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Blog 10: Climate

“What is unprecedented, however, is the speed of the change. Never in the history of the planet has the temperature increased so rapidly.” (Robertson, 2017)

This information, that the rate of change of our climate’s temperature is more unprecedented than that of the overall increase in temperature of our planet, certainly surprised me. I had figured that our planet was becoming warmer, which was alarming to those following climate change. But, according to our book, people who monitor our planet’s temperature and change expect increase and/or fluctuations in temperature. The concern is over the increase in temperature over a short amount of time. I feel like this is probably a common misconception, as many people argue that change is inevitable, so having the climate change is simply “natural.” But, when the rate of change is so drastic, that is when it becomes unnatural. Below, I have included an image of temperature anomaly on earth. This image gives a good sense of just how fast and abnormal the Earth’s temperature has become since the 1900′s.

(Image from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature)

“Predictions of computer models without human inputs match actual temperature measurements from the nineteenth through the first half of the twentieth century fairly well. However, after the second half of the twentieth century the predictions diverge from actual measurements.” (Robertson, 2017)

Even before joining this course, I had wondered how we could compare the Earth’s traits if humans had not developed. Would it cause a significant impact, or is the Earth genuinely just experiencing changes? Apparently, we are able to look at this! Using computer simulations, scientists modeled the Earth but left out human input, and then recorded the results. The Earth had similarities, but beginning in the second half of the twentieth century, measurements changed in the model that did not occur in actuality. Therefore, if the computer’s model is as accurate as possible, it is proof that we humans have caused our planet to run off its natural course the more we become “developed.”  With the ever-approaching hurricane season here in Florida, speculation as to whether or not climate change has effected the rate and intensity of hurricanes has come up. According to Whittaker, “The prevailing theory is that climate change will not increase the number of storms but is likely to increase the intensity of storms.” (Whittaker, 2020) Since warmer water fuels hurricanes, a warmer Earth provides fuel. Furthermore, a warmer atmosphere can bring more moisture to the air, giving power to storms. Whittaker also mentions that scientists are confirming that an increase in category 4 and 5 hurricanes is likely to occur “due to anthropogenic warming over the 21st century.”  (Whittaker, 2020) 

As a person who has grown up living in Florida, I had never thought of hurricanes as “too-big” of a threat. As a kid, it mostly meant days off and flooded back-yards. However, with Hurricane Irma and Dorian, my fear is that these storms are most definitely becoming more intense and more frequent each year. As someone who believes in climate change and the effect people have on the Earth’s environment, I find it very easy to agree with idea that climate change is causing these increases. I do not believe I am educated enough on the matter to say for sure that is the reason. But there seems to be substantial evidence to go along with it.

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

Whittaker, J. (2020, March 11). Hurricanes and climate change: What the science says. Retrieved from https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/03/11/hurricanes-and-climate-change-what-the-science-says/

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Blog 9 - Waste

“It has been calculated that the paper produced in the US each year would be enough to build a wall from the east to the west coast 11 to 12 feet high.” (Robertson, 2017)

This idea paints a very clear image of just how much paper is produced each year, and in just the US alone at that. I had to reread this sentence a couple of times because I just cannot fathom that we could produce such an excessive amount of paper. And that statistic was likely from 2017 or earlier, so it makes me wonder how much we are producing now in 2020. Even with the ever-increasing switch to technological alternatives, I feel as if this number could have possibly undergone an increase since then. As a student in the College of Education, I have the opportunity to observe in schools in my district. From what I have seen, students are definitely using less paper than I was back in around 2014. However, although it seems like they use less, paper is still used quite frequently. One way my family tries to combat unnecessary paper waste is by collecting scrap paper. Meaning, if one of us prints something, and the document or picture doesn’t print correctly or too many copies are made, we reuse the extraneous paper. I know a few people who do this as well, but I have seen others who simply throw away what they do not need. I have tried to become more conscience of my own paper waste in the past few years by reusing barely used notebooks, switching to online textbooks, and using online technology wherever possible. 

