Paraphrasing Albert Einstein, Nelson states, "we cannot solve our global crisis with the same process that created it." In the Mesoamerican tradition, the four main cardinal directions of the Earth are honored. However, there is a 5th direction, the person next to you. By looking at each other, we recognize how we are mirrors of each other. This allows us to value each other. By looking at the 5th direction, we will be one step closer to the thought process that is needed to solve our global crisis.
I thought it was interesting how important it is for someone to stay connected with their indigenous language. By learning an indigenous knowledge, you learn the skills necessary to decolonize the mind. This is a good step towards re-indigenization.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Original Instructions Part Six
"Indigenous Peoples represent 86 percent of the world's cultural diversity." The struggles of indigenous peoples is our struggle because indigenous peoples make up the majority of the world's diversity. This is a reason why it is important that we address indigenous peoples in a just way. Today, profit is often put before life. Because of this, the concerns of indigenous peoples are often pushed to the side. Indigenous communities are coming together to stand up for their rights. But we should also remember that they are not only speaking for their own rights, but for the voiceless, the young. It is important that indigenous struggles are heard instead of continuing to put profit before life.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Original Instructions Part Five
"You are what you eat" is the saying we've all heard before. What you eat literally becomes your flesh. But we are also where we eat because after we die, that flesh returns to the ground. Most of us take this cycle for granted. This is how Nelson introduces the section "Re-Indigenizing Our Bodies and Minds through Native Foods." The majority of the food we eat today comes from big corporations. Nelson argues that we need to take responsibility for our food source. I agree with her because until we stand up against these food sources, we will continue eating this factory farmed food. If we could return to native foods, instead of the domesticated plants that we rely on so heavily today, this would allow us to "re-indigenize our bodies and minds." By being more intimately connected with our food and where it comes from, we would have a better mindset in understanding the nature of agriculture and how we could tread lighter on this planet.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Original Instructions Part Four
"The Great Mother is beautiful, no matter what… She's not nice. She's no pretty; she's beautiful. And I'm telling you something about the feminine, what the feminine means. She is one scary bitch… We try to control her. You can't control a madwoman who's a sorceress." Paula Gunn Allen
People often refer to nature and the environment as "Mother Earth". Whenever I think of Mother Earth, I think about the wind gently blowing the leaves and the rain flowing into the river. I don't think of "one scary bitch". But this quote is a more accurate way of looking at Mother Nature because weather and natural disasters are not predictable or under our control. Allen says that humans often try to control "The Great Mother" but they need not try to control the world because "the world can save itself quite well. It's doing it." I thought this was an interesting way to look at Mother Earth because we often try finding ways of "saving the planet." We can't fix anything. The only thing we can do is "live and learn and have gratitude and love." If everyone focused on living and learning as opposed to fixing and solving, some of our world's problems might solve themselves.
Bogaletch Gebre, an Ethiopian Women, has supported feminine power by standing up against the traditional practice of female genital excision (FGE). Gebre says, "Until we restore the health of our women, we'll never restore the health of our communities. Until we stop the maiming of women, we cannot turn the tide against the historic maiming of our culture and the modern maiming of our countryside. Until we empower women, we'll never activate the paradigm needed to heal our environment. Until we educate women, we'll never end the cycle of famine and build a sustainable economy." As Chief Oren Lyons pointed out in part 2: "You can't have justice without equity." We cannot solve today's problems, or at least live and learn with gratitude and love, until we have gender equality. Taking this one step further, we cannot have gender equality until we have awareness of gender inequality. Today in Spanish class, we were discussing in groups about if we thought certain issues were going to exist in the future. After saying how I thought gender inequality would end in the future, a guy in my group said that he didn't think gender inequality exists today. After giving him a few examples of how I've seen gender inequality in my own life, he was convinced that it is still an issue. This guy was not a sexist or ok with women being treated unfairly, he just wasn't aware of what gender issues persist today. I was reminded of this when I read about how Gebre was insulted when a friend questioned the Ethiopian practice of FGE. Gebre, as well as many Ethiopian women, were not aware that they were being treated unjustly. It wasn't until Gebre started the movement against FGE that many women acknowledged that they were being treated unfairly and decided to take a stance. Since we cannot solve our environmental problems without equality, our first step should be to promote awareness of gender inequality. This is the only way we will be able to "live and learn and have gratitude and love."
