TED Talk: Garbage Island

Did you know....that there is a floating island of garbage in the middle of the Pacific Ocean TWICE the size of Texas??

“Researchers believe this enormous trash zone accumulated over many years from trash being dumped off boats and ocean-going ships, and from trash accumulated on beaches, where it eventually washed in the Pacific Ocean and into the huge zone.” - CNN.com

The accumulation of rubbish stretching from California, Pacific Islands to Eastern Asia is brought to this isolated ocean patch in the Pacific through the wave currents. 80% percent of the trash originates on land from all areas of the world! So what are the facts?

• 90% of all trash floating in the world's oceans is plastic
• About 10% of more than 200 billion pounds of plastic the world produces each day ends up in ocean
• In fact every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic

The main problem with plastic - it does NOT biodegrade! which means that no natural process can break it down! [watch the video "Story of the bottled water" on my previous post to see how we are currently consuming and producing more plastic bottles every day].

What are the implications of all these plastics floating in the ocean?

• Albatrosses - constantly mistaken all kind of plastic as food. Resulting in 200 out of the 500,000 chicks died every year by consuming plastic given by their parents
• Large chunks of plastic found inside hundreds and thousands of dead birds!
• Small fish in the ocean (like the dead Nemo seen in the video below) are eating these plastics - which raises the question - Are we also eating these little plastics inside the fish that we consume?
• In total, more than a million birds and marine mammals die each year by consuming or becoming caught in plastic and other debris in the ocean that we all produced.

So what can we do? - cleaning up the Garbage Patch that expands the area of a continent and extends 100 feet below ocean surface is simply IMPOSSIBLE. 

Changing our behaviour and lifestyle is our only hope.

• Paying attention to how much packaging involved in your purchase and don't forget to recycle!
• Support companies that support environmental protection and decisions to be green
• Lobbying large companies to find alternatives to plastic to a more environmentally-safe, reusable packaging 
• Educate others about the importance of recycling plastic and be more conscious in what you are dumping.

For us planners?

• Provide incentives to companies that are more environmentally-friendly
• Educate the public through green campaigns and eco-events [like in my "University of Auckland Eco-Fest 2011" previous blog post]
• Hold community volunteer days such as beach clean-up days
• Ensure effective recycling programs available to all cities and towns

These are just a few small, simple things that we could do. Planners and politicians hold a relatively high power in decision-making processes affecting our regions - therefore it is our responsibility to ensure that environment protection and sustainability are on top of our list!

"The food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink is all impacted by the environment and what we dump in it."

Auckland University Ecofest 2011 & Shark Finning in NZ

On the week starting Monday 16th May - Friday 20th May, AUSA at the University of Auckland celebrated EcoFest Week with various stalls, events and lectures held around campus. I went to have a look at the Ecofest week to see what they have to offer and I ended up learning quite a few things! So here is what I learnt from Ecofest:

• Vegan food isn't all  that bad! Free vegan lunches were available throughout the week and it was delicious
• It is possible to make your smoothie in a more sustainable way through a bicycle-powered smoothie maker. So yes. you can burn calories before you even drink your smoothie!
• Ways to save money at the flat! I learnt there are so many simple ways to maximise energy efficiency and water minimisation such as through wrapping  your hot water tank in blanket or installing rain water tanks at your house
• It is possible to go rubbish free for one whole year at your house! A couple in Christchurch has successfully done this - I will further discussed this in my next blog.
• I even signed up for a petition and emailing list on an issue that I never knew about - Shark finning in New Zealand. This will be the main issue in this post:

Did you know..that humans kill 100 MILLION sharks per year? and for what?

• shark fins for a tasteless bowl of soup
• shark teeth for jewelry
• shark jaws for tourist souvenirs
• shark skin for leather wallets/belts
• shark cartilage capsules and powders for phony medicinal cures
• shark liver oil for cosmetics/skin care products

With the movie Jaws and other Hollywood blockbusters,sharks are one of the world's most misrepresented creatures. With 90% of the world's large shark populations already wiped out - they're in trouble of being lost from our oceans forever.

