Earth Common Journal (ECJ) is an international undergraduate peer-reviewed journal that provides a forum where students communicate a diversity of ideas and information on issues concerning conservation, sustainability, and climate adaptation. ECJ is published by MacEwan University's Bachelor of Communication Studies program. Visit our website at www.earthcommonjournal.com
Department of Communication, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
If You Want to Get Away with Murder, Use Your Car
The persistently high rate of pedestrian and cyclist road deaths in Canada is a major public health concern and a serious impediment to encouraging active transport. Despite empirical evidence that cyclist- and pedestrian-targeted policies like helmet laws and jaywalking tickets do not decrease fatalities, popular discourse continues to put the onus on vulnerable road users, often blaming them for their deaths. The negative effect of victim-blaming on vulnerable communities has been well established in the critical and feminist traditions, while recent studies have begun to examine the effects of negative discourse on cycling uptake and safety. To examine how public discourse reflects and affects the perception of blame in vulnerable road user deaths, this paper critically analyses news articles of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in Edmonton in 2016. [results and analysis] Policy implications and avenues for future research are also discussed.
Sustainable Learning in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
This article is a case scenario with interviews from students in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The students are enrolled in a business or ―Entrepreneur‘s‖ program at Koning Willem I College. Part of their program is a sales initiative during which they are responsible for designing a campaign to sell umbrellas. The students receive lessons from Drs. Rob de Vrind, an expert on sustainability and resource management. De Vrind teaches sustainability to the students under the heading of ―citizenship.‖ Five students participated in the interview process. While their project is in the beginning stages, they are enthusiastic about learning more about the connection between good business practices and sustainability. Background information about the educational system in the Netherlands, as well as information about the College‘s business program is provided.
Earth Common Journal is an online peer-reviewed, undergraduate annual publication that focuses on three critically important and globally reaching topics: conservation, sustainability, and global warming. It was created and shaped by a group of dedicated and compassionate editors, reviewers, and authors who understood the need and the importance of sharing research and creative work in these three areas. Its mandate is to provide a communication instrument for undergraduate students from Grant MacEwan University to convey their research ideas with the intent on informing others about conservation practices, sustainable processes, and issues that affect global warming. In addition, Earth Common Journal includes an international section where undergraduate students, faculty, and community leaders exchange the research and work that they are doing in their educational and community institutions.
The London Wetland Centre: An urban conservation project that is making a splash
In the eleven years since it opened in 2000, the London Wetland Centre has become an exemplar of an urban conservation project that has turned heads throughout the world. As we shall explore, a site has been created that now has international recognition for its scientific interest, and which provides an ideal case study for how biodiversity and sustainability can be achieved, even in the challenging economic landscapes that are associated with the twenty-first century.
This article is a study of the musical composition, We Arrived Safely Because We Sailed Too Close to Shore, by Ryan Sims. Some of the research techniques are discussed, as well as the inspiration for the piece, the tools he used, and the technical details of production. Ryan did not learn to read music until he attended Grant MacEwan University’s music program – a year is a short time to transition from learning how to read and write music to being able to compose a multi-instrument piece. He was inspired by a journey and felt that it reflected his own life’s path. Ryan’s piece is only the beginning for his career. He finds inspiration in everything and brings that talent to his work.
It is rare for the intrinsic power of distilled prose to span across generations, shaping politics, policy, and perception. Blending conservation ethics, meticulous research and political knowledge into an easily readable prose, Rachel Louise Carson left a legacy through the written word. Criticized for being a single woman in a male-centric field, she established her individuality, her free spirit, and her amazing dedication to her ethics. Carson’s contribution to science lies within her meticulous attention to scientific detail and her ability to communicate complex scientific theories to the general public. Carson portrayed peremptory evidence of the devastating effects of synthetic chemicals and nuclear testing, while simultaneously communicating the role of ecology and environmental change to the general public. Carson challenged agricultural scientists, chemical companies, and the government for their misuse of chemical agents, and their misguided notions of trying to dominate nature. Technology and scientific testing was severely limited and yet Carson was able to draw sound scientific proof of the devastating lasting effects of the human-made chemicals she dubbed “elixirs of death.” Rachel Carson left a legacy through her chosen medium, the written word; inspiring generations of scientific writers to distill complex scientific processes into creative prose to inspire the general public to consider their own role within the environment.
