Alterations to climate resulting from human impact is referred to as anthropocentric climate change. Through the releasing of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, the Earths atmosphere has developed a blanket of gases trapping heat in. This has resulted in an increase in global average temperature, glaciers melting, sea levels rising, and ocean acidification.
This is the biggest problem facing humanity today.
Climate change has already begun.
The Earth is currently adjusting to past greenhouse gas emissions, and is struggling to keep up with our demand. Climate models have determined an increase of 0.2 - 0.6 C in global average temperatures since 1910, and if conditions persist expect a 1.4 - 5.08 C increase by 2100.
Human roll on climate change.
Aerosols are microscopic particles derived from sulfur dioxide, which is produced from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal. Smoke from forest fires and burning waste release aerosols into the air as well, but we are emitting too much into the atmosphere to allow them to dissolve completely.
The future of our planet.
Climate change has environmental, health, social and economic consequences.
According to evidence, is the climate changing right now? - What does evidence say about humans’ roles in the changing climate? - How is climate change likely to affect our society and our world
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Flamin' Hot Funyuns
One of my favorite things to snack on are these chips called Flamin' Hot Funyuns. They are these crispy, oniony flavored chips covered with a spicy powder that makes your jaw quiver and eyes slightly water. I don't have them too often but when I do, I really enjoy them; so I decided to do some research on the product.
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They are distributed by Frito Lay, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo Inc. So just from looking at the non-recyclable plastic bag they come packaged in, I counted about 30 ingredients that make up these chips. The first and main ingredient is enriched corn meal, which is pretty much corn ground into a fine powder with added vitamins like Riboflavin and Niacin. Funyuns are for the most part made up of simple ingredients like: Butter and skim milks, sugar, salt, onion and garlic powders, cheese. But they also contain a flavor enhancing ingredient called Monosodium Glutamate or MSG; there has been controversy over whether or not this ingredient is linked to food illnesses and many studies have been conducted, but none have found a correlation.
I did some research on the Frito Lay website, and found out that most of the corn used in their products distributed west of the Mississippi River comes from Gothenburg, Nebraska. This location supplies about 12 million bushels of corn, is responsible for about 13,000 semi trucks, and utilizes 125 growers almost all from central Nebraska. Frito Lay has asked its suppliers to refrain from the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in their crops but have not refused to buy them. Therefore they have promised to strictly abide by the rules, regulations and proper labeling practices of each country their products are sold in.
Through the works of their "Green Teams", Frito Lay has implemented many sustainability practices: by using solar energy and biofuel, they have reduced the electricity used to make each bag by 22%, enough to power 15,000 homes for a year. Technological advances have enabled them to make less water work harder, thus reducing their water consumption by 40% for each bag, saving 1.5 billion gallons since 1999. In 2006 and 2007 unspecified changes to their fleet and facilities reduced their CO2 emissions by 96 million pounds; most likely the use of clean burning fuels in their trucks.
http://www.fritolay.com/our-planet.html
They are distributed by Frito Lay, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo Inc. So just from looking at the non-recyclable plastic bag they come packaged in, I counted about 30 ingredients that make up these chips. The first and main ingredient is enriched corn meal, which is pretty much corn ground into a fine powder with added vitamins like Riboflavin and Niacin. Funyuns are for the most part made up of simple ingredients like: Butter and skim milks, sugar, salt, onion and garlic powders, cheese. But they also contain a flavor enhancing ingredient called Monosodium Glutamate or MSG; there has been controversy over whether or not this ingredient is linked to food illnesses and many studies have been conducted, but none have found a correlation.I did some research on the Frito Lay website, and found out that most of the corn used in their products distributed west of the Mississippi River comes from Gothenburg, Nebraska. This location supplies about 12 million bushels of corn, is responsible for about 13,000 semi trucks, and utilizes 125 growers almost all from central Nebraska. Frito Lay has asked its suppliers to refrain from the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in their crops but have not refused to buy them. Therefore they have promised to strictly abide by the rules, regulations and proper labeling practices of each country their products are sold in.
Through the works of their "Green Teams", Frito Lay has implemented many sustainability practices: by using solar energy and biofuel, they have reduced the electricity used to make each bag by 22%, enough to power 15,000 homes for a year. Technological advances have enabled them to make less water work harder, thus reducing their water consumption by 40% for each bag, saving 1.5 billion gallons since 1999. In 2006 and 2007 unspecified changes to their fleet and facilities reduced their CO2 emissions by 96 million pounds; most likely the use of clean burning fuels in their trucks.
http://www.fritolay.com/our-planet.html
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Amy's Farm
On Saturday November 2nd, 2013 I woke up anxious to get the day started. I was scheduled to go on a class field trip to Amy's Farm, a small non-profit community farm out in Ontario, CA. The trip there took about 25 minutes and I arrived just in time as Tim began the tour.
