The document discusses threats facing the Amazon rainforest from human exploitation including soy production, cattle ranching, logging, oil extraction, and mining. It highlights the work of groups like Rainforest Action Network (RAN) who have campaigned against these threats. Specifically, it describes how RAN pressured Burger King to stop sourcing beef from rainforests being cleared in Costa Rica. It also discusses how oil companies like Texaco and Chevron have contaminated the Amazon with toxic waste and chemicals, damaging the health of indigenous communities.
The document discusses several topics related to South America's environment, science, technology and health:
1) In Colombia, there is a debate between the government and archeologists about contracts with marine exploration companies to manage underwater cultural heritage in exchange for a percentage of finds. Archeologists argue this risks losing historical information.
2) In Chile, Torres del Paine National Park is recovering from a large fire in 2011 through reforestation efforts. Nearly 1,000 hectares of native forest were destroyed.
3) A seed from the Amazon called huayllabambana was found to have the highest omega-3 content of any fruit at 66%. This could be an important new food source.
Deforestation is the removal of forests to make way for agriculture, settlements, and other human needs. The world's forests have shrunk by 40% since 11,000 years ago, mostly in the last two centuries. Deforestation occurs for timber, agriculture, mining, infrastructure like roads and railways, and other economic activities. It leads to negative consequences like climate change, water and soil issues, loss of biodiversity, and increased desertification. Ways to reduce deforestation include sustainable logging, reforestation, reducing demand for wood and palm oil, and increasing awareness about forest conservation.
This document summarizes the development of an environmental management program in Bolivia's Santa Cruz valleys that uses market-based incentives to encourage conservation of forested watersheds. It describes how early efforts established local water funds to compensate upstream farmers for conserving forests that provide downstream irrigation and drinking water. However, the program's effectiveness was unknown until researchers developed a randomized controlled trial to scientifically evaluate the impact of direct incentives on conservation outcomes and community welfare. The experiment aims to determine whether compensation achieves more effective conservation than information alone. Its results may help optimize conservation spending globally.
This document provides an executive summary of the Finca Rio Oro property in Costa Rica. Some key details:
- The property consists of 1,134 hectares of contiguous land, including 200 hectares of primary forest bordering Corcovado National Park and 41 hectares of beachfront.
- It has over 4 kilometers of pristine beaches, home to three endangered sea turtle species. The area contains 2% of the world's biodiversity.
- The current owner has undertaken extensive reforestation, planting over 20,000 native trees. They also implement sustainable cattle grazing and organic agriculture.
- The goal is to maximize biodiversity and agricultural productivity while minimizing external inputs, in order to restore balance to
The document discusses the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would transport crude oil from Canada through the U.S. to Texas. It notes concerns about the pipeline's proposed route through Nebraska's ecologically sensitive Sandhills region, which contains important wetlands and groundwater resources. While the pipeline may provide economic benefits, there are environmental risks like contamination from potential oil spills that could harm the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer. The document examines these issues and potential impacts through maps, photos from the Sandhills region, and discussions of previous pipeline oil spills.
The document discusses the Yanomani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon rainforest. It describes their traditional nomadic lifestyle and how they practice shifting cultivation. However, their way of life is now threatened by illegal gold miners (garimpeiros) invading their land, bringing disease and environmental damage. The Brazilian government has created a Yanomani Park to protect their territory, but some oppose setting aside this large area of land. Large-scale development projects in the Amazon are also discussed, such as roads, mining, dams and logging, and their impacts on the local environment and people.
This document summarizes information about woodland caribou, an endangered species in Canada. It provides details on their physical characteristics, population size, habitat, and threats such as habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and increased predator access. Reasons for their importance are discussed, including their spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous communities. Potential solutions proposed include habitat protection, education efforts, reducing fuel and paper consumption to limit further environmental impacts.
The document discusses several topics related to South America's environment, science, technology and health:
1) In Colombia, there is a debate between the government and archeologists about contracts with marine exploration companies to manage underwater cultural heritage in exchange for a percentage of finds. Archeologists argue this risks losing historical information.
2) In Chile, Torres del Paine National Park is recovering from a large fire in 2011 through reforestation efforts. Nearly 1,000 hectares of native forest were destroyed.
3) A seed from the Amazon called huayllabambana was found to have the highest omega-3 content of any fruit at 66%. This could be an important new food source.
Deforestation is the removal of forests to make way for agriculture, settlements, and other human needs. The world's forests have shrunk by 40% since 11,000 years ago, mostly in the last two centuries. Deforestation occurs for timber, agriculture, mining, infrastructure like roads and railways, and other economic activities. It leads to negative consequences like climate change, water and soil issues, loss of biodiversity, and increased desertification. Ways to reduce deforestation include sustainable logging, reforestation, reducing demand for wood and palm oil, and increasing awareness about forest conservation.
This document summarizes the development of an environmental management program in Bolivia's Santa Cruz valleys that uses market-based incentives to encourage conservation of forested watersheds. It describes how early efforts established local water funds to compensate upstream farmers for conserving forests that provide downstream irrigation and drinking water. However, the program's effectiveness was unknown until researchers developed a randomized controlled trial to scientifically evaluate the impact of direct incentives on conservation outcomes and community welfare. The experiment aims to determine whether compensation achieves more effective conservation than information alone. Its results may help optimize conservation spending globally.
This document provides an executive summary of the Finca Rio Oro property in Costa Rica. Some key details:
- The property consists of 1,134 hectares of contiguous land, including 200 hectares of primary forest bordering Corcovado National Park and 41 hectares of beachfront.
- It has over 4 kilometers of pristine beaches, home to three endangered sea turtle species. The area contains 2% of the world's biodiversity.
- The current owner has undertaken extensive reforestation, planting over 20,000 native trees. They also implement sustainable cattle grazing and organic agriculture.
