tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48538499552025247932024-03-27T21:26:53.023-05:00On the BrinkFeaturing informal writing on the environment, sustainability, and higher education.Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.comBlogger2181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-67891361036163740232024-03-27T21:26:00.001-05:002024-03-27T21:26:07.441-05:00Earth Month Brings New 30 Day Sustainability Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgzpFAJufTwf-J1qdktq-B9j4iKJjwRKki4IrlPJig6Z396OozJP7Xmp6pPu-urcBIaUIQVtemCza4DbjhgFaG2o-FEQrpqCWjkVtx-vqBqILnBsZJ3JmWlMMsDDlpLEzTMJH7bfW8uCddkX5oJ6tgsaLelVdXvURCjTaYNbzShqAK7UrYEmc68wVPYT7/s720/Slide1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgzpFAJufTwf-J1qdktq-B9j4iKJjwRKki4IrlPJig6Z396OozJP7Xmp6pPu-urcBIaUIQVtemCza4DbjhgFaG2o-FEQrpqCWjkVtx-vqBqILnBsZJ3JmWlMMsDDlpLEzTMJH7bfW8uCddkX5oJ6tgsaLelVdXvURCjTaYNbzShqAK7UrYEmc68wVPYT7/s320/Slide1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Now that April is on the doorstep, it is time to announce a new 30 Day Sustainability Challenge! I'll be posting 2-3 days a week throughout April on my YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1whdV5Q5sO5ocXdYBF3OEg">here</a> with new challenges on how to live a more sustainable life. We'll cover the following topics:<div><br /></div><div>Introduction to sustainability and how to overcome the challenges we face</div><div>Food and sustainability</div><div>Sustainability for all phases of life</div><div>Travel and sustainability</div><div>Greening your transportation and living conditions</div><div>Minimalism</div><div>Sustainability and equity</div><div>Green business and green shopping</div><div>Natural lands</div><div>Undoing the Anthropocene</div><div>Creating hope in a time of ecogrief</div><div><br /></div><div>This is about the 10th time that I've run one of these challenges and I am very excited to share these challenges with you. I know that we all struggle with how we can make a difference. I am hoping that this challenge will provide an opportunity to share ideas and develop conversations around ways we can make a difference during this challenging time. I'll also post the videos here on the blog.</div><div><br /></div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-10080272920552363512024-03-25T06:15:00.001-05:002024-03-25T06:15:18.833-05:00Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument<p> Today I continue my series on all 129 U.S. National Monuments. This is in follow up to <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2016/01/full-list-of-on-brink-national-park.html">my series that featured open access photos of all of the U.S. National Parks</a>. In the coming years, I will highlight open access images all of the U.S. National Monuments in alphabetical order.</p><p>Today's featured monument is <span class="mw-page-title-main"><span style="font-size: small;">Papahānaumokuākea </span></span>Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean. This is not one of the monuments that was <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2017/05/27-us-national-monuments-under-review.html">under review for delisting as per executive order by the former president</a>. Following the photos is a list of U.S. National Monuments previously featured on this blog. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOmcyWgMwOIVCQueFwOHiaNOMorgwU_MmqzIDIvyMvrqL4PKfpsTF8Tfu58tmvHHhx0ldRFPZY5WT2UiXtqRPq5_mhLeWdlYmlfXjQPe2LP-I9hC5DjrGICoHkjpuYjgOwrVKIXssQb7Am2B_Z1onNzSU4HywyW0pBej7KN2gHfDigR7NeU4P8QMtu1-D/s800/4967557687_1f2e315ec4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOmcyWgMwOIVCQueFwOHiaNOMorgwU_MmqzIDIvyMvrqL4PKfpsTF8Tfu58tmvHHhx0ldRFPZY5WT2UiXtqRPq5_mhLeWdlYmlfXjQPe2LP-I9hC5DjrGICoHkjpuYjgOwrVKIXssQb7Am2B_Z1onNzSU4HywyW0pBej7KN2gHfDigR7NeU4P8QMtu1-D/s320/4967557687_1f2e315ec4_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/4967557687/in/photolist-8yY2Qk-TNtUDp-Tdq613-TyxT8G-Sw12aQ-TNtPEr-Sw16Vm-Tdq4Lj-SyDyTT-TNuiMD-TNtUpr-TJPchm-TNugXr-TyxTHQ-TRGgNX-SvXN3S-BAtUYC-9sGHJx-RzQsaF-2iME4UJ-2kyhsQB-FU6Azj-V6ZNhB-V3vhhw-9tPPha-9tQb1H-8yY2QB-9t23gf-HJ5E5z-2iMFieo-GNpnbE-Rx7KKh-8yY2PP-HztLmC-9MfzYB-y8Wt1h-FCaqQA-2isV9nB-9txXgG-8yY2Q4-9sC6r2-GNwRse-9tQeb2-HFaPef-GNwMje-9uHrnv-bgLamp-9tT78h-9vbCoa-9v3qtn">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNhvQIr0lxRUV13ytQVdAEd9PFqux0a24Twi7TTHtlCl6o23-y6LwlOXLZHioJqMYQ87VJl2OI5VauZcjCL6cGWddcSZnwasgcsBn6XNwlkml_SqARuM7a6AbKtAL9ELEKfdZCSSzReGrhEjifcl3xdXzaPRn-mdNLzGOrlqs5iHcQu7tpvl1l0JIjHf/s800/33614694770_8df8ea2f76_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNhvQIr0lxRUV13ytQVdAEd9PFqux0a24Twi7TTHtlCl6o23-y6LwlOXLZHioJqMYQ87VJl2OI5VauZcjCL6cGWddcSZnwasgcsBn6XNwlkml_SqARuM7a6AbKtAL9ELEKfdZCSSzReGrhEjifcl3xdXzaPRn-mdNLzGOrlqs5iHcQu7tpvl1l0JIjHf/s320/33614694770_8df8ea2f76_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/33614694770/in/photolist-Tdq6CW-8yY2Qk-TNtUDp-Tdq613-TyxT8G-Sw12aQ-TNtPEr-Sw16Vm-Tdq4Lj-SyDyTT-TNuiMD-TNtUpr-TJPchm-TNugXr-TyxTHQ-TRGgNX-SvXN3S-BAtUYC-9sGHJx-RzQsaF-2iME4UJ-2kyhsQB-FU6Azj-V6ZNhB-V3vhhw-9tPPha-9tQb1H-8yY2QB-9t23gf-HJ5E5z-2iMFieo-GNpnbE-Rx7KKh-8yY2PP-HztLmC-9MfzYB-y8Wt1h-FCaqQA-2isV9nB-9txXgG-8yY2Q4-9sC6r2-GNwRse-9tQeb2-HFaPef-GNwMje-9uHrnv-bgLamp-9tT78h-9vbCoa">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4_zqft6Ix9yKlcUG6hZ52IKvwcFrg239vo0U40oVvs8RXxHDrpFlHGVHj__R5bfCwoh1rycnucE5FLpdBTPgR4_NhAKV4KagykKr85bAXlCnBahP9qIHhfnYbeoQya4QCc5fzsHEYdfc-jk7vcn5sddY4oc4HssWDAwQr09502OWwyrkC60zFeV_AMiQ/s800/4967557671_f5977864f0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4_zqft6Ix9yKlcUG6hZ52IKvwcFrg239vo0U40oVvs8RXxHDrpFlHGVHj__R5bfCwoh1rycnucE5FLpdBTPgR4_NhAKV4KagykKr85bAXlCnBahP9qIHhfnYbeoQya4QCc5fzsHEYdfc-jk7vcn5sddY4oc4HssWDAwQr09502OWwyrkC60zFeV_AMiQ/s320/4967557671_f5977864f0_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/4967557671/in/photolist-8yY2Q4-9sC6r2-GNwRse-9tQeb2-HFaPef-GNwMje-9uHrnv-bgLamp-9tT78h-9vbCoa-9v3qtn-i2Fzng-HzrbfL-Skh6mR-9MekHF-z4D8Az-9tPyvH-HBSug2-9sY2Tn-GNwP2H-9v3pnr-E17jp5-baKM4r-2irJyiL-y93LE2-9Mh72m-whaiDh-2kGFvT6-2kMmWLz-TCWxkM-CEQHDo-9sEXs1-yUsU2Y-9tQgVm-TNuisk-MBjV2Z-Skh6zM-UNVsko-GNqXZA-GNsAZp-9szsgE-GNrEob-9uYUHd-HztSpE-9tbBLF-HBSvdx-GNwMK4-GNwUhT-9t241S-9sXWUx">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0CfX_wovCuJqfcRnVZRwMkP_fSDLN061l_0TZoEps4677s0-W1piEeZQdLUQSd3P7z1deuROysf_sacujmWMR4A7JD9M_z6svhU7UUFSMRtmTMmffcYxsdI3H7FuUh9jftLoJkF8VIg2QhxDoQn25oQ7alO9C4A297ZknYAf0utH3LRkULpeIaJy8tQX/s799/19873582334_02a7ca94c4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0CfX_wovCuJqfcRnVZRwMkP_fSDLN061l_0TZoEps4677s0-W1piEeZQdLUQSd3P7z1deuROysf_sacujmWMR4A7JD9M_z6svhU7UUFSMRtmTMmffcYxsdI3H7FuUh9jftLoJkF8VIg2QhxDoQn25oQ7alO9C4A297ZknYAf0utH3LRkULpeIaJy8tQX/s320/19873582334_02a7ca94c4_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/papahanaumokuakea/19873582334/in/photolist-whaiDh-2kGFvT6-2kMmWLz-TCWxkM-CEQHDo-9sEXs1-yUsU2Y-9tQgVm-TNuisk-MBjV2Z-Skh6zM-UNVsko-GNqXZA-GNsAZp-9szsgE-GNrEob-9uYUHd-HztSpE-9tbBLF-HBSvdx-GNwMK4-GNwUhT-9t241S-9sXWUx-xtEXxa-9sKCj3-HiHpwC-9usuRu-9vbBiF-9vbE4H-2iSrBcS-9vbArc-9vez9U-9tNrRM-9v67z7-9uGjsx-HztMNq-9tPYSk-9uVUmB-9tPvkt-9sKA5q-HztPnC-9tRvhW-9uXdSx-9uKqTm-22tWgW8-9uo9bF-CQjTy6-9LFCBt-9uX6d8">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y8bq-LFsOX-blWfWDVI-im0OMHnrUerWbLJewgWJzE9-llAovaAtJbsmywSGhLDbggJgnhPpHlQ3yoYWyX9earhwEZR_AXbVi5RAWXjpCtSiFEfe44Q7sn_XFm-M3ABsPC95fV3Sn1K0FIm7KrV5LfdWJVz17CkyjtqIyXm0mFCCZojBDAqSCt8PGxRS/s799/5558470987_8d476b98b9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y8bq-LFsOX-blWfWDVI-im0OMHnrUerWbLJewgWJzE9-llAovaAtJbsmywSGhLDbggJgnhPpHlQ3yoYWyX9earhwEZR_AXbVi5RAWXjpCtSiFEfe44Q7sn_XFm-M3ABsPC95fV3Sn1K0FIm7KrV5LfdWJVz17CkyjtqIyXm0mFCCZojBDAqSCt8PGxRS/s320/5558470987_8d476b98b9_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/5558470987/in/photolist-9tbBLF-HBSvdx-GNwMK4-GNwUhT-9t241S-9sXWUx-xtEXxa-9sKCj3-HiHpwC-9usuRu-9vbBiF-9vbE4H-2iSrBcS-9vbArc-9vez9U-9tNrRM-9v67z7-9uGjsx-HztMNq-9tPYSk-9uVUmB-9tPvkt-9sKA5q-HztPnC-9tRvhW-9uXdSx-9uKqTm-22tWgW8-9uo9bF-CQjTy6-9LFCBt-9uX6d8-9uKkeQ-9D8j3o-mpa9PS-9veB39-9v1sth-2hypMGN-GNwQoR-y8YFwV-9FWZH5-9v1sLG-9tQEUQ-9sXgHx-9uo1mD-9v6uSb-9v36V4-y8XXCU-9uo6ap-9uW94D">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><p><u>Previous On the Brink posts on the U.S. National Monuments</u></p><div><div><div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Admiralty Island National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">African Burial Ground National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agate Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agua Fria National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aniakchak National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aztec Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bandelier National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Basin and Range National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bears Ears National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Booker T. Washington National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Browns Canyon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Buck Island Reef National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cabrillo National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">California Coastal National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyon de Chelly National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyons of the Ancients National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cape Krusenstern National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Capulin Volcano National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Carrizo Plain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Casa Grande Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cascade Siskiyou National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castillo de San Marco National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Clinton National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Mountains National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cedar Breaks National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">César E. Chávez National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chimney Rock National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chiricahua National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Colorado National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Craters of the Moon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Postpile National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Tower National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Dinosaur National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Effigy Mounds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Malpais National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Morro National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Frederica National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Matanzas National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort McHenry National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Monroe National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Ord National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Pulaski National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Stanwix National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Union National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fossil Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Freedom Riders National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Birthplace National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Carver National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Giant Sequoia National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gold Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Governors Island National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/05/grand-canyon-parashant-national-monument.html">Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-portage-national-monument.html">Grand Portage National Monument </a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-staircase-escalante-national.html">Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hagerman-fossil-beds-national-monument.html">Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hanford-reach-national-monument.html">Hanford Reach National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad.html">Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/hohokam-pima-national-monument.html">Hohokam Pima National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/08/hovenweep-national-monument.html">Hovenweep National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/10/ironwood-forest-national-monument.html">Ironwood Forest National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/jewel-cave-national-monument.html">Jewel Cave National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/john-day-fossil-bed-national-monument.html">John Day Fossil Bed National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/12/jurassic-national-monument.html">Jurassic National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/01/kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national.html">Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/05/katahdin-woods-and-waters-national.html">Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/07/lava-beds-national-monument.html">Lava Beds National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/little-bighorn-battlefield-national.html">Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/marianas-trench-national-monument.html">Marianas Trench National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/medgar-and-myrlie-evars-home-national.html">Medgar and Myrlie Evers National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/military-working-dog-teams-national.html">Military Working Dog Teams National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/mill-springs-battlefield-national.html">Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/01/misty-fjords-national-monument.html">Misty Fjords National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/02/mojave-trails-national-monument.html">Mojave Trails National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/montezuma-castle-national-monument.html">Montezuma Castle National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/mount-st-hellens-volcanic-national.html">Mount St. Helens National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/muir-woods-national-monument.html">Muir Woods National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/natural-bridges-national-monument.html">Natural Bridges National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/navajo-national-monument.html">Navajo National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/newberry-volcanic-national-monument.html">Newberry Volcanic National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/northeast-canyons-and-seamounts-marine.html">Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/oregon-caves-national-monument.html">Oregon Caves National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national.html">Organ Mountains--Desert Peaks National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument.html">Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/pacific-remote-islands-marine-national.html">Pacific Remote Islands National Monument</a></div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-68794342644177216802024-03-19T18:30:00.002-05:002024-03-19T18:30:39.123-05:00A Greenlash in Europe<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBs6i_Kvb9Shp4lA9Xpl1tSPT3ehQ2A-l6rwe-iofXY5ibpcYYE3DXN6a58PT31WNnP916UfWHCZhZeOxphKgYxvZJT5RGlyOPGqXH93nI5a-8tnmajIyiQOSIgiwKO2jHyuzMx1DM1VT5z0KJRwZ5Ec3tswbqghe_qMwqMCQFNZ5K1ldCqMOh06KdxgiK/s799/53466227196_8f273183db_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="799" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBs6i_Kvb9Shp4lA9Xpl1tSPT3ehQ2A-l6rwe-iofXY5ibpcYYE3DXN6a58PT31WNnP916UfWHCZhZeOxphKgYxvZJT5RGlyOPGqXH93nI5a-8tnmajIyiQOSIgiwKO2jHyuzMx1DM1VT5z0KJRwZ5Ec3tswbqghe_qMwqMCQFNZ5K1ldCqMOh06KdxgiK/s320/53466227196_8f273183db_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers protest in Germany earlier this year.