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Blog 10

Climate change tends to be a hot button topic, regardless of who you speak to. Some believe that our atmosphere is overheating, causing global warming. Whereas, there are those who believe that it is all a hoax and our climate is perfectly fine. In this chapter about climate, there were multiple points brought to my attention that I was not aware of prior.

As stated before, global warming is a topic of great discussion lately. I feel as if this is becoming more of an issue for our generation because things like industrial plants and motor vehicles were being invented years ago. At the time this didn’t pose a problem because no one was aware of the pollution being emitted from these industrial movements. However, now that years have passed and we’ve been able to track the destruction it’s ensued, it’s becoming a major problem that has yet to be solved. Stated in our textbook, “Since the start of the industrial era the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen almost 40 percent… The burning of fossil fuels is the primary culprit; Wood-burning, farming, deforestation, and cement production also contribute significant amounts” (Robertson, 2017, p. 75). A 40 percent rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is in all reality, frightening. Having an excessive amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere can be quite detrimental, leading to holes in our ozone. This is why electric and hybrid cars are such an impressive step in innovation. Those types of cars cut down on emissions drastically.

Although this next quote is not particularly relevant to present times, I still found it extremely interesting. “Regular ice ages began to occur 2.5 to 3 million years ago with warm periods in between about every 41,000 years, corresponding to the cycle in the tilt of Earth’s axis… Around a million years ago the cycle of ice ages lengthened and began occurring about every 100,000 years. The last ice age peaked around 20,000 years ago, ending around 12,000 years ago” (Robertson, 2017, p. 72). I felt that this quote should be included in my blog today for the simple fact that I was entirely unaware of the fact that ice ages occur every 100,000 years. In the back of my mind, I’ve always wondered if there would be an ice age during my lifetime. Luckily, we have some time to pass before the next ice age rolls around.

The article that I found,Stanford researcher reveals influence of global warming on extreme weather events has been frequently underestimated, briefly discusses that downward spiral in which our climate is falling. Within this article, historical trends are compared to current climate trends, and it was concluded that global warming is speeding far faster than ever before.

News Article: https://news.stanford.edu/2020/03/18/climate-change-means-extreme-weather-predicted/

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 9

Throughout chapter 14, “Waste and Recycling”, there were multiple moments while reading that really opened my eyes to certain things pertaining to our ecosystem and ways in which we handle the mass amounts of waste produced by humanity. From waste management, to the recycling process; I was thoroughly surprised by the amount of information that I’ve been unaware of.

At one point in this chapter, the text begins to explain the way in which our landfills are operated and regulated in order to ensure it is as contained as possible. I was aware that all of the trash that is thrown away daily is tossed on this large mound, located far enough to where it won’t affect the quality of life for those that are in a close proximity. However, I was unaware of issues like ‘leachate’ that slowly affect us over time. “Leachate is a liquid that forms when rainwater and liquid from food waste percolate through a landfill, dissolving pollutants along the way. Because it contains such a mix of chemicals, leachate is a complex pollution problem. When leaks form in landfill liners, leachate can contaminate surrounding soil and eventually percolate into groundwater.” (Robertson, 2017, p. 278). Discovering this information is just slightly concerning. It is to be expected for these landfills to have leaks and issues. But, once you realize that these chemicals are tainting the soil in which our produce are grown in, that’ll make one’s stomach churn. Although the reality of the fact is that there is nothing that can be done about these mountains of trash scattered across the U.S., I could only hope there is research being conducted to find a better solution to deal with our trash and waste.

While watching “The Story of Stuff”, I began to remember that this was a video that I watch while in high school. Majority of the information provided I was able to remember, except for when “externalized costs” were discussed. In this video, the essentially describe externalized costs as ‘the real costs of making stuff isn’t captured in the price’. She then proceeds to look further into the fact that there are products being sold for far below their actual worth. This is a result of each step in production, making a sacrifice (salary, resources, etc.) in order to sell their products at a very low price. Now, while reviewing this information at an older age; I’ve begun to realize that this is a very corrupt way to run businesses, and it is happening all over the world.

