Special Guest! Derek Bok, author of "The Politics of Happiness"

Did you know? The nation of Bhutan has made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy!

Happiness has become a hot topic, and researchers world-wide are investigating the relationship between happiness and career, family life, religion, and a multitude of other lifestyle factors. As these findings rise to the surface of our collective consciousness, so does this question: How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond?

In the book The Politics of Happiness, author Derek Bok examines how governments could use happiness research in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for citizens. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, mental illness, family programs, education, and government quality, among other subjects.

On April 26th at 7 pm in PC East, you can hear what Derek Bok has to say in person!

Derek Bok is the 300th Anniversary Research Professor at Harvard University. From 1971 to 1991, he served as Harvard's twenty-fifth president, and served again as interim president from 2006 to 2007. He is also the author of The State of the Nation and The Trouble with Government, and coauthor of The Shape of the River (Princeton).

Wellness Journalism: Who Needs Trees?

We walk past them all day long…but when is the last time you really stopped to appreciate a tree?

Trees are a basic, essential ingredient in the recipe we call life. They give shelter and shade. Many trees also provide food such as nuts and fruit, along with paper, medicines, and fuel. Not only that, but you can climb a tree (carefully) when you need a quiet, peaceful place to think, read, or relax.

Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves, stabilize the soil, and prevent erosion. They improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds. In addition, they reduce noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.

Most importantly, however, trees serve as air-purifiers and oxygen-providers. A single tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year! Trees clean the air by filtering out dust and pollutants—and with large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and other toxic gasses pouring into the atmosphere every day, trees are more important than ever in helping to keep this planet habitable for humans. In one year’s time, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as it produced by a car driven 8,700 miles (according to the International Society of Arboriculture).

Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees in order to use the land for something else—parking lots, agriculture, housing tracts, or mini-malls. This “urban sprawl” has cost us precious habitat and biodiversity, while increasing aridity and soil erosion. Unfortunately, every year, one million acres of forest are lost to city growth.

Wellness Journalism: Got Worms?

Top-notch Top soil: Why Composting Works

One of our major environmental issues is that landfills everywhere are running out of room, and the EPA estimates that roughly 25% of the garbage in the U.S. is made up of yard trimmings and food scraps. That's over 60 million tons each year! This material does not break down when tossed in with the regular garbage. Instead of adding to the trash heap, try composting.

From apple cores to egg shells, composting is a great way to turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil. Organic compost loosens clay soils and retains water, suppresses plant disease and pests, and produces higher yields of healthier fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Live in an apartment? Worm composting, also known as Vermiculture, is a fun and easy method for year-round food scrap handling. Worm compost is made in a container filled with moistened bedding (often shredded newspaper, leaves, and a handful of sand or soil) and red wrigglers (also known as branding or manure worms). Simply add your food waste into the bin and the worms will munch away—eventually converting the entire contents into rich compost!

If you plan to make a traditional compost pile outdoors, consider the following:

4 Tips for Making Better Compost

1. Get the Right Balance of Compost Materials Getting the right mixture of brown (carbon) materials to green (nitrogenous) materials is essential. Excess carbon will result in a pile that takes a long time to decompose, (a rhyme to help you remember: “too much brown, won’t break down”), while too much nitrogen will make it stink. To optimize your mound, keep a ratio of 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen.

2. Turn the Compost Regularly Add fresh air to your mix by stirring the pile about every two weeks. The bacteria that are working to break down the compost need to breathe! This can be made simple with a compost tumbler.

3. Shred Material Shredding or chopping your compost, especially the dry carbon materials, will help speed things along. It increases the surface area that the compost microbes have to work on and provides a more even distribution of air and moisture.

4. Add a Secret Ingredient Toss in an activator such as alfalfa meal to provide much needed nitrogen and protein, and greatly expedite the compost process. You can find alfalfa meal in garden centers and online retailers. The results are remarkable! Other secret ingredients that help compost piles include fresh manure, bone meal, blood meal, comfrey, or even high-protein dry dog food.

Wellness Journalism: 8 Ways to Love the Environment While You're in College

With Spring comes Environmental Wellness month! Things are off to a busy start this quarter, to be sure, and you might not think you have enough time to save the world. The good news? It doesn't take much effort to make an impact for the better!!!

8 (Easy) Ways to Love the Environment While You’re in College

1. Utilize sunlight. Study near a window or outside altogether. Not only does it save electricity, it’s better for your brain!

2. Take the bus or shuttle. Parking permits are expensive, and by the time you’ve circled the parking lot for 30 minutes, it isn’t worth it anyway. Then there’s the cost of gas…

3. Get involved. Explore sustainability courses, participate in research, or join a student organization. Visit sustain.ucsd to check out some options!

4. Bring Your Own Bottle—and bowl, and fork. You can cut waste by avoiding single-use, disposable containers and cutlery at mealtimes.

5. Conserve water. Take shorter showers, and use water sparingly when brushing teeth or washing dishes. And mind the adage: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”

6. Save paper. Print on both sides, and use scrap paper for note-taking. Inspire your professors and classmates to do likewise.

7. Eat local, organic food. Take advantage of the Farmer’s Market, Food Coop, and Farm To You programs. Don’t be fooled by the perceived convenience of Burger King--there is fast, fresh, healthy food to be found on campus.

8. Buy natural products. Most store-brand shampoos and soaps contain chemicals known to cause skin irritation and other health problems. Read ingredient labels: if there is something in there you can’t pronounce, don’t buy it.