Reflection: Weeks 5 and 6

Week 5

weeks 5, we were to read Chapter 15: Feeding the World by Luther Tweeten, and Carl Zulauf. This article was about the potential for food shortage worldwide (which we already have due to corrupt buisnesses and governments controlling the import/export of agriculture). The article states that the population will outgrow in size, causing more demand than supply of food. To combat this problem higher education and research made possible by economic progress will promote awareness of the environment, which in turn can generate effective policy.

Along with the reading for the week, we did an Eye Opener assignment. It is called CSPI or Center for Science in the Public Interest. In the CSPI eye opener activity we were asked to take one of three quizzes. I took the "Score your diet" quiz. By the quiz results I found out that I am not eating an environmentally friendly of a diet as I could be. I eat an excess of meat, and because of that along with eating non-organic foods I am scoring a -39 for my environmentally friendly food section. My Animal Friendly score was at -34, and my Health Food score is at 24.

The video we watched this week is "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins. Mr. Robbins is the son of Baskin Robbins Ice cream. During his childhood he was stricken with polio. During this time he was inspired to live and eat only healthy foods. He overcame his sickness and works to promote eating healthy. He promotes to not eat beef as the meat is high in fats, and to not eat so much fatty foods like milkshakes. The video showed us a blood sample that had been separated. So, when blood gets separated in a test tube the watery plasma should rise to the top. Well in this sample of a man whom just ate a burger and milkshake like he always does for lunch, his blood was full of fatty substance where the watery clear plasma should be. The blood sample was yellowish in plasma color as opposed to the normal clear plasma look. Seeing this in the movie really showed you that the saying of "You are what you eat" is very true.

Week 6

In week 6, we had another film to watch and an Eye Opener assignment to do. Each member of the class had pulled a number out of a hat that is to be their assigned reading to report on for the Eye Opener assignment. I drew the number 13. This article is written by Danielle Knight, "North America Losing Biodiversity, Say Experts". What the article discusses is the fact that human kind is effecting the habitats of wild animals. We are for example, building dams that cut off salmon from being able to spawn. We keep changing the physical environment so much so that wild animals are having trouble adapting to the changes. The animals are dying due to lack of avaible resources as humans cut them out or change things around so they cannot travel to new destinations. To solve the problem all three nations of North America (Mexico, United States of America, and Canada) need to get together and put in place environmental policies and programs that work together to help wild life to thrive across every part of the land.

The film we watched this week is titled "The Future of Food". In the video the Monsanto Corporation is monopolizing the seed and fertilizer market. It has a patent on a gene in some agricultural plants, of which it claims payment from any farmer that has that type (Monsanto's gene) of crop. The Genetically Modified Organisim (GMO) as it is known is the first of its kind and is patented. This GMO product is a life form, a plant can cross-breed with non-GMO plants to get a GMO plant. The issue is can you patent life? For the longest time there is no such thing as patenting life forms, such as plants. The Monsanto Corporation is being run by executives that flip flop from Monsanto's head office, to the Environmental Protection Agencies head office. Because of that they can no longer have governmental pressure to test their GMO products public saftey risks to its consumers.


WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THIS WEEK
The government is not always working for the people's best interest like in the Monsanto Corporation issue. The people that run the coorporations often times give to the politicians so much campaign money that the politicians look the other way on issues of public safety. Special interest groups are essential to keep big coorporations from undermining the public as they often do control the political leaders with promises of political help. Some other important notes are that often times I eat a lot of meat, more so than what I actually need for surrvival by a lot. We humans are really over eating meats. To save on the environment and cruelty to animals, we should all try and skim down on the meats and start eating more vegitables.

Share and Voice: How to help stop pollution

http://www.ehow.com/how_2170560_help-stop-pollution.html

I want to pose the question of how do you want to help stop pollution?

What step do you think you can most likley do to help stop the build up of pollution?

What other ways are you doing to try and stop pollution in your area? Please share any ideas or concepts that will help anyone reading this to try and add to stoppage of pollution.

Eye Opener: Section 13 North America Losing Biodiverity, Say Experts

Summary

What is biodiversity? This is what dictionary.com states about the term biodiversity, “the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole); a high level of biodiversity is desirable.”

