For this learning activity I have decided to assess the biodiversity of my home state of Pennsylvania. The United States has a wide range of biodiversity, varying from North to South and East to West. Pennsylvania has a vast array of forests with many different species of plants and wildlife. The different seasons that we experience here provide different weather that allows certain species to thrive at different times. There is not one constant climate like some areas experience. For example, in the summer we see trees full of leaves and wildlife out and about, but in winter many species are in hibernation and waiting for warmer weather. In contrast, more southern states experience higher temperatures year round and have more of a tropical climate, especially the state of Florida. Go further West and we see a dry climate with little rainfall and different agricultural conditions. It is clear that even in one single country, there can be much biodiversity.

With Pennsylvania having a wide biodiversity, species have a greater likelihood of surviving when threats are presented. If there were ever a certain species facing extinction within this state there are many others that would still be able to thrive and adapt. However, we could face serious problems if our forests were completely cleared, since they are a major part of our environment. Not only would it cause problems for humans, but also for the creatures who make these forests their homes. This could lead to animals invading human spaces and possibly even causing minor destruction. It is important to me to not only preserve the biodiversity in Pennsylvania, but throughout the world as well. As the dominant species on this planet, it is vital that we take account for our actions and do all that we can to decrease harmful effects on the environment. As discussed in the module, it is not always humans that contribute to biodiversity threats, but natural events such as climate change and natural disasters. In these cases, we still have the responsibility to rebuild and help species thrive again.

My diagram depicts the main ideas behind WikiLeaks and its connection to climate change. There are several factors that link the leaked cables to climate change. Starting with the Copenhagen accord, disagreements arose amongst the nations in regards to how to handle climate change. The U.S. State department then issued secret negotiations, with some acting as attacks on leaders of climate change. For example, an attack was aimed at the US climate envoy, Todd Stern in regards to obtaining support from Beijing. The poorest countries affected by climate change who were not directly contributing to it were also promised money for their support. Here the question of ethics arises, for it was as if the US was bribing other countries. Some countries like the Maldives accepted such negotiations and expressed their eagerness to support the accord, while others resisted. This leads to a collective action problem, as discussed in Module 9. There are some nations who are willing to work towards helping the effects of climate change and those who are stuck in their ways and are not willing to transition to more sustainable ways of energy. Those who had money offered to them were more eager to accept the bribes from the United States, but as discussed this is not necessarily ethical. If everyone is not on the same page about climate change, it will be hard to adapt to it and even change our ways. Thus, it becomes a continuing cycle and our environment will continue to suffer.

 The leaked WikiLeaks cables present many issues that are not necessarily ethical nor that I agree with. For one, it is somewhat embarrassing that a country as prevalent as the United States, would try to secretly send messages, let alone attack climate change leaders through emails and bribes. In some ways, it was beneficial for the public to see the State Department cables. If they were never leaked, the general public would still have no idea of what went on between political powers and the bribery and threats that were used to obtain support from other nations. It was anthropocentric for the State Department to reach out to those countries who did not necessarily support the Copenhagen accord, for it was only in their interests to keep things the same so money did not shift in a different direction. Instead of conducting climate change diplomacy in this fashion, other tactics need to be discussed and implemented. When every nation in the world is involved, it becomes difficult to overcome the collective action problem, as mentioned previously. As discussed in the module, mitigation could be used to reduce the amount of climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere. Few countries may know about such techniques or lack the knowledge to do so. Adapting to climate change and working to reduce our role in it is a complex cycle of ideas and actions that everyone needs to be on the same page about. With time and cooperation, we may eventually be able to think as one and reduce the rate of climate change.      

My hometown of Bellwood, nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, does not have to worry about too many natural hazards. The worst we have faced in my lifetime are winter storms that do not cause damage, other than a few broken trees and unnavigable roads. Looking at the world map of natural hazards, it is evident that my town is not in a red zone for earthquakes or tropical cyclones. However, it is in zone 2 for hailstorms and tornados, both of which could very well happen, but not often. For wildfires, it is in a zone 1. There are many forests, but enough rainfall and weather change to prevent wildfires from occurring.

