An Industrialized World and Solutions

"This step of avoiding harmful materials can be surprisingly complex Designers begin by specifying materials with as low an environmental impact as possible and this requires understanding their material chemistry and life cycles in detail- not only the toxicity of a material itself, but also where it came from and how it was produced." (Robertson, 2014, p. 254)

I love to know that many companies are keeping a consideration of the impacts products have, whether that be through the simple delivery of materials, production of these said materials, or at the very end, in disposing of it in a reusable manner. Prior to having read this subsection concerning product design, I hadn't been aware of the steps many companies have taken to efficiently create a product design that can have less of a negative impact on our environment. An example within the text, for example, elaborated on how in 2008, Ford altered the type of foam used in the seats of their Mustang's, by using a soybean-based foam instead petroleum based. To think that by simply changing the type of foam, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted could be at least reduced a little, is amazing. This expanding understanding and knowledge of alternate materials in having a more energy efficient process can surely aid in conserving more energy for the future.

"In contrast, modern cultural expectations are that each individual or household will acquire its own set of objects and that many of the objects, such as cell phones or clothing, will be discarded and replaced frequently" (Robertson, 2014, p. 256)

Photo by Peter Essick. National Geographic

I'm in complete agreement with what was said in this section of the reading. The influences of product life are entirely dependent on cultural aspects and time period. Although certain changes have been placed to minimize this, it's self-evident how we currently are discarding and changing many of our material belongings. Phones, and other electronics are the first things that come to mind when I read this. Apple, for example, year after year, releases an updated and "better" version of the iPhone or another electronic. People fall into that trap and, as a result, are constantly changing their electronics. "One solution is to develop simple, elegant designs made of single or limited numbers of materials." (Robertson, 2014, p. 256) I always thought, "why doesn't Apple simply have just upgrades with the current phone one has and leave it at that. A pro with Apple, as do other phone companies, is that (if I'm not mistaken) they do offer people to turn in their old phones and recycle them. I have always used this for my phones, and the same goes for my parents. However, I'm not sure if this would count as a takeback program, but I would assume it could be. Goodwill is another good example. They offer the public an ability to donate any clothing, that of which is redistributed in their stores. As I remember hearing, if a person's clothing items isn't sold for an allotted amount of time, the clothes are sent to other places be it goodwill outlets, auctions, or textile recyclers. The kicker is this: if the clothes are wet, moldy, or contaminated they are thrown out to a landfill. All in all, they aren't disposing this properly, when clothes can be very easily recycled.

Photo by Tyrone Turner. National Geographic

"Product designers in some cases have redesigned their products so that they can take up less volume or can be packed more tightly, resulting in less wasted space and fewer trips" (Robertson, 2014, . 261)

Transportation is a major key in product distribution, and as a result, also a primary source of greenhouse gases. Especially now, with sites such as Amazon and eBay, etc. transportation has become an even more added stressor- an unstoppable and leading cause for these destructive emissions. It's comforting to know that there are companies out there that are trying to make a difference, however.

Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Climate Change

"Just as multiple approaches are needed, contributions of many people in multiple organizations are needed. The work begins with each of us as individuals and the choices we make- what we eat, how we consume energy, how we move ourselves around, what we buy and how we vote" (Robertson, 2014, p. 83)

Photo by Cory Richards. National Geographic

Climate change has been a recurring topic for most of my life, but it hasn't been until most recently that it has been taken up by storm, as temperature's have been reaching record highs. I have always been a firm believer of global warming. My brain could never wrap around the idea that there are people out there who struggle with this concept. In these last few years the collective effects of greenhouse gases has been self-evident as temperatures have been higher than normal. There is stark evidence as our "winter" months consists of very little days defined as "cold". Even up in the north, this has been occurring. I recall hearing on TV one morning that New York has had warmer winters exceeding above four degrees in Fahrenheit since the 70's. The facts and statistics are there, but many seem to be in denial of the evidence, that of which infuriates me to no end. If we get enough people supporting this movement and believing in climate change, then that's when real change will begin to happen. The problem is that we rely too much on our normal routine, be it using our cars and other forms of degrading transportation (airplanes, etc) or simply being oblivious of our overall impact on the atmosphere. The truth of the matter is that these "degrading" things will always exist and will always be used, but the key is trying to minimize the use and finding alternative and more sustainable methods of decreasing greenhouse emissions. I found it to be jaw-dropping how incredibly fragile our atmosphere is and how long it would take to get the Earth's system back to normal, as Robertson (2014) states, "The transition back to stability is likely to take centuries. Scientists, from physicists to biologists to climatologists, tell us that the climate impacts of fossil fuels are expected to last at least hundreds and probably thousands of years" (p. 90)

"Marine ecosystems are vulnerable to changing climate for several reasons. Plankton, the tiny plants animals on which the ocean's food chain chains depend , are sensitive to even small rises in water temperature; changes in the mix of plankton can result in mass die-offs of fish and birds" (Robertson, 2014, p. 81)

