Freeda As I shared with you the last time in class, this has been a very thought-provoking subject for me, and I find myself relating to it in my daily work and play on a constant basis now.
I pay attention to packaging for instance, and choose now to buy products that have minimal or earth-friendly packaging for example.
I pay much more attention to news articles and information regarding climate change, with the feeling that I actually CAN make changes that work towards a sustainable environment. I understand that the problem, while hugely daunting, is not insurmountable.
I guess that I'm saying that the class has given me a hope I didn't have before, and an awareness that I will carry forward and 'exude' on the people I influence and interact with.
I plan also to continue the work I've started with Cell, my service organization. I have a much deeper understanding of their mission and core motivational values. And I now wholeheartedly support and promote them.
How the time flies. Will I use what I have learned in this course in my own life? Yes, just to be more aware of my surroundings and what is going on in the world. Not being afraid of the darkness, sadness, tragedy, and inhumane things that are happening in our world today. I found different organizations that feel the same way as I do about our environments. Being okay to volunteer, and not feel like I'm giving to an organization who only wants you to work and do fundraisers in order to make a profit. Thinking just because I moved into Ukiah doesn't mean I can't keep the same practices that I had when I was out in Potter Valley. Recycling, gardening, and shopping locally. These are some of the things that I have brought back into my life.
Loretta Alexander May 1, 2008 HUM 3500 Freeda Burnstad
The Future
The future looks damn because we continue to rely on other countries resources. There is hope for the human race if they learn to go back to the basics of how to sustain themselves on local products. All the reading that I have done goes back to the one saying we need to be more sustainable. If we rely on local produces, and stop relying on other countries. Face the problems that our environment is having the global warming, relying on other countries for oil, and stop consuming so much because we really don't need it. It's that attitude keeping up with the Joneses, they have it, and I want it, which is hurting our environments.
If we continue to look at our environmental problems and take one step at a time there is hope that these problems will ease up. Trying to get other people to change their habits and look at what their bad habits are doing to the earth. I feel that we have to educate people on how much we rely on other countries resources. Educate the generation that is coming up, that are a throwaway society, and show them what our landfills are going to look like if they continue on the path they are going.
The piece that I read on Joanna Macy how there is so many organizations out there that you don't know which one to choose. It is overwhelming for people to feel that they can make a difference. They would like to give back to the earth, but there are so many problems in our environment, it is hard to choose which one you would like to volunteer for. By picking the one that is dear to your heart. Find other people that have the same vision as you do. That way you can get so much more done. The other thing I liked was don't be afraid of the dark, and that is exactly what I was doing, by not watching the news or not reading the news paper about all of the sadness that was going on in the world, I could ignore it. Now, I feel, I have to know what's going on in our environment in orders to be aware what's happening to our world.
AGAIN, our class blog does not want to take my post. It's below: (I also have sent it as an attachment!)
Can you please tell me if you got last weeks, I sent that in an email too. I just don't get it!
Recently I was listening to KMEC and made aware of the Center for Ecoliteracy. So I went to their site, "About Us":
The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living. The Center is a pioneer in providing tools, ideas, and support for combining hands-on experience in the natural world with curricular innovation in K–12 education. It administers a grant program and donor-advised funds, publishes extensively online and in print, and offers resources, seminars, and technical assistance in support of systemic change.It was founded in 1995 by Fritjof Capra, Peter Buckley, and Zenobia Barlow.
The greatest thing that I will take away from this class is the whole world of extroadinary thinkers and groups and organizations which are really doing some rich thinking about the issue of sustainability.
For instance, another excerpt from this organization reads: "People from across the United States and the world have attended Center for Ecoliteracy seminars since 2006. See where these advocates of education for sustainable living are helping young people develop the knowledge, skills, and values that will enable them to better harmonize human needs with the natural world in which we live."
And for instance the founder of this organization, Fritjof Capra has written a new book, The Science of Leonardo which is described like this: “The Science of Leonardo is a fascinating glimpse of the road not taken by Western Science. But Capra makes a compelling case that the science of the future may look a lot more like Leonardo's than Bacon's or Descartes — a science of systems, non-reductive and akin to an art.†– Michael Pollan, author of Botany of Desire and Omnivore’s Dilemma
Capra is also the author of a book called the "The Hidden Connections: A Science for Sustainable Living" and the ideas are fascinating: Read this discription:
...the author extends the framework of systems and complexity theory to the social domain and uses the extended framework to discuss some of the critical issues of our time -- the management of human organizations, the challenges and dangers of economic globalization, the scientific and ethical problems of biotechnology, and the design of ecologically sustainable communities and technologies."
