1. In the module, different levels of biodiversity were discussed. Now, in 150-200 words, discuss the biodiversity in your own home town.  Start by stating the area that you are identifying in, and then go into the biodiversity present and the scale in your town.

ANSWER: My hometown is Westfield, New Jersey.  My town is home to many different species being situated in the temperate climate of New Jersey, with several county parks that help to maintain biodiversity.  A few species in my town include Black Bears, Red-winged Blackbird, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, coyotes, White-tailed Deer, and the Peregrine Falcon.  Many of these species have adapted to living in a place with cold winters and warm summers, basically with a wide degree of variability in temperature.  The biodiversity of my area is quite large given its changing conditions, but not as large as a warmer, greener area like a rainforest.  The parks in my hometown actually do a very good job at maintaining the biodiversity in my area.  People, including myself, are constantly seeing herds of deer and sometimes even bears and coyotes in the parks, meaning that the parks are maintained and can support a wide amount of wildlife.  However, because of reduced habitat, more and more deer are wandering residual areas and golf courses.  Habitat loss has become a large issue in my town.

2. Now, that you have addressed the biodiversity in your town, discuss how the biodiversity is decreasing or increasing. Why is this happening?  Try to do this in 150-200 words.

ANSWER: Invasive species, as well as loss of habitat, are the two largest issues of biodiversity in my town.  The Formosan Subterranean Termite is an invasive species in my hometown.  It arrived in 2003 after hiding on ships coming from the Pacific, specifically from China.  The termites do not have many natural predators, especially because they have been introduced into the area very recently.  As a result, they have been competing with the natural termite species and have caused expensive structural damage because they are not hunted.  Purple loosestrife is another invasive plant to my area.  Purple loosestrife is an issue because it will check out native plant species if they are unchecked.  While its origins cannot be determined, it does become a large problem if unkept. Habitat loss is another large area of concern when it comes to a loss of biodiversity.  Being so close to major cities, New York City and Newark, many people want to live in my town.  This means that trees and woodland areas are constantly being torn down to make room for houses if they have not been already.

3. In 150-200 words, discuss what you would like to see your town or area do in the future to increase its biodiversity or something that your town is currently trying to do.

ANSWER: To help decrease the issue behind the purple loosestrife, my town has planned to release Gallerucella beetles to help decrease the plant’s population.  The bugs are kept in chilled containers before their release, so once they hit the warm weather outside, they become very active and begin munching on the purple loosestrife at very high frequencies. This helps decrease the amount of purple loosestrife to a tolerable level.  The interesting part is that the Gallerucella beetle is actually another invasive species, but their levels are easier to control than the loosestrife, so they are used as a form of defense and then die.  I think I would really like to see my town enact a regulation or uphold a level of woodland density and area.  Given a large amount of deforestation in my area, many animals have become displaced or have died.  I would like to see my town honor the idea that they need to have a certain area of woodland to recover from a lot of trees that they have taken down.  This will help to maintain the biodiversity in the area before it is too late.

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2. My systems diagram includes the flow of ideas behind the Wikileaks article and climate change. The United Nations Convention of Climate Change in Copenhagen was formed as a response to the rising issue of climate change throughout the world. As a result, various countries, large and small, attempted to come to an agreement over a way to reduce the harm of humanity’s progress on the planet.  After a few failed attempts, the United States found themselves with the “Copenhagen accord”, which favored many of the ideas and feelings that as one of the largest polluters in the world, the country favored.  The accord would allow countries to set their own goals for the cutting of greenhouse gases, without determining what levels were actually beneficial.  However, various countries were hesitant to sign the deal, which resulted in the United States’ interactions.  Through bribes, such as a payment of $30bn to Maldives, sheer bullying based off the United States’ power, and promises of payments, almost 140 countries have signed on for the accord itself.  These accounts and records were exposed finally around February 2010.  But, still, countries like Japan, though not supporting the Kyoto climate treatment anymore, are supporting the accord.  One can hope that through the United States’ playground like tactics that the greenhouse gas levels will begin to decline as more countries begin to execute their plans.  Although there is no set plan to how much or what levels each country should decrease their emissions, a start is still a start for a larger issue.
3. My view on the issue at hand looks at the situation more holistically. As a collective action towards mitigation as seen in Module 9, there are many different countries, oil based, small, and wealthy, that see emissions and climate change in different ways. However, the long term goal is to reduce climate change from an unsustainable source of fuel, fossil fuels, and into a form that will not pollute the planet.  I think that the State Department cables do not play a large role in the public knowledge, whether we know or not.  I simply care about the progress of the world as a whole.  As a result, I have to agree with the United States’ diplomacy during the meeting in Copenhagen.  If a country does not wish to participate in a goal or movement, that is their right.  However, on the basis of the planet, the countries that are able to participate should help those that are hesitate, such as Maldives who cared for some money, being a small island nation.  On the other side, I would have liked to see a more regulated set of boundaries for emissions set up. Being realistic though, I understand the difficulty in organizing a movement that includes 140 countries.  As a result, I believe that ethically the ends justify the means, and the United States’ behavior was appropriate.  While changing climate could be one of the world’s most pressing issue, I believe that some action is much better than no action at all.  In addition, possibly through new acts, such as making large cities more energy efficient and communities less fossil fuel dependent with more walking roads, other countries will begin to follow. I think that having multiple countries on board for one cause, even with flaws, is much better than no countries on a well formed plan.

