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Reading Response #15

Kaylin Wright 

November 29, 2020

Personal Reflection

Service-learning being a mandatory component of FGCU’s curriculum is definitely a new concept for me. At my previous school we had no volunteer requirements, and I was essentially done with my general education classes. While I was slightly upset that I had to take additional classes in order to complete my degree, I am surprised that all schools do not make service-learning a requirement. The group project that I was in with Caitlin and Devon delt with the Humane Society Naples. We choose this community partner because we had reached out to other organizations and this was the only one to respond. Our objective was to raise money in order to purchase various items on the organization’s wish list. We ended up raising over $200 and buying two cat trees, three bags of cat/dog food, wet cat food, and pill pockets. Tracey, the volunteer coordinator that we worked with was extremely thankful for our efforts and we all wished that we could have contributed to in person more than just by buying necessities. Overall, I think that all three of us are satisfied with the work that we were able to complete on this project, especially considering the pandemic.

The mission of the organization is to provide a safe and friendly temporary home for stray or abandoned animals. They emphasize education of pet owners so that there can be an eventual decline in the number of animals in shelters. They do so by holding outreach programs that educate on the importance of pet sterilization. Their clinic even offers little to no cost pet sterilization and they require that every pet must be sterilized before leaving the shelter (“About Humane Society Naples,” n.d., para. 2). This relates to sustainability because, the more animals that are in shelters, the less likely shelters will be able to practice sustainable habits. Taking care of animals is a costly task, especially when there are hundreds.  Therefore, shelters will tend to depend on donations and buy more products over less with higher quality. Shelters have become greener as technology has progressed, but because there are more animals that need homes than there is room in shelters, sustainability is not the priority. That is why shelters like the Humane Society Naples are pushing for pet owners to sterilize their pets. If all pet owners sterilized their pets, then shelters may be able to focus on other aspects like sustainability, or eventually not be needed at all. This project relates to many topics that we all discussed in class based on the textbook. For example, “Green Buildings” and Sites relate to the improvements in the way shelters are built in comparison to the past. Another example involves the sections “Products” and “Waste and Recycling” where shelters could be more sustainable if there were less animals in need of homes. Shelters could focus on purchasing recyclable toys and try to buy food that is organic and produced in a more ecofriendly way. The textbook states, “Organizations that are leaders in sustainability change maintain a constant stream of communication to all the members of the organization and often to outside stakeholders as well” (Robertson, 2017, p. 306). This explains how there can be a lot of influence between organizations. For whatever reason, our society works in a way where people will follow if certain people or groups tell them to. Therefore, organizations with a lot of influence must be the leaders in making sustainability a priority and if organizations like animal shelters can do it, then other organizations certainly can. I hope to one day work in the marine biology career field and this service-learning project will motivate me to remember that sustainability applies to every type or job or organization. There can always be improvement in habits and no matter how much good someone does, that good may not always be good for the environment. I have learned that everyone should be held accountable for making the world a more sustainable place.

References

Humane Society Naples. (n.d.). About Humane Society Naples. https://hsnaples.org/about/

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

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Reading Response #14

Kaylin Wright 

November 11, 2020

Waste and Recycling 

One of the easiest ways for people to contribute to fixing global warming is to lower their waste output and to recycle as much as possible. Robertson (2017) talks about an idea called “zero waste” and it states that,

Zero Waste involves rethinking the entire pro-duction and wasting system. This approach considers the entire life cycle of a product when analyzing its costs. It stresses prevention, recognizing that it is more efficient and healthier to prevent waste formation in the first place than to treat waste after it has formed. At its core, Zero Waste acknowledges that humans are part of the natural world. (p. 289)

I really appreciate this concept; however, I do not think it is practical to think that a transition to this would be fast. I would not say that I do the greatest at recycling, but I do try my best. It can be difficult to recycle because not everything can be recycled. Looking at my list it does not look like I produce much waste, but I excluded some of the given waste, like toilet paper and paper towels. Most of my waste comes from food or plastics that the food comes from. This week was probably me at my least wasteful.

