Corporations have constitutional rights. Why shouldn't orcas?

PETA has asked a federal court to grant constitutional rights to five killer whales who perform at SeaWorld marine parks, which would give the whales the same constitutional rights as humans. This will enable PETA to argue that SeaWorld is violating the 13th amendment, which banned slavery and involuntary servitude.

Now this move will sound incredibly silly to a lot of people, but should it? More and more research is indicating that animals this high up on the intelligence chain (and lets not forget that killer whales - aka orcas - are not whales at all, but are part of the Dolphin family) have complex cultures and social structures, and even have emotions and feelings, mourning the loss of a calf or pod member. Additionally, wild orcas travel 75-100 miles (120-160 kilometers) every day. Yet in the US, as required by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a branch of the USDA, an orca tank must have a minimum diameter of 48 feet, exactly twice the length of an orca (which averages 24 feet long). The tank must also have a minimum depth of only 12 feet, giving a tank a minimum volume of 615 m³. And this is for two orcas. Yes, thats right - that small little take is allowed to hold not one but two orcas. Try swimming 100 miles a day there. I wonder how many laps that would be (Hey! I can actually do this calculation - hum, maybe later).

Orcas live together in pods ranging from 5-50 members, which can be a part of a larger community numbering in the hundreds. Pod members are seldom out of hearing range from one another. Their vocalizations can be as loud as a jet engine and can be heard from miles away. Communication lies at the core of orca social awareness. Life for a "highly acoustic cetacean...[such as an orca] ..living in a tank with acoustically reflective walls, [is like] that of a visually oriented animal, like a human, living captive in a room covered with mirrors on all walls and the floor. The experience is likely to be profoundly disturbing, especially over the long term."

And when captive orcas attack humans we say that it is rare and very abnormal. But do you know what I find abnormal? An orca, meant for greatness, swimming in circles driving itself crazy in a house of mirrors.

The appeal will likely get the boot before ever seeing the light of day, but it makes me think about our priorities. Corporations, which I view as something akin to a robot, are viewed as people under the law. This was further validated by the more recent Citizens United vs the Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision. A corporation - I suppose one could metaphorically argue - functions like an organism, with each individual and machine acting as a atom, cell, membrane, organ, making up the building-blocks of the larger "body" (I would argue that money is the blood and profit is the heart, beating to stay alive). However, corporations are intangible. You can't go and see a corporation and you certainly can't touch one, which is especially true with our increasingly globalized chain of production. Corporations (including SeaWorld) don't have feelings or emotions, they don't mourn for the loss of loved ones, they are not alive. Corporations are given the same rights as people, yet PETA will be mocked for suggesting that actual life - and highly intelligent life at that - be granted those same rights. Interesting priorities, indeed.

Sunset from Lizard's Mouth

Sunset from Lizard's Mouth.

A new friend of mine took me up to a place in the Santa Ynez Mountains called the Lizard's Mouth this past Wednesday to watch the sunset. Lizard's Mouth is in an area of sandston outcroppings that overlooks Goleta and beyond.

When I went up there the evening was a little bit hazy, making the ocean and sky melt together, undifferentiated. The Channel Islands looked like they were floating in the sky. The view of the mountains sloping down into Goleta was spectacular - certainly one of the best views in Santa Barbara I have seen so far. Lizard's Mouth is also easy to get to. Whereas most vistas require a decent hike to get to, the trail to Lizard's Mouth can be measured in yards rather than miles.

To get to the trailhead drive up the 154 and take West Camino Cielo for a few miles. Just before you arrive at a shooting range, there will be a brown sign on the left that says, "Lizard's Mouth," indicating the trail head. Follow the short path and there you'll be.

