Environmental Writing 2011

From Agent Orange’s insidious grasp out of the past of the war in Vietnam to current health concerns of many residents of Ramapo River communities, to the potential future effects of global climate change, 11 student-reporters at Ramapo College of New Jersey dug into a wide array of ecological issues in the Spring 2011 Environmental Writing class.

Here are some of many insightful passages that summarize topics students chose to research and report in magazine-style final writing projects, all of which are posted on our class website, ramapolookout.blogspot.com, along with their other writing assignments throughout the semester.

“The Earth is as a storm. Violently it crashes and trumpets along its trillion year journey. Like a wildfire burning on a California horizon, the Earth surrounds itself in tapestry of both beauty and terror. In essence our planet is a hospitable destroyer. It will deny life as easily as it fosters it. Often times life will simply die off, a casualty of the constant unseen equation of nature. Still, despite the changes our planet has seen, the existence of life has always remained firmly rooted. However, our modern age has threatened life with a new villain: pollutants.”

--From Destroying our Oceans: Impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by John Clancey

“Beekeepers throughout the Garden State know there is something wrong. Some blame mites and pesticides but others are still puzzled as to what exactly is causing colony collapse disorder.

“’I had beehives that were full of bees and produced a great honey crop, and two weeks later were empty,’ says Joe Triemel, Corresponding Secretary at the Essex Co. Beekeepers.

“Why all the buzz? Bees are very critical to agricultural practices.”

--From New Jersey's Buzz on Colony Collapse Disorder by Courtney Leiva

“When being advised to follow a healthy diet, the one food that is indisputably on the top of the list is fish. Its Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals keep our heart pumping and our blood pressure low. It is an easy food to cook, requiring little preparation and, in most cases, done in less than 30 minutes. It is almost impossible to make a bad dish with fish unless, of course, the fish itself has been contaminated.

“With the recent environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which was formally known to produce quality fish, particularly shellfish, fish lovers now question the safety of the fish coming from the Gulf. Do we believe the government agencies that maintain the fish from the Gulf is safe or do we stop buying, adding to the sorry economic state of the Gulf fishermen’s woes, who are just recovering from Hurricane Katrina?”

--From Is Eating Fish as Healthy as It Used to Be? by Virginia DiBianca

“Climate change, or global warming as it is often referred to, has been a hot button issue in recent years. It has dominated the environmental arena, and has even played a role in the political spectrum, as Democrats and Republicans hold very different ideas about the phenomenon. There is a lot of conflicting information about this so-called global warming and the process of weeding through all of it to separate fact from fiction can seem overwhelming. The truth of the matter is, depending upon who you ask, you will likely get a very different interpretation of climate change, its causes, its effects, and what it ultimately means for you and me. …

“Climate change, or global warming, is certainly a very complex issue with a myriad of facts, data, and evidence from a host of different organizations to take into account. But these are the bare-bone facts of the situation. There is evidence to support hundreds of thousands of years of constantly changing climate situations on our planet. But there is also hard proof that humans have, if nothing else, sped the process up a significant amount. It is really up to each citizen of the planet Earth to make their own decision about climate change and make their day-to-day choices accordingly.”

--From Climate Change: A Complex Issue with Clashing Points of View by Lindsey de Stefan

“Jeff Genser, a Suffern native, pleaded to the council about flood issues. He stated, ‘You're proposing to eliminate 100 acres of flood plain, and turn it from a pervious area to an impervious. And that is unacceptable, in my opinion.’ He went on to propose his own idea for what could be built on the flood plain next to the Ramapo River, a Vertical Farm. ‘A building could be constructed that could supply food to half of Bergen County...use all the water it comes into [from the river], over and over again, and have no pollution and environmental impact.’ The idea seemed to stir no interest by the council.

“Many individuals mentioned how the mall would impact the surrounding community. Some were frustrated over the idea of Stag Hill residents being stranded in an emergency situation, being that the only access road to their community would become a constant point of traffic and congestion. Retired resident Ron Whalberg asked the council, ‘At what point do we stop endangering future generations?’”

--From A Changed Mahwah by Graig Mihok

“It is a race against time for a fading era of American heroes who served their country and feel they were poisoned by their government. It is a race against time for the Vietnamese people suffering from health conditions and birth defects. The U.S. government is left with a choice. It can accept responsibility and dedicate itself to all who suffered from the Agent Orange spraying campaigns, or it can wait for the end of an era. It can hope for the best that history will forget. The natural environment and the lives it gracefully sustains are in serious danger.

“For Agent Orange investigator Fred Wilcox, justice is yet to be done. ‘The government can start by saying sorry,’ he said.”

--From War After the War: The Environmental Assault of Agent Orange by Dan Savino

“Consumers seem to be paying attention to what they eat more and more. It is too soon to prove whether GM seeds, crops and foods will hurt or help us, but staying informed and questioning claims for will help to insure our safety. Big corporations own the rights to a very crucial part of the food chain. Urging others to ask questions, voice opinions and challenge tests is incredibly important. Food and its nutrients are what help us survive. As consumers and as humans we have the right to take control over the products we use daily.”

--From Genetically Modified Food: What Does it Mean for You and Your Kitchen? by Lorraine Metz

“Some say it’s just a coincidence; that it would take years, if not decades, for us to see any change in prices if we started drilling.  Experts say that the process of actually obtaining the oil, refining it, dispersing it, and using it takes an extreme amount of time and money, so that we wouldn’t see any relief in the near future.  The Energy Information Association found that increased drilling would have a very small, if any, impact before 2030.  They also found that even once the oil starts flowing, it would only bring in about 0.2 million barrels per day.

“Others argue that just by lifting a ban on drilling, it would influence the market to lower prices.  This is what seemingly happened between 2008 and 2010 with President Bush’s decision.  However, other economists argue that the oil industry is part of a global market and since the United States would only be contributing less than one million barrels per day, it wouldn’t do much for the prices.  How would one explain what happened after Bush’s decision?  The theory of supply and demand seems pretty fitting, which would directly benefit us in this situation.”

--From To Drill or Not to Drill? Offshore Oil Drilling and How it Can Affect You by Brittany Shann

“’Many residents have told me they don't trust DuPont or the NJ DEP. They think DuPont is covering up pollution and DEP is rubber stamping inadequate DuPont cleanup plans,’ says Bill Wolfe, former planner and policy analyst for the state Department of Environmental Protection and former policy director of Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter.

“’They are frustrated by the slow pace of cleanup, angry for not being told about vapor intrusion, and disgusted by repeated failures by local and state officials to provide full information and allow them to have a meaningful role in cleanup decisions that affect their lives, their family’s health, and their property value,’ he says.”

--From DuPont: Pompton Lakes Site Still a Source of Conflict After 25-Year Clean Up by Deanna Dunsmuir

“Some fluctuations in the Earth's temperature are inevitable regardless of human activity, but centuries of rising temperatures and seas lie ahead if the release of emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation continues unabated, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore for alerting the world to warming's risks.

“Over the next decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to regulate sources of greenhouse gases, imposing efficiency and emissions requirements. Until the UNFCCC starts taking action on a global scale, it seems that countering global warming and climate change is up to the people’s smaller actions and lifestyle changes. Maybe then those with the greater power will see that we are prepared for much bigger, even drastic changes.”

--From Global Warming: Small Steps Towards Conquering a Big Threat by Jessica Vasquez

“A tract of twenty-two acres of forest named after the former Governor of New Jersey, George Brinton McClellan, was purchased a few years ago by Seton Hall Prep School of West Orange, New Jersey. The school’s plan’s to clear the old growth forest rippled through the community and neighboring towns and has caused many concerns. For two years, town residents and students attended zoning board hearings to voice their opinion on the proposed clear cutting. …

“The Mallangas, both active members of the Sierra Club, also brought in Bruce Kershner. Kershner is a field ecologist who is also a national authority on old growth forests and took a survey of the 22 acres of trees. He identified the trees and expressed the historical and biological value of the forest. Board members attacked his testimony claiming that the use of the term ‘old growth forest’ can not be used if he cannot tell the exact age of the trees. They repeatedly interrupted him during his testimony to ask him for credentials and if he had a background in studying and observing old growth forests. Kershner has studied old growth forests for over 30 years all over the country, but that did not seem like a sufficient enough background for the zoning board members.”

--From Seton Hall Prep Clear Cuts Our Future by Amanda Nesheiwat

Is Eating Fish as Healthy as It Used to Be?

