On the Brink

Sunday, August 2, 2020

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

Today I continue my series on all 129 U.S. National Monuments. This is in follow up to my series that featured open access photos of all of the U.S. National Parks. In the coming years, I will highlight open access images all of the U.S. National Monuments in alphabetical order.

Today's featured monument is George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Virginia. This is not one of the monuments that was under review for delisting as per executive order by the president. Following the photos is a list of U.S. National Monuments previously featured on this blog.

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Previous On the Brink posts on the U.S. National Monuments

Admiralty Island National Monument
African Burial Ground National Monument
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Agua Fria National Monument
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
Aniakchak National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Basin and Range National Monument
Bears Ears National Monument
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Browns Canyon National Monument
Buck Island Reef National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument
California Coastal National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Fort Union National Monument
Fossil Butte National Monument
Freedom Riders National Monument

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Five End of Summer Books for the Beach Bag from University Presses

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While many of us have spent a chunk of the quarantine writing, the folks at the beloved university presses around the county have been busy working with authors, copy editing, and publishing scholarship from the greatest minds in our land. I have selected five new books from the presses that my readers may find interesting. If you know of some other great new offerings, post them in the comments.

1. Swamp Souths: Literary and Cultural Ecologies edited by Kristen L. Squint, Eric Gary Anderson, Taylor Hagood, and Anthony Wilson and publishes by LSU Press. When I was growing up in Wisconsin, I was deeply intrigued by the southern swamps as depicted in film and literature. After living in the south for two decades and spending considerable time in these swamps, I remain intrigued. They are a landscape apart in the reckoning of the American imagination. These places represent an otherness and exoticism that deserves this volume that makes a case for greater recognition in American cultural identity.

2. Wildly Successful Farming: Sustainability and the NewAgricultural Land Ethic written by Brian DeVore and published by the University Presses of Wisconsin. Do you want to understand how we are transforming agriculture to be more sustainable? Look no further than this book that highlights via case studies how farmers are using sustainable innovation to repair our land and create a more sustainable world.

3. Building a Better Nest: Living Lightly at Home and in the World by Evelyn Searle Hess and published by Oregon State University Press. As we strive to live greener lives we are often confronted by the unsustainable nature of our living space. This book questions many assumptions about modern life and documents a quest for living more sustainably in the world via intentional living off the grid and in touch with nature.

4. The Greenway Imperative: Connecting Communities and Landscapes for a Sustainable Future by Charles A. Flink and published by the University Press of Florida. As we continue to look toward innovation in sustainable urban design, greenways will gain greater prominence as we reject cars for bikes and walking. This book is the definitive source for everything you need to know about greenways and why they will be more important as we strive for a more sustainable world.

5. Environmental Justice in a Moment of Danger by Julie Sze and published by the University of California Press. We are in a moment in society's history with great cultural and social disparities. This book highlights growing activism around key environmental justice issues like the Dakota Access Pipeline. The book notes these are dangerous times for the environment and for the environmental justice movement.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Great Lakes at Historic Levels

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The Chicago Tribune published an interesting article today by Patrick M. O'Connell about record high levels in Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. It is worth a read here. As the piece points out, the shoreline in Chicago is seeing some significant inundation that is impacting access and threatening boater safety. The high levels are the result of global climate change associated with increased runoff associated with increased precipitation and warmer winters.

O'Connell notes that the Great Lakes have seen significant fluctuations in recent years and experienced record low levels just five years ago. The wild fluctuations are not normal and reflect the predictions of extreme conditions that many climate scientists have predicted as highlighted in recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Zora Neale Hurston Quiz Revisited

On this Juneteenth celebration, I wanted to revisit my Zora Neale Neale Hurston Quiz that I published back in April of 2015. I have long celebrated her writing as some of the most important 20th century environmental literature written in the English language. She has a distinct way of bringing elements of nature into her fiction and non-fiction that was relatively uncommon during her time.

The find the answers to the quiz, you can visit the original post here.

the original post follows.

