Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems summary

    Peter M. Vitousek, Harold A. Mooney, and Jerry M. Melillo collaborate on this article about the impacts of our accelerating dominance over the Earth's ecosystems.  Human enterprises such as agriculture, industry, fishing, and international commerce transform the land surface, altering major biological cycles and adding or removing species from ecosystems. These changes prompt further changes through a domino effect which is driving climate change and irreversible losses of biological diversity. It has been estimated that 39 to 50% of the Earth's land has been transformed or degraded by humanity. The most powerful of which is row-crop agriculture which occupies 10 to 15% of the Earth's land surface. This land transformation is the primary driving force in the loss of biological diversity.
    Humans also have a substantial impact on marine ecosystems. We use about 8% of the primary production from oceans, with 25% in upwelling areas and 35% in temperate continental shelf systems. As of 1995 22% of marine fisheries were over-exploited or already depleted, 44% were already at their limit of exploitation.
    We have also significantly altered biogeochemical cycles by addition of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, deliberately fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, substantial use of the worlds fresh water supply (over half) with 70% going to use for agriculture. Synthetic organic chemicals also play a major role in the alteration of biogeochemical cycles, many of them are highly toxic to humans and animals, they also tend to persist in the environment for decades.
    Recent calculations suggest that current rates of species extinction are among the order of 100 to 1000 times those before humanity's dominance over the Earth. 11% of birds, 18% of mammals, 5% of fish, and 8% of plant species are currently facing threat of extinction. Humans have also largely increased the rate of biological invasion (invasive species). These invasive species can introduce new pathogens and also can out compete some of the native species which puts further stress on the ecosystem. Our number one goal should be to try and reduce the rate at which we alter the Earth's systems, thus hopefully giving ecosystems a better chance to change and adopt.

Zoo reflection

    I think zoo's should continue there role in conservation by breading endangered species along with taking in endangered species that have been injured and likely wouldn't survive on their own. I also think it important that zoo's continue to educate people through use of informational signs and guided tours. 

I don't think it is very ethical to keep any animals in a zoo (aside from ones that otherwise wouldn't be able to survive on their own due to either abandonment or injury) because they are living creatures that are meant to be wild and free, not put on display in some cage or confined area. I do however enjoy going to a zoo because I get to see animals that i would otherwise never get to see, but I still feel they shouldn't be captivated simply for our own entertainment and education. 

Women's Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation summary

    Vandana Shiva's article discusses how women's knowledge and skill is essential to the preservation of biodiversity. Women bring a different outlook on things than men do, which helps in problem solving and helps contribute to diversity. Men will typically specialize in one area or trade, whereas women typically work in many fields and trades. They will be inside cleaning house and in the same day out planting seeds for crops. Women's work and knowledge in agriculture is found "in between" sectors, they will normally have knowledge and will work many different sectors without specializing in any particular one. In India women conserve seed, and conserve diversity, they also perform tests for seed selection and propagation. However multinational corporations are transforming women and farmers from seed "custodians" to seed "consumers" by creating hybrid seeds which are biologically patented thus preventing farmers from using the offspring for seeding the next year. Farmers must go back and buy seeds every year now, and if they try produce there own seed it is considered patent infringement. This creation of corporation owned seed has taken the power and capabilities to maintain biodiversity and steady income from women.

My Food System

    What i like about my food system is that most of my meals are relatively easy to make, I eat foods that taste good. However I don't pay attention to where the food comes from and whether it is organic or not, I hadn't thought about these things until they were brought up in this class. I usually try buy cheaper food, however I don't like the price of some items particularly healthy foods, they are rather costly. Another thing I don't like about my food system is that because I buy primarily cheaper and easier to make foods the nutritional value isn't always what it should be and I don't eat the healthiest sometimes. Also I have come to realize that most of my food is transported a long ways which is leaving a larger carbon footprint than I would like. The last problem with my food system is that because I buy a lot of cheap food I know that I am likely helping to support cruel and harsh animal conditions.

