I have never been to anywhere else similar to Mokauea Island before. Canoeing to get to the island really helped me better understand the people and culture who lived on this one specific island. When canoeing some of the houses that sat over the water on the shore, there was an eerie feeling that I couldn’t explain. Once we landed our canoes the island appeared to be deserted. There was little structure on the island except for maybe four homes, and a new composting bathroom. There was little vegetation on the island except for mangroves growing around its border. The lace honestly looked like a ghost town where something really bad has happened. Which is the case as the State of Hawaii illegally evicted these residents from their home and practically demolished most of the island. It was honestly sad to see the condition the island was in. Especially with planes flight right over head at a pretty much constant pace.

-Calvin

Spreading the Gospel of Green Tech in Latin America

Take my survey as part of my research project to analyze and reduce the sources of marine debris from Hawaii.

aftermarx:

The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world’s efforts are at slowing man-made global warming.

The new figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate experts just four years ago.

“The more we talk about the need to control emissions, the more they are growing,” said John Reilly, co-director of MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.

AP

stoweboyd:

Swedish eco-designers, Ehrnberg Solutions AB, have just completed their most successful prototype of the floating SeaTwirl vertical wind turbine. The device captures and harvests offshore wind, without having to convert the energy as it is being stored. SeaTwirl is the first of its kind with only two moving parts, and it uses only sea water as a roller bearing, omitting the need for a gearbox or transmission. (via SeaTwirl Turbine Could be the Most Cost-Effective Wind Energy Generator Yet | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World)

plantedcity:

Cartoon: ‘How to Build a Pipeline’

(Source: Politico)

Much of the produce consumer in America does come from far away places. This food has a high carbon footprint because of this, and much energy and resources are used in transporting produce items such far distances. Could these resources be used in a better way at home through local farms and production methods? But what would happen if the U.S. and other developed nations ceased the buying of food from other countries and grew all their produce within their own boarders? Most of the countries that developed nations buy produce from are undeveloped or developing nations where a large part of that countries income is from crop exports. If all the industrial nations in the world stopped buying crops from these other countries their economies would collapse and their peoples would have no income. These countries will have no way of continuing their development and decreasing their poverty. And with these countries have no money to spend, it will effect all other nations in the world as these countries will not be able to purchase goods from other nations around the word which includes the U.S. Government subsidies do not support industries which the government favors. They allow U.S. farmers to have a fair trading position in the world market by allowing farmers to sell their crops at the world price while still being able to be profitable.

Just my comments on what was covered in class,

-Calvin

I had never been truly introduced to the idea of Deep Culture until the guest speaker in lasts class talked about it’s importance. I have known of Deep Culture by living in the culture of which I am accustom, I was just unaware what it was called, or that it was a real theory. Everyone is familiar with “Deep Culture” as everyone is from one culture or background. I had never thought of how much of an impact Deep Culture had on societies, counties, and groups of people. I am not surprised by this as it makes perfect since, I had just never thought of it almost as an all deciding ruler. Something that which every decision is a certain culture is based off of. With Deep Culture we know where to start to make real change in this world in many areas, including the environment. But knowing that this is really the only way to make change that will last, from the bottom up, is a little daunting. Daunting, as many cultures and people will not easily just change or give up their Deep Culture as it has been a part of them and all their past generations. And it will also not be easy as many may not even know of the Deep Culture that is influencing their actions and thoughts.

-Calvin

mothernaturenetwork:

Infographic: How a landfill works