Internships and Academic Seminars

Compassing Sustainability in Puerto Rico

Smart Partnerships for a socio-cultural transformation Agencies, Policies and Citizenship
By Lyanne Claudio, Eliud De Jess, Kaira Fuentes, Christopher E. Santiago and Amilkar Cruz

Crdova-Ferns Congressional Internship Programs Puerto Rico Development Project Fall Semester 2012

Compassing Sustainability in Puerto Rico

Smart Partnerships for a socio-cultural transformation Agencies, Policies and Citizenship
By Lyanne

Claudio, Eliud De Jess, Kaira Fuentes, Christopher E. Santiago and Amilkar Cruz

Theoretical Frame Puerto Rico needs to embrace a paradigmatic shift to drive new form and root out that obsoletes ways that had define our design of social sustenance. This initiative looks to influence strongly the policy-making process of Puerto Rico for an adoption of a long term comprehensive plan to revitalize, restart and reform the design of our living and shared spaces. It has become vital to our progress as a country the education of professionals in Sustainable Developments to meet the challenges that this century brings. Through the implementation of a comprehensive Sustainable Development Plan to Puerto Rico, is the search to place as a main purpose the citizenship and enlarge the range of choices that the people have to fulfill in their daily life reducing the inequality gap that has produce social impoverishment and less opportunity for people to progress.

Partnership shared ecologic,

initiatives to

provide face the social

solutions economic

and

problematic of our country. Its

urgent to provoke an organically shift in our wrong-head economical development based in the economical Gross National Product (GNP) growth focus in the financial prosperity. We need to canalize a coordinated partnership between agencies,

communities, communitarian and political leaders and extend the bound to the private sector by unifying in partnership and contributing in the raise of a renewed pacification policy for Puerto Rico.

Human Development as core principle

Human development as an approach, deals with what I consider the basic development idea: namely, increasing the richness of human life rather than the wealth of the economy in which human beings live, which is only a part of life itself. -Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize for economics in 1998.

Human development is a process of enlarging people's choices. Many fast-growing developing countries are discovering that their high GNP growth rates have failed to reduce the socioeconomic deprivation of substantial sections of their population (UNDP, 1990). To replace the misguided approach we propose give more emphasis to the Human Development Index (HDI). Explained in the same words of the indexs creator, the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, the HDI had the purpose "to shift the focus of development economics from national income accounting to people centered policies". The HDI considers three aspects: life expectancy at birth, Education index, that mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling, and the Gross National Income (GNI per Capita) = (Producto interno bruto) that means a decent standard of living.

Human development considers the six main factors integral: Equity: Equal opportunities for all. Special emphasis is placed on equity of human development between men and women and various social group

Empowerment: Freedom of the people to influence, as the subjects of development, decisions that affect their lives. Cooperation: Participation and belonging to communities and groups as a means of mutual enrichment and a source of social meaning. Sustainability: Meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of satisfying the same by future generations. Security: Exercise development opportunities freely and safely with confidence that they will not disappear suddenly in the future. Productivity: Full participation of people in the process of income generation and gainful employment.

Education for Sustainable Development People are the real wealth of a nation. To achieve a sustainable economy its necessary to arrange a new curriculum to our educational system that pursuits the formation of citizens with capacities to make an interdisciplinary approach, collaborative decision making, critical thinking and the courage of systems thinking. Our students had to educate in a way that they consider itself responsible of their own reality and their own setting. Also, its pertinent to endow the educational curriculum with a program of agricultural studies and environmental sciences.

Schools have a vital role in this initiative serving as agent reproductive of sustainable lifestyle to students and members of communities, serving as the main space to connect the communities and initiatives. Is also necessary take each district particularly with their assets and populations develop them capacities for new forms of managing their social coexistence. Design of Sustainable Development The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental impact completely through skillful, sensitive design". Manifestations of sustainable design require no non-renewable resources, impact the environment minimally, and connect people with the natural environment. Its a design that considers the environment and its positives effects and integrates infrastructure in the equilibrium, taking advantage of the environments condition without exploiting or destroying the natural resources. For example, using the sunlight, the air or/and integrating green spaces into buildings.

Unlike other countries, Puerto Rico does not actually have a law or decree to raise the performance of planning or urban planning practices to a constitutional level. The main laws are those who create government agencies charged with regulatory functions and management of land uses. Among the laws of more control over urban processes is the Organic Law Planning Board 1975 (Ley Orgnica de la Junta de Planificacin de 1975), which creates the Planning Board of Puerto Rico, the main government agency in matters of land use and urban planning#. This law creates the main agency that works with urban planning across the country. This agency is unfortunately at the mercy of

the constant changing block parties because of their lack of autonomy in the government system. The creation of planning agencies in autonomous municipalities has caused short-term proposals that benefit the politician in office and are visible over a four year period. These projects are not consistent with the other municipalities that are within the urban sprawl. Are we in equilibrium in an island of cement?