“The Story of Solutions” is another video that I was introduced to in high school. Again, I retained majority of the information provided while watching this video the first time. Though there were those few moments that slipped through the cracks. For example, the ‘game changing solutions’ and ‘old game solutions’ was something I failed to remember. Essentially, these are two solutions to a problem. The ‘game changing solutions’ offers a new solution that has never been tried before in attempt to reduce that bad habits at hand. Whereas the ‘old game solutions’ offers solutions that have been tried before but tailored to appeal to the public just a little more than before. In my own opinion, I feel like both of these solutions could be a possibility to turn around our pollution problem. Although, there is never any certainty when it comes to trying to get people to change their habits.

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 8

In chapter 12 ‘food’, aspects of how our food is harvested, grown, and the affects that humans face as a result of over consumption and additives that are detrimental to our health.

The way in which our food grows is dependent upon the condition of our environment and atmosphere. One point that is emphasized in the text was the “Nitrogen Cycle”. “Only a small percentage of synthetic fertilizer applied to crops is taken up by plants. In most of the US, about 10 percent of the fertilizer applied to fields goes into crops; 25 to 50 percent runs off in irrigation water, immediately, and the rest ends up in the environment eventually” (Robertson, 2017, p. 278). With these pesticides and fertilizers running off into our water systems, a number of problems may arise in our ecosystems and daily life. As stated further in the text, “rivers carry fertilizer-laden runoff into the ocean, where excess nitrogen and phosphorus trigger explosive growth of algae, which consume oxygen as they decompose, killing virtually all aquatic life within the resulting dead zones” (Robertson, 2017, p. 278). It is clear that these fertilizer run offs are causing damage to our environment. If action isn't taken to counteract these pollutants, our planet will continue to fall in a downward spiral. 

In the documentary “Food Inc,”, there were a number of aspects that shocked and appalled me. Things like how our livestock is treated or how the quality of fast food is far worse than we thought. 

One moment in particular in this film that struck a nerve, was when they uncovered the fact that Tyson chickens never see the light of day in their entire lives. I was entirely unaware of the way that these animals used for our food supply were treated this way. These conditions are disgusting and inhumane. Although they will eventually used for food, there is no reason for these chickens to be kept in small pens with no sunlight for their entire existence. The second point in this documentary that made me upset was when I discovered that 32,000 hogs are slaughtered daily at processing plants. These numbers are ridiculously high. That number only represents one day. It’s hard to believe that number is absolutely necessary. 

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 7

This week’s reading is focused upon pollutants. Things like what different kinds of pollutants are out there, the effect they have on the human body, and how we encounter these pollutants are discussed within the chapter.

Pollution is a problem that has been persistent for years now. Car emissions, waste from factories, etc. These kinds of pollutants that are consistently being dumped into the environment, without concern for what it’s doing to our planet. These pollutants are giving people cancer, respiratory problems, or even complications during pregnancy by breathing the air around them. “Humans and other animals breathe several times a minute, taking in far greater volumes of air per day than they do food or water. Our lungs are designed to absorb gases out of the air efficiently; that means they also absorb pollutants efficiently” (Robertson, 2017, p. 137). Air pollution like fuel emissions and smog aren’t the sole route of the problem when it comes to chemicals entering our environment. Chemicals and pollutants travel through the water cycle by evaporation, making all forms of pollution a hazard to our environment and ozone. The main concern for me would be, if regulations on pollution aren’t put into place, there will be no way to escape from the diseases that are brought with pollutants.

This is the chemical formula for Atrazine. “Atrazine is a pesticide widely used to kill weeds. Atrazine is a member of the triazine chemical class, which includes simazine and propazine. It is primarily used in agriculture (with the greatest use on corn, sorghum, and sugarcane)” (EPA, 2019, para. 1). This chemical has quite an effect on the body, if contact is made. The endocrine system is disrupted; Hormone levels are altered. The reproductive system is affected, as well as increased chances on cancer. From my research, it was determined that Atrazine posed no risk to the general public in 2006. Then in 2009, the EPA announced that they were investigating the safety of Atrazine once again. I was unable to find any further updates on the investigation. Seeing as though I live in Florida, I feel as if we don’t encounter Atrazine as often as someone in the Midwest, where a lot of corn is grown, would on a daily basis. However, Atrazine is found in drinking water. Making it likely we come across a small percentage.

