The Dakota Access Pipeline

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Naima

When you fill up your car with gas today, give yourself a second to think beyond the immediacy of what you’re doing. There is a battle going on in the U.S. over another oil pipeline that needs your attention. It may not directly affect your energy resources today, but it definitely indirectly affects the future of energy in our country.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a new 1,172-mile pipeline that will connect the oil rich Bakken and Three Forks production areas from northwest North Dakota south to Patoka, Ill. to be refined. Energy proponents tout the pipeline’s ability to transfer oil in a direct, cost-effective, safer and environmentally responsible manner. Meanwhile, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and environmental activists are protesting the pipeline, bringing awareness that the construction process could disturb sacred sites and affect the reservation’s drinking water.

The pipeline was approved in July and is currently in the building process. The pipeline approval process did allow time for public comments and concerns, and did contain an environmental report. But, as I’ve written about in the past, these public meetings are often not well advertised or attended and environmental reports for big projects are often lacking information, data and plans for how environmental concerns will be addressed (cough cough, the Dallas Horseshoe project nightmare).

Social media has been aflutter with protester videos, photos and petitions urging the country to get involved and take notice. In recent days, the protesting has turned violent with the use of security dogs, mace and physical force. The tension is rising.

This is a very similar story to the recent Keystone Pipeline. In 2015, President Obama denied a permit to expand the Keystone Pipeline through to the Texas coast due to environmental concerns, but TransCanada has challenged that motion in Federal Court. We could still see production of some extension form of the Keystone Pipeline. In April of this year, the current Keystone Pipeline sprang a leak resulting in an estimated 16,800 gallons spewing into the environment. These leaks are one of the main concerns with constructing more pipelines — leaks contaminate our water supply and the environment.

The Dakota Access Pipeline, called by some the “New Keystone,” has been approved to be built under the Missouri River, which provides water to millions of people and is critical habitat for fish and wildlife. The Standing Rock Sioux reservation is located near the Missouri River.

The heart of the issue is really economic incentive versus environmental concern. The pipeline will bring construction jobs to the area, and oil proponents hypothesize it will lessen our reliance on foreign oil. But how long will those jobs last and when will we understand oil is not renewable — it won’t last forever. The oil reserves around the world are in limited supply. Once we are out, we are out.

How many of you felt the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma a few weeks ago? Many social media accounts show people had damage miles from the epicenter. Scientists have been investigating the role fracking and injection wells have on the increase in earthquakes around oil sites. Oklahoma has had an estimated 5,000 percent increase in the number of earthquakes for their state. Extracting oil from the ground is beginning to show environmental concerns. But should we wait until it’s too late to change?

Many have brought light to Native American populations in this recent controversy and reminded us that they are the “original environmentalists.” Understanding that we are part of the environment we live in, and in order to use resources, we must also take care of those same resources.

“Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – Ancient Indian Proverb
I join the likes of Susan Sarandon, Shailene Woodley, Leonardo DiCaprio and more, and stand with the Standing Rock Sioux.

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Avocados Come At A Price

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Naima

Growing up I remember avocados being something you rarely saw in the grocery store, and when you did, they were often extremely expensive. Now avocados are in stores year round and often times priced at less than a dollar a piece. (Kroger currently has a great sale on organic avocados!) Avocado production per capita in the U.S. jumped from 1.1 pounds annually in 1999 to 4.5 pounds in 2011. The health benefits, smooth texture and love of guacamole have increased our demand for avocados, which in turn increases the environmental destruction it takes to farm them.

This time of year most of the avocados come from California — about 90 percent of U.S. avocados are from a five county region near San Diego. It’s no surprise that California has been in a drought for months and water is a vital resource in the state. Most of the water usage in California is for agriculture and avocados are one of the big water sinks. It takes 72 gallons of irrigated water to grow a pound of avocados in California. Compare that to 42 gallons for a pound of peaches and 10 gallons for a pound of tomatoes. We are essentially growing a high water consumption food in a desert.

