Friday, September 27. 2019

Today's schedule is DCBA

D & C Blocks Environmental & Social Sciences - Your final assignment is to participate in a round table discussion about what a renegotiated Colorado River water compact should include. Instead of states you will be representing "user groups" (agriculture, municipalities, power generation, recreation, environmental organizations, Indigenous governments). We will ask each group to explain their point of view first and then we will ask you to try to find a solution to increasing demand and dwindling supply. Consider:
What re-allocation schemes are feasible?
What changes regarding allocations and water rights should be made?
How would these changes impact other stakeholders?
Are all the many uses of the Colorado River compatible?
If not, what should the priorities be and why?
Are there fair ways to move water from one use to another?

California and the West prepare to get by on less water from the Colorado River
States sign short-term Colorado River drought plan, but global warming looms over long-term solutions

B Block Human Geography - If you are at the Climate March go make some noise! If not, in Human Geography we'll continue yesterday's work on renewable and non renewable energy sources connected to development. From the Worldwatch Institute Energy for Development:

Affordable energy services are among the essential ingredients of economic development, including eradication of extreme poverty as called for in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Modern energy services—mainly provided by liquid and gaseous fuels, as well as electricity—are essential for building enterprises and creating jobs. Convenient, affordable energy is also important for improving health and education, and for reducing the human labor required to cook and meet other basic needs.

In recent decades, the energy needs of poor people have been met most often via petroleum-based liquid fuels and by extension of the electricity grid, which is
powered mainly by fossil fuels and hydropower. These options have benefited from government subsidies and are widely available on world markets. However, these
conventional energy systems are often out of reach for people in remote areas, and even in urban slums, they are sometimes too expensive for the poorest to afford.

Most poor countries have abundant renewable resources, including varying combinations of solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass, as well as the ability to manufacture the relatively labor-intensive systems that harness these. However, only a few developing countries have adopted the policies needed to spur the development of renewable energy technologies and markets, which have been dominated by Europe, Japan, and North America. 

Without energy could Africa’s growth run out of steam?
Access to Energy is at the Heart of Development
To End Poverty, Increase Access to Energy
Least Developed Countries Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development (LDC REEEI) 
Developing Countries Are Now Leading the World’s Clean Energy Transformation
The Developing World Is Taking Over Renewable Energy
How a Key Energy Technology Can Help Developing Countries

A Block Physical Geography - If you are at the Climate March go make some noise! If not, in Physical Geography we'll continue yesterday's work...well wait we didn't actually get to work yesterday...because yesterday was

I tried to answer all of your questions you had about earthquakes. So look at yesterday's blog to see what we should be doing today, which we'll most likely be doing on Monday because you're at the climate march today.