Although Lizard's mouth is a great spot to hang out and relax, it also has some darker secrets. I knew that the 2008 Gap Fire started here (accidentally by a 16 year old boy), but there is an even stranger piece of history tied to this place. In August 2000 Jesse James Hollywood ordered the kidnapping and murder of 15 year old Nicholas Markowitz as revenge for a $1,200 debt his older brother, Benjamin, owed him. Hollywood's henchmen went up to the Lizard's Mouth beforehand to dig a shallow grave. Later that night, after telling Nicholas that he was going home, the men took Nicholas up into the mountains where they bound him, hit him over the head with a shovel, and shot him nine times, after which they buried him in the shallow grave. The body was found several days later and police began making arrests. Hollywood, however, fled the country through Canada and then flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a fake passport. He managed to hide out in Rio de Janeiro and Saquarema until 2005 when he was captured and later extradited to the US. While Hollywood was in Brazil, all participants in the murder were convicted or made pleas. In 2006 the movie Alpha Dog, based on Jesse Hollywood and the kidnap and murder of Nicholas Markowitz, was released. Finally, in July 2009, Hollywood was found guilty of kidnapping and first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

I didn't know about the Hollywood case before I went up there. It is interesting how once you find out something new about a place it can totally change your perspective of it. I went up there for pure enjoyment, yet I wonder, had know about this story beforehand would I have been enjoying myself to the fullest or would I have been looking for the "X" on a rock that supposedly marks the grave site, thinking that this was the last view that boy saw - at least it was a nice view (<-- is that morbid?). I will certainly go up there again and I will be sure to monitor my own reaction.

All in all, the Lizard's Mouth was an excellent place to watch the sunset and spend time with a wonderful person, having great conversation.

Judge Assassinated by Militia in Rio de Janeiro

Well this happened a month ago, but I am happy to see US news picking up on it... better late than never. 


Judge Patricia Acioli, known as an advocate against police corruption, was assassinated by militiamen (basically off-duty police officers) in Rio de Janeiro. According to the story, militiamen "usurp the authority of the state. In this way, they are a danger that goes deeper than drug traffickers." I have to disagree. The militia does not usurp the authority of the state, but rather, they fill in a vacuum left by years of state neglect. I do agree that the militia is worse than the traffickers. The traffickers at least live by a code of conduct and they live in the communities where they work, whereas the militias enter a community, act with impunity, then go back to their homes and jobs (as police, firefighters, private security, even members of congress).


For example, when I visited a favela in Niterói I was told before hand not to use my camera because it would make me a target for robbery or worse. When I arrived at the school I was visiting the director told me that it was now safe to use my camera anywhere in the favela because the traffickers had arrived from Complexo Alemão after fleeing the police/military invasion and occupation. The traffickers instill a strict law to keep their territory safe for potential customers. Outbursts of violence usually only occur when rival gangs or police try to invade the territory.


Does this mean that the traffickers are good? Of course not. But I do agree that when comparing traffickers and militia, traffickers are the better of the two evils. Also, the UPP has been able to enter and occupy favelas controlled by drug gangs, but have been unable to occupy favelas controlled by the militia. Fortunately the government seems to finally be fighting corruption at the federal, state, and local levels. It will be interesting to see how all of this progresses.

REEF: UCSB's Aquarium and Touch Tanks

Kathy checking out the touch tanks.

After two years at UCSB I finally made it to the Research Experience & Education Facility - better known as The REEF - UCSB's interactive aquarium facility at Campus Point (map). There are a few small aquariums and seven large aquariums, four of which are touch tanks full of a variety of star fish, urchins, sea cucumbers, and baby swell sharks. There is also one tank with a grown female swell shark, who was about to lay eggs (mermaid's purse) when I visited. 


The REEF is staffed by informative UCSB marine science students. I easily spent 45 minutes getting my hands wet, asking questions, and learning some new fun facts.

Coast and North Goleta Bike Route

Only did a 10 mile bike ride today. I did, however, use the North Goleta route for the first time. Pretty nice.

See the map.

Beach and Foothill Bike Loop

Relaxing after my bicycle ride.

I've decided to go back to biking. I drive my car too much, it is great exercise, and it is fun! I went on a 15 mile bike ride (see the map) and it felt so good.... So exhilarating.