I hope that in the future I will get better at recycling and declining my waste output, I want to eventually only use reusable containers for food. I also want to get away from buying products that have only one usage. For instance, there are some cleaning product companies that provide glass bottles and pill-like droplets that can be dropped into water to make the cleaner. This was really cool to me because all of their products come in recyclable packaging. The company is called BlueLand. Even though recycling can be hard, it is important for people to at least try their best to do as much as they can for the environment. If everyone does even the slightest bit to improve the current conditions, there is a chance for positive change to occur.

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

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Reading Response #13

Kaylin Wright

November 4, 2020

Products 

        I think people often forget or just do not realize that the products we buy are full of components that may be harmful to the environment. Kids toys, clothes, cars, etc. all are made of nonrenewable resources. According to Robertson’s (2017):

Products are full of hidden contaminants, and their total life cycles have many additional contaminants embedded. One of the steps in greening a product is to be sure the materials from which it is made are not harmful to life. Some choices are obvious, such as avoiding materials and components made with PVC, bisphenol A (BPA), formaldehyde, benzene, or lead. (p. 261)

The more I think about it the more I realize just how many products contain plastics and they are all mass produced. It is troubling to think about how many toys are probably thrown out or are not capable of being recycled. I think that this is a huge problem and the main companies that produce these products need to adjust their policies so that they can produce products that are less harmful to the environment. Some toy companies have been trying to cut back on their plastic output, like LEGOs and some doll producing companies (Brown, 2019, para. 7). Since many toys are made of plastic an article by Lindsay Brown for BBC News also explains how it may be worth it to investigate if your local recycling plant will take the toys. The problem with that is how people have tendencies to not put more effort in expanding their recycling knowledge, also many people may assume that they cannot be recycled. There needs to be adjustments in both the way companies produce products and in the way that people deal with those products after they no longer want them. This issue with plastics is another way of confirming that pollution and climate change are not going to be solved overnight. There are a lot of sub problems in addition to the more mainstream problems like Big Oil and CO2 emissions. People need to learn how to be patient and they need to be willing to learn so that real change can start happening.  

 References

Brown, Lindsay. (2019, April 11). Plastic toys: Is it time we cut back?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47868871

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

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Reading Response #12

Kaylin Wright

October 28, 2020

Food

           Food is an essential part of life for human beings. The plethora of food that is available to people who live in the United States is insane. The people within this country have no idea how lucky we are to have such an expansive source for food. With that in mind, people do not really consider where their food may come from and they may not consider the overall quality of food. When I was in high school my physical education class had a section on food, and we watched a documentary that would forever change my view of the food I consume. The documentary we watched was called Food, Inc. directed by Robert Kenner (2008) showed me the harsh reality when it came to how food is treated in America. Food is a part of some of the largest industries in America and this documentary displayed the intentions of big names in food. For example, Tyson Foods has large chicken farms that are less than humane. The part of the documentary where this is shown is around the 8:00 minute mark. The chickens are pumped with hormones that cause them to grow at an increased pace and they grow much larger than natural chickens. They also are packed within small spaces and are essentially treated like factory products, not living beings. Robertson’s (2017) textbook explains:

Factory farms and feedlots come under criticism for a variety of reasons. Some critics raise environmental objections because these facilities produce large quantities of waste containing bacteria, chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones, with runoff that can pollute both surface water and groundwater. Some critics note the impacts on human health. Factory farm waste has been connected to outbreaks of disease in several states. Animals in feedlots suffer emotional stress from living conditions and physical stress from being forced to eat monotonous diets of corn or feed pellets, which their systems have not evolved to digest. (p. 226)

If the animal cruelty aspect was not already a problem, there are also a significant amount of moral issues with factory farming. The hormones and steroids that get pumped into these animals can create health issues within humans, because just like anything, too much of something is not always positive. Whether its plants that are packed with preservatives or gigantic chickens, these products are not made for the health of human beings. They are made because there is a high demand for a product and said product is not always made in a close proximity to the consumer. The food industry like many others is a monetary focused group of companies. The issue is not if change can be made, it is the question if companies are willing to change for the betterment of society. But that could go with any large industry, for instance the oil industry. Until the majority of individuals expresses a demand for better quality, there will be no change and in order to get change, people need to be educated about these issues.