- The goal is to maximize biodiversity and agricultural productivity while minimizing external inputs, in order to restore balance to
The document discusses the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would transport crude oil from Canada through the U.S. to Texas. It notes concerns about the pipeline's proposed route through Nebraska's ecologically sensitive Sandhills region, which contains important wetlands and groundwater resources. While the pipeline may provide economic benefits, there are environmental risks like contamination from potential oil spills that could harm the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer. The document examines these issues and potential impacts through maps, photos from the Sandhills region, and discussions of previous pipeline oil spills.
The document discusses the Yanomani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon rainforest. It describes their traditional nomadic lifestyle and how they practice shifting cultivation. However, their way of life is now threatened by illegal gold miners (garimpeiros) invading their land, bringing disease and environmental damage. The Brazilian government has created a Yanomani Park to protect their territory, but some oppose setting aside this large area of land. Large-scale development projects in the Amazon are also discussed, such as roads, mining, dams and logging, and their impacts on the local environment and people.
This document summarizes information about woodland caribou, an endangered species in Canada. It provides details on their physical characteristics, population size, habitat, and threats such as habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and increased predator access. Reasons for their importance are discussed, including their spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous communities. Potential solutions proposed include habitat protection, education efforts, reducing fuel and paper consumption to limit further environmental impacts.
Este documento describe un experimento de separación de pigmentos vegetales mediante cromatografía en papel. Se extrajeron pigmentos de espinacas y zanahorias usando éter etílico y se depositaron en papel cromatográfico. Se observó que los pigmentos de la zanahoria eran de color naranja y amarillo, mientras que los de las espinacas eran amarillos y verdes. Esto indica la presencia de carotenos, xantofilas y clorofilas.
La dieta propuesta sigue los principios de la dieta mediterránea, la cual se basa en el consumo de verduras, frutas, legumbres, cereales integrales, aceite de oliva y pescado. La dieta incluye un menú detallado para desayunos, almuerzos, comidas y cenas durante toda la semana, con opciones que siguen estas directrices y son adecuadas para una persona con diabetes.
The goal of this project is to increase access to transportation for disabled, elderly, and low-income individuals in Central Missouri through improved coordination, efficiency, and education. The project uses mobility management strategies like educating agencies and the public about available services, developing resources like brochures, and facilitating rides to appointments. Outreach efforts have reached over 200 organizations. Successes so far include providing rides to classes, medical appointments, work, and more. Future plans include expanding marketing, coordinating a call center, and advocating for more funding.
La dieta propuesta sigue los principios de la dieta mediterránea, la cual se basa en el consumo de verduras, frutas, legumbres, cereales integrales, aceite de oliva y pescado. La dieta incluye un menú detallado para desayunos, almuerzos, comidas y cenas durante toda la semana, con opciones que siguen estas directrices y son adecuadas para una persona con diabetes.
Este documento describe un experimento de laboratorio para separar pigmentos vegetales como la clorofila y carotenoides mediante cromatografía en papel. Los estudiantes extrajeron pigmentos de espinacas y zanahorias usando éter etílico y los separaron en una tira de papel cromatográfico utilizando metanol como eluyente. Observaciones posteriores mostraron bandas de color verde, amarillo y naranja que indican la presencia de clorofila, xantofilas y carotenos.
“LOS GUARDIANES DE LA NATURALEZA UN ESPACIO PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE NUESTRO...Luz Querubin
El reconocimiento del territorio y la vivencia de valores son los pilares de esta iniciativa que tiene como punto de partida la investigación como el escenario que permite tanto a docentes como estudiantes una formación autónoma, la adquisición de competencias y la libertad para la toma de decisiones en forma responsable, generando capacidad para intervenir activamente en el desarrollo de sus comunidades a través de las implementación de las TIC en el aula como estrategia pedagógica para el mejoramiento de la calidad de la educación.
La tabla muestra la composición química de varios alimentos comunes agrupados en frutas y verduras, cereales y derivados, lácteos, carnes, legumbres y otros. Para cada alimento, se lista la cantidad de hidratos de carbono, calorías, proteínas y lípidos en gramos. El documento fue creado por un equipo de estudiantes para analizar el contenido nutricional de diferentes alimentos.
Este documento presenta un proyecto de negocio para vender agua embotellada en una preparatoria. Los estudiantes planean vender 80 botellas de agua a $7 cada una, recorriendo los salones para ofrecer el producto. Realizaron una encuesta que mostró alta demanda por agua embotellada en la escuela. Su presupuesto es de $500 e invertirán en botellas, agua purificada y etiquetas para el producto llamado "Aguas el Stuar".
La economía estudia la producción, distribución y consumo de bienes y servicios. Esto incluye cómo se elaboran los productos y servicios, los materiales necesarios, y cómo se dispersan y consumen. La economía empresarial se refiere a cómo las organizaciones gestionan sus recursos y servicios para competir en el mercado, mientras que la economía natural estudia las consecuencias de la escasez en los seres vivos y su interacción con el medio ambiente. La economía política examina los comportamientos humanos dentro de un contexto jurídico, y cómo
Este documento describe el enfoque cuantitativo de investigación. Explica que este enfoque utiliza números para examinar datos e información, y que las matemáticas, la informática y las estadísticas son las principales herramientas. También describe las características del enfoque cuantitativo, como plantear un problema concreto, probar hipótesis, analizar resultados con métodos estadísticos y pretender la generalización. Finalmente, presenta las etapas del proceso de investigación cuantitativo.
Este documento presenta una tabla de composición química de alimentos que incluye la cantidad de hidratos de carbono, calorías, proteínas y lípidos en frutas, verduras, cereales, lácteos, carnes, legumbres y otros alimentos como el mantequilla, chocolate y miel. La tabla proporciona esta información nutricional clave para diversos alimentos comúnmente consumidos.
