Summary - Selection 6

The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis by Lynn White, Jr.

It seems as though humans have exploited nature for a very long time. People had unknowingly butchering the land for agriculture purposes in the past without thinking of any consequences of the future.

The idea White brings up is that Christianity follows the belief that man was created by God, and man then named all of the animals. This has made humans dominant from the beginning of mankind. People should make sure not to worship the Earth as pagans and to continue to follow the Christian faith. In comes science and technology that changed the view point of Christianity and then back to nature. As White discusses further, the Franciscan belief was that all nature is equal.

More further into the selection, White discusses Christianity vs. paganism. I thought this part was relevant to today's society, as I'd read in a newspaper that the Vatican's review on the movie "Avatar" by James Cameron was negative as they did not want people worshiping the Earth and becoming pagans. (On a quick side note, that is somewhat of a contradiction to Christian belief. In their beliefs, God created the world and everything in it, so taking care of the Earth and in a sense, worshiping it, is still following Christian God is it not? How can a tree just be a tree, if it was created by God? Did He not create tree's to help sustain us? Without trees we do not survive, so in a sense they are an extension of "God" or a god. White even commented that a Governor of California stated "when you've seen one you've seen them all", referring to a redwood tree in the forest. Similar to my questions above, is a redwood tree not a symbol of God's power and beauty? Nature is not to serve us, but to provide for us in a way that we should be thankful and not ignorant to it's purpose. We all work together here, and without a working symbiotic relationship our long term success on this planet will not happen.

Andy Goldsworthy...

Andy Goldsworthy is a person that I had never heard of. Catching the glimpse of his art in the lecture, I was definitely intrigued to check him out further. He has a different take on art, and it's kind of refreshing. I don't find myself to be particularily artistic, but I can appreciate what's in front of my eyes. I always wonder how somebody can bring something new and different to the table, and though Andy's art isn't new, it is to me. It's like the enhancement of your every day environment. It reminds me a bit of the 3D sidewalk chalk art, in a non-related way. (If that makes sense?) It is an art form that you can come across randomly in your everyday environment.

(Image taken Jan 31/2010, from http://guzer.com/pictures/sidewalk_art_batman.php)







Now Goldsworthy's art is a more literal use of the environment, as he either uses pieces of nature "lying around" or even his own body combined with a rain or snow fall. What he does is so simple but really amazing at the same time. One of my favourites is "Dead Elm". I find it a bit symbolic of our destruction of nature, as it is obviously meant as a grave for this tree. Not something that you would expect to find, as a fallen tree would simply sit above the ground and decompose or become covered up. This is probably the first tree in the history of the world to have an official grave as such.


(Image taken Feb 01-2010, from http://graememitchell.com/blog/andy-goldsworthys-sculpture)

Perhaps a more comparable image to my point of "surprise art" in an every day adventure would be this human imprint of dry rocks in a rainfall. "Rainshadow". Along the lines of a "what the...?" though as you walk by, similar to the jolt out of your every day urban routine with the sidewalk art.





(Image taken Feb 1-2010, from http://goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/image/?id=ag_02944)

Exxon Oil Spill Video

What an eye-opening video. An event that I never knew existed, reinforces our reasons to fight climate change and the people that are "the deniers." The Bush administration was toxic to our Earth, and largely reinforced Exxon's side in the clean up efforts. It is unbelievable that there is still so much oil in the area of the spill, and that it killed THOUSANDS of animals and wildlife.

I thought it bizarre that the people of the community (even in the remote areas) were getting money from the oil companies, yet were opposing their move into the area.

Blog Reflection 3

Is a deeper connection to nature likely to influence our decisions??

Maybe? Depends on the person. I feel like I have a connection with nature, but I'm not sure how deep it goes. I don't find that I'm an "earthy" person, but my concern with the environment is HUGE. I feel sympathy for animals that are in danger, and almost was in tears in class when we viewed the Exxon oil spill video and a sea otter lay there dying. There are people with deep connections with animals, but aren't really "nature" people, nor do they have huge concern for climate change.

