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11:07:50 am on November 8, 2008 |
I decided to hear what people had to say the night before the election. How early one student was planning to wake up to vote, one man who, did see why he should, and a tourist who travel from Belgium to witness history.
I had went to grant park the night before, and also had interviewed these people that night. Every one I had spoke to (i thought I would spare the what could have been 20 min long video) was optimistic, excited and most of calm. Walking back to grant park the night of the rally was almost surreal compared to night before. Everyone was in the streets, cheering and some dancing. To put what each of these individuals had to say to the images of the Nov. 4th was surprising easy too. Its sort of strange how each of their storieswere impressed into the next day.
But what a day. I hope to get up more of my interviews especially from the Young Republics election night party at the Hilton Hotel. It was just such a contrast to what was going on out side the doors and only feet away.
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06:13:28 pm on November 4, 2008 |
Last night, I went out to Grant Park to get a glimpse of what would be going on today. It was so quiet and still it was as though a shock wave might be rolling through.
Security was really tight. A lot of news media were out and had already set up shop for today. I did catch a glimpse of the stage. And it does seem as though the city has put in a lot of extra effort to enforse the area over the night and what could only be imagined for today.
Today, I will be filming at Grant Park, but I’m also going to hit up the Hilton hotel to caputre the republican election party. It should be quite the contrast.
This, as you have probably noticed is not like my other posts, a little less Eco, but I did want to share what I had captured at the opening of Grant Park party. Litter!
For those traveling down to the park tonight, please remember to pick up after yourselves. The park may go through post traumatic stress after the night is over.
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04:47:36 pm on November 1, 2008 |
Wow, after the Big Mac turns the Big 40 it celebrated in style, with a brand new outfit.
So out with the old and in with the new as McDonald’s switches the packaging of the Big Mac to a more “food focused” style. By food focus, McDonald’s’ put the ingredients of the burger on the box. Just in case there were suspicions, they call it ’storytelling.’
A head of lettuce, a onion, a stack of cheese slices, its mystery sauce and smack on top 100% beef.
But this “fresh factor” got me to thinking are the packaging of these boxes really eco fresh and friendly ?
There are over 100 McDonald’s in the Chicago area, over 4,000 when you include the greater Chicago area, where many Americans “fuel up” and go. Only recently, in 1992 did McDonald’s convert much of their menu’s packaging to being made of recycled materials. Still however, all of that packaging, inside packaging with more packaging is only used for seconds before it is discarded. A waste?
Think about the litter on the streets, what fills up city garbage cans and alleyways–McDonald’s trash is everywhere.
While I couldn’t find how much trash a single McDonald’s generates in one day I could find this:
the US sells 150 million Big Mac’s in one year.
That’s 150 million of those paper holders each Mac comes in.
divide that by the 50 states, that’s approximately million sold every year in each state.
In Chicago there are roughly 100 Mcd’s, so that’s (and this is a very rough estimate)
That’s 3 thousand Big Mac containers discarded in Chicago. Thats a lot of TRAHSH
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01:04:59 am on October 23, 2008 |
Get a little greener, and build a rain garden!
That’s what residents around Pulaski Park did when Saturday to kick off the Water Environment Federations annual conference. Volunteers helped dig in the dirt to build the parks rain garden.
The $7,000 corporate sponsored project to sprout this garden will help to minimize contaminates that enter storm sewers and open water. The federation, a Virginia based international program, has dedicated is efforts to research, education and regulation of environmental runoff.
The goal is to get more communities around Chicago to also create the rain gardens.
I had heard of these before and was excited to see Chicago adapt these functional and beautiful gardens in their neighborhoods.
The event was called “Getting out of the Gutter” and for Chicago’s umph to go green, it made a footprint on the efforts.
There are a few rules as to how to build a rain garden, and guidlines on how to maintain one, but in all the process is relatively simple.
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08:52:03 pm on October 18, 2008 |
This is the tale of the governess whom did not get her way
After a decade-long battle to protect the beluga wales in Alaska’s Cook Inle, had failed to assure is survival, the wales have been placed on the engendered species list, under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.
And it did so, without the endorsement of the former governess Sarah Palin.
Just author shockingly new revelation in the page turner of the Palin Profile, or a much more threatening look into the ever turning relationship between politics and the environment.