Photo by Paul Nicklen. National Geographic

The effects of climate change are staggering. When I read this section of the book explaining the impact of ecosystems throughout the world, the entire picture of our potential future became apparent to me. It's terrifying to think the chain and ripple effect of climate change. Because of the rising temperatures both on land and sea, many species are being forced to migrate to cooler climates. A huge warning appears as important industries, such as forestry and tourism, will begin to suffer— especially with the shifting of natural resources, such as the fish stocks. We all depend on one another. Our survival, in of itself, for rural and urban areas depend on other life. Another thing that was mentioned is rising sea level, that of which further contributes to the migration. One can only imagine the impact on food production this has; as crops have to be moved to higher altitudes. Also, not to mention how the shifting of animals and plants into new areas can usually lead to dramatic changes considering those areas have not evolved well enough to sustain these new incomers. Change, as always, needs to start with our decisions— today. As Robertson (2014) further elaborates, "The work we do now is for a future we will never see. This work, contributing to the stabilization of Earth's climate to maintain livability of the biosphere for us and so many fellow creatures, may be the most consequential work we ever do" (p. 90)


Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

A Sprawling Development

In this reading by Robertson (2014) in regard to livable cities, I found myself thinking about my own experiences with every page turned. "Distances between destinations are too great for walking and large, high-speed roads are not safe or comfortable for pedestrians or bicycles, forcing the use of cars to fulfill basic daily needs and cutting people off from the outdoors and each other" (Robertson, 2014, p. 209). Not for a sheer moment in my life do I recall taking a bicycle or walking to a given destination for the entire day, all of them obligated me to take a car. Of course, there are those few instances in which I was in Chicago, for example, or another country that I had to defend myself by walking to a given place in which a car was not required. But even then, by the end of the day I'd end up taking a taxi to a location that was not possible to get to, by either biking or walking. It's frustrating to know that I have to rely on my car to take me somewhere, and that I can't simply walk and be there.

The bean and me. Photo by tagkast 

This hit me when I first visited Chicago in the summer of 2015. It was a "spur of the moment" trip that I decided to do on my own, and to this day I feel nostalgia for what my life was in those six short days. I literally walked everywhere. If I wanted to get some groceries, the next grocery store was a short five or so minute walk from my friend's place. If I wanted to hit downtown, it was a simple ten-minute walk to the train station. Words can't describe how amazing I felt, walking the sidewalks confidently to wherever I wanted to go. Train stations were everywhere you looked, and the rail system was beyond easy to navigate around which only further helped. "Transit-oriented development (TOD), in which neighborhood development is clustered around transit stations and located along transit corridors, is a central element in smart growth. Walkable, compact, mixed neighborhoods allow people to meet most of their daily needs on foot". (Robertson, 2014, p. 218) 

Me in Cartagena, Colombia. Photo by Ruth G.

The same happened to me when I went to Colombia. The area I stayed at in Cartagena, had streets mainly made for pedestrians. The streets were small and built enough for people to get through, and, again, everything was within walking distance. Of course, I had to end up using a taxi to get back to my hotel but the point is that walking felt, for the most part, safe. When I arrived back home I would find myself in a rut and filled with nostalgia of those days walking the streets without being scared for my safety. Where I currently live, nothing is within walking distance. If I wanted to go to a mall I would have to take my car, and even then, it's a 20 minute drive— just imagine walking. The majority of cities face this problem, save for the rare few places that make it somewhat easier to get around without cars.

"Sprawl affects not only planetary health but social and individual health as well. Research surveys show significant links between the built environment and obesity. Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease" (Robertson, 2014, p. 209)
During and throughout my entire childhood I've been raised in the suburbs of New Jersey. If I had ever walked on the sidewalk it was to get to the next block to my bus stop on some mornings, and even then, my mother would usually take me in her car if she had the time. No kids were encouraged to ride their bikes considering how dangerous it was. Sidewalks were narrow and the high number of bustling cars making their way  to work every morning was enough to make anyone reconsider riding a bike to school. I would not be exaggerating if I were to say only about five bikes would be parked right by the front doors. Even though our school practiced a motto of healthy eating and having physical activity, here we were around five hundred students having to find a means of transportation that refrained us from exerting any energy for our health.

"When innovative solutions actually come from members of a community, the solutions are far more likely to be implemented and to remain durable elements of community life. Real sustainability gains from an initiative depend a lot upon how people actually live in their homes and communities" (Robertson, 2014, p. 212)

Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Water's Important Role

Taking the topic of water through a different route, Douglas (1988) manages to elaborately and vividly explain what makes the Everglades.

