By Alexis Lopez
The Ramapo River, approximately 155 miles long, runs through northern New Jersey from southern New York State. Rumored to be inhabited by Lenape tribes in the past, this historical river has served many purposes through the years.
As with many rivers throughout the United States, environmental issues are currently affecting the Ramapo River. One of the major concerns surrounding this waterway is pollution. There are several factors that have caused the water quality to drop and raise concern for environmentalists.
According to www.dec.ny.gov, the urbanization of the areas surrounding the Ramapo River has drastically affected it and the drop in water quality. The developing of bordering towns, and elevated human activity are partly to blame for the downgrade in the river’s conditions.
Alexa Baldecchi, a sophomore at Ramapo College, said that she is worried about the Ramapo River being polluted.
“First of all, I’m concerned for the fish and the other wildlife that live in and around the river,” she said. “Also, I’m concerned about how the river being polluted directly affects me as a Ramapo student. Obviously the river is close by, so what does that mean for us?”
In a recent WNYC news report by Bob Hennelly, he covers the suspicions behind a series of fish deaths in the Ramapo River area. According to the article, hundreds of fish in the Rockland County region were found dead earlier this month.
A nearby municipal mulch site is rumored to be at fault for the high number of fish deaths in the area by omitting low dissolved oxygen into the water. This contamination along with the possibility of others is causing some students to question whether drinking water on campus is “safe.”
“My professor said that there has been dumping around the Ramapo River,” Baldecchi said. “A big concern of mine is how clean the water is for drinking.”
According to Hennelly’s report, the Ramapo River serves as a major drinking source for residents in the New York and New Jersey areas.
Other recent incidents pertaining to the Ramapo River have been reported. Late in the summer of last year, after a flood, Mahwah residents reported seeing dead fish and animals covered in fuel. According to an article on northjersey.com, Bergen County officials ordered a test to be conducted to determine whether a large home heating oil spill in Tuxedo, New York contaminated the water.
Baldecchi said that she feels big companies are often to blame.
“Businesses aren’t going to stop polluting and contaminating our waterways,” she said. “It’s unrealistic to think that everyone is going to care and not litter, that’s the problem. People just need to care.”
If local residents and members the Ramapo River community continue to care and strive to alleviate, advocate and raise awareness, pollution to this natural run can be depleted.
For further information:
www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/mar/26/dec-probes-sterling-fish-die-/
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Employment vs. Environment: Presidential Campaign of 2012
By Lauren Haag
From what I’ve been hearing, environmental issues will be important to the 2012 presidential campaigns. The usual topics of jobs, taxes, and the economy will now find environmental concerns, like global warming, among them, it seems. This is very unusual. Now a candidate’s stance on the Keystone pipeline could make or break their campaign. Our concern with our environment has increased being that natural resources are in danger, and evidence of global warming seems to be more plentiful. Energy bills are also at their highest rate.
A speaker on campus last Thursday, Carla Koppell, who works for the federal government on sustainability issues, also mentioned the importance of these topics to the presidential campaign for this upcoming year.
A lot of the argument over how environmental concerns are going to affect the presidential campaigns is based around employment. Certain EPA regulations that are coming into existence are believed to cut jobs out of the economy. Where presidential candidates stand on whether these regulations will continue or diminish jobs is important. However, it is believed that new employment opportunities can also be created by green initiatives. Although we can’t afford to increase the unemployment rate, we also can’t afford not to enforce regulations that will sustain our planet. I’m sure this isn’t an idea that is consistent among American voters, which may cause the presidential campaign to actually move toward a less sustainable avenue.
An article, “Insiders: Energy Issues Will Be Significant for GOP Candidates in 2012” by Olga Belogolova, in Natural Journal emphasizes these points. Belogolova states that if Republicans form a campaign compiling more job opportunities with energy policy, that they’d have a strong case. The Republican energy policy implies more drilling in areas like the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic Ocean, the South Atlantic, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and Western states, as well as reducing EPA regulations. These are environmentally hazardous energy projects. The article goes on to introduce fossil fuel production as a way to increase the job market.