However, there has to be a connection with nature for concern to lead to action. We are learning day by day how nature, animals, wildlife, etc are being effected by climate change, which prompts us as students to take action and make change. Others are probably only concerned with their own survival and the survival of their descendants. I think that still means they are deeply connected with nature, because humans are animals and part of nature. Also it could simply be a cost issue, and saving money is important. I'm having a hard time coming to a conclusion of this question, because it can depend on many factors. Ultimately that probably answers the question with a 'no.'

It is just a matter of opening our eyes when we are making our day to day decisions. Asking ourselves questions about recycling our waste, am I leaving the water running, are the lights on? Which lead to bigger questions about how we are contributing to the bigger picture, landfills, water sources,

Using Climate Change as an Excuse?

Recently a new video from Osama bin Laden was released blaming the United States (and other industrialized countries) for climate change. He also called for a boycott on American goods. But are Al-Qaeda really concerned for the environment, or is it just an excuse to rally people against the United States? It is doubtful that the world would follow his intructions, but hopefully it doesn't deter people (Americans) from being concerned for the environment and climate change because Osama bin Laden says so.

What is happening in Afghanistan and in Iraq is terrifying. What is even more scary is that Al-Qaeda and terrorists are apparently (pretending to be?) as concerned about the environment as anybody else, and the change in their message is unnerving. I don't know much else to say other than that I hope people don't go against his message for the fact that it was coming from an anti-American terrorist, and hopefully people will still make efforts to reverse climate change.

Dudell, Michael Parrish. Ecorazzi. Osama bin Laden Blames U.S. for Climate Change in New Video. Retrieve Feb 5, 2010, from http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/01/29/osama-bin-laden-blames-us-for-climate-change-in-new-video/

Summary - Section 36

The population of Earth is increasing at a quick rate, and our resources are having trouble keeping up with us. In Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich's section titled "The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do About It" a brief explanation about the problems we are facing as we continue to populate.

The first major problem is our environmentally damaging structures, technologies, and practises, as well as our massive energy consumption. Whether be developed or underdeveloped countries, there is a great impact on our ecosystems that is hugely destructive. As discussed in the reading, over populated under-developed countries need increasing amounts of energy sources that are easily available, such as trees, which also provide shelter. The United States, a developed country, is greedy in their energy consumption amounts and blow almost every other country out of the water.

Another effect discussed is the loss of species diversity. As human population increases, non-human "populations, species, and communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms " (as specified in pt II page 85), are lost forever. All this harm is being driven from the worlds massive energy consumption and disregard for change.

The first thoughts in solving the population problem would be use of contraception. Though widely used in developed countries, undeveloped countries do not have the same safe resources for contraception and their populations continue to increase. Another option is to educate people further, specifically through means of government and religious support.

Even if we are successful in lowering our population, we still need to lower our energy consumption. Being frivolous with our luxuries is detrimental at any population size, especially when we are already so fragile. The point that the Ehrlich's are making is that we have to try, and our developed countries should lead the way.
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This article is difficult to choose as a side in the fight against climate change. How do we play God in controlling population? Promoting the use of contraceptives is the only way to go, but should only be by choice for the individual. I've often thought about "conspiracies" that H1N1 was planted as population control, but I've heard that strep throat kills thousands of people a year (through word of mouth, general statement, source not confirmed). Considering that H1N1 has not wiped out entire populations (yet) and that vaccines were immediately available that theory is probably not true. Also, another point that the Ehlrich's made was that even with successful population control, we as humans still need to be careful in how we use our resources or else they will still deplete. I think the general message that I get is that there is no quick fix for the present and near future, but changes that we make will have huge impacts for the better.

A Little Freaky...

I was playing around on the internet, looking through some eco-sites on my favourites list and came across a book recommended by David Suzuki (and Leonardo DiCaprio...) called "Climate Cover up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming" by James Hoggan. Though my blog isn't about this book in particular, it lead me to Hoggan's blog "DeSmogBlog.com" where there was a link to American "public research". I found the site to be very bizarre and backwards. It makes me feel like it's been put together by the "red-necks" of climate change. People that live in a very different and scary world, can be described as "deniers". Some comments on articles were disturbing. I did not spend much time on the site as it made me confused and angry. People thought that instead of President Obama contributing to stopping climate change, he shoud send more troops to destroy Iraq. I think the environment is something that can unify on a global scale, and the fact that President Obama doesn't focus all of his energy and time as President of the United States of America to WAR in foreign countries is amazing on his part. I think the long term result is even fighting terrorism by saving the environment, because making use of renewable energy resources will reduce the dependency on oil (foreign!), causing less need to battle it out over the non-renewable resources. I would like to read further on this site, but it seems to bizarre to even try to wrap my head around their thoughts on the world. It definitely puts things into perspective...

