Break out the good champagne!

According to Bloomberg, Disney is the latest company to join a growing list of corporations that have decided to stop the use of single-use plastic straws. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that Seattle became “the first major city in the United States to ban drinking straws,” and Starbucks announced that it would remove single-use plastic straws from its 28,000 stores by 2020. To round out this plastic-free parade, in June BBC News reported that McDonald’s will replace plastic straws with paper ones in all of its UK and Ireland locations, starting in September.

For those of you on the front lines of the single-use plastic straw movement, we hope that these recent moves in corporate America will encourage you to keep fighting the good fight. These huge shifts signify not only that your efforts are having an effect, but that the removal of single-use plastic straws is becoming the new norm in our society. At a time when it feels like so much in the world is going wrong, it is refreshing to learn that some things are going right.

To learn more about plastic pollution and an inspiring global effort to reduce plastic waste, read our blog post from last July, Plastic Waste & The Ocean Cleanup.

Sources:

Golum, Rob, “Disney Joins Cast of Companies Abandoning Plastic Straws,” Bloomberg, 2018.
Wootson, Jr., Cleve R., “Seattle becomes first major U.S. city to ban straws,” The Washington Post, 2018.
“Disney Expands Environmental Commitment by Reducing Plastic Waste,” The Walt Disney Company, 2018.
“McDonald’s to ditch plastic straws,” BBC News, 2018.
“Starbucks to Eliminate Plastic Straws Globally by 2020,” Starbucks, 2018.

This month, we look at a new law that bans offshore drilling in New Jersey state waters and the rocks of Oman that have the chemical potential to help fight climate change.

NEW JERSEY BANS OFFSHORE DRILLING IN STATE WATERS

On April 20, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bipartisan bill, A839, into law. The bill bans offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in a three-mile ocean stretch that the state controls. The new law is an important step to help protect New Jersey’s 130 miles of shoreline, which contribute in large measure to the state’s $4B tourism industry. A839 requires that the state Department of Environmental Protection review any oil and natural gas development proposals in the Atlantic region in order to assess the potential impact on New Jersey’s coast. While the law does not block drilling in federal waters, it does prohibit the approval of any facilities or infrastructure related to it.

The signing ceremony took place at the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on the eighth anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon spill — the largest oil spill in American history. “Our coast is a national treasure and the home of so many personal memories of millions of people,” Murphy said before he signed the bill. “Today and together we’re making sure the Jersey shore remains a place where only good memories are made.”

Sources:

Johnson, Brent, “Murphy bans oil drilling off N.J. shore (and tries to stop Trump),” New Jersey On-Line, LLC, 2018.

Racioppi, Dustin, “To counter Trump, North Jersey bans offshore drilling in state waters,” NorthJersey.com, 2018.

OMAN ROCKS TURN CO2 INTO STONE

On April 26, The New York Times published a story on how the rocks of Oman turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into stone. Peridotite is a type of igneous rock found in the oceanic crust and mantle of the earth. According to scientists, tectonic forces raised the rock formations of Oman 100 million years ago. Once exposed to air and water, peridotite contains a high level of chemical potential, which means that it can absorb large quantities of free energy before it attains chemical equilibrium with the environment.

CO2 is the most prevalent greenhouse gas, and we have filled the atmosphere with billions of tons of CO2 since the start of the Industrial Revolution. As air and water flow through the rocks, CO2 is chemically transformed into carbonate minerals through a process known as carbon mineralization. Evidence of carbon mineralization is seen in the white veins that marble the rocks of Oman.

Worldwide carbon emissions estimate nearly 40 billion tons per year, but scientists project that the 200-mile long, 25-mile wide, northern stretch of Omani peridotite can store at least one billion tons of CO2 annually. And Oman is not the only place where peridotite rocks are found. Albania, Papua New Guinea, and Northern California contain vast stretches of peridotite, and scientists and geoengineers have begun to think of methods by which to accelerate the natural process of carbon mineralization. With a form of geoengineering known as direct-air capture, it is possible to build machines that suck CO2 out of the air and pump it into peridotite rocks.

To read the full article, click here.

Source:

Fountain, Henry, “How Oman’s Rocks Could Help Save the Planet,” The New York Times, 2018.