In North America (Canada, United States, and Mexico) there is a growing concern of losing natural habitat. The article states from an environmental report, “Half of North America’s most biologically diverse areas were severely degraded.” Many of the businesses in North America are depleting the land, along with affecting the environment and its animal species with at least 235 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians becoming threatened. Fresh water species are the most at risk due to their habitat being taken away or polluted by dams, and physical barriers.

Why is there a lose of Biodiversity?
The main reasoning for this loss of biodiversity is due to the three North American nations not coming together and coordinate efforts to have a working program that deals with environmental issues like cross-border habitats, non-native species, and shared migratory species and water resources. When we affect natural resources from our farming, mining, and fishing industries we should try and replace what we take, or at least fix what we destroy. What we do (dams, taking more water than can be replaced) affects the habitats of local animals.

My thoughts on how to solve declining Biodiversity
With the help of advocacy organizations we can try and educate the public along with the government to make changes in how we affect the natural world. If we take something it should be replaced. When we cut down a tree it should have a seedling planted to replace it. If there is an industry in the business of taking resources, than it should either have a limit on how much of their natural resource they can take, and/or if it is possible the industry should replace what it takes out of the environment.

Discussion Question
How can the countries of North America work together to keep the natural resources abundant?

Hint: Over usage of fresh water, and natural resource industries are the main contributors to taking and not giving to the environment.


The Two Sides of the Story

This is why we need to have biodiversity

Potato Famine


How industry and the natural ecosystem can co-exist

Water management centers can help to keep water levels up, and not use natural lakes or river water for agriculture.


References
biodiversity. (n.d.). WordNet® 3.0. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/biodiversity

Share and Voice: Industrial Hemp- look at the Ecological Facts

From the NAIHC website on Ecological Facts about Industrial Hemp

Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soil types. It is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. It grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop.


With the use of hemp as a product to replace tree based paper, we can be able to allow are Redwood Tree forrests to grow. The need for forrests is very important not only for the simple fact that trees consume CO2 and porduce O2, but because many animals rely heavily on the trees in the forrest for sheltar.

Birds for example need a place to set up their nests. Deer and other animal need trees for protection from the weather. With hemp as a replacement product to using trees you will have a lower costing crop, with higher yields in procuct usage.

Eye Opener:CSPI

In my exam of "Score your Diet" this is what I found.

I scored a (-50) for my grant total score, which is in the "Uh-oh you need help" range of scores, of which ranges from 15 and below for a total score. The other possible scores are 15-59= Good, and +60 is Exellent.

My health Score is at 23

My Environmentaly Friendlys Score is at (-39).

And my Animal Friendly Score is at a sadening (-34).



For which types of food did you score the highest? (look for green numbers). Why?
In my scores I had whole grains as my highest positive rated score. It is my belief that this number is the highest as it is a natural food to harvest and grow makes little impact on the earth comparetivly to other foods, such as beef and pork of which have many feces that raise the nitrogen levels of the local water from feces run-off into local lakes and water supply. The feces from these animals are not properly maintained as the farmers spray the animals living areas down to clean them and the water run-off is saturated in the feces of the animals, thus polluting the local water supply with higher nitrogen, and other chemicals that are harmful to ingest.


For which types of food did you score the lowest? (look for red negative numbers). Why?
Milk (-30), and beef (-28) were both very close of which are a related topic as they both come from a cow. This score was low as cows impact their local environment in a big negative way from the over-crowding of these cow farms. With nearly a thousand cows on some farms with only 100 acres the run-off of feces is a great impact on local water supplies. The chemicals from feces is harmful to anyone whom ingests feces effected water.

Which category do you need the most improvement...health, environment, or animal welfare?
The most needed improvement I need is on Environment (-39).


What can you/will you change to improve the score?
To improve this score it will take people to lobby the government and farm companies to better maintain their run-off of feces from their animals. It will take both local government, and federal government to change the way farms keep environmentally safe practices.


Summary //What does it all mean to you?
As a grandson of a retired dairy farmer, I am familiar of cows and the feces run-off they produce. It takes the assistance of the government to help create water protection systems that help farms pay for updated environmentally friendly farm systems.

