Environmental Science & Treehuggers

1. Environmental Science & Treehuggers September 2, 2004

2. Terms • Environment • Environmental Science • Environmental Issues • Environmental Scientists • Environmentalists • Environmental Organizations • Green Wash • Treehugger

3. Environment • According to the American Heritage Dictionary (4th edition), the word environment is a noun which is defined as: • The circumstances or conditions that surround one; surroundings. Societal and physical • The totality of circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms, especially: • The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms. Conditions of habitat such as natural hazards, temperature, pollution? things that may affect one’s health and well being. • The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual or community – poverty, geography, access to clean water, air, and health care facilities.

4. Environmental Science • The systematic study of our environment AND our place in it. • It is an interdisciplanary field incorporating the fields of: • Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Political Science, Geography, Agriculture, Mathematics, Law and Sociology

6. Current Environmental Issues • Water Scarcity • Water Quality Bacteria Industrial Effluent Municipal Effluent – Happy fish and Birth Control – Endocrine Disruptors • Soil contamination – salinity • Air Quality!! – Ozone Action Days • Rising Population – Denton Stats

7. Still more environmental issues • Urban Flooding and Erosion – Byproducts of Construction • Lack of Transportation Solutions • Over fishing • Overuse/dependence on fossil fuels • Global Warming – climate change • Questionable ethics of both corporations (polluters) and politicians

8. What’s happening out there? • Several types of groups interested in these problems: • Government agencies (Federal, State, Local) • Local municipalities • Educational Institutions – Environmental Scientists • Chemical Corporations – Manufacturers • Lobbyists – for both sides • Politicians – keep everyone happy, get re-elected • Not-for-profit organizations • Civic Groups – Keep Denton Beautiful • Citizens – Lois Gibbs

9. Government Agencies • Environmental Protection Agency • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • Local Emergency Planning Commission • Army Corps of Engineers • Texas Parks and Wildlife

10. Local Municipalities • City of Denton • Municipal Electric • Landfill • Water Treatment Plant • Wastewater treatment plant

11. Educational Institutions • University of North Texas • These institutions pursue research grants to study different aspects of the environment to measure problems and propose solutions • Biodiesel • Material Recovery Facility • Phytoremediation • Wetlands – Reduction of water contaminants • Waller’s Clams • Fathead minnows • Biodiversity and erosion in buffer zones • Affect of habitat fragmentation on migratory birds

12. Chemical Corporations • GE recognizes that part of being a successful and well-respected company is being socially responsible. GE is committed to serve the communities where we do business, to provide our customers with innovative, high-quality products and services and to protect the health of our workers and our environment.

13. Monsanto • Monsanto is a leading provider of agricultural products and solutions. We use unparalleled innovation in plant biotechnology, genomics and breeding to improve productivity and to reduce the costs of farming. We produce leading seed brands, including DEKALB and Asgrow, and we develop biotechnology traits that integrate insect control and weed control into the seed itself. We make Roundup, the world’s best-selling herbicide, and other herbicides, which can be combined with our seeds and traits to offer farmers integrated solutions. Through our Holden’s/Corn States business, we also provide other seed companies with genetic material and biotechnology traits for their seed brands. We manage our business in two segments: Seeds and Genomics, and Agricultural Productivity.

14. Pharmaceutical Companies • Eli Lilly and Company is a leading, innovation-driven corporation committed to developing a growing portfolio of best-in-class and first-in-class pharmaceutical products that help people live longer, healthier and more active lives. Lilly products treat depression, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, osteoporosis and many other conditions. We are committed to providing answers that matter - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.

15. Lobbyists – from the American League of Lobbyists - http://www.alldc.org/ • League members: • are on the cutting edge of issues directly affecting lobbyists; e.g., the Capitol Hill access and security issue which is rapidly changing. • are invited to exclusive events and networking opportunities with key Members of Congress and Administration officials. (Click here for upcoming programs.)

16. are offered discounts for products and services such as the following: • 10% off Washington Representatives, published by Columbia Books • 10% off PAC outsourcing services through PAC Services, LLC • 10% off Vocus Government Relations/Public Relations products and services • 40% off Guide to State Legislative Lobbying handbook • 50% off Almanac of the Unelected • 30% off materials available from Bernstein Press, including their new training manual Keeping Wolves at Bay • 20-80% off office products and furniture through Millers Office Products • $100 off a new or used car from Passport Infiniti •  Six months free use of LobbyRpt. software for LDA registration and reports

17. Politics, Political Parties and Politicans • “America and the world share this common goal: we must foster economic growth in ways that protect our environment. We must encourage growth that will provide a better life for citizens, while protecting the land, the water, and the air that sustain life.” - President George W. Bush

18. Democrats • The Bush Record: Industry Runs Roughshod Over Environment • Drill everywhere! Foul the oceans! Pollute the skies! That's great if you're Big Business, but lousy if you're anybody else. Bush's policies are undoing decades of environmental protection and leaving a dirty world for our children and children's children to inherit. For the environment, a change in the White House would be a breath of fresh air.

19. Not-for-profit organizations • Sierra Club – Get outdoors and get involved! • The Nature Conservancy • The Natural Resource Defense Council • Greenpeace

20. Nature Conservancy – 1951 to present • Fast Facts About The Nature Conservancy • Cumulative acres protected in the United States: 14,345,000 acres • Cumulative acres protected in Canada: 39,700 acres • Cumulative acres protected in Central America,South America, Mexico and the Caribbean: 83,464,000 acres • Cumulative acres protected in the Asia-Pacific region: 18,393,000 • Current number of Conservancy preserves: about 1,400 • Conservancy members: approximately 1 million

21. Natural Resource Defense Council • NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the support of more than 1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. Worth Magazine has named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities, and Charity Navigator has given NRDC four stars (out of a possible four). Click here to read more expert opinions about NRDC.

22. Greenpeace • Greenpeace began in 1971, when a handful of determined activists departed for Amchitka Island, Alaska to protest U.S. nuclear weapons testing in the area. The crew of 11 men leased a fishing vessel, the Phyllis Cormack, and set sail from Vancouver through the cold North Pacific waters. Their goal was to "bear witness" to the devastating activity. The notion of bearing witness involves going to the scene of an objectionable activity and registering opposition to it, simply by being present there. The aging, 80-foot boat never reached the site of the test, but the activists brought worldwide attention to nuclear testing and its dangers. Shortly after the voyage, the team named themselves "Greenpeace."

23. Civic Groups • Keep Denton Beautiful • Citizens for Healthy Growth

24. Citizens • Lois Gibbs – organized victims of Love Canal • Rachel Carson – inspired modern environmental movement • Emma Must – Fought British Road Building at Twyford Down and beyond

25. Different Agendas • Each of these groups have an agenda or priorities • Each use very persuasive arguments • The result? • Genuine Concern, Greenwash, No problem here and environmentalists • Information • Misinformation

26. What can you do??? • Pay attention to local issues • Read (from several sources) • Travel! • Think more carefully about consumption • Think critically • Don’t be a push-over – baloney detection • Get involved!

28. What should I do? • Inform you about today’s environmental concerns in a relatively unbiased manner • Discuss scientific methods of measuring or responding to these concerns • Discuss how to become more involved in your environment

29. Finally – What is a tree hugger? • Story of Martyr Amrita Devi