Audubon's Environmental Book Club

New articles

2009-09-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Environmental Book Club!

Although we are no longer meeting, we did promise to keep in touch with articles and books of interest. Eugenia found 2 articles she thought you might like—one from Book Club favorite Michael Pollan, and one Projo article on Grist Magazine. And Charlotte just sent us a Discover article with a different take on honeybees and colony collapse disorder.

Michael Pollan: Big Food vs. Big Insurance
Brown grad honored for reporting ‘green’ news with humor
Buzz Off: colony collapse disorder

We hope you’ve enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to fall. If you come across a good environmental book to curl up with as the weather cools, please let us know!

Eugenia Marks & July Lewis

Technonatures

2009-05-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hi book club gang,

As I mentioned, we are going to pass on reviews/recommendations from book club members even though the book club is no longer meeting. Eugenia found a book that looks interesting: Technonatures, edited by Damian F. White and Chris Wilbert. Take a look and tell us what you think!

To post a comment, enter in the box below. Or, if the comment box is not displayed, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach

2009-05-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Dear book club members, here is the discussion of the final Environmental Book Club meeting. We've a had a wonderful 2 years and have learned so much from all of you! While we will not be meeting anymore, we would like to continue this blog and the email list. We invite you to email us at jlewis@asri.org with any environmental books/articles you've either read or are interested in reading, and we will email it to the group and post it on the blog. You can email a quick recommendation or a full review, whatever you like! Please do stay in touch, and thank you so much for being a part of the book club!

Eugenia & July

For the final meeting of the Audubon Environmental Book Club, we read Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach, a 1975 Utopian novel that was influential on the counterculture and green movements of the 1970s and beyond. This is the first time we have read fiction in the book club!

The premise is that sometime in the not-too distant future, Washington, Oregon and Northern California decide to break with the ecologically destructive culture of the rest of the United States. They secede from the union and found a new nation, Ecotopia. Ecotopia closes its borders and diplomatic relations with the U.S., and proceeds to recreate its industry, economy, political system and culture in a way that expresses many of the counter-cultural ideals that were prevalent when the book was written. The book is set about 20 years after the bitter secession, and is told from the point of view of an American reporter who is the first officially arranged visitor since then.

There was lots to talk about with this book! What we thought about the story, about the ideas, what's come true and what hasn't, what's still relevant and what seems humorously dated. While certain fashions and language and social ideas seemed quaint, much is still relevant today. Many aspects of this utopian vision were appealing--a twenty-hour workweek, free and efficient mass transit, and cities designed to be livable, pleasant and walkable where you can see the stars at night. The author imagines a society that has nearly eliminated pollution and come close to their ideal of a 'stable state' ecology, where they are not degrading natural systems. Much of this is due to engineering feats we have not acheived in reality--such as plastics made from plants which are completely durable when used and compostable when worn out. But some is due to simplification, recycling, composting, renewable energy and other methods which are available to us now. Much is due to massive state-imposed reforms, an idea that was not as appealing. Yet although the initial reforms were top-down, Ecotopia is imagined as being a society where most of the political power is held locally and where supportive bonds of community make up the fabric of life. This echoes sentiments expressed in Deep Economy by Bill McKibben, another book club read.

The author also imagines a society where emotions (the whole spectrum) are on full display, where everybody talks and processes their feelings in the open, which was seen as an expression of 1970s ideals of personal growth and 'letting it all hang out'. Their educational system emphasizes an unstructured approach where the students do hands-on work and pursure their own interests--these ideas that emerged in the 1960-70s have not become mainstream but there are several successful school models today (Montessori, the Met School) that incorporate these ideas. Ecotopia's ritual war games (groups of men fight with spears until blood is shed) are imagined as a sort of escape valve for humanity's violent urges, which seemed odd to many readers. Sex and gender and economy and politics.....all of these were reimagined in this book that was as fun to discuss as it was to read.

It's been a pleasure, everyone! Please stay in touch!

--July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

P.S. Do let us know what you thought of the book, and maybe share some thoughts and memories of the book club too by leaving a comment. If the comment box is not displayed below, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

A History of Oyster Aquaculture in RI

2009-04-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

For April we read "A History of Oyster Aquaculture in RI" by Michael Rice. We started out talking about oysters and shared oyster recipies and memories, then we moved on to the management of oysters in Rhode Island as described by the article. We were intrigued by colonial resource management--how in 1734 the practice of harvesting oysters for their shells alone (which were valuable for use in mortar) was outlawed because it was wasteful, and how they set laws to prevent overfishing.

The post-Revolutionary policy of issuing private harvest leases or grants of oyster banks was controversial at the time and has continued in one form or another to this day. We debated its merits (as a way to solve "Tragedy of the Commons") and the evolution of the RI system with its parade of different laws and commissions. We talked about the pollution that degraded the fishery, and how waters have improved since the passage of the Clean Water Act.

The author suggests that burdensome regulations promulgated the early 80s were an obstacle to the resurgence of aquaculture, and that 1996 revisions have improved the situation. Eugenia and Laura shared recollections of the lengthy Spatco/Moonstone Oyster lease application the author references. We delved more into pollution and discussed combined sewer overflows and other sources of nutrient pollution, one of the main problems currently facing the Narragansett Bay. We talked a lot about the history of our state, the legacy of industry and the impact on our waters today.

Next time: Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach! See sidebar for details. Happy Reading!

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

P.S. We love getting comments on this blog, so do let us know what you thought of the book! If the comment box is not displayed below, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

The Swamp by Michael Grunwald

2009-03-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Happy (almost) Spring! Last night as book club members left the Smithfield meeting, we were serenaded by spring peepers. Tomorrow it will be officially spring!

For March we discussed The Swamp by Michael Grunwald, a book about the Florida Everglades. The book takes readers on a journey from the region's geological origins to its current status as an embattled and altered but nationally treasured wetland. The author describes the history of the Seminole Wars, European settler dreams of draining the Everglades for agriculture, waves of land speculation, failed drainage projects, successful drainage projects, catastrophic floods and fires, eventual rampant development, and finally a massive political struggle to save and restore the Everglades, with the outcome still in question. We compared the book to Control of Nature by John McPhee, another book club read, and found similar themes of battling against nature.

One of the central paradoxes of the book is how human opinions of this region have varied so widely. Many reports (especially from early white settlers and soldiers) described the Everglades as a mosquito-infested hell on earth. Others saw it as a wastleland that needed only the application of human effort to "redeem" it and transform it into productive agricultural lands as God had clearly intended. As the Everglades were reduced and altered through drainage and development, more people began to describe the Everglades as a unique, sacred Eden of incredible beauty and diversity that human interference was destroying, not redeeming.

Book club members spoke of trying to understand why all these people saw the Everglades the way they did, of "getting into the heads" of people in the context of their time and situation. Members with connections to Florida (such as Eugenia, who spent part of her childhood there) shared their own experiences of the Everglades. In discussing the problems of runaway development and problematic drainage schemes, Alex said "it takes real foresight to make an infrastructure" and we agreed that foresight was not usually present in Florida's crazed land rushes. We discussed the underlying issue of population growth and its impacts on natural systems. We pondered the question, "are the Everglades saved?" and what 'saved' would mean. There is no question that they have been permanently altered. Much of the land is protected but there is no guarantee that the hydrology will be restored sufficiently to prevent further decline. We discussed competition for water in Florida, and Eugenia talked about current water management efforts in RI (see Take Action! in the sidebar for more). Finally, Karen reluctantly posed the question, "what if we spend billions of dollars on this restoration and then it all gets inundated by global warming?"

We love getting comments on this blog, so do let us know what you thought of the book! If the comment box is not displayed below, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

Next month we read essays on oyster aquaculture in RI, and for May we selected the 1975 utopian novel Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach. This is the first time we have selected a work of fiction! See sidebar for schedule. Happy reading!

