Lovell's Island and the Mystery Snails...

This morning we got out to a slow start, stuck in George's Island didn't stop the class from exploring Warren Fort built to defend the city by the French against a common enemy with their American allies, the hated British...of course in the past and that's all history now.

Its all about connections as Professor Berman fully exploited in calling his friend in the DRC, they were very nice to give a lift to and from Lovells Island.  The island is very diverse in fauna and flora, we immediately set to explore, observe and conquer the great tidal pools. Lovells is an explorer's heaven, it is filled with barnacles, clams, mussels, periwinkles of all shapes and colors. Also there was a large population of Asian Crabs and Hermit Crabs under the rocks mostly. We met a group of British tourists exploring and camping in the Island, it seemed they enjoyed Professor Berman's conversation as we all had similar interests in the Island.

Lovell's beach was very similar to Peddock's Island beach as far as the rocks, the only difference is the large tidal pools we provided for more living organisms competing together to survive in nature. there were also large colonies of tunicates everywhere. We then marched along an old paved road to survey the vegetation of the island, there more campers along the way enjoying the island, Professor Berman pointed to few land snails that were not native to the island.

I am one of the compatibles that know the answer to the colored snails we all surveyed in the large rock. I am not going to disclose this info until I get the permission from Professor Berman, until then have a great night and see you all in class.

Amine Mohamed.

Water is the source of all life.

Give me water or give me death, for without water there can be no life. Water is the source of all life on this planet. I was born in Morocco a  Maghreb nation located in North Africa, I learned the extreme importance of water from an early age, as it is not abundant there. Luckily for Moroccans the late King Hassan was very wise to adopt what is known in morocco as the " National Policy of Dams". He insured that his people would never go hungry nor thirsty. He was ridiculed by his socialist enemies by not following the path of National Socialist Arab states like Algeria and Libya in industrialization, his reply was: "you cant drink oil nor make a steak from carbohydrates." I spent my week-ends with my dad in our farm, he raised me in a traditional Bedouin way, upholding love of water, plants, and the land in divine status. I know of families that travel miles and miles to get drinking water, they don't wake up and go to the installed Poland Spring water tanks in our homes, they don't have the luxury nor the money to buy Evian or Perrier, in fact they only eat meat twice a month. I value clean water because, I have seen the desert, I have talked to a broken, weeping farmer and  a Bedouin whose own cattle's and sheep's died because of no rain and water. For these animals are so loved to him ... his household can go hungry and the livestock can not. I have seen the economic, emotional tragedies brought about by drought.

Traditional street water vendor in Marrakesh

I know that water is the thin difference between life and death. I value clean water for the above reasons but also for its beauty, the serene clean oceans, clean beaches, rivers, stream and lakes, there can be no farming or fishing without clean water. It gives pearls of the glorious ecstatic beauty of nature.

Civilization itself was born in Iraq around the Tigris and the Euphrates, Pharonic Egypt is the gift of the Nile and water in the future will determine the questions of peace and war in many regions of the world including the Holy Land.

Arab and Israeli at a water spring

Today was indeed a great day at Castle Island, we strolled together alongside the beach, there was some fauna and flora ( periwinkles, mussles, crabs, seaweed) particularly around the rocky areas. Professor Berman informed us about the history of the public beach in America at the turn of the 19th century. The Castle Island reservation was built for the enjoyment of the people during that same time, but it was not until recently that it was rebuilt, redesigned, cleaned as part pf the Harbor cleanup of Boston. I am a happy guy and love to see people happy. Today it was a pleasure to see lot of young children playing, swimming, learning the value of clean water and its economic, ecological and ascetic importance.

see you all tomorrow,

Amine Mohamed.

A lesson, a swim and relaxation at Peddocks Island,

Good Evening all,


The class only keeps getting more interesting, the third and  the best day started ideally in a serene, sunny  blue sky over the Boston harbor with a warm weather but very tolerable. We left Long wharf at 8:45 and arrived at Peddocks Island around 9:30 after ferrying a second time via a water taxi from Georges Island.