 References

Kenner, R. (Director). (2008). Food, Inc. [Documentary]. Participant Media.

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

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Reading Response #11

Kaylin Wright 

October 21, 2020

Livable Cities

I never would have expected urban living to be a solution to lack of sustainability in today’s society. Of course, there is always a right and wrong way to do this, such as forcing all of humanity to be packed into one area like sardines. What I interpreted from this chapter of the book was an idea of adapting to more modes of sustainability without moving residential locations. The book talked about this specifically and called it Smart Growth:

Smart growth is an approach to urban planning that is the antithesis of sprawl. It accommodates growth by locating development in city centers and older suburbs with existing infrastructure in ways that preserve open space and natural resources while supporting and revitalizing existing cities. Smart growth developments are compact, walkable, bikeable, and transit-oriented, with a mix of uses, housing types, and affordability levels. (p. 215)

I like the concept of not necessarily taking away from what is already build, but instead improving and rebuilding in areas where people have already established their residency.  Some examples of cities where this is utilized are Arlington, Virginia; Storrs Center in Mansfield, Connecticut; and Holland, Michigan. (“Smart Growth Principle Examples,” n.d.).

Smart Growth could possibly be positive for the economy because there will be smaller, but more frequent places for food and necessities. This could leave room for small business owner and privately owned small farm. There will most likely be more jobs because individuals will be more responsible for their everyday needs. It may sound like a dying concept, but it does seem like a smart way to create more sustainability within society. In addition to that, it will also most likely be a healthier form of living. Large companies will have a decrease in ability to mass produce and the need for preservatives will decrease. The only issue I can find within this idea is that not all areas are made for this form of living. There will defiantly need to be numerous trials and adjustments made in order to develop this so that it works in multiple environments.  

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Smart Growth Principle Examples. (n.d). SmartGrowth.org. Retrieved October 21, 2020, From https://smartgrowth.org/smart-growth-principle-examples/

 Price, J. D. (n.d.). Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, Arlington, Virginia, America [Photograph]. Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/theodore-roosevelt-bridge-arlington-virginia-royalty-free-image/1209484354?adppopup=true

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Reading Response #10

Kaylin Wright 

October 21, 2020

Green Buildings & Sites

In the past year, I have become more aware of the effects that construction and expansion have on the environment. It seems like much of the business centered world is still unaware of its impacts because new construction is being conducted on a daily basis. I live in Cape Coral when I am not at FGCU and there is constant expansion when it comes to new residential homes and condos. The most troubling part for me is the fact that over half of the individuals who buy the land to build their house do not even live in it for more than a few months per year. It also seems like those same individuals are the main drivers for economic stability within that community. Up until I moved here, I was unaware of a certification called LEED. “LEED certification provides third-party verification that a building’s design, construction, and operation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use water and energy efficiently, minimize environmental impact, promote social equity, and promote economic viability” (Robertson, 2017, p.184). I found this extremely interesting and I appreciate the effort FGCU has put forth in order to build a more sustainable campus. Although I am concerned with the expansion occurring in Florida, I cannot help but point out the difference between FGCU and my previous university. Old Dominion University (ODU) is known to have one LEED certified building and it is the Engineering and Computational Sciences Building (“Engineering and Computational Sciences Building is the First LEED Certified Building,” n.d.). Other than that, there is one additional building that practices sustainability. In comparison to FGCU, ODU is practically doing nothing for sustainability. FGCU has nine LEED certified buildings, with one being a platinum certified building (“LEED Certified Buildings,” n.d.).

They even make a point to explain the level of certification each building has; this makes me personally feel good about going to school here. I hope that other universities make sustainable choices like FGCU when it comes to construction.