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Zora Neale Hurston is one of what I call the Trifecta of early to mid- 20th century Florida women writers who had an impact on how we think about the environment. I've written about this trifecta here.

Hurston is perhaps one of the most interesting writers of the 20th century to call Florida home. She had a huge influence on 20th century writing and certainly on how we think about the environment in Florida.

1. Hurston is most famous for this book that depicts life in the Everglades for African American farmers. Name the book.

2. Weather is one of the most symbolic elements in the book referenced above. In what way does weather have a deus ex machina moment in the book?

3. Hurston wrote the above referenced book while living in this country. Name the country.

4. The book depicted a distinct human and environmental realism that was unique at the time. It was also very different from the tradition of this group (with a familiar New York name) with which Hurston is often associated. Name the group.

5. While a noted novelist and short story writer, Hurston earned a degree in this field from Barnard College. Name the field.

6. In 1935, Hurston published this book that focuses on folklore from Florida. In it she reveals dozens of stories that have been passed down through generations--many of which bring in environmental or sustainability themes. Name the book.

7. Hurston often used black dialect that was common in the south at the time. This was criticized by many for what reason?

8. One of the things that I find refreshing about Hurston's work is that it shows people in relationship to their environment in very realistic ways. She also uses an abundance of environmental references. For example, Hurston speaks about her experiences as a black women in an interesting essay in which she uses environmental metaphors such as "For instance at Barnard. "Beside the waters of the Hudson" I feel my race. Among the thousand white persons, I am a dark rock surged upon, and overswept, but through it all, I remain myself. When covered by the waters, I am; and the ebb but reveals me again." Name the essay.

9. Although largely associated with Florida and New York, Hurston was actually born in this state and lived there until she moved to Florida when she was three years old. Name the state.

10. From the 1950's and until her death in 1960, Hurston lived in relative obscurity. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida. However a famous author revived interest in Hurston in 1974 when she wrote an essay for Ms. magazine titled "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston". She also dedicated a grave marker to her near her burial site. Name the author.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Seeking Chapter Authors for the Global Handbook of Sustainability

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I am in the midst of a new project that seeks to bring together great minds in helping to better define and describe the growing field of sustainability. The book, called The Palgrave Global Handbook of Sustainability, is a different type of publication. The volume will have dozens of articles on a range of topics within the interdisciplinary framework of sustainability. If you are in the sustainability field, I want you to be part of it.

The articles will not be peer-reviewed, but instead will be published online after I complete a review and after they go through a copy editing process with Palgrave Macmillan. I suspect that once I get a draft of a chapter, I can turn it around within a week or two. The volume will exist online and edits can be made to your article(s) up until the completion of the entire volume (which I suspect will take a year or two). Once it is done, the entire volume will be printed. You can check out my introductory chapter to the book here. The volume should prove to be one of the largest and most important sources of sustainability information every published.

If you are interested in being part of the project, take a look at the list below of main chapters. The ones that are highlighted have been taken. The others are up for grabs. You can also suggest a new chapter topic. I will update this list in future posts as the project progresses. Drop me an email at rbrinkmann@niu.edu if you are interested in joining a great group of authors in the production of this important volume.

Part 1. Introduction

Chapter 1. Defining Sustainability by Robert Brinkmann

Chapter 2. Organization of the Knowledge of Sustainability

Part 2. Environmental Sustainability

Chapter 3. Defining Environmental Sustainability and Major Earth Cycles (could be 2 chapters)

Part 2a. Energy

Chapter 4. Global Energy Use

Chapter 5. Oil and Natural Gas and Sustainability

Chapter 6. Coal and Sustainability

Chapter 7. Nuclear Power and Sustainability

Chapter 8. Solar Energy

Chapter 9. Wind Energy

Chapter 10. Hydroelectric Power

Chapter 11. Geothermal Energy

Chapter 12. Other Green Energy Sources: Wave, Tide, Current, etc.