Photo/2.bp.blogspot.com

By Virginia DiBianca

When being advised to follow a healthy diet, the one food that is indisputably on the top of the list is fish. Its Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals keep our heart pumping and our blood pressure low. It is an easy food to cook, requiring little preparation and, in most cases, done in less than 30 minutes. It is almost impossible to make a bad dish with fish unless, of course, the fish itself has been contaminated.

With the recent environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which was formally known to produce quality fish, particularly shellfish, fish lovers now question the safety of the fish coming from the Gulf. Do we believe the government agencies that maintain the fish from the Gulf is safe or do we stop buying, adding to the sorry economic state of the Gulf fishermen’s woes, who are just recovering from Hurricane Katrina?

Testing by Federal Agencies
One month after the spill occurred, consumers began expressing reasonable concern as to whether the fish coming from the Gulf was contaminate free. To address public concern, in July 2010, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began testing the fish to determine its safety to consumers as well as to the fishermen. As a precautionary measure, NOAA closed fishing and shellfish harvesting in areas in the Gulf that were exposed to the spilled oil. The fish outside the closed areas was tested for petroleum compounds. While oil is composed of many chemicals, it is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are carcinogenic if consumed in sufficient amounts over long periods of time. Another indicator of tainted seafood is the smell. If a petroleum odor is detected, the fish would be considered unacceptable for consumption.

NOAA has the authority to close and open the waters in the Gulf and actively uses that power to meet their obligation to the public. A sampling conducted between August and September 19 indicated the sample fish (shrimp, finfish and composites) showed no sign of oil or dispersant odors or flavors. As results continued to prove the fish were safe, fishing areas were re-opened. At its peak, 37% (88,522 square miles) of the Gulf fisheries were closed. As of October 1, 2010, 89% of those closed fishing areas were once again operational.

While all tests produced results indicating no signs of contamination, consumer confidence continued to mistrust the fish coming from the Gulf. In November 2010, NOAA and the FDA announced it would conduct a second chemical test on the Gulf seafood for dispersant. Taking 1,735 tissue samples, the FDA reported that trace amounts of dispersant residue (in 13 of the 1,735 samples) were found below the safety threshold for shrimp, crabs and oysters and that there was no scientific evidence that dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), a major part of the dispersant, had accumulated in the fish tissues.

“The rigorous testing we have done from the very beginning gives us confidence in the safety of seafood being brought to market from the Gulf,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary for commerce and NOAA administrator. “This test adds another layer of information, reinforcing our findings to date that seafood from the Gulf remains safe.” As of February 2011, 1,041 square miles of an area immediately surrounding the wellhead is the only section still closed by NOAA.

Photo/4.bp.blogspot.com

The Unfortunate Oysters
Of all the seafood in the Gulf, the oyster population has been the one specie that has been the one most deeply effected from the spill. Oysters are creatures highly sensitive to the quality of their environment. They feed by filtering nutrients out of seawater. Because they are immobile, they accumulate the chemicals and pollutants making them vulnerable to the spills effects. The spilled oil penetrated the water column and formed a thick oil slick that reached the shores of the Gulf Coast contaminating everything in its way including the world’s last, largely intact network of oyster reefs.

An attempt to reverse the damage actually caused more destruction to the oyster beds. In a coordinated effort by the Coast Guard, BP and the Army Corp of Engineers, water diversion gates were opened to flood fresh water from the Mississippi River hoping to push the oil out of the Louisiana coastal marshes. This action might have saved other species, however the oyster population that thrives on coastal living has been severely damaged.

The timing of the spill was also against the oysters. The BP spill occurred during the peak spawning period for oysters. Oysters reproduce by releasing egg and sperm into the water that attach to the hard-surface bottom that becomes their home. With toxins in the water, oysters protect themselves by keeping their shells closed, which eventually suffocates them.

In January 2011, a weekend was dedicated to the first of a program to rebuild 100 miles of new oyster reefs along the shorelines of Alabama. The effort was partially funded by NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a spokesman for The Natural Conservancy stated, 85% of the world’s natural oyster reefs have already been lost due to development, pollution and now, the BP oil spill. Oyster reefs are important not only for consumption but in marine life. They promote new growth, help protect delicate salt marshes and sea grasses, and act like coral in the tropics to provide habitat for numerous marine species across Mobile Bay.

In addition to the public perception of tainted seafood, a supply shortage has further complicated the issue. With oyster beds damaged, only 1% of the men who usually harvest oysters are actually doing so. One main reason is that they have been hired as part of the cleanup crew, work that for now, is more profitable with some crews paying as much as $2,000 a day. As a result, restaurants in New Orleans that have featured local seafood began last summer to re-evaluate their menus and consider less expensive ways of serving the popular local fare.

Defined by their Cuisine
Fish, particularly shellfish, is deeply ingrained in the states along the Gulf Coast as a way of life. New Orleans’s cuisine made popular by celebrity chefs such as Emeril Lagasse and his predecessor, Paul Prudhomme of the famous Commander’s Palace Restaurant, boast some of the best seafood recipes anywhere, using local catches. Traditional meals include Jambalaya and Gumbo using shrimp, po’boy sandwiches made with oysters and crawfish dinners called etouffee. These chefs emphasize how it is in their best interest to serve the fish from the Gulf with confidence. No restaurateur would take the chance of being known as the establishment that served their patrons tainted fish.

Seafood is how many along the Gulf make their living. Recently, at a symposium on the aftermath of the BP oil spill held at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mr. Thomas Costanza of Catholic Charities of New Orleans addressed how the loss of work has affected the Gulf fishermen. While Hurricane Katrina destroyed the property of those in the Gulf, it did not come close to the devastation of what it means to lose one’s livelihood as when the spilled oil contaminated their fisheries. Oyster beds, which take three years before they are re-established, have been ruined. Last summer’s harvest of brown shrimp from the gulf was one of the smallest seen in years. Juvenile crabs are in very small numbers.

Michael Voisin, president of Motivatit Seafoods, an oyster processing company in Houma, La., reports his business is down 60% after the spill, with recovery at a slow pace. The state’s fisheries are projected to lose $74 million this year from the lingering impact of the oil spill.

Fishermen are suffering from depression that is leading to an increase in alcoholism. Claims from the fishing industry to BP go unpaid. The fishermen are asking for help to be re-trained in their profession, and to reconstruct their oyster beds and fisheries. BP has denied the claims from oystermen asserting that the pumping of freshwater into the beds was a maneuver unapproved by the Unified Command who oversee the oil spill response. It was the water, not the oil, BP claims, that caused the ruination of the oyster beds. In the meantime, claims go unsatisfied, under a pile of papers.

So Is the Fish Safe?
The decision to eat the fish from the Gulf of Mexico comes down to each person’s individual belief. Government sponsored tests have all indicated there are no traces of contamination in the Gulf seafood. After extensive examination of how fish react to polluted waters after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, a report issued by the National Marine Fisheries Services determined that fish metabolize and excrete foreign materials such as oil. It can be said that the fish from the Gulf has undergone the most comprehensive testing ever to ensure the public’s health and safety. There are restaurants and fish markets that are carrying the seafood from the Gulf without reported problems.

On the other side, it is unclear how consumers can know whether tainted shrimp or oysters, for example, might still be harvested from closed or unexamined areas and sold, despite these precautions. The national perception is of caution as the long-term effects are yet to be known. Even though the oil has dissipated, there is uncertainty as to how much remains below the surface. Scientific evidence states that bacteria, plankton and other tiny creatures have consumed the oil. These creatures, eaten by small fish, crabs and shrimp that can be eaten by bigger fish jeopardize the safety of sea life for human consumption. As most all studies on the Gulf contamination admit, the future effects are yet to be determined.

Consequently, many seafood lovers have become more inquisitive about the food they are buying. When recently dining at a local well-established restaurant, a nearby diner asked the waiter where the fish was from before placing their dinner order. Markets selling fresh seafood are also questioned as to the origin of the fish, particularly the shrimp. At a respected fish market, when asked, the fishmonger informed his customer that the shrimp came from Louisiana. The customer then turned and bought the Chilean Sea Bass. It is their choice, after all.

For more information:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/gulf-oil-spill-restoratio_n_812945.html

http://www.eli.org/pdf/NA_40-11/40.11097.pdf

About the Author

Virginia DiBianca is a third year student at Ramapo College majoring in Communication Arts. Taking a strong interest in how the environment has affected her, she is turning down fish from the Gulf Coast at seafood markets and restaurants for now.

