November 2004

Coffee that Birds Love

Jack Harper

We hiked up the slopes of El Triunfo Mountain in Chiapas, Mexico, through rows of coffee shrubs, some in full sun, others in the shade of tall trees, to reach the top with its cloud forest and tropical rain forest sheltering the spectacular Quetzal, the rare Horned Guan, Azure-rumped Tanager, Tapir, and Jaguar. This was in 1992, before Starbucks launched its promotion of shade-grown coffee from the vicinity of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve.

Forest destruction in Latin America has contributed to a 71% decline of neotropical migratory songbirds over a ten-year period in Virginia. Our backyard birds, including the Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush, and Ovenbird, winter in Central and South America where habitats are being taken by agriculture, logging, and by the planting of sun-grown coffee.

Shade-grown Coffee
Traditionally coffee, an understory shrub Cafea arabica, was grown under taller trees ameliorating the harsh sun and retaining soil health. Tall trees amongst the coffee plants are more important than ever for sustaining resident and migratory birds because of the ongoing deforestation in the tropics. The birds in turn assist in natural pest control whilst the trees protect the fragile mountain soils against erosion, keep biodiversity high, and help provide better water quality in the watershed for residents. Shade-grown coffee, typically grown by small-scale farmers, produces coffee berries for 24-30 years.

Sun-grown Coffee
The coffee leaf rust fungus spurred the "technification" of coffee growing in the 1970's resulting in the planting of high-yield sun-grown coffee requiring large amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Sun-grown coffee attracts 90% fewer bird species than shade-grown coffee and the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers impact soil health and water quality affecting people and wildlife. The sun-grown plants produce coffee beans for 12 to 15 years. Sometimes funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, sun-grown coffee is typically planted by large-scale growers.

Where to Buy Shade-grown Coffee
Shade-grown coffee retailers in this area include:
Starbucks
Trader Joe's
Whole Foods Markets

UUSC Coffee Project
More than 300 UU congregations participate in the UU Service Committee Coffee Project through Equal Exchange championing fair trade, supporting small farmers throughout the world. These congregations drink fairly traded, shade-grown, and organic coffee at their coffee hours and sell these coffees along with fair-trade, organic tea, chocolate, and cocoa to their members and friends. Purchasing these products helps to keep our migratory song birds returning each year and also helps small farmers in Latin America, East Africa, and Indonesia to hold on to their traditional lands, strengthen their communities, and better their lives. BRUU will begin its participation in the UUSC Coffee Project during the 2004 holiday season. Imagine, drinking an excellent cup of coffee or tea at our Sunday coffee hour and at the same time helping people and their environments around the world!

Observations:
Rosie and I got our shade grown, (small farm) coffee from a volunteer at the Accotink UU Church while we were attending there. We still go there on some occasions and get our coffee. It costs $7.00 a pound, comes in regular or decaf, bean or ground, and is very good. Also, it feels good to be helping a small farmer somewhere. - Charlie Jones

Many of the large coffee companies clear cut the forests and use chemicals to grow coffee bean crops. By buying and using shade-grown coffee, not only are we helping the small farmers in Latin America to practice sustainable farming, but we are assisting in the survival of our migrating songbirds. These beautiful birds need the shelter and food provided by a forest cover. Their numbers are sadly diminishing due to reasons such as the loss of forest habitat. - Mary Sherman.

October 2004

Baboons at Breakfast

Jack Harper

Baboons came down from their nighttime perches in a Sycamore Fig tree across the Talek River in Kenya's Masai Mara from our "al fresco" breakfast table. At this morning ritual they would noisily chase one another on the way to their daily rounds. Only on one occasion did this troop come to investigate our side of the Talek, according to our Kikuyu cook, Ngere, when we were away on an all day game drive.

Two weeks camping in the Masai Mara, incomparable for its diversity and abundance of wildlife, was a dream-come-true for a retired systems ecologist. To be immersed in a functioning East African grassland ecosystem, not to study its energy flows, but simply to enjoy evolution's handiwork was astounding and revealing.

My anthropologist wife O.G. and I came to the Masai Mara in southwest Kenya in August 2004 to observe the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of Wildebeest, Zebra, and other ungulates from the vast Serengeti in Tanzania which becomes dry and unable to support the huge herds by July and August. Smelling rain and seeing the lightning in the north, the herds move into the Masai Mara, so named by the first Masai explorers from northern Africa for its great bounty of grass and water to support their cattle and people. Closely monitoring the great herds are Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs as well as the scavenger birds and mammals.

At first glance the morning grassland scene appears serene, but on closer observation aided by Saitoti, our superb Masai guide and naturalist, the grazing herds are attuned to every nuance of sound and motion. Many animals are asleep on the ground, having been awake and alert to predators the night before. Danger hides in the tall grasses and bush by day and night. Lionesses and Leopards may have made their kills in the dark hours and by morning have surfeited themselves with fresh Wildebeest, Zebra, or Impala. Now they must hide the carcasses to delay discovery by Vultures, Storks, Hyenas, and Jackals.

