Steph and Sustainability

Introduction

In this week's blog, I will be discussing two topics that connect with sustainability. The two topics will be cooking and education.

Cooking and Sustainability

Cooking is something that everyone does, and these tasks that everyone does have an impact on the environment too. It has been shown that at the household level in Europe, food waste is estimated to represent more than 50% of the total food waste (Stancu, Haugaard, Lahteenmaki). By changing how we cook, we can lower these numbers and contribute to the sustainable development goals.

Different ways of cooking brings up the topic of solar cooking systems. Solar cooking has been around since 1767, and today there are many classifications of solar cooking systems. These cooking systems can decrease the use of wood for rural communities that still use firewood, which cause health issues after prolonged use and negative environmental impacts. Another method that can help with these effects is composting. Composting generates significantly less methane than organic waste that ends up in landfills (Food Print). These methods can definitely help with the sustainable development goals and I think these articles and topics should be included in the regular Colloquium content. This specific topic of cooking should be incorporated into the food topic of the regular content.

Technology and Sustainability

Surprisingly, technology has an environmental impact as well. In fact, 2% of global emissions come from the electricity used by the internet (Greenwood, Kinsta). Unlike other industries that are working hard towards lowering the environmental impacts through carbon emissions, technology carbon emissions is projected to grow 3.5% in the next 10 years. Just to show some statistics, "The average website produces 6.8 grams of CO2 per page view. This might not sound like a lot but it adds up fast. An average website with 10,000 page views per month would produce 816kg of CO2 per year" (KINSTA). The website that gave me this statistic shows their own carbon emissions.

In this blog, I will be connecting one of the Earth Charter's principles with one out of the fourteen sustainable development goals from the United Nations.

Introduction

The goal I have chosen from the sustainable development goals is Goal 14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". I am connecting this goal with the Earth Charter's principle two, "Ecological Integrity". First, we should address what is the problem with the ocean? Well, there are many problems. The major problems are plastic/marine pollution, ocean warming, overfishing, and acidification. Just to put it in perspective with some statistics, in just 2021, 17+ million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean. Not only this, but it is projected to double or triple by 2040, which is only 7 years away.

This obviously will impact sea life. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals get entangled in plastic waste each year (China Dialogue Ocean). The consumption of plastic will lead to starvation, puncture f internal organs, and fatal intestinal blockages. While these are devastating effects for the ocean, these effects also impact humans. The plastics that these marine life consume, are the same plastics that we consume when we eat seafood. Some of these plastic toxins are linked to hormonal abnormalities and developmental problems. There are so many negative effects from mistreatment of the ocean, so what is being done?

Actions

While this problem is far from being solved, there has been progress and improvement across the world. According to the United Nations, "Between 2018 and 2022, the average degree of implementation of international instruments to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as measured by the indicator has improved across the world". This will combat the problem of overfishing, which disrupts the natural food web of the ocean. This can possibly also decrease the amount of plastic and waste discarded in the ocean, like the fishing nets and hooks that are lost. There are many organizations that are combating the plastic pollution in the ocean. One of the biggest organizations, The Ocean Cleanup consist of "120 engineers, researchers, scientists, computational modelers, and supporting roles, working daily to rid the world's oceans of plastic. (The Ocean Cleanup). Other organizations that are working just as hard are Oceana, Green Peace, and Sea2See. While these organizations are working hard in numerous ways, like using technology or physically cleaning up beaches, we can do our part too. By reducing the use of single use plastic, we can decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean. Using reusable bags when shopping and keeping it in an easy place to reach for, such as the passenger seat, and using reusable metal straws instead of using the plastic straws given at restaurants. Voting for representatives that have these goals in mind can also contribute, and even going out physically with organizations and cleaning up beaches and water ways that lead to the ocean.

In this week's discussion, I will be discussing the connection between human rights and sustainability.

