Intro to Environmental Studies 23

 I attended a panel titled: Climate Changes Lives: The Intersection of Environmental and Racial Justice put on by the Student Sustainability Commission on 3/30. One question answered by the panel made me realize I have been living in CNU bubble and that I need to get out into the Newport News Community. During the Great Depression, NN was redlined. The effects of this historic intentional racial discrimination are still seen today. Neighborhoods that were redlined, are 5°C hotter in summer, have less trees, more pavement and have a predominantly black and brown population. As climate change causes sea level rise NN has to decide which neighborhoods to invest in and save and which neighborhoods to buy out and evacuate. Because of property value black neighborhoods are being bought out and white neighborhoods are being saved. The panelists recommended we as students get involved in by going to city meetings and voting. Reverend Kennedy, another panelists stressed the importance of fi...

In 2008, the city council officially closed the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Hampton Roads. The school opened in 1909 as the “Virginia State School for Colored Deaf and Blind Children” (there was already a school for non-POC children in Staunton, Virginia). Once local schools were required to teach and accommodate those who are deaf and blind the enrollment rate declined. Thus, in 2008 the school was shut down. If you were to visit the old location of the Hampton School you will be met with a vacant lot, aside from one building that still stands. There are construction vehicles and timber piles that have accumulated from land clearing initiatives to bring in a new construction project. The city now wants to use the site for industrial warehouse development which is against the wishes of the local Hampton community (Wolf, 2022). This project means that trucks spewing diesel fuel pollutants would be coming in and out of the site causing environmental harm to the community. A...

Within our local community, environmental injustice is extremely present. On a normal day at high tide, water can be seen flooding the streets of the neighborhood bordering Salter’s Creek in Newport News. With this in mind, days with exceptionally high tides or storm surges can send the entire street underwater. To solve the issues of flooding in the neighborhood, the city has taken the approach of buying out homes as a solution. When houses are bought, they are torn down, and the property is converted into wetlands. Other areas prone to flooding, such as Virginia Beach and Norfolk, used to elevate homes as a method to prevent flooding. If there are prevention methods other than buyouts, why have those methods been abandoned? The answer lies in the midst of environmental and racial injustice. Over 80% of the population in this neighborhood is African American. Veralene Dickens says “If it was in the white area, it wouldn’t be like this” (Turken, 2021). High-dollar homes in coastal area...

The Newport News coal terminal is a clear example of the intersection between environmental justice and industrial development. The coal terminal has affected many in the predominantly African American community. Coal dust pollution, increased vehicle traffic, and other pollutants have had negative impacts on community members’ health. There have been documented raised asthma rates and evidence of coal dust on the homes of many in the area. Historically, communities of color are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and environmental pollution even though they often bear the least responsibilities. This is directly correlated with redlining. The term means racial discrimination of any kind in housing. It derived from government maps that showed black neighborhoods, marking the area as a risky investment environment and pushing black communities into poor living conditions. Along with the risks presented to the current members of the community, many have been pushed o...

 I went to the panel on The Intersection of Environmental and Racial Justice on March 30th that was put on by the Sustainability Commission. Environmental Racism can be described as unequal housing conditions based on poor health conditions, hazards, or other problems in the community placed on people of color or lower socioeconomic status. Environmental inequalities is a common issue in America with problems like food deserts, redlining, industrial hazards in the nearby area. These issues come with health issues such as diabetes, cancer, cardiac issues, lung issues and more. 

 Hearing Caleb Redick's experience and his observations in many different countries he delivered very useful information about the environments state and condition in many different places, and this showed that the environment as a whole is sufferings from many of the same things.  Caleb talked about how Climate change, Habitat loss, Invasive species, overexploitation of resources like overfishing and poaching are some of the biggest factors to ecosystems falling apart.  With most ecosystems being affected by Climate change it puts strain on many organisms that can't survive certain temperatures.  With many organisms struggling to survive leads to habitat loss with the straining of biodiversity and mass.  Loss of Habitats leads to more organisms dying due to lack of space and failing niches.  Invasive Species are taking over niches but have overpopulated them due to no natural predators or fast breeding times.  The invasive species take the remaining f...