The Migration
The great Wildebeest migration has been going on for well over a million years in the mile-high, 40,000 square kilometer Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. It never stops as animals circle annually from south to north starting in March with the short dry season and north to south beginning in late October at the outset of the short rains. In their long trek the herds of Wildebeest, Zebra, Impala, Gazelle, Topi, Buffalo, Giraffe, Elephant, Warthog, Waterbuck, and Hartebeest cross rivers such as the Grumeti and Mara, sometimes to lose their lives in the panic and from Crocodiles.

Sustainability
But all is not well at the Mara. Animal numbers in the buffer zones have declined by 43% in the last 10 years due in part to the encroaching Masai villages and herds of cattle. The Masai lifestyle is centered around cattle which provide them with a milk and blood diet, dung for hut construction, and leather for their beds. Junior Masai elders are beginning to realize that their future is tourism which depends on a robust natural ecosystem. In recent years the Mara had been treated as a 'cash cow' with entry receipts diverted from park maintenance and ecosystem sustainability. Schemes are now in place to funnel more of the tourist profits to the Masai and to maintain infrastructure in the Reserve.

The impacts of visitors to the Masai Mara Reserve, the many lodges, airstrips, campsites, the off-road driving, and interference with wildlife has not been fully assessed. Sensitive species such as the Cheetah and the endangered Rhino require special consideration. Poaching to supply bush meat to local markets has been countered in recent years in the Mara but remains destructive in Tanzania's Serengeti. The numbers of migrating Wildebeest have been variable with a low of 100,000 in 1958 following a Rinderpest epidemic to 1.5 million in the mid nineties. Recent declines in migratory animals may be due in part to changing weather patterns exacerbated by Earth warming. The decline in animal numbers along with the threat of terrorism has reduced tourist numbers by two thirds during the period.

The future of the great Serengeti-Mara grassland ecosystem in East Africa depends on the wisdom of the governments of Kenya and Tanzania, international conservation efforts, the tourist industry, and the Masai people.

September 2004

Genetically Modified Foods

Larry Underwood

For those who like to avoid genetically altered food, I have bad news and good news. First the bad news: Every food you buy today is genetically different from the plant or animal it was eons ago. Through naturally occurring mutations and selective breeding, the quality and size of nearly everything we eat has improved from the earliest forms. Some are brand new species. All are genetically modified. And the good news? While it's true that today we're using new technologies by transferring genes of one organism directly into another, this is not an unnatural phenomenon. Scientists observed that microbes sometimes swap genes-a process known as conjugation, and that microbes pick up the genes of other organisms-a process known as transformation, and that viruses transfer genes from one species to another-a process known as vector cloning. All that natural swapping of genes led scientists to modern genetic engineering. We're simply adopting techniques evolved millions of years ago by microbes to our own human purpose. What is that purpose? We have a problem feeding the world's population. In the next hour, we will see 8400 people added to the human roster. The most optimistic estimate is that before the end of this century, our population will double to around 13 billion. Is there any hope that we can feed 13 billion people? The United Nation's World Health Organization gives a guarded "yes-maybe". But how could we possibly do that? With traditional farm practices, we'll need twice as much agricultural land as we have today. We'll could drain wetlands, chop down forests, and plow under native grasslands. The widespread conversion of natural habitat into farmland would exacerbate the loss of other valuable species. Fortunately there is genetic engineering, which could enable us to feed twice as many people on currently existing farmland. That is because only half of the crops grown ever make it to market. The other half is consumed by pests and diseases. Modern farmers rely on pesticides, which are expensive and potentially unhealthy to both people and ecosystems. But with genetic engineering, we can develop plant varieties that are themselves resistant to both pests and diseases. Additionally with genetic engineering, specialized crops can be developed that thrive in exotic environments. We could grow wheat in Africa and bananas in Virginia, thus eliminating transportation costs and distribution problems. Additionally, we can improve the nutrient content, taste and appearance of some foods through genetic engineering. Could this be risky? Of course it may, but facing danger is what we as a species are equipped to do. When challenges to survival are present, humans apply brainpower. We use intelligence to design solutions. Modern scientists develop experiments to test innovations in controlled conditions. We assess the options and choose the safer path. Compare that process to evolution driven by natural selection. Historically evolution was blind and random. But humans are a species with the power of intellectual vision. We have an ability to plan with reason, and the ability to understand the implications of our actions. We not only know how evolution works but we can control it. We see the world's needs, we know our alternatives and we can choose the future. The next species appearing on earth will be derived purposefully as a result of human needs.. It is our destiny to determine our own purpose. Are we playing God? No, I think not. We're way beyond that. We are becoming one with God.