In the last month Obama has already stalled EPA tighter ozone smog standards, seems to be in favor of the Keystone pipeline creation from Canada to Texas, and still has to make decisions on toxic air pollution standards.
An article, “Might Global Warming Heat Up the 2012 Presidential Campaign?”, in the Yale Climate Change Forum by Keith Kloor argues that Obama is losing favor over his lack of initiative on confronting global warming. It should be interesting this year to see how these topics pan out as potentially important aspects of the presidential campaign. I would like to assume that environmental concerns would come before all else and may even be marshaled into creating, rather than destroying, employment opportunities. It will be interesting to see how these topics will be spun in both the Republican and Democratic campaign platforms.
For more information:
www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/2011/11/might-global-warming-heat-up-the-2012-presidential-campaign/
www.nationaljournal.com/energy/insiders-energy-issues-will-be-significant-for-gop-candidates-in-2012-20111018
From what I’ve been hearing, environmental issues will be important to the 2012 presidential campaigns. The usual topics of jobs, taxes, and the economy will now find environmental concerns, like global warming, among them, it seems. This is very unusual. Now a candidate’s stance on the Keystone pipeline could make or break their campaign. Our concern with our environment has increased being that natural resources are in danger, and evidence of global warming seems to be more plentiful. Energy bills are also at their highest rate.
A speaker on campus last Thursday, Carla Koppell, who works for the federal government on sustainability issues, also mentioned the importance of these topics to the presidential campaign for this upcoming year.
A lot of the argument over how environmental concerns are going to affect the presidential campaigns is based around employment. Certain EPA regulations that are coming into existence are believed to cut jobs out of the economy. Where presidential candidates stand on whether these regulations will continue or diminish jobs is important. However, it is believed that new employment opportunities can also be created by green initiatives. Although we can’t afford to increase the unemployment rate, we also can’t afford not to enforce regulations that will sustain our planet. I’m sure this isn’t an idea that is consistent among American voters, which may cause the presidential campaign to actually move toward a less sustainable avenue.
An article, “Insiders: Energy Issues Will Be Significant for GOP Candidates in 2012” by Olga Belogolova, in Natural Journal emphasizes these points. Belogolova states that if Republicans form a campaign compiling more job opportunities with energy policy, that they’d have a strong case. The Republican energy policy implies more drilling in areas like the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic Ocean, the South Atlantic, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and Western states, as well as reducing EPA regulations. These are environmentally hazardous energy projects. The article goes on to introduce fossil fuel production as a way to increase the job market.
In the last month Obama has already stalled EPA tighter ozone smog standards, seems to be in favor of the Keystone pipeline creation from Canada to Texas, and still has to make decisions on toxic air pollution standards.
An article, “Might Global Warming Heat Up the 2012 Presidential Campaign?”, in the Yale Climate Change Forum by Keith Kloor argues that Obama is losing favor over his lack of initiative on confronting global warming. It should be interesting this year to see how these topics pan out as potentially important aspects of the presidential campaign. I would like to assume that environmental concerns would come before all else and may even be marshaled into creating, rather than destroying, employment opportunities. It will be interesting to see how these topics will be spun in both the Republican and Democratic campaign platforms.
For more information:
www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/2011/11/might-global-warming-heat-up-the-2012-presidential-campaign/
www.nationaljournal.com/energy/insiders-energy-issues-will-be-significant-for-gop-candidates-in-2012-20111018
Aurorae Light Shows at Ramapo College?
By Lauren Haag
At Ramapo College of New Jersey, temperatures went from an average low 40s previously to 60s and 70s on Wednesday and Thursday, March 7 and 8. If you glanced over at the sun shining down on Ramapo’s campus recently, you’d notice it’s extremely large rays. Even the moon shone extra bright last night. All these occurrences are related to the second largest solar flares of the sun’s 11 year cycle hitting the earth.
In September 1859, the largest recorded solar flares hit the earth, during the sun’s 10 year sun cycle. This event is referred to as the Solar Superstorm, or the Carrington Event. The solar flares were observed by British astronomer, Richard Carrington. Solar flares are caused by coronal mass ejections (CME) from the sun. During the Solar Superstorm of 1859, a CME traveled to earth in 17 hours, an event which normally takes days to arrive. It was the first to clear the way of the solar wind plasma with its strength.
