Reflection: Weeks 1-4

Challenging the Way I Think

Prior to this class, I had never really though too much about the environment or environmental health.  I was not too conscious about the impact I was making or the impact that I could make.  I have really been challenged in this class to look within and think globally.  Before this class, I would say I practiced a lifestyle that is unofficially referred to as "congreenience."  That is, been green only when it is convenient.  Sure, I would recycle plastic bottles, IF there was a recycling bin close by.  Now, I have acknowledged how to make a difference and have a different view of the world around me.  I also realize that there are many more aspects to becoming "green" besides just recycling.  It is all connected.

Over the past four weeks, we have covered topics including how to create a blog and the many aspects of a blog, our ecological footprint, the Balgey Outdoor classroom, some little steps that we can take to make a big difference, and more.  One significant thing that I learned about myself was how lazy I tend to be when it comes to the environment.  But I have also learned how much potential I have as an individual and that gives me hope.  The star wars activity really impacted me because I learn kinesthetically.  It put a lot of topics into perspective for me and I was able to physically see how our environment is shrinking, and that we can come up with new and creative solutions to use what we have in a more resourceful way.  Blogging is another tool that I have used only on a rare occasion.  I think this is a great way to share our thoughts on certain topics and to provide and receive feedback on our posts.  This is a unique way to learn, and it enhances the learning process.

Overall, I have a long way to go in terms of thinking and going "green."  I am just starting to begin the entire process and am learning a lot along the way.  I love that I am able to give my family members the URL to my blog so that they can share in the experience if they choose.  Every week I discover something new that I am able to pass along to them!  I hope to continue this process as we learn more about advocating for health and how we can make a difference.  This is a growing process for me and I look forward to what lies ahead in this class.

Share & Voice: Breathe Free Dilemma

Taken from the UMD website

What is your opinion?

Most of us are aware of the Breathe Free Policy at UMD that states, "Smoking is prohibited on all UMD property.  The smoking ban includes indoor facilities and the campus grounds, as well as all University vehicles."  Now, as a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), I have seen first hand the controversies surrounding this policy.  Even though we are a smoke free campus, there are still people who choose to smoke on campus grounds.  This however, is not what I would like your opinion on.  

Since we are smoke free, we no longer have receptacles for cigarette butts.  This is an effort to put an end to smoking on campus.  But, as smoking continues, what do people who smoke do with the butts?  Most of the time, the cigarette butts end up scattered on the ground.  One of the goals of the policy is to remain environmentally responsible as a campus and as a community.  So, what is the solution?  Is there a solution?  I want to hear what you think about the environmental aspect of the policy.  

More information about the policy can be found at the BreatheFree webpage.  

Read 'n' Seed 2: First Quarter of "The Fate of Nature"

For the first Read 'n' Seed, I completed Part I and Part II of "The Fate of Nature" by Charles Wohlforth.  This ended up being 13 chapters and 116 pages.  The first part mainly discusses some history of Alaska and attempts to define humans and human nature.  In the first seven chapters, Wohlforth challenges the reader to really think about themselves and think about past events that have lead us to where we are today in terms of our relationship with the earth.  In Part II, he moves on to discuss the Enlightenment period in Alaska and influences of that time.  He tells the story of Captain Cook discovering Alaska and ends with a preview discussion based on conservation.  The next part of the book will go in depth about how conservation started and why we should care.  All of this is a philosophical way to look at how we treated the earth in the past, and the implications for the future.

While I was reading, I found myself thinking in a metaphysical way.  Wohlforth almost drew it right out of me.  What is reality?  How do we know?  What is human nature?  In the beginning, one topic that stood out to me the most was the Chugach people the inhabited Prince William Sound.   They believed in the spirit and connection of everything in life.  As we might walk over the grass and rocks as if they are nothing, the Chugach people see each blade of grass and each pebble to have a life, a meaning, a purpose, and a connection to us.  Even driftwood was viewed as a gift from a higher power because it could be reused in a new way.  This mindset really stood out to me in Wohlforth's illustration because I wanted to know how we grew so far away from that school of thought.  I began to realize why this book is important to read and how I could learn from it.

