Climate Change

2. I had difficulty uploading my google doc and inserted a pdf.  My diagram outlines some of the issues regarding climate change negotiations. Due to the increased release of greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution, we have seen a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. In an attempt to combat the issue on a global scale, the UN proposed a convention to discuss this issue. The US was in support of the Copenhagen Accord which would bypass the majority support required by the UN and streamline the political process. In order for the plan to succeed, the United States needed support from many other nations. To get this support they used political power and the promise of aid and money to get more countries on board. They also engaged in hacking and threats that were all exposed during an information leak. The US met the demands of the other countries in order to get the plan approved in order to reduce greehouse gas emissions.

3. In my opinion, the US did what was necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although the ethics behind it are questionable, the end result was a benefit for all. In agreeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many countries received aid and money they needed (or wanted). The problem with collective action issues is that you ultimately depend on others to do the right thing. The US garnered their power in the world community to strong-arm nations who may have been unwilling to reduce their footprint. Unless everyone willingly jumps on board to “right the ship”, we will be in similar circumstances in the future.

According to the Nathan World Map of Natural Disasters, my town of Graham, TX is susceptible to hailstorms (zone 6), tornadoes (zone 4), and wildfires (zone 2). I have lived in Graham for 18 months and during that time period I seen extreme thunderstorms that produced tornadoes and golf ball sized hail. The intensity and frequency of these storms can be very alarming. Two weeks ago, a F1 tornado destroyed homes about 30 miles from my house along a highway I frequently travel for work. The storm hit about 2 am in the morning giving residents little to no warning. During El Nino years, it is expected to be wetter with fewer storms. In comparison to this time last year, we have experienced less rain and fewer storms packing less intensity. During La Nina years, it is warmer and drier. During these cycles Graham has experienced extensive droughts leading to water restrictions. The area is very dependent on farming and cattle grazing so during these cycles, the economy suffers greatly. We are not well equipped to handle these episodes. The Brazos river flows through town but is controlled by dams. Water that is typically pulled from the river for irrigation does not occur because the Brazos River Authority reduces the river to little more than a large creek. During wetter seasons, the river floods which as I saw last year, destroyed homes and roads along the river.

According to the Hungarian National Radio Distress board, Eldridge, AL experienced a medium grade tornado today. The likelihood of that happening in Graham is pretty great. Graham is located in North-Central Texas on the edge of what is considered “Tornado Alley.” Each year severe thunderstorms pound the region during the spring and early summer with some storms capable of producing tornadoes. The cause of these tornadoes is due to the cold air coming down through the Rocky Mountains and converging with the warm moist air of the Gulf. From a topographic standpoint, Graham is very flat and that allows these storms to touchdown.

This was considered a medium storm. If it were to happen in Graham, we would experience the same kind of damage. Most people here have storm shelters or access to public shelters. There is also an alert system in place that sounds sirens if a tornado is possible. I think one possible solution to minimize the risk of human life would be for the city of Graham to offer grants or assistance to homeowners to purchase storm shelters.

1. My hometown is Gig harbor, WA. It is a town of about 12,000 people, located on the Puget Sound. It was originally founded as a fishing village. Today it has become a very modern port town with a bustling city center lined with shops, restaurants, and other tourist-minded activities. It is very pedestrian oriented, although I would still consider it an automobile suburb. The streets of downtown are sidewalk lined and parking is minimal to encourage people to take the bus, bike, or walk. Directly across the Puget Sound is Tacoma. Tacoma is a major port to the Northwest. Buses run in 15 minute intervals to the transfer station in Tacoma for commuters. Growing up in Gig Harbor was a great experience. The town was large enough to offer plenty to do, while small enough that people engaged each other and took advantage of the outdoors.
2. Gig Harbor is much like Copenhagen. Each city has a vibrous city center where people can shop, dine, and get together. Each city encourages people to use modes of transportation other than cars. Although the weather can be wet in Gig Harbor due to its semi coastal nature, people prefer to walk, bike, or take public transit to get around town. One thing I would like to see more of are people walking and biking. It has been slow to gain traction as the primary source of transportation. Small shops and restaurants are beginning to offer discounts to those who walk and bike as a way to encourage people to leave the cars at home and keep the streets clear and pedestrian friendly.
3. The next comparison to Gig Harbor would be Beacon Hill in Boston. Beacon Hill is much more pedestrian oriented. To reduce the car congestion in Gig Harbor to that of Beacon Hill would be difficult. In Gig Harbor, housing is spaced apart like most suburbs. The streets are car friendly and most people use them often due to the amount of rainy days that are seen. In the spring and summer however, people are more likely to walk due to the close proximity of everything.

