Global Environmental Brigades at UC San Diego visited Panama for their very first brigade to assist the indigenous Kuna people install photovoltaic panels onto one of their main buildings where they hold congressional meetings. This project allows the Kunas to not rely on unsustainable power sources such as batteries or diesel-powered generators for their electricical needs, while at the same time significantly reducing the amount of toxic pollutants - such as lead, cadmium, carbon monoxide, etc. - released into their surroundings which pollute their food and water supplies. Our group also spent time introducing effects of climate change, water & nutrient cycle, and waste reduction to both the kids and adults.
Even though the Kunas are traditionally known to be conservationalists who genuinely value the richness of their land, it is our goal and hope that the current as well as future generations will gain a fresh perspective of their natural environment and the imenient weather shifts through the educational activities that were implemented. And because we were not there as tourists but as brigaders who came onto their land with the priority of making culturally sensitive and sustainable positive change, the Kunas embraced us warmly with their open minds, hugely rich culture & traditions, and even a journey to a sacred area deep in the rainforest.
If it was at all possible to summarize our privileged week of living alongside the Kunas in their spectacularly beautiful, essentially autonomous, region of the Kuna Yala - it was a time of immense cultural exchanges, spectacularly gorgeous sceneries, as well as hands-on learning experience in an environment that magically promotes awareness of natural systems and the anthropogenic responsibility in maintaining such delicate balance.
“Greenpeace displayed an 80x40-foot banner across the street from the White House. The banner image consisted of more than 50,000 activist’s names. All of them are calling on President Obama to LEAD and Save the Climate as the Copenhagen Climate Talks begin.”
In celebration of Water Awareness Month at UCSD (http://aquaholicsucsd.com), as well as for my own interest in spreading valuable knowledge to my friends, I have written the following note from a number of things I have learned from the movie screening of the film ‘Running Dry’ (http://www.runningdry.org), plus bits of my personal opinion and experience.
If you’d like, you can check out the movie trailer here:
Why Water?
Let me start by saying this - screw the oil crisis. It is utterly minuscule compared to the magnitude that the global water crisis has on the very livelihood of all living organisms on this green and blue planet. And you know the statistics that have been thrown around - over 60% of your body is made of that spiffy bond between 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen, and while 2/3rds of earth is covered by water, less than 0.1% is readily accessible and drinkable by us. Case scenario: if a person, even if he/she is a middle-class, car-dependent, commuter-worker living in the suburbs, is left without oil tomorrow, life can go on. Sure, the bike ride to work might become an hour-long sweat bath, nor will it be possible to buy that 64-pack of Aquafina bottled water from Costco, but my point is - life itself CAN go on. We as the human species had done without that flammable substance thousands of years ago. The problem is that we have just gotten so accustomed to and have built entire societies around the fossil fuel-driven transportation system. Another awesome tale, but let’s save that for another fine evening over wine & cheese…
On the flip side, however, if someone is left without water for just THREE days, please get ready to say aidios to that amigo.
Water issues Everywhere
Australian farmers in the southeast have been forced off their family farms due to the total lack of rainfall in the past 7-8 years.
The majestic Yellow River in China has failed to reach the coast of several cases due to the massive drawing of its water upstream from uncontrolled industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential usage. One of the only two major reservoirs for the gigantic metropolis of Beijing has been shut down due to raising toxic levels by nearby factories and farms.
India has 17% of the world’s population, (if I recall correctly) 4% of the land, but only 2% of the fresh water supply.
Water wars have started and are continuing to this very day in the middle east. This is especially true in Jordan and Israel.
It is estimated by the World Health Organization that nearly HALF the world’s population (~3 billion people) will not have a consistent and clean supply of drinking water in as little as 10 years.
Massive population growth, coupled with unsustainable sprawling of urban cities (and subsequently, dwelling slums), spread of water-borne & infectious diseases, and perhaps most importantly, the lack of political will and lack of collective power to eliminate the privatization of water supplies, have all contributed to this amazingly intricate issue of uneven water distribution (quantity) and safety for consumption (quality).
As quoted by one of the directors of water management in northern China, instead of overcoming mother nature as we have done especially in the past century - diverting rivers, building dams, draining natural lakes, and (over) planting crops that devoid the land of water & nutrients - we absolutely must evaluate the possible consequences of the physical alterations of the landscape as well as embrace the natural courses of these earthly processes, many of which we have failed to understand and preserve.
Relativity to San Diego
During the discussion panel after the movie screening, Bill Manson, a journalist and writer for the San Diego Reader, noted the rapid death for Oak trees in the county. As he pointed out, Oak trees typically take 300 years for initial growth, spend 400 years in adulthood and reproduction and finally in slow & steady decay during their last 3 centuries. Recently though, many Oaks have been observed to have died in time periods as short as 10 years due to the lack of rainfall over the entire region, regardless of elevation. The reason of their quick death may be attributed by the onslaught of a certain bark beetle that can now attack the trunks of these Oaks. Previously, the abundance of water drawn up by the trees has kept the bark healthy and filled with enough water pressure to deter these beetles’ bite, but now that water is scarce even for their network of roots, the trees have become vulnerable.
Bill also pointed out that crows have steadily migrated south (their previous natural boundary was Carlsbad) and have displaced most of the pigeon population in La Jolla and other parts of San Diego. The aridity and warmer climates are better adapted by the hearty crows, while the pigeons must now flock to a more mild climate for survival.