<br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7c0/53466227196/in/photolist-2psCoBo-2mHpF5A-2m7TY4w-2m7C8y7-2m7KGv7-2m7Mesw-2m7H74X-2m7Merz-2kXVe4x-2kscwuS-2kmZbDn-2hczLX3-2gB4gpD-2gB4g93-2gB4PNC-2gB4e9G-2gB4djq-2e7UesP-24UeQqK-2e7Ue1M-24UeQgg-2e4LedK-2fsF4Xk-2e4LcZT-2fnZGEy-2frpbRZ-2e3v5VP-2ekt2ko-2e3v5np-2fokkY2-2dZrDmM-Tf6N4E-2dXH7t4-2fmAfKt-RAdPtK-2fmAfpi-UoXwZj-DQXz6v-sdqfwX-2nMKXPS-sdeQKs-pripqq-hQBQxF-hQCF4B-hQCoJJ-hQCbdU-dccBp2-dccBfi-dccBaz-dccB8p">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Guillaume Chapron, in an editorial in the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp1306">venerable <i>Science </i>magazine</a>, highlights the challenges to achieving sustainable agriculture in Europe due to the greenlash policies advocated by the European agricultural sector. The piece is worth a read at the link above.</p><p>Before I get into the issue, it is first worth familiarizing ourselves with the term, greenlash. The term is similar to backlash in that it reflects a negative reaction. Greenlash, thus, is a large negative reaction of some type to policies that support sustainability. A greenlash for example could be a populist stand against electric car infrastructure.</p><p>In the case of Chapron's piece, greenlash refers to major protests from those in the agricultural sector against key policies of the European Union that focus on making agriculture (and the environment) more sustainable. Some of these policies included the reduction of pesticides, the set-aside of small amounts of farmland for native habitat and landscape restoration, and reduction of agricultural emissions. As a result of protests around Europe, the EU gave in on many of the planned sustainability rules. You can read more about this <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-farmer-protests-grow-the-eu-offers-more-environmental-concessions">here</a>.</p><p>As in the U.S., agriculture in Europe is highly subsidized by the general public. Indeed, support for agriculture is roughly 1/3 of the EU's total budget--with most of the funding going to big ag--not the smaller sustainable farmers.</p><p>The situation highlights some of the vulnerabilities of modern sustainability planning and rule making. While there is great public support for many sustainability initiatives, unless there is stakeholder buy-in, the implementation of initiatives can be bumpy. No matter how much the public may want to move forward on sustainability policy, there are political realities that need to be addressed in order for initiatives to be successful.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-46828343043496079412024-03-17T10:14:00.005-05:002024-03-25T10:55:04.740-05:00How Paris Greened the Upcoming Olympics<p><i><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyQCtGBvEuoNeXlcakCuaXIcbYZ2BK3ZfKzY7YEOSjFWGcQxXg_hxdkXs9cbnqW9jC-VONR6dXkHw7osqQ3fsg571XInemSy9GRCL1n4Bm8hU8W5RZIh5KgX9sWX6ogCOCDHbJPKj4oyieov18GBnyTcP3c6GdTe2vFh3ZqBmrwAyb_eFQ_KRbDGMFBO6/s800/2482021563_87ac3d4873_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyQCtGBvEuoNeXlcakCuaXIcbYZ2BK3ZfKzY7YEOSjFWGcQxXg_hxdkXs9cbnqW9jC-VONR6dXkHw7osqQ3fsg571XInemSy9GRCL1n4Bm8hU8W5RZIh5KgX9sWX6ogCOCDHbJPKj4oyieov18GBnyTcP3c6GdTe2vFh3ZqBmrwAyb_eFQ_KRbDGMFBO6/s320/2482021563_87ac3d4873_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dierkschaefer/2482021563/in/photolist-4Mk1xe-2jaYmHs-obG8es-CGfFZi-TfGm9f-qcYMxg-2hWkRDi-2jbBH3p-LmUfKi-2g9UPFd-2fGFeAW-J6gLri-9GZ8z3-pnLfAf-Kp2XU5-2jm1kbK-2jaZEwR-2jaRuX2-Li3ydq-qP5Z4D-2orLKLw-2459XMK-2o2cYJp-2kHRPQk-23skAkw-2jaZEqt-2ppv2xc-2hWAXPH-4R5hun-jGcKgD-2eCde63-2gArFpf-dNxxP7-2kHvyKp-2pfo6kT-2kXmkyx-2nqvJEG-2mtWrXi-BZf6o-orEF86-2iXYA7P-2kPcJUJ-wkzBwC-qTMFQ-KrC4Hb-2o7ZF5u-249dVJ6-osWS38-2kQ9DRz-8PQ2jE">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The New York Times</i> published a piece today by Somini Sengupta and Catherine Porter on the sustainability efforts of the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. The article is worth a read and is linked <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/16/climate/paris-olympics-climate.html">here</a>. There are several interesting innovative approaches that are highlighted, but I want to focus on three.</p><p>First, the organizers opted to limit building. We've all seen the grand displays that cities put on when the Olympics come to town: new stadia, new housing, and new roadways. Paris sought to limit new building to avoid the inevitable overbuilding and overdevelopment. While they are building a new Olympic village, they are trying to repurpose many existing venues for events.</p><p>Second, they have cut back sharply on the use of generators. As many involved with athletic events know, generators, which burn off of diesel fuel, are used as temporary sources of energy for venues that need greater use of power. Paris found ways to provide appropriate infrastructure to get energy from the existing grid, thus cutting back significantly on energy use.</p><p>Third, they are increasing the amount of plant-based food available at venues and cutting back on meat. This doesn't mean that meat will not be available, but plant based and more locally sourced food will be on the menu. You can read about that initiative directly on the Olympic's site <a href="https://www.paris2024.org/en/food-vision/">here</a>.</p><p>As the <i>Times</i> article points out, some are calling into question the overall need to even have a single city host a mega event like the Olympics. Using existing venues around the world would limit the Olympic's ecological footprint and it may be time to evaluate whether or not to restructure how we think about these types of events. Regardless, the Paris Olympics provides a great example how sports is making a significant impact on sustainability within our modern global culture. I've written quite a bit about sports and sustainability in this space and if you want to learn more, search "sports" in the search bar.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-38061448297500364682024-03-15T14:49:00.004-05:002024-03-15T14:49:43.343-05:00Why Did Geologists Reject the Anthropocene?<p> </p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/guY7GMmAi5Q?si=JljYrEbIwWtSTRog" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-18648096873750953742024-03-15T14:12:00.004-05:002024-03-15T14:12:54.064-05:00On the Brink is Back with a New Podcast<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiqG0sMco-t_tfzLEot4DMl6YMMraTmRKTjMQ0dS2u8Dt7oXZrX9br-43SDWaYdZbz0_1uoWxI3SK1p2z6uIOPoHvBn1AowSrjmUE6EFUPRdhxwcoKrkql4yZFI3jafFCZMifdIzqpwSHjinX6dsVrV7Zb97RRQmLSXiqipbXOGxwUuDW6BZ1R8j5IGa7/s800/8407508991_409520fb34_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiqG0sMco-t_tfzLEot4DMl6YMMraTmRKTjMQ0dS2u8Dt7oXZrX9br-43SDWaYdZbz0_1uoWxI3SK1p2z6uIOPoHvBn1AowSrjmUE6EFUPRdhxwcoKrkql4yZFI3jafFCZMifdIzqpwSHjinX6dsVrV7Zb97RRQmLSXiqipbXOGxwUuDW6BZ1R8j5IGa7/s320/8407508991_409520fb34_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/8407508991/in/photolist-dNWFvz-GCrfeF-qmsFPs-EcHiSC-afDnd8-nXu85b-83DxQi-GMBgV2-e1n2s2-bUx8Q2-nWYNgW-o1Xxj7-qUACLC-MZHsEJ-pVKe1q-kyqeFi-wd8EFE-nZP3Qh-8zi6n2-hyWrPw-a7EHtJ-gc5QDK-FUxM4n-NECmpL-e2KBAy-aiyKuT-b8ws4K-ox9A2y-hSGSaL-EXa3fx-BCByBo-qjf3bw-5m45n1-L8Pewz-cJiZr5-FzMkAh-qFPPZv-bsHHoP-binsBK-c7LqRj-eSgcRg-nWrP3Q-aCrDd5-M7uVKL-dths1d-bUx8Uv-bfSB24-cPfnQ5-PPZinL-cR9Lkd">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, the On the Brink hiatus lasted longer than anticipated, but I am back with some new additions to the blog. First of all, On the Brink is also a podcast on YouTube. I'll post the first episode in an upcoming post later today and I invite you to follow it. You can watch it on YouTube or download it on your favorite podcast platform and listen to it as you wish. Please subscribe and share with your networks. The podcast will be released twice a month on the 1st and 15th with special episodes interspersed throughout. The first set of special episodes will occur in April for Earth Month when I'll have a month-long sustainability challenge where I will provide challenges for listeners that I hope will help them live more sustainable lives.</p><p>The other change that you will see is that I will be focusing much more on highlighting some of the changes we are starting to see as a result of global change. Climate change and environmental degradation are accelerating and I believe it is important to educate as many people as possible about the challenges we are facing.</p><p>The blog will continue to highlight other environmental news, news from higher education, and series about my formal writing and series on the beautiful public lands in our world. Even though I have been away from this space for a few months, I know that I am committed to continuing my work on informal education on sustainability through my blog, On the Brink, and the new podcast into the future.</p><p></p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-37757292054407892342023-08-05T05:00:00.001-05:002023-08-05T05:00:00.147-05:00On the Brink On Hiatus for Several Weeks<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUafvKlCF9g1SzFiaZlOmKLBywN_T-9QG-CjCycPlFA6vbVF4DwmzW__YqLWNuFHCVB0xJZbZxFM1b9vzWT4_z1iC38r30p3HEP9OK2eGM8ijr9D4kugBIv2L7_exRbESLC_NshoqU591JebH0DVVxKUWaCdjGAgubxdUMsAL4SQcaS6YqKBoQL79xlYpM/s799/8339683991_16e72f771b_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUafvKlCF9g1SzFiaZlOmKLBywN_T-9QG-CjCycPlFA6vbVF4DwmzW__YqLWNuFHCVB0xJZbZxFM1b9vzWT4_z1iC38r30p3HEP9OK2eGM8ijr9D4kugBIv2L7_exRbESLC_NshoqU591JebH0DVVxKUWaCdjGAgubxdUMsAL4SQcaS6YqKBoQL79xlYpM/s320/8339683991_16e72f771b_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahmerinam/8339683991/in/photolist-dGX4v2-2jhvZM4-Sbtc8Z-2npbFga-2m7RDrm-THbHt7-2mEzmsp-2m4DemC-i5jsgX-4qo2iQ-2hVq6Qk-MaEEQG-2nyxXRM-2nbHhKi-FzjGMR-2msxzpR-LePoHg-2jzXdki-23A6vsV-5kAjqL-2mXpRjM-yVswP-2m4iYgK-2oDpJWB-2bdfmQ4-8xi8q-2jGJoKe-2h1uaQu-4jNyvJ-sqe9vR-9HKvyh-2gRFKQr-qFEWE9-FqsKG5-2jisJ1U-5Pip2G-2hi859E-dbZ6My-25XbKrZ-8Ftmuw-2iMiwGk-L5KyS5-vPbpWz-N1Jzo5-2jcbEsy-8PbQV9-QoPZUk-oXV55-FXh7z-A2G1UE">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As I gear up for the semester and tie up some publication projects, I am taking a little break from On the Brink. I know that many of you find me on this space because you are using my textbook, <i>Introduction to Sustainability,</i> in a class. Thank you for coming! I will have fresh content soon. In the mean time, if you are interested in any particular sustainability topic, feel free to explore the content here in the search bar. There are thousands of <i>On the Brink </i>posts that go back to 2011 and you just may wish to go back and scroll through the blog since I covered so many different topics over the last thirteen years. </p><p>I don't know when exactly I'll be back online. However, I'll make sure to post on various social media platforms when I post again. I have two big book projects underway--one focused on international sustainability efforts and one focused more on one nation's sustainability work. Once I get past the start of the semester and once I get a bit further along with the book projects, I'll be back.</p><p>Thank you again for stopping by--and don't forget, if you change yourself, you'll change the world!</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-27317110396537693332023-08-04T05:00:00.001-05:002023-08-04T05:00:00.141-05:00Sustainability in Higher Education Week Day 5: Top 10 Ways to Green Your Campus<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb-PYHuuPmzuRo5j25LIkVs8C0HMo3U-vC5VEfZGvhFls5OumUa_AcShj4et4oVSjy0_e4hRoiS1uu18eXx6nWqjApyVNdaNf2ZXuwmx3FxhVun24Sw0hvn-Z4Tkj9RXJEeF43c8tMVckAh3b4JYraKSeJPOy5gNV1bXedV8TJBM4auDkCk9l8tBxKdmK/s799/43487493452_f3151308e6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="799" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb-PYHuuPmzuRo5j25LIkVs8C0HMo3U-vC5VEfZGvhFls5OumUa_AcShj4et4oVSjy0_e4hRoiS1uu18eXx6nWqjApyVNdaNf2ZXuwmx3FxhVun24Sw0hvn-Z4Tkj9RXJEeF43c8tMVckAh3b4JYraKSeJPOy5gNV1bXedV8TJBM4auDkCk9l8tBxKdmK/s320/43487493452_f3151308e6_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/143106192@N03/43487493452/in/photolist-29fQLHS-5pkMyB-5pkMs2-25XFTPS-9148TJ-2mWfscG-6MBfxn-7cngRX-8yTnut-4zZsx-6MwkJe-2oPVTBU-8Nmx3j-MwdQi-9S8DBr-8V3gG6-6kJNxS-8CBFun-6ovBNK-aquLZ8-Vs8JDL-6G3d1A-bD58mM-aquxZt-6kJNxy-9NYRJy-5s1LRk-6PTcZf-9RofpS-eEWhzS-c8nDH1-74pTwT-6FY8jT-FAEa9-JWLXg-eXRkC3-57Tucf-o3xL8P-7CEeU-c5pC6J-61AYfZ-6eevxP-dDrtZW-4YGNcz-ojQTZA-ok1ich-gMws-7v1MA5-5zjazv-c6o1B1">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>To wind down Sustainability in Higher Education Week, here are my top 10 ways to green your campus:</p><p>1. Advocate for a Campus Sustainability Officer to lead sustainability efforts on campus.</p><p>2. Infuse sustainability in general education courses.</p><p>3. If you don't have one, create a sustainability degree.</p><p>4. Support student clubs and student activities focused on sustainability.</p><p>5. Support sustainability research, scholarship, and creative activities.</p><p>6. Work to reduce waste of all kinds on campus.</p><p>7. Advocate for native landscaping and green grounds management.</p><p>8. Support efforts for the campus to be seen as part of a regional food system.</p><p>9. Advocate for green energy programs and electric vehicle infrastructure.</p><p>10. Celebrate success and stay focused on the positive.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-82067654969264813752023-08-03T05:00:00.001-05:002023-08-03T05:00:00.143-05:00Sustainability in Higher Education Part 4: Food and Living<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCnd5bQ-_897XcIdWhJvnCxqB60z0hSOAd2RX_3sB4kISTdxuhws82WSGSZ9U2DVfv82Wem_L3IdfSMiSySMntkf92dJmS4_o-s8oyW-JfWfTRTJVPDKEyomu7yANj0Bw3xtQFjhCSHs4zT6a0dYg-X4G5UNBsdKtp5Ln2dS74F6Uk_7NFT4FlMMVVBIy/s640/5400119625_4cb6be248e_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCnd5bQ-_897XcIdWhJvnCxqB60z0hSOAd2RX_3sB4kISTdxuhws82WSGSZ9U2DVfv82Wem_L3IdfSMiSySMntkf92dJmS4_o-s8oyW-JfWfTRTJVPDKEyomu7yANj0Bw3xtQFjhCSHs4zT6a0dYg-X4G5UNBsdKtp5Ln2dS74F6Uk_7NFT4FlMMVVBIy/s320/5400119625_4cb6be248e_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/58915463@N05/5400119625/in/photolist-9ec2qM-Sz5jrU-HaxV4D-22ocAd8-C4z65q-uotBY-QGdH8X-owAupT-23tKGAS-ofWDqx-ccegvw-bQyHLz-ehK6cB-dwqJCf-23KGwBp-pK3byk-23L53bH-DK7KKs-5mBMjc-TN9av3-mWYVqg-dTiehP-mYq8h5-LY6s3w-y2Uh3M-9vbp5c-roG3wr-2ac6PM5-2btVbXa-ceKVmf-mc88tT-mc8QLv-YShrrG-dPWfYq-9iKDsq-2aCx9ZK-HZJt8d-ofhVV2-UH8uUj-4EAzRR-FH9DJd-7L8BcB-9xe6fg-2crWVn3-5Wm9js-UjtTA3-3XGPjs-9dvNRM-Sn4nAU-pk9u8u">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As I highlighted yesterday, there are many moving parts to universities and there are many points of intersection with sustainability. Today, I wanted to highlight two specific points of intersection: food and living. </p><p>If you've been to a university lately, you'll find that the dining options feel a bit more like a food court than traditional dining hall food. Along with some traditional dining hall options, students often have access to a range of fast food options. Over the years, I've seen pretty much every fast food option you can think of on a university campus--sometimes these options may seem unsustainable. However, most university campuses have built in sustainability planning within food services. Let me explain.