Environmental books, while informative, can sometimes make for dry reading. What initially attracted me to this book by Vanessa Farquharson was the title. The premise of the book is Farquharson—a young Arts and Life reporter for the right-wing, climate change-denying National Post—decides to spend a year greening her life. She commits to making one change a day. The entire year was captured on her Blog “Green as a Thistle” and the book strings together her events from a post-experiment perspective, although it is written more like a journal reflection of her blog. Some of her eco-conscious changes are small— like the switch to recycled paper towel—but some of the changes she implemented are not for the pseudo-environmentalist. Some of the most memorable changes are Vanessa using only vegan-friendly dental floss...
Efficacy of Green Roof Technology in Colder Climates
Green roof technology has been used within Canada as early as the first French settlers (1600) in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for necessity and survival in the Canadian wilderness. As home construction became more modernized, green roof technology was replaced by conventional roofing on houses and businesses. However, with the increased awareness of sustainable practices and environmental conservation, several European companies introduced new green roof technologies in the 1980s that began the movement of using this technology. While this technology has primarily been used in mild climates throughout Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia), little has been examined and researched regarding the use of green roof technology in colder and more severe climates within Canada. In his final year to complete his Bachelor Degree in Technology at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Yancey Corden conducted research on the efficacy of green roof technology in Edmonton, Alberta capital region’s cold and severe climatic conditions. The results suggested that native plants to the region are most successful when used in green roof technology.
“In the Company of Trees” article describes a collaborative project that was undertaken by two first-year Fine Arts program students who have a passion for art and for nature. More specifically, they have an intuitive connection with trees; hence, the name “Tree Installation.” The article focuses on the research techniques artists use when creating a piece, and demonstrates how the application of such techniques combines and employs both artistic and academic knowledge to inform a creative project. The article discusses the research techniques used when the artists decided on what type of installation to create, what shape it would take, what its dimensions would be, and what materials would be selected and used. A discussion regarding creativity and spontaneity that is essential to art is also included. Also discussed throughout the article is the concept that some research that artists do while creating a piece of art, whether it be an installation, painting or sculpture, is done instinctively rather than overtly as the art work is evolving. Considerable effective research is done through experimentation and the “Tree Installation” embodies this method. The “Tree Installation” is not only beautiful art, but is a project that involved influential and meaningful research about the nature of trees.
Human bodies and minds evolved together—simultaneously and interdependently. Therefore, if nature provides for our physical health and well-being, it follows that nature also provides for our mental health and well-being. Psychologists have begun to recognize the impact that exposure to nature has on many aspects of our mental health and well-being; and a substantial body of supporting research and empirical data has accumulated. Nature’s beneficial effects on individuals’ mental health have been shown to extend beyond a mere restoration to baseline after negative periods of stress, anxiety, or depression. Nature’s beneficial effects extend to positively increasing true mental health and well-being, to elevating individuals beyond a neutral “just getting by” level and into an additive state of thriving and flourishing. This paper discusses highlights from the ever-increasing body of research findings and empirical data evidencing the positive and additive effects that nature has on our mental health and well-being. Included in this discussion are findings from a recent series of studies conducted at Grant MacEwan University that this author was involved in. The research summarized in this paper demonstrates that our relationship with nature is vital to our mental health and well-being.
Living in the city most people take for granted the convenience of flicking on a light switch or plugging in an appliance. They also expect to be able to call the utility company if there is no heat for the house. Now imagine being responsible for providing all of your survival needs from electricity through waste management. This is off-grid living. The settlers who came here to Canada lived off-grid. Homes were often built of sod, heated with wood-fired stoves, and lit with candles they made themselves. The majority of twenty-first century Canadians would perish in similar living conditions. The Canadian Encyclopaedia in its history of Western and Northwest Canada describes the lives of the pioneer homesteaders who purchased 160 acres of land for $10 and struggled to survive. “Homesteaders and their families were often separated from friends and relatives, and many suffered years of hardship and loneliness. One of the greatest difficulties was the absence of roads and bridges. Most trails were impassable when wet. Medical care was scarce and farm injuries were often crippling or fatal, and many simple ailments caused prolonged hardship. For many settlers the price of homesteading was too high, they cancelled their claims and moved away” (McCracken, 2011). Today, off-grid living is sought out for different reasons. People who decide to live off-grid are often looking for a way to live in harmony with and lessen their impact on the environment. They enjoy a physical challenge, and/or appreciate some solitude. It is possible to lessen reliance on the grid and still live in the city, but it is expensive and more difficult due mainly to regulatory requirements. Since regulations vary widely among municipal jurisdictions the focus of this article is development of an off-grid living facility where municipal services are unavailable. Off-grid living in its simplest form involves finding ways to provide for basic human comforts. “Off-grid also means not using or depending on public utilities, especially the supply of electricity,” (Oxford Dictionary, 2011). For many people who are living this lifestyle it also involves growing food, raising chickens for eggs and meat, goats or cows for milk, and pigs for pork, bacon and ham. Off-grid living also means changing lifestyle to suit the season. Spring is planting season and that is the focus of activity. Summer means long days and a chance to build and do maintenance and time to cut, split and stack next year’s firewood if the primary source of heat is wood-burning stoves. Fall is harvest time with its many hours of work preserving the food. Winter is for cocooning and making plans for the next growing season. If power generation is solar based, it probably means going to bed early and sleeping later to conserve energy. A Personal Choice to Live Sustainably The author and some of his family are in the process of developing a multigenerational home site on ten acres of forested property on the North Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. This article presents information that a family needs to consider when deciding to live off-grid. It then presents a case study of the decisions, considerations, and expectations that the author’s family encountered when building the home site; including real-world suggestions and solutions based on primary research done by the family members. It also gives some site-specific details of that ongoing work.