Citations:

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Atrazine. (2019, December 19). Retrieved February 18, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/atrazine

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Blog 6

This chapter covered many different aspects of the water cycle and systems that we encounter. While reviewing the information, it never occurred to me exactly how complex the process of accessing and filtering water was. We use aquifers to hold water that we will pull from for drinking water and other uses in daily life. These aquifers often have to be refilled; In order to refill the aquifers, the water first has to be processed and cleaned, otherwise things like sediment and silt will contaminate the water, making it unsafe to use.

Although we must pull from these aquifers, there are some repercussion that come from this action. As stated in our textbook, “Depletion of aquifers is another threat to biodiversity. Plants, animals, and other organisms in lakes, rivers, and underground water systems have evolved to suit the particular ecosystems where they live. When water is drawn down, those ecosystems change and the organisms in them face local extinction” (Robertson, p. 94, 2017). This quite allows one to gain a wider view of the severity of the situation. If we are not careful about the way in which we treat the environment around us, we will soon impact the world far more than we are able to fix it. Extinction is a fate that many species are facing currently. Unfortunately, not much is being done to reverse these effects made by humans. However, if there were laws put into place to protect animals that are close to endangerment, perhaps we could maintain our ecosystems longer.

As a result of over pumping aquifers and groundwater, the banks begin to empty leading to a long list of problems. One of which was mentioned in a quote from the book; “If groundwater near coastal areas is over pumped, saltwater can be pulled into freshwater aquifers, contaminating them so that they are no longer usable. This ‘saltwater intrusion’ is occurring in parts of southeastern US and California. Many of the world’s largest cities, which are heavy users of groundwater, are located in coastal areas and can expect increasing problems with saltwater contaminating.” (Robertson, p. 93, 2017).

My score for my water footprint is lower than the average US citizen. The category in which I have the most water consumption was in regard to my diet. I feel as if the water usage was so high, because I eat meat. I am aware that cattle and other livestock use up a large amount of water, but I was not aware that I was using that much water with my diet. I would have to say, that surprised me the most. I had no idea I wasted so much water by consuming meat. Although, this is not something that will change, perhaps I will choose a vegetarian substitute for a meat product.

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 5

Richard Louv’s “Nature-Deficit Disorder” was an interesting read. Knowledge already discovered about ADHD is quite vast; Majority of this information is already common knowledge to the public. Generally speaking, ADHD is the inability to focus on one thing/task at a time. Now, while thinking about this, there has to be a number of mental disorders that are affecting the way in which people receive and process tasks. For example, one thing that caught my eye in this reading was the passage in which Louv begins to talk about direct-attention fatigue. “According to the Kaplans’ research, too much directed attention leads to what they call ‘direct-attention fatigue’, marked by impulsive behavior, agitation, irritation, and inability to concentrate” (Louv, p. 7, 2008). This quote made me think about what other mental disorders are out there that have not yet been discovered; But rather, these disorders are just covered with the blanket statement of “ADHD”.

While keeping on the same topic of mental disorders, the book begins to dissect “nature-deficit disorder” in further detail. As stated in this book, “If it’s true that nature therapy reduces the symptoms of ADHD, then the converse may also be true: ADHD may be set of symptoms aggravated by lack of exposure to nature” (Louv, p. 11, 2008). This quote allows one to think of other aspects of nature-deficit disorder, and perhaps how it affects other mental disorders; Or maybe even that some of these “disorders” are symptoms, onset by a lack of time spent outdoors.

When presented with the task of drawing a place that I am emotionally attached to, the first location that popped in my head was my bedroom. This location is my “sense of place” because it is where I am the most comfortable. My bedroom is where I go when I need to relax and spend some time for myself. I like to keep my room very dark and cold; I feel like it’s easier to relax this way. I’ve al lined my bedroom with string lights so that I can have a soft, calming light while I’m trying to unwind. This place is important to me because it’s where I feel safe. My belongings are in there, my dog is in there; My room has everything I could need. I also have photos of my friends and family scattered around my room. These pictures bring me joy, they allow me to look back at specific moments in life and regain those fun memories again.

References: 

Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2008.

