Friday Five: October 3, 2014

Over a hundred years ago, we reversed the flow of the Chicago River because we realized that we couldn't throw our excrement and industrial waste into our waterways without consequences. We still have not completely learned our lesson.
A rising tide of contaminants
"Caffeine drifted through the river water, testament to local consumption of everything from coffee to energy drinks. There were relatively high levels of acetaminophen, the over-the-counter painkiller. Acetaminophen causes liver damage in humans at high doses; no one knows what it does to fish."

We have not found a good way to account for the economic value of our natural systems. Even without those significant benefits, our natural spaces create significant economic value.
Clean water drives economic growth
"We know clean water is a health priority, but it's also an economic necessity. Our communities, schools, businesses, and farms can't run without it. A cleaner Boston Harbor has meant higher property values, more shipping, and more jobs. In 2012, more than 50,000 jobs in Boston were tied to port activity -- from cargo and seafood processing to cruises and harbor tours."

There used to be a time when the conservative policy was to protect open space because of the value it brings. Nowadays, it seems like we have lost the common sense that led to that policy.
Protecting public lands is good policy
"For decades politicians have respected this love of nature and acted to protect the places that people love. Every president since the signing of the Wilderness Act 50 years ago has signed wilderness legislation; more than 120 national monuments have been designated, with almost one-third going on to gain additional protections as part of our National Park System through Congressional action; and poll after poll has shown that voters favor those that support public lands."

The carbon bubble is real and the next big shock to our world economy. It's a lose-lose situation that we have backed ourselves into, and one that will take immediate action.
China's coal ban ruffles industry
"China has announced it will cease the import and local sale of low-grade thermal coal, which is primarily used for heating and power generation, in key coastal regions starting January 2015. The news set in motion a wave of upset and speculation across the coal industry as conflicting media reports were issued concerning the ban’s breadth and potential impact."

Because when we start changing gravity (no matter how slightly), that should be a bit of a wake-up call.
Antarctic ice melt causes small shift in gravity
"Though we all learned in high school physics that gravity is a constant, it actually varies slightly depending on where you are on the Earth’s surface and the density of the rock (or, in this case, ice) beneath your feet. During a four-year mission, the ESA satellite mapped these changes in unprecedented detail and was able to detect a significant decrease in the region of Antarctica where land ice is melting fastest."

Happy Friday!