The Solution to Our Energy Crisis is Defying the Science Community

By Sydney Reed

A little known invention from India could soon change the future of how we get power on Earth. This power generator pushes the boundaries of what humans thought was possible. It’s proven and tested to have an efficiency of over 100%. Some people who have heard about the invention think it’s almost right out of a science fiction novel because it pulls endless energy from the ether. But it’s not all that complicated, the Reactionless AC Generator was built by eliminating the back-torque of a normal generator through an innovative magnetic circuit design. And it’s all thanks to author, inventor, and former Executive Nuclear Director of the Department of Atomic Energy for India: Paramahamsa Tewari.

In June of 2018, Earthscope reporters interviewed his son, Anupam Tewari, on the generator, the science behind it, and what the invention means for the future of sourcing power. In simple terms, the RLG is a innovative power generator. Tewari explained to us that the theory of physics, called the Space Vortex Theory, on which the invention was built contradicts a lot of the scientific consensus in conventional beliefs. This means his father’s pivotal invention faces a lot of resistance from the science community. Anupam Tewari believes this is the reason why the generator has not been widely acknowledged, but he is looking forward to the future of this technology and is grateful for the people who’ve accepted the Space Vortex Theory, that his late father devoted his life to.

The late Tewari proved the Space Vortex Theory by creating machines with efficiencies greater than one. In fact, the RLG boasts an efficiency rate closer to 238% meaning for every one unit of energy put into the generator, 2 to 3 units are produced. Tewari acknowledges that the power generator has a long way to go before they begin marketing for the invention.

The RLG is an endless and self running generator which means it doesn’t require fossil fuels or any other resources to produce power. Tewari is hopeful about the future of the Reactionless Generator because he knows many people are looking to decrease their human impact on the environment by decreasing their energy usage. Anupam Tewari’s father held the idea of the common man having  free energy close to his heart, his desire was to help the impoverished regions of India get free power. Anupam Tewari laughed about how India has been called a “developing nation” for a very long time and although there is much progress in renewable energy sources, the current infrastructure and lack of resources continue to be a hindering factor to the development of impoverished areas. Because, the RLG can be created for different applications from lighting a candle to powering a car, it would be extremely useful for impoverished communities. This adaptability allows the generator to be extremely versatile and effective in the real world. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics, India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels rose to 38% in 2012, despite the country having significant domestic fossil fuel resources. India ranked as the fourth-largest energy consumer in the world in 2011, following China, the United States, and Russia. Though India is trying to bring it’s rural villages into the modern world of electrification, according to official data on the rural electrification website, Grameen Vidyutikaran, only 1,301 of India’s 18,452 villages, or 7.1 percent of the total, have 100% household connectivity. So despite the country’s growth in fossil fuel importation, their population is suffering from lack of power.

This is why the Reactionless Generator could be so vital to the future of our planet. As global warming is melting our ice caps, rising our sea levels, and causing a mass extinction of the animal kingdom, humans should be taking part in trying to reverse the negative impacts of industrialization. Again, because the RLG is an self running generator, it doesn’t need fossil fuels or any other resources to create power. Tewari believes that humankind is motivated to improve the world and he thinks this invention is one way to make a change. But, a lack of resources and funding have slowed the progress of manufacturing for the generator. Tewari’s goal is a realistic. This invention could quite literally changed the world, but it needs the help of readers like you to spread the word on its future.

For more information go to https://www.tewari.org/about.html

 

Do you consider your Pet an object, the Nonhuman Rights Project doesn’t?

By Saransh Puri

The Nonhuman Rights Project is a civil rights organization that works through litigation and policy to gain fundamental rights for animals. The group is currently focused on gaining rights for certain animals like apes, elephants, dolphins, and whales as there is more scientific evidence backing the argument for rights for these animals. This group of animals is considered to be social and autonomous by researchers, which is why the Nonhuman Rights Project wants to free them from captivity, interact and create relationships with other members of their species, and to protect their natural habitats. The project has three main objectives.

The first objective of the group is to change the legal status of certain animals. Currently, all animals are considered “things” by the legal system. Things are not given legal rights, so by changing the status of animals to legal persons, they would be given fundamental rights. There is currently a growing variety of observational, neurological, and genetic evidence about animal intelligence and behavior which is forcing people to reconsider the legal difference between “things” and legal persons.

These rights include things like bodily liberty and integrity. By gaining these rights, animals will be treated more similarly to humans in court. Having the right to bodily liberty would make it so that keeping chimpanzees in cages so small they are unable to stand up would be a violation of the animals rights, creating grounds to move the animal to a sanctuary.

The second objective is to use new scientific discoveries, as well as changing opinion regarding animal rights to promote the recognition of nonhuman animals fundamental rights. Also to change the legal status of animals to legal persons.

The third objective is similar to the second, it consists of creating smaller campaigns internationally to help spread awareness of the project’s goals to give nonhuman animals increased legal standing.

The group is currently focused on gaining rights for certain animals like apes, elephants, dolphins, and whales as there is more scientific evidence backing the argument for rights for these animals. This group of animals is considered to be social and autonomous by researchers, which is why the Nonhuman Rights Project wants to free them from captivity, interact and create relationships with other members of their species, and to protect their natural habitats.

The group has four main client groups to date. Three of the groups consist of chimpanzees, and one is a group of elephants. Examples of cases include animals forced to perform for humans in events like circuses, animal actors that have suffered from physical abuse, and animals being used in experiments.

