Digital Commons Network^™

Our Failing Food System: Productivity Versus Sustainability, Alyson Murphy

Student Theses 2001-2013

The United States food system is a complex intersection of the activities, people and resources that are involved in feeding the American population. Americans’ relationship with food includes our perception, consumption, and production of it—all of which are aspects that affect the quality of our overall food system. However, our current food system is by no means perfect; rather, it is crucially flawed and requires vast improvements in order to become a healthy and truly nourishing organism. With significant changes in the direction of sustainability, the American food system can become beneficial to the American people, land, and economy by …

Trash Talk: Solid Waste Disposal In New York City, Alexander Williams

Student Theses 2001-2013

In 2010, Americans produced 250 million tons of solid waste. Where does this massive amount of waste go after we throw it out? The majority of the waste is disposed of in landfills where it does not break down, produces poisonous leachate which can contaminate soil and groundwater supplies, and contributes twenty-five percent of America’s methane emissions. The challenges and hazards of solid waste disposal are no more evident than in New York City. New York City residents produce over 50,000 tons of solid waste and recyclables every day. With the closing of the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island …

Giving Back To The Community: Addressing The Environmental Literacy Gap Through Socially And Environmentally Responsible Business Practices, David Garcia

Student Theses 2001-2013

The following paper was inspired by my passion for environmental education and environmental justice. The problem being addressed herein is the environmental literacy gap in the United States caused by the environmental education deficit. After an extensive review of literature and research regarding the issue of environmental education in America, I propose that the environmental and social responsibility movement in business can help augment the environmental education deficit in our country. In order to fully grasp the issues at hand and to understand the full scope of environmental education, I first discuss three disciplines essential to the process of integrating …

Wasting Plates: Addressing Food Waste In The United States, Sarah Geuss

Student Theses 2001-2013

It is estimated that Americans waste over half of their food, depleting natural resources and destroying native ecosystems. Food is wasted daily through a variety of methods, whether through the picking practiced on farms, the selectivity of grocery stores for the best looking produce, and the over-consumption of food by consumers who are unaware of the effects of uneaten food. With the industrial revolution and the “eat more” agricultural tactics pushed post- WWII onto society, the American relationship with food has quickly declined. Urbanization has lent itself to the power of the food industry in transforming farming into another transnational …

The Sustainable Future Of The Metropolis: Greening New York City Building By Building, Lizbeth Sanchez

Student Theses 2001-2013

Due to growth, technology and economic expansion, Western culture has gradually become detached from the natural environment. Industrialism and a culture of consumption have dragged us through a medley of environmental problems, all culminating to our current problem: climate change. The causes and effects of global warming overshadow all of our environmental issues. These problems threaten our way of life, our very existence, and future generations. How can we save the planet without compromising economic growth? Sustainability. In my research I have focused and reported on sustainability pertaining to America’s greatest urban center, New York City, with a spotlight on …

Sandy And The City: The Need For Coastal Policy Reform, Jonathan Hilburg

Student Theses 2001-2013

After tropical storm Sandy battered the East Coast in October 2012, New York City was damaged extensively by flooding, high-intensity winds and the resultant flames. The resultant flooding rendered many underground subway lines unusable along the southern coasts for an extended period of time, as well as damaging buried electrical wiring. These outages were compounded by the hi-strength winds in the upper areas that also brought down above ground wiring. The lack of electricity for use in traffic lights, care facilities, emergency services and mass transit had a staggeringly adverse impact on public health.

In the upcoming effort to rebuild …

Hurricane Sandy: Using Environmental History, Economics, Politics And Urban Planning To Prepare For The Next One, Julia Maguire

Student Theses 2001-2013

Hurricane Sandy, a category 1 storm by the time it reached the North East coast of the United States, was a disaster that devastated all of those in its path. The physical effects of the hurricane, which hit the East coast of the United States on October 29, 2012, were felt by 15 states. The most devastating outcome in the aftermath of the storm was the death toll that numbered over 100 people. The shock from the disturbing effects of this storm was extremely unsettling, and unfortunately those who were affected by it will continue to suffer from these consequences …

The Economic And Environmental Justice Implications Of Hydraulic Fracturing In 21st Century North America, Katie Medved

Student Theses 2001-2013

The term “energy crisis” has been a circulating topic in societal discourse recently as the political, economic, and environmental future of the United States is considered. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, the country’s dependency on energy has been increasing exponentially as we rely on it as a means for societal and international advancement. For decades America has primarily used coal and oil to run our country – individuals, businesses, homes, companies, industrial sites, stores, restaurants, etc. etc. cannot function without them. Lights, laptops, toasters, heaters, cars, movies, everything from menial everyday tasks to multi-national investments utilize and rely …

Not A Walk In The Park: Environmental Justice In New York City, Lindsey Grier

Student Theses 2001-2013

Where a person lives dictates how that person lives. The environment plays a unique and critically important role in the day-to-day behavior of individuals. It also impacts peoples’ health. And in an urban environment, the affect of a person’s surroundings is further intensified by density, traffic, and congestion. Health disparities and environmental hazards throughout New York City are functions of environmental justice.