Activity Summary 1 - The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki

In the short, three part segment "The Sacred Balance" by David Suzuki, the message is simple. We need to pay attention to what is happening to the Earth. We need to take into consideration the ancient paths of the indigenous people from around the globe, and learn to appreciate what we have before it's too late. It's all about the "bigger picture", as David Suzuki says. The message was clear to him wherever he went, where people use the Earth as a provider that is much more than rocks and rivers. Through experimental projects we are able to see how far we can push nature until it pushes back. Suzuki discusses the removal of humanity from nature into technology, and living in urban areas, losing our "sense of interconnectedness," as he says in part 1 of his video. Sustainable development is key in securing a life for future generation, and it is our job to succeed.

Working together in cleaning up our air pollution, reducing carbon emissions and reducing dependency on non-renewable resources is key, as our actions can effect other regions across the globe. The fact that we are losing our appreciation and interconnectedness with the Earth as a provider, differs us greatly from people like on the island of Bali. In Bali they utilize the Earth's provisions as much as possible with self sustaining systems, wasting as little as possible and appreciating as much as possible, as everything is sacred. They have been using ancient practises for thousands of years, and clearly it works. Because we have gotten so caught up in our "advanced" industrial lifestyles, we have lost the interconnection with nature and our ancestors abilities to sustain it.

This idea is similar to James Cameron's in "Avatar". The characters in that movie are one with nature and have a deep appreciation for everything they have been given. Every grain of dirt and every beast is appreciated and is sacred. It is greatly important for us to look beyond the beauty of our landscapes and realize that we owe so much more than visual stimulation. As Suzuki says, we have forgotten and we need to see "the bigger picture," and work together using science, technology, and ancient practises. We are all connected, and break away from our segregated lives to help our planet sustain.

The Sacred Balance. Prod. Kensington Communication Inc. Assoc. CBC Television, See It On PBS, National Science Association, Vision TV. Part. Canadian Television Fund, 2002. Accessed January 18, 2010, from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/at_Work/sacredbalance.asp

Summary - Section 32

"Our Stolen Future" by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers is a precautionary article about humanity's future. Aside from the deterioration of our planet, it talks about other effects on our human health, instead of the major concerns of non-renewable resource depletion, recycling, and others. Instead, they are concerned with the chemicals from pollutants released into our atmosphere and water sources that in low doses, can seriously harm humans genetically. They have tested with animals in nature and lab animals and the results have been serious genetic disorders, that are only a precursor for what could happen to humans. They are even thinking that current developmental abnormalities experienced by many people could be the result of small doses of chemicals over the course of time. They even go on to say that single large doses of these chemicals will have less of an effect than the small doses over a period of time. Because animal species are built internally similar to humans, the wild and lab animals that are experience hormone disruption are serious warmings for us to make serious changes before it is too late.

It's a big wake up call to begin thinking about all the seemingly minor things that will be majorly detremental to our health. As we even briefly touched on in class, it's better off to get the large dose than many smaller doses over time, but either option is frightening. The fact that you could seem healthy for a number of years and one day you're ovaries are dysfunctional because perhaps a chemical used to keep pests off of a corn field made you sick.

I find it hard to think about these small things, because it does let your brain wander too far into the unknown. You get thoughts that nothing is safe...is the packaging that my chicken came in leaking chemicals into my chicken, or if the vegetables in my garden are poisoned because of pollutans in the atmosphere, or the dyes in my clothing...and so on. Where does it end? And where does it start to get better? How can these things be enforced?


Colborn, Theo, Dumanoski, Dianne, Myers, John Peters. (1996). Our Stolen Future. In, Easton, Thomas A. Environmental Studies. Third Edition. Waterville (ME): McGraw Higher Hill Education. p. 162-164.