I left from my house and took the Coast Route past Goleta Beach to Patterson Avenue. Then I took Patterson to connect to the Foothill Route and took that until Glenn Anne/Storke Road. Storke goes all the way down to Coal Oil Point, winding past Devereux Lagoon - which very beautiful, but the road is bumpy. I took the nice, new dirt path that overlooks the ocean towards I.V., then stopped for a water and banana break at one of those nifty new benches. I took some time to read Favela on my kindle and watched the sun fall behind the trees before I headed home.

That beautiful ride was a nice addition to the seriously delicious breakfast at Alphie's I had with Kathy and the afternoon beach BBQ, followed by beach volleyball - or something that was supposed to resemble beach volleyball.

An overall excellent day!

Extratropical Cyclone Arani in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Storm surge in Icaraí, Niterói

A rare extratropical cyclone swept into Rio de Janeiro, creating some monster waves and flooding the streets - including the street where I lived in Icaraí last summer (summer in Rio, winter in California).

According to NASA:

Arani has the appearance of a tropical cyclone but has been classified as a subtropical cyclone. Subtropical cyclones are low pressure areas that develop with a cold core and transition to a warm core in the mid-levels of the troposphere, resembling a tropical cyclone. They more typically form outside of hurricane season (which is June 1 to Nov. 30 in the Northern Atlantic, for example). They also have broad wind patterns and that means that their maximum sustained winds are usually located farther from the center than a tropical cyclone. They also have no weather fronts linked to them, such as a typical low pressure area that brings summertime storms with an associated cold front. Subtropical cyclones can sometimes become tropical cyclones, and occasionally, tropical cyclones can become subtropical.

Tropical cyclones are very rare in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. In 2004 a cyclone called Catarina formed in the South Atlantic and caused some controversy when it was classified as a hurricane by the United States' National Hurricane Center.

Note that Cyclone Catrina was the first ever hurricane to hit Brazil in recorded history. Arani is only the third (second official) named tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Atlantic Ocean.

Things are changing - its about time we take notice so we can start taking proactive, preventative steps to mitigate against the already evident threat of climate change.


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Here is a great video of the waves crashing onto the streets throughout Rio.

Another video - you might recognize the MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art) in the background:

Reactions to Gay Couple in Texas Restaurant

Wow. Small town Texas, you surprised me - especially compared to NYC! What would you do if you saw gay parents berated by a waitress?

Photobomb in Paraty, Brazil

I was just looking at some of my photos from Brazil when I came across this gem. While in Paraty (Parati), Brazil I set up my 12 second timer and just at the right moment a cute dog runs by. PHOTOBOMB!

That's what I get for photobombing others so often. But really, is there anything better than a good photobomb? Ok fine.. swimming in the natural pool at Trindade was better than this photobomb, but you get my point.

Oil spill, radiation, war, tsunami...

The Massacre in Realengo, Rio de Janeiro

A great post by one of my favorite bloggers, Professor Christopher Gaffney, about the recent school shotting in Rio de Janeiro - and I couldn't agree more with what he writes: Geostadia or the Geography of the Obvious: A Chacina do Realango (The massacre in Realengo).

Some highlights:

• "Brazil already has more than 7 million illegal arms with 60% of them coming from the USA. So not only was the act itself an imitation of Columbine, but the weapons likely carried the MADE IN USA stamp."
• We need to recognize that, "constructing a consumer society in which one’s place within the social system, one’s ability to access basic human rights, is determined by one’s ability to pay for those rights is fundamentally flawed. This is increasingly the case in the United States and the idea that human freedom is now inexorably tied to the ability to fit within market systems is a palpable reality in Brazil."
• "What we never think about when we watch the [Olympic and World Cup] games are the dead bodies and broken lives that sustain them."

Tangerine Falls, Santa Barbara, CA

Walking through clouds of mist at Tangerine Falls

I often hike up the East Fork of the Cold Springs trail, which goes up to my favorite swimming hole as well as an incredible view of Montecito and Santa Barbara below. Beyond that is Montecito Peak. This time around, though, I went up the West Fork, which goes to Tangerine Falls. You can take a trail to the top of the falls or the bottom - we choose the bottom of the falls to get a good view. Plus there have been a few people in the past few months who had to get rescued from the upper path because they didn't leave enough time to get back down.