July Lewis

Essays on Environmental Education

2009-02-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

At our February meetings we discussed two critiques of environmental education, plus an example of a lesson plan: Beyond Ecophobia, The Failure of Environmental Education (and how we can fix it), and How Watersheds Work. We were fortunate to have several experienced teachers and environmental educators attend book club this month, so we had very well-informed discussions!

In "Beyond Ecophobia", David Sobel argues that emphasizing dire environmental problems in environmental education causes children to disconnect from the natural world rather than connect to it. He also says that environmental education is sometimes plagued with "premature abstraction"--teaching too abstractly, too early. Both have the effect of causing "Ecophobia", a fear of ecological problems and the natural world. Sobel advocates an approach that lets children enjoy and explore nature, and that introduces concepts in accordance with developmental stages.

"The Failure of Environmental Education" by Daniel Blumstein and Charlie Saylan takes a very different approach. The authors start with the assumption that the purpose of environmental education is to get society to change its behavior and become sustainable. This has not been accomplished, they argue. The article recomends seven ways to improve environmental ed, including teaching critical thinking and testing to see if lessons have had an effect on behavior.

Sobel's article was well liked, and people agreed with his approach to environmental education. We discussed the value of teaching in an interactive, hands-on, age-appropriate way, and the harm of introducing huge environmental problems to young kids. We looked at the sample lesson plan, How Watersheds Work, and were amazed at how abstract this K-2 lesson plan was for such young children. We discussed how interactive nature play is sometimes challenging for teachers because of fears and liability--what if a child falls, what if they get a tick??? This turned into discussions of fearfulness in our society. Michael Moore's discussion of fear in the movie Bowling for Columbine was mentioned both nights (Moore was inspired by Barry Glassner's The Culture of Fear).

"The Failure of Environmental Education" provoked more debate. Is the purpose of environmental education to get kids to want to "save the environment" and make sustainable choices? Is it the role of the schools to teach morals? What about morals and ideals that not everyone agrees with, such as environmentalism? Some think it is inappropriate and some think it is essential and urgent. We all agreed with the authors on the importance of teaching critical thinking. We realized that there are several types of teaching that can all come under the umbrella of environmental education, including science, nature play and exploration, conservation and values and that different teachers and programs may emphasize different things.

We always encourage you to leave your own thoughts here! If the comment box is not displayed below, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

Next month we discuss The Swamp by Michael Grunwald, a book on the history of the Florida Everglades. If you've already picked up the book you'll know it's a fascinating read! See sidebar for schedule.

Happy Reading!

July Lewis

The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson

2009-01-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

This week we discussed a beautiful book by Rachel Carson: The Sense of Wonder. The text was originally written as a magazine article in the 1950's called "Help Your Child to Wonder". It describes the outdoor adventures she shared with her young nephew and speaks of the need for adults to nurture a child's sense of wonder about the natural world. She wanted to expand the article into a lavishly photo-illustrated book, and the project was completed by others after her death. There are at least two editions of the book, each with a different set of nature photographs.

Carson's touching stories of small moments of simple wonder--watching the waves and stars with her nephew, looking through a magnifying glass at nature's amazing complexities--prompted many similar stories in our discussion. We shared tales of being entranced by the stars, the northern lights, a walk in the woods, a thicket of ferns, and fossils found like treasure in a river bed. We talked of the adults who had shared their love of nature with us as children. We also spoke of the children we have shared our own sense of wonder with--sometimes successfully, sometimes not. We wondered if every child is innately fascinated by nature if they have positive experiences with it early on, or if some are just not very attuned to it.

