The New Cool by Casey Thayer

THE NEW COOL

A JOURNAL OF DEEP INQUIRY

SPRING 2013

Rebekah Cullum

chases ghosts

Gretchen Manthei spices things up

Justin Florocious swims in algae

A JOURNAL OF DEEP INQUIRY

THE NEW COOL IN THIS ISSUE |

SPRING 2013

Cover image by Lulu the Bold

RARIFIED AIR

VOTING WITH OUR FOOD

GREEN GIFTS

HUNTING GHOSTS

LAND FOR SALE Perry Lewis recounts the history of mining in Wisconsin and the fight for the heart of a state in conflict.

Traipsing around the Sierra Nevada mountains, Daniel Millis confronts faith and the religious relationship we create with nature.

Frank Martinez discovers the organic movement and urges us to fight for change with our food dollars.

Never come up empty for gift ideas again. Amiee Ahumada breaks down upcycling and how it can help us better use our resources.

What would we do if we were suddenly without water? Rebekah Cullum searches out the answer, tracing the now-extinct and forgotten Mayan people.

THE

USUSAULSPECTS

Ca t c hi ng u p w i t h t hi s se m e st e r ’s c o nt r i b u t o r s : a b e a t nik , a hi p p e e , a ho g w r e s t l e r? Q uit e a t a l e nt e d gr o u p !

Justin Flowrocious (right) calls himself the water guy. He’s spent the whole past semester of college researching articles and scouring the web for anything related to the safety of our water. In his articles, he hopes to influence people to take care of our water and conserve it wisely. Perry Lewis (not pictured) started writing at a young age for school and always seemed to have a knack for it. He developed his skills during middle school with a great teacher who had a great passion for teaching. During his collegiate years, he did more research-based writing. This is when his interest in environmental matters piqued.

Rebekah Cullum is a political science student at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County. Her relationship with nature began at a very young age—she grew up in rural Wisconsin, spending most of her childhood days out of doors. Her love of writing also began very early, when she started making tiny storybooks for her mother at the age of six. She currently resides with her family in Wisconsin.

Daniel Millis (left), a freshman at UWRock County, writes with the fervor of his beat generation heroes. He is a young steward of the craft, meticulously bashing and shaping his prose, one verse at a time. Trekking and tramping and even some kayaking, Millis is unequivocally in tune with the spiritual aspect of the natural world, made clear in his work.

Born and raised on the sunny shores of California, Aimee Ahumada made a move to Wisconsin at the age of fourteen. Presently she attends UW Rock County, and on her days off, she enjoys staying fit by working out. Aimee’s favorite food is orange chicken; she looks for tall, dark, and handsome qualities in her ideal guy. On the side of everyday life, she is the Queen of Upcycling. Born in Wisconsin Rapids, Elizabeth was adopted by the Harnack’s and moved to Edgerton where she attended high chool. At 16, she was introduced to the pig wrestling life and has done it ever since. Elizabeth likes Italian food and funny boys, and she always writes on recycled paper.

A baby-boomer where peace, love, and tie-dye fit well with being an insatiable dreamer, Gretchen Manthei landed a somewhat contrary long career as a computer programmer/analyst. Insanely analytical over detail and logic, she found humor in writing computer code and frequently thought it to be an art form. As a lake dweller with lifelong interests in theater, poetry, and photography, she now focuses on discovering language in words. For certain, it’s a much sweeter art form.

Frank Martinez (not pictured) is a Wisconsin-based writer located in Janesville. His early education was instrumental in instilling an appreciation of the beauty of the English language. Frank’s literary interests range from grand epics like Game of Thrones and The Dark Tower series to social commentary veiled as fiction such as The Great Gatsby and The Count of Monte Cristo. Likewise, his non-fiction interests include novelistic approaches to real life events such as The Devil in the White City and the research-intensive articles that call attention to social issues. These interests have helped hybridize his writing structure into a style that incorporates the narrative nature of stories into journalistic pieces featuring an emphasis on research and sources. 4

THE NEW COOL • SPRING 2013

FORWORD

contributing a verse By Casey Thayer

n the Peter Weir film Dead Poets’ Society, as the movies begins its hike up the final climb to the climax then the long denouement, Robin Williams squats in a huddle of boys and quotes Walt Whitman. “O me, O life of the questions of these recurring,” he recites, “Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish, what good amid these, O me, O life.” Whitman’s answer and William’s punch line: “That the power play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” Embedded in a movie filled with emotional moments, this short scene could serve as an illustration of the tasks I set students in ENG 201: Intermediate Composition. Amid growing global concern over climate change, water access issues in the American Southwest, the corrosion of our waterways in Wisconsin, what good amid these can we be? What good can we be as prophets to the trains of the faithless, founts of knowledge to the cities filled with the foolish? Or perhaps more close to the course goals, what change can we spark and how can our writing spark it? We spent 15 weeks struggling with these ideas, doggedly fighting off apathy. We learned about the dangers of exploring new territories and the old, rusty bear traps that might be lying in wait for us behind clumps of ferns. We followed Muir and Kerouac to the tops of mountains, peeled algae off of our bodies after swimming in Lake Mendota. We eco-toured

Australia, crafted a bicycle from cardboard, unearthed an arrowhead buried in a stream of mud, and watched as the Mayan people faded into a maze of deserted houses. We cut clutter, got specific, and reacquainted ourselves with the hair-pulling citation rules of the Modern Languages Association. More poetically, to paraphrase Michelangelo, we took blocks of marble and slowly chipped away the stone to find the art buried within. Although we didn’t instigate protests on the state Capitol, force a university to divest its holdings in non-renewable energy, or lay in front of a bulldozer as it advanced on an old growth forest, we might have still spurred small change, a minor glacial shifting in our souls, a slight widening of the lens on our worldview. This magazine is not the final step, just the first. It captures the opening notes, the warm-up of that verse Whitman described and Williams quoted. As we move forward, let’s keep in mind the short question that ended the scene in Dead Poets’ Society: “What will your verse be?” Indeed, what will the rest of our verse be?

SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

UP FRONT

TIPS FROM

THE EDITOR By Rebekah Cullum

ason Smith, editor and director of communications questions. He cannot stress strongly enough the need at Wisconsin People & Ideas—a quarterly journal highfor objectivity in all writing. “It’s kind of your responlighting the best of Wisconsin culture—knows a thing or sibility as a writer to provide context,” he says. Writing two about writing. Before coming to Wisconsin and his one small viewpoint is not enough—context showing current job, he worked as editor for The Common Review, a every side is crucial. He says this is more than just avoidpublication of the Great Books Foundation. His expertise ing blatant opinion: even words and terms have political and extensive experience working with authors makes him connotations. “No fillers,” he stresses—put purpose in a treasure trove of hints, tips, and suggestions for budding every word. He is particularly passionate about terms like writers. “Obamacare,” saying they are used to project negative (or Confident and articulate, Smith loves to talk about positive) connotations about things that should be just his work and share what he has learned throughout his that: things, with no pre-decided connotations. It is Jason’s years of editing. When asked for the simplest advice he plea that writers stick to the facts and do their best to can give, he willingly jumps in. “There are three kinds of present issues in a fair way, not even subtly hinting in one things I always tell people when direction or the other. they’re putting together a piece for Jason also knows exactly how “The best way to become a to learn a magazine,” he says. “Three questo write: teach someone good writer,” he asserts, “is else. “The best way to become a tions: Why? This? Now?” Question number one, he conto help somebody else be- good writer,” he asserts, “is to help tends, is crucial—writing should be somebody else become a better come a better writer.” more than just telling an interesting writer.” He urges young writers to story. Writers need to see larger mentor others, even if they don’t connections, bigger implications for the broader world. feel confident in their own abilities. The editing backSecondly, why choose this instead of that? Smith tells ground gained from helping others is crucial to sharpenwriters they must have a reason for choosing one topic or ing one’s own writing. Learning from others’ errors gives story over another—everything should have a purpose. us the ability to correct our own, Smith argues. And finally, why write about this now? Does it fit with the Young writers learning to manage their craft often current world? Should it be saved for later? Or have we lack advice from those in the real world of writing and already missed our chance? He says writers hoping to be publishing. Yet that is the advice that matters, from those published in a magazine cannot ignore these questions. who live the dreams of writers. Jason Smith’s writing Every magazine article must have careful thought behind advice is a gift to writers young and old, but especially to it: no pointlessness allowed. those beginning on their journey into the hitherto unBut Smith says there’s more to writing than those known.

SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

UP FRONT

A DAY

WITHOUT WATER

by Elizabeth H a rnack W h a t h a p p e ns w i th a co l l e g e s tuden t c h al l e n g e s he rs e l f to g o o ne f u ll day w i t h o u t w a te r. C a n s he m a k e i t for t h e e nti re da y, o r w i l l s he cra ck?

day without water seemed like a simple enough challenge for my classmates and me to tackle. Thinking of lasting hours without water seemed like such a short time period for which to carry out this task. The day I chose to pursue was a Friday in February, and I had every intention of fully accomplishing a whole day without water. On a daily basis I usually do not drink a lot of water, so that aspect didn’t bother me, but when you have in your mind that something is off limits it then becomes all the more desirable. An average Friday morning for me consists of waking up and going to the bathroom. There I would normally use the bathroom, wash my hands, wash my face, take a shower and lastly brush my teeth. I decided that I didn’t have to use the bathroom that bad, and I cleaned my teeth with a dry toothbrush. I then continued on with my morning and had some breakfast. After finishing my cereal and milk, I could not permit myself to wash my dishes due to this challenge. Following breakfast I still couldn’t brush my teeth, so a piece of gum was required. Having this whole water-free day was completely foreign to me. Most productive tasks that I had planned for were put to a stop, leaving me befuddled as to what to do with my day. I needed to do something to keep myself busy; most of the cleaning tasks I had in mind would have required some sort of water usage. Daily rituals that have become so common in our American society suddenly became diamonds in the rubble. Most people, myself included, don’t think about all that goes into using one sink. Sinks have to be manufactured and professionally installed; there are sophisticated draining 8

THE NEW COOL • SPRING 2013

systems, and systems to bring the water up and through the faucet. For the water to come out of the faucet there is a need for electricity, and of course there needs to be a water source. Without some clean water to come out of the faucet, and into the sink, what would be the point of having all these technologies? One more helpful item that pairs well with a sink is soap; it will most definitely make your hands cleaner than what they were. All of these work together to help with the end result of making your hands cleaner than before you washed them. Most people have had some sort of medical procedure done at some point in their life, where they were not allowed to eat or drink beforehand. As for myself in past procedures my guidelines were to not eat or drink anything after midnight. It always sounds simple enough until you are put in the situation. Is this asking too much of us? We all seem to whine when our shower is too cold, or when the water isn’t cold enough for a glass to drink. Have we become too pampered, and too privileged? I am sure that if you were to do a survey and ask Americans if they think that they are privileged they would most likely reply with a no. Here in this society we have different standards for what are bare minimums, perhaps if put in someone else’s shoes our comprehension of standards would change. I know that I sound like an ungrateful brat who only lasted until noon without water, of any form. But how do I differ from my friends, family, and even strangers of our society. We all live in this land of excessive use, where enough is never enough. Grimly, I can fear we will be here till we run it dry.

REFLECTION

AN EMPTINESS of

B I B L I C A L P RO P O RT I O N S by Daniel Millis

estlessness is a virtue, but begins as a nuisance, slowly picking the lock on the closet door deep within my consciousness. It slithers down my neck and through my shoulders and elbows and knees until I must move; I have to get up, I have to get out, “get outta Dodge,” my mother would say. This trip is much more than stumbling out to the fridge at 3 A.M., no, this restlessness is spiritual, an emptiness of biblical proportions. High up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, brown trout beneath the ice of Serene Lake are safe from fly and hook from September until June. The frozen mountain run off is topped with snow that falls gently and silently like confetti, swept by St. Peter from Heaven’s doorstep. Trekking this meadow of snow, the midday sun’s rays bless my back felt as though I was being held in the arms of God himself. Rucksack wanderers have been taking to the Sierra’s since the first pioneers made their way west. Wisconsin’s John Muir, fellow restless soul and bearded brother, settled in Yosemite in 1868. Muir cared so deeply for the environment that upon settling in Yosemite he constructed a water- powered sawmill enabling him to turn fallen Pines into aromatic planks because he refused to cut down trees. He carefully crafted his home from these Pines so that Yosemite Creek could ramble right on through one corner. Author Dennis Anderson wrote that Muir believes “[nature] came straight from the hand of God, uncorrupted by civilization and domestication.” Muir was not only a trailblazer in tune with unbridled rivers and stoic Sequoias; but a religious prophet understanding connection between the natural world and the spiritual world which was the basis for his theological writings. In one of his later works, Travels in Alaska, he prophetically declares that “Every particle of rock or water or air has God by its side leading it the way it should go; the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness; In God’s wildness is the hope of the world.” Muir’s advocacy of protecting the wilderness of Yosemite Valley ultimately lead to her granite domes and sprawling musty forests to be one of America’s first National Parks in 1916. Creation of the National Parks System was one of the most important movements in American history. The wild chapels and cathedrals that were not made by the hands of earthly beings are

SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

now federally protected to ensure the immortality of Muir’s soul. Nature is a place where I can plug into the spiritual mossy pulpit world, escaping the vanity of the iGeneration. The culture Jack Kerouac sought the serenity of Yosemite’s peaks I live in is constantly on the move, ever restless with too and valleys in the 1950’s to meditate and harness the few hours in a day. The serenity I found in the streams, enlightenment and inner peace of ancient Chinese monks. wildlife, and all fathomable flora and fauna made clear Kerouac, revered for his eccentric run-on style of writan invisible spiritual world, as if it were as tangible as the ing, penned his wanderings in many of his pieces. The valley itself. Energy cannot be created or destroyed but to Dharma Bums recalls a joyous mountain climbing trip see what a power greater than myself created in the vastthrough Yosemite in 1955. 1960’s ness of Yosemite made concrete Lonesome Traveler he details his my heart that my creator, whom “My quest for inner peace inI choose own connection with nature: “... to call God, has made may never be complete but everything that surrounds me. In I came to a point where I needed solitude and just stop the machine that realm of total consciousness I it isn’t supposed to be.” of ‘thinking’ and ‘enjoying’ what turned my restlessness over to the they call ‘living,’ I just wanted to care of God. I felt peace and hulie in the grass and look at the clouds -They say, too, in mility like I had never experienced before. An understandancient scripture: - ‘Wisdom can only be obtained from ing that I have no control over places, people, or situations the viewpoint of solitude’.” rushed over me like the frigid water of Yosemite Creek, Setting out in my snowshoes with a backpack filled simplifying my approach to life. My quest for inner peace with hardboiled eggs, yogurt, and a thermos of water I may never be complete but it isn’t supposed to be, a sentiwas poised for sightseeing. I had no idea my life would ment elegantly penned by Reinhold Niebuhr in his Serenchange forever. Like Muir, Kerouac, and countless other ity Prayer- “…I pray that I may be reasonably happy in spiritual foragers the love of a Higher Power entered my this life, and supremely happy with you in the next…” lungs and my blood washing the material world from my

THE NEW COOL • SPRING 2013

REFLECTION

A BANDIT’S

PLIGHT by Frank Martinez

THE NEW COOL • SPRING 2013

t was never really clear when we had managed to get ourselves far enough away from society to merit a “No Trespassing” sign, but there we were: five kids marching unto private property. The woods hardly looked like “private property”; the faded, battered sign stood defiantly against the calmer hues of the surrounding trees. Upon crossing the bridge that divides man from nature, an entirely different aura took over. The landscape was now dominated by nature: a small river to the left, a large open field to our right, with everything covered in a light blanket of snow. Aaron spotted a large tree bridging over the lake into unknown territory. While the top layer of the river seemed to be covered in ice, one quick survey of its frailty revealed the layer to be too thin to support our weight in the event that we fell in. There is an undeniable charm to our youth in those moments of unbridled stupidity that allows us to cross a frail looking makeshift bridge over icy waters just because we could. We sent my brother, Jason, over first since he was the lightest. The rest of us followed with relative ease. As we continued forward, the crunch of rubber soles meeting the virginal snow shadowed our footsteps. Amidst the uncharted nature of those woods, we naively laid claim to this exciting new little corner of the world as ours. We made our way further into these woods and left the train tracks far behind. The woods were dense now; a venerable army of trees escorted us through our playground. The rivers and birds composed a litany of sounds to accompany our journey. The cold chill of the winter’s day radiated from the freshly packed snow and coated our faces with a palish complexion. The petrichorial nuance of the river’s nature opened our eyes to the immediate beauty of the land that society had forgot. We were completely and utterly alone, but we never felt abandoned. So we ran, we ran for as long as we could; Tripping and stumbling over the large piles of snow, scrambling and clawing our way to the top of the trees, and wishing with every moment that we had indeed stopped the passage of time. No waiting lines, no school bells, and no alarm bells to kill our spirit. In the midst of our euphorical chaos, we discover even more: a small and antiquated bear trap lying on the ground. Bromley immediately became mesmerized by this newfound object. Aaron looked on with a similar, if cautious, enthusiasm. Olsen was wracked with worry. We tried to alleviate his concerns. Of course there are no other bear traps...This was probably left behind a long time ago...Look its not even armed! The trap, an artifact of those who had come before, was now nothing more than a pile of bubbling rust and warped metal. Nevertheless, Bromley