Photo by Carlton Ward Jr. National Geographic Travel 

"The water comes from the rains. The northern lakes and streams, Okeechobee, itself, are only channels and reservoirs and conduits for a surface flow of rain water, fresh from the clouds. A few springs may feed them, but no melting snow water, no mountain freshets, no upgushing from caverns in ancient rock. Here the rain is everything" (Douglas, 1988, p. 112). 
This short reading taught me a great deal about the Everglades, especially the portion in regards to the rain water being an important component to these wetlands. Considering that Florida lacks all four seasons, the weather is mostly marked with two seasons- wet and dry. The constant changes of condensation from one moment to the next is certainly common, and something I have grown annoyingly tolerant of considering I'm originally from New Jersey. Florida's weather is non-existent up north, and so with time I've come to accept the ever changing weather in the south. The effects of these two seasons certainly reflect upon our natural lands such as the Everglades.

When it comes down to the topic of water use and it's effect on our environment I would have to say my knowledge on the matter is rather limited. Throughout my younger years, I always manage to recall  learning about our influence on the depletion of water during my middle school years and how our caution and awareness of our damaging impact can potentially aid this issue. The thought of having to fight for fresh drinking water one day in the future scared me senseless. I'd find myself lecturing my parents to cut back on their water use whether that be brushing their teeth or taking a shower. I, myself, as a result began to take shorter showers as well as reusing and recycling. This is when my mentality shifted and I became more aware of little things that can affect myself and future generations down the road.

"Given growing populations, growing consumption patterns, and changing dietary expectations, there is not enough water to feed people,meet urban needs, and protect the health of the life-support systems of the biosphere, Water scarcity escalates competition between people; particularly in developing countries, water scarcity is an issue of poverty that leads to political conflict." (Robertson, 2014, p. 95)

Discharge from a Chinese fertilizer factory winds its way toward the Yellow River

Photo by Greg Girard

What is all always boils down to (no pun intended), is overpopulation. I feel as though this is the seed to the vast majority of our environmental issues. Water is just another issue that goes onto that pile. The human demand for water  in of itself accounts for 70% of all freshwater, this of which further enforces the planet to what is being called a "Global Water Crisis" by the United Nations. Water pollution, as a result, presents itself from overpopulation. In extreme cases, for example, water borne diseases can even cause death. Lack of proper sanitation and sewage system as a result of overpopulation is why many in underdeveloped countries facing this issue are highly more likely to die from waterborne diseases such as e. coli and cholera. The good thing, however, is that water pollution is something we can try to control and minimize considering it materializes from human actions.

"The higher we go up the food chain, the greater the virtual water content. The virtual water content of a pound of wheat is 172 gallons, while the virtual water content of a pound of beef is 1,500 gallons. Switching from a hamburger to a vegeburger for one meal can save 750 gallons of water" (Robertson, 2014, p. 99) 

This traces back to the prior post concerning food. I would have never imagined the amount of water one simple meal can have. In an industrial beef production alone it takes an average three years before the animal is slaughtered, but it's during those three years that the cows consume large amounts of grains that of which includes wheat, oats, barley, corn, etc. It's the production of all grains that requires insane amounts of litres of water, in addition to the amount of water the cow drinks during those years. Also, we cannot forget the litres of water used for servicing he farmhouse and for the slaughtering process. All this water is used for producing about 200 kilos of boneless beef. However, the good thing is that some products, such as fruit and vegetables, are more water friendly than others like beef, for example. The answer all lies in what we shop for at the grocery store. By having at least one meat-free-day a week and choosing meat raised on grass whenever meat is consumed, these small steps will surely benefit this issue at large.

Source: 
Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Douglas Stoneman, M. (1988). Excerpt from The Everglades: River of Grass, In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing 

A Corrupt Food Industry

I clearly remember the first time I saw the documentary called Food Inc. in my AP Environmental course. As a senior in high school, I was being exposed to the crude world of the food industry for the very first time. Prior to watching the film, I didn't have the faintest idea of the corrupt system behind the food industry. It's amazing and almost funny to think of how much of an impact the film had on me. After watching it my whole perceptive changed. My eating style changed completely, where I once ate meat every single day I went to eating meat only twice per week, I gradually found myself being completely disgusted by it and began substituting chicken and beef with fish or eggs. After some more time I then began completely cutting off seafood and just eating eggs and yogurt as animal byproducts., so in other words completely vegetarian. And I remained with this new lifestyle for over 4 years. It was certainly refreshing to have to see this film again, and only further reminded me of America's completely controlled food industry.

Workers shovel corn on a 300-acre farm in Gogo, Ethiopia.
Photo by: Robin Hammond, National Geographic Creative

There was one specific fact within Food Inc. however, that really surprised me that of which stated that an approximate 30% of The United States land is used strictly for producing corn. How mind boggling is that? I remember when I first saw this part of the documentary (and now, once again) how I immediately thought of the number of starving families in third world countries it could save. A complete waste being used in places it shouldn't be. On another note, the amount of land that is also taken over for corn production is immense. Corn-related nutrition is everywhere, especially considering that it’s mainly used to feed animals. Further, wherever you look, corn is an added ingredient for numerous processed foods. It most commonly takes the form of corn-based syrups, for example. This complete domination is due to it being cheaper, and easier to grow.

