Lithosphere Project

(Homeowners Perspective)

Fiona Chen, Camryn Michelle

 Decision
Our decision involves establishing a compromise between the homeowners (us) and the hotel where the building would be permitted
only with the contribution of a portion of the profit invested in methods to prevent erosion. We perceived the construction of groins, jetties,
breakwaters, and seawalls as potential means for preventing coastline erosion. As these means are also instituted in Hawaii and overlooked
by a network in the government. Similar to the network established in Hawaii, although some may argue that rising sea level would result in
the failure in the implication of these projects devoted to beach erosion prevention, the network monitors sea levels and takes down projects
that have failed over the years due to the rising sea level and implements new ones. The possible drawbacks to this decision may be that
when erosion reaches the hotels then, there will be conflict between the government and the people. But the compromise here is that there
will be enough money to build a new hotel at a different location perhaps more inland. Since, the rise in sea levels will be a gradual and slow
process.

For example, according to broadcasts such as Hawaii News Now that are addressing the issues of beach erosion in Hawaii, In places like
Kailua and Waikiki sand has been added which is good but not a permanent fix. "We patch potholes in our roads, it's not a permanent solution but
it gets you through the next couple of years. It makes the roads usable," said Prof. Fletcher. "Putting sand on the beach is a form of environmental
maintenance." Therefore, although beach erosion is inevitable, prevention methods do prolong the time in which beaches are useable until
the sea level reaches the projects and it is better to make use of the beach to benefit the economy, government, and people before the beach
completely erodes away.
 Statistics of Global Warming

c
 Possible Counterclaim
Counterclaim: To not build the hotels at all due to the fact that coastline erosion will reach them in the future leading to a waste of resources
and money.

Although this claim is valid in its reasoning of addressing coastline erosion in the future, it lacks from considering the beach as a
means of drawing in profit for the city governments through tourism (will be explained in the following slide). The claim is also insufficient
in addressing the possible conflict that may result between the people and the government as a result of permitting the beach to erode on its
own instead of making investments in projects that may reduce beach erosion. But even if money and resources were invested in projects
than, “Has the offensive addressed the high construction costs of these projects?” Even then, the people would still be at unrest and the
offensive will only be able to build a few seawalls. For instance, in accordance to the Huffington Post titled Hawaii’s eroding coastlines puts
Homeowners and Government at odds, the absence of a comprehensive coastal erosion policy has created a recurring sequence of events.
Homes are built too close to the shoreline and then they are threatened by changing weather patterns and increasing erosion. Panicked
homeowners react by asking the state or county for help. Often, government officials acquiesce and allow the homeowner to erect a seawall
or “harden” the area in front of their home with materials that create sloping walls. This protects the home, but leads to even greater erosion
along the beach... “The present system is almost entirely reactionary and contentious,” according to a state report detailing Hawaii’s
response to coastal erosion. “Because there has been little to no planning for long-term shoreline change, the response is always
time-critical and completely reactionary every time a property owner or agency encounters an erosion event and potential property damage
is apparent.”
Hawaii’s Tourism Rates/Occupancy Costs
 Possible Counterclaim
Moreover, even when the offensive gains enough money in its economy to cover the heavy cost in the construction of seawalls,
groins, jetties, and breakwaters, the government will have to also further institute a system that will record rising sea levels. By the time
these methods are installed, the beach will most likely be halfway gone or the methods imposed will not last. For example, the village of
Hopton located in Great Yarmouth, UK has experienced drastic changes in their beaches each year due to erosion without much government
surveillance but has implemented some effects. As a result, some homeowners are reluctant since they are protesting that these methods are
not enough to protect their homes, but government funding is short and the development of the Shoreline Management plan installed also
lacks funding from the government so there is not much to do about the situation and the primary concern is that tourism will decrease as
well. Since, tourism brings in around E60m per year.
 Compromise

But the possible compromise with this counterclaim is that the offensive may allow residents in the area to relocate their homes or
invest more in beach erosion prevention methods using the profit made from previous years with tourism. Using this method, the
government will be able to not only satisfy the people, but the issues at hand. After prevention methods are installed, the offensive will
be able to build hotels to boost profits for the economy and follow our direction with taking down these projects and building in new
ones as the sea level rises with the money from the hotel and build the hotels more inland.
Hopton, Great Yarmouth, Uk
June 1996 Today
Preventing Beach Erosion

There are many ways to stop or slow beach erosion. However some are more expensive than others, it just
depends on what the society wants for the future of their beach. A cheaper solution would be to use a “sand
fence” or “sand break”, these are small fences made of wire and small pieces of wood. A sand fence is used to
redirect movement of sand (by wind) into a desired place. This Method helps keep sand dunes intact. A more
expensive option would be to install “seawalls”, Seawalls are very large strips/walls of concrete that go along
the coast of a beach to prevent the sand being eroded away and shortening the beach. Seawalls are very
expensive but far better than having a beach be weathered away.
 References
o
Hawaii News Now. “Study shows Hawaii beaches are eroding at alarming rate.” 2013,
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23320391/study-shows-hawaii-beaches-are-eroding-at-alarming-rate. Accessed 20
o
February 2018. (Opinionated Resource)

Cocke, Sophie. “Hawaii’s Eroding Coastline Puts Homeowners And Government At Odds.” 6 December. 2017,
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/hawaii-eroding-coastline_n_4537537.html. Accessed 20 February 2018.
(Opinionated Resource)

Reference Bias:
Both opinionated references are tied and connected with each other with their information and in the first source the
individual addressed the issues that homeowners are having with beach erosion and features a broadcast of the effects.
While, the second source listed addresses the government procedures in Hawaii that has been presented as a result of
homeowners blaming the government for ignoring the issue for a long period of time. This site also confirms the procedures
of developed organizations.
 References
Stiffs, Marshawn. “25 Alarming Global Warming Statistics.” 2015, http://goorama.com/25-alarming-global-warming-statistics/.
Accessed 28 February 2018. (Image Resource Slide 3)

Alex & Baldwin, Inc. “Hawaii Economic Indicators.” 10-19 September. 2013,
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1545654/000154565413000035/alexsept2013roadshowpost.htm. Accessed 28 February
2018. (Left Image Resource Slide 5)

Alex & Baldwin, Inc. “Visitor Arrivals and Expenditures.” 10-19 September. 2013,
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1545654/000154565413000035/alexsept2013roadshowpost.htm. Accessed 28 February
2018. (Right Image Resource Slide 5)

Reference Bias:
Both government resources for the images located on slide 5 presents information that has been conducted through thorough research
and provides clear information on the economic topics of Hawaii. Plus, the site is listed as a .gov. The opinionated resource for the
image on slide 3 provides justification for educational use and the individual focuses on explaining the increasing effects with
increasing levels of global warming.
 References
Duell, Mark. “The Vanishing Beach: Dramatic pictures of erosion show how once magnificent coastal resort has been engulfed by the
North Sea.” 27 March. 2013,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2299385/Dramatic-pictures-erosion-magnificent-coastal-resort-engulfed-North-Sea.html.
Accessed 28 February 2018. (Images 1-2 Resource Slide 7)

Russell, Sam. “Shoreline plan ‘will not stop Hopton falling into the sea.’ 10 August. 2012,
http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/shoreline-plan-will-not-stop-hopton-falling-into-the-sea-1-1477444. Accessed 28
February 2012. (Info Slide 6)

Reference Bias:
Both institutional resources were accurate and correlated with each other with information regarding to the village of Hopton. But
with the first one, it also provided images that tied towards the information presented on the site. Both sites contain a .co in their links.