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Buildings & Site Locations. (n.d.). FGCU.edu. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/facilities/buildings-sitelocations

Sustainability Assessment. (n.d.). ODU.edu. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from https://www.odu.edu/life/sustainable/sustainability

Florida Gulf Coast University [@FGCU]. (2020, July 17). #SeidlerHall [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCvjXGiATrZ/

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Reading Response #9

Kaylin Wright

October 13, 2020

Energy

     One of the big competitors against global warming is renewable energy. Some examples of renewable energy sources are solar power, geothermal power, etc. (Robertson, 2017, p.165 & 168). An interesting topic within the conversation of renewable energy deals with transportation and the alternatives to traditional natural gas-powered vehicles. There has been a significant amount to damage due to vehicle emissions and over all extraction of fossil fuels from the earth. Robertson (2017) states:

A range of approaches will be needed to redirect this trajectory. One strategy is to improve vehicle efficiency and thus burn less fuel in the trips we do take, for example by redesigning drive trains and by using ultralight materials. Another approach is to reduce vehicle miles traveled by providing public transportation options and by rethinking our urban planning and land use decisions so that travel is less necessary. A third approach is to find other energy sources as alternatives to fossil fuels. Alternatives include electricity, biofuels, hydrogen and fuel cells. (p. 171)

Referring to the part of the quote that talks about alternatives to fossil fuels, electric powered cars are a difficult concept for me to get behind. The electric cars that are utilized today use lithium ion batteries. They like regular household batteries require a specific mode of recycling in order for them to be disposed of properly. If the batteries are not recycled, they can be just as potentially dangerous as fossil fuels. The only way for electric vehicles to work in this system would be for them to be recycled and repurposed over time. “We’ll inevitably need to recycle many of the batteries but harvesting useful materials from used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles remains tedious and risky” (Calma, 2019).  Further research will inevitably need to be conducted in order for there to be a more efficient way to dispose of and recycle lithium ion batteries. If  these batteries are improperly disposed of they will, “run the risk of going through a process called “thermal runaway,” which is basically a chemical reaction in the battery that can cause it to heat up, potentially to the point of burning or exploding” (Calma, 2019).  That would allow for all of the materials from the battery to go into the surrounding environment, poisoning the life around it. Therefore, saying that electric cars will fix the issues dealing with nonrenewable energy for transportation, is not exactly correct. Like much of the ways people are trying to prevent further global warming damage, there needs to be more research so that these methods can do more sustainable good. Sustainability is the key to making sure that the Earth heals, a temporary fix will not fix the root of the issue.

References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Calma, J. (2019, November 6). The electric vehicle industry needs to figure out its battery problem. Theverge.com. https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/6/20951807/electric-vehicles-battery-recycling

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Reading Response #8

Kaylin Wright 

October 7, 2020

Pollution

One of the biggest issues within global warming is pollution and it “is an unwanted substance that is harmful” (Robertson, 2017, p. 133). While pollution affects the Earth and all of the organisms that live in it, the solution is not as simple of a fix as just halting the creation of pollutants. Humanity is very dependent on the goods and services that create these pollutants. For example, quick transportation, any purchasable food products, and all technology. These may not seem like “must haves” but society is past primitive times and without these resources people would probably not survive. The world runs on money and it has been shown in history that money is somewhat of a necessity. Therefore, any solution to pollution, is not an exact fix. It is more like a delay of the inevitable. That is unless there are some extreme leaps in sustainable energy. With the current political environments that run the Earth a decision to move forward with more sustainable and green energy does not seem in reach. A quote by Robertson (2017) explains this well by stating:

The goal of remediation is either to break down pollutants to concentrations that are undetectable or to break them down to concentrations that are below the limits established as safe by regulatory agencies. However, even the best remediation is not optimal. Even 99.9999 percent clean is not the same as 100 percent. (p. 153)