National Youth Environmental Summit Coming Up in North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

What: National Youth Environmental Summit: Redesigning Our Future
Who: The Center for the Environment at Catawba College
When: July 20-24, 2011
Where: Salisbury, North Carolina

Contact: Dan Savino
dsavino@ramapo.edu

National Youth Environmental Summit Open to High School Students

Now is your chance to become an environmental leader for the future! All high school seniors and juniors are welcome and encouraged to attend an exciting Environmental Summit for America’s youth to be held this summer for four days starting on July 20. The Center for the Environment at Catawba College and the Rocky Mountain Institute will team up to put on a summit especially designed to engage students interested and talented in disciplines beyond the scope of the traditional environmental field. Students will be encouraged to use their talents to become effective leaders to advance environmental thinking and progress.

While exploring interests with other students in small groups, attendees will share passions and be taught specific skills that environmental leaders require to create a sustainable world. Leadership sessions will concentrate on whole systems thinking, collaboration, and effective communication. These elements are essential in order to work successfully in a connected, global community. There are four “R’s” to keep in mind. They are to reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink.

Apply today to be part of this valuable summit. Registration is only $200 thanks to our sponsors and donors. Scholarships will be available for those in need. This cost will cover materials needed for the sessions, as well as food and local transportation services.

College faculty and staff from the Rocky Mountain Institute and the Center for the Environment will run groups. Students will even receive real life field experience in the Catawba College Ecological Preserve. Act now and enroll today!

For further information:

http://www.centerfortheenvironment.org/redesigning-our-future.html

Experiential Journal: Learning from “Carbon Nation”

By John Clancey

In order to complete the experiential requirement of my class I attend a screening of the documentary “Carbon Nation.” The film, released in 2010, revolved around the increasingly prominent issue of climate change in today’s world; specifically to community-based energy solutions for lowering the carbon footprint.

Unlike other popular films on this topic, “Carbon Nation” did not revolve around negative information. Instead it makes a point to explain the situation as it stands, as well as offer inspiration to those who wish to make a difference. “Carbon Nation” is not a warning flag, it is a rally point.

Peter Byck, the film’s director, follows the stories of a few inspired individuals who have seen the need for renewable energy and fulfilled it though innovative means. Through a series of optimistic interviews with experts of various fields, it describes how we may meet the sixteen terawatts of energy the world consumes while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

The individuals interviewed possessed not only a unique perspective on the current situation, but original ideas regarding its rectification. Wind power, solar power, even natural hot springs all proved effective as alternative energy sources.

Whether it was jobs brought on by new industry, help for a struggling small town economy, or even free energy for a town in Alaska, “Carbon Nation” demonstrates that every investment made into alternative energy has positive effects on communities.

Over all, the film was made very well and remained engaging throughout its two-hour run time. It pointed out ways that everyone can help reduce the pressures we exert on our environment. Through showing new means of alternate energy and simplistic methods of energy cost reduction, “Carbon Nation” sets an example for responsible eco stewardship.

Seton Hall Prep Clear Cuts Our Future

By Amanda Nesheiwat

A tract of twenty-two acres of forest named after the former Governor of New Jersey, George Brinton McClellan, was purchased a few years ago by Seton Hall Prep School of West Orange, New Jersey. The school’s plan’s to clear the old growth forest rippled through the community and neighboring towns and has caused many concerns. For two years, town residents and students attended zoning board hearings to voice their opinion on the proposed clear cutting.

Seton Hall Prep plans on clear-cutting the historical forest to make way for additional recreational fields. The private school for boys currently has 20 acres of recreational areas including football fields, a lacrosse field, a parking lot, a ¼ - mile track, a storage facility, property fencing, asphalt, and a shot put ring. They plan on expanding their fields into the forest area with:

- A larger additional storage facility
- 2 baseball diamonds
-1 field house
- 6 tennis courts
- Additional parking for up to 700 cars
- 1 cross country running trail
- Batting cages
- A hot dog concession stand
- 40 foot high bleachers
- 50 foot netting supported by poles in the fly zones of eagles
- 2 detention ditches which are currently home to 50 foot mature trees that have been successfully holding storm water


George B. McClellan, the man whom the forest is named after, was NJ’s 24th Governor and ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1864. The McClellan old growth forest is located along Prospect Ave between Mt. Pleasant Ave and Northfield Ave in West Orange. It is a site that many community members visit for walks, jogs, and to walk their dogs. The forest is named “old growth” because it has reached climax succession and some trees on the site that are well over 300 years old. Old growth forests are very rare and are becoming obsolete in New Jersey. The site has impressive diversity with a total of 33 different species of trees which provide habitat for many different species such as the Great Horned Owl, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, and Red Fox as well as endangered species such as the Indiana Brown Bat. The forest not only provides habitat for animals and a place of spirituality for townspeople, but also is useful in retaining water since the forest is a wetland area.

Zoning board members would not allow anyone to express their opinion at the hearings unless they were residents of West Orange. As the news swirled about the school cutting habitat that an endangered species lived in, students from Bergen Community College’s Environmental Club began attending every board hearing for over a year. They held up signs, made posters and screened shirts, and one student, Nirva Singh, eventually received permission by the board members to give a speech on behalf of the students even though he wasn't a resident of West Orange.

Bergen Community College Students with Sally Mallanga

The residents living alongside the forest have been to the town zoning board hearings and have given proof and testimonies of the flooding that has been happening in and around their homes causing property damage. A woman named Mary testified that she fears her property value will “decrease because of the flooding that has been happening.” Clear cutting these trees will cause fast and damaging floods, said several residents who live on Prospect Ave. Seton Hall Prep understands that this will cause major flooding so it has proposed to replace the trees with large detention ditches. Neighbors have been experiencing water damage since 1999, when Seton Hall Prep promised to improve their water control, said a resident.

Residents of West Orange

One of the most memorable testimonies was from a resident who lived nearby the field that the students from Seton Hall prep currently use, a site that is only a 5-minute drive away from the old growth forest. The resident came into the room with a large zip-lock bag full of baseballs that have been flying onto his property from the practices and games. On one occasion, the baseball broke a window of theirs, and he is now afraid to let his 8-year-old daughter play in their yard.

Lawyer Kevin Mallanga and wife, Sally Mallanga, who took Seton Hall Prep to court for planning on taking away a vital ecosystem and brought Environmental Expert, Amy Greene, to show up to a couple of meetings. I attended most of these board hearings and heard Amy Greene’s testimony. She revealed that SHP failed in 13 ways in their application and excluded the identification of wetlands and the possibility of endangered species. When Amy Greene told this to the zoning board, they rudely questioned her about the time and day she entered the site and accused her of trespassing instead of addressing the legal issues she was there to inform them about.

Amy Green during her Testimony

Seton Hall Prep has been illegally clear cutting and developing without permits or plans such as cutting down a 300-year old White Oak tree in 2006 and in that same year dumping contaminated dump fill onto the forest ground, said several residents who have been observing SHP’s actions. In both cases the judge refused to fine SHP.

The Mallangas, both active members of the Sierra Club, also brought in Bruce Kershner. Kershner is a field ecologist who is also a national authority on old growth forests and took a survey of the 22 acres of trees. He identified the trees and expressed the historical and biological value of the forest. Board members attacked his testimony claiming that the use of the term “old growth forest” can not be used if he cannot tell the exact age of the trees. They repeatedly interrupted him during his testimony to ask him for credentials and if he had a background in studying and observing old growth forests. Kershner has studied old growth forests for over 30 years all over the country, but that did not seem like a sufficient enough background for the zoning board members.

Meetings went by and after hearing dozens and dozens of testimonies from townspeople, most of which seemed to be against the proposal, the zoning board members finally decided on a day to make a decision on whether to accept or deny Seton Hall Prep’s proposal. On decision day, the room was filled and people sat on the floor and in the aisles and there was a crowd of people outside in the hallways and in the stairwell anxiously awaiting their decision. All seven board members voted to approve the proposal. They claimed that they will not be responsible for depriving the students of their baseball and football fields and that athletic facilities aid with the students’ education. After the meeting, townspeople of West Orange gathered outside the town hall and some protested that a forest would be more suitable to educate students than a flat field of grass. The townspeople are not satisfied with this decision and neither are the Mallangas. Kevin Mallanga plans on appealing the case. One resident of the town, who did not want to reveal his identity said, “As long as Seton Hall Prep is tied up in court, they can’t cut down the trees.”

Students with Save Our Trees T-shirts.

Students with Lawyer and Sierra Club Member Kevin Mallanga

About the Author

Amanda Nesheiwat is a third year Environmental Science Major at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is active in her community as the Chairman of the Environmental Committee in the town of Secaucus. She is passionate about building a community of strong leaders to educate the youth about environmental issues. She hopes to get her Masters in Environmental Engineering and to get involved with the United Nations where she feels she can make a difference.