was transfixed by its mechanisms. The rest of us left him to explore its intricacies as he held council in the middle of the surrounding saplings. We didn’t get very far before we saw just how wrong our earlier conclusions had been. The bloodstained patch of snow mocked our earlier candor with shocking brutality. Panicking, we called Bromley away from the safe retreat of his contemplations, eager to share our predicament. There it was; the sad and simple truth of selfpreservation. The animal’s arms had been cut in the same bear trap we had condemned as obsolete. The tenacious bits of tissue clung through the jaws of metal, suspending the raccoon’s blood-caked paw in stasis.The unenviable and laborious task of selfamputation had plagued this poor animal for far too long. Desperation and exhaustion lit his eyes like a fading light. Unanimously, we agreed to liberate our newfound companion. The release switch was easy enough to locate on the empty trap he had recovered earlier. Aaron, mustering up all his enterprising spirit, volunteered to free our friend from his dilemma. Carefully, and admittedly, quite nervously, Aaron began to walk closer to the trap. He covered the furball’s face with his own shirt; whether this was to protect himself from the animal’s bite or to spare the raccoon any further gore I did not know. The rusty switch objected with a piercing screech as it saw our bandit friend freed from its grasp. As the group rejoiced, the winter bandit of the forest scurried off into the distant snow as Aaron’s shirt bid its master adieu from atop the bandits back. In the spirit of camaraderie, Aaron waves back at the bandit with glee. No debts will be owed between them. That historic snow day happened years ago. Yet it was marked me in ways few other events in my life have. We went back to our schools, our teachers, and our preordained schedules. But we never forgot that little bandit. Every snow day, we would plan some sort of outing into that great beyond we had discovered that day. But we let our lives consume us. We started settling for a simple day inside playing Guitar Hero and slowly, we began to drift apart as we took on other responsibilities at school and at home.. The woods wouldn’t be there forever; eventually, someone would truly lay claim to that land as their own if they hadn’t already. But we won’t be the last kids that need woods like those to set our stories in. All of it was ours, for that brief period of time. We stole those woods, with their rustic tree lines and calm river streams. We stole their characters: the malevolent artifacts of yore and our fuzzy bandit friend. We took our titles; we were heroes that day, in our minds if no one elses. But that’s what mattered. It was ours.

SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

FOOD

THE

ESSENCE OF HERBS

OREGANO A source of vitamin K and manganese, iron, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin E, it contains numerous phytonutrients, which are shown to function as antioxidants and inhibit the growth of bacteria. It is typical in pasta sauces but wonderful in scrambled eggs and omelets and excellent on Portobello mushroom caps (also, try adding a pinch of cayenne and slivered almonds).

By Gretchen Manthei Herbs are most often thought of as spices, something added to a recipe for flavor. In fact, herbs contain important vitamins and minerals. Additionally, some herbs offer medicinal benefits. Modern science and the medical profession today are beginning to recognize the benefits of natural healing. Some examples are honey’s antibacterial properties, and garlic’s antiviral benefits. How often are herbs thought of as a beneficial food, or nature’s medicine cabinet, instead of simply a “spice?”

Essential Oils Parsley Legendary for its ability to cleanse your palate and your breath, parsley contains vitamin K,C, A, and folic acid, which are very beneficial to the body’s immune system. Stew it or chew it! Refresh, in cocktails or lemonade, using parsley, lemon, or lime. 14

The words antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal are familiar terms related to everything from ear infections to household cleaning products. Traditional remedies consist mainly of manmade chemicals. Because essential oils are extracted directly from the herb and harness nature’s powerful medicinal properties, they are natural remedies, by-and-far safer for humans and the environment.

THE NEW COOL • SPRING 2013

THYME It has been used for thousands of years to help preserve foods and protect them from microbial contamination. Include thyme and basil, particularly, in foods that are not cooked, such as salads. Sprinkle on halved Brussels sprouts, diced bacon, and shallots, then sauté! Wonderful in hot tea with ginger, honey and lemon for winter colds.

Rosemary It stimulates the immune system and increases circulation, including blood flow to the head and brain, improving concentration, and it contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Brew as tea; add squeezed lemon juice with optional mint leaves, drink hot, or chilled over ice for a quick wake-up alternative to caffeine. Also, refreshing in vodka or gin!

FOOD

Sowing the Seeds

of Dischord: A Discussion of the Organic Movement

By Frank Martinez

asics. The name is succinct and unobstructed; elegant in its simplicity and omniscient in its design. As if to say that shopping anywhere else would violate some kind of primitive aversion to the convoluted. The aisles are stocked to capacity with tiny containers boasting high prices, each with their own claim to fame: gluten free, wheat free, celiac-friendly, 100% organic guaranteed. Marketing. It’s marketing preying on the guilt of its own customers. The American image of beauty and health has driven the masses to a frenzied state of hyper vigilance, each individual possessing a different roadmap to navigate the road to the promised land of beauty and health. I pick up a bag of organic almond flour: 3 net carbs, wheat and gluten free. Which road to take? A similar offering on a lower shelf is priced competitively at $6.99. Alas, that sad bag of flour can’t pride itself with the 100 % organic seal of approval, warning that it was “produced in a facility along with soy and wheat”. It seems like a small price to pay for a 3 dollar deduction. Erica Strauss, a notable organic blogger based in Seattle, likened our parallel journeys into the world of organic diets as a tragic descent into madness. During one particular passage of her blog, she states, “ As you read more you begin to understand that grains are fine

but before you eat them you must prepare them in the traditional way: by long soaking in the light of a new moon with a mix of mineral water and the strained lacto-fermented tears of a virgin”. But how did it get so far? True, Strauss’ claim is not a literal interpretation of the journey; it is satire wrapped in charming humor. However, there had to be some modicum of truth to her statement, some planted seed that gave rise to the fervent loyalty found in every organic market and co-op grocery store enthusiast. In the words of Walt Whitman,” I run a furrow with my plough, I will press my spade through the sod and turn it up underneath, I am sure I shall expose some of the foul meat”. To uncover the truth behind the movement, complete immersion and an eye for detail are required to truly understand the culture behind the hype. On the beauty of natural degradation, Whitman offers “[the earth] gives such divine materials to men, and accepts such leavings from them at last”. My first exposure to the organic movement had happened much earlier, at age ten. Aunt Maria was one of those fervent loyalists to the green movement. She would always hassle my father when he brought home “mass-produced continued on page 16

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continued from page 15

sugar cubes” in the form of Kellogg’s cereal for my breakfast and would spirit us away to all manner of farmers markets on the weekends. “This is real meat! See the difference? This bacon doesn’t have any nitrates pumped into it! Ingredients: BACON” she roared. The pantry at home always smelled strange to me; there’s a certain kind of earthly musk that is brought back home in the crevices of food products from all those organic stores that lingers long after the boxes have been disposed of. Furthermore, her 100% cacao chocolate bars were always overwhelmingly bitter thanks to the lack of sugar, and the almond milk she kept stocked in the fridge always tasted like watered down skim milk, not cream, sweetened liquid I was used to. Ten year old Frank was not impressed by the offerings of the organic movement. But then again, ten year old Frank hadn’t read the oceans of literature condemning chemical agriculture as the source of all society’s ills. This descent down the rabbit hole is what Strauss called “The Terrible Tragedy of the Healthy Eater”. My initial research for organic farming was spurred by the cautionary tale told by the painful face of my Uncle John; a small diabetic stroke 16

