Filed under: Business + Politics | Tags: econ, economics, limited, natural resources, resources, textbook
(Dorforyou.com)
Sunday night: The hours disappeared one by one, slowly ushering my 8 am economics test into my near future.
My tattered economics notebook taught me many things that night. I learned about unemployment and national income accounting. Debt and equity finance. On one page I learned that I forgot about some textbook reading. It was when I opened to the assigned article that I learned the most shocking information of all:
Natural resources are not running out.
Phew! Sorry Sim, the class is a bust. Peak oil? Deforestation? Worry no more- Mankiw says it’s all good.
I would love to include the entire article but I don’t know if that’s legal and I do know that a 2,000-word blog would be a hard sell. It starts by presenting population growth as a potential concern with regards to natural resources. He briefly entertains this viewpoint of “many commentators” and “conservationists” of the past. Then, he acknowledges kindly that “at first, this argument may seem hard to ignore.” And finally, he shows us the light.
It seems that our concern over limited resources stems from our lack of intimacy with the market economy. You see, scarcity is reflected in market prices.
If the world were running out of resources, then the prices of those resources would be rising over time. But in fact, the opposite is more nearly true. The prices of most natural resources (adjusted for overall inflation) are stable or falling. It appears that our ability to conserve these resources is growing more rapidly than their supplies are dwindling. Market prices give no reason to believe that natural resources are a limit to economic growth.
To be fair, my book was copy-written in 2006, so this article came before the price of oil topped $100/barrel.
And he’s not saying resources aren’t limited, he just believes in our ability to conserve.
An optimist?
…Eh, I doubt it. Economists aren’t exactly known for their rose-colored spectacles.
Of course, I do think our class’s ability to meet with shared enthusiasm is a direct result of our belief that we can figure out a way to conserve our way to a sustainable future. However, we see a long road of informing the public and changing public policies. We see transforming a wasteful society as an obstacle.
And Mankiw’s Don’-Worry-Abah-Dit philosophy didn’t strike me as a step in the right direction.
-Sonya English
Note: I am happy to report, there were no questions about cheap’n’easy resources on the test.
Filed under: Cars + Transport, Design + Architecture, Energy + Climate | Tags: CA, California, LEED, low-VOC, parking garage, Santa Monica, santa monica civic center, US Green Building Council, USGBC
The Santa Monica Civic Center parking garage is to become the first US Green Building Council LEED certified structure of its kind.
The green features are impressive. The structure features a water treatment system on site to capture runoff containing toxic liquids. Photovoltaic panels line the top of the structure providing shade and renewable energy. The structure uses recycled materials and low VOC paint. Public electrical outlets for electric automobiles are available in 14 of the 900 spots. Free bicycle parking is also available.
You may ask, if we’re going to build a parking garage, why not make it more sustainable? This is a valid question, but I hope you realize the contradiction of terms here; this is an earth saving structure dedicated to the machine that has arguably accelerated the destruction of the earth. At what point does the effect of the increased number of cars used due to this structure outweigh the sustainable value of a “green” parking garage? I’m going to guess that tipping point is less than 900 new cars.
Is this making a joke of LEED certification?
via: Inhabitat
Bobby Grace
Filed under: Food + Health | Tags: CSA, Daniel Dermitzel, farmers market, green, kansas city center for urban agriculture, KCCUA, sustainability, urban agriculture
I have a new hero. Granted, I’ve added him to my list of 18.5 other heroes, but he has inspired me nonetheless. Reader, meet Daniel Dermitzel.
Daniel Dermitzel – associate director of Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture
After a stint in broadcast journalism and a bit of world traveling, Dermitzel decided he was tired of reporting on how the world was changing. He decided to start doing his part to change the world. Dermitzel became a part of the David that is battling the Goliath that is giant multinational food corporations.
He started at Trailside Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Calhoun, Mo. Dermitzel had no previous experience in farming, but he stuck with it and taught himself. Years later, he co-founded Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture (KCCUA), where he is now the associate director.