People often refer to nature and the environment as "Mother Earth". Whenever I think of Mother Earth, I think about the wind gently blowing the leaves and the rain flowing into the river. I don't think of "one scary bitch". But this quote is a more accurate way of looking at Mother Nature because weather and natural disasters are not predictable or under our control. Allen says that humans often try to control "The Great Mother" but they need not try to control the world because "the world can save itself quite well. It's doing it." I thought this was an interesting way to look at Mother Earth because we often try finding ways of "saving the planet." We can't fix anything. The only thing we can do is "live and learn and have gratitude and love." If everyone focused on living and learning as opposed to fixing and solving, some of our world's problems might solve themselves.
Bogaletch Gebre, an Ethiopian Women, has supported feminine power by standing up against the traditional practice of female genital excision (FGE). Gebre says, "Until we restore the health of our women, we'll never restore the health of our communities. Until we stop the maiming of women, we cannot turn the tide against the historic maiming of our culture and the modern maiming of our countryside. Until we empower women, we'll never activate the paradigm needed to heal our environment. Until we educate women, we'll never end the cycle of famine and build a sustainable economy." As Chief Oren Lyons pointed out in part 2: "You can't have justice without equity." We cannot solve today's problems, or at least live and learn with gratitude and love, until we have gender equality. Taking this one step further, we cannot have gender equality until we have awareness of gender inequality. Today in Spanish class, we were discussing in groups about if we thought certain issues were going to exist in the future. After saying how I thought gender inequality would end in the future, a guy in my group said that he didn't think gender inequality exists today. After giving him a few examples of how I've seen gender inequality in my own life, he was convinced that it is still an issue. This guy was not a sexist or ok with women being treated unfairly, he just wasn't aware of what gender issues persist today. I was reminded of this when I read about how Gebre was insulted when a friend questioned the Ethiopian practice of FGE. Gebre, as well as many Ethiopian women, were not aware that they were being treated unjustly. It wasn't until Gebre started the movement against FGE that many women acknowledged that they were being treated unfairly and decided to take a stance. Since we cannot solve our environmental problems without equality, our first step should be to promote awareness of gender inequality. This is the only way we will be able to "live and learn and have gratitude and love."
Original Instructions Part Three
One thing that this book has mentioned a few times is how indigenous peoples did not all of a sudden decide to be ecologists. Instead, their knowledge was the "result of centuries of observation of what works and of recognizing that we have to be in this place so we better not make a mess of things." Dennis Martinez mentions how Indians in British Columbia managed salmon eggs. This was not their attempt of being ecologists, but rather finding a way to have a sustainable food source. When we look at indigenous knowledge, we should keep the context in mind of how they developed this knowledge. That will allow us to apply this knowledge better to our context.
My Connection with Nature
I think my main connection with nature is my appreciation for its beauty. Especially over the last week or so, I've felt a lot of appreciation for nature as I walked through the forest area behind the Chapel. As the wind blew, the leaves would float down around me. Just in my day to day life, I feel like my connection with nature arises from how pretty the trees or flowers look.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Original Instructions Part Two
It was really interesting when Chief Oren Lyons described his culture as a canoe. In their canoe, they have a hard life, but it's a simple one. But Western culture is a boat full of many people and cultures. The boat and the canoe are linked by 3 chains: peace, friendship, and how long it will last. In the book, an issue is described as being when people have one foot in the canoe and one foot in the boat. Just in the metaphor, I can see how this would be a problem because an individual who is straddling the two boats wouldn't have a sense of stability. But outside of the metaphor, why can't someone be in the boat and the canoe? With the lives we live today, it would be really hard to switch from the boat to the canoe. If we all continue living in the boat, our planet will keep getting destroyed. The best solution I see is for people in the boat to start straddling the canoe. It would be beneficial if we could all take indigenous knowledge and find a way to incorporate it into the decisions we make on how we're going to use our planet.
In this section, Jeannette Armstrong says how in her language, the word for bodies contains the word for land. From reading these two sections, I've thought it was interesting how indigenous languages reveal so much about their beliefs and principles. In Armstrong's language, every time she refers to herself, she is reminded that she's from the land and her body is the land. Chief Oren Lyons says that their greeting "skannoh" is the same word for health and peace. This shows how that in his culture, health cannot exist without peace. Similarly, Chief Oren Lyons says "You can't have justice without equity." I think indigenous languages are a good key into understanding their cultures because their language reflects some of their core principles.