Este documento presenta un plan de dieta mediterránea para una persona con diabetes durante una semana. La dieta incluye desayunos ligeros como pan integral, frutas y yogur; almuerzos equilibrados con verduras, granos y proteínas magras como pollo y pescado; y cenas ligeras como sopas, pescado y fruta. La dieta promueve el consumo de alimentos típicos de la dieta mediterránea como aceite de oliva, frutas, verduras, pescado, nueces y queso en
Este documento presenta los resultados de varias prácticas realizadas para identificar carbohidratos. Se realizaron pruebas con la bencidina, la anilina, Tollens, Fehling y Benedict para diferentes carbohidratos como la xilosa, glucosa, maltosa y fructuosa. Los resultados mostraron que la xilosa y L-arabinosa dieron positivo con la anilina, mientras que solo la glucosa anhidra dio positivo con Fehling. Con Benedict, la maltosa fue positiva. Las pruebas ayudaron a identificar los
El documento describe la historia y cultura de Japón. Explica que después del shogunato Tokugawa a mediados del siglo XVII, Japón entró en un largo periodo de aislamiento que terminó a fines del siglo XIX cuando recibió una gran influencia extranjera. Esto dio como resultado una cultura japonesa distinta a otras culturas asiáticas.
Actividad 10 guía potenciando mi experiencia educativa de primera faseLuz Querubin
Actividad N° 10 Luz Mery Querubín “LOS GUARDIANES DE LA NATURALEZA UN ESPACIO PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE NUESTRO TERRITORIO Y LA VIVENCIA DE VALORES CON ALEGRÍA
Lateral ventricle of Brain. By Dr.N.Mugunthan.M.Smgmcri1234
Lateral ventricle of brain. Lecture by Dr.N.Mugunthan.
Associate Professor,
Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute,
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry.
El documento describe diferentes tipos de mezclas y disoluciones. Define mezclas heterogéneas, disoluciones coloidales y homogéneas. Explica la clasificación de las disoluciones según la naturaleza de la fase, el número de componentes, y si es líquida o no. También describe conceptos como disolvente, soluto, electrolíticas y no electrolíticas. Finalmente, presenta modelos de disolución ideal y diluida ideal.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert in the world and provides insights into how communities can adapt to climate change and environmental extremes. Due to its harsh and dry conditions, the desert resembles Mars and faces issues like lack of water, pollution from mining and waste, and effects of climate change like desertification. However, life has adapted to these conditions, and research is exploring how to support communities and promote sustainable development. Projects are looking at technologies like using plastic-eating bacteria and fog capture systems to improve access to water, making crops more drought-resistant, and partnerships to help indigenous groups maintain their livelihoods like goat farming. The region offers lessons in protecting communities from environmental changes through science, sustainable solutions,
Brazil has pursued economic growth through industries like steel, oil, and agriculture, which has led to deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest is incredibly biodiverse and home to many indigenous tribes, but it is being cleared rapidly for development. This is detrimental to the environment and local populations. Efforts are needed to promote sustainable development and conservation of the Amazon rainforest.
Cameron calhoun make the bosque great again midterm project unm crp 275 commu...Dr. J
In the past decades, the Rio Grande bosque in Albuquerque has been under significant stress due to drought, invasive species, climate change, wildfire, and other anthropogenic influences.
The bosque is a huge part of the local community, as it is home to a huge network of trails and attractions and visited regularly by hundreds of people year-round.
The preservation and restoration of urban forests around the globe such as this one is critical for conserving biodiversity in cities, providing access for people to enjoy natural beauty, and producing clean air and water.
Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, it is located at the northern part of south america. Due to human activities and other illegal entities the rainforest is in verge of disaster.
Este documento describe un experimento de separación de pigmentos vegetales mediante cromatografía en papel. Se extrajeron pigmentos de espinacas y zanahorias usando éter etílico y se depositaron en papel cromatográfico. Se observó que los pigmentos de la zanahoria eran de color naranja y amarillo, mientras que los de las espinacas eran amarillos y verdes. Esto indica la presencia de carotenos, xantofilas y clorofilas.
La dieta propuesta sigue los principios de la dieta mediterránea, la cual se basa en el consumo de verduras, frutas, legumbres, cereales integrales, aceite de oliva y pescado. La dieta incluye un menú detallado para desayunos, almuerzos, comidas y cenas durante toda la semana, con opciones que siguen estas directrices y son adecuadas para una persona con diabetes.
The goal of this project is to increase access to transportation for disabled, elderly, and low-income individuals in Central Missouri through improved coordination, efficiency, and education. The project uses mobility management strategies like educating agencies and the public about available services, developing resources like brochures, and facilitating rides to appointments. Outreach efforts have reached over 200 organizations. Successes so far include providing rides to classes, medical appointments, work, and more. Future plans include expanding marketing, coordinating a call center, and advocating for more funding.
La dieta propuesta sigue los principios de la dieta mediterránea, la cual se basa en el consumo de verduras, frutas, legumbres, cereales integrales, aceite de oliva y pescado. La dieta incluye un menú detallado para desayunos, almuerzos, comidas y cenas durante toda la semana, con opciones que siguen estas directrices y son adecuadas para una persona con diabetes.
Este documento describe un experimento de laboratorio para separar pigmentos vegetales como la clorofila y carotenoides mediante cromatografía en papel. Los estudiantes extrajeron pigmentos de espinacas y zanahorias usando éter etílico y los separaron en una tira de papel cromatográfico utilizando metanol como eluyente. Observaciones posteriores mostraron bandas de color verde, amarillo y naranja que indican la presencia de clorofila, xantofilas y carotenos.
“LOS GUARDIANES DE LA NATURALEZA UN ESPACIO PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE NUESTRO...Luz Querubin
El reconocimiento del territorio y la vivencia de valores son los pilares de esta iniciativa que tiene como punto de partida la investigación como el escenario que permite tanto a docentes como estudiantes una formación autónoma, la adquisición de competencias y la libertad para la toma de decisiones en forma responsable, generando capacidad para intervenir activamente en el desarrollo de sus comunidades a través de las implementación de las TIC en el aula como estrategia pedagógica para el mejoramiento de la calidad de la educación.
La tabla muestra la composición química de varios alimentos comunes agrupados en frutas y verduras, cereales y derivados, lácteos, carnes, legumbres y otros. Para cada alimento, se lista la cantidad de hidratos de carbono, calorías, proteínas y lípidos en gramos. El documento fue creado por un equipo de estudiantes para analizar el contenido nutricional de diferentes alimentos.