Introduction

What exactly are human rights? Human rights can be defined as the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, no matter the gender, race, or income. These rights are applied to everyone, and without these rights, it will be very difficult to advance sustainable development. Before getting into the sustainable development section, let's briefly dive into what exactly human rights look like.

Proclaimed by the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states our human rights. "All humans are born free and equal" and "Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security" are just two prime examples of our rights as humans.

"These human rights create conditions essential for sustainable development" (United Nations). It has been shown that governments that take accountability and have inclusive and participative economies achieve better outcomes for all people, no one left behind. Our rights and our development are connected. People can be free as in they have the right to protest and speak their minds, but they are not truly free if they lack security, food, or water. The opposite is also true, societies that have constant access to food and human needs are less vulnerable to social fracture. The United Nations has stated that they strive to continue to advance sustainable development in areas that need more advancement. Such as public health approaches, protecting sexual and reproductive rights, and protecting and advocating on behalf of environmental defenders. The United Nations and their supporters will continue to advance until everyone has these rights and will continue to have them.

Introduction

For this week's topic, I will be discussing land ethics and livable cities. This topic is another topic that I did not have much knowledge about prior to reading and hearing about it. While watching Armstrong's speech on the human relationship with land, it showed me how similar us humans are to the land. One of my favorite quotes from Armstrong is "the land feeds you, but we feed the land as well". This puts into perspective how we are directly connected to the land, and the way we treat it is how our future will look like. I think this form of thinking directly connects with sustainability, as sustainability is about having balance between everything, and this shows the balance that the land and humans have.

To have a livable city is to have another reason other than residence to stay in that city. Inclusive opportunities, abundance of public spaces, efficient public transport systems, promotion of equality. These are all aspects that a city must have to be considered livable. We know what cities have that we don't like, such as high crime rates, litter, and unaesthetic buildings, and things can be done to change this. In my own hometown, in Labelle, Florida, a new bus transportation system was implemented. Before, the citizens of Labelle that had no private means of getting to their destination were seen walking or biking in any type of weather. Now, citizens of Labelle can take these buses to wherever they are going and save time and energy. Through painting buildings that aren't so pretty to look at, as talked about by Haas and Hahn, the buildings are much more pleasing to look at and bring a sense of community. These changes are just a few that have shown how cities can change to become more "livable". I definitely think that these aspects of livable communities align with sustainability. Sustainability isn't just about the environment and our economy, it is about our species as well. Living in communities where we feel at peace and involved can only do us good. This can inspire and motivate people to do more for their own community, or even better, help other communities that aren't quite there yet. I think having a livable community is definitely a part of sustainability, and these changes can only help us for the better.

For this week's topic, I will be discussing water again, but about solutions and everything that encompasses that. We’ve talked about problems regarding water access, which is still a relevant topic and will be mentioned in this blog, but now it is how will we solve these issues and get water for everyone?

Introduction

In learning about different ways that water is accessed, the topics of wells, aquifers, and groundwater mining caught my attention. My knowledge of these was relatively adequate, but as I was reading, I was surprised at the consequences that these methods have. Wells are used to gain access to groundwater, sometimes through aquifers, but after a while, the groundwater will be overused. This over usage can cause the water to no longer be level and cause saltwater intrusion (Open Oregon). This over pumping of freshwater near saltwater zones can cause salt water to enter freshwater environments, which can cause habitat and native animal damage. These methods must be regulated to stop these effects from continuing and worsening.