So why is finning still allowed in NZ?

NZ has 112 species of shark recorded in our waters but according to World Conservation Union (IUCN) - only one threatened shark species - The Great White Shark is protected. On average 24,000 tonnes of shark are caught each year in NZ according to Ministry of Fisheries - the equivalent of 300,000 people. 

What can you do?

• Join 7000 other New Zealanders and make the shark fin pledge here: https://secure.forestandbird.org.nz/pledge/sharkspledge.asp
• Never eat and vocally oppose to shark fin soups selling in restaurants - a local example is the Grand Harbour Chinese Restaurant in Auckland's Viaduct! Demand that they stop.
• Educate others the importance of sharks to the ecosystem
• Watch the award-winning documentary Sharkwater and encourage others
• Develop new perspective of sharks!

Myth : Sharks are bloodthirsty man-eaters and ruthless killing  machines (as seen in Hollywood movies)

Reality: More people are killed each year by falling vending machines than by sharks

More info : http://www.seashepherd.org/sharks/

http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/save-our-sharks

Australian cities and Koala in danger?

Reading the newspapers daily, I have noticed recently how many more articles about the visible impacts on climate change around the world have increasingly published. The impacts of climate change towards Australian cities are seen worldwide due to the extreme weather patterns resulting in bushfires and floods affecting people and the wildlife.

"Rising oceans a threat to Aussie cities" - NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10727607

We all know the main direct impact of global warming is the rising sea level worldwide. The close proximity of Australia to the Antarctica's melting glaciers caused extreme flooding to Australian main cities such as the recent flood in Brisbane/Queensland area. The changing climate in Australia with more frequent extreme bushfire weather and increased flooding along their coasts resulted in the new Climate Change Commission report that states:

"There is no longer any doubt that human activities and emissions are primary villain driving climate change"

Brisbane Flood, January 2011

Victorian Bushfires in Black Saturday, 2009

The rising sea levels is at a faster rate over the past two decades threatening Sydney, Melbourne and could make "once-in-a century disasters an annual crisis by 2100". Planners and politicians in Australia and worldwide need to immediately and effectively address this global issue which would affect human health, agriculture, tourism, biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

"Koala numbers drop 80%" - NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10728038

It is quite upsetting knowing those cute peaceful little fluff animal that Australia is famous for could become extinct in just few decades if we don't take actions towards reducing the climate change. Australian scientists are calling for the koala to be declares an endangered species as the number that once stood at millions across Australia, now reduced to no more than 50,000-100,000. Koala have declined significantly in some places such as Gold Coast by as much as 80% in the past 10-15 years.

So what driving these cute little creatures to death?

Although direct human activities such as land clearing for urban development, industry and agriculture have destroyed their habitats and affect their declining population, human emissions driving global warming also play a significant role in endangering Koala population. 

Australia's long drought and the more extreme hotter and drier conditions pose a serious threat to mammals to adapt to resulting in:

"They [Koala] suffer heat stress and dehydration, so unless they get access to water they virtually drop out of trees"

Sam the Koala being rescued from dehydration in a bushfire site. Source: (Glen B., 2009)

The Earth has been warming at an average annual rate of 0.17C for the past 30 years and koalas are unable to cope with successive hot days of more than 30C therefore global warming would reduce koala population severely, even to the point of extinction.

As discussed in my previous post - Polar bears, Humpback whales, African elephants and now Koalas are in danger and they are struggling to survive in the extreme weather conditions posed by climate change - which is driven mainly by human emissions. What other unique, helpless animals need to be endangered and become extinct in order to wake world leaders and politicians up to realize that we need to make significant changes in our lifestyle to save Earth and its beautiful creatures and landscapes? Planners and politicians need to "decarbonise" economy and place policies for businesses and companies to reduce the amount of carbon emissions being released in to the environment and start living sustainably.