August 2004

Biotech Safety

Jack Harper

How safe is biotechnology for you and the environment? Some 70-75% of processed food in the United States contains some genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. Since food manufacturers in the U.S. do not have to label their products as containing GE food, its extent in the food supply is not known precisely. GE food originates from biotech corn, soybeans, cotton, tomatoes, papaya, squash, and canola. We eat GE ingredients in tortillas, chips, hotdogs, bread, muffins, corn meal, corn syrup, and soft drinks. For cooking and baking we use GE canola and cotton seed oil. The transgenes in GE food crops help protect corn and cotton with the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) natural insecticide; give soybeans, corn, canola, and cotton tolerance for particular herbicides; slow tomato ripening; and protect papaya and squash from certain viruses. Other biotech foods that have completed voluntary consultation at the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 include rice, cantaloupe, sugar beet, flax, potato, and radicchio.

In the 10 years that millions of Americans have eaten GE food, no ill effects have become apparent. However, there has been no monitoring of the widespread use of GE food, though food manufacturers have conducted short term animal studies. In the processing of many biotech ingredients, the genes that are spliced into the plant and the resulting proteins from those genes are largely removed. Health concerns for GE food include the possibility of new allergens or toxins and unexpected interactions due to the transferred genetic material. Over 40 countries do not permit biotech food. The European Union (EU) requires the labeling and traceability of GE food, seed, and plants. The U.S. considers this EU requirement to be a virtual moratorium on its GE exports. To avoid eating GE food in the U.S. the best choice is food labeled as organic, even though traces of GE food may occur.

Among the environmental risks of GE food crops are the production of 'superweeds', the negative impact on wildlife including beneficial insects, and the contamination of conventional crops:

'Superweeds' resistant to several pesticides caused by the accidental crosses between neighboring canola crops bred to resist different herbicides have been reported in Canada. These 'superweeds' are difficult to eradicate without resorting to stronger herbicides. They can only be prevented if the plantings are widely dispersed.

Genetically engineered crops of canola and sugar beet in a large scale 4 year study on 280 fields in Great Britain have shown that wildlife was negatively impacted by the pesticides required. Monsanto, the largest producer of GE crops, announced its withdrawal from the European cereal seed business the day before the release of the report on the GE trial plantings.

Extinction of native species by GE species loosed in the wild has been demonstrated in the laboratory using fish genetically altered for faster growth. Purdue scientists found that the GE Japanese medaka had greater mating success than its native competitor but produced offspring with poor survival rates. The initial success of this GE fish would ultimately result in the extinction of the wild species.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that lab tests of traditional varieties of corn, soybeans, and canola in the U.S. indicate that up to 1% of individual seeds and more than half the batches of seeds were contaminated with DNA sequences from GE varieties. Although these food crops were considered safe, plant pathologist Jane Rissler states, "Until we know otherwise, it is prudent to assume that engineered sequences originating in any crop - including genes from crops engineered to produce drugs, plastics and vaccines - could potentially contaminate the seed supply."

Environmental concerns about 'pharma' crops grown to produce pharmaceuticals surfaced in 2002 with the tainting of soybeans by a pharma crop for an experimental pig vaccine by a Texas biotech company. Aside from a stiff fine, Prodigene must pay $3 million for the destruction of soybeans contaminated with the pig vaccine. Fortunately the soybeans had not entered the human food supply. Two-thirds of pharma crop applications to USDA for the period May 2003 to April 2004 were for gene transfer into food crops - corn, safflower, rice, Indian mustard, and barley - to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals.

Among pharma crop regulations recommended by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) include 1) public participation in the review of pharma crop applications and risk assessments; 2) crop containment so as not to damage the food supply or to persist dangerously in the environment; and 3) discouragement of food crop pharming. CSPI has also recommended that the FDA should conduct risk assessments of each pharma crop both before and after commercialization to prevent contamination of the food supply.

The challenge for biotechnology is to produce food of better quality and quantity, inexpensive drugs, and industrial chemicals without damaging the food supply, human health, wildlife, and natural ecosystems. According to its critics, the biotech industry has inadequate government testing and oversight, lack of public participation, incomplete biotech crop containment measures and enforcement, and the questionable use of food crops to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals.

July 2004

Vegetarianism

Jack Harper

According to a recent Harris poll, 2.8% of Americans eat no meat, poultry, or seafood. They are vegetarians. Half of them are vegans who eat no animal products such as milk, butter, cheese, or eggs. Vegetarian offerings have mushroomed in recent years at local food stores, even at fast food outlets.

Vegetarians reap many health advantages. They are less likely to be overweight, have high blood pressure, die of heart disease, have type 2 diabetes, or have colorectal or lung cancer. The Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that diets rich in fruits and vegetables afford reduced cancer risk. Aside from seeking better health, some vegetarians have been motivated by environmental concerns, world hunger, animal cruelty, religion, and culture.

Protein is easily acquired by eating a variety of vegetables, especially from the grains and the legumes which have complementary arrays of amino acids. Dietary protein enhancement evolved in several world cultures producing diet combinations such as beans and tortillas, rice and soy sauce, and milk and cereal. Since vitamin B-12 is obtained only from animal products, vegans must have an assured source, such as cereals and soy milk fortified with B-12.

Testimonials:
"Although I occasionally eat eggs and fish I consider myself vegetarian. I started cutting down on meat when I lived in England in 1991. I received a lot of support because there were many students who were vegetarians. Many restaurants over there had vegetarian selections and grocery stores carried veggie burgers and other meat alternatives.

