Public comments for public access to taxpayer research & watching for SOPA

U.S. friends, some of your tax dollars go towards congressional research.  Public access to that research--especially in the sciences (like health)--is important.  The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is taking insight and recommendations for open access to research. Please participate in making the groundwork for a better informed democracy before January 2nd!

http://www.taxpayeraccess.org/action/action_access/11-1117.shtml

Also, the internet may be viewed as a commons--it's worthwhile to note that the currently proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) will have several ramifications for how we may be able to use the internet, and influence the pacing of innovation worldwide.  I'm still trying to grasp the legislation, but the below video and overviews from CNET and International Business Times seem fairly useful and even in addressing the intentions behind the bill.  The video clearly persuades toward anti-SOPA advocacy:

(found: http://tech.pnosker.com/2011/12/26/sopa-pip-explained-godaddy-loses-21000-domains-and-stops-supporting-sopa/ which links to http://fightforthefuture.org/ where people can reach their representatives and make their statements).


http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272580/20111225/sopa-bill-2012-things-know-controversial-legislation.htm

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329001-281/how-sopa-would-affect-you-faq/

Update: SOPA to be voted on January 24th  (http://americancensorship.org/)

Science Café #1: The Coffee Connection to Birds and Biodiversity

Photos and notes from our first Science Café: "The Coffee Connection to Birds and Biodiversity":

Thanks to everyone who came out -- special thanks to everyone who helped set up/tear down, featured guest speaker Sara Yearout for sharing her senior research project and passion for sustainably sourced foods, Julie Craves (head of Avian Research at Rouge River Bird Observatory and shade-grown coffee authority) for sharing her expertise, Sara Cole for sharing the photos, Birds and Beans for their wonderful "Chestnut-Sided Warbler" blend of coffee, and the SEA members who helped make this event happen! Though the books didn't arrive in time for the event, great things happened nonetheless.

In case you missed it, here are some "tasty tidbits" from the discussion:

• "triple crown" (fair trade, organic, bird-friendly) coffee is the golden standard at this time.

• Look out for the fine print on certified coffee! Some certifications, like those awarded by the Rainforest Alliance, may actually certify only a certain percentage of the coffee to be shade-grown (30% for example) in the fine print.
• Some growers and suppliers cannot afford to get certified, but may still label their coffees as "bird-friendly".
• Caribou Coffee is working to get all of their coffee Rainforest Alliance Certified by 2012, while Starbucks has internal standards for suppliers that tend more toward fair treatment of the farmers, but may not necessarily be bird-friendly at this time

• You can find out about some of the impacts through this blog by our resident celebrity (she was interviewed on PRI's The World not too long ago) Rouge River Bird Observatory researcher and UM-Dearborn alum Julie Craves: http://www.coffeehabitat.com

• For some insight on how coffee (and chocolate) tie in with climate change, this rainforest alliance webpage is a fair source: http://my.rainforest-alliance.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=6361.0&dlv_id=10981
• Even if you're not a coffee drinker, are there places where you can educate coffee consumers about their connection to coffee, or help them make more sustainable purchases? Local cafes, the workplace or at home might be good places to start.
• Since coffee is exported into Michigan, it's worth recognizing that it does have a substantial ecological footprint.

Birds and Beans: http://www.birdsandbeans.com/
Sara's Co-Op, Ypsilanti Food Coop: http://www.ypsifoodcoop.org/
Equal Exchange Coop (Chocolates and other things): http://www.equalexchange.coop/

A pleasant coincidence I forgot to mention: the event was hosted at the Environmental Interpretive Center, a building was designed to look like a bird in flight from above!

Here's to drinking sustainably -- cheers!

On climate change: A handful of resources and reflections

I've been relatively quiet about climate change activism for the past two years because there are so many moving parts involved with the issue, and it took time for me to get my head around what was going on.  Most everyone involved has good intentions, there are many perspectives, and understanding many of the solutions--not to mention knowing which ones are being considered or included can be a daunting task.  Furthermore, there are many groups working toward a similar goal, but I couldn't understand why they didn't work together.  I've finally seen, heard, and learned enough to offer some organizations seeking to coordinate efforts that you can take action with, and handful of quality resources for you to investigate as a supplement to the previous letter.

There are four sections below:

1. Courses+some comments on political efficacy
2. Cap and Trade in climate legislation and how it could improve
3. My take on Repower America
4. Climate change as an issue of sustainability

These draw from my experiences as a student, an attendee at many a conference, and various other ventures in the arena of climate change.  Clearly, it's my perspective, but I hope it serves to be a useful starting guide to you if you're about to dive in.

The Suburban Expedition

With the conclusion of UM-Dearborn's 2010 winter semester drawing near, members of the SEA decided it would be an appropriate time for a suburban expedition to a wetland in Livonia.

I'll reiterate:  SUBURBAN EXPEDITION!  Livonia wetland!

Tentatively this will happen on the weekend of the 8th/9th of May (hopefully the 9th as I'll be in Chicago or Detroit the day before).

The idea is to go into the field, get in touch with the great outdoors, do an on-site study where we all take some samples/do some scientific monitoring, explore, meet new people and have fun.

It's a good opportunity for everyone to learn new/swap field research techniques too.

Bioswale project: Department of brainstorm

I spoke with our friends at the Friends of the Rouge the other day to invite them to visit the SEA to re-introduce themselves and share some sage advice with us about putting in bioswales and reclaiming Phragmites-covered(conquered? FYI, Fragmites are tall, densely growing invasive plants that look like major league flowering grasses on steroids) vernal ponds with landscaped native plants.

Please let us know if there's anyone interested in helping SEA lead the educational, conservation, or coordination of the project.

Hopefully, the SEA and others can recruit volunteer landscape architects, graduate students, project managers, and anyone else who'd be interested in sharing their expertise by teaching us useful things to do for our campus starting with the 'swale.

Also, be sure to sign up for Rouge River Rescue day June 5th at your local site or maybe even UM-Dearborn (SEA will be working there on the swale at that time, as well as several other sites in conjunction with Volunteer Dearborn)!


Currently, a group of students (including myself) enrolled in Dr. Riebesell's Environmental Science lab plan to lay out a landscaping plan as part of our lab project. I'd like invite you to call us "Team Land Plan". Also, you're welcome to join us for that too!