CONTENTS
- Photographs
By Mara Constantine, Acalanes HS, Lafayette, and
By Vivian Truong, College Park HS, Pleasant Hill, and
By Daniel Hess, Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland - Quote of the month Chosen by Maggie Young, Mercy HS, Burlingame
- Striving to Awaken Each Student to the Fullness of Life By Jennifer Tran, Bishop O’ Dowd HS, Oakland
- Planting by the Sea By Jenny Leonard, College Park HS, Pleasant Hill
- Robert Sapolsky, Author of A Primate’s Memoir An interview with Natalie Nava, Monte Vista HS, Danville
- Poetry By Rebecca McCarthy, Bay Ridge Prep, Brooklyn, NY
- What’s Really Brewing? A look at the unethical production of coffee, and how a small addiction can have big consequences By Meika Hollender, Vermont Commons School, Charlotte VT
- China: Paving the Way to a Greener, Cleaner World By Natalie Nava, Monte Vista HS, Danville
- Yes, There Is Hope By Sangeeta Hegde, EarthTeam’s Visuals and Voices Intern, College Park HS, Pleasant Hill
- Answers to the Question of the Month
- Question of the Month for April
- Corrections to the March Issue
- Letters to the Editor - Got one this month
- Contact Us
- The Green Team
- Previous Issues
- Editor’s comment - We encourage you to send comments to the writers. Their emails are below their articles.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to strengthen and unify the young environmental community in the Bay Area by sharing interests, information, and calls to action. We seek to inspire participation in projects and events between groups, strengthen journalistic skills, and foster career exploration.
April 2005
Issue 27
Chosen by Maggie Young, Mercy HS, Burlingame, CA
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
– Frank Lloyd Wright (American architect, 1869-1959)
Striving to Awaken Each Student to the Fullness of Life
by
Jennifer Tran, Bishop O’ Dowd HS, Oakland
As long as Bishop O' Dowd High School has existed, so has a piece of mistreated land that accompanied it hand-in-hand. Imagine a three-acre region, poisoned by many years of human abuse, devoured by unforgiving, successful non-native species, stripped of its nutrients due to frequent erosion. Although O' Dowd High School sat beside it for many years, it remained barb-wired and unnoticed for just as long.
|
Daniel Hess, Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland |
Daniel Hess, Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland |
Since then, the Living Lab has continued to bloom as the seasons have rolled by. The place serves as an active learning tool for ecological restoration. Each spring welcomes hillsides of various wildflowers. There is at least one Living Lab workday a month, and there is always something going on. Use by various academic departments continues to grow as teachers discover that the Living Lab is an ideal setting – spiritually, academically, and physically – for applied, experiential learning, reflective and inspirational activities, team projects, investigative activities, and cross-curricular projects. We are currently working on the drip-irrigation system to conserve water for the dry summers, a cyclical fountain for the pond, a wetlands project, and how can we forget – weeding! |
by Jenny Leonard, College Park HS, Pleasant Hill
It was a beautiful day at Fort Funston, San Francisco when we arrived for an EarthTeam habitat restoration workday on Saturday, March 5th. Fort Funston is one of the largest remaining chunks of sand dunes along the San Francisco coastline in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. At Fort Funston, volunteers work with Asha Setty, Fort Funston Nursery Manager, to grow plants, remove seed banks, or iceplant duff, and plant the native plants in areas where ice plant and grasses used to thrive. The fog was light and burned off completely by 10:00 when we met our EarthTeam volunteers at the Fort Funston Ranger Station. We had to relocate to a different site, Land’s End, just a few miles north of Fort Funston, once the volunteers arrived. They were all more than willing to follow us to the next site, a crumbling bluff, to plant native species on it in order to make the bluff sturdier. Parts of the bluff contain Native American shell mounds that were at risk of falling into the sea. Our group of EarthTeam volunteers (fourteen students and three adults), joined the “Green Team,” a group of community members that volunteers every Saturday at Fort Funston. Together, under Asha’s direction, we helped restore a segment of the bluff. |
“Camellia” by Vivian Truong, College Park HS |
The first step that I participated in was taking trays of native plants from a pick-up truck and moving them to the planting area. Native plants included chamisso lupine, live-forever, sea thrift, beach strawberry, knotweed, willowleaf dock, and Indian paintbrush. We disassembled the trays into their separate containers. We placed shrubs in the planting area every yard or so, since they were to grow rather large. The other plants filled the spaces so there were plants about one foot apart. After arranging the plants, planting them was easy since the bluff was composed mostly of sand. We covered the entire bluff with over seven hundred plants in under an hour! As a culmination of the project, we built an impromptu barrier of branches and brush to keep the little plants safe from intruders. I went home feeling satisfied with the work I had done and eager to return soon to these beautiful bluffs.
