Environmental Justice/Biodiversity

[Tom Chao <tchao@mail.arc.nasa.gov>]

  Mr. Michael Glaab, physicist, sent myself an e-mail writing that he was 'uncertain as to the [intent] of [my] use of the world "entropy."

  In my introduction, I noted that I am both non-management and low-profile.  I am also not a scientist and I am only speaking as a member of the public.

  The term entropy that I came across is taken from the second law of thermodynamics and  describes the orderliness or randomness of a system.  The theorem that followed is that the entropy of the world is always increasing (!)  Thermodynamics has the dN/N integral of ln N as the equation, and the public reads about items such as organic solvents, polymer science and magnetization-demagnetization cryogenic heat pumps where this concept is applied.

  My understanding is also that the biological unit, the bi-lipid membrane with genetic material, is a maximum entropy or massively parallel organization compared to a computer which is said to be a linear system.  Thus all life forms are considered to be sacrosanct.  With the geospheric-biospheric science, physicists measure the uncertainty of the sun.  Nuclear or elemental physics was said to be maximum entropy also--reference the field of astrobiology--So problems with ecosystem 'extinction debt' phenomenon could be guessed to be correlated to the 22 year cycle of the sun.

  Also, with respect to the problem of oncology, the Tri-Valley CAREs 'activists' believe that the environmental factor is 90%  of the problem [approx, roughly] and that cancer is caused by multiple insults to the biological cells. [maximumm entropy]

  So far as with population migration and demographics, and with the high mobility and international trade which is possible because of the 'energy concepts' of technology, I attempted the term 'population entropy.' This is just my own imagination.  Note that in biological systems, animals transport seeds & toxics.

(geospheric-biospheric science)  There is correlation between the El Nino cycles and ratios of stable isotope of elements in the food chains according to a Nature periodical summary.  Note that the industrial revolution increased the carbon dioxide in the biosphere and that that is determined by the Carbon 14 content in ice cores. (I think)  My limited understanding is also that the atmosphere protects the surface from ultraviolet light and higher energy radiation such as from the Van Allen belt and solar flares.

  I also used the term entropy because I was advocating biodiversity management. (e.g., GIS programs) I've come across the term 'bioprospecting agreements for managing genetic resources.' 

  I appreciate the EPA & California Resources Agency statements:

  "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 policies.  Fair treatment means that no group of people including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share othe negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies." 

The California definition is:

   "Environmental justice means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies."