Introducing Godzilla to Marianne Moore\u27s Octopus of Ice at the Intersection of Global Warming, Environmental Philosophy, and Poetry

This paper explores the question: how can a poet write an ecologically aware poem about global warming? Global warming impacts everything on earth, most visibly the glaciers melting away before our eyes. Adopting Aldo Leopold’s environmental philosophy of thinking like a mountain, the poet may describe the impact of global warming upon the mountain, glacier, flora and fauna, that form an interconnected web of life. A poem that thinks like a mountain already exists: Marianne Moore’s “An Octopus” (published in 1924), which takes its title from the system of glaciers (or octopus of ice) on Mt. Rainier. For a contemporary poet to think like a mountain, he or she may explore the retreat of glaciers and disappearance of species attributable to global warming. But translating science into poetry may not convey the urgency of the situation. To make his or her poem truly impactful, the poet may employ a symbol of environmental apocalypse in existence since 1954: Godzilla. Introducing Godzilla to Marianne Moore’s octopus of ice represents a sound theoretical approach for the contemporary poet to take in writing an impactful, ecologically aware, poem about global warming

Book Review: Changing Harm to Harmony

This reviewer met up with Joseph Zaccardi, editor of a new collection on the subject of bullies and bystanders, at one of his hangouts in Marin County—Aroma Café—to discuss the collection. At the time of our conversation Joseph was nearing the end of his two year term as Marin County’s Poet Laureate. His own published works include: Vents (Pancake Press, 2005); Render (Poetic Matrix Press, 2009); and The Nine Gradations of Light (Bark for Me Publications, 2013). -article excerpt

Professional Satisfaction within the Mental Health System

Professionals providing mental health services experience various challenges that may put their potential to provide best practice and quality services at risk. The primary research question for this study is: How does a social worker derive satisfaction from their work within the mental health system? This study used a qualitative research design and was conducted through the completion of 8 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with mental health social workers. Several themes emerged from the research: Personal Satisfaction, Realistic Expectations, The Little Things, Self-Responsibility, Influence vs. Control, Sense of Support, The Value of Empathy, and Compassion and Self-Compassion. Through review of the literature in addition to these findings, it was determined that while social workers are insightful into why they enjoy the work they do, they acknowledge the various challenges that can act as barriers to their satisfaction. Assisting them in combating implications of these challenges is their ability to set realistic expectations both of themselves and their clients. What social workers struggle with, however, is the ability to effectively care for themselves either though self-care or by using the concept of self-compassion. Social workers can improve their knowledge and awareness of these topics, ultimately improving their satisfaction, which will also improve the way in which they provide services to clients

Professional Satisfaction within the Mental Health System

Professionals providing mental health services experience various challenges that may put their potential to provide best practice and quality services at risk. The primary research question for this study is: How does a social worker derive satisfaction from their work within the mental health system? This study used a qualitative research design and was conducted through the completion of 8 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with mental health social workers. Several themes emerged from the research: Personal Satisfaction, Realistic Expectations, The Little Things, Self-Responsibility, Influence vs. Control, Sense of Support, The Value of Empathy, and Compassion and Self-Compassion. Through review of the literature in addition to these findings, it was determined that while social workers are insightful into why they enjoy the work they do, they acknowledge the various challenges that can act as barriers to their satisfaction. Assisting them in combating implications of these challenges is their ability to set realistic expectations both of themselves and their clients. What social workers struggle with, however, is the ability to effectively care for themselves either though self-care or by using the concept of self-compassion. Social workers can improve their knowledge and awareness of these topics, ultimately improving their satisfaction, which will also improve the way in which they provide services to clients

Allowable exposure limits for carbon dioxide during extravehicular activity

The intent was to review the research pertaining to human exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) and to recommend allowable exposure limits for extravehicular activity (EVA). Respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal systems may be adversely affected by chronic low dose CO2 exposure. Ventilation was increased 15 percent with 1 percent CO2 and 50 percent with 2 percent CO2. Chronic exposure to less than 2 percent CO2 led to 20 day cycles of uncompensated and compensated respiratory acidosis. Acid-base changes were small. Histopathologic changes in guinea pig lungs have been noted with long term exposure to 1 percent CO2. No changes were seen with exposure to 0.5 percent CO2. Cycling of bone calcium stores with associated changes in blood and urinary calcium levels occurs with long term CO2 exposure. Histologic changes in bone have been noted in guinea pigs exposed to 1 percent CO2. Renal calcification has been noted in guinea pigs with exposure to as low as 0.5 percent CO2. An increase in gastric acidity was noted in subjects with long term exposure to 1 percent CO2. Cardiovascular and neurologic function were largely unaffected. A decrease in the incidence of respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal disease was noted in submariners coincident with a decrease in ambient CO2 from 1.2 percent to 0.8-0.9 percent. Oxygen (O2) and CO2 stimulate respiration independently and cumulatively. The addition of CO2 to high dose O2 led to the faster onset of seizure activity in mice. Experiments evaluating the physiologic responses to intermittent, repetitive exposures to low dose CO2 and 100 percent O2 mixtures should be performed. A reduction in the current NASA standard for CO2 exposure during EVA of 1 percent (7.6 mmHg) for nominal and 2 percent (15.2 mmHg) for heavy exertion to 0.5 percent (3.8 mmHg) for nominal and 1 percent (7.6 mmHg) for heavy exertion may be prudent. At a minimum, the current NASA standard should not be liberalized