We tried to define the sense of wonder for ourselves, and described a feeling of awe, or peace, or beauty; a spiritual feeling; a re-focusing; a sense that we are very small in a vast and amazing world. In contrast, people described rushing, stress, responsibility, and a task-oriented mindset as tending to steal away the sense of wonder. When someone asked if we ever felt that feeling of wonder from things that are human-made, people mentioned art, architechture, and music. Yet one participant said that even though a bridge is beautiful and amazing, and that she has no idea how such a thing is built, someone knows and she could find out too. For her, that reduces the sense of wonder. There seems to be something important about not knowing or being able to know; about the fact that no one knows how to make a mountain or create the intricate patterns of a turtle's shell, yet here they are. Perhaps in wonder we return to the childlike state where the world unfolds magically before us without our trying.

There were many other points and stories and digressions; I wish I could write about them all! Feel free to leave your own thoughts here. If the comment box is not displayed below, click where it says "0 comments" (or 1 comment, or whatever we have). Below the comment box, there is a drop-down box that says "comment as:" The easiest thing to do is select 'anonymous'--no more info needed. But if you have any of the accounts they list (Google, AIM, etc), select it and enter in the info requested. If you don't have one of the listed accounts, but do have a personal web page such as a profile on Facebook, you can select Name/URL. Type in your name and paste in the URL of your profile page or whatever web page you want to use.

That's it! Thanks to all who attended, it was a great discussion. For our February meeting we will discuss critiques of Environmental Education: Beyond Ecophobia by David Sobel, and The Failure of Environmental Education (and how we can fix it) by Daniel T. Blumstein and Charlie Saylan. We also provide a watershed lesson plan we found online as an example to discuss. Our March book is The Swamp by Michael Grunwald. See sidebar for schedule.

Happy reading!

July Lewis

Mother Nature's Sum by Matt Jenkins

2008-12-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

For our December meetings we discussed "Mother Nature's Sum", a Miller-McCune article by Matt Jenkins. The article describes efforts by scientists to determine the economic value of ecosystem services, including benefits like pollination, carbon sequestration, water filtration, and so on. It also explores the debate over the very idea of "putting a price on nature", which some see as harmful and morally bankrupt.

While the article quotes some vehement critics of the idea, members of our discussion did not express such deep opposition to it. There was some questioning as to whether focusing on the economics of nature would take away from the idea of moral or intrinsic value of nature. Yet many felt having a dollar figure to point to is an important tool in planning and economic discussions. "You need a number," said one member. "If you go to the table without a valuation, you have nothing." It was generally accepted as a good tool to allow economists and environmentalists to communicate.

But the article also discussed the policy implications for valuing economic services, and focused a lot on the idea of payments for ecosystem services--essentially paying landowners NOT to do destructive things to their land. A few current examples were given, such as programs in the U.S. and other countries that pay farmers not to farm poor, erodible land or important wetlands. The article also mentioned the idea of coming up with some kind of cap and trade system for ecosystem services. This seemed a little muddier. How would that work and who would pay? We wondered why the author didn't talk more about taxes and fines based on ecosystems values, rather than just payments, which could easily be abused. We discussed when it might be appropriate policy to use payments, and when to use taxes and when to simply outlaw environmentally damaging behavior.

The article and the research it explored was interesting and provided a lot of food for thought. For follow-up reading, check out the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics headed by Robert Costanza, which was referred to in the article. I tried in vain to find a website for Mark Sagoff, one of environmental economics' strongest critics, but here's a sneak peek at one of his books: Price, Principle, and the Environment. Maybe we'll put this one on the list! Finally, for a local example of pricing the environment, check out the website for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative carbon cap-and-trade program of which Rhode Island is a participant.

We hope you will join us in January to discuss the book The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson. See sidebar for schedule. Enjoy the holidays, and have a wonderful New Year!

Yours,

July Lewis

Consuming Desires

2008-11-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

July Lewis was unable to attend book club this month, so Eugenia Marks wrote the summary. Thanks Eugenia!

At this month's book club we discussed Consuming Desires , edited by Roger Rosenblatt. The book is a collection of essays on consumerism and just why people in Western cultures buy so much stuff.