Similar to other policy issues, climate change policy proceeds in a cyclical fashion that proceeds from agenda setting, to policy development, to implementation, and finally to monitoring and review. Agenda setting involves politicians becoming convinced, usually by the science but also by politics and public opinion, that the climate issue deserves a policy response. Policy development involves a great deal of economic and policy option assessments that are winnowed down to a few options that may have “political traction” (i.e. those politicians think might succeed). Policy implementation involves turning policies into law and regulations that industry and individuals will act upon. Policy review, especially monitoring outcomes, is perhaps the most important phase, and for the climate change issue, the ongoing conclusion to date seems to be that more needs to be done, leading to the policy cycle starting over again. But there are also disturbing signs that this “top-down” approach is no longer working, and more “bottom-up” approaches, linked to the energy sector and clean technology, may become important new forces in forging action on climate change.
Finding an alternative energy source to fossil fuels is becoming increasingly important. This has led many countries to question whether nuclear power, touted as an environmentally friendly source of energy, is the answer. A look at the environmental effects attached to this source of energy—the risk of radiation exposure for communities adjacent to nuclear plants, and nuclear power’s volatile history—coupled with current events provides countries with reason to seriously doubt the safety and sustainability of this energy source. Nuclear plants do immediate damage to the system in which they are built, and that is not the end of their effects. Continuous release of radiological material into the surrounding area that threatens the ecology and nearby communities, the creation of waste, for which there is currently no solution, and a threat of radioactive materials falling into the hands of terrorist activists also weigh heavily against the sustainability of this energy source. The history of the nuclear industry makes it undeniable that more nuclear disasters are inevitable. Every community is vulnerable, whether a nuclear disaster is caused by nature’s wrath, as in Japan, or by human or technological error, as in many previous nuclear accidents, including Chernobyl. The countries of the world have a weighty decision to make about whether nuclear energy is the answer.
Climate change has become a critical political issue in the past twenty years. However, there is a related issue that is often overlooked by governments, industry, and the public: energy supply security, defined by the IAEA (2007) as “...the ability of a nation to muster the energy resources needed to ensure its welfare” (n.p.). Conventional energy requires the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide, the primary driver behind climate change (Pulles & Amstel, 2010, p. 4). Because of this, the problems of our dependence on fossil fuels and carbon fuelled global warming are interrelated. As such, solving the climate change problem may mitigate energy concerns. However, the potentially disastrous consequences of climate change will not be felt immediately while energy is critical to our daily survival; so, energy issues are arguably a more pressing concern.
Champion of Nature, Sustainability, and Education
Drs. Rob de Vrind has been an advocate for nature and sustainability throughout his life. His need to be in nature is only slightly greater than his need to educate those around him about the importance of living a sustainable life. As the Senior Advisor for Sustainability, de Vrind provides critical information about sustainable choices and works collaboratively with the administrators, faculty, and students at the Koning Willem I College in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. His knowledge about sustainability is informed by his research in his field of biology. It is this combined knowledge base that has made him an intuitive champion of nature and a genuine leader in promoting sustainability in life, education, and industry.
