Plan B Ch. 2

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Without irrigation water, and with sparse rainfall, the highly productive land owned by these farmers is wasteland (Brown, 43).

I agree that the significant decrease in irrigation water levels and the prevalence of dry season has negatively impacted the agricultural industry. The average field of grain requires thousands of water annually to allow for proper nutrient development and growth. Without an ample supply of water, the crops will lose their nutrients and die.The thousands of acres of land reserved for farming would become desert-like. The soil would be infertile and little to no plant life would be able to grow. Farmers would have to relocate to another area of land because the soil would need time to regain the proper nutrients needed to support crops.

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The shrinkage in cropland per person not only threatens livelihoods; in largely subsistence societies,  it threatens survival itself (Brown, 44).

The shortage of cropland results in an overall shortage of food. This affects the surrounding community because food and water are essential for life. Crops are directly dependent on water for both growth and nutrition. The increase in population throughout the world continues to make it harder to provide adequate amounts of food. Both land and water supplies cannot grow at the same speed as population growth to sustain life. In these cases, grains must be imported from other parts of the world to supply the population with adequate supplies of food.

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Overgrazing and overplowing are converting grassland and cropland into desert, putting farmer and herders in a war for survival (Brown, 45).

The key to successful land usage for agriculture is balance. Farmers and herders should never engage in overgrazing or overplowing because these practices negatively affect the fertility and sustainability of the land. Overplowing removes the vital nutrients that plants and animals use to grow. Another effect of overplowing is the increase in erosion. This leads to soil instability, which can result in flooding or a dust storm. Overgrazing depletes the land of its nutrients at a rate that is too fast to be replenished naturally. In order to eliminate this, herders should practice rotational grazing. This allows the grass and other plants sufficient time to regrow.

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Disagreements over the allocation of water among countries that share river systems is a common source of international political conflict, especially where populations are outgrowing the flow of the river (Brown, 47).

In times of crisis, countries with opposing ideas or political issues should set aside their conflicts in order to reach a solution that benefits everyone. Since the river is accessible to various members of the population, its resources should be shared by all. When it comes down to survival, everyone should be treated equally. Just like how animals come together to drink at the pond or lake, humans should be able to share the luxury of water with one another. In areas where the population has exceeded the carrying capacity, alternative sources of water should be accessed in order to support the need of the growing population. Keep in mind that this solution is only temporary.

Food Inc.

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One of the most eye opening scenes within the film Food Inc, was the segment on Tyson and Purdue chicken farms. Tyson and Purdue together make up the largest meat industry within the United States. Scientists and engineers have genetically redesigned chickens to grow larger breasts in almost half the time. Antibiotics and other supplements are put into the feed to localize most of the muscle and fat growth of the chicken around the breast meat. The demand for larger chicken breasts in many American households is driving this trend. On average, chickens currently live a little over a month before their breasts become too heavy for their legs to support. In theses case, chickens typically cannot walk so they remain seated in their own feces and urine. Growers have no voice when it comes to the treatment of industry raised chickens. One grower named Carroll stated, "It's like being a slave to the company!" Many growers have no choice because they risk losing their contract or being sued by the billion dollar meat industries of Tyson or Purdue. After Carroll's interview she was terminated by Purdue. I agree that chicken plays a key role in the diet of many Americans including myself. The demand is extremely high especially for larger cuts of meat. However, I think chickens should be grown in a clean outdoor environment and fed naturally without hormones or antibiotics. 

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Another alarming scene of the movie was the segment on E. coli  O157: H7, which is the cause of Enterohemorragic Gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea. This strain of E. coli is transmitted to humans with the consumption of contaminated food with feces. Within the cattle industry, cows are fed corn and antibiotics. This leads to large inorganic piles of feces that need to be relocated. Many farms fail to remove the feces so eventually the cows become covered in it. Runoff can cause the E. coli in the feces to spread to surrounding soil that is used for agriculture. This can inoculate fruits and vegetables leading to an E.coli epidemic. When it comes time to slaughtering, the E. coli can contaminate the meat if proper sanitation procedures are not followed. Since E. coli is naturally found in the gut flora of cows, the best way to keep this organism under control is to feed cows natural grass. The grass cleanses the lining of the intestines and nutrients from the feces are recycled into the soil. I think the problem of E. coli can be greatly reduced if meat farms took the time to keep their facilities clean. Also, if cows were fed naturally in open land the significance of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli would be reduced. 

Plan B: Ch.1

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"With business as usual, I see a combination of the projected growth population, the planned diversion of grain to produce fuel for cars, spreading shortages of irrigation water, and other trends combining to push the number of hungry people to 1.2 billion or more by 2015." (Brown, 4)

I agree that uncontrollable population growth and shortages of freshwater irrigation are going to continue to spike within the upcoming years. The poor and hungry are the first socioeconomic class of individuals that are affected by these changes. Over time, more and more people succumb to the shortage of resources and are forced to be without food and adequate supplies of water. This trend directly affects the entire Nation because there is no way to be both environmentally and economically efficient when poverty is present. Even leaders in market and trade are experiencing hardships. Homelessness is becoming a serious issue within the United States and continues to worsen over time. 

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Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest, puts it well: "At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product." (Brown, 15)

The countries of the World are focused more on gross domestic product instead of the consequences that will greatly affect future generations. The effect of these actions will continue to negatively harm the Earth and the economy unless everyone actively participates. Most people choose against sustainability because they are doubtful of its success. Change will not occur overnight nor will it happen over a few years. The Earth has taken a beating from human civilization for over two-thousand years so it's going to take a substantial amount of time and effort to restore the damage. This issue needs to be addressed promptly before it's too late to salvage vital resources.

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"The market does not respect the sustainable yield thresholds of natural systems." (Brown, 16)

I think the market is slowly coming around and beginning to focus more on environmental sustainability. More efficient products are becoming accessible to consumers at relatively average costs as opposed to previous years. Companies are also creating greater variations of efficient products for example LED light bulbs. When this technology first came out only a few manufacturing companies took the risk of producing these appliances. Now in 2015, almost all electrical lighting companies (GE, Sylvania, EnergyStar, etc.) are actively producing LEDs on a large scale. In terms of natural thresholds, the government has taken action by regulating fishing/hunting seasons to allow animals to repopulate and flourish. 

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"In addition to ignoring indirect costs, the market does not value nature's services." (Brown, 17)

The market doesn't necessarily ignore indirect costs, it just chooses to present consumers with a competitive price that encourages them to buy. Over time, the profit made from consumers allows for the market to reach equilibrium. As a Nation, the entire trade market is centered on the use of nature's resources. Land, water, air, and solar energy have served as the foundation of civilization on Earth. We continue to thrive on these resources because they are easily accessible. In terms of value, the market continues to thrive on environmental resources shared across the globe.