This essentially says that the Earth can never return to its original and clean state, pre-humankind. I agree with this idea to a point, however the Earth is extremely resilient and just because it may not heal in our lifetime does not mean that it can not heal over long periods of time. Due to events like super volcanoes and meteor impacts that the Earth previously recovered from, it is just hard to believe that it is not possible for full recovery. That being said, if humans want to survive for an extended period of time there has to be change or else, we will kill the Earth that we currently know and not see the progress past our destruction. Movement to a cleaner world is undoubtably going to be slow, but that is why every little bit of effort helps. I make a point every time I go to the beach to bring a bag for trash, especially if I intend on utilizing the water for things like entertainment and food. Starting small is at least a start and the more individuals make it a priority, the more large industries will get involved so that they still get their money. I hope that people will begin to try to preserve the Earth and treat it like we live with it, not like it was made for us.

Resources

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Wright, K. (2020).  [Photo of Fort Myers Beach] [Photograph]. Personal Photo

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Reading Response #7

Kaylin Wright 

September 30, 2020

Ecosystems and Habitat

This section of the book explains something I found to be an extremely important point when it comes to arguments about climate change. It explains how there is a difference between natural climate change and climate change due to habitat ruin. The Earth goes through natural cycles of heating and cooling. This has been seen though events such as the ice age and the transition to recorded history. Therefore, the extinction of certain species was expected for that time. Animals like mammoths lost their habitats due to warming temperatures. This caused significant population loss and ultimately caused them to lose their genetic integrity. Mammoth populations most likely decreased to a point where they were extremely inbreed making them susceptible to various diseases (Geggle, 2020). There are also beliefs that humans caused the extinction of mammoths, but even if that is the case, humans did not cause the extinction in the same ways that extinctions are being caused today.

Human ancestors stopped interacting with the world in a natural sense after the homosapiens species was developed. The intelligence that produced machinery and fossil energy usage, also produced pollution and overexpansion. “A great deal of habitat can be lost not through outright destruction but through a process known as habitat fragmentation. Fragmentation happens when a road or other human activity divides a large habitat patch into two or more smaller patches. Fragmentation does not just make patches smaller, it changes their makeup” (Robertson, 2017, p. 111). This quote stood out to me because it really shows how the ecosystems on Earth are affected by any change, no matter how small. Humans build and expand all of the time and this ultimately affects all of the sub-ecosystems that are being developed on. Climate change runs much deeper than just burning fossil fuels and greenhouse gases. The extinctions of many endangered animal species are going to continue to occur unless people acknowledge all of the areas of climate change.  

  References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Geggel, L. (2020, February 12). The last woolly mammoths on Earth had disastrous DNA. LiveScience.com. https://www.livescience.com/woolly-mammoth-genetic-problems.html#xenforo-comments-842

Shutterstock. (2020). The last woolly mammoths on Earth were a sickly bunch. [edited Photograph]. LiveScience.com. https://www.livescience.com/woolly-mammoth-genetic-problems.html

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Reading Response #6

Kaylin Wright

September 23, 2020

Water

Water is a necessity to most life on earth. Like many resources, water is not always readily available, and it has to be transferred over to places and populations that may have a lack of water. Drought has become a significant problem in dry regions of the United States, and this can surely be blamed on climate change; however, there is a direct place that the blamed can be distributed to. Human interference with natural water systems and overall societal expansions can be blamed for the extreme droughts, water shortages, and wildfires in the United States. My grandpa has lived in Mariana, Florida for his whole life and he is currently seventy-five. He has seen the construction of interstate 10 that runs through land that he used to farm on. He said that since the installment of that interstate that there has been a significant decrease in rain on the opposing side of the highway; of which, is a few miles away from where he lives. He explained that the reason why there are droughts in parts of northern Florida is because the highways radiate so much heat that they evaporate most of the rain that tries to travel past the highway. I found this extremely interesting and I wanted to see if there were any scientific article online that may explain this phenomenon. I found that there was not much surface information online about this issue. It makes me question why we automatically blame vehicle emission and individual practice instead of putting more blame on large companies and the government for the Earth’s changing climate.