When I came back to the states I went back to eating meat for a while simply because it was a hassle trying to find alternative meat free products that tasted good not to mention the difficulty of my family accepting and accommodating me.

After a couple of years, my husband and I cut out all red meat and pork/ham and just ate chicken, eggs and fish for protein. We were happy to see that supermarkets started carrying better tasting vegetarian selections such as Morning Star Farms, Boca Burgers, Chicken free nuggets, smart dogs, Quorm, etc.

When there was an Avian virus outbreak a few years ago we decided to give up chicken. It was hard at first because we loved the taste of chicken but meat free chicken patties helped us get through it.

We do not tell people that we don't eat meat unless we are invited to someone's house for dinner. We get mixed reactions when we mention it. Some get defensive about why they eat meat, others are very accepting. Some have almost apologized for their meat eating while others have said they have cut down on read meat.

I do not judge people who eat meat. I encourage people to try alternative products. I have fooled friends who thought we were serving them chopped meat when it was really veggie crumbles in their tacos or sloppy joe's For those who just have no interest in cutting down on meat I encourage them to buy meat from Fresh Fields where the animals were treated well and killed humanely.

At the moment, we are raising our daughter as a "lacto-ovo " vegetarian. That means, eggs and fish as the source of protein. When she is old enough to go out with her friends to eat, it will be her decision. I only hope it will be easier for her to be a vegetarian when she is in school. I hope they will offer vegetarian alternatives which was unheard of when I was a kid. " - Kimberly Medici

"I became a total vegan (no animal protein at all) in February of 2003 for medical reasons while receiving medical care at an alternative medical setting in California. My doctors here, while not acknowledging that I have benefited from this approach, have been quick to say that I "had better keep up whatever you have been doing." I must confess that I feel better and have
more energy when I totally follow a vegan diet. When I cheat, my body rebels and I look forward to getting back on my strict and narrow menu which emulates that of primitive man. According to TrueNorth, a Natural Hygienist Center where I received my treatment, people today have the diseases of medieval kings, example, Henry VIII. Our body is still meant to eat
vegetables and other simple fare. Primitive man was not good at killing animals and mostly ate the leftovers of bigger mammals.

I would love to start a pot luck Vegetarian Dinner Club at BRUU where we can exchange foods, recipes and support for breaking the addiction to today's rich foods." - Ellen PercyMiller

"A quarter century ago after my blood pressure went sky high leading to a benign stroke did I become a vegetarian, plus fish twice weekly. Without the beef, chicken, pork, and salt, and with more exercise, my cholesterol went off the charts low and my blood pressure returned to the nominal range.

How does it feel to be a vegetarian? Light, and full of energy. The pounds melted away, and youthful energies returned. Was it hard to get started? There was a lot of back and forthing the first two years, but eventually I found that a wholegrain-based diet rich in a variety of legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables with organic, skim dairy products was quite satisfying.

How do I eat at social events and while traveling? Carefully and with aforethought. At social events I try assiduously to stick to my diet. Sometimes I eat something before hand or bring my own vegetarian contribution. While on the road and especially in foreign countries, I order saltless, vegetarian meals. Responses from the kitchen are mixed. In one Latin country the chef was heard to say, "Que lastima!" or "What a pity!", perhaps thinking that I must be on death's door.

In the 90's we took a turn around Europe, eating only at vegetarian restaurants from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. I had never feasted so well. The variety and tastes of vegetarian offerings is staggering. Culinary adventures await. Enjoy!" - Jack Harper

June 2004

Organic Food Shopping

Jack Harper

Organic food sales have continued to surge ahead at a yearly 20% growth rate and at lower prices since our Green Corner report of April 2003. Consumer concern over pesticides has in part stimulated this demand. The Pesticide Action Network announced on May 12, 2004, that many Americans have unsafe levels of pesticides in their bodies, based on a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Groups in danger include women, children, and Mexican Americans. Here are observations on shopping for organic food at local area stores from our members:

"Organic food can be found at several chain supermarkets. It is a matter of looking for organic foods at the store and asking store managers what is available. In the past several months I have discovered at Safeway - Shade Grown Coffee and Organic Bread (store brand) WITHOUT high fructose corn syrup in the ingredients. Check out the line of Annie's Dressings. They taste great and are made from natural ingredients. I make a point of thanking the store manager for carrying organic products. You can pick up a post card at a Safeway store to send to Safeway Headquarters letting them know that you are happy that they are carrying organic foods." - Mary Sherman

Testimonials
"I used to think that I could not afford to shop for organic produce because it is much more expensive than the ordinary stuff offered at the grocery store. Lately, however, I have begun to see that it does not have to be this way. I have been buying much less prepared and processed food. Instead I get almost exclusively raw and unadulterated food to fulfill a more healthy eating style that promotes weight loss and improves health. When I compare my grocery bills I find that it is actually cheaper to eat this way. So how does the cost of organic foods compare to the other stuff? A good example is this: I buy a smaller container of strawberries that are organically grown instead of the larger container that isn't although the cost is the same for both. If I spend the same amount of money on the larger container I receive more quantity for my money but the reality is that I probably would have ended up throwing away some of it because it was more than I knew I and my family would eat. So for me the value is in the quality, not the quantity and the money I spend is essentially the same." - Susie Eastridge