Summary - Section 42

Jared Diamond's article "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" briefly touches on patterns throughout societies and their destruction. His concern is that it could happen to us, though we have many factors that are different than past and older societies. Diamond best described the problem as "ecocide", which he describes as humanity destroying the environmental resources we depend on to sustain ourselves. Ecocide is a combination of deforestation, habitat destruction, soil problems, water management problems, over hunting, over fishing, introduced vs. native species, and human population growth. Diamond also discusses a 5-point framework of contributing factors, being environmental factors, climate change, hostile neighbours, friendly neighbours, and societies response to environmental problems (our differences and similarities). Sometimes societies work together, but a lot of the times we compete and that can lead to continuous destructive behaviours. People in third world countries are being effected, and if we don't fix these problems first world countries will be too.

Another fear is that modern technology could go two ways--solve our problem or doom us. But even though our accelerating technological advances could get us in a rut, Diamond points out that we have many advantages over the ancient societies that fell into extinction, and that we have past and present mistakes to learn and recover from. Environmentalists vs. Skeptics (or "non" environmentalists) are also in a continuous battle, where people are not trying to find an understanding of each other. For example, Diamond spoke about how big businesses aren't good for the environment, especially ones extracting non-renewable resources. He spent time with the company, and discovered that they are environmentally conscientious and make strong efforts to off-set their emissions.

The key point that Jared Diamond makes is that we should all work together, and try to have a better understanding of each other in this critical situation of trying to make a better future for all humanity.

Diamond, Jared. 2005. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. In: Easton, Thomas A. Environmental Studies. Third Edition. Waterville (ME): McGraw Hill Higher Education. p. 213-218.

cooling?

Just on a side note....a customer came into our office today saying something about "global cooling" and how she didn't believe in global warming and that Al Gore should go find some other job....I butted in and tried to make a quick point that it's all tied together, but it didn't seem worth the debate. I just though it was funny considering my earlier post and how people all the time are losing belief in the effects of Global Warming because of the weather. What was also funny was that she was saying that on a day that was around -5 degrees Celsius in the early January...anyway...

Blog Reflection 2 the precautionary principle....

I'm thinking that the "precautionary principle" can be summarized as the need for action without 100% evidence...my understanding is that it is taking the word of people, media, and the clear view of what's happening to the world around you, instead of scientific statements, facts, and numbers. It's opening your eyes and seeing as believing, taking precaution before it's too late. I don't believe there is ever an end to scientific studies, and if we always waited for a scientific conclusion before any action then we'd have doomed ourselves years ago.

The precautionary principle should be widely applied to Environmental regulation, because there will always be evidence for or against taking action. As I said before, seeing is believing, and even a few pictures of our diminished Arctic Ice or a drowning polar bear should be enough to start taking action for our Northern region. If we wait until ALL scientific data is collected as proof of potential extinction of the Polar Bear, they will probably be long gone.

Perhaps there could be serious negative consequences, as we do want to still make sure that even our visual evidence is enough to march in and save the day. We have to take precaution ON the precautionary principle so as to not "jump the gun" too quickly. Otherwise, acting on stopping irreversible damage as quickly as possible should be something that we definitely follow.

Blog Reflection 1...

In researching articles, it's easy to come across the same things over and over again...but that is probably a message in itself that these issues will not go away. The article I came across that stood out was the issue of temperatures COOLING during Global Warming, as opposed to WARMING. In Manitoba this past year we experienced a cooler summer with some extremely hot days. Our fall temperatures dropped to near 40 below near the beginning and then temperatures increased abnormally. (and then back down for a while and so on...) People would say "so much for global warming" but my thoughts were "this is what we've done". People are fooled by these cooler temperatures, but they are still from our polluting ways. Air pollution has caused La Nina to extend longer than it should...going from lasting about 1 year, to lasting 2 years. Even though it has been cooler it's not slowing down Arctic Ice melt and the threat of extinction for the Polar Bear population (that is a whole other blog for another time...). People are only concerned with local weather patterns when we should be focusing on the global patterns and how they will be dramatically effecting us.

If you want a bit more info you can check out the link to the blog/article at :

Than, Kerr. (2009, January 5). North America's Cooling Due to Natural Causes in 2008? Retrieved January 11, 2010, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/100105-natural-cooling-north-america-2008/

Alara

first timer....

This is my first blog ever....created as a requirment for a course I am taking at University, but I am kind of looking forward to this exploration. To be continued?