Reflection

   I really enjoyed the discussions on sustainable development and energy sources. I think energy production and usage is a major problem that needs immediate attention. I have always been fascinated with the building of efficient systems, particularly in the transportation industry. However i had not realized the extent of green technology's that are already being implemented in the residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The possibilities for green cities and self-sustaining cities is endless, many concepts and ideas are within are capabilities. Are major obstacle in the construction of these green cities is government support, but with growing populations and increasing demands and pollution of our environment I feel the governments only option is to get behind these projects and start helping fund them and promote further development by using tax brakes and subsidies for implementation of green technology's.

My Reliance On Fossil Fuels

   I am comfortable with my current reliance on fossil fuel, I am currently in the process of selling my 3/4 ton diesel truck, I have sold my quad and am currently driving a 2008 ford focus which is really good on gas so i do feel my reliance is sustainable for the next ten years. My house uses an electric water heater and electric stove, however I do feel it would be beneficial to switch over from my current high-efficiency gas furnace to an electric furnace due to the fact that in Manitoba most of our power is generated via hydroelectric dams which have a lower impact on our environment than fossil fuel powered electric stations. To further reduce my fossil fuel reliance i could start car-pooling with someone from around my area as i do live 45 minutes away.

Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization summary

    Lester R. Brown's article encompasses the effects that environmental degradation and population growth are having on the worlds food supply. Demand for food is growing faster than supplies can grow which is causing an increase in the price of food. When food supplies are to low to feed a country's population then the government often loses power. This leads country's to become a source of terrorists, drugs, weapons, and refugees which threatens political stability everywhere. The price of grain one of the worlds most important and most demanded crops is further driven up by a demand for crop-based automotive fuels. The problem on the supply side of things that is of immediate concern is falling water tables and fresh water shortages. Irrigation uses 70% of the worlds freshwater, water is being pumped out of underground sources faster than rainfall can recharge it. If water tables continue to shrink as they are we will be lead to unmanageable food shortages and social conflict. Soil erosion is of second most concern, topsoil is eroding faster than new soil can form. Topsoil is essential to our survival for without it crops will cease to grow. It takes long stretches of time for topsoil to build up and is usually only about  six inches deep. The third threat to the worlds food supply is rising surface temperature. An increase of one degree Celsius above normal can lead to a decrease in wheat, rice, and corn production by 10 percent.

A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030 summary

   Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi's article is about the feasibility of redesigning the worlds energy systems so that instead of using fossil fuels they use alternative energy sources. Included are only technologies that have near zero emissions and are working or close to working today.
   It is planned that all the worlds energy needs can be supplied by wind, water, and solar resources, otherwise referred to as WWS. WWS will supply electric power for heating, transportation, and hydrogen production for use in fuel cells that would power airplanes and industry. In their plan 51% of the worlds power would be supplied by wind with 3.8 million large wind turbines. 40% would come from photovoltaics and concentrated solar plants. The remaining 9% would come from 900 hydroelectric stations of wich 70% are already in place. The overall construction cost of a WWS system would be around $100 trillion worldwide over 20 years. However over time this would be payed back through savings in healthcare, environmental, and security costs along with sale of electricity and energy.
   The use of WWS systems would significantly benefit the climate, air quality, water quality, ecology, and energy security. The obstacles are primarily political, not technical.

Climate change 2007: The Physical Science Basis summary

    This article released from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  discusses the effects we are having on the earths atmosphere and what the impacts on the earth will be if we continue emitting greenhouse gasses like we are. The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased significantly since the pre-industrial era. This increase in greenhouse gasses was predicted to cause a global increase in temperature. We now have evidence that this is true and climate change has already begun. Since 1961 global surface and ocean temperatures have increased along with an increase in the average atmospheric water vapour content which is due to the fact that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. Glaciers, ice sheets  and snow cover has decreased significantly and is contributing to the rise in sea level. Changes in weather patterns along with more severe weather has also been observed and can be attributed to climate change. It is predicted that heat waves and  heavy precipitation events will increase along with both the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. Even if we were to hold greenhouse gasses at a consistent level we would still see an increase in global temperature  between 1.8 Celsius and 4.0 Celsius. This means that we have already done irreparable damage however the longer we continue with rising greenhouse gasses the worse this problem is going to get. Therefore from both environmental and economic standpoints it would be best to take action immediately.