Ma, & Montemayor, T. (2019, January 7). Environmental group pushes for clean ‘Traslacion’. Retrieved from http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058157

Summary: An environment advocacy group, the Black Nazarene, is calling on its members to participate in its campaign for a litter-free “Traslacion” in Manila this year. Daniel Alejandre, a Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition, called on the devotees pick up trash and be more aware and responsible for litter and the environment. EcoWaste is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups which have a goal of limiting waste by promoting environmental justice. With the EcoWaste’s plan, hundreds of sweepers will be assigned to pick up the trash left behind by the passionate believers and enterprising vendors. However there is controversy over the morality of littering and expecting other people to clean up after you.

Opinion: I am shocked that the Black Nazarene feels that the most efficient approach to limiting litter, is by littering more and having members pick up the trash. Litter is a major concern worldwide, and something our textbook goes into great depths about. Litter affects both marine species and on land species, and is a huge contributor to climate change. The fact that this environment advocacy group is planning on littering extra to make a statement is absurd to me. I feel that initiating a large scale

E. (2019, January 31). Thailand is first Asian country to ratify international standards for… Retrieved from https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/2019/thailand-is-first-asian-country-to-ratify-international-standards-for-work-in-fishing

Summary: Thailand has become the first Asian country to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention, which sets standards for work in the fishing industry. Thailand has made efforts to end the illegal fishing and human rights abuse that has plagued its fishing industry, which the Environmental Justice Foundation can affirm. The Royal Thai Government is considering allowing captains to employ 16-year-olds on fishing vessels, which many view as a step backwards in protecting the environment and minors. The country still needs to work on several of its measures to truly eradicate illegal and unethical fishing.

Opinion: For a country that has a history of being a progressive force for combating child labour, I feel that this could be a fatal move in the wrong direction for Thailand. Fishing places a major toll on fish populations, which play an important role in nutrient cycles because they store a large proportion of ecosystem nutrients in their tissues. The fact that much of Asia, specifically Southeast Asia, is looking to Thailand for their direction with regards to fishing, is alarming.

Willis, S. (1970, January 01). Black Women Are Leading The Way In Environmental Justice. Retrieved from https://seas.umich.edu/news/01_14_2019/black_women_are_leading_way_environmental_justice
Summary: The social challenges most prominent in America-affordable housing, health care, wage equity, police brutality and sexual assault, to name a few—are not unique to our country. These issues are linked to the nation’s long history of systemic inequality and racial discrimination against the African American community. Environmental justice is one of these social problems, however it is vastly misunderstood. African American women around the world are taking the lead in an effort to bring awareness surrounding environmental issues like pollution and climate change and their effect on people of color.

Opinion: I think it’s inspiring that African American women are taking the lead in the fight against environmental racism and injustice. I was not aware of their significance in this movement. I feel that their efforts are an efficient way to both break down race barriers and serve the environment. As we analyzed in our textbook, the likelihood of natural disasters along with the the effects of natural disasters varies from region to region depending on the climate and development of a region. This explains the differences in how Americans and residents of other countries respond to environmental disasters and highlight environmental-justice concerns.

Ikimotu, Hele, et al. “PNG Deep Sea Mining Project Another ‘Failed Investment’, Says Ex-Minister.” Asia Pacific Report, 14 Nov. 2018, https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/11/14/png-deep-sea-mining-project-another-failed-investment-says-ex-minister/

Summary: Nautilus Solwara, a 1 deep sea mining project, has been accused of being a Papua New Guinean government “failed investment” on the verge of bankruptcy. Solwara was still desperate to seek out funds for its flagship Solwara 1 deep sea mining project, while its commercial operation had been delayed since receiving a licence to mine the floor of the Bismarck Sea in 2011. While the PNG government prepares for the summit, the country is undergoing an abundance of health crises including polio, violations of human rights against the people of Paga Hill, and extravagant spending for 40 Maserati luxury sedans.

Opinion: This article is extremely frightening. I don’t feel that deep sea mining is justified by a government or private company and it has now become an economic disaster. This article explains harvesting natural resources and the negative effects it can have on something other than the environment. This is significant for the citizens who don’t actually care about environmental damage, but do care about bad investments and the economy. Advocating for their long term economical damage and poor turnout may spur a larger number of people to care about these issues.

Summary: A European court has ruled that the UK has been improperly protecting its declining population of harbour porpoises. EU law states that the UK must legally develop to create special sites for the protection of these animals, which are most often sighted surrounding coastal waters and at the mouths of estuaries. Porpoises have been rapidly falling in numbers due to tangling in fishing gear, chemical pollution and disruptive boat noise. The UK has a particular responsibility for the protection of porpoises due to its vast marine territory. Six special areas of conservation have been set aside by the UK due to criticism from nature conservation agencies. Britain must now designate additional conservation zones to preserve its porpoises.

Opinion: It is satisfying to know that pressure from environmental protection agencies is actually making a difference. It’s comforting to hear that governments are being forced to make environmental changes, and will receive serious consequences if not. I feel that it is helpful for environmental movements to receive coverage like this. It is fantastic that articles like this are being written because it brings attention to environmental issues and encourages other government agencies to take bigger steps. I appreciate how they identified the “particular responsibility”, because it highlights that the government is held accountable, so it won’t repeat its actions.

