The Mystery of Lucid Dreaming

When I was younger, my older cousin told me that she used to lucid dream. In short, this meant that she was able to control her own actions within her dreams. To do this, she would become aware that she was dreaming, and therefore be able to take control of her actions and what would happen. This was always such an interesting concept to me, and I even researched how you could train yourself to lucid dream. There are many ways you can do this, like creating patterns in your life surrounding your dreams. For example, you could draw a dot on your hand and remind yourself that every time you look at the dot to ask yourself if you were dreaming.

The science behind lucid dreaming is that you are somewhere between asleep and awake. you are at a point where you have control of your consciousness but are still in a dream state. Therefore, you are able to use your usual abilities to create your own adventures within your dreams. Although this is something you can develop the ability to do,  some people simply come upon this ability or are born with it. Like my cousin, this makes you more likely to experience lucidity with frequency.

Sources: http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Articles/si91ld.html, http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/lucid-dreaming.htm, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201212/lucid-dreaming-and-self-realization

Devastating Earthquake in Ecuador

This past week, a magnitude 6 earthquake struck the small South American country of Ecuador. This caused a horrific amount of destruction, and many fatalities. However, even worse than the original quake was the aftershock, which registered a 7.8 magnitude. The damage causes not only massive emotional distress, but also between two and three billion dollars in cost.

Though they are fairly rare, earthquakes can cause huge amount of damage with little warning and within a short period of time. Earthquakes are caused by the movement of two plates, whether that be moving under or over one another, or side by side. Ecuador is located on the Nazca and South American plates. Due to this location, Ecuador is no stranger to earthquakes. Other places such as San Francisco and Chile are located in places which make them more susceptible to devastation. In the past 50 or so years, Ecuador has experienced six earthquakes in total.

The devastation that accompanies earthquakes is incomparable to other types of natural disasters due to the unpredictability and massive amount of destruction. There is a huge amount of financial, emotional, and physical destruction facing Ecuador this week.

Sources: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/22/magnitude-6-earthquake-hits-ecuador-close-to-weekends-78-quake-zone.html, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-destroys-landmarks-in-quito-ecuador

Is Earth Day Effective?

Today is the 46th annual earth day celebration. This day means many different things throughout depending on where you are, and all of us have experienced it in different forms. In middle school, we often turned out the lights in the classroom and discussed the positive effects of recycling. However, the debate over the severity of climate change continues on, in spite of the fact that we dedicate a full day nationwide to attention to our environment.

So how does earth day make us consider our own actions which are potentially negatively affecting our earth? At St. Mark’s, few people truly think about how recycling or reducing the amount of food waste we produce could actually make a change in the world we live in. However, earth is the one time in which people consider how one person can make a difference. Many people will join together to clean up a local park, or planting trees. Even if people do not take larger actions like this, you are still more likely to be conscious of your actions.

In conclusion, even if earth day does not make a drastic change on the environment, it raises awareness for the problems our planet faces in the future.

Earth Day Website: http://www.earthday.org/

Picture: http://solarviews.com/raw/earth/bluemarblewest.jpg

 

The Perks of Vegetarianism

Many people in the past few decades have turned to becoming a vegetarian or vegan as a way to lose weight or become healthier. While there are many health benefits to being a vegetarian, there are also a number of benefits for the planet and for our atmosphere.

First of all, the reduction of the production of beef is an incredible benefit for the planet. Cows produce methane, and methane is a heat-trapping greenhouse gas, which means it is a major contributor to global warming. Although many scientists are working on ways to reduce the amount of methane produced by large scale factory farming, the simple solution is to reduce the amount of cows on earth. By feeding these enormous “farms” of thousands upon thousands of cows, we are certainly not doing our planet any good.

The second way vegetarianism is good for the world is the reduction of animal cruelty. Everyone has seen the horrific videos of baby chickens being killed for McDonald’s, or the pigs being forced to stay in a tiny cage for the entirety of their lives. Once again, the easiest way to cut down on these issues is to cut down on the demands for meat. Although grass-fed and open pasture raised animals are fine, but even better would be simply using animals for farming and companionship. To me, this seems much better than ever having to suffer through a “Food Inc.” type of experience, or trying to live with myself after eating an animal I know lived an unhappy life.

Vegetarianism is not nearly as difficult as people think it will be, and the benefits are long lasting for us, and for the animals we live on this earth with. Next time you go to McDonald’s, just remember this:

The Science Behind the Beauty of the Grand Canyon

When I was just a little kid, my entire extended family made the trip to Sedona in Arizona. As just a six year old, my first time in Arizona did not seem that exciting. However, four years ago I had the opportunity to go back for a second time with my parents, and finally see the Grand Canyon. Nothing has ever humbled me quite as much as seeing the vast, open expanse. While I was there, we were able to look upon the Colorado River, the only sign of running water in the entirety of the dry stretch. Now, I would like to find out more details about the incredible Grand Canyon, and its rich scientific history.

