http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmgPZHTuA50
We took the two mile challenge to ride our bikes instead of drive. This video is a documentary of our experience.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Toxic E-Waste
 |
| With how prevalent technology is in our world today and with how fast it advances, the management and disposal of electronic waste is an issue that needs to be seriously addressed. |
Nathan Gill - Interactive Map of Utah and the Environment
Interactive Map of Utah and the Environment
My blog piece is an online, interactive map of Utah and the geographic impact of
environmental policies (or lack thereof) in our state. It can be accessed by going to
ArcGISonline.com and searching for “Utah and the Environment” or by clicking on
the link below:
The goal of my piece is
to convey a large amount of environmental information in a user-friendly
manner. I’ve included a dozen different
types of data, each of which can be identified by looking at the Map Legend tab. Visualizing all of this
information at once can be overwhelming, so I’ve also made it possible to turn
each layer on and off using the Layers
tab. This way, each individual user
can visualize as many or as few different topics of environmental information
as he or she wishes. It was my intent to
make the map simple to use, and for this reason, the amount of information that
is included for each feature is relatively limited. For further explanation of data, please see
my sources. While this map contains a lot of very specific information, I feel
that it portrays five main ideas that I’ve learned more about in this class:
Sources
US Army Environmental Command (USAEC)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC)
John Hill - Bio Retention Gardens
BYU Bioretention
Garden: It’s time BYU gave a Rain Garden a chance…
Bioretention cells or Rain Gardens are a new and innovative
way to address the challenges of stormwater management inherent in the
expanding development of the Arid West. These gardens provide a natural
bio-filter to remove contaminants that end up in runoff from fields and parking
lots. Oil and other engine fluids, salts, nitrogen, phosphorous and even heavy
metals have been shown to be effectively removed by a well-placed and designed
Rain Garden (http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/storm
water/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=factsheet_results&view=specific&bmp=72).
BYU Grounds, the Department of
Plant and Wildlife Sciences’ Landscape Management faculty and the College of
Civil and Environmental Engineering all have the potential to play an important
role in planning and implementing this sustainable irrigation technique at
Brigham Young University. Although altering existing irrigation and storm water
treatment infrastructure would not be cost effective or wise, the campus
continues to expand the opportunities for new and innovative techniques such as
this are available.
The College of Life Sciences
recently built a new green house facility off of 900 East, near Kiwanis Park in
Provo. This site is already graded and landscaped in such a way that the turf
is being used as a bio-filter. By converting 6% of the drainage surface into a
Rain Garden this filter could become a bioretention facility that slows,
cleans, cools, and stores storm water. The ACAD graphic above shows two
potential (labeled “Rain Garden A” and “Rain Garden B”) sites for rain gardens
to be included on this property.
Apart from the benefits of cleaning
storm water and controlling flow-rates, these gardens offer a research
opportunity for the university. Environmental engineering students would be
hard-pressed to find a better prospect for their required senior project.
Environmental science and engineering professors have the opportunity to
participate in adapting this new method in the Great Basin. Only one other
school (U. of Utah: http://sustainability.utah.edu/initiative-fund/scif-projects/rain-garden.php)
is currently researching the use of bioretention cells in arid systems. There
are still many variables to be assessed with designing and building of rain
gardens and BYU should take part in finding the best way to do so.
Rain garden intiatives have popped
up all over the U.S. and are being encouraged through grants at all levels of
government. All you have to do is Google
“rain garden program,” and you will catch the vision. It is time for BYU to
take a serious look at this opportunity and if not here and now, answer the
question: when and where is BYU going to give Rain Gardens a chance?
Brook McVey - Polyvore Artpiece of Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Terrasphere
Will We Ever Miss It?