Kiko and Tommy’s case is an example of the types of cases that the organization fights for. The two chimpanzees were being held in small cramped cages by their owners without any interaction with other members of their species, and without the ability to stand up or move around. The organization asked the court to rule that the chimpanzees have the right to bodily liberty and to require their release into a sanctuary where they can interact with other chimpanzees. To reach this outcome the organization argued that Kiko and Tommy should be classified as persons, not “things”. This was done by filing a petition for writs of Habeas Corpus. Habeas Corpus is a means of testing the lawfulness of one’s imprisonment before a court. Ultimately the New York appeals court ruled that Kimo, Tommy, and other chimpanzees don’t have the legal rights of humans as the court denied Habeas Corpus relief for the animals. Most recently the New York Court of Appeals denied the motion for permission to appeal, however, the Nonhuman Rights Project affirms that it will continue to work to free Tommy and Kiko.

Link to NhRP’s  clients and current statuses – https://www.nonhumanrights.org/litigation/

Link to NhRP’s website – https://www.nonhumanrights.org/

Josephine Yee

Earthscope Media Intern

July 18, 2018

The Fight for Nonhuman Rights

It is apparent that animals are beings who inhabit the earth. Although, many people

believe that animals are considered “things” rather than established individuals. As a result, animals are constantly mistreated by humans through actions like malnourishment or physical abuse. To end the suffering that many animals are forced to submit to, what can be done to help them achieve their rights? Unlike humans, animals are granted little to no rights under the captivity of their owners. In the current era of the United States, animals are still seen as property under the federal law. Presumptions are in favor of the owner’s to make decisions according to their own desires,

completely disregarding their pet’s own welfare. Yet, there may be hope on the horizon.

Founded in 2007, the Nonhuman Rights Project (NHrP) has been fighting to secure legal rights for animals. By gaining legal rights for animals, the “thinghood” of animals will no longer be upheld, allowing animals to be in charge of their own well-beings. This will hopefully put an end to the everyday oppression and abuse that the animals that the cover are exposed to.Kevin Schneider, ther Executive Director of the NHrP is a devout advocate for nonhuman rights and personhood. “The problem for our perspective is when you look a the laws that do protect animals,those do not amount to rights. Welfare, protection, even things like the Endangered Species Act, those do not amount to rights in the animals themselves. They protect them in some indirect ways but they do not create rights,” said Schneider. In order to achieve rights for animals, this group utilizes Habeas Corpus lawsuits to argue that common law should grant legal personhood to nonhuman clients. These lawsuits are backed with scientific evidence from renowned scientists that points to the degree of autonomy that their clients have. Through these lawsuits, they hope that they can grant their clients legal rights and place them in sanctuaries where they will have the freedom to live their own lives as individuals. Currently, the NHrP has a variety of clients who they represent in court. There are four chimpanzees and three elephants, all of which have a history of mistreatment by their owners.

Their first client, Tommy, was found in 2013 with a history of traveling in circus acts and

appearing in films. The chimpanzee ended up in solitary confinement in a crate located in a trailer park. As of now, the the organization is continuing to work through litigation in efforts to relocate Tommy into a chimp sanctuary.

In another case, Beulah, Karen, and Minnie are elephants purchased by the Commerford Zoo located in Connecticut. Here, they are rented out and forced to be apart of entertainment by giving rides and performing for onlookers. In November of last year, the NHrP filed a habeas corpus lawsuit on behalf of the three elephants. However, they ran into a stiff opposition by the court judge which they have been appealing to. Throughout these legal challenges, the NHrP continues to file petitions and branch out into public education education and legislative work. As the Nonhuman Rights Project continues with their work, they are active in working on

a city level in order to create opportunities for individual involvement rather than begging to change the legal standing on animals on a constitutional level. They have a few campaigns that work towards gathering a greater public support regarding the issue. These include their #RumbleForRights campaign that represents their elephant’s case, #NonhumanRights, and their documentary film Unlocking the Cage. “What we’re doing here…is something that will engage people in a way that other issues are engaging so many people right now. it is reminding people what kind of influence that they

have in their own cities…and will create opportunities for meaningful involvement and to

enshrine these rights,” said Schneider.

For more information, please visit www.nonhumanrights.org

 

Do Animals Need Rights to Stop Abuse? The Nonhuman Rights Project Thinks So.

By Charlotte Kamman, July 11, 2018

Is it possible for an animal to be granted legal personhood? Many courts around the world think so. In New Zealand, for example, the Whanganui River was granted legal personhood in 2017. This decision came after many years of legal action by the Māori people, who are indigenous to New Zealand and have incredibly close ties with the river, considering it an integral part of their culture. Another example of non-humans being granted personhood lies in Argentina, where a chimpanzee named Cecilia was freed from a zoo and declared a “non-human legal person.” The group of lawyers who accomplished this feat in Argentina modeled their work on the work of the Nonhuman Rights Project, an organization that strives to acquire legal personhood, among other rights, for animals in the United States.

The Nonhuman Rights Project uses a very specific method to attempt to achieve their goal. First of all, they have chosen to represent animals from species that are self-aware, have advanced cognition, and are most thoroughly understood by scientists. These animal species include bonobos, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, dolphins, whales, and elephants. The many scientists who conducts research on these species frequently support the Nonhuman Rights Project in their court cases, writing statements about their research to be used as evidence in court. The famous chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall has been a board member for the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding.

In court, the Nonhuman rights project attempts to file writs of habeas corpus for their clients. Writs of habeas corpus are used to challenge the legality of someone’s imprisonment. However, the animals that lawyers from the Nonhuman Rights Project are representing are not yet considered “persons” under the law. Like all animals, they are merely “things,” or objects that humans can deal with as they wish. If a judge was to allow the Nonhuman Rights Project to file a writ of habeas corpus on the behalf of their non-human clients, that judge would be acknowledging that the animal was legally a “person.” This legal status would give an animal the capacity to have some of the same rights that humans have. The primary right that the Nonhuman Rights Project wants their clients to have is bodily liberty, or the right to not be imprisoned. If these animals were given bodily liberty, they would have to be freed from their unjust confinement and released into a sanctuary, where they can live out their life in safety.