Calix, B. (2018, July 12). Judge grants state attorney general intervention in Fresno environmental justice lawsuit. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article214783925.html

A Fresno Superior Court judge, Rosemary McGuire, granted an order for the California attorney general’s office to intervene in an environmental justice case against the city of Fresno and a developer. In January, the city council approved a permit for a 110-acre industrial park. The vacant site was zoned for heavy industrial purposes for over 30 years. The lawsuit accuses the city of improperly evaluating the potential environmental effects that the project would have on nearby residents, in particular families who are located on the south side of Central Avenue. Residents of Fresno voiced their concerns that “The city’s approval of a massive warehouse in our community without proper review puts our health and our homes at risk.”

This relates to Environmental Science because according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Fresno is the most “pollution-burdened neighborhood” in the state of California. Pollution is ofcourse a huge attribute to global warming and climate change. It is shocking to imagine that such a pollution stricken area is only three hours from us. Cases like this are extremely difficult because there is truly no “good” place to insert an industrial park. This is why I believe solar energy would prove vital in sustaining our health and resources, while also appeazing residents throughout the state.

Sabalow, R. (2018, June 22). 360,000 Californians have unsafe drinking water. Are you one of them? Retrieved November 16, 2018, from https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article211474679.htmlg

Researchers at UC Davis are committing their time to studying unsafe water drinking and have found it to go hand-in-hand with another issue: poverty. Farmworkers and other rural residents tend to reside in isolated communities that source their water from districts unable to manage contamination. In addition to health risks, San Joaquin Valley residents have more expensive water bills and have to buy expensive bottled water to avoid contaminated water. The high levels of nitrates found in the water can reduce oxygen levels in newborns’ blood, suffocating them through a disorder called “blue baby syndrome.” The high level of Nitrates can also be linked to various forms of cancer.

This relates to Environmental Science because one of the large issues relating to water in the San Joaquin Valley was when the drought occurred, causing desperate farmers to pump groundwater for irrigation. This lowered water tables throughout the region, bringing nitrates into contact with the intakes of communities’ wells. Pumping increased the amount of naturally occuring arsenic in the environment, which is one of the biggest water contaminants in California. This is extremely sad because this not only affects us humans but has a detrimental impact on wildlife, specifically marine animals.   

EDITORS, I. (2018, June 22). California Expanding Solar For Low-Income and Environmental Justice Communities. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://irecusa.org/2018/06/california-expanding-solar-for-low-income-and-environmental-justice-communities/

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced their decision to “increase opportunities for low-income households to go solar, lower their utility bills, and participate in the state’s growing clean energy economy.” The commission approved a 12-year solar rebate program for low-income homeowners living in disadvantaged communities, which expands on California’s long-standing Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program. The new rebate program  provides long-term funding for the SASH program, which has contributed to the reduction in pricing of going solar for more than 7,000 households, and provided 100,000 hours of solar job training for individuals seeking employment since 2009.

This relates to Environmental Science because affordable solar energy can improve the health and well-being for everyone, particularly low-income families and communities of color that are receiving the majority of fossil fuel impacts. It is also simply better for the environment as solar energy is a renewable source of energy that is sustainable and totally inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels that are finite. It is also a non-polluting source of energy and it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity. I definitely feel that going solar could have an incredible impact on our environment because limiting fossil fuels would directly limit the amount of pollution and toxins in the air.

Kaswan, A. (2018, September 25). Expanding Environmental Justice to Achieve a Just Transition. Retrieved from https://www.theregreview.org/2018/09/26/kaswan-expanding-environmental-justice-achieve-just-transition/

A hurricane’s consequences differ dramatically depending on  infrastructure, access to medical care, and financial resources. California’s first comprehensive climate law demanded that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) guides California’s climate efforts with improving air quality. The revenue accumulated can be designated for disadvantaged communities. However, some fear that increasing opportunities for marginalized communities reduces opportunities for advantaged groups. The environmental justice and social welfare movements have been good at detecting the best ways to uplift those who are down. To avoid injustice in a transition to a green economy, these movements must connect with others that advocate for the working class.

This is extremely applicable to Environmental Science today because we are living in an era of numerous natural disasters. California in particular is suffering right now due to the break out of fires. When mines or plants close, people feel trapped and it can lead to the dispersing of families from their community. It is pretty incredible however that we are living in a state of which actively provides environmental and economic opportunities to the most impoverished and disadvantaged communities and may serve as a model for other places working towards a green transition.  

Sanchez, J. (2018, July 6). New Environmental Justice Report Finds California Transportation Commission Far Behind Equity Goals. Retrieved November 16, 2018, from http://www.calbike.org/new_environmental_justice_report_finds_california_transportation_commission_far_behind_goals

The California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) held a meeting to discuss their Environmental Justice Agency Assessment. The assessment shows negative advancements by the CTC in making transportation investments more unbiased.  Specifically, it reveals thats its investments maintain the regulations that burden low income families in California. This includes the continuation of polluted highways, dangerous roadways, and warehouse districts. Californians located in close proximity to transportation sites are exposed to extreme levels of nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and ozone,  and suffer more disease and shorter life expectancy as a result.

This relates to the Environmental Science concept of sustainability because when we build transportation infrastructure, it negatively impacts future generations because all succeeding development patterns connect with them. The rush in spending money is meant to prove to the voters that they are getting value from the gas tax, however this severely harms low-income communities and is detrimental for future generations. Surges in spending can result or parallel with the tragedy of the commons, which is not a sustainable way to interact with the environment.