In this section, Jeannette Armstrong says how in her language, the word for bodies contains the word for land. From reading these two sections, I've thought it was interesting how indigenous languages reveal so much about their beliefs and principles. In Armstrong's language, every time she refers to herself, she is reminded that she's from the land and her body is the land. Chief Oren Lyons says that their greeting "skannoh" is the same word for health and peace. This shows how that in his culture, health cannot exist without peace. Similarly, Chief Oren Lyons says "You can't have justice without equity." I think indigenous languages are a good key into understanding their cultures because their language reflects some of their core principles.
Original Instructions Part One
Chief Seattle: "What happens to the earth, happens to the children of the earth. Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves."
Many of the indigenous cultures described in part one of Original Instructions are intimately connected with the land. Therefore, whatever they do to the earth, they're also doing to themselves and their children. I think this is a good way to look at our planet and its resources because if we don't look at the damage we do to the land as damage we do to our children, we will continue treating the land like we do. But if we see ourselves as part of the land, we will treat the land better.
I thought it was surprising how helpful indigenous peoples have been for us, without them receiving much, if any credit. For example, many early drugs were derived from indigenous knowledge. Also, I never learned that the Oneidas cooked corn for the patriots, which was significant in these troops continuing to fight. We have already taken advantage of indigenous knowledge in times like these in the past. I think we need to continue looking at indigenous knowledge to get a better understanding of how we should interact with our world. If we live by some of the principles indigenous peoples have, such as giving back to the planet when we take something from it, I think it would be very beneficial to our planet, and therefore future generations.
Many of the indigenous cultures described in part one of Original Instructions are intimately connected with the land. Therefore, whatever they do to the earth, they're also doing to themselves and their children. I think this is a good way to look at our planet and its resources because if we don't look at the damage we do to the land as damage we do to our children, we will continue treating the land like we do. But if we see ourselves as part of the land, we will treat the land better.
I thought it was surprising how helpful indigenous peoples have been for us, without them receiving much, if any credit. For example, many early drugs were derived from indigenous knowledge. Also, I never learned that the Oneidas cooked corn for the patriots, which was significant in these troops continuing to fight. We have already taken advantage of indigenous knowledge in times like these in the past. I think we need to continue looking at indigenous knowledge to get a better understanding of how we should interact with our world. If we live by some of the principles indigenous peoples have, such as giving back to the planet when we take something from it, I think it would be very beneficial to our planet, and therefore future generations.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Nanabozhoo
Nanabozhoo plays a lot of roles to the Obijwe people. He is believed to have used fire to ignite the Sun. He is the first teacher of the original instructions. He illuminates but he also conceals. I don't think much would be lost from switching to this creation myth. Nanabozhoo, as the first human being, sounds similar to the story of Adam and Eve. Nanabozhoo was created by the creator, as Adam and Eve were created by God. Nanabozhoo can be pretty selfish just like Adam. So I don't think anything would be lost by switching to this creation myth. One thing that could be gained from switching to this creation myth is the original instructions. Nanabozhoo is a wise being who first gave the Obijwe people the original instructions. These instructions are important to the Obijwe people because they teach many lessons. Nanabozhoo was not a perfect being. He made mistakes just like everyone does. But his mistakes show people what not to do so they are a valuable educational tool. This aspect of the first human being is different from the story of Adam and Eve because they did not leave their people any set of instructions or lessons such as the original instructions left by Nanabozhoo. Another thing that could be gained from Nanabozhoo is how he shows us all of the aspects of being human, not just the good things.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Finding Our Way Back
Prechtel says, "If we can get past the prejudices of the last ten thousand years’ worth of ancestors, then we can find our way back to our indigenous souls and culture, where we are always at home and welcome." This part was confusing to me because it seemed impossible for someone to find their way back. Prechtel says that when an ancestor dies, their death needs to be "properly paid with beauty, grief, and language." I think that Prechtel is suggesting that for someone like Jensen to "find his way back" he would have to mourn the deaths of all of his ancestors whose deaths had not been mourned. Seeing as Jensen's ancestors probably were not put in the ground in the same way as Prechtel's ancestors, it makes it seem impossible for Jensen to find his way back. Instead, he will always be chased by ghosts. It was confusing exactly what role these "ghosts" play in our lives. Prechtel says how these ghosts literally chase us. The only way to truly get rid of the ghosts is to either mourn the death of your ancestors, or a shaman to break the ghost up and send it to the other world.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Martin Prechtel
Martin Prechtel believes that passing on knowledge is very important. The interview talks about how there is a lot of violence in Guatemala. Prechtel says how he would stay “but before my teacher died, he asked me to leave so that I wouldn’t get killed. He wanted me to carry on the knowledge that he had passed to me.” Later in the interview, Prechtel says how he learned that some children did not know "their own people's stories" because they were either Christian or their parents died during the 1980s. Prechtel thinks that it's very important that knowledge is passed down. Also, he thinks knowledge should be passed down within the family. In his book, he leaves out some details because it is sacred knowledge. In order for this knowledge to continue, it must be passed within the family and community.