Robert Sapolsky, Author of A Primate’s Memoir
An interview with Natalie Nava, Monte Vista HS, Danville
Robert Sapolsky is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Neurology at Stanford University. Each year he travels to the Serengeti in Eastern Africa for three months to study the social behavioral patterns of baboons. He has received numerous awards for his research and has written many books including A Primate’s Memoir, a documentation of his travels to Africa.
Q. What exactly does your work at Stanford entail, and what have been some of your most astonishing findings?
A. I'm interested in a few things. First, how do brain cells die after some sort of neurological disaster like a stroke or a major concussive head injury? Second, how is it that stress can make that process of cell death worse? Third, is it possible to design "gene therapy", a strategy to stick novel genes into neurons, in order to save them from those insults? The finding that still surprises people the most is the business about how damaging stress is to the brain.
Q. The Sapolsky laboratory was among the first to document stress damage to the hippocampus, a region of the brain central to learning and memory. How did this finding come about? How does stress relate to certain mental diseases?
A. In my doctoral thesis, centuries ago, I was focusing on brain aging and kept seeing two things -- old rats had damage to their hippocampus, and old rats had elevated levels of these stress hormones called glucocorticoids. The literature suggested that the elevated glucocorticoids might have been doing bad things in the hippocampus, and I went about showing that it was the cause of the neuron loss. That particular study took almost two years to carry out. At this point, here's what we know -- stress has tons to do with depression. It has a bit to do with schizophrenia (young adults who are teetering on getting a schizophrenia diagnosis typically get pushed into full-blown schizophrenia by some major stressor). Stress is not related to Alzheimer's, as far as we know. And in terms of aggression -- in general, stress makes aggressive people more aggressive, and makes non-aggressive people even less so.
Q. For three months each year, you study wild baboons in the Serengeti of East Africa. What have been your findings regarding baboons’ social behaviors? How have these findings helped corroborate your findings about stress?
A. At first, I thought that the most important finding was the fact that social rank determines everything, in terms of how well your body deals with stress-related disease: you don't want to be a low-ranking primate. More and more, I'm realizing that personality and patterns of social connection are even more important -- you don't want to be a socially isolated primate.
Q. What is the most interesting aspect of your lectures, which cover broad topics such as the biology of our individuality, the biology of religious belief, and the biology of memory?
A. In some ways, the individuality topic is the most interesting. The general theme coming out of it is that, at some point, science is going to have some insight as to our individual tastes, personalities, how we vote, who we fall in love with, whether we like spicy food or not, etc. – and when that happens, it is going to unnerve the hell out of a lot of people.
Check out Robert Sapolsky’s Books:
Stress, the Aging Brain, and the Mechanisms of Neuron Death
The Trouble With Testosterone and Other Essays on the Biology of the Human Predicament
Why Zebras Don't Get UlcersA Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases and Coping
A Primate's Memoir
“Moonbranches” by Mara Constantine, Acalanes HS |
by Rebecca McCarthy, Bay Ridge Prep, Brooklyn, NY
Stone, 2
“Lilies” by Mara Constantine |
The Daisy, Quiet, gentleBeauty The daisy Stands Alone in The late February wind. It Sometimes envies The attention that the Tiger lilies get with Their brash, bold colors and Tall, graceful necks. Yet, the daisy possesses Its own special light, Its own power. |
RodrigoI always thought that my grandfatherWould be Reincarnated into A bulldog or a lion. So it surprised me greatly To discover That he came back In the form of a rabbit named Rodrigo. I knew that the rabbit was not An ordinary rabbit when I first saw him. I could see in the light of his eyes, The shine of his fur, That there was something mystical about him. Rodrigo is a little scared of me. Really, who can blame him? It must be hard to go from being someone's grandfather: relatively strong and wise, To a bunny, Small with short-term memory. |
“Spring Wisteria” by Mara Constantine |
“Leaves and Sunset”, by Mara Constantine |
Reflection |
What’s Really Brewing? A look at the unethical production of coffee, and how a small addiction can have big consequences
by
Meika Hollender, Vermont Commons School, Charlotte VT
“One-fifty please,” the lady behind the counter tells me every single morning at my local gas station. Every morning I line up behind five to ten other coffee addicts and hold out my change with a look of relief plastered on my face, as if this employee’s presence is what makes or breaks my day. Sometimes, when the line is extra long and I have gotten more than six hours of sleep the night before, I wonder how many of the people waiting in front of me have actually chosen, out of the 15 or so coffee varieties, the ONE fair-trade choice that is offered.