So far, acquiring legal personhood for their animal clients has been the most challenging task for the Nonhuman Rights Project. In the case of one of their first clients, a chimpanzee named Kiko, the Nonhuman Rights Project is still fighting for legal personhood after five years of legal action. Kiko is a male chimpanzee that is partially blind due to abuse that he suffered on the set of a movie in which he was a character. According to the Nonhuman Rights Project, Kiko is currently being kept in a cement cage in a storefront located in the state of New York. The goal of the Nonhuman Rights Project is to send Kiko to Save the Chimps sanctuary, where he can live in the best possible conditions.

Although they have not succeeded in acquiring legal personhood for Kiko so far, the Nonhuman Rights Project is determined to persevere. With legal personhood being granted to rivers and animals across the world, the future looks bright for the Nonhuman Rights Project and their nonhuman clients, like Kiko.

More information about the Nonhuman Rights Project can be found on their website: https://www.nonhumanrights.org/

Jake Salomon

Earthscope Reporter

The Future of Renewable Energy is Here

The common view of a utopian future is based around the thought that we will have unlimited free energy. What if I told you that this was possible today? The theory of limitless energy is not a theory anymore. It has been accomplished by an electrical engineer by the name of Paramahamsa Tewari.

Tewari created a power generator called the reactionless generator that is able to harness energy from the aether, or the space all around us. Descartes theorized this but it never caught on as an acceptable fact in the scientific community. Tewari’s Space Vortex Theory proved that the first law of thermodynamics which states that the output of a system can never be greater than the input is not always applicable. Therefore, his reactionless generator is able to produce energy infinitely after an initial charge from an electrical battery. (Go to https://www.tewari.org/about.html if you have any questions).

What could this machine do for us? For starters, it could help relieve pressure on animals and the environment in general. If you did not know already, we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction in the history of earth. Species are currently going extinct at rates 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the average rate in earth’s history. According to the Center for Biological Biodiversity, dozens of species are going extinct every day. These extinctions are caused by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that trap heat in earth’s atmosphere. The earth is heating up too quick for these animals to adapt and they are going extinct. The warmer temperatures on earth are also causing the polar ice caps to melt, adding roughly 230 feet of water to the oceans if they are to be fully melted. Thankfully, not all hope is lost.

This generator is the future of energy. It can eliminate mankind’s dependence on fossil fuels, reducing the threat of global warming. This single invention has the potential to erase the fears of ocean levels rising and can stop the sixth mass extinction that is happening right now. This small yet brilliant generator can eradicate the potential of the earth being completely destroyed by humans forever. There are sure to be many challenges while marketing this amazing invention but the first step is to get the word out and let people know about it.

Few people that aren’t scientists in this field know about this invention. It has not been widely advertised and marketed yet. This generator needs to be out there. The public needs to know about this revolutionary technology. The people need to know that there is a solution to global warming. Just last week I was hanging out with some friends and we decided to go out to dinner. When trying to figure out who was going to drive, one of my friends said “Why don’t we all drive? The earth is already screwed right?” This resonated strongly with me. Some people believe that the earth is beyond repairable. They have just accepted that sea levels will rise, species will die, and the earth will continue to get hotter. Their minds could be changed if they were exposed to Tewari’s reactionless generator. They will see that saving earth is not a lost cause and that it is very achievable.

If this machine is mass produced and distributed worldwide, humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels would come to an end. There would be no more worries about the fate of future generations. Tewari’s invention could decrease global warming, sea levels rising, and poverty while increasing the amount of people that have access to power and the chances of survival of thousands of species.

 

How We Are Causing Our Own Epidemics

Kaitlin McGrath, EarthScope Intern

American writer Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Our planet’s immune system is trying to get

rid of us,” and today this holds more truth than ever before. Epidemics of the last several decades – AIDS, Ebola, West Nile, Lyme disease, and many others – have caused mass fatalities and left us questioning how these deadly diseases became so powerful. Jim Robbins, New York Times journalist and author of several books, has an answer to this question. Robbins writes in his articles that disease is an environmental issue; it is when we do not take care of the natural world and comprehend its structure and systems that diseases spread from wildlife populations and emerge into human populations. With this in mind, veterinarians and biologists have begun working closely together to create a library of viruses and study methods of forest, wildlife, and livestock management to prevent diseases from spreading into human populations and initiating epidemics. Tampering with nature is a perpetual

concern of those working in eco-immunology. Robbins writes that biologists, such as Peter J. Hudson from Penn State, question whether scientists should be interfering and wonder if vaccines and antibiotics could create more health issues by paving the way to a lack of stimulation to their immune systems. Robbins describes in his work that the root of the issue is human destruction of natural systems. Lyme disease, which originated as a result of fragmentation of large contiguous forests, is known mainly for infecting those on the east coast; however, the disease is becoming increasingly prevalent on the west coast. According to the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, infected

ticks have been found in 42 of 58 counties in California. Robbins calls white-footed mice the “reservoir” for the bacteria causing Lyme disease, and because they’re poor groomers, they spread the Lyme disease causing bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) to ticks. The mice are resilient against human destruction of the forests they reside in. When humans disrupt forests or reduce their sizes, wildlife enter suburban or urban areas, which has been the case with the white-footed mouse. Additionally, he mentioned in an interview, humans have “done away with” many of the white-footed mouse predators, resulting in a rapidly growing population of white-footed mice and essentially increasing cases of Lyme disease in human populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2015 that more than 329,000 new cases develop each

