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06
May

Nuclear Is Not Clean

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There are communities in the Southwest still suffering from the effects of the uranium mining from the nuclear boom of the 1940’s - 1980’s (more below). But, when nuclear proponents tout the idea that nuclear energy is the clean energy savior for the planet, it is pretty convenient to ignore the community health disaster that uranium mining inevitably brings along. I wish it were more suprising to hear this:

On public lands within five miles of Grand Canyon National Park, there are now more than 1,100 uranium claims, compared with just 10 in January 2003, according to data from the Department of the Interior. […] In the five Western states where uranium is mined in the U.S., 4,333 new claims were filed in 2004, according to the Interior Department; last year the number had swelled to 43,153.

The push to extract more uranium has caused controversy not just involving federal land but private and state land as well. In Virginia, a company’s plan to operate in a never-mined deposit spurred a hearing in the Legislature. In New Mexico, a Navajo activist group is challenging in federal court a license issued just over the reservation’s east border.

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Most of the new claims are in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon:

Uranium is “a special concern,” he added, because it is both a toxic heavy metal and a source of radiation. He worries about uranium escaping into the local water, and about its effect on fish in the Colorado River at the bottom of the gorge, and on the bald eagles, California condors and bighorn sheep that depend on the canyon’s seeps and springs. More than a third of the canyon’s species would be affected if water quality suffered, he said.

“If you can’t stop mining at the Grand Canyon, where can you stop it?” asked Richard Wiles, executive director of the Environmental Working Group.

The energy-versus-environment debate is apparent within the Interior Department, which granted the mining claims through its Bureau of Land Management. Among the mining critics is Steve Martin, superintendent of the Grand Canyon park and an Interior Department employee himself. “There should be some places that you just do not mine,” Martin said.

I wonder which places he thinks you should mine? Here is a look at a Tufts student’s research on the Navajo Nation’s experience with uranium mining:

In North America, many people think of clean drinking water and uncontaminated land as a birthright. For members of Navajo Nation, access to these basic needs isn’t as easy to come by. An area the size of West Virginia sandwiched between Arizona and New Mexico, the Navajo reservation’s austere land of buttes and mesas is beautiful but burdened by toxic waste. Forty years of uranium mining has created an environmental justice nightmare that scientists and researchers like Jamie deLemos are working to redress.

deLemos, an environmental health doctoral candidate at Tufts School of Engineering and a student in the Water: Systems, Science, and Society program, has been working with engineering associate professor, John Durant, and Tufts Public Health and Family Medicine’s Doug Brugge as part of a large-scale project to understand the health impacts of uranium mining.

Uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation is the result of mining operations conducted during the boom of the atomic age in the 1940s through the 1980s. Many Navajos employed in the uranium mines were directly exposed to high levels of radiation toxicity from mining, but also indirectly from environmental exposures created by residual waste. As miners extracted uranium from the ore, leftover tailings–accumulated waste material from extraction and processing activities–open pits, and mine shafts dotted the landscape.

In July 1979, in Church Rock, NM, millions of gallons of low-level radioactive waste burst from a dam and contaminated the surrounding watershed of New Mexico and Arizona. Almost 30 years later, the U.S.EPA and Navajo Nation EPA are working to clean up these since-abandoned mines, and epidemiological researchers are assessing the extent of the health risk.

Although uranium is often associated with radiological toxicity, it is much more hazardous from a chemical toxicity standpoint. “Uranium is a kidney toxin. Kidney disease is three times higher among the Navajo (or Diné) people than in the general U.S. population,” deLemos said. Her information comes from working on a large community based-participatory research project called the Diné Network for Environmental Health, or DiNEH project. Along with Dr. Johnnye Lewis, director of University of New Mexico’s Community Environmental Health Program, and members of the Eastern Navajo Health Board, the project team has been studying the effects of toxic exposures on the Navajo Nation. Through work on this project, deLemos was named one of this year’s Switzer Environmental Fellows by the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation.

As part of Lewis’ team, deLemos uses her environmental health and geochemistry skills to address the extent of uranium contamination, to discover the chemistry that controls uranium transport in water and soil, and to identify areas at high risk for uranium exposures. In March 2006, deLemos and fellow graduate student Naomi Slagowski traveled to New Mexico to obtain 150 samples, including soil, water and vegetation from a heavily burdened mining area. deLemos and Slagowski worked with Tommy Rock, a Navajo and Northern Arizona University graduate student.