Photo by: Ryan Bell, National Geographic

"Animals in these facilities live miserable lives. The grotesque details are many and come in nightmarish variety, but the fundamental cause is the same: humans who work at these facilities must handle thousands of animals a day, and many do not see, or do not allow themselves to see, animals as living beings who think, feel emotion, and suffer pain. (Robertson, 2014, p. 225)

The strongest, and most lasting image in my mind after watching Food Inc. will always be the inhumane treatment of animals. These images served as the last straw and made me strongly reconsider my eating habits. I'm happy to say that although I've reverted to eating meat, it is only very rarely that I do so. And when I do I make sure that it's from a farm that humanely treats the animals before slaughter. According to Food, Inc., large mass-chain food industries such as McDonalds and others, control 80% of the beef industry. This statistic further supports the inevitable mass produce of animals in a very short and limited amount of time, and thus the ultimate inhumane treatment as a result. 

Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Pollution

"The precautionary principle says that if the health of the environment and humans is at stake, precautionary measures should be taken even if the cause and effect relationships have not been scientifically established with certainty. The principle says, in effect, if you are not completely sure, always err on the side of caution" (Robertson, 2014, p. 155)

Photo: Andy Sacks, The Image Bank/Getty

Our current approach to the maintenance of pesticides and pollution as a whole has been very poor.
The results of our actions have started to be shown throughout the world, and it has been for many years. Again, it all comes down to the human ignorance and lack of a proper education on pollution and the ripple effect that results from being ignorant. The topmost priority should always be reducing or eliminating pollution at the very start of it's source. The quote presented above stresses this importance; to consider the health of our environment and other beings first and foremost. A lot of us still refuse to look at the direct impact we are having on this world which in turn affect our well-being. This impact can be through the way modern society uses chemicals in a manner that the variables and outcomes become completely difficult to control down the road. This brings on the following quote by Carson (1962)...

"The rapidity of change and the speed with which new situations are created follow the impetuous and heedless pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature." (Carson, 1962, p.154)

Photo: Robb Kendrick, National Geographic

I strongly feel that Carson manages to hit the nail on the head with this one. Time is such an essential ingredient for the restoration of pollution, and a lot of our environmental problems, but at this current time and age there is no such thing as time. It's not something that the modern world manages to lack tremendously. Carson goes on to further explain,"...it would require not merely the years of a man's life but the life of generations." (Carson, 1962, p. 154), but even then the copious amounts of new chemicals entering in the atmosphere are endless. These chemicals range in killing insects, rodents, weed, etc. These common chemicals (i.e., sprays) to do so have managed to succeed in turning man against nature. If anything, it has completely become an almost contradiction as more and more of the pests that were trying to be eliminated only return 10x stronger and more in abundance. "Thus the chemical war is never won, and all life is caught in its violent crossfire." (Carson, 1962, p. 155). We have to find a way to stop this "war" Carson has stated. A stark and obvious solution for this is education. This was coincidentally something Carson went on to state towards the end of the excerpt. But it must be considered that this was written in 1962 and we are in 2017 but very little has been done with this matter. Yes, many things have been proposed to help minimize pollution but I feel as though very little to no progress has been done. What ultimately all comes down to is that we are to this day living in "... an era dominated by industry, in which the right to make a dollar at whatever cost is seldom challenged" (Carson, 1962, p.160) and I couldn't agree more with this statement. The use of chemicals is being placed in the hands of people that are not educated about their potential for further harm. It's this "industry domination" that goes on to blind these individuals.



Source: 
Carson, J. (1962). Excerpt from Hope for Animals and Their World, In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

An Interconnected Relationship

"We know that organisms not only live within ecosystems; they are each ecosystems themselves, containing myriad smaller organisms. If nature is a complex net of energy connections that concentrate in places to form organisms, the distinction between individual and community is merely a question of scale. Move beyond the local scale, and it's all the same flow" (Robertson, 2014, p. 35)

As I found myself reading through these assigned pages, a little voice in the back of my head kept saying "there is an interconnected relationship everywhere we look" in an incredulous tone. This has been something I have been aware of, but it's not until I am presented with these words further explaining this interconnection that I become taken aback .. One specific quote that was stated in the very beginning intensified this feeling for me. The quote was this: "We are made of star material, and every atom of matter on Earth originated in the core of a star" (Robertson, 2014, p. 24). How breathtaking is it to think that this is true. To think, that this interconnection begins light years away, in space.. Stars release their transformed energy out into the universe while here, on Earth, material is being constantly moved, that of which can be seen with the cycles. For example, it can be seen from the minute bacteria who have the ability to capture nitrogen and release back out into the atmosphere when they are eaten or decompose. Without this type of bacteria, most life would no longer exist. How mind-boggling is that? Bacteria is responsible for keeping this world thriving. Bacteria. This brings me to my next point..