Aurorae, natural light in the sky, were seen through the world, especially over the Caribbean. It was recorded that workers were awaked and arrived to work because they believed it was daylight because of the light intensity created by the aurorae in the sky. They are caused by charged air particles in response to the magnetic field disruption from solar flares.
In the 1859 event, telegraph wires shorted out from the magnetic disruption and widespread fires arose throughout the world. Telegraph wires would be equivalent to our high technology today.
“If a storm that severe occurred today, it could cause up to $2 trillion in initial damages by crippling communications on Earth and fueling chaos among residents and even governments in a scenario that would require four to 10 years for recovery, according to a report earlier this year by the National Academy of Sciences. For comparison, hurricane Katrina inflicted somewhere between $80 billion and $125 billion in damage,” noted Robert Roy Britt, in his book 150 Years Ago: The Worst Solar Storm Ever.
"What's at stake," the Space Weather Prediction Center's Jeff Bogdan said, as stated in National Geographic Daily News, "are the advanced technologies that underlie virtually every aspect of our lives."
Next year is the most intense period of the sun’s 11 year sun cycle. There are various preparations being theorized in the event that the solar flares reach the levels of the Carrington Event, although they are not expected to. Since satellites today can observe solar activity hours prior to the event, it is predicted that we will have 20 hours to take action. Action is proposed to involve manually shutting down all equipment that would be interrupted before it can be.
As for at Ramapo College today, look out for aurorae sightings that could occur here, which were said to occur along the North Eastern United States, and enjoy the warm temperatures. No damage is expected to occur. Effects are expected to last until Friday, March 9.
For more information:
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120308-solar-flare-storm-sun-space-weather-science-aurora/
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News030712-X5-4.html
www.northjersey.com/news/environment/Biggest_solar_storm_in_years_races_toward_Earth_today_video.html
At Ramapo College of New Jersey, temperatures went from an average low 40s previously to 60s and 70s on Wednesday and Thursday, March 7 and 8. If you glanced over at the sun shining down on Ramapo’s campus recently, you’d notice it’s extremely large rays. Even the moon shone extra bright last night. All these occurrences are related to the second largest solar flares of the sun’s 11 year cycle hitting the earth.
In September 1859, the largest recorded solar flares hit the earth, during the sun’s 10 year sun cycle. This event is referred to as the Solar Superstorm, or the Carrington Event. The solar flares were observed by British astronomer, Richard Carrington. Solar flares are caused by coronal mass ejections (CME) from the sun. During the Solar Superstorm of 1859, a CME traveled to earth in 17 hours, an event which normally takes days to arrive. It was the first to clear the way of the solar wind plasma with its strength.
Aurorae, natural light in the sky, were seen through the world, especially over the Caribbean. It was recorded that workers were awaked and arrived to work because they believed it was daylight because of the light intensity created by the aurorae in the sky. They are caused by charged air particles in response to the magnetic field disruption from solar flares.
In the 1859 event, telegraph wires shorted out from the magnetic disruption and widespread fires arose throughout the world. Telegraph wires would be equivalent to our high technology today.
“If a storm that severe occurred today, it could cause up to $2 trillion in initial damages by crippling communications on Earth and fueling chaos among residents and even governments in a scenario that would require four to 10 years for recovery, according to a report earlier this year by the National Academy of Sciences. For comparison, hurricane Katrina inflicted somewhere between $80 billion and $125 billion in damage,” noted Robert Roy Britt, in his book 150 Years Ago: The Worst Solar Storm Ever.
"What's at stake," the Space Weather Prediction Center's Jeff Bogdan said, as stated in National Geographic Daily News, "are the advanced technologies that underlie virtually every aspect of our lives."
Next year is the most intense period of the sun’s 11 year sun cycle. There are various preparations being theorized in the event that the solar flares reach the levels of the Carrington Event, although they are not expected to. Since satellites today can observe solar activity hours prior to the event, it is predicted that we will have 20 hours to take action. Action is proposed to involve manually shutting down all equipment that would be interrupted before it can be.