Tangerine Falls

The weather was very moist. If it was warmer I could have mistaken myself in a tropical rainforest. Everything was green and beautiful - and wet and slippery! After taking a few wrong turns and crossing over the rain swollen creek, we found our way to Tangerine Falls and Russell took a dive into the freezing water! He went right under the waterfall and disappeared behind it. The other hikers went wild for that, cheering him on.

After his waterfall shower, Russ and I headed back down to the car. Very nice after work hike, although I still prefer the East Fork (nothing can beat our secluded swimming hole and water slide!)

More photos: Tangerine Falls Hike

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% | Society | Vanity Fair

A must read article by my favorite economist, Joseph Stiglitz:

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% | Society | Vanity Fair

Isla Vista Beaches Shut Down Due to Floatopia Fears

This weekend the beaches of Isla Vista will be closed to students and the general public due to a Facebook organized "Floatopia." A Floatopia is a big informal gathering of, generally, UCSB students on the beaches in front of campus who then jump into the water on anything that can float for a drunken, floating, beach/ocean party. Although I may be a bit of a buzz kill, I think that the reasons behind the closure are totally legitimate. Already the beaches inevitably wind up with trash just from beachfront house parties -- can you imagine the trash (and likely urine and vomit) that ends up on the beach once everyone is dehydrated and passed out at home (or on the beach)?! So much trash!! So I have to give a thumbs up to the UC Santa Barbara campus police for nipping this in the bud. KEEP OUR OCEANS CLEAN!!!

Via UCSB PD:

Due to the potential for a "Floatopia" type event to occur, the campus beaches will be closed Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, 2011 and not accessible to the public or campus community. This beach closure is in response to unsafe and unsanitary conditions that have been associated with this unplanned event in the past.

The "Floatopia" event in 2009 failed to provide for the appropriate health, safety, or well being provisions necessary for a large scale public event, to include sanitation or refuse collections.  Because of safety concerns, the University of California, Santa Barbara Police Department will enforce the campus beach closure.

"Damn, Another Effing War." Jon Stewart Criticizes US Attack on Libya

"You can't simultaneously fire teachers and Tomahawk missiles." -- Jon Stewart

Best. Quote. EVER!

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

I seriously love this guy!

Connection Between Climate Change and the Global Food Crisis

As CO2 and other greenhouse gasses (GHGs) continue their upward trend, global warming is expected to intensify. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007) found that global warming and the resulting climate change are strongly predicted to lead to an increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy precipitation, floods, droughts, and hurricanes (IPCC). Although heavy rains are expected to increase in the moist tropics, water stress is predicted to affect hundreds of millions of people due to the decreased availability of clean, accessible drinking water as well as a decrease in the amount of water available for agriculture (IPCC). Although it is clear that climate change affects agriculture, climate change is also affected by agriculture, which contributes 13.5 percent of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions globally (USGCRP, 2009).

According to the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), “Extreme events such as heavy downpours and droughts are likely to reduce crop yields because excesses or deficits of water have negative impacts on plant growth” (USGCRP, 2009, Agriculture section, 1st text box). For example, a punishing drought in China has put a third of the country’s wheat crop at risk, and since China is the world’s biggest wheat producer, this has put a strain on an already stressed global food supply, which is currently at a record high prices (FAO, 2011). Excessive rainfall also delays spring planting and flooding during growing season can lead to lower crop yields due to “low oxygen levels in the soil, increased susceptibility to root diseases, and increased soil compaction due to the use of heavy farm equipment on wet soils” (USGCRP, 2009, Agriculture section, para. 19).

Carbon dioxide levels are expected to continue their global rise and warming is expected to intensify (IPCC, 2007). Although many crops show positive responses to elevated CO2 levels, higher levels of warming negatively affect growth and crop yields (USGCRP, 2009). For example, even moderate warming has been shown to negatively effect yields of corn, wheat, sorghum, bean, rice, cotton, and peanut crops (USGCRP). Additionally, higher temperatures cause plants to use more water to keep cool and with increasing demand (due to population growth) and competition among its primary uses (urban, agricultural, and environmental), freshwater supplies needed for these crops have been predicted to become increasingly limited. We have already seen this condition throughout California as competition for water continues to intensify.