From the interview, we can tell that Prechtel is a very spiritual person. Jensen quotes Prechtel:
“Spirituality is an extremely practical thing,” he says. “It’s not just something you choose to do on the weekends. . . . It’s an everyday thing, as essential as eating or holding hands or keeping warm in the winter.”
Spirituality is very important to Prechtel. He thinks that we should constantly be aware of the debts we owe to the other world. Prechtel mentions how we see Anorexia because the other world is starving and becoming bony. This made me think about how our technological advancements, such as cars, has a bad effect on the environment. As an effect, we have global warming. The way Prechtel describes worlds make me picture Earth and the environment as a separate world from humans. This world allows us to live as we do, but in exchange, we should give back to the planet and the environment so that we don't see global warming and other effects.
I thought it was interesting that the language Prechtel learned when he was younger does not have the verb to be. This verb is essential within the English language as well as other languages. Instead of using to be, they say that someone belongs to something else. I thought this was interesting because it's a more emotional way of looking at relationships. If we say that person A is the mother of person B, we're merely stating a fact. But if we say that person A belongs to person B, we have the impression that they have a relationship. Prechtel probably thinks that instead of being humans on Earth, we are humans that belong to the Earth and must give back.
From the interview, we can tell that Prechtel is a very spiritual person. Jensen quotes Prechtel:
“Spirituality is an extremely practical thing,” he says. “It’s not just something you choose to do on the weekends. . . . It’s an everyday thing, as essential as eating or holding hands or keeping warm in the winter.”
Spirituality is very important to Prechtel. He thinks that we should constantly be aware of the debts we owe to the other world. Prechtel mentions how we see Anorexia because the other world is starving and becoming bony. This made me think about how our technological advancements, such as cars, has a bad effect on the environment. As an effect, we have global warming. The way Prechtel describes worlds make me picture Earth and the environment as a separate world from humans. This world allows us to live as we do, but in exchange, we should give back to the planet and the environment so that we don't see global warming and other effects.
I thought it was interesting that the language Prechtel learned when he was younger does not have the verb to be. This verb is essential within the English language as well as other languages. Instead of using to be, they say that someone belongs to something else. I thought this was interesting because it's a more emotional way of looking at relationships. If we say that person A is the mother of person B, we're merely stating a fact. But if we say that person A belongs to person B, we have the impression that they have a relationship. Prechtel probably thinks that instead of being humans on Earth, we are humans that belong to the Earth and must give back.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
TEK
Like we discussed in class today, there are multiple types of knowledge that can be used to explain why the spirit bears are white. The video mentions how scientists believe that some black bears carry a recessive genes which allows them to produce white cubs when they mate with another black bear with the recessive gene. However, this is not the only knowledge about the spirit bears. Indigenous peoples believed that the raven, which is the creator of the world, created the white spirit bears to remind them how the land was originally all ice.
I think its good to look at myths and legends as well as scientific beliefs because it allows us to have a more comprehensive look. I agree with what Eugenie said in class that TEK is a more simplified type of knowledge than scientific knowledge. Instead of thinking about all of the complex processes which occur during digestion, it is easier to think about our bellies being full and being satisfied. This less scientific way of looking at things often invokes a sense of emotion. For example, the first version of Chief Seattle's Speech begins with "Yonder sky has wept tears of compassion" which expresses more emotion than if it just said "Humans have been destructive to their planet." I think TEK is simpler than scientific knowledge but expresses more emotion.
I think its good to look at myths and legends as well as scientific beliefs because it allows us to have a more comprehensive look. I agree with what Eugenie said in class that TEK is a more simplified type of knowledge than scientific knowledge. Instead of thinking about all of the complex processes which occur during digestion, it is easier to think about our bellies being full and being satisfied. This less scientific way of looking at things often invokes a sense of emotion. For example, the first version of Chief Seattle's Speech begins with "Yonder sky has wept tears of compassion" which expresses more emotion than if it just said "Humans have been destructive to their planet." I think TEK is simpler than scientific knowledge but expresses more emotion.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Stewart Brand: Rethinking Green
I think Stewart Brand mentions a lot of good points. I thought it was interesting when Brand spoke about slums. Slums are some of the most green areas. People living in slums use minimal food and energy and they recycle everything. However, people don't choose to live in slums. People who live in slums are forced to because they are poor. In reality, these people wish to increase their food and energy, instead of continuing their green way of living. I thought this was interesting because we don't often picture the slums when we think of living green.
