Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Trash Talk

TRASH TALK
A post-colonial discourse on global waste and environmental degradation


COMING SOON....

Monday, November 19, 2012

Global Inspiration

The following are innovative ideas and solutions for environmental sustainability/protection from around the globe


ENERGY

Cuba sugar cane marabu weeds 'could be turned to fuel'/ BBC News (November 2012)



Barbados Looking to Ocean for Energy/Caribbean Journal (November 2012)

WATER

Drinking water out of a billboard/Latin American Herald Tribune (March 2013)


A bath without water


Urban Sustainability 


RECYCLING

Independent Recycling Initiatives in Rio de Janeiro

Thursday, October 11, 2012

EKO - FACTS


ECOLOGY AND BIO-DIVERSITY 







Source: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Haiti









  1. Hispaniolan moist forests originally occupied more than half (~60%) of the original vegetation on the island of Hispaniola, from the lowlands particularly on the eastern coast of the island (Haiti) to the valleys, plateaus, slopes and foothills of the many mountain ranges, up to an altitude of about 2,100 meters. Less than 200 km2 of unaltered rainforest remains in Haiti.
  2.  Hispaniolan dry forests
  3.  Hispaniolan pine forests are located on slopes with shallow soils and higher elevations of the mountain systems. In Haiti, this ecoregion is only represented in parts of the Pic Macaya National Park and the La Visite National Park.
  4.  Enriquillo wetlands are the remains of an old marine channel that divided the island of Hispaniola into two paleoislands more than 5,000 years ago. The largest lake in this ecoregion, Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic is the largest and most hypersaline lake in all of the Antilles. In Haiti, Saumatre Lagoon (Étang Saumatre or Lago Azuei) is the country's largest lake. It occupies another concavity 10 km west of Lake Enriquillo, separated from it by the Jimaní anticline.
  5.  Bahamoan-Antillean mangroves/Greater Antilles mangroves cover about 134 km2of Haiti.




Map of Plastic Pollution in the Region



Graph of Waste Disposal Methods by Class









Table - How long does it take to decompose? 

Safe and Sustainable Water Solutions

Table 1. Treatment methods used in Haiti and other developing countries.

Method Pros Cons Cost Sustainability Links
SODIS
Passive Solar Disinfection
Cheap; reuse bottles; simple Water is warm; have to wait for water; turbidity sensitive $ High http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/solar-water-disinfection/
http://www.sodis.ch/methode/anwendung/index_EN 
Plastic Biosand Filters Effective; once primed provide quick water treatment Time needed to develop biofilm; skill required to maintain; support needed; turbidity sensitive $$$$$ Moderate http://www.hydraid.org/
Concrete Biosand Filters Effective; once primed provide quick water; can usually be built in country with local materials Heavy and difficult to transport and move; skill required; turbidity sensitive $$$$ Moderate Biosand Filter.org Fact Sheet
Chlorine Very effective when used properly; cheap Bad taste to water; skill required; potential negative health impacts; doses vary depending on product being used $ High http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/h2oqual/watsys/ae1046w.htm
Boiling
Rolling Boil for 1-3 minutes
Very effective at killing most pathogens Expensive; contributes to deforestation; have to cool water before drinking $$$ Moderate http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm
Reverse Osmosis Very effective at removing all pathogens Very expensive; requires consistent fuel or power; skill required; maintenance required $$$$$$ Low Water Treatment Notes from Cornell University
Sawyer Filters Very effective;
Easy to use when proper education materials are provided
Expensive; may have to sterilize filters regularly; not well suited for areas with turbid water; backwashing can cause contamination $$$ Moderate http://www.sawyer.com/water.htm
Clay Filters Cheap and can be made from local materials Clay quality can affect treatment; skill required; may not be effective for some viruses and bacteria $ High http://www.pottersforpeace.org/?page_id=9
Ultraviolet Disinfection Very effective; power requirements low (~ 200 watts for 40 gpm) Flow rates low; can be complicated to install; maintenance required for bulbs $$$$ High/Moderate http://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-616-atlantic-ultraviolet-sanitron.aspx
http://www.ultraviolet.com/water/minipu01.htm
Slow sand filtration Can be scaled to larger water sources for schools and communities Initial costs are high and require materials which may not be available on-site $$$$ High/Moderate Tech Brief from the National Environmental Services Center
Ozone Disinfection Does not create harmful byproducts; does not alter taste; no residual chemicals On-site equipment required is expensive and requires maintenance; ozone is reactive and corrosive $$$$$$ Low EPA fact sheet on Ozone Dissinfection
           
 







Monday, May 21, 2012

Haitian Environmental Law and Policy

National Law  

1987 Haitian Constitution + 2012 Amendment Additions

Article 253:
 L'environnement étant le cadre naturel de vie de la population, les pratiques susceptibles de perturber l'équilibre écologique sont formellement interdites.

Article 253.1: Tant que la couverture forestiere reste en deca de 10% du territoire national des mesures d'exception doivent etre prises en vue de travailler au retablissement de l'equilibre ecologique. 

Article 254:
 L'Etat organise la mise en valeur des sites naturels, en assure la protection et les rend accessibles à tous.

Article 255: 
Pour protéger les réserves forestières et élargir la couverture végétale, l'Etat encourage le développement des formes d'énergie propre: solaire, éolienne et autres.

Article 256:
 Dans le cadre de la protection de l'Environnement et de l'Education Publique, l'Etat a pour obligation de procéder à la création et à l'entretien de jardins botaniques et zoologiques en certains points du Territoire.

Article 256.1: L'Etat peut, si la necessite en est demontree, declarer une zone d'utilite ecologique. 

Article 257:
La loi détermine les conditions de protection de la faune et de la flore. Elle sanctionne les contravenants.

Article 258: Nul ne peut introduire dans le Pays des déchets ou résidus de provenances étrangères de quelque nature que ce soit.


Haitian Laws/Regulations 

Decret sur la gestion de l'environnement (12 octobre 2005) 

Decret creant une loi-cadre regissant la gestion et l'elimination des dechets et prevoyant en meme temps les sanctions appropriees. (3 mars 1981) 
Decret reglementant les exploitations des carrieres sur le territoire national 

Arrêté visant à rappeler les normes en vigueur pour la protection 
de l'environnement, des sources et contre la pollution de l'eau (link)

International/Regional Conventions
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [1997]

Convention on Biological Diversity [1992] 

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer [1987]

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter [1972]

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas [1958]

Convention on Nature Protection and Wild Life Preservation in the Western Hemisphere [1940] 

Map - Waste Management/Environmental Protection Initiatives

The purpose of this map is to attempt to locate recycling, waste management, composting, and other innovative environmental initiatives happening throughout the country.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Innovative Recycling

GLASS 


Rustik - recycled bottles transformed into glasses (Furcy, Haiti)





 

PLASTIC

Garbage Receptacle (Sodo, Haiti) 




 METAL

A sculpture standing in the back entrance of FOKAL. 

FOKAL, May 2012



A piece by artist ZAKA currently displayed at the Institut Francais d'Haiti from the March 2012 exhibit: Dialogue Artistique.

Institut Francais, May 2012




Recycling-Composting-Environmental Projects