Assignment #2 (Water in the United States)

Introduction

Quote: "The United States can be considered largely water rich relative to many other countries, and its citizens enjoy near universal access to safe water and sanitation." Pg. 4

Comment: I think, as a US citizen, we are very lucky of how easily we have access to water. We have access to it at home, school and work. It is everywhere and we have access to it very easily, compared to other places in the world. I think sometimes people take this for granted because most people in the US have never had the experience of having to walk miles to go get water, which sometimes is polluted. Most of us just walk anywhere and there is water.

Connection: When I read the quote I chose, it made me think about the part of the Blue Gold: World Water Wars movie where it talked about the Ryan's foundation and how in Kenya they had to walk to the rivers to get water, which was sometimes polluted. Like Ryan said in the movie, here it takes us about 10 steps to get to the water fountain while in other parts of the world people have to walk about 10,000 steps in order to get water. Some people die because they don't have water. We are so lucky to enjoy "near universal access to safe water and sanitation," compared to many other countries in the world. 

Question: What are some US communities that continue to face systemic violations of this human right?

Violations of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation

Quote: "Arsenic is another threat to water quality, particularly in small communities that rely on groundwater as their main source of drinking water. Approximately 1.1 million people in the United States are affected by arsenic contamination. Of the estimated 1,000 water systems affected, 914 are unable to afford the costs of mitigation efforts to meet the arsenic standard." Pg. 6

Comment: I think it is unfair how these small communities are exposed to contaminated water and more than half of them are unable to afford the costs of reducing this contamination. Like it said earlier in the article, "Once water is contaminated, it is more expensive to treat to safe drinking water standards." But it is unfair how those people are having to pay more even though they weren't the ones who contaminated the water. I think the government should do something about it because so far they are violating the United States' obligations to protect and fulfill the human right to safe water and  like the article said, "all U.S. communities should have equivalent standards."

Connection: When I read about Arsenic I thought about the article we read in the Soil and Agriculture Exam and how there was Arsenic in rice. As it said in the article from the exam, arsenic is really bad for you and can cause cancer. In the article it said to try to reduce the amount of rice you ate in order to reduce health problems that could be caused by arsenic because there was some arsenic in it and this is probably the same thing for water, people shouldn't consume a lot of water that is contaminated with arsenic or else they will have health issues due to the arsenic in their bodies. 

Questions: Has the US done anything to help those 914 water systems that are unable to afford the costs of mitigation efforts? 

Other than causing cancer, what are other consequences of being exposed to too much arsenic?

How much would it cost to reduce arsenic levels in the highly arsenic contaminated areas? 

Vulnerable Populations and Discrimination

Quote: "About 40 percent of the Navajo Nation lacks piped water service and has to spend two hours a day hauling water to their homes. According to a 2006 study, the total economic cost of hauling water was $113 per 1,000 gallons, compared to the $3.50 on average that residents with piped service paid for the same amount of water from the tap. Nearly 70,000 Navajo live without water infrastructure and sometimes resort to non-potable water sources." Pg. 6

Comment: When I read this quote, it really struck to me the big difference between what the cost of hauling water was compared to the what residents pay for water from the tap. The total economic cost of hauling water is $113 per 1,000 gallons while residents with piped service pay only $3.50 for the exact amount of water, that is a difference of $109.50, which makes a huge difference to people who have low-income and can't really afford to spend that much money. Also, nearly 70,000 Navajo live without water infrastructure and have to resort to non-potable water sources, which can then lead to diseases, which can then increase health costs. It is unfair how minorities including Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans, "all disproportionately lack access to complete plumbing facilities."   

Connection: When I read this section and about how "access to affordable water is inadequate on many Native American reservations," it made me think about some towns in Mexico. There are towns in Mexico that have no water systems so the people that live in those towns have to buy water from nearby towns but this costs a lot more. First of they are charged more money because they are not from the town that has the water and second of all they need to pay for transportation to get all that water to where they live. 

Questions: Why isn't extra help provided to the minorities that have limited access to water? 

Why isn't much of this talked about in the news? 