Demitzel and his organization grow things. They grow a lot of things– especially considering it is all done on a 2-acre farm. They have grown about 40 different vegetables and numerous herbs. The KCCUA sells most of their produce through a community-supported agriculture program (CSA). CSA members pay a fee and in return they receive weekly bundles of vegetables and herbs for 21 weeks. The KCCUA also sells their produce at local farmers’ markets. But the KCCUA doesn’t just grow- they teach the gospel of sustainability, they spread the word of urban agriculture! KCCUA has multiple programs that reach out to the community and promote community farming and sustainability.
I got a chance to participate in the inner-workings of KCCUA. It was a particularly cold day and the farmers were getting ready for an evening freeze. I, a mere visitor on a field trip, was enlisted to help. I got dirty, I got sweaty, and I nearly ruined my kicks. But it was a grand old time. I got was able to bond with the soil and some of the people who grow the food. I saw, smelt and felt how absolutely natural of an environment that this food was growing in. I now have a new appreciation for organic food and the work that these farmers put into feeding their community.
Now, I realize that if I buy a Dole organic banana, I can go online and see the farm from whence it came. Whoopdeedoo. That doesn’t compare to actually seeing, smelling, and laboring on the land where your food was created.
So I have a proposal for you, reader.
Visit a local farm. You can log on to SustainableTable.org and find the farms nearest you. It’ll be a dandy experience and you’ll be surprised how much it’ll make you want to bite into nothing buy fresh, organic creations of the earth for the rest of your life
And if you aren’t or aren’t able to go to a farmers market. If you don’t care to see where your veggies come from, you should at least meet the people who grew your food.
-Travis Brown
Filed under: Society + Media
Taken from mediabistro.com: FishbowlNY
1. To no one’s surprise, Vanity Fair‘s annual ‘Green’ issue wasn’t very green at all. Condé opted out of using recycled paper and no mention of VF‘s environmental practices was made in the magazine. Frank Locantore of the Magazine PAPER Project pointed out to Folio: that Every Day With Rachael Ray, by contrast, uses 85 percent recycled paper.
2. Women’s Health is bulking up its environmental content. The mag will be teaming up with the Environmental Media Association to appeal to environmentally conscious advertisers and will debut a new column, “In Focus Planet”, written by Alexandra Cousteau. Cousteau — the granddaughter of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, will see her column debut in the July/August issue.
-Kim
Filed under: Art + Religion, Justice + Outreach, Local Events + Action | Tags: 49s, Baker University, Haskell University, Lawrencians, Native Americans, spirituality, wetlands
The Baker University Wetlands, South 31st Street and Haskell Avenue, is home to more than 250 birds, more than 400 plants and 20 frogs, reptiles and amphibians.
Photo by Kim Wallace
What if I told you that, at any given moment, you could spot a bald eagle soaring through the sky or a fallen branch packed with monarch butterflies fluttering around the ground? What if I showed you a sweet spot to take in a Lawrence sunrise or sundown, where you could sit undisturbed and take in the magnificence of what nature offers us here in town? Would you think that this place exists only in the forests of Clinton Lake State Park or somewhere else that is a drive away?
If I tell you this too late, then you could be right—this wonder of plants and animals would be a drive away—a 10-lane drive away. This beauty that exists in our own backyards is that of the Baker, or Wakarusa, Wetlands, at 31st Street and Haskell Avenue.
Old-school Lawrencians know the argument front and back: Those for “growth” see this area of land as a perfect stretch to connect the South Lawrence Trafficway, which currently deadens at Iowa Street near Toyota and Hollywood Theaters, around to K-10—a straight shot through land that many Natives consider sacred and holy. Those who are “no-growth” oppose the “unnecessary” traffic that the highway would create—creating more problems in addition to the 23rd Street traffic mess rather than alleviating it. For a city of Lawrence’s size—a projected 107,349, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA—“no-growth” Lawrencians feel that there is no need for additional traffic routes in a city of 28.7 square miles.