Chile uses more irrigated water than California to grow their avocados — using about 97 gallons to grow a pound of avocados. Chile’s growing season is in our winter, which helps to provide us with year-round avocado access — think Super Bowl guacamole. Eighty-five percent of the avocados eaten year round in the U.S. are from Chile and Mexico. And Mexico has its own issues surrounding their “green gold.”

Avocados have even been termed the new blood diamonds in response to the control, extortion, murders and corruption by the Mexican cartel. Cartels charge farmers per kilogram of avocados sold.

Yikes, I’m regretting the blood guacamole I ate the other day. But maybe at least it’s organic? Choosing organic avocados isn’t as important to your body as it is to the environment. Fruits and vegetables with peels tend to have lower amounts of pesticide and insecticide residue in the edible portions than fruits in which you eat the light skins. This, however, doesn’t translate to the environment. Pesticides and insecticides are still applied and transmitted to the soil, affecting water quality and wildlife ecology. Buy organic avocados. They aren’t much more expensive.

Beyond the water consumption and chemicals used to grow avocados, it’s important to consider the space needed to supply our fair fried avocados and avocado artisan sandwiches. In Chile in 1993, there were around 9,000 acres planted with avocados and today there are around 71,000 acres, according to an article in civileats.com. Many avocado farms are destroying native habitats to make room for more avocado trees.

The “it” food right now is avocados, but not far behind are things like acai berries and pomegranates. Acai berries are plentiful in the Amazon rainforest and most are harvested from the wild. The increase in demand for our acai bowls, smoothies and drinks will put pressure on this wild resource. Pomegranates are still a seasonally available fruit at an expensive price. Production of pomegranates has increased substantially in the last decade around the world, and as the demand for pomegranate juice, tea and other products increases this forces an increase in pressure on the environment.

A quick Google search finds thousands of articles on these “superfoods,” packed with nutritional goodness being fantastic for our bodies. Make use of the availability of these superfoods and add them to your diet, but keep it in moderation. And avoid the waste, which is incredibly hard for avocados. It’s a sought after skill to buy the properly ripe avocado that will reach peak ripeness at the time you need it for your meal. Any minute too late, and boom — the avocado is brown. Not to mention how many of the avocados at the store go bad. Enjoy your green gold, but treat it like gold, even if its current price is less than a dollar.

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Save Money And The Environment This Back To School Season

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Naima

A little late for many of you as your school (of kid’s school) started already, but I start back to in person teaching on Monday! I haven’t bought anything for the semester yet, but I have been eyeing a few things. There are some things in here you can still start now – get your transportation on lock down, start a green group at your school, and make sure your lunches are healthy for you and the environment. Check out more: 

The endless supplies have been out in stores for weeks now. The notebooks, pencils, backpacks and calculators line almost every aisle sprouting either fear or excitement in every child that passes. The temperatures may not be winding down but our summer vacation is coming to a close. Whether you’re a parent, aunt, in school yourself or just lured into the back to school section at Target, here are some tips to make your transition back to school good for you and for the environment.

Let’s see if we can also save you money on your supplies. The DISD school supply list is hefty; the 22-line kindergartner list includes items such as five pocket folders, two primary composition notebooks and 24 #2 pencils. The average parent of a K-12 student will spend about $100 per student on school supplies.

Clean your house and harvest the leftovers. It’s rare a child will use an entire notebook and very likely there are several pens and pencils around the house that can be reused this year. Before heading out shopping have your children help you find as much as they can in the house first. Make a list and keep track of what you already have, preventing throwing away money on extras.

This same tactic can be used for clothes. Everyone wants a few new-to-you clothes for the school year, but first go through your closets to see what is actually needed. When it’s time to shop, explore some of the fabulous thrift stores in the area such as Buffalo Exchange, Genesis Benefit Thrift Store, Salvation Army Thrift Store and many more around the city. Vintage is hip and you’ll find one of a kind treasures and name brand clothing with a little digging.