People currently use 16 terawatts of energy. To level off at 450 ppm, 13 terawatts would have to be replaced with green energy. Brand suggests that these energy sources would cover North America. Beautiful landscapes would have to be replaced with solar panels, wind turbines, and other sources of green energy. Brand proposes that we focus on using nuclear energy. I didn't realize that so many environmentalists supported nuclear energy. Brand discusses a study of people who were exposed to large amounts of radiation for several years due to Cobalt 60 in their housing materials. Of 10,000 people, only 7 died of cancer which is 3% of global cancer mortality. I thought this was very interesting because we always hear about how cancer causes radiation. It's unbelievable that such few people died from cancer from these houses in Taiwan. I think that the energy grid of the future will have an increasing proportion of energy coming from nuclear energy.
Another thing Brand mentions is genetically modified crops. While some people have a negative outlook on genetically modified crops, they have no negative effects. As Brand mentions, it will be essential that developing nations catch on to genetically modified crops. I think if companies which create genetically modified seeds, such as Monsanto, were not as concerned about the patent on their seeds, we would be able to significantly decrease hunger in developing nations.
People currently use 16 terawatts of energy. To level off at 450 ppm, 13 terawatts would have to be replaced with green energy. Brand suggests that these energy sources would cover North America. Beautiful landscapes would have to be replaced with solar panels, wind turbines, and other sources of green energy. Brand proposes that we focus on using nuclear energy. I didn't realize that so many environmentalists supported nuclear energy. Brand discusses a study of people who were exposed to large amounts of radiation for several years due to Cobalt 60 in their housing materials. Of 10,000 people, only 7 died of cancer which is 3% of global cancer mortality. I thought this was very interesting because we always hear about how cancer causes radiation. It's unbelievable that such few people died from cancer from these houses in Taiwan. I think that the energy grid of the future will have an increasing proportion of energy coming from nuclear energy.
Another thing Brand mentions is genetically modified crops. While some people have a negative outlook on genetically modified crops, they have no negative effects. As Brand mentions, it will be essential that developing nations catch on to genetically modified crops. I think if companies which create genetically modified seeds, such as Monsanto, were not as concerned about the patent on their seeds, we would be able to significantly decrease hunger in developing nations.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
“…ensuring the protection of the Blue Ridge Parkway into the 21st century will take our collective energy working together for widespread public support and action…to preserve America’s favorite drive…” Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway – Gary Everhardt, 1995
First of all, I encourage anyone reading this to go to this website and watch the video in the top right corner to see a beautiful video of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
I was researching the Blue Ridge Parkway when I found a website created last year for the parkway's 75th Anniversary. A symposium was held in Roanoke, VA October 14th-16h, 2010. The website below has the powerpoints which were presented during the symposium. Finding this website was great for my research because I believe it will allow me to learn the history and future of the Blue Ridge Parkway from people who are from North Carolina and Virginia. I found the quote above in the first powerpoint, which lays the foundation for the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Here is the website:
http://blueridgeparkway75.org/more-than-a-road/future-of-the-parkway
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
I was researching the Blue Ridge Parkway when I found a website created last year for the parkway's 75th Anniversary. A symposium was held in Roanoke, VA October 14th-16h, 2010. The website below has the powerpoints which were presented during the symposium. Finding this website was great for my research because I believe it will allow me to learn the history and future of the Blue Ridge Parkway from people who are from North Carolina and Virginia. I found the quote above in the first powerpoint, which lays the foundation for the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Here is the website:
http://blueridgeparkway75.org/more-than-a-road/future-of-the-parkway
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Food, Inc.
This movie is very effective in communicating the problem with the factory farm. We have seen the information from this movie before, such as in Eating Animals. But this movie communicates it more effectively because the images are stories that are right in front of us.
One thing I learned from this movie is that chicken farmers are contracted with a company such as Tyson or Perdue. If these farmers do not oblige to the demands of their company, their contract can be terminated, leaving them in debt.