Destroying our Oceans: Impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

By John Clancey

The Earth is as a storm. Violently it crashes and trumpets along its trillion year journey. Like a wildfire burning on a California horizon, the Earth surrounds itself in tapestry of both beauty and terror. In essence our planet is a hospitable destroyer. It will deny life as easily as it fosters it. Often times life will simply die off, a casualty of the constant unseen equation of nature. Still, despite the changes our planet has seen, the existence of life has always remained firmly rooted. However, our modern age has threatened life with a new villain: pollutants.

Providing habitat for some of our planet’s most diverse life, the Pacific Ocean is invaluable as a natural resource. In recent years, however, the big blue has taken on something more than new marine life. Between the 30th and 35th latitudinal parallels, human pollution has assured the alteration of eco systems on a massive scale. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or trash vortex, is that alteration.

An artificial reef made of toxic materials, the patch has acuminated an estimated 100million tons of waste. The new small continent of floating plastic has become a major concern for oceanologists the world over.

The exact size of the Great Pacific Garbage patch is not known. It is thought to be roughly anywhere from the size of the continental U.S to at least double the size of Texas. The reason for such huge discrepancies is the difficulty and process involved in obtaining that data. Sample sizes suggest that the patch is now anywhere from .41%to 8.1% of the entire Pacific Ocean, a startling estimate by any account. Additionally, there is no specific standard for determining the boundary between "normal" and "elevated" levels of pollutants assuring difficulty in providing a firm image of the affected area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:North_Pacific_Subtropical_Convergence_Zone.jpg

Map of The North Pacific Gyre

Unlike organic waste, plastic does not decompose. Instead it lingers, suffocating eco systems for hundreds of years. In the water, plastics undergo a process known as Photo graduation; the process where plastics disintegrate into smaller and smaller pieces down to a molecular level. At this point the material doesn’t go anywhere; it instead forms a toxic fog.

“Plastics state of matter is almost like a liquid,” stated Paul Hennery, organic chemistry major form Ramapo College of New Jersey. “Overtime it will just break down to that type of state.”

It is because the Great Pacific Garbage Patch exists in this state that it is impossible to view from satellite imagery. In fact, most pollution is near invisible to the naked eye. However, researchers have derived means in which to measure the level of plastics in an area by testing neaston, or tiny animals that dwell on the surface. Through these organisms it is possible to distinguish the concentration of plastics in the water.

In 1988 a paper was published by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) surrounding the conclusions of several Alaska based researchers. They found, after measuring the neustonic plastic levels between 1985 and 1988, that unusually high concentrations of marine debris had accumulated in regions governed by ocean currents. This thesis would be confirmed almost ten years later by Charles J. Moore as he passed through the patch firsthand.

Discovered in 1997, the trash vortex was created in the gyre of the North Pacific Subtropical Zone. A gyre, or ocean current, is defined as any large system of rotating water. Ocean Gyres move water in great circular patterns governing all oceanic currents. The North Pacific Gyre, located along the equator and considered the world’s largest eco system, has become infamous for its mass accumulation of trash and plastic. Slowly gathered by the drifting tides, the waste has collected into a giant shifting stew, ripe with choking poisons.

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/July-2008/Getting-Trashed/DiverDiver

off the coast of Hawaii

Examples of toxins located into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch include:

Bispherol A (BPA)- a dangerous chemical considered a toxic substance in Canada. It is known to produce estrogen and can have adverse affects of people’s hormonal levels. It is banned as a material in the production of children’s baby bottles by both Canada and the European Union.

PCB- used for many applications, especially as dielectric fluids in transformers, capacitors, and coolants. These products were banned by the United States Congress in 1979 and by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001.

Polystyrene- an extremely moldable compound used for most plastic products worldwide. It is highly toxic to marine life and cannot be broken down by any known bacteria.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Albatross_chick_plastic.jpg

Laysan Albatross killed after accidentally eating plastic

The effects of these maritime pollutants are wide spread to say the least. Once small enough, plastics can enter the food chain via the smaller organisms, thus contaminating animals higher up the ladder. Jellyfish absorb the plastics, which are then eaten by fish, which are then eaten by humans. This results in the ingestion of toxic chemicals. When eaten, some of these chemicals are mistaken by the endocrine system as estradiol, causing hormone disruption is whatever affected animal. Even after all this, evasive species can attach themselves to floating debris, providing them with free passage to venerable new eco systems.


It’s strange to think of the ocean as anything but the lifeblood of our planet. Unfortunately this is an out dated representation. The oceans of the modern world are no longer the crisp clear waters of yesteryear. Instead we are left with a modern man-made crisis that we may never see rectified in our lifetime.

For further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/resources/ http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/?MM_URL=http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/our-oceans/pollution/trash-vortex


About the Author

John Clancey is a third year Communications Major at Ramapo College of New Jersey. His studies focus in writing and media evaluation. He aspires to become a professional writer of screen plays and short stories. Academically he focuses on Media, film, and short fiction.

New Jersey's Buzz on Colony Collapse Disorder

          Photo/TheCanaryReport.org

By Courtney Leiva

Beekeepers throughout the Garden State know there is something wrong. Some blame mites and pesticides but others are still puzzled as to what exactly is causing colony collapse disorder.

“I had beehives that were full of bees and produced a great honey crop, and two weeks later were empty,” says Joe Triemel, Corresponding Secretary at the Essex Co. Beekeepers.

Why all the buzz? Bees are very critical to agricultural practices.

According to the State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture, without a healthy honey bee population, successful fruit and vegetable production would greatly be at risk. There are over 10,000 bee colonies in the state which are valued at $250 per colony. These colonies are responsible for the production of nearly $200 million worth of fruits and vegetables annually.

What is colony collapse disorder?

Within the past few years, a mysterious virus called colony collapse disorder (CCD) has plagued colonies throughout the country. Researchers like Kevin Hackett and Dr. Nancy Ostiguy at Penn State University have been studying the potential causes of the disorder for quite some time now but have not been able to pinpoint a single cause.

“While scientists still don't have a smoking gun that points to the cause of CCD, we have learned some things. Research to date indicates that CCD is most likely to be a syndrome caused by a series of factors that work individually or in combination. But we really don’t even know if every case of CCD is caused by the same set of factors or, if it is the same set of factors, whether they always occur in the same order,” Kevin Hackett, Co-Chair of the Federal CCD Steering Committee said in an email.

New Jersey’s growing problem

New Jersey bee keepers have felt the effects of bee losses first hand.

From fall 2009 to winter 2010, the New Jersey Bee Keeper’s Association surveyed the losses of bees throughout the Garden State. According to the survey, approximately 35 per cent of bees were lost in this time span. Some of the deaths were linked to CCD.

“I personally lost all 8 colonies this past winter. Our losses in New Jersey are about 35 percent in 2010,” Barbara Hill, Secretary of the Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association, said in a email.

Potential causes of colony collapse disorder have ranged from pesticides, mites, climate change, and even international trade.

“There is a growing body of evidence that pesticides that are used in industrial agriculture and in suburban yards and parks will harm honey bees. In the 1970s, we began to eliminate many pesticides that caused honey bee colonies to die. These banned pesticides would immediately kill a colony that was exposed,” Dr. Nancy Ostiguy said in an interview.

“Today's pesticides do not kill bees quickly. Imidacloprid for example, interferes with a bee’s ability to learn. If a bee cannot learn from her sisters where the flowers are or if she is a scout bee and cannot learn to be able to tell her sisters where the flowers are that she found, then the colony will dwindle and die. Researchers have also found that some of these pesticides are made more toxic to honey bees when there are other pesticides present. So a chemical that we thought wasn't a problem for bees could be,” Ostiguy adds.

However, for Janet Katz, mites seem to be the issue plaguing her hives.

“I have been keeping bees in N.J. for about 20 years. I currently keep about 60 colonies in Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. I have not seen the affects of what has been termed 'CCD' in my hives. I have, however, had to deal with the introduction of tracheal mites, which our bees appear to have acclimated to, and the effects of pesticides and Varroa mites, which our bees have not become acclimated to,” Katz said in a email.

“Losses of colonies due to parasitizing by Varroa mites and/or starvation can run as high as 35 per cent or more” Janet Katz adds.

Mites are among the most suspected culprits causing CCD.

“When there are many mites in a colony and the virus levels are high, the colony will die in 1-2 months. This is the most frequent reason we see colonies die in the summer time and one of the most common reasons why colonies die in the wintertime,” Dr. Ostiguy says.

For beekeeper Joe Treimel, there is no other explanation but the disorder for all the losses.