The big item of the school year is definitely the backpack. Check last year’s to see if it’s still in good shape. If so, you can order an iron-on decal or get a name embroidered on it to spice it up for this year. If you need a new one, check your tags for bags made from recycled plastic. Many high-quality bags are made from recycled plastic bottles, and you wouldn’t even notice by looking – they are durable and colorful just like a traditional backpack. You still have time to order a backpack or lunch bag from theultimategreenstore.com, which has several varieties of bags made from recycled plastic or organic cotton, including a cute pig or frog rolling bag for little kids!

Set your school year up for success by making sure you have a reusable lunch bag, food containers and a water bottle. Label each item, so when the inevitable happens and something is misplaced you are more likely to get it back. Think nontraditional about lunches this year. Leftovers can work for student’s lunches as well and many don’t need to be reheated. Skip the sugar filled fruit juice boxes and pack the water bottle; skip the bag of chips and pack fruits and veggies in reusable containers. This is a healthier alternative and also produces less waste. According to treehugger.com, 18,760 pounds of lunch waste is created per year by one elementary school. Every little bit counts.

Set the tone on your transportation to school now and keep it up every day. According to treehugger.com, 31 percent of kids who live less than a mile from school walk regularly; half of those within a mile of school usually go by car – 60,000 gallons of gasoline would be saved each day if just 6 percent of those who drive less than a mile would walk instead. If you live within a few miles of school either walk or ride a bike. Beyond a few miles, take the bus, which uses less energy than if every student arrived by personal vehicle.

Lastly, while everyone is motivated in back to school mode, round up a group to help make your school a bit more green. Does the school recycle? Do they participate in Teracycle in which they can earn money for recycling nontraditional items? Does the school compost food waste? Get your group motivated and see what you can make happen before next summer vacation comes around.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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Floods Or Droughts, Water Quality Is Still An Issue

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Naima

My summer was full of craziness so I’m catching up and posting my columns that have run in the paper for the last few weeks. Some, like this one, are a little off time-wise but still have great information in them. Take a peek and we will get back to regular schedule soon! 

This year we had the wettest fourth of July on record. We are seeing rains well into summer, which is great for my garden (minus the high winds and hail) but does create a false sense that rain will always fall. Our local area is known for intense flooding in the spring followed by drought through the summer. This year our pattern is different than the norm so far, but don’t forget the water can dry up almost as quickly as it came.

These high rains have caused large amounts of runoff to enter our river system, making the bacteria counts too high for safe swimming in the Trinity River. Attendees of the popular “Rockin the River” event in Forth Worth were sidelined and cautioned to stay out of the water. Storm water washes over our landscape carrying with it everything on the ground including oil, fertilizer, agricultural manure, pet waste, and sediment right into our river systems. The small biologic material in our rivers (crustaceans, bacteria, plants) can naturally clean and purify water but not when the system is overloaded with pollution. This pollution heads downstream effecting the water supply of people down river. When the river is too polluted we only have ourselves to blame.

In Florida, Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in four counties due to “unprecedented” high algae blooms. Many people had to cancel or alter their Independence Day plans due to the thick blue-green algae build up in the water. The algae bloom is caused by high rains bringing large amounts of runoff into waterways that all lead to to the ocean. The increase in fertilizer and manure runoff provide a plethora of nutrients for algae to grow. Keep your eye on Florida as the algae dies and the bacteria take up much of the oxygen in the water which can be detrimental to aquatic wildlife.

On our own Texas coast we’ve been battling similar issues. Large amounts of rain have caused heavy inflows of freshwater into the Gulf. This creates areas of low oxygen which affects bottom-dwelling animals. When I was on the coast a few weeks ago the beaches were lined with thousands of dead crabs and starfish. The Gulf coast has also been battling with Vibrio vulnificus, the flesh eating bacteria that thrives in coastal water. “Dr. Jay Grimes, Professor of Marine Microbiology at GCRL, reports that with global climate change, Vibrio vulnificus populations are increasing as water temperatures rise. The rising water temperatures promote the increase in Vibrio vulnificus.  New cases of the bacterium are being found in waters where they were not previously perceived as a threat.” If you’re at the coast or heading there soon you can check actual bacteria levels at: cgis.glo.texas.gov/Beachwatch. If you have an open wound, don’t get in.