 Charlie Kloppenburg's talk about water in the west was really interesting to me because I knew that water sheds were needed for life and for the environment, but I didn't know it had as much of an impact because I haven't heard it being talked about as much lately.  It was also very interesting to hear that beavers have such a big impact on watersheds and the environment.  I also did not know that beavers are the most efficient Eco engineers.  It was amazing to finally start hearing the effect dams have on the environment and how the huge dams are not good for the environment and its surrounding organisms.  I think having more time researching ideas to make the dam efficient and helpful to both wildlife and humans will be the ultimate goal with dams so they don't have to pollute the water if destroyed.  

 In the film Death by a thousand cuts it really showed how the Dominican republic and Haiti have been having a huge problem with charcoal production across borders.  I wasn't expecting Haiti to be so destroyed by their population with such little trees being in the country due to charcoal production and deforestation.  With such a big feud being caused by a forest ranger being killed by a Haitian illegally chopping down trees in the Dominican Republic has caused such strain on the countries relationship.  It was also a surprise how many people are selling charcoal and how big of a industry it is in Haiti.  Due to it being needed to cook food and warm peoples houses it's sad that the forest couldn't be better maintained but chopped all down for profits without replanting which could have created a sustainable resource of trees.   

In my Writing Intensive, Writing about the Environment, we are partnering with Newport News firefighters to make policies that could be implemented in Newport News to make it a better, safer place. My policy group discusses the building blight that is in Newport News. This can include vacant lots, abandoned buildings, buildings that are not kept up by landlords, and many more.  On Tuesday, March 14th, we took a field trip and went around the neighborhoods in Newport News. We went to vacant buildings, places where crime rates were the highest, and the coal port that plagues the community with high levels of coal dust and pollution in general. As we were in South Newport News our community partner showed us a house that a man burned down because he and another man got into an argument. The house was black from flames and the shutters were melted. We went past another corner where 3 men were standing outside of a small grocery store. He told us that he had told these men to stop stand...

It was very interesting reading and learning more about Ecoptherapy and Forest Bathing. Before this class I had never heard of either of them. One time I was very upset about something and my friend told me to go outside. I did not really think much of it and after spending time in nature, even though I was still upset, it made me feel a lot better and more at peace. I was very excited for this assignment because I wanted to learn more about the data and facts behind these concepts. The two articles that I read were about which type of tree species alleviates certain types of stress. For example, my findings were that if you were a woman, it suggested you go to a maple dominated forest and go into a birch forest if you are feeling stress from working. When reading this article it sounded crazy to me how different forests can have different effects on alleviates of certain stresses. I think this concept of forest bathing and ecoptherapy are very interesting and I think it could make a v...

 I was very interesting in learning more about the topic of forest bathing, especially regarding its effects on mental health. While it was not part of an official forest bathing program, I witnessed the positive effects that people felt while spending time outside during the pandemic. Lots of people flocked to the local park near my house, all with picnic blankets spread at least ten feet apart, during quarantine. Whether it was to reconnect with the community, experience nature, or just to leave the house in a safe way, everyone seemed to leave the park feeling better than when they entered. This experience made me very curious about the benefits of ecotourism on individuals and the environment. From what I read, ethical ecotourism and forest bathing both have the possibility of generating positive effects for both. Through ecotourism programs, individuals are exposed to the benefits of spending time in the natural world and as a result they grow their appreciation for the natura...

      When reading the class text, it is apparent that the authors are only able to focus on broad regions that are affected by climate change because it would be impossible to describe the effects of climate region on every area of the world. That being said, I wanted to learn how Virginia and even Newport News in particular are going to and are being impacted due to climate change. I researched this, and discovered that more than anything, Newport News will be impacted by rising sea levels due to its proximity to the coast. According to the Rachel Felver from the Chesapeake Bay Program, the coastal areas of  Norfolk, Hampton Roads, and Virginia Beach are considered to be at the forefront of these issues. This is where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. For example, in 1960 Hampton Roads had 1.7 days of tidal flooding, but by 2014 this grew to 7.3 days. What does this mean for our area? The farmers are the most at risk, for extreme...