U.S. Foreign Aid and U.S. Engagement in International Financial Institutions & 

Conclusion: Implementing a National Plan of Action on the Right to Water and Sanitation in the United States

Quote: "...the right to water should be applied holistically by factoring it into policies that affect water quality, including agriculture, chemical use in products and energy production. Putting human rights at the center of national planning and policy will help ensure that basic needs and ecosystem protections are prioritized when balancing competing demands on water." Pg. 8

Comment: I agree with what the UN Special Rapporteur recommended. I think it it is very important to put human rights in the center of national planning and policy because this way the US government would "respect, protect and fulfill the human right to water and sanitation in the United States." Water is a human right that shouldn't be denied to anyone even if they are a minority or are homeless. Water should be clean and have no major contaminants so that people don't get sick. 

Connection: As I was reading this, it made me think back to the  Blue Gold: World Water Wars movie and how many different people kept repeating the phrase, "Water is a human right." Someone in the movie also said, "We are all owners of water and air..." Another person said, "Water is a human right that should not be denied to anyone who is enable to pay for it." Another person said, "If money is more important than water, then where are we?" I agree with all of these people because water is a human right and shouldn't be denied to anyone. For most of US citizens we are given this right and have access to water but we still need to make sure that certain minorities as well as homeless people have the same right. We need to make sure that money isn't a boundary to get water. Water is a human right, and therefore should not be denied to any human.  

Question: Are there any plans for projects that improve the human right of water to minorities?

Source: http://www.blueplanetproject.net/documents/RTW/RTW-US-1.pdf

Blue Gold: World Water Wars Assignment #1

Assignment #1

1. What fresh water sources are around you (home, school, work)?

The fresh water sources around me are Chollas Creek and Paleta Creek, which are part of the Pueblo watershed but since it is the smallest one it doesn't have its own reservoir. So probably some of my fresh water also comes from El Capitan Reservoir, which is part of the San Diego River watershed.

2. What watershed are you in?

I am in the Pueblo Watershed. This watershed covers Lemon Grove, La Mesa, National City, downtown San Diego and Point Loma. So it covers where I live and where I go to school. The Pueblo San Diego watershed is the smallest in San Diego County. The population of the Pueblo San Diego watershed is approximately 500,000 residents, making it the county’s most densely populated watershed.  Approximately 75% of the watershed is developed. The major water bodies of the Pueblo Watershed are Chollas Creek, Paleta Creek, and San Diego Bay.

Source: http://www.projectcleanwater.org/html/ws_pueblo.html

3. Where does your tap water come from?

According to the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2011, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. The City of San Diego imports approximately 85% to 90% of its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) via the San Diego County Water Authority. Our water supply is a blend from the Colorado River, State Water Project (Northern California), and local sources. "About 10 to 15% of the City's drinking water supply is made up of runoff from local rainfall that is captured in our reservoirs." The City treats the water at three treatment plants: Alvarado, Miramar and Otay. "In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health." In 2011, our tap water met all state and federal drinking water health standards.

Source: http://www.sandiego.gov/water/quality/pdf/waterqual11.pdf

4. Where does your waste water (sewage) go?

Most of San Diego's waste water goes to the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant. "Opened in 1963, the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (PLWTP) treats approximately 175 million gallons of wastewater per day generated in a 450 square mile area by more than 2.2 million residents."

Source: http://www.sandiego.gov/mwwd/facilities/ptloma.shtml

Blog #3 (QQC)

"Beets in the Hood"

Quote: "Forget organic and locally grown food--in America's poorest urban neighborhoods, it's hard to find any affordable fruits and vegetables at all."

Questions: Why is organic food usually more expensive in poor neighborhoods? Why not make it more affordable for everyone especially poor people? Why doesn't more people do what Allen did? Why don't they take his secret? What were some challenges Allen faced when starting the farm?

Comment: I think it is unfair that poor neighborhoods like West Oakland has no supermarkets and instead has about 60 liquor stores. Poor people should have access to organic food in order to be healthier. Organic food shouldn't be a luxury but a required food in poor communities. I think there should be more people like Will Allen, who take initiative and do something great that benefits everyone. It is also amazing how he was able to make it affordable for even the poor people and still make a lot of profit.

"Michael Pollan fixes Dinner"

Quote: "Al Gore didn't talk about it at all; 25 to 33 percent of all climate change gases can be traced to the food system...I was also surprised that those diseases that we take for granted as what will kill us--heart disease, cancer, diabetes--were virtually unknown 150 years ago, before we began eating this way."

