The Green Ethic

  • Ocean Acidification: The Silent Death of the Sea

    In the “Silent City” by G.R. Mathews, a tale is told where the surface of our world has become too polluted and toxic, forcing humanity to flee beneath the waves. Society is rebuilt under the sea and the people adapt to ocean life. Many tales are built on the idea that we have the ability to flee underwater when the surface finally perishes. But the story is just a story because the ocean has started to perish as well.

    Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the oceans pH, making it more acidic. This is due to the ocean having to absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which mainly comes from large scale human activities. The acidification is an entire chemical shift that reduces carbonate ions, which are invaluable to marine organisms that need to build their shells and skeletons. The damage done to these vital species shakes the entire marine web, a pipeline to countless consequences.

    Acidification isn’t killing just one species – it decimates entire systems. Entire coral reefs are turned to ghost towns which is causing a collapse in fish habitats. Without so many reefs we have a lower population of fish and reduced biodiversity. The plankton decline has destabilized food webs sending ripples through entire fisheries. Because of the behavioural effects on fish where they have had reduced abilities to detect predators, they have had a much higher mortality rate and serious population instability. This is systemic failure that quietly infects our oceans.

    The harm doesn’t just end at our waters. The consequences of acidification are vast and reach directly into human lives. Global fisheries have begun to be severely destabilized as shell-forming organisms begin to weaken and coral reefs collapse. This threatens food security for millions who rely on the ocean for sustenance. Coastal economies face huge economic declines through a loss of tourism and fishing. The loss of coral reefs remove natural coastal barriers which increase vulnerability to storms and erosion. These impacts severely damage coastal and indigenous communities who have built their livelihood and culture upon the sea. There is no separation between the ocean’s health and human survival.

    We imagine the sea as a refuge but after countless years of abuse we have rendered it as hopeless as our society. No matter how advanced our technology currently is, it cannot replace natural functioning ecosystems. While our world is made to adapt, it is still not fast enough to beat our relentless damage.

  • Bees: The Engineers of the Ecosystem

    Bees. The so-called-villains of summer. They are what sting us, what hurt us, and what make us ache. They ruin our picnics, our gardens, and our days at the park. We are quick to blame them for ruined afternoons outside. But our disdain has led us to ignorance of their importance. Because they are actually secret heroes– silently holding ecosystems together. We have misjudged these vital creatures for years. Hating them for their noises and intrusion. We kill them out of fear, believing it’s either that or be attacked first. Pop culture has endlessly stereotyped them, making individuals fear the worst. The truth is that fear is deeply rooted in our misunderstanding of them. 

    Bees essentially act as the engineers of the ecosystem. They are pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of ¾ of flowering plants, they hold a mighty job that supports biodiversity by holding up the entire food web and ensures healthy soil and forests. ⅓ of our food source is reliant on them and they contribute to environmental stability. Bees are the very foundation of countless ecosystems by providing resources for every living being. 

    They are an indicator species, meaning that if there is a decline in their population it is a signal for greater environmental harm on the rise. The severity of their disappearance is severe. Food sources would fall drastic heights and result in prices skyrocketing for basic necessities. Entire ecosystems would crumble under their loss. The very presence of bees equals the appearance of food. Without a reliance on natural resources like them, we would have to turn to artificial conditions.

    As important as bees are, a looming force threatens them. Humans have slowly begun to decimate their population through destruction. Their habitats have become lost in skyscrapers, they are poisoned from pesticides, and they are losing to the change of climate. 

    It is time to give back to these creatures. We can aid by planting more native flowers and avoiding the spread of pesticides. The best way to rid these creatures is through contact with local beekeepers. It is time to spread awareness of their importance. It is time to spread the awareness of wasps versus bees. Protect their livelihoods not the industries.

    They are one of the most essential species on Earth and should be treated like the heroes they are. Bees are an example of the real effort it takes to aid our world and that working as one symbiote is the best way to bring us to salvation.

  • Bradford Pear Trees: The Harm of Invasive Species

    In the early 1900s a vibrant flowering tree was introduced to the US from China. Its beauty and blight resistance made the tree popular and fastspreading during the 20th century, quickly becoming one of the most popular ornamental trees in North America. When the late 20th century came around it took a turn for the worst and became the single most hated tree across the continent. The Bradford pear tree is a reminder of the consequences of human interaction on non-native species.

    The tree first came across the seas from China as a combatant against the blight that devastated the American orchards in that time period. By the 20th century, it had evolved into a staple within American suburbs. Its rapid growth and aesthetic beauty made it attractive to everyone. The tree thrived in polluted air, compact soil, and tightly developed spaces which led to a prevalence in environmentally discriminated areas. All of its outstanding qualities that fit the American dream made it the ideal choice for mass planting. The governments pushed them as the perfect tree for aesthetics leading to a boom in its spread across North America. But what began as a solution quickly spread into a problem. Every step taken that led to the tree’s rise was because of the little consideration to the long term ecological impacts that the invasive would cause. In the 1990s their invasive spread became suffocating due to their reproduction with alternate pear trees, leading to state wide initiatives to root them out.