Reading chapter six in the book I found a similar, larger scale scenario in California dealing with the Central Valley Project. The Central Valley Project is a large water transportation system that moves water from northern California to southern California. The book explains how, “Continued water extraction from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in northern California has taken a growing environmental toll on endangered salmon, smelt, and larger ecosystems. Cutbacks in water shipments in an effort to protect these endangered species have taken a financial toll on farmers. Moving all that water requires a large amount of energy and releases carbon emissions” (Robertson, 2017, p. 91).

This situation seems like a double negative in both an environmental sense and in a financial sense. I find it interesting that California is largely a democratic state and yet it is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Before reading the book, I was unaware of the Central Valley Project and how it contributes to climate change. I think that large companies need to be held more accountable for their hand in climate change and that people need to educate themselves more on how where they live is affecting climate change in the United States.

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Water Education Foundation. (2020, September 23). Central Valley Project. Watereducation.org. https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/central-valley-project

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Reading Response #5

Kaylin Wright

September 16, 2020

Climate

Climate is currently one of the many significant topics being talked about throughout the world. There is disbelief, concern, and fear that comes with talking about and viewing the current world climate. Climate change has become a large political and social issue within the last few years. Some people are activists and they want to fight climate change and there are others who do not believe that climate change is real. Without getting political, the easiest way to fight climate change is to reduce your carbon footprint. The carbon footprint test that was assigned, would have been more eye opening if the questions were less specific. However, that opinion may only apply to people like me because I am not completely aware of the amount of different gases that my current home utilizes. I also do not know the specifics of every secondary entity that I use. Therefore, I do not believe that my total metric tons of carbon dioxide emission is 2.86.

A quote from the textbook that stuck out to me in this section was, “Many businesses view climate destabilization as not only an ethical mandate but also as a business threat and business opportunity. Companies assess potential financial risks that may arise from increased fire, severe storms, water shortages, or disruption of supply chains; risks from costs they may incur if regulations to curb emissions are enacted; and risks from loss of market share if they are perceived negatively by customers” (Robertson, 2017, p. 79). While I agree that many businesses use climate change as a way to morally grow their company, I also know that some businesses do not care about the harm that they may cause to the planet. Certain large companies focus on the present and disregard the harm that their products produce. In addition, some companies may stage as ecologically sustained, when they are owned by some of the most destructive businesses in the world. Even though the world does go through periodical heating and cooling, these large businesses that emit millions of chemicals and pollutants per year, speed up that process. It is important to up lift the companies that are trying to help the planet, but it is just as important to call out the ones who hide their mass destruction with a few good companies.  

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Carbon Footprint Ltd. (2015-2020). Carbon Calculator. Carbonfootprint.com. https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx.

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Reading Response #4

Kaylin Wright

September 9, 2020

Human Sphere

           Human begins have a tendency to self-place themselves on a pedestal over the rest of the universe. It is understood that not all people feel this way, but it does seem like people with significant power in society gravitate toward an idea of self-gratification. In addition, when it comes to Earth preservation and global warming people like to stand by the notion that ignorance is bliss. While it is easier to live this way and to just ignore the issues that the world is currently facing, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stand idle and do nothing. Especially, when it is possible for destruction to occur within my own lifetime. Based on the ecological footprint test by The Global Footprint Network, I am about 3.2 earths below the average amount of Earths a person in the United States requires. I initially had about 3 Earths until I utilized the option that allowed me to add more details. I was not as surprised as I was disappointed in the fact that had more than one Earth. It puts into perspective that there is always more that can be done. This screenshot, from the website shows my first results page (Global Footprint Network, 2003).