“There is no explaining it, but for CCD. While it is being researched at the university level where departments of entomology exist, researchers have yet to come up with definitive answers. Researchers are currently narrowing it down to a virus found in nearly all of the collapsed colonies and certain pesticides produced by Beyer, which have been banned by the European Union. These pesticides can actually enter the plants through their roots and then exude their poison in nectar and pollen, which the bees collect and bring back to the hives,” Treimel says.

Winter death loss

But State Apiarist Tim Schuler attributes these startling losses to winter death loss.

“CCD is described as occurring during the brood rearing season. All of the sudden most of the adults have disappeared leaving only a hand full of nurse bees and queen in the hive alive. The brood nest becomes neglected, and pests such as wax moths and small hive beetles do not clean up the comb quickly,” Schuler says.

“I have not seen these symptoms in New Jersey. The biggest problem we have in N.J. is winter death loss. Winter death loss is not CCD. Most winter death loss in N.J. is attributed in my experience to beekeepers either not treating their bees for Varroa mites at the right time of year or not treating at all. Some winter death loss is attributed to starvation, and colonies having queen failures in the previous fall,” Schuler adds in an email.

Winter death loss has been a long standing issue for beekeepers, but now researchers have seen deaths continue into warmer months as well.

“We are losing over one third of our colonies every winter. Some beekeepers lose more and some beekeepers lose less. It doesn't seem to matter if the beekeeper is very experienced or very new at beekeeping. In additional to the winter losses of bees, we are losing a larger number of colonies during the portion of the year that is warmer. Researchers are still trying to figure out why but we have some ideas,” Ostiguy says.

Effects of Global Climate Change

Dr. Ostiguy’s research finds that global climate change has also taken a toll on bee populations.

“We know that spring is coming earlier and earlier but food availability may not be as reliable earlier in the year. If bees 'break cluster' too early they could freeze to death or consume too much of their stored food before they are able to collect more. Bees huddle together in the winter time for warmth. This is called clustering. When bees are clustered they vibrate their muscles shiver generate heat. When the weather warms up, they stop clustering,” Ostiguy finds.

“We have been having more frequent droughts too. The availability of pollen and nectar is reduced during droughts. Bees also need water; they use it to cool the hive and in the same way humans do in metabolism. During a drought it becomes hard to find necessary water,” Ostiguy adds.

Effects of International Trade

Even international trade has been labeled a threat to the bees, as imported honey bees from Australia have spread viruses to bee colonies to the United States.

“Believe it or not, international trade agreements are a problem. International trade agreements state that bees can be imported as long as the source country does not have any diseases or parasites that are not present in the importing country. When Australia began importing bees into the United States there were no known diseases or pests that present in Australian bees that we did not already have in the United States. Unfortunately, there was a disease (Israeli acute paralysis virus) that was present in Australian bee that we did not have in the United States,” Ostiguy says.

“The problem was that no one had discovered this virus before the imports began. Additionally, once we knew about the virus no one looked to see if it was present or absent in Australian or American bees. This is not necessarily anyone's fault because there is only so much money available for research and there were other problems that were more pressing at that time. This brings up an important point that we underfund research. It wasn't until a year ago that any money was provided to survey American honey bees to see what diseases and parasites are present in this country. Even though the survey has begun, it is badly underfunded,” Ostiguy adds.

The good news

However, the good news is that progress is being made to help alleviate this issue. Dr. Ostiguy states that bee losses due to colony collapse disorder have decreased.

“The current incidence rate of CCD is less than 0.5 per cent. While this is good news that CCD did not kill the colonies studied,” Ostiguy adds.

New research is also being conducted to further understand and reduce the problem.

“It is quite likely that we will be able to reduce the severity of diseases if we can reduce the mite levels in a colony. I and several other researchers are looking at this relationship. A number of researchers are looking at the impact of single pesticides and pesticides in combination on bee health. As we learn information researchers are working with the Environmental Protection Agency to revise the rules on pesticides to protect honey bees,” Ostiguy says.

You can help

Although honey bees still are very sick, Dr. Ostiguy feels that the public can still do their part to help out.

“The public can help in a number of ways. It’s important to purchase locally grown food, and support planned growth so we don't encroach on agricultural land near cities. Make sure you support regulations on the use of pesticides in parks, yards, and other pollinator friendly plants in your yard instead of pesticides,” she says.

About the Author

Courtney Leiva is a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is graduating in the fall of 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in Journalism. Courtney is a freelancer with both Mahwah and Hopatcong Patch.com

After graduation, Courtney hopes to combine her love of fashion and the environment and write for an eco-fashion publication.

Experiential Journal: Mahwah Town-hall Meeting

By Graig Mihok

Attending the Mahwah Town-Hall meeting on March, 31^st, 2011, was an interesting experience. The issue that had everyone, including myself, crammed into the municipal building's basement, was the proposition for zoning ordinances that would lead to the construction of a mall. This issue is of significance to me, not just because I am a Mahwah resident, but because you can see the proposed site of the mall, near the giant Sheraton building, from my backyard.

I had never been to a town meeting before so I was not sure about what to expect. I arrived to a packed parking lot and waited on a long, winding line, that started outside the building.The line continued down a number of hallways to a stair well, then finally to the basement, where town workers scrambled to set up podiums and microphones. The municipal building did not appear to be equipped for this meeting, but it was going to happen regardless.

It was interesting to see the contrast of how the public, town council members, and developers engaged each other regarding the issue at hand. The public used a more passionate voice, accompanied by occasional outburst. The Council looked, acted, and sounded like robots, which was and is to be expected from any one in their position. Strangely, the developers were a combination of both, trying their hardest to remain technical and professional. When the audience would call out during their presentation in protest, sometimes they would let their emotions seep into their words.

I sat in my uncomfortable chair for nearly four hours holding up my recorder at chest-level, praying the audio of the recorder would be audible enough to be useful. Going back and listening to the recordings, there are moments that still make me shake my head; the loud boos when the council refused the non-binding referendum, and when the vote for the first ordinance passed. You can still feel the energy of the room through the recordings.

One thing I took immediate note of was the difference in the age of the members of the public who decided to wait on line and speak. They ranged from high school students to senior citizens and most were incredibly passionate in their monologues. Even though much of what was said had ended up being repeated over and over again, it became clear what was on the people's minds. It got a bit tedious at times, hearing the same information repeated differently, but when you have so many people on a line stretching the length of large municipal building, it was understandable and expected.

One of the moments that stuck with me the most was the council member's motion to propose the first ordinance. It was heartbreaking listening to people scream about their lives being ruined by the people they voted in to represent them. I remember getting home around 1 am, feeling sick to my stomach about the council's vote that allowed the ordinances to pass with so many people around them in protest.

When I reflect on this meeting, I still have no idea about what any of this really means. In a few years, will there be a mall in view from my backyard? Perhaps something will happen and this whole project with come to a halt, or be delayed for years, then wither and fade away. It was funny, and somewhat horrifying learning from class assignments this semester that the area my brothers, cousins, and friends and I had all called a playground was a toxic dumping site and might eventually become the grounds of a shopping mall. I am usually the type of person that always would rather know something than to be ignorant of it; but I have to admit, some of these findings have me questioning this logic.

Climate Change: A Complex Issue with Clashing Points of View

By Lindsey de Stefan

Climate change, or global warming as it is often referred to, has been a hot button issue in recent years. It has dominated the environmental arena, and has even played a role in the political spectrum, as Democrats and Republicans hold very different ideas about the phenomenon. There is a lot of conflicting information about this so-called global warming and the process of weeding through all of it to separate fact from fiction can seem overwhelming. The truth of the matter is, depending upon who you ask, you will likely get a very different interpretation of climate change, its causes, its effects, and what it ultimately means for you and me.

But there is a way to find your way through the maze of information and emerge a more knowledgeable and informed person on the other side. There is no need to get bogged in all the conflicting ideas because everything you need to know about global warming is right here.

What is global warming?

Global warming is just what it sounds like: the increase in the Earth’s average temperature in the near-surface air and water. According to the National Wildlife Federation (NFW), the average temperature of the planet has increased 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900. At first consideration, this seems to be a relatively small number. If the temperature outside went up a mere 1.5 degrees right now, would anyone really notice? Probably not. For that reason, it doesn’t seem so scary. But the truth of the matter is, as the NFW is quick to point out, for the planet we call home, an increase of this magnitude, however small it may seem to us, is actually a very big deal. With polar ice caps melting and sea levels rising as a result, the impact on planet Earth may actually be tremendous.

What causes it?