Example of Sustainable Arrangement in balance with green spaces: Singapore

Empowerment of Communities Puerto Rico has to create informed citizens and offer mechanisms where the citizenship is able to play an active role in the decisions that affect their communities. The empowerment of the communities is based on recognizing the necessities of a community and being inclusive in the participation of decision taking to push the necessary changes so that these changes prevail and reach their potential. The government had to seek new methods to adjust deliberation processes and a more inclusive way of decision making regarding communities and seek a bound between citizenship and partnership. Its important to achieve an education in communities to strengthen community participation and unlock enterprising community development. Partnership can fulfill shared initiatives with the community and develop many ways to take charge of inclusive sustainable development.

Social, Institutional and Economic Challenges: -The absence of serious discussion for long term comprehensive plan. -Many laws but a poor implementation. - Lack of synchronicity between agencies. -Change of bad accustomed habits and mentality -Change the politics of quantity by the quality. -Unsustainable consumption and production patterns. -Mentality change by the education to learn to take consciences and responsibility about their actions and develop new ways to manage their realities. Ex. Recycling, gas emission, energy consumption, resources consumptions, consumerism.

Public Policy suggestion

o

Centralize and define as independent agency the Puerto Rico Planification Agency.

Created a rigorous method of design to lead sustainable development, and start and internal examinations of their protocols regarding construction, design and urban arrangement.

Establish rigorous regulations in all the government to measure energy consumption, to implement a recycling program in each agencies and they buildings

Stimulate our local agricultural sector with equipment, training and capacitating.

The embrace of a coherent synchronization between the higher education sector and our public education system to develop the capacities and training for a sustainable economy.

The Creation of Governmental Independent Institute for the Development of Sustainable Communities.

o o

Empowering communities and be inclusive in decision making process. Establishment of recycling factories. By the contrary export to other country to process recycling

o o o

Decrease the plastic production and consumption in the island. Make mandatory the recycling in Puerto Rico. Charge by the weight of the waste generated

Analysis about recycling laws According to the Act No. 411 of 2000 which amends the Act No. 70 of September 18, 1992, as amended, known as the "Law for the Reduction and Recycling in Puerto Rico this proposed important steps to follow for the conservation of our environment. The amendments were:

Extend through 2006 the goal of reducing and recycling the thirty-five percent (35%) of solid waste to be generated.

Make compulsory that the municipalities recruit a Recycling Coordinator full time and assign budget to the Office of Recycling.

Promote the purchase of paper with recycled fiber in government agencies. Promote the implementation of recycling programs in the private sector and sending quarterly progress (achievements and limitations) to the The Solid Waste Authority (ADS)-Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos, as a strategy to achieve the goal of recovering the thirty-five percent (35%) of solid waste.

Through the Act No. 81 of 30 August 1991 called Autonomous Municipalities of the Commonweal of Puerto Rico in the Section 2.005 Programs and Systems Waste Collection and Disposal, the municipality may regulate solid waste management in line with the environmental policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, provide by ordinance the way it held solid waste management and impose penalties for violations of the rules adopt. It may also establish, maintain and operate on its own, or through a contract with any person, natural or legal bona fide services and waste management programs and general public sanitation. The viability of these amendments was excellent and it was a great plan to follow but with the exception that has not been as it was planned. According to final report of the recycling and diversion rate done by The Solid Waste Authority (ADS)-Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos#, the standard recycling rate for 2007 was 10%. Meanwhile, the traditional recycling rate and diversion rate was 15% and 19%.

This is the latest report that you can find in the web page done by ADS. We can see how the action of recycling is growing but very slowly for the goal that was

proposed in the law. Here we have an example of a law that is not following its instruction and purpose. The Government has the responsibility to make sure that all laws are being implemented. In this case we need more regulation by the government inside the agencies and to look for strategies that can enforce the law.

An integral part of sustainable development is the management of solid waste. In Puerto Rico the solid waste management is a very serious matter and it has to be attended with an integrated vision were the human health and the environment are the priority. The landfills in Puerto Rico are getting to the end of their useful life and were still producing large quantities of solid waste. The solutions for this problem already exist and are available for its implementation. The public policy and the resources to resolve the solid waste problem are there, and we as a nation have the capacity to aspirate to the Zero Waste concept. Zero waste embodies the goal of a closed-loop system that reuses resources rather than creating waste. According to Zero Waste Alliance, argues that the entire concept of waste should be eliminated. Instead, waste should be thought of as a residual product or simply a potential resource to counter our basic acceptance of waste as a normal course of events. The basic step to start dealing with the solid waste management in Puerto Rico is recycling.