Este documento presenta un proyecto de negocio para vender agua embotellada en una preparatoria. Los estudiantes planean vender 80 botellas de agua a $7 cada una, recorriendo los salones para ofrecer el producto. Realizaron una encuesta que mostró alta demanda por agua embotellada en la escuela. Su presupuesto es de $500 e invertirán en botellas, agua purificada y etiquetas para el producto llamado "Aguas el Stuar".
La economía estudia la producción, distribución y consumo de bienes y servicios. Esto incluye cómo se elaboran los productos y servicios, los materiales necesarios, y cómo se dispersan y consumen. La economía empresarial se refiere a cómo las organizaciones gestionan sus recursos y servicios para competir en el mercado, mientras que la economía natural estudia las consecuencias de la escasez en los seres vivos y su interacción con el medio ambiente. La economía política examina los comportamientos humanos dentro de un contexto jurídico, y cómo
Este documento describe el enfoque cuantitativo de investigación. Explica que este enfoque utiliza números para examinar datos e información, y que las matemáticas, la informática y las estadísticas son las principales herramientas. También describe las características del enfoque cuantitativo, como plantear un problema concreto, probar hipótesis, analizar resultados con métodos estadísticos y pretender la generalización. Finalmente, presenta las etapas del proceso de investigación cuantitativo.
Este documento presenta una tabla de composición química de alimentos que incluye la cantidad de hidratos de carbono, calorías, proteínas y lípidos en frutas, verduras, cereales, lácteos, carnes, legumbres y otros alimentos como el mantequilla, chocolate y miel. La tabla proporciona esta información nutricional clave para diversos alimentos comúnmente consumidos.
Este documento presenta un plan de dieta mediterránea para una persona con diabetes durante una semana. La dieta incluye desayunos ligeros como pan integral, frutas y yogur; almuerzos equilibrados con verduras, granos y proteínas magras como pollo y pescado; y cenas ligeras como sopas, pescado y fruta. La dieta promueve el consumo de alimentos típicos de la dieta mediterránea como aceite de oliva, frutas, verduras, pescado, nueces y queso en
Este documento presenta los resultados de varias prácticas realizadas para identificar carbohidratos. Se realizaron pruebas con la bencidina, la anilina, Tollens, Fehling y Benedict para diferentes carbohidratos como la xilosa, glucosa, maltosa y fructuosa. Los resultados mostraron que la xilosa y L-arabinosa dieron positivo con la anilina, mientras que solo la glucosa anhidra dio positivo con Fehling. Con Benedict, la maltosa fue positiva. Las pruebas ayudaron a identificar los
El documento describe la historia y cultura de Japón. Explica que después del shogunato Tokugawa a mediados del siglo XVII, Japón entró en un largo periodo de aislamiento que terminó a fines del siglo XIX cuando recibió una gran influencia extranjera. Esto dio como resultado una cultura japonesa distinta a otras culturas asiáticas.
Actividad 10 guía potenciando mi experiencia educativa de primera faseLuz Querubin
Actividad N° 10 Luz Mery Querubín “LOS GUARDIANES DE LA NATURALEZA UN ESPACIO PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE NUESTRO TERRITORIO Y LA VIVENCIA DE VALORES CON ALEGRÍA
Lateral ventricle of Brain. By Dr.N.Mugunthan.M.Smgmcri1234
Lateral ventricle of brain. Lecture by Dr.N.Mugunthan.
Associate Professor,
Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute,
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry.
El documento describe diferentes tipos de mezclas y disoluciones. Define mezclas heterogéneas, disoluciones coloidales y homogéneas. Explica la clasificación de las disoluciones según la naturaleza de la fase, el número de componentes, y si es líquida o no. También describe conceptos como disolvente, soluto, electrolíticas y no electrolíticas. Finalmente, presenta modelos de disolución ideal y diluida ideal.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert in the world and provides insights into how communities can adapt to climate change and environmental extremes. Due to its harsh and dry conditions, the desert resembles Mars and faces issues like lack of water, pollution from mining and waste, and effects of climate change like desertification. However, life has adapted to these conditions, and research is exploring how to support communities and promote sustainable development. Projects are looking at technologies like using plastic-eating bacteria and fog capture systems to improve access to water, making crops more drought-resistant, and partnerships to help indigenous groups maintain their livelihoods like goat farming. The region offers lessons in protecting communities from environmental changes through science, sustainable solutions,
Brazil has pursued economic growth through industries like steel, oil, and agriculture, which has led to deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest is incredibly biodiverse and home to many indigenous tribes, but it is being cleared rapidly for development. This is detrimental to the environment and local populations. Efforts are needed to promote sustainable development and conservation of the Amazon rainforest.
Cameron calhoun make the bosque great again midterm project unm crp 275 commu...Dr. J
In the past decades, the Rio Grande bosque in Albuquerque has been under significant stress due to drought, invasive species, climate change, wildfire, and other anthropogenic influences.
The bosque is a huge part of the local community, as it is home to a huge network of trails and attractions and visited regularly by hundreds of people year-round.
The preservation and restoration of urban forests around the globe such as this one is critical for conserving biodiversity in cities, providing access for people to enjoy natural beauty, and producing clean air and water.
Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, it is located at the northern part of south america. Due to human activities and other illegal entities the rainforest is in verge of disaster.