The reality is – not too many of them, if any, choose that “distant” sort of coffee, let alone know the difference between fair-trade and traditional coffee. Not only is the fair-trade coffee labeled a “winter classic blend,” (during March) but it is also the hardest container of coffee to get to. The fact that most people don’t opt for the fair-trade brands of coffee is part of the reason why only about 3% of Starbucks and 13% of Green Mountain coffee is fair-trade.
In a time when the inhumane working conditions in 3rd world countries are fairly commonplace knowledge, it is time that more of us opt to drink coffee that is grown ethically. Fair-trade coffee means, in simple terms, that the coffee farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean are not being scammed out of their earnings due to the free market forces and trade laws like NAFTA.
Alongside the emerging socially responsible economic phenomena (discussed in my February article in The Green) is this new “path” worldwide corporations are taking to better their image and up their CSR (corporate social responsibility) status. Companies like Chiquita, Starbucks, and Green Mountain Coffee are bettering the labor conditions on their plantations, paying their workers more, and as a result improving the taste of their products. Yet for them to continue, we must buy the product.
Many argue that fair-trade products like chocolate and bananas are actually more expensive, which is sometimes the case, but the reality is that fair-trade doesn’t always mean higher prices. Although many argue that fair-trade is so small scale right now that it doesn’t even make a difference, I would have to challenge that. Fair-trade not only is a more ethical way of doing business, but also when companies improve the conditions on their plantations, they reduce their company’s ecological footprint. Fair-trade has individual as well as global effects. If enough people are educated about this alternative option, it will be a step towards reducing the great divide between the capitalized world and everywhere else. A lot more will happen than just giving consumers a warm-fuzzy feeling when they drink their coffee in the morning. People need to learn that when they buy a cup of coffee that is not fair-trade coffee they are buying globalization and inhumane labor practices. Fair-trade coffee is another way that we as individuals can affect the world: there are people all over the world who are being underpaid, and unjustly treated, and we have the power to change that.
China: Paving the Way to a Greener, Cleaner World
By
Natalie Nava, Monte Vista HS, Danville
With its increasing industrialization and number of vehicles on the road, China is expected to surpass the United States in both its economy and air pollution emissions within 50 years. However, China, a coal-producing and using nation (obtaining 75% of its energy from coal), and a high-polluting (the world’s second largest carbon dioxide emitter) nation was not expected to surpass the U.S. with impressive environmental legislation this year, but it has. Common sense would tell us that the United States, which uses 25% of the world’s energy resources and which possesses the means to transition into a more sustainable state, would lead the way to a brighter and greener future. However, our reality is nowhere close to this environmental leadership. We know that the Bush administration has been not only shutting down environmental legislation, but reversing it, with its withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty and lack of subsidies for instituting efficient energy sources. Meanwhile, China has picked up the pace and passed its first renewable energy legislation, in an attempt to counteract some of the negative effects of its rapid development and the accompanying energy shortages. A law will take effect in 2006, requiring power grid operators to obtain all resources from renewable energy producers. This law will also include incentives for renewable energy development and the distribution of biological liquid fuel by oil companies.