"In fact, it turns out that bacteria are not only the oldest, most numerous, and most diverse organisms on Earth, but they also run the planet. Every living system on Earth depends on these tiny complex beings. They  form the essential thread of the intricate planetary web of life processes. Without them, carbon, nitrogen and other materials would be unavailable to plants and animals. Bacteria regulate the temperature and chemical composition of the atmosphere and without them the planet would grow too hot to support life." (Robertson, 2014, p.31)

This ultrasmall bacteria cell could be the world's tiniest life-form.

 
PHOTo BY BERKELEY LAB

I recall a specific discussion within my assigned group in which one individual had a dramatically contrasting view. We had been discussing the development changes that were happening on campus and how this change will negatively affect what land fgcu still has and the ecosystem in of itself, of course. This person mentioned how the smallest living organisms would make no impact if they were to be removed because, after all, what are they compared to us. We are the ones on top of the food chain, afterall. I firmly bit my tongue to the person's remarks, something I wish I hadn't done. One of my many faults is keeping to myself when I so desperately want to speak out, but my strong dislike of confrontation has always succeeded in keeping my mouth closed. Without the smallest of organisms the entire complex web of life will fall to nothing. We as a human race would cease to exist. So even though it may appear that something as "insignificant and minute" as bacteria might appear worthless, it's most certainly not when you look at the grand scope of things. As the reading progressed to that of our impact as a human race, the same interconnection seemed to present itself, further supporting and raising that little voice in my head..

"The whole world is interconnected, and certain sustainability issues by their nature can only be considered by looking at connections on a global scale." (Robertson, 2014, p. 54) 

Muhammed Dobibar Rahman (foreground) and Jinnat carry rice in the fields of the village of  Jogahat,
Chunamonhathi, Jessore, Bangladesh. Photo by Jim Richardson © National Geographic 

This particular quote hits home with the overpopulation, as well as the failing state, issue. For example, I remember studying overpopulation specifically and its direct effects and huge toll it takes on natural resources in high school.The concept of a failing state was never touched on. But it's now as I read through this text that I realize the immense impact it has. "Starving people cannot make ecosystem preservation their top priority when they are struggling to stay alive, and armed conflicts almost always result in severe degradation of destruction of habitat." (Robertson, 2014, p. 55) I couldn't agree more with this. It makes me angry to think that third world countries could easily thrive if only more attention was placed to the people's current situations. These people depend entirely on natural resources to simply survive, and by reducing to eliminating their poverty would take off a gigantic load off the stress being placed on environmental resources. I only hope that in the very near future we can reach some type of agreement on this issue.

Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Empty Earth Syndrome

Shiva has managed to create a simplistic manner of explaining what our world is currently experiencing, in regards to biodiversity. This was a very enlightening read in that it only further shows the deterioration of our natural resources through a monocultural paradigm of production. "According to the dominant paradigm of production, diversity goes against productivity, which creates an imperative for uniformity and monocultures" (Shiva, 2000, p. 46) It is this dominant viewpoint which really struck a cord with me. This only goes on to show and support our incesant greed for which in turn destroys the biodiversity of local communities. We are "highly ignorant" as Shiva rightfully put it, and it couldn't be any closer to the truth. The increase in our population is another contributing factor in of itself. This, in turn, sparks our limited capacity discussion and how our resources are not producing as quickly. The fact that we are leaning towards monoculture and uniformity and away from diversity is frightening as can only be further exemplified with the numerous negative global trends. We are further over-exploiting natural resources and this can be readily seen with our consumption patterns. An example Shiva stated on this topic was the dramatic decline of apple varieties. This of course is only one of the numerous trends that have have taken a turn for the worse. Another common example is over-fishing. Our actions have become the main thing to blame for these dramatic changes and extinctions worldwide.

"This is the heart of the present conflicts over biodiversity. Systems that destroy biodiversity and that conserve it both need it. In biodiversity-based economies it is the growth of biodiversity that is the measure of progress. In biodiversity-annihilitaing economies, it is the growth of money that is the measure of progress." (Shiva, 2000, p. 55)

Shiva's comments on "the wealth of the poor" further demonstrates how biodiversity doesn't only fall under a conservation issue, but also on an economic standpoint. The majority of those in a first world country take for granted the grand aspect of their lived- whether that be with jobs, or food in the fridge. What we are failing to consider is how many third world countries rely on biodiversity as a means of livelihood and production. People in these countries depend on the wealth of biological resources that are unfortunately depleting quickly. The industrialization of food and agriculture, amongst other new mechanisms, to the North is what is stripping the Third World of its biodiversity, and as a result is leaving it, "...poorer both ecologically and economically". (Shiva, 2000, p. 56)

The Penan people of Sarawak state have been pushed out of their forests by dam projects Photo by: © www.aljazeera.com

"The shutting out of alternative ways of knowing and making leads to the assumption that the dominant knowledge and techniques are the only option. The monoculture of the mind destroys biodiversity by blocking the perception of the multiple benefits and uses of biodiversity." (Shiva, 2000, p.57)

The idea of living in an "empty earth" paradigm only further supports the monocultural perspective that was mentioned earlier. This paradigm defines what the greed of human beings has, and continues, to place on both the environment and the minorities. It has certainly created a divided world, as Shiva states, which is definitely present to this day after 17 years. We need to start opening our eyes to what is right in front of us- we are a monocultural world that only considers land and others with an economic value. There must be more compassion, especially for prior inhabitants. Many are seeing land through the "empty earth" colored glasses where instead of seeing biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem that should be left alone to thrive, they are seeing an empty land used only for profit.