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Nations will often go to extreme measures to move food into the
global marketplace. Since 1992, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
has been developing plals to expand the network of locks and dams
along the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is the primary con-
duit for shipping American soybeans to the rest of the world-
about 35,000 metric tonnes a day.l The Corps'plan would mean
57
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ur
hauling in up to 1.2 million tonnes of concrete to lengthen l0 of
the locks from 180 meters to 360 meters each, as well as to bolster
several major wing dams, which narrow the river to keep the soy-
bean barges moving. This construction would supplement the
existing dredges, which are already sucking 85 million cubic meters
of sand and mud from the rivert bank and bottom eachyear.2
Several different levels of"upgrade" forthe riverhave been con-
sidered,but the most ambitious of them would purportedlyieduce
the cost of shipping soybeans by 4 to 8 cents per bushel.3 Some
independent analysts think this is a pipe dream.a
Around the same time the Mississippi plan was announced,
the five governments of South America's La Plata Basin-Bolivia,
Brazil, Paraguay, fugentina, and Uruguay-announced plans to
dredge 13 million cubic meters of sand, mud, and rock from 233
sites along the Paraguay-Parand River.s That would be enough to
fill a convoy of dump trucks 16,000 kilometers long. Here, the plan
is to straighten natural river meanders in at least seven places, build
dozens of locks, and construct a major port in the heart of the Pan-
tanal, the world's largest wetland.6 The Paraguay-Parand flows
throughthe center of Brazil's burgeoning soybean heartland-sec-
ond only to the United States in production and exports. Accord-
ing to statements from the Brazilian State of Mato Grasso, this
"Hidrovla" (water highway) will give a further boost to the region's
soybean export capacity.T
Lobbyists for both these projects argue that expanding the barge
capacity of these rivers is necessary in order to improve comPet-
itiveness, grab world market share, and rescue farmers (either U.S.
or Brazilian, depending on whom the lobbyists are addressing) from
their worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Chris Bres-
cia, president of the Midwest River Coalition 2000, an alliance of
commodity shippers that forms the primary lobblng force for the
Mississippi plan, says, "The sooner we provide the waterway infra-
structure, the sooner our family farmers will benefit."8 Some of
his fellow lobbyists have even argued that these projects are essen-
tial to feeding the world (since the barges can then more easily speed
the soybeans to the world's hungry masses) and to savin.
1) The document discusses an agreement signed in 2010 between California and the Mexican state of Chiapas as well as the Brazilian province of Acre to provide carbon offsets from forests in those regions to offset pollution from California industries.
2) It then highlights several low-income communities in California that face significant health risks from nearby industrial pollution, including refineries and other facilities.
3) Finally, it discusses the village of Amador Hernández in Chiapas, Mexico, home to indigenous Mayan people who rely on and maintain a close relationship with the surrounding forest but fear being displaced due to efforts to protect the forest for carbon offsets.
Deforestation is occurring at an unsustainable rate of 7.3 million hectares per year according to the UN. Half of the world's tropical forests have been cleared, and forest loss contributes 6-12% of annual carbon emissions. The major drivers of deforestation are agricultural expansion for food and cattle grazing, logging for wood products, and urbanization. This is resulting in significant environmental and social impacts including loss of biodiversity and harm to indigenous tribes who depend on the forest ecosystem.
Outsourcing Climate Solutions: CA to Chiapastlohan
1) In 2010, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed an agreement with the governors of Chiapas, Mexico and Acre, Brazil to allow polluting industries in California to offset their carbon emissions by paying for forest conservation projects in Chiapas and Brazil.
2) The agreement aimed to use forests in Chiapas and other regions as "carbon sinks" to absorb pollution from California industries.
3) However, some residents of Chiapas feared this agreement could lead to them being displaced from their homes in the rainforest reserve or result in more environmental damage from agricultural and industrial projects.
The document discusses the fate of a polluted environment and outlines several key points:
1) The environment provides many essential resources but is threatened by pollution and climate change. Determining the environmental fate of chemicals released is important for assessing exposure.
2) Human activities like deforestation, pollution, and overpopulation have significantly damaged the environment. Carbon dioxide emissions have risen sharply due to human causes.
3) Environmental problems include global warming, loss of habitats and biodiversity, water pollution, and desertification. These issues threaten many species and ecosystems.
4) Protecting the environment through sustainable practices, renewable energy, and ecosystem restoration is crucial for ensuring a healthy planet for future generations. International cooperation on
PLAN B NO BS - A. Deathbed - Earth, ALL Creation but A final Chance Remains -...Start Loving
The document warns that humanity's extinction is imminent due to accelerating environmental collapse caused by climate change, resource depletion, and pollution. Key points include glacial and ice sheet melting raising sea levels by over 6 feet this century and displacing 600 million people, as well as collapsing ecosystems, forests, fisheries, and water supplies due to market failures to incorporate environmental costs. The author argues that urgent action is needed to transition off fossil fuels and stabilize population to avoid an irreversible extermination of humanity.
Factory farming refers to intensive commercial agriculture that employs techniques to maximize output in small spaces at low cost. It relies on selective breeding, artificial insemination, antibiotics, and crowded conditions. Factory farming has significant environmental impacts, including high fossil fuel and water usage, antibiotic resistance, water and air pollution from animal waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. The waste also contains heavy metals that contaminate land and waterways when overapplied as fertilizer. Deforestation to create grazing land and grow feed crops further contributes to environmental damage, habitat loss, and climate change. The conditions and waste pose health risks to both workers and nearby residents as well.
The Endangered GlobalCommonsThe Effects of Climate and T.docxcherry686017
The Endangered Global
Commons
The Effects of Climate
and Topography on Air
Pollution
The Effects of Air
Pollution
Air Pollution Control:
Toward a Sustainable
Strategy
Noise: The Forgotten
Pollutant
Indoor Air Pollution
Spotlight on Sustainable
Development 20-1:
Germany's Sustainable
Approach Pays Huge
Dividends
20.1
20.1
20.1
20.1
20.1
20.1
20.1
CHAPTER OUTLINE
CHAPTER 12
I
n the early 1970s, scientists pored over satellite photographs of the
drought-stricken African Sahel, a band of semiarid land that bor-
ders the southern Sahara. One of them noticed an unusually green
patch of land amid the desert. Curious to find out the reason, Norman
MacLeod, an American agronomist, flew to the site. There, surrounded
by newly formed desert, was a privately owned ranch of 100,000 hectares
(250,000 acres). Its grasses grew rich and thick even though vegeta-
tion in the surrounding fields had long since died, leaving the sandy
soil unprotected. Why?