      I was excited for Assignment Two because I'm very interested in the effects and benefits of humans being in nature. I would like to look into the effects of the transition of humans to living indoors, whether that, coupled with electronics and social media, plus the fear of pandemics and illness, has led to increased anxiety and attention deficit disorders, or mental illnesses in general.  I was also very intrigued by the lecture on Professor Redick's healing journey. I also have PTSD and anxiety and love to spend time healing in nature, and someday hope to have a small farm and make some of my own food. I know from experience how mental health can impair your memories, but the most vivid pleasant memories may be the ones of memories in nature.  It was unnatural for humans to be indoors, but it has become repeated generation after generation, so our dependency has become part of (some of) us, however, for the better interest of future generations, spe...

      The outside reading blog topics have been a daunting topic for me because it's my first time seeing most of these names and I'm not sure where to start; there are so many classic environmentalist authors that had an influence on the world and I'm hesitant to start a book unless I know it's a good one. I liked this chapter because it was in a more positive light and gave a glimpse into how people's words can influence reformation, as well as the different lights and lenses of Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, and David Brower.      Leopold used a critical lense of the world without edges, moreso criticizing the conqueror culture, but inspired a sense of ethics for the land in many. Carson used simple terminology and harsh warnings and chose an audience that could help, lending legitimate, simple solutions. Within a decade of Carson's Silent Spring , the UN held it's first conference and created a permanent agency and spurred an environmental movement (pg. 2...

 Yesterday's presentation of chapter 7 of Dr. Redick's book was insightful, emotional, and truly inspirational. Not only did Dr. Redick spend years of his life dedicating himself to our country, but he turned away from a lifestyle that many people do not recover from, overcame the statistics of veteran suicide, homelessness, and severe mental and physical health disorders, and transformed his life into one that truly reflects his values and nature. What I think is most important is how he used what's in our own backyard to create his own path of healing, his genuine energy in describing his experience in this journey, and his passion for bringing this possibility to other veterans through his research.  As someone who plans to commission as an officer in the US Army upon graduation, I often struggle with the unimaginable ways it will affect my life later on. While I don't plan on joining any combat arms branches within the service, it is a career choice that is truly so...

I am from the Outer Banks, having grown up in Carova, the off-road area of Corolla. Carova has become a popular tourist destination, being known for the beach and abundant wildlife. As a permanent resident for 22 years, I have seen the influx of tourists visiting the area over the years. Tourism in the area has had a number of negative impacts on the local environment and community. One of the main issues that has arisen as a result of tourism in Carova is the degradation of natural habitats. The area is home to a number of protected species, including sea turtles and wild horses, which rely on the beaches and surrounding dunes for their survival. However, the increased human activity in the area has led to the destruction of nesting sites, habitat degradation, and disturbances to wildlife. People don’t know how to leave wildlife alone and respect the area. Tourists often go up to horses to try to feed them and people will walk all over the sand dunes, even though there are numerous s...

Water is a basic human need and essential for life, making it a valuable resource. With the increasing demand for water, the debate on the privatization of water versus public water has become a critical issue. I found the documentary that we watched in class that explained the debate between public and private water very interesting. While water privatization can increase efficiency in the management and distribution of water resources, it was crazy how people in favor of privatization also tried to justify their stance by claiming that the government was corrupt and wasn’t going to do right by society. This came across to me almost as them saying “we’re the lesser of two evils.” In reality, the privatization of water can lead to increased costs for consumers and decreased access to water resources for marginalized communities. Private companies often prioritize profits over universal access to water, which could lead to higher prices and reduced quality for low-income families. Priva...

     The talk about ecotherapy reminded me of a personal experience I had during my sophomore year of high school. Freshman and sophomore years I struggled with my mental health. I had been put on medication and went through extensive therapy. My therapist suggested time outdoors, which I thought was silly, but was willing to try. I went on a canoe trip with the James River Association. This trip consisted of canoeing all day, with breaks to eat and sleep. We canoed about 40 miles total. Although this trip was only a week, and not as beneficial as months on the Appalachian Trail, I was able to feel nature's healing effects. Stepping away from technology and the comforts of my day-to-day life allowed me to better appreciate the beauty of nature. Although physically challenging, this experience gave me a feeling of peace that I had never before experienced. The disconnection from the outside world was tricky at first, but quickly during the trip, I started to dread the idea...