The first incredible fact about the Grand Canyon is that it has taken somewhere between 3 and 6 million years to form. The formation took place due to erosion of the land, and the landscape continues to change as time progresses. Another fascinating fact is that it is an impressive 277 miles long and 18 miles wide, and home to about 350 species of animals. This list includes the endangered Condor, which became so frighteningly close to dying out they were reintroduced to their habitat 1996.

The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon as well as many other areas of the United States and Mexico, including the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, and a grand total of 6 states. The river moves quickly through many areas of the Grand Canyon, and this makes it a popular destination for white water rafting for those who are not afraid of some danger. The river has a somewhat bad history of being the cause of many deaths each year. Alternatively, the river is a life source for the Navajo tribe who live along the river and use it as their primary source of water.

The Grand Canyon is a national treasure and an indescribable natural beauty. Its breathtaking expansive views are unlike anything found anywhere else in the world.

Sources:

http://explorethecanyon.com/explore-learn/grand-canyon-facts/ http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/condor-re-introduction.htm http://gazette.com/2014-has-been-record-tying-deadly-year-on-colorado-waterways/article/15343

Photos:

http://www.grayline.com

http://www.post-gazette.com

 

 

Living in the Guatemala City Dump

A few years ago, my older cousin decided to take a gap year and live in Guatemala City. She worked with a program called Safe Passage, which provides opportunities for children living impoverished lives. One thing that she was haunted by upon her return was seeing families literally living in the city dump. Because there is such a deep need for shelter, many families had no other place to turn.

Through reading an article online written by a girl who worked with the same program as my cousin, I learned that 11,000 people rely on the dump for their daily survival. Each day, over 500 tons of trash are disposed here. However, for many people, this is their home. At the dump, they find shelter, food, and work. This is not only an environmental risk, but an even larger humanitarian dilemma. Guatemala City is a place with many issues, a place of a concentration of a type of poverty we cannot even fathom.

It may seem as though there is no solution to this issue, but it all comes back to reducing, reusing, and recycling. The amount of trash we produce creates an immense environmental risk, as the city dump is less than good for the environment it has been created in. However, we also have a long way to go with creating opportunity for people living in difficult conditions. The cycle of children growing up in a polluted, dirty place must end.

Source: http://aroundtheworldinktdays.com/living-in-trash-the-guatemala-city-garbage-dump/, picture: http://webmedia.jcu.edu/immersionprogram/files/2013/04/missions.jpg

The Mystery of Giant and Colossal Squid

When I was in seventh grade, I took a very basic environmental science class. We discussed climate change, different ecosystems, and the animals that inhabit them. To be honest, I forgot 90% of what I learned in that class, however, the one thing that stuck with me was the day we talked about the giant squid. Nothing has ever confused me more than this subject. Our teacher described it to us as something we knew was down there somewhere, however no one had ever seen it. This was mind boggling, because at the age of 12, I really did believe humans had the capacity to research and discover just about anything. But the giant squid still does not cease to amaze me.

Basically, the information we have on the giant squid is that it is up to 30 feet (approximately the height of a moderately sized two story house or a school bus), and weighing up to nearly 2,000 lbs. It is nearly impossible to research and study giant squid, due to the fact that they live so deep in the ocean. The research done on them thus far has been based off of carcasses. However, one giant squid was caught off the coast of Japan in 2004.

Even more fascinating than the giant squid is the colossal squid. A cousin to the giant squid, they are believed to be the largest species of squid in existence. Their eyes alone could potentially be up to 16 inches. Colossal squids are different from giant squids due to their shape, a shorter but more dense body. They also have a different type of tentacle than all other types of squid, made up of small hooks and suckers. These are used to catch and grasp large fish.

Although there are still many mysteries about giant and colossal squid, with our developing technology I hope I will get the chance to see a giant squid one day in the future.

Sources:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/giant-squid/, http://www.squid-world.com/colossal-squid/, http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/asia/toyama-japan-giant-squid/, http://ocean.si.edu/giant-squid, http://squid.tepapa.govt.nz/anatomy/article/colossal-squid-giant-squid-and-octopus

 

The Obesity Epidemic and Food Insecurity

After taking the Saturday class of “You Are What You Eat”, I discovered an entirely new perspective on obesity in America and what the root of this issue truly is. I recalled this knowledge when we began our most recent unit on food in Enviro. This subject is something we do not talk about often enough, and I think that sometimes the problem of obesity in America is frequently overlooked.