Ranui Earthsong Eco-neighbourhood in Auckland

Earthsong is the first eco-neighbourhood in New Zealand promoting sustainable living to local residents. Earthsong founders have a vision that is:

"Our vision is to establish a cohousing neighbourhood based on the principles of permaculture, that will serve as a model of a socially and environmentally sustainable community."

Earthsong has a close partnership and support from Waitakere City Council, signing a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003. The Council agreed to make a $300,000 interest-free loan in 2004 to build the Earthsong centre - which would benefit the people of Waitakere and the greater of Auckland region by "sharing our knowledge and experience of sustainable design and community empowerment with the public... through presentations and educational tours".

So what is sustainable about Earthsong's building designs?

• Passive Solar Design - buildings to be oriented and designed for maximisation of energy efficiency and natural climate control. Example, living areas face north for maximum sun in winter and easy sun control in summer, wool insulation in timber framed walls and roof to reduce heat loss in winter, and the rotary vent draws cool air through the house and allows warm air to escape in summer & also can be closed off in winter. All these measures will ensure energy efficiency in houses and help conserve environment!
•  Non-toxic materials are used for the construction of houses. Toxic materials that could harm the inhabitants or the environment were avoided - such as CCA-treated (tanalised) timber, VOC paints and most glues and sealants.
• Solar water heaters
• Rainwater collection
• Natural oils and paints

All these materials and designs contribute to low-energy and healthy houses - for both the inhabitants and the planet!

Main swales are planted with flowers - functions to absorb rainwater on site
Source: Earthsong Organisation, 2008

Large green public open space available throughout the neighbourhood - no cars allowed.
Source: Earthsong Organisation, 2010

What sustainable living practices residents do in Earthsong neighbourhood?

• co-ownership of facilities and tools such as the lawnmower and shared laundry help reduce housing costs for all  residents while enhance social inclusivity
• The organic vegetable coop shared by residents promote sustainable growing practices to children and families 
• Informal co-operation such as childcare and carpooling emphasize social cohesion among residents while also help maximize energy efficiency and convenience

Permaculture diversity - organic food garden for the use of residents
Source: Earthsong Organisation, 2006

Solar water heating installed on the roofs of all houses in Earthsong neighbourhood
Source: Earthsong Organisation, 2007

Earthsong Eco-neighbourhood in Ranui, Auckland can be a leading example to other nieghbourhoods throughout Auckland region and New Zealand to create a more self-sustaining community living in harmony with each other and with the surrounding environment. Planners in councils should look at Earthsong neigbourhood as a case study when planning other new neighbourhoods around the Auckland region.  

Source: Earthsong Organisation, 2010

Want to know more? www.earthsong.org.nz

Fun video! "The Story of Bottled Water" [2010]

This video produced by an organization called The Story of Stuff created by Annie Leonard dedicated to encourage community's involvement worldwide on a series of environmental, social and economic concerns to build a more sustainable and just world. I find this video to be very entertaining while also educational in learning about the reality shocks of how big companies earn their profits and the sacrifices suffered by our planet and our people out of sight from consumers. You should never regularly buy bottled water again!

Interested in their stuff? Go online to www.storyofstuff.org
Their online community includes over 150,000 activitists and hundreds of partners with environmental and social justice organizations. Their inspiring videos could increase global awareness on environmental issues and promote sustainable living! The accumulation of bottled water wastes are also significantly contributing to the creation of Garbage Island - which will be further discussed later in my blog. 

Earth [2007] Documentary Film

A couple of days ago, I watched the nature documentary film called Earth produced by BBC. It is the most breathtaking, but upsetting documentary film I have ever seen. It shows us the shocking, upsetting truth about the implications of climate change and what many beautiful, helpless creatures out there across the planet are suffering from the effects of global warming.The film follows 3 families in the Arctic and Antarctica within one year; Polar bears, Humpback whales and African elephants. The film shows us their desperate, long journeys that they are forced to take in order to survive in the changing, warmer Earth that is present today. 