Source: Shiva, V. (2000). Excerpt from Tomorrow's Biodiversity, In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing 

The Greed of A Nation

Reading:                Excerpt from: A Sand Counnty Almanac    

    

                                The Land Ethic by Aldo Leopold

"Land use ethics are still governed wholly by economic self-interest, just as social ethics were a social ethics were a century ago" (Leopold, 1949, p. 64)

A cleared forest in Riau province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by: © Alain Compost / WWF-Canon.

 This excerpt has only further supported and enhanced my argument regarding the unfair treatment of our natural world. We have taken for granted and advantage of our resources. Our self-interest has become priority. Aldo Leopold brings in the concept of a "land ethic" claiming- and rightly so- that there is still no true ethic that deals with our relation,"...to land and to the animals that grow upon it." (p. 59). Instead, a man's ethic today strictly revolves around an economic drive by further considering simple privileges but no "obligations" to the land we live and depend on. In part, however, keeping in mind that this is an excerpt dating back to 1949, our times have been changing for the better. By no means does this means that no further work needs to be done, though.

"In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such."(Leopold, 1949, p. 60).

The implementation of a land ethic is definitely a step in the right direction with bettering our lands and remedying the complete deterioration of many ecosystems due to our selfishness. This can readily seen and proved by how in the 1930's, farmers, only focused on remedial practices that showed an economic gain for themselves, Even when given the absolute freedom to write their own rules as to their land-use, farmers still selected those that were most profitable to them. It's this act of self-interest which is to this day having a dramatic ripple effect. Our ignorance to our community as a whole has been present for many years, and it's terribly sad that this is the case.

"In each field, one group (A) regards the land as soil, and its function as commodity-production; another group (B) regards the land as a biota, and its function as something broader" (Leopold, 1949, p.73)

Farmer Joe and his crops. Photo by D. Martinez

Numerous organizations throughout the years have started practices that have been showing a more ethically acceptable means of caring for land. My service learning opportunities throughout my time as a college student has certainly opened my eyes to this hope for change. The current organization my team and I are currently working with, for example, provides a perfect example of the "biotic" relationship. It further falls under the group B category Leopold presented. As I was reading through the section titled "Land Health and the A-B Cleavage", I realized how much this entire concept resonated with the farm and overall organization we are working with, called Healthy Harvest Community Farms. It's not only these farms but the practice and methods used that falls perfectly with Leopold's concept of having an "ecological conscience". Their farming techniques constitute the prime example of what a sustainable type of farming should consist of."Group B, on the other hand, sees forestry as fundamentally different from agronomy because it employs natural species, and manages a natural environment rather than creating an artificial one." (p. 73). Joe, our supervisor and CEO of a restaurant that's in co-collaboration with the farms has shown our team what a proper method of farming should be, that of which involves keeping the land as undisturbed as possible and cared for in the best possible way. By providing organic crops and fresh food to clients day in and day out, farmer Joe, is hopeful for a positive shift in land ethic and presents himself as a prime example of what a true farmer should consider.

Source: Leopold, A. (1949). Excerpt from A Sand County Almanac. In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing 

The Nature-Deficit Disorder

Reading:     Excerpt from: The Last Child in the Woods    

    

                         Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment by Richard Louv

"But television is only part of the larger environmental/cultural change in our lifetime; namely, that rapid move from a rural to a highly urbanized culture" (Louv, 2005, p. 4).

Behind the glass. Photo by D. Martinez

Who would have thought that a recurring and highly common diagnoses such as ADHD can be helped by nature alone? I was certainly taken aback when I had read this excerpt by Louv. His words made complete sense, and I was honestly surprised I hadn't considered it before. With the author's elaborate descriptions and explanations to the various studies that support his point had me fully immersed in the reading. In the last post , the second quote I had listed seems to resound with Louv's words, and ultimately supports the use of nature for restoring the mental health of kids. Kids in this day and age have been unfortunately deprived of many critical activities that were once the norm. Instead of playing ball outside with some friends, children now find themselves in their rooms playing either with their phones, playing video games, or watching T.V. It is a harsh reality that I so deeply wish could be reversed to the olden days. As Louv goes on to explain, "...as recently as the 1950s, most families still had some kind of agricultural connection. Many of these children as well as boys, would have been directing their energy and physicality in constructive ways: doing farm chores, baling hay, splashing in the swimming hole, climbing tress, racing to the sandlot for a game of baseball. Their unregemented play would have been steeped in nature" (Louv, 2005, p.4). Instead, we are seeing that society is no longer supporting kids in exploring the outside world and being in direct contact with nature.

