Environmental Science & Treehuggers

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Environmental Science Treehuggers

• September 2, 2004

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Terms

• Environment
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Issues
• Environmental Scientists
• Environmentalists
• Environmental Organizations
• Green Wash
• Treehugger

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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
  ones 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.

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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

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(No Transcript)
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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

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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

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Whats 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

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Government Agencies

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

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Local Municipalities

• City of Denton
• Municipal Electric
• Landfill
• Water Treatment Plant
• Wastewater treatment plant

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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
• Wallers Clams
• Fathead minnows
• Biodiversity and erosion in buffer zones
• Affect of habitat fragmentation on migratory birds

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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.

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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 worlds best-selling
  herbicide, and other herbicides, which can be
  combined with our seeds and traits to offer
  farmers integrated solutions. Through our
  Holdens/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.

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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.

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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.) 

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• 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

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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

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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.

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Not-for-profit organizations

• Sierra Club Get outdoors and get involved!
• The Nature Conservancy
• The Natural Resource Defense Council
• Greenpeace

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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

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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.

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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."

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Civic Groups

• Keep Denton Beautiful
• Citizens for Healthy Growth

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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

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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

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What can you do???

• Pay attention to local issues
• Read (from several sources)
• Travel!
• Think more carefully about consumption
• Think critically
• Dont be a push-over baloney detection
• Get involved!

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(No Transcript)
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What should I do?

• Inform you about todays 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

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Finally What is a tree hugger?

• Story of Martyr Amrita Devi