A young and happy ranger pleaseantly greeted us at the dock, then briefly spoke about the history and the present condition of the island. Archaeological evidence confirms that Native peoples traversed the drumlin hilltops now forming Peddocks Island almost 6000 years ago. In fact the oldest skeletal remains thus far found in New England are from Peddocks. Peddocks is named after Leonard Peddock an English "planter"in the ill-fated 1622 Hingham Bay Wessagusetts colony. The island was proposed as a Praying Indian detention camp in the 1675 King Phillips War which ethnically cleansed the Massachusett Indian tribe from existence at the hands of English Purtian settlers.

The Boston Harbor islands are glacial drumlins, Peddocks Island was created between 100,000 and 15,000 years ago when glaciers moved across the region. Deposits of glacial till beneath the ice were left behind as elongated hills when the glaciers retreated.

We wasted no time and we began walking from the newly renovated visitors center toward the coast leading all the way to Prince's Head. Professor Berman good to his traditions encouraged us to observe, study and look for anything that looked unusual, I noticed some red-berries which are eatable. After  a 10 minutes walk we finally arrived at the beach overlooking the Quincy Bay and Hull to the left or the north-east. The beach was rocky, typical of most New England beaches. The beginning of the beach was comprised of small rocks and lots of pebbles which were formed by the introduction of Periwinkles by the French ( a French ship was burned in the 16th century by the natives and its crew enslaved).
The introduction of this invasive specie forever changed the coast of New England including Peddocks Island. We found razor clams, small and large clams, blue mussels, broken glass from the 1940's.
However when we got to the end of the beach, where it is  comprised  of large rocks, stones and few pebbles, living organism increased. we found plenty of crabs and seaweed. We took a lunch break around noon. I ate my protein bar which was enough to quite my hunger, I was sitting next to Professor Berman who had a full picnic bag, he kindly offered everyone chicken, bread, cheese and iced water. Being mad about cheese, I could not turned him down as he had one my favorite spread French cheeses, The delicious Garlic Boursin, once again many thanks. the highlight of the field trip was the swim in the bay, I tremendously enjoyed it, again this was possible because of the Clean Water and Air Acts and the campaign to clean the harbor.

Thank you all and I wish everyone peace, health, happiness and success.

See you next  week, which I am very much looking forward too.

Hello again Harbor & Sea Comrades,

This morning we began the field trip with a lecture on the Boston Harbor ecosystems by Professor Berman, his passion makes the more interesting and informative. He spoke about the main inhabitants of the Gulf of Maine, the different sea species and their migratory habits.

It is so nice to know that we have  a law  called  chapter 91 of our great Commonwealth that guarantees the public access to the natural treasures of our seacoast. I learned that the area between low tide-high tide is in the people's ownership and no private proprietor can stop you, kick you out, nor egoistically enjoy the beauty of the coast because if his or her financial power. Thank you for the Obstructionist  Art if that even qualifies to be called art. Not only science but i am learning about law...I think this is very important. I am glad you shared this with us Professor.

Again the tour began along the harbor at 10:30, the tide was receding in the left dock of Marriott Long Wharf which is  a man made one with concrete and large stones. the Fauna and Flora there consisted of a lonely bachelor duck who seemed to be in bad mood, shape and state. I observed two different types of seaweed, Rock weed and dark green weed sharing that corner of the harbor with floating oil and what seemed to be polling.

Directly in Front of the Chart House Restaurant, Professor Berman had a pleasant surprise for us which he was diligently preparing for the last 2 weeks, that's what he said and I totally believe him. We spent a good time there with our fellow tourist enjoying the cool striped bass picking on bread provided by Mr.Berman. The fish looked healthy and I really was imagining a grill next to me as I would cooked it for all of us.
There were green seaweed on the sides of the floating and built in docks, orange peaches, mussel's and clams, also there was a native Boston Cormorant a very smart bird that's trained to fish for humans in the Far-East and Macedonia. We then proceeded to the New England Aquarium where we spent  little time with the happy seals, a purple sea urchin, sea whip of different colors, rough hallow weed and what appears to be barrel weed(cactus like).
Then we continued our tour along the floating dock off the Boston Harbor Hotel, a very pleasant lady named Emily welcomed us there. To me that was the most interesting dock, because I was  able to grab stuff with my bare hands and use China's golden magnifying glass.
The living organisms to naked eye were amazing, never knew the complexity and beauty of life as I have today.
I am so glad for this class, because now I know and understand the meaning of we are the Custodians of Nature and if we do not act as a people to protect those who can not speak up for themselves,efend themslves , then shame on us.
I am in love with harbor and of course  those dedicated activist whom we should thank for this clean and safe harbor. I am not blowing Mr.Berman's pipes, but you are a hero, of mine at least.