My comments on this whole collection may be found on the site and are as follows:
“Perhaps we will never have to miss the waves, the stars, or the forest in our lifetime. But there may come
a time when the rising generation is no longer able to swim because the waves aren’t safe. They may not
be able to look at the sky and marvel at the universe because it is veiled in smog or else the air outside is
too contaminated to breathe. They may not be able to lose themselves in nature and forget about the rest
of the world for a while because the trees are dead and the ground is contaminated. My hope is that the
policies and laws that are in place are able to accomplish what they were set forth to do and the rest of the
human populace will be able to enjoy the splendor of the natural environment as long as mankind persists
on the Earth.”
I originally planned to say things a bit differently, but after writing my paper determined that I had said it
better there and matched the appropriate excerpts to their sets. So if these comments sound a bit familiar
that’s because they are. I included them here because I’m not sure which format this might be added to
the blog. I recommend giving the following link which will lead to the online publication location and
provide the clearest image of each set.
http://www.polyvore.com/will_we_ever_miss_it/collection?id=1492849
Alysa DeFranco - Children Environmental Book List
The Lorax had a Little Overcoat: Teaching the Environment to your Child
Humans have caused immeasurable damages to the natural world that have
led to the loss of valuable resources and to the decline of the health of our
planet as a whole. In order to mitigate these problems we must change the way
we view the world and our place in it. Our priority should be to make sure our
children know the value of natural resources and know how to take care of them
so they do not continue this spiral of unsustainable exploitation. As parents,
we need to make sure we nurture a life-long love of nature in our children so
they grow up with a respect for the earth that will translate into sustainable
use. You are the one responsible for
the education of your child. Remember, your job is not to make them afraid of
environmental disaster, it is to make them aware of their impact on the earth.
Talking
with and teaching your child, providing opportunities for daily interactions
with nature, and making environmentally-friendly choices at home are essential
to creating an environmental ethic in your child. Below are some booklists that
contain titles sure to spark a passion
for nature, as well as ideas for activities and projects that you can do with
your family.
Reading books aloud is one of the most important things you as a parent
can do with your child, it promotes love and unity and is a valuable teaching
tool. The ideas and feelings that these
books evoke will stick with your child for years to come. This booklist is
designed provide fun read-aloud books for a variety of ages. While by no means
complete, this list contains books from some of the best children’s authors
including multiple Newbery and Caldecott Medal and honor award recipients (*). I
have also indicated books that I personally recommend for any home library (^).
If you find a book that you really like,
be sure to look at other books by the same author. When your child grows old enough to understand
more advanced stories, expose him or her to classic authors that will encourage
him or her to continue to nurture a love for the outside world.
Books for Appreciating the Natural
World:
§ Two Bad
Ants
Chris
Van Allsburg
§ *Owl
Moon
Jane Yolen; Illustrated by John
Schoenherr
§ Henry
Hikes to Fitchburg
D.B.
Johnson
§ *Make
Way for Ducklings
Robert
McCloskey
§ *Time
of Wonder
Robert McCloskey
§ *Blueberries
for Sal
Robert
McCloskey
§ Diary
of a Worm
Doreen Cronin; Pictures by
Harry Bliss
§ ^The
Giving Tree
Shel
Silverstein
§ Miss
Rumphius
Barbara Cooney
§ *The
Gardener
Sarah
Stewart
§ The
Blue and Green Ark: An Alphabet for Planet Earth
Brian
Patten
§ ^Brown
Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Eric
Carle
§ A House
for Hermit Crab
Eric Carle
§ Weslandia
Paul
Fleischman
§ The
Umbrella
Jann
Brett
§ He’s
Got the Whole World in His Hands
Kadir
Nelson
§ The
Wonderful Happens
Cynthia Rylant
§ *The
Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
Paul
Goble
§ The
Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Tomie
DePaola
§ *Song
of the Swallows
Leo
Politi
§ *The
Biggest Bear
Lynd
Ward
§ *Crow
Boy
Taro
Yashima
§ *A Tree
is Nice
Marc Simont
§ *Rain
Makes Applesauce
Julian
Scheer; Illustrated by Marvin Bileck
Stories on Environmental
Issues:
§ ^Just a
Dream
Christ
Van Allsburg
§ The
Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore)
Stan
and Jan Berenstain
§ ^The
Lorax
Dr.