The farm raises livestock and crops in a very organic and traditional manner, refraining from the use of pesticides or fertilizers, and feeding the livestock food scraps from the vegetables. Green beans, tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and beets are some of the veggies grown there. They also harvest fruit, and have a herb garden that grows parsley, basil, and rosemary.
The livestock are what intrigued me the most. I got to meet and milk 2 awesome dairy cows, but the farm also raises cattle and pigs with a much less fortunate fate, slaughter. You can actually help raise the animal until it is slaughtered and take home your share of the deal. I also met a couple of piglets, some goats, turkeys, bunch of roaming around chickens and a mini horse.
So after the tour was over me, Tim, and Anthony decided to volunteer for a couple of hours. I wanted to get a first hand look at what it was like to help coordinate a small organization like this farm. We began with weeding the radish and lettuce batches, which was very tedious work and we had to be careful so as not to pull out the actual plant. At the end of the day you put your hours into a book and depending on how long you volunteered you take home your share of any crop on the farm, a very trustworthy system. It was an excellent experience and I will hopefully return to volunteer and get my share of fresh Amy's farm produce!
The farm raises livestock and crops in a very organic and traditional manner, refraining from the use of pesticides or fertilizers, and feeding the livestock food scraps from the vegetables. Green beans, tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and beets are some of the veggies grown there. They also harvest fruit, and have a herb garden that grows parsley, basil, and rosemary.
The livestock are what intrigued me the most. I got to meet and milk 2 awesome dairy cows, but the farm also raises cattle and pigs with a much less fortunate fate, slaughter. You can actually help raise the animal until it is slaughtered and take home your share of the deal. I also met a couple of piglets, some goats, turkeys, bunch of roaming around chickens and a mini horse.
So after the tour was over me, Tim, and Anthony decided to volunteer for a couple of hours. I wanted to get a first hand look at what it was like to help coordinate a small organization like this farm. We began with weeding the radish and lettuce batches, which was very tedious work and we had to be careful so as not to pull out the actual plant. At the end of the day you put your hours into a book and depending on how long you volunteered you take home your share of any crop on the farm, a very trustworthy system. It was an excellent experience and I will hopefully return to volunteer and get my share of fresh Amy's farm produce!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Reduction In My Waste Production
Ever since I started taking this class, I have noticed that most Americans have no regard for the trash they produce and simply forget about it as soon as it leaves their hand into the trash can. Most people do not care about how many plastic bottles they throw away, or how much paper towels they use simply to dry their hands or clean a small mess, then assume it is no longer useful. Some people throw away stuff they haven't even used! In this weeks assignment I will be keeping track of my trash for 2 days, implement some waste reduction techniques, then see if there was a reduction in my waste production.
Trash 11/8 - 11/9
Trash Reduction Techniques
I feel like there was a definite reduction in my trash using these strategies I implemented. Although I did observe that when I went out and bought groceries, I replaced all the items that I needed and discarded the old ones plastic packaging. It was so hard finding food with less packaging at the store, so I decided to just cut certain ones out like those cupped noodles which produce so much trash; the cup is covered with a paper tab, wrapped in plastic, with a cardboard outer display for advertisement. But I couldn't resist those convenient and delicious Hot Pockets which come in a cardboard box and individually wrapped. I reused the plastic bags they gave me by putting them in my smaller trash cans, acting like trash bags. I don't think I used anything that was recyclable. I will definitely continue to carry my handkerchief around to reduce my paper waste.
Trash 11/8 - 11/9
- 1 plastic bottle
- Approx. 5 paper towels/napkins
- 2 Styrofoam cups
- Couple of plastic bags
- 3 chip/candy wrappers
- 2 Noodle cups
- Ate fast food twice which includes paper bag, cup, wrappers, straw
- 1 aluminum can
- 3 pieces of writing paper
Trash Reduction Techniques
- Instead of using paper towels or napkins I had a handkerchief in my pocket for drying/cleaning my hands.
- I reused the plastic bottle from the previous day for my water.
- Went out and bought groceries which eliminated the need for fast food
- I tried to buy items with the least amount of packaging.
- Reuse plastic bags
- 2 Hot pocket wrappers
- 2 chip/candy wrappers
- Shampoo bottle
- Deodorant stick
- Plastic lockset packaging (work)
- 1 aluminum can
- 1 plastic bag
I feel like there was a definite reduction in my trash using these strategies I implemented. Although I did observe that when I went out and bought groceries, I replaced all the items that I needed and discarded the old ones plastic packaging. It was so hard finding food with less packaging at the store, so I decided to just cut certain ones out like those cupped noodles which produce so much trash; the cup is covered with a paper tab, wrapped in plastic, with a cardboard outer display for advertisement. But I couldn't resist those convenient and delicious Hot Pockets which come in a cardboard box and individually wrapped. I reused the plastic bags they gave me by putting them in my smaller trash cans, acting like trash bags. I don't think I used anything that was recyclable. I will definitely continue to carry my handkerchief around to reduce my paper waste.
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