Korean News Acknowledges Ecosave

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

Throughout numerous years of effort, determination, and service, Ecosave treasured the Philippines Outreach the most. Getting first-hand experience of the conditions of Filipino poverty encouraged us to serve with vigor and purpose. This year, multiple news corporations across South Korea acknowledged the hardworking achievements of Ecosave. From granting brith certificates to building day care centers, Ecosave has done much to receive this recognition. Below are links to some of the news articles posted online:

• https://www.ajunews.com/view/20240326094039852
• https://mydaily.co.kr/page/view/2024032611441707725
• https://m.news.nate.com/view/20240326n08947
• https://www.g-enews.com/article/General-News/2024/03/202403260901112170be835b0a23_1
• https://mobile.newsis.com/view.html?id=NISX20240326_0002674757

Annual Ecosave Philippines Outreach

2024 Philippines Outreach

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

We, the members of Ecosave Club, have been helping those in need in the Philippines in collaboration with Open Hands for many years. The year of 2024 was no different. With new helping hands, we were prepared to serve more than ever. On 3/29/2024, Ecosave traveled to the Philippines to begin their service endeavor. 

Arriving at the Philippines in the morning, we prepared to travel to the remote town of Tanza 1 right away. Upon arrival, we were greeted with smiles upon smiles by the residents of the town. We began the opening ceremony, which included the introduction of each member of Ecosave, the background information on Ecosave, and the plans for the first day. After the introduction, each member of Ecosave had the opportunity to perform what they had prepared beforehand. Caleb Paik peformed Love Theme Cinema Paradiso and Nella Fantasia with his Alto Saxophone. Eric Choo performed Autumn Leaves with his Trombone. Elliott Lee and Brigitta Hong sang multiple songs. Finally, Aden Choo and Rebekah Lee performed numerous pieces on the violin. While the chosen songs might have been unfamiliar to the residents of Tanza 1, this event introduced the culture of music and musical instruments. By performing with these instruments, we were able to show the residents of Tanza 1, being musically confined, that hundreds of different instruments exist, and that beautiful, harmonic sounds were capable. Furthermore, we sang "A Miillion Dreams" in unison and danced to K-Pop, with some of the children of Tanza 1 joining.  

After the performances, we were able to briefly visit the Little Hands Learning Center that was funded by our donations. This day care center provided education, protection, and a home to the children of Tanza 1. We were able to post the sign of the center, marking it a place of communion, safety, and family.

On the second and final day of the Philippines Outreach, we traveled back to the town of Tanza 1 to continue our service. We began by providing snacks and other essentials to each family in the town. Families received vitamin snacks, and other necessities such as rice and water. We made sure no one left without anything in their hands. 

Next, we took a tour around the town and realized the devasting condition it was in. Despite this, the residents of the town seemed to be always optimistic, hoping for a change. This optimism boosted our morals, igniting our dedication to serve even harder

                            

After the tour, we went to the day care center and began educating the children on art and music. The children were able to express their thoughts artistically and learned about different musical instruments, from the glockenspiel to the tambourine. They were able to play numerous instruments and got to experience first-hand something they have never done before. After a long day of work, we took numerous pictures with the children of Tanza 1 to mark the special day. Residents were able to keep these photographs, allowing them to treasure the event as a day of commemoration, community, and hope. 

This is what maintains the lives of the residents of Tanza 1: hope. With hope, they are continously optimistic, looking forward to change. And this change can only be granted when we, those who eat multiple times a day; those who have a closet full of clothes; and those who are blessed with a clean home, act to serve and provide for those who are in paucity. So, let's unite and serve to make a change. 

    

Ocean Acidification

 Ocean Acidification

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

    In contemporary life, ocean acidification is a critical environmental issue that mainly emerged as a consequence of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. As global environmental challenges, such as climate change, occur, the oceans are undergoing profound changes that are threatening marine ecosystems and biodiversity. 

    The primary cause of ocean acidification is the emission of atmospheric CO2. Oceans absorb this CO2, a process known as oceanic uptake, leading to the formation of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid changes the chemistry of seawater. Some human activities that cause the emission of CO2 are the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.

    Many effects result from ocean acidification. The main problem is its impact on marine life. Ocean acidification significantly threatens marine organisms, particularly those with carbonate shells or skeletons. Ocean acidification caused by carbonic acid weakens these outer shells, hindering their ability to maintain their protective structures. Furthermore, these effects on shelled organisms can disrupt marine food webs. Species at higher trophic levels can experience reduced prey availability since their source of food is declining.

    Looking at a broader perspective, coral reefs are vital ecosystems that support various marine life and provide many services to humans. When ocean acidification is present, coral reefs become vulnerable as they struggle to build their skeletons. This jeopardizes the numerous benefits they offer, such as protection.