Problems and Solutions

This is only one problem though, there are many causes to water scarcity which needs solutions. Two very important causes are water pollution and global warming. Water pollution causes many of the conflicts with water access that we have already discussed before, such as diseases that originate from water. Global warming is a very popular and important problem as well, as the Earth’s temperature rises, the bodies of water that may have usable freshwater evaporates. This can be detrimental to the areas that rely on these bodies of water for everyday usage. Based on all these problems with water access, many solutions have been proposed. One of the most heard of solutions is conservation of water. By taking showers instead of baths, turning off running water when not in use, or by using more efficient equipment, the amount of water being used is reduced and it diverts less water from rivers and bays. Another solution that directly connects to one of the most wasteful activities is collecting rainwater. In 2005, around 100 billion gallons of water was used for irrigation, second place to thermoregulation (Open Oregon). If rain water harvesting was implemented in as many ways as possible and supported, the amount of water used and wasted could be reduced. There are many ways that can accomplish the conflict of water, such as improving sewage systems and using advanced technology, but some of these ways can be very expensive.

How Expensive?

In an article by World Resources Institute, the cost of sustainable water management is discussed. For the United States, sustainable water management would only cost 0.78% of it’s GDP. The investment would go towards achieving safe water access for all, such as solving dangerous chemical levels in water for certain areas. For 75 countries, the cost to have a more sustainable management of water is less than 2%. While for other countries, such as Mali, the cost is much higher at 8.5%. While these numbers seem small, the cost would still be very expensive. But if nothing is done and no better methods are implemented, the regional losses would be 2-10% by 2050. Sustainable water management also thinks about the future, and by these statistics, there is no reason as to why we should not implement better water management.

For this week's topic, we'll be talking about water access and sustainability. For most, water access isn't even a second thought, and neither is the insecurity about how clean the water is.

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization, over two billion people live in water-stressed countries AND use drinking water sources that is contaminated with feces. The water that these people are using may not be only for drinking, but for food, recreational, and sanitation uses as well. If the water that over two billion are using is contaminated with feces, then those two billion people will be consuming the pathogens and microbes that feces carry. In fact, it is estimated that some 829,000 people will die from diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid (WHO). Not only can the water be contaminated from feces, but in the case of inadequate management of urban and industrial wastes, the water can be contaminated with dangerous chemicals such as arsenic, uranium, and lead. These chemicals can cause liver and kidney damage, and even increase the risk for cancer.

When water comes from safe sources, it prevents all these deaths that are completely avoidable, along with prevention of illnesses and musculoskeletal disorders for the groups of people that need to search and carry water to their households. With the prevention of illnesses, the people have overall better health and the income that would be spent on medical bills can be spent where it is needed. For children, safe water sources will give better their health and can improve academic performance which can have positive long-term consequences.

Flint Water Crisis

The dangers of chemicals in the water is a big worry, especially for towns such as Flint in Michigan. For towns such as Flint, due to officials switching the water supply as a cost-cutting measure, the town was severely impacted and these worries aren't just something they read online or on newspapers. The water contained lead in it that killed 12 people and harmed countless of others. The water crisis in Flint was from 2014 to 2016, but even now the people feel uneasy as said by Mari Copeny, a child activist for her town (Elle). She also stated that people are still sick from the crisis and that her town is not the only town who has suffered through crises like this. Since that incident, Mari has helped countless of families that do not have access to clean water and has said that others and herself will not trust the government or media again. The same people who are supposed to work for the good of the community have and may continue to put certain communities in danger, as they did with Flint, Michigan.

This week's topic is based on GMO's, or genetically modified organisms. My initial opinion on GMO's was not very informative.. I had little knowledge of what exactly GMOs were and what effects it could have. The only danger or disadvantage that I thought GMOs could have is the potential toxicity that GMOs may have on the population consuming GMOs. Now, that I have read on GMO's benefits and disadvantages, here is the information I have learned and my opinion:

Why and How are GMO's made?

Crops are genetically modified for a few reasons. The three most common reasons are for resistance to insect and virus damage, and tolerance to herbicides (US Food and Drug Administration). These traits that are inserted into crops will minimize the need for pesticides and the need to till the soil. This is a positive impact for both the economy and the environment.