But, whether you are “growth” or “no growth,” Native American or not, you should feel connected to the land. It doesn’t have to be for religious or spiritual reasons. The simplicity of this land, which is home to 255 species of birds and 417 species of plants, offers a serene space for escape from bustling University life and the “go, go, go” mentality of today’s busy person. If you must consider how you can benefit from this area before you consider the sacredness of others, I offer you this:
Serenity. Enjoy a sunset or a sunrise by the marsh while you listen to chirping crickets and birds. Watch snakes glide through the water while butterflies fly through the sky. Breathe fresh air into your air-conditioned lungs.
Space. Take time to think alone or with a close friend. Absorb the silence that this space in the wetlands has to offer, and reflect upon your day and future days while you take in sights that are not part of your normal routine.
Sound. Trek through the lands and step on crunchy leaves, or wiggle your toes in newly grown grass. Listen as the wind sings and chimes make their beautiful, wind-blown music.
This is a place that offers a kind of harmony that is untouched, unparalleled, to any park, nature center or exhibit out there. You don’t need a tour guide to tell you how to take in the depth of beauty here—it’s to each his or her own, and every one will experience it differently.
For those who are not interested in taking in the sights and sounds of this wonder, consider the historical value of the wetlands: Native Americans performed “49s,” or war journey dances, on these very grounds during the early days when Haskell University was a boarding school for runaway Natives. This 49 tradition started in the heart of these wetlands, and 49s are still an integral aspect of Native American culture. Children who died more than 200 years ago are marked on the grounds of the Wetlands, but the whereabouts of these bodies—whether they are buried in the heart of the wetlands or closer to 23rd Street—is still unknown and undocumented. Preserving the land for the sake of respect to those who passed is just another reason why these lands should be precious to all, directly connected or not.
Native American spiritual beliefs center around respect for all land and natural entities. This land symbolizes a sacred place for these people—much like a church, a cross, or any other mainstream religious symbol may mean something to you. This land is not something Natives visit once a week; it is something they tread on day in, day out, and it is where they reflect while offering others the same opportunity to reflect. Some Native American spiritual stories say that in the beginning, the earth was covered completely with water until an otter got mud in its paw and brought land to surface. No matter what your spiritual beliefs are, this beautiful idea of interconnectedness that Native Americans hinge their earth’s creation upon showcase the highest respect for even the tiniest of creatures—and those tiniest of creatures can be found in the wetlands.
Those who are interested in environmental causes should know that besides the vast amount of plant and animal lives that call the wetlands home, there is also much to be said of this area for the Midwest region of the U.S. This area was identified as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1969 and a Natural and Scientific Area by the State of Kansas in 1987, according to Baker University. These wetlands have produced more bird biodiversity than any other area of comparable size in the entire Midwest. How’s that for bragging rights?
But, this could all be gone if the Kansas Department of Transportation continues on with a plan to build 10 lanes of traffic through the area. The proposed remedy would be to have a nature center or sound barricades to limit traffic noises, but the truth is that these barricades would never equal the peace of the sounds that exist there now. And to put nature in a glass box (or nature center, however you want to describe it) doesn’t foster the idea of enjoying nature in its purest, natural form. It reminds me of the song lyric, “Took all the trees, put ’em in a tree museum/And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see ’em.” (Big Yellow Taxi/Joni Mitchell). We are to enjoy what we have here for free—land, sunsets, fresh air—and not package it up as a consumer product.
Visit the online home of the Baker/Wakarusa Wetlands to find out how you can act now to save this integral part of Native American, Lawrence, and ultimately YOUR history. Because Native American history is AMERICAN history.
“Dont it always seem to go that you dont know what you’ve got til it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot…”
-Kim
Filed under: Justice + Outreach, Local Events + Action | Tags: Baker University, Baker Wetlands, Lawrence, Lyng, Native Americans, Wakarusa Wetlands
Stories and ideas of respect for land are passed down by elders from generation to generation in Native American culture.