In other words this man is looking at the mathematical theory of complexity, and the non linear theories of living systems as well as 20th century discovery in physics and extrapelating that it is possible for man to live sustainably if he adopts a less linear, more systems oriented way of life... Not only that but he also brings in mystical ideas from Daoism and Zen to illustrate what he means.
So... you can see, there is much in the way of environmental thought and exploration to keep the intellectual, as well as the vegetarian happy! The exploration in the fields of ecology and environmentalism are enough to keep a person occupied for a life time.
Not only that, but most people in these fields are pretty cool to be around, and if you are anywhere near working on sustainability you're bound to make a bunch of cool new friends.
I can use what I have learned in this course in my life by holding my Ecological Commitment Contract after the course ends. I can also keep volunteering at the Noyo Food Forest and try to start my own eco friendly group. I would really like to learn the proper way to compost household paper items in the soil with out leaving any toxic residue from the ink. This idea came to me from this class and learning about the devastation of our environment. I have also started a garden of my own where I live because the Noyo Food Forest inspired me to. My potato have started growing and it is very exciting.
I have been thinking about what we have learned in class and have come up with some questions on the costs of Sustainable Regulation in America. I am thinking at this point governmental regulations that force people to grow/sell organic, clean and preserve the environment, and distribute wealth more equally may be more ineffective than letting the Free Market govern itself because regulations could put farmers out of business due to the higher cost and less crop production. If we give farmers government grants it will raise our taxes, which are already going to be raised due to our deficit. Twenty percent of the population is about to retire (the baby boomers) this will also cause us the younger generation to have to pay their social security allotments thus also raising our taxes. Making more regulations for clean environmental practices could end up defeating our purpose in trying to become more sustainable. For example, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was saying on Jay Leno the other night that California was experimenting with solar energy power plants but could not build do to the fact that a threatened squirrel might live in the area. It seems we sometime hurt ourselves with regulations in our drive for a more sustainable just society. Also in the distribution of wealth if we take from the rich and give to the poor we could become less productive because people will not have to work as hard to make a living and this may make our country produce less goods and wealth making our standard of living to go down. What do you think?
As I put together my portfolio I have so many new ideas. Maybe the pressure of this final meeting is sending my frontal lobe into overdrive.
I just put two new links up on my blog...which I feel an urgent need to convey.
For one, I gotta post this site: http://www.newrules.org/retail/econimpact.html
In doing my research on the impact of Malls on small towns, I was greeted by thousands of resources (thank goodness, as I usually chose a topic so obscure the research alone makes me contemplate joining the Oxycontin crowd.)
But anyway... I need to add that one of the things I will take away from this class is my blog. Somehow I feel like I said this before, but I love my blog. It is a place to address important issues of the day and recommend informative sources (duh, the purpose of all blogs I suppose). None the less, this medium has proven quite satisfactory and allowed me to express myself as I had often wished I could.
Note to Freeda: Although my last blog isn't very exciting, I am pleased with the general writing. I think my public writing skills have improved in this class. Feedback welcome.
Let's see, because of this class I feel kinda fly, hip, bad, cool, phat, sick. No I'm not describing my current physical condition (although that Brownie Fudge Ripple ice cream didn't help last night), what I'm describing is how I feel as a result of having been plunged in the middle of the environmental/ecological/deep ecological pool of emerging trends!
It's exciting... Or it could just be the SoBe Green Tea? No, I think definitely it’s the experience!
Kathy, imagine telling your grandkids someday about how their cool Grammy picked up stuff off the beach on Earth Day ott '08.
Think of all the heavy duty reading we've done. Who knew? Diving into United Nations documents... and reading the rankings of obscure British academics going on and on and on about Pork, or something! Nonetheless, no way would I have been directed to such readings in my civilian life.
