Topic 4: Biosolids - A Realistic Alternative?

Biosolids? What exactly is that? So, as per usual, when a topic comes up that I am not familiar with I google it. When googling the term biosolids one can find a picture similar to this:

But, reading along this unit I came across the bracketed words right next to biosolids, which said human waste ... so? Is the picture above really what I think it is?

Continuing on, I researched about what exactly biosolids were. Through the countless amounts of internet sites and constant typing and backspacing into search engines I was directed to this definition of what biosolids were and how they went from human waste, to fertilizer.

Biosolids, are in fact human waste, but do not be deceived by that initial statement my friends. Oh no. This waste goes through a long thorough process that separates liquids and solids which is also known as the water waste treatment.

The liquid that is separated is clean water that is then discharged into an nearby stream or river. The solids however are treated again, and go under the process of stabilization - reducing harmful micro-organisms within the solid.

From that point on, the waste (or bio solid material) has now gone from in your toilet to in your gardens. Biosolids are used on farms to promote the growth of their crops and to reduce the use of commercial fertilizers. But with all being said and done, is this really a realistic alternative to agriculture today?

Living in such a westernized society, I feel that we are greatly influenced by such superficial remarks and mindsets as to, "Ew, poo is unsanitary, I don't want my food to be grown in that!" or ".... Poo? My food is growing in poo?". However, their is an upside. We, as a civilization living in a developed country, have a waste problem. Thinking of that solely in mind and not of the fact that biosolids were in fact poo, in a previous life, the use of it as fertilizer is not such a bad idea.

As an individual who cares not much for the superficial's of this life and more for the beneficial's for the next generation, I would have to say under all the circumstances and after weighing out the pro's and con's, biosolids as a fertilizer would be a fantastic alternative to plant growth and agriculture practices. I mean... biosolids are au natural, they are processed and treated up until the unsanitary aspects of the waste are completely abolished to a point, and it is constantly being created. Biosolids are our future when it comes to agricultural practices and to be honest, I would rather have my food being fertilized and treated by natural organic material than some chemically induced commercialized fertilizer any day.

References:
http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/agusesbio.htm
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/tfer.html

Commented on:
Erika
Michael

Topic 3: Importance of Technology

     It's the 21'st century, and you're probably reading this blog on your laptop, desktop, or even your phone. Technology has become such a huge part of our lives and society's lifestyle that no one gives a second thought.

     Now bring yourself back to the 19th century, and put yourself in a scenario where you are sick and must visit the doctor, or more likely, the barber shop. Going to the barber you are most likely to go under a procedure more commonly known in that day and age as blood letting. Barber's who practised this method, would take large quantities of blood from the patient, in order to prevent further illness, leaving you feel weakened and probably not much better at all.

     Now speed up, and find yourself sitting in a hospital in the 21st century. Clean, organized, and you'll notice if you peep your head into patients rooms, the variety of technologies that are incorporated within our society and hospitals. A lot has changed from then and now.

     Technology is incorporated in every aspect of our lives, whether it include, busses, trains, cars, phones, etc. Technology has also had a huge impact on medical treatment and how we deal with issues underneath the skin.

     Take for instance, the CT scanner which was first installed in 1974. This machine, is the upgrade from an x-ray. CT scanners offer a more detailed and precise look into the body than an x-ray ever could, combining the technology of a sophisticated computer as well as specialized x-ray material.

Medical workers are now able to see not only the bones of a patient, but arteries, veins, organs and can catch small tumours that may develop within the body. Representing technological advancements at its finest.

  



     Other advancements in technology such as the stethoscope, defibrillators, heart monitors, etc. have impacted medical treatment so thoroughly that a terminally ill patient, can be left over night with out the need for a constant attendant with the help of a life support system.

    Focusing on one medical advancement in particular, there has now been technology created in the form of a swallowable pill. This swallowable sensor can be ingested by an individual in the same manner one would swallow a pill.

This medical device disguised as a pill will be ingested by a patient, and will help make medical observations on the digestive system and allow for the patient to observe what exactly is going on in their digestive system.

It's main purpose is to help patients diagnose gastroparesis, a condition that causes emptying of the stomach to occur very slowly. The initial cost of this nifty device will be 500$, and including the receptors and docking station, all in all will come to a grand total of 20,000$.

    With that being said, medical practices have definitely developed through out time. Not only have we quitted the medieval practise of bloodletting (blek!), but we have also come upon many a medical devices that can be rid us of diseases and illnesses quickly and less painfully. A definite advancement in medical technology would be our ability to investigate what lays beneath the skin with out literally cutting open an individual. Technologies have come a long way, and with a bright future which will definitely be majorly influenced by technology we are sure to see more advancements within hospitals and development of devices which will enable us to cure even more illnesses today.

References:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ct_scan/article_em.htm

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/17470/?mod=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodletting

Blogs I've commented on:
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Topic 2: Feeding A Growing Population VS Conserving Biodiversity

This being written strictly based on opinion, I feel that relying on these high quality livestock breeds and crops and cloning them, or manipulating them into the ideal, definitely does reduce genetic diversity and the risks taken when doing so outweighs the benefits.

While cloning and manufactured seeds, creating the ideal crop may be convenient and reliable, it starts to become more of a marketing scheme by big industries. The amount of chemicals, pesticides and preservatives added into these genetically made seeds stay in these seeds are being consumed into out bodies. Nutrients and the basic natural essence of these crops will be replaced with the inclusion of chemicals from the process by which they are being created, or "manufactured", if you will.

Sustainable agriculture, however refers to the use of natural materials (i.e., non manufactured seeds, the avoidance of chemicals, and just natural farming/breeding). Sustainable agriculture is comprised of three things: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Farmers whom practice sustainable agriculture keep in mind what is being put into our foods and what is being consumed in our foods.

Personally, the very idea that many of our foods are grown to be idealistic, and seen as the 'perfect' food comes at a very high price. Many of the public is unaware of just how much factories are manufacturing nature and acting as God by genetically editing their structures and shape.

After watching a previous documentary for another course, I discovered chickens were being created to be 2x their natural size in less amount of time to meet with the consumer demand and growing population. Soybeans, also featured in the documentary (titled: Food Inc.) were being manufactured, and patented from the original, natural soybean.

After gaining previous knowledge so the idea of "high productive livestock breeds", or in other words, manufactured, factory made fruits and vegetables, I feel that we are playing God. Taking natural things and turning them into something man made. By doing so, we are risking biodiversity by never letting such natural organisms to evolve with time and change. We are recreating the same plant over and over again, never letting it grow or evolve in the world and recopying whatever deviants or problems it may have.

As for being able to keep up with the rapid growth of global human population. In Canada we waste over 17.5 million kg of food. And that is just our country. The agricultural industry can definitely keep up with the rapid growth of the global human population, with or without the need for highly productive livestock and crops. We just have to make a point of not wasting it.

References:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=MB8c0jUo-c4C&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=risks+of+manufactured+crops&source=bl&ots=GsTPEQJXVV&sig=KvwFXFZIRV8Jp6XLf2UrtEQCma8&hl=en&ei=eZxaTY-lB8WAlAemj8WODQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm

http://www.worldvision.ca/Education-and-Justice/advocacy-in-action/Pages/what-a-waste-the-food-we-throw-away.aspx

Comments on other bio blogs:
Jeleel Ragudo
Kendra Spencer Cole 

Topic 1: Positive impact humans have on biodiversity

Although humans seem to be the biggest threat towards the environment, it can be assured that the impacts we have are not all bad. It's a new decade, and considering human development we have come to understand the damage we have done to ecosystems and are now trying to fix it.

Organizations such as Green peace, WWF and innovations such as the wind turbine, hydro energy and electric energy are all human thoughts, ideas, passions and methods of backtracking from past environmental mistakes and working towards preserving ecosystems.

Focusing on the organization Green Peace; it is one of the most successful green organizations bent on preserving ecosystems and decreasing our human impact in the environment. Some of it's achievements include:

•  the zero waste policy in Buenos Aires. 
• preserving and saving the Great Bear Rainforest (protection from logging)
• Irish government banning all energy wasting incandescent lightbulbs
• London Dumping Convention bans the dumping at sea of radioactive waste world-wide
• US abandons nuclear testing in Alaska 
• Oil company Shell agrees to bring infamous offshore installation to land for recycling

Green peace has been working on preserving the environment since 1972, and since then have had many a victory. Still, it continues to work vigorously to protect the environment.

Another very successful and global known organization bent on protection of nature is the World Wildlife Foundation. With over 5 million members globally, this organization is one of the leading organizations with a mission to conserve nature. Their goal is to protect natural areas of wild life and the ecosystems that inhabit them.

WWF is also very well known for the protection and projects based on protecting the life of endangered animals. Over the years, human's have over-poached, hunted and sought after animals so much, that these animals (i.e., tiger, rhinoceros, elephants etc. etc) have become virtually extinct. WWF works towards preserving these species and banning human hunting of them, positively impacting biodiversity.

These organizations are run by millions of environmental activists all over the world, trying to make a positive impact towers the worlds ecosystems and preserving its biodiversity - proving that not all human interaction towards the environment is not all negative. 

References: 

http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/index.html

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/victories/

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Claudia Luk 
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