Photo by Russ Stokes:http://www.flickr.com/people/schooksonruss/
If we page through our history books, most of us can find specific themes of intolerance and domination between Native Americans and westerners throughout the years: Land. Religion. Drug use. These misunderstandings(an understatement)have caused rifts that continue on today, as cities grow larger and communities grow older. Differences in ideas and inabilities to communicate and understand conflicts of interest keep the fire alive in the battles between western ideas of progression and Native American ideas of preservation.
Locally, the Wakarusa, or Baker, Wetlands, are one example of gross misunderstanding among Lawrence residents. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), as well as many Lawrencians, are in favor of a proposed 10-lane trafficway that would cut straight through the Wetlands and supposedly lessen heavy traffic on 23rd Street. This traffic way would connect West Lawrence with East Lawrence, and get commuters back and forth between surrounding cities. What seems like a progressive move on the planning side is a perilous move on the emotional and environmental side.
To Natives, these Wetlands are sacred grounds that are home to spirits and spirituality. To non-humans, these Wetlands are home to 255 species of exotic and (some) endangered birds, including the American symbol of freedom, the bald eagle. Yet, to those who prefer convenience and growth, these Wetlands should be home to pound after pound of paint and pavement.
On a national and historical scale, these incidences are not uncommon. Court cases from the 20 years ago, such as Lyng vs. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association, document the strifes and misunderstandings that go along with any case involving Native Americans and land destruction. In that case, the government wanted to build a road through a national forest that was sacred to Native American religion, which “depend upon privacy, silence, and an undisturbed natural setting.” Similar arguments—intrusion on sacred land, prohibition on peaceful exercise of religion—were used then, suggesting that these Natives pass down, from generation to generation, ideas of preservation and respect for holy land that westerns are unable to grasp because of differences in appreciation.
These ideas of misunderstanding and disrespect for those who hold different things dear to their hearts is at the center of controversies that involve Native Americans and land. One side will always argue that what belongs to one in the eyes of the current law seals the deal—such as the case with the Baker Wetlands belonging to Baker University. The other side will always counter with the idea that common courtesy and respect for a minority that has always taken the short end of the deal since day one should be honored, or at least compromised with, in order to maintain community harmony and order. Whichever way the Native American story is sliced, almost anybody who barely paid attention in history should be able to predict the ending…unless you stand up and voice a powerful opinion now.
If you’re interested in preserving the Wetlands, let your voice be heard at City Hall, the local newspaper and in Wetlands cyberspace.
-Kim
Hi friends,
Remember my post about the magazine industry? I just read on mediabistro.com that one of my favorite magazines (and the one I worked at during my winter internship) is getting even greener. Women’s Health is pretty solid, and Rodale, its publishing company, is the same that published An Inconvenient Truth.
Celebs and green? Fine by me.
For your enjoyment.
-Kim (sorry, I couldn’t get the link to work)
Women’s Health to Up Green, Celeb Content
Lucia Moses
APRIL 14, 2008 –
Continuing an effort to increase its green-focused content, Women’s Health is teaming up with the Environmental Media Association to launch awareness-raising, celebrity-studded events and introducing a new column with Alexandra Cousteau, called In Focus Planet, with the July/August issue.
WH hopes that owning the green space will help it appeal to a wide range of advertisers (event sponsors Keen Footwear and Aveda are new clients). The goal also is to help the Rodale title grow by increasing its involvement with celebrities both in and out of book and thus grow its reach with influencer women.
Don’t expect to see stars on the cover, though; WH editor Tina Johnson said the magazine would stick with using fit and trim models.