</p><p>Universities typically partner with external food vendors to provide food services. Often these contracts contain particular requirements to provide a certain percentage of locally derived food, to offer sustainable seafood, or to require a certain percentage of organic or vegan food options. As a result, universities are often ahead of other organizations (say hospitals or corporate food canteens) in providing sustainable food choices. The food is often derived within a certain distance or is produced by local farmers. In addition, many campuses have moved to raising a certain amount of food on campus. </p><p>In addition, many campus dining hall chefs will work with students on dietary needs and many dining halls feature family food night based on suggestions from students who submit family recipes. Of course, vegan options are usually available on most campuses and chefs or dietitians are often available to help make sure that the nutritional needs of students are being met.</p><p>Living on campus often provides other areas for sustainability intersections. Residence halls often provide "green" living learning communities where students can meet others interested in sustainability or the environment. Plus, there are usually many clubs for students interested in making a difference.</p><p>Overall, the dining and living options for new students provide entry points for greater understanding of sustainability in higher education.</p><p>Coming up tomorrow, I'll provide a list of the top 10 ways to green your campus.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-63756707526161701892023-08-02T05:00:00.009-05:002023-08-02T05:00:00.156-05:00Sustainability in Higher Education Week Day 3: Facilities, Buildings, and Grounds<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5h5-XKmc6-IG8se9JjprHZ99U19LtxgY-deRjo9fH3wMRNYNJgd1HROhp1PXAGTq5At5UZ1PLf84MShHKPOF0meM-CyVsTZd4yuX5niOR4UDRs-AHSV3fiUBp-7Sldikmeuc0iFxrizx_JJhQSgcwqCLi7us_QkKJrWhSY0d1IBLTmvvH7W4NVWuVDGq/s640/31319086712_87e665c4cf_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5h5-XKmc6-IG8se9JjprHZ99U19LtxgY-deRjo9fH3wMRNYNJgd1HROhp1PXAGTq5At5UZ1PLf84MShHKPOF0meM-CyVsTZd4yuX5niOR4UDRs-AHSV3fiUBp-7Sldikmeuc0iFxrizx_JJhQSgcwqCLi7us_QkKJrWhSY0d1IBLTmvvH7W4NVWuVDGq/s320/31319086712_87e665c4cf_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/melystu/31319086712/in/photolist-PHyvkE-qoadZi-2o29UZw-6x1Xk2-NdVLzQ-838YMR-PqjmNy-2iW5Feb-773HGg-2kSpgFK-2g5QNpb-C6AoSM-bDjmST-2g6ZTQZ-fwJZ4-246uyhq-HY5nbC-qqb2W7-rjPTtk-2g6qaxN-BFKfbK-dMA68m-dgxxhG-83caBd-HGkcph-qEspKj-chRm3h-tTGiAE-777CUh-HbSqpC-2jd7tjQ-777Bdj-PqjZhf-84Mwbq-2jw7u2N-qWKRqT-hrG3FD-773NHz-27FS8dH-24W4K3A-XACreV-2hGvY3u-qEshbp-bWtLja-pKYcEn-83c9Pf-eMsJD5-83c9sE-83c7zj-773G3H">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As I noted earlier this week, universities are like small towns (or even big towns in some cases) or businesses. As such they have a range of operations that folks might not think about: snow removal, purchasing, grounds, building maintenance, energy plants, and everything in between. Each of the leaders of these units make decisions that can impact campus sustainability. As such, AASHE (see Monday's post <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/sustainability-in-higher-education-week.html">here</a>) provides significant resources for sustainably managing buildings, facilities, grounds, and a range of other units. I thought I would highlight a few areas to provide examples of ways that campuses are making a difference: building construction, building maintenance, and groundskeeping.</p><p>First of all, many universities have set green building standards for their campuses. For example, some universities have stated that they will only build buildings that achieve a particular LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard set by the US Green Building Coalition (see <a href="https://www.usgbc.org">here</a> for details). This building rating system looks at a number of characteristics of the building to evaluate how "green" it is. Areas like building materials, energy efficiency, water use, siting, and others are combined to create a rating of bronze, silver, gold, or platinum. If you visit most university campuses these days you will find that their newer buildings have one of these designations highlighted in a plaque near the building's entrance.</p><p>Building maintenance is another feature of campus sustainability that might escape attention. How we clean and maintain campus buildings has a major environmental impact. Many campuses have switched to a range of green cleaning products and have modified their maintenance practices to align with best practices identified by AASHE.</p><p>Finally, groundskeeping at universities has changed considerably. Many universities have moved away from the use of pesticides and weed control. In addition, many have focused on reducing lawn space while encouraging native ecosystems come back to unused areas of campuses. In this process, some campuses have built arboretums, native prairies, or restored wetlands. Campuses have developed policies of using only native plants for landscaping or have promoted using the grounds as a learning area for things like beekeeping or permaculture.</p><p>As we consider what makes a campus green, there are many things going on behind the scenes. Buildings, building maintenance, and ground are the green efforts that many miss when thinking about campus sustainability.</p><p>Coming up tomorrow, I will highlight food and campus living.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-84708494531246156322023-08-01T05:00:00.001-05:002023-08-01T05:00:00.152-05:00Sustainability in Higher Education Week Day 2: Sustainability in the Curriculum<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXCOGLxkwLPw3IZxD7NkTzjSs7JlHSQinGYEZI1uDJcmy_812UhYZQQ81pz9c1bhv8ZjTSHfBM8xMg3s9cpYLmXBqpZrLjXzpxDmnPTN9toct_fbvgBZ35J2NeeWPQu8VBzvPsQr8ocjQdHeQMXk2nTQPpcFRJgR4dMajjFNjQmgdydB17xqaKi2WdsJh/s800/8646490401_53666060d7_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="800" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXCOGLxkwLPw3IZxD7NkTzjSs7JlHSQinGYEZI1uDJcmy_812UhYZQQ81pz9c1bhv8ZjTSHfBM8xMg3s9cpYLmXBqpZrLjXzpxDmnPTN9toct_fbvgBZ35J2NeeWPQu8VBzvPsQr8ocjQdHeQMXk2nTQPpcFRJgR4dMajjFNjQmgdydB17xqaKi2WdsJh/s320/8646490401_53666060d7_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielmennerich/8646490401/in/photolist-eb4wmH-2mw1yAJ-2m1AwJf-2iBtwvy-BtcWbK-BrRDQn-2kwHYdA-JnWz1b-2o21rR6-2o4vzci-2iBTb9M-2o6ZYqX-2o72yQL-8qQyML-8qQ61U-2o6Y9Yg-FPCZG1-2o4sW4X-9PBsvU-2o718cv-2o731MS-2o21s9v-2gop8c9-2iBUDyf-EnMPfs-zjKdMB-2o73rCr-2nuMqDr-2ocWC37-5Axiq4-2nZZEe9-2o15VMV-2fiP2Lf-9RVy7S-2dZzFkk-2j9LoWJ-2ocVB5n-2nruN8j-2aw1Xx2-2iCntjU-pDy32b-2od4bya-2998BKY-2od1KDh-DsohWo-2oo49ds-2hFMv4w-9NdtCx-2ocWMSW-2dZzFo6">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Because sustainability emerged as a discipline in the late 20th century, universities are beginning to infuse sustainability within the curriculum. Prior to the advent of sustainability, universities largely focused on the dual areas of environmental policy and environmental science--often offering degree options in one or the other, or in some sort of combined degree. Today, one can still find these degrees at many universities. Compared to traditional degrees like Chemistry or Philosophy, these environmental science and policy degrees are relatively new. However, compared to emerging sustainability degrees, the environmental science and policy degrees seem quite venerable.<div><br /></div><div>But what is the difference between sustainability and the environmental science and policy approach?</div><div><br /></div><div>There really are three important distinctions. First of all, sustainability is built on the three pillars of environment, economics, and equity. While some might argue that environmental policy embraces these issues, the reality is that sustainability put economics and equity front and center along with the environment. Thus for many, sustainability is a more holistic approach to major sustainability issues. Second, sustainability is all about setting goals, benchmarking, measuring, and authenticating results. While environmental science may have had some of these themes, sustainability is a practical results-oriented applied discipline. Finally, sustainability tends to look holistically at organizations at different scales to make improvements. For example, one could look at a national, state, or local government level to set goals and make improvements. Or, one could look at a business or non-profit. Or, one could look at one's family to set goals and make improvements by changing behavior. In many ways, sustainability could be looked at as a more applied version of environmental science and policy--however, it is distinctly different from them.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4N_BA-ADSJtEe-vhE9LpDjpPPYWg-9ev_eJarxXtXa3neuhj1IePyPDcYWmfxYcqfZtIyRzmkiR3jmPgRBXKnEyIlCCd3JU3nJESMVooATF4DXDAM4jO548x7cp51hwx5oJK3risgwON3rVC3wkFzFLldVziJGAlYaFOmqQT1Vx1a0bLWE_DEr4a_3HE/s800/23194392511_0b7cdd6d73_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4N_BA-ADSJtEe-vhE9LpDjpPPYWg-9ev_eJarxXtXa3neuhj1IePyPDcYWmfxYcqfZtIyRzmkiR3jmPgRBXKnEyIlCCd3JU3nJESMVooATF4DXDAM4jO548x7cp51hwx5oJK3risgwON3rVC3wkFzFLldVziJGAlYaFOmqQT1Vx1a0bLWE_DEr4a_3HE/s320/23194392511_0b7cdd6d73_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mypubliclands/23194392511/in/photolist-BkBjPa-Bhk7x5-D9JRNk-ha1eHT-MJAwNQ-JboeFU-AtinGo-qrvn4-cjKMu5-yTMb4v-s6gqA7-qLegn8-sGLGQ-ogLBbR-q2zgAK-2QgzkA-c8UdxL-AwdrNv-d8YNLW-gonswB-qncz7q-xtdqnP-xqTNz5-5u1nze-pV1Ta6-83c9Pf-h9ZBBs-9Cao9g-bAgp4B-kEN7Cn-ASjYKK-rKQhNp-e1kusi-33Hu9R-oxjBJ8-Mz5oam-mckoua-hjB8sH-6EZAkB-jLKR2M-AC9RTu-cuDQVJ-7oykU4-bV2yuT-BB4M2u-c8wsno-sGHpY2-dM8qTV-JPpNBq-MARYRV">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>But how is sustainability getting into the curriculum? In fact, I believe that there are three specific ways and I will highlight them below.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, all over the world, universities are more and more offering introductory sustainability courses to college students as part of their general education curriculum. I started the first sustainability courses at USF and at Hofstra University and developed the first major textbook in sustainability around those teaching materials (it is now in its second edition and can be seen <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Introduction+to+Sustainability%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781119675464">here</a>). Since that time, several other books came on the market which is a testament to the growth of the discipline.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, many faculty are infusing sustainability within existing curriculum. Thus, if you are teaching a business class, you are likely bringing in materials associated with the ESG's or highlighting green financing. Indeed, you can find examples of how sustainability has transformed existing curriculum in almost every major.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, there are a number of new sustainability degree programs that have emerged in recent years. There are many jobs out there for folks trained in sustainability--especially corporate and organizational sustainability. With all of the challenges we are facing on the planet, I believe that the jobs in this area will only increase.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I highlighted in yesterday's post <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/sustainability-in-higher-education-week.html">here</a>, AASHE has a tremendous number of resources available and there is a great deal of information on curricular transformation on their website.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coming up tomorrow, we will change topic and look at how things like buildings, facilities, and grounds are managed from a sustainability lens.</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, if you liked this post, please share it out there on your networks.</div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-34389201008035468872023-07-31T06:32:00.003-05:002023-07-31T06:34:52.495-05:00Sustainability in Higher Education Week Day 1: Holistic Approaches and AASHE<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNFFZAEY7QpctJq-bvu-ubHdbD22YfrOfpeP_fskHKXMKjP4BnDx-XoK4IaDF5xCdPl_9LeUt0siYRscbA5rLeyYH0nK0qbw4MrN3X31dV1gaepwOJT_Vj2lA7SkHDLdcoCI4lRfsSMwYNrmjFvyilhFSsy2siKWDgmSCg6U3pkweHJHuzWYPxDSRyXq/s799/4993657459_b0b0ff4647_c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNFFZAEY7QpctJq-bvu-ubHdbD22YfrOfpeP_fskHKXMKjP4BnDx-XoK4IaDF5xCdPl_9LeUt0siYRscbA5rLeyYH0nK0qbw4MrN3X31dV1gaepwOJT_Vj2lA7SkHDLdcoCI4lRfsSMwYNrmjFvyilhFSsy2siKWDgmSCg6U3pkweHJHuzWYPxDSRyXq/s320/4993657459_b0b0ff4647_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanfordedtech/4993657459/in/photolist-8BgNop-73wP3Y-8BjUuf-m1aKsC-8LYoCw-y1WJys-eKYLoG-fuqPMN-73wNZm-8B13L5-bSKJxK-8B16zA-7Mz5gp-8B15FU-Avxbu-4uQAbZ-9V51oC-8AZW7Q-9kthbV-73wPSS-8AWSRr-4snHFE-8AWQsX-aFhoxX-pf8m7B-fLaBAf-CbHjU6-dKhszN-dbZqAx-m1aExs-8AWQ28-cgxvT9-qXhyiE-fdkjRB-8B15Ph-8AWPBP-7Jnf1m-cWfTus-8AZVjf-8B14p3-nQpF4r-rD4cxJ-8wR3q3-8AWStM-dNXhCH-8AWZqc-8AWPMc-73wPGJ-okqk6p-8wR2P7">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Since I work in higher education, and because many of the readers of <i>On the Brink</i> are in higher ed, I thought I would take a week to focus on sustainability in higher education--especially since the start of the semester is around the corner. Over the next several days, I am going to focus on the following topics:</p><p>Day 1: Holistic Approaches and AASHE</p><p>Day 2: Teaching Sustainability in the Curriculum</p><p>Day 3: Buildings, Facilities, and Grounds</p><p>Day 4: Food and Living</p><p>Day 5: Top 10 Ways to Green Your Campus</p><p>Today, I am highlighting holistic ways to approach sustainability on campus. The thing about universities is that they are a lot like a small town. They have a distinct space which has roads, buildings, commerce, and so many other things that small towns have. Because of this, they have to maintain streets, buildings, and lawns; offer up food, electricity, water, and sewage systems; provide governance, leadership, and vision for stakeholders; and teach and inspire new generations of learners. The management of a university is no small task. Universities also must change with the times and are often leading in a range of social movements such as in antiracism and sustainability.</p><p>The green movement really took off at universities in the late 1960's and came to a head in 1970 with the first Earth Day which was a worldwide teach-in focused on the environment. Many universities participated in that first Earth Day and today it is hard to find a campus that doesn't have some type of Earth Day event focused on teaching about the environment.