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Blog 4

While reviewing Chapter 12, Food, a number of factors that play into our food chain and eating habits were discussed. Things such as obesity, GMO’s, and additives to produce. There are so many artificial sweeteners and additives that are pumped into the food found at local grocery stores, and this is something that people consuming these goods are entirely unaware of. Although this problem is quickly being resolved, there are still a handful of places where you can find all organic food. Things like farmers markets are a great way to promote local farming as well as improving the quality of food that you are putting into your body.

One aspect that was closely evaluated in this chapter was farming. There are a number of different farming methods that influence the quality in which their crops yield. Methods like organic agriculture are great for producing healthy harvests for those who are consuming the produce. Organic agriculture is defined as “agriculture that does not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides; Instead, it relies on biological approaches.” (Robertson, 2017, p. 226). Robertson then goes on to say “organic farms return nutrients to the soil in the form of compost made of decayed plant matter. They use biological methods of controlling weeds and insect pests and techniques of crop rotation that prevent soil from becoming exhausted without the need for applying massive amounts of fertilizer” (2017, p. 226). This quote stuck out to me specifically for the sole reason that I believe this method of farming should be the baseline method for all farms. With the use of organic and biological approaches to protect the plants and soil, the quality of the produce as well and the land that is being used to feed us will all thrive and become better over time.

Seeing as though we are on the topic of the quality of food that we consume; A major issue that was highlighted in this chapter was the health issues that comes with the intake of low quality, mass processed foods. Obesity is an issue that a large percentage of Americans face. However, who can blame them? With the convenience of hitting a drive through on the way home from work, fast food is far too tempting for some to handle. I personally am affected by this. Coming off work late from a long shift, the last thing I want to do is cook for myself. Therefore, on the rare occasion, I will stop at a fast food restaurant for dinner. The point where this becomes a problem is when there is no intake control, and this becomes a nightly routine. “Human health can also be impacted by too much food or food of the wrong kind, resulting in obesity and increased risk of disease; And by the reverse condition, food scarcity, resulting in malnutrition or starvation. Overnutrition is a food problem in affluent nations” (Robertson, 2017, p. 229). The issue with this is that there are those that eat far too much and develop diseases, where there are others who don’t have the resources to feed themselves and suffer from malnutrition. If there were a sense of balance in this system, this problems would nearly vanish.

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 3

While evaluating the assigned reading, the most apparent theme that I noticed was how the environment works and the importance that comes with keeping the environment at a sustainable level. From the first chapter, a quote that peaked my interest was “every living system on Earth depends on [bacteria]... Without them, carbon, nitrogen, and other materials would be unavailable to plants and animals. Bacteria regulate that temperature and chemical composition of the atmosphere and without them the planet would grow too hot to support life” (Robertson, 2017, p. 35). I found this particularly interesting, for the main reason that I was entirely unaware of the fact that bacteria played such a large role in the grand scheme of things. Such a small, minuscule for that fact, organism has such a great impact on the environment. By affecting the temperature and the main materials that make up the ecosystem, bacteria is thus a major component of our world.

Humans create a huge dent in the resources that the Earth provides, by consuming large quantities of resources that are vital to the ecosystem. As stated in the textbook, the method researchers use to calculate the impact that humans have on the environment is “...environmental Impact is the product of the size of human Population, their Affluence or consumption per capita, and the Technology that determines that environmental impact of each dollar spent” (Robertson, 2017, p. 45). By using this model, scientists are able to discern approximately how much the humans are depleting Earth’s resources. 

The results that I received from this quiz were in fact shocking. I care greatly for the environment, and realizing how great of an impact I create its quiet upsetting. I was entirely oblivious to the amount of resources that I use on a daily basis. I feel if I went on a more plant based diet, as well as monitoring the amount of waste and trash that I produce would help decrease the size of the ecological footprint that I create. It is a given that there are certain aspects of this ecological footprint that are out of my control. However, I feel if I were to be aware of my presence on this planet and regulated the amount of resources I use, I could help with preserving the Earth better. 

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Blog 2

While reviewing chapters eleven and seventeen, I discovered a common theme throughout both. The main concept of these chapters was that pollution is a serious problem that progresses with time. Unless a conscious effort is made to improve the quality of the ecosystem, we will continue to decrease the quality of life that is experienced on Earth. 