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had paralyzed his face. The health concerns I had were only exasperated by my physician who tactfully suggested that I could lose a few pounds. Aesthetics and vanity aside, she made a reference to my blood tests, mentioning they put me squarely in the pre-hypertension zone of concern. I could picture it; my veins buckling under the pressure of the heavy blood, pooling around the fingers until the skin turned black. Then, with a simple razor-sharp procedure, my typing days would be over. I sought out, amongst the vast tomes of knowledge accrued by several thousand years and expanding the collective intelligence of the human mind, a preventative measure to combat these new health concerns. The internet was more than willing to oblige. “Organic” as a label, is given to products that have adhered to strict procedures. The focus of organic farmers is to “[keep] the soil nutrientrich because healthy plants develop resistance to pests more readily. Occasionally, as a last resort, they will use botanical or plant-based pesticides, which typically break down within 48 hours” (Koch 764). This focus on agriculturally sustainable farming sets organic practices far and above the shady practices of CAFOs (con-

centrated animal feeding operations) through virtue of their lack of environmental impact. Is this that the foul meat Whitman feared uncovering beneath the weight of his rustic metal spade? Tainted meat, corrupted by the inhumane practices it is born from. The animals are quartered in congested spaces with little attention paid to their wellbeing or their living conditions. But as is the case with any startling revelation, one must seek to champion diligence in their research. Digging deeper into the soil, the avarice of the modern businessman becomes much clearer. The rise in demand for organic products has a curious effect on its products. Because of the costs involved with the organic farming methods and the unmet demand of the health-savvy consumers, organic products may not be a financially viable option for a lot of families with its heavy price tags. One thing I vividly remember about those food market visits with Aunt Maria was my parent’s expression of dismay toward the prices of organic food. The difference in prices for those mass-produces sugar cubes I was so fond of and the free-range egg alternative Aunt Maria would suggest was always staggering continued on page 17

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and sobering realization of my family’s income. The pricing gap between organic and regular food began as a result of farming methods being mechanized to provide a bigger yield of crops. After World War II, a large shift away from traditional farming methods was discovered: “scientists experimenting with surplus war chemicals discovered how to improve crop yields and quality. From 1964-1982, chemical pesticide use soared 170 percent, with similar increases in herbicide and fertilizer use. Today, sales of chemical pesticides top $5 billion a year” (Koch 772). Earl Butz, President Richard M. Nixon’s Secretary of Agriculture, advised farmers that “You can’t ever grow too much crop”. The successful push to mechanized and chemical farming led to some interesting consequences for the farmers as they “ lowered farm prices, and farmers found themselves on a chemically dependent treadmill of producing more and earning less”(Koch 772). The issue became an economic equation: farmers could produce more, but the large amount of supply produced would now lower the prices of the crops due to the oversaturation of the market. Supply and demand laws would dictate that this large stockpile of crops could now be sold for a fraction of the price. Some might argue that this revolution in farming techniques has effectively allowed us to feed the poor with these “competitively” priced alternatives. Indeed, as an impoverished college student with little financial leeway, I’ve often subsisted on a steady diet of ramen noodles, Dollar Menu items and cafeteria food. But the agricultural effects of chemical farming cannot be ignored because of our apathy and love of convenience. Chemical farming is the name given to business and farming practices employed by “factory farms”. These CAFO’s are subject to federal and state pollution regulations that ensure that the animal waste produced isn’t harmful to the environment. The proliferation of factory farms has been steadily increasing: “From 1982 through 1997, the number of arm with confined animals declined by 50 percent, but the number of

medium-size CAFOs increased by 50 percent, and large farms more than doubled”(Weeks 27). CAFO’s control a large part of the total animal inventory, especially in the hog and poultry sectors (Weeks 27). The power is being given to the hands of the few that feed the many. Additionally, critics argue that beyond the consolidation of power, the very nature of factory farms welcomes the introduction of pollution on a massive scale. If we are to continue our harmonious relationship with the earth, our vigil must be constant; we must deter the practices of the CAFOs through the democratic principles by which this country was founded. A similar issue was faced by the tobacco growers of the thirteen colonies early on in America’s history. Their rampant disregard for the land poisoned their soil. The Tobacco Lords of the early colonies choose to not implement crop rotation until they had ruined the soil’s natural nutrients. Much like today’s large scale farm operations, these lords grew wealthy from their brief foray into agriculture thanks to the large number of crops they were able to produce and the reckless use of unsustainable farming methods (Kulikoff 38). Beyond their malevolent contemporaries, the Native American’s relationship with the land was a much more harmonious affair. The natives would not scorch the land in attempt to grow wealthy; they merely grew what they needed and paid tribute to land for its bounty. The shelves of Janesville’s Basic coop are stocked with organic containers championing these sustainable agricultural practices. Forgo the cheaper alternatives that feed the machine and instead, make informed decisions impacting our shared future. Vote with the sweat of your brow, vote with the hard earned money of your own crops and let the market slowly strangle the factory farms that burn the land and mangle the meat in our happy meals. The shift in public opinion can already be felt in certain federal institutions. To help organic farming take off, recent legislation has focused on helping make the transition easier and less painful for those that seek to adopt the organic mantle. Recently, “New federal requirements that every

school district promulgate a “Wellness Policy” by the beginning of the 2007 school year”(Glazer 91) have led to great strides being made to change our public school’s menu. Even more promising is the school’s interest in seeking out local farm produce “from a handful in 1996 to 1,000 school districts in 32 states today” (Glazer 91). The demand for better food is there, making itself manifested in the institutions responsible for ensuring our children’s growth. On the national stage, recent laws have tried to counteract the pollution levels coming from these CAFO’s by holding them accountable for “water discharges under the so-called Superfund law, which makes polluters liable for the cost of cleaning up their hazardous wastes” (Weeks 32). To illustrate the breadth of the issue, an oxygen dead zone has been created spanning the mouth of the Mississippi river and ending at the Gulf of México. This dead zone is the barren wasteland that encapsulates the end result of American extravagance. A few more years without tighter regulation on hazardous waste will lead to the continued development of scorched lands around the country. Environmentalists identify the culprit behind the cultivation of this dangerous algae environment as the cause for “the destruction on agricultural nutrients washed into the Mississippi and dumped into the gulf ” (Hosanky 442). The factory farms can lead to dangerous consequences for our environment if not regulated carefully. While organic farms can’t directly compete with the convenience that these factory farms offer in terms of prices and availability, the quality of the product often differentiates itself enough from the mass produced cookie cutter offerings of the factory farms to warrant favorable praise from the public. CAFO’s are merely a symptom, not the cause, of unsustainable agricultural practices. The popularity of these practices stems from the McDonaldization of our society, by the hands of society. Conversely, a movement against the rapidly growing number of fast-food chains cropping up has risen. continued on page 18 SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

The Slow Food Movement first began with a protest centered on the opening of a McDonalds in Rome, Italy (Glazer 1). A hauntingly evocative picture of the McDonaldization of society is painted when we look at the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Central to the big feast’s stereotypical menu is the butterball turkey. But this turkey isn’t a free range turkey. The turkey has been “bred since the 1960s to maximize breeders’ profits. It grows to market size within weeks, instead of months, and has an enor-

chasing opportunities for Wisconsin farmers, processors, and consumers”. Their mission statement is to provide guidance to numerous political figures and parties at a state level. The group has done much to promote the growth of organic farming by holding food summits that showcase local producers, hosting local workshops to educate both the public and, more recently, providing financial training through their Fearless Farm Finances Training program. Private groups like the OAC are what can affect legislation on a state level. But these groups

fertilizers compared to the hundreds of pesticides available to non-organic farmers” but they also are “kept to the highest animal-welfare standards” and use “less energy and cause less pollution”(Glazer 89). She goes on to claim that if consumers would follow the example set out by the UK, with its 30% increase in the organic farming market, and buy directly from the farmers instead of “box schemes and farm shops”, the organic lifestyle too can be competitively priced against its chemical competitors. In Wisconsin, organic farming

mous breast to feed the American preference for white meat” (Glazer 1). I remind you, this is the central entree to the biggest feast in our national holidays. Michael Pollan, author of the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, places the blame squarely on government subsidies that help the fast food industry grow while sabotaging the gains of organic food (160). Groups advocating a change in policies state that “We subsidize too much of the wrong kinds of foods, especially commodity crops, and not enough local and healthy foods” (Weeks 698). In an interview, local grazing and agricultural specialist Laura Paine mentioned the lack of “policy activity at the state level related to organic farming”, but did point to the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council (OAC) as a shining beacon of hope here in Wisconsin. The OAC advocates “organic production, processing, and pur-