Starting a Community Recycling Program Blog If we start to change our ways largely toward solid waste, we begin with results. Puerto Rico is currently producing 3.6 million tons of waste annually. The problem of solid waste disposal is a serious situation and should be resolved urgently. Of the 28 existing landfills only 8 exceed the average useful life of 20 years. Less than 15% of the solids residues are recycled, of the total solid residues composition more than 30% is compostable. Composting organic matter and recycling would significantly reduce the solid waste that occupies lot of space in landfills. The government doesnt consider composting as a real option and recycling hasnt reached its full potential but as responsible citizens we must contribute creating alternatives and solutions to this problem. By creating a virtual guide with different kinds of resources for Puerto Ricos communities and individuals well provide a central and accessible source to promote and provide the guidelines for recycling and composting in housing and school communities.

Project background Education is the most powerful tool that any person, community, society or country can have. More and more professionals are articulating emphasis on new educational strategies and issues highly relevant to students. Environmental education is part of it; it comprises a very important concept when developing a new educational curriculum that effectively impacts children and youth of Puerto Rico, who in turn seek new challenges in their learning. These are experiences that should facilitate their thinking and action, will lead not only to global problems or concerns about the environment but also to local situations and possibilities. Studying the needs of communities of Puerto Rico, we can generalize that the disposal of solid waste is part of it, and then this can become a generator theme for the development of this project.

Taking into consideration, the school as catalitic point between communities, this has to develop initiatives that eventually every student can implement at home inspire sustainable lifestyles. In turn, promote the reception of sustainable development, as well as resource management as essential concepts in the curriculum design. This would develop a curriculum that would integrate various subjects and multiple skills that are necessary for the composting practice. This opportunity provides students integrate and applying a multidimensional knowledge while doing things with their hands and body in a setting where children and adults share in common. Translating this experience to each home bring the habit of collaboration, teamwork and respect to

the environment. We look to promote a healthy dynamic and manners at home and the same time than on the community. This is what our blog based. At this moment, were fully aware that technology is an integral part of peoples daily life. By creating an interactive blog, individuals, students, teacher and parents can easily access the information necessary to create and promote their recycling projects at school and their communities. Provide a webpage with all the information necessary for recycling and composting is our first step for broad recycling a project that can start reducing the solid waste in each community in Puerto Rico.

3. Project description Our blog main objective is to become a influential resource in recycling and sustainable lifestyle for communities in Puerto Rico. It should be the first step and a

source of inspiration for future programs shaped in communities and schools. We aspire to become an auxiliary source for these communities that seek federal grants to finance their projects toward transform them communities as sustainable. The blog will encompass information about recycling and composting with different methods and source. We would integrate all the necessary skills, materials and spaces to compost. We want to create a dynamic menu of agricultural practices in addition to articles and manuals about recycling. Well add forum to discuss different methods a discus the progress of our efforts in all the island and created a comparative for discuss good ideas in other countries. In our Up cycle tab, we will also provide the process of trash become something bioactive material useful to gardening in homes and school.. The information will be presented in different types of formats, like PDF documents, links to other websites, photos and videos.

4. Action Community plan Reaching for sustainability is an everyday responsibility; we cannot depend only in the government actions to initiate a sustainable way of life. Some municipalities of Puerto Rico like Caguas, Guaynabo and San Juan, have recycling programs. Several of those programs include recycling routes which are responsible for collecting the household recyclables in certain communities; but not all the communities are beneficiaries of these programs, and not every municipality has recycling programs. Domiciles are the basic unit to start the recycling movement in Puerto Rico, and the communities are the collective force for facilitates that change. Organized communities

have the opportunity to work in harmony to reach a better quality of life for its members. The creation of recycling initiatives is a way to pursuit that goal, and is also a way to improve the unity and communication between the communities.

The first step for creating a community recycling initiative, is acknowledging the necessity for doing such effort. In order to proposes the project its necessary for the community leaders to assemble the residents and instruct them about the solid waste problem in the island and show them recycle as method to reduce and reuse waste. One effective activity to demonstrate the large quantity that is produced in the resident homes is to reunite the families and look at their garbage. Taking the garbage and separating it into recycling and compostable material is a tangible way to see that almost all the solid waste dont have to be putted in landfills. Once the community accepts the necessity of recycling, and decides to get involved with the recycling initiative, it is time to begin to create an action plan. They have to find organize the plan encouraging the community in active participation.