Many water quality issues stem from our own doing, so if you’re upset you can’t jump in and cool off this summer, start making some small changes in your everyday life to promote clean water. Here are some quick tips:

  • The sink and toilet are not a landfill. Check the ingredients on your soaps, shampoos and conditioners and pay attention to what you’re dumping down the drain. Many soaps contain ingredients that will not be cleaned by water treatment facilities and end up back in our river systems. Choose all natural ingredients to reduce pollution.
  • Pick up your dog waste and keep your cat inside. You may think your one animal isn’t a problem but each animal adds up. Plus, when you pick up your dogs waste others see that action and are more likely to do the same.
  • Eat less meat. Manure from feed lots, chicken houses and other livestock farms are big runoff polluters that enter our water supply – I don’t want to swim in poop, and I bet you don’t either. The manure is also a leading cause of algae blooms. Eating less meat reduces our demand for unsustainable agricultural practices.

The recent rains are a blessing and curse if we don’t keep our land clean to prevent pollution filled runoff.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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Yoga And The Environment

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Naima

I have another confession. I’ve been attending a yoga studio here in Dallas since April. It’s not something I thought I would ever do, mainly because of the price tag, but three months later, I’m hooked. It started out as a way to clear my head from the constant stream of endless thoughts, to-do lists and barrage of life goals, and has turned into a thousand benefits. Physically, my body has changed, my life goals have changed, and I feel more connected to the environment. Turns out, I’m not the only one.

About 36.7 million Americans (about 15 percent of the U.S. adults) practice yoga in the U.S., and in Texas there are about .24 yoga studios per 10,000 people. In Dallas there are countless yoga studios to choose from — many focusing on a specialty Bikram yoga, hot yoga, power yoga and every other variation! And it’s not just women — there are 10 million men practicing yoga in the U.S., up from 4 million in 2012. The studios are packed with diversity from all walks of life.

And many fellow yogis have a connection to the Earth that extends beyond their yoga practice to every day decisions. According to the Yoga Alliance, 50 percent of yogis say they live green, eat sustainably and donate time to their community. The report also says that people who practice yoga are twice as likely to buy organic food.

So what makes yogis want to do well for the environment? In classes the teacher guides you through different poses while focusing on your breathing, reminding you throughout to connect to your breath. One way to connect to your breath is by breaking it down and thinking about taking in oxygen from Earth, given to you from the process of photosynthesis in plants. Each inhale is part of an ecologic cycle. With every pose your body must have at least some parts connected to the mat and therefore Earth. This connection is deeper when you do yoga outside because you are taking in the natural beauty, the fresh air and connecting directly to the ground. There are several options around town for outdoor yoga — try the rooftop at HG Supply and Klyde Warren Park on weekend mornings for a cityscape outdoor yoga or your own backyard!

It all sounds a bit funny, but if you share the racing mind trait, you’ll benefit from losing your mind for an hour. Stabilizing through every pose and pushing yourself, gives you a break from your head and a time to refocus. Recently my teacher said, “Leave this room and go out and do good in the world.” The little quip has stayed with me and I find myself reminding myself to do good things for the world I live in. Our world currently yearns for love.

The trick with yoga is to not get too sucked into the commercialism of it, otherwise, you’re defeating the purpose of the simplicity of practice. The same Yoga Alliance report found yoga practitioners report spending more than $16 billion on yoga clothing, equipment, classes and accessories in the last year. That’s a big industry using a lot of natural resources. It’s hard not to love your fellow yogi’s outfits and get caught up in buying more clothes you don’t need. Not to mention the water bottles, foam rollers, yoga blocks, mats, towels, straps, bags and yoga wheels. There’s always a new accessory to try out. Luckily, many companies cater to the yoga ecofriendly atmosphere and have organic and sustainable options. Make sure to choose your products carefully.

The best part about yoga is you can do it anywhere at any time, anyone can do it and you don’t even need shoes! Download one of the free yoga apps and get started today. You will improve your body, quiet your mind and over time connect to the Earth and make sustainable decisions. Win, win, win!