Parks make up approximately 14 percent of the New York City. Their placement is both practical and symbolic. Environmental justice issues are deeply embedded in park access, and these issues are especially evident in an urban setting such …

Environmental Racism In South Africa: A Sustainable Green Solution, Danielle Darmofal

Student Theses 2001-2013

Environmental racism and environmental justice are relatively new terms used to describe inequalities that have existed for centuries. Environmental racism is a pervasive problem that can be identified in many countries, even the world’s leading nations. The acknowledgement of the prejudice began with the Civil Rights Movement. Greater attention to equality caused citizens and policy makers to consider the relationship between human rights and environmental rights. The Environmental Protection Agency formulated a definition of environmental justice that states, “no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or …

All In Our Backyard: Exploring How Environmental Discrimination Affects Health And Social Conditions In The South Bronx, Mireille Martineau

Student Theses 2001-2013

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The Ins And Outs Of Corporate Greenwashing, Jennifer Bender

Student Theses 2001-2013

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The Bronx River Alliance: A Model Community Action Organization And An Internship In Development, John Hinck

Student Theses 2001-2013

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Environmental Internship & The Fordham Eco-Roof Proposal, Anthony Giovannone

Student Theses 2001-2013

Fordham received its 2008 College Sustainability Report Card, scrapping by with a C‐ while Columbia received an A‐, and NYU a B‐. Adding to this low score is a C grade on student involvement, which is the essentially why I am writing this proposal. There is an increasing awareness, in college students, of human caused effects on the environment, and its potential degradation due to human action. Many Fordham students would consider themselves environmental citizens, and most are willing to be active. There is a need for an educational application of solutions to the everyday problems that involve human action …

Waste Mismanagement: Fighting Environmental Injustice In Mott Haven And Hunts Point, Elizabeth Friedrich

Student Theses 2001-2013

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The New Social Movement: Environmental Justice In The Bronx, Kelsey Ripper

Student Theses 2001-2013

It can be argued that the birth of the Environmental Justice movement was 1982 in Warren County, North Carolina during a battle over the implementation of a PCB waste site. Unfortunately though, environmental injustices have been occurring throughout most of human history. The exploitation of minorities manifests itself in many ways, and one of those ways is through unhealthy and unsafe environmental conditions. These conditions are often the result of unfair policies which unjustly skew the burden of pollution and waste onto minority or low-income groups. These groups in particular often lack the financial resources or political power necessary to …

Solving A Crisis: Water Quality & Storm Water Infrastructure In New York City, Kelsey Ripper

Student Theses 2001-2013

This past semester I have was given the privilege of working with an organization that is at the forefront of environmental protection and combating environmental injustices. This organization, the Bronx River Alliance, it fighting a battle against those that believe minorities and low-income groups have less of a right to live in a safe and healthy environment. The Bronx River Alliance created a set of guidelines and principles to operate under and then proceeded to support and develop projects as concrete solutions to environmental degradation in the Bronx. One of these projects, which is growing substantially, is the SWIM coalition. …

Urban Wildlife And Leopold’S Land Ethic: “The Squirrels On A College Campus Convey The Same Lesson As The Redwoods. . . .”, Natalie Robiou

Student Theses 2001-2013

The United States has quickly become one of the most industrialized countries in the world. The Industrial Revolution of the 19^th century brought Americans and immigrants alike employment opportunities in key locations throughout the country. This, in effect, translated into an influx of people living in close quarters; therefore, creating what is referred to today as urban centers. With the rapid growth of the American population and the greater demand for work, large urban areas developed throughout the U.S. landscape. This process, known as urbanization, is defined as the replacement of the rural areas with more urban ones. Urbanization …

Environmental Justice And Street Science: A Fusion Of Community Knowledge And Environmental Health Justice To Address The Asthma Epidemic In Urban Communities, Natalie Robiou

Student Theses 2001-2013

Of all the proposed moral environmental theories, none has addressed the problems that plague the urban environment and its habitants quite like the environmental justice theory. Based on the idea that environmental issues are also Civil Rights issues, environmental justice seeks to establish just and equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across a whole spectrum of racial and socio-economic groups. The Environmental Protection (EPA) has defined the theory as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and …

Stormwater Runoff, Combined Sewer Overflow, And Environmental Justice In The Bronx, Natalie Collao

Student Theses 2001-2013

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Natural River Restoration In Urban Ecology: The Bronx River, Samuel P. Loor

Student Theses 2001-2013

Environmental science is the systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it. A relatively new field, environmental science is highly interdisciplinary, integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in a broad, holistic study of the world around us. In contrast to more theoretical disciplines, environmental science is mission-oriented. That is, it seeks new, valid, contextual knowledge about the natural world and our impacts on it, but obtaining this information creates a responsibility to get involved in trying something about the problems we have created i.e. environmental science is an applied science. For this study the environment that …

The Environmental Justice Movement In The United States, Harrison Delfin

Student Theses 2001-2013

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The History Of Community Gardens In New York City: The Role Of Urban Agriculture And Green Roofs In Addressing Environmental Racism, Rosamarie Ridge

Student Theses 2001-2013

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Environmental Audit Of The Rose Hill Campus, Nicole Marshall, Maria Nissi, Brian Flaherty, Carl Van Ostrand, Ian Mcclelland

Student Theses 2001-2013

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