Well, I’ve run out of steam for now, again. Maybe I'll come back here before tomorrow to post another exhilarated blog about something else I can think of.
Til then, my friends and compatriots, Adieu -Christine
Egads! I keep missing the point. How will I USE what I've learned in this class...
Having gone through the Carter Adminstration during draught and gasoline lines, and having learned all about using utilities at night and picking up my own litter from a true and committed long blonde- haired hippy in the 70's named Suzanne, the impact of this class just isn't going to be that "in your face." I'm not going to preach or try and pursuade others. and as I said from the start, having consciously made the decision not to have children, I think my participation in the Zero Population Growth Movement to have been QUITE the contribution to reducing my own carbon footprint.
What I see myself doing is supporting those who want to preach and pursuade. A second tier approach. I like the behind the scenes opportunities I see opening up, i.e., charting the route of the protest march; editing the mailing list of a Slow Growth organization; donating to a radical cause; sending email to mass media; etc.
This class has given me more confidence to do such things and I come away thinking such things can make a difference.
NOW TO CRYSTAL:
Dawh-ling, really! Must you be so conservative? Leno??? Honestly!
You said:
"...if we take from the rich and give to the poor we could become less productive because people will not have to work as hard to make a living and this may make our country produce less goods and wealth making our standard of living to go down. What do you think?"
And Arnold is blaming a threatened squirrel? This is the terminology of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy... The only thing I will advise you to research is who promotes such mind numbing propaganda.
Just ask three questions if you ever look into it.
1. Are these people obscenely rich or working class? (Is Arnold working class?)
2. Have they ever once shown any sign that they give a flying flip about you, your future, or your well being. (Has Arnold ever offered to give you a lift in his limo?)
3. Do the people who spew such non-cents have anything to GAIN (directly) from their policies? Ask Arnold who's behind this "experiment with solar plants?" perhaps you find it is a friend or two from a utility company or oil executive..."
Just look into it dear. Also I recommend you look into the cause of our first international depression in about 1929. Republicans are called conservatives because they NEVER change.
Nothing against you Crystal... But Arney, is truly, not your friend.
8 comments:
Freeda
As I shared with you the last time in class, this has been a very thought-provoking subject for me, and I find myself relating to it in my daily work and play on a constant basis now.
I pay attention to packaging for instance, and choose now to buy products that have minimal or earth-friendly packaging for example.
I pay much more attention to news articles and information regarding climate change, with the feeling that I actually CAN make changes that work towards a sustainable environment. I understand that the problem, while hugely daunting, is not insurmountable.
I guess that I'm saying that the class has given me a hope I didn't have before, and an awareness that I will carry forward and 'exude' on the people I influence and interact with.
I plan also to continue the work I've started with Cell, my service organization. I have a much deeper understanding of their mission and core motivational values. And I now wholeheartedly support and promote them.
How the time flies. Will I use what I have learned in this course in my own life? Yes, just to be more aware of my surroundings and what is going on in the world. Not being afraid of the darkness, sadness, tragedy, and inhumane things that are happening in our world today.
I found different organizations that feel the same way as I do about our environments. Being okay to volunteer, and not feel like I'm giving to an organization who only wants you to work and do fundraisers in order to make a profit.
Thinking just because I moved into Ukiah doesn't mean I can't keep the same practices that I had when I was out in Potter Valley. Recycling, gardening, and shopping locally. These are some of the things that I have brought back into my life.
Loretta Alexander
May 1, 2008
HUM 3500
Freeda Burnstad
The Future
The future looks damn because we continue to rely on other countries resources. There is hope for the human race if they learn to go back to the basics of how to sustain themselves on local products. All the reading that I have done goes back to the one saying we need to be more sustainable. If we rely on local produces, and stop relying on other countries. Face the problems that our environment is having the global warming, relying on other countries for oil, and stop consuming so much because we really don't need it. It's that attitude keeping up with the Joneses, they have it, and I want it, which is hurting our environments.
If we continue to look at our environmental problems and take one step at a time there is hope that these problems will ease up. Trying to get other people to change their habits and look at what their bad habits are doing to the earth. I feel that we have to educate people on how much we rely on other countries resources. Educate the generation that is coming up, that are a throwaway society, and show them what our landfills are going to look like if they continue on the path they are going.
