Ambassador?

A Comprehensive Guide to Sustainability

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Our newest design for the vertical garden to be installed at the Howlett Hall Green Roof. Soon to be the first vertical garden at Ohio State and any Big10 Campus

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Seeds of suicide and slavery versus seeds of life and freedom

Contrary to its claims, Monsanto's monopoly on seeds in India are the root cause behind the sharp increase in suicides.

I did not have much of an opinion in regard to GMO's previous to this article, but I did have a latent burning sensation within myself whenever the word "Monsanto" was mentioned (however uninformed it might have been). This article does a great job of spelling out the realities of GM agricultural technology and seed sovereignty within the largest developing country: India. 

The question I asked myself after reading the article was:

How are intellectual property rights being used internationally? Can patents be marketed themselves be more profitable than the good/ technology they accompany?

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GIS helps us better understand our world so we can meet global challenges. By applying what we know of science and GIS to what we do not know, we can get to what we really need to know - how to enhance quality of life and achieve a better future. These issues are spatial in nature and require spatial tools and spatial thinking. Esri's Ahmed Abukhater argues that GIS is a key tool for planners as they plan for and with people.

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Keep it up Columbus!

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People Based Developmental Policy: The answer to Squatter Settlements?

People or place-based policy? It has been a highly debated topic in economic, political, and social development. Where does change come from? Lets look at the US Occupation of Iraq: Is it possible to implement democracy as an exogenous force? Nope. The all-powerful hand of the United States Military combined with the shining beacon of freedom that is Democracy: soon to collapse close after the withdrawal of physical enforcement. Change must be inspired from within, and to put it in the terms of Mahatma Gandhi, “Independence must begin at the bottom... Every village has to be self-sustained and capable of managing its own affairs even to the extent of defending itself against the whole World”. Gandhi recognized the importance of self-empowerment, in opposition to the Colonizing super powers of Britain (or the Democratic US), and the fact that Indian peasants are perfectly capable of managing their own affairs.

External forces fail to instill self-sustaining innovation, and development policies should act synonymously. Historically, large scale developmental policies have disempowered citizens, especially rural peoples—periphery populations suffering the most from poverty, hunger, gender equality, and chronic disease— as they are adversely affected by paramount national and international policies. Based upon a meticulous research done by experts whom are restricted to their own theoretical and statistical barriers, having no first hand experience or significant public opinion, policies exclude target populations unintentionally.

In contingency to Dr. Satterthwaite, I think miniaturized investments to Local communities are a great way to directly improve living standards, as locals have proved to have efficient management skills regardless of being labeled "uneducated" by the Developed World. And possibly the most important piece of information of the video, the International Slum Dwellers Association has connected the minds of millions and given the Slums a powerful voice, providing self-confidence and self-reliance that is essential for development.

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In regard to hydraulic fracturing, we have an even less lucrative, but equally powerful industry encroaching on the rights of civilians. After five years of protest the Coca-Cola plant was finally brought to justice, charged with contaminating ground water with Cadmium effluent, but not until ground water was polluted indefinitely. In the case of Hydraulic Fracturing in the US, activism is still being suppressed by the overwhelming influence of big business. But it took locals in Southern India five years! Keep it up, eventually your voice can be heard. 

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Can't get enough

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Foxfire Moss

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I'm sure everyone has heard about the Hydraulic Fracturing debate. Natural gas, opposed to fossil fuels, has been exalted by both the Bush and Obama presidencies as a solution for America's energy crisis, allowing America to be 100% energy independent by 2025. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, there is a lot that has been covered up, hidden from the public. Aside from the unreleased and modified EPA tests on drinking water though out many of the communities that have been "fracked", or fucked so to speak, the government plans to continue their shenanigans with these LNG import/export terminals. Essentially, each terminal is a billion dollar project, but the growing energy market in Asia, China especially, has the potential to be an infinite source of income for the US. Thus, the "clean" products of hydro fracking, which are supposed to provide the US with all of its energy needs, are potentially going to be shipped off elsewhere for profits. If this was to happen domestic fuel prices would rise 50%, opposed to decreasing drastically like the Obama and Bush administrations promised. I'm sure that everyone knows of the environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing , but this kind of stuff is what no one ever mentions. This cannot happen! And neither should the drilling to begin with. Exporting natural gas is not the solution to our economic turmoil. Putting the health of locals within drilling areas is not worth it. This is America. I have the right to live on my property without big name oil companies encroaching on my land and my basic privileges, like safe drinking water. 

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