Dispite evidence provided by the NOAA’s National Marines Fisheries Service ,Palin had consistently questioned the scientific evidence behind the declining populations of the wale, and strongly objected of the federal government declaring it as endangered.
Lacking evidence?
The Cook Inlet population declined by 50 percent between 1994 and 1998, but is was not the whales that were concerning Palin, it was the OIL.
Why you ask? Well if your looking for oil priced at $1.38 billion worth of energy resources, all the more reason too despite the endangered creature. And Palin was looking.
If the novel being written for Sarah Palin hasn’t been filled with enough political propaganda, Palin marked the final page for environmentalist earlier this year when she asked the courts to overturn an Interior Department decision declaring polar bears threatened under the federal law.
It seems almost fictitious.
NOAA’s said the recovery of the whales was greatly hindered due to oil and gas exploration in the Cook Inle. Now, with the creatures of the sea being protected by federal law, it will in turn conflict with the development, economic and industrial activities including those related to oil and gas exploration in the Cook Inlet.
Bummer….for the lady in red.
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11:58:50 pm on October 15, 2008 |
Tonight’s presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain went surprisingly well after the two arguably previous sinkers the following weeks.
Finally with time to talk about the issues instead of the instances, the candidates covered heath care, education and campaign aids.
After fact checking turns out, without too much of a surprise, both had a few slip ups.
But as much as I would like to focus on this debate in particular, I’ll rather turn to our environmental crisis as the “final debate.”
Recently NPR released a side by side of each of the stances and polices of the Obama and McCain over the environmental crisis.
But how likely are each, where do they falter and where do they succeed.
Last week I had brought to attention both debate address on nuclear energy.
According to NPR, “more than 300 nuclear power plants in the world produces 15% of the worlds energy. The US has not built a nuclear plant in 30 years.” Obama: a supporter but says its not a ‘great’ option. McCain: wants 45 nuclear power plants by 2030 and “government support” for the industry. In addition. McCain wants 100 new nuclear power plants to be built in the US.
The Check, is it viable?
Expert Steven Cohen, Director of the Earth Institute says :”nuclear is not a realistic option because of the political structure here which gives local governments and local communities veto’s over citing.”
“after 20 years, we haven’t solved the nuclear problem in the country.” said Cohen.
According to the interview, nuclear energy is a “hell of a way to boil water,” and its “tremendously expensive.”
After the economic crisis the United States market experienced can nuclear energy still be on the table. not having built a plant in over 30 years, to add an additional 24 by 2030 financially possible?
Obama, who feels that nuclear energy should be a playing card with other alternative resources such as geothermal, solar and wind, does not have an estimate for nuclear power’s future.
To reach either of the candidates carbon emissions plans however something will have to be done. Obama’s target is at reducing emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. McCain has a less zealous plan to reduce emissions 60% below 1990 level by 2050.
Lets hope one of them has the better plan.
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12:04:09 am on October 9, 2008 |
Let’s talk about nuclear.
In the chaos of Tuesdays second presidential debates, both candidates offered solutions to the energy and climate crisis.
Swarming mainly around the talk of nuclear energy and power, John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D) two steeped their way through a global climate change solution.
They focused on — but were not committed to — the idea of going nuclear nationally
So then where is nuclear energies place in solving the global energy and climate crisis?
According to CNN’s transcript of the debate:
McCain’s response was to examine energy independence through offshore drilling and nuclear power. Than again McCain addressed nuclear power plants as a way to create ‘a whole bunch’ of jobs.
Posing to Americans the dangers of climate change, McCain stated, 1) “the best way to fix it. Nuclear power. Sen. Obama says that it has to be safe or disposable or something like that.” 2) McCain, states “nuclear power is safe, and it’s clean, and it creates hundreds of thousands of jobs.” And finally, 3) to reprocess nuclear fuel.
To take a look at Obamas responses to nuclear power, the advancement towards a total energy redistribution seems to be in order.
According to Obama, contrary to what McCain has been saying, he is for nuclear power as “one component of our overall energy mix.” aka: wind, solar and geothermal.
Obama also stated that America will need to develop “safe ways to store nuclear energy.”
And that’s it. For both.
While the debate did land alternative energy and fuel on the table it barely broke the surface of the discussion.
