|
SCIENCE STORIES
The expansion of the Panama Canal transforms trade and the environment
For the first time since its completion, the Panama Canal is expanding in order to accommodate the New Panamax ships. Published by Friends of the Earth Water pollution, an invisible and pervasive threat: Part I of II
Water supplies are increasingly under stress. Pollution, development, mismanagement and poorly updated water infrastructure have been diminishing and degrading the small percentage of freshwater available on Earth at a rapid rate. Published by Friends of the Earth What About Water?
Despite its achievements, the Paris Agreement is flawed: it considers energy, but not water. Without full consideration of water resources, climate policies and energy progress will fail to protect communities and foster sustainable development. Published in SGI News, Bertelsmann Stiftung A Fight to Protect Loons, One Sign at a Time:
It's Friday and Drew and I are out with the Loon Preservation Committee's (LPC) senior biologist, John Cooley to take rafts and floating signs in for the winter. Published in Huffington Post the Blog Is Geothermal Power the Answer to Indonesia's Energy Demand?
Indonesia has the largest geothermal reserves in the world, but there are many governance and regulatory obstacles to overcome before it can fully tap its renewable energy wealth. Published in BTI Blog, Bertelsmann Stiftung Canadian Provinces Take the Lead on Climate Protection:
Canada's federal government should follow the example of provincial regulations and unify the country's climate policy. Published in SGI News, Bertelsmann Stiftung The Conflict between Demands for Two Resources:
How can transition countries best identify synergies and quantify tradeoffs between energy development plans and water use? A World Bank initiative tries to give some answers. Published on BTI Index, Bertlesmann Stiftung SOCIAL STORIES
Mining and Lack of Governance Threaten Arctic Freshwater Supplies: Against the backdrop of population growth and climate change, mining operations in the Arctic exacerbate existing stresses on freshwater resources.
Published by Fair Observer Heavy fuel oil threatens Arctic communities’ food security and environment: This October, Arctic sea ice extent was the lowest on record. Tourism, industry and shipping have viewed the increasingly ice-free Arctic Ocean for its economic opportunities. Published by Friends of the Earth
What the EU's New Arctic Policy Omits: Nations both close and distant to the Arctic Circle are increasingly becoming engaged in the North as the European Union’s new policy for the Arctic shows. The plan is a step forward in putting the region on the map of international attention but it speaks volumes by what it leaves out. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung
Getting Gritty: Local Partnerships Protect the Bay With Beer: When Captain John Smith first surveyed the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River, he marveled at the clarity of the water. In Smith's journal, he described the area as a paradise, saying it was fed by "innumerable sweet and pleasant springs." But ever since Smith's tales of a land of plenty, a door opened for European settlement along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, and the Bay, leading to changes in patterns of land use and degraded ecosystems. Published in Huffington Post the Blog
Somali Refugees: Between Refuge and Discrimination
In mid-January 2016, al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, attacked an African Union base in the southern Somali town of el-Ade. The militants killed dozens of Kenyan soldiers, fueling anger in neighboring Kenya towards the Islamist terror group. But the attack also nurtured a longstanding distrust of Somali immigrants in Kenya. Published in BTI Blog, Bertelsmann Stiftung Batala Washington:
Cheryl Shapiro Low of Capitol Hill first saw the Batalettes of Batala Washington, an Afro-Brazilian, samba reggae band of DC, during a 4th of July Parade down Barracks Row. Cheryl left the parade that day with her husband and kids wondering who those women drummers were and how people get involved. It wasn’t until the following May when her husband planned a surprise Mother’s Day trip to Batala’s weekly practice, then in Farragut Square, that she became set on becoming a Batalette. Published in Hill Rag, June 2014 |
Old infrastructure contaminates water supplies: Part II of II
Across the U.S., aging pipes are breaking apart. The EPA estimates that approximately 240,000 water main breaks occur each year. Not only do these old pipes lose an estimated 14 to 18 percent of the nation’s daily water use and cost $2.6 billion in losses as drinking water pours into the streets, but the leaks also provide entry points for contaminants. Published by Friends of the Earth Energy development comes too close to home
When it comes to oil and gas development, most would say, not in my backyard. Yet across the U.S., state courts and legislatures have been preventing communities from regulating oil and gas development within city limits. Published by Friends of the Earth Does Climate Change Threaten the Future of the Panama Canal?