1. Growing up, my family operated a cattle ranch. We had nearly 100 head of cattle and a few emu’s. My family also hunted for deer, turkey, and we spend a lot of time fishing. Most of the protein we ate came from the cattle we raised or the fish and game we hunted. Since what we ate was what we raised or hunted ourselves, waste was not an option. We never took more than we needed and shared with others what we could. From a young age my brother and I were taught to respect the land, to never take more than we needed to ensure a healthy population of animals to harvest the following season. Growing up in Texas our main source of fish was bass or catfish. I have never really cared for it but to not eat it was a cardinal sin in my household and against the social norms.
2. With respect to our cattle operation, all of our animals were free range. By that I mean we did not feed them grain or hay. They ate from the pasture land that we had cleared and the wooded acreage they roamed. In all we had 150 acres set aside for the cattle to roam and eat freely from the native grasses and plants. We also had 2 acres set aside for our garden. We grew tomatoes, peppers, corn, carrots, potatoes, and few other seasonal vegetables. This really eliminated the need to shop at a grocery store. With exception of a few items, we were self sufficient. Although the diet was somewhat limited, we learned to appreciate what we had and had almost zero waste. Now that I am older and live in the suburbs, I grocery shop. One thing that has remained the same is my taste for whole, organic foods. Where the societal norm has been to convenience, I never developed a taste for fast food or processed foods. My view on self sufficiency has not changed either. My wife and I are in the process of buying land so that we can revert back to a more self reliant lifestyle and pass that tradition on to our kids.

I live in Graham, TX. It is a small town in north-central Texas with a population of about 7500 people. The city of Graham owns and operates a water treatment facility that supplies all of Young county which is home to a total of five towns including Graham. The water plant is designed to treat roughly 6 million gallons of water per day. In total there are 64.8 miles of waterlines. These lines pull water from Lake Graham and the Brazos river. The water is treated at the facility where it is then sent out to homes, businesses, and farms for use. We have a city sewer system that brings water back to the plant for treatment. The non-potable water is treated before being released back into the river system. The water system is basically a giant loop with freshwater being distributed to homes and waste water returning to the plant for treatment. Last year, Young county experienced a sever drought and each household was placed on water restriction. Homeowners were not allowed to water lawns, wash cars, or fill swimming pools. At the end of 2015 we experienced above average rainfall filling the lakes and rivers which alleviated the water restriction.

1-B.

Activity                   Water Usage (in gallons)

Brushing Teeth                          1

Shower                                      40 (5 gal per minute. 8 min total)

Hand Washing                          3.7

Laundry (HE washer)               10

Drinking                                     2

Flushing Toilets                         12 (1 gal per flush)

Total:                                        68.7

1-C.

Restricting my water usage to 2 gallons was impossible. I exercise every day so limiting my drinking water was not an option. It remained at 2 gallons. Because I was sweaty I still had to shower. I cut that in half by reducing my shower time to 4 minutes. I did not do laundry so I saved 10 gallons. I flushed the toilet at the end of the day (thank goodness I have 2 bathrooms as my wife did not appreciate that). I only used 8 ounces of water to brush my teeth (4 ounces x two times day). I never realized how much water I used in a day and have taken it for granted. I thought I had already done a good job of limiting my water consumption before this experiment. When my wife and I began living together six years ago, she would leave the sink running when she brushed her teeth. That was an easy habit to break. We both take short showers but now I am even more conscious of my time and the amount of water I use. Even the small things we can do to reduce our consumption can help. I have already began to encourage my friends and family to be conscious of their water consumption.

The intent of this diagram is to show the social and environmental effects of the Biogas Generator in India. The Biogas generators have improved the quality of life of some of the poorest people in the country. The use of cow dung helps keep the country side clean, while also providing the necessary element of the Biogas generator. The methane produced from the dung/water slurry mixture is used as a clean energy source for cooking and heating. Before the generators, firewood would have been used. The smoke was detrimental to the people’s health, increased deforestation, and children missed out on educational opportunities because they were working. An added side effect of the slurry mixture is its use in composting. Women especially have been able raise revenue through the sale of the nutrient rich compost mixture. The impact that the booming population has had on the ecosystem is a driving force behind the Biogas Generators.

There are a few similarities and differences between my diagram and figure 1.5 in the Marten reading. They are similar in that they both showcase the cross-interaction between the social system and the ecosystem. The methane gas that is produced leads to less deforestation and increased health benefits by improving air quality. A major difference is that Marten’s diagram is much more detailed, highlighting some of the smaller catalysts within the system.