The second results page provided more in-depth detail on my carbon and ecological footprint. The thing that sticks out to me the most is the food category. The food industry is definitely an area where people forget to think about how their consumption may affect the environment. Saying that everyone should go vegan is like telling everyone that they should not drive their 2003 minivan when it is their only mode for transportation to work. People do not live in the same environments and just because one way of life is easily accessible to you does not mean it is that way for everyone. People may not be able to go vegan because of health issues and the individual with the van may not be able to get to work any other way. A trend within both issues is money. It can be expensive to eat as a vegan or vegetarian, especially if you live in an area where it is not common. Also, not everyone can afford a fuel efficient or electric car. I am privileged enough to be able to know that I can do more to help the Earth. For example, I can reduce my consumption of processed food and meat products. I could also try to decrease my mileage by getting a bike and riding that instead of driving my car and taking the bus. I am more than capable of doing these actions, I just have to make a point to actually do it. This is the second set of results from the website (Global Footprint Network, 2003).

The United states is a leader in the ecological and carbon footprint percentage. This is particularly concerning because the current political environment is also in a poor position. The textbook explained characteristics of a failing state and how that can lead to that country being placed under a category that eludes to ecological failure. The book describes, “The political indicators of a failing state are an illegitimate government, deteriorating public services, widespread human rights violations, an elite security apparatus, warring factions, and often outside intervention (Robertson, 2017, p. 59). The US may not be in this condition yet but the way the political environment has progressively become more hostile, the more this seems like it could happen in the near future. If the people in the US would resist the desire to compete over who has the biggest ego and try to compose compromises instead, then I think that there would be a bigger focus on ecological healing. Though I cannot change the mindset of the entire country, I can try to do whatever I can as an individual to try to be kind to both the planet and the people within it.

 References

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Global Footprint Network. (2003-2020). How many planets does it take to sustain your lifestyle?. Ecologicalfootprintcalculator.org. https://www.footprintcalculator.org/result1.

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Reading Response #3

Biosphere

           The biosphere is the part of the earth’s surface and atmosphere in which plants and animals can live (“Biosphere,” n.d.). The biosphere is a small, but extremely important part of the Earth. The biosphere is what makes the world alive, without it the Earth would most likely be like Mars with minimal to no life. One thing about this campus that I cannot help but respect and enjoy is the amount of nature and habitat preservation that has been incorporated into the architecture and design of the overall university. It allows for students to have first-hand experiences with sections of the Florida biosphere all accessible by a short bus ride or a few miles walk. I recently got the opportunity to experience one of the campus trials near SOVI housing. Students refer to the trail as the “wet walk” and it definitely lived up to its name.

Figure 1: (Wright, 2020)

 I have never experienced anything like it at the previous university that I attended, and it was one of my favorite college experiences that I have had so far. The biodiversity that the land around this school has is incredible. Our field trip tour guide Jerry, explained that the throughout the trails the ecosystem can change from flat lands where the trees are above water level and the vegetation is grounded to wet lands that have numerous cypress trees and plant growth that either is water dependent or that lives in the trees above the wet ground. 

Figure 2: (Wright, 2020)

In the biodiversity section of the Sustainability Principles and Practice second edition textbook there is a quote that states, “All living things circulate energy and chemicals through the biosphere. Energy moves through in one direction; chemical materials cycle around and are reused. Every organism must obtain energy to live either directly from its environment or by eating other organisms” (Robertson, 2017, p. 34). The slight change in ecosystem in a small area like the campus trails appears to be a prime example of circulating energy and chemicals through the biospheres. One slight change in the environment can greatly affect the entire biosphere over a period of time and the more I learn about the ecosystem here in Florida, the more I understand the impact that one small entity can have on the entire world. Especially because there are millions of entities around the world. The biosphere is small in reference to the entire world and especially in regard to the universe, but its conservation is vital for organismal survival on Earth.

References

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. (n.d.). Biosphere. In oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com dictionary. Retrieved September 2, 2020, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/biosphere

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd edition). Taylor & Francis Group.

Figure 1: Wright, K. (2020). [photo of FGCU nature trail sign at the entrance] [Photograph] Personal photo.

Figure 2: Wright, K. (2020). [FGCU Campus trails Cypress Dome] [Photograph] Personal photo.

[kaylinwright07]

Reading Response #2

What Is Sustainability?