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

PS: If you’re wondering what studio I attend it’s Sunstone Fit. They have a variety of classes and locations all over the DFW metroplex. The teachers are fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect – I’d highly recommend giving it a try! Your first class is free.

PPS: I have been posting my yoga progression on my Instagram – follow the often humorous journey to handstand presses!

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Stop Throwing Out Food And Money

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Naima

I waste food. Not because I want to, but because I let leftovers sit in my fridge without eating them for way too long. Then, every few weeks, we go through the painful process of cleaning out the fridge only to find a bowl of chili, green beans, two shrimp and more being tossed in the trash. It literally hurts my heart, but every month I find we have made the same mistakes again!

About 40 percent of food in the U.S. and about one third of the food produced in the world every year — approximately 1.3 billion tons — gets lost or wasted. Much of this is wasted during the transportation, grocery and restaurant supply process, but a lot of it happens in your home and mine. Being an environmental writer, I am rightfully held to a high standard of sustainable living from readers, friends and family. This is probably the area I struggle with the most. I have a compost bin, but do not compost meat and grease, which ultimately most of my fridge leftovers contain. Our household can’t seem to create a no waste food stream … yet.

But leftovers aren’t the only items thrown out from refrigerators around the country — many people throw items out because of the dates on the labels. The truth is, most date labels are not designed to indicate safety. They are designed to make money. The faster you throw out the product, the more turnover increases company profit. Most labels are posted not to indicate safety but instead to indicate peak quality. Americans throw out an estimated $29 billion worth of edible food every year. Wow.

The proposed bill in Congress, the “Food Date Labeling Act,” is seeking to create a uniform national date labeling system with just two labels: one for quality (best if used by) and one for safety (expires on). A report found that more than 41 different date labels were being used on food products, clearly confusing consumers. The bill has received support from environmental groups such as the World Wildlife Fund. Pete Pearson, director of food waste for the World Wildlife Fund said, “When we waste food, we waste the land, water and energy used to produce it. We need to conserve these resources so future generations inherit a planet where food production and consumption exist in balance with nature. The Food Date Labeling Act will ensure more food reaches people who need it, heighten consumer awareness on food waste and clarify confusing expiration dates so that we waste less and save more. This is a win-win for consumers and the environment.”

OK, so what do we do? How do I create less food waste in my house? It starts at the grocery store with a motto, “Take what you need and eat what you take.” Make a list prior to going to the grocery store and stick to the list. If you plan out your meals, you waste less food. The second step is to stop cooking for plenty and cook for the people you have. Our culture is one of overabundance — we must make sure to have heaping piles of food available. This creates leftovers no one will eat. And lastly, think about downsizing your fridge. Have you noticed the size of refrigerators gets bigger and bigger? We fill our empty fridges with more food than we can eat in a week, and in turn, end up with food gone bad. Imagine having a small college-sized dorm room fridge and sustaining only what you need.

Are you a commercial business looking for ways to reduce your food waste? Attend a solid waste conference. The North Central Texas Council of Governments Solid Waste Workshop Series was held on July 26 to help local businesses get background information on food waste, food waste collection studies and findings, and the best management practices for large institutions and food generators.

This gal vows to do better and produce less food waste – how about you?

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100th Environmental Column Milestone!

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Naima

This is my 100th article/column for Katy Trail Weekly! I’ve covered a variety of environmental issues that relate to our everyday lives: from water issues, cosmetics, moving, overpopulation, toiletries, viruses, hunting, tea, nuclear energy and many more. If you’re wondering how some of those can be environmental, it’s key to remember that everything we use, ultimately, the resources used to produce the products, come from the environment. Every single thing we do and touch can be related to our impact on this planet. My goal in the last 100 articles has been to bring light to an issue you may have never thought about, inspire you to investigate and encourage you to get out and explore!

These articles aren’t one sided; I also get something out of writing them. Here are my top 5 things I’ve learned from writing 100 environment focused articles for Katy Trail Weekly in Dallas.