  A perfect example of this is seen by the extinction of p.e. classes. I recall during my elementary, middle, and even a few high school years, how vital recess/p.e. was for every student. Taking this class was even mandatory in the first two years of highschool- much to everyone's disdain. I can admit I never really looked forward to it during high school but it's now after many years that I've come to acknowledge and appreciate the class. It's funny, but one of my fondest memories of my elementary school years was playing four-square with my classmates and participating in field days. It's things like these that made me realize how wonderful being actively involved with the outside world truly is. Contrarily, it also makes me feel saddened that children today are deprived of this simple happiness. "In the era of test-centric education reform and growing fear of liability, many districts considered recess a waste of potential academic time or too risky" (Louv, 2005, p. 1). And so, now tying this aspect into the excerpt stating the reaping benefits the simple contact with nature can have on children diagnosed with ADHD, allows me to have a closer glimpse at what Louv is getting at. The reason as to why ADHD has become the forefront of diagnoses in the present day has become clearer, as well.

"If it's true that nature therapy reduces the symptoms of ADHD, then the converse may also be true: ADHD may be a set of symptoms aggravated by lack of exposure to nature" (Louv, 2005, p. 11).

A childhood friend handing me a flower. Photo by R. Gomez

  The idea of nature as a means of eliminating symptoms of ADHD without the use of medication and side effects pleases me tremendously. Being a psychology student (and soon to be graduate), I couldn't help but smile at the idea of one day perhaps incorporating this into my practice as a child psychologist. I've always believed that the main focus should remain on children, particularly when it came to mental issues, or in this case, disorders. As children we have a higher and best possibility for change for the better in our coming years as a teenager and adult. Once that healthy mentality is established at a young age I believe anything is possible. They are our future, and if nature can be our second helping hand- especially to us upcoming psychologists- a centered focus should be cast on "the restorative environment", and the peaceful incantation placed on anyone surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Source: Louv, R. (2005). Excerpt from Last Child in the Woods. In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing 

The Revolution of Biophilia

Reading:     Excerpt from: Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human 

                          Prospect        

    

                          Love It Or Lose It: The Coming Biophilia Revolution by David W. Orr

"Biophilia is not all that tugs at us. The affinity for life or biophilia competes with other drives and affinities, including biophobia disguised beneath the abstractions and presumptions of progress found in economics, management and technology. Whatever is in our genes, then, the affinity for life is now a choice we must make" (Orr, 2011, p. 187).

   This reading was a fantastic page-turner and, although it's the last excerpt in the book, it serves as a wonderful opening to the impact our choices are having on our deteriorating future.
 David W. Orr has managed to convey a stark truth to humanity and what has come of our manner of thinking about nature throughout the years. Otherwise, known as biophilia, this concept in of itself contains the key to one day living in a sustainable environment. It serves as an innate capacity to feel compassion and admiration for the natural world- as harder as it may be for us to see, when compared to other species. This can be further seen based on the Greeks and their definition of love. Biophilia, for example, would directly fall directly under eros- a selfish type of love that only considers self-interest. This is exactly the type of "love" that is being seen towards nature in our world nowadays, only disguised as a nasty term called biophobe.

"If by some fairly young age, however, nature has not been experienced as a friendly place of adventure and excitement, biophilia will not take hold as it might have. An opportunity will have passed, and thereafter the mind will lack some critical dimension of perception and imagination" (Orr, 2011, p. 200).

Photo by Warren McLaren

   I found myself nodding in complete agreement as soon as I had read this quote. There's honestly nothing more that drives me and inspires me than knowing we have the chance to change the minds of coming generations for the better. This is one of the thousands of reasons why this right here is why I hope to one day work as a child psychologist. The sad reality is that a large portion of us are now being considered "biophobes" and children are, in turn, being raised to be so. This is a word that is truly frightening after having read this excerpt by Orr. To simply think that kids are being raised in a type of society which encourages staying in doors and sheltered from the outside world, whether that be watching TV, being on a phone, etc. By simply looking around in a restaurant I can immediately spot countless number of children under the age of 10 with their eyes glued to their phones given by none other than their parents to keep them from either crying or throwing a tantrum. The author's proposal is to have, "...the will to reshape education in a way that fosters innate biophilia and the analytical abilities and practical skills necessary for a world that takes life seriously" (p. 206). I also absolutely stand with the fact that, nowadays, children are rushed to being adults too soon "only to become childish adults unprepared for parenthood" (p.205). It's a vicious cycle that must be stopped, and soon.