"Good news for those of you who aren't vegetarians, are horrified to eat meat that's been factory farmed but don't have time for the trek to a Whole Foods. You can get farm raised pork from the farmer at the Thu farmers market in Manassas. I'd better warn you that this meat is tougher than the grocery store stuff because these hogs aren't confined to pens too small to turn around in and actually get to move around and use their muscles so they need to be cooked slow with moist heat. He also has wonderful sage sausage that hardly shrinks at all and bacon for your summer BLT's. The farmers market has good lettuce and tomatoes too, not always organic but definitely fresh and locally grown." - Helen Walter

"Organic Weed Killer? -- Our lawn care guy recently assured me that the weed killer he wanted to use would not hurt our dog because it is organic. I called their office and was also told it was "all organic". When I told her I had a hard time understanding how weed killer could be organic, she said the owner would call back to explain. I've never heard from him." - Bonny Shilton

"I've been able to find at least small sections of organic produce in most of the local stores, but the selection is usually limited and of course, prices are high. There is a new Shopper's Food Warehouse in Gainesville that has a fair selection of organic produce, and they even have a special section for organic boxed/canned foods. I think the Holy Grail of organic foods though, would have to be the new Wegman's in Sterling. They have a huge selection of organic foods in the produce & freezer sections as well as cans/boxes/jars on the shelves. Some organic health/beauty products as well. Hope this helps!" - Jennie Lockhart

"I've had the most success with organic food at Whole Foods, where they're not only organic but extremely delicious. Here's a list of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables-- it might be helpful to list them (from www.foodnews.org)". - Molly Lazar

12 Most Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Cherries
• Imported Greens
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Red Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries

12 Least Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn (sweet)
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Peas (sweet)

"My reflections concern the struggles of the small business health food stores vs. the mega-stores such as Fresh Fields and Wegman's and even the regular food stores. While I enjoy shopping at my local Healthways, I see more and more organic materials at Shoppers Food Warehouse and other "traditional" supermarkets and find myself picking up things there rather than making the special trip to the end of the strip mall and buying at Healthways. So while I'm part of the problem, I still attempt to focus on shopping as much as possible at my local neighborhood health food store." - Jan Cook

"We buy most of our organic food from Whole Foods and some from Trader Joes. To minimize exposure to growth hormones we buy organic milk, eggs, cheese, sausage, and chicken. To avoid pesticide and fungicide residues we buy organic nuts, seeds, brown and powdered sugar, coffee, and peanut butter. At times we buy fresh organic fruit and vegetables. We also have subscribed to two local organic farms. Organic food is often pricey but prices have been edging down and the offerings are increasing." - Jack and O.G. Harper

May 2004

It's a Time to be Vigilant

Larry Underwood

On the face of it, these are hard times for those interested in the environment. Our government, if not our society, is distracted by wars on Iraq, drugs, terrorists, and the like.
Not only are environmental issues on the back burner, but the fire under the pot seems downright cold. Still, and somewhat surprisingly, there have been successes:

1. Last November most Senate Democrats working with moderate Republicans blocked the passage of the energy bill by filibuster. The bill was defeated by a thin margin of only two votes.

2. After more than a decade of consideration and hundreds of thousands of public comments, the USDA implemented strong federal organic standards. Just a few months after the standards went into effect, Congressman Nathan Deal attached a last-minute rider to the omnibus appropriations bill that was signed into law February 20th. The rider allowed poultry and livestock producers to use non-organic feed, but still label their products as organic. Fortunately, thanks to your emails, an amendment was quickly
introduced and approved that rescinded this insidious rider.

3. Last January the EPA proposed revising provisions of the Clean Water Act that protected thousands of miles of ponds, streams, wetlands and watersheds. The change would have opened large areas of wetlands habitat to development. After an outpouring of protest to the EPA, including thousands of phone calls, letters, and e-mails from concerned people across the nation the EPA abandoned the proposal

4. Last spring, the U.S. Senate voted again to reject oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge. Pressures from the oil industry to drill on the refuge are unrelenting, even though it's proven oil reserves would supply our nation's energy needs
for only about six months. Balancing the energy reserves are the refuge's value to wildlife. Sometimes called "America's Serengeti," the refuge is home to polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, millions of migratory birds, caribou and hundreds of other species. Millions of Americans feel, and Congress appears to agree, that Arctic wildlife are more impor-
tant than six months worth of oil.

5. A federal appeals court recently reinstated legal protections for 58.5 million acres of wild national forest lands by reversing an injunction against the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The rule, which had banned most road building and logging in the remaining undeveloped portions of the 191-million-acre National Forest System, had been chal-
lenged by Boise Cascade and the state of Idaho. There originally had been over 600 hearings on this issue in which more than 1 million Americans submitted comments supporting the original Roadless Rule. This unprecedented show of public support was key in the court's decision.