(Image from https://www.acd-inc.com/blog/2019/02/12/making-the-grade-how-to-sell-to-your-local-school-district/ )

Around timestamp 9:05 (provided in the link below), the narrator in “The Story of Stuff” talks about how resources are taken advantage of along the line of producing a product so that the product may be cheaper in our market. She explains that this is called ‘externalized costs.’ Before watching this video, this concept had never occurred to me! I never thought to wonder why I could purchase cheap products that seem like they shouldn’t be so undervalued. This video explains that many people, resources, and lives are at risk and/or taken advantage of by the companies overseeing production. They do this by cutting corners, utilizing cheap, inhumane labor, harvesting resources that do not belong to us, and more. Although I am not well-informed enough to talk about market systems or the economy, I feel as though this reinforces the notion that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.

(Image from https://youtu.be/9GorqroigqM?t=545) 

In the video, “The Story of Solutions,” the narrator talks about what requirements need to be fulfilled to determine if a solution will really make changes. She does this by making an acronym out of the word ‘GOAL,’ where the meaning of each letter can be found in the image below. I am not a big participant in campaigns/movements, and I feel like this has been because I do not know who is trustworthy and is actually looking for change. I have donated to a few organizations in the past, mainly ones that advocate for human and animal rights, but I never really looked to far into the organization’s motives or missions. I feel like I could have definitely used the meaning behind this acronym in the past, and I will surely use it in the future!

(Image from https://youtu.be/cpkRvc-sOKk?t=334) Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

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Blog 8: Food

“The grotesque details are many and come in nightmarish variety, but the fundamental cause is the same: humans who work at these facilities must handle thousands of animals a day, and many do not see, or do not allow themselves to see, animals as living beings who think, feel emotions, and suffer pain.” (Robertson, 2017)

Like what has been a common overlap in many of my blog posts, the disconnect between humans and nature in today’s society becomes apparent when we take a closer look. Animal abuse in “farms” has caused concern since I was a baby, and it started/existed before then. These meat producing companies profit from the fact that many people are able to buy cheap meat, even when they are living off of a low-income salary. For example, dinner for someone in poverty could be as “quick,” “easy,” and “cheap,” as buying a burger off the dollar menu at McDonald’s. Buying from independent farmers who pledge that they are cruelty-free, their animals are free-range, and their practices are humane means spending more money. For the average American, this price range is too much, which is not that farmer’s fault in my opinion! It is the fault of large corporations using cheap, abusive labor, and cutting corners to lower their prices in order to mass produce their product, which they forget is a living being. I feel this has made much of my generation (and those who are younger) decide to become vegetarian/vegan. Although there are environmental cons to this decision as well, some people feel the weight of animal cruelty taken off their shoulders when living this lifestyle. While I do not particularly live this lifestyle, I do try to limit my consumption of meat. However, like I stated before, it is unfortunately too convenient and cost friendly to purchase fast food when my bank account is running low.

For the rest of this blog post, I have watched the documentary Food Inc., which is about the capitalization of producing food in America.

One moment in the documentary, around 16 minutes and 50 seconds in, a chicken grower’s salary is listed at $18,000. This film was produced in 2008, so according the Inflation Calculator (https://westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi), these farmers would have been earning about  $21,908.06 (in 2019, since that is the most recent year for the calculator). The documentary also says that a chicken farmer with two chicken houses would be indebted around $500,000, or  $608,557.25 in 2019. The worker who spoke in the documentary said that this is how the companies keep their farmers working; they are in debt due to taking out loans on their farms, and they must keep working to pay it off at a very slow rate. When I saw that yearly income, I was absolutely shocked. I felt like, since working on a farm is clearly not easy work and is very much a necessity in order to keep food in markets, the farmers would be making triple, if not quadruple that! I had no idea how little they were being paid. I recognize that animal abuse is a main concern in this documentary, and I definitely believe it has every right to be highlighted as the need for this documentary’s exposure; however, this fact has me very much surprised and upset. I found this image that very much sums up the downs of being a chicken grower and the ups of being a meat company owner/worker, which I will share below.

(Picture from https://inthesetimes.com/rural-america/entry/20158/chicken-industry-corporate-agriculture-usda-farmer-fair-practices-rules)

“A culture that just views a pig as a pile of protoplasmic, inanimate structure to be manipulated by whatever creative design the human can foist on that critter will probably view individuals within its community and other cultures in the community of nations with the same type of disdain and disrespect and controlling-type mentality.” (Joel Salatin in Food, Inc., 50:04-50:26, 2008).