In light of the coming storm and the potential for flooding in various neighborhoods, we want to share three useful safety tips, courtesy of Mass.gov and State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Preparedness.

1. Make a family emergency plan.

Listen to the evacuation alerts in your town. In case of emergency, separation, or evacuation, choose two places for your family to meet. The first place can be near the house, like a favorite family restaurant or a relative’s house. The second location should be farther away, beyond the evacuation area. Enter “in case of emergency” (ICE) contacts into each family member’s phone. Include the contact’s name, phone number, and address, and be sure to include at least one out-of-state contact. And keep those gas tanks full.

2. Prepare for power outages.

Charge those cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices! If you have a portable battery charger, make sure it’s charged as a backup. Replace the batteries in your flashlights and stock up on candles, firewood, or a generator if necessary. Keep the doors closed to unused rooms in order to preserve heat, and set your freezer and refrigerator to their lowest settings. A closed refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours while a closed freezer will keep food cold for about 48 hours. If you see a downed power line or if you are dependent on equipment that requires electricity, call 911. Bonus: Have a few games prepared that aren’t dependent on electricity. Our favorites are Quiddler, Scrabble, and Taboo.

3. Assemble an emergency kit.

Think of everything your family needs to be self-sufficient for three days: One gallon of water per person per day; a three-day supply of non-perishable food that does not need to be cooked; personal hygiene items, medications, clothes, and shoes; copies of any necessary medical information or important documents; a first-aid kit, whistle, wipes, and any necessary pet supplies.

Sounds super serious, but your safety is important enough to be take seriously! And taking the steps to ensure that the above items are in place will only help you feel prepared and secure in case things do get serious.

We hope that everyone is safe out there and that, if the need arises, we’ll all be good neighbors and help out in any way we can.

Sources:

“Prepare Your Home for Emergencies,” Mass.gov, 2018.

“Plan and Prepare for Emergencies,” State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Preparedness, 2018.

Over the past month, the world has witnessed massive earthquakes in Mexico, wildfires in the American West, and thousand-year hurricanes in the Atlantic. Believe it or not, like it or not, ready or not, climate change is here, and overdevelopment plays a role in the danger that it poses to society.

Consider Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. According to Jason Samenow of The Washington Post, “A new analysis from the University of Wisconsin’s Space Science and Engineering Center has determined that Harvey is a 1-in1,000-year flood event that has overwhelmed an enormous section of Southeast Texas equivalent in size to New Jersey.” Meanwhile, Irma left millions without power in Florida and Maria has set back Puerto Rico an estimated twenty-to-thirty years.

While Harvey is an event without precedent or rival in the historical record, climate studies assert that storms such as Harvey, Irma, and Maria will become more frequent in the coming decades. Clearly, there is a categorical difference in modern-day natural disasters. And, while the politicization of facts persists, there is also a growing discussion around the influence that overdevelopment has on climate.

Scientific American interviewed Stephen Strader, a meteorologist, disaster risk expert, and assistant professor at Villanova University, about the intersection of climate change and overdevelopment. Strader’s argument has two main points: First, as cities grow and become more densely populated, disaster potential increases and more people are affected when disasters occur. Second, as we develop and inhabit areas that are unnatural for human existence, such as marshes, swamps, and barrier islands, the odds of disaster increase. And, as we’ve seen, disaster is not limited to hurricanes.

Katherine Myles, journalist and author of Quakeland: On the Road to America’s Next Devastating Earthquake, explains on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah how scientists are beginning to understand the relationship between human activity and the occurrence of earthquakes:

“We cause earthquakes in all kinds of different ways, whether it’s oil extraction, fracking, waste water injection from fracking—and then really surprising ways, like tunnel building, reservoirs, dams… There’s an apartment complex in Taipei that’s one of the tallest apartment complexes in the world. And it set off thousands and thousands of earthquakes just because of the weight of the building. So as this technology increases—as we dig deeper and build higher—we’re setting off more and more quakes and they’re getting bigger and bigger,” (Miles, Kathryn. “Kathryn Miles – Anticipating America’s Next Major Earthquake in ‘Quakeland.”’ The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Comedy Central. Viacom, New York: 26 Sept. 2017. Television.).