year in the US, up to 10 times what was previously believed. A similar scenario took place in northeastern Australia where anthropogenic habitat fragmentation caused bats to enter areas of high human population, feed on nectar in garden and trees, and then pass their viruses to humans. This led to the Hendra virus outbreak in nearby human populations which had a dangerously high fatality rate of 57%. In our interview with Jim Robbins, we asked about what people can do to prevent diseases emerging from wildlife and entering human populations. He states that we must talk, read, write, and learn about our environmental impacts, while also protecting habitat for not only

wildlife health, but also for our own. We also should be mindful of what we do not know, which is imperative to shaping our future. Robbins also suggests incorporating the detailed wealth of knowledge indigenous people have to sustain forests and biodiversity. Studying how ecology plays into diseases in human populations better prepares us for the next epidemic. According to EcoHealth veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Epstein, with this relatively new information on emerging diseases, many countries have already collaborated to establish a warning system about possible zoonotic outbreaks. For now, it is important to be careful of potential Lyme disease carrying ticks when venturing on nature trails, and to realize that damaging the environment ultimately harms ourselves.

To read Jim Robbins’ work visit: https://www.nytimes.com/by/jim-robbins

 

The Death Of California’s Natural Beauty

By Travis Haskin

Southern California is being devastated by one of the worst droughts in recorded history. With many of California’s redwoods and oaks being at risk, this has made trees more susceptible to disease and drought. Most of California’s trees have been able to withstand short droughts that they most often experience. Although with earth’s changing bioclimate, this has the ability to become a devastating ecological disaster. This isn’t only a problem in California, but all around World. “Virtually our entire forest, 15 acres of trees died in a matter of a few years because you wouldn’t know it today, but it is getting a lot warmer out there, and the bark beetles are taking over the forests in Montana.” says freelance journalist and author Jim Robbins. Jim Robbins was a former writer for the New York Times, and he has written many books under his name. The latest being, The Man Who Planted Trees, is about his concern for the future of trees.

Due to our changing climate, this has allowed for grave changes in our ecosystem. “We’re seeing more of this kind of die off these days, climate change is part of it, and you have the secondary effects of beetles and other insects and more fires because things are drier,” says Robbins. With the severity of fires increasing every summer, this means that once acres of lush green forest can turn into a wasteland in a matter of minutes.

From recent years, trees in California were able to withstand major die off. Although the U.S Forest Service has recorded 129 million trees dying off due to drought and disease, and they expect for this number to escalate. We’re not only seeing this as a problem locally here in Marin County but in areas such as Helena, Montana. This includes the recurring problem of diseases taking the lives of millions of trees, especially the oak. Oaks which are not only important because they perform functions such as providing shade and oxygen to wildlife; they are also a major food source provider as well. “We aren’t just losing trees, but were losing services that these trees provide such as providing food.”

A project that is undergoing groundbreaking research towards replanting and conserving our existing forests is the Archangel Tree Archive founded by David Millar. In Jim Robbins Book  The Man Who Planted Trees; He studies David Millarck’s work of cloning some of the world’s oldest trees for their adaptability and resilience to disease. “ It’s a way to make a one-hundred percent xerox copy of the tree very quickly, and very inexpensively,” he says. Through this process of cloning, it gives our future forests the possibility of survival.

Robbins who owns acres of land believes in the need for the public to take actions towards replanting and conservation. “What actions do you believe people can take? Well, planting trees is the simplest one. Even though it’s hopeless sometimes, it’s important,” he says. “ I think it’s not only important to plant trees but to have something positive to do and get other people to help with that.”

A Machine That Achieves the Impossible

By: Danielle Baker, EarthScope Intern (Drake High)

July 18, 2018

Conventional physics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. What if there

was an invention that disproves that theory? Indian physicist, Paramahamsa Tewari did just that by inventing a generator that produces more energy than what is put into the system. By eliminating back-torque through the innovative magnetic circuit design, this generator has now been built and tested. It is known as the Tewari Reactionless Generator (RLG). A conventional generator is unable to have its efficiency greater than 100%. In other words, a traditional generator can never produce more output energy than input energy that it can take. The reason for this is because there are various kinds of losses such as friction losses and

back torque which limits the overall efficiency. Most internal combustion engines are incredibly inefficient at turning fuel burned into usable energy. The efficiency by which they do so is measured in terms of thermal efficiency, and most gasoline combustion engines average around 20% thermal efficiency. This means that only 20% of the gasoline you put into your car is actually used to run your car. The other 80% — give or take — is turned into heat and is left unused. For example, If you pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas, you are only getting 80 cents worth of energy out of the $4.00 you spent. Whereas with the RLG, you would be getting $9.52 worth of energy from the gas. The design of the RLG manages to redirect the flow of the magnetic fields and how the electrical current crosses the magnetic field. The very design of the RLG is able to

nullify the back-torque of the generator; thus increasing the generators overall performance. Paramahamsa Tewari seems to have defied multiple laws of physics that we have been taught for hundreds of years such as the Law of Conservation of Mass, The Second Law of Thermodynamics, and Lenz’s Law. He has achieved this by inventing a machine that has attained over 238% efficiency. This means that it produces 2.38 times the electrical power that was provided to the machine initially. According to Tewari’s son, Anupam, this invention has not violated these laws. He says “we can sidestep these laws in the case of electrodynamics by designing The Reactionless Generator in such a way so that it can redirect various fields and eliminate the back torque of the system which creates its overall efficiency.” Tewari’s Space Vortex Theory explains why conventional physics misses a major point that space — or the aether (ether) — is filled with energy and is not “empty”, as set forth by conventional physics. Anupam Tewari, Paramahansa Tewari’s son, says “Conventional physics

does not give a clear explanation for the structure of matter itself. However, The Space Vortex Theory does”. Tewari was inspired by the notions of Rene Descartes who first founded the idea of the aether, or space containing energy. Tewari hypothesized his theory around Descartes’ notion that space is filled with energy, and when that space is in motion, it creates vortices. Once these vortices reach the speed of light, it then breaks down and produces the most fundamental particle of matter — the electron.