Grasslands, Forests, and
Wilderness: Sustainable
Management StrategiesThe Tragedy of the
Commons
Rangelands and Range
Management: Protecting
the World’s Grasslands
Forests and Forest
Management
Wilderness and Wilderness
Management
Spotlight on Sustainable
Development 12-1: Saving
the World’s Tropical Rain
Forests
Point/Counterpoint:
Controversy over Old-
Growth Forests in the
Pacific Northwest
12.4
12.3
12.2
12.1
Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations,
bids us restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from
wasting the heritage of these unborn generations.
—Theodore Roosevelt
221
CRITICAL THINKING
Exercise
In a speech to a group of business executives,
one opponent of the U.S. Clean Air Act noted
that natural sources of air pollution such as
volcanoes often exceed human sources. Be-
cause of this he argued that air pollution con-
trol legislation was misguided. He went on to
say that he supported efforts in the U.S. Con-
gress to weaken air pollution legislation be-
cause it was not only unnecessary but also
hurt the economy. Regulations, he claimed,
cost jobs and reduced the nation's productiv-
ity. Analyze this premise, using your critical
thinking skills and your knowledge of air
pollution.
222 PART IV. Resource Issues:
Solution
s for a Sustainable Society
CRITICAL THINKING
Exercise
One of the most dramatic changes on the
planet in the last 2 decades has been the
steady march of the world’s largest desert,
Africa’s Sahara. In the 1970s and 1980s, re-
searchers estimated that the desert spread
southward at a rate of 5 kilometers (3 miles)
per year. They attributed this expansion to
drought, overgrazing, and agricultural land
abuse in the semiarid grasslands bordering
the desert. The 5 km/yr projection, however,
was based primarily on measurements in a few
locations, which researchers assumed were
representative of the entire continent.
Using satellite observations of vegeta-
tion, however, scientists have found that the
Sahara has advanced and retreated—larg ...
The document discusses various topics related to ecological restoration including:
1) Ecological restoration aims to reverse degradation and reestablish ecosystems, though returning to the original condition is rarely possible. Common restoration methods include reintroduction of species, remediation of pollution, and reclamation of degraded sites.
2) Examples of restoration projects include restoring forests in Vermont, prairies in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, and wetlands in Colorado and the Everglades. The Bermuda cahow bird was reestablished through protection programs.
3) Factors like fire and grazing by animals like bison are important for maintaining certain ecosystems like oak savannas and prairies but require restoration efforts to reestablish.
The document summarizes information about the Amazon rainforest, including its location across 9 countries in South America, size, and that it contains over half the world's remaining rainforests. It then discusses some causes of deforestation in the Amazon including cattle ranching, mining, logging, and agriculture. Deforestation has led to over 600,000 square kilometers of forest being lost between 1991-2000. The consequences of deforestation mentioned include the potential for increased hurricane activity in the Caribbean due to rising sea temperatures from less forest transpiration in the Amazon.
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The Green
Issue
OUR SACRED
EARTH
Wonder in a
Wounded World
BAY AREA
ACTIVISM
Guarding
the Amazon
YOGA IN
NATURE
Step Outside
3. commongroundmag.com 45
By now we all understand why the
biodiversity-rich Amazon rainforest is critically impor-
tant to life on planet Earth. The Amazon contains more
than half of the world’s forests, provides 20 percent of
the world’s oxygen, and annually stores 2 billion tons of
CO2. The Amazon supports the integrity of the global
hydrological cycle, minimizes the impacts of climate
change, provides cures for previously untreatable dis-
eases with its vast plant resources, and is a region of
great cultural diversity owing to the more than 400 indigenous communi-
ties that have made the Amazon their home for millennia.
We also know that the Amazon is in trouble—wounded by decades of human exploita-
tion, from soy production to mega-dam projects, oil extraction to mining, cattle ranching to
logging. The Amazon continues to yield the riches that lie beneath its living soil but only at
great cost, as the forest’s ancient trees are toppled and nurturing waters are diverted, polluted,
and dammed—all for short-term economic gain. This devastation is nothing new: The great
machine of “development” has been relentlessly plowing up the foundation of this great and
necessary wonder for more than 400 years.
When the 16th
-century Spanish conquistadors set their sights on the Amazon in search of
gold, the great forest was home to an estimated 5 million indigenous forest-dwellers living in
1,000 tribes. With the arrival of the Spaniards, millions of indigenous people would succumb
to disease, enslavement, and outright murder. The next great wave of Europeans headed for
the Amazon in the 1800s, seeking to exploit the milky latex that flowed from the Amazon’s
rubber trees. The rubber trade spawned atrocities darker than our darkest imaginings can
conjure.
In the 20th
century, it was oil companies that posed the greatest threat of intrusion as their
roads carved up the Amazon’s forests, their wells discharged toxic wastes into the local rivers,
and trucks and pipelines dumped poisonous residues into reeking burial pits. The indigenous
peoples were driven from their homes into the “light of civilization” (which often meant entry
into a strange world of poverty and disconnection from their community and culture).
When life-giving water is poisoned, sickness and death become prevalent. For decades,
foreign oil companies like Texaco and Chevron have managed to avoid accountability for their
role in contaminating the Amazon. The latest intrusions on the “Great Forest of the World”
include huge hydropower dams that will flood vast areas of forest and displace native commu-
nities; soy plantations owned by powerful U.S. companies like ADM, Cargill, and Monsanto;
and biofuel operations that are bulldozing the Amazon to grow “Green fuels” to feed North
America’s gas tanks.
As industrial and political forces strive to see the planet’s wild places replaced, drilled,
flooded, pumped, colonized, or otherwise converted into GDP, accelerating climate change
has burdened the Amazon with a crippling drought. A forest in decline is more suscepti-
ble to fires. It absorbs less carbon and emits less oxygen. Worse, the 2005 Amazon drought
drove 5 billion tons of the forest’s stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere (an amount
exceeding the combined annual CO2 emissions of Europe and Japan).
Native populations are dwindling as drought, pollution, and deforestation make it harder
to provide clean water and food for previously self-sustaining forest-dwelling communities.