5. Dallas transportation is an uphill battle. We paint bike lines on car lanes, build more roads for personal vehicles with no sidewalks or alternate transportation options and the future plans lack creativity and forward thinking. We have highly successful commuter trails such as the Katy Trail, which also increased property values but haven’t completed several trail connections to give people an alternate way to commute or experience the city. In Texas, one person was killed every 2 hours 29 minutes in 2014. Driving our gas guzzling vehicles are not good for the planet and dangerous for us, yet we aren’t pushing for alternatives.

4. Architecture in Dallas does have some creativity pockets and many buildings are opting to include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in their plans. The U.S. Green Building Council is active and thriving in North Texas helping to design buildings that are sustainable. Home size is still “Texas sized,” but there are a few builders focusing on affordable housing. And don’t forget about the tiny home movement that has also hit the DFW area, with momentum moving forward.

3. The Trinity River is at a make or break point. Construction has destroyed the riparian areas, a toll road looms in its future, a dream city park could be on its horizon and what it really needs is to be restored to a healthy ecosystem first. No park on its banks will be successful if the river is not cleaned up. Speaking of parks, it’s amazing how many we have in the DFW area; many I have yet to explore and many readers inform me are worth checking out. In the year of #FindYourPark, have you found yours?

2. People are resistant to change. In many aspects of my life, I am as well. The best way to appreciate your city and encourage change for the better in it, is to get out of it. Even if just for a day, hit the open road and explore what makes Texas great ­— open space. Within an hour drive you can get to the country, find a mom and pop restaurant, slow down and reconnect to nature. Or hop on a plane and discover the innovative approaches to sustainability happening around the world. Any travel gives you a unique perspective to bring back to Dallas with an open mind to change for improvement.

1. There is a thriving, large group powering an “underground” environmental movement in Dallas. There are thousands of local passionate people making sure the work they do in their everyday lives has a positive impact on the community and the environment. Often their stories make it into mainstream media and into ground level politics, but as the numbers increase this will happen more. If Earth Day Texas is any indication of the future of environmental initiatives in North Texas, we are headed to a plethora of creative projects. This year, Earth Day Texas hosted record numbers of attendees, exhibitors and speakers all right here in Fair Park ­— let’s keep that energy going year round.

In a world where doing something for the environment is often green washed or done for publicity, let’s hold companies and people accountable to keep it real. Nothing would exist without a healthy functioning environment, so let’s keep it images!

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A Swim And Kayak Down The Trinity River And Dallas Wave

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Naima

There’s something I haven’t told readers… last fall, I swam in the Trinity River less than a few miles from downtown Dallas. I can see the look on your face right now, eyes squinting, face squished in a perplexed gross look, imagining why anyone would do that. Well, I did it on purpose, had a blast and lived to tell you the tale.

I was fortunate enough to be taken out by the professional kayakers at kayakinstruct.com on a beautiful, warm, sunny day to the Dallas Wave. The Dallas Wave is a multimillion dollar white water park located on the Trinity River under the red line Dart bridge near Corinth and at the head of the Santa Fe Trestle Trail. It’s not in use much these days because of controversy surrounding the building of it and some design flaws. In January of this year City Manager, A.C. Gonzalez called the Dallas Wave a “mistake.” But I could think of far bigger “mistakes” this city has made beyond trying to create an adventure facility that encourages Dallas to embrace our outdoor features.

OK, back to the fun. As it’s been years since I did any serious kayaking, beyond lounging on the lakes around DFW, the kayak instructors took us through some activities to get the feel and maneuverability of our boats and help us become confident. This also involved demonstrating a wet exit from our kayaks, aka a dunk in the Trinity. I’m not going to lie, all I could think about was what kind of bacteria could be lurking in the water that will cause me harm, but I knew the pollution was worse on high flow days when fresh runoff from the surrounding landscape was high. This day, the flow was perfect and the river was swimmable. I dived in, felt proud of my accomplishment and was ready for the rapids.