The effects of climate change on agriculture are clear, but agriculture also effects climate change. As global population increases, food demand increases. This means that industrial farming, and all of the negative externalities associated with it, is growing at a rapid rate. Beyond all of the oil and water that goes into maintaining industrial scale farming, genetically modified seeds are now widespread both in the US and globally. This has led to a huge loss in genetic variability and an increase in the use of pesticides, creating superbugs, which in turn results in an even larger increase in pesticide use (note that pesticides, as well as herbicides and fungicides, are products of the petrochemical industry). The loss of genetic variability is also an important issue because genetic variability is what allows organisms to adapt as well as maintain defenses against viruses and bacteria.

Another concern is the deforestation of large tracts of land in order to create space for agriculture. For example, according to Yale’s Environment 360 (2011), in Ethiopia 400,000 hectares, an area 80 times the size of Manhattan, has been designated as “a huge agricultural investment potential” by the Ethiopian ministry of agriculture, despite a majority of the land being located in a national park and right in the middle of the second largest mammal migration on earth. Most of the concessions are going to Indian agricultural firm Karuturi Global Limited. Along with the new agriculture will come an expected 600 new roads, where there used to be a single dirt road. The large nearby swamp is also being drained for irrigation purposes and locals have complained that ever since the forests were demolished the honeybees have disappeared – honey was a source of food and income for these people, which has now been lost. Moreover, deforestation and draining water reservoirs often lead to increased desertification.

All of these actions, including the oil and GHG emissions associated with agriculture, lead to a further increase in CO2 levels, which lead to increased warming and more intense climate change overall. This in turn leads to lower crop yields, which then leads to more intensive farming practices as well as agricultural expansion… and the positive feedback loop continues.

Carbon dioxide emissions, global warming, world water wars, and agricultural expansion are just a few of the ways that climate change and the global food crisis are interconnected. There are innumerable ways to loop the two issues together simply by reading the news and connecting the dots. Unfortunately, many people apparently lack the skills to make these connections themselves and, sadly, the media is doing a terrible job at pointing out the connections between the emerging global food crisis and global climate change. Hopefully this recognition will come sooner rather than later, and more importantly, I hope that it is not already to late to make this recognition.

Works Cited:

FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2011, March 03). Tight cereal markets as food prices increase again. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/51913/icode/

Pearce, F. (2011, March 07). Agribusiness Boom Threatens Key African Wildlife Migration. Yale Environment 360. Online via: http://e360.yale.edu/feature/agribusiness_boom_threatens_key_african_wildlife_migration/2377/

USGCRP, US Global Change Research Program. (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Thomas C. Peterson, (eds.). Cambridge University Press. Available online at: http://globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/download-the-report

IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2007). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA

International Climate Change Diplomacy is Failing. Why?

International climate change diplomacy is failing. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has established that anthropogenic climate change - climate change due to human activities - is real and it needs to be addressed (IPCC, 2007). In spite of this, climate change negotiations have been slow moving at best, which can be attributed to the controversy that still surrounds the issue of climate among the general public. The magnitude of the situation and the far-reaching implications of climate change also make it a cumbersome topic to address. Yet, I believe that there is one fundamental reason for the failure of climate change diplomacy – the society we live in today.

If we acknowledge that climate change is man-made, we acknowledge that the fundamental basis of our society is flawed. Think about it, nearly every product we encounter in daily life is a product of the petrochemical industry, and is thus associated with greenhouse gas emissions. To illustrate, I will walk through a routine stop at Starbucks.

Firstly, when I go to Starbucks it is usually by car. Oil provided the fuel for my car to get from my home to Starbucks. Additionally, nearly every part of my car is made, in one way or another, from oil (plastic, rubber, steel). Oil was also used to fuel the factories and machines that were used in the manufacturing of my car as well as the transportation of all the parts that went into building my car, plus the transportation of my Korean made car to the United States and eventually to me.