At the same time, federal laws and social competitiveness are forcing indigenous children to
leave their families and their poorly equipped native schools to pursue primary education in
distant cities. Across the Great Forest, tribes are driven from their ancestral lands to make
way for dams, roads, pipelines, refineries, mines, farms, and oil rigs. Tragically, threats to the
Amazon’s ecosystems and its inhabitants are more numerous—and the consequences more
dire—than ever before.
So what’s being done about it? Plenty. And much of the action is taking place right here
in the Bay Area, where several local groups are working passionately not only to counter the
threats but to go beyond raising awareness to changing behavior. We must act before it is too
late—before the Amazon’s ability to produce oxygen and fix carbon hits that tipping point
which will see it permanently producing less oxygen and more carbon dioxide, and before the
Amazon’s plant, animal, and insect biodiver-
sity; cultural treasures; and medicinal wonders
are gone forever.
Rainforest Beef and
the Rise of RAN
The Amazon’s plight first penetrated my dense
teenage consciousness in 1985, when I learned
that this “huge rainforest” was being sacrificed
for, of all things, cheap hamburgers. The in-
congruous connection between burgers and
rainforest destruction made me sit up and pay
attention. I discovered that rainforests in Costa
Rica were being cleared to make way for beef
cattle that would ultimately be sold to Burger
King, so my friends and I could enjoy a fast-
food snack when we cut school at lunchtime. I
was shocked to learn that rainforest land, once
cleared, could sustain cattle grazing for only a
few years, leaving the soil depleted beyond use.
At this point, the “hoofed locusts” would move
on to a new patch of cleared forest.
These revelations came about thanks to the
work of the Rainforest Action Network. RAN
(one of Earth Island Institute’s first projects)
was founded by a couple of ardent tree-hug-
ging troublemakers, Randy Hayes and Mike
Roselle, in order to stop the conversion of for-
ests into Burger King Whoppers. Cheap beef
made profit margins stronger and sharehold-
ers happy, but the trade-off was a great-and-
growing hole in what had been a dense forest
that supported more than a million species.
It was a simple, first-of-its-kind campaign.
RAN wrote Burger King a letter asking them to
stop serving “rainforest beef,” but Burger King
ignored them. So RAN generated thousands
Photo:Lou Dematteis
Emergildo Criollio, a leader of the Cofan tribe
of Amazonian Ecuador, suffered greatly after oil
companies began drilling. Within months, rivers
were contaminated with toxic sludge, destroying
food sources and medicinal plants. Polluted water
caused the death of Emergilido’s two sons and
led to severe health problems for his people.
4. 46 april 2011
of letters from their supporters, all demanding
that Burger King stop destroying the planet’s
largest forest simply to benefit the company’s
bottom line. No response. It was not until RAN
organized protests at hundreds of Burger King
restaurants (and created a PR nightmare, as
images of angry families chanting outside the
outlets flooded the news media) that Burger
King sat down with RAN and agreed to stop
sourcing their beef from Costa Rica. They real-
ized that being associated with the destruction
of rainforests was neither good for their im-
age nor for their earnings. Hooray for effective
muckraking and rabblerousing!
But cattle grazing was only one of the many
issues to plague the Amazon. The next big
threat that activists brought to the media’s at-
tention was the burning of rainforest land to
make way for colonists from the great urban
centers of Brazil. Hoping to stem the threat
of political instability in Brazil’s teeming cit-
ies, the government encouraged the poor to
move out of the cities and into the “frontier.”
The government resettlement program offered
each participant a one-square-kilometer lot, six months’ salary, and agricultural loans. The gov-
ernment plan also called for cutting highways into the forest to accelerate colonization and farm-
ing. Five million cattle were trucked into the Amazon. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of
colonists in the Amazon nearly tripled, from 4.7 million to 13.7 million.
The Reign of Oil, A Rain of Pollution
And then came the oil companies. According to a joint report by RAN and Amazon Watch, “be-
tween 1964 and 1990, Texaco (which Chevron acquired in 2001) drilled for oil in a remote northern
region of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest. Using obsolete technology and substandard environmen-
tal controls, the company deliberately dumped 18.5 billion gallons of highly toxic waste sludge into
the streams and rivers that local people depend on for drinking, bathing, and fishing. The com-
pany dug over 900 open-air, unlined waste pits that continue to seep toxins into the ground. The
sludge contains some of the most dangerous chemicals known—including benzene and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—in lethal concentrations. Rupturing oil pipelines and gas flaring
was also a regular occurrence. What’s worse, the dumping was done intentionally to cut corners
and save an estimated $3 per barrel.”
So Texaco frugally poisoned the water and, in the bargain, thousands of men, women, and chil-
dren. When Chevron took over Texaco, it inherited an ongoing legal battle in which 30,000 indig-
enous Ecuadorans are fighting to hold foreign oil companies accountable for the chemical con-
tamination they believe has damaged their health and their lives.
And while Chevron has actively refused to accept responsibility and clean up the pollution
(spending upward of $200 million to avoid prosecution), more than 1,400 Amazon dwellers have
died due to cancers directly attributable to Chevron-Texaco’s toxic legacy. Children under 14 are
the most vulnerable, suffering high rates of birth defects and leukemia. Because of the contami-
nated land and water, parents cannot adequately feed their families. Local economies and com-
munities have collapsed and, for those who remain, their way of life, their culture and traditions,
have been radically altered.
The good news? On February 14, an Ecuadoran judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and or-
dered Chevron to pay $9 billion for damages and remediation. Now getting Chevron to pay is the
challenge. Chevron has recently attempted to overturn the court decision by filing suit against
the Ecuadoran victims’ lawyers under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Chevron is also seeking damages for the cost of defending itself in court. In the meantime, RAN
and Amazon Watch will continue to take the fight to Chevron’s shareholders and consumers in
the U.S.
Meanwhile, oil companies continue to operate throughout the Amazon basin. Groups like Ama-
zon Watch and International Accountability Project (IAP) are fighting them on many fronts, em-
ploying organizing, media, advocacy, and legal strategies to stop the ongoing quest for every last
drop of oil at fatal cost to the peoples and ecosystems of the region. Sadly, the Peruvian govern-
Photos: LouDematteis
Nine-year-old Jairo Yumbo shows his deformed
hand on the road that runs by his home in
Rumipamba in the Ecuadoran Amazon.