1. The scale of the Nathan World Map of Natural Disasters is not very useful to analyze specific differences based off region. Due to the scale being so large, it is difficult to tell the difference between areas that are close together, like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.   The color gradients on the keys are also very close together, making identification difficult. My town, Westfield, New Jersey, faces a low account of wildfires, a medium risk of hail storms and tornadoes, a medium-low risk of winter storms based on the small, individual maps.  When looking at the larger map, my area faced an increase in heavy rain fall.  Also, my area is in a medium risk zone for tropical cyclones.

2. Currently, there is a disaster in Angola, Africa, in which case a Yellow Fever outbreak has occurred. My hometown of Westfield, New Jersey can experience the same outbreak, but most likely not on the same level.  Given the density of hospitals in my area and the wealth of my town, I would like to believe that less than 1132 people would be effected before help was given, as that is the number of people affected in Angola. The town that is currently dealing with this disaster, Luanda, 53% live in poverty, which advances the spread of disease.  In my hometown, the poverty rate is very low and most people would be able to receive the health care if they needed.  Different people are more vulnerable based off the conditions that they live in and larger due to wealth.  In Luanda right now, many are infected because a large amount of those live in poor areas where they cannot receive health care.  The Yellow Fever spread rampantly and now there are over 1000 sick. In my town, the disease would not be able to spread as quickly, as people do not live as closely together, and instead, those who were infected would seek the medical attention that they needed.  Those in Angola most likely are having trouble in this area.  To reduce vulnerability, it would be beneficial to spread awareness of the symptoms of Yellow Fever as well as other diseases, another area that I believe Luanda is suffering from; pure knowledge over the risks of their conditions.

3. Westfield, New Jersey faces several issues with power outages during the year.  Living in a heavy rain area that carries strong winds and large hanging trees, several times do trees fall on power lines.  This would be described as a meteorological hazard, as wind and rain are playing a role in taking out trees.  After Hurricane Sandy, we were without power for 10 days because trees were not able to stand up to the intense winds, and as a result, fall on almost every street, taking the power lines with them.  Even now, trees continue to fall on power lines, or the lines themselves give out due to winds.  Many of the trees that carry out these “take downs” are not cared for, as they commonly stretch into the streets, and are very rarely taken down.  In addition, we have been receiving much heavier rains over the past few years.

4. To fix the issue, I believe that my town must go through a major electrical overhaul. Above-ground power lines are easy to put up and maintain, but they are available to the elements.  As a result, I would like to see PSE&G, the electrical provider of my town, to place the electrical lines underground.  This would limit the power outages that we encounter by having the lines out of the trees way if they are to fall.  In addition, while we cannot change the weather, it would be beneficial to maintain the trees or enforce the trimming of trees in my town.  This would reduce the amount that fall, saving people from injury as well as power issues.  I personally can trim and maintain the trees in my home’s property to make sure that they are healthy enough to stand up to our strong winds and rain.

