Earth Day at UWF

Last Tuesday morning, I strolled out of the library and walked past a sign promoting the university's Earth Day celebration. I've never really been one to observe the holiday, but I figured why not check it out? It's for a grade, too. So win-win.

The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970 and was founded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson. Here's a little something written by the man himself on how it all started: http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html. The day  consisted of a national grassroots movement that brought public awareness of environmental issues and concerns.

There were several speakers at the university's event, and people sporadically laid out on the Cannon Greens. It was surprisingly a beautiful day to be outside, despite being warned of rain from the forecast earlier that morning. Having done a bit of research on the first Earth Day, it seemed awfully quiet in comparison to what I initially expected (not that I wanted to experience a riot or a protest).

Most of what was said was a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo in my opinion. There was nothing that really spoke to me about how any of this concerned or related to the Earth and its environment. Ramblings about art and philosophy? And a dude dressed as Gandalf from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings? It didn't make any sense to me, so I decided to look around at what the vendors at this farmer's market had to offer instead.

Most of the vendors looked familiar to me. Oh, right! A majority of them sell their stuff at Palafox Market during the weekends, too. It was neat browsing at all the locally produced goods, and I definitely seized the opportunity to help out these local businesses. Shopping around was fun, but I still felt something missing. Where was the connection to Earth? Where's all the activism that used to be prevalent in the 1970s? I see hippies, but no cause for making a difference.

I stopped by a booth selling fresh eggs and flowers (the most amazing sunflowers I've ever seen, so big and bright). The owner was Mary Bartlett. She owns Bartlett Meadows Farms in Pace. I talked to her a bit about this assignment, and she gave me a lot of insight on the differences in modern activism compared to how it was then.

We discussed the whole "occupy" movement. She said that it's really a shame that people don't take the time to be more informed and how Earth Day is more of a party now than anything.

"Like the whole "occupy" thing, people just don't take the time to do their own research and put more money towards what they believe in anymore," Bartlett said. "They should have it ingrained in their minds that in order to make a difference, you have to know exactly what you're doing and what you're getting into."

She told me more about how the government regulates organic products and what she values about her business and other local businesses.

I was satisfied with that small talk. It was brief, but Bartlett brought something to my attention. Although we perceive a majority of society to be naive and gullible about environmental concerns, there still are people out there who take time and do whatever they can to provide us with information and the stuff to spark conversation about the important things.

With that said, I think there's still hope. The event at UWF was extremely mild in my opinion. It left out a huge chunk that could have been said to the bystanders and observers. No, I don't think Earth Day, nationally, is swaying from its main focus and ignoring the issues. Our voices just aren't loud enough, but someday, I hope we get there.

Why'd They Kill the Electric Car?

“Who Killed the Electric Car?” dives into the development and destruction of the electric vehicle. The documentary film begins in 1996,  when electric cars were first introduced in California. No gas was needed to fuel the vehicles, and releasing zero emissions, they provided a more safe and sound choice for the automobile consumer. About ten years later, all electric cars were killed off.

It’s evident that the film takes a side about the issue with electric cars, easily shown by the title “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The film itself shows mostly members of the community in support of electric vehicles. The film even opens with a scene of an actual funeral enacted by the community. Although one-sided, it does compensate with interviews and facts, utilizing sources from all sides of the big issue.

Seven suspects were picked off in the film, the car companies, oil companies, batteries of the electric vehicles, the California Air Resources Board, consumers, the federal government, and the hydrogen fuel cell. I think that some of the suspects involved had selfish motives in killing the electric car, especially the car and oil companies.

Hydrogen fuel cells were introduced by the oil companies. Need I say more? Author of  “The Hype About Hydrogen,” Joseph Romm, highlights the five miracles needed for hydrogen fuel cells to actually work in place of natural gas.

Oil feeds the economy financially, and I’m assuming that the reason behind the California Air Resources Board and the government were caught up in the mix for that reason. Car companies need the oil industry to fuel theirs, so I suppose to keep making money they went all cannibalistic on the electric car.

You can tell that the film’s purpose is to advocate for the electric car because in one scene the filmmaker, Chris Paine, ousts the car companies for hiding the electric vehicles from the public and initially destroying their creation. This side of the story relates to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  In a sense, the electric car was the second female creature. Frankenstein creates something, but sets out to destroy it instantly because of a certain fear.

The film’s perspective compares the electric car controversy to the story of David and Goliath. The film emphasizes on a statement made by a source, in which it is said that “if there are enough Davids in the world maybe we can win.”

For the consumers, it was an issue that was under the radar. They had no knowledge that they took part in the crime. The public will be able to recognize an opportunity they missed out on through this film. By recognition of the issue, a reincarnation and revival of the electric car may take place.