So while China may be adopting the fuel-consuming luxuries of modern Western culture, they are going in the opposite direction by strengthening rather than weakening environmental policies. Our nation only surpasses China in greenhouse gas emissions by a hair soit is a shame that we are not acting as a role model and instead are allowing other nations to deal with the environmental problems on which we have had a huge influence. According to Greenpeace, which is cheering China on for its huge step in the green direction, China has “potential to become a world leader in sustainable development”.
Information for this article comes from the website of Agence France-Presse
By Sangeeta Hegde, EarthTeam’s Visuals and Voices Intern, College Park HS, Pleasant Hill
HEY GUYS! I know you may have heard a few negative things about our governor, but he's not all bad. Did you know that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recently endorsed (in February) the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (HR 233/S 128)? The main sponsors of this act are Congressman Mike Thompson (D-1st District, Calif.) and California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. It took them four long years of hard work to get this Act approved in committee and to the floor of the Senate. One day after Arnold endorsed it, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved it! Let me tell you a little bit about this oh so wonderful Act: It will protect 21 miles of river and 300,000 acres of wild lands in Northern California, a place most of us here call our home. |
 “Yellow Roses and the Sky” by Mara Constantine (Click photo to view larger image) |
Some of the areas it will protect are the Black Butte River, King Range, Cache Creek, and the Klamath Siskiyou region. The Cache Creek is home to California's second largest wintering bald eagle population. The Klamath Siskiyou region runs 10 million acres along the California - Oregon border near the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most important regions in the world if we are to preserve the web of life, and it is one of six U.S. eco-regions where the non-profit organization World Wildlife Fund is active.
If you are as excited as I am about this victory, please send a letter thanking Governor Schwarzenegger. Urge him to not let up on this very important issue. His address is:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
or you can e-mail a letter. Just go to this website – www.govmail.ca.gov/ – and it will give an option of personally writing a letter or just signing a generic one that will be sent to him.
Answers to the March Question of the Month
Do you think that waste is an environmental problem? Why or why not? And, if yes, what measures do you think should be taken to limit the amount of waste we produce?
— Indeed, waste is an environmental problem because too many potentially recyclable resources are being waste. There need to be more rules or acts to enforce waste management.
Mandi Cassel, Deer Valley HS, 2006
—Yes, overpopulation comes with a bunch of extra trash which affects air and ground.
Marky Cassel, Deer Valley HS, 2006
— DEF! People, most people, just do what’s convenient and don’t want to take an extra step to “recycle” because they are too busy.
Sangeeta Hegde, College Park HS, 2005
— Yes, like when you turn on the television and they’re advertising one-use plastic containers.
Natasha Hein, College Park HS, 2005
–– Waste is a huge problem and it’s growing because of general apathy. No one cares about where their garbage goes, as long as it’s away.
Renee Terrebone, College Park HS, 2005—
— Yes, knowledge, motivation, then all the already done methods like recycle/compost/what have you bins.
Elliott Klein, Acalanes HS, 2005
On line results to this variant question: What do you think is the most important environmental problem – Global Warming, Population, or Toxics?
- population 15% (16 votes),
- global warming 14% (15 votes)
- toxic waste 71% (76 votes)
Question of the Month for April
Do you think the animal rights movement and the environmental movement are connected? If yes, why, and what do you think are the factors that connect them? If not, why not?
Send your answer to editor@earthteam.net Please respond by May 1.
The March issue incorrectly credited the untitled photograph of leaves backlit by the sun following the Actions of the Month section. The photographer is Vivian Truong.
The following letter refers to photographs by Vivian Truong in the March issue. Editor
Vivian – Let me introduce myself. My name is Anders Schmidt and I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Markham Regional Arboretum Society. I wanted to compliment you on your photography skills and how you have played with the colors, textures and sunlight of your photo in the recent issue of your publication. You have a nice talent that will improve with experience. I will also offer my services to your school for speaking on horticultural topics or whatever you would like, given appropriate notice. Feel free to read the article by Mara Constantine of Acalanes on the Galindo Creek Restoration Experience of February 19th. If your fellow students would also like to contribute to this project, please let me know as I can coordinate it for an after-school program or weekend project.
Please let me know. Congratulations on your superior photography! You may learn more about the Markham at:
Anders Schmidt, ACCNP
Board Member and Field Consultant
Markham Regional Arboretum Society
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