Xeriscaping not Zeroscaping

By- Zoe Wu

       The word xero means dry in latin and scape means landscape. Xeriscaping is an official landscaping technique for areas prone to droughts. You have probably seen some of these in the front yards of some houses. The goal of this technique is to minimize the amount of water needed to maintain the yard and put it to better use as drinking water during drought season.

       People who use this technique not only save the environment but also save their money. With less water being used to water their yards, people who xeriscape have seen a reduction of fifty to seventy percent of their water bill. They also have seen a reduction of about twenty-six percent in labor efforts because their new yards require less maintenance. Although the cost to make a yard with this technique is costly at first, the reduced water and maintenance fees show the long term benefits outweigh the initial costs.

       Plants that do not require much water, called xeric plants, can be just as aesthetically pleasing as regular plants. Most laws using the xeriscaping technique use a layout using three zones. Each zone will contain plants that have similar water needs, to increase efficiency when watering the plants. The first zone, referred to as the Oasis Zone, will contain more water-intensive plants. This zone is usually placed in the view of the people in the interior of the house. The Transition Zone is the second zone and contains more water-wise xeric plants. This zone is usually placed near walkways or driveways where most people who view the yard from the outside can see. The final zone is the Xeric Zone and contains only xeric plants. This zone is usually placed on the outskirts of the property where not many can view. Xeric plants should be placed in the south or west side of the property, and the more water intensive plants should be placed in the north or east side of the property for maximum efficiency.

       To irrigate efficiently, water the plants deeply and less frequently. This will encourage deep root growth, which leads to more stable plants. Xeriscaping does not have to be used in only drought prone areas, it can be used anywhere to increase efficiency of water usage. Remember, there is no need to "zeroscape" with the abundant plant options to make a beautiful xeriscape.

       Do you think xeriscaping would be beneficial in Texas? How can you increase efficiency of your water usage? What changes can you make to your lawn to increase water efficiency?

Sources

Beaulieu, David. “This Is What to Expect With Xeriscape Landscaping.” The Spruce, The Spruce, 15 July 2019, www.thespruce.com/xeriscape-landscaping-meaning-2131129. 

National Geographic Society. “Xeriscaping.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/xeriscaping/. 

Rodomsky-Bish, Becca. “The Seven Principles of Xeriscape.” Habitat Network, 20 Oct. 2015, content.yardmap.org/learn/the-seven-principles-of-xeriscape/. 

Climate Change Inequality-Shruti Vummadising

Climate Change Inequality 

     Climate change is quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest issues of our time. The rise of activists such as Greta Thunburg, as well as a multitude of youth-led protests signifies a larger shift in our awareness and focus towards the environment. Unfortunately, while there has been significant progress in our fight to save the environment, there seems to be an important topic missing from discussions and debates. While climate change is indeed a global issue, it affects areas differently, exacerbating economic and social inequality. 

     It's no secret that developed nations such as the United States are the top carbon emitters. Nations that have undergone significant industrialization, such as India and China, are some of the top polluters, with factories creating significant air problems in these areas. However, developing nations, which only contribute a fraction to the problem, often face some of the worst effects. Developing nations are expected to see nearly a 75% decline in average income due to warming temperatures. Increasing temperatures are expected to lead to an economic decline in these nations, as food production and productivity decrease exponentially. However, developed nations are expected to see a rise in income, furthering the divide between these nations by 25%.

     

     Problematically, these nations lack the resources to deal with these problems. Over the past decades, the unprecedented environmental changes affecting poorer nations leave them reeling as they struggle to deal with the aftermath. Rising sea levels, flooding, and high temperatures removes jobs and valuable resources from areas, leading to mass migrations. Unfortunately, countries lack the financial resources to help people recover, leading to an endless cycle of poverty that affects millions of people. On the other hand, richer countries which have been the biggest contributors to climate change, only deal with a fraction of the environmental issues these poorer nations are forced to undergo. Moreover, developed nations also have a multitude of resources to help people recover from disasters.

     How can we reduce climate change inequality? How can we ensure that developing nations have a way to deal with the inevitable damage of climate change? How can we mitigate the harmful effects of climate change for everyone? What can we do to bring more awareness to the issue?

https://time.com/5575523/climate-change-inequality/

https://www.dw.com/en/climate-change-reinforces-inequalities-even-in-developed-countries/a-50596957

https://earth.stanford.edu/news/climate-change-has-worsened-global-economic-inequality#gs.g3nt4r

https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonlack/2018/08/23/guess-whos-most-effective-at-combating-global-warming/#1e9278225cdb

     

The Dangers of Chemical SPFs - Madie Rawlings

   

On May 1, 2018, the state of Hawaii passed a new law banning the production and use of sunscreens containing octinoxate and oxybenzone on its islands. The production of such chemical SPFs has since been shut down in Hawaii. Now, it’s just a matter of getting rid of and using up the remnants. It is projected that within the next few years, sun protection with octinoxate and oxybenzone will be prohibited within Hawaiian islands without a medical prescription due to the toxic nature of these chemicals.