1. My city is Westfield, New Jersey. It is only thirty minutes outside New York City, and is an automobile suburb. The metropolitan area around my town consists of many of the suburbs of New York City, Jersey City, and Newark, which would be more than 10 million people.  My town contributes close to 31,000 to that total.  My town has a public high school, roads with sidewalks, and a train station to New York City.  Overall, I believe I have really benefited from living close to various important cities, while having a small, town-like feel in my personal backyard.  Westfield gave me a good public school setting, with small shops and restaurants, while having plenty ways to access larger cities.  Many people in my town commute to nearby cities either by car or train, rarely ever by bus.  My town does not have any open areas to grow crops, as most open spaces are built upon.
2. Copenhagen offers many insights into how Westfield, NJ could be more sustainable. The transportation mode of using bikes is one of the largest ideas. In my town, many people commute to New York City by train, but end up driving to the train in cars.  This creates a large amount of traffic, which wastes fuel as people sit still burning gasoline, as they drive to work and back.  Instead, if there were more bicycles that rode to the train, air quality would improve as a result of less fossil fuels being burned by cars.  It would also make the areas around schools less busy and dangerous for children.  Students could also even start riding bikes to school, as almost half of high school juniors and seniors, 600 total, drive to school. 700 miles per gallon could be utilized if everyone cycled rather than driving.  Once it begins, hopefully social norms will change and bikes will become part of daily, around town life.
3. Curitiba in Brazil is another city that my town could learn from to become more sustainable. Besides the train station in my town, the rest of our public transportation is insignificant. The one bus line that I know of is very unreliable and there are always groups of people waiting for it to arrive, late as usual. Many of these people are trying to commute to New York City and for some reason do not take the train, possibly because of cost.  If the bus system was redone, more people would ride the bus, instead of driving cars to the city. 330 miles per gallon per person is much more efficient than everyone driving their own cars.  People would be saving money by riding the bus, and the air quality in my town would improve.  Also, the bus company itself would be able to generate more revenue.  While changing the social norm of riding the bus will be difficult, I think when people see the cheaper cost and ease they will change.

1. Five years ago, my family and I took a trip to India. Having a father who was born in India and being half Indian myself, I had eaten plenty of Indian cuisine and foods during my life.  But, what one does not realize is how different the meals and food are designed in a different country.  When I was there, breakfast was not too different from the United States.  Hot tea, toast, cereal, and eggs were common.  But the other meals were extremely different.  No one ate a sandwich for lunch.  Dinner and lunch were very similar.  Both consisted of rice, some form of chicken or lamb, vegetables, and hot tea.  Lunch was always slightly smaller though.  The social norm also included no consumption of beef, as the cow is considered a sacred animal in India.  Even at an international food-chain like McDonalds, hamburgers were not served, and instead lamb-patties were.  Beef and beef-products were never sold in any restaurant or home. Instead, people mostly ate chicken, or no meat at all.

2. The idea behind not eating beef and eating similar food for lunch and dinner can be connected to several societal factors. By not eating cows, the people of India are able to use the trophic distribution more efficiently.  Raising a cow compared to a chicken much less energy.  As a result, less energy is lost as one climbs the tropic ladder.  Therefore, more people can eat and survive on the energy saved.  There is no need for the land that would be taken up by cows, or the contaminants as indicated in “The Hidden Costs of Hamburgers”.  In addition, by eating similar food for lunch and dinner, people do not need to buy or make as many products as they would in places like America.  The social norm of not eating beef is one that should continue in other places of the world, as well as the similar diet for lunch and dinner.  Less waste is created if leftovers could be eaten for lunch and dinner, and fewer cows would be treated unethically.
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1. My case study has to do with the shrimp industry in Ecuador. For years during the 1980’s, the shrimp industry in Ecuador was able to thrive off the increase demand of shrimp to the United States and across the world. During Ecuador’s shrimping success, they destroyed many of the mangroves that provided protection for post larval shrimps to make room for more facilities to handle the older shrimp.  Without the protection the young shrimp need, many of them were not able to reach adulthood, causing the industry to sharply decline.  The goal is now for Ecuador to revitalize its diminished shrimping industry quick enough to rejoin the market, but not too quickly that they create the same problems again.  This is a sustainable development issue, with fish as a resource quickly diminishing.  The end uses of the shrimping industry is to provide money for the families of the shrimpers.  This development also highlights humanity impacting the environment, in this case negatively. Ecuador must address the issue soon before it is too late.

http://personal.colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/aqua-ecua.html

