.     What is the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) and atmospheric temperature?

More atmospheric c02 means hotter temperature, since it traps c02 from the sun.

9.     Over what time period have the hottest 10 years on earth occurred?

The 1990’s and 2000’s consist of the hottest 10 years on earth.

10.  As the water temperature under a hurricane increases, what happens to the wind velocity of the

storm? As water temperature under a hurricane increases, winds increase, as too does the moisture content.

11.  What has happened to Lake Chad over the years?      Its been drying up big time, after being one of the world’s largest lakes back in the 1960’s (and prior to).

12.  How much of the suns radiation gets reflected by ice? The ice reflects 90% of radiation which comes into contact with it.

13.  What redistributes energy from the equator to the north and south poles? Ocean and wind currents distributes energy

14.   If the ice sheets of Western Antarctica were to melt, approximately how much would sea level

rise? The sea level could rise up to 20 ft.

15.  List the three factors causing the collision between civilization and earth

1. Population

2. Fossil Fuels, old habits of technology

3. Way of thinking

16. Approximately, what percentages of global carbon dioxide emissions come from forest fires?

     30% of carbon dioxide emissions comes from forest fires.

17. What country is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?

             U.S. (but China surpassed the U.S. in 2011)

18. Which country has the lowest government standards for gas mileage of automobiles?

             The U.S. has the lowest government standards for gas mileage of automobiles.

19. Which two nations have not signed onto the Kyoto Protocol? USA and Australia both have not signed the Kyoto Protocol.  

Aaaand my own Carbon Footprint

True my footprint is rather large. Some pointers on how to minimize it: walk/bike (don't drive), install insulation, eat locals foods more frequently. Take trips via train. (?)

Minimize the Scope.....

...AND find another layer of commotion analogous to your own.