A Beacon of Hope for the Environment

“A River Reborn” captures the restoration of Fossil Creek in the Mogollom Rim of Arizona, a process that took fifteen years. Environmentalists, Native Americans, Arizona Public Service, and others involved with the process of restoring the creek reached a compromise without litigation to decommission and dismantle the dam that once existed where the body of water now flows freely.

According to Jack Stanford, director of Flathead Lake Biological Station, dams decrease biodiversity and increase the population of harmful and non-native species. There were also flaws found by many environmental agenices in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concerning the source of hydroelectric power. The flaws moved the agencies to campaign and collaborate for full-flow creeks. In October of 1998, litigation finally moved to negotiation. Together, the parties involved reached one common goal to preserve a part of nature, to restore Fossil Creek.

"The decision to decommission had many facets to it. And as we looked at the opportunity to give the residents of the state of Arizona a perennial stream in the desert, there is no option to that. We can find other ways to generate electricity. We cannot find other perennial streams in the desert," said William Post, chairman of the Arizona Public Service.

The “model” for Fossil Creek can be implemented into the situations presented by the Florida Department og Environmental Protection and the ones mentioned in the New York Times (which include saving the California Condors and keeping wolves out of gunsights). As Ted Danson introduces the documentary film, he says that the decision to decommission “provides a beacon of hope and an inspiring model for the restoration of degraded streams and waterways.” With this statement, I have to agree.

With cooperation and collaboration, the environmental agencies and industries can work together to sustain the environment. East Bay Oyster Restoration and the seagrass salvage conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is a step headed in the right direction. Continued efforts on both parts of the agency and the community to restore ecosystems will preserve the environment and create more natural resources.

The people involved with the situations in Montana and California can learn a thing or two from the restoration of Fossil Creek. The problem was presented by the Fish and Wildlife Services for both states, but no collaborative efforts with hunters and the government have been established. I also think some ignorance has hindered any progress.

In the article by Tia Grose, Ted Novin, spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation said,"This is about choice. Absent sound science demonstrating a wildlife population impact, sportsmen and women should be free to choose for themselves the type of ammunition they shoot."

The environmental and human health impacts in the affected regions have to be taken into consideration. As suggested in “A River Reborn,” it all depends on human stewardship.

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A Walk into Baars-Firestone

A walk into the woods last Wednesday morning with my Environmental Reporting class gave me perspective on the very nature of our campus. The University of West Florida is not just an institution for learning, but a habitat for many.

The portion of the Baars-Firestone Sanctuary has a long history, which continues to thrive. Before the land was donated to the state for the university by the Pace family, it was a large estate. Even before that, the Tart Oak was just a seedling. Now, it spans 4 feet in diameter with its limbs stretching out to 80 feet. I can only imagine what its lived through.

From walking on paved walkways crowded by civilization, the rich soil and wooded landscape provided an alterior point of view as we entered the sanctuary. A calm ran through my entire body as the silence of the environment settled in. My senses heightened, wanting to know where the path would lead us and what surrounded me.

The trail itself harbors riches no man could create with his bare hands, but a couple of bald eagles utilized the valuable natural resources to create a home for themselves while preserving the rest of it. The eagles continue the natural flow of the ecosystem in these woods. There was a long walk ahead. The entire environment fed to my curiousity. But the mention of poisin ivy in the intro to the trail held me back.

As we wandered to the sight of the eagles' nest, all of our faces were filled with awe as we spotted the two majestic birds hovering in the sky. Watching the eagles fly above us was something special. I wanted to see more and explore further. I wanted to fly above and see what they were seeing.

This quote by H. D. Thoreau, engraved onto the sign at the entrance, hits the experience spot on:

“It is the marriage of the soul with Nature that makes the intellect fruitful, and gives birth to imagination."

An experience like this one cannot be altered or re-imagined. It really is a shame to see the campus master plan affect the natural landscape of the Baars-Firestone Sanctuary. Let's just hope that the university decides to keep the nature of its land close to its heart.

"Gasland" needs the whole truth and nothing but the truth

"Gasland" is a chilling look at methods of the natural gas industry and its effects on the environment and human health. The perspective of the documentary itself is depressing. Josh Fox, the filmmaker, goes into the homes of Americans affected by hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking." Throughout the film, Fox travels from Pennsylvania, where he resides, thru Colorado and Wyoming, showing how "fracking" is damaging to several regions of the country.

In Dimocht, Penn., Fox goes through an entire neighborhood affected by "fracking" done by Cabot Oil & Gas. This resulted in water problems, health problems, property damage, animals losing hair, and overall the "total loss of normal life." The most disturbing scene was the one where Mike Markham from Weld County, Col.  lights his running tap water on fire in his home.