Our Dallas Wave experience on that day was a fun, safe kayaking adventure and, at times, I was transported to another world farther than a stone’s throw to Southside Dallas. A train would come rumbling overhead, and I was reminded that in a few minutes’ car ride I could grab a coffee down the street or walk into city hall. We played in the rapids for a few hours going through the waves, paddling out, paddling back in and then carrying our kayaks to the start to do it again.

I haven’t been back to play at the Dallas Wave again, mainly because I have a rule that I will not kayak in the winter time when temps are cold, and now the water level is too high. The flow rate needs to be perfect to open the Trinity and the Dallas Wave to some fun. KayakInstruct.com also offers beginner clinics under the Continental Bridge in coordination with the city. All you have to do is make a reservation and show up, they will provide the materials you need. And no worries, these beginner clinics don’t include a dive through the Wave, but you can set that up with them if you’d like to wear the same badge of honor as I do.

The Dallas Wave is currently not reaching the potential it could. In Munich, Germany, a similar human-made wave system was created, and since the 1970s, surfers and kayakers have been riding the waves just a few miles from city center. The surfers create a tourism draw and a quick search on the Internet leads to thousands of pictures and videos of day and nighttime wave surfers. The scene is an iconic image that has become synonymous with Munich.

Instead of looking at the Dallas Wave as a “mistake,” let’s get the city manager out to the Wave, a dunk in the Trinity and make sure he understands the fun that is housed right in our backyard! But, I wonder how the construction of the horseshoe project with fierce destruction of the riparian areas of the Trinity has affected stream flow and the Dallas Wave.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

PS: The Dallas Wave is currently closed by the City of Dallas.

Here are some more pictures from the fun, taken by Benjamin Hoffman:

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Pushing The Boundaries Of Art And The Environment

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Naima

Art and the environment go together like peanut butter and jelly. Ok, maybe not as nostalgic as PB&J, but when the two disciplines utilize each other’s strengths, the result has an immense, positive impact. Throughout history, art has taken inspiration and cues from nature resulting in ancient hieroglyphics depicting wildlife and famous works such as Monet’s poppies. In more recent times art is used as a catalyst for change. In 2005, collaboration between the Natural World Museum and United Nations Environment Program created the Art for the Environment initiative to “utilize the universal language of art as a catalyst to unite people in action and thought, and to empower individuals, communities and leaders to focus on environmental values across social, economic and political realms.”

Mixing art and the environment doesn’t have to be as planned as a United Nations initiative. This year at the MET Gala, one of the largest fashion events of the year, one star initiated an environmental conversation through her dress. Emma Watson brought the environment with her when she wore a dress made from recycled plastic bottles. A collaboration by Calvin Klein and Eco Age, the dress added depth to the proverbial red carpet question, “What are you wearing?”

Right here in our own backyards, Dallas is combining art and the environment and in one case even the city got involved. This spring, the City of Dallas Sanitation Services Department conducted the “Art for Dumpsters” project, a contest for local artists to showcase their artwork, while at the same time sprucing up and revitalizing the mundane recycle dumpsters. The top five colorful and inventive dumpsters were on display at the recent Deep Ellum Arts Festival and at Earth Day Texas. Now, the five painted recycle dumpsters are scattered around town joining the more than 140 recycle drop-off locations. If you live in an apartment complex or don’t have recycling at your office currently, go to dallascityhall.com/departments/sanitation to find your closest drop-off location or visit the winning artwork recycle dumpster done by Steve Hunter across from the Deep Ellum dog park.

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Several artists around town utilize nature in their artwork, but no one is reaching and pushing the limits of the collaboration like Jeremy McKane. In his recent installation, “Found” at Level Gallery on Logan Street, McKane uses found pieces of trash from some of the most secluded beaches in the world as centerpieces in his work. The project has recently wrapped up at Level, but his next installation of “Lucid” at One Arts Plaza in downtown Dallas later this year is a must see. “Lucid” is a mind-controlled art installation with a mission to remove marine debris. McKane has pushed himself to create an interactive art project in which the viewer must first get into a guided meditative state (thinking about one thing), measured with a portable EEG, (electroencephalogram) device, and then watch the underwater photography projection take place. The powerful visuals are created to bring the ocean to you.