</p><p>With Earth Day came a desire to make campuses greener. Over the last fifty years, universities have done quite a bit of work to focus on a range of environmental issues such as enhancing native vegetation on campuses, reducing carbon emissions, or creating green teams to work on a range of campus environmental initiatives.</p><p></p>With the advent of sustainability in the 1980's and the three E's concept of environment, economy, and equity as pillars of sustainability, campuses broadened their environmental initiatives to focus on economy (particularly divestment from fossil fuels and costs of education), and equity (often in the form of community engagement).<p></p><p>However, in the early 2000's, it was clear that there was a need for national leadership in sustainability in higher education. Universities were doing what they could, but didn't necessarily know the best practices from around the country. For example, if you were starting a new sustainability initiative at a university, you didn't have any where to go for guidance at the national level. You had to develop your sustainability initiative based on local knowledge. </p><p>To address this issue, a new organization was formed in the early 2000's called the American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE. Their mission is to : <i>inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation.</i> They provide a range of services including a benchmarking <a href="https://stars.aashe.org">tool called STARS</a> which helps to rank universities based on their sustainability successes. They also provide an <a href="https://hub.aashe.org">information hub</a> which shares a range of best practices on a variety of topics such as food, buildings, curriculum, and grounds. They also host an annual conference, and provide opportunities for training. You can poke around their website <a href="https://www.aashe.org">here</a>. There is a fee to join AASHE, but once a university is a member, anyone at the university can create an account to get access to the resources and participate in events.</p><p>AASHE has helped transform higher education in the last twenty years. Hundreds of universities have participated in the STARS rating system. Many universities now have professional sustainability managers who help to ensure that they follow the best practices in the field. The mission of AASHE to catalyze higher education is certainly well underway.</p><p>Coming up tomorrow, I'll focus on teaching sustainability. Big thanks to everyone for coming to read this post. If you liked it, please share it around.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-61248637188293902652023-07-30T12:33:00.002-05:002023-07-30T12:33:15.765-05:00Answers to the July Sustainability News Roundup Quiz<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wrh59aTzRJU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-32643499827122756152023-07-30T05:30:00.002-05:002023-07-30T05:30:00.140-05:00July 2023 News Roundup Quiz!<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd8047EJ57xc19RupZUk6eTg8I2WLGPgy6lEErUa-punpMhdYt92MUXCoQXYbqFd2SBgVrWPiVmdKEnYLYtdTqKyXWMOBGoVelWAuPWuyj8UgjYGBeQwzQtBR0-68_vqbSWw3kntQukUg8RYWKJUF4SS1yu3yPnxMSZpPq35KiSxtuEX3BKhK_CmpGcA7/s800/13558848975_89da28a40b_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd8047EJ57xc19RupZUk6eTg8I2WLGPgy6lEErUa-punpMhdYt92MUXCoQXYbqFd2SBgVrWPiVmdKEnYLYtdTqKyXWMOBGoVelWAuPWuyj8UgjYGBeQwzQtBR0-68_vqbSWw3kntQukUg8RYWKJUF4SS1yu3yPnxMSZpPq35KiSxtuEX3BKhK_CmpGcA7/s320/13558848975_89da28a40b_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/13558848975/in/photolist-mE9Dqc-iDZBoj-hB8eFt-fmLQVc-cHuALN-cAtxiU-cwZS7s-cr3w79-ce8bnf-bZbXu3-aejdqh-aejda3-aejcH9-aegoPe-aejct1-aego3x-aegnFp-aaYTnT-aapopP-a8ZJFx-a3XDrR-9ZVHZY-9YZT7T-9YUM9w-9YBjVB-9YEes3-8nRq5y-7F89YJ-7DBu97-7fntrw-6KFa5t-6D1nzZ-6BqjXF-6scQ1Q-6rcTSo-61KhnT-5W5oHY-5vgosi-5csRqc-5aT7Wd-57LEao-52SyuA-527crD-52bbqE-51e2aM-4YyrWV-4K75Ay-4joxqi-3KyV1D-3qLkzd">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Over the last week, I covered a number of important news stories that emerged in July, 2023. It is time to study up and get ready for the quiz. Take a moment to review the links below before jumping in to take the quiz which follows.</p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-sustainability-news-roundup-week.html">Day 1: Extreme Weather in Southern Europe</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-new-roundup-week-day-2-extreme.html">Day 2: Extreme Weather in the U.S.</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-sustainability-news-roundup-week_26.html">Day 3: Florida Insurance Woes</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-news-roundup-week-day-4-new-report.html">Day 4: Vegan Diet Better for the Planet</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-news-roundup-week-day-5-changing.html">Day 5: Changing Currents in the Atlantic</a></p><p>Ready? Please answer True or False after each question. The correct responses will be on my YouTube channel later today and I will also post them in the blog.</p><p>1. Forest fires on the Greek island of Rhodes caused evacuations.</p><p>2. The state-backed Florida insurance provider is expected to write a total of 100,000 policies this coming year.</p><p>3. Vegan diets are quantitatively better for the planet than a conventional meat-based diet.</p><p>4. The Atlantic ocean current that moderates our climate is called the AMOK.</p><p>5. Phoenix was expected to experience the entire month of July with daily temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.</p><p>6. We experienced the hottest day on the planet in human memory this month.</p><p>7. Baseball sized hail in France injured over 100 people.</p><p>8. One of the impacts of the breakdown of the Atlantic currents could be glaciers in Northern Europe.</p><p>9. The international effort to cut meat from the diet once a week is called Meatless Wednesday.</p><p>10. You don't need a homeowner's insurance policy to get a mortgage in Florida.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-11820802737969299842023-07-29T05:00:00.001-05:002023-07-29T05:00:00.154-05:00Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument<p> Today I continue my series on all 129 U.S. National Monuments. This is in follow up to <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2016/01/full-list-of-on-brink-national-park.html">my series that featured open access photos of all of the U.S. National Parks</a>. In the coming years, I will highlight open access images all of the U.S. National Monuments in alphabetical order.</p><p>Today's featured monument is Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean. This is not one of the monuments that was <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2017/05/27-us-national-monuments-under-review.html">under review for delisting as per executive order by the former president</a>. Following the photos is a list of U.S. National Monuments previously featured on this blog. </p><p>Stop back tomorrow for my June Sustainability New Roundup Quiz!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ad37HBZ6iJlLFH6T1w-fQKAd0M9p0wUFny1Y_HobFKpGrp_EFtTkHT28l8D4ZzydXGkq0-0J6OpUvmHg6uh4xXqfuLu5cHi_ODDBGgsAowjJRViPmnMkh-FkYC5b4kr0m9I8dvkEE4ftNOUa5QMP9BRxC7MlsSdOdNHZljq26axWjqyS-b0apdzrAxt8/s799/30112806655_11285e21cf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="799" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ad37HBZ6iJlLFH6T1w-fQKAd0M9p0wUFny1Y_HobFKpGrp_EFtTkHT28l8D4ZzydXGkq0-0J6OpUvmHg6uh4xXqfuLu5cHi_ODDBGgsAowjJRViPmnMkh-FkYC5b4kr0m9I8dvkEE4ftNOUa5QMP9BRxC7MlsSdOdNHZljq26axWjqyS-b0apdzrAxt8/s320/30112806655_11285e21cf_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usoceangov/30112806655/in/photolist-MSY1iD-2kJFoz9-WYCGtq-8X5BBp-AojCwK-Wmgjpg-SYKTWh-p6AaF9-p6zctv-8NMPYs-jzQWFk-Skh6mR-jzQDRr-8NMQrG-8X5BwH-jzVE4T-Skh6zM-8NMQjG-po5pye-ZEVkwE-p6zcmX-8NJJLV-jzUFGx-jzTqke-8NJJJa-8NMPSA-jzUFZr-jzQX94-p6AauY-8NMPK5-21HtrjW-RKvN5s-jzPeWV-jzWV6n-8NMPAC-jzU8F1-jzR7vm-jzMYwF-jzQ4NN-Tm8CHd-jzRtib-jzQhq2-8NJK7a-Skh6Mk-jzRyKx-jzTqvz-jzYQpC-jzQWmx-GPCauM-jzW8hw">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCfPfN_AeXInSHK6uFdBfPBZ9tOVRxgel_kcPQDkKCG54c9KihYF3UZfkBFVEz_29LLk09X0u4lId_3Wf1Td4gFghSLbkjCDxS3xHvFqS2CTOpvfoOFzfMCdZ6FUuHKWJyHoOC3Oq-ksAdJtTjxC05qAp5JvCD_oaPO8h28Ib3Nt8iKNb-19a487lG0f6/s800/12197897325_c323e3ef46_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="800" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCfPfN_AeXInSHK6uFdBfPBZ9tOVRxgel_kcPQDkKCG54c9KihYF3UZfkBFVEz_29LLk09X0u4lId_3Wf1Td4gFghSLbkjCDxS3xHvFqS2CTOpvfoOFzfMCdZ6FUuHKWJyHoOC3Oq-ksAdJtTjxC05qAp5JvCD_oaPO8h28Ib3Nt8iKNb-19a487lG0f6/s320/12197897325_c323e3ef46_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/12197897325/in/photolist-jzMYwF-jzQ4NN-Tm8CHd-jzRtib-jzQhq2-8NJK7a-Skh6Mk-jzRyKx-jzTqvz-jzYQpC-jzQWmx-GPCauM-jzW8hw-RKvNdd-pm3qt7-RKvMWw-rxznBs-B172aq-GPC6En-21yJEJf-ZEVk8o-GPC86D-S6w7EW-21LgwYr-21HtuiS-RKvMoC-SgABW7-S6w8hY-RKvNjW-SgAByy-8X8CFo-8X8CQm-S6w82s-jzTpUz-po5pCn-p6zw97-8NMQhJ-8NMPC3-8NMQ7G-8NMQxy-8NMQbh-21LgwmK-21HtrLs-21Htrsb-21Htrvs-21HtsCs-21Htspb-p4M7Dp-kUp3ae-RKvMds">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErLtjQt6DyV2ekwKvUq31yw-fXpjXlchpARqjR2lR7LVKHgEqdn-txw-Aik-MjXbuc6X0lleqjrEndjA0JFoVc2GKdmH_Aejt-7zffQ05Xp2h8p15EX83cMFVVHRBfhaPWfHDm1wqeQiF5TUwOuhtBn-D1OUoRJdoF6v5fRbi-0hPoyo1tedY3lax4v9-/s800/26793202009_8a9bc95a6a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErLtjQt6DyV2ekwKvUq31yw-fXpjXlchpARqjR2lR7LVKHgEqdn-txw-Aik-MjXbuc6X0lleqjrEndjA0JFoVc2GKdmH_Aejt-7zffQ05Xp2h8p15EX83cMFVVHRBfhaPWfHDm1wqeQiF5TUwOuhtBn-D1OUoRJdoF6v5fRbi-0hPoyo1tedY3lax4v9-/s320/26793202009_8a9bc95a6a_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/26793202009/in/photolist-jzMYwF-jzQ4NN-Tm8CHd-jzRtib-jzQhq2-8NJK7a-Skh6Mk-jzRyKx-jzTqvz-jzYQpC-jzQWmx-GPCauM-jzW8hw-RKvNdd-pm3qt7-RKvMWw-rxznBs-B172aq-GPC6En-21yJEJf-ZEVk8o-GPC86D-S6w7EW-21LgwYr-21HtuiS-RKvMoC-SgABW7-S6w8hY-RKvNjW-SgAByy-8X8CFo-8X8CQm-S6w82s-jzTpUz-po5pCn-p6zw97-8NMQhJ-8NMPC3-8NMQ7G-8NMQxy-8NMQbh-21LgwmK-21HtrLs-21Htrsb-21Htrvs-21HtsCs-21Htspb-p4M7Dp-kUp3ae-RKvMds">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpRZTPYTsK3gAwrH524n4qN0lvCICktXWajw1HSgG_TXrBJIttiewjc7YlJVf1YsJPZR1Y85LCdcLMUWXxOM8QYek8fHrnTFAwsGkroPYy6mOqNwnOEeqsI3lQls87iLEVuftUIJ1FOf6amQRTscf6iRz0JBezjPI07M1JkC5XCE0zxOfACAKy16cyu5D/s800/15159454498_dcc300398e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpRZTPYTsK3gAwrH524n4qN0lvCICktXWajw1HSgG_TXrBJIttiewjc7YlJVf1YsJPZR1Y85LCdcLMUWXxOM8QYek8fHrnTFAwsGkroPYy6mOqNwnOEeqsI3lQls87iLEVuftUIJ1FOf6amQRTscf6iRz0JBezjPI07M1JkC5XCE0zxOfACAKy16cyu5D/s320/15159454498_dcc300398e_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/15159454498/in/photolist-p6AaF9-p6zctv-8NMPYs-jzQWFk-Skh6mR-jzQDRr-8NMQrG-8X5BwH-jzVE4T-Skh6zM-8NMQjG-po5pye-ZEVkwE-p6zcmX-8NJJLV-jzUFGx-jzTqke-8NJJJa-8NMPSA-jzUFZr-jzQX94-p6AauY-8NMPK5-21HtrjW-RKvN5s-jzPeWV-jzWV6n-8NMPAC-jzU8F1-jzR7vm-jzMYwF-jzQ4NN-Tm8CHd-jzRtib-jzQhq2-8NJK7a-Skh6Mk-jzRyKx-jzTqvz-jzYQpC-jzQWmx-GPCauM-jzW8hw-RKvNdd-pm3qt7-RKvMWw-rxznBs-B172aq-GPC6En-21yJEJf">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMZ9Ty4rD1reIkwtPJ98Q2cQxu_uw2QudJ68Zz-xzj0E-70TGkuNWaKox4_XowrtzenkiExVsRbuTurMARpM7kEjM4ckpWqCqTh4rAcStcjCzBeyQQnKORV72lwCcDTApK7e9F0QWIFBQ_r5E9fr3_9j0aC5VscqFSiCPVLOH6Fco5cYA9i4iMmAu_UEe/s800/12198145563_d5e239065e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMZ9Ty4rD1reIkwtPJ98Q2cQxu_uw2QudJ68Zz-xzj0E-70TGkuNWaKox4_XowrtzenkiExVsRbuTurMARpM7kEjM4ckpWqCqTh4rAcStcjCzBeyQQnKORV72lwCcDTApK7e9F0QWIFBQ_r5E9fr3_9j0aC5VscqFSiCPVLOH6Fco5cYA9i4iMmAu_UEe/s320/12198145563_d5e239065e_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/12198145563/in/photolist-jzUFGx-jzTqke-8NJJJa-8NMPSA-jzUFZr-jzQX94-p6AauY-8NMPK5-21HtrjW-RKvN5s-jzPeWV-jzWV6n-8NMPAC-jzU8F1-jzR7vm-jzMYwF-jzQ4NN-Tm8CHd-jzRtib-jzQhq2-8NJK7a-Skh6Mk-jzRyKx-jzTqvz-jzYQpC-jzQWmx-GPCauM-jzW8hw-RKvNdd-pm3qt7-RKvMWw-rxznBs-B172aq-GPC6En-21yJEJf-ZEVk8o-GPC86D-S6w7EW-21LgwYr-21HtuiS-RKvMoC-SgABW7-S6w8hY-RKvNjW-SgAByy-8X8CFo-8X8CQm-S6w82s-jzTpUz-po5pCn">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><p><u>Previous On the Brink posts on the U.S. National Monuments</u></p><div><div><div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Admiralty Island National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">African Burial Ground National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agate Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agua Fria National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aniakchak National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aztec Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bandelier National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Basin and Range National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bears Ears National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Booker T. Washington National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Browns Canyon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Buck Island Reef National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cabrillo National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">California Coastal National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyon de Chelly National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyons of the Ancients National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cape Krusenstern National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Capulin Volcano National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Carrizo Plain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Casa Grande Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cascade Siskiyou National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castillo de San Marco National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Clinton National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Mountains National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cedar Breaks National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">César E. Chávez National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chimney Rock National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chiricahua National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Colorado National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Craters of the Moon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Postpile National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Tower National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Dinosaur National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Effigy Mounds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Malpais National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Morro National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Frederica National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Matanzas National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort McHenry National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Monroe National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Ord National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Pulaski National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Stanwix National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Union National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fossil Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Freedom