Hearing Salatin say this gave me chills, I was not expecting such a profound statement for some reason. But his words felt so real and true to even now. I have had experience with people who give no second thoughts about hurting an animal, and I came to find out later that they held racist or prejudiced ideologies. I feel like some people do not realize that we are all born on this planet, and everyone within its protection deserves respect. I know that even I have preconceived prejudices that I am still trying every day to unlearn. But there are people that are just so far into their ignorance that they believe they are the best of the best, and others (races and species alike) simply do not deserve the right to be treated humanely. Since my family has moved to LaBelle and gotten chickens, I feel as if I have a deeper respect for them. We only use them to get eggs, not for their meat. Our chickens are free to roam our property during the day, and we give them a coop to be safe at night. But I see the personalities those birds have compared to the blank eyes of the chickens in the beginning of this documentary. If these companies treated the animals with a fraction more respect than that of what they’re doing now, maybe the meat would be ethically sourced enough. But big changes are hard to make when people do not regard animals as living, breathing creatures.

(Picture taken by my dad of our chickens invading his garage during their daily free roam)

Kenner, R. (Director). (2008). Food, inc. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://digitalcampus.swankmp.net/fgcu284305/watch?token=470A05185ADF4795

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

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Blog 7: Pollution

“One of [water’s] most significant chemical properties is its ability to dissolve other substances, which makes it easily contaminated, allowing it to dissolve and carry pollutants for long distances. Once water is polluted it is difficult, and thus expensive, to restore.” (Robertson, 2017)

I feel like water pollution is a type of pollution that has been receiving more attention to in recent years. While it has yet to be restored since its declaration of crisis in 2014 (Denchak, 2018), Flint Michigan’s contamination of lead in their water systems had gained many followers. Like the book says, it is a difficult and expensive task trying to restore polluted water. 

(Picture from https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/01/26/cartoons-flint-michigan-water-crisis/ )

Another example of water pollution gaining recognition, which has more to do with solid pollution rather than contamination, is the “Save the Turtles” movement. While a bit silly (and possibly heading in the wrong direction due to misinformation), this movement has definitely turned many young head in the direction of a more sustainable future. As far as I am aware, this started as a movement to ban straws, which were harming turtle populations. But, as it has grown, it has expanded to become a movement to make people aware of the harm single-use waste can bring to our Earth. In my opinion, some people have taken this out of proportion, as straws can be helpful for people with certain disabilities, and since eliminating single-use products from everyday consumers is not enough to provide a sustainable future. However, I do think that it has had a positive effect in changing some of the mindsets for people to want to do better for their home. For example, it has gotten me to use fabric, reusable bags when grocery shopping, and I plan to get glass/hard plastic reusable containers so that I can buy package-free products and produce zero waste in the future when I move out.

Chemical Research: PFOA

PFOA, or Perfluorooctanoic Acid, is a chemical used in the process of making  fluoropolymer products, which includes teflon and other products with non-stick coatings (“Perfluorooctanoic Acid,” 2017). This chemical does not break down, therefore lingering in the environment, in both water and some animals  (“Perfluorooctanoic Acid,” 2017). In humans, minute traces of PFOA typically exist, but the side effects at this small level are unkown; therefore, unless a person has high exposure to the material, it is unlikely to be harmed by environmental levels of the chemical. However, according to animal testing with the chemical, it can “affect growth and development, reproduction, and injure the liver,” when given high levels of exposure (“Perfluorooctanoic Acid,” 2017). According to the article “EPA Announces Proposed Decision to Regulate PFOA” (2020), the chemical does not currently have any regulations in drinking water or otherwise.