2. 1. This case study has to do with the low-income, developing countries where young children do not attain the education they are entitled to. The children suffer from poor health, and live in a cycle of poverty and inadequate education.  These are some examples of environmental bads. The goal is to help these children to escape poverty and lead successful lives.  The organization Restless Development works with young girls in various developing, low-income countries to overcome the environmental justice issues that are out of their control.  Restless Development helps to keep girls, around the age of 15-25, educated and teaches them about reproductive health, gender bias, and life skills.  They also teach girls to be leaders and ways to better other girls around them.  The organization also works with poor boys to help them gain insight and experience that will allow them to get jobs.   This is considered development through human and societal advancement.  As the organization works more, the children can contribute to the developing India for the better.

http://restlessdevelopment.org/our-work-with-girls-1

3. The location I will use is Westfield, New Jersey. The issues of India are very similar to the areas that I live by.  I live very close to Camden, Atlantic City, and Newark in  New Jersey. They are included in the top 100 worst cities in the United States.  While I do not have the issues as discussed in Ecuador over food industries, I do have several large issues with education and poverty in the cities around me.  Many of the young students there do not finish high school or attend college, and some even become part of organized crime.  Just last week, 3 Crips members were arrested in the town next to me.  Organizations like Restless Development are necessary to keep struggling students, regardless of background, in school.  Place and time matters in my situation because the longer we wait, more kids are going to fall out of school, making the areas worse.  The sooner organizations, like the Boys and Girl Clubs of America, help, the better the areas will be.

In my town, Westfield, New Jersey, our water is provided by New Jersey American Water.  Sanitary treatment in Westfield is done by the Rahway Valley Sewage Authority.  Upon reading through the New Jersey American Water website, I found a water report for my area.  The report indicated that my water comes from the Raritan River, Millstone River, the Delaware Canal, and the Raritan Canal.  I found that the pH of my water is 6.5-8.5.  In addition, I found that lead in my water was 5ug/L, when the action level was only 15ug/L, and that the copper in my water was at 0.5mg/L, when the limit for action was 1.3mg/L.  It was also reassuring that there was no levels of arsenic in my water.  But, it was interesting to find that State and Federal regulations allow for 10mg/L of arsenic in water before that act.  The Rahway Valley Sewage Authority treats waste-water from municipalities in Central New Jersey, including the Town of Westfield.  They own and operate the sanitary waste conveyance infrastructure and a 40 million-gallon per day wastewater treatment facility in Rahway, New Jersey.  The treatment plant serves 300,000 residents and 3,500 industrial and commercial customers within a 48.85 square-mile area.

Total: 60.5 gallons

When I attempted to live on only 2 gallons of water in one day, I found it very difficult.   Drinking water was one of the most important uses.  I could not do laundry on that day because the washers used more than ten-times of my allowed amount.  To cut down on my water use, the frequency of washing my face, showering, and flushing of the toilet were decreased as much as I could in a dorm environment. Simple hygiene could not be completed to normal statuses.  I took what I known as a “military shower” where you shut off the water as you soap yourself to try to save some water.  Compared to part 1-b, I found myself being much more conscious over leaving the faucet on when I brushed my teeth or when I drank more than a glass of water.  Geography greatly affects water use.  Many countries do not have access to clean water like we do.  As a result, they cannot afford to take a ten-minute shower or wash their face whenever they find it convenient.  They stretch their use of water for only necessities, such as drinking and eating.  Everything else is not as important.

2. Do the ends justify the means (ends ethics vs. means ethics)?

Based on the question “Do the ends justify the means”, I would have to say that the ends do not always justify the means.  I believe that the means are more important than the ends in many cases.  I would even go as far to say that the process of reaching the end is more important than the actual goal or end itself.  For example, when one receives their college degree, it is not the actual degree that matters, but it is the journey that they took to reach that degree.  When someone cuts down a tree, there are several factors that people ignore.  Trees not only capture CO₂ from the air to make oxygen, but they provide homes for various insects and animals as well as food for organisms.  But, once you cut it down, it can only be sued as a wood or paper product once.  There are cases in which the ends are necessary, but in many situations it matters greatly on the path to that end.  In very serious cases, such as life or death, the end definitely does outweigh the means.  But, in most everyday cases, it is the path to the end that matters.  Experience, such as in a job or school, comes from the means of being in school and learning.  While the end goal is what you strive for, getting there, through the friends and knowledge you gain, is just as important.  Burning bridges just to reach your own personal goal is not benefiting yourself.

4. Do ecosystems matter for their own sake, or do they only matter to the extent that they impact humans (ecocentric ethics vs. anthropocentric ethics)?