As for at Ramapo College today, look out for aurorae sightings that could occur here, which were said to occur along the North Eastern United States, and enjoy the warm temperatures. No damage is expected to occur. Effects are expected to last until Friday, March 9.
For more information:
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120308-solar-flare-storm-sun-space-weather-science-aurora/
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News030712-X5-4.html
www.northjersey.com/news/environment/Biggest_solar_storm_in_years_races_toward_Earth_today_video.html
Toxic Legacy: A Representation of American Culture
By Lauren Haag
In my early stages of adjusting to and becoming a Ramapo student, my freshmen year, I heard words on the Ford dumping which occurred nearby, in the forested area of Ringwood, NJ. I heard bits and pieces on how it affected the Ramapough Indians and the Ramapo River, for whom and what, as I was told, the school was named for. I thought this was something typical that every Ramapo student will become aware of, because of its relationship to our college.
However, that is not the case. I’m not even sure how much correlation between the Ramapough Indians and Ramapo College truly exists, if any. The only thing truthful about the assumed first year Ramapo introduction statement seems to be that the company, Ford, did indeed dump toxic waste leading to many deleterious results.
Ford is a large company, one we’ve all heard of, as Americans, as Ramapo College students. It was one of the first car producers in our history, and well recognized for that feat. What is most striking about the entire situation is that this company, Ford, so well known to us all, would commit such an irresponsible act. Not only did Ford managers have no regard for their actions, they denied them and avoided the consequences at all lengths, as detailed in The Record’s “Toxic Legacy” investigative series.
Ford is a very American company, in traditions, history, and representation. For Ford to show more regard for cost and convenience, than human lives, is a statement about business in this country. That the entire dumping situation could occur, the repercussions prolonged a long with the effects, is also representative of our country and our priorities. For such a larger and well known company to be so successful in hiding and avoiding the issue for so long, is telling, raising also the question how many other organizations and corporations could be doing the same, if not worse.
The whole situation reminds me of what is happening in food industries. We’re polluting the earth in multiple places with our ear to ear cattle farming, leading to ear to ear feces. Constantly E-coli is infecting our food supply, killing and harming our citizens. Companies like Tyson and EB eggs are everywhere, purchased every day, but where is the truth about the irresponsibility in their production? Why is it that so few know the truth, in both situations, Ford and Tyson?
I think there is much reflection of our culture in these issues. We’re all so focused on convenience and cost, the details just slip under the surface. As producers and consumers, we’re not focused enough on the resulting loss these details cause. Our relationship to the environment, the natural processes of the world, is so detached that we don’t even concern ourselves with them. In order to avoid and stop these contaminations, both of the system and ourselves, we have to be more in touch with the natural world.
In my early stages of adjusting to and becoming a Ramapo student, my freshmen year, I heard words on the Ford dumping which occurred nearby, in the forested area of Ringwood, NJ. I heard bits and pieces on how it affected the Ramapough Indians and the Ramapo River, for whom and what, as I was told, the school was named for. I thought this was something typical that every Ramapo student will become aware of, because of its relationship to our college.
However, that is not the case. I’m not even sure how much correlation between the Ramapough Indians and Ramapo College truly exists, if any. The only thing truthful about the assumed first year Ramapo introduction statement seems to be that the company, Ford, did indeed dump toxic waste leading to many deleterious results.
Ford is a large company, one we’ve all heard of, as Americans, as Ramapo College students. It was one of the first car producers in our history, and well recognized for that feat. What is most striking about the entire situation is that this company, Ford, so well known to us all, would commit such an irresponsible act. Not only did Ford managers have no regard for their actions, they denied them and avoided the consequences at all lengths, as detailed in The Record’s “Toxic Legacy” investigative series.
Ford is a very American company, in traditions, history, and representation. For Ford to show more regard for cost and convenience, than human lives, is a statement about business in this country. That the entire dumping situation could occur, the repercussions prolonged a long with the effects, is also representative of our country and our priorities. For such a larger and well known company to be so successful in hiding and avoiding the issue for so long, is telling, raising also the question how many other organizations and corporations could be doing the same, if not worse.
