World as Classroom: The Perks of Hiking

Ramapo Valley Reservation    (photo: Jan Barry)

By Brianna Farulla
  
I was never an outdoorsy type of person until this year. It actually all began with fitness. I’d go for walks, then those would turn into runs and eventually I decided to give hiking a try. All it took was a single experience for me to completely fall in love with the activity. Certain places that I’ve ventured to have introduced me to a newfound love for the environment.

My favorite spot is undoubtedly the Ramapo Valley County Reservation. I never even knew the area existed just down the block from my campus until I stumbled upon it one day during a break between classes. I was immediately blown away by the beauty of it. The waterfall, the swans and the blossoming trees, along with all its other aspects, gave me an urge to return often.

Ramapo Reservation trail   (photo: Jan Barry)

I told my friends from home about the county park reservation in Mahwah and they weren’t opposed to checking it out. Once I brought them there to witness its beauty, they too agreed to making a trip there a weekend routine. Over time we’ve managed to find various trails, but we always wind up taking the same one. When you get to the end of it, you literally feel like you’re on top of the world as you glance down at everything below. The feeling of being so high up in such a serene environment, especially on a nice day, is irreplaceable.

More recently, we’ve been going to a local place, since Ramapo can be quite the drive. Therefore, Garrett Mountain, in Woodland Park, has been our new location lately. You can sit atop of the mountain and see the entire New York City skyline. The modern Freedom Tower never fails to glisten in the sunlight. There’s always odd wildlife running around too. Just last week I came face to face with a turkey, which was definitely a first for me. It was comical to watch it try to fit in with a group of deer as it made noises that I never even knew that turkeys were capable of making.

Not only have places like Ramapo and Garrett proved to me that our environment still has a bit of charm to it, despite all the negativity that it’s prone to, hiking has allowed me to feel more in touch with myself. Sometimes I’ll bring a notebook, lay out a beach towel and write. The scenic views are capable of clearing my mind and bringing out my creative side, unlike anything else. Some great thoughts, good music and gorgeous surroundings are all of the factors that I need to feel at ease. Hiking has been nothing but a beneficial experience to my life and without the environment, I’d never be able to do so.

Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe to Eat?

GMOs are the latest agricultural rage. But what are they really? How are GMOs made? How safe are they? 

By Edith Carpio

The media is constantly telling us what is and what isn't safe to eat. The topic of healthy food has even come up as an environmental issue. A person can't read a magazine without seeing this week's healthy recipe featured, or go to the gym without hearing their trainer talk about the importance of healthy eating, or even walk down the produce isle at the local grocery store without wondering what really is in that apple or in that strawberry.

In health and food related media you will most likely find the acronym GMO, and somewhere else on that page the word organic is there too. Are there any possible health risks that may come from consuming the GMOs? How do we know which of our foods are made using GMOs? There are so many questions. Now, let's find some answers.

Genetically Modified Organisms: What are they?

According to the Non-GMO Project, genetic engineering is the process in which using biotechnology allows the enhancement of organisms such as food, plants, or animals by manipulation and recombination of DNA from different species, that could not be done by traditional hybridization, and could not appear in the world naturally. Using this process and biotechnology, farmers and scientists have made genetically modified organisms, GMOs, which appear in our crops.

Genetic engineering process  (www.fda.gov)

What gets genetically modified?

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration's website lists the most genetically modified foods including "corn, soy, alfalfa, canola, cotton, papaya, sugar beets, and zucchini." According to the Center for Food Safety website, 91% of soybeans and 88% of cotton made in the U.S. are genetically engineered. A question asked by many is "how much of these genetically modified foods end up in our local supermarket's shelves and eventually into our diet?" The Center for Food Safety says that as much as 75% of processed foods contain soy, corn and cotton seed oil.

The process

Two words, gene splicing. According to How a Gene is Spliced: Making a Genetically Modified Crop from the American Radio Work's website the process starts when one specific gene of a plant or bacterium is isolated, one that produces a desirable characteristic. Then, that same gene is put into the DNA of the selected plant or animal that is to be modified. This makes the plant or animal immune or resistant to any potential dangers.

The biggest question: Are they safe?

Scientists and non-scientists cannot agree if the consumption of GMOs is good or bad. And you'll find their opinions and research spread all over the Internet. The Institute for Responsible Technology’s website gives “ten reasons to avoid GMOs”. The fact that producing GMOs increases herbicide use tops IRT’s list. According to reports done by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture mentioned in a Forbes article, "superweeds" are being created each time a GMO is made, thus becoming more resistant to the herbicide, leading to the need for more herbicide to be sprayed. This increased use of pesticides is also harmful to the environment.

The Institute for Responsible Technology also labeled GMOs as unhealthy. According to IRT, studies on humans showed that the genetically modified material stays in our system, which could potentially cause long term effects. It cites an article published in 2014 by the Alliance for Natural Health which said that “a senior research scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that half of children will be autistic by 2025.”  