Panama's economic prospects are bright. Yet global warming may endanger one of the country's main sources of revenue and growth – the Panama Canal. It's essential to build resilience around one of the world’s most important waterways. Published in BTI Blog, Bertelsmann Stiftung What China and Other Nations Can Learn from U.S. Shale Gas Fracking Experience:
Worldwide, governments have viewed shale gas development as a panacea, one of the fundamental ways their nation may reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while creating jobs, and emboldening a nation’s energy security and independence. Yet, its development can come with extreme environmental, social and economic cost if not managed properly. Published on Power Magazine Blog Natural Buffers Against Climate Change: Investing in natural resilience is key for communities to grow in concert with their environment. A look at how the Netherlands and Poland adapt to climate change. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung
Integrated approaches to addressing thirsty energy:
This year has been the driest in record in California, USA and in the contiguous United States. The state of emergency means Californians are concerned about having enough water to meet their needs – be it farmers, ranchers, municipalities, or energy companies. In order to help countries integrate water constraints into the energy sector and better address water and energy challenges, the World Bank has launched the Thirsty Energy initiative. Published in Global Water Forum The Aftermath:
Initiatives in the wake of the Rio+20 conference: Good governance is key to successful climate negotiations. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung Yemenis Face Terrifying Violence, Extreme Hunger:
Yemen is in crisis. Over 20 million people, nearly 80 percent of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Published in Huffington Post the Blog Developing with the Future in Mind:
All OECD countries are currently creating an ecological footprint that exceeds the earth’s capacity. In order to ensure intergenerational justice, nations must consider the impact of today’s development and exploitation of natural resources on future generations. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung My House, My Job, My Kids:
The benchmarks of the integration of immigrants are diverse. Examining migration policies in the OECD to better understand the importance of education, employment and civic engagement. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung Pitting Social Justice:
Chile – the world's largest copper producer – is one of the economically most unequal countries in the OECD. Mining governance remains essential to abate social tensions and avert an energy crisis. Published in SGI News, Bertlesmann Stiftung Design competition aims to give DC beautiful and functional play spaces:
There is a growing need for children's play spaces in DC, but some think that playgrounds are unsightly and detract from public space. To address this, the Office of Planning (OP) is holding an international competition to design art-based play spaces for underserved neighborhoods. Published in Greater Greater Washington |
ADDITIONAL CLIPS
Friends of the Earth-- Young people address climate change in creative ways, May 2016
TV Channel Russia 24-- Discussing the expansion of the Panama Canal, December 2015
World Bank Group-- Global Tracking Framework Report (co-author Chapter 6 section on Water & Energy), June 2015
Huffington Post Blog-- Thinking Across Disciplines to Drive Science and Policy, May 22, 2015
Letter to the Editor-- Stanford Magazine, March/April 2015
World Council of Civil Engineers-- Water Monographies II, Water and Energy, pg 14-23, by Diego Rodriguez and Antonia Sohns; 2014
World Water Week -- Overarching Conclusions 2014, August 2014
Huffington Post Blog-- The Conflict Between Demand for Two Resources, June 17, 2014
Global Water Forum -- Integrated approaches to addressing thirsty energy, May 2014
Huffington Post Blog -- Women Empower Through Samba-Reggae Rhythms, April 2014
Blue Ocean Institute Annual Report -- Inspired by Blue, page 20; 2013
Cornell International Affairs Review -- Human Rights in Indonesia: The Consequences of Discrepancies in Domestic versus International Law; pages 55 to 64, Volume II, Issue 2; Spring 2009.
Friends of the Earth-- Young people address climate change in creative ways, May 2016
TV Channel Russia 24-- Discussing the expansion of the Panama Canal, December 2015
World Bank Group-- Global Tracking Framework Report (co-author Chapter 6 section on Water & Energy), June 2015
Huffington Post Blog-- Thinking Across Disciplines to Drive Science and Policy, May 22, 2015
Letter to the Editor-- Stanford Magazine, March/April 2015
World Council of Civil Engineers-- Water Monographies II, Water and Energy, pg 14-23, by Diego Rodriguez and Antonia Sohns; 2014
World Water Week -- Overarching Conclusions 2014, August 2014
Huffington Post Blog-- The Conflict Between Demand for Two Resources, June 17, 2014
Global Water Forum -- Integrated approaches to addressing thirsty energy, May 2014
Huffington Post Blog -- Women Empower Through Samba-Reggae Rhythms, April 2014
Blue Ocean Institute Annual Report -- Inspired by Blue, page 20; 2013
Cornell International Affairs Review -- Human Rights in Indonesia: The Consequences of Discrepancies in Domestic versus International Law; pages 55 to 64, Volume II, Issue 2; Spring 2009.