Oil waste pit on fire in Shushufindi in
the Ecadoran Amazon in 1993.
5. commongroundmag.com 47
ment is moving as fast as it can to sell off its oil concessions—and the peoples that live in the af-
fected areas are given no quarter and no say in what is to become of them and their homes. There
are around 60 companies operating in Peru and 16 oil companies operating in Ecuador. These oil
companies carry tremendous political momentum created by the investments that support them.
The shareholders become complicit in the destruction—often without their knowledge.
Damned if You Do, Dammed if You Don’t
Dams are the “new” big threat to the Amazon. While they have been built there before, there now
are plans to build 15 hydroelectric mega-dams despite growing evidence that dams are neither ef-
ficient nor even necessary. Because the Amazon thrives on its hydrologic cycle, killing the rivers is
one of the fastest ways to destroy the forest ecosystem. Dams in tropical climates are particularly
destructive because they submerge vast stretches of trees and other flora, which slowly decom-
pose and release tons of methane into the atmosphere. Hydropower dams are thought to be clean
sources of energy, but this burden of methane actually makes them more polluting than coal-fired
power plants.
Building hydropower dams in the Amazon is not very efficient for generating electricity because
the forest is relatively flat—there are no mountains to provide an added gravity benefit to gener-
ate electricity. Some people go so far as to suggest this dam-building craze is really about water
privatization.
At a March 17 demonstration outside the London offices of the Brazilian National Development
Bank, indigenous activist Almir Sarayamoga Surui called attention to the consequences of two
massive dams planned for Brazil’s Madeira River. “These dam projects bring immediate profits to
some politicians and companies, and short-term employment for some workers,” Surui said. “But
what about their larger costs to people and nature? We need a new model of development that
brings benefits to all, that respects indigenous peoples, their knowledge, and their territories.”
The folks at IAP are planning a media project that will fight proposed dams along Peru’s riv-
ers by documenting successful dam-fighting strategies from around the world and alerting local
communities to the tactics employed by the dam builders to neutralize local resistance. Amazon
Watch continues to wage its battles and organize indigenous peoples, and Berkeley-based Interna-
tional Rivers is in the mix, working 24/7 to stop the madness.
Brazil’s $17-billion, 11-gigawatt Belo Monte Dam project will divert nearly the entire flow of
the Xingu River along a 62-mile stretch through the heart of the Amazon. The dam’s reservoirs
will flood more than 100,000 acres of rainforest and local settlements, dis-
place more than 40,000 people, and generate vast quantities of methane—a
greenhouse gas at least 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Inter-
national Rivers campaign director Aviva Imhof describes Belo Monte as a
“foolish investment.” By investing in energy efficiency, Imhof claims, Brazil
could cut demand by 40 percent over the next decade and save $19 billion.
Imhof estimates “the amount of energy saved would be equivalent to 14
Belo Monte dams.”
This project has attracted global criticism and the attention of Oscar-
winning filmmaker James Cameron, who has produced a short film on
this very issue, A Message from Pandora (check it out at MessageFrom
Pandora.org). This dam plan has been on the books since the days of Bra-
zil’s military dictatorship, and it’s only the constant resistance by the tribal peoples who would be
adversely affected and the international support groups like Amazon Watch and International Riv-
ers that this project remains in limbo. Are you beginning to see a pattern here?
In recent months, it began to look like the Belo Monte was finally close to becoming a reality.
Happily, on February 25, a Brazilian judge ordered a halt to construction plans, citing environmen-
tal concerns. One problem with environmental victories—they need to be constantly defended.
The Rights of Nature
The Pachamama Alliance was born in response to a decision by the Achuar, an indigenous people
living deep in the Ecuadoran Amazon, to seek a partnership with people from the industrialized
world to help protect their rainforest home and their traditional way of life. As a result of this unique
partnership, activists in the “overdeveloped” world have learned that indigenous wisdom and insight
offer enormous value in addressing the complex issues that we face in our modern world.
By helping to empower the Amazon’s indigenous peoples and sharing their story with the greater
global community, the forces of darkness that are preying on the land can be driven back only by
the light of a common understanding—that indigenous peoples have rights and that nature itself
has a right to exist. On July 7, 2010, Ecuador’s
President, Rafael Correa, signed a pioneering
law that enshrined the rights of Pachamama
(Mother Nature) in the national constitution.
In October 2010, the Pachamama Alliance and
Fundación Pachamama established the Global
Alliance for Rights of Nature to press every
country on earth to adopt laws recognizing the
rights of nature.
All is not lost.
Not by a long shot. But it’s getting spooky
when you look at where things stand. The
people who live in the Amazon are losing their
lives—children are dying from tainted water,
women are suffering uterine cancers, thou-
sands of people are suffering. Yet it is the Ama-
zon’s endangered indigenous people who best
understand the forests and are the best placed
to help steward our sustainable access to the
global commons that is the Amazon. The cul-
tures that have survived years of oppression
have much to teach us. This native wisdom is
not found in books or taught in universities.
The people inhabiting the forests of South
America are deeply spiritual and believe that
the land is alive, that the plants are individuals,
and that underlying everything are forces that
bind us all.
If we can stand up for the Amazon and those
who depend upon it for their survival, we shall
gain far more than the economic commodities
that are currently undermining the health of
the region and the future of the planet. So read
some books, join the organizations mentioned
below, submit your email address, take action,
make a donation. And give thanks that the
Amazon is still intact enough to ensure some
hope for our common future.
Branden Barber sits on the boards of Ama-
zon Watch and IAP, was development director
at Rainforest Action Network for five years, is
development director at the Hoffman Institute
Foundation, and lives in the East Bay. Friend
him at Facebook.com/branden.barber.
Tucurui dam,
Brazilian Amazon
Rainforest
Defenders
AmazonWatch.org
IAP.org
InternationalRivers.org
Pachamama.org
RAN.org
Photo:internationalrivers.org