need support from the public at their local events to be able to impact the growth of the industry. It would do the organic movement a disservice to end the tirade at merely business practices. The woes of chemical farming follow us back home in another way: the pesticides carried in our fruit. A report done by the non-profit agency Environmental Working Group, points to pesticides as having “ the potential to cause long-term damage to the brain and the nervous system”(Koch 765). According to the report, the amount of pesticides commonly found in fruit consumed by young children is increasing, which only exacerbates the carcinogenic threat. Victoria Record, media coordinator for the Soil Association, claims that not only does organic farming severely restrict “the use of pesticides and artificial chemical

has grown exponentially in recent years. A report compiled by the CIAS, a sustainable agriculture research center at UW Madison, has tracked the growth in local organic farms. The report boasts that the state is “second only to California in the number of organic farms and ranks in the top five states in certified organic acreage. The state is also among the top five in production of most major organic crops and livestock types”(Silva, Paine, Barnidge, Carusi, McNair 4). Wisconsin residents are well on their way to avoiding carcinogenic products. Private and individual efforts that support and follow this example will greatly bolster the movement. Through my transition between the Standard American Diet (S.A.D) and a new, leaner healthier organic

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based diet, I’ve often looked at the availability and price restrictions of certain foods as the two big obstacles any healthy eater will have to overcome. Fast food joints offer foods that are readily available and at a fraction of the price of organic foods. This was often a concern for my family; beggars don’t often get to be choosers. Peter Singer and Jim Mason, authors of the book The Way We Eat, write “It is understandable that people on low incomes should seek to stretch their dollars by buying the lowest-priced food, but when we look at the larger picture, the food produced by factory farming is not really cheap at all” (222). But the American dream is all about escaping the orbit of your stratosphere through innovation and intelligence onto greater realms. Beyond the doors of Basics in Janesville, local farmers will often cut out the middleman and sell directly to the customers. The problem with organic co-op stores like Basic is that the labeling procedures their products follow can fail the consumer at times. Organic standards are not universal; the bar may be set much lower in third world countries than in our own. As a result, there is a misrepresentation of the quality of these products when foreign products enter our market and compete against our own labeling standards. This is especially true in the meat and grain industries. Efforts to remedy this issue were included in a farm bill that “included a country-of-origin labeling requirement, it has only been implemented on fish” (Glazer 87). The movement is making small gains, but it will take the cumulative weight of public support to truly make a difference. The need to buy locally, grassfed meats is imperative if one wants to bear the organic torch justly. Not only are the prices negotiable, but you can ask questions that your local supermarket clerk might not be able to answer. Certifications are flashed and bargains are struck. It requires a bit of finesse and social ability, but the rewards are far greater than the complacency of simply buying any meat product with the USDA’s organic sticker adorning the packaging. All organic food is not created

equal. Asking your local farmers about their procedure, whether the meat is grass-fed, free range, or fed crops with heavy pesticides, are all vital pieces of information. In an interview with Laura Paine, of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the agricultural specialist urged consumers to become aware of these misnomers: “Organic is a production system that requires a federal certification for a product to have the organic seal displayed. Natural is not a well-defined term and can mean any of a number of things”. In fact, the term Natural is left ambiguous on purpose by many companies as it carries a healthy connation and allows them to compete with draw of organic products. Compounding the confusion is the different levels of certification that the term “organic” carries. As it stands, the USDA’s websites identifies three different labels. In ascending order of quality they are: Made with Organic Ingredients, Organic, and 100% organic. “Made with organic ingredients” refers to products described as “At least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water)”. Moving up the totem pole, “organic” is described as being able to use “up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water)”. This means that the product is allowed to be 5% inorganic, so the amount of organic products and methods used to produce it is about 95% organic. The last label, 100% organic is the strictest label. These products were made with both 100% organic ingredients and agricultural practices. Most of the public would assume that this last definition applies to all organic products. It does not; organic is not a catch all term with one precise meaning. Like in any complex situation, making an informed choice is often harder than succumbing to ignorance, but it is vital in the efforts to affect greater agricultural change. Another cause for concern arrives in the boxes of foreign goods shipped to organic markets all over America. Becoming familiar with those labeling standards can discombobulate even the most adamant of supporters.

Their standards might be set lower, and as such, can provide competitive pricing to the U.S grown products adjacent to their own. The responsibility to reduce our environmental impact by supporting practices that maintain agricultural stability is ultimately in the hands of consumers like us. Through the practice of change, we can affect the demand of change on a national scale. Whitman’s poem This Compost sought to celebrate nature’s ability to harness life from death. This is the natural order of life; organic matter dies and supplements the soil with the necessary nutrients and molecules necessary for the next generation in the cycle. The process is beautiful when left to its own devices. Our modern avarice has sought to sabotage the loopholes of the cycle to produce grand yields of crops for our starving masses using harmful new technologies. But these practices are harming our lands and poisoning our rivers with their rampant pollution. We can influence the change in cultural norms by practicing these changes at home. Undermine the sovereignty of CAFO’s by supporting your local farmers directly, demand changes in labeling legislation by voting with your hard-earned cash, and attend fundraisers and conferences showcasing the local producers. Finally, take responsibility for your own education. Do not wallow in the apathy that is American surplus. This is the blood that advertising executives flock to in the seas of marketing. The only way to get true, unbiased information is by opening up a book or firing up your web browser; it is here that one can become free of all the lobbyist and spin tactics employed by Farm Lords of the 21st century. By exploring the depth of the issue, yourself, however briefly, through the preceding content, you’ve already become part of the organic movement. The content compromising the full length of this paper represent a fraction of the uncultivated complexities of the movement. The choice, to reap the benefits of such endeavors or succumb to the apathy of the standard American lifestyle, lie in the same place they’ve always been: the laboring hands of the American people. SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

Tunneling the Badge State by Per r y Lewi s

or as long as I have been able to walk on my own, I have called Wisconsin home. Sure, I have travelled to and lived in distant areas, but there has never been confusion as to where home is. As a youngster, I thought my back yard was the Wild West. I grew up in a small quiet town named Paddock Lake in the southeastern part of the state. My mind is brimming with recollections of sneakily running through vast fields of corn, playing tag or merely exploring. At such a young age, the world was full of wonder. Giant sprawling oak trees were not something that might destroy your roof in a storm - they were tests of skill and endurance for you and your friends. I remember climbing trees all day; I would get so high up into the branches that they would begin to flex under my weight, and I would be scared to come down because the ground was so very far below. I remember sitting out on the ice, clad in copious amounts of thermal garb, fishing with my dad and brothers in the winter. I remember my dad telling me to stay off the ice unless I was with him, and I remember falling through a frozen lake without him. Much of my youth was spent out exploring on a bike or playing soccer with friends. Growing up with a love for my local environment, I became engrossed in mapping every inch of my small town. I knew the best places to catch giant bullfrogs that were a full foot long, and where the best bike trails were for building jumps (which later ended up in a wicked scar across my leg.) Wis-

consin is my home and it always will be, but not just because I was born here, but because it has so much to offer. Beautiful state parks, a rich history, friendly people, and of course ample amounts of delicious cheeses. Throughout the course of my life, however, things began to change. I had less and less time to do the things I wanted to do, which was mostly play outside, and more responsibilities. As a young adult, I moved to Janesville, a giant city compared to the town I grew up in. Dubbed “The City of Parks,” I saw the expansive castle and swings at Palmer Park (which I later realized was my parents idea of selling us on the move). Unfortunately, living in the city is much different -- it lacks the intimacy with nature you might find in a smaller rural township. I grew up very quickly. Children no longer “came out to play” as they did in Paddock Lake, they went to the mall to wander aimlessly spending money and conquering video games at the expansive arcade. Slowly my worldview began to shift, and I realized that different things were becoming important. As an adult I have carefully kept track of my worldview, trimming and pruning away superfluous ideas to leave a sculpted hedge of things that I hold dear to my soul, with a few wayward branches for life’s small indulgences. Now things such as paying bills, having a secure job, and finishing my education are important to me. continued on page 22