I believe that ecosystems matter for their own sake, and that humans should do their best to maintain those ecosystems.  This favors the ecocentric way of thinking.  For me, the idea that “Just because you can does not mean you should” stands strong with this question.  While humans possess the ability to dramatically change the ecosystems around them, as seen through places like New York City or even your local town ,that does not always mean that they should.  Many of the animals that lived in those ecosystems originally are now displaced or have died because their homes have been destroyed.  We can carve earth and water like no other force on the planet.  But, sometimes it is too much.  I understand that humans require many materials and natural resources because we as a modern society are always advancing, but this means that our inhabitance with the ecosystems around us should also.  If we as a species were to treat ecosystems as only places of resources, then we would deplete the Earth very quickly until it was irreversible.  There is a balance that must be reached with ecosystems that we as a society have deviated from in past years.  The longer we maintain ecosystems around us at peak levels, the longer we will be able to benefit from them.  Cutting down a forest all at once will make many houses indeed, but then there are no more trees,  Instead, cutting a few down at a time and then planting more will give us trees for many other houses.

6. Is my own life worth more than the lives of others, the same, or less (selfishness vs. altruism)?

Based off Question 6, I would say that my life is worth the same as others.  This side more with the altruism side of the question.  As members of the same species as well as a global society, it is difficult to say that anyone is worth more than anyone else.  We all have something unique in ourselves that no one else does.  Whether that be a love for mathematics or the ability to speak multiple languages, everyone is different.  I think that every individual, regardless of situation or past, has potential.  In my eyes, there is always a chance to be great, no matter where you came from or what you have done. The world is based off of small accomplishments that have made big impacts.  The next great physicist or artist can come from anywhere.  It might be me, you, or the person next-door to you.  As a result, I find it impossible to say that I am worth more than someone else, and vice versa.  I would have to say though with the topic of potential, that in most cases, I would prioritize the young over the old or myself.  I feel that the young, not to say that the older do not, have a higher potential than those who have already existed.  When people say that the young is the future, I agree, because the next person to chance the world will most likely be one of the children.

My diagram on the movement of ways in which the introduction of the Biogas chambers have on benefiting a community. The Biogas tanks offer much more than just a source of fuel for the homes of many, but they also many jobs and food for the families affected. For example, the Biogas chambers create a fuel source, but they all decrease the harmful effects of smoke from burning dry trees. This means that people are healthier and can provide for their families longer. The Biogas chambers help to make communities more resilient. The people of each village now do not rely on the availability of trees and twigs, which will allow them to continue to cook even if something were to happen to their trees or shrubs. In addition, the villages are more stable, as a small disturbance, such as a drought, will not affect their fuel source anymore.
My diagram compared to the Marten reading is different and alike in a few ways. In my diagram, I dealt largely with the products that the Biogas chambers provided, such as increased jobs and healthier conditions. The Marten diagram, they largely dealt with the “before” aspect of the Biogas chambers. I, on the other hand, liked to look at the positives of the Biogas generators after their installation. There are similarities and differences because of the scope in which an ecosystem can be viewed. The Marten diagram viewed the ecosystem before the Biogas tanks, while I viewed the ecosystem afterwards.

Greetings everyone! Hello, my name is Dhruv Tikku.  I am currently a second-semester freshman at Penn State at the main campus University Park.  I grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, which is only a thirty-minute car ride from New York City.  Living so close to New York City gave me the opportunity to meet many diverse people from so many different backgrounds, which has helped mold me into the person I am today.  Ever since a young age, I have always had a fascination with science and the desire to help others, leading me down the path of medicine.  I spend a large amount of time at the Jersey Shore with my grandparents, and I would consider it my second home.  Coming from a very industrial and heavy-polluted area, I am interested in learning how we can work to better communities and areas that are lagging behind in their balance with the environment.

I found the topic of sustainability as one of the most important issues discussed in the first module.  I have spent so much time on the beach and in the ocean that it becomes hard to watch our constant bombardment of toxins into the ocean.  While we cannot stop the advancement of the human race, we can benefit off of the ocean without harming it and the organism that live there too. Our oceans offer many different forms of benefit, such as power and food through fishing, but by doing too much of each, we start to deplete it.  There even are current areas in which animal species and water conditions, such as in various third world countries, are near dangerous low levels. By making the right laws environmental policies, we can ensure that the ocean’s balance is not thrown off too far to be irreversible.