So, what is the commonality in all these success stories? Public involvement. In each of the above cases. millions of America attended publicv hearings. and wrote letters, sent e-mails, made phone calls and paid visits to their Congressmen and federal agencies, and they were successful. True, these are hard times for environmentalists. But it is not the time to be disheartened. Instead, it is the time for all of us to be vigilant, to be informed, and, most importantly, to be involved.

April 2004

The Good Life

Jack Harper

"Two chickens in every pot and a car in every garage...", offered presidential candidate Herbert Hoover in 1928. Is the "good life" today owning a large house for all your acquisitions and driving a luxury car? Or is the "good life" more intangible -- love, family time, friendships, and community interaction?

Does our consumer society make us happy?
Not according to psychologist David G. Myers whose research indicates that increasing income has not resulted in greater happiness. The real income of the average American has more than doubled since 1957 making possible cars for every family member, larger houses, personal computers, and electronic entertainment. In this period of expanding consumption those who are "very happy" have decreased from 35% to 32% in polling by the National Opinion Research Center. The World Values Survey indicates that happiness correlates with income up to about $13,000 per person, after which increased happiness is only marginally due to additional income. Psychologist Harry Helson explains that we adaptable humans base our happiness on the accumulation of prior experiences. Lottery winners and paraplegics ultimately return to their individual baseline levels of happiness from euphoria on the one hand and depression on the other. Happiness is also relative to the attainments of others as evidenced by our temporary reactions to office promotions or the new Mercedes on the block. Twin studies show that half of our baseline levels of happiness may be genetic. Happiness also may have a cultural component. In the World Values Survey Hispanics were reported to be among the happiest with Asians among the least happy.

Is our consumer society dysfunctional?
The global consumer society is becoming unhealthy and dysfunctional resulting in the destruction and deterioration of ecosystems, diminished air and water quality, and climate change. The high levels of consumption in the Western world and Japan are unsustainable. Overconsumption has led to an obesity rate of 25% in the United States and a decline in social health. As the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen, the Index of Social Health and the Living Planet Index have fallen over the last 30 years. Amory and L. Hunter Lovins and Paul Hawken have estimated that these and other waste byproducts of the consumer society, including crime and time lost in traffic, amount to about 22% of GDP.

What is the "good life"?
Many seek more meaningful and fulfilling lives with loving families, close-knit friends, and community ties. We would like the economic system to support rather than thwart our personal objectives. A better quality of life would require that our employment and associated transportation leave plenty of time for family and friends, that we live in a people-centered community affording social interaction, and ready access to natural places. The Well-being Index by Robert Prescott-Allen ranks 180 countries by indicators of health, population, wealth, knowledge, community, governance, equity, land, water, air, species, and resource use. The Scandinavian countries rank first in well being, whereas the United States is at 29th place In part this lower ranking is due to urban sprawl which reduces family time, human connectivity, and community participation. Not only is happiness increased by greater social connectivity according to Harvard Professor Robert Putnam but health can be significantly improved as well as the economy and environment. Countries that focus on well being meet the basic needs of everyone in terms of food, health care, education, environment, and security.

How do we reach the "good life"?
Moving from a consumer-oriented society to one invested in the quality of life will require changes to infrastructure, resource policies, production, consumption patterns, values, and perceptions. Pedestrian-friendly urban design could promote human interaction allowing easy access for work, entertainment, shopping, services, the arts, and sports. Natural areas should be close at hand for enjoyment and to stimulate nature conservation. Transportation could be organized to save commuters time for life-enhancing activities. More environmentally sound products, food, and energy choices could be fostered by governmental policy initiatives. Redesigning manufacturing for "cradle-to-cradle" production envisioned by William McDonough and Michael Braungart would mimic the natural world by reusing all waste, thus relieving demands on the natural resource base and environmental stress New values and perceptions based on quality-of-life objectives would have to be adopted by the public, industry, and government to make the transition possible. This difficult and wrenching transformation would not only benefit the human condition and the biosphere but lend dignity and purposefulness to our lives.

March 2004

Our Disappearing Birds

Jack Harper

In Virginia 71% of neotropical migratory songbirds have declined over a ten-year period. Our backyard birds, such as the Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush, and Ovenbird, winter in Central and South America where habitats are being taken by a mushrooming human population for living space and livelihoods. When the songbirds return to North America in springtime, they find a landscape made more inhospitable by habitat destruction and fragmentation caused by urban sprawl, infrastructure, and intensive agriculture and silviculture. Fairfax County lost 69% of its forest cover between 1980 and 1995.

Aside from the sheer enjoyment that birds bring us, they provide vital ecosystem services including seed dispersal, insect and rodent suppression, and pollination. Birds by their choice or rejection of habitats serve as sensitive environmental indicators giving us early warnings of ecosystems in trouble.