It's fascinating stuff, but the film seems to be one-sided on the whole issue of hydraulic fracturing. Not saying that it's a bad thing. From a journalistic standpoint, you have to cover all bases of a story to report the most accurate version of the truth. Fox does show footage of the government and people working for the EPA, but he doesn't consider the take of officials from the natural gas industry. In the beginning, Fox does attempt to communicate with certain companies, but after he fails to get in touch with a representative, he gives up altogether and moves towards doing his own research and reporting on the matter.

Fox dedicates most of the film showing the downsides of "fracking." His loyalties lie with the residents affected by it. He's not really working for anyone, but he does the film to gain more knowledge about an issue, which turns out to be a major controversy. I do think that "Gasland" considers an agenda as each scene progresses, but the film starts out with the facts. It gets the audience thinking. It unveils hidden truths about the natural gas industry.

America's Natural Gas Alliance seems to think otherwise, and that "Gasland" persuades with fear and hides the truth (http://anga.us/truthaboutgasland). I don't think their statements are completely valid, but their rebuttal leaves me thinking. This video produced by the alliance voices their view on the documentary film:



But, a letter released from Fox in July 2010 "de-debunks" such allegations of false statements (http://1trickpony.cachefly.net/gas/pdf/Affirming_Gasland_Sept_2010.pdf).

Fox is still committed to pursuing the truth in this controversy. He was arrested Feb. 1 for attempting to record footage from a congressional hearing on hydraulic fracturing (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-gasland-joshua-fox-20120203,0,2807685.story).

Here's a music video that gives a brief lesson on how "fracking" affects us and shows some points that were also highlighted by Fox in "Gasland":

Hey Argos! What About the Animals?

The University of West Florida's 10-year campus master plan seeks to shift the community within it, especially the wildlife ecosystem. Being a nature preserve, UWF's main campus is home to a number of species, not just humans. These species include a pair of bald eagles that have laid their nest in the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary. The master plan includes developing the land surrounding the nest would affect the eagles' habitat.

The second half of an article from the Pensacola News Journal shows concern from Barbara B. Albrecht, a marine biologist from the university, about the very nature of this very subject.

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.pnj.com/article/20120207/NEWS01/202070321/UWF-s-Campus-Master-Plan-draws-neighbors-ire-forum.

If the master plan is approved, how will all of the development and change affect the preservation of plants and animals residing in the sanctuary? What's going to happen to their ecosystem? Albrecht's statement considering an "environmental survey of the wildlife and species inhabiting campus woods and wetlands" is essential to proceed with an answer to this issue.

In order to get the big picture, the university will have to look at all aspects of the master plan, the pros and the cons. I would like to know how much groundwork the designers and planners have covered with the nature of the university in mind. Because at UWF, I'd like to think that the environment plays a significant role in the campus community.

We always boast about the fact that our institution consists of 1,600 acres of prime wilderness. It's only fair that we sustain, maintain, and protect it.

For the Birds: A Short Review of "Saving Pelican 895"

Gerald Herbert/AP

"Saving Pelican 895" provided more perspective for me about how the Gulf Oil Spill affected more than just human lives. It tainted the ecosystem and had a more drastic effect on animals. I was intrigued by the film's take on rescuing wildlife, how it demonstrated the reality that saving and nursing animals back to health after a disaster like the Gulf Oil Spill isn't such an easy job.

The focus of the documentary into the rescue of Pelican 895 was a brilliant way to captivate the audience and making rescuing wildlife a more intimate and personal process. Five steps are involved in rehabilitating the pelicans back to a healthy state for release back into the wild. The pelican is taken into the triage unit after being captured into care, the intake process, rehabilitation (which takes the longest depending on the bird's adaptation), the release evaluation, and finally, release day.

The rehab portion of the rescue is the most painstaking, but most intriguing. The volunteers care for them, but maintain the motto that the pelicans must "retake or gain a wilderness about them." I also find it interesting that they don't name the pelicans once they're taken in. Instead, they're labeled by state and number. But, I get it. It's too easy to get attached to something you've cared for.

Jay Holcomb, the rehabilitation manager said, "It doesn't mean everyone should wash a bird, but they should support it."

After watching the documentary, I completely agree.

Here's a podcast from NPR evaluating the economic value of the pelican:

Plant Crist sees a significant decrease of emissions in 2010

Gulf Power Company spans into eight counties throughout the northwest region of the state. The company began its first unit in Pensacola, Fla. with the opening of Plant Crist in 1945. Today, the plant provides electricity to 174,177 residents in Escambia County and employs 1,365.

From 2006 to 2010, fluctuating amounts in overall chemical releases per year have been recorded in its current Toxic Release Inventory report from the EPA. 2010 was recorded with the least amount of emissions.

Although the progress is evident through its current Toxic Release Inventory report, Plant Crist is certainly not free from overall production of hazardous waste. A total of 1,891,373 pounds of chemicals were released into the local environment from the facility in 2010.

