Anthropocene

In UF 300 we learned about our personal responsibility in our global community. As a team we researched a global issue with ethical ramifications. I like that the majority of our presentation focuses on practical solutions that are already being implemented throught the world. We each wrote our own script, and mine starts with the biomimicry section. Enjoy. Global Issues Team Presentation: Anthropocene (Script to go along with above visual presentation) Davor’s Script Slide 1: Anthropocene is relating to or denoting the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. 
 Slide 2: Video Threatened species, red listing and an increase in protected areas have been, and currently remain, a key focus for nature conservation. 
Yet as it becomes more evident we are living in the Anthropocene biosphere and the influence we have increases every day we are on this planet. The two key factors are the fact that our population is growing and the use per capita of our resources has significantly increased. An example is ... Deforestation and fragmentation are major components of global change; both are contributing to the rapid loss of tropical forest area with important implications for ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation. Climate change Carbon Dioxide levels in the air are at their highest in 650,000 years. 9 of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2000. 
1.4 F since 1880. 
In 2012, Arctic summer sea ice shrank to the lowest extent record. 1 3.4 % per decade. Greenland ice loss doubled since 1996 through 2005. Global average sea level has risen 7" over the past 100 years. There are many factors that have a hand in this change our planet is experiencing. Some, granted that we can't control, but we can do enough to alter the path we are headed towards. This is a global ethical issue of huge proportions. Things need to change before it gets too late. Heather’s script Slide 3: Our goal is to explore how various governments encourage environmental protection via the law and companies around the world have addressed global environmental issues via creative collaboration. In the United States we have the Environmental Protection Agency, created by the federal government, and tasked with protecting the environment through a labyrinth of regulation and oversight. While the EPA's regulatory capacity does include the ability to punish those who damage ecosystems, the process itself is mired in bureaucracy and slow to react. One example of the Environmental Protection Agency's efficacy is the Gold King Mine spill in August, 2015. The Gold King Mine was undergoing remediation efforts when hydraulic pressure in a holding pond led to a wall blowout. This flooded the Animas River in Colorado with over 3 million gallons of toxic heavy metals including lead, arsenic and mercury. The Animas River was a recreation destination, renowned in the area for fishing and watersports. Even though the EPA was immediately aware of the poison flooding into the river, it took the residents noticing the yellow waters to prompt a press release addressing the situation. This was almost three days after the fact. To date investigations are ongoing. Turbulence from spring run­off again threatens wildlife and recreation by releasing the metals from sediment on the river floor. Allegations made by mining and remediation experts have stated the danger of a breach was known based on extensive studies conducted prior to clean­up efforts. This has led to speculation the EPA is using the spill to increase agency revenue through Superfund Site designation. Mired in bureaucracy and budgetary maneuvering, no fines or punishments have occurred to date. Slide 4: Imagine this...A different legal system, one where the citizens of Colorado were able to demand accountability, and repair to the river, founded on a constitutional right? This is exactly what the citizens of Ecuador enjoy. Next, we’ll look at Ecuador, and a few other examples, to see how this is done. Slide 5: Video Slide 6: In 2008, the people of Ecuador took a bold step. They rewrote their constitution, recognizing the rights of nature, declaring an intent to: “...build a new form of a peaceful coexistence in diversity and in harmony with nature, to achieve the good way of living, sumak kawsay” Sumak kawsay derives from the Kichwa words sumak for good, beautiful or pleasureable Kawsay meaning collective life This term translates loosely to “buen vivir” in Spanish or “living well” in english Slide 7: The Ecuadorian constitution was amended to include Article 71, the Rights for Nature Article, It states: Nature, or Pachamama, is defined as where life is reproduced and exists, has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution. Also....the State will motivate natural and juridical persons as well as collectives to protect nature; it will promote respect towards all the elements that form an ecosystem. And most importantly...Every person, people, community or nationality, will be able to demand the recognitions of rights for nature before the public organisms. Slide 8: The first case tried under Ecuador's new law was brought by two citizens against a contractor who, while building a road, destroyed a river. The resulting flooding inundated a neighboring farm. The owners brought charges against the contractor under Article 71. Slide 9: The contractor had dumped debris into the river as they built up the road, causing a narrowing of the river. This increased the speed of the flow, resulting in flooding and habitat destruction. For the first time, citizens brought charges under Article 71, naming the ecosystem as defendant and themselves as nature’s representatives. The case was found in favor of nature in this, and the contractor given 30 days to complete court ordered remediation. Interestingly, the contractor was actually the government of the Province of Loja! Slide 10: Here is the long list of things the government of Loja was required to do. My favorite action ordered by the court is a 1⁄4 page, public apology in to be printed in the local newspaper Slide 11: While the American government remains beholden to big oil and seems largely uncaring of its impact in the Anthropocene era, other countries around the globe are implementing a variety of environmental protections and creative resource management strategies. Costa Rica, one of the world's most biodiverse nations, unanimously approved a reform to its Wildlife Conservation law in 2015 to ban hunting as sport, and to make illegal the sale or trade of wild animals. This reform will provide protection for several species of big cats, parrots, and other animals subject to clandestine hunting and capture for use as pets. Paris, France, host of the 2016 climate change forum, declared all new building in commercial zones must have their rooftops either partially covered in plants or fitted with solar panels. This is just one way France is urging its citizens to do their part in limiting the country's carbon footprint. Slide 12: Bhutan is often overlooked by the international community. The small nation lies deep within the Himalayas between China and India, two of the most populated countries in the world. The country of about 750,000 people has set some impressive environmental benchmarks. Bhutan is not merely carbon neutral, it’s also a carbon sink—making it one of the few