Since I use a meal plan, I do not do a lot of my own cooking. Therefore, I am unaware of how much non-stick cookware is used in my day-to-day life. However, when I do cook (and when I visit my parents), I do use non-stick pans to cook my meals. Therefore, I would assume this would be the bulk of my exposure to PFOA’s. However, seeing as though it is not currently regulated, I cannot account for the amount that is in the water I drink or in the systems of animals whose meat I eat. I do not work in an environment where this chemical is produced, so hopefully I do not have enough of it in my system to ever cause harm. However, just because it may not cause harm now, that is not to say that it will not in the future. If the chemical persists and does not break down, then it may lead to health issues in time. Therefore, I do wish that the EPA works towards its regulation. Denchak, M. (2018, November 08). Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know 

“EPA Announces Proposed Decision to Regulate PFOA and PFOS in Drinking Water.” (2020, February 20). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-proposed-decision-regulate-pfoa-and-pfos-drinking-water

“Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Factsheet.” (2017, April 7). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/PFOA_FactSheet.html

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

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Blog 6: Water

“In many parts of the world, lack of access to clean water is the largest cause of disease transmission and, as a result, poverty.” (Robertson, 2017)

This fact surprised me quite a bit. When considering disease transmission and poverty, I had considered this to be the outcome of insufficient healthcare, unjust living conditions, etc. But it did not occur to me that water contamination was such a leading factor of these conditions. However, reading more into this chapter, it makes quite a lot of sense. Discarding untreated waste into bodies of waters, especially waters that lead to/are resources for human consumption, would very easily begin to transmit disease. The waste is “diluted,” but still remains in the systems of organisms who drink/live in the water. If a fish living in contaminated water is caught by a person, who then eats the fish, then that person could now be contaminated. 

(Picture from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718327323 )

“Not only is the purity of bottled water questionable, the consumption of bottled water comes with heavy environmental costs including groundwater depletion, fossil fuel consumption, and pollution.” (Robertson, 2017)

I only recently started using bottled water, and that is because meal swipes at restaurants on campus give you a free fountain drink or bottle water. I don’t drink much soda, so I opt for water. It has genuinely frustrated me about the amount of water bottles I have used and discarded since attending FGCU. I recycle them when I can; but for one, I have heard that the recycling on campus goes to the same place as the trash, and two, there is no recycling at my dorm. Therefore, many of my bottles end up in the trash anyhow. I would love to bring a reusable bottle and have the restaurants fill it with water from the fountain drinks, but I have been told that this is not allowed. I could decide to just get no drink at all, but I try to stay hydrated as often as possible, so there’s this internal dilemma in my head about whether I should or should not use them. I drink water from my tap at my dorm, so at least I do not go out of my way to buy my own packs of water bottles.   

(Picture from https://www.procon.org/headline.php?headlineID=005401 ) My water footprint:

(Picture from https://www.watercalculator.org/wfc2/complete/ )

The national average water footprint is 1870 gallons used per day, so I am slightly below average. I based my calculations off my personal use in my dorm (and therefore did not include outside water use, as I have no control over how the outside is taken care of). I believe if I were living at home or in my own space, I would be using more water and my average would drastically increase. As far as what category I am using the most water for, it pertains to my “virtual water,” or water that I use as a consumer (of both food and goods). More specifically, the bulk of my water usage comes from my diet, where I use 939 gallons per day. I do eat meat, and I irregularly go shopping. However, learning that reusing and donating clothes can save water has made me more inclined to do so! I did not know that this was such a big factor, but it makes a lot of sense!

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

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Blog 5: Food and Biodiversity

“Small- and mid-size farms are owned by individual farmers or families, as opposed to corporations, and exemplify the traditional view of farmers.” (Robertson, 2017) I like the topic of small- and mid-size farmers. As someone who only recently started living in a more rural environment, I have come to appreciate independent farmers. Being able to go to a local store and buy seed-to-table products is something that I was not used to. But, having now experienced it, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy their products. One of the benefits of having these smaller farms is that, in most cases, you can expect the products (whether meat or produce) to come from an ethical source. In larger corporations, animal and environmental abuse is a prevalent case. For example, according to Gant, workers at the dairy company Fairlife were exposed for committing acts of animal abuse on their cows (2019). Whereas, in local animal farms I have visited, animals are left to free roam, have basic needs met (and exceeded), and are treated with care.

“People are not hungry because there is too little food to buy; they are hungry because they cannot afford to buy food. Much of the grain that could feed people instead goes into ethanol production and to feed animals to provide meat for affluent countries.” (Robertson, 2017)

This fact, for lack of better words, blows my mind. We could potentially end most of world hunger, but we decide not to in lieu of producing ethanol and producing meat for developed countries? That is just incomprehensible to me. I believe that access to food is a human right, a person should not be left hungry if they cannot afford to buy food. Even if we look at our country, we live under the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If we depend on food to survive, then it should follow that food should be accessible to every person. But, since many food sources come from large corporations who are only concerned with profit, people go hungry.