Wohlforth writes about cultures such as the Chugach people so that we can learn from their history.  He stresses that we need to look into our past as a nation and an environment if we want to move forward.  I have only skimmed the surface so far in the text, but I see where he is going with it.  We cannot just be selfish and pretend that what we do does not impact the world around us.  Wohlforth talks about people being blind and living in a state of their own "blindness."  We are all blind to certain things, simply because we do not know or have not discovered them yet.  However, we have evidence and proof of how the environment is crumbling because of our every day actions.  How can we be so blind to something that we have seen?  Because it is easier to be blind than to open our eyes and make a difference.  This is such a simple concept, and yet, it is so essential for us to understand, especially in the context of this class.  We must take the blinders off to look into the past and the future and understand that we are connect and we do make a difference.

I am excited to see where Wholforth take me in the following chapters.  I know it seems a little bit like rambling and is more philosophical than factual, but that is his style when he writes.  I hope you all can follow what I said and pull out the main message.

Share & Voice: Miniature Earth

(Taken from the miniature earth website)

This is a video called Miniature Earth that I watched for a class last year.  I think it relates to what we are currently talking about in class.  This video shrinks the earth down to a population of 100 people and shows different statistics on a variety of topics.  When you watch the video, think about the Star Wars activity we did in class and think of the people who ended up not fitting into the square at first because the people in the middle (including myself) were just focused on themselves.  In the context of this video, see which statistics you would be on the inside of the square for, and which ones would place you on the outside.  

For example, when it says "18 live with an improved water source," I would be on the inside.  When you watch, think about what you are doing or could be doing to help the people on the outside.  Which number stood out to you the most?  Which number do you think we as a population could change by making a daily effort?  Which numbers do you feel are out of your control?  What was your overall reaction to/impression of the video?  

I hope you are able to take something from this video as we continue to learn.  It is not meant to put down anyone's lifestyle, but merely to put things into perspective.  Thanks for watching!

Eye Opener: Ecological Footprint

I always hear people talking about our "ecological footprint" but I have never fully understood what it meant.  I see now that our ecological footprint is basically a comparison of how much we use up the earth's resources, to how fast the earth can regenerate them.  Once I learned about ecological footprints, I took a couple quizzes that calculated my personal footprint.

One of the quizzes that I completed was the Earth Day Network Footprint Calculator.  I found out that for the way I live, I use up the earth's resources four times faster than it can regenerate them.  Four times!  It would also take 17.8 global acres of the earth's productive areas to support my lifestyle.  In my footprint breakdown, you can see that a lot of my footprint comes from different services.  This is followed by food and goods.

My Results (Scary)  

Just looking at my results, I am pretty shocked.  I cannot believe that it would take 4 planet earths to support my lifestyle!  What if everyone lived like I do?  This shows how every single one of us really do impact the earth.  If all of us lived like I do, it would be a sad, sad day.  But, this also offers some hope.  If we all choose to reduce our footprint, then we can make a difference too.  Individuals can work together for a positive change.  This goes to show for all of us, including myself, who think that our use of resources does not really matter in the bigger picture, that it DOES matter.  All of us add up.

Clearly, I need to reconsider some of the choices in my lifestyle.  Simple things such as carpooling, reducing shower time, buying less packaged/processed foods, and buying locally produced products, could significantly reduce my ecological footprint.  I would definitely reconsider adjusting all of these things, but not all at the same time.  I would probably start with one or two, perhaps carpooling and reducing shower time, and then build from there.  For my lifestyle, I think that is a more realistic goal.  After taking this quiz, I will keep the image of the four globes in my mind.  It is almost eerie to think of how much damage one can do to our planet.  This truly was an eye opener.