Within the past ten years, hydrochloric acid has been one of the main chemicals manufactured by Plant Crist because of its production of electricity. Hydrochloric acid has also contributed to the majority of chemical emissions released by the facility.

In 2010, the plant released a total of 710,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid, which is a huge drop from 2009's total of 9.2 million pounds.

Jeff Rogers, the corporate communication supervisor for Gulf Power, said the company has invested "close to $1 billion to reduce emissions at Plant Crist."

Plant Crist began the operation of a scrubber system in December 15, 2009 to alleviate the the facility's release of emissions into the environment, which cost the company $645 million.

Here's a video from Gulf Power introducing the new technology:

According to the company website, the scrubber removes 95 percent sulfur dioxide emissions, 70 percent particulate emissions, 80 percent oxidized mercury and 95 percent chlorides.

Gulf Power is set to install a new Selective Catalytic Reduction system at Plant Crist in April to reduce  nitrogen oxide emissions.

Lead releases by Plant Crist have increased from 58,194 pounds in 2009 to 78, 693 pounds in 2010. The chemical is recognized as a carcinogen and is toxic to the development and reproductive system of the human body. The report states that the emissions from the plant  are released into landfills not authorized to accept waste by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. 8,278 pounds are recorded as being released into unknown off-site locations.

"Waste materials that are not permitted for on-site storage are shipped to off-site and federally-regulated facilities," Rogers said.

Arsenic compounds released by the facility have also increased from 2009, emmitting an excess of 4,438 pounds. The plant manufactures and processes this chemical within its facility and also releases the waste into landfills.

Hydrochloric acid, lead, and arsenic are listed in the top 10 percent in the nation of the most hazardous compounds to human health, according to www.scorecard.org. In addition to those three compounds, the Toxic Release Inventory report shows that Plant Crist is accountable for emmitting ammonia, barium, manganese, sulfuric acid and others that are suspected to be toxic to health and the environment.

The plant is located at 11999 Pate Street. For more information about Plant Crist, visit www.gulfpower.com/about/plant_crist.asp.



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The Environment & I: It Takes Two

I pretty much have a love-hate relationship with nature, but without its elements, surviving would be quite difficult. Every second of every minute of every day, we come across nature's elements as tools of survival. Without the environment, mankind would cease to exist. In the beginning of civilization, its bare necessities were all that people relied on to live. We still do to this day.

When I wake up most mornings, turning on my television to check the weather forecast is one of the first things I do. How I dress for the day is dependant on the weather. Water is key to my daily routine. I use it to shower, wash my face, brush my teeth, rinse with mouthwash, and drink from my cup of tea in the morning. Throughout the day, it's something I use often to keep up my personal hygeine, maintain objects clean, and hydrate my body. The ground we walk on is a part of nature, and so are our homes, our lands, the food we eat, the fires we start, the gas we use in our vehicles, and the electricity and energy we use to run technology.

It's not really a love-hate realationship though, but more of a love-neglect ordeal. I appreciate the environment and all that it has to offer me and everyone else on this planet. I realize I tend to ignore how I can help sustain it. I do my best to recycle water bottles, paper, and cardboard boxes, but I confess... sometimes I don't out of pure laziness. That's a really bad move on my part, but I'm learning to acknowledge the first two lines of that song by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock when it comes to doing my part for the environment. It goes a little something like this...

It takes two to make a thing go right
It takes two to make it outta sight

Pollution in Pensacola: From 1999 to Today

Prior to reading the Report of the Special Grand Jury on Air and Water Quality published in 1999 about Pensacola, I already knew how critical the area's condition is concerning pollution. However, I wasn't fully knowledgeable in the facts that stood behind the statistic. The report helped me understand how our area has gotten to the state of pollution it's been in to this day. It's amazing to see the similarities in concerns and issues presented in 1999 that are relevant to the ones arising today.

The facts definitely raise a serious concern for the population's health. So it has me rethinking what I consume on a daily basis. I used to drink water straight from the tap. Considering the numerous problems with the water quality, not anymore. The risk of the water not being filtered and safe to drink is not worth taking. But I do still eat seafood, which I may reconsider due to the articles surrounding the aftermath of the Gulf Oil Spill. I can only imagine how high the amount of pollutants in the water have risen. It's really difficult to turn away from seafood when it's one of my favorite foods.

Pensacola Bay wasn't something I considered to have been pristine at one point. I've lived in Pensacola for 16 years, but I've never taken into account what it used to be. To me, it's been as dirty as it is now. Knowing the huge amount of discharge of waste treatment plants flowing in its waters, I could never imagine a clean Pensacola Bay.

These past few years in college, I've gradually been going green as I become aware of my environment and my own carbon footprint. Gaining more knowledge about the local environment from this report has made me consider more minor adjustments to my lifestyle.