From the RSOE EDIS source, I came across a biological hazard in the state of Wisconsin, where there has been an outbreak of a strange blood infection. A bacteria known as Elizabethkingia has infected 44 people so far, with the majority of them being elderly. My hometown, along with any, could experience this outbreak for it has not yet been linked to a specific source nor through person-to-person contact. Any human population is vulnerable to a new infection, since we would not be vaccinated against it. Compared to other towns, mine would also be more vulnerable since it is quite small and the bacteria could spread quickly. Currently, this event is on a local (regional) scale and has not spread outside of Wisconsin. Relative to my hometown, the scale is somewhat similar, since it is covering a small area in relation to the rest of the United State and world.  If this were to occur in my area, those living in the central part of town would be more vulnerable to the outbreak, since they are in closer proximity to each other. However, those like myself who live in the outskirts of town, would be less vulnerable. The elderly would also be at an increased risk, like those currently in Wisconsin. To reduce the vulnerability of such a disaster, the mayor could create awareness of the outbreak and education materials could be developed to better educate people.

Coming from my own knowledge, a major natural hazard that my town could face is the contamination of our local water reservoir through natural causes or chemical pollutants. As mentioned above, it is also very likely to experience biological outbreaks, such as major diseases or something as simple as the common flu due to its small population and proximity of its residents. From a meteorological point of view, major snowstorms could occur, which could result in power loss and minor destruction, as happened in the past. There is a chance we could experience a tornado, although it would be very mild in strength due to our high mountains and valleys.

To reduce vulnerability to natural hazards in my town, governance and education could both play a vital role. As mentioned previously, the mayor could promote awareness of such potential hazards and inform residents of prevention tactics (i.e. emergency responses) and what to do if a hazard would occur. Education materials could be developed to give to residents and even students at school. Personally, I could contribute by following the prevention tactics (for biological hazards) and by providing my family and friends with helpful information. Promoting awareness is a vital step in reducing vulnerability, along with having sufficient preparation before the event even occurs.

I am from Bellwood, PA, a small town outside of Altoona, which is about 40 minutes from State College. Altoona is not a major city in comparison to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, but in some ways you could consider my town a suburb of some sort. Automobiles are the major source of transportation, although there is a walking bridge to get from one side of town to another and some sidewalks. Unless you live in the main part of town, you must rely on a car to get to any store or restaurant. As for my family, we live in a more rural area of town and have to drive everywhere. I would estimate there to be about 2,000 people in my area, for it is a very small town. I did not mind growing up in a small town, for our school district was well-respected and we did not have to deal with many problems that living in a city would entail. However, I plan to move closer to a major city in the future.

A city from the module that is somewhat similar to my hometown is Rochester, NY, which is considered an automobile suburb. The picture shown in the module is almost identical to some areas of my hometown, with only a main road for driving and no sidewalks for pedestrians. All shopping centers, grocery stores, and offices are located away from the neighborhood, so having a car is a must. This city, along with my hometown, could become more sustainable by implementing bike routes or adding more sidewalks for pedestrians. With bike routes into the urban areas, people would be able to exercise and have less of an environmental impact. For example, if more people chose to bike into the city, less cars would be needed and less fuel emissions would be produced. It may also be beneficial to establish more residence areas closer to the business district to become more of a mixed-use area.

Another city from the module that sparked my interest was Bogota, Columbia. Its focus on sustainable development via its Ciclovias is something that many areas could easily adopt, such as my small hometown. Since Bellwood is so small it would not be very difficult to establish such an event every Sunday like Bogota, and ban cars from being on the roads. It would be feasible to bike from one side of town to the other and would promote exercise among residents. However, there would be a challenge of transition here, specifically that of our minds. My town is so used to relying on cars on a daily basis and even just one day without them may seem too far-fetched for some people. After promoting the positive outcomes of having such an event, people may be more influenced to accept this new idea of sustainable development.

As a nutrition major I am very conscientious about what foods I am putting into my body, but that is often affected by the food habits of others or social norms. For example, I only consume whole wheat products such as multigrain bread and wheat pasta, but when I go home my family buys standard white flour products. Thus, I have to change my eating patterns and adapt to what others are eating around me. Another social norm that is much more widespread is the tradition of eating large meals during holidays. The Western diet places an emphasis of the consumption of large family meals for special occasions, be it a holiday or even a birthday. In other countries, such as Ireland, Saint Patrick’s day is a day of feasting. To not feast is to be out of the norm. Overall, agriculture plays a large role here in that it brings us enjoyment of foods, as mentioned in the module.

On the other hand, having these large celebrations with an enormous amount of food brings about several societal issues. A major issue is the amount of waste that is often produced when people do not eat all of this food. When humans demand more food, inputs into the agriculture system are required, such as feed for animals and fuel for farming equipment. This also has an environmental impact as more resources are used and gasses are transmitted throughout the air. When this food goes to waste sustainability then becomes an issue. It is a continuous feedback loop, in which humans are in control of their food supply. Sustainability efforts have been on the rise in recent years with an aim to reduce food waste. We cannot necessarily stop people from having large celebrations with food, but we can make society better aware of it. It would make a difference if people made enough food to satisfy one’s hunger instead of having half of it go to waste.