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Having fun and spending time with friends, while not completely absent from my life, seem to have fallen to the wayside. Society has also become a bit more grim. It seems everytime I turn on the news I am hearing about some grizzly act of violence or the latest financial problems facing our nation. That is one thing that changes as people begin to age, somewhere along the line money becomes extremely important, and for some, all-consuming. Large corporations embody this idea, because their responsibility is not to the public or the environment, but to their shareholders. If they destroy a hill or two in the process of making a buck, it’s no skin off their backs. Our environment has become of particular concern to me, as someday I want this precious resource to remain untainted for generations to come. Recently, a bill was passed that will open a new area for mining iron materials. This has me extremely concerned because there has been much controversy surrounding the decision due to its potential adverse effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Mining has a storied history in our fair state -- Wisconsinites are giv22

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en the appellation “Badgers” after the lead miners of the early 19th century (Netstate). Back then, miners decided that the winters were “too severe and rigorous for white men” (State Journal 1). When the birds and sucker fish began to migrate south the miners followed suit, and badgers were one of the only animals to remain. Eventually, more skilled miners came and decided that they would stick out the winters. When greeting traveling parties in the northern part of Illinois, one party might have asked “Where are Tom and Bob?” to which the adjacent party would reply “up with the badgers!” So it came to be that the miners of Galena, Wisconsin, became known as the badgers (State Journal 2). Ever since then, mining has had a foothold in Wisconsin roots and culture. In fact, mining in Wisconsin goes back much, much further. According to the Wisconsin Mining Association, Native Americans began mining for copper along the southern shores of Lake Superior as far back as 1,200 B.C. The fact that Wisconsin has large deposits of precious metals is not news, as mining companies have been operating for years. The metals in question for the new mine

happen to lie in the Gogebic Range in northern Wisconsin. Unfortunately Dr. Marcia Bjornerud, a professor of geology at Lawrence University, says “the geometry and orientation of the iron formation make it comparatively inaccessible” (Woods Person). What this means essentially is that we will have to do what some may consider shady dealings in order to retrieve said ore. Such shady dealings “would necessitate the removal of immense volumes of ‘overburden’ rock in an open pit mine” (Woods Person). For the layman, overburden refers to material that lies over the area of concern. This means we would have to carve out a large portion of the land above the iron formations in the Gogebic Range, essentially destroying the hills in the meantime. However, by law mining companies are required to restore land used in mining back to a more natural state, or as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources states: “Successful reclamation means the restoration of all areas disturbed by mining activities including aspects of the mine itself, waste disposal areas, buildings, roads and utility corricontinued on page 23

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dors. It is the product of thorough planning and execution of a well conceived reclamation plan. Restoration means returning of the site to a condition that minimizes erosion and sedimentation, supports productive and diverse plant and animal communities and allows for the desired postmining land use.” (WI DNR 1) While much of the overburden from the proposed mine can be used to fulfill the reclamation duties, there are many other considerations that require our attention. Animal habitats that will be destroyed in the process cannot be “reclaimed” if the species is killed off. There are many such potential occurrences that require our due diligence before plopping an iron mine down in the middle of these ecosystems. The environmental effects of an iron mine in the Gogebic Range could have far reaching consequences. The Gogebic and Penokee Ranges are intersected by the Bad River. The Bad River’s headwaters run north, where they spill into Lake Superior. The problem of possible contamination could then carry these impurities to watersheds throughout the region. At the foot of the river is an area named the Bad River and Kakagon River sloughs, or wetlands. In these wetlands wild rice grows in great abundance, the largest wild rice reserves left in the great lakes region (Nature Conservancy 4). Wild rice is not all that uncommon in the midwest, but it used to be much more common in the great lakes region before pollution and human development decimated it. Now there are few wetlands with wild rice left. During a mining operation in Minnesota, toxic materials leached into the nearby water supply and affected wild rice populations as far as 100 miles away (Nature Conservancy 4). Natural vegetation isn’t the only living thing that might be affected, though. Lake Superior is home to an amazing species of fish named the lake sturgeon. Now generally I am fairly nonplussed when it comes to fish, but at a maximum of fifteen feet in length and over 400 pounds, the lake sturgeon demands my attention (MN DNR). Thankfully, these fish are bottom feeders and won’t come after

your feet while you are on that family vacation up north. These gentle giants spawn in only three known tributaries in Lake Superior, the Bad River being the largest producer. Sturgeons are extremely sensitive to changes in their watery environment, and any change could disrupt this gravely important cycle (Nature Conservancy 4). Aside from wildlife being impacted, many people could be as well. If a mine did for some unforeseen reason pollute the Bad River, the resulting groundwater movement could pollute the drinking water for the cities of Ashland, Mellen, Highbridge, Marengo, Odanah and Upson (Nature Conservancy 4). That is more than 9,000 people that could be adversely affected. Fortunately for the Gogebic and Penokee ecosystems, there are laws in place that protect things like water withdrawal, wetlands, and habitats. Unfortunately for the Gogebic and Penokee ecosystems, many of these laws have just been severely relaxed via the new mining bill in efforts to make the mining process expedited with less responsibility toward the environments in question. Water sources are one thing that will be changed through the state with the passing of this bill. Wisconsin law used to state that if activities would create large amounts of deposition in lakes and streams or cause landslides with no way of prevention, that was grounds to deny a permit. However this bill removes this provision, in fact it goes a step further and says that filling in or even destruction of lake beds is considered lawful (Clean Wisconsin 2). Along with lake beds, applications for permits no longer require demonstrations that mining site runoffs will be managed (Clean Wisconsin 1). This means that preventing soil erosion to the extent practicable, flooding, damage to agricultural land or livestock, damage to wild animals, pollution of ground or surface waters, damage to public health, and threats to public safety are essentially fair game (Clean Wisconsin 1). What message does this send to the rest of the industrial world? “Come to Wisconsin, you can destroy our habitats if it makes us some money!” This bill completely removes the need for a permit to excavate land. It doesn’t stop

there, though, because this is the bill that keeps on giving (to the rich mining companies!) An application for a permit no longer even requires a risk assessment of accidental health and environmental hazards. Along with the changes to water source hazards, there is a reduction in oversight in the entire application process for mines in general. If the DNR does not act on a permit application within 10 days, it is automatically approved. If they do not act with 14 days, the permit is presumed to be complete (Clean Wisconsin 1). Ok so this all sounds sinister, but what if the company follows an ethical procedure and does its due diligence in researching its mine location? They will begin to remove some of the excess “overburden” which may contain many chemicals that are potentially hazardous. They will store much of these “tailings” in waste disposal sites. So in essence, these waste storage sites are really what we should be worried about. I know I wouldn’t want giant mound of potentially toxic dirty near my house. So what does the bill say about these waste sites? They can be 200 feet from your house -- well hopefully you aren’t at a lower altitude than the waste site. What about distance from a navigable river or stream: 300 feet. Surely areas that have been deemed not suitable for surface mining, such as wilderness areas or wildlife refuges are safe? Not with the passing of this bill; they are now suitable grounds for dumping waste sites. Take heed mining companies, you can even dump in the middle of a floodplain now! (Clean Wisconsin 2). Money has clearly clouded the minds of those that were supposedly hired to represent the people of Wisconsin. Learning about this bill has made me rather depressed. Have we lost our connection to nature, to the very land that provides us with sustenance? I can think back to the days where I loved to run through the fields, to the fishing trips, to lazy days spent soaking up the sun lying on my back in a field. I don’t worry that my children will not be able to participate in these activities, but if we do persevere on our path of greed over environmental well being, then surely the land cannot continue to support us as it used to. SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

FEATURE

Wisconsin in Full Bloom by Justin Flowrocious

Blue.