Oxybenzone is not only found in sunscreens; it can be an active ingredient in products such as “body fragrances, hair styling products, shampoos and conditioners, anti-aging creams, lip balms, mascaras, insect repellants, as well as dishwasher soaps, dish soaps, hand soaps, and bath oils/salts” ("Archives"). These products, while not always directly entering the ocean off of people, are introduced via wastewater and sewage systems that lead to the ocean. Therefore, all of these products have the potential to contaminate sea life and, more specifically, coral reefs. Oxybenzone is a photo-toxicant and a geno-toxicant, meaning that the light intensifies the negative impacts it has on marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the geno-toxicity of the chemical means that it has destructive effects on the DNA and RNA of oceanic plant life. 

The CDC claims that, “The Food and Drug Administration has failed miserably in its duty to protect the public from toxic chemicals like oxybenzone in personal care products” (EWG). They also state, “97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage”, in case the environmental damage is not enough to invoke a change within their readers. Conclusively, oxybenzone is not healthy. Octinoxate on the other hand, is the other infamous, banned sunscreen ingredient. It is slightly less toxic but still a valid cause for concern. An organization focusing on the healthfulness surrounding cosmetics notes that, “Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function” (Safe Cosmetics). Both chemicals have proven research pinpointing them as the cause of damage to the Earth and to its human population. 

Many people make the common mistake of falling into patterns of convenience. Their lives consist only of what is comfortable, familiar, or routine. Simply picking up your trusted brand of sunscreen from the drugstore before a pool or beach day is much easier than researching the most environmentally-friendly ingredients. However, this is one of many cases where convenience is far too low on the list of priorities.

Have you ever had a reaction to chemical SPFs? Have you heard about Oxybenzone's harmful effects before? For anyone who currently has sunscreen (or foundation if you wear makeup), check the ingredient list; I can almost assure you Oxybenzone or Octinoxate are likely the active ingredients. Personally, if you insist on sticking to chemical SPFs, I recommend active ingredients of Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide as they're the less harmful chemicals.

Sources:

“Let the Sun Shine.”  Devash, Meirav, Rodale's Organic Life, Jul/Aug2016, Vol. 2, Issue 4.

Loya, Yossi. “Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Incl. Option to Publish Open Access.” Evidence, Realism and Pluralism Hasok Chang Springer, Springer Netherlands, 1 Feb. 2016, www.springer.com/environment/environmentalchemistry/journal/244.

“CDC: Americans Carry Body Burden of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical.” EWG, CDC, 25 Mar.   2008, www.ewg.org/news/testimony-official-correspondence/cdc-americans-carry-body- burden-toxic-sunscreen-chemical.

“Octinoxate.” Safe Cosmetics, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, 2018, www.safecosmetics.org/ get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/octinoxate/.

Improper disposal of medication.

The improper disposal of Medication. 

By: Weston Peninger

The improper disposal of medication, prescription and non-prescription, is becoming ever more Dangerous. It is simply not disposing of your medications correctly, this could mean leaving them outside, flushing them down the toilet or even just throwing them away. These can cause drugs and medication to end up in landfills and sometimes in our water supply.

Its environmental impacts can go a lot further than you think. The first place these drugs can end up,is in our water systems. When these drugs are thrown in a landfill or flushed down the toilet there is a chance they can leach into our water system. In recent years, a number of pharmaceutical-related chemicals have been found in waterways across the country and even in our drinking water. According to the University of Illinois, these chemicals can be traced back to drugs such as antibiotics, anti-depressants, steroids, seizure medications, painkillers and more. These chemicals not only have the potential to harm humans, they also threaten marine ecosystems.

It is not only the people who are making this mistake. While the people need change, livestock farms, hospitals and nursing homes are all large contributors of the prescriptions that end up in our waterways as well. With these increasing industries and increasingly important medication, a safe way to dispose of them needs to become more readily available. Around Flower mound we have medication disposal days that are very poorly advertised and not very well funded. There are certain programs around the country that host medication disposal days but only twice a year.

Ridding of Medication is a very difficult process but with proper funding we can find an easier way to allow the public to dispose of medications safely. One of the biggest growing epidemics in america is the unneeded taking of prescription pills that are addictive, but that seems to be a problem that can be solved with proper disposal of unwanted and expired drugs.

Sources: https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/the-dangerous-of-improper-drug-disposal/