The first case study I chose to focus on was retrieved from Colby College’s database. Based out of British Columbia, this case study aimed to answer the question, “Are individual vessel quotas effective as policy tools?” in regards to fisheries. This issue stemmed from competition among the U.S. fleets and Canadian fleets with halibut fishing. An IVQ system (Individual Vessel Quota) was developed with an aim to switch from the frozen halibut industry to fresh and to allow for income to be more dispersed among the crew. This case study goes in line with the concept of the World Development Theory discussed in this module. Even though this Canadian fishing industry had been developed for years there was still room for growth and development to improve sustainability. In other words, there is a continuum of development. The implementation of the IVQ system saved the halibut population, while increasing revenues for the fishermen and has shown to be an effective tool for overfishing. http://personal.colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/ivqs-can.html

The second case study I found focused on the world food supply, something I am rather interested in. From the New Internationalist webpage, this case study explains how the high cost of food and food shortages are not only problems in developed countries, but also in developing countries. However, from the module it is clear that all countries are in some way developing and we should instead compare by using the terms high income and low income. There are many factors that contribute to the increasing costs of food, such as global population growth. To help alleviate this problem, numerous suggestions have been made by the G20 countries and World Bank, including restricting biofuel production and reducing the food price volatility through information sharing. The latter would encourage nations to work together to eliminate panic buying and export bans through the Agricultural Market Information System. http://newint.org/books/reference/world-development/case-studies/world-food-supply-shortage-problems-hunger/

When connecting these two case studies to my hometown of Bellwood, PA it is somewhat difficult since fishing is not a staple career in the area. In the first case study fishing was a way of life for that area and developed into a source of revenue. In my area the railroad once played a similar role as it brought jobs and communities to the area.  In regards to the second case study, I could see where food shortage could be an issue for some as there is only one grocery store in town and a few restaurants. For an abundance of grocery stores, one would have to travel about ten-fifteen minutes. It is clear that even in areas where there is food available it is still common to pay high prices, which many people cannot afford. Now if we were to examine my community about 100 years ago, I am sure things would be very different. There may not have been any market at all and people most likely would have relied on agriculture.

1a. In my hometown of Bellwood, PA, the water supply chain begins with the Bellwood and Tipton (a neighboring community) reservoirs. In fact, the Bellwood reservoir is only about a five-minute drive from my house. The Bellwood Borough Authority maintains a total of 10.3 miles of sewer line and 25.1 miles of waterlines. The water is purchased in bulk from the Altoona City Water Authority, where it is treated. Thus, the water from the tap is coming straight from the nearby reservoir. It then travels through the drain and either treated again or recycled. The Bellwood Borough Authority recognizes the importance of recycling water and has addressed the issue sewer systems that collect water from homes, treat the waste, and dispose of through methods approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Through this agency, standards and procedures are created to ensure a safe and environmentally-friendly water supply to consumers.

Water usage: 133.24 gallons/day (from USGS):

a. Shower: 2 gallons/minute x 15 minutes = 30 gallons

b. Teeth brushing: <1 gallon

c. Hands/face washing: 1 gallon

d. Leg shaving: 1 gallon

e. Clothes washer: 25 gallons/load (newer model)

f. Toilet flush: 3 gallons/flush x 6 flushes = 18 gallons

g. Glasses of water = 8 oz. per glass x 4 glasses = 32 oz.

Imagining that I was living an area with water as a restricted resource, living on two gallons of water, compared to 133 gallons would be a challenge. In this experiment I would focus on drinking and cooking, for I would need both to survive. One gallon would be sufficient for cooking, as I would limit foods that would require water. For example, I could try to cook fish over the fire instead of boiling everything, thus an individual action. Since showering would most likely not be an option, I would spare some water to wash over myself, but I would make sure it was only about 4 ounces or so. I feel that this experiment could very well fail, but could be manageable with some practice in such an environment. Compared to my previous usage, this way of utilizing water is much more environmentally-friendly and efficient. After completing this activity, I now realize that I do not need to take fifteen-minute showers, but cutting back on other water usage is more difficult, like flushing the toilet. I mentioned that I would only use four ounces of water for bathing, compared to 30 gallons. Geography plays a vital role in water usage, for it not only determines how much we can and will use, but how it is disposed of and recycled.  

For this week’s blog entry I have decided to focus on questions one, five, and six of the ethics questions.