The causes of the increase in the Earth’s temperature have long been debated. Many believe that humans and their vast carbon footprint on the planet are to blame. Others maintain that Earth goes through cycles constantly and that this is just a new stage in yet another climate change sequence. After all, some 20,000 years ago, the Earth was in the middle of a glacial age, long before the carbon-emitting technology that’s believed to be causing today’s change.

The fact of the matter is, global warming is likely caused by a combination of these two things. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that humans are increasing the emission of greenhouse gases, which are gases that trap heat. This makes perfect sense, even to the average Joe. We emit gases into the atmosphere that trap heat. Therefore, the temperature of our planet rises. Since the level of greenhouse gases is at an all time high, a rapid acceleration of the planet’s warming is also logical.

But we cannot forget about the Earth’s history of a drastically changing climate. National Geographic explains that the average global temperature, as well as concentrations of carbon dioxide, have both fluctuated in a cycle of hundreds of thousands of years as the Earth’s position relative to the sun has continued to change. For this reason, though it cannot necessarily be proven, we can assume that, eventually, the climate would change on its own in one direction or another regardless of human impact. But there is a good chance that our impact is speeding up the process.

How does it affect our planet?

We’ve all heard the startling claims: temperatures increasing, glaciers melting, sea levels rising at an astounding rate. And global warming is the clear culprit. Indeed, these are the impacts of an increase of the Earth’s average temperature. And these are scary things that have repercussions for all living things, big and small, that call this third planet from the sun their home.

The list of impacts caused by the changing of the Earth’s climate is interminable. It can be detected in ecological, natural, and social systems throughout the planet as wildlife and animal life, including human beings, struggle to adapt. As an example,] look at polar bears, who reside in the Arctic Ocean. As their habitat is destroyed by the melting of sea ice upon which they depend for hunting, mating, and a host of other things, polar bears will be unable to survive. And they are just one of a countless list of species that will suffer in such a way.

How can we help?

Our planet is considered by many to be in a fragile environmental state and in danger. Those who believe that global warming is entirely caused by human beings believe that we can make a difference in halting its impact. Those who attribute the increase in temperature to the Earth’s regular climate shifts are much more skeptical.

The truth of the matter is, neither party can be proven right. It is for each individual to decide what they believe to be true. And if one decides that humans are the major culprits in the global warming issue, or if one believes that they are speeding up the temperature change, then there are certainly things to be done.

Many strides have been made to create a host of eco-friendly products and services, from all-electric cars that have zero carbon emissions to wind farming. There are “green” alternatives everywhere one looks that are designed to reduce the human species’ carbon footprint on the planet. And whether or not one believes that these things will stop global warming, or even slow down its progression, they do have other benefits. They provide us with cleaner air and water and an overall healthier environment in which to live.

Now what?

Climate change, or global warming, is certainly a very complex issue with a myriad of facts, data, and evidence from a host of different organizations to take into account. But these are the bare-bone facts of the situation. There is evidence to support hundreds of thousands of years of constantly changing climate situations on our planet. But there is also hard proof that humans have, if nothing else, sped the process up a significant amount. It is really up to each citizen of the planet Earth to make their own decision about climate change and make their day-to-day choices accordingly.

For further information:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html


About the Author

Lindsey de Stefan is a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is graduating in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in Journalism. After graduation, Lindsey hopes to pursue a career as a television reporter or a contributor at a magazine.

A Changed Mahwah

By Graig Mihok

On the evening of March 31st, 2011, the first steps were taken in the construction of a big shopping mall in Mahwah on the former Ford assembly plant site at the intersection of Routes 17 and 287. This occurred at the Township of Mahwah municipal building, where the Township Council voted on and passed three ordinances in front of an audience of over 400 concerned local residents. The first ordinance was for zoning purposes. The second pertained to the security that would be necessary for the site, while the third involved the formation of a fund that would eventuate from fees paid by the site's businesses.





The crowd concerned about the controversial ordinances filled the basement of the municipal building. When the floor was open to the public, everything from emotional rants to passionate, informative speeches were directed at council members and those who represented the developers. Residents voiced their concerns on issues like the creation of potential traffic for highway and town roads; environmental consequences related to the pollution of drinking water and flooding; the eventual change in the landscape of Mahwah and decrease in real estate value around the mall; and the eventual rise in crime in and around developed areas.

A motion was made for a non-binding referendum by the voters on the mall plan that was quickly denied when the council members split in a 3-3 vote. Council President John Roth turned it down saying the public did not know enough about it to vote. The council then allowed the developers to begin an informative presentation designed to gain credibility and win favor from attending residents.

Although they asked for only five to ten minutes, the developers put together a moderately long presentation covering many issues of concern to the residents in attendance. Attorney James Jaworski began the presentation by talking about the proposed 600,000 square feet of retail space, accompanied by another 150,000 square feet of space designated for a hotel, office, theater, and big box stores. This total of 750,000 square feet of space was reduced from an earlier plan where 900,000 square feet was the proposed total space.

The developers made it clear that they were unhappy with the comparisons their mall was getting, specifically in regards to the Paramus Park Mall. While Paramus is a popular shopping spot and social area, it is often associated with traffic congestion further south on Rt. 17 and therefore, some level of discomfort, and to many Mahwah residents serves as a place people would like to visit but not call home. The developers clearly were trying to distance themselves from any association with Paramus, and despite the fact that Paramus Park Mall is approximately 750,000 square feet of space, the same size as the developer's proposed mall plan, they went out of their way to make their message clear: that this was not going to be a recreation of the Paramus Park Mall in Mahwah.

Jaworski told the audience and council members that the developers would guarantee a little more than $4 million for road improvements for Mahwah Township to be made in the future due to the developer's obligation. He also mentioned that the developers had already spent $4 million to acquire forty acres along the Ramapo River so that they would be able to dedicate twenty acres to the municipality to leave it in its natural state.

Then they turned to one of issues that has received the most attention, traffic. A memorandum written by Mahwah Chief of Police James Batelli was read, indicating that he had approved of all of the developers traffic plans. Jaworski quoted Batelli, “With respect to traffic issues, the traffic pattern with the complex allows for an acceptable flow of traffic in and around the various parking lots.” He continued, “With respect to traffic on Route 17, I believe there is ample roadway to queue cars waiting to park.”

At the podium, Joseph Burgess addressed the developer's desire to preserve the environmentally sensitive features of the site as outlined in the town's master plan. Burgess claimed that this was done in terms of the preservation of the Ramapo River corridor behind the site.

The developer's presentation was being received fairly by most of the audience, when Jaworski hit a sour note by ridiculing a petition that local residents has made in protest of the proposed mall. He questioned the credibility and potency of the petition by claiming that it only made 483 signatures out of its goal of 5000, and that there were over a hundred names not displayed. He also caught the ire of Councilwoman Lisa DiGuilio by trying to discredit the petition by mentioning some of the locales of those who signed the petition, like Ohio, California, The Netherlands, Spain, and Croatia.

Floor opens to the public

Nearly an hour into the meeting the floor was opened up to the public where a line formed that extended almost to the far rear basement wall. The main points of interest that were discussed over the next three and a half hours were traffic and flooding; meanwhile, others chimed in about the likely possibility of the decrease in the value of homes and real estate, the noise that would be generated by big box stores, concern for success of local businesses, and the potential to increase danger on highways and town roads.

Jeff Genser, a Suffern native, pleaded to the council about flood issues. He stated, “You're proposing to eliminate 100 acres of flood plain, and turn it from a pervious area to an impervious. And that is unacceptable, in my opinion.” He went on to propose his own idea for what could be built on the flood plain next to the Ramapo River, a Vertical Farm. “A building could be constructed that could supply food to half of Bergen County...use all the water it comes into [from the river], over and over again, and have no pollution and environmental impact.” The idea seemed to stir no interest by the council.

Many individuals mentioned how the mall would impact the surrounding community. Some were frustrated over the idea of Stag Hill residents being stranded in an emergency situation, being that the only access road to their community would become a constant point of traffic and congestion. Retired resident Ron Whalberg asked the council, “At what point do we stop endangering future generations?”

The council votes pro-mall

Almost four hours into the meeting, the council motioned to vote on the proposed ordinances. The first vote passed 4 to 2, while hundreds of boos and emotional outcries of disgust were directed towards the ekected officials. Members of the crowd screamed lines like “you're ruining our lives” and “we don't count.” The meeting deteriorated into a hive noise that lasted around fifteen minutes despite council members trying to bring about order.

Eventually, motions were called and the vote on the remaining two ordinances passed as the room started to thin out and disgruntled residents made their way home. Many people were already talking about the mall as if it already had been built and there was nothing that could be done. All the implications of potential consequences raised by the concerned residents would fall on deaf ears that night. The future of Mahwah is still uncertain as the ordinances that were passed did not pertain to the construction of any building; the voting on the next phase of development has not been given any time table yet.