During this century more than 1600 out of 9800 bird species will be threatened with extinction. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to birds. Half the world's forests have been taken for farming, logging, and settlements. The loss of all but 4% of native grasslands in the United States has caused a steady decline of 15 out of 28 grassland bird species. Half of the wetlands in the U.S. providing nesting and stopover sites for migrating birds have been lost.

The second major threat to birds is hunting and capture including the billion dollar bushmeat trade in Africa. Unregulated hunting of migratory birds in the flyways between Africa and Europe and the illegal hunting of Chinese songbirds take millions of birds each year. The multi-billion dollar wild bird trade in Latin America may ultimately cause the demise of many parrot species.

Exotic plants and animals are the third major cause of bird declines. Out of 128 recorded bird extinctions 119 have been on islands with introduced biota. As many as a billion birds are killed each year in the United States by the 40 million house cats allowed to roam freely and the 60-100 million feral cats.

To accelerate bird conservation Bird Life International has identified 7000 important bird areas and 218 endemic bird areas. Our USDA has set aside 39 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program which will aid in the protection of many bird species. Birder driving routes have been established in Florida, Texas, and many Canadian provinces. The rapidly growing ecotourism industry is becoming an important stimulus for international bird conservation.

How you can help
Create a backyard refuge: Plant native plants and trees to supply food and cover for birds. Provide a water supply, preferably dripping or running water. Avoid lawn monocultures supported by pesticides and herbicides detrimental to birds. Sign up for the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat program.

Reign in those cats: Cats must not be permitted to roam freely. Feral cats should be reported to animal control officials.

Prevent bird-window collisions: Tape life-size hawk cutouts to large windows that are subject to bird collisions.

Get Involved:
Go birding with the local Audubon Society, http://www.fairfaxaudubon.org/. Participate in the Christmas Bird Count, the Breeding Bird Survey, or the North American Migration Count. Get to know your backyard birds through bird guides and courses.

February 2004

The State of Creation, 2004

Jack Harper

Christians are deeply concerned about Creation. In a message on Creation Pope John Paul II has stated, "Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the earth as we have in the past." The Evangelical Environmental Network states that many environmental degradations are "signs that we are pressing against the finite limits God has set for Creation". Just what is the state of Creation, the biosphere, in 2004? From science journals, government agencies, and think tanks emerges a disturbing picture.

We have caused a global environmental decline. Nearly all ecosystems have been reduced, fragmented, or damaged. One half of original forest cover and more than half of the world's wetlands are gone. Ninety percent of all large fish species such as cod, tuna, and flounder have been fished out. Ten to twenty percent of croplands and 70% of rangelands have been degraded. The Living Planet Index of the international World Wildlife Fund has declined 35% since 1970.

We are in the midst of the sixth major extinction of plants and animals, caused by habitat destruction, earth warming, alien species, toxic pollutants, and hunting. The present extinction rate is more than 1000 times the background rate according to Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson. Biologists predict that more than half of all the earth's plants and animal species may be extinct by the end of the century. Twenty-five percent of mammals, 12% of birds, and 25% of freshwater species are already threatened with extinction. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are not expected to live in the wild more than a few decades because of logging and the bush meat trade. As a stopgap measure to conserve vital ecosystems, E.O. Wilson has proposed that $28 billion could buy up the 18 biodiversity “hot spots” around the world.

The massive consumer economy of the United States has not led to improved social health over the last 30 years as shown by Fordham University's measures of income inequity, teen suicide, poverty, and lack of health insurance. The United States ranks last among industrial countries on the United Nation's Human Poverty Index, based on poverty, functional illiteracy, social inclusion, and longevity.

Global environmental deterioration can be laid at the feet of the ever-expanding world economic system and a burgeoning consumer culture, both requiring radical changes to reach sustainability. No country has yet reached sustainability, although Finland leads the way, with Haiti and the United Arab Emirates being last, according to a recent study of Columbia and Yale Universities. The United States ranks 51st in terms of sustainability due to massive atmospheric pollution, waste and consumption. We need to recognize that the growing Gross National Product, a measure of all goods and services, is not a measure of environmental or social well being. When environmental and societal costs are subtracted from the GNP, the resulting Genuine Progress Indicator shows a level or negative trend since the 1970's.

To reach sustainability will require vast, wrenching changes to the world economic system and to an entrenched consumer culture. Industrial processes need to be redesigned as analogues to ecosystems which reuse waste byproducts. Organic and toxic waste streams need to be separated. Many countries already have producer responsibility laws for autos, batteries, tires, electrical equipment, and packaging. Manufactured goods would be returned to the producers for disassembly and recycling.

Incentives for the use of renewable energy and energy conservation as well as taxes on the use of fossil fuels similar to the German legislation of 1999 would address atmospheric pollution. Promotion and financing of public transit would reduce dependence on automobiles. Green purchasing laws for government agencies would spur green product development. Personal food choices for a sound environment would help soils, water, and air quality, energy conservation, and ecosystems. These are but a few of the many avenues toward sustainability.

