Month: February 2018

In the 1870s, the expansion of America into the west forced predatory animals into constrained territories, where prey was driven out and domesticated agricultural animals were used as replacement. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, wolves were consistently in the aim of the rifle, trapped, or even poisoned in Yellowstone, so that the so called more regal animals could thrive, like Elk (Route 2016, 1) . From 1914 to 1926, an estimated 136 wolves were slaughtered in Yellowstone Park. In 1926, what was believed to be the last of the Yellowstone wolf packs was executed by bullet without fanfare. Gray wolves had been exterminate throughout the states, retaining only a foot hold in Minnesota by 1960. By 1975, shortly after the wolf was listed under the Endangered Species Act, there begins to be inklings of a new program to reinstate the wolf to its former glory in the west.

By 1995, the wolves were back with the support of the public behind them. Wolves were captured in Canada and brought down to both Idaho and Yellowstone. The wolves they relocated ranged from as young as nine months to full adults of five years of age that had previously bred. The reinstatement of wolves was judged a success by 1996, leading to an increase in biodiversity within the park. The wolves provide far more balance between predator and prey populations within the park. Wolf kills provide food for grizzlies, scavenging animals, as well as coyotes, increasing their populations as well. Although, the future of the wolf depends on their depletion of livestock as well as the hunting habits of packs wandering outside of the park, not just their benefits.

The recovery of the wolf is far from over, however. More pockets of wolf packs must be established in order to ensure genetic sustainability within the species. Sadly, the wolf still only survives in 10% of its former range, while still facing consistent war from farmers. And while the wolf may find sanctuary in Yellowstone, beyond its barriers in Montana and Idaho, hunting and trapping season for wolves exists. Idaho and Montana delisted wolves in the year 2008, while Wyoming has continually come on and off delisting wolves. Still, the US Fish and Wildlife service continues to monitor the recovery path of wolves within these states to confirm an increase in their population. And in 2013, the Obama administration proposed to strip wolves of their protection within the states, however the courts argued otherwise, stating that it would be direct violation of the Endangered Species Act.

The Yellowstone Wolf Project continues to gather information about the packs within the park using radio collars. This information will both ensure their survival and permit the spread of information and learning about this beautiful animal of the west.

The population of wolves now stands around 100 wolves, with about 500 in the subsequent areas surrounding Yellowstone park. They have hit a plateau as of 2014, falling beneath the 174 population in 2010 by 70 wolves. This is due to the limited number of elk, which subsequently leads to fewer numbers of wolves.

We must continue to preserve this animal and promote their recovery. They are complex and beautiful, a definite symbol of the American west.

–Camiell Foulger

 

“.” America’s Gray Wolves: A Long Road to Recovery, Center for Biological Diversity, www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/gray_wolves/.

 

Staff. “Gray Wolves Create Balance between Predator and Prey in Yellowstone.” My Yellowstone Park, National Park Trips Media, 21 June 2015, www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wolves-elk-balance.

 

Route, Bill. “Wolf Conservation in America’s National Parks.” Northland College, Northland College, 15 Oct. 2016, www.northland.edu/news/wolf-conservation-americas-national-parks/.

 

“Wolf Restoration.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolf-restoration.htm.

 

“Wolf Conservation in America’s National Parks.” The History of Wolves in Yellowstone, Yellowstone Wolf: Project Citizen Science, www.yellowstonewolf.org/yellowstone_wolf_history.php.

When you look at a game of chess, you might just see a board with pieces moving in every direction until somebody wins. To me, I see the chess board as a projection of our lives. Every move that is made on the board shows your personality and creative motives as you try to beat your opponent into submission. Depending on your personality, some players tend to play an open, aggressive style of chess where risks are taken in order to give yourself an advantage. Other players tend to play slowly; patiently waiting for his/her opponent to make a mistake. Just as you play on the chess board, the values you have gained from past experiences define your overall view of sustainability.

For instance, the chess openings I play tend to be slower, more strategic, and safer because I feel more comfortable in pouncing on my opponent’s mistakes instead of causing my own. This same strategy applies to my views on sustainability. For example, I enjoy understanding US policy decisions and how they affect Americans in the long-term. Reviewing policy decisions such as the US withdrawal from the Paris Accords allows me to connect my understanding of sustainability and realize that policy decisions like these do not help the United States. For example, it is estimated from 2020 to 2039 that “between $4 billion and $6 billion [would be spent] in annual coastal property damages from sea level rise and more frequent and intense storms” (“Climate Change: Information on Potential Economic Effects Could Help Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Fiscal Exposure”, 2017). Being strategic in decision-making not only helps on the chess board, but also saves people’s lives.