When most people hear the word Madagascar, images of animated dancing lemurs and quirky stranded penguins come to their minds. Although there is some truth in the movie’s description of that far-away, mysterious place, it fails to paint a complete picture of Madagascar as being rich in biodiversity and culture. Few places on earth rival the variety of endemic plants and animals that are found there. It is estimated that Madagascar has more genetic diversity per unit area than anywhere else on earth (Karsten, et al., 2009). This makes it “one of the world’s hottest hotspots for biodiversity conservation” (Consiglio, et al., 2006). Even though Madagascar is a biologically invaluable nation, it trails behind other ecologically notable countries, like Ecuador, in the conservation effort. Madagascar continues to suffer devastating loss to its precious habitats. The Madagascar government has the difficult task of preserving as much ecologically unique territory as it can, without depriving the already economically disadvantaged local people. Much international help is needed in providing support to the people and protection to the plants, animals, and natural resources of Madagascar.
Cover Design: A Profile of Diana Duzbayeva
Striving for Sustainability: The Contribution of Paul Johnston to Conservation Biology
Paul Johnston, the lead scientist with Greenpeace International, combines scientific knowledge with public debate and awareness campaigns to work towards environmental change and sustainability. Opposed by numerous people internationally, Paul Johnston is in a constant battle to change negative public perceptions of Greenpeace and their scientific endeavors such as reviews and specific studies. Through his position with Greenpeace and as a credited biologist with a PhD in selenium toxicity in aquatic invertebrates he has been involved in numerous international conferences both with public organizations and industry. Paul Johnston has built up a reputation through his tireless efforts and, regardless of criticisms of actions or stances he may take, his dedication to his beliefs and beyond that the fact that he backs his claims with real world action demands respect in the fight against environmental degradation. There are few people who have not heard of Greenpeace and Paul Johnston's contributions in raising public awareness of environmental issues is important should society have a chance of changing.
Chasing Rabbits: Understanding "Urbanized"
Poetry can be a voice for concerns about conservation and urbanization’s effects on habitat and animals, whether domestic or wild, as well as an inspiration for researching local urbanization. The concept of poetry as an expression of perspective and feeling about our ever-changing environment that is continuously losing its natural state is shared within this article.
Ethical Considerations in Primate Conservation
Due to conflicting human and primate needs in primate-source countries, conservation becomes a hotly debated issue. In an exploration of ethical frameworks and conservation approaches, flaws in current approaches become evident. An alternative, deeper understanding of the role of primates is called for in order to achieve truly sustainable primate conservation.
An environmentalist, a geneticist, a broadcaster and an all around conservationist, Dr. David Suzuki is a Canadian born “lover of the land”, directing the world’s attention to the environment and the damage that human life has bestowed on it. In his youth, Suzuki faced much racial discrimination as a Japanese Canadian born during the Second World War. He quickly grew fondness of nature and biology, spending most of his early life outdoors learning from nature. His professional career began as an Assistant Professor in Genetics at the University of Alberta, where it was quickly evident that he was an outstanding speaker. His speaking ability, combined with his love of nature, landed him many broadcasting positions; his most notable being his time spent hosting “The Nature of Things”. Aside from his many awards, one of Suzuki’s greatest achievements was his creation of the David Suzuki Foundation, a tool through which people could learn about and address environmental issues, a combined idea of Suzuki and his wife Tera Cullis. The foundation has not only provided challenges for individuals to make a difference, but has also government and industry leaders, inspiring people everywhere. “I have no Illusions that I am so important that I can turn everything around, I have no illusions that my foundation is going to make a huge difference, but I believe if millions of people like me and thousands of organizations like mine are all doing their small part we can become an irresistible force” – David Suzuki.
The Potential for an Impending Sea-Level Rise
Sea level rise has become one of the most discussed topics regarding climate change. In the past the sea level has been known to rise several meters during interglacial periods. The rapid spread of human populations and new technological innovations have led to an outpouring of carbon dioxide over the centuries causing the global mean temperature to rise by 0.8°C. This slight increase in temperature has raised sea level from thermal expansion of the ocean and is having a dramatic effect on the cryosphere. Retreating glaciers continue to contribute to the current rate of sea level rise but the potential for the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to melt from increasing global temperatures could raise the ocean by more than 1 m this century. Low-lying developing countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam are the most vulnerable to a rise in sea level due to lack of infrastructure, high population densities, and geographic locations situated on a delta. In the developed world, Australia and Italy are at risk areas due to large populations found along the coast in both countries. If the rate of mass loss from glaciers and ice sheets continue a future sea level rise is imminent.