Stephanie Seneff, PhD, says that her research shows that the lead ingredient in Monsanto’s roundup herbicide, glyphosate, is the main reason behind her conclusion. According to Seneff, biomarkers from autistic children showed that there were considerable amounts of glyphosate in their bodies. Also according to Seneff, side effects in autistic kids match those of “glyphosate toxicity.”

Looking at GMO production from a business perspective, their increased popularity and production gives the government and high power corporations more power and control. They already have so much control over everything, do we really want to give them power over what we put in our bodies?

How do we know what is genetically modified and what isn't?

The short answer is: we don't. Consumers are not aware of the GMOs used to create or enhance the food that they intake. According to a Consumer Reports article by Andrea Rock, a research survey said about 70 percent of Americans said that they do not want GMOs in their food. And the same survey said that 92 percent of Americans want proper labeling of genetically modified foods. According to Rock, this is because of improper labeling, since GMO labeling is not required by law in the U.S.

Rock says there are certain states that have taken action and requested passing laws that required proper GMO labeling, including: Colorado, Oregon and Vermont which has passed the law. You're lucky if you live in Vermont or Europe or Hong Kong, where proper food labeling is required by law, according to Annette McDermott from lovetoknow.com in an article about the history of GMOs.

Defining organic & natural products:

Although GMO labeling is not required by law, there is one way to know a product is GMO free. Look for the USDA Organic and the Non-GMO Project verified seals. But do not be fooled when you read the word natural on a product. According to Rock, natural really doesn't mean natural, it has lead people to believe that no GMOs were used in the making of the product but studies did not back that up. Consumer Reports ran tests on several products such as cereals and granola supposedly made with "natural ingredients," and the results showed that the product contained a considerable amount of GMOs. Manufacturers are tricking consumers, do not fall into the trap.

The use of GMOs is controversial among scientists and non-scientists. For now, it is believed that there are no dangerous effects of consuming GMOs but it is unsure if that will or will not change in the future. GMO production and consumption is something you will continue to see and read about in the media.



You can see the Institute of Responsible Technology's full list at: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs

sources used:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/10/where-gmos-hide-in-your-food/index.htm#
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
http://organic.lovetoknow.com/History_of_GMOs
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/gmos_india/genesplice.html
http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/


Edith Carpio is  currently a junior at Ramapo College, where she is majoring in Integrated Science Studies with a concentration in science journalism. She transferred from Bergen Community College where she received an associates degree in general mathematics & science. After Ramapo, Edith hopes to go onto physical therapy school but is still very passionate about writing. On her free time, Edith likes playing soccer and reading.

World as Classroom: Anthropological Trash in Parks

By Edith Carpio

To complete the course enrichment component of the environmental writing class I hiked two different parks in the New York and New Jersey area. I did this as part of a geology course, which required us to complete field labs after our hikes.

Our first hike was on Wed. April 8; we went right across the street from campus, to the Ramapo Reservation. As it is my first year at Ramapo College, I've never had the chance to go to the reservation before so I was looking forward to it. But I wasn't that excited because it was cold, and that reflected in my view of the park. I imagine it is beautiful in the summer time and fall, with colorful leaves on the trees. And although as of March 20th it is spring time, the gusts of wind and drizzling convinced me and my classmates otherwise.

While at the reservation we made seven stops, including the Ramapo river channel, which I noticed had garbage around it. Anthropologic effects on the park were rare but noticeable. As I walked through the county park, I noticed water bottles and wrappers on the ground from hikers. Other stops on the hikes included Scarlett Oak Pond, which is the pond on campus, a waterfall, a small boulder field, outcrops, and streams.

On our stop to see outcrop, we saw that there was graffiti on the rock. The whole rock was covered in graffiti, this made me keep an eye out for other rocks with graffiti on them throughout the remainder of my hike. After I noticed that one, I saw many more. People may not think they're doing any harm by drawing graffiti on rocks around the park but the chemicals on the paint may run when it rains, causing them to drip into the ground and harm any life on the ground.

On Wed. April 22, we went on our second hike at Nyack Beach State Park in Nyack, New York, just 35 minutes from campus. We did not do much hiking here, but we did walk around and observe a little. We observed a piece of outcrop and the "beach area" surrounded by boulders. From what I saw it was a lot cleaner and preserved than the Ramapo Reservation.

After going on these hikes for my geology class I am more interested in hiking. I look forward to going to other parks in the New York and New Jersey area this summer. After going on these hikes, I also realized it's important to participate in local programs and organizations that do park cleanups. So often, we see going to the park as a pass time and then just leave and forget about it.  We don't realize that there is important wildlife and vegetation that live there that rely on us to take care of the park.

Think California, Conserve Water

By Edith Carpio

Water is so readily available to us in the Northeast that we do not think about all the ways in which we are wasting it. The California drought makes the threat of running out of water very real.