“Some people, because of the historical abuses–of which there are many–are not interested in letting you on their land,” said deLemos. “They’ll say, ‘How are you different from other researchers who’ve come and done nothing to change things for us or never come back and report what you’ve found?’” deLemos worked with Rock who translated the language and helped foster trust with community members. “People automatically accepted him through clanship and his Navajo language skills; and when he was with us, we were okay.”

As part of her geochemical assessment, deLemos worked with former mentor and geochemist Benjamin Bostick at Dartmouth College. Using a combination of laboratory and x-ray spectroscopic techniques, she evaluated the chemical form of uranium in contaminated sediments and how soluble these forms are. “One state is soluble and one isn’t,” said deLemos. “And the soluble form is much more toxic.” In 2000, the U.S. EPA issued the Radionuclides Rule, which set the maximum contaminant level safety standard at 30 micrograms per liter of drinking water. “What my data show is that when contaminated sediments are wet, the amount of uranium that dissolves into the water can exceed this rule by more than a factor of 100,” said deLemos. “This has serious implications for contaminating groundwater supplies.”

“People still haul water even if they’re on a public water supply, either for cultural reasons, or because they prefer the taste,” said deLemos. However, the Navajo Nation has deemed any unregulated water supplies unfit for human consumption, even though chemical and bacteriological analysis haven’t, as of yet, been systematically performed on all wells. “All water sources that have been tested are given a rating with a stop-light system, and everything unregulated is given a yellow or a red light,” deLemos said. “When people who are hauling water see this, it’s a little confusing. It’s hard for people to give up what they’ve been doing their whole lives–and when you can’t provide them with an acceptable alternative, it’s a real challenge.”

Providing clear information, and possible alternative water sources, perhaps in an easy-to-read map, is the next phase of deLemos’ project. “Historically, there’s been a lot of recommendations and no offer of alternatives and no follow up,” said deLemos, adding that in the past other researchers have issued statements such as, “‘We recommend that for your livestock, you don’t eat kidney or liver,’ but they eat the whole sheep as part of the culture,” deLemos said. “Or ‘We recommend you stay off the banks of the river.’ Well, that’s like telling someone around Boston to stay off of 95.”

After presenting her current research to the community at this summer’s 4th Annual Navajo Nation Drinking Water Conference hosted by the Navajo Nation EPA, deLemos realized that Navajos need straightforward answers.

“People have basic questions: Are my livestock going to get sick if they eat this grass? Can I take water from this well or pond? You have to balance between cutting-edge science and something that’s actually going to be immediately useful and relevant to these impacted communities.”

Profile written by Julia C. Keller, Communications Specialist, Tufts School of Engineering

[Grist, LATimes, Tufts E-News]

04
May

foto av dagen 05.04.08

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Forest Defenders by Chistopher LaMarca, via Rolling Stone.

01
May

May is National Bike Month!

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If you haven’t broken out your wheels yet, now is definitely the time to do so.  The League of American Bicyclists has lots of useful info for nation-wide events as well as useful tips and tools for commuting and recreational bicyclists as well as non-cycling but bike-friendly folks.  Here in the Bean, Mayor Menino has instigated Bay State Bike Week from May 12-18 with bunches of events and challenges.

Since bikes are pretty much the universal favorite topic of every green/eco/earthloving blog out there, I will now just shower you with a few of the millions of worthy bike links habting the interwebs recently:

D.C. has a new bike share program, Smartbike DC, which will be the first of its kind in the US - similar to Zip Car, but for bikes. Um, one gross thing about it though, it is sponosred entirely by Clear Channel. Yuck.

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Treehugger always brings us worthy bicycle news: New York has a new plan to be more bike friendly; a Treehugger favorite, Ben Wilson’s monowheel makes for an interesting, if not practical, transportation tool; and my personal favorite, Street Films videos of NYC bike mechanic Hal Ruzal walking around the city grading bike locks - I believe my bike locking strategy would get me a D/D+.  Dude is hilarious.

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Grist’s Ask Umbra column this week has been full of fun bicycle gear to get you motivated to hop on that bike - she covers the gamut from thermos holders to cargo bikes.

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There are millions more, but I am out of time.  Be expecting more throughout the month.  Happy biking!!

30
Apr

The Real Guerilla Gardener

Of course adidas ripped this idea from the real thing.