To disprove existing theories is not easy. Previous methods identified space as a source

of energy, but no one has acted on it until now. In essence, Tewari’s machine appears to prove that Descartes’ theory of the aether was right. If this generator is implemented into society, there will be an abundance of sustainable non-polluting and inexpensive power available. The Reactionless Generator thus achieves more than we could imagine previously. At this stage of humanity, this machine could change how we understand the world.

 

Trump Administration Proves That They Do Not Care About Wildlife

Sophie Duryee, Earthscope Reporter

9 July 2018

So far, 2018 has witnessed a slew of repeals from the Trump Administration to end Obama-era laws. Several of these laws are pertaining to the protection of the environment and specifically bears. In 2015 under the Obama Administration, the baiting of brown bears, shooting of hibernating mothers and cubs in dens, and the use of dogs to hunt bears were all made illegal. The Trump administration recently repealed this protection, now allowing these non-humane tactics to be used. The act of baiting bears with food such as donuts and bacon was labeled as cruel by many animal rights activists. Despite this, officials in Alaska, a state home to 95% of the brown bear population and a favorite hunting spot of Trump’s sons Eric and Don jr., are hopeful this will have little effect on bear population.

The resolution was written by a Republican congressman, Donald Young, stating that this is a way to put more power into the states than the federal government; as the repeal allows states to choose protection laws, and unsurprisingly Alaska is going very lenient on hunting. Though it begs the question as to whether states should get to choose laws for animals that have no concept of state borders. Congressman Young said “We have to recognise this is not about the little polar bears, the little grizzly bears or wolves on television, this is about the state’s right to manage — not allowing the federal government to do so.” This garnered praise from the NRA and Republicans, and dismay from Democrats and environmental conservationists, this bill passed 52-47.

Following the passing of this bill, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have legalized the hunting of grizzly bears. Idaho is allowing one bear to be killed, Wyoming 22, and Montana is skipping a hunting season this September, though it is still legal. This is the largest grizzly bear hunt in the contiguous United States since the grizzly bears were put on the endangered species list 43 years ago. What caused this hunt? The Interior Department announced in 2017 that it will end the protection of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area. The reason for this being that the bear population jumped from a mere 150 in 1975 to around 700 when they were removed from the list in 2017. The Interior Department suggested that this was a moment for celebration, but nearly 200 indigenous tribes are fighting against this hunt as the grizzly bear is considered sacred to them. For these people, grizzly bears are a symbol that is represented in their culture; their dances, songs, and myths.  The hunting of this bear they believe is destructive to one of their most sacred animals.

Many people, including major media outlets like The New York Times, PBS, The Guardian, etc., believe that this is just another example of Republicans attempting to erase Obama’s legacy and produce another win for state rights, but no matter the cause or outcome, there is an ethical concern in shooting hibernating mother and cubs and hunting a species considered spiritually sacred by many indigenous populations. Jim Robbins, a New York Times reporter, states that while there is a scientific perspective on keeping bears alive and well, there is also a moral obligation. Is it really just to allow hunters to heartlessly kill mothers and cubs in dens. Conservationists say that this law should “should shock the conscience of every animal lover in America,” and it should.

Supporters have not been able to prove that this repeal is not cruel and use states rights to justify the repeal. Though is states rights more important than the lives of bears? Most animal lovers and humans would say that it is not. Especially since these bears are so important to indigenous people who have actively contested republicans on this issue. It is largely a moral issue because bears are living creatures and killing them in such heinous ways is undeserving to their species. If we keep making hunting laws laxer and laxer, eventually there will be no more bears or wildlife. Theodore Roosevelt said “Short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things.” The government has not listened to the social media outcry over this topic, but contacting local senators or those of big hunting states can help let representatives know that the people do not allow inhumane hunting techniques.

To help:

Contact Alaska Senators

Dan Sullivan: https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email

Lisa Murkowski: https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email

Alaska Representative:

Donald Young: https://donyoung.house.gov/contact/

Montana Senators:

Jon Tester: https://www.tester.senate.gov/contact/

Steven Daines: https://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve

Representative:

Greg Gianforte: https://gianforte.house.gov/contact/email

 

The Truth Behind Our Food

By: Thalia Greenberg, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 6, 2017

Devouring the juicy hamburger, sipping cold milk with warm chocolate chip cookies, crunching on crispy bacon, and cracking eggs to bake a cake. All of the foods mentioned are from animals or are the animal itself, animal abuse is a big issue in America. You may not know it, but 99% of the animals in factory farms are abused, according to farmsanctuary.org. This way of farming domesticated animals is known as factory farming. In class, my classmates and I had the opportunity to interview the CEO and founder of Farm Sanctuary, Gene Bauer. Farm Sanctuary is a place where abused animals come to regain health and prosper. Sanctuary Farms works to investigate and expose the cruelty of animal agriculture. Bauer vividly explained the ways animals were treated in these factory farms and it was chilling.

Egg laying chickens are kept in crates about ⅔ the size of a sheet of paper. Their wings scrape against the walls of the crates causing their feathers to come off and bruises to appear. These chickens are genetically modified to be smaller than normal so there is more space for larger quantities. When these hens are done laying eggs, they are called spent hens. These spent hens are in no use of the farm anymore and have barely any meat on their bones. No slaughter house wants them and the farmer doesn’t either. In one case, a farmer put his spent hens in the wood chipper. His neighbors reported him and eventually he was found not guilty.