Humans have become lazy throughout the years. Instead of walking to their destinations, like previous generations, we are more likely to jump in our cars and drive to where we need to go; Regardless of how far it is. Robertson stated “transportation consumes 26 percent of the world’s energy produced and is responsible for 23 percent of the world’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions... In order to stabilize global climate, we will need to cut current emissions by 50 percent” (2017, p. 210). Keeping this in mind, nearly a quarter of the world’s pollution is a direct result of emissions that come from automobiles. Granted, most situations require a vehicle to get from destination to destination. However, there are alternative options that are less damaging to the environment. Electric and hybrid cars are becoming far more popular than ever before. If all fuel cars were traded in for either electric or hybrid cars I would imagine that the pollution levels would drop drastically as time passed. Greenhouse gasses are one of the most harmful forms of pollution to the ozone, which protects us from the harmful rays that are emitted from the sun. If a hole were to ever appear in the ozone, we would instantly become vulnerable to the direct UV rays with no buffer to protect us. 

In order to combat the emerging pollution epidemic, actual effort must be put into place. This is exactly why I would agree with the statement “As cities grow in population it is important to plan where growth will happen, using urban containment to encourage cities to grow inward and upward, rather than outward... One of the tools used by planners in the urban growth boundary (UGB), a line adopted by a government body that separates an urban area within which development may occur from surrounding open lands where development is restricted” (Robertson. 2017, p. 211). By using this plan that was employed by the government, rather than destroying acres of untouched land, new developments would be built in areas that have already been built on once before. This plan allows for nature to grow and prosper, rather than tearing it down and ruining the environment for future generations. 

Keeping the idea of planning and making changes for the better, the next quote that I pulled from the textbook allowed me to look further into the future and begin to envision the way in which society will look. “We live at the threshold of another major turning at the beginning of the Anthropocene epoch, as humanity move away from an Industrial Age built upon fossil fuel and economic growth and toward what could turn out to be a steady-state economy within a regenerative, sustainable society” (Robertson, 2017, p. 343). This concept makes one think about the way in which society has changed over the years, transitioning from the industrial era to a more “green” era. Once there is more awareness and preparation, the Earth will begin to transform to a healthier state. 

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

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Blog 1

Sustainability is essentially the action of maintaining a resource or aspect of the environment to preserve the ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. From the readings provided, a particular quote that stuck out to me the most would have been “sustainability prioritizes outcomes; resilience prioritizes process” (Robertson, 2017, p. 5). Personally, this allows me to be able to distinguish the difference between sustainability and resilience. As the text stated, these terms are not interchangeable however, they are fairly similar and can be used in the same connotation. Knowing the difference between these two terms is rather important in the sense that sustainability allows a viewer to understand exactly what the problem is in a society like poverty and resource depletion. Whereas, resilience will take these problems and attempt to find a solution. With this process, there is a greater chance to revive what has been lost over time. 

The next quote that spoke to me was “Some governments are expanding fundamental rights to the planet itself... Ecuador declared that nature has the ‘right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate it’s vital cycles, structure, functions and it's processes in evolution.’ “ (Robertson, 2017, p. 18). The first thing that comes to mind when reviewing this quote was that these rights should be implemented world wide. There is a fair amount of pollution and filth cluttering the planet as a result of humanities glutton and carelessness. If there were laws that regulated how we treated our planet and environment around us, just as we have laws that control the way we treat others, there would be a drastic improvement in our quality of life. Places like Japan have already banned the use of unnecessary plastics like grocery bags, in doing so decreases the amount of garbage sitting in landfills across the globe. In a perfect world, laws like these would be passed world wide. However, it would take a fair amount of effort and time to invoke such rules, making the probability of something along those lines occurring within the near future highly unlikely. 

In the video provided, the speakers talk about the process of building the FGCU campus and all the thought that went into what site to put the school. One moment that stood out to me was the fact that the developers took into account the location surrounding the building. They chose to build FGCU around the infrastructure that had already existed instead of developing a whole new site. This spoke to me for the main reason that FGCU is surrounded by lush forests and trees, and is still that way because the conscious decision was made to leave the nature surrounding the site alone.

Citation: Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability principles and practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.