While it is unrealistic to stop developers from building entirely, we do have a voice and a say in how they build in our communities. Steven Maginnis of Baristanet reported on residents of Montclair, New Jersey, who met with Montclair Councilor Sean Spiller yesterday to discuss overdevelopment in the community. Many voiced opposition, pointing to congestion, gentrification, and noise pollution as some of the problems created by overdevelopment. While the councilor conceded their points, questions around a mutually-beneficial path forward remain.

What can people do about overdevelopment in their communities? Strader suggests protective measures, such as better zoning and land-use practices, in addition to engineering solutions and evacuation systems. Likewise, Miles suggests federal investment in an early warning system and better infrastructure. As for Montclair residents, some suggest that development efforts refocus on areas in need, such as the Fourth Ward, which has been without an affordable grocery store since the Pathmark closed in 2015. For those in neighboring communities, call your local representative, participate in your local community meetings and town halls, and spread awareness about overdevelopment’s impact on climate change to your friends and neighbors.

Where to help victims of Mexico earthquakes:

Direct Relief

Global Giving

Topos Mexico

Charity Navigator: Your Guide to Intelligent Giving

Where to help victims of Western wildfires:

American Red Cross

Help Colorado Now

Montana Wildfire Relief Fund

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Where to help victims Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria:

One America Appeal

International Medical Corps

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund

Houston Food Bank

Coastal Bend Food Bank

Houston Humane Society

Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Hurricane Irma Relief Fund

Direct Impact Fund

Unicef

American Red Cross

Unidos, by the Hispanic Federation

Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Unidos por Puerto Rico

WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE?

A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. As the moon passes between the two bodies, it blocks the light of the sun and casts a shadow on the Earth.

There are three types of solar eclipse: total, partial, and annular.

A total solar eclipse happens when the Earth, the moon, and the sun align perfectly. The moon blocks a large surface area of the sun and the sky becomes dark. Total solar eclipses can be viewed only from a small area on Earth by people who are in the center of the moon’s shadow.

A partial solar eclipse happens when the Earth, the moon, and the sun align imperfectly. The moon blocks a smaller surface area of the sun and thereby eclipses it partially.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the Earth, the moon, and the sun align while the moon is at its farthest distance from the Earth. Since the moon is closer to the sun, it cannot block it entirely. Instead of a total darkening of the sky, the sun casts a ring of light around the moon.

(Flint Wild, “What is an Eclipse?”, nasa.gov, 2017)

MONDAY’S SOLAR ECLIPSE

Monday’s eclipse will be a total solar eclipse. However, not everyone who sees the eclipse will experience it as such. The “path of totality” is a 70-mile-wide span that runs from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. For those who are within the path of totality, they will be able to see the total eclipse, which lasts for roughly two minutes and forty seconds. For those who are outside the path of totality, they will be able to see a partial eclipse of the sun.

Fun Fact: While solar eclipses occur every eighteen months, the United States last experienced a total solar eclipse 38 years ago in 1979!

WHEN TO SEE IT?

New Jersey Audiences                             Massachusetts Audiences
Start of Eclipse: 1:22pm                            Start of Eclipse: 1:29pm
Maximum Eclipse: 2:44pm                      Maximum Eclipse: 2:47pm
End of Eclipse: 4:00pm                             End of Eclipse: 4:00pm

HOW TO SEE IT?

Safety is important when looking at the sun. No one wants to be blinded by the light. Our guess is you’ve heard about solar eclipse glasses. These are ISO 12312-2 compliant shades that block sunlight better than the average pair of sunglasses. If you’re looking to pick some up for the family, check with local science museums, schools, public libraries, and home improvement centers. If you turn up empty, you can ask for ISO 12312-2 compliant shades or see whether a neighbor has any extra pairs.

As most readers of this blog will experience a partial solar eclipse, it is important to wear your eclipse shades for the duration of your viewing. For those viewing the eclipse from within the path of totality, it is safe to remove the shades during the two-minute totality period. Otherwise, shades should be worn at all times.

To learn more about the solar eclipse, visit www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Don’t forget to share your photos with us on the Remyndr Facebook Page. We’d love to hear about your experience!

Have fun at the 2017 total solar eclipse!