    The hate arose from the absolute weakness of the trees. They could barely withstand strong winds and led to mass city cleanups to maintain public safety. The most critical complaint was the stench of the trees. They emitted a rotting scent leading to an increase in pollinators and detriment to humans. They began to quickly outnumber native species and overtake entire ecosystems. They failed as food sources for local wildlife and decimated the local trees, eradicating biodiversity from areas.

    Today, the trees are deeply hated across the United States and are symbols of sheer human ignorance over nature. In the pursuit of beauty, scientists prioritized short term solutions over long term consequences. Their aesthetic convenience leads to the harm of our ecosystems. They stand as a symbol of the potential damage of non-native species can cause to ecosystems and serve as a reminder to hold onto environmental consideration.

    The trees don’t just represent ecological damage but the heavy impact of environmental discrimination as well. Environmental discrimination is the harmful decisions that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. While the trees did affect all communities, the initiatives to remove them mainly occurred in wealthier areas. This has led to marginalized communities to bear the maintenance costs of the trees and an increase in the urban heat island effect from poor shade. All of this is due to the poor long term thinking of city planners and ignorance of the trees ecological damage. While the trees stand as a mistake, the environmental discrimination they led to is most certainly not.

    The Bradford pear tree acts as a warning of the dangers of invasive species. They aren’t the only invasive species to affect ecosystems and they won’t be the last. True long term success and environmental care requires thoughtful planning and ecological diversity that is washed away by the dangers of non-native species. Environmental decisions are never neutral – they have costs that may span generations.

  • Animal Agriculture: The Epitome of Overconsumption

    Animal agriculture is one of the biggest industries in the world with an worth estimated between 1.61 trillion to 3.3 trillion. It is the breeding, raising, and management of domesticated animals for human consumption. The farms can range from small to large and the majority are intensive. But to offer some perspective on the sheer size of this industry, they encompass 80% of agricultural land across the world yet only yield 18% of the world’s calorie consumption. This represents the inefficiency of animal consumption and the harm to food security. Animal agriculture is not simply a food system, but a reflection of humanity’s priorities – where efficiency and profit greatly outweigh ethics and sustainability.

    The majority of the conditions in industrial farming are unbearable. Animals are subjected to confinement systems which essentially render them hostages. Many are physically mutilated for the purpose of efficiency. They are forced into overcrowded areas, activating chronic stress and leading to an increase in disease spread among them. The antibiotic overuse, while helpful, contributes to a worldwide issue of antibiotic resistance. These animals are treated as commodities and are practically disregarded as living beings. The cost of efficiency at a worldwide scale depends on suffering.

    The industry is dominated by a handful of vast multinational corporations. They drive out smaller farmers or force them into debt contracts. Their true costs are masked in government support. While meat appears cheap, the real costs are externalized. While profit rises to the top, the consequences spread to the bottom.

    The vast land use of animal agriculture has led to deforestation for grazing and feed crops. The loss of trees has led to an increase in carbon dioxide and has poisoned the very air we breathe. The concentration of cattle leads to a direct increase in greenhouse gasses that warm our earth and harm our climate. The industry is a huge consumer of the fresh water on earth and acts as a leading source of water pollution. The animal waste runoff leads to nutrient rich waters that cause harmful algae that kill aquatic life by creating dead zones in bodies of water. By mass converting natural habitats into farmlands for industry, we decimate the biodiversity of our ecosystems.

    The “One Health” concept describes the interconnectedness cycles of human, animal and the planet’s health. The horrid conditions of how animals are treated and the effects of the industry directly impact human wellbeing. Diseases can jump from animal to humans and the overuse of antibiotics in livestock contributes to the antibiotic resistance that threatens public health. Environmental degradation caused by farming – polluted water, deforestation, and greenhouse gasses – bring further harm to communities. This creates a cycle in which the health of ecosystems, humans, and animals are inseparable. 

    This article isn’t attributing environmental destruction to your love of barbecue, but is instead meant to point out the injustice in the food industry and the need for systemic change. Simple solutions to help reduce the effects of the industry encompass, reducing meat consumption, curating plant forward diets, and advocating for better animal welfare standards. It is time to start fighting for environmental accountability. The key is intention, not abstinence.

    Animal agriculture is a system that nourishes humanity while simultaneously straining the planet. The solutions aren’t about perfection, but instead about intentional action. Every choice we make – what we eat and what we support – affects the health of animals, ecosystems, and communities. By recognizing the interconnectedness of these systems, we can bring an end to the exploitation and bring rise to a food system that sustains life rather than harms it.