One thing that comes to my mind when considering how to help world hunger is the amount of food that is wasted each day. My friend works in produce, and he tells me about all the food that their store gets rid of due to the fruit/vegetable looking strange. It may be perfectly safe and good to eat; but, since its appearance is off, the food is discarded. While it is good to be mindful as an individual about not wasting food, waste is very prevalent in corporations.

“School grounds are popular places to grow food. Gardens are sensory, multidimensional places that support learning. While growing food, students learn about ecological cycles and the basics of where food comes from, how to grow it, and how to prepare and eat it.” (Robertson, 2017) It took me a second after reading this, but I realized that this was definitely the case throughout  the elementary, middle, and high schools I attended. Each school had something like an agricultural or farmers club, where students would learn about, explore/experiment, and take care of plants. Then, after they could harvest whatever was grown, the club or cafeteria would distribute the food to students. I was never a part of one of these clubs, mainly because I did not learn about them while I was attending those schools (I have gone back to each level of my education in my training to be a teacher, so I learned about this type of club then). However, I think that these clubs are incredibly important, and should be promoted more by school officials. A step further would even be to introduce an agricultural course that students could take as an elective. I feel like that would be very successful in helping student understand more about the food industry.

Gant, M. (2019, June 9). Grocery stores pull popular milk brand from shelves after 'disturbing' video surfaces. Retrieved from https://www.today.com/food/fairlife-dairy-products-pulled-store-shelves-amid-animal-cruelty-controversy-t155783   

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Routledge.

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Blog 4 - Biophilia and Nature Deficit Disorder

“Even without corroborating evidence or institutional help, many parents notice significant changes in their children’s stress levels and hyperactivity when they spend time outside.” (Richard Louv)

While I fought this statement growing up, I wish I had listened more to my parents when they told me to go play outside. I would always want to stay indoors and play video games (which, don’t get me wrong, I genuinely still love doing). But it would have been more beneficial for me to be outside in the long run. I was somewhat active outdoors; I rode my bike a lot, swam in my backyard, and played on the street with neighbors. However, as I got older, I began rejecting being outside. I would go out and sit in the shade, waiting for my parents to tell me to come back in. Now that I cannot physically be outside during the day, I wish I had enjoyed those moments more outside. I can feel my stress melt whenever I step outside at night, or when I drive with the windows down (again, at night). 

I do, however, think that hyperactivity is a diagnosis that needs more careful thought put into it. We slap the title on any kid who seems to “misbehave,” and over-prescribe useful medicine to children who do not need it. While I don’t believe that going outside is a cure-all for this disorder, I do think it would help in specific cases where misdiagnosis occurs.

“We don’t have to wait for more, needed, research to act on common sense, or to give the gift of nature --- even when it might seem to be too late.” (Richard Louv)

I like this quote, because nature really is a powerful thing in our human lives. It has terrible forces, but is also a gift that we tend to take advantage of. Sometimes, we even do the opposite; we neglect it. In the case of children’s outdoor time being taken away, we are removing natural play time, creativity, imagination, and wonderment from younger generations. Not only can this effect their mental state, but they may also begin to lose their appreciation for nature. In any case, reducing the amount of time children spend outside will bring negative effects. They may not find their sense of place, build up stress, and develop restlessness, among other things.

My sense of place drawing:

I drew this picture of my room for my sense of place. The reason I chose this is because this is the first room that has ever felt like my own. It is in my dorm at West Lake Village, and I have done a lot to make it feel like my space. I used share a room with my sister, and when we moved to a new house, I had my own room that I was excited to make my own. However, since moving day, it had been a clutter and just never came together. But, when I moved to the dorms, I finally began to put myself into where I lived. I have been in college for about 4 years now, but this is my first time living in a dorm. While I miss home, I feel comfortable and at ease in my own space. I love being able to just lay on the bed, listening to music on my record player, or playing games at my desk. I have a few white boards: one with notes of things to do, another with a calendar and pin board where I pin pictures of my friends. On the walls, I have flags and posters of movies, bands, and video games. I genuinely feel so comfortable in this space, and although it is newer in my life and is not outdoors, I feel like it is for sure my sense of place.

