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Blog Final

Overpopulation and Its Effect on the planet

Blog #7

How fast does the population growth and how does it affect urban growth?

In the last 200 years, populations have reached a higher level of growth (Miller and Spoolman, 110). Every year population grows more and more. When looking at the World population clock it becomes evident that there are more births per second than death leaving us at a constant incline in population. In the US clock, it shows that there is one birth every 8 seconds and one death every 11 seconds. The more the population begins to grow the harder it is for resources to keep up. There are only so many resources that can sustain an ongoing population especially in urban areas where there is a constant influx of people. The more advanced society gets the higher birth rates and lower death rates will become due to the access to resources. This can become a major economic factor in the future as many families in poverty-dense areas plan to have more children than they believe to survive and the more they survive the harder the economic burden on those families. As the population grows, more has to be built to keep up and more traffic, water, and food consumption in a more dense area.

Why are people driven out from rural areas?

There are basic needs a human has to have to survive. Many people move from rural to urban areas in search of jobs, education, healthcare, and entertainment (567). Another big issue is famine, loss of land, a decline in environmental conditions, war, religion, and political conflicts (567). All of these issues are reasons that drive people out of rural areas in search of a better and safer life for themselves and their families. Rural areas have fewer opportunities to expand and are usually a part of the working class or those in poverty. India is an example of a densely populated country struggling with resources and development. There is a high amount of water stress on populations there and a heavy reliance on vehicles to make their way around, leading to a high amount of traffic. The air quality begins to diminish through this abundance of vehicles as well as reliance o fossil fuels and natural fuels for burning and cooking. This will then affect the health of the population as every action affects everyone in the area. Ensuring that people have enough access to clean water, air, and shelter is a basic human right, however, many countries don’t have the access to these resources because of overpopulation and a decrease in material to provide for the people.

What are the Pros and Cons of Urban areas?

Urban areas bring access to innovation, cultural diversity, jobs, technological advancements, an increase in life span and life expectancy due to better healthcare, and better education opportunities. One issue is the more people move into this picture-perfect image of a city many of these benefits begin to decline. As the influx of people increases, there will begin to be more traffic, water scarcity, and vehicle use. Although it is great that more and more people will have access to better resources there is a time where it needs to be controlled. If more people need to travel longer distances there should be good public transport implemented, and if people still need to use cars some sort of restriction must be made. Vehicles pollute our environment due to the burning of fuels and it’s important to keep the pollution to a minimum.

What are some ways to solve these issues?

Exposing families to family planning and ensuring people have more adequate health insurance as to where they dont have a large abundance of children thinking only a couple will survive. This would already eliminate the increasing quantity of births that offset the ratio to deaths. Another issue is that of air pollution, implementing policy such as PlaNYC where fees will be implemented on cars during traffic hours to encourage people to find a different, climate-friendly alternative. This especially is a great plan for NYC where the subway is an easy resource to use at our disposal. It is important to amount that as populations begin to grow there will be more competition for daily needs. Anything that can be done to avoid this overconsumption must be implemented.

How long will it take for resources to be depleted fully at the rate our population is growing?

word count:744

Biodiversity and Forest Protection

Blog #8

What are the dangers approaching species?

Many species have been moving towards endangered and threatened species lists as many factors are contributing to possible extinction. Loss of habitat stemming from human intervention and over-harvesting is a major contributor to this issue (Miller and Spoolman, 178). Large industries such as palm oil and vegetable oil largely advance the deforestation process that has been occurring for years. This large amount of deforestation in turn destroys ecosystems that house countless species. When these habitats are gone these animals are left without a home and begin their road to extinction. An example of this would be the orangutans who are immensely affected by the deforestation in the Amazon due to the palm oil industry. As they begin to die off and are being taken to restore the species, they are disrupting the food chain as a whole as many animals rely on them as a source of food (179). Losing one species is detrimental to the planet let alone a whole ecosystem. There is a chain reaction that stems from the smallest change, this exemplifies the importance of protecting every part of our planet as no matter how small it is essential to how the world survives.

How do non-native species affect the environment and people?

There are both beneficial and nonbeneficial sets of nonnative species all over the world. Things such as corn, cattle, livestock, rice, and wheat are all nonnative species in many regions, however, they are used to sustain human life and pose very little threat to the surrounding areas. Invasive species are the issue that pertains to many environmental problems. In recent news the mention of the spotted lanternfly that was taking over many parts of the northeast from Asia and can cause major damage to agriculture in the states. Mandates had to be created to begin killing these pests as they have no main predator in this new habitat and can multiply at dangerous rates. The main issue with invasive species is they have no way of being controlled in a natural and contained way as many of our plants and animals are controlled. They aren’t a part of the main food chain of the area thus, creating a cycle and explosion of population.

Why are forests so important?

Forests are our main resource for depleting countless amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and they house large populations of species. They provide large economic as well as ecosystem services (206). Many materials such as wood, raw materials, and natural medicines are created through harvesting parts of forests and while this is a great economic opportunity there are issues in which people grow money-hungry and take more than they should.

What is affecting our forest systems?