So what does obesity really mean? While it literally means that one has a BMI above 30, obesity is a much larger problem than just needing to lose a few pounds. There are so many more factors that lead to obesity than just being hungry a lot. One of these issues is food insecurity. In our country, nearly 14% of people are food insecure, meaning 48.1 people were unsure of where their next meal would come from. The dictionary definition of food insecurity is “the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food”. To me, one of the key part of this definition is the part about nutrition. Not having access to food that would be considered good for your body is extremely important as it relates to food insecurity, because the sugary, starchy, fried foods McDonald’s and other chains are offering will not fill someone up for long. These foods make you more tired, and give you the feeling that you need to eat more, even if you do not. People who cannot afford healthy food do not have anywhere else to turn. Never in my life have I walked into a Whole Foods and thought, “Wow, this is so affordable”. No. The healthy, nutritious, FAIR TRADE foods all people should have access to is so expensive, that there is only a select number of people who really have access to it.

So where does obesity come in? Well due to the rise of the cheap, western diet, the most available foods are of the greasy, empty calorie variety. The correlation is not difficult to spot. When that is all that is easy and affordable, the health is the last thing on ones mind. It is simple fact that there is a sure connection between socioeconomic class and obesity.

Sources: http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2013/obesity-socioeconomic-status.aspx, http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/hunger-and-poverty/hunger-and-poverty-fact-sheet.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

The Near Extinction of my Childhood Favorite Animal

To me, the craziest thing about extinction is that it is something that happens so slowly that it slowly creeps up the general public until it is almost too late. As a kid, my favorite stuffed animal was a small hippopotamus named “Hippo” (named when I was 2, so a bit uncreative). When I decided to write a blog post about animals which are at risk of extinction, the hippopotamus came up. This shocked me, because when I think of extinction I typically think they must be unknown animals like “Quagga”, a recently extinct animal I had not heard of until today. However, we have a serious problem with some of our most well known animals, such as hippopotami, rhinoceros, and tigers. Although I had heard about the danger of extinction of the rhinoceros and the tiger before, I did not realize how close both of these animals are to dying out forever.

The Tiger, found in Southeast Asia, China, North and South Korea and Russia, have slowly dwindled in population primarily due to poaching and illegal trade. The bizarre thing about tiger trade to me was the idea of keeping a tiger as a pet. Why someone would make the conscious decision to keep an animal in an unfit environment has always been beyond me. Another reason why tigers are on the road to extinction is their loss of habitat. This is truly devastating, because it cannot be undone. Humans are slowly killing some of the most beautiful creatures on earth through deforestation and overdevelopment. Tigers are beautiful animals, and if poaching and deforestation do not end, the next generation of people may never see their incredible power and grace.

The White Rhino, native to certain African nations, have been killed by loss of their habitat, natural disasters, and poaching, along with other factors. Rhinos are poached simply for their horn, which to me seems like a ridiculous reason to allow a beautiful, majestic animal die out forever.

There are so many more animals which will go extinct in our lifetimes due to human negligence. This goes hand-in-hand with our lack of respect for our environment. Protecting our earth holds great importance now more than ever. If we do not change, we could see dramatic changes to our spectacular earth within our own lifetimes.

 

Sources:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/rhino, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger, http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/endangered-tigers-facts, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-rhinoceros/

Dole Bananas Need to Go

As I think about all of the changes St. Mark’s is making to insure a higher quality of food for its students, I am still puzzled by the lack of organic fruit and vegetable options, but not for the reason you may think. While I understand that non GMO, all natural, organic, whatever food is more expensive, I have long believed it is worth it. Every student who attends St. Mark’s is incredibly blessed to not be concerned about where their next meal is coming from, as well as being given healthier options than the typical public school. However, it takes more than simply BEING a fruit of vegetable to make something healthy and good to be eating. Each piece of fruit we eat has a history, an example being the bananas we eat at St. Mark’s.

For the past five years, I have made the journey to Costa Rica each summer as part of a program designed by my friend and I to repair (both emotionally and physically) an orphanage in the most dangerous province of the country. Due to the fact that the area we work in is so crime infested, we must drive an hour to an hour and a half each day to and from the orphanage. Each day, we witness a plane fly over the massive (American owned!) Dole banana plantation, coating every tree with chemicals. Seeing this happen before my eyes was one of the most powerful images I have witnessed. Knowing the effects of these planes makes the vision of the pesticide planes that much more memorable for me. These pesticides and factory farms have created enormous problems for the people of Costa Rica. Some issues are very well known, such as workers being underpaid and overworked, child labor, and more human rights issues. However, some of the issues are not as well known, such as overshoots from the planes spraying young children and villages, and mutation due to the toxicity of the chemicals. The list of problems with Dole and Chiquita and other large fruit plantations is extensive. In my opinion, St. Markers do not think of all of this as they bite into their banana. Not only are there extreme human rights violations in play, but we are also affected by the chemicals drenching each piece of fruit. When we eat our Dole bananas in the dining hall, we are not only poisoning ourselves, but also poisoning the culture of Costa Rica.

The above photo was taken in Nicaragua, a neighboring country of Costa Rica which experiences the same tragedies from large scale banana farming.

Photo source: https://themarginalized.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bananas-cropdusting-plane.jpg?w=640