After reading Eating Animals, I learned a lot about the meat industry and many of the problems associated with the factory farm. I didn't realize that the factory farm has problems outside of the meat industry. In Food, Inc., a mother shares how her son died in less than 2 weeks from E. coli. There have been numerous E. coli outbreaks associated with vegetables such as lettuce. Even after discovering that their vegetables were causing an E. coli outbreak, one industry continued selling their vegetables. These industries are just too big to deal with these issues. Instead of facing these issues, the heads of the companies just turn their heads. We already see this in Food, Inc. when Tyson and Perdue both decline being interviewed. These industries know that if people see what is really going on, they won't be happy. So they try to prevent the public from knowing. I think this is a good film for allowing the public to see what these companies don't want them to so that they can make an informed decision about the food they consume.
One thing I learned from this movie is that chicken farmers are contracted with a company such as Tyson or Perdue. If these farmers do not oblige to the demands of their company, their contract can be terminated, leaving them in debt.
After reading Eating Animals, I learned a lot about the meat industry and many of the problems associated with the factory farm. I didn't realize that the factory farm has problems outside of the meat industry. In Food, Inc., a mother shares how her son died in less than 2 weeks from E. coli. There have been numerous E. coli outbreaks associated with vegetables such as lettuce. Even after discovering that their vegetables were causing an E. coli outbreak, one industry continued selling their vegetables. These industries are just too big to deal with these issues. Instead of facing these issues, the heads of the companies just turn their heads. We already see this in Food, Inc. when Tyson and Perdue both decline being interviewed. These industries know that if people see what is really going on, they won't be happy. So they try to prevent the public from knowing. I think this is a good film for allowing the public to see what these companies don't want them to so that they can make an informed decision about the food they consume.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Place Based Education Artifact
http://www.pnas.org/content/104/16/6550.full.pdf+html
This article, "Combined climate and carbon-cycle effects of large-scale deforestation," could be used for place based education in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Carbon levels and deforestation are both pertinent to this area. Little action has been made to decrease our carbon footprint in Western NC and VA. Also, this area has many wooded areas which are vulnerable to deforestation. This article could be used to educate people in this area about the combined effects of carbon and deforestation.
This is a picture I found taken near Asheville, NC in the Pisgah National Forest.
This article, "Combined climate and carbon-cycle effects of large-scale deforestation," could be used for place based education in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Carbon levels and deforestation are both pertinent to this area. Little action has been made to decrease our carbon footprint in Western NC and VA. Also, this area has many wooded areas which are vulnerable to deforestation. This article could be used to educate people in this area about the combined effects of carbon and deforestation.
This is a picture I found taken near Asheville, NC in the Pisgah National Forest.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Richard Kahn's "Towards Ecopedagogy"
"[I]t would be a worthwhile educational venture to have students become involved in banning dolphins from the zoo (hardly a native species to Minnesota) and to have them returned to either a sanctuary or nondomesticated oceanic habitat. Instead, as of 2006, one can pay $125 to swim with the zoo’s dolphins, a practice generally condemned by marine ecologists and environmentalists/animal rightists alike as both inhumane and beyond the bounds of good environmental stewardship" (Kahn 7)
Richard Kahn discusses "outdoor education" which is based on getting students outside and learning about the natural world. Kahn argues that these programs are not sufficient because they do not make students think deeply and critically about environmentalism. This relates to my place, the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this area, there is much land that is protected by the United States Forest Service. This area contains land which is ideal for "outdoor education" programs. Upon a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, one would discover the beauty of nature and the diversity of wildlife. One would not realize the environmental effects of carbon emissions, or deforestation. Environmental education needs to make students realize environmental issues, instead of merely learning about the water cycle or types of trees.
In the above quote, Kahn describes how such outdoor programs can be counterproductive. The "Zoo School" in Apply Valley, Minnesota allows students to engage with a nearby park. However, Kahn notes that by cooperating with the park, students are supporting practices which are inhumane. Instead, students of environmental education should realize that there is a need to change these practices. The "Zoo School" reminds me of the Envirothon competition. In middle school, a club called the Envirothon club would visit forests and swamps in Western NC to learn about soil, air, and water. Instead of learning about environmental problems, we just learned about types of trees, classification of soil, etc. While this was a good educational program, it would have been better if we thought more deeply about the environment, which is what Kahn is expressing in this quote.
Richard Kahn discusses "outdoor education" which is based on getting students outside and learning about the natural world. Kahn argues that these programs are not sufficient because they do not make students think deeply and critically about environmentalism. This relates to my place, the Blue Ridge Mountains. In this area, there is much land that is protected by the United States Forest Service. This area contains land which is ideal for "outdoor education" programs. Upon a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, one would discover the beauty of nature and the diversity of wildlife. One would not realize the environmental effects of carbon emissions, or deforestation. Environmental education needs to make students realize environmental issues, instead of merely learning about the water cycle or types of trees.