“It is not our responsibility to cut back so that other people can have our lifestyle. We led them into consumption,” contributed one reader. Upon discussion, the assertion was not changed. We talked about “led them into” meaning “showed them the way;” we pointed out one essay identifying human nature as wanting things better as a precursor to consumerism; we talked about the role of advertising. Group was divided as to whether advertising or human nature was the major factor in consumerism.

We talked about whether virtue of savings was a legacy of the Victorian era or came from the Depression. We noted that the virtue currently valued is not savings but a high credit rating, which ironically requires creating debt (and paying it off) to acquire a loan; an excellent record of savings and buying on savings is worthless in applying for a loan.

The notion of disposable income and disposable goods led to a discussion of loss of sense of purpose in our activities. Participants complained that lack of perspective and desire for immediate gratification, combined with velocity of acquisitions and brief communications, characterized those under 40. Some were concerned that TV and electronics are distancing or detaching young people from families. However, electronics permits awareness of each other, if not substantive communication, among family members.

Images of life as action-oriented presented by television was contrasted with the romantic escapism of movies of the 1930s. Both presented a vicarious desirable lifestyle connected to consumerism. “We have not progressed all that much.”

The easy access to money and rapidly transmitted information contributes to the problem of consumerism. Not enough real stuff, real experience, is available particularly for young. Computers represent simulation and fantasy.

On the subject of publishing, the loss of ideas as the basis for publishing a title was challenged by the idea that anything can be published on the internet. The lack of quality control of internet publishing, a lack of analysis—even short and sweet analysis, a loss of common knowledge were rebuttals.

Readers commented that no solutions to consumerism were offered in the book. There were commonalities of concern, but no solutions. One remarked that the introduction was extravagantly long and termed it “bafflegab.”

Assessing need as a basis for purchasing, understanding the culture of desire, and making personal decisions that consider the condition of the planet and its inhabitants may be answers. What solutions do you see?

Yours,

Eugenia Marks

Two perspectives on "the green economy"

2008-10-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hi book club members!

This month we read two perspectives on different aspects of the “green economy”. “Eco-Junk: Why Buying Less Is More Than Buying Green” by George Monbiot is a critical take on the idea that you can shop your way to sustainability. He argues that green trendiness and marketing is at odds with “the central demand of environmentalism: that we should consume less”. He states that “it is easy to picture a situation in which the whole world religiously buys green products, and its carbon emissions continue to soar.” We enjoyed his funny and sarcastic take on the excesses of the environmental elite, yet most of our time was spent discussing the other piece: “The Green Road to Economic Recovery” by Bracken Hendricks.

“The Green Road to Economic Recovery” is testimony that was presented to the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming of the US House of Representatives on September 18, 2008. It presents the case that public investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy is an essential part of an economic recovery program, and that money invested this way will create more jobs and economic stimulus than money spent on petroleum or household consumption. Then it lays out the specifics of such a program.

“Genius!” was one word used to describe the paper. It was seen by many as an exciting, convincing way to address problems of recession, energy dependence and global warming. Others were a bit more cautious, wondering if the plan could really produce such benefits and questioning what the role of government should be in developing the alternative energy industry. We noted that nuclear energy was not addressed in the plan, and guessed it was too controversial to touch. We referred back several times to the energy crisis of the 1970s, and recalled Jimmy Carter’s “Malaise Speech”. His message was generally seen as unpalatable to the American people, and we asked if Hendricks’ “can-do” message would be more inspiring. We noted that both presidential candidates are addressing global warming and energy independence in the debates.

Many were interested in following up on this testimony—who heard it and what became of it. Some information can be found on the committee’s website. On the page devoted to the hearing, they have great video clips of the follow up Q&A! It is interesting that the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 was passed 93-2 by congress several days after this testimony, on 9/23/08. (summary here)

If you are excited about this testimony and want more action, let your legislators know! Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt and type your zip code in the My Elected Officials box in the right sidebar.

Next time: Consuming Desires: Consumption, Culture, and the Pursuit of Happiness edited by Roger Rosenblatt. Check out the sidebar for the schedule. Happy Reading!