Questions: Which are those gases? How exactly is the food system implicated in climate change? Why don't we ever hear about this? How does the food system produce diseases?

Comment: We hear about global warming everywhere and about the greenhouse gases and how we are polluting the Earth but we never really hear how our food system is connected to climate change and how 25 to 33 percent of all climate change gases can be traced to our food system. Also, how all these diseases are showing up because of the way we eat. I think we should all be aware of how we are harming are planet and try to eat "mostly plants" as Michael Pollan would say. That is why there should be more people like Allen that make fruits and vegetables available and affordable for poor people.

"Veg-O-Might"

Quote: "'If you think of a vegan,' he says, 'you think of someone who is skinny and frail, who has issues. A tree hugger. Smells funny. I'm putting the breath of life back into people. I'm out to save lives.'"

Questions: Has Williams been able to make an impact on others? Are there more vegan bodybuilders out there now? What are the benefits of being vegan? Any consequences? 

Comment: I think it is great how Williams decided to be an example for others and use his fame as a way to promote being vegan. I think people should reduce the amounts of meat they eat, because some just over eat meat. For example, in the article it was saying how most bodybuilders when they are bulking up consume between 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day and most of their protein comes from all the meat they eat, which is a ridiculous amount. That doesn't only affect their health and body but it also affects our environment because the more the meat being consumed, the more animals that will have to be killed and processed. 

"This Little Piggy Goes Home"

Quote: "In 2007, just 14 plants killed 18.5 million cattle, more than half the country's total; that's a per-slaughterhouse average of 2.5 heads per minute, 24-7." 

Questions: Do we really need all that cattle to be killed? Where does all that meat go other than to supermarkets? How much time does it take for that meat to reach the supermarket after they have killed the cattle? Is any meat actually "fresh"? 

Comment: In my opinion, that is way too much cattle being killed. I don't think people should or even need to eat so much meat everyday, like bodybuilders, they should also try to reduce the amounts of meat they eat per day. If we all made an effort to eat less meat everyday we would reduce our impact on animal life and how much animals are being killed. We would also reduce are impact on the environment. 

Blog #2 (Practice for Soil and Agriculture Exam)

Scenario: You will be going to the garden this week to add compost to the soil. In late November, that soil will be bursting with crops ready for harvest. Imagine taking a cubic foot section of the soil and plants on the surface and inspecting from the visible down to the atomic level.
-What organisms would you find and what would they be doing?
-How would they be interacting with one another?
-What do you think the mineral context of the soil would look like?
-What would the benefits be of such soil composition?
-What are its limitations?

Some organisms you would find in the soil would be soil microbes, earthworms, vertebrates and invertebrates and many more that are too small too see. These microscopic organisms include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, which there are a couple of thousand in good soil. The common denominator of all soil is that every organism needs energy to survive and therefore each of these organisms found in soil would most likely be looking for ways to get energy. For most of these organisms, except a few bacteria, their way of getting the energy they need to sustain life is by eating something containing carbon. Carbon may come from waste products produced by other organisms, organic material supplied by plants, or the bodies of other organisms so there might be some organisms eating one another in order to get carbon. The most important thing of all soil life is obtaining carbon to fuel metabolism. It is an eat-and-be-eaten world in and on soil. 

If you were looking at a cubic foot of soil you would most likely be able to notice the rhizosphere, which is the area of interaction between the surface of a plant root and the area surrounding it. The rhizosphere is filled by bacteria and other microorganisms as well as soil debri. It contains a constantly changing mix of soil organisms, including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, and even larger organisms. All this life competes for the exudates , a substance that oozes out from plant pores, in the rhizosphere, or its water or mineral content. The rhizosphere is the site of root-nutrient absorption. Bigger microbes, like nematodes and protozoa, eat the bacteria and fungi, which are at the bottom of the soil food web, and anything they don't need is excreted as waste, which plant roots are able to absorb as nutrients. Soil bacteria and fungi are like small bags of fertilizer as they retain in their bodies nitrogen and other nutrients they gain from root exudates and other organic matter. The mineral content in this soil would be composed of clay, silt, and sand, which should all be balanced so that there is not too much of one or the other because then that would affect the plant roots. For example, if the soil had way too much sand then the water would just go through and the roots wouldn't have enough time to get water and if the soil had way too much clay then no water would get through at all. Soil with good structure tends to encourage water to penetrate deeply rather than run off so it greatly decreases erosion. Soil life provides the nutrients needed for plant life, and plants initiate and fuel the cycle by producing exudates. 