Now that I have arrived at Starbucks, I walk in the door and stand in line. It is dark, stormy, and cold outside, yet inside it is bright and warm – a miracle attributed to the availability of electricity. Electricity however, is not a source of energy; it is a way of storing and transporting energy. To generate electricity today we rely mainly on coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, and petroleum with a small amount from solar energy, tidal harnesses, wind generators, and geothermal sources. Each one of these methods either indirectly (oil is consumed in the manufacturing, building, and maintenance of all of these electricity sources), or both directly and indirectly consume oil (such as in the case of coal and petroleum).

Next, I walk past the food counter. All of these goods are the product of agriculture, likely industrialized agriculture. This means that oil goes into the massive tractors that plant the crops, oil goes into transporting the water that waters the crops, oil makes the chemicals and fertilizers that are sprayed on the crops (not to mention the oil that goes into producing the GMO seeds), oil fuels the tractors and crop dusters that spray the crops, oil fuels that tractors that harvest the crops, oil fuels their transport from farm to factory, oil fuels the factories that process the crops as well as the factories that turn that basic crop into a marketable finished product, oil made the plastic that is wrapped around the finished product, and finally oil fuels the international distribution of that finished food product to its final destination – the refrigerated food display of my local Starbucks.

After making my way past the food display, I am ready to order organic coffee from Sumatra. After I pay, I am handed a nice hot Sumatran coffee in a disposable cup and sleeve with a disposable plastic lid. Oil was needed in the preparation of the coffee beans as well as in the packaging and distribution of the coffee beans from Sumatra to Santa Barbara. The one time use cup and lid were also made and transported using oil. I sit down and enjoy my coffee for 5-10 minutes, and then throw my empty cup away (luckily this Starbucks has a recycle trashcan, unlike most). I walk out feeling good knowing that I used a sleeve made from 40% post-consumer recycled paper and drank an organic coffee, yet I generally scarcely give a thought to all of the oil, and therefore the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, that went into the production of my cup of coffee.

This is the greatest market failure of our time, yet it is what our society is based upon. Polluting is not a crime, it is an everyday occurrence, and if anything, polluting is rewarded. This is why admitting to anthropogenic climate change will shake our industrial, oil-based, consumption-driven society to the core. It means that everyone in the industrialized world, and even those in rapidly developing countries, will have to make a total lifestyle change, but change, however necessary, does not come easily.

There are several reasons why change does not come easily. Firstly, climate change knows no borders and does not affect all nations and all people equally. This is why, despite mounting evidence, anthropogenic climate change remains a controversial and debatable issue for huge parts of the globe where the visible impacts of climate change are still slight or nonexistent (Karaim, 2010). The hegemonic system can also be blamed for the rigidity and failure of international climate negotiations (Falk, 2010). Leader states are not using their power to better the well being of humankind in general, but rather seek to strengthen their own well being, as well as the well being of those industries and corporations who help strengthen and maintain them.

What is politically feasible is much less than what is necessary to avert a climate catastrophe. What is necessary is the recognition that the core of our society is based on unsustainable growth and consumption, propped up by the oil industry. This is a difficult realization to make when it is so much easier listen to the skeptics who claim that climate change is natural process, not at all influenced by human activity. This belief means that individual change is not required; everyone can go on commuting to and from work five days a week, everyone can continue buying ipads, iphones, and laptops, and I can continue drinking coffee from Sumatra.

Works Cited:

Falk, R. (2010). A Radical World Order Challenge: Addressing Global Climate Change and the Threat of Nuclear Weapons. Globalizations, 7(1), 137-155. doi:10.1080/14747731003593414


IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2007). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA

Karaim, R. (2010, Feburary). Climate Change. CQ Global Researcher, 25-50. Available online at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/38851183/Global-Environmental-Issues-Selections-from-CQ-Researcher

Southern California Nuclear Radiation Monitoring Station

EnviroReporter has set up a nuclear radiation monitoring station in their Santa Monica office. They take reading every ten minutes and have it streaming live online. Current levels are normal.

