The California Life

So Gap Year- 2^nd semester. It is so weird to think that I only have a few more hours out here. It seems like just yesterday that I was moving into the Bay Area, discovering things I had never known existed like sprouted food and Dim Sum. But being here and doing what I do with environmental internships definitely has changed that. I remember sitting on a wooden picnic bench with some co-workers from an outdoor ed school, and having one young woman telling me about the Native American burning rock ceremonies and another explaining to me how her plant-based diet had changed the way she saw the world.

I remember some retired hippies telling me about some all-nude festival in Joshua Tree for a week in the summer, and others recounting the good-ol’ days of Woodstock.

OK- maybe I painted a picture of the most eccentric people I came across. Let me try to give you a better sense of the atmosphere here.

There is definitely a sense of community here. Everywhere you go around the bay you sort of have a community. Not necessarily because you are related to one another, or have mutual friends, but because there are some underlying values that you all have. Peace, Innovation, Creativity, Sustainability- a general appreciation for nature.

And a lot of that has to do with the setting. Between the sparkling blue San Francisco Bay and the rolling green hills, there is the consensus that if you live here you have to value this stuff. Enough to fight for it like the Marin County citizens did in the ‘80s for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Now, over 75% of the county is open space and parks. It’s what makes  Marin County such a special place to so many people.

As for the creativity, I see it pop up all over the place. On the East Bay in the streets of Oakland as a homeless man strives to make a breakthrough with art, on the Berkeley campus as students protest the fossil fuel industry by dressing in black and spreading around an oil rig, in the maze-like crisscrossing of San Francisco, as people with all musical talents create recording studios  out of the street corners. It’s beautiful in a way. The creativity. Because it brings about hope, and a general fighting spirit.

 

Dare to be like Derrick

Derrick Evans, a leader in the organization Bridging The Gulf (an organization dedicated to telling the stories of the Gulf Coast people, and fighting for social justice and the environment), is a powerhouse of knowledge. A history teacher, a story teller and an activist all mixed into one, Derrick emphasizes the importance of environmental justice. When I asked him what he believed needed to happen to create an environmental social movement, he said that we have to stop compartmentalizing issues, and instead show how they all interconnect. The most important aspect is to get the wealthiest people to see and understand how the poor live. Even more, it is essential to get them to understand that they are partially responsible for the increase of CO2, pollution and other negative consequences that often hit the poor the hardest. Just because they are privileged enough not to live in the areas cluttered with oil refineries and smog, doesn't mean that they are not responsible for that. That is the bottom line.

Check out Derrick's blog to find out more about what he has to say, and look through the film Come Hell or High Water: The Battle in Turkey Creek, to see the kinds of battles Derrick fights.

Climategate- blown way out of the ice

I remember, a few years ago, walking around at one of those community gatherings and talking about climate change. A man came up to me and said that climate change wasn't real; in fact, he said, he had done some research and it was just a made-up scam by scientists. If I wasn't sure, he told me, I should look up Climategate.

Time went on, and although I knew 97% of scientists claimed climate change was occurring, I was always curious as to what this "Climategate" scandal really was. That's why I was thrilled the filmmakers of Thin Ice brought up the Climategate scandal. Turns out that the people who hacked on to Phil Jone's (the climate scientist) email, searched the word "trick." Sure enough, one email came up that matched the search with the phrase "clever trick." But this "clever trick," was not admitting that climate change was a made-up scam. Quite the contrary, he was emailing a pal to say that he had found a "clever trick" to solve one of the environmental hurdles he was facing. Oh, how things can be blown out of proportion.

The film, Thin Ice, does more than just that though. It explores Climate Change through some of the basic questions average humans ask. Does Climate Change exist? How do we know there is a correlation between CO2 and temperature patterns? How can we be so sure about the future?

If you have a skeptical nature or just want to learn more, this film takes a very humble and basic approach to what climate change is, and how we know it exists. Check out the website for more info.

Angel Azul

When it comes to coral reefs, it is time for people to wake up. At least half of all coral reefs have been lost and it is estimated that in 50 years 70-80% will be gone. So, what is being done to stop this? Angel Azul follows the personal story of Jason DeCaires Taylor as he creates artificial coral reefs through sculptures in Mexico.  Coral reefs are facing grave dangers especially from global warming and excess pollutants. Taylor's underwater art galleries act as an alternative location for the numerous tourists that typically flock to natural coral reefs, often unknowingly damaging them.

The materials that Jason uses for his sculptures mimic that of a rock, and attract all sorts of vibrant corals.  But even these sculptures can be disrupted by human harm. When sewage is allowed to flow into bodies of water, an excess amount of nitrates and phosphates build and algae replaces the fragile coral. Taylor found this to be the culprit when the sculptures started to be overtaken by algae in places like Cancun. Another way of stating this problem is that what people flush down the toilet can often be what they end up swimming in. That is something most hotels won't want to tell you.