Chapter 13. Energy Conservation

Part 2b. Climate Change

Chapter 14. The Science of Climate Change

Chapter 15. The Evidence for Climate Change on our Planet

Chapter 16. Greenhouse Gases and their Distribution and Production

Chapter 17. Climate Change Challenges in Coastal Environments

Chapter 18. Climate Change Challenges in the Arctic

Chapter 19. Climate Change Challenges on the Continents

Chapter 20. Greenhouse Gas Management

Part 2c. Water

Chapter 21. Global Water Use

Chapter 22. Water Resources: Aquifers, Reservoirs, Lakes, and Rivers

Chapter 23. Desalination

Chapter 24. Water Management

Chapter 25. Innovations in Water Management: Agriculture, Forthcoming by Jacob Roday, Hofstra University

Chapter 26. Innovations in Water Management: Industrial and Energy Applications

Chapter 27. Innovations in Water Management: Urban and Suburban Uses

Part 2d. Natural Resource Management

Chapter 28. The State of the World’s Natural Resources

Chapter 29. Forests

Chapter 30. Wetlands

Chapter 31. Oceans

Chapter 32. Prairies, Mountains, and Other Ecosystems

Chapter 33. Endangered Species and Extinction

Chapter 34. Parks and Public Lands

Chapter 35. Ecosystems Services

Chapter 36. Urban and Suburban Ecosystems

Chapter 37. Mining and Minerals

Chapter 38. Agriculture and Sustainability

Chapter 39. Organic Food

Chapter 40. Local Food, Slow Food, and the Small Farm Movement

Chapter 41. Fish and Fisheries

Chapter 42. Fish and Shellfish Farming

Part 2e. Waste and Pollution

Chapter 43. Defining Waste and Pollution

Chapter 44. Sewage and Sewage Treatment

Chapter 45. Municipal Waste (Garbage) and Its Management

Chapter 46. Industrial Waste and Its Management

Chapter 47. Medical Waste and Its Management

Chapter 48. Human Remains and the Sustainability of Death

Chapter 49. Plastics

Chapter 50. Radioactive Waste

Chapter 51. Air Pollution, Wilma Subra, Subra Company

Chapter 52. Water Pollution

Chapter 53. Heavy Metal Pollution

Chapter 54. Nutrient Pollution

Part 3. Sustainability and Equity

Chapter 55. Defining the Social Equity Issues in Sustainability, Forthcoming by Deborah Gallagher, Duke University

Part 3a. Sustainability in the Developing World

Chapter 56. The State of Sustainability in the Developing World

Chapter 57. Human Rights

Chapter 58. The Global South and Sustainability: Issues and Constraints

Chapter 59. Small Island Developing States and Sustainability

Chapter 60. Sustainability in Africa

Chapter 61. Sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean

Chapter 62. Sustainability in Asia

Chapter 63. Health and Sustainability in the Developing World

Part 3b. Environmental Justice and Racism

Chapter 64. Background on Environmental Justice and Racism

Chapter 65. Social Equity

Chapter 66. Indigenous Peoples and Sustainability

Chapter 67. Gender and Sustainability

Chapter 68. Environmental Racism in North America

Chapter 69. Environmental Justice in Europe

Chapter 70. Environmental Justice in Asia

Chapter 71. Environmental Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean

Chapter 72. Stakeholder Engagement Forthcoming by Dr. Christian Wells, University of South Florida

Part 3c. Education and Sustainability

Chapter 73. Environmental Education

Chapter 74. Children and Sustainability

Chapter 75. Informal Education and Sustainability

Chapter 76. K-8 Sustainability Education Forthcoming by Dr. Randa El Bedawy, The American University in Cairo

Chapter 77. High School and Sustainability

Chapter 78. Sustainability at Universities and Colleges

Part 3d. International Benchmarking and National Sustainability Planning

Chapter 79. The Sustainable Development Goals

Chapter 80. International Organization for Standards ISO 26000

Chapter 81. Human Development Index

Chapter 82. National Plan 1

Chapter 83. National Plan 2

Chapter 84. National Plan 3

Part 3e. Urban and Regional Planning and Sustainability

Chapter 85. Background on Urban and Regional Planning, Forthcoming by Dr. Constance Carr, Université du Luxembourg