When farmers clean off their product (cows, pigs, etc) of feces and other dirt and grim, the water will run-off into the local rivers and lakes if the farm is located near those local water supply. My grandfather's farm was located near a river. To prevent his farm from effecting this river we was equiped with a drain system that lead into a sewage pipe that does not allow water run-off to local water supply, but to the local water filtration system. He only cleaned his cows in the milking area. Of which is equiped with the drains to sewage pipes. He never cleaned his cows out in the fields, he waited until brought them into the milking area cleaning and disinfecting the cows just before milking them.

Many big farm lots clean their cattle in the open field with huge sprayers, and sprinklers of which allows for feces saturated water run-off. This type of cleaning is being allowed to happen, and should be lobbyed in the government to mandate a drainage system area for cattle to be cleaned in. Designate where the cattle can be cleaned that has the proper drainage system surrounding it, so the water goes into the sewage system that is connected to water filtration systems, and not flowing into the local water supply un-filtered.

Reflection weeks 3 and 4

Week 3 Reflection

I was able to write my first Review post, which was on Reading 27 "Seeing Green: Knowing and Saving the Environment on film." This reading was a very in depth on how film media has been used to show the natural world, as used in both a way to educate and a way to entertain through the use of film media. One such discussion is on Marty Stouffer's "Wild America" video series and how the film crew would ruin the land with their equipment, and they would also make the natural world look dangerous and exciting with non of the "real thing" presented to the audience. The Wild America videos were all about exciting hunting shots with none of the real world nature presented.

There are films that show more of a political side to the use of film media to show the environment getting destroyed by logging companies. With many scenes that show "doom and glom" many of these films try and show only the dark side of the situation. In the case of logging companies often times the people whom live in that area have no other source of income, so this is their only choice for a job. What could be brought up in the film other than sticking to straight "doom and gloom" is to try and discuss how the logging company should be held to higher environmental standards.



Week 4 Review

We all did the Ecological Footprint quiz this week in class. I scored 4.1 earths if everyone lived like me. The quiz took into account your food intake, mode of transportation, miles traveled, and home living.

Also this week we watched the movie "An inconvenient Truth" of which is tailored towards the issue of global warming. It is good to see that such a high powered individual like former Vice President of the United States Al Gore to be working on such an important issue. Global warming effects everyone.

Eye Opener: Carbon Footprint

I would consume 3.77 earths if everyone were to live like me according to the Carbon Footprint quiz. This number is very upsetting as we only have one earth to live on. The reason my number is so high to my estimation is because I often go out to eat, and I do tend to buy lots of new products. A great way to reduce your carbon footprint through purchasing used clothing like at any garage sale, or Ragstock is a store in Minneapolis that sells used clothes for a really affordable price. Instead of buying new clothes, buy used clothes so you do not add to factories producing more and more new items.


Air Pollution Indicator
According to where I live based on my zip code, I live in a fairly air safe zone. It is ranked in the 20 percentile, which is very low and in the green zone (healthy).

Earthday Ecological Footprint Quiz said I would need 4.1 earths to sustain my lifestyle. This was a more intresting quiz as you got to have an avatar character. And as you took the quiz it walks around and then you get a question to answer relating to your lifestyle, such as how often do you eat poultry, beef, seafood, etc. Overall, I liked this quiz as it had a "flash" player to give you more of a visual.

Kids Carbon Footprint
This quiz was very much like the Earthday Ecological Footprint Quiz, except you were told wheather or not you were able to make the "Green" choice. It gives you suggestions on what is the most eco-friendly answer to their quesitons.

World of Good.com

Article on eating healthy

It talks about portion control, and how not everyone likes the same food so not every diet will work for everyone. The biggest part I liked is to eat mindfully, controling your ability to sink down one full carton of ice cream at dinner. If you eat in small portions and keep to it, remembering not to eat a full box of something, then you will be able to control your weight better.

Share and Voice

Tree Hugger
Remeber our discussion in class about using corn as an alternative fuel. Well we can use ethonal from beer fermentation as well to fuel cars from alternative sources.

This website is full of different topics related to environmental concerns. This particular article I found is related to alternative fuel. The Seirra Nevada Brewing Company is using their excess ethonal waste as a conversion to ethonal fuel for alternative fuel cars.