In the case of chickens for meat, they are fattened up and killed at 3 weeks old. You may have heard of free range chickens, it is much better than it sounds. Chickens that are free range are not locked up in crates. They are roaming freely around a barn and have to have an outdoor space of some vicinity. The bad side to this, is that thousands of chickens are packed so tightly together indoors that there is no room to move. The barn is over it’s capacity and the outdoor space is rarely in use because there are no regulation sizes and usually only a dozen or so chickens can fit there at one time.

Remember the crunching into the crispy bacon? Pigs in factory farms are kept in gestation crates their entire life until slaughter. These crates are so small that they cannot turn around. Most female pigs live a cycle of impregnation, birth, and motherhood. When they give birth, the pigs are moved into a larger crate where their babies nurse between the bars of the crate. Male pigs are in no use of the farm because they cannot reproduce and are sent off to slaughter at the most profitable time. This time is usually around a couple months because they grow fast the first few months and keep growing later on but at a much slower pace.

Cows are always what first comes to mind when I think of a farm. I picture them grazing on green grass and sleeping peacefully. What I didn’t realize was the over production of the milking and birthing processes. Just like the pigs, female cows live a cycle of impregnation, birth, and motherhood. The babies are taken away from the mother cow within the first few hours of birth and this creates a lot of stress for the baby cows. They usually cry, deprive themselves of food, and become sick. Males are fattened up and slaughtered. Females are prepared for the cycle. These female cows can only produce milk when pregnant. In factory farms, the majority of cows spend their lives indoors. Nearly all cows are slaughtered for meat. At just three years old a female cow is considered “spent,” and is slaughtered. Normally, a cow can live a healthy life of twenty years.

This is why Gene Bauer, Founder of Farm Sanctuary, created a safe haven for farm animals. These same farm animals can live four times their age when they are at Sanctuary Farms rather than at the factory farms.

There are thing stat you can do as a consumer. You can be informed and eat differently. For example, there have been many new vegan foods produced. These include dairy free ice creams, veggie burgers, etc. When you are at the grocery store looking for animal products or at a restaurant ordering, don’t be fooled by the false labeling and advertising because factory farms and corporations make animal conditions sound much better than they are.

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 12:57 PM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

Is The Farming Industry Getting Carried Away By Their Profits? Animals Getting Harmed?

by Myla Dalia, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 7, 2017

Myself, I have never eaten at a fast food restaurant, nor eaten any fast food. The meat and eggs I consume have always been pastured, and I will not eat meat or eggs without knowing exactly where they came from. I know a lot of the horrors that take place at factory farms, and wholly disagree with how they treat the animals.

I have ten chickens that I keep in my backyard, who are happy, content, and absolutely adorable. I’ve had them for almost five years. I know some people use their chickens as meat after they cease to lay, but mine I treat as my children. I gave up eating any bird at all, although I never really liked bird meat, because of them. Two of my chickens, Cocoa and Chickie, have died, from the original twelve. I could never imagine anything happening to my chickens as horrible as factory farms.

For those of you who do not know, the conditions for chickens in factory farms are brutal. At a young age, their beaks are burned off with a hot iron while they are awake and not drugged by any painkillers. The egg laying birds are then stuffed into tiny metal cages hanging off of a sort of conveyor belt in a dark, loud warehouse with millions of other chickens. These cages are called battery cages. This is a highly stressful situation for these birds, and many die of shock or fear, or even injuries. Often, they are bloody and bruised, and are given constant shots with steroids to make their eggs bigger. Meat is bathed and soaked in chlorine to clean it. This does not make the eggs better. If you have ever bought these eggs, you may have noticed how watery the white is, how thin the shell is, and how pale yellow the yolk is. From heathy chickens, the eggs should have a thick, calcium enriched shell, with a sturdy white that stays together with the yolk, and a dark yellow, even orange yolk. They are much, much healthier, containing more protein, and are much tastier. Raise chickens yourself, and treat them well, and you can even have your own good eggs for free.

Solution: Buy Pastured Meat and Eggs

There is another option for you if you still would like meat and eggs from the store. You can buy pastured meat and eggs, which means the animals were treated well, not given steroids and shots to make them or their eggs bigger, and they were not killed slowly and painfully like in factory farms. They have a lot of room to run and are happy. Sure, they may be rarer than factory farms, and produce less and cost more, but the eggs and meat is much, much better for you. Usually, they will only cost around a dollar or less more than the other eggs and meat, but it is a dollar extra you should spend, instead of supporting fast food and factory farming and animal abuse to the extreme. Even Cage Free and Free Range eggs are no better than factory farm eggs. 1000’s of chickens could be stuffed in a tiny barn, living in horrible conditions, but the only difference is they are not in small wire cages. Spend an extra fifty cents and buy pastured eggs and meat.

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 12:12 PM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

How You Can Go Green and Save the Environment

By Samuel Schnee, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 7, 2017

We interviewed the CEO of SolEd Benefit Corp, David Kunhardt. He talked to us about solar energy and global warming. He told us about many ways that we could go green and help the environment.

If you want to make a difference you can drive an electric car, try to get bills pass that force factories to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. Also, there are green energy organizations where you can pay to tap into their green power grid. A great option for people who live in Marin is Marin Clean Energy. This is what I mentioned earlier. You sign up and pay to be given clean, renewable energy. You can get 50% renewable energy or 100% renewable energy. It doesn’t cost too much, and doesn’t hurt the environment. You can find out the details at their website, https://www.mcecleanenergy.org/ . Many other communities are trying to follow MCE in their goal to help the environment.