The whole situation reminds me of what is happening in food industries. We’re polluting the earth in multiple places with our ear to ear cattle farming, leading to ear to ear feces. Constantly E-coli is infecting our food supply, killing and harming our citizens. Companies like Tyson and EB eggs are everywhere, purchased every day, but where is the truth about the irresponsibility in their production? Why is it that so few know the truth, in both situations, Ford and Tyson?
I think there is much reflection of our culture in these issues. We’re all so focused on convenience and cost, the details just slip under the surface. As producers and consumers, we’re not focused enough on the resulting loss these details cause. Our relationship to the environment, the natural processes of the world, is so detached that we don’t even concern ourselves with them. In order to avoid and stop these contaminations, both of the system and ourselves, we have to be more in touch with the natural world.
“Toxic Legacy” Shows Ignorance Can be Bliss, and also Dangerous
By Thomas Babcock
“Toxic Legacy” is a sad example of just how little corporations care about the well being of people, especially those with lower incomes. However, some strong investigative reporting and a persistent attitude can help make all of the difference
.
The sad irony of this story is that it is undoubtedly just one of many. There are “toxic legacies” out there that may never go reported. In this particular case, it is Ford Motor Co., located in Mahwah, investigated by The Record. What they found is startling. The factory left behind a footprint of an “ocean of contamination” and toxic sludge. It was dumped in poor communities, including where the Ramapough tribe lives in Ringwood.
The handling of these toxins is horrifying. They were dumped in places where either the residents wouldn’t have a say in stopping Ford or wouldn’t notice until it was too late. The story behind the dumping is something out of “The Sopranos.” A vicious mob-rule over waste hauling including bribes, threats and even murder makes you wonder just how far a corporation will go to cover its despicable actions. It also made me question, if this was happening on a very small scale, just how far would the US government go to protect itself from corruption? Being poor does not mean you’re invisible. Being poor does not mean your life is less valuable. But I think that’s the clear message that was being sent by Ford’s actions.
I think as populations grow, people become more sick, and more investigative reporting occurs, we’re going to see a lot more of these stories. And we need to. The population of everyday people far outnumber the elite who run these polluting corporations.
I believe the punishment for these types of actions are not harsh enough. There should be criminal prosecutions. If possessing marijuana can get you sent to jail, then putting entire neighborhoods’ lives in peril should be a lifetime in prison. I, however, don’t think this will ever be the case. Those in power positions seem to get away with corruption more often than not.
The only way to stop this terrible habit corporations have is through the hard and persistent reporting that The Record showed. The point of journalism in this case is to expose things that otherwise would be unnoticed. If enough people care about the story, they will push for a change. The only people who can stop them are us.
“Toxic Legacy” is a sad example of just how little corporations care about the well being of people, especially those with lower incomes. However, some strong investigative reporting and a persistent attitude can help make all of the difference
.
The sad irony of this story is that it is undoubtedly just one of many. There are “toxic legacies” out there that may never go reported. In this particular case, it is Ford Motor Co., located in Mahwah, investigated by The Record. What they found is startling. The factory left behind a footprint of an “ocean of contamination” and toxic sludge. It was dumped in poor communities, including where the Ramapough tribe lives in Ringwood.
The handling of these toxins is horrifying. They were dumped in places where either the residents wouldn’t have a say in stopping Ford or wouldn’t notice until it was too late. The story behind the dumping is something out of “The Sopranos.” A vicious mob-rule over waste hauling including bribes, threats and even murder makes you wonder just how far a corporation will go to cover its despicable actions. It also made me question, if this was happening on a very small scale, just how far would the US government go to protect itself from corruption? Being poor does not mean you’re invisible. Being poor does not mean your life is less valuable. But I think that’s the clear message that was being sent by Ford’s actions.
I think as populations grow, people become more sick, and more investigative reporting occurs, we’re going to see a lot more of these stories. And we need to. The population of everyday people far outnumber the elite who run these polluting corporations.
I believe the punishment for these types of actions are not harsh enough. There should be criminal prosecutions. If possessing marijuana can get you sent to jail, then putting entire neighborhoods’ lives in peril should be a lifetime in prison. I, however, don’t think this will ever be the case. Those in power positions seem to get away with corruption more often than not.