Louve, R. (n.d.). Excerpt from Last Child in the Woods: Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment.

Sense of place drawing done by me.

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Blog 3: Human Sphere and Biosphere

“Ecosystems are not permanent; nature is constantly changing.” (Robertson, 2017)

This quote sincerely resonates with me. I know it sounds a bit vague in all the complex subjects this chapter has to offer, but I feel as if this quote is significant. Nature is not a constant, but is instead constantly changing. Our impact on our Earth causes nature to change, but so do swells in population, lack of resources, irregularities in cycles, and much, much more. The five kingdoms of living beings all interact and connect with each other, manipulating certain aspects of one another’s lives. Through disturbance of ecosystems, and thereafter the succession of new ecosystems, the planet is (and will always be) in constant reformation, growth, decay, and change.

“This presents an opportunity for positive change: if half the urban infrastructure that will be needed by 2050 must be built in the next decades then we have the opportunity to design and construct places that are healthy, safe, delightful, regenerative, and that provide economic opportunities for everyone.” (Robertson, 2017)

Population growth (and its impact on sustainability) has been a topic that my parents have taught me about growing up. While I believe it is definitely up to the person, I would personally not want to contribute to an overwhelming increase in population size. But I like that the textbook mentions that we can prepare for population growth in a way that is sustainable, healthy, and is overall a positive impact on the future. When having talks with my parents, my mindset had always been avoiding having “mega-families,” possibly adopting, and ideas like that. In my mind, this is not a very negative mindset; but, I can definitely see how others may not want to live this lifestyle. However, the text in this quote has made me realize that we can also prepare for the future. So, instead of being afraid of population growth (which is mostly unavoidable), it seems like a more optimistic and realistic approach would be to make necessary changes and build a future that can withstand an increasing population.

(Photo from my results at https://www.footprintcalculator.org/result1a ) These results did and did not surprise me. Along with my ecological footprint, this website told me that if everyone lived as I do, we would need 2.5 Earths. I have always tried to be environmentally conscience (for example, I rarely use paper plates/towels or plastic silverware), but it is a bit harder when you are living in specific circumstances you cannot control. One circumstance is that since I am using a meal plan with FGCU due to financial reasons, I cannot buy myself sustainably-sourced, local food. Another example would be that there is no recycling over at my dorm. However, I do realize that there are aspects of my life that I can change. Right now, I have quite a few reusable grocery bags in my closet. But, I need to put them in my car, because I always forget to grab them before going shopping.  Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

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Blog 2: Livable Cities

“The reality behind urban open-space networks is that humans and nature are not separate. Rather than being something that is “out there” beyond the city, nature can be a central element of cities.” (Robertson, 2017)

Just like in my first blog post, I feel as if many people have disconnected themselves from nature; they use it and it is present in parts of their lives, but they live in a separate world than it. However, this mindset is an extremely detrimental way of thinking when it comes to being environmentally conscience. Therefore, by using New Urbanism and Green Infrastructure, cities have begun stitching back together this disconnect between city life and nature. 

New Urbanism is a concept that incorporates more sustainable aspects into the creation/development of a city. Some of these aspects include walkable neighborhoods, dense populations where the housing rises rather than spreading outwards, and transit-oriented transportation. (Robertson, 2017, p. 215). Checking off some of these aspects, Downtown Fort Myers is a step towards New Urbanism. It is certainly walkable, has a multitude of shops, businesses, uses mixed-use infrastructure, and more. Furthermore, the environmental aspects incorporated into the city make it feel more natural and alive. In the picture below, it is easy to see that the city has no absence of greenery, and being located near the water allows the city to feel that much more a part of nature. While it is a city, Downtown Fort Myers surely includes nature as a key element in its development.

“Sustainable transportation planning works to find ways to move people and transport the goods they need without requiring each individual to use their own personal 2 tons of steel each time they do so.” (Robertson, 2017) I have lived in sprawling neighborhoods my whole life, and had not come close to a big city until a couple years ago. Even when I did visit the city, I had used my own vehicle to travel due to time constraints and not understanding the city’s transportation. However, during Fall of last year, I went on a trip to Boston and was able to experience public transport for the first time. Riding the subways, trolleys, and buses was much more pleasant than I had imagined it would be. While it was not quite a environmentally conscience decision as it was more so an avoiding-crazy-and-reckless-city-traffic decision, I can imagine how convenient and sustainable public transit would be in a city focused on New Urbanism!