     Chapter 7 of your book, “Veterans, Healing, and Long-Distance Hiking” was very touching and informative. You share a beautiful story about your experience and the experiences of other veterans. It brought great awareness to how many people in the military come home to no one who can share or relate to their experience. I see where this could prompt feelings of isolation or loneliness, even if surrounded by loved ones. Nature acts as comfort and provides an “overwhelming feeling of fullness” (10), something that can fill a void from the lack of understanding from others.       I thought the controversy in what you are taught in military service is fascinating and brings awareness to something many people, including myself, hadn’t considered. Often times the words “love” and “kill” are viewed as antonyms, but you bring awareness to their connection through military service and the dissonance and irony in such association. You are showing your love t...

      Today, for my course "Writing in the Environment" I took a field trip with the fire marshall to places of environmental concern around Newport News. It was very eye-opening to see the environmental destruction happening so close by. Although we visited multiple sites and discussed their impacts, the one that stood out to me the most was the notorious coal port. I have been aware of the impacts of coal on local and global environments, but seeing it up close was truly horrifying. This coal port lies directly beside the James River, with no vegetation or buffers to prevent that runoff from reaching the river. Across the coal mine, there was almost no greenery in sight, besides a road median with some shrubbery. This shrubbery was covered in coal dust. There were flagpoles outside one of the buildings on site and all of the flags were discolored and darkened by coal dust. Not only were there horrifying mountains of coal waiting to be shipped out, but there were also ea...

  It is important to explore natural ecosystems and how they provide services upon which humans depend. I believe one of the many issues with society and their relationship with nature is how some people tend to believe that these ‘services’ that nature provides so to speak are provided for free, and therefore; that these services have little or no value. Ecotherapy can be defined as “the ability of interaction with nature to enhance healing and growth” (Summers, 2018). Scholarly researcher - Summers, specifically points out how ecotherapy is one of the ecosystem services that nature provides and is solely based on the theories of ecopsychology. Broadly speaking, ecopsychology is an area of psychology that embraces ecology and aims to be holistic in theory and practice. To translate, I believe this ideal means that from an ecotherapy perspective, the health and well-being of a human is viewed in the context of the health of the earth and its natural ecosystems. While we do not pay ...

 In a previous enviornmental/ecology course - a particular book really stood out to me, particularlly because it honed in on ideas I had never thought of previously. Sometimes when you read something so unique and different, it can really get you thinking!  In Turtle Island , Snyder aims to acknowledge life and the way that this life can be used and changed and transformed. Turtle Island stands for the continent of North America and is derived from the name the Native Americans of North America gave their homeland and it is important to Snyder because it suggests a view of North America not merely as a land "discovered" and colonized by people of European descent, but as a land inhabited and stewarded by a collection of rich, diverse, and civilized peoples. There are many poems in Snyder’s book that share a common vision: a rediscovery of this land. Also Snyder incorporates the ways by which we might become natives of the place, ceasing to think and act as newcomers and invad...

In a previous ecology course I took, we read and explored a book with relating topics to nature, christianity, and how both religion and the enviornment come together.  In From Nature to Creation, Wirzba aims to depict the message to readers that we live in a natural world that is framed by the stories we tell. First and foremost, landscapes are culture before they are nature. Wirzba argues that Christians are faced with two competing narratives about the world: nature and creation. This could relate to how Adam and Eve were created by God and how many people in the world believe this, while there are similarly many others who do not. Based on theology and virtue ethics, Wirzba argues that the way we live is determined foundationally by how we understand ourselves and the world around us: “To know how to live presupposes that we know who we are and where we are ” (Wirzba, 10). Overall, Wirzba outlines a Christian vision that can lead the church’s response to environmental degradat...