The piece that I read on Joanna Macy how there is so many organizations out there that you don't know which one to choose. It is overwhelming for people to feel that they can make a difference. They would like to give back to the earth, but there are so many problems in our environment, it is hard to choose which one you would like to volunteer for. By picking the one that is dear to your heart. Find other people that have the same vision as you do. That way you can get so much more done. The other thing I liked was don't be afraid of the dark, and that is exactly what I was doing, by not watching the news or not reading the news paper about all of the sadness that was going on in the world, I could ignore it. Now, I feel, I have to know what's going on in our environment in orders to be aware what's happening to our world.
Christine said:
AGAIN, our class blog does not want to take my post. It's below: (I also have sent it as an attachment!)
Can you please tell me if you got last weeks, I sent that in an email too. I just don't get it!
Recently I was listening to KMEC and made aware of the Center for Ecoliteracy. So I went to their site, "About Us":
The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living.
The Center is a pioneer in providing tools, ideas, and support for combining hands-on experience in the natural world with curricular innovation in K–12 education. It administers a grant program and donor-advised funds, publishes extensively online and in print, and offers resources, seminars, and technical assistance in support of systemic change.It was founded in 1995 by Fritjof Capra, Peter Buckley, and Zenobia Barlow.
The greatest thing that I will take away from this class is the whole world of extroadinary thinkers and groups and organizations which are really doing some rich thinking about the issue of sustainability.
For instance, another excerpt from this organization reads:
"People from across the United States and the world have attended Center for Ecoliteracy seminars since 2006. See where these advocates of education for sustainable living are helping young people develop the knowledge, skills, and values that will enable them to better harmonize human needs with the natural world in which we live."
And for instance the founder of this organization, Fritjof Capra has written a new book, The Science of Leonardo which is described like this:
“The Science of Leonardo is a fascinating glimpse of the road not taken by Western Science. But Capra makes a compelling case that the science of the future may look a lot more like Leonardo's than Bacon's or Descartes — a science of systems, non-reductive and akin to an art.â€
– Michael Pollan, author of Botany of Desire and Omnivore’s Dilemma
Capra is also the author of a book called the "The Hidden Connections: A Science for Sustainable Living" and the ideas are fascinating: Read this discription:
...the author extends the framework of systems and complexity theory to the social domain and uses the extended framework to discuss some of the critical issues of our time -- the management of human organizations, the challenges and dangers of economic globalization, the scientific and ethical problems of biotechnology, and the design of ecologically sustainable communities and technologies."
In other words this man is looking at the mathematical theory of complexity, and the non linear theories of living systems as well as 20th century discovery in physics and extrapelating that it is possible for man to live sustainably if he adopts a less linear, more systems oriented way of life... Not only that but he also brings in mystical ideas from Daoism and Zen to illustrate what he means.
So... you can see, there is much in the way of environmental thought and exploration to keep the intellectual, as well as the vegetarian happy! The exploration in the fields of ecology and environmentalism are enough to keep a person occupied for a life time.
Not only that, but most people in these fields are pretty cool to be around, and if you are anywhere near working on sustainability you're bound to make a bunch of cool new friends.
So how's that? Enough already?
I can use what I have learned in this course in my life by holding my Ecological Commitment Contract after the course ends. I can also keep volunteering at the Noyo Food Forest and try to start my own eco friendly group. I would really like to learn the proper way to compost household paper items in the soil with out leaving any toxic residue from the ink. This idea came to me from this class and learning about the devastation of our environment. I have also started a garden of my own where I live because the Noyo Food Forest inspired me to. My potato have started growing and it is very exciting.
I have been thinking about what we have learned in class and have come up with some questions on the costs of Sustainable Regulation in America. I am thinking at this point governmental regulations that force people to grow/sell organic, clean and preserve the environment, and distribute wealth more equally may be more ineffective than letting the Free Market govern itself because regulations could put farmers out of business due to the higher cost and less crop production. If we give farmers government grants it will raise our taxes, which are already going to be raised due to our deficit. Twenty percent of the population is about to retire (the baby boomers) this will also cause us the
younger generation to have to pay their social security allotments thus also raising our taxes. Making more regulations for clean environmental practices could end up defeating our purpose in trying to become more sustainable. For example, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was saying on Jay Leno the other night that California was experimenting with solar energy power plants but could not build do to the fact that a threatened squirrel might live in the area. It seems we sometime hurt ourselves with regulations in our drive for a more sustainable just society. Also in the distribution of wealth if we take from the rich and give to the poor we could become less productive because people will not have to work as hard to make a living and this may make our country produce less goods and wealth making our standard of living to go down. What do you think?
