Vol. 13 No. 11
Editor - Jan Weaver
208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
Guest Essay by: Hickman High School Biology Club
Did you know it takes 616 gallons of water to produce a quarter pound burger through out its burger life cycle? A Burger has a life cycle? Yes and it's often forgotten what the impacts of each stage of a product's life cycle are upon the Earth.
Every product we buy has a life cycle: birth, life and death. The birth of a product includes design, mining of raw materials, manufacturing, packaging and transportation. The life of the product is the period of time that we use the product. Its death includes throwing the product away (did you know it takes 100-400 years for plastic to break down?), recycling the product, or reusing the product.
For example, the birth of the cell phone includes mining of raw materials such as crude oil, copper, gold, lead, nickel, beryllium, coltan, tantalum, sand and limestone. Next, these raw materials are processed, which includes isolation of pure materials and making necessary materials like the plastic. Then the basic parts of the cell phone, including battery, circuit board and LCD screen are built and put together. The cell phone life cycle also includes packaging and transportation, where many raw materials are used to ensure the product isn't damaged. The fifth stage in the cell phone's life is its useful life. (We can extend this time by taking care of the cell phone.) The final stage of its life is death. We have a choice of recycling our cell phone by returning it to its manufacturer, selling or donating it to a cell phone recycler or charity, or throwing it away.
Being a green shopper means considering the effect of the product on the Earth during its birth, life and death, so we must consider the environmental impact of each stage of the life cycle of the products we buy. Remember, when shopping, to consider a product's life cycle to determine which one leaves the smallest footprint on Earth. Ask yourself
· How much water was used to produce this?
· Were any ecosystems or animals affected by its production?
· Was the product made with new materials or recycled materials?
· How was it transported to me?
· Is the packaging recyclable?
· What will I do with this product when I'm done with it?
For information on specific kinds of products, check these sources
Cell phone life cycle - http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/pdfs/life-cell.pdf
Recycled & refurbished cell phones - http://www.gogreenmobile.com/servlet/StoreFront
CD and DVD life cycle - http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/students/finalposter.pdf
Soccer ball life cycle - http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/pdfs/life-soccer.pdf.
Reading product labels to be a competent shopper - http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/110/labels
Impacts of common products and greener solutions - http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/
Becoming a greener shopper- http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/pdfs/shopping.pdf.
Other Relevant Terms (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_cycle_analysis)
Well to Wheel - getting a fuel from creation or extraction to doing work in a vehicle
Cradle to Grave - extraction of materials and the energy used to the disposal of a product back into the earth
Cradle to Gate - getting an item from extraction and manufacture to delivery
ISO14000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_14000)
The International Organization for Standardization promulgates world wide management and industrialization standards. The ISO 14000 are the standards for environmental management and focuses on the production process.
This month's guest essay was compiled and written by the Hickman H.S. Biology Club and edited by Claire Friedrichsen. I will return as the regular essay writer for the December 2007 issue. If you are interested in writing an essay for the newsletter, please contact me by email with your chosen topic. Essays should be 250-500 words long, should avoid political bias, and should focus on helping readers understand and address environmental issues using the tools available to citizens in a representative democracy.
MU Environmental Network News is going Paperless (or at least in that direction) beginning January 2008. The newsletter is available by email and to reduce time, resources and funds used to produce the paper version, the MUENN will stop printing and mailing a paper copy except for those who specifically request one. To get on the email list, just send an email to weaverjc@missouri.edu requesting addition to the email list. If you would still like to get a paper copy, email, phone or mail your request with an up-to-date address.
email: weaverjc@missouri.edu
phone: 573-882-3037
mail: 208 Tucker Hall, MU, Columbia MO 65211
BioRegional Quiz: What are the most common trees in this part of the state?
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
Green Fridays Movie Night: Nov 2; 19:00; Unitarian Church. movie or discussion. gbaka AT centurytel.net
MidMo Bike to Rocheport: Nov 3; 9:00; Flat Branch Park. www.offtrackevents.com
Tree Planting: Nov 3; 8:30; Overton Bottoms; call for directions; 573.289.2077
Invasive Eradication: Nov 3; 10:00-12:00; Hinkson Valley Nature Sanc. bring loppers, pruners, saws, gloves. http://greenbelt.missouri.org/news.html
Current River Float Trip: Nov 3-5. sponsored by Sierra Club. 660-841-5969 / cavecreekfarm AT yahoo.com
Kids' Trout Outing - Mid MO Trout Unlimited: Nov 4; 12:30-15:00; Cosmo-Bethel Park. Columbia Parks and Rec
Green Week : Nov 5-8; MU - Cornell Hall. sponsored by AIESEC. briandpellot AT mizzou.edu
Tiger Tailgate Recycling: Nov 10; MU - Football Stadium. help recycle containers. bpdm89 AT mizzou.edu
Garden Clean Up: Nov 10; 11:00-13:00; Ash St. Community Gdn 201 W. Ash. 573-875-5430
Table for Big Muddy FW Refuge: Nov 10-11; 5:00-18:30; Big Muddy Fish & Wildlf Ref. share info with deer hunters, 2 hr shifts.
573-424-9051 / friends AT friendsofbigmuddy.org
Inconvenient Truth : Nov 13; ~6:30; MU - Memorial Union. film and panel. 314-458-4049 / sebfz5 AT mizzou.edu / MU Student Union Programming Board
America Recycles: Nov 15
Conservation Psychology : Why and how people care for nature: Nov 15; 16:00-17:00; MU - 106 Lefevre Hall . Dr. Susan Clayton, Wooster. http://www.conservbio.missouri.edu/seminar.html
March with Columbia Climate Change Coaltion: Nov 18; 14:00; Broadway and College. march with CCCC in Holiday Parade. 573-529-9273 / mntwelch AT yahoo.com
Commuting Bike Class: Nov 20; 17:30-20:30; Armory. Confident City Cycling prereq $15. 573-874-7460 / http://www.pednet.org/
Christmas Bird Count: Dec. sponsored by Audubon
Environmental Education Conference: Dec 1; 7:30-17:00; Discovery Center, Kansas City . $45 prof, $25 student. 573-882-3037 / weaverjc@missouri.edu / http://www.meea.org
Holiday Gift Workshop: Dec 1&2; 12:00-17:00; Peace Nook. crafts from recycled or low cost materials. http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/events.php
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BIG CANOE: 573-875-8590 / bryce_crispies@yahoo.com / http://www.bigcanoemo.org/ - Saturday workdays 10-1 at 406 Sanford
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, Meet 3rd Thu http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREEKS GOING GREEN: new group
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE ENERGY: http://www.mosafeenergy.org/Content/
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
Answer to BioRegional Quiz: Oaks dominate, with white, black, scarlet, and northern red oak being the most common. Post and blackjack oak occur often on drier areas. Less common are southern red, chinkapin, burr, and pin oak. Hickory is a minor but consistent part of local forests. Other important large tree (overstory) species are blackgum, red and sugar maple, ash, elm, black walnut, and redcedar. The most common small tree (understory) species are flowering dogwood, sassafras, redbud, serviceberry, eastern hop hornbeam, and American hornbeam. http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/forests/
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