What journeys they have to take? Here are the upsetting facts that global warming has on these beautiful species - with quotes at the end of the film:

• In the Arctic, the increasing temperature has melted more and more ice each year. By August, all the sea ice melted. This resulted in polar bears forced to swim for days to find solid sea ice. Many polar bears died of exhaustion and starvation every year from their struggle to survive after swimming for days around the ocean filled with broken/melted ice. 

"The polar bear has become an emblem for our planet & all other creatures that struggle to live alongside us. Of the global climate continues to warm out at its present rate, polar bears may be extinct in the wild by 2030"

• Elephants and many other creatures in African deserts are forced to make very long journeys for days in search for fresh water as the rising temperature has dried out more places in Africa. These journeys are life-threatening with risks such as exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, sand storms, and predators that younger creatures such as baby elephants are more in risk of.

"With global warming disrupting our planet's weather systems supplies of freshwater are becoming increasingly unpredictable"

• Humpback whales are forced to make a 6,400 km journey (half of the world journey from the equator line to the south pole - the longest migration of any marine mammal) south to the rich feeding grounds near Antarctica due to the rising ocean temperature provides less and less food for whales. 

"Rising ocean temperature have started to kill plankton on which humpback whales & most other sea life depend"

I very much recommend for you to see this second highest grossing nature documentaries of all time [behind March of the Penguins which I also plan to see]. I hope it leaves a deep mark on your life as it did to mine. 

"Finally we begun to understand how precarious is the state of our once lucky planet. If we are to go on sharing Earth with such a rich variety of life & presence its fragile balance for our own children, now more than ever.....          it is on our hands."

The film inspires me to take further action now as the present generation to live sustainably, start taking care of our planet and stop putting this apparent issue to the back of our minds - as what we are doing now are killing many helpless creatures out there to the point of extinction.Sustainable cities with sustainable lifestyles, living in harmony with nature are what planners worldwide should focus on.

"But it is not too late to make a difference."

www.loveearth.com

TreeHotel in Sweden vs TreeRestaurant in New Zealand

As I browse a social networking site, I stumbled upon this unique concept of a hotel in Sweden that a friend has mentioned to me. The Treehotel allows you to live among the trees and birds, in harmony with nature. The concept is based on respecting the natural environment and to minimise disruption in both physically and visually. Local, sustainable materials such as wood is used in constructing the hotel. The tree houses use freezer toilets that freeze waste for later removal and "cinderellas", which incinerate waste in internal combustion chamber. This plumbing system is proven efficient, “The incinerators are perfectly safe and very efficient... One person using it every day for a year would only produce one single cup of ash residue.” said Anette Selberg, the hotel's marketing director.

Here is the construction video and details of each tree house!

Would you want to stay here?

The Bird's Nest : Discreet windows are hidden with branches. Access is by a retractable staircase.

The Mirrorcube : the one that has made the most headlines. The mirror reflects surrounding trees and creates an almost 'invisible house'.
To prevent birds colliding the tree hotel, an infrared film, visible for birds only, will be laminated into the glass panes.  

Want to see more? http://www.treehotel.se/

New Zealand has a similar design concept found in the Redwoods Treehouse, which holds a restaurant on a tree located near Warkworth north of Auckland. Access to the Treehouse is provided by an elevated tree-top walkway. Parts of the walkway are built using redwood milled on site. The vertical fins and slats are built from sustainably grown pine and poplar. Due to the complicated legislation system created by the RMA (Resource Management Act) 1991, the treehouse is currently closed until a resource consent is granted. 

Want to see more?  www.yellowtreehouse.co.nz/

                             //weblogsurf.com/new-zealand%E2%80%99s-yellow-treehouse-restaurant/