Discovering the Future Canadians Want: Insights from the We Canada Cross-Country Tour
In 1972, the first United Nations Conference on Human Environment (UNCED) was held in Stockholm, Sweden. At the conference, government officials from industrialized and developing nations met alongside civil society organizations to create the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “This conference put environmental issues on the international agenda for the first time, and marked a turning point in the development of international environmental politics. It has also been recognized as the beginning of modern political and public awareness of global environmental issues” (Baylis & Smith, 2005, pp. 454-455). Twenty years later, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro. One hundred and seventy two government officials participated, of which 108 were heads of state (United Nations, 1992, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, para. 1). This conference was one of the largest gatherings of heads of state, civil society organizations, and individuals in human history to date. Stakeholders met with the purpose of charting a course for a more sustainable future. From the conference emerged agreements, most notably Agenda 21, which created a framework for developing global, national, and regional plans for sustainability. The Rio Earth Summit has since stood as an example of what is possible when governments and citizens work together. The outcomes of this conference still affect human lives today, mainly through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings, which led to the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding agreement to cut down carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Earth Summit 2012 or Rio+20, is regarded as one of the most crucial events in United Nations history and has been referred to by the Secretary General of the United Nations (2011), Ban Ki-moon, as “the most important global meeting on sustainable development in our time" (The Future We Want, p 2).
Building Pressure: A Deliberative Argument against the Northern Gateway Pipeline
This is a rhetorical analysis comparing and contrasting the supposed benefits and likely consequences of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The issue of the Northern Gateway Pipeline is analyzed through the use of established rhetorical devices and appeals. The result of this rhetorical analysis finds the project to be a far greater liability than a benefit to the people of Alberta and British Columbia. The promises of job creation by Enbridge account for a small minority of the population being employed for a relatively short duration of time. Furthermore, the wealth generated by the pipeline project is not equally distributed back to the people of Alberta and British Columbia, respectively. Enbridge has also made dubious claims to “sustainable communities,” which amount to little more than large one time payments to charities and other organizations across North America. Furthermore, there are findings that suggest health complications in those individuals employed in the oil industry.
A Discounted Threat: Environmental Impacts of the Livestock Industry
This article provides an overview of the environmental effects of the livestock industry. Current industry practice, specifically the proliferation of concentrated animal feeding operations as the primary means of production, has left far-reaching ecological consequences in its wake. Animal agriculture is implicated in numerous environmental threats including rising greenhouse gas emissions (particularly through release of nitrous oxide and methane, in addition to carbon dioxide), overconsumption of water for both live animals and feed crops, and decreased water quality. Furthermore, localized pollution owing to copious animal waste has tainted many regions and compromised human health. Alterations of land use and the resulting loss of biodiversity are also of major concern. The problem has expanded as developing countries’ appetite for these products grows – however, the issue has tended not to be a focal point of environmental debate. The article details the environmental destruction wrought by current practices, while outlining recommendations for reducing the environmental toll, at both the individual and systemic level
Getting Back to the Garden: Reflections on Gendered Behaviours in Home Gardening
There is growing interest amongst scholars in people’s gardening behaviours related to food production. This development coincides with society’s increased interest in consuming and producing food in sustainable ways. Local food movements, which include urban agriculture and home gardening, have increased in popularity in several countries, especially during the last decade. Academics from a variety of disciplines have been starting to ask questions: Why are people gardening? How is gardening associated with one’s identity? What motivates people to adopt environmental gardening practices? Some researchers suggest that gardening research could benefit from gender analysis. This paper examines some of the literature in this growing field of inquiry and finds current gardening research often lacks critical gender analysis, thus failing to problematize gardening behaviours and attitudes. It maintains that this development is curious in light of compelling evidence that shows differences in the gardening behaviours of men and women. It proposes that along with Bhatti’s and Church’s theory of gardening spaces as mirrors for changing gender relations, Allen’s and Sachs’s feminist theoretical approach to explore the sociocultural domain of women’s relationship to food could be used to conduct gendered gardening research related to food. This discussion concludes that gender analysis is critical to exploring gardening as a research topic and that understanding women’s role in gardening for food production will be especially critical in future research as climate change impacts necessitate different food production and consumption behaviours.
This article is a brief overview of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond. In his book, the author makes a comparative argument about the effect human impact on the environment has on the success or failure of a civilization. He examines past and current societies using case studies to discuss social history, social change, and environmental impact. The historical and scientific details packed into this book help to demystify ancient cultures including Easter Island, and his delivery invokes images of their lives. He solidifies his compelling argument by focusing on current world trade and environmental policies.
Food sustainability at Edmonton’s regional, city, community and personal level is visually presented within a VCPH 340 Documentary Photography final project. This article reveals how the final project inspired a group of design students to cultivate the concept of, raise awareness about and promote food sustainability activism within and around Edmonton , Alberta, Canada .