Blue, as far as the eye can see. Fish are leaping out of the water, their trails lined with drops of water, ending with a ripple that becomes lost into the beauty of the lake. In the distance, a fisherman casts his line into the waves, the bobber floating through the air and smacks the water. Speedboats roar across the water, tubers trailing behind clinging for their lives as they fly through the air. The sunlight reflects off of the water. Faintly, the laughter of children is heard, creating memories of the lake that will never fade. Forever will they remember the pristine quality of the water they enjoyed at that lake. It is hard to imagine anything tainting this amazing sight. Green, as far as the eye can see. Where the fish were leaping in the water, now is covered with sludge, a muck that has stripped this lake of its beauty. A pungent odor is picked up from the wind, trailing back to the carcasses of fish that were once thriving on the ecosystem that was this lake. Gone is the laughter of the children, gone is the roar of the boats, and fisherman are nowhere in sight. continued on page 26

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Water has had a rocky history with the United States. Prior to regulations regarding pollution in the early 1900’s and the Industrial Revolution, Americans didn’t know what to do with all of the new wastes that were being produced. They ultimately decided to dump them into sources of water such as the Great Lakes and The Tawe River in Wales. A few pollutants being dumped were “sulfuric acid, soda ash, muriatic acid, limes, dyes, wood pulp, and animal byproducts.” (NOAA Ocean Service Education).Water pollution became so bad that Lake Erie actually burst into flames from all of the contaminants. Finally, the government decided to intervene and passed legislation to stop water pollution. In 1972 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (better known as the Clean Water Act) was passed. This Act gave grants so long as the cities and states constructed sewage treatment plants in order to clean the mess that they have caused. This Act protected America’s lakes and rivers from point sources such as pipes and direct sources of pollution. Waters are not protected from pollution resulting from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source pollution is caused from runoff from the surface and through the contamination of ground water. After a large rainstorm, water winds down roads finding the nearest sewage drain to be on its way through our water systems. These waters pick up oil and other pollutants which give puddles a rainbow look on their surface, due to the differences in density. This runoff can be very harmful to our waterways and our drinking water. One major pollutant that these rainwaters carry is phosphorus. Phosphorus is more than the big P on the Periodic Table. It travels down our driveways, over our fields of crops, and into our lakes. Phosphorus is used as a fertilizer in many residential gardens, and is found in cow manure used on farms to grow crops. While the benefits of using phosphorus are 26

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numerous, we need to be careful not to overdo it. When phosphorus gets into our lakes, it does exactly what it is meant to do: feed plants. Although this is great for agriculture and mom’s garden, it poses serious risks to ecosystems and economies that depend on these water sources. The phosphorus feeds harmful blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria). Although blue-green algae are bacteria, they gather nutrients much like regular algae does. When these algal blooms come into contact with phosphorus, they grow out of control. These blooms can become inches thick and stop sunlight from penetrating the water surface. This in turn, prevents plants beneath the water from getting any sunlight, which has a detrimental effect on the fish. Without enough oxygen, these fish end up dead on the shoreline giving off a rancid smell. This poses an economic threat on businesses such as fishermen or resorts near water bodies. “U.S. Coastal and marine waters support 28.3 million jobs, generate $54 billion in goods and services” (NOAA Oceanic Service Education), which are affected when there is a massive fish die-off or the water becomes murky. This phenomenon is not only occurring in Wisconsin waters, it is happening all over the United States such as in Vermont on Lake Champlain. In a documentary called “Bloom”, the local residents of the lake talk about the detrimental effects caused by blue-green algae and phosphorus pollution. Lake Champlain is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States and it drives the economy of its residents. Various pictures of the green sludge wrapping piers in its grasp are taken of the lake, which was once a thriving tourist location. Back before the thoughts of blue-green algae, at least 50,000 tourists visited the lake every summer. Now a dismal 5,000 tourists show up to witness the catastrophe that has taken Lake Champlain by storm. If people are losing so much business, wouldn’t the continued on page 27

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government have some sort of regulations regarding the phosphorus runoff ? The non-point sources are not the only contributors to this mess of muck inhabiting lakes around the country; it is the outdated water treatment plants located on our water sources that are part of the problem. When a water treatment pipe leaks or bursts, this raw sewage contains phosphorus that is already broken up into its smallest forms, unlike phosphorus from non-point sources which are held up in sediments. Sources from Lake Champlain say that water treatment pipe bursts and leaks only attribute roughly ten percent of the phosphorus pollution in the lake. This may be the case, but that phosphorus is already available to be absorbed as soon as it enters the lake unlike the non-point sources. The measly ten percent of the phosphorus in the lake as Kris Kilian in the Bloom documentary describes is “the atom bomb of phosphorus”. Blue-green algae are as displeasing health wise as they are aesthetically. If they come in contact with an unsuspecting swimmer, a red, itchy rash can break out on their body. If a person ingests any of the bacteria in the lakes water, it will lead to diarrhea and even vomiting. This poses a serious risk for anyone that enjoys these lakes, whether it is for recreational or economic reasons. What is happening all around the

country in other lakes is happening to our beautiful, blue lakes in Wisconsin. Two major lakes in Wisconsin are at the height of impairment due to the blue-green algae blooms: Lake Tainter and Lake Menomim. Every year these lakes are taken over by the sludge, causing a foul odor and some residents cannot even breathe. Peggy McAloon, a resident on Lake Tainter shared her story in a documentary of how the phosphorus pollution has changed her life. She began to have respiratory problems and thought it could be due to the algae from the lake. Other residents, however, claimed that she must have some other health problems because they have been swimming there their whole lives. She then sent a sample from the lake to a lab out of state, and the director called back a few days later. Sure enough the sample “was cyanobacteria” (Clean Wisconsin). The director said one of his grad students had to go to the hospital due to respiratory problems from the bacteria. There are organizations that strive to clean up Wisconsin lakes by means of regulating the amount of runoff caused by fertilizers. Clean Wisconsin is a non-profit organization, centralized in Madison with the goal of helping Lake Mendota reach the former glory that it once was. The blue-green algal blooms are slowly eating away any sign that the lake used to be inhabitable by anything living. One major type of blue-green algae present there is the “pea soup” algal

blooms. As the name implies it looks like someone is trying to cook up a pot of pea soup using Lake Mendota. The stench that the algae produce is horrid, shying away any potential swimmers in search of cooling off during the summer. The Wisconsin DNR is attempting a solution for the non-point sources by means of “adaptive management”. This allows for point sources and non-point sources to work together to help clean up Wisconsin’s lakes by placing regulations on the total amount of phosphorus allowed into the lake. This will help farmers easily meet the needs of how much fertilizer they are allowed to use in a given season. It will also allow them to track how much they are helping the lakes and waterways as they get clearer and clearer. The need for clean water in our state is a necessity. A person shouldn’t have to struggle to breathe, smell the rotting fish on the shore of the lake, or fear the sludge atop the water’s surface. We must clean our lakes, in order for our generation to enjoy them and more generations to come. I would like to see blue lakes again, the fisherman casting his line, the boats ripping through the water, and the fish leaping into the air. There are plenty of ways that residents can help, clean Wisconsin’s lakes up. Only use fertilizers when it is absolutely necessary, because most soils will already give plenty of nutrients to plants. SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

give the gift of green By Aimee Ahumada

or many people the term “upcycling” is brand new to them. Upcycling is when one takes an item that is no longer needed or wanted to give it a new use. This seemingly basic concept has sparked an exciting revolution in this generation due to our awareness of environmental and economic problems as well as because of the media. Upcycling allows people to have fun and be creative while giving their bank account a break. It helps save the planet by reducing our carbon footprint. With all these holidays and birthdays going on throughout the year, buying gifts can get expensive. With upcycling, in addition to saving money, you will also be able to present your friend with a unique, one of a kind gift. We have gathered some ideas that will surely bring a smile to someone’s face all while helping to save money. Finding that perfect idea for your friends or family members is up to you. Use your imagination to be creative. There is an endless list of things you can make out of household items that are over looked each day!

CORK COASTERS If your friend is a fan of drinking wine, or has an in-home bar, using leftover wine corks to make a coaster is a perfect gift. Using hot glue, take nine corks and glue them into a three by three square. After the glue has dried, take ribbon of twine and cover the cracks in between each of the corks to hide the glue. There you have a one of a kind set of coasters the fit into any bar.

RECORD BOWLS Can be an awesome gift for anyone who loves cool decor and is crazy about music. They are great because of their retro feel, style, and reusability. Record bowls are extremely easy to make. Records easily melt, so all you have to do is preheat the oven. Place an oven safe bowl into the oven, put the record on top of the bowl, and watch the record will melt and mold itself into a bowl. Just let it dry and voila! 28

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SUMMER SANDALS Give a friend the perfect summer sandals with different fabric straps that are easily interchangeable to match any outfit. Just take fabric straps of an old shirt or blanket that you no longer use, and wrap it around the looks of a pair of sandals. Wrap them around however you want; get creative!