Riders National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Birthplace National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Carver National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Giant Sequoia National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gold Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Governors Island National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/05/grand-canyon-parashant-national-monument.html">Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-portage-national-monument.html">Grand Portage National Monument </a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-staircase-escalante-national.html">Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hagerman-fossil-beds-national-monument.html">Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hanford-reach-national-monument.html">Hanford Reach National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad.html">Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/hohokam-pima-national-monument.html">Hohokam Pima National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/08/hovenweep-national-monument.html">Hovenweep National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/10/ironwood-forest-national-monument.html">Ironwood Forest National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/jewel-cave-national-monument.html">Jewel Cave National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/john-day-fossil-bed-national-monument.html">John Day Fossil Bed National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/12/jurassic-national-monument.html">Jurassic National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/01/kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national.html">Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/05/katahdin-woods-and-waters-national.html">Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/07/lava-beds-national-monument.html">Lava Beds National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/little-bighorn-battlefield-national.html">Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/marianas-trench-national-monument.html">Marianas Trench National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/medgar-and-myrlie-evars-home-national.html">Medgar and Myrlie Evers National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/military-working-dog-teams-national.html">Military Working Dog Teams National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/mill-springs-battlefield-national.html">Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/01/misty-fjords-national-monument.html">Misty Fjords National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/02/mojave-trails-national-monument.html">Mojave Trails National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/montezuma-castle-national-monument.html">Montezuma Castle National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/mount-st-hellens-volcanic-national.html">Mount St. Helens National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/muir-woods-national-monument.html">Muir Woods National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/natural-bridges-national-monument.html">Natural Bridges National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/navajo-national-monument.html">Navajo National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/newberry-volcanic-national-monument.html">Newberry Volcanic National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/northeast-canyons-and-seamounts-marine.html">Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/oregon-caves-national-monument.html">Oregon Caves National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national.html">Organ Mountains--Desert Peaks National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument.html">Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument</a></div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-53342784004449519192023-07-28T05:32:00.002-05:002023-07-28T05:32:57.109-05:00July News Roundup Week Day 5: Changing Currents in the Atlantic<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LDbcrxAe-m1KgkdmyM0JEiQ8YDV52uLA_wgx5jmZiN-d6tGdO90ZrZuDlMdBmwK8Vp0mhJs5FH80gQtsCiU2wVOC1GPClmHS_7nIEAQdsk33nNRjmQREOtNqfINPrbLSA0phmOS4QOqxsrswSrfopF6VI_vXRDcVuIBOHNJ3cXErai_9aM19ISB8A4H_/s800/53035531148_f00fde85ae_c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LDbcrxAe-m1KgkdmyM0JEiQ8YDV52uLA_wgx5jmZiN-d6tGdO90ZrZuDlMdBmwK8Vp0mhJs5FH80gQtsCiU2wVOC1GPClmHS_7nIEAQdsk33nNRjmQREOtNqfINPrbLSA0phmOS4QOqxsrswSrfopF6VI_vXRDcVuIBOHNJ3cXErai_9aM19ISB8A4H_/s320/53035531148_f00fde85ae_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tombass59/53035531148/in/photolist-2oNyXFs-2oNyXEa-2oNyXCm-2oNxpNx-2oNtAgr-2oNmG22-2oNjDBT-2oNkzcS-2oNkz1e-2oNmDwC-2oNn5dK-2oNgCqS-2oNgC3c-2oNgBTE-2oNn4jR-2oNkwnP-2oNn3MD-2oNkw7o-2oNmAWc-2oNgAia-2oNmApq-2oNgzEX-2oNgyVF-2oNmyFv-2oNjwPj-2oNktos-2oNgxNW-2oNmZsh-2oNgxDh-2oNmYNM-2oNmwh7-2oNfMJ5-2oNf2dm-2oMSNWG-2oMSSqs-2oMRpLK-2oMCehR-2oMuphz-2oMroBy-2oMpnUG-2oMqecn-2oMpmny-2oMrqTN-2oMi9bE-2oMfTKB-2oMcUnk-2oMhSv7-2oMfTyz-2oMd88K-2oMaUUq">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>One of the great things about the Atlantic Ocean is the way it regulates global temperatures. It has a current system that brings cold water from the polar regions toward the equator and warm water from equatorial regions toward the poles. That is why we have warm ocean currents (the Gulf Stream) off of New England and why equatorial waters don't just continue to get warmer.<p></p><p>This current hasn't always been in place. During climate shifts on the planet, the current was less active. As a result, polar regions cooled significantly since there wasn't the moderating impact of warm water working its way north. </p><p>There has been concern that our current era of global climate change could change the Atlantic currents known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). It hasn't been a serious concern given the power of the circulatory system. It would be hard to change it. However, a new report linked <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/25/atlantic-ocean-amoc-climate-change/">here</a> suggests that it could break down by the middle of this century. The report is getting a ton of attention in the press.</p><p>If the scientific modeling is accurate, the changing ocean currents would create some crazy weather.</p><p>Northern Europe would get much colder and it is likely that glaciers would develop over time in some areas. In addition, the tropical waters of the Atlantic would get warmer and severe weather and hurricanes would increase.</p><p>It is important to note that this is just one paper by two scientists. I think the media really jumped on this story because there is so much attention on our changing climate right now given all of the temperature records we are breaking. This issue certainly needs greater attention. However, if these ocean currents do shift, it would immediately fundamentally change the climate of our planet and we would be facing a very different future. Time will tell. Until then, we should be doing all that we can to try to limit our greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>This concludes July News Roundup Week! There was some important news out there this month. Big thanks to all of you for visiting and for sharing these posts. I have seen visitor rates really ramp up lately and I appreciate all of you who are spreading the word. </p><p>Since we are getting close to the start of the academic year, next week will be Back to School Week on <i>On the Brink</i> where I'll cover a number of sustainability issues in higher eduction. Stop back tomorrow for my weekly post on the U.S. National Monuments and on Sunday for the July News Roundup Week Quiz.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-44920521959693661092023-07-27T05:00:00.002-05:002023-07-27T05:00:00.140-05:00July News Roundup Week Day 4: New Report Shows Vegan Diet Better for the Planet<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJ2knnmC7f7rOXz45xj1Bds6W32DmAsI9wY-Iyw9NFGQxKoOE9v1eOUNK1t0HB0WoEPGgZVIqxmwW8a6yu8GgGCtoU7CFA6Oer2p8lk_INlMBa7mJjbkNckhn_PNyOQgrcx5vWQX0DOlGlbujq2NL-iRMlbMnHtby5fv-gWGFkOhjAa9OGFq5L_N64oZe/s800/52855821184_77b4dc9d30_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJ2knnmC7f7rOXz45xj1Bds6W32DmAsI9wY-Iyw9NFGQxKoOE9v1eOUNK1t0HB0WoEPGgZVIqxmwW8a6yu8GgGCtoU7CFA6Oer2p8lk_INlMBa7mJjbkNckhn_PNyOQgrcx5vWQX0DOlGlbujq2NL-iRMlbMnHtby5fv-gWGFkOhjAa9OGFq5L_N64oZe/s320/52855821184_77b4dc9d30_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/52855821184/in/photolist-2owFUaN-2owC3V4-2ovyfYm-2ovDvn2-2ou1SYQ-2ou2ZRM-2otZXRK-2otX1M6-2otWZXF-2ou1Ra4-2otWZmk-2ooH3a3-2oG5hLN-2oG5E9L-2oynMop-2owH2Ro-2owF2AU-2owH2QB-2owH2Qg-2owC3V9-2owFU8U-2ovCccc-2ovDhiU-2ovCc84-2onczbC-2ou3coh-2otX1sP-2ou1RCy-2orUwsz-2okNG2K-2okccZ5-2ojMUG4-2ojuPAi-2ojuPgk-2ojx1BS-2ojqVbz-2ojt7Y7-2ojtqf9-2ojsgRy-2ojmSpw-2ogUx8X-2o8JLRA-2o7RTyn-2o4CJrq-2o39orq-2o2XT1S-2o2XSPz-2o2Ye6e-2o2Vrew-2o2WTgc">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>This news headline shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has been following along her at <i>On the Brink</i> for any amount of time. I have highlighted the impact of meat and dairy on the planet several times in this space. Thus, this latest report, linked <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/oxford-scientists-confirm-vegan-diet-is-massively-better-for-planet">here</a>, only confirms what many folks have been saying for many years: one of the best ways that you can make a difference on the planet is to reduce your meat consumption. </p><p>Note that I did not urge you to go vegan. Your diet is a personal choice and I do not want to tell anyone what to do. However, I think it is important to consider how you can reduce meat consumption in your diet if you want to address a range of environmental issues.</p><p>As the report notes, vegan diets are better for climate change, water use, and biodiversity. If those things matter to you, and they should, it is worth considering how you can make different food choices.</p><p>If you want to start easy, try doing Meatless Mondays. I did a whole series on Meatless Monday some time back and you can find a link to the posts <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/08/meatless-monday-part-5-deepening-your.html">here</a>. Just cutting meat from your diet one day a week makes a huge difference over a lifetime. Of course, you can deepen your commitment by going meatless several times a week, or by trying a vegan or vegetarian diet.</p><p>Regardless of how or if you modify your diet, it is worth pointing out that there are tons of vegetarian protein options out there on the market that makes going meatless one day a week or more super easy. </p><p>As I like to say, if you change yourself, you change the world. If you want to see a more sustainable planet, one easy way to get there is by changing your eating habits.</p><p>Coming up tomorrow on the final sustainability news item of the month, I'll highlight some news that broke in the last couple of days about the Atlantic Ocean currents.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-49251011034027392932023-07-26T06:06:00.001-05:002023-07-26T06:11:22.167-05:00July Sustainability News Roundup Week Day 3: Florida Insurance Woes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijknwkgA1wJqcN-UbzWL2nqusUFnQmpMh9zr4xN3NeXdzeU1maww9FQxrkeydEGeIse4TQaffxLrKjFCC5gPW8SPPUdGRsldqY4vWjb_1-819ACta3kl9IwcIubciaRf4dgNQOo2SB_VnmGhTnBw1HQ6Ct-w-TXj4V9sZeLOY2AfTL20A3LP4b1Ovk21Ez/s799/52400539245_39aab9043f_c.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijknwkgA1wJqcN-UbzWL2nqusUFnQmpMh9zr4xN3NeXdzeU1maww9FQxrkeydEGeIse4TQaffxLrKjFCC5gPW8SPPUdGRsldqY4vWjb_1-819ACta3kl9IwcIubciaRf4dgNQOo2SB_VnmGhTnBw1HQ6Ct-w-TXj4V9sZeLOY2AfTL20A3LP4b1Ovk21Ez/s320/52400539245_39aab9043f_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastguardnews/52400539245/in/photolist-2nQssHc-2nPPaNp-2nPAQsP-MY3x7V-2nPZvA8-2nSwLsa-2nPBqY3-2nPUkrp-2nPKNbE-2nYeG7g-pafR1c-2nPS2E9-2nPUkv7-2nPMbLN-2nPZvvD-eFwYW7-2nQeeUS-2hbswDC-LFrYih-eFqSkZ-GcLEDc-2nR3ycB-2nQo1Un-2nPLTWE-YFYS5X-M3vksF-2jJXfrG-2nQKozf-2nYqXFQ-2hbnE3x-eFqSw4-2nQqgev-2nQqdtE-2nQeXzr-2nQKovH-2nPPMek-2nPPMFT-YpRkDm-MSAuEt-2nTNpdJ-2nQKovY-MSAunV-2hbrBp1-2nPsZci-2nQPt7A-2nQcXuE-2h7Pg6T-2nPmCMq-GgMQgs-2h81mar">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I love Florida, but it is certainly one of the oddest parts of the United States. I lived there for over two decades and I served as the President of the Florida Geographical Society. I've written a book on Florida sinkholes and I have published several academic papers on the geology and geography of the state. I know Florida well. I know the backroads, the toll roads, the big cities, and the rural communities. It is both a hot mess and a cultural wonderland. It has so many personalities that any psychologist would get whiplash from trying to get to the root of its psychosis.<div><br /></div><div>I think the author that gets Florida the most right now is Tim Dorsey. He was a reporter for <i>The Tampa Tribune</i> for many years and resigned in 1999 to take on writing full time. His books are sort of a series that follow the exploits of a main character, Surge Storms and his sidekick, Coleman. They are both the famed "Florida Man" and also a representative critique of the "Florida Man" in popular culture. If you don't know what I mean by Florida Man, Google it. It is basically a premise that all weird news stories can be found in Florida, as in this headline from yesterday, <a href="https://www.local10.com/news/florida/2023/07/25/florida-man-arrested-after-dunking-womans-head-in-vat-of-tar-deputies-say/">Florida man arrested after dunking woman's head in a vat of tar</a>. Basically Dorsey's books write themselves from the headlines. The books are fun romps through the cognitive dissonance of the Sunshine State. If you love Florida, try his books. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll definitely have fun as you get to know the Florida Man characters in his books.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love his books, but the media loves a good Florida Man story.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is why I take some of the Florida stories in the news with a grain of salt on a margarita glass. Some of the stories seem to be made for non-Floridians to feel good about themselves, while others provide cautionary tales about why one might want to stay away from the state. I mean, you'd have to be crazy to go to Florida, which is exactly what happens.