Chapter 86. Urban Approaches to Sustainability: Transportation and Walkability, Forthcoming by Adriane Hoff, Sustainability & Beautification Committee of Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council

Chapter 87. Urban Approaches to Sustainability: Food

Chapter 88. Urban Approaches to Sustainability: Zoning

Chapter 89. Urban Approaches to Sustainability: Equity, Forthcoming by Dr. Jenni Cauvain, Nottingham Trent University

Chapter 90. Resiliency

Chapter 91: Green Building

Chapter 92: Green Infrastructure

Chapter 93: Regional Planning

Chapter 94: Tiny House Movement, Co-Housing, and Land Trusts, Forthcoming by Dr. Elizabeth Strom, University of South Florida

Chapter 95. Individual Carbon and Environmental Footprints

Chapter 96. Minimalism

Chapter 97. Intentional Communities

Part 4. Economics and Sustainability

Chapter 98. Introduction to Economics and Sustainability

Part 4a. Business and Sustainability

Chapter 99. Sustainable Business Management

Chapter 100. The Circular Economy, Forthcoming by Dr. David Gibbs, University of Hull

Chapter 101. Supply Chain Management and Procurement

Chapter 102. Benchmarking for Businesses

Chapter 103. Green Fashion

Chapter 104. Green Investing and Financial Services

Chapter 105. Green Information and Communications

Chapter 106. Just in Time Production and Efficiency

Chapter 107. Green Logistics and Transportation

Chapter 108. Greenwashing

Chapter 109. Business Ethics

Part 4b. Economic Development and Sustainability

Chapter 110. Background on Economic Development Forthcoming by Aaron Deslatte, Indiana University

Chapter 111. Economic Development to Protect Natural Assets

Chapter 112. Economic Development and Equity

Chapter 113. Green Entrepreneurship

Chapter 114. Green Technology Transfer

Chapter 115. Green Economic Incentives

Chapter 116. Microcredit

Part 4c. Regulations

Chapter 117. Introduction to Environmental Regulations

Chapter 118. Environmental Law

Chapter 119. The EPA and Its Regulations, Forthcoming by Dr. Adrienne Katner, Louisiana State University

Chapter 120. Environmental Regulations in the European Union

Chapter 121. Environmental Regulation in Asia

Chapter 122. Environmental Regulation in the Global South

Chapter 123. Protecting Water and Wetlands

Chapter 124. Protecting Plants and Animals

Chapter 125. Protecting Air

Chapter 126. Protecting People

Part 4c. Travel, Tourism, and Recreation and Sustainability

Chapter 127. Ecotourism

Chapter 128. Green Conventions and Events

Chapter 129. Green Restaurants

Chapter 130. Green Hotels

Chapter 131. Cruise Ships and Sustainability

Chapter 132. Green Athletics and Sporting Events

Chapter 133. Green Media

Part 4d. Consumerism

Chapter 134. Global Consumption Patterns

Chapter 135. Advertising for Consumption

Chapter 136. Impacts of Consumption

Chapter 137. Hoarding

Chapter 138. Economic Disparities

Chapter 139. Critical Discourses on Sustainability

Part 4e. Tools in Sustainability

Chapter 140. Cost Benefit Analysis

Chapter 141. Mapping, GIS, and Remote Sensing Forthcoming by Dr. Christopher Badurek, SUNY Cortland

Chapter 142. Benchmarking

Chapter 143. Community Engagement

Part 5 Historical Considerations

Part 5a. Human History and Sustainability

Chapter 144. History of the Environmental Movement

Chapter 145. Prehistoric Human Development and Sustainability

Chapter 146. The Archaeology of Sustainability, Forthcoming by Dr. Lynne Goldstein, Michigan State University

Chapter 147. Sustainability in the Bronze Age

Chapter 148. Sustainability and the Industrial Revolution

Part 5b. Great Figures of the Sustainability Field (note this list will expand and these chapters will be short bios)