Thirsty Energy, the first publication of the Energy-Water initiative, introduces the energy-water nexus, examines the water requirements of power generation and outlines some potential technical and institutional solutions for improving the management of the nexus.
Download Thirsty Energy: Working Paper
Download Thirsty Energy: Summary of the Initiative (PDF)
Download Thirsty Energy Live Wire: Understanding the Linkages Between Energy and Water
Download Thirsty Energy Live Wire (II): The Importance of Water for Oil and Gas Extraction
Download Thirsty Energy's Paper, Modeling the Water-Energy Nexus: How Do Water Constraints Affect Energy Planning in South Africa?
Download Thirsty Energy: Working Paper
Download Thirsty Energy: Summary of the Initiative (PDF)
Download Thirsty Energy Live Wire: Understanding the Linkages Between Energy and Water
Download Thirsty Energy Live Wire (II): The Importance of Water for Oil and Gas Extraction
Download Thirsty Energy's Paper, Modeling the Water-Energy Nexus: How Do Water Constraints Affect Energy Planning in South Africa?
State of the World 2013, Chapter 6: Sustainable Fisheries and Seas: Preventing Ecological Collapse by Antonia Sohns and Larry Crowder
Every day, we are presented with a range of “sustainable” products and activities—from “green” cleaning supplies to carbon offsets—but with so much labeled as “sustainable,” the term has become essentially sustainababble, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. Is it time to abandon the concept altogether, or can we find an accurate way to measure sustainability? If so, how can we achieve it? And if not, how can we best prepare for the coming ecological decline?
In the latest edition of Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World series, scientists, policy experts, and thought leaders tackle these questions, attempting to restore meaning to sustainability as more than just a marketing tool. In State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?, experts define clear sustainability metrics and examine various policies and perspectives, including geoengineering, corporate transformation, and changes in agricultural policy, that could put us on the path to prosperity without diminishing the well-being of future generations. If these approaches fall short, the final chapters explore ways to prepare for drastic environmental change and resource depletion, such as strengthening democracy and societal resilience, protecting cultural heritage, and dealing with increased conflict and migration flows.
State of the World 2013 cuts through the rhetoric surrounding sustainability, offering a broad and realistic look at how close we are to fulfilling it today and which practices and policies will steer us in the right direction.
Every day, we are presented with a range of “sustainable” products and activities—from “green” cleaning supplies to carbon offsets—but with so much labeled as “sustainable,” the term has become essentially sustainababble, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. Is it time to abandon the concept altogether, or can we find an accurate way to measure sustainability? If so, how can we achieve it? And if not, how can we best prepare for the coming ecological decline?
In the latest edition of Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World series, scientists, policy experts, and thought leaders tackle these questions, attempting to restore meaning to sustainability as more than just a marketing tool. In State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?, experts define clear sustainability metrics and examine various policies and perspectives, including geoengineering, corporate transformation, and changes in agricultural policy, that could put us on the path to prosperity without diminishing the well-being of future generations. If these approaches fall short, the final chapters explore ways to prepare for drastic environmental change and resource depletion, such as strengthening democracy and societal resilience, protecting cultural heritage, and dealing with increased conflict and migration flows.
State of the World 2013 cuts through the rhetoric surrounding sustainability, offering a broad and realistic look at how close we are to fulfilling it today and which practices and policies will steer us in the right direction.
More clips on Worldwatch Institute's blog [HERE]
Pika-Don, as part of Stanford University's Graphic Novel Project, I was part a team that wrote, thumbnailed and illustrated the graphic novel. Publisher's Weekly described the novel as "an extraordinary first-hand account of the aftermath of nuclear explosions by the late Tsutomu Yamaguchi, a Japanese engineer during World War II who somehow managed to witness and survive both the Nagasaki and Hiroshima Atomic bombs." [Here's a video with more information on the project.]