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjADIaOdOOvqMqIXhbsnJG5K9nfOUz6EMyyL5YHJjSO4aOiaiiGxVzTWeIBFYdrNpsN9RcPQfVqs3JUFXi_ygvOE65Wd9ArgLRKwngZ22z0-N_kytXaulQyFH0PL7IUqafbrVAIXNC4_o74xxAqLDGw0KgTBopp783ia6Pb3X6C7N4EDpS350WvL2Wzc0/s800/30286811836_30793354c2_c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjADIaOdOOvqMqIXhbsnJG5K9nfOUz6EMyyL5YHJjSO4aOiaiiGxVzTWeIBFYdrNpsN9RcPQfVqs3JUFXi_ygvOE65Wd9ArgLRKwngZ22z0-N_kytXaulQyFH0PL7IUqafbrVAIXNC4_o74xxAqLDGw0KgTBopp783ia6Pb3X6C7N4EDpS350WvL2Wzc0/s320/30286811836_30793354c2_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rcadimensia/30286811836/in/photolist-N9kPYY-MeGDK4-MeGDEK-MeGDzz-MeHP8S-MeHP5L-MeHP1Y-MeHNYy-MeHNVC-N2bqSd-N2bqqG-MeHJ5L-MeHHLu-MeGwvV-MeHHz7-N4QDZB-N9kQaQ-MeHNRj-MeHNNd-MeHNKY-MeHNJq-N4QBf8-N4QBcn-N4QB8e-N4QB46-N4QB1R-N4QAYM-N4QATX-MeHNjs-N4QAHX-N9kLpJ-N9kLt1-N9kLgY-N9kL8S-N9kKUL-N4QArK-N2bsY7-N2bsW3-MeHMFo-MKcrs3-MeHMz1-N2bsEw-N2bsAd-MeGzPt-N2bsuS-N2bsxh-MeGzJZ-MeGzEv-N2bsrq-N2bsnY">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>However, the insurance issue in Florida is pretty serious--but it is not a new problem. Florida has been in an insurance crisis for decades. Thank about it. If you were an insurance company, would you want to write a policy in a state that has the following issues: hurricanes, tropical storms, sinkholes, poor housing construction, mold, extreme rainfall events, home invasions, lightening, and invasive boa constrictors? Insurance companies started pulling out of the state years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I lived in Florida, I couldn't get anyone to write a policy for me. As a result, there was a state-backed insurance company that I had to use. My agent called it the insurer of last resort. The premiums were high and the coverage wasn't very good, but at least I could get a mortgage. You see, you have to be able to get insurance coverage in order to get a mortgage. No insurance, no mortgage. Tampa seems like a nice place to live until you start seeing the high insurance premiums on some of the worst coverage you can afford. The reason I couldn't get coverage was because of sinkhole risk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone living near the coastline has the same issues. Plus, with all of the tropical storm and hurricane damage over the last decade in the state, why would any company want to write policies there? <a href="https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/price-of-paradise/floridas-citizens-property-insurance-predicts-to-hit-record-with-nearly-2-million-policies-in-2023#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Citizens%27%202023,2023%20with%20nearly%201.7%20million.">That is why the state-backed insurance company of last resort is expecting to see their customer base go up by hundreds of thousand</a>s. And this is why <a href="https://fortune.com/2023/07/22/housing-market-florida-trouble-as-home-insurers-pull-out/">insurers are leaving the state</a>. In other words, the anti-socialist leaders of Florida have put the Florida taxpayers on the hook for backing what will be 2 million housing policies in the state. To put this into perspective, when Farmers recently pulled out of Florida, they stopped writing about 100,000 policies--only 1/20th of what the state-backed agency will insure.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOrP03PFIQUk8B8H_z41KyRVi97DBH7YvRAIEOac33DyXllM4Nz575nsXfdw3ucWuY0HLUWXzijgbAZV60S_GqJq5iDXp_-2PWwMvO-luBAN2fXYjvPIGZvNPzKB3Hfubhw6V-4JyQ3Dv73tl_tAkO1FdSktsf-bkdZDmQAu_1BA5JM-xuf3KRZd9mmuu/s799/36823961710_c7b928790b_c.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="799" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOrP03PFIQUk8B8H_z41KyRVi97DBH7YvRAIEOac33DyXllM4Nz575nsXfdw3ucWuY0HLUWXzijgbAZV60S_GqJq5iDXp_-2PWwMvO-luBAN2fXYjvPIGZvNPzKB3Hfubhw6V-4JyQ3Dv73tl_tAkO1FdSktsf-bkdZDmQAu_1BA5JM-xuf3KRZd9mmuu/s320/36823961710_c7b928790b_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/iv4quad/36823961710/in/photolist-Y71s13-Y71rqf-Y71rfW-Y71raA-Xtb6KP-Y71qTy-Y71qrm-Yuyvst-Y71pnY-Y71oQq-Y71oGQ-Y71m7Q-Y71kT3-Y71kJf-Y71kqQ-Y71jV1-Y71jmW-Y71jvd-Y71jiE-Y71jbA-YHc4Qz-Y71iJd-YHc4HF-Y71i4W-YHc4yT-YHc4uK-Y71rS7-Y71rLA-Y71rC9-Y71rGC-Xtb6Qt-Y71r1Y-Y71qkE-Y71qdL-Y71q5E-Y71pTh-Y71pGq-Y71pcY-Y71p7Y-Y71ovh-Y71ojq-Y71o71-Y71nFS-Y71neu-Y71mBY-Y71mpd-Y71mv5-Y71mjy-Y71mdG-Y71iBj">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The thing that insurers know is risk. They are scientists who study statistics and keep an eye on a variety of factors that can influence their profits. If any of you out there reading this don't think that insurers are looking at global sea level rise models, I have a great piece of swampland I can sell you. They recognize that sea level rise is going to be a big issue in coastal areas and that Florida is a serious risk. Thus, while the government of Florida has largely denied climate change for the last decade or two, insurers have seen the risk and done more planning than the politicians who are entrusted with making good decisions for Florida citizens.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am sure that Tim Dorsey's next novel will pay homage to all of this latest Florida Man insurance craziness. In the mean time, I think we can all expect Florida's insurance rates continue to rise as the state's real estate interests--a driver of Florida's economy--try to fix a broken system. More and more homeowners are paying higher rates for policies that are only good enough to get a mortgage and more and more homeowners and taxpayers will be left with large bills after big storms.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coming up tomorrow, I'll review some new statistics that are out on the planetary benefits of a vegan diet.</div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-76930556458016317642023-07-25T05:00:00.003-05:002023-07-25T05:00:00.143-05:00July New Roundup Week Day 2: Extreme Weather in the U.S.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nMNmedgYprVgII9DeVCqkxzHYxwUuUwLxc0zdqrRbtv8CAGOKTk759Q2FY5yMsshsJi0moJer4j2mcK38yDCkMXOGoiH3EXe_K1VAjFeic61NyqTpa_lCNmKdEZvQDg-mOeOMcmDDmjjKTTYANwKnrx-L_j9cS4ujri7WwNmV0Zn3DbtJwN4Orw2_43i/s2438/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%2010.04.06%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2438" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nMNmedgYprVgII9DeVCqkxzHYxwUuUwLxc0zdqrRbtv8CAGOKTk759Q2FY5yMsshsJi0moJer4j2mcK38yDCkMXOGoiH3EXe_K1VAjFeic61NyqTpa_lCNmKdEZvQDg-mOeOMcmDDmjjKTTYANwKnrx-L_j9cS4ujri7WwNmV0Zn3DbtJwN4Orw2_43i/w400-h198/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%2010.04.06%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As many of you know, I get up early with the sun this time of year. I enjoy seeing the sun rise in the east as the morning creatures start to get active. This morning, however, the sun had a weird glow. The smokey skies from the Canadian forest fires are back. As I was leaving the gym this morning, there was even a slight smell of smoke in the air. I covered forest fires during Forest Fire Week a couple of weeks ago, but one of the things that I pointed out is that the forest fires are partly due to the extreme weather we are seeing over many parts of North America.<div><br /></div><div>As <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/us-heat-wave-temperatures">this article from <i>Axios</i> notes</a>, we are seeing very hot temperatures in many parts of the United States. Nearly a quarter of the population of the country is under a heat advisory. Thousands of temperature records were broken over the last several weeks. As you are reading this (assuming you are reading this in July of 2023), coral bleaching is taking place off the coast of Florida--forever transforming that fragile ecosystem due to high water temperatures. Phoenix is set to have temperatures that average 100 degrees Fahrenheit for each day in July. This is a record which no American city has ever set.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxjIqkFC7HCtCfaSfzwarR2nXIoslmTxqMwoozzABU_JkJ8Q2QVLvDC2Cr4vuASFDcrBGYgrnUY8EKanVa0eDIj9tkyrm6QksOfLtYyMjvr2GqdB-zpANmyUUSdVXl9v2EirTRUYCP9O8vXxO0kubx4nObunu_14WPhaMad0U9Y0N9Yi-Lm2FAvYjch_6/s799/53041110864_b18b94e247_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxjIqkFC7HCtCfaSfzwarR2nXIoslmTxqMwoozzABU_JkJ8Q2QVLvDC2Cr4vuASFDcrBGYgrnUY8EKanVa0eDIj9tkyrm6QksOfLtYyMjvr2GqdB-zpANmyUUSdVXl9v2EirTRUYCP9O8vXxO0kubx4nObunu_14WPhaMad0U9Y0N9Yi-Lm2FAvYjch_6/s320/53041110864_b18b94e247_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montpelier, Vermont flooding in July, 2023.<br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/53041110864/in/photolist-2oP4yks-2oP6636-2oP664d-2oNPkjc-2oP3CLq-2oP4aD6-2oPgwSQ-2oR4qsC-2oN4dwc-2oic1BQ-2oifZzJ-2mpRe2o-2hoLx8a-2hoLypU-2gAJqYr-2jDfMT3-2jCCX9V-2jCGt1W-2jCXquW-2jD1HzE-2jD2tdn-2jDfQ6Q-28mRts1-TU6VNV-2hoMm2G-22DnPeY-PCBZbW-PFnCQ4-QFS7k9-ARsHaQ-A8AbSC-qrjhe4-odQYzP-ov4m1M-ohzjuG-ogY3ae-gvtTHp-fJrAgk-fJJ8UQ-f6LbuZ-eY89Eh-e7CTz5-dJLA6e-PAVSfg-QGkDH4-QGkDNK-AwTGkM-pdjuw4-pdjuJP-pdjuPi">Click for image credit. </a></td></tr></tbody></table>Of course, the extreme heat makes it difficult for human activity. Many deaths have been attributed to the hot temperatures this summer and with the warm temperatures continuing into August, I expect more are on the way. Plus, ecosystems and agriculture are under stress. The current US Drought Map shows some profound concerns for agriculture in the Midwest breadbasket. You can see <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu">here</a> that large areas of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois have significant drought conditions. In addition, there is a significant drought in central Texas which has also seen some significant records broken. July also saw major flooding in New England and in part of the U.S. South. Things are changing on our planet--and not for the better. We are seeing many changes all over the place.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, this July we saw the hottest day on the planet. Thus, it isn't surprising that we are seeing local records fall. We are living at a time when the climate is warming and we can expect significant changes in the years ahead--that is unless we finally get our act together and significantly reduce greenhouse gases.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coming up tomorrow on Day 3 of the July News Roundup Week, I'll focus in on the news out of Florida and home owner's insurance. Don't miss that one! I've got lots to say as a former Floridian.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you like this post, please consider sharing it with others. I've seen a big growth in readership in the last couple of months and I really appreciate all of the shares that my regular readers do to try to broaden the sustainability message.</div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-10774088431224560102023-07-24T05:00:00.005-05:002023-07-24T05:00:00.138-05:00July Sustainability News Roundup Week Day 1: Extreme Weather in Southern Europe<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpzUvBuVakGBg9rWljPUN1bXudw3Ng90OzgPLBW9gcPBH5Ala64xtMq9Y2l2DZyXP7VjInBTmLuwSMQvD0XTcwmv2k3_w2Y1ToRZzTLK8qXccodacksgZXVVRiMea_FdOAM0JhkJhtXfI3FcNoLTypKqbyFAiGs-pU4FiDD4cJu-V_8gue9KT5pnwHAqL/s800/52727966334_441bedc8d5_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpzUvBuVakGBg9rWljPUN1bXudw3Ng90OzgPLBW9gcPBH5Ala64xtMq9Y2l2DZyXP7VjInBTmLuwSMQvD0XTcwmv2k3_w2Y1ToRZzTLK8qXccodacksgZXVVRiMea_FdOAM0JhkJhtXfI3FcNoLTypKqbyFAiGs-pU4FiDD4cJu-V_8gue9KT5pnwHAqL/s320/52727966334_441bedc8d5_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/virtualwayfarer/52727966334/in/photolist-2okoBnQ-2okpKtw-2okjC8D-2ok4ch5-2ok1veu-2ok6hmt-2ojPswE-2oj597V-2oj5931-2oj2F4H-2oj424i-2oj57EF-2oj41SB-2oiFrbz-2oiAgK9-2oiCUsc-2ohSmAY-2ohNmVM-2ohwgoj-2ofATFw-2ofucQ4-2of7Ak3-2of54aH-2of954f-2of953i-2of9519-2of9PYf-2of94WM-2of94VQ-2of7A7c-2ofaaoR-2ofaano-2ofaaku-2of48Ff-2osQLsK-2ooZTBV-2onm9et-2oj59cE-2oj58Xg-2of4Sw6-2of2CdB-2oeZ6f9-2of4ScD-2of47tf-2of5d69-2of5d57-2oeXDJf-2of15ot-2ocZuRU-2od1NYX">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>As I write this post, I am seeing extreme weather events all over the world. Unfortunately, we are starting to see some of the extreme events the scientific community has predicted for decades. We are just not moving fast enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, temperature and precipitation records are being broken all over the place. In this week's posts featuring some top sustainability news stories from the month, I am going to have two posts on these extremes. Today's post focus on Southern Europe where <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/extreme-weather-continues-across-europe-as-more-hot-weather-looms">temperature records are beyond broken</a>.<div><br /></div><div>All across Southern Europe, temperatures soared to over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Records were broken all over the place. Sweltering temperatures kept many indoors, however, tourists continued to come to the region and many in the service industry who support the tourists fell ill. Heat related deaths occurred in several cities. In Spain, nearly 1000 deaths were attributed to the summer heat.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the Greek Island of Rhodes, forest fires forced thousands to evacuate. The fires are the largest in memory and are certainly impacted by the extreme heat conditions. Greece has never seen such a long spell of extreme weather and the country even closed the Acropolis due to the extreme heat. It just was not safe to be outside in the extreme weather.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the extreme heat, came extreme rainfall and wind events. Many areas of Europe saw unusual record-breaking rain, wind, and hail events. Just last Wednesday, baseball size hail in Veneto Italy injured over 100 people and earlier this year there were major flood events all across Europe from Zaragoza to Slovenia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, the likely peak of summer temperatures is close as we inevitably make our way toward the autumn season. Hopefully, as we move past these extreme events, we won't forget to act to reduce greenhouse gases. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, these extremes are not just in Europe. Coming up tomorrow, we'll look at extreme weather in the U.S. We are seeing similar issues in some parts of the United States with some devastating impacts to fragile ecosystems.</div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-2427965261392363282023-07-23T07:37:00.004-05:002023-07-23T07:37:41.396-05:00Plastic Week Quiz Answers<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/esrG5f8_mpA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-19734360665250298592023-07-23T05:00:00.001-05:002023-07-23T05:00:00.137-05:00Plastic Week Quiz<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUUsMXE7RZMCYFQ9aYooIoN3X-raxw4aO8O9OAjDwInb1hMLfPfhodPn1wtZPxxOrH8wBJZDoU2YF-gIe-KQzAGKRzF6RLLG7zUE8MCzikAWkxINhHkrw95eCOkQ_ozs4rhsWTtAM0X46wIVcc5vaOfQTzeJ8f3tc5CZj3RSxWaOYistxewn6yIz8KM6g/s800/49634149_1d1fdc2e61_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUUsMXE7RZMCYFQ9aYooIoN3X-raxw4aO8O9OAjDwInb1hMLfPfhodPn1wtZPxxOrH8wBJZDoU2YF-gIe-KQzAGKRzF6RLLG7zUE8MCzikAWkxINhHkrw95eCOkQ_ozs4rhsWTtAM0X46wIVcc5vaOfQTzeJ8f3tc5CZj3RSxWaOYistxewn6yIz8KM6g/s320/49634149_1d1fdc2e61_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/49634149/in/photolist-5oovc-iiYU1-pAGUYS-asAA6u-2ib8jso-5uwouD-2ib8jB1-2cnb345-c1eXyw-Jbe4o-2U4xZ-21ziQTb-9AkPSk-b9JV7a-xGR5ti-9ZVc1m-7DgEjU-5jZhrZ-5nEpzb-7vbeN6-asDWBT-nzqXFD-W7o2Ae-szfg1-oqHMWP-9jCczV-9Zf98j-eogCwz-8Vowrv-CmVQLW-28HUCwt-bBiyLg-a2HJJM-bAAbTf-aFayaA-W43bEs-HQDQH3-9sZMMC-4yTCeL-dPJZzd-qmW7Aj-dbiVNy-97HNaa-pBGu1V-8cPbRK-2MfudK-azr36c-2n22Mjr-cwsJdL-bPJp4X">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, have you had enough of Plastic Week? I haven't! I love talking about plastic because we can all make a difference by reducing the amount of plastic that we use. Thus, before we turn the page on plastic week, get out your pencils and get ready for a Plastic Week Quiz! You might want to review the posts below before turning over your quizzes to begin the exam.