Review of Chapter 27- Seeing Green: Knowing and Saving the Environment on Film

The Fantasies of Natural History Film



The use of film as a source of media to spread the word about environmental concerns can be very useful as you get a visual picture of what is happening to the natural world. The destruction of the natual world can be viewed and heard throuhg the use of film. I remember when I was growing up that I would watch the "Wild America" film series, and would be amazed at how animals fight for surrvival. If they (animals) do not put in effort to find food, they will not eat. The natural world is a tough and unforegiving place. Marty Stouffer is the director of the "Wild America" series http://shopping.discovery.com/DiscoveryStore/images/products/largenew/775270_lg.jpg . According to the text he would damage the natural world with his film crew destroying the land as they filmed on location in the animal of topic's natural realm, and they would torture animals to make them perform on video. Apparently it is very hard to find animals performing exciting hunting manuvers, and to film it in a graceful pleasurable way is also very difficult as animals do not cater to the film crew and performing within the frame of the picture being recorded. So, are nature films about documenting animals for scientific research, or are they about entertainment?



On page 108 of the text it refers to nature films as origanally being shot for "scientific records that preserve a natural heritage being lost to the forces of modernity (Mitman 1999:60)." When we "stage nature" for the excitment of the film we risk the validity of the scientific record of the film.



My favorite quote from the book

Author of the book Reel Nature: America's Romance with Wildlife on Film by Greg Mitman (1999). "Nature is not all action...Conditioned by nature on screen, we may fail to develop the patience, perseverance, and passion required to participate in the natural world with all its mundanity as well as splendor." In the time that I was a young boy I would watch wild nature documentaries all of the time, so much so that I thought if you were to step foot outside eventually an animal is going to attack you. This notion of wild animals is not true, because animals will only attack you if you if you fall into a certain category such as, Are you endangering the animal's offspring? Do you look like their natural prey? Is the animal suffering from a dibilitating disease? For more answers



When we watch too many fictional shows as uneducated children or adults, we generally will believe what we see as a constant truth. For example, many believe that seeing a wolf in the wild means they will attack you immediatly with no hesitation. This notion is untrue as animals generally only attack humans out of extreme hunger. If the ecosystem is in balance then the predators will not always attack the prey in that ecosystem. The predators will only eat the sick and dead. The balance of an ecosystem is very important to maintain this is why killing off species is so detrimental to the planet and its ecosytems.









New Concepts


The bias of the filmmaker. "Since the Company Came" (Hawkins, 2000) Does the film only involve one side of the story? If so, then does that bias show a certain side to make money off of the issue to use scare tatitics to elicit more sales of their video as it brings on the issue of what is a bigger concern. Save the environment or make some money?

What I took from this reading

It is very hard to understand those people (Hafori) in another area of the world, and how their economy is so dependant on the logging industry. It would be hard to tell a big buisness to not give your people jobs as it hurts the environment. Some areas of the world are not as econmically diverse as the United States. The situation would be a delicate one as there is so much to be gained (economic), and so much to be lost (ecosystem).

The use of film in media can give its audience a first hand look at every situation you maybe only glance at in the newspaper. Film can bring to light many parts, some not so well known, and some very well known topics. It is important to remember when you are watching the movie that you try and decipher all of the sides of the story. Who and what effect each other and remember for every action there is a re-action/result.

Additional Resources






Logging the forrest, everything you need to know about how, what, and why

For the environmentally friendly Tree Hugger, this website shows every angle of how we can save the environment from food, to business and politics.

Definitions


Ecosystems- An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms (bioitc factors) in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical (abiotic) factors of the environment



Haforai- The Haforai people live in a very remote part of the world, Rendova in the Solomon Islands. Location of Solomon Islands the archipelago of Solomon Islands is located in the southern region of the Pacific Ocean. Papua New Guinea is the nearest big land mass northwest of it. The Solomon Islands are a part of the group of islands better known as Oceania. The continent of Australia lies a little further off, south west of it. The water bodies, aside of the South Pacific Ocean that surrounds the Solomon Islands are the Solomon Sea, the Coral Sea and the Arafura Sea.


Shamanism- Shamanism is a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world.


Ecotourism- is a form of tourism, that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is a conceptual experience, enriching those who delve into researching and understanding the environment around them. It gives us insight into our impacts, as human beings and also a greater appreciation of our own natural habitats.