Chapter 149. Carl Sauer

Chapter 150. H.D. Thoreau

Chapter 151. Aldo Leopold Forthcoming by Dr. Christopher Badurek, SUNY Cortland

Chapter 152. Rachel Carson

Chapter 153. Zora Neale Hurston

Chapter 154. Marjorie Stoneman Douglas

Chapter 155. Gro Brundtland

Chapter 156. Michael Mann

Chapter 157. Al Gore

Chapter 158. Octavia Butler, Forthcoming by Dr. Lisa-Marie Pierre, Bronx
Community College
Chapter 159 Bill McKibben

Part 6. Organizations (again, this list will expand, but the text will be short in most cases)

Part 6a. International Organizations

Chapter 160. The United Nations

Chapter 161. The World Health Organizations

Chapter 162. Greenpeace

Chapter 163. Natural Resource Defense Council

Chapter 164. The Nature Conservancy

Chapter 165. World Wildlife Fund

Chapter 166. Slow Food International

Part 6b. National, Regional, or Local Organizations

Chapter 167. U.S Council of Mayors

Chapter 168. US Green Building Coalition and Passivhaus

Chapter 169. 100 Resilient Cities

Chapter 170. African Sustainable Energy Association

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Case Studies in Suburban Sustainability Available for Preorder

My book, Case Studies in Suburban Sustainability, which I edited with Sandra Garren, is available for preorder with the University Press of Florida. Check it out here. The publication date is set for October 20th.

The book is the first to examine how the suburbs can contribute to broader national and regional sustainability goals. Most books that examine the sustainability within a local or regional framework look at cities. In the book, we argue that cities are relatively easy places to do sustainability because of the top-down organization of governments and the reach of government services. Suburbs, in contrast, are extremely challenging places to advance sustainability agendas because of the diffused governments and government services, the density of infrastructure, and their political nature. However, it is important to make progress in these areas because of the massive size of their footprints in the United States when compared with other types of settlement patterns.

The book contains a range of case studies ranging from water and air pollution management to economic development and environmental justice. The book contains 17 chapters which include introductory and conclusion chapters by me and Dr. Garren. The introductory chapter highlights the history of sustainability and the importance of a suburban approach. The final chapter surveys some of the international issues associated with suburban sustainability, particularly in contrast to the United States, and also highlights themes that emerged from the case studies in the previous chapters. I am sure that many of you interested in sustainability will want this one for your bookshelves.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

8 Tips for College and University Students Planning for the Fall 2020 Semester

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I know that there is a great deal of angst out there among students as to what the fall 2020 semester will bring. Some universities are planning to open for on-campus courses. Some are planning to offer online courses only. And most others are somewhere in-between. Since many of my readers are college students and their parents, I thought I would provide 8 tips for how to plan for the upcoming fall semester.

1. Don't let this crazy time slow down your eduction. I know that some out there reading this are tempted to just give up on the fall semester given the various unknowns. However, across the country, university administrators, faculty, and staff are working hard to put together a very solid experience for Fall 2020 students. Whether your courses are going to be online or in-person is still a bit uncertain at this point. However, what I can guarantee is that students will be able to get the courses they need to advance their degrees. Uncertainty can be a bit anxiety inducing. Jut focus on the fact that you will be able to get the courses you need regardless of the delivery method. Keep your eye on the ultimate goal--your degree.

2. Evaluate your technology needs. It is hard to imagine, but there is actually a laptop shortage right now in the marketplace and there is quite a long waiting list for many electronic products. Thus, now is a good time to consider what you might need for the start of the fall semester and make the appropriate purchases. If costs are an issue for you, contact your university now to find out what types of laptop assistance they can provide. Many universities are offering laptop loans or other types of support for students who need some help.

