I'm doing fine, but missed my connection in Santiago. My flight from Atlanta was delayed because of mechanical difficulties. I hope to get on a flight to Punta Arenas, Chile soon. Right now I'm sitting in the office of the U.S. Antarctic Program at the Santiago Airport.
Aside from the people watching, I don’t find airports to be particularly interesting but I did find a thought provoking art exhibit in the Atlanta Airport. The exhibit was called “Recycle Runway: Reclaimed Fashions by Nancy Judd.” All the pieces were one-of-a-kind fashions made from garbage and they were incredibly hip and attractive.
Clever
In her artist’s statement, Ms. Judd said her goal is “to inspire people in a fun and positive way to look differently at garbage and to consider the possibility that waste does not exist, only wasted resources.” Her pieces included a faux fur coat made from audio and video tapes, a second hand dress bejeweled with cutouts from soda cans, and a vintage dress covered in paper lace made from reused office paper. My personal favorite was a flamenco dress with frilly sleeves and skirt made from reused Target plastic bags. Aren’t these great?
Made from recycled audio and video cassette tape
Decorations from soda cans
The lace is handcut recycled office paper
The ruffles are recycled plastic shopping bags
Although I’m not sure how practical most of the pieces would be to wear for long periods of time, they were beautiful works of art and definitely made me think. I decided to do a little research in the airport about how reusing and recycling can decrease CO2 emissions, another focus of Ms. Judd’s artist’s statement.
How does recycling reduce carbon dioxide emissions?
Goods from recycled materials typically require less energy than producing goods from virgin materials.
Less energy is needed to transport, process, and manufacture products when people reuse goods.
Fewer fossil fuels are burned and less carbon dioxide is emitted when energy demands decrease.
I read on the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) website that if you recycle even just half of your household waste, you can eliminate 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year! This topic is on my mind, of course, because it relates directly to ocean acidification, the focus of the research I’ll be participating in at Palmer Station. As I’ve mentioned, carbon dioxide emissions combine with ocean water to create carbonic acid. This process is damaging to marine organisms with calcium carbonate in their tissues. Any marine animals that have shells are affected, as are animals like corals, sea urchins and sea stars.
Aside from thinking about the exhibit in Atlanta, I spent some time along the way answering “Ask the Team” questions. Thanks to everyone who has written; I’ve appreciated having you with me along the way. Please continue to follow my journals and keep those questions coming!
Me writing to students via Ask the Team
I was happy to have Flatso and Ted with me at dinner in the Atlanta Airport. I’m sending a big “THANK YOU” to Park Forest Elementary students Emma and Kueyoung for supplying me with such excellent dinner companions. Flat Penguins don’t say much, but they sure know how to have a good time!
Me at dinner with Ted and Flatso