"Similarly, in the emerging global economy, in which capital, technology, and information move easily around the world, how do we protect the people and the communities left behind? Now more than ever the rights of capital are protected by all the power money can buy. The rights of communities are protected less than ever. Consequently, we face complex decisions about how to protect communities and their stability on which biophilia depend" (Orr, 2011, p. 208)

Native Americans march to the site of a sacred burial ground that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

   The first thing that popped into my head as soon as I read this quote was the Dakota Access Pipeline. It serves as a perfect, present-day example about what Orr is describing. This quote resonates on a high level. Orr provides the foundation to what is being seen on a global scale nowadays, and the Dakota Access Pipeline is just one of the many issues. The pipeline has been controversial in regards to its necessity in the long run, and the potential impact it would have on the environment. The construction of this pipeline was projected to run from the Bakken oil fields to Illinois, crossing beneath the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, including Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Those in the Standing Rock tribe, as well as numerous others who followed suit, have considered the huge impact the pipeline would have to the region's clean water and ancient burial grounds. Early last September, construction workers had bulldozed a big portion of sacred land belonging to the tribe. When protesters had re-entered the sight they were met with attack dogs those of which managed to bite a fair share of protesters. This disgusts me to no end. This Indian tribe should not be going through these protests. This is their land, and the future of our environment that is being pushed aside for the pumping of oil.
   Unfortunately, there is a line that is being clearly crossed. People have already jumped over this imaginary line to the point where they're being highly inconsiderate and selfish to others that are simply trying to protect their land and well-being of the environment.

Source: Orr, D. (2011). Excerpt from Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human Prospect. In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing 

A World in Need of Change

   

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured a unique view of Earth from the spacecraft's vantage point in orbit around the moon. Photo by NASA.

Summer sunset at Sanibel beach. Photo by D Martinez.

"As in all living systems, particular individual contributions add up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Each of us has pieces of solutions that we apply in our particular part of the world and taken together. Each of us has pieces of solutions that we apply in our particular part of the world and taken together, these pieces are beginning to assemble into a potential picture of a sustainable world" (Robertson, 2014, p. 7). 

 To begin with, I am extremely glad this is a required course for all FGCU students. I've always had a passionate stance on environmental studies and I can only hope that with the implementation of this course, many students will become more aware of how delicate our world currently is. The numerous ways we can contribute and aid with bettering our world is bountiful. But it's beginning with being further educated about the foundation of what contributes to the issues being faced that will spark the match on what can be done in years to come. One day the impact will hopefully have a ripple effect in ultimately giving coming generations the opportunity to be the change for our future we so desperately need. From the second I read this particular quote I felt driven. Driven in the sense that I felt faith in humanity. We have the power to bring about a change for the better. Our world gives so much to us, yet we take it all for granted because of our insatiable greed for more. Small contributions from one person alone can add up to something incredibly powerful. If we all contribute our share to better the world who knows the wonders we could be able to transform?



"In spite of these efforts economic gaps continue to widen, global average temperatures continue to increase, and the environment continues to deteriorate"(Robertson, 2014, p. 18)

Vince Ambrosia of NASA’s Ames Research Center, gives a presentation about “NASA and Wildfires: Science and Technology Supporting the Nation” at the NASA booth at the fall 2015 meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. Photo by NASA.

    Looking back at how far we've come with the environmental movement shows how long these prevalent issues have been in our presence from numerous years. Unfortunately, of the many voices declaring the stark realities of our environment, a significant change has yet to occur. Countries far and wide have come together to help resolve one of the biggest problems currently being faced, more specifically to that of climate change such as in the first series of reports called the Millenium Ecosystem Asssessments by the United Nations. But, "the changes in policy and practice required are substantial and not currently underway" (Robertson 2014, 18), and this in of itself can be further a building block to the increasing temperatures and deterioration in the economy and environment as has been previously stated. 
   I've been fortunate enough to grown up in an environment in which I was taught to not let things go to waste- be it water, placing plastics in the recycling bin or shopping with a cloth bag. And although yes, I would agree with the quote stated prior, although there are various policies and practices that have been established to aid sustainability I still feel as though education on the matter is not being extensively taught and enforced about the current dire state our world is in. If anything, I believe it i terribly undermined. Policies will have more of a chance to succeed if we as community come together and start teaching new generations about the crisis our world is facing. As Martin Luther King Jr. once famously said in his speech, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" (1963).

The rusty patched bumblebee is the first bumblebee to be designated as an endangered species in the U.S. Photo by Alamy.

"In recent decades, scientists and planners began to realize that we as a planet have many problems that are connected, including poverty, health, overpopulation, resource depletion, food and water scarcity political instability, and the destruction of the life support systems we all depend on. We cannot fix one problem in isolation because they are all connected"(Robertson, 2014, p. 5)

The "triple bottom line", otherwise known as the "three E's", are what I believe to be the key to one day hopefully reaching some stability. The "three E's" consists of environment, economics, and equity. I can almost guarantee that if the preservation of our environment (or ecology) is kept, our resources are distributed justly, and there is social equality, then maybe, just maybe we reach balance and make our world shine brighter in the near future.

This blog's author at "Las Tres Olas" in Santa Marta, Colombia. Photo D.Martinez 

Sources
Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
King, M. L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream. Speech presented in Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D. C. .