   Concept art for a Vertical Farm from: 
   http://www.treehugger.com

About the Author

Graig Mihok is a Communication Arts major with a concentration in writing. He aspires to be a creative writer of short stories, poems, and songs. His academic experience includes journalism, film, fiction, and music.

War After the War: The Environmental Assault of Agent Orange

           Photo/ThanhnienNews.com

by Dan Savino

The war in Vietnam was unlike any other military conflict in U.S. history. The thick, expansive forest and thriving vegetation consumed all lines of sight, making it almost impossible to spot enemies. The Americans resorted to showering the entire war zone with Agent Orange, a plant-killing, toxic blend of chemicals that fell like rain from 1962 to 1971.

During the Cold War, American efforts to thwart the spread of communism led the United States into almost 20 straight years tirelessly fighting a seemingly unwinnable war. It wasn’t until April 30, 1975 that the U.S. finally pulled out of Vietnam, as the North Vietnamese captured Saigon. To this day, Vietnam veterans continue a fight for their lives against serious illnesses and conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange. Nearly 1.5 million U.S. troops served during the heaviest period of spraying efforts.

“Vietnam veterans continue to suffer and die from the effects of Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals to which they were exposed in Southeast Asia,” explains Fred A. Wilcox in a recent interview.

Wilcox, a professor at Ithaca College, is the author of Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange, the first book ever written on the subject, including stories from Veterans denied coverage despite their illnesses directly related to dioxin poison. He refers to Agent Orange as a “weapon of mass destruction.”

Beginning in 1962, the U.S. military unleashed a nine-year long, assault known as Operation Ranch Hand, which aimed to “defoliate forested and rural land, depriving guerillas of cover,” while also eliminating food supply and rural shelter, forcing enemy forces into cities dominated by the United States. The Vietcong used guerilla warfare to compensate for their lack of technology and military capacity, using the natural landscape to ambush U.S. forces on the ground.

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), military aircraft sprayed more than 19 million gallons of chemical herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam, eastern Laos and even parts of Cambodia. The most widely used combination of herbicides was known as Agent Orange, named after the orange-striped barrels that contained it.

“Our environment is inundated with toxic chemicals like dioxin,” states Wilcox with a strong sense of urgency. “The same chemical companies that profited from Agent Orange continue to poison our air, food, and water supplies.”

Health Risks and Birth Defects
Exposure to dioxin, a particularly fatal component in Agent Orange, occurs by simply breathing these chemicals in, ingesting contaminated food or drink or absorbing them through the skin or eyes. Organizations such as the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science and the VA’s Environmental Epidemiology Service have confirmed a positive correlation between Agent Orange exposure and increased risk of many life-threatening diseases and birth defects. The most common conditions for exposed veterans are prostate and respiratory cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. The list also includes forms of Leukemia, Parkinson’s and Hodgkin’s disease, Soft Tissue Sarcoma and many more.

Exposed veterans can pass on birth defects to their children as an added danger associated with Agent Orange. One of the most common defects is Spina Bifida, as well as deformities like cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease, clubfoot, hip dysplasia and others. In 2000, Dr. Han Kang of VA’s Environmental Epidemiology Service published a study finding that the risk of birth defects was “significantly associated with the mother’s military service in Vietnam.” In 1991, the U.S. Congress put forth the Agent Orange Act, which gave the VA authority to determine the qualifications associated with individual compensation and also to determine which diseases are included under coverage.


photo/mindfully.org

The VA Compensates Exposed Vietnam Veterans
Starting in 1978, the U.S. government offered disability compensation and health care benefits to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Candidates must file claims and be approved for coverage by the VA. The Environmental Agents Service produces a newsletter called the “Agent Orange Review,” to provide Agent Orange information and related resources to veterans, their families, and anyone with concerns about the herbicides used during the Vietnam War.

According to the National Veteran Organization Inc., a VA study concluded that the average time to process and receive a response on a claim is 139 days. If a veteran is denied compensation it is said to take “an average of 1,160 days to receive a final decision,” before a veteran can even appeal a denial. They pledged in 2010 to start a new initiative to “fast track” claims processing. This coming after members of Veterans for Constitutional Law asserted that, “records from 1970 to 1992 showed that the VA only approved 4 percent of claims.”

Regardless of the small percentage of compensated veterans, it still cost the VA $28.6 billion in 2005 to fulfill compensation obligations. This number increased 71 percent in 2011, costing the VA $48.8 billion. In 2008, the VA extended coverage to those who handled Agent Orange outside of Vietnam, where Agent Orange was stored and shipped out. Two years prior, the VA decided to add heart disease to its list of compensated diseases associated with exposure to herbicides. There are an estimated 349,000 individuals receiving Agent Orange disability benefits and this number is now expected to increase to 500,000.

“Whatever the VA is doing for veterans is too little, too late,” explains Wilcox. “The government must compensate all victims of Agent Orange.”

Wilcox is currently working on a new book on Agent Orange’s devastating effects on the Vietnamese people. The Vietnam Red Cross estimates up to 3 million Vietnamese children and adults as having suffered health problems related to Agent Orange exposure. According to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 people being killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth defects.

A 2004 lawsuit by a victim’s rights group called the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, charged chemical companies like Dow Chemical and Monsanto with liability in causing personal injury to those exposed to their chemicals. However, the lawsuit was denied in a federal District Court. It was ruled that Agent Orange was not considered a poison under international law.

A recent study by the Canadian environmental firm, Hatfield Consultants, found dioxin levels in the blood of many Vietnamese citizens. They also found dioxin levels present in “soil, sediment and fish,” at levels 300 to 400 times above international standards. They reported an estimated 100,000 people still at risk for exposure to dioxin, resulting in potential health risks. A joint panel of U.S. and Vietnamese policymakers, scientists and citizens recently released a plan to clean up contaminated sites gradually over a 10-year period, urging the U.S. government to dedicate $30 million a year to “restore damaged ecosystems and clean up contaminated sites.” Efforts by the U.S. government however, have been relatively meager and limited only to approved U.S. veterans.

Blue Water Veterans Caught in a Loophole
There were a number of Vietnam veterans who served as part of the Navy or Coast Guard during the war, providing support for ground troops in the field of battle. Although these veterans did not spend time on dry land, they were still subject to Agent Orange exposure. The Institute of Medicine has promised to release the findings of a current study to determine a correlation between those who served offshore and diseases from such chemical exposure.

A January 2009 decision by the Supreme Court extended the policy that a Vietnam veteran must have served on land or inland waterways to receive compensation from exposure. This “boots on the ground” requirement has served to deny veterans of the “Blue Water” Navy and Coast Guard service compensation and benefits to treat life-threatening illnesses.

In a 2008 article on the ABC11 website in Raleigh, NC, called, “Loophole Frustrates Veterans,” Steve Daniels reported that the federal government estimated that more than 400,000 veterans were dying from illnesses related to Agent Orange.

Among the veterans interviewed for that report was Harry Spencer, a member of the “Blue Water” Navy who served on a ship right off the Vietnam coast of shorelines sprayed with Agent Orange. He is currently seriously ill, suffering from a deadly form of cancer called Chronic Empyhsemic Leukemia, which has been linked to Agent Orange and dioxin exposure.

"It's like getting a knife, in your heart. I mean I gave the Navy ten years of my life. And now they just, basically say that I don't exist anymore," said Spencer during the interview.


photo/southernstudies.org

"Waiting for an Army to Die"
Wilcox accuses the government of waiting for an army to die, just as he titled his 1983 book. He believes there is no way to truly compensate for the damage done to every exposed veteran’s life cut short and the lives of their children as well.

“There is very little anyone can do now to prevent veterans from getting ill and dying prematurely from exposure to Agent Orange,” said Wilcox. “Chemicals like dioxin can wait 10, 20, or more years before they begin to undermine the immune system.”

Back in 1980, the state of New Jersey created its own commission to study the effects of Agent Orange exposure on veterans. Paul Sutton is a former director of the commission whose work was cut short by Governor Christie Todd Whitman in the early 1990s. The studies served to compare the dioxin levels in veterans exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam with those who did not serve in Vietnam. The results were published in 1988 in the Journal of the American Medical Association but never truly utilized.

The herbicides that constituted Agent Orange were even used on national forests within the U.S. until 1978 when the Environmental Protection Agency stepped in. Spraying of the forests was suspended after reports of, “a threefold increase in miscarriages in women living near forests that had been sprayed.”

“There is no happy ending to this story,” concludes Wilcox. “It’s far too late to give our veterans the kind of welcome we should have given them thirty-five years ago.”