Strategic thinking is important for decision making, and your understanding of systems plays an important role in decisions. For instance, the World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen once said, “I am trying to beat the guy sitting across from me and trying to choose the moves that are most unpleasant for him and his style” (Markushin, 2013). What Carlsen excels at is his understanding of the weaknesses in his opponent. Just as in sustainability, it is necessary to recognize the flaws of the systems we create. Sustainability scientists constantly consider many different systems that are interacting with each other on different scales. However, one important thing that helps in understanding these interactions are the values of those who dictate how the system works. It is important to find these areas of interaction, known to be leverage points, “where a small shift in one thing can produce big changes in everything” (Meadows, 1999). In chess, it is important to find the right move at the right time because it can lead to a chain reaction of positive effects for the rest of the game. The same idea holds true for sustainability to connect it.

Chess presents a unique opportunity for people to make mistakes and learn from them. Those in the field of sustainability have the challenge of finding the best continuation for society, so it is best to be strategic in our decision-making or we may soon be checkmated.

–Austin Powell

 

Climate Change: Information on Potential Economic Effects Could Help Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Fiscal Exposure. (2017). Gao.gov. Retrieved 26 January 2018, from https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-720

 

Markushin, Y. (2013). 27 Great Chess Quotes from Magnus Carlsen. Thechessworld.com. Retrieved 26 January 2018, from https://thechessworld.com/articles/general-information/27-great-chess-quotes-from-magnus-carlsen/

 

Meadows, D. (1999). Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System. The Academy for Systems Change. Retrieved 26 January 2018, from http://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/

An activist is defined as: a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.

My passions lie within the realm of environmental issues. I am taking a class called, Environment & Society this semester and my favorite lecture thus far has been on environmental justice and social activism. It has been a movement that arose out of a spearhead of groups in the 70s and is still going on today. It is sad to see individuals so blind about environmental issues going on in our world every single day. Our job is to speak up and not turn back. All we can do is change our habits in hopes that by electing politicians that support our causes, justice will be served.

Climate change isn’t stopping for anyone, so we need to start being activists in order to break through with radical change.

On January 20^th, I attended the Women’s March in Greenville, SC. The sun shined on a group on us Greenbelters (a group of environmental living and learning community members) from Furman University as we sang songs, and yelled at the top of our lungs for the powerful community speeches along with the crowd of thousands in attendance. Showing up is all we had to do, and showing up is all you have to do make a change.

The Women’s March was founded a year ago as a reaction to Donald Trump being elected into the White House in 2016. But most importantly the motive behind it all was to have women raise their voices and come together as a collective body to fight for equality in our country. Guess who started this movement? An activist.

I have been to my fair share of protests, activism meetings, and corner street rallies, thanks to my parents that thrived in the 70s.

However, last year was my first year going to a protest without my parents, and that was to the People’s Climate March in downtown Greenville. I rounded up a friend who is now living with me in the eco-cabins and has continually supported me on my activist journey. We made posters that read, “It’s getting HOT in here…” and “Save Our Planet…Climate Justice NOW!”

For the Women’s March, we got those same permanent markers out and drew up a sign that read, “They tried to bury us but they didn’t know we were seeds.” An activist is like a seed spreading their passion for a particular issue out into the community. By showing up and supporting a designated cause you are given a voice. By educating yourself with your cause you are becoming empowered. By sharing your stories and passion you are making an impact. Now all you need to do is don’t stop and live it out.

As I held my sign up high and proud at the March, I realized that was exactly where I needed to be. Yes, I am a college student and have plenty of other obligations and work to attend to, but where I was, was where I was meant to be.

Our lives are surrounded by a general motive to find our purpose in this world. Most people think they find this through getting an education, or finding a job they love, but at this stage in my life I have found my purpose in activism. Not a sideline or background activist, but an activist that despite it all will show up. Will you show up?

-Amie Newsome

 

Bibliography:

Mazzio, Jenna. “So You Want to Be an Activist? 8 Ways to Get Involved in Causes You Care About.” One Green Planet, 19 July 2014, www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-to-get-involved-in-causes-you-care-about/.