As Popeye used to say, "Garshgh!"
As I put together my portfolio I have so many new ideas. Maybe the pressure of this final meeting is sending my frontal lobe into overdrive.
I just put two new links up on my blog...which I feel an urgent need to convey.
For one, I gotta post this site:
http://www.newrules.org/retail/econimpact.html
In doing my research on the impact of Malls on small towns, I was greeted by thousands of resources (thank goodness, as I usually chose a topic so obscure the research alone makes me contemplate joining the Oxycontin crowd.)
But anyway... I need to add that one of the things I will take away from this class is my blog. Somehow I feel like I said this before, but I love my blog. It is a place to address important issues of the day and recommend informative sources (duh, the purpose of all blogs I suppose). None the less, this medium has proven quite satisfactory and allowed me to express myself as I had often wished I could.
Note to Freeda:
Although my last blog isn't very exciting, I am pleased with the general writing. I think my public writing skills have improved in this class. Feedback welcome.
Let's see, because of this class I feel kinda fly, hip, bad, cool, phat, sick. No I'm not describing my current physical condition (although that Brownie Fudge Ripple ice cream didn't help last night), what I'm describing is how I feel as a result of having been plunged in the middle of the environmental/ecological/deep ecological pool of emerging trends!
It's exciting... Or it could just be the SoBe Green Tea? No, I think definitely it’s the experience!
Kathy, imagine telling your grandkids someday about how their cool Grammy picked up stuff off the beach on Earth Day ott '08.
Think of all the heavy duty reading we've done. Who knew? Diving into United Nations documents... and reading the rankings of obscure British academics going on and on and on about Pork, or something! Nonetheless, no way would I have been directed to such readings in my civilian life.
Well, I’ve run out of steam for now, again. Maybe I'll come back here before tomorrow to post another exhilarated blog about something else I can think of.
Til then, my friends and compatriots,
Adieu -Christine
Egads! I keep missing the point. How will I USE what I've learned in this class...
Having gone through the Carter Adminstration during draught and gasoline lines, and having learned all about using utilities at night and picking up my own litter from a true and committed long blonde- haired hippy in the 70's named Suzanne, the impact of this class just isn't going to be that "in your face." I'm not going to preach or try and pursuade others. and as I said from the start, having consciously made the decision not to have children, I think my participation in the Zero Population Growth Movement to have been QUITE the contribution to reducing my own carbon footprint.
What I see myself doing is supporting those who want to preach and pursuade. A second tier approach. I like the behind the scenes opportunities I see opening up, i.e., charting the route of the protest march; editing the mailing list of a Slow Growth organization; donating to a radical cause; sending email to mass media; etc.
This class has given me more confidence to do such things and I come away thinking such things can make a difference.
NOW TO CRYSTAL:
Dawh-ling, really! Must you be so conservative? Leno??? Honestly!
You said:
"...if we take from the rich and give to the poor we could become less productive because people will not have to work as hard to make a living and this may make our country produce less goods and wealth making our standard of living to go down. What do you think?"
And Arnold is blaming a threatened squirrel? This is the terminology of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy... The only thing I will advise you to research is who promotes such mind numbing propaganda.
Just ask three questions if you ever look into it.
1. Are these people obscenely rich or working class? (Is Arnold working class?)
2. Have they ever once shown any sign that they give a flying flip about you, your future, or your well being. (Has Arnold ever offered to give you a lift in his limo?)
3. Do the people who spew such non-cents have anything to GAIN (directly) from their policies?
Ask Arnold who's behind this "experiment with solar plants?" perhaps you find it is a friend or two from a utility company or oil executive..."
Just look into it dear. Also I recommend you look into the cause of our first international depression in about 1929. Republicans are called conservatives because they NEVER change.
Nothing against you Crystal... But Arney, is truly, not your friend.
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