How will nuclear energy be stored safely;
Where will all of those ‘bunches’ of jobs go to;
How does the reprocessing of nuclear fuel add to further fuel dependency;
and finally is nuclear power the really best and only way to fix the global energy and climate crisis as McCain states; or is nuclear power just one component in the over all ‘energy mix’ as Obama sees it.
These questions–and more–are going to be the new focus of my blog
As the presidential election nears understand the both candidates views on environmental factors of the fuel, energy climate factors will no longer be muddle through retoric. But looked at according to eaches policy plans.
I will stay objective throughout the coverage to give only the facts of each canidates possition.
But first, I have to mention a quick comment made by McCain, it went like this “Nuclear power. Sen. Obama says that it has to be safe or disposable or something like that.”
Well, McCain, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, plant security and saftey and uranium waste disposale are listed as key factors along with environmental protection and reliablity and afordability—or something like that.
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10:21:31 pm on October 3, 2008 |
Yep, Chicago made it. Treeless paper is here.
Its hard to imagine, right, but what if it didn’t have to be. Deforestation has been a disastrous result of failing market and commodity economy. While a majority of the trees cut are used for building and fuels, paper in the United States alone, consists of 41% of its waste.
Now, what if paper could be eliminated.
Chicago-based GPA Specialty Substrate Solutions, announced its latest Eco-friendly substrate—Ultra Green Film. Unlike traditional paper, the enzyme based Ultra Green Tree-Free Film, is manufactured without trees, water or toxic agents including bleaching chemicals.
Amazing right. Wait there’s more.
Different from pulp papers, Ultra Green uses no grains. The paper is scuff, water grease resistant, making it perfect for outdoor use.
Because the paper in the manufacturing process uses no water, Ultra Green is priced 30 to 40% below than regular synthetic paper and film.
Could you image, cutting the cost of paper almost in half! As a college student that is music to my ears and my bank account.
According to ENN, The Environmental News Network, “replacing one ton of traditional paper with one ton of Ultra Green paper saves 20 trees, according to Environmental Defense’s paper calculator. It also eliminates 42 lbs of waterborne waste, 7,480 gallons water/waste water, 167 lbs solid waste and 236 lbs carbon emissions. Energy savings amount to 25 million BTU.” It also eliminates 42 lbs of waterborne waste, 7,480 gallons water/wastewater, 167 lbs solid waste and 236 lbs carbon emissions. Energy savings amount to 25 million BTU.”
Wow, this should be the invention of the year. Lets hope it makes it to the selves soon.
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10:31:39 pm on October 1, 2008 |
Fall’s crisp air rolled into the city this week. Walking out side, many put on their jackets, wrapped a scarf around their neck and took in a deep breath of the cool, clean,fresh Chicago air–Cough- cough- cough
Fresh, clean ?
It may have been yesterdays news, but Chicago’s reaping toxic pollutants are today’s, and tomorrows problem.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Cook County was ranked worst in the nation for dangerous air pollution,” based on 2005 data, and “Chicago was among the 10 worst cities in the US.”
The surprise in Monday’s papers came as a shock for most. So whats next, gas masks on the L?
Not quite, according to the Illinios Annual Air Quality report in 2006, pollutant levels had significantly improved as a result of improvements in technology.
The city has also released a Chicago Climate Action Plan to shape up the city’s environmental protection progress.
Mixed in with the sites bright display and colorful texts are details on the cities plan to combat climate change. The plans five strategies, energy efficient buildings; clean and renewable energy sources; improved transportation options; reduced waste and industrial pollution; and adaptation are a start for Chicago’s goal to go green.
Right now, Chicago has already let its task force srike. From the bottom up, many new building are sprouting green.
Chicago high rises sprouting green to tackle climate change
The action plan has also put together a TOP 10 THINGS RESIDENTS CAN DO, an expected but convenient list of how to stay green in Chicago.
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06:58:09 pm on September 28, 2008 |
As a journalism student at DePaul, with a geography minor, finding out what impacts our environment has to be more than a passing fad. Its important, and it effects all of us.
This is my first post, so let me give you an idea of what I’m getting at here. I want to show to you the latest global environmental issues from around the world, and bring it back down to a local level. From Chicago’s environmental crisis’, recycling, sustainable living and how Chicago plans to reduce its own environment foot print.
Recently Dot Earth Blog, covered a short on the Windy Cities Climate Plan.
This parkway is in the process of being restored to a more green, sustainable space