“Those who will suffer the greatest harm are people who are least responsible for causing the harm.” (Robertson, 2017)

This quote, although small in words, is significant in how true it holds. As a person who is beginning to work in education, I see and hear countless amounts of teenagers feeling either desperate or apathetic towards their future. They feel as if their future will be one of apocalyptic nature or that their future will be null and void. With either perspective, it really shows how much newer generations are beginning to feel the impact of their relatives’ indifference towards sustainability. 

Although we are the least responsible for this harm we have caused to our planet, we are also the ones who can make a difference. From individual changes, to rallies and protests, and up to changing the politics, the generations that exist today have already begun making that difference. And hopefully, through future generations, we can help heal our home. https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2019/08/09/downtown-fort-myers-plans-reveal-two-communities-future/1943426001/ 

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

[sustainableshelby-blog]

Blog 1: What is Sustainability?

“We will need not just technological adaptations, but social and political ones as well. Sustainability will depend on having informed, ecologically literate citizens working toward healthy ecosystems, genuine social inclusion, and equitable distribution of resources.” (Robertson, 2017) The concern for sustainability has been a present topic of conversation in my household since I was very young. While I believe I could definitely have a more active role in practicing sustainability, the little bit I have learned from growing up has at least given me the mindset of knowing that we could be doing more for our home. And, just as Robertson says, we need support from many different platforms to become sustainable. It will need support from the public, politicians, engineers, scientists, companies, and more.

Again, there is so much more I could be doing to live a sustainable lifestyle, which is something I hope to learn in this class! But so far, some practices I do is to not litter (and pick up people’s trash when I see them litter), use reusable shopping bags, recycle where/when I can, and reuse things like cardboard boxes and plastic containers.

“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, 2017)

I wholeheartedly believe in this concept. I do not think we humans should be considered a separate class that does not exist in nature. We most definitely exist in nature; we use its resources, participate in its beauty, and live/die in it. We are also not the managers of nature. A human can predict and plan for a natural disaster, like a hurricane. But a human is incapable of stopping it. Nature has its own mind. Furthermore, even if we are talking about the ecology of living nature, we still exist in this realm. Humans who eat meat are simply a “predator” of whatever animal they eat. If they only eat plants, then they’re still living off of the energy produced by nature. While there are reasons to separate us from other living creatures, as we have advanced in intellect more than other species, we still exist and benefit from the natural world around us. Therefore, considering humans as a part of nature makes it more clear in my mind that we need to take care of it. And, as selfish as that sounds, ignoring the regression of our planet’s health by considering us above nature is an ideology that I have heard people preach.

“We would assemble the various constituencies of the environmental community. We would assemble representatives of various levels of local government together. We would pull together the planners, we’d pull together the road builders, we’d pull together the infrastructure folks, and try to understand how to build this university here while protecting the environment as much as possible, addressing their issues, and keeping the environmental focus that the university was intended to have in the first place.” (Kieth Arnold in Elspeth McCulloch’s “ColloquiumVideo,” 20:30-21:02)

While I do believe concern from environmentalists was completely reasonable, I do appreciate that this was said. As discussed in the first part of this post, being sustainable takes a community, and it seems as though FGCU’s foundation was built on educating their community about being environmentally conscious. This idea seems to still hold to this day, with the requirement of taking this University Colloquium course in order to make the community of FGCU’s students, staff, and partners aware and informed about sustainability.

However, I do think that being aware and informed is not quite enough. While we have recycling bins on our campus, I have heard that everything being disposed in those bins all go to the same place. Furthermore, there is no recycling over at West Lake Village. I have not been to the other dorm housings, but I am hesitant to believe that they would have actual recycling containers either. There is a lot of single-use plastics and materials on campus, including food containers, drinks, plastic bags from the bookstore and on-campus dining, and more. While a lot of this could be recycled, it makes no difference if trash and recycling all head to the same landfill. Therefore, while I do think that FGCU’s approach to informing students about sustainability is sincerely beneficial, I do think there are some actions that the university should take to practice a bit more of what they preach.

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HD1X_Y25w