July Lewis

A Spring Without Bees by Michael Schacker

2008-09-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Our book for September was A Spring Without Bees by Michael Schacker. The book investigates Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a syndrome that has had a major impact on honeybees. Schacker describes how the loss of bees could be a disaster for food production, the economy, and even civilizaton itself. While U.S. media and government say that CCD is a mystery with no known cause, the author cites French studies that implicate the pesticide imidacloprid and other similar pesticides. These studies led to the pesticide being banned in France. He argues that U.S. research institutes and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are ignoring this evidence because they are dominated by the chemical industry. He then outlines a plan to save the bees, which includes a recommendation to switch to organic agriculture.

This book prompted an interesting book club discussion. Many of our members enjoyed this book and liked the engaging writing style, and appreciated knowing more about this issue. Few of us had heard of the CCD/imidacloprid link, and most found it quite plausible that chemical companies were using their influence to suppress the French research and focus attention on other possible causes. There was a general appreciation for the author's promotion of organic methods, and many pleasant digressions into the topics of gardening and honey and beekeeping.

However, many people found Schacker's style to be too sensationalist. Some thought he exaggerated the threat, and overemphasized or misrepresented evidence that supported his argument and glossed over anything that didn't. Others noted that he seemed to rely on a very few studies, mention them repetetively, and treat their conclusions as fact. Some thought that sensationalist writing wasn't necessarily a bad thing, and that it might be necessary to get people to engage with the issue and pay attention. Still others criticized Schacker's expansion beyond the issue of CCD, and felt he was overreaching in his proposals to completely convert U.S. agriculture to organic methods. We brought up the large-scale organic farms talked about in Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and commented that it didn't seem as ideal as Schacker envisioned. All in all it was an imperfect but interesting read that raised our awareness of an issue many of us knew little about.

We selected the book for November (see sidebar) but wanted to get ideas for more positive environmental books. So please, we would appreciate your recommendation of environmental books with a positive or solution oriented emphasis. Send them to jlewis@asri.org. Any and all recommendations are welcome. Thanks!

Next up: "The Green Road to Economic Recovery" by Bracken Hendricks and “Eco-Junk: Why Buying Less Is More Than Buying Green” by George Monbiot. See sidebar for schedule.

Happy Reading!

July Lewis

"Why Mow" and "Turf War"

2008-08-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

We enjoyed a nice summertime discussion this week on two articles about the Great American Lawn--“Turf War” by Elizabeth Kolbert and “Why Mow?” by Michael Pollan. We found the cultural history of the lawn very interesting…how lawns originally only belonged to the gentry in Europe (mostly England), but in the U.S., with improvements in irrigation and the invention of the lawn mower, lawns became an essential part of a uniquely American approach to landscape gardening. Pollan and Kolbert make much of the symbolism of the lawn—the democratizing influence of a carpet of green that connects neighborhoods, the monoculture that reflects the conformity of suburban life, the tightly controlled landscape that perhaps reflects our relationship to nature. They also discussed the environmental impacts of fertilizers, pesticides, and water use.

We all had plenty of our own lawn experiences to share, from childhood recollections of flower-filled lawns and lying on soft grass, to adult debates on how to break free of the dominance of the lawn. We all acknowledged a lawn’s usefulness as a playing space, and generally agreed that there was no need to apply all kinds of fertilizer, pesticides and water. Many people described slowly converting lawn space over the years to borders, flower beds, trees, wild meadows and vegetable gardens. The word “reclaiming” was used for this process more than once, perhaps reflecting the idea that a lawn often doesn’t feel like it’s ours. Usually it was the developer who decided to put down turf because it was the easiest, cheapest, quickest thing to do. Planting a garden can feel like reclaiming something that was supposed to be yours in the first place, and making your own choices about beauty and usefulness in your own home.

Have something to say about lawns? Click where it says the number of comments at the bottom of this post, below the signature.

Next reading is also about something you can find in your backyard—bees! Check out the schedule in the sidebar.