</p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-1-building-blocks.html">Day 1: The Building Blocks</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-2-dealing-with-plastic.html">Day 2: Dealing with Plastic Waste</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-3-bioplastic.html">Day 3: Bioplastic</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-4-plastic-in-ocean.html">Day 4: Plastic in the Ocean</a></p><p><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-5-plastic-in-our-food.html">Day 5: Plastic in Our Food and Water</a></p><p>This is an open book quiz, so feel free to go back and check your notes. Please answer "yes" or "no" to each question below. There is a link to the answers on my YouTube channel in the comment section below.</p><p>1. It is unlikely that we have consumed microplastics in our food or water in our lifetime.</p><p>2. Most plastic derives from crude oil.</p><p>3. About 80% of all ocean litter is plastic.</p><p>4. The United States has the highest plastic recycling rate on the planet.</p><p>5. All bioplastics are more biodegradable than conventional plastic.</p><p>6. Laboratory studies have shown cell damage from microplastics.</p><p>7. Geologists universally agree that the development of widespread plastic signals the start of the Anthropocene Epoch.</p><p>8. Half of all plastic we produce is considered single-use plastic and is thrown out after use.</p><p>9. Most bioplastic is made from food crops.</p><p>10. Most plastic is derived from a single polymer.</p>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-51919961356913612482023-07-22T05:00:00.001-05:002023-07-22T05:00:00.140-05:00Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument<p>Today I continue my series on all 129 U.S. National Monuments. This is in follow up to <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2016/01/full-list-of-on-brink-national-park.html">my series that featured open access photos of all of the U.S. National Parks</a>. In the coming years, I will highlight open access images all of the U.S. National Monuments in alphabetical order.</p><p>Today's featured monument is Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. This is not one of the monuments that was <a href="http://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2017/05/27-us-national-monuments-under-review.html">under review for delisting as per executive order by the former president</a>. Following the photos is a list of U.S. National Monuments previously featured on this blog. </p><p>Stop back tomorrow for my Plastic Week Quiz!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOvYBaPcE2MnaSkk6Hrv8AnYaF8cLUtu_gRtccBTYJMtnFM0OBJrjY9Pv9VbWsC9Ar6exKgtPgtQVCCgDY2pRHIwPWSQqkd0e5k6WWOW2gU1SpkL0QHJ4IkNb5ktFrIO7UXWz3GJhr0AvPp1-aaQ2v5FNQB9LwCYWG4zDExGDwAKHF0Olljq5_TsF_57m/s800/16225969724_d92b29321d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOvYBaPcE2MnaSkk6Hrv8AnYaF8cLUtu_gRtccBTYJMtnFM0OBJrjY9Pv9VbWsC9Ar6exKgtPgtQVCCgDY2pRHIwPWSQqkd0e5k6WWOW2gU1SpkL0QHJ4IkNb5ktFrIO7UXWz3GJhr0AvPp1-aaQ2v5FNQB9LwCYWG4zDExGDwAKHF0Olljq5_TsF_57m/s320/16225969724_d92b29321d_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/131156395@N02/16225969724/in/photolist-qHQkuG-JpmZrt-dmu7fm-23m5mw4-hpVirK-bSo9P-aW73ht-5X6VDb-35s86S-J5bE5G-bSo9S-kVoi2r-QU2koq-kVqkVY-kVpayB-kVpbEp-kVpsn6-2kAxh9t-2kAt84U-2orsK78-2kF8yDr-PXekyz-2jki7tM-2onv4XA-RzyJHj-2igyZPb-7HE8ZP-7HJ5SC-7HJa4s-2i6XneV-7HEayt-7HJ6nC-7HEcH8-7HE97F-7HE9QF-7HJ5gL-2mY59ys-7HJ56w-7HEcZ8-2mYa2hs-bSo9T-n9NEeR-dmu7b9-4NmCFC-kVqptj-kVpoUz-arVNST-svhb4Z-svfhjK-ryt5vv">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiEm5z6mKdaokYc4IjJQhQLamFAh6k3UPqbFT5PFCsN4_Kr0hAJNi-amTwgPKlGrNi5Y5eeANnd9rO9TfgqanLg3hAQrtMRlnYeJOZr0EvtRpyOPHBbpM4CdVMLZaT08h6feSA4_RnpFtyI-q_eT9apIjNxo3Go9GxB1veg55zMMdEZXZ4wbReTqQ61jg/s800/52751859420_d16f3e34a8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiEm5z6mKdaokYc4IjJQhQLamFAh6k3UPqbFT5PFCsN4_Kr0hAJNi-amTwgPKlGrNi5Y5eeANnd9rO9TfgqanLg3hAQrtMRlnYeJOZr0EvtRpyOPHBbpM4CdVMLZaT08h6feSA4_RnpFtyI-q_eT9apIjNxo3Go9GxB1veg55zMMdEZXZ4wbReTqQ61jg/s320/52751859420_d16f3e34a8_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwshea/52751859420/in/photolist-2onv4XA-2onsYq3-2onuaBT-2onsXiZ-2ohaSu8-2oh65hD-2ohaSse-2ne42MW-2ne2GxH-2ne2GqP-2ne42vZ-2ne42tV-2ne42sh-2ne2Ger-2okaxae-2ohbfey-2oh65hZ-2ne2Gop-2ne42xH-2ne2Gcc-2ndWvyu-2ne5rYf-2ne31rk-2ne426q-2ndWvj1-2ne5rDC-2ne41Uy-2ne41Q5-2ne41LN-2ne2ZWH-2ne2FvY-2ne427C-2ne2FRn-2ne2FNb-2ne5rA6-2ne5rxF-2ne312n-2ndWuPo-2ne2ZJU-2ne41o8-2ne5r3s-2ne2F3t-2ne2Zsg-2ne41d3-2ne2ZkT-2ne2EJx-2ne2EDc-2ndWu1p-2ne3ZKz-2ne2YFg">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIaHAJEoDzp36vKGQkmmmPlRbB-vMvw9rZz51jefaOoKsTubAcoV-N6FJ_I7ueW1jv3nRO6y29F4DiieOcqbfFN5VZoRFl_LI90VLzBw6jMJ7PO8Sgo0KUnqu7hOWkkzkRv-6tlhN9IYrpNVaQ3il_BL5tZNkxji_amu_hf5k9uwy0lQRNeRM32z3ZZ5Q/s800/52691604378_ce2f8439c7_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIaHAJEoDzp36vKGQkmmmPlRbB-vMvw9rZz51jefaOoKsTubAcoV-N6FJ_I7ueW1jv3nRO6y29F4DiieOcqbfFN5VZoRFl_LI90VLzBw6jMJ7PO8Sgo0KUnqu7hOWkkzkRv-6tlhN9IYrpNVaQ3il_BL5tZNkxji_amu_hf5k9uwy0lQRNeRM32z3ZZ5Q/s320/52691604378_ce2f8439c7_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwshea/52691604378/in/photolist-2ohbfey-2oh65hZ-2ne2Gop-2ne42xH-2ne2Gcc-2ndWvyu-2ne5rYf-2ne31rk-2ne426q-2ndWvj1-2ne5rDC-2ne41Uy-2ne41Q5-2ne41LN-2ne2ZWH-2ne2FvY-2ne427C-2ne2FRn-2ne2FNb-2ne5rA6-2ne5rxF-2ne312n-2ndWuPo-2ne2ZJU-2ne41o8-2ne5r3s-2ne2F3t-2ne2Zsg-2ne41d3-2ne2ZkT-2ne2EJx-2ne2EDc-2ndWu1p-2ne3ZKz-2ne2YFg-2mYaB2J-2mYbNy5-2mYa2hs-2mY59zV-2mYbNr6-2kLoc4W-2kLoDRQ-2kLoc14-2kLobLb-2ne5rp9-2ne2Fjf-2ne41tJ-2ne41pF-2ndWuAT-2ne2Zx1">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN01hf9MRyNayp8L6H_60bcveBkcVwX0Wv5HiDqv0Iqc4v-uYlcwQAfKosiTJym6PP3M_nlrpsdHQFnl45q83LMs5J5PmcPrnOU5RkhVshZr7DrY44eREiTw_IuCzafbLxBT-L1Iu9WpMmaTnrZHWUOYq4vEWdhSD_N1ucpzg8SVqnIVri0UQVcV5Z9dJ/s800/51831312006_be38643abb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYN01hf9MRyNayp8L6H_60bcveBkcVwX0Wv5HiDqv0Iqc4v-uYlcwQAfKosiTJym6PP3M_nlrpsdHQFnl45q83LMs5J5PmcPrnOU5RkhVshZr7DrY44eREiTw_IuCzafbLxBT-L1Iu9WpMmaTnrZHWUOYq4vEWdhSD_N1ucpzg8SVqnIVri0UQVcV5Z9dJ/s320/51831312006_be38643abb_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jhvanwa/51831312006/in/photolist-2mYa2hs-2mY59zV-2mYbNr6-2kLoc4W-2kLoDRQ-2kLoc14-2kLobLb-2ne5rp9-2ne2Fjf-2ne41tJ-2ne41pF-2ndWuAT-2ne2Zx1-2ne41jL-2ne41f2-2ndWupW-2ne2ZmQ-2ne2Zge-2ne3ZT5-2ne2Z2b-2ne3ZHq-2ne2Eq6-2ne2Em8-2ne5qeo-2ne5qdg-2ndWtDn-2ndWtxv-2ne5pY8-2mYbNv4-2kLoc6p-2kLjrh5-2kLjreV-2kLoDGM-2kLobRm-2kLobFw-2jki7tM-2jdNjWh-2jdJdei-2jdNjAs-2j4oK1F-2j4kkp5-2j4nvuv-2j48fiB-2ih4fh3-2ih4fc3-2ih6FJE-2ih6FGv-2ih7Hbr-2ih4f3q-2ih6FDQ">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbP6D-EIQC70K0gVTDDZFZ6OAEy0y4KjOJtmDANOCahjaTQ8S7IlhQuTjo_27pRIUtOeF2qPeKtjWZW4DhrrnQHcy1SqSsQ-Ni-FQH-ZAtwasl3onAPHO7thfztlU3DD2x7NGqli5R8w_qw7-ykY2X6JmnxY0Z8xx--FO4Ak5Yzxuu3lRrfHeFoPXGogp/s800/51998611327_bbfb2fe551_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbP6D-EIQC70K0gVTDDZFZ6OAEy0y4KjOJtmDANOCahjaTQ8S7IlhQuTjo_27pRIUtOeF2qPeKtjWZW4DhrrnQHcy1SqSsQ-Ni-FQH-ZAtwasl3onAPHO7thfztlU3DD2x7NGqli5R8w_qw7-ykY2X6JmnxY0Z8xx--FO4Ak5Yzxuu3lRrfHeFoPXGogp/s320/51998611327_bbfb2fe551_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahuka/51998611327/in/photolist-2ndWtxv-2ne5pY8-2mYbNv4-2kLoc6p-2kLjrh5-2kLjreV-2kLoDGM-2kLobRm-2kLobFw-2jki7tM-2jdNjWh-2jdJdei-2jdNjAs-2j4oK1F-2j4kkp5-2j4nvuv-2j48fiB-2ih4fh3-2ih4fc3-2ih6FJE-2ih6FGv-2ih7Hbr-2ih4f3q-2ih6FDQ-2ih7H7t-2ih6FDe-2ih6FCn-2ih6FBv-2ih7H4C-2ih4eXR-2ih6FyE-2ih6Fxs-2igUkGs-2igRSMw-2igUkCj-2igRSJa-2igUkyB-2igRSDA-2igUks9-2igVmAL-2igRSB1-2igVmyB-2igPz4Q-2igT3i2-2igT3gy-2igPz1J-2igT3ep-2igT3dY-2igRMf7-2kjcriq">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><p><u>Previous On the Brink posts on the U.S. National Monuments</u></p><div><div><div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Admiralty Island National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">African Burial Ground National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agate Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Agua Fria National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aniakchak National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Aztec Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bandelier National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Basin and Range National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Bears Ears National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Booker T. Washington National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Browns Canyon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Buck Island Reef National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cabrillo National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">California Coastal National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyon de Chelly National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Canyons of the Ancients National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cape Krusenstern National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Capulin Volcano National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Carrizo Plain National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Casa Grande Ruins National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cascade Siskiyou National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castillo de San Marco National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Clinton National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Castle Mountains National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cedar Breaks National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">César E. Chávez National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chimney Rock National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Chiricahua National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Colorado National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Craters of the Moon National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Postpile National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Devils Tower National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Dinosaur National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Effigy Mounds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Malpais National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">El Morro National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Frederica National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Matanzas National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort McHenry National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Monroe National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Ord National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Pulaski National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Stanwix National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fort Union National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Fossil Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Freedom Riders National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Birthplace National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">George Washington Carver National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Giant Sequoia National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Gold Butte National Monument</a><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Governors Island National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/05/grand-canyon-parashant-national-monument.html">Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-portage-national-monument.html">Grand Portage National Monument </a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-staircase-escalante-national.html">Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hagerman-fossil-beds-national-monument.html">Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/06/hanford-reach-national-monument.html">Hanford Reach National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/harriet-tubman-underground-railroad.html">Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/07/hohokam-pima-national-monument.html">Hohokam Pima National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/08/hovenweep-national-monument.html">Hovenweep National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/10/ironwood-forest-national-monument.html">Ironwood Forest National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/jewel-cave-national-monument.html">Jewel Cave National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/11/john-day-fossil-bed-national-monument.html">John Day Fossil Bed National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2021/12/jurassic-national-monument.html">Jurassic National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/01/kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national.html">Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/05/katahdin-woods-and-waters-national.html">Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/07/lava-beds-national-monument.html">Lava Beds National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/little-bighorn-battlefield-national.html">Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/11/marianas-trench-national-monument.html">Marianas Trench National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/medgar-and-myrlie-evars-home-national.html">Medgar and Myrlie Evers National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/military-working-dog-teams-national.html">Military Working Dog Teams National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2022/12/mill-springs-battlefield-national.html">Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/01/misty-fjords-national-monument.html">Misty Fjords National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/02/mojave-trails-national-monument.html">Mojave Trails National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/montezuma-castle-national-monument.html">Montezuma Castle National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/mount-st-hellens-volcanic-national.html">Mount St. Helens National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/muir-woods-national-monument.html">Muir Woods National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/05/natural-bridges-national-monument.html">Natural Bridges National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/navajo-national-monument.html">Navajo National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/newberry-volcanic-national-monument.html">Newberry Volcanic National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/northeast-canyons-and-seamounts-marine.html">Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument</a></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/06/oregon-caves-national-monument.html">Oregon Caves National Monument</a></div></div><div><a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national.html">Organ Mountains--Desert Peaks National Monument</a></div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-49553634838597077012023-07-21T05:00:00.008-05:002023-07-21T07:22:53.808-05:00Plastic Week Day 5: Plastic in Our Food and Water<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/26344495@N05/50995538128/in/photolist-2kGisQ1-2kDqSwb-2iHuaov-2intwi3-2iidwGM-2gGvUAM-2g4KKNe-2g4KKkA-TmGyYf-2bMaCZk-21JEkAh-UyRUie-QQyaTT-MxBzuc-N4bpP7-N4bpLb-2miGSpw-2jH5zGj-UMF2cF-N4bpxW-NsiUo5-NkeTyW-NcgLcj-N7M4ec-N7M47i-N7M43a-N7M3Tc-N56tnA-N56tsf-N7M3EB-LKgFFP-L8gZkU-KuTAvj-DngQFE-CXkX5x-AL5Ux1-ADHkAM-BamEap-Actsep-yytXJf-xBqwjT-woeWk3-qPZQBL-K9uF6k-AKzae7-rur7to-rLUySg-qFR6He-pbLXb1-otciDi"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM2A4lGn9SrE3GhG-FvIG9qSz-eLsGmLmdHgBCXtdBXBz1hTxD63maLGb-AzSR_V308y-F9Nt2soibiRBceCk80Pi6llxc2K4Z7_NsB7nhOYPxxBNFAxxq_ePMdW7c-jJgjFBDUYn55RclBra50QYfhI5XeYWzZ2HsJWq4RPRTLtOLH6is7sa3IUXvhvM/s320/50995538128_ae52774135_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/26344495@N05/50995538128/in/photolist-2kGisQ1-2kDqSwb-2iHuaov-2intwi3-2iidwGM-2gGvUAM-2g4KKNe-2g4KKkA-TmGyYf-2bMaCZk-21JEkAh-UyRUie-QQyaTT-MxBzuc-N4bpP7-N4bpLb-2miGSpw-2jH5zGj-UMF2cF-N4bpxW-NsiUo5-NkeTyW-NcgLcj-N7M4ec-N7M47i-N7M43a-N7M3Tc-N56tnA-N56tsf-N7M3EB-LKgFFP-L8gZkU-KuTAvj-DngQFE-CXkX5x-AL5Ux1-ADHkAM-BamEap-Actsep-yytXJf-xBqwjT-woeWk3-qPZQBL-K9uF6k-AKzae7-rur7to-rLUySg-qFR6He-pbLXb1-otciDi">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Even though plastics haven't been around all that long, they are everywhere in our ecosystems just like tribbles on the Starship Enterprise. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, microplastic particles can be found in all corners of the world.<div><br /></div><div>But what does this mean for our food systems and drinking water?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it probably doesn't surprise you that plastics can be found in common food items and in many surface and groundwater systems. This means that you likely have waste microplastics in your body from litter or garbage that someone dumped at some point in the past. </div><div><br /></div><div>But how much microplastic are you ingesting? </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUKuS2wZCFzhFyg8Nc6INGT2a9k305ZrbIEFvPnXu97RuVDBAAgL9ko7WLvXkyS78PmlOTAF3DpLyimfBq72w7HPPLeHRj5XXDUAqs_22kgxB4qd5JB70XxLHcvCQR8qrK3xf1TJHP85syWhpYJGBrrhPJ4ghNiErxOCxZRo1v6c3UlE8QZDAHCqrlv81/s799/52103052444_4482d762a4_c.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUKuS2wZCFzhFyg8Nc6INGT2a9k305ZrbIEFvPnXu97RuVDBAAgL9ko7WLvXkyS78PmlOTAF3DpLyimfBq72w7HPPLeHRj5XXDUAqs_22kgxB4qd5JB70XxLHcvCQR8qrK3xf1TJHP85syWhpYJGBrrhPJ4ghNiErxOCxZRo1v6c3UlE8QZDAHCqrlv81/s320/52103052444_4482d762a4_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/26344495@N05/52103052444/in/photolist-2noaLfq-2ngvu2r-2neMp6a-2ndqsjX-2mWRUDL-2mPi44t-2mGeXM1-2miSwon-2mgU4vy-2meAq1H-2mcVoVC-2mcSKUB-2mcMV6g-2maypkK-2mayphy-2mayp9C-2nXsmTU-2nMoDM3-2nwXqMt-2n42bX9-2mpv32Y-2maqTAw-2mayoZp-2mazVrq-2mavGwy-2m6GJ79-2m5XNhx-2m5xnoM-2m4jSVX-2m4icQC-2m2Wqmd-2m2vKzw-2m2xhT2-2m2sWV2-2m2gnih-2m2cHdG-2m1ZdxG-2m1qVJV-2m1hRNr-2m1cpEv-2kZ1fJA-2kYxrPZ-2kYj2eS-2kYiX71-2kYcLuw-2kXETkp-2kXAQSr-2kXGrNN-2kXo8a7-2kXo7Zc">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, it depends. It turns out that processed foods tend to have the most plastic due to the fact that the processed foods have greater exposure for potential particle deposition. For example, hamburger that is ground in a butcher shop has a far greater surface area for contamination than a steak or a roast. We know that on average, there are about 50 particles of microplastics for every 10 grams of stool sample. Of course, this varies depending upon your geographic setting and your own food choices.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is some debate on whether microplastic has any specific impact on the human body. There are some who suggest that anything that is non-food is bad for us--particularly given that some of the building blocks of plastic have toxic properties. However, there haven't been any definitive studies showing specific diseases or links to diseases associated with plastic in the human body. However, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/08/microplastics-damage-human-cells-study-plastic">laboratory studies </a>have shown cell damage. Obviously, the more plastic we ingest, the greater risk we have. Unfortunately, plastic use is increasing and we are likely to see higher and higher levels of microplastic in our food.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze8FiLpg2VN4wwqhhv3Q_MfRE3lruIVehCkiw8bcq-X4vWlqS28mdQxVoK07mCbiXaunsUY5JhesAqzsADZFFpuDdfIKG0b2CfnJJ3CL6KqJncX_deOCSuqYHEWjdrzbRdD0rqbARFq-j4el2W-hoOP9GExIPDtskdowLCbzzDoQQ1LxIYbr12vt6zRmH/s799/46894301155_43256341d1_c.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze8FiLpg2VN4wwqhhv3Q_MfRE3lruIVehCkiw8bcq-X4vWlqS28mdQxVoK07mCbiXaunsUY5JhesAqzsADZFFpuDdfIKG0b2CfnJJ3CL6KqJncX_deOCSuqYHEWjdrzbRdD0rqbARFq-j4el2W-hoOP9GExIPDtskdowLCbzzDoQQ1LxIYbr12vt6zRmH/s320/46894301155_43256341d1_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/santanu_sen/46894301155/in/photolist-2erTxXH-RYxa5R-2fK3nTT-2e3DTS7-2f6LyaP-2eFv4cJ-2eFv49h-2eFv41G-2eFv3YY-2eFv3XL-QZqopx-SyNkWh-Svu5Xy-23XqKx6-2dsRCuJ-2cBb4XH-2cv4bSd-2d83Wtq-2d83EPu-NQbutA-KRtqJe-KjjFU8-262GNPb-JsXG8F-26pQnR2-27B7YaH-26en1EZ-27wGdFw-27wGddh-26emZsD-HX42Xk-Ktapvw-HX421v-24Rkwqu-26emXh6-HWrZJH-Kd7M23-HvnVEi-JWbmhm-JWbm9q-25RGZJm-Jx7URf-Jx7Ss7-H1JFGk-26AUG85-25z3g7j-25hboyE-JabJE7-HK7GsJ-2eH8sXd">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The same is true of water. Microplastic has been found in rivers, lakes, oceans, and even in groundwater. Thus, microplastic is a new pollutant that municipal water managers need to worry about. The amount of microplastic in freshwater varies quite a bit to next to none to over 1000 particles per liter. Fortunately, most municipal water suppliers are able to filter out the largest of the particles. However, ecosystems, which rely on clean water, are not protected. Thus, wild animals are particularly at risk.</div><div><br /></div><div>The best way we can stop this problem, and many of the other problems I highlighted this plastic week, is to reduce the amount of plastic we use. Please join me in committing to reduce your plastic consumption by 75% this coming year. It is easy. You can stop using plastic grocery bags, stop buying drinks in plastic bottles, tell your servers in restaurant that you don't want straws, etc. If you take a close look at what you throw away, I am sure you will get other ideas. Remember, if you can change yourself, you can change the world. Let's work together to get rid of plastic in our daily lives.f</div><div><br /></div><div>This concludes plastic week. Thank you all for coming along on the plastic journey with me over the last five days. Plastic is a growing problem and it is important that we all know a little bit more about it so that we can try to solve the problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coming up next week, I will do a July news roundup of important sustainability news items from the month. Be sure to come back for those posts. If you have any news suggestions, please feel free to send them on to me or drop a comment here on this post. Also, tomorrow, I will have my regular Saturday U.S. National Monument post and on Sunday, I will post the Plastic Week Quiz video on my YouTube channel. As usual, if you like this post or others here, please share them in your social networks.</div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4853849955202524793.post-51143631271299086902023-07-20T05:00:00.001-05:002023-07-20T05:00:00.143-05:00Plastic Week Day 4: Plastic in the Ocean<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqP1QRi6VbG5wYtr4xdyqFaG3v9vBPUcAww9votrm3a5NYBtr1FGMo6Yf-bWj-_h92XGRrqND0XZ08W-prLO6C5Vayff8ZgkegnUfRXgtmKB4XNVRlBCLvSWrL8TC3DHOeyBHEXZj0XSwU7-v1ypihusHkLGZVH_oiPGLCKhDy9_Ci1utHDPPCFO0NQkH/s799/8080500982_e9592fcfcf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="799" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqP1QRi6VbG5wYtr4xdyqFaG3v9vBPUcAww9votrm3a5NYBtr1FGMo6Yf-bWj-_h92XGRrqND0XZ08W-prLO6C5Vayff8ZgkegnUfRXgtmKB4XNVRlBCLvSWrL8TC3DHOeyBHEXZj0XSwU7-v1ypihusHkLGZVH_oiPGLCKhDy9_Ci1utHDPPCFO0NQkH/s320/8080500982_e9592fcfcf_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/8080500982/in/photolist-dj3Fqs-2h9QcBy-9xy8NX-8LU9wd-8LUafC-TNgkbp-2jXYjeg-8LRe2x-8gHRmh-2kdRYD3-TDDimL-9xzBCj-2kwxgLd-2MweQK-2k6Sff3-ajPJ3a-26Nkosb-2ksCzHv-24thr6k-6Mi7i4-9ZxpKg-2MwffT-8QWen6-2nDt5Gh-51bjr-25ibr6P-2m3Ygy8-2kZehgu-2kTz2Yv-cVy8L3-dQQcsW-orHhYa-2m43cJ4-HVvixQ-ccaNBG-KgjKVA-2jx23cm-8jJAan-2iL7xfg-2bTNDhZ-vfUdCo-2j76zKj-LWzCL5-2j8W7eo-2m3YgLC-5CQV1p-2mDYBQt-2k3jGKj-4mnn1o-2jZ2SKB">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>So there is a really odd and surprisingly nasty debate happening in the geologic community right now over the starting time of the Anthropocene. If you are not familiar with the Anthropocene, it is a widely recognized term for the geologic epoch in which we are living. It is defined as a profound period of human-induced changes to the planet including changes in important earth systems, ecology, and climate. The debate, as seen from outside of the geologic community might seem trivial, but it is important to many, many professionals. <div><br /></div><div>The debate involves whether to start the official beginning of the epoch with the Atomic Age or with earlier changes that could go back centuries. Some of these changes involve widespread ecological change as early humans moved out of Africa. We know that here in North America there were significant ecological changes and extinctions that came about as humans crossed the land bridge during the Ice Age. There are geologists who are in the Atomic Age camp who argue that the human-induced changes that occurred on our planet over the last 70 years ago until now are more profound than those that came earlier. And there are those in the camp who argue for a much earlier date. Right now, the Atomic Age camp is winning the debate. I know that the debate is important to many geologists. However, the most important point all geologists should be making is that at this moment in time, we are living in an era of profound human-induced planetary change--regardless of when it started.<div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPmxgF1v8BHD6shCU5OQ38bll0CyKiET-ZFrwZuDoIGqmjof1fjSrRCr8LAka72rXDWuT-h6BBDdNn4ZsnXEcDWtfMXtBROR55T9sdlHXqMj1zCSMG5ZGfrqE2c1D5bNH7znMi-bvuiYSZDYyGxTBwMkpHcUEuBba8n8AbeE2IHECyLJZHcz-lHF7dZKn/s800/28396748240_d3179c5986_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPmxgF1v8BHD6shCU5OQ38bll0CyKiET-ZFrwZuDoIGqmjof1fjSrRCr8LAka72rXDWuT-h6BBDdNn4ZsnXEcDWtfMXtBROR55T9sdlHXqMj1zCSMG5ZGfrqE2c1D5bNH7znMi-bvuiYSZDYyGxTBwMkpHcUEuBba8n8AbeE2IHECyLJZHcz-lHF7dZKn/s320/28396748240_d3179c5986_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/snemann2/28396748240/in/photolist-KgjKVA-2jx23cm-8jJAan-2iL7xfg-2bTNDhZ-vfUdCo-2j76zKj-LWzCL5-2j8W7eo-2m3YgLC-5CQV1p-2mDYBQt-2k3jGKj-4mnn1o-2jZ2SKB-BeLGe2-2g8iued-9TePEB-HwNMcc-GSPi4T-abMWNP-v31ez-LWzCvL-V3HtAW-xv3kEh-9xybvn-2k8wfri-2m3Zner-dQJCUM-7Ai73n-2iCCCU6-6gFZTw-2k6w8Xk-VsP9JH-8JX6wi-2m3YgGz-2ndYvLA-2m3UE7y-JVRS7H-2iw6Z2Y-2nYjjnt-LsywCc-todmDe-4MmmsE-75oTRm-9xBcpu-G5kDUL-4WM1yR-dAqLXU-k6q3zK">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>What does this technical geologic debate have to do with plastic?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, if you are in the Atomic Age camp, the Epoch begins about the time that plastics became available as a consumer product. Thus, plastic can be used as an informal geologic indicator of the start of the Anthropocene.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>However, if you look closely at any marine sediment deposited today, you are likely to find traces of plastic in any sample in any part of the world. Unfortunately, plastics have become ubiquitous in our surface waters and sediments everywhere. About 80% of all marine pollution is plastic--and the plastic doesn't dissolve or disappear. Unfortunately, it breaks down into smaller particles, or micro plastics, which can enter our food systems through seafood. Indeed, most marine organisms have some human-derived plastic somewhere in or on their bodies. As I will discuss tomorrow, we also are widely exposed to plastic in our food and water systems in many areas of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DXme71ygWmLgnshdYR7R74mNeBLx_EgN7ZEq77G-eIBImetzmKY2VMGJowYM9iLsLRbH0R-ETQ7enX6lL-_pCVoxt5XTxWS7wohk5Fn92vUyoPkqQBmHyM6BAjYCfozMmpkzwdQnUwvengOqwk5qWnEkxOmQz1tksDGWscXOaVdctV1_cL0VDBn4QsQK/s800/7576773812_198176622d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DXme71ygWmLgnshdYR7R74mNeBLx_EgN7ZEq77G-eIBImetzmKY2VMGJowYM9iLsLRbH0R-ETQ7enX6lL-_pCVoxt5XTxWS7wohk5Fn92vUyoPkqQBmHyM6BAjYCfozMmpkzwdQnUwvengOqwk5qWnEkxOmQz1tksDGWscXOaVdctV1_cL0VDBn4QsQK/s320/7576773812_198176622d_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jedimentat/7576773812/in/photolist-zH5fhN-5RBrmp-WfsJBj-Ls2MYd-KiKou-oacnh-2iUePa-6R3iKh-HccdEf-cxwWTf-8eFGR5-5iKkXu-9bh6Y9-9bdXPZ-9bdXNc-87BfwS-9ttEAn-252NLiB-9twD7J-iTsJw-9twBJb-9twBaU-LGbt24-WTbXPJ-PBmZW-2bh5vnG-2iKJopd-2iKL1NK-2iKJoqF-2iKL1Ra-29n3m4b-HFX8bi-pQ9hsS-csjQMW-Kd7M23-9k1gKx-2nHgVhp-JHhJpG-2iKL1RF-2iKFDRt-2iKFDRZ-2iKL1T9-gjYDgY-9mQRt7-LvEUR-4tka7w-6nok2r">Click for image credit.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Unfortunately, tens of thousands of marine mammals die each year from plastic pollution. There are also untold fish, sea birds, shellfish, and other organisms that are negatively impacted by plastic pollution. Whole reefs have been killed due to plastic pollution that covers the bottom of the ocean. Because of our global infatuation with single use plastics, plastic is everywhere. All of those plastic silverware sets, or plastic drink cups, or plastic wrap that we use every day has to go somewhere and lots of it is going into the ocean.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't like the name <i>Anthropocene</i> for our time, some geologists half half jokingly urged the use of the term, Plasticene because it is so present across all geologic settings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of these problems, and the ones I will talk about tomorrow related to our food and water systems, I have tried to cut back my plastic use by 75%. Please join me in trying to move away from disposable plates, tableware, drinking cups, bottles, and straws. It is really quite easy to cut the use of these materials if you try.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow, I will highlight the challenging issue of plastic in our food and water. Big thanks to those of you out there that are sharing my posts. I really appreciate it! People from all over the world check in here on a daily basis. Some of you are students and some of you are trying to do the best thing you can do to try to make a difference in the world. As I always say, if you change yourself, you can change the world. Keep on trying to make the world a better place. I know that the news right now around sustainability is depressing, but we have to keep on working on education and making a difference where we can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just a reminder, you might want to check in on the earlier posts from plastic week. Day 1 provided some background information on plastic, Day 2 reviewed some of the waste and recycling issues with plastic, and Day 3 highlighted innovations in bioplastics. You can find the links to these posts <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-1-building-blocks.html">here</a>, <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-2-dealing-with-plastic.html">here</a>, and <a href="https://bobbrinkmann.blogspot.com/2023/07/plastic-week-day-3-bioplastic.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Bob Brinkmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06819292075382350081noreply@blogger.com0