3. If you plan to live on campus, follow campus rules when returning in the fall. Campus professionals have been working on guidelines to make campuses safe for students, faculty, and staff. Residence hall managers, for example, are working on plans to house students so that they can maintain safe distances from other residents. It is important to follow the rules set on campus behavior not only to protect yourself, but to protect others who work on or visit campus. Many university faculty and staff may be in those vulnerable categories we've heard about and students should try to limit their risks in order to keep the broader campus community safe.

4. Take some time to interact with the social media in your department, college, and university. Many universities are creating some amazing social media content right now which is helping to raise school spirit. Plus many departments and faculty members have upped their social media game and are adding value to student experiences as they learn from home. Explore what is out there in your department and university. Join in and add to the conversation and create some content of your own within your area of expertise. Student governments and other student organizations such as department clubs, Greek organizations, and interest groups are all active on social media and provide ways for students to participate without being on campus. I tend to find the best content on Twitter. However, Tik Tok and Instagram also have some great content.

5. Find ways to interact with your Department and your Fall 2020 instructors prior to the start of the semester. Drop instructors a note to introduce yourself with information about your background and your interest in the material. If you and they have time, arrange a short zoom meeting with a key faculty member or two who teach material of particular interest to you. Seek their career advice. If you have time, offer to assist with a research project in some capacity. These are the types of interactions you might have had in the Spring of 2020 if we would not have had COVID-19. Given that most faculty are likely to be place-bound for the summer. they will most likely be more than willing to take a Zoom call and would probably be glad to have some help on something. You could help with some research projects from home doing things like literature reviews, data analysis, and data visualization. You could also help with your Department's social media or outreach. These types of interactions will get you connected to your Department and faculty in meaningful ways.

6. Get to know your career services office. Every university has an office of career services that provides an array of services for students. At the very basic level, they will assist students in finding meaningful careers. However, they also provide an array of other services such as personal development, resume reviews, and interview practices. Take the time now to get to know what these offices offer. They have largely moved online during the lockdown and are glad tp provide online support.

7. Look for new auxiliary activities. It is hard to determine exactly what types of student activities will be available in the Fall semester due to the fact that things are changing rapidly. However, universities offer a range of really interesting online student activities. For example, some universities are offering online yoga and meditation classes. Others are offering (for a modest fee) online music instruction for non-music majors. Still others are offering online multiplayer games. Whatever your interest, I am sure you can find something at your university that will interest you. Take advantage of what your university is offering.

8. Discuss your finances with a student aid specialists and consider all scholarships. There are experts at all universities who provide support for students who need financial assistance. Now is a good time to reach out to review your situation so that you can figure out how to cover your educational costs. In addition, discuss scholarship opportunities with your Department to find out what might be available. Look for other scholarships in your community. Many organizations provide student scholarships. There are lots of people out there willing to help you. You have to take the time to ask for the help.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Freedom Riders National Monument

Today's featured monument is Freedome Riders National Monument in Alabama. This is not one of the monuments that was under review for delisting as per executive order by the president. Following the photos is a list of U.S. National Monuments previously featured on this blog.

Click for photo credit.

Fort Union National Monument
Fossil Butte National Monument

Monday, April 27, 2020

Sustainability Case Studies Chapter 13: Small Land Holding in Karnataka, India

Small farms in Karnataka, India.
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This is the 13th post in this blog series, Sustainability Case Studies, that is based on the book The Palgrave Handbook of Sustainability: Case Studies and Practical Solutions edited by Robert Brinkmann (yours truly) and Sandra Garren and published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018. Each post in the series will comment on the content of the chapter as well as some general take-aways or practical teaching or personal/organizational initiatives that could be gleaned from the chapter. Links to previous posts on the series (including the post that introduced the series) follow after the chapter review.

The 13th chapter of the volume, titled Methods for Integrated Sustainability Assessment: The Case of Small Holder Farming in Karnataka, South India, by Sheetal Patil and Seema Purushothaman, examines the role of small farming, and associated benefits, within the overall agricultural system present in India. Over the last few decades, India has moved heavily into the tenets of the green revolution which promotes the use of technological advances in agriculture over traditional farming. The green revolution promotes the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and new seed varieties to enhance production. While there is no doubt that the green revolution has contributed significantly to India's ability to be more agriculturally self sufficient, there is concern that many small farmers are falling behind as India's agriculture becomes more aligned with the globalization of agriculture.