Happy Reading!

July Lewis

The Control of Nature by John McPhee

2008-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

For the month of July we discussed The Control of Nature by John McPhee. The book details three places in the world where people have been engaged in “all-out battles with nature”: the Mississippi, where the Army Corps of Engineers is tasked with preventing the river from diverting course to the Atchafalaya; Heimay, Iceland, where residents fought to control the flow of lava from a newly erupted volcano; and Los Angeles, where engineers attempt to control recurring debris flows that destroy houses built on the mountains.

People were fascinated by the details we never knew about—in some places in New Orleans, the land has settled so much (because soft sediments are not being replenished by regular floods) and the levees have been built so high, that you can be on the street and see a ship pass on the river overhead, like an elevated highway. The battles often seemed absurd—turning hoses on flowing lava to get it to stop, digging giant basins to catch mudslides but continuing to build in mudslide-prone areas. The author didn’t seem to take a stand or have a point to drive home. It was left to the readers to come to their own conclusions.

So what were our conclusions? Humans alter and control our environment, and this book was about the frontiers of that control, the edge of what is possible or reasonable. There was discussion of the idea that we shouldn’t be in those marginal places, and that they are examples of human hubris. We discussed the idea that people will build in unsuitable places if they feel that insurance or government will protect them, and is that a good idea? The Iceland story seemed different—more a heroic community response to a disaster, than an ongoing exercise in folly. We debated just how foolish some of these battles were, especially in the Mississippi—it seems insane, but then to let the river take its course would be so costly and destructive, maybe it’s the right thing to do after all. We talked about the very concept of control of nature. Some felt that attempting to control nature is wrong and impossible, and that nature will strike back and win. Others objected to viewing humans and nature as separate and oppositional—and nature as personified thing with a psyche and a will. They argued that humans are a part of nature. What do you think? Click on "comments" below to let us know!

An interesting read that let us look in on situations many of us knew nothing about. Next time we will be discussing something that most of us are familiar with: lawns! A timely summer topic. We will read the "Turf Wars" by Elizabeth Kolbert and "Why Mow?" by Michael Pollan. See sidebar for the schedule.

Happy Reading!

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

Polar Bears, Endangered Species Act, and Climate Change

2008-06-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

The readings we discussed this week were on polar bears and the recent listing of the polar bear as ‘threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) . The polar bear was listed because it is dependent upon sea ice, which is melting due to global warming. However, US Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, is taking “administrative and regulatory action” to try to prevent the ESA from being used to make global warming policies.

We spent a long time trying to puzzle out some of the implications. Questions that came up and some answers:

Q: What exactly does the Endangered Species Act do?

A: Biologists with either US Fish & Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries propose species to be listed, and once through Administration hoops, there is a public comment period listed in the Federal Register to list the species as “threatened” or “endangered.” In short, it is illegal to “take” (kill, harm, wound, etc.) endangered species. US F&WS and NOAA are required to create a Recovery Plan for each species on the list and define “critical habitat” (habitat essential to conservation of the species). Federal agencies are prohibited from authorizing, funding or carrying out actions that destroy or degrade critical habitats. (Exceptions apply…)

Most of the effect is through the permitting process for projects and development. If a road, house, dam, etc., will significantly affect an endangered species or its habitat, permit can be withheld. Click here for a more complete explanation of the Act.

Q: Kempthorne is proposing a 4(d) rule that says if an act is “permissible under the stricter standards of the Marine Mammal Protection Act”, it will be allowed under the ESA for the polar bear. So…
What is a 4(d) rule?
A: Section 4(d) of the ESA allows for special regulations for threatened (not endangered) species. This is intended to make the ESA more flexible, and these regulations may either increase or decrease the ESA’s normal protections.

What is “stricter”?
A: We thought that by “stricter”, Kempthorne meant that the Marine Mammal Protection Act was more protective than the ESA…but after doing some research, it seems the opposite. We came to believe he was using intentionally misleading speech, and that he really meant the marine Mammal Protection Act was more limited, narrower. We are not lawyers, so we can’t be sure...we think that was his intention.