1.) Is it more important to be a good person or to perform good acts (virtue ethics vs. action ethics)? I feel that it is more important to be a good person rather than simply just performing good acts. If there is no personal drive behind doing a good deed, then it is like any ordinary action. To be a good person at heart and have a desire and passion for doing good brings more to society than one or many different good acts. In today’s society many people may do many good acts, such as donating to a charity, but does it mean as much if they were not truly a good person. For example, they could turn around and lie to a friend that same day. I don’t think my answer would change for this answer in different circumstances, for a person’s overall aura is more dominant than a few actions. However, it is important that good acts are still performed regardless of the personal motives of an individual.

5.) Do the pleasure and pain of non-human animals matter as much as the pleasure and pain of humans (speciesism)?  Speciesism is a concept that grabs my attention and is not something we often think about. Although humans may be the dominant species on Earth, the others all matter the same. We coexist with one another and it is not fair to exclude any one species (non-human animals). At first thought I do feel that the pleasure and pain of non-human animals matter as much as the pleasure and pains of humans. They have brains like us and numerous studies have proven that they are fully capable of suffering, although it may not be in the same way as us. Regardless, they are creatures on this Earth and deserve more respect than often given. On other note, it is important to take this into consideration when you think about our food supply. We use some of these non-human animals as food sources and if we failed to do so overpopulation would likely occur, leading to a series of downward events. As a society we should obtain our meat sources by better means, especially that of major meat companies. Treating these animals as humanely as possible is not a hard task to do and they should not be suffering at all throughout their lives, even if they are being raised as only a meat source.

6.) Is my own life worth more than the lives of others, the same, or less (selfishness vs. altruism)? This question is somewhat difficult to answer, but after some thought I believe that my own life is worth the same as others in most cases. Personally, I feel that we were all created equal – it is what we make of our lives that sets us apart. However, I can certainly see other sides of this question. For example, the president may consider his life worth more than others because of his role and responsibilities. In a situation involving our loved ones, many of us may feel that our lives were worth less. If I ever had to protect my family, I would put my life on the line to protect their lives. However, even though I feel that we were created equal, the concept of altruism still plays a vital role. We should still help others in need and that sometimes involves putting one’s own needs aside.

My diagram showing the relationship between the ecosystem/social system and the biogas generator is an example of the coupled human-environment systems idea. As discussed in this module not only do humans have an impact on the environment, but the environment impacts human systems as well. My diagram represents both the outcomes of the biogas generator (i.e. economic advancements) and the resources needed to fuel it (i.e. slurry and methane gas).

When comparing my diagram to Gerry Marten’s there are quite a few differences. Marten included more aspects of the social system in relation to the generator, such as the human population and the demand for cooking fuel. On the other hand, I started with the economic advancements of using biogas and did not incorporate the demand for the fuel. In regards to similarities, both graphs represent the resources needed to fuel the generator. These similarities and differences exist because of the concept of perception. Everyone views a system with a different perspective and some may see more relationships than others. Comparing these two diagrams allows one to see these different perspectives and provides information that cannot be obtained just by reading about a system. It is sometimes much easier to have a diagram in front of you to fully understand a concept, especially that of a biogas generator.

Hi everyone! My name is Emily Dinges and I currently live in State College where I am a full-time student. I grew up in Bellwood, PA which is about forty minutes from here, near Altoona. I am a senior studying Nutritional Sciences and hope to work within the food industry or for a supermarket chain as a Registered Dietitian after completing a dietetic internship. Within my major I have an emphasis in community nutrition and food security, so this is a class that I thought would be beneficial. I want to learn more about sustainability practices and possibly even take that information with me if I would someday have a career in the food industry. It is very important to me to support local farmers and sustainable food production practices. I do not agree with what many industrial giants have been doing within our food system.

Going from a topic I have some knowledge in, the prevalence of food insecurity throughout the world is an issue that geography plays a part of. This term describes people not having access to safe and nutritious food at all times. From a global scale, this issue affects people in third-world countries, as well as in urban cities/rural areas of the United States. The nature of the area in which one lives as well as economic factors both contribute to this issue. Think of those living in extreme rural areas, in which the closest grocery store may be hours away. If living in poverty, they may not even have a car to get those stores. From a geographic perspective, it would be up to those individuals to use the land for farming (that is, if it is suitable to do so). In the case of urban living, healthy food options may not be available. The use of urban gardens has been growing as people in these areas want to take control and have fresh produce. In an area like this, having access to many food options is something we often take for granted. It is important to think of these geographic issues when determining ways to eliminate food insecurity.