A sugarcane farmer in Karnataka, India.
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As the article notes, small farmers have not seen the same benefits of the green revolution as large farmers. Even though the small farmers are often far more efficient than the larger farmers, they do not receive the same financial gains. Indeed, the situation for small farmers in India has been rather grim. Many small farmers in the author's study area of Karnataka have committed suicide as they saw their livelihoods disappear in the face of growing agribusiness in the region. The governments have reacted by trying to put value in agricultural practices that are traditional and organic.

Nevertheless, as the article points out, many of the larger companies involved with agribusiness, such as fertilizer companies, are heavily subsidized by state and national governments. This leaves the small land holders struggling with trying to keep their operations afloat. The article reviews a series of quantitative and qualitative ways that agriculture in Karnataka can be assessed from a sustainability lens. I will not go into the details here, but suffice it to say that the authors provide a unique review of how to better assess sustainability of agriculture that take into account the unique issues associated with small farmers. The chapter concludes with a list of lessons learned that anyone involved with local agricultural planning would find useful.

Click here to for more information about the book.

Here are some discussion questions that can be used when using this chapter in a lesson on agriculture and sustainability.

1. Where is Karnataka, India?

2. Why did farmers in the region commit suicide in such numbers?

3. What is the green revolution? How did the green revolution impact small land holders in India?

4. How does agribusiness and the globalized food system impact farmers in your area?

5. As the authors point out, national and state policy focuses heavily on agribusiness even though there is strong verbal support for sustainable agriculture. Why do you think state or national policies around food do not match stated state or national sustainable agricultural goals?

6. Which level of government do you think understands the plight of small farmers the most (national, state, or local)? Why?

7. What is bio-physical modeling in the context of assessing agriculture? Why is it important?

8. The state of Karnataka has published some sustainability goals. How do they support a drive for sustainable agriculture in the region?

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction to the Blog Series
Chapter 1: Sustainability Definitions, Historical Context, and Frameworks
Chapter 2. Sustainability and Natural Landscape Stewardship: A US Conservation Case Study
Chapter 3. Policy Design for Sustainability at Multiple Scales: The Case of Transboundary Haze Pollution in Southeast Asia
Chapter 4. Sustainable Water Resources Management: Groundwater Depletion

Chapter 5. Drinking Water Infrastructure Inequality and Environmental Injustice: The Case of Flint Michigan
Chapter 6. Sustainable Renewable Energy: The Case of Burlington, Vermont
Chapter 7. Greenhouse Gas Management: A Case Study of a Typical American City

Chapter 8. Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China

Chapter 9. Waste Management Outlook for the Middle East

Chapter 10. Sustainability of Vicuña Conservation in Bolivia
Chapter 11. Marine Protected Areas in Canada
Chapter 12. Urban Social Sustainability: The Case Study of Nottingham, UK

Past and Future Talks and Events

Past and Future Talks and Events

June 15, 2020, 7p.m., Panelist at a Community Seminar on Climate Change. Temple Avodah in Oceanside, New York.

April 21, 2020. 7p.m., Science Night Live, Hofstra University. "Five Ways to Save the Planet in a Time of Environmental Change"

November 1, 2019. Keynote speaker for the Louisville Sustainability Council Summit.

December 1, 2019. Keynote speaker for the New York State Marine Education Association.

December 11, San Fransico, American Geophysical Union. "Blogging as if Our Future Depends on It: Engaging Society on Sustainability Via Blogging on On the Brink"

Bob Brinkmann is available for speaking engagements on the topics of sustainability, climate change, caves and sinkholes, and environmental writing. He is also available to conduct writing workshops focused on writing productivity, publishing, blogging, and/or book-length projects. Please contact him directly at robertbrinkmann@rocketmail for details.