The only way to stop this terrible habit corporations have is through the hard and persistent reporting that The Record showed. The point of journalism in this case is to expose things that otherwise would be unnoticed. If enough people care about the story, they will push for a change. The only people who can stop them are us.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Newsletter: Pipeline Issues
By Diana Stanczak
To the residents of Mahwah:
In recent months, you may have heard about plans to install a pipeline in our town. Proposed by the Tennessee Gas Company, the pipeline would run through our forests, destroying some of our town’s—as well as the state’s—most scenic wood landscape.
But the aesthetic details are only the beginning of the negatives that would affect our town if we allow this pipeline to cut through Mahwah. The safety and health of not only our generation, but also generations to come, may be at risk as well.
The pipeline would run across the Ramapo fault, an earthquake fault in Mahwah that according to some seismologists has the potential to initiate a major, destructive earthquake. Heavy construction has the power to induce an accidental man-made earthquake and cause massive destruction.
Another health risk that will come with the pipeline is possible contamination of our drinking water. The pipeline itself would be surrounded with chemicals, and the possibility of runoff contaminating our water sources is high.
There are two sides to every story. The Tennessee Gas Company has told us the sugarcoated fairytale version; it is up to us, the residents of this town, to spread the other half. Spread the word. Attend town meetings. Don’t let this pipeline tear us apart.
To the residents of Mahwah:
In recent months, you may have heard about plans to install a pipeline in our town. Proposed by the Tennessee Gas Company, the pipeline would run through our forests, destroying some of our town’s—as well as the state’s—most scenic wood landscape.
But the aesthetic details are only the beginning of the negatives that would affect our town if we allow this pipeline to cut through Mahwah. The safety and health of not only our generation, but also generations to come, may be at risk as well.
The pipeline would run across the Ramapo fault, an earthquake fault in Mahwah that according to some seismologists has the potential to initiate a major, destructive earthquake. Heavy construction has the power to induce an accidental man-made earthquake and cause massive destruction.
Another health risk that will come with the pipeline is possible contamination of our drinking water. The pipeline itself would be surrounded with chemicals, and the possibility of runoff contaminating our water sources is high.
There are two sides to every story. The Tennessee Gas Company has told us the sugarcoated fairytale version; it is up to us, the residents of this town, to spread the other half. Spread the word. Attend town meetings. Don’t let this pipeline tear us apart.
A Sustainable Burger
To the Editor,
I’m writing to express my disdain with a particular aspect of Tuesday’s article in The New York Times, “The Burger Remains a Work in Progress.” While I fully acknowledge and respect the fact this article was a restaurant review, I feel that the author should not have so lightly disregarded the fact that the restaurant, Shake Shack, uses only antibiotic and hormone-free ingredients.
Shake Shack is a fast-food restaurant in every aspect. It sells shakes, burgers, and fries, does not take reservations, and no item is priced higher than $10 on the menu. But what sets it apart from a McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s is its devotion to using beef that comes from cows that are local, organic and grass-fed. That is not a promise that every other fast food place can make.
So while the fries may not be the best, and the burgers cooked inconsistently, please give credit where credit is due. Shake Shack is making an effort at sustainability, a trend that hopefully more fast food restaurants will soon follow.
Diana Stanczak
I’m writing to express my disdain with a particular aspect of Tuesday’s article in The New York Times, “The Burger Remains a Work in Progress.” While I fully acknowledge and respect the fact this article was a restaurant review, I feel that the author should not have so lightly disregarded the fact that the restaurant, Shake Shack, uses only antibiotic and hormone-free ingredients.
Shake Shack is a fast-food restaurant in every aspect. It sells shakes, burgers, and fries, does not take reservations, and no item is priced higher than $10 on the menu. But what sets it apart from a McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s is its devotion to using beef that comes from cows that are local, organic and grass-fed. That is not a promise that every other fast food place can make.
So while the fries may not be the best, and the burgers cooked inconsistently, please give credit where credit is due. Shake Shack is making an effort at sustainability, a trend that hopefully more fast food restaurants will soon follow.
Diana Stanczak
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