     During week 8 of reading, pages 191-224, the textbook explains that population growth is actually now not our planet's biggest concern, for it is actually slowing and maybe stabilizing. The biggest concern for sustainability now is urbanization in the richest countries, and the urban sprawl lifestyle that uses land, car fuel, and much more carbon per person to maintain. I wanted to see what other resources had to say about this possible population stabilization, so I found a scientific article that explains global populations projections and how we will maintain food security during all of this change.      The article, "Dimensions of global population projections: what do we know about future population trends and structures?" agrees with what the textbook says, and explains that the UN Population Division published a study that extends population projections until 2300. Life  expectancy is expected to continue to increase, and there ar...

    This chapter of the book discusses urbanization and human development. One thing that stood out to me from this chapter was the environmental sociologist William Cotton describing industrialism and colonialism as “the two most important breakthroughs in human history- and also as the two main roots of our current environmental changes”(261). I think this rings true in our world. With this so-called “development” came environmental degradation. What is labeled as societal “improvement” was environmental degradation.  This chapter also discusses the gap in economic inequality. In this situation, the gap between the rich and the poor is more and more significant. Unfortunately, the “rich” are often the heads of corporations, whose concern scarcely falls on the environment. It seems as though their negative environmental influence is rewarded through their economic gain.  This chapter reminded me of my anthropology class, where we often discuss the issue with ...

    This chapter discussed the growth and decline of populations and urbanization. What fascinated me the most is the lower environmental footprint of those in urban areas. Oftentimes, when I think of a city, I picture bumper-to-bumper traffic, factory smog, and built-up skyscrapers, with no greenery in sight. However, this chapter brings up the point that many of the individuals there are actually more environmentally- friendly (whether they realize it or not). Public transportation, bikes, and walking are the most common transportation, and many do not have cars in these major cities. Apartments are more common, taking up much less space and energy than the mass-produced mini-mansions we see in suburban areas. There isn't the overuse of water and fertilizers to maintain the perfect, green lawn that is somehow associated with the “American dream”. Although these cities are obviously not pollution-free, from reading, I became more aware that the major problems lie in our ...

    Guerilla gardening is a movement that's becoming increasingly more popular and controversially more frequent on social media. While technically illegal in most cases, guerilla gardening is the act of gardening in a neglected public space. The goal is to reclaim the public space that's pretty ecologically barren, also known as an urban "food desert", and grow something native in its place. It's been around since as early as the 60's and 70's and spurred a lot of communal gardening. It's good to know that our campus has garden plots for rent and there are more community gardens now, but there is still something unnerving about the fact that it is illegal to grow plants and food in some places.      I once read about how it’s common in some European and Asian cultures to save your seeds and toss them as you go, either by tossing the core of an apple or storing the seeds and drying them in a little container then sprinkling them out the car window or o...

     In class, we watched the very moving documentary, "Death by a Thousand Cuts", which explains the political tension between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This documentary was very important to me, for I grew up in a very Christian, religious family, and many of my family members have sponsored children in Haiti, and many acquaintances from church have been on missions trips to Haiti to build schools and churches. Growing up, I heard a lot of different things about Haiti, but never quite understood the political situation and why it is so poor. I feel like this documentary explains very important situations that many people do not know about. I had no idea that the Haitian forests are decimated, and that the Dominican Republic ensured their forests' sustainability due to an environmental movement that banned cutting down their trees. I did not know that Haitians have to sneak over the DR border and chop down their trees to produce charcoal because their own trees a...

     Week 7's textbook reading, pages 155-190, is very relevant to current events, including the Willow Project. This chapter explains that fossil fuels are finite because more are not created as fast as we are consuming them. Furthermore, oil production and consumption is not even across the globe, for the places where energy is the most used are not the countries where the most is produced. For example, 1/3 of US oil comes from Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe and the other 2/3 comes from South America, western Africa, and the Middle East. Due to this, US national interests are tied to politically risky producers of fossil fuels, and there is a relationship between energy and national security. The chapter also explains that US production of oil has dwindled because there is no more cheap oil to be obtained here. Furthermore, the US and China are the greatest contributors to global warming due to our consumption of oil, natural gas, and coal. The average American emit...