This is just one reason why the internet can be so good - transparency. You better believe that I don't trust on the US government to give me accurate information. There is much too much corporate involvement and private interest in government. The people with a vested interest in nuclear power will do everything they can to keep the general public unaware of the dangers of nuclear radiation. If people know radiation is coming to California from Japan then there may be calls to halt our own nuclear endeavors (which there obviously should be), which is why industry will do anything it can to silence concerns - including flat out lying. But alas, now we have an independent, non government related website to monitor radiation levels for us. This is the beauty of the internet (for now).

Santa Barbara, California Tidal Wave

Russell and I just got back from the beach and the tide is very high and the waves are unusually large. The updated warning say that these sea conditions will continue throughout the day and we may even see an increase - but really no big deal.

On another note, I want to point out that the current Republican budget proposal gives MAJOR cuts to the federal organizations that monitor, issue alerts, and prepare for tsunamis (as well as other natural disasters and natural disaster relief). If the budget were to go through 12 warning centers throughout the US would be shut down, with each warning center serving 2.5 million people. No good.

Also, a nuclear reactor in Japan is serious condition after the earthquake. Thousands of people are being evacuated and the US military has sent over an emergency supply of coolant because the reactor is overheating, which could lead to a meltdown. This is why nuclear power, especially in California, is not a good option.

Tsunami in Santa Barbara, California

This morning I woke up at 3 am to an emergency text message from UCSB warning me of an impending tsunami. According to Noozhawk, tsunami waves of up to 1½ feet reached the Santa Barbara Harbor about 8:15 a.m., and elevated swells could continue for several hours and subsequent swells or waves can be larger than ones that came before them. The beaches have been shut down.

If I hadn't received that text or read the news this morning I would have been none the wiser -- well except for the phone calls and text messages from my family telling me not to go to the beach this morning like I usually do.

Via Noozhawk:

According to the National Weather Service, tsunami warnings mean a tsunami with significant widespread inundation is expected, along with dangerous coastal flooding. Powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours after the initial wave. Coastal residents are asked to move inland to higher ground, and boats and ships should be repositioned to deep water when there is time to safely do so.

Tsunami advisories mean a tsunami capable of producing strong currents and waves is expected, and currents may be hazardous to swimmers, surfers, boats and coastal structures. Authorities said significant widespread inundation is not expected in advisory areas but unsettled conditions could continue for several hours afterward.

Birthday Cake and Hot Chocolate

My delicious birthday cupcake, plus hot chocolate.

This red velvet cupcake can't compare to the red velvet cheesecake of NYC's Magnolia Bakery, but it was scrumptious nonetheless.

A New Favorite Photo

Aura

Andrea came up from LA to visit me in Santa Barbara. She brought along her dog Mooie -- who, by the way, is incredibly smart and well trained. The two of them came hiking with Russell and I up my favorite trail, Cold Springs trail. Of course we had to stop at the natural waterslide - all three of us went down the slide and into the refreshing water below (note that this took place on Feb. 12 -- I love California!). There really isn't a better feeling, except maybe a steaming hot shower on a cold rainy night.

New Look: Santa Barbara Edition

Time to start updating my blog again. I still haven't freed up space on my mac to upload my newest photos. This is what has been holding me back. You see, I want to do a clean install of Snow Leopard but to do this I have to boot from the install CD - but my CD drive is broken. I have the .iso saved on my external hard drive but can't boot from that. Now I am not sure what to do... run Disk Utility, I suppose, and hope that frees up some space.

Check out the new look versus the old:

Old Look

New Look

Back to School

I'm back in Santa Barbara, still getting back into the swing of things - classes, TAing and work, a far cry from the beaches and laid back style of Rio. On the brighter side, I've gone back to jogging and have also begun taking an Afro-Brazilian dance class.

I will be updating my blog soon (Santa Barbara Edition!), but I need to post one more entry about Rio de Janeiro - my time in a favela - while the memory is still relatively intact. Will get to that another night, though, since I still have to prepare a presentation for class tomorrow - Global Environmental Law and Policy, really a very interesting course.

Have no fear, this blog is not dead just because I am back in California.... more to come.