Seuss
§ *Joseph
Had a Little Overcoat
Simms
Taback
§ Millions
of Cats
Wanda Gág
§ Farewell
to Shady Glade
Bill
Peet
§ The
Wump World
Bill Peet
§ Earth
Helpers: Count the Ways to Save Our Planet!
Alyson
A. Zachary; Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
§ Gone
Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet
David
McLimans
Nonfiction/Expository Books:
§ Planting
the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai
Claire
A. Nivola
§ Seeds
of Change
Jen
Cullerton Johnson; Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler
§ ^Mama
Miti
Donna
Jo Napoli; Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
§ The
Tree that Would Not Die
Ellen
Levine; Illustrated by Ted Rand
§ A River
Ran Wild
Lynne
Cherry
§ ^Recycle!:
A Handbook for Kids
Gail
Gibbons
§ What
Can You Do With an Old Red Shoe?: A Green Activity Book About Reuse
Anna
Alter
§ The
Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge
Joanna
Cole and Brue Degen
§ And
Still the Turtle Watched
Sheila
MacGill-Callahan; Pictures by Barry Moser
§ Our
Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet
Janet
Wilson
§ E is
for Environment: Stories to Help Children Care for Their World—at Home, at
School, and at Play
Ian
James Corlett
§ B is
for Blue Planet
Ruth
Strother
§ 101
Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You’re 12!
Joanne
O’Sullivan
Easy chapter books:
§ Berenstain
Bears and the Showdown at Chainsaw Gap
Stan
and Jan Berenstain
§ Judy
Moody Saves the World
Megan
McDonald; Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Authors to read with Older Children:
§ ^Laura
Ingalls Wilder
§ ^Jean Craighead George
§ Jack London
§ Carl Hiaasen
§ Scott O’Dell
§ Betsy Byar
§ E.B. White
Ideas Interacting with Nature:
§ Require
a certain amount of playtime outside every day (rain or shine). Don’t be
afraid; let them explore.
§ Put a
birdfeeder outside and keep a bird field guide by the window
§ Plant a
garden. If you do not have room for an outdoor garden, there are countless
ideas online for small indoor gardens; be creative.
§ Plant a
tree together
§ Limit
TV, video game, and computer time
§ Take
alternative vacations:
·
Zoos
·
Botanical gardens (they often have areas just
for kids)
·
National Parks
·
Hikes
·
Campouts
Simple ways to go “Green” at
Home:
§ Hold a
family meeting on how you can incorporate The Three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
into your home. This allows your children to be part of the decision-making
process. Most importantly, implement
your plan!
§ Have a
compost pile
§ Encourage
turning off lights and install energy-efficient bulbs
§ Encourage
reduced water use and install water-saving appliances
§ Use
energy-star appliances
§ Pick up
litter as a family
§ Encourage
your children to play environmentally educational games during their online
time (see below)
§ Find
projects in books or go online for ideas on how to reduce waste
§ Be a
good example!
Books and Resources for
Parents:
§ ^The
Sense of Wonder
Rachel
Carson
§ Taking
Inquiry Outdoors: Reading, Writing, and Science Beyond the Classroom Walls
Edited by Barbara Bourne
§ Children
and Nature: Psycological, Sociocultural, and Evolutionary Investigations
Edited
by Peter H. Kahn, Jr., and Stephen R. Kellert
The US
Environment Protection Agency’s website for parents and teachers
A site by The National Resources Defense
Council containing links to websites for kids about the environment
An online
version of The National Park System’s Junior Ranger Program
A useful resource for family
gardening
Ideas
for using nature in teaching
A
useful resource for finding books to read with your child. Search by topic and
age
Ideas
for green parenting
Activities for kids as well as some
more books about the environment
Earth-themed movies, music, books, and
toys for kids
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)