    https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111592     This study sought to determine how precipitation and land use affects water quality along the James River. We know that deforestation and water degradation are both environmental issues, but how do the 2 relate? Researchers from Mississippi State University used data on land development and river health from 1986 through 2018 to examine the tie between deforestation and water quality. The researchers found that there is poorer water quality in areas along the river where there has been increased development and forest degradation. On the contrary, where we have preserved more trees, there was better water quality; therefore, this study shows a strong correlation between forest preservation and river health. Using satellite imagery and GIS, the researchers traced the locations of development and forestation and compared the water quality of those areas. “Water quality” in this study is judged based on total suspended...

      https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/10/how-much-water-food-production-waste      The textbook reading and talks in class about water consumption and the water crisis prompted me to dive deeper into the topic. This article discusses water usage and how much water is required to make particular food items. As kids, we were always taught the basics of water conservation: report a leaky faucet, take shorter showers, and turn off the water while brushing your teeth. While these are still good actions to take, much of our water conservation can be done through our diet. We discussed the impact of agriculture on water consumption, but little on animal agriculture and cattle farming. Meat production requires significantly more water than any produce. "To produce 1kg of meat requires between 5,000 and 20,000 liters of water whereas to produce 1kg of wheat requires between 500 and 4,000 liters of water." While water usage in agriculture is still ...

    The documentary we started in class, "Death by a Thousand Cuts" was fascinating and eye-opening to me. This documentary demonstrates the environmental concern of deforestation and charcoal production in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, charcoal production was the main livelihood for many. This unfortunately led to the deforestation of many trees, with almost none remaining. In the Dominican Republic, regulations were placed on deforestation, so deforestation is not as much of an issue there. However, people from Haiti are sneaking into the forests of the Dominican Republic to produce charcoal. This poses an environmental and political problem. There is a lot of tension between the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At first, while watching, I caught myself starting to take the side of the Dominican Republic thinking, "How could Haiti not care that they're destroying the environment?" and "It's their fault for cutting down all the...

 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2438162420?accountid=10100&parentSessionId=xS6jA88Nxhuvs4ktAy0aJwLA007YK%2B17a7gQ0qCxPk0%3D  This article discusses the issue of redlining in urban areas. Redlining is both an environmental and sociological issue. In the 1930s, predominantly black or Hispanic neighborhoods were labeled as “hazardous”. This led to less investment in the areas and the effects of this racism are still visible today. These neighborhoods were often overlooked, so creating green spaces or anything related to the quality of living was not implemented. Trees provide many benefits including air quality, flood reduction, shade, and a cooling effect in the heat. The lack of green spaces and high amounts of asphalt cause the “urban heat island effect”. On average, these marginalized communities face an average temperature 5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than white neighborhoods. This causes many heat-related deaths and health problems, all because of the neighborhood some...

We recently watched this documentary detailing the conflicts on the island of Hispaniola between Haiti and the Dominican Republic: an alarming example of humans' impact in their habitat. In summary, the Dominican Republic chose to protect their resources and adapt, meanwhile Haitians, stricken with natural disaster and malnourished and eroding soils, have lost 90% of its trees.  Wood charcoal is used for cooking, energy, and warmth. The people of Haiti have adapted in their own way, whether that be depleting the mangroves, using the Dominican Republic’s resources, or changing tides and finding work across the border. We saw a researcher delving into the reason why: survival and lack of skills for other jobs. Sadly, we see a problem with education, basic necessity security such as food and water, alternative fuel sources, and overall lack of infrastructure. We also saw that they don’t have typical jobs there because they are busy securing their safety and resources, maintaining what...

 I loved Brookes video on bees and how well it explained the importance of bees and why we need them.  It was good to finally hear more concern about bees because it seems like many people don't know their importance in the environment.  I knew that keeping bees could help the environment and I knew too many could cause problems but I didn't know what that number would be.  I knew that there are many different types of bees but Brookes video showed me that there are even more than I thought. I loved that she also answered some questions at the end that could help the environment for the better that would help the native populations of bees out more.  I just hope that more people can be aware of the impact that bees have.  Hopefully humans will be able to help and invent more positive effects for bees and the environment.