It is a race against time for a fading era of American heroes who served their country and feel they were poisoned by their government. It is a race against time for the Vietnamese people suffering from health conditions and birth defects. The U.S. government is left with a choice. It can accept responsibility and dedicate itself to all who suffered from the Agent Orange spraying campaigns, or it can wait for the end of an era. It can hope for the best that history will forget. The natural environment and the lives it gracefully sustains are in serious danger.

For Agent Orange investigator Fred Wilcox, justice is yet to be done. “The government can start by saying sorry,” he said.


About the Author

Daniel Savino is a student of Communication Arts, concentrating in print journalism. He is a passionate writer focused on utilizing his diverse skills, experiences and talents within various media outlets in the professional world to inform readers and expose truths through writing.

Genetically Modified Food: What Does it Mean for You and Your Kitchen?

By Lorraine Metz

Genetically modified foods, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, are “food from crops whose genes have been scientifically changed.” According to CBC.ca, genetically modified foods were first introduced in 1994 with a tomato nicknamed the Flavr Savr. Since then, more GM foods have been produced, most popular include GM soybeans, GM corn and GM canola. According to Truefoodnow.org, it has been estimated that over 70 percent of processed foods at the supermarket contain GM ingredients. Additionally, up to 85 percent of corn and 91 percent of soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically engineered. The popularity of GM crops and food has become more evident in recent years, but how will it affect you?

Flavr Savr tomatoes were introduced in ’94. PHOTO/California Agriculture

The controversy surrounding this subject is reason enough to find out more about these genetic alterations. Advocates for GM foods contend that this new product can help the starving and conquer malnutrition.

The World Health Organization states that, “the initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.

Peter Pringle, author of “Food, Inc.” noted, “A decade ago, two European biotech plan researches found a way to insert a daffodil gender into a rice plant…The new rice grains contained beta-carotene. In humans, it becomes the essential nutrient known as vitamin A. And lack of vitamin A causes death and blindness in millions of undernourished people in Asia and Africa where rice is a staple food. In theory,the golden rice with beta-carotene could save millions of lives.

Genetically modified ‘golden rice’ PHOTO/BBC News

Despite our advances in technology and science, a growing population of critics disagrees with this theory. The documentary “Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison?” references a GM product that had disastrous effects in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. A Japanese company created a tryptophan food supplement using genetically engineered bacteria which was toxic and not only permanently disabled, but also killed 37 people. Although it has been years since this incident, it has left many consumers wary.

The documentary also described how traditionally, plants were crossbred by means of splicing and cross pollination. These plants were only able to develop as long as they were of the same species. Now, scientists are using advanced technology to obtain DNA from cells of animals and humans to produce and distribute super foods. Although these new breeds of crops are now stronger and suitable for growth in numerous situations, the genes used in the process of creating the seeds have some people confused.

The short film “Contaminated: The New Science of Food” reveals some of the unusual combinations of plants and animal genes. Strawberries are now infused with genes from the Arctic Char, a fish that is capable of being in freezing waters without getting frost bite. It is for this reason that the strawberries are given this gene. Other combinations include moth genes being fused with potatoes, flounder with tomatoes and firefly with corn. Aside from the seemingly odd pairings of plants and animals, the main point of concern is potential health reactions that may occur.

Some consumers may discover new allergic reactions to foods. For example, a person allergic to fish may have adverse reactions from GM strawberries. “GMF: Panacea or Poison?” voiced their worry that allergenic affects may show up in our food supply indefinitely. This comment was linked to an incident that happened with a GM crop called Starlink corn. This crop was fused with a pesticide known as Bacillus Thuringiensis, BT, and was capable of killing pests. Starlink corn reportedly was able to kill monarch butterflies.

In 2000, there were 340,908 acres of this GM crop that were grown for animal food. It had not yet been approved for human consumption due to allergenic issues. Despite the lack of approval for human consumption, Starlink corn found its way into products made by Kraft, Taco Bell and over 300 other brands that are available in U.S. supermarkets. Although there was a recall, including Kraft who took back 2.5 million boxes of tacos, scientists and activists alike are worried that the Starlink corn contaminated not just those specific food items, but also the trucks and machines that helped to plow and transport, as well as the factories that produced the food.

The controversy over GM foods doesn’t end there. Besides the health risks posed by the consumption of GM food, many critics accuse large corporations of monopolizing seeds and using their patents recklessly. This side of the argument doesn’t believe these GM manufacturers are producing GM products for the right reason. The film, “Contaminated: The New Science of Food” listed five main companies- Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, Sungenta and Aventis- as controlling 85% GM seed patents.

Monsanto, an agricultural company, had the best selling herbicide, Roundup, in the world during the 1990s. The company decided to create herbicide-tolerant crops to accompany their own herbicide. Monsanto presents information on their website to explain reasons for why they patented their seeds, the main point being that it is man-made. The website also discusses the terms for which their product is used, including a contract that farmers sign each year to agree to purchase seeds and pay a technology fee. Each year the contract has to be reestablished and no seeds can be kept or developed by the farmers themselves.

Due to such strict contracts, farmers and citizens alike are aggravated at the control that Monsanto and other large agricultural companies have. Vandana Shiva, a physicist, eco-feminist and author, spoke out in an interview with The Progressive, to convey her strong opinions against Monsanto.

Vandana Shiva protesting for farmer’s rights. PHOTO/Flickr

Shiva said, “Monsanto’s use of GMOs is an attempt to establish a dictatorship over our food system and our seed system—and not just in India. In the United States, most farmers don’t have a choice. They have to buy GMOs. We need to think very deeply about reclaiming our seed sovereignty and reestablishing food democracy. It’s probably the most important political challenge facing any society anywhere in the world today.”

A substantial portion of the population seems to disagree with the production of GM foods. Saynotogmos.org, a group dedicated to spreading awareness of the problems of Genetically Modified Organisms, prides itself on its strong arguments against GMOs. A few of their arguments include that “GM crops do not increase yield potential” and that GM foods have not been shown to be safe to eat. They claim that “genetic modification is a crude and imprecise way of incorporating foreign genetic material into crops, with unpredictable consequences.” They also go on to argue that “Only one study has been published on the direct effects on humans of eating a GM food. It found unexpected effects on gut bacteria, but was never followed up.” With the insertions of bacteria, viruses and genes into completely different organisms, it does seem probable that it is not completely safe.

When asked via e-mail of the pros and cons to GM foods, Say No To GMOs replied, “The biggest pro is to the bottom line of the corporations that are creating these mutant plants and the chemicals used with them. There is also a big pro to politicians who rely on campaign contributions from these corporations. Industrial mono-crop farmers who would rather dominate nature than work with it love this stuff. There is also a pro for corporations that patented seed stock is now concentrated in very few hands giving them great power over the world's food supply. There is absolutely no benefit to consumers or the environment from this stuff.”

With activists strongly objecting to GM foods, we turn to everyday Americans to find out their reactions. According to the documentary “GMF: Panacea or Poison?”, 80 percent of Americans said they want their food to be labeled. Currently the U.S. unlike other countries including the European Union, does not mandate that GM food needs to be labeled. With the increase of awareness about genetic alterations, more consumers are making organic foods popular. Healthy food stores, including the chain Whole Foods, doing a good business. Farmer’s markets are also on the rise, popping up in even the smallest of towns.

Alstede Farms shows off their new line of organic produce. PHOTO/ Lorraine Metz

Last Fall in Haworth, NJ, Alstede Farms’ began offering organic food. “It’s important that we begin to sell organic food,” says Alstede Farms’ employee Linda Kristianova, “People are very interested in organics and have been asking us if we are organic; that’s what they want to buy.”

“Whole Foods takes a lot of pride in providing organic products because of personal belief. We think it’s a great way to be healthy and to help live sustainably. A lot of people are learning to eat healthy, like incorporating more greens into their diet. Most customers come to Whole Foods knowing what they’re looking for,” says Whole Foods Market of Paramus employee Lennin Medina.

Consumers seem to be paying attention to what they eat more and more. It is too soon to prove whether GM seeds, crops and foods will hurt or help us, but staying informed and questioning claims for will help to insure our safety. Big corporations own the rights to a very crucial part of the food chain. Urging others to ask questions, voice opinions and challenge tests is incredibly important. Food and its nutrients are what help us survive. As consumers and as humans we have the right to take control over the products we use daily.

About the Author

Lorraine Metz attends Ramapo College of New Jersey where she studies Communication Arts with a concentration in journalism. She enjoys creative writing, especially poetry, and hopes to have a career that allows her to write.