McKane was moved to create art with a purpose after conducting underwater photography at beautiful beaches around the world and encountering something he didn’t account for in his photos, plastic. “I found plastic everywhere … I picked up some of the sand — it was plastic that was beat down to microscopic levels,” McKane said. He decided somebody should do something about this, and why not him. As a landlocked Dallasite, he realized we are all connected to the ocean. “Whether you live on the coast or whether you live in Dallas in mainland America, your actions are affecting what goes in the ocean.” McKane’s work is a powerful step in connecting the emotional aspect of art to making environmental change happen. Visit jeremymckanegallery.com for more information.

The connection between art and the environment sparks a new path for inspiring people to make change in their everyday lives by connecting to emotions. Our city is full of local and worldwide initiatives to increase environmental awareness and ignite change — all you have to do is set out with an open mind and explore!

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly.

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Progression In Transportation Isn’t Moving Fast Enough

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Naima

What’s the holdup?

Innovative public transportation projects are popping up around the world, such as driverless pods about to roll out in Singapore, and Finland and Switzerland are planning to have autonomous buses by 2017. Technology is moving forward attempting to tackle the growing world population that is leading to more traffic, congestion and pollution. Except in Dallas, where we are expected to add millions in the next few years, not much ingenuity is driving our transportation plans. Last year, Dallas-Fort Worth had the second-largest (behind Houston at #1) population boom in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The DFW area gained 144,704 people from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2015, bringing our population to more than 7.1 million. So, why are we not the leaders in innovative solutions to solve congestion and environmental issues to combat this growth?

Remember back a few months when the North Central Texas Council of Governments presented their Mobility 2040 plan, and they themselves stated the plan would not ease congestion in the DFW area? There is a wealth of studies and evidence that show highway and road expansion increases traffic by increasing demand. Yet, we are focusing our efforts on road construction and vehicle access. Dallas Love Field is considering spending $230-270 million dollars on a single rental-car facility at the airport. So, tourists can enjoy the congestion and add to our ozone pollution that is still not below EPA standards? This is the same airport that does not have public transportation access — unless you make a less than optimal walk to the DART Orange line.

The future in technology is coming to our backyard and access to the cutting edge of transportation markets could be right here in Texas. Texas A&M University just announced a $150 million research and development campus titled RELLIS Campus, from an acronym for the Texas Aggies’ core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. RELLIS will be housed on a former air base in Bryan, Texas and will focus on attracting companies working in new technologies, including driverless and connected vehicles, robotics and smart power grids and water systems. RELLIS’ intention is to “help companies move ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace while also offering a new path toward a college degree.” The idea is to bring together the creative energy of students with the leading technology companies to take research out into real life. Hopefully, this innovation will drive forward new technologies to be established in both of our large growing cities in Texas, DFW and Houston.

Dallas City Center is increasing residential facilities of high-rise type apartment complexes that are more environmentally friendly than urban sprawl, which destroys more land outwards. The new, growing residential community at Victory Park is an example of providing residential and amenities together within walking distance on promised “walkable sidewalks.” Located near the Katy Trail, it’s feasible that you could ride your bike to other amenities within the city, especially after the hopeful completion of the Mockingbird connection to the Katy Trail and an even farther dream of connecting to the White Rock Lake trail system. The downside is if you need to get out of Victory Park in another direction, the public transportation options are limited and the car is your quickest exit.

Will our city continue to move forward with the same old solutions that aren’t working, or will we be known for being worldwide leaders in transportation innovation that is good for people and the environment? On the front page of this paper last week we highlighted the M-Line to Knox trolley or street car project that is looking to unite Downtown, Uptown and Knox-Henderson by providing an alternate to vehicle traffic in this area. They’re not looking to stump economic growth, they’re looking to preserve the character of their neighborhood and perhaps even add economic value. The American Public Transportation Association states, “Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic returns.” More public transportation is not just good for the environment, it’s good for local businesses.

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