Parched Ghosts:

Avoiding the Fate of the Maya By Rebekah Cullum

here once a mighty civilization thrived, crumbling ruins now stand. Grass creeps over collapsing stone structures, and once-solid steps sprawl fragmented and weather-beaten. Intricate water-disbursement systems winding through ancient cities, once bubbling with life-giving liquid, now lay as silent and empty as the cities they inhabit. The Mayan people built an empire in the lush Yucatán Peninsula, an empire that lasted a millennium but declined and disappeared in the space of two centuries. What could have caused this sudden collapse, these abandoned ruins and waterless channels? Could climate-related water problems have contributed? Scientists believe so. Inability to adapt to climate fluctuations may have undone the Maya. This sobering possibility begs the question—would our civilization suffer the same fate if our water supply decreased? As climate cycles fluctuate and Earth’s population increases, threatening our current water supply, the ques-

tion looms over us. Can we adjust in time? As our world changes and water grows scarcer, humans need to find ways to use water more carefully and efficiently in order to survive. Bluntly put, we consume too much water. According to a United Nations report, “2.7 billion people would face severe water shortages by 2025 if consumption continues at current rates” (Montaigne 36). By using lavish amounts of water, we are draining our future and the livelihoods of the less fortunate. We cannot ignore this, as it will ultimately harm us as well. Farmers in India who have pumped water recklessly are already feeling the negative effects of such carelessness. According to Fen Montaigne, author and senior editor at Yale Environment 360, “With farmers extracting water more quickly than nature can replenish it, aquicontinued on page 30

SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL

continued from page 29

fers have been depleted to the point that roughly half of India now faces overpumping problems” (Montaigne 38). While the United States is not yet facing shortages due to overpumping, groundwater levels are being depleted at rapid rates. In the Chicago area, for instance, where pumping has taken place since 1864, groundwater levels in the aquifer have decreased by more than 900 feet (“Groundwater” 1). Our carelessness cannot continue. As evidenced by India’s crisis, careful water management is vital. We are heading down their same path. We cannot afford to keep living this way. Beyond human-caused problems, climate itself fluctuates, and we may be coming to the end of a particularly water-rich era. This will exacerbate the problem. Climate fluctuations have occurred throughout history, and now they are working against us. The American west provides a good example of this trend. Robert Kunzig, a science writer and contributor to National Geographic, says: “The wet 20th century, the wettest of the past millennium, the century when Americans built an incredible civilization in the desert, is over” (Kunzig 52). What we have come to accept as our water ration is actually far above “normal”— thus, we physically cannot continue water consumption at current levels. 30

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From this point, our water resources will only decrease for the foreseeable future. As previously mentioned, an almost identical crisis undid the Maya civilization—we must start changing now if we are to avoid their fate. According to National Geographic, the Maya built their water systems assuming specific amounts of water. But when water supplies decreased, their systems failed, because they had not created them to adapt (Fishman 1). This frightening reality may soon become ours. Wells will dry up as aquifers are drained further—those who rely on wells will have no water, and cities will struggle to pump water from other areas until even those resources are gone. Continuing in the way we live now, we will not survive. Obviously, we need a change. While the Maya remained trapped in their same water-gathering system when water supply shifted, we can learn from them and shift with the water. Investigative journalist and author Charles Fishman writes, “It’s about knowing what you’ll do if you’re suddenly faced with a 10 or 20 percent loss of available water, permanently” (Fishman 1). By changing to a more sustainable water culture— constantly searching for ways to be more efficient with the water we have and painstakingly cutting waste—we can gain an advantage over the Maya.

They did not see or understand the implications of climate changes until too late. But we, knowing the inevitable consequences of our actions, can plan ahead. If we look to the future and find ways to decrease water usage efficiently, we can and will overcome the impending challenges. Indeed, some innovative humans are working at the problem already with encouraging results. Rajendra Singh of India has developed a program that helps poor, rural villages build dams and reservoirs to capture rainwater and replenish groundwater in their area (Montaigne 36). His projects bring hope to parched villages, giving them water to drink and procuring irrigation for their dusty land (Montaigne 46). They utilize rainwater to its utmost, taking the resources at hand and transforming hopelessness to hope. Another practical visionary, Paul Polak, began the organization International Development Enterprises (iDE), which distributes treadle pumps at a low cost to farmers in remote areas, allowing them to harmlessly pump shallow groundwater for irrigation. These pumps do little environmental damage, unlike common deep-drilling ones, but they provide a lifeline for farmers dependent on water for their livelihood (Montaigne 40). According to iDE, “84 manufacturers now produce treadle pumps and 1.4 million treadle pumps have been sold to small plot Bangladeshi farmers since 1985” (“Treadle Pump” 1). Those already suffering from water shortages have received hope from these bright minds and creative hands. Better-off, more populous places are changing as well. Cities have decreased their water usage—some while increasing their populations— merely by fixing leaks and broken pipes and installing more efficient plumbing (Montaigne 42). Durban, one of the largest cities in South Africa, cut water use by more than half in some areas, and in just one year its reforms gained back the money they had cost. Some American cities, like Boston, Albuquerque, and Seattle, have significantly reduced their water usage as well (Montaigne 43). Boston’s case displays the huge successes possible. Rather than pipe in more water continued on page 31

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when facing a looming shortage, Boston tried to cut water use. By finding and fixing old, leaky pipes and installing water-saving plumbing in some 350,000 homes, Boston decreased its water usage from 125.5 billion gallons per year in 1980 to 70.9 billion gallons per year in 2009. And not only this— it saved money in the process (Postel 1). All across the world innovators are using measures like these to increase the sustainability of society. If we shift towards this lifestyle, the future of water—and thus of mankind— holds a good deal of hope. Currently, the human race is far too careless in its use of water. We are depleting the earth’s supply more quickly than it can be replenished, and this fact already threatens us. As we recklessly squander our precious water supplies, as climate begins to shift towards a less-watery world, and as hints of impending crisis appear, the

ghost of the fallen Maya empire wavers before us as a grim reminder. Like a Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come pointing a finger to a terrible fate, it sounds a dire warning. But ghosts offer hope along with warnings. Without knowledge of the end of our road, we would never turn aside. But as Ebenezer Scrooge changed when he saw his future, so can we as the Maya show us a vision of ours. Nothing is set in stone. Ghosts come not to sound damnation but to warn us of the paths they followed. While one Mayan finger points to a desolate, vacant ruin, the other hand stretches in the opposite direction, beckoning towards the measures we have already begun to take. This warning, and this new hope, can guide us into the promising future the Maya never had.

Geographic. National Geographic Society, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. “Groundwater Depletion.” Georgia Water Science Center. U.S. Geological Survey, 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 23 March 2013. Kunzig, Robert. “The Drying of the West.” National Geographic Learning Reader: Green. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 48-59. Print. Montaigne, Fen. “Water Pressure.” National Geographic Learning Reader: Green. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 32-47. Print.

Works Cited

Postel, Sandra. “Lessons From the Field - Boston Conservation.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

Fishman, Charles. “When It Comes to Water, We’re All Maya Now.” National

“Treadle Pump.” iDE. iDE, n.d. Web. 23 March 2013.

THE FINAL WORD

And the Earth

Keeps Spinning By Gretchen Manthei

“There is light in the shadows and shadow in the light, and black in the blue of the sky.” When Lucy Larcom penned this poem in the late 1800s, she could not have had the vision of a smog cloud hanging over most big cities in the world of today. However, today, it seems all to apropos. Exploding populations will present great challenges for scientists, environmental groups, and the populations themselves. Corporations and governments certainly will play a key role in financing the development of new strategies. In the name of “renewable energy,” lands are destined to be covered with solar receiving panels and towering wind turbines. It is said flora and fauna will not be disturbed due to sections of land already available and suitable to house such structures. And, of course, the lands chosen for these renewable energy sources will have to be near power conversion and delivery stations, which would be impractical if in the middle of nowhere. Renewable or not, there will be byproduct

waste, and it will have to be disposed of somewhere. Is digging deeper and deeper into earth’s core, draining every bit of whatever is thought to be of value really going to satiate humanity’s need for power? As history dictates, finding more results in using more, and booming populations will surely exacerbate the cycle. But all is not lost, yet. When the will of humanity, along with scientists, environmental organizations, and governments can resist the self-interests of big business, there is hope the earth can survive as it has for millions of years. For those who resist the need for hogging power, there are places where life can be simple, canoes are paddled, and boats have sails. Fish may not be as plentiful as they once were, but there are shadows in the light, and light in the shadow, and black in the blue of the sky. SPRING 2013 • THE NEW COOL