The action plan has to start with an extensive research about the resources and technical potential that the community has for implementing the plan. For those living in autonomous municipalities they have to contact the municipal coordinator (see the Appendix) responsible for the solid waste management and talk about the community interest in establishing a recycling recollection system. For those municipalities that dont have recycling facilities have to integrate and train groups to work on

environmentally sound management procedures like collection, sorting and composting, also assessment the disposal of inorganic and organic waste (E. Alonzo 2011). The community can make their own recycling co-op in charge of recollecting the material and establish business with buyers of recyclable waste. For those communities that decide to establish recycling projects and dont have the municipality support, they could make a proposal to obtain funds from the state or federal government. There are agencies like the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration that have personal that can educate the community to design proposal and search federal grants and other funds.

The organizing groups for the recollecting of recyclable materials bring instantly benefits by their joint labor, producing revenues to buying their material and to the betterment the capacity of storage for classification and trade, likewise the capacity to create a network between buyers. The training, management and diffusion inside the community erect a culture of caring for environment and the adequate management of solid waste. The groups through the organization as cooperatives for solid waste can sponsor mechanisms to support the solution of the solid waste problem without it falling exclusively on municipal resources. This way they can also sign job agreements and/or concessions of the services that their lending to the municipality.

Being the main interest to educate the people and give them the tools to encourage them to recycling, they can propose to become partners with the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership. In addition, it would be a great idea if the government of Puerto

Rico by the Solid Waste Authority (ADS), gave us space in their social networks to spread our message. Another great idea would be to do a massive advertising campaign aimed at the private sector using donations of the people who believe in our message.

5. Budget Opening and starting a blog was free of charge. Maintaining it doesnt need to cost anything else as long as theres a volunteer to run it. If we decided to later on upgrade our website so we can have our own domain and features, it would only cost $100 a year. If this money is necessary in the future, it could be collected by making new items out of recyclable materials - for example making wallets out of magazine paper. Also we have indentified different foundations for finance recycling initiatives.

The Coca-Cola Foundation Coca Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313 T (404) 676-2568 F (404) 676-8804 www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html Funds for programs on water conservation, health, communitarian recycling and education Walmart Foundation Walmart Puerto Rico PMB #725 PO Box 4960 Caguas PR 00726-4960 http://www.walmartpr.com/Pages/ConoceWalmart/goodWork.aspx

6. Expected results and conclusion

This blog is only the start of something much greater. We hope that with planting this small seed, peoples motivation to recycle, compost and reduce their solid waste will grow. Communities that are made of individuals with this desire can eventually become into sustainable communities that are making a better place out of their homes to reduce the amount of waste produce in our island. Small steps like these are what can lead to other projects that produce sustainable communities in Puerto Rico that improve their social, economic and ecological problems. Later on we could see the overall reduction of solid waste in the island which is a problem thats affecting the island presently. Puerto Rico has the resources and human capital to achieve all the goals we have established for sustainability. Through this initiative we want to exhort our governments leaders and communities to take action and develop better solutions for the social, economic and environmental problems that the island faces today. With some motivation and hard work we can all lead our island towards solutions that develop sustainable communities.

References: Alonzo E. (2012) Modelo de planeacin y participacin comunitaria para el manejo ecolgico de residuos slidos en localidades costeras de Yucatn y otras reas vulnerables.Grupo YAAX BEH A.C. Autoridad De Desperdicios Solidos. (n.d.). Centros de deposito comunitarios drop off . Retrieved from http://www.ads.gobierno.pr/reciclaje/drop-off.htm Autoridad De Desperdicios Solidos. (2007). Tasa de reciclaje y tasa de desvo. Retrieved from: http://www.ads.gobierno.pr/reciclaje/informe_tasas_de_reciclaje_y_desvio_2007.pdf Autoridad De Desperdicios Solidos. (2000). ley nm. 411 del ao 2000 . Retrieved from http://www.ads.gobierno.pr/reciclaje/ley411/ley4112000.htm

Conant J., Fadem P. (2011) Guia Comunitaria Para la Salud Ambiental. Hesperian. Berkeley, California, EE.UU. Gingger Enid Correa-Angulo. (2012, Abril 30). Se cierra el cerco para el manejo de desperdicios slidos. Dialogo Digital. Retrieved from: http://dialogodigital.com/index.php/Se-cierra-el-cerco-para-el-manejo-de-desperdiciossolidos.html Hessel, S., & Morin, E. (2012). The path to hope. New York: Other Press. Javier Velez Arocho. (2012, Agosto 24). Los vertederos no son la solucin. El Vocero. Retrieved from http://www.vocero.com/los-vertederos-no-son-la-solucion/ Sara Justicia Doll , M. (2010, Marzo 08). Contra el reloj los vertederos de la isla. Primera Hora. Retrieved from http://www.primerahora.com/contraelrelojlosvertederosdelaisla372492.html United Nation. (n.d.). Defining and measuring human development. Retrieved from http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/hdr_1990_en_chap1.pdf