So now that we know why GMO's are made, how exactly are they being made? Scientists first identify the trait that is desired, such as resistance to drought, and find an organism that already possesses this gene. They copy this gene and insert it into the plant that will inherit this gene and allow for it to grow. It is first grown in greenhouses then moved to large fields. The crops that have been genetically modified go through in depth review and tests to ensure that it is safe for consumption. This process takes years so it can be sold to the public.

Are GMO's sustainable?

Now that we know why and how GMO's are made, the big question is if these genetically modified organisms are sustainable. More importantly, do these genetically modified crops have potential to harm their consumers?

Many experiments have been conducted to determine whether GMOs cause health issues. The National Institute of Toxicological Research in Korea conducted an experiments on rats to see if GMOs would have any effects compared to non-GMOs. The results stated, "Histopathological examinations of the reproductive organs, liver, kidneys, and spleen showed no differences between GMO-eating and non-GMO-eating animals" (Harvard University). The same experiment was conducted two more times, including observations on the next generations, and the same result was seen. In reading other articles, they all said the same thing. There is little to no evidence where GMO's cause health issues.

While GMOs have been proven to not impact health, is it good or bad for the environment? Well, both.

In the case of a genetically modified eggplant that contains the gene to stop insects from reproducing, the amount of insecticide used by farmers decreased, and the yield of eggplant increased (Best Food Facts). In another article, it is shown how much waste can be prevented if all fresh russet potatoes were replaced by the genetically modified potato, Simplot Innate. It states, "Saved 400 million pounds of potato waste, 60 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, and 6.7 billion gallons of water" (Eshnia Gogia). This is a great statistic showing how GMOs can be sustainable. Though, this is not always the case.

The biggest concern is the effects of herbicide. Certain GMOs were made to be resistant to herbicide, which is an agent used to kill unwanted plants, such as weeds. Now that these crops were made to be herbicide resistant, some countries have seen a dramatic increase in herbicide use. This can be a problem for many reasons. One of the reasons being the run-off and damages that it can induce to the environment, and the second being the potential to make weeds herbicide resistant (Montana State University). These can be serious problems that arise from GMOs.

Conclusion

In this blog, I will be discussing farming and sustainability and how they connect.

We talk a lot about sustainability in certain areas.. today it is about farming. What does sustainable farming look like? Sustainable farming can be building healthy soil, preventing erosion, promoting biodiversity, and managing water wisely to name a few (Union of Concerned Scientists). A huge part of being able to achieve this is by working with nature rather than against it. When soil is empty because of off-season crops, planting cover crops can prevent soil erosion and replenish soil nutrients. Minimizing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers to stop the poisoning of fresh water sources, marine ecosystems, air, and soil. These methods are ways that sustainability can be incorporated into farming. A huge key idea in working with nature is by promoting biodiversity. Instead of growing crops in one huge space that is dedicated to one specific crop, growing a mix of crops, like in nature, will aid with soil health and pest control.

I've named a few ways as to how to make farming more sustainable.. but what was the problem in the first place? The Earth's population continues to rise and is expected to be over 10 billion by 2050, and these 10 billion people need to have food. Currently, with 7 billion people on the planet, agriculture takes up 50% of land and 69% of freshwater (World Wild Life). While the easiest answer would be to just use more land, that solution isn't as easy as it sounds. Agricultural expansion has had consequences and will continue to do so if we cannot sustainably manage our resources. Some of these consequences are deforestation that leads to wildlife loss, pollution, and climate change.

To put things in perspective: A few statistics that really show how today's current food production is sustainable are provided by World Wild Life.

Currently, it takes 1 LITER of water to produce ONE CALORIE of food. To produce 2 pounds of rice, it takes 340 GALLONS of water. The amount that we use today to produce food is undeniably unsustainable and these changes need to happen soon.