In the above quote, Kahn describes how such outdoor programs can be counterproductive. The "Zoo School" in Apply Valley, Minnesota allows students to engage with a nearby park. However, Kahn notes that by cooperating with the park, students are supporting practices which are inhumane. Instead, students of environmental education should realize that there is a need to change these practices. The "Zoo School" reminds me of the Envirothon competition. In middle school, a club called the Envirothon club would visit forests and swamps in Western NC to learn about soil, air, and water. Instead of learning about environmental problems, we just learned about types of trees, classification of soil, etc. While this was a good educational program, it would have been better if we thought more deeply about the environment, which is what Kahn is expressing in this quote.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
DISCOVER YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL!
You are a Crow! (your score: 26)
Characters: Rhia, Coranna, Damen in theAspect of Crow trilogy; John in "The Wild's Call"
Powers: foreseeing death, communicating with the dead, resurrection
As a Crow, you are analytical, adaptable, and exceedingly clever. You like solving problems, sharing a hearty laugh with friends, and most of all, enjoying a good meal. Your inquisitive, philosophical nature leads you to constantly question authority and the status quo, sometimes just for the sake of asking, "Why?"
Best matches: Foxes, Wolves, Swans
Watch out for: Wolverines, Bears, Hawks
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Blue Ridge Mountains
I have lived in the western part of North Carolina for my entire life. Currently, I live in North Wilkesboro, a small town in the foothills. The majority of my extended family is either located in the foothills in Wilkesboro or on the mountains in Alleghany. This area of North Carolina attracts visitors for its many scenic views. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic route that winds along the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Virginia. If you're bored in western North Carolina and looking for cheap (and polluting) amusement, you might find yourself cruising along a section of the 469 miles long parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway which seeks to protect some of the scenic areas of Western NC and Virginia. Due to the elevation and location of the mountains, this area has very diverse vegetation. Many parks along the parkway protect the history of this area, as well as the wildlife and ecology of the mountains.
I have chosen the Blue Ridge Mountains because it is an area I have visited many times but don't know much about. I think it would be interesting to take a closer look at the history of the Blue Ridge parkway and the environmental history that accompanied the construction of the parkway along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
MythBusters Test the Emissions of Motorcycles Versus Cars
A lot of people (including myself) think that motorcycles are better for the environment than cars. MythBusters put this to the test:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html
The MythBusters concluded that "at best, it's a wash. Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars...at worst, they're far worse."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html
The MythBusters concluded that "at best, it's a wash. Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars...at worst, they're far worse."
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Writing Process
Initially, I wasn't sure what direction my paper would take. I profiled bright green environmentalism for the last writing assignment so I wanted to write about how sustainable cities are an ideal neighborhood. It was kind of difficult to figure out how I could pick a topic related to this which matched the prompt so I pushed forward by finding a bunch of sources related to sustainable cities. I had a small epiphany when I realized how sustainable cities fit in with how land use is an environmental issue. This lead me to frame my paper on the environmental issue of land use, with a focus on dense cities versus urban sprawl.
After writing almost the minimum length, I realized that I hadn't even addressed the stakeholders involved. I was able to identify a few different scenarios: 1) People live in dense cities which would require people to abandon their communities to move to the city, and 2) People remove themselves from cities and industrialization which would hurt large companies and everyone who is invested in industrialization. I chose to only write about the first scenario since in my paper, I argued that future neighborhoods should look like dense cities instead of sprawled suburbs. For this scenario, it was difficult to focus on all stakeholders and supporting my statements with sources. In order for people to transition to dense cities, families would have to move from their homes. Also, a lot of effort would have to go into the planning which allows for dense cities. With this being the only 2 stakeholders I could identify, it was difficult to focus my paper on these aspects.
