We Totally Love Scientists
We at OnEarth unapologetically extoll the virtues of sound science — data that help us see the world as it is, as distinct from how we might like it to be. We do so especially now, when a crazy 1,000-ring media circus so often obscures rather than enlightens us on critical issues. Thus the reemergent scourge of climate deniers, the rewriting of science textbooks, and general confusion about what science actually is and does. We, however, prefer to celebrate human passion and inquisitiveness, which lead us to a deeper understanding of the natural world. Our cover story, by Bruce Barcott , set in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, offers a fascinating blend of adventure and science. Fishing boats in these icy, turbulent waters venture out to catch shiploads of pollock, from which is made, among other things, your McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich. But in the course of catching pollock, these boats also capture other types of marine animals — unwanted fish, birds, and mammals that make up the collateral damage known as bycatch. Barcott went aboard such a ship, the Pacific Prince , to see biologist Monica Brennan at work. She is one of hundreds of professional bycatch observers who go out to sea to count fish — in her case, pollock as well as bycatch such as king salmon, halibut, and other species. As these are netted and pulled from the frigid sea, Brennan, covered in rain gear and splattered with fish guts, painstakingly takes their measurements. The data she and others collect allow fishery managers and marine scientists to accurately assess the health of various fish populations and prevent their depletion. Contributing editor Tim Folger profiles another seeker of data, retired probation officer and amateur scientist Dave Bertelsen, who has hiked the same 10-mile trail through Arizona’s Sonoran Desert an astonishing 1,270 times during the past three decades. On those treks he jotted down 195,000 observations concerning hundreds of species of local plants and animals: there another curved-bill thrasher or Gambel’s quail, here a bloated saguaro or blooming ocotillo. His meticulously recorded trove is being mined by a team of scientists at the University of Arizona in Tucson to better understand the impact of climate change on the desert — a landscape seemingly immutable, yet surprisingly fragile and changeable. We are more than ever awash in data, especially digital information. How much power, we wondered, is required to store, retrieve, and transport these countless terabytes? And can this energy be generated in a cleaner, more efficient way? This question is explored by contributing editor Alan Burdick , who transforms himself into the Synthesist — that’s the name of his new column, which will appear in every issue (and monthly at onearth.org) — to examine intriguing intersections of culture, technology, and the environment. Enjoy our feast of data. Used wisely, may it benefit us all, whether creatures of the air, land, or sea.
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We Totally Love Scientists
Casinos Doing Their Part For The Environment
When we visit a casino, we are all interested in earning ourselves a little “green”. I would wager, however, that very few of us have stopped to consider whether the casinos we frequent are doing anything to help keep the planet green and healthy. Casinos, like all other businesses, need to consider more environmentally friendly methods of doing business. Not only is going green good public relations, in many instances, adherence to environmentally sound business practices can also be mandated by the government. Larger casinos can make a big difference by switching over to energy efficient lighting. They can work hard to recycle materials that can be re-used and generally work to follow the growing trend towards using earth-friendly products in their facilities. Of course, casinos such as Caesars online have a bit of an advantage over the traditional, on-location gambling institutions. The world-wide-web allows them to operate in a virtual environment.
And while they must do all they can to rid their cyber-environment of “pollutants” such as computer viruses, spyware, adware and other ills, they really don’t have to worry very much about producing waste products and how to dispose of those as a land based casino might. Still, it is in the best interest of all businesses, including those involved in the gambling industry, to promote environmental awareness among their employees and customers. Online casinos as well as their off-line casino counterparts can be a big influence on consumers and set an example for their competition in their manner of doing business. Large and small, on-line and off, all casinos can step up and become leaders in the green movement, helping to promote it by funding environmental projects as well as by operating in a planet-friendly manner. By doing this, they’ll be enabling us to enjoy winning our green even as we appreciate their efforts at keeping the planet green, too.
Green Offices
Office environments and the quality of those environments has brought about more awareness of green cleaning techniques and the products that are used.
Many of the office cleaning services have done away with traditional toxic chemicals, in favor of more environmentally friendly products that make life in the office a happier and healthier experience.
Indoor air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, can be anywhere from two to five times more harmful than the outside air we breathe.
With the use of modern day green approaches to cleaning, such as vacuum filters, micro fiber cloths and non toxic cleaners, the workplace can be a much productive environment.