Is there a barren patch of fertile ground in your city? Check out the real guerilla gardener Richard Renolds’ blog and join the movement!

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Also check his book:

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[Reuters]

29
Apr

Vulcan Projecct: Texas Takes the Cake

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Here’s a map put together by scientists at Purdue University’s Vulcan Project of 2002 CO2 emissions per capita [click on the map for a high-res version]. So…is anyone surprised that Texas is the reddest state? I thought not. Interestingly, here is a map of CO2 concentration with out accounting for population density, which looks pretty much identical to a population map.  It also looks to be almost inversely proportional to the population map, which presents fairly good evidence that dense urban living is the most carbon efficient way to go.

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Here’s a 2000 US Census Bureau population map for comparison:
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Read the rest at WIRED, World Changing & catch an introductory video from the scientists at the Vulcan Project website.

28
Apr

triko: Tell the Children the Truth

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mmmmm, nothing sexier than a man with style AND a conscience.

Triko is a progressive, premium streetwear brand for the fashion conscious consumer. Triko is committed to using the finest natural materials available to produce high quality product, in order to advance their efforts to a healthier environment. Their focus is on promoting social and environmental awareness through design and lifestyle. Designer Hector Estrada chooses to incorporate sustainable materials into his collection, such as organic or raw cotton on selected tees and using coconut shells or recycled soda cans as buttons.

Triko is actively involved in charities and organizations including Solar 1 and Defenders of Wildlife and will continue to support charities and organizations that work towards the protection of the environment and its inhabitants.

^ A word from karmaloop. Check triko & their Earthloving blog.

25
Apr

foto av dagen 4.25.08

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thanks to ArchitectureMNP for these stunning images from Andy Goldworthy. Go to AMNP to see some beautiful clips from Rivers and Tides, a documentary about Goldworthy and his work.

24
Apr

Project Earth Day

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Today in NYC is the 2nd annual Project Earth Day, an eco-minded spin-off of Project Runway. I found out about Project Earth Day via Inhabitat, who I can always count on to satisfy me when I need an eco-fashion fix. In fact, Inhabitat’s very own Jill Fehrenbacher will be a judge for the Student Fashion Competition. Here’s a look at a few of my favorite designers from the event’s site:

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And some highlights from last year’s show:

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Check the rest at Inhabitat.

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kick gas may 12-18

28/04/08 0 comments
logo_kickgas.gif May is National Bike Month and here in Massachusetts we’re doing our part to celebrate this great event with Bay State Bike Week, May 12th -18th, 2008. It’s your chance to join thousands of other bikers across the country by doing something for the environment and having a great time while you’re at it. It’s a win/win proposition. [BayStateBikeWeek]

geo-engineering

28/04/08 0 comments
sulfateinjections.jpg Sulphate injections are one of several "geo-engineering" solutions to climate change being discussed by scientists[...]But one potential drawback is that sulphates provide a surface on which chlorine gases in polar clouds can become activated, causing chemical reactions that lead to the destruction of ozone molecules. Yeah, this sounds like a great idea... [BBC News]

operation arc of fire

19/04/08 0 comments
19brazil_190.jpg amazonmen190.jpg This is Operation Arc of Fire, the Brazilian government’s tough campaign to deter illegal destruction of the Amazon forest. It is intended to send a message that the government is serious about protecting the world’s largest remaining rain forest, but so far it has stirred controversy for its militaristic approach to saving trees, and the initial results have been less than promising. [NYTimes]

nuclear mess

16/04/08 0 comments
nuclearmess.jpg Cleanup of nuclear weapons sites is behind schedule and over budget, audit shows, but DOE cuts program. The audit shows that the cost to clean up extensive radioactive and hazardous waste contamination is likely to be as high as $305 billion, more than $50 billion higher than the Administration's earlier estimate. It also may take until 2062 to finish the job—more than 20 years longer than original estimates. Yet this year's cleanup budget proposal is $5.5 billion, the lowest level in the last 15 years for the huge cleanup program. [Click the title to read the entire article from C&EN]

the second plug

01/04/08 0 comments
plug-in_car.jpg Some ideas on the future of EV cars in the US - and across the globe - from The Cost of Energy [click the title of this post for article].

going solar thermal

01/04/08 0 comments
solar_thermal.jpg triplepundit gives a list of 4 Things to Consider Before Going Solar Thermal [click the title of this post to read the article].