After writing almost the minimum length, I realized that I hadn't even addressed the stakeholders involved. I was able to identify a few different scenarios: 1) People live in dense cities which would require people to abandon their communities to move to the city, and 2) People remove themselves from cities and industrialization which would hurt large companies and everyone who is invested in industrialization. I chose to only write about the first scenario since in my paper, I argued that future neighborhoods should look like dense cities instead of sprawled suburbs. For this scenario, it was difficult to focus on all stakeholders and supporting my statements with sources. In order for people to transition to dense cities, families would have to move from their homes. Also, a lot of effort would have to go into the planning which allows for dense cities. With this being the only 2 stakeholders I could identify, it was difficult to focus my paper on these aspects.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The Editt Tower, Singapore
If you work in a skyscraper everyday, you might seem disconnect from the world way below you. Everywhere you look there are offices upon offices and conference rooms. This environment can get bland and a bit depressing. A bright green future, will require cities to become innovative. One example of this is the planning of Editt Tower in Singapore. This 26 story building is designed to minimize the disconnect workers experience in their offices. The building will have many layers of plants and mini parks as well as natural ventilation and solar panels. I want to go visit when it's built!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Lighting Round Recap: Bright Green Environmentalism
I profiled bright green environmentalism, which is a term that was coined by environmentalist Alex Steffen in 2003. Bright green environmentalism is about using innovation to have a bright environmentally friendly future. It opposes the idea that in order to live sustainably, we must return to a primitive way of living in which we abandon technology and infrastructure. Bright green environmentalists believe that through technology, we can innovate our cities so that they are sustainable.
Alex Steffen describes a spectrum of environmentalists: bright green, light green, and dark green. Light green environmentalists is based on individuals making changes which are better for the environment, such as taking a shorter shower or being vegetarian. Light green environmentalism relies on people seeing "going green" as the cool thing to do. Dark green environmentalists rely on the idea that communities can be sustainable by using local solutions for food and energy. McKibben can be classified as a dark green environmentalist because he suggests local solutions in Eaarth. All three types of environmentalism can work together to make our world innovative and sustainable.
Alex Steffen describes a spectrum of environmentalists: bright green, light green, and dark green. Light green environmentalists is based on individuals making changes which are better for the environment, such as taking a shorter shower or being vegetarian. Light green environmentalism relies on people seeing "going green" as the cool thing to do. Dark green environmentalists rely on the idea that communities can be sustainable by using local solutions for food and energy. McKibben can be classified as a dark green environmentalist because he suggests local solutions in Eaarth. All three types of environmentalism can work together to make our world innovative and sustainable.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Lightning Round Artifact
If New York City where a state, it would be the state with the least energy use per capita. Dense cities are more efficient and use less energy than spread out suburbs.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Eaarth by Bill McKibben
Eaarth, by Bill McKibben, was an interesting read. The entire book was informative. The first two chapters describe the changes our planet have went through as a result of passing the 350 ppm mark. These changes have fundamentally altered our planet, hence the new name Eaarth. I think it's interesting how he wrote about our planet as if it is an entirely different one from the one we lived on before we passed the 350 mark. I think this was effective in showing that the problem is not just for our grandchildren, but for our parents. We already live in a different planet from our previous ones because we have changed it in so many ways. It is going to be up to us to return to 350 ppm so that our planet remains habitable.
Before reading Eaarth, I didn't think that global warming was presently causing major changes in our planet. I thought that an increase in 1 degree would have little, if no effect, on our world. However, warmer air holds more water, increasing evaporation, which makes dry areas drier and wet areas wetter. If we can lower our carbon to 350 ppm, our environment will have fewer natural disasters that are linked to global warming.
In the last half of the book, McKibben elaborates on how America has always focused on growing. Instead of focusing on growth, McKibben argues that we need to back off. Growing makes us "too big to fail" in which case we always fail because we're too big. McKibben also suggests that we think local. A lot of energy that is generated is lost in the process of distributing it. Also, food that travels farther is less fresh. We should take a local approach to energy and food by focusing on local community. I think if we begin to increase our sense of community, and take advantage of local energy and food, we will be closer to returning to the 350 ppm mark.
Before reading Eaarth, I didn't think that global warming was presently causing major changes in our planet. I thought that an increase in 1 degree would have little, if no effect, on our world. However, warmer air holds more water, increasing evaporation, which makes dry areas drier and wet areas wetter. If we can lower our carbon to 350 ppm, our environment will have fewer natural disasters that are linked to global warming.
In the last half of the book, McKibben elaborates on how America has always focused on growing. Instead of focusing on growth, McKibben argues that we need to back off. Growing makes us "too big to fail" in which case we always fail because we're too big. McKibben also suggests that we think local. A lot of energy that is generated is lost in the process of distributing it. Also, food that travels farther is less fresh. We should take a local approach to energy and food by focusing on local community. I think if we begin to increase our sense of community, and take advantage of local energy and food, we will be closer to returning to the 350 ppm mark.
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