countries in the world to have negative carbon emissions. One truly enlightened thing Bhutan does is rather than measuring GDP, Gross Domestic Product, or other economic indices, Bhutan measures GNH, Gross National Happiness. GNH is a much richer objective than GDP or economic growth. In GNH, material well being is important but it is also important to enjoy sufficient well being in things like community, culture, governance, knowledge and wisdom, health, spirituality and psychological welfare, a balanced use of time, and harmony with the environment. Susan’s script: So, what else is helping? Globally there is an exciting trend called Biomimicry. SLIDE: Biomimicry What is Biomimicry? Imagine if you will, the age of the Earth is the length of a calendar year. Using this measurement for comparison, think of today as being the last minute before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The human race showed up 15 minutes ago, and our recorded past started 60 seconds ago. On the other hand, our fellow planet‐mates – the animals, plants and microbes – have been here since March. That translates to 3.8 billion years. Some have gone extinct, but for those who are still here, they seem to thrive. Humans on the other hand, have soiled their home to the extent that some fear the extinction of our species. What is it that our wise, elder earth‐neighbors know, that we do not? SLIDE: Biomimicry is... Read the slide. SLIDE: Velcro So, let’s look at some examples of biomimicry. The best known example is probably Velcro. One day in 1941, Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestra was walking his dog in the woods. He wondered if the burrs that clung to him and his dog could be used for something useful. He used nature’s design from the burr, to create a hook and loop fastener, and the rest is history. Forbes magazine ran an article on biomimicry. It spoke of the benefits of the skin of the Galapagos shark. SLIDE: Galapagos Shark Extensive research has gone into this species when it was found that they never have bacteria on their skin. It was discovered that the structure of the skin cell does not allow bacteria to land and adhere. This was astounding, and the implications where numerous. For example, instead of using harsh chemicals for cleaning, some hospitals are now using this unique pattern on structures such as hand rails and door knobs to stop the spread of infection. SLIDE: Peacock Structure is also found to be the reason peacocks have their vibrant color. There is no color in a peacock’s feathers. Rather, our brain perceives the colors by the way light refracts through the cell’s structure. What if we could eliminate the environmental waste hazard of toxic paints, for example? Too much of which, ends up back in the environment. SLIDE: Painting car Instead of painting a car, we could color it with structure. The creation of products is not the only way we can learn from our wise planet‐neighbors. For example, we are only beginning to see how nature works as a community. SLIDE: Redwood Forest Braden R. Allenby, Research Vice President of Technology and Environment at AT&T said, “We should be running a business like a redwood forest.” I have learned that this is because the forest species live in eco-harmony, taking in the resources present and producing waste that in turn, is used by another species as a resource. They have a symbiotic relationship with each other, and thus do not create toxic, unusable waste that would pollute themselves and their environment. Mr. Allenby also said, “The Industrial Revolution as we now know it, is not sustainable. We cannot keep using materials and resources the way we do now...At present, our system will collapse on itself. It is currently linear using virgin raw materials and creating unusable waste.” He goes on to talk about “no‐waste economy” where there is a web of closed loops. Very little raw materials go into the system, and very little waste escapes the system. This is already happening around the world. SLIDE: Denmark One example of a “no‐waste economy” is in Kalundborg, Denmark. They call it an “ecopark”. Four companies have come together in this community; they are linked, dependent on one another for resources or energy. Here is a diagram of what they are doing. SLIDE: Denmark Diagram The power company pipes some of its waste steam to power the engines of two of the other companies: a refinery and a pharmaceutical plant. Another pipeline delivers the remaining waste steam to heat thirty‐five hundred homes in the town, which has eliminated the need for oil furnaces. The power plant also gives it’s cooling water (which is now warm) to a near by fishery which makes the water a perfect temperature for the fish to thrive. The pharmacy’s nitrogen‐rich slurry which used to be dumped into the fjord, is now donated to nearby farmers to be used as fertilizer. The list goes on of waste products that are now recycled into useful resources for others in this community. Much like a redwood forest would do. SLIDE: South America Diagram And here is another diagram of a similar “no‐waste economy” in South America using their local recourses such as oil, snow run off and live stock. There are many global examples around the world of countries and governments making a positive difference to the environment.
 SLIDE: Take Back Laws For example, Take Back Laws. Europe started the trend of having laws that require companies to take back their durable goods such as refrigerators, washers, and cars at the end of their useful lives. In Germany, the take‐back laws start with the initial sale. Companies must take back all their packaging or hire middlemen to do the packaging recycling for them. Take‐back laws mean that manufacturers who have been saying, “This product can be recycled,” must now say, “We recycle our products and packaging”. Consequently, it has become in the company’s best interest to design a product that will either last a good long time or come apart easily for recycling or reuse. SLIDE: Batteries Canada’s arm of Black and Decker has started a recycling system for its rechargeable appliances, hoping to reduce contamination and waste from nickel‐cadmium rechargeable batteries. Because of this program, tons of waste and nickel‐cadmium batteries are no longer going to the Ontario landfill. SLIDE: Ecofactory Initiative Japan has an Ecofactory Initiative restoring factories nationwide to refurbish or recycle products at the end of their life. SLIDE: Green Labeling Australia has enforceable and credible green labeling laws to encourage and enforce consumer’s demand for greener products. Davor’s Script Conclusion We have heard ways that groups and countries are using around the world to continuously strive to solve our global crisis, for example with "Biomimicry". Also we have seen how countries and their governments are taking steps to address these problems. Making steps to create positive changes is hard and sometimes nearly impossible. It would be helpful if we reinvented our relationship with the natural world around us. We can see from these worldwide examples that an improved relationship with nature can create a positive change. It may seem impossible but in fact it is happening right now. In addition, we can change our mind set to approach these problems more ethically and not only scientifically, economically, or politically.