           Sustainability, when I think of this word, the first thing that comes to my mind is prolonged, proper up keeping of something. The section of chapter one of the textbook that I found the most intriguing was the Challenges and Responses section. Leading up to that section the text explains what sustainability is and how it is integrated into society. A quote that stuck out to me was “Our population has expanded beyond the home planet’s carrying capacity, food scarcity and political instability are the reality in many regions, and increasingly severe water shortages looming in the near future promise to make peace and sustainability even less likely” (Robertson, 2014, p. 3). This unfortunately appears to be the sad truth of the world at the moment. Especially this year where the world has not only been through a lot environmentally but also politically and socially. In terms of the increasing population aspect of this quote, I would say that this does not necessarily apply to any exact region of the world. Although, there are countries that have put sexual reproductive limits on its people. The biggest issue that the world has with this is the fact that people will expand before considering a more sustainable option. For example, instead of building brand new construction in an area without development, they should consider repurposing land that has already been built on by tearing down and reusing material from older developments. That being said, it would be a lot easier said than done to make this a permanent solution. To touch on the political and social aspects of this quote, the United States is experiencing a significant amount of social turmoil. Politically this country is divided and while both sides believe that they are correct, the constant division is doing anything but solving the problem. This country must figure out a compromise politically before any real improvement with the environment can be made.

           The second chapter focuses on the history of sustainability and the section, Transformation from Conservation to Ecology talks about the relationship between humans and the environment. “The chemist Ellen Swallow developed the concept of human ecology, an approach in which humans are not separate from nature or managers of nature; they are part of nature and work within it” (Robertson, 2014, p. 12). This quote sums up the concept that humans are just as much a part of the ecological part of the world as all of the other creatures and plant life that reside on this planet. In a way it removes humans from the pedestal that we have placed ourselves on for as long as we had the mental capacity to do so. The textbook goes on in that section further questioning the integrity and morality of humans by providing possible solutions to the damage that human ego has caused.

           In chapter 3 the textbook becomes more specific and begins talking about Earth’s environmental occurrences; specifically, biospheres. In the Cycles section the textbook explains how the universe is a cyclic entity that is constantly in motion. This includes the Earth and a quote from this section that best summarizes this is, “Here on our local planet, material is constantly moving” (Robertson, 2014, p. 24). This could be referring to the physical characteristics of this planet and the political and social aspects of all the individuals who reside on the planet. For example, the Earth goes through heating and cooling cycles every few million years and the individuals on the planet are constantly learning and expanding their footprint on the planet. That being said, the difference between these two circumstances is astronomical. This shows just how fragile and small the human existence is, because although we have a way of destroying our home planet, that same planet is also a living thing that can do some of its own damage; in order, to defend itself. I believe that we as humans have a greater responsibility than any other species on this planet to take care of our home, but if we do not follow through I also believe that the planet can alleviate its own pain and heal itself. Even at the expense of the individuals who reside on it.

[kaylinwright07]

Reading Response #1

Sense of Place

           My “sense of place”, is not necessarily an exact place but with an exact group of people. I would say that my “sense of place” is with my family because we are extremely close and we thrive off of being in the same environment together; at least most of the time. If I had to choose an exact location to represent my “sense of place”, I would say that South West Florida definitely fits that definition. I have visited this part of Florida my whole life and my family and I just recently moved down here permanently. I currently live on campus her at Florida Gulf Coast University, but my family lives in Cape Coral, Florida. Cape Coral is more of a residential city with a lot of Florida suburban houses and developments. However, nature still has a way of being integrated into the area; through numerous amounts of palm trees and vegetation being planted throughout the neighborhoods, the waterways that contain wild life such as fish, plants, and manatees, and finally the infamous owl population that resides throughout the city. Currently may parents are having their house built in the lower half of Cape Coral in a neighborhood that is extremely quiet and it has a Harbor near it. Although I am new to this area, it is quickly become my new home and I look forward to all of the possibilities that come with living here.