The first topic he talked about was global warming. Global warming is a term for the greenhouse effect that is occurring in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gasses are getting trapped in the atmosphere. They let sunlight and heat in, however they don’t let as much out. Without any greenhouse gasses we would freeze to death, however we have too much. This is, like the name global warming implies, heating the earth. Some places have felt the repercussions of it, while others haven’t. Florida, for instance, has partially been flooded. The rise in temperature has caused glacial ice caps to melt. This raises the water level, causing flooding. Florida has been hit with massive storms, many of which have caused destructive flooding. Other parts of the world haven’t really seen the effects as obviously. However global warming is everywhere. You might see a tree somewhere near where you live. If it blooms sooner than it is supposed to, that is because of global warming. If the seasons seemed mixed up, with winter being too warm and summer too cold, that is also because of global warming.

Farmers have also been feeling the effects of global warming. The growing seasons have been thrown out of their usual patterns due to the increases of temperature, and changes in the weather. Crops are sprouting, flowering, and dying at different times than usual. This has caused farmers to have to shift when they plant and pick their crops.

There are natural causes to global warming, however scientific studies show that we humans are mostly to blame. We are the main pollutants of the world. China and the US are the top polluters. One of the most common ways people pollute is by driving their cars. The gas used is escaping into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. Factories and animal slaughter houses are also big emitters.

Something we can do about this is get electric cars. Another is to switch to solar energy. David Kunhardt’s company manufactures solar panels. Once made, solar panels are completely green. They emit no CO2 and don’t cost anything once installed. Manufacturing a solar panel emits a lot of greenhouse gasses. But with the energy you save, it evens out in about a year and a half. After that whatever you are powering will use no bad energy, only clean solar energy.

David Kunhardt says the maximum amount of CO2 in the atmosphere should be 350 PPM. PPM means parts per million. That refers to how many parts out of a million are in a certain amount of air. He says, “we have blown right past that.”

You can also find out more about solar panels from SolEd Benefit Corp’s website at http://sol-ed.com/.

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 11:31 AM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

Is Our Energy Killing the Earth?

Quinn Maynard, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 6, 2017

Solar power systems get pure, clean energy from the sun and costs less annually than utility energy and reduces fossil fuel being produced. Also this little change can make the CO2 emissions on our earth go down. So why isn’t anyone switching to solar? This little change could help our planet for the better.

“Is it a job killer? Is renewable energy a job killer? Sorry, but solar jobs have been growing 12x faster than the average workforce in the United States…and solar now employs, its actually closer to 4x as many people in the US as coal. 270,000 jobs across the US are at solar, another 150,000 in wind power.” This is David Kunhardt, the CEO of the Sol-Ed Benefit Corporation. He came to us to talk about the benefits of solar energy and how coal makes no sense and the health hazards of fossil fuels.

“It took the globe over 20 years to really come together and have an affected action on greenhouse gases. Scientists have known this problem for that full period of time,  but for the first time the UN is able to do something about it.” The time that Obama and the President of China came together to do something about this problem sparked a reaction. Other nations realized that if these people from some of the most polluted places on earth are doing something about it, them maybe we should too. Then the Paris Agreement was put in place and signed by 195 countries which is an agreement that is going to help try and stop global warming. They’re all doing serious things to help stop this like China said they were going to stop 100 coal plant plans and start focusing on solar and wind power.

David goes on about this issue and goes into detail on the greenhouse gas effect. The greenhouse gas effect is when greenhouse gases, like Carbon Dioxide, form a sort of blanket around our earth. This blanket absorbs IR radiation, preventing it from going back into outer space. That means this radiation and heat is being trapped here, on earth, and is gradually increasing. This is causing our home to slowly heat up. All these greenhouse gases that are being created by coal and other resources that create CO2 emissions. This is another reason why solar is the better choice. It doesn’t create CO2. So if more people make the switch, we could save our home.

“We are pumping more and more Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, heating up the planet by the means of global warming. If this is to continue without the transition to clean energy, Earth will end up like Venus.” If we don’t do something about this problem, our species and all the other species won’t be able to live on earth for as long as we hoped. What can we do now to help? Well, we can switch to solar energy or just spread the word about this topic. You can also learn more at sol-ed.com. We can do more to help our dying planet and home.

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 12:56 PM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

The Hidden Truth About Factory Farming

By: Maittrella Rodriguez, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 6, 2017

Have you ever thought of where our animal  products come from? Have you ever thought of the way the animals have been treated? This wasn’t something I really thought about until our class had an interview with Gene Bauer. He made me realize how badly the animals are mistreated, and how little factory farming companies actually tell us.

   Gene Baur is the co founder and president of farm sanctuary which helps “protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living.” Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 and “work to investigate and expose the cruelty of animal agriculture,” and also is currently “the nation’s largest and most effective farm animal rescue and protection organization.” once they come to farm sanctuary they are “friends not food.”   

   All the animals in factory farming are treated very badly. According to Baur he has seen piles of animals where they are still alive but left there to die. For example, pigs that are used for this industry, are first impregnated at seven months, and for the rest of their lives they follow the same cycle. This cycle includes: pregnancy, birth, and nursing and is repeated until they are sent to be slaughtered. The whole time when the pigs are pregnant they are put in a gestation crate, where they have no room to even be able to turn. These crates are made so that manure can fall through the cracks,this meaning that they live directly above their own waste which exposes them to high levels of ammonia, and respiratory diseases. Once they give birth they are moved onto crates that separate them from their babies but are still near so they can nurse. After about twenty days, the piglets are separated from their mothers and moved to a pen with no room where they go through a series of mutilations and are kept until they weigh enough to be slaughtered and sold for meat. The mother on the other hand is sent back to the crate where the cycle continues until she isn’t considered to be good for impregnating.

Another animal that is treated badly are chickens. Chickens are used for egg production and are one of the most abused animals. If male chickens are hatched they rarely get to see life because since they can’t lay eggs they are killed upon hatching. The female chickens are kept in battery cages which hold up to five to ten birds at once, where they also have no room. The females are most likely to be debeaked so that they can’t peck their feathers, from the stress of being in battery cages. Being in these cages can also result in bruising and loosing feathers because the birds rub against the wire from being in such a tight space. A chicken’s life span is usually up to five to eight years out with thus forced egg production they live from one to two years which means their average lifespan is cut more than half.