Are polar bears considered marine mammals?
A. Yes, polar bears are regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but they along with walruses, sea otters and manatees, are under the authority of Dept. of Interior (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service), whereas most marine animals come under authority of Dept. of Commerce (NOAA) . So Polar Bears are now protected under both ESA and MMPA.

So the question is: is it appropriate to use the ESA to create climate change policy? While we all support action on climate change, there was some sympathy for the idea that the ESA is really not the best tool, as it is more suited to permit-by-permit actions. It might not be fair to single out specific developments, nor reasonable to claim that a particular development will cause polar bears to die. However, many people felt that we should use any legal hammer we have available to us, since our government seems unwilling to create a more comprehensive policy. In California, Jerry Brown is using the California Environmental Quality Act to sue local municipalities over land use plans that do nothing to reduce driving and the car-dependent lifestyle. We handed out an article about cultural conflicts over the Endangered Species Act as well.

We talked about the fact that the polar bear is an ideal poster child for stopping global warming…how we are biologically programmed to respond to furry creatures, and that almost every child has seen a polar bear at the zoo, and they seem so cute and cuddly in photos. The irony is that they are one of the most fearsome predators on land, and very intelligent and dangerous. We also touched on why there has been so much discussion of the threat to polar bears, and so little of actual countries that could disappear due to rising sea levels—such as many island nations in the South Pacific. We talked about the cost-benefit analysis of various types of action on climate change…and Stephanie forwarded an article that gives more info on this.

Finally, we talked about signs of hope…the strong sense that momentum is growing to fight global warming, both personally and politically…that vehicle miles traveled in the US have actually been dropping since November (due to high gas prices, but still)…and that Rhode Island farmers can barely keep up with the increased demand for local food. See the Take Action! section on the sidebar if you want to step up the fight against global warming!

OK, I've gone on long enough...let us know what you think by adding a comment! Just click where it says "comments" below this message. See you next time, and happy reading!

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

Sippewissett by Tim Travers

2008-05-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I’d say Sippewissett was a favorite! Many people really enjoyed Tim Traver’s poetic book on his well-loved salt marsh summer home, and even wanted to read it again. The writing was very appealing, and many wrote down some of their favorite quotes or turned back the corner of a page to mark especially moving passages. The mix of science, history, memoir, poetry and philosophy provided lots to talk about. We found it interesting that as much as he wanted to protect the marsh, he was not an advocate of untouched nature. He seemed to feel that nature, and home, was best experienced by getting your hands dirty and your feet wet, by immersing yourself in it and eating the clams and oysters you have pulled from it with your own fingers. We found similar themes in past readings like Last Child in the Woods. This bought up the question, how do you love nature and enjoy it without destroying it? The answer seemed to be in the concept of stewardship, of knowing a place well enough to know where that shifting line is.

As much as he discussed the biological ecology of the place, he also paid equal attention to the social ecology of this community. He resisted the increasing tide of privatization that had landowners putting up McMansions and fencing off the traditional paths and right-of-ways that the neighborhood all used. Spirituality was another theme that ran through the book, and we discussed why nature writing is often concerned with spirit, and is that the same as religion? It was suggested that both religious and non-religious people can feel awe and inspiration from the wonder of a salt marsh.

An excellent, thought-provoking read. See sidebar for June and July readings and meeting times.

Happy reading!

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks
Audubon Society of RI
401-949-5454

P.S. Now Audubon gift shops in Bristol and Smithfield have a 20% discount for all our Book Club selections! Just let them know you’re part of the Environmental Book Club to get the discount. Bristol is open 9-5 daily, and Smithfield is open 9-5 Monday through Friday, and 10-4 on Saturdays.

Welcome!

2008-05-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is the first blog entry for Audubon's Environmental Book Club. Check back here soon for more!

July Lewis