Now that we know how today's food industry is unsustainable, what can WE do to be able to contribute? Some ways that we can help have to be achievable by ourselves and not rely on anything else. So, a way that we can contribute is to support organic farmers and their produce. To the group of people who CAN afford to purchase organic food, this support to organic farms can aid in the spread of the produce made by these organic farms. Another method which can be applied to the people who have the time and funds to do this, is the implementation of permaculture. Permaculture is essentially to do our best to take care of our own needs, like feeding ourselves (Tenth Acre Farm). Being able to have homegrown food, and caring for ourselves is what makes life abundant. Even collecting rainwater for the home garden can be considered sustainable. Catching rainwater will reduce the need to irrigate and improve the health of the soil at the same time. To the people who have the time and effort to invest into methods such as permaculture, I recommend doing it. Not only will you be able to help the planet Earth, but you know where your own food is coming from without the hazardous pesticides and fertilizers.

In this blog, I will be discussing how food and sustainability connect.

Sustainable food systems are a very important part of our lives today and will continue to be in the future. When considering sustainable food systems, the goal is for the entire population now and in the future to have access to enough nutritious food. While food can be available, the ultimate goal is for that food to be high quality and nutritious. While achieving this goal, we want to also keep in mind the Earth as a whole. Agriculture is the largest cause of global environmental change. Some examples of these environmental changes are climate change, damage to ecosystems, and deforestation. Food production accounts for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 40% of global land, and uses 70% of freshwater, according to Harvard's School of Public Health. A way to prevent environmental changes can be by reducing food loss and waste, and if there is waste, to reuse it, like in compost. Using technology to farm with fewer inputs to have better yields and conserve the land is another way to prevent these changes.

Returning to the topic of nutritious food, we would like to prioritize the amount of healthy and nutrient rich crops. While this may be achieved, another conflict arises. Will these nutritious crops and foods be available worldwide? We see this problem even now.. food deserts. Especially in low income areas, there may not be supermarkets or shopping centers that have these foods available. While there can be food, is this food healthy and considered nutritious? In most cases, the food that is affordable for low income families are very processed and do not have much nutritional value. This is another objective in maintaining a sustainable food system, to provide markets worldwide with affordable healthy foods.

The topic of healthy foods can tie into food insecurity. Food insecurity can be described as not having enough funds to purchase food OR not being able to purchase nourishing food. Food insecurity is not as rare as one might think it is, especially in current times. Food insecurity can affect everyone, but it can especially affect children. Something I found shocking was how much food insecurity can affect children. According to a blog by the American Youth Policy Forum, it can affect a child's mental, social, and emotional health. Children that suffer from food insecurity usually lag behind their food secure peers in terms of cognitive, emotional, and physical development (American Youth Policy Forum). These kids can also have a harder time getting along with others, which can cause behavioral issues in not only at school, but at home as well. By solving the crisis of food deserts, we can also solve these problems of food insecurity and set a better environment for the children of the future.

Hi guys, I am Stephanie Alvarado, a second year student at Florida Gulf Coast University. I created this blog to be able to share my opinions on sustainability in the clinical science field with my peers in my University Colloquium class.

A bit about myself: At FGCU, I am a Clinical Laboratory Science major with a minor in Chemistry. I am interested in the microbiology field and hope to do research in the field in the near future. I am also interested in learning ASL as my third language, as I have picked up the interest from awareness spreading through social media and the readings I have done through fictional books. I am a huge book nerd, so please do not hesitate to give book recommendations! I hope to have a good time in this class and learn more about sustainability.

My POV: Sustainability to me is having a balance between nature and the humans living on this Earth. Being able to change our ways and look for alternative processes in our daily lives to preserve the Earth for not only the present, but the future as well. Sustainability in healthcare can include many things, such as promoting human well-being, and management of waste disposal. It has been proven that medical waste is one of the top pollutant sources worldwide and is a major factor leading to disease spread through air, water, and soil. Finding ways to manage waste disposal and decreasing toxicity of lab products is imperative to being able to have a more sustainable medical lab. However, these methods must not compromise the measures implemented in healthcare to ensure quality of service and affordability of healthcare.