    Addressing ocean acidification requires global awareness and commitment especially since the main cause of it is due to a result of human activities. By understanding the causes and consequences of ocean acidification, mitigation methods may be attempted. Therefore, the urgency to act is evident, as the consequences of no action can impact the prosperity of marine ecosystems. 

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/ocean-acidification-what-you-need-know#why

Celebrating Earth Day: "Restore Our Earth"

 Earth Day: "Restore Our Earth"

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

    April 22nd is a special day for all. It's a day where people unite to raise profound awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect the planet. Earth Day 2024 was no exception. Millions of people spanning the globe participated in numerous activities to foster a more sustainable planet.

    This year, the theme for Earth Day was "Restore Our Earth", underscoring the imperative call to action for the damages caused by human activities. Specifically, humans addressed the concerns of climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and more. The focus was not only confining the impact of environmental degredation, but also promoting ideas and education for sustainable change. 

    Earth Day saw a plethora of global events, ranging from cleanup communities to educational seminors. Ecosave, along with other participants across South korea, decided to participate in "lights out", saving energy throughout the day. Starting at 8:00PM, numerous communities in South Korea contributed to this activity to help preserve energy. 

Water Scarcity

Water Scarcity

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

            Water, the necessity for life, is facing a crisis worldwide as water scarcity continues to escalate. There is no doubt that this is inextricably linked to climate change, where water scarcity is posing a threat to ecosystems, communities, and global sustainability. Climate change affects the world’s water in unpredictable and complex ways. From unusual rainfall patterns to the melting of ice sheets, climate change is a significant factor to water scarcity. 

Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity as the temperature rises, disrupting precipitation patterns and the water cycle. According to the United Nations, around two billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water today and roughly half the world’s population is experiencing water scarcity, mainly due to climate change. Already on a significant scale, these numbers are expected to increase as climate change worsens and the population grows. In addition to these statistics, water supplies stored in glaciers are projected to decline over the course of the century, reducing water availability during dry periods in regions where water is heavily dependent on sources such as mountain ranges. 

In addition to water scarcity, the actual quality of the water is also affected by climate change. As water temperatures, floods, and droughts are projected to rise, they heavily exacerbate the quality of water by contributing to water pollution through sediments to pathogens and pesticides.Lastly, all of this combined will put immense pressure on food supply as most of the freshwater used is used for agriculture. 

All in all, it is important to raise awareness about the scarcity and decline of the quality of water. The modern world is in need of desperate initiatives to help fight against crises similar to this one.

March 24 Meeting: World Water Day & Soldier Flies

    March 24 Meeting

Written by Caleb Paik

    World Water Day is a celebration held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. To celebrate World Water Day, Ecosave held a meeting and a fundraiser on March 24 to help global issues regarding water and other environmental problems. 

    One such issue Ecosave addressed was the problem of food waste and management. Food waste isn't just a social or humanitarian concern—it's an environmental one. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. 

    To resolve this issue, Ecosave proposed the solution of Black Soldier Flies. Soldier flies are insects used to remove organic waste materials. They were commonly found throughout the southern portions of the US and now globally. With the production of these insects, food waste can be heavily mitigated especially because of the simple process of growing them. 

    Ecosave now seeks to promote these soldier flies, in addition to other awareness projects, in order to intervene in the growing issue of food waste and management. One project that Ecosave has already completed was making soldier fly emojis for the popular South Korean messaging platform, Kakaotalk. Through projects like this, Ecosave will persevere to address global environmental issues and find solutions to them. 

Sustainable Technology

Sustainable Technology

Written by Caleb Cheha Paik

As South Korea celebrates their remarkable growth in technological and economic advancements, they continue to strive for sustainable technology. Embracing the global imperative for environmental conservation, South Korea is aiming to manufacture many sustainable products in order to become a key player in green innovation, and environmental conservation

The South Korean government committed to dealing with the issue of climate change and reducing carbon footprint through the manufacturing of green technology. This initiative not only helps South Korea, but encourages other countries to follow their footsteps in order to contribute globally. South Korea recently announced its fostering project called Green New Deal 100 Promising Companies in 2022. This program promises enterprises with green technology to respond to climate change and the rise of environmental crises. This program has been further promoted since last year. It has officially become a part of the Green New Deal policies, which includes other policies – Korean New Deal Comprehensive Plan and 2050 Carbon Neutral Promotion Strategy – that strive for a positive environmental change. 

South Korea’s Green New Deal 100 Promising Companies project was initiated to target the transition to low-carbon, eco-friendly energy. Specifically, this project helped accelerate this transition. Furthermore, South Korea started supporting the five leading areas of the green industry and reorganized the carbon reduction yield into a climate response field to nurture companies with the capability to respond to future climate change. Particularly, they focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises with carbon-neutral and greenhouse gas reduction technologies. 

This change South Korea has implemented throughout many years serves as a model for other countries to do the same. This way, climate change and other environmental crises are not just being resolved in one place, but on a global scale.