To the final question of a list of what I discovered in the docks:
1. Sea Lettuce or Ulva Lactuca, ruffled or lobed sheets, usually unattached

2. Spongomorpha, it is filamentous in ropy tangles.

3. Dumont's Red Weed, Dumontia incrassata.Coarsley branching, axis and branches hollow and twisted at ends.

4. Micruran Nemerteans, Micrura species. A worm, head grooved lenghtwise, mouth on uderside round. No eyespots.

5. Pink Shrimp, also known as Penaus duorarum.first three pairs of walking legs have small claws.

6. Mantis Shrimp also known as Squilla empusa, short carapace, mantislike claws, 3 pairs of weak walking legs.

7. Hairy Hermit Crab also know as Pagurus arcuatus.

8. Purpil Sea Urchin, Arbacia punctulata.

9. Little Cockle

10. Blue Mussell

11. Yellow skinny shripms.

I am certain that there much more than this.  I did not find much of a difference between the dock's photograph on blackboard and the actual docks we have visited today. Although the rope pulled out from the Boston Harbor Hotel's dock was much richer, fuller and busier with organisms.

Good Night and thank you all,

Amine.

Good Evening Class,

What a great day and a fantastic approach to learn about the Boston Harbor, good Public Policy, science, history and beyond. Mr Berman you tried to escape from the Policy debate by inviting us to your Public Policy class which I am sure is worth taking, today I experienced citizen-driven-activist Public Policy. Plato wrote in the 5th century B.C that if you ignore politics, you would end up ruled by your inferiors, true then and absolutely true now.
This morning I learned that Coastal Massachusetts was carved out by retreating glaciers(nothing lasts). One of my favorite beaches in Mass is Nantasket, I learned in class that the shape of Winthrop and Hull is similar to that of Cape Ann and P Town, a wonder of mother nature.
 I was very happy to leave the class as I knew that the real learning experience was to begin at Long Wharf. We left for the boat trip at 13:30, Professor Berman did not waste any time as he began talking about the tides, the nature, geography and history of the harbor. The beautiful day and great temperature made the experience on the boat very pleasant.

I was introduced to the different important islands and learned the historic reasons for their names. Now I know about the deers, the Indians who John Winthrop annihilated and special fridge on the island. Today only the name is left of the tribe, the Massachusetts. How cool is that, now I can brag to me friends about this and spectacle, long islands. The information about the MWRA treatment facility was so informative. The fact that it serves over 40 communities is amazing, the fact that the harbor was dead biologically 20 years ago and now is among the cleanest in the world is quiet an achievement. Every Bostonian should proud, indeed Iam a proud resident of this great city.

Boston is not only the city of knowledge, it is also the city on a shiny, clean, beautiful and serene ocean.

See you all tomorrow,

Amine Mohamed.

Hello Class,

My name is Amine Mohamed Yakine, it is really a pleasure to be in this fantastic class.
Mr. Berman thank you for the Crabs, I boiled them and made a California sauce that you recommended...delicious to say the least... You are the coolest Professor at B.U.

A few things about me, I will be a senior in the Fall studying Criminal Justice. I enjoy the small pleasure of life, food, family, reading (History, Diplomacy and literature), horseback, the beach in the summer, travels and hunting.

I think the water drains counterclockwise, my teammates did agree with this conclusion. In Austria and anywhere in this planet, I think the water drains the same way as it is subject to the same laws of gravity in this planet of ours.

See you all tomorrow,

Amine.