Filed under: Food + Health | Tags: food processing, food security, local food, oil, Popeye
Credit: geozilla, flikr.com
When I was little, I wasn’t allowed to leave the dinner table until I conquered my leafy nemesis: the pile of watery, steamy olive pulp my grandma called spinach. Her repeated references to Popeye had little to no effect, besides I was a little girl and didn’t want my arms to bulge into steamboats or anvils – gross! While my grandma tallied on her fingers the multitude of health benefits spinach would provide for my growing body, one thing she forgot to leave out was how much oil I would be eating – both literally and figuratively. She also didn’t mention that her ability to afford enough spinach to effectively torture me on a weekly basis was due to our oil-reliant agricultural system.
There is lots of information on the web about how far food travels from the fields to our forks, how our modern agricultural system is heavily dependent on petroleum-based chemicals and machinery fed by diesel, how our systems for processing food – i.e. corn and soybeans – into food products – i.e. potato chips and candy bars – expend tons of energy everyday. Even the plastic packaging that encases everything from baby spinach leaves to gallons of milk to chocolate chip cookies is made out of oil. Of the incredible amount of energy the U.S. food system uses each year (over 10 quadrillion Btu), 80% is used after the food has left the farm in transportation, processing, and packaging.
Credit: Stewart, flikr.com
This oil-based system has served us well since the Green Revolution, when modern agricultural practices were born: as long as oil stayed cheap, so would our food. So what happens now that oil supplies are purported to be dwindling, as oil prices continue to sky rocket, as political and military conflicts struggle to gain control over what oil is left to be had?
Our food security is now inextricably linked to our country’s ability to recover from its oil addiction. As the prices of oil continue to rise and our economy continues to feel the repercussions ( AKA the “Big R” – Recession), economic necessity could result in an increased consumer interest in local foods. Sustainable agriculture and local food markets, good for the environment and our health, are now important for our future ability to buy food. As consumers and citizens, it’s important to remember we vote with our dollars and our ballots to decide how we want our world to look. Plus, if you want those Popeye-esque anvil arms, the local farmers’ market currently has spinach for sale.
Credit: lawrencefarmersmarket.com
–Jennifer Kongs
Filed under: Business + Politics, Society + Media | Tags: Adam Werbach, consumerism, Daily Show, farmers market, Wal-Mart
When I skim through the vitriolic comments that follow Adam Werbach’s recent speech, I begin to doubt my critical thinking skills. I don’t accept everything that Adam proposes, but as with his much debated “Death of Environmentalism” speech I appreciate the super complex picture he’s trying to bring into focus. For those who haven’t read Adam’s most recent call to arms, he essentially says the environmental movement needs to meet people where they are, as consumers. If you can’t tap into the Everyday Joe and Jane who shop at Wal-Mart, juggle work and raising kids, you’ll fail to create real, sustainable, long-term change, in other words.
I know that although my personal strategy is to consume less and support local businesses when I can, that doesn’t mean everyone else has that choice nor that they are informed about the ripple effects of their choices. This is one of the reasons Adam – despite the shortcomings of his consumer-tailored BLUE movement – appeals to me. I would like to entertain the idea that if you can reach people to help them understand the process behind their choices, they will make different ones if they have the means, and the all mighty market will sort out the rest (neverminding the fact that the price of goods versus income affects those choices enormously). Or as one person commented, “if people start to understand enough about the manufacturing process to be able to differentiate greener processes from dirtier ones, then they may start to become interested in the manufacturing/industrial system as a whole, and then we can move toward “industrial literacy.'”
Of course, first you have to get through to them, and Adam would have you doing that by appealing to them through shopping.
On Saturday, Lawrence’s farmers’ market opened for the 2008 season amid frigid winds and spiraling snowflakes. A few die-hard folks including me wandered by the market (800 block of New Hampshire, downtown) to see what was there so early in the season. I picked up a dozen eggs and talked with the vendors and a couple of shoppers. People were excited for the prospects for the year. They like participating in something that makes them feel good about the way they feed themselves and their families. I think that’s at the heart of Adam’s argument in some twisted way: consumers who feel good about the (informed) choices they make are going to be the root of change. Ignoring that just because you might want people to consume less won’t get us any closer to an idea of a sustainable future. – Jen Humphrey
J500 Media and the Environment 