California is having its driest year to date, causing California Gov. Jerry Brown to mandate that people ration their water usage, according to The New York Times. Although the drought directly affects the people and vegetation of California, it also affects people nationwide. 

According to a video report done by The New York Times, California provides 90 percent of America's tomatoes, 95 percent of America's broccoli, and 99 percent of America's almonds; this water crisis has caused the prices of produce to go up and they most likely will continue to go up.

California's drought warns that with climate change the rest of us also need to think of water conservation.

Here are 5 ways you can conserve water:

1. Turn off the water when not in use

We stand in front of the running faucet for about three to four minutes maximum when brushing our teeth and only need to use the water for one out of the four minutes. We can turn off the water when brushing. The same can be done when washing the dishes. According to Wateruseitwisely.com you can save about four gallons of water for every minute you brush your teeth.

2.  Take shorter showers

After a long day at work or school, one looks forward to taking a long hot relaxing shower. But you really do not need to be in there for more than 15 minutes. Wateruseitwisely.com even says that cutting your shower time to five minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons every month.


3. Check for leaks

You don't think that the few drops of water leaking from the faucets or shower heads in your house matter, but they do add up. Dust off the tool box, grab the wrench and tighten the shower heads and the faucets in your house. You can even check your water meter to make sure all leaks are accounted for.

4. Look for a water-saving friendly washing machine

According to wateruseitwisely.com there are specific types of washing machines you can buy that can save up to 20 gallons of water per load. Also, washing dark clothes with cold water will save water and energy.

5. Buy inexpensive water-saving devices for your home

The Environmental Protection Agency teamed up with WaterSense to make products that will conserve water and energy. The Watersense label can be found on toilets, faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines.

Why should you be worried about conserving water?

Not only will following through with these tips save you from having to dig deeper into your pockets, they will help ensure we have water for a long time to come. We do not want to see our water bills or produce prices increase, but we especially do not want to have to have to wait until we have to ration our water consumption to worry about water conservation.

For more tips on how to conserve water, head to wateruseitwisely.com

World as Classroom: Backyard Brook Cleanup

By Brian Writt

For my experiential work, I volunteered at the West Essex YMCA's Earth Day Cleanup in Livingston, NJ.  This was the 10th annual cleanup that the YMCA held and my first time ever doing it.  Many people from around town and Livingston High School's Environmental Club met at the YMCA and went into the woods in the back of the building with gloves and garbage bags, ready to clean up the area. 

There is a brook behind the building that gets filled with trash with all the people and constant traffic that passes by daily on South Livingston Avenue and neighboring streets.

All in all, we spent about four hours scavenging through the woods picking up trash that ranged from car tires to candy wrappers.  It really is amazing how an area humans rarely ever go to can be affected by us so much.  It really made me realize how selfish it is to litter, because the trash does not disappear.  It ends up in the woods and in waterways that hinder the wildlife that inhabit the area. 

I definitely will volunteer next year at the YMCA Earth Day Cleanup and will recommend to my friends and family that they also do the same.

NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability Meets Today at Duke Farms

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Julia Kruse
JKruse@ramapo.edu

NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability Annual Meeting

On Friday, April 24, the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability will be holding their 2015 annual business meeting.  The event will take place at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.  The event is open to all faculty, students, sustainability directors, facilities management, and administrators. 

One of the topics that will be discussed is “Campuses as Living Laboratories for Sustainability,” which will be followed by a “Student Symposium.”  Another topic that the meeting will focus on is “Hacking Sustainability: Using Research to Push the Limits of Sustainability on the Campus as a Lab.”

The schedule of the day’s events is as follows:

(10 a.m.) Student network session, covering student groups focused on sustainability on NJ campuses.  Moderator: Daniela Shebitz, Ph.D. Kean

(11 a.m.) Keynote Speaker: Forrest Meggers, Assistant Professor, Princeton University, School of Architecture and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

(Noon) Lunch

(1 p.m.) Open session (mixer with student groups)

(2 p.m.) Lighting Talks from the Front Lines of Campus as Lab Research and Innovation

(3 p.m.) Wrap up and Announcements

The event is free of charge but organizer are asking that participants please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/njheps-annual-meeting-2015-tickets-16456525912
 
-- Erik Lipkin

Green Festival Opens Today in NYC

NEWS RELEASE

Green Festival Opens This Weekend in New York City

Earth Day celebrations aren’t over just yet! America’s largest sustainability event is opening today in New York City, followed by runs in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.

Green Festival Expo will be taking place at the Javits Convention Center on April 24-26. Various companies and organizations will provide visitors with products and services that promote working green, playing green and living green.

The expo is an affordable opportunity to discover how to experience a healthier, eco-friendly lifestyle. Tickets start at $12, depending on the type of pass that is purchased. Get yours now at www.greenfestivals.org.

Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of a community that strives towards creating a Green America!

-- Brianna Farulla