Sewage water standards are made around humans. But, what most people don't know is that a person can drink water that has 1000 times more nitrates than coral reefs can handle. In other words, our regulations allow for way too much nitrogen in the ocean. A way to fix this is through Tertiary Sewage Treatment. Through this form, a plant absorbs the excess bad nutrients and allows for such clean water that animals can happily drink it.

Check out Angel Azul's website to learn more.

(Excess Nitrites occur when dolphins are contained in relatively small space for tourist's pleasure. Their excrete that normally would spread throughout the ocean instead remains in tight quarters, and therefore causes algae blooms.)

Seeds of Time

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Hundreds of thousands of seeds collect in a gene bank in Norway. Manmade conflicts and natural disasters are hitting the world harder than ever, and causing a serious threat to our food security. This project allows for a copy of numerous seeds to be protected in an environment so cold (-19°) that even if the electricity goes out for thirty years, the seeds will still survive (-5°).

This is so reassuring. A case of longterm thinking and global collaboration. How often does this occur?

The film, Seeds of Time, tracks Cary Fowler, around the world as he makes his vision of a international seed bank, a reality.

Green Burials

While watching the incredible documentary A Will for The Woods, I learned about this new idea of green burials. I guess I shouldn't say a "new" idea, because this burial practice has been going on around the world for ages, and is just being brought back to the US. The basic principle is to leave the world with a positive touch. There is no vault or toxic embalming. Instead, the practice uses biodegradable materials that allow for minimum environmental harm and for some, a more spiritual connection to nature.

The strongest argument for a green burial in my opinion is that now the deceased have an opportunity to preserve pristine land that might otherwise be cleared for construction. For many, this idea of purpose even after life is reassuring and makes death a little less frightening. As Clark, the subject of the film, puts it "without [a green burial], dying from lymphoma seems pointless. My funeral is being used for a purpose- to educate." Unbelievable amounts of wood, steel and concrete are used through conventional funerals. It is estimated that 1.6 million tons of concrete are being used annually for funerals. A green burial wouldn't.

I like the way the founder of Ramsey Creek Preserve put it. She said that in a green burial, one is "overwhelmed by the aspect of life" through the incredible natural surroundings.

I know that when I leave this world, this is the way I'll want to go. Check out the film's website to learn more.

The Last Ocean

Have you heard of The Ross Sea? I hadn't until I watched The Last Ocean. The Ross Sea is located in southern Antarctica, and considered the last pristine ocean of the world. Until recently, it was untouched by humans.  Many of the major countries came together in 1961, during the Cold War, to create the Antarctic Treaty, a means of peace to protect this serene sight. The leading scientist of The Ross Sea, David Ainley, envisioned using this untouched area to further understand how a completely pristine ecosystem operates. Unfortunately, before he knew it, twelve major countries, led by New Zealand introduced commercial fishing of the Antarctic toothfish, or more commonly known as the "Chilean Sea Bass," to this once pristine place. They are quickly exploiting the fish population which is altering the ecosystem of this already fragile place. Even more shocking is that these companies are doing this and destroying wildlife when Chilean Sea Bass contribute only1.3% of the company's profit. As Ainley put it, "They can't be making much of a profit when it takes the ships 6,000+ miles in terrible weather conditions to get there. They simply want to show to the world that they are there."

With threats of Climate Change and other manmade environmental disasters, this additional pressure, will prove no help to these already struggling species. CCAMLER had the ability to create the Ross Sea Marine Protection Act. However this international group works in a consensus format, and therefore when China, Russia and Ukraine voted against preserving the space, the act failed. It has been put to a vote several times since the first in 2007, and each time failed.

Ainley says the only way to make a difference is through individual actions. It is important to remember that you are always voting with your credit card. So, the first step is to say NO to Chilean Sea Base. Grocery stores like Safeway have banned its sale, but surprisingly enough, ecologically-minded markets like Whole Foods continue to sell it. And even more confusing for the consumer, The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has labeled this fish "sustainable." If you are anything like me, when it comes to sustainable food practices, you want to be told what to do. You want to be able to see that your food has met an eco-friendly certification, give yourself a pat on the back for your consciousness, and eat some tasty meat. Unfortunately, that's not how it works anymore. More and more of the responsibility is placed on the consumer's shoulders to do their own research instead of just relying on labels.  For example, it is estimated that 30-70% of fish are incorrectly labeled at the grocery store. And now, even if it looks like you have a coast-is-clear sustainability check, you still have to confirm the fish's status.

Crystal Sanders, Founder of Fish Revolution, told me that the role of thumb is to eat fish lowest on the food chain like Anchovies & Sardines because they reproduce easily and they are herbivores (they produce less energy). Something else to keep in mind is not to eat Farm Fish that have been fed fish (like Atlantic Salmon), because it requires additional fish to be caught and produced, unnecessarily, for fish feed when these fish could have a vegetarian diet. But most importantly keep yourself educated. When you see tragedies like what is happening in the Ross Sea, don't turn the other way. Avoid buying Chilean Sea Base, and tell stores and restaurants how you feel.

A great guide is Fishwise. Seafood Watch is not as reliable, but still does a reasonably good job. To find out more about the film and the issue visit www.thelastoceanfilm.com.