On a more optimistic note, Teresa Penunuri, the Community Relations Representative for the San Diego Water Authority promoting the 20 Gallon Challenge (http://www.20gallonchallenge.com), informed us that there was a 5% decrease in total consumption after the Level 1 Drought was declared, and an additional 9% decrease has been seen after the Level 2 Drought Alert was issued in June earlier this year. This is not reflective of any particular sector (residential, commercial, agricultural, etc.) but water usage in San Diego as a whole. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the numbers, but is a total of 14% decrease enough to ensure a truly sustainable water supply to the county in the long run? I think not. The average San Diegan uses approximately 150 gallons of water a day - this includes showering, flushing toilets, washing clothes, drinking, watering lawns, and so forth. This is more than TWICE the usage of an Australian and about SIX TIMES more than that of someone from the United Kingdom. A 14% decrease would still very much earn us the title of aqua-holics.
When Teresa was asked how will San Diego change in the coming years in response to the mandatory conservation strategies in effect and to come, she believes the transition from grass lawns to (much) less water-intensive plant species native to the region will take place, and soon. Many people do not know this, but palm trees, ice plants, eucalyptus trees, and the very green grass on our lawns are introduced (intentionally or not) from other parts of the world. The planting and upkeep of many of these non-indigenous plants suck up a tremendous amount of water, the same clean drinkable water from our tap that can otherwise be conserved, saving energy for transport and treatment. Most importantly, this will relieve the strain of the rapidly drying Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two major reservoirs along the Colorado River, which supports life for the 25+ million people in the Southwest United States and northwestern Mexico.
What Can We Do?
The simple lack of awareness (of people) in regards to the source of our water supplies, the usage, and the political/social/environmental impact water has in nearly everything around us is astounding. The best running start for anyone inspired by this enlightenment wishing to make a difference is to start with yourself. Be aware of the daily activities that directly involve water - showers, cooking, washing - and later moving towards other aspects which may not have a clear connection with water usage - consuming meats, buying a new laptop, to filling your car with gasoline, and many more. As you Google your way to new-found knowledge and a higher state of awareness, share and encourage people around you to proactively take it upon themselves to do the same, for future generations depend on our willingness to embrace CHANGE towards a sustainable lifestyle. Take to your heart that water issues should transcend the very political, racial, religious, and personal boundaries which we have limited ourselves to.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this.
… will be a month of patience, hard work, perseverance, self-reflection, joy, relationship-building, inspiring others, and mistakes followed by improvement.
My 3-week+ trip up & down the west coast covered Big Sur, San Francisco, lesser-explored areas of Norcal, southern Oregon, Crater Lake National Park, the Columbia River gorge, Seattle, the North Cascades, the Olympic peninsula, and last but definitely not least, Portland.
This has been an absolutely sensational journey in every aspect imaginable—I have met people from ALL backgrounds sharing so many life stories (punk rock lover from England, peace corps humanitarian from Wisconsin, Stanford-graduate farm owner, young job seeker out of Texas, sustainable garden & land planner originating Michigan, jazz-player out of Chicago, kayak-lover & middle school teacher from British Columbia, and even a backpacker conquering the entire Pacific Crest Trail - can you imagine all the stories from these people?!); seen some of the most inspiring natural sceneries & wildlife (highlights: Crater Lake, Mt. Baker, Hoh Rain Forest); ate super fresh organic foods right off the land (seriously, which of you can say you’ve picked the vegetables AND the eggs just hours before your making your lunch omelet?); learned to appreciate the simple yet fulfilling life outside the endlessly hedonistic lifestyle that modern societies have sadly trapped us in (Honduras has taught me this first hand, but this trip has completely re-affirmed that); and even took a crack at living on a small farm (harder than you might think!).
May I also say… Portland is one kick-ass town!
Truly spectacular. My hope is that I have captured the at least some of that magic through my photographs.
I am truly thankful for having this opportunity in having this experience. To all that the family, new & old friends who have made this possible.
The Breakdown, by the numbers:
days away: 23 nights slept outside: 16
old friends seen: 10 new friends made: 30+
miles driven: ~3000 miles driven with top down: ~2500
in the rain: ~60
national parks & monument visited: 4 state parks visited: 4
The temperature change going from 2 miles from the coast to 20-some miles inland is pretty dramatic. When I was still in San Diego just last week, there would be a cloudy, misty haze until mid-afternoon and the sun would finally be allowed to show itself for a few beautiful hours before it runs past the horizon again. The ever-present ocean breeze keeps the thermometer from spiking high in the day and dipping too low at night. Here in Los Angeles though, the brighter, hotter sun pops out earlier in the day, disperses (and traps) its heat effectively through the smoggy haze above and concrete jungle below. In the same 24-hour period, temperatures are 20 degrees lower in the early mornings to trick some of us into wearing pants & long sleeves just to regret it later - myself included.
This week has overall been a welcomed get-away from the perhaps too-eventful Spring quarter. I think nearly everyone needs these kind of temporary escapes to keep one’s sanity and be refreshed from whatever that may be physical and/or emotionally-drained. For me in these past week or so, it has been spending quality time with especially my family and Jolly (who has gotten a bit chubby at 74 lbs), tinkering with cars, seeing old friends to catch up, and just some plain old chillin’ with movies & forums-surfing.
A couple things to look forward to before summer session starts next week: Transformers 2, S2000 Challenge at Willow Springs Raceway, and showing my sis her wedding photos ;)