Ervin Laszlo, systems and evolutionary theorist, believes that our civilization is entering a period of instability or macroshift which will lead to either institutional collapse or sustainability, that is, no further societal or ecosystem degradation. World system sustainability would require a radical shift in the way we think about the world, a new worldview, a new story line. Clearly we need a planetary ethic. We must change from planetary destroyer to planetary ethicist. Ervin Laszlo’s planetary ethic requires that all people in the world community live in dignity and freedom without destroying each other’s livelihood, culture, society, or environment

The well being of Creation, of the biosphere, is a moral issue for church goers practicing many religions. The National Religious Partnership for the Environment representing over 100 million Christians and Jews has begun lobbying efforts to effect Congressional debate. These are welcome developments but not yet the groundswell needed for major cultural change.

January 2004

Environmental Catastrophe in Vietnam

Jack Harper

The 'American War' (1962-1975), as Vietnamese call it, left this third world country devastated environmentally. This was not an accident of war but a deliberate strategy to deny the enemy food and forest cover through the use of over 90 million kilograms of defoliants such as Agent Orange. The United States disrupted both the natural and human ecology on a massive scale, causing destruction of crops and the displacement of people. More bombs were dropped on South Vietnam than by all sides in World War II. 'Rome Ploughs', large bulldozers with sharpened blades linked by huge chains, uprooted forests.

Consequences of Environmental Warfare
Agent Orange, sprayed on about 10% of South Vietnam, contained the extremely toxic impurity, dioxin, said to be carcinogenic and teratogenic. In those areas sprayed, there have been tens of thousands of grotesquely deformed infants and the high incidence of liver cancer, in particular. The first generation after the war had the greatest number of birth defects; the second generation has fewer birth defects, but just as monstrous. High levels of dioxin appeared in the food supply in a year 2000 study which sampled fish, chicken, pork, duck, and beef in the market at Bien Hoa City, near Ho Chi Minh City. The residents tested at Bien Hoa also had high levels of dioxin.

Spraying affected 43% of the cultivated area, destroyed 70% of the south's coconut plantations, 44% of forest wealth, and 60% of rubber plantations. It cannot be assumed that these defoliated areas will be naturally regenerated. Because of the thin tropical soils and high rates of leaching, pioneer replacement vegetation may be unwanted scrub vegetation. Without trees and other vegetation to hold the soils, runoff has accelerated resulting in increased erosion, flooding in summer, and drought in winter. The 10-15 million bomb craters have provided habitat for mosquitoes resulting in the increased presence of malaria. Shrapnel imbedded in sawlogs remains a forest industry hazard.

Fatalities as a result of landmine and unexploded ordnance amount to about 40,000 since the war ended in 1975. That is six per day, on average. There are estimated to be 3 million landmines and 350,000 tons of unexploded ordnance in Vietnam. Although the Vietnamese Army cleared most of these hazardous materials from the surface after the war, the rest lies buried a few inches beneath the surface. It is often uncovered by ploughing, floods, or construction work. Cluster bombs which are about the size of tennis balls and M-79 grenades, after years of weathering, appear like rocks or dirt clods. Many school children have died or lost limbs when they came into contact with these innocuous objects.

Projects to Save Lives and Ease Suffering
Project Renew, a joint effort of the government of Quang Tri Province and NGO's including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, began in 2001 as a pilot project to save lives and limit injuries from the large number of landmines and unexplored ordnance found in this one district near the DMZ (demilitarized zone) which was the scene of heavy fighting during the war. This Vietnamese-managed project returns lands to the people for safe and productive use through demining and the marking of dangerous areas, education of children and adults, and the support of individuals and families burdened by disfigurement. So far the Vietnam Army has cleared the surface of 55% of the district and international NGO's have cleared an additional 0.2%. Remaining to be cleared in this one district is 45% of the land area. Education of the children and adults has been very effective in reducing deaths and injuries from 252 on average every year since 1975 to 38 in 2002. TV spots are broadcast warning viewers about the hazards of unexploded ordnance. Parades, meetings, art contests, and social events are held in support of the educational effort. Victims and their families are being helped with an experimental program to train them in mushroom production at their rural residences. We spoke with victims and their families during our tour with Global Exchange in October of 2003.

Friendship Village on the outskirts of Hanoi cares for children and adults whose severe disabilities are attributed to the effects of Agent Orange. Now in operation for five years, some 100 children and 40 adults are being treated in a complex including clinics, residences, and classrooms. Vietnam veteran George Mizo and the Vietnam Veterans Association began the project, now funded in part by international NGO's and the Vietnam government. In our visit to Friendship Village we met many children, some with severe deficits including congenital deformities and loss of sight and/or hearing. We also visited a class of older children learning trades. The children and adults at Friendship village represent just a few of the many thousands of Vietnamese who suffer from such disabilities.

How You Can Help
To help clear landmines and educate Vietnamese children and adults about the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance, you can contribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, www.vmf.org, supporting Project Renew. Your donations to Unicef and Oxfam will also go in part to Project Renew and minefield clearance in other countries.

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