   By doing this class interview with Gene Bauer i have been informed on the unfair treatment of animals. They don’t deserve this lifestyle and with farm sanctuary they can be rescued and protected and treated as friends not food. They can’t help rescue all animals but they can help inform the public. The more people informed the less abused animals. Our thanks to Gene Baur for allowing us to conduct this interview with him, so we can inform more people on the hidden truths about factory farming.

For more information on farm sanctuary check out  https://www.farmsanctuary.org

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 12:50 PM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

The Future Of Our Planet Is Dependent On Today: Talking Climate Change & Clean Energy with David Kunhardt

By Ryan Maple, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 6, 2017

Everything was green on the day we were able to meet solar and climate change expert, David Kunhardt. His presentation included many points, coming to the conclusion that clean energy ways provide more jobs, are better for the environment and the prices are dropping day by day. David was very involved in his case, as he acknowledged the lack of education regarding clean energy around the country, as “marin county is its own bubble, basically our own nation.” His views on the environment were clear, that we need to act now, before our problems get any worse.

David, CEO of SolEd in San Rafael, believes that with the rising knowledge of environmental risks and health issues with coal and gas power, we will be able to strive towards more healthy energy that is good for the environment and our people, such as solar, wind and hydropower (water). These different ways of clean energy are more expensive in some parts, “but solar in specific has nearly “dropped more half the cost as it used to, in everything from panel cost to installation,” a direct quote from David himself.

David has been working at this idea for a long time, finding ways to make clean energy an overall better option when it comes to reliability, installation and not taking too much from your wallet. David is a believer in this idea, and works extremely hard everyday so everybody can have eco-friendly and affordable energy.

David explains more on climate change and global warming, particularly when he explains the “greenhouse gas effect,” the cause of our fossil fuels, coal and gas energy, and what toll they are taking on our atmosphere and planet. As a planet, David says “We are pumping more and more Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, heating up the planet by the means of global warming. If this is to continue without the transition to clean energy, Earth will end up like Venus.” If you did not know, Venus’ atmosphere is all Carbon Dioxide, and what Earth’s atmosphere would look like as well if we do not act. Venus’ conditions include total cloud coverage and rain all the time, which is what we here in Northern California as of recent with the exponential amounts of rainfall compared to the little none we had during the dry years from 2013-2016. All of these greenhouse gas effect “symptoms” have caused a drastic climate change and what we are experiencing now. Extremes. Either too hot, or unbearably cold. This is the cause of climate change, caused by the greenhouse gas effect, and we will end up terribly if we do not stop now.

David Kunhardt really brought the ideas of climate change and acting on environmental issues in front of me. As he said, we could end up like Venus, which would be a catastrophe. He brought to my attention also how the fossil fuel industries are afraid of solar, and the government will only break their ties with said industries if solar is the clear choice, which is what David strives for. In this world, we need more people like David Kunhardt, who educate us and explain to us the truth of what is happening in the modern world, and how we can act upon that truth.

Posted by Catriona MacGregor at 12:43 PM No comments: Links to this post

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

 

The Truth of What You Eat

by Luna Sanchez, EarthScope Intern (Tam High)

April 6, 2017

Gene Baur is an inspiring person in the fight against factory farming. Not everyone knows the truth behind our food. “Factory farms dominate U.S. food production, employing abusive practices that maximize agribusiness profits at the expense of the environment, our communities, animal welfare, and even our health.”(Farm Sanctuary) Gene Baur is the founder of Farm Sanctuary. He has been advocating on the behalf of mistreated animals, because although they don’t speak our language Gene knows they need a voice. Gene is the founder of Farm Sanctuary, an organization that dedicates its to rescuing and rehabilitating cruelly treated farm animals.

So far three Gene has developed three sanctuaries in Los Angeles, New York and Orland, all home to the many hundreds of rescued pigs, cows, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and turkeys. These sanctuaries give badly treated animals a new and much healthier life, without cages or abuse. The sanctuaries help to not only help transform mistreated animals, but they give many humans a perseptive they never knew the could have. Gene shows that animals have personalities, stories and above all feelings. He helps people understand the freedom that all animals deserve.

Gene Baur is a strong believer in veganism, he believes that without they use of any animal products, not only will improve the lives of so many animals it will make humans and happier and healthier species. Although many may think the idea of using no products from animals intimidating, Gene says it’s easy you just need to find a source of protein you enjoy. It is definitely important to at least cut back on the use of animals for food and farming, the overuse of steroids and the living conditions of the animals is unhealthy and can cause health related issues.

One thing Baur warns many about is “Cage Free”, “Free Range” or “Grass Fed” labels. He says that alough some may be selling what they’re advertising many are not. The “cage free” birds still suffer de-beaking and while the they might not be in battery cages there is still a good chance they are packed in a poorly ventilated, windowless warehouse with almost no room for the animals to eve move their wigs. “Grass Fed” indicates that the animals may get most of their nutrients from grass, but the USDA “grass fed” requirements does not limit the use of antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides, all of which can be extremely harmful to the environment, animal and human health.

Animals have been treated horribly for such a long time, but it was just recently that more people started to pay attention. Almost 260 million chickens are killed each year upon hatching. Calves are forced away from their mothers just hours after being born. Sheep are “tail docked” a couple weeks after birth. So many animals are treated so badly and almost no one attempts to do anything. That’s why Gene is so important, not only does he give a voice to abused animals, but he helps give a voice to people who feel the need to speak out about the mistreatment of farm animals. Without the help of Gene and the support, donations and volunteers many animals would not have the healthier and happier life they now live.