Blog #1 (What to plant?)

1. Carrots
    A. Carrots are vegetables.
    B. -Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which is very good for eyesight among other things.
        -Carrots are low on saturated fat and cholesterol.
        -They also have vitamin C, which is a water soluble anti-oxidant which helps body maintain healthy         teeth and gum. It also helps body protect from diseases and cancers
    C. Carrots need from 6 to 8 hours of sun per day and do well when grown from seed and during cooler seasons. Carrots germinate faster when the soil is moist and warm, up to three weeks.
    D. Carrots are mature at around 2 ½ months (10 weeks) and can be harvested whenever desired maturity is reached, which makes sense for the time scale of this semester, which is more than 2 ½ months.
    E. A 4 by 5 ft area will give about 10 carrots per week for 1 or 2 months. Each carrot seed should be 1 inch apart in lines in the soil that are 12 inches apart.
    F. The soil when planting carrots should be free of stones; carrots need deeply cultivated soil that they can push through. They do not need really rich soil.
        -The soil pH should be neutral (7).
        -N-P-K is 10-20-10
     G. You should water the carrots at least one inch per week and make sure to maintain moist soil. It would be better to overhead water by sprinkler.
     H. Lettuce, radishes, and onions are good companion plants for carrots.

2. Leaf Lettuce
    A. Lettuce is a vegetable.
    B. -Lettuce is low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol.
        -It contains vitamin A, which is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and is also essential for vision.
        -It is rich in vitamin K, which has potential role in the increase of bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bone. It has established role in Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
        -It also contains vitamin C, which helps our body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
     C. Lettuce needs about 6 to 8 hours of sun per day and do well when grown from seed. Lettuce is a cool-weather vegetable that thrives when the average daily temperature is between 60 and 70°F. It should be planted in early spring or late summer. It takes lettuce about 1 to 2 weeks to germinate.
      D. It takes about 12 weeks for lettuce to grow enough to be harvested. It makes sense to plant it in our garden during this semester because we will have time to harvest it before the semester is over.
      E. A 4 by 5ft area will give about one bunch per week.
          -The lettuce seeds should be planted three inches apart from each other.
      F. Lettuce can be grown in a wide range of soils. Loose, fertile, sandy loam soils, well-supplied with organic matter, are best. The soil should be well-drained and moist but not soggy.
          - Lettuce prefers a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5
          - N-P-K is 30-10-10
      G. The soil should be well-drained and moist but not soggy and try to keep the leaves from getting wet by using soaker line. Water only at the base.
       H. Radish, beans, and carrots are good companion plants for leaf lettuce. You should avoid celery, cabbage, cress, and parsley.


3. Spinach 
    A. Spinach is a vegetable.
    B. -Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin A, which is very good for eyesight among other things.
        -Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin C, which helps our body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
        -Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a role in certain conditions related to aging.
        -Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin K, which has potential role in the increase of bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bone.
        -Spinach is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol.
    C. Spinach is a cool-season crop. Spinach needs about 6 to 8 hours of sun per day and do well when grown from seed. Seed germination for growing spinach is 10-14 days. Keep soil moist to speed germination and encourage quick growth.
    D. It takes about 45-60 days to harvest Spinach, which gives us enough time to harvest spinach before the semester is over.
    E. A 4 by 5 ft area will give you a bag of spinach per week during the harvest season. Spinach seeds should be planted 2 inches apart from each other.
    F. Spinach prefer growing in light sandy soil because this type of soil drains well.Adding a layer of mulch around your spinach helps retain moisture during hot dry weather.
        -The spinach prefers soil with a neutral pH but not overly rich in nitrogen
    G. Water spinach 1 inch per week and an additional 1/2 inch per week if the the weather is really hot.
    H. Peas and beans are good companion plants for spinach because it provides natural shade for the spinach.