Environment in the News

Every year our world temperatures keep reaching all time highs. Summers are longer and our winters are warmer than ever. According to the New York Times and NASA, 2009 was the second warmest year since 1988. According to James E. Hansen, director of NASA, this is do to the change in the cooling and heating system of the ocean. Hansen also said “we find global warming is continuing unabated”. I agree with him, global warming is an issue that affects us and the future generations. As the New York Times stated global warming is the most complicated issue faced by word leaders. This is not an issue we can just forget about. We are talking of the melting of the North Pole, and scientists are not sure how to predict or fix this issue. The burning of fossil fuels and forests is not going to stop any time soon. Car companies and other corporations are trying to cut down on the use of this resource and find better energy alternatives, but it’s not enough. The article by Andrew c. Reckin stated that President Obama and other leaders are planning to reach a placeholder to educate companies on emission of these gases and to help developing nations adapt to changing climates and access nonpolluting energy sources. The buildup of green house gasses is a reality and our generation is trying to cover this fact. In the article by John Broder he said “climate scientists and political leaders affirmed what they called a broad-based consensus that the planet was growing warmer, and on a consistent basis, although with measurable year-to-year variations”. They are trying to find out how quickly the earth is warming up and the change of temperatures year after year. A fact that we cannot hide is that we are being selfish, for the simple fact that our generation and maybe our kids are going to be able to live under these circumstances, but what about our grandkids and future generations.

You can find the original article at:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier#

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/science/earth/22warming.html?hpw

Field Trip #1

A self guided field trip was not something I had on my to do list this semester, but I decided to be more optimistic about this experience. I open my mind to do something different, as I arrived to school I engage on my walk to the nature field. I had my camera and clothes to get down and dirty. I took my fist picture in front of the sign, that seen simple. As I walk into the trail I realize you kind of make you own way, you decide where you go. I started my reflection on the fact that there were a lot of different trail to take on, just like life brings us different opportunist and experiences. I felt lonely, forgotten just like the tress and leaves on the floor. I was alone and I could hear my own thought with no interruptions. There was no car, no plugs, and no interference of any kind. I could hear nature and also feel the rain coming down on me. As I walk through the mud and I was getting soak by the rain, I realize I did not care. I was able to escape my everyday life for a few hours that felt like never ending. I was relaxed and there were no interruptions of my thinking. I’ll be honest walking in the wilderness without knowing where I was going is not my favorite thing to do on Saturday morning, but I experience nature like never before.

Florida Gulf Coast University has created an environment that keeps a stability of the natural environment that was preexisting in the area. The school is enforcing the use of green design to preserve the environment that the school is located. At the same time by doing this they are trying to reduce the damage been done to the environment. The placement of solar panels to produce energy is a good way to reuse natural resources. The school is trying to keep the ecological foot print to a minimum. They also educating the students to appreciate and enjoy nature. By establishing knowledge is up to us to conserve the environment for our self and future generations.

I only been in this class for about two week, but it such a short time it has created a great awareness of the environment. I knew we were harming the environment, but I never realize the damage is becoming permanent and if we don’t do something to help it may be too late. Know that I’m more knowledgeable and I have more tool to help the environment I will do everything in my power to protect and help the environment.

Reflection of my choice

I wanted to reflect on the section title “The Third Frontier”, some of the points that Richard Louv is trying to makes us reflect on are very true. He introduces us to the different frontiers we have seen throughout time. I kind of find myself in this great article. I do feel personally that I have turned away from what nature and all we care about is to update our I-phones and see who has left us a comment on facebook. Even television talks and markets how a blackberry can be our missing limb. We have become a society that depends or our cell phones and emails. Richard Louv introduces us to the first frontier who never had to experience the technological advantages we have today; they did everything by trial and error. This is something we don’t really think about in today’s world. Richard Love talks about the characteristics of the third frontier and he makes a point that is very true “the third frontier is characterized by his technology”. We can see it every day people can keep of a phone or restrain from texting someone. What have turn our life’s in to, we have become slaves of our electronic devices. Our fashion has also a great point he brings up. We are determent to establish our self in society, we don’t distinguish our self’s by our education or values. The new frontier wants to makes them self different by how many tattoos or piercing we have on our bodies.

I also think that we have lost the true meaning of preserving the environment. We seem to destroy our wild lives by hunting and fishing. We need to preserve our animals and nature for future generations to enjoy, we have become a selfish society and all we care about is our self and no one else. On the other hand we have lost the value and the ethic that should be used when we are dealing with life. He states “Even the definition of life itself is up for grabs” this is very true. We are always looking for the next new thing to clone or reproduce body parts. We are trying to play God and I don’t think that was his original plan. We have come up with animal testing, stem cells, etc. I don’t want to argue about the fact that some of these procedures and invention, but I do want to know where we are planning to draw the line.

Sense of Place - My Neighborhood

It’s very true that we don’t know where we are until we are there. Where I feel a sense of place, although is not the most comfortable place or perhaps the most enjoyable activity. I uploaded some pictures of the trails I take my run every day. I get to see the squirrels jump and clime from tree to tree. The ducks just walk around and swim with nothing to worry about and the bird just sing good morning melodies. Also the morning wind comes and hits my face. The morning dawn is fresh on the grass and the plants. As I jog I can hear nature giving me words of encouragement, cheering me up to finish the trail. Also taking in to consideration half way through the trail there is no turning back there is only one entrance and one exit forcing you to finish in a way.

Incoming Reflection

My initial expectation of colloquium is to have a better understanding of nature. Become more familiarize with the environment and it issues. I haven’t really had many or any encounters with nature in my life. The closes I have ever come to experience nature have been when I have gone to play paintball in the woods with my friend. We usually choose a secreted and far from civilization to be sure we are not going to hurt any one. We divide in to team a search for each other, but my point is as follows. As we search for each other we get to hear and participate the noises of nature. The wind brushing against the leaves on the palmetto trees; as well as, the crunch of the leaves and dead plant that is on the floor. As we walk trough nature made trail we can see the ant and lizards run away from this encounter with society. When we find a good spot we lay on the ground, and just wait for the pray (the other 2 man team). In many occasions I can feel the ants clamming on me like I was part of their environment.

My relation with the natural world is not very broad and I don’t thing I have had many encounters with it. I spend a lot of time out door in my child hood, but as I became older I was the time for this activities’ has decrease. Unfortunately in today’s world, work and other activities take way from the time we should spend out doors. I am part of that group of people that because of work and other reason have no time to experience the great out door.

My personal goal and main reason to take this class is to have a better understanding the environment and also of the nature surrounding South West Florida. I hope this class creates a greater awareness of the environment. I can have a greater appreciation for the natural resources we have left. Also I hope to be more conscious of my action and how they can harm the environment, at the same time do something to correct them.