Bikes Not Bombs Bike-A-Thon

20/03/08 0 comments
bnbathon.jpg 21st annual Bike-A-Thon & 1st annual Green Roots Festival, featuring renowned green author Bill McKibben. All rides start and end in the big field in front of the Stoney Brook T stop (Orange Line) at Boylston and Amory Streets, Jamaica Plain MA 02130.

7,148 mpg?

18/03/08 0 comments
microjoule2.jpg A team from the French technical school St. Joseph La Joliverie has built the 'Microjoule', a car which traveled an amazing 7,148 miles on a single gallon of fuel - in other words, almost ten miles per teaspoon [click the title of this post to read the full article over at WIRED].

D2E Boston

16/03/08 0 comments
d2e2.jpg Boston — Down:2:Earth (D2E), a sustainable living event for the eco-conscious consumer, will take place March 28-30 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston’s Back Bay.

The Dream Reborn

01/03/08 0 comments
dreamreborn.gif Green For All is bringing organizations and leaders from communities across the nation together to produce The Dream Reborn. This racially just, green gathering will celebrate the life of Dr. King and present positive solutions for social and environmental equity from today's generation of visionary leaders.

world water day 2008

29/02/08 0 comments
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$49 Carbon Charge

15/02/08 0 comments
london-traffic.jpg Thats $49 A DAY, my ninjas - just to drive your car in London. Hells yes. Possibly as early as this October, British ninjas driving cars emitting 225 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometer or more will be paying 49 bucks to drive through the city.

say goodbye to the forests of alaska

31/01/08 0 comments
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3 million acres open to the ax, thanks to President Bush.

homeless & green in oakland

28/01/08 0 comments
crossroads.jpg Crossroads, a new homeless shelter opening up in East Oakland features green design with a solar-paneled roof, hydronic heating, artful but practical ceiling fans, nontoxic paint, windows that can be opened to let in fresh air, and desks and bureaus made from pressed wheat. Read more about it by clicking on the title of this post.

food vs fuel

22/01/08 2 comments
19palmoil_600.jpg Does biodiesel mean we have to change the way we cook and eat? For many it already does - head on over to the New York Times to find out [click the title of this post].

cape [cod] wind

18/01/08 0 comments
offshor_wind_farm.jpg It's apparently NOT too late to save 'Cape Wind' - the offshore wind farm proposed for Cape Cod, MA. The U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) released a 2,000-page environmental impact assessment of the project and found it would cause no major problems for birds, wildlife, ship and air traffic, and recreation [which were the NIMBY's arguments against the project]. Now its time to act! Click the title of this post to sign a petition to help build Cape Wind!

retail goes green

17/01/08 0 comments
green_retail.jpg "For retailers, going for the green means going for the greenbacks. That was the point hammered home at the National Retail Federation convention in New York this week." [click the title of this post to read the full article]

teen treehuggers

11/01/08 1 comment
teen_treehugger.jpg A new generation of green teenagers are prepared to support radical measures to help the planet, says a new study. A survey of 16- to 19-year-olds by the Future Foundation found more than one in eight (13%) supported a ban on traveling by air for leisure purposes, while one in 10 say they would back a ban on cars if global warming continues to worsen.  Almost 10% even say they would be prepared to take part in guerrilla activities carried out by environmental groups [click the title of this post to read the full article].

6 ways…

08/01/08 0 comments
cfl_bulb.jpg ...to 'green' your home, from the Rocky Mountain Institute: 1.programmable thermostat 2.Seal large air leaks in your home 3.Insulate your water heater 4.Add insulation in your attic 5.Seal and insulate your HVAC ducts 6.Install efficient showerheads [click the title of this post for more].

people power

08/01/08 1 comment
people_power.jpg A project from the Swedish state-held property administration company Jernhuset is planning to use the body heat from hundreds of thousands of people who pass through the Stockholm Central Station each day, to heat a new office building nearby [click the title of this post for the full article].

green features

  • Savage Worms: Week 1
  • Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins
  • Savage Worms: Week 3 (and 2/7ths)
  • Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction
  • Savage Worms: Week 2
  • Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction
  • Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site
  • Savage Worms: Week 5 (post Red Sox mania)
  • Savage Worms: Week 4
  • Savage Worms: An Adventure in Vermicomposting!

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