The most recent issues that have been evident in the news are the large amounts of forests fires, especially in California. Fires attribute to the loss of many of our forests and can be categorized into two main types of fires. Surface fires are those that burn the undergrowth, areas such as grass, and small trees. Crown fires are those that burn the entire trees and are heavily based on the tops of trees causing them to burn top down. Deforestation is another one as mentioned previously, over-harvesting from areas for oil and wood products diminishes the number of trees in areas. There is also the issue of an increase in temperature which doesn’t seem like it would affect trees very much however, this increase causes bugs such as the Pine bark beetle to multiply and can kill countless trees (207). The last main issue is a disease, an example would be the white pine blister rust which is a fungal disease that spreads rapidly on white pines (207).

How can forests be managed and sustained?

Some examples described in the book where maximum sustainable yield management which harvests trees in their intermediate size as they approach the longer part of growth and it can be efficient to replant after taking it down at midsize and ecosystem-based management which harvests renewable resources in attempts to minimize the harm done. Finding new ways to manage forests fires could help avoid large amounts being burned down and would help the number of carbon emissions produced from these fires, creating regulation to protect from over-harvesting, establishing sanctuaries and protected spaces, reducing demand for tree-based products, and replanting. The same can be said for protecting biodiversity as many extinction issues are rooted in forest management.

If there was a way to implement policy at large could there be a way to oversee and take action to protect the ecosystems?

word count: 780

Effect of Food Production and Aquatic Biodiversity

Blog #9

What are the threats to Aquatic Biodiversity and why should we care?

The ocean and bodies of water on our planet provide countless of species of animals with habitats and protection. The vast majority of our planet is underwater naturally. The ocean generates 50-70% of the Oxygen we breathe as well as helps slow atmospheric warming by absorbing 90% of excess heat (Miller and Spoolman, 233). This in turn raises the ocean temperature which then creates a major phenomenon called coral bleaching. Corals all over the world have turned white in color to protect themselves from the wave of heat being produced. If this increase in temperature continues they can never release their polyps and can no longer feed themselves so it dies. Corals are a major ecosystem that provides homes to the vast amount of creatures in the ocean providing a home for biodiversity. These animals are also major contributors to economic factors to our economy. Fishing and tourism are the providers of more than 300 million jobs around the world. However, overfishing is starting to cause great harm to these beautiful underwater ecosystems. Fish species are being so over-harvested that there is an imbalance. Pollution also causes massive outbreaks in algae blooms which are extremely hard to control and eventually will overpower the ecosystem it takes over (236).

How to improve the stigma on sharks?

Sharks are portrayed in the media as dangerous and aggressive creatures. Movies such as Jaws and the Megladon are prime examples of sharks having no mercy on people and seeing them only as food. In reality, sharks are incredibly important to life in the ocean, and on many occasions in which they run into a human nothing happens. Sharks are a keystone species, they help control the overpopulation of many species and maintain balance. These false accusations lead to companies killing large amounts of sharks with no one fighting against them as it makes humans feel “protected”. Shark finning is an industry that creates an influx of need for shark fins as they are highly valued and considered a delicacy in Asia. This industry causes a massive decline in shark populations which in turn can disrupt the entire food chain and ecosystem of an area.

What can we do to help our ecosystems?

Places such as the everglades in Florida heavily rely on both protecting the wildlife and incorporating tourism. Growing up I went once a year for school field trips and saw how they cared for the animals and environment less and less. For many people in the area, it was simply a way to make money. Animals began experiencing habitat loss due to countless endangered species being released into the ecosystem due to unwanted pets. Biodiversity started declining as more new predators with nothing to control them were added to the ecosystem. This area is so rich in biodiversity that it must be protected along with the marine and aquatic life around the globe. By creating marine reserves and helping restore these ecosystems there is a good chance that these creatures can continue to survive(246). We must start to understand that there are limits to how much we can take that is not ours, to begin with.

Why are there so many issues with access to food?

The food production and distribution process has many issues within it. There is always an excess of food being created yet, so many lives every day in hunger. Families go hungry for weeks at a time and food is a human right that should have an easier way to access it (263). From area to area there is a clear example of the food distribution issue, countries have drastic opposites such as a homeless person going hungry to overweight individual eating out of excess (264). This rapidly growing industry then in turn creates more jobs and pollution. More fields are being cleared to create more space for crop growth and more companies are producing cheaper food that is overproduced. The meat industry is another contributing factor to field clearing as the cattle being raised need shelter and spaces to graze, separate from the factor of methane being contributed by cows. Thankfully, new processes have been developed in our growing industrialized agriculture economy in which farmers can actually grow more crops in less land (272). Things like this can help limit the amount of land we use for ourselves and leave more natural habitats intact.

Why do industrialized countries find it necessary to overproduce cheap goods?

Word count:761

The Importance of Knowing Where our Food Comes From

Blog #10

Why is soil so important?

Soil contains so much from prehistoric times, every layer is older than the other and remains to be a show of the time. Nutrients flow within it and because of this the ecosystem as a whole can survive. In the documentary The Symphony of Soil it is demonstrated just how important soil is to plants as well as the food industry. Good natural soil is better than the new industrial-created soil full of pesticides. Soil that is taken care of and provided for like farmers in the past before new technology was developed can benefit the planet and the food market. Pesticides are not necessary, in fact, they often hinder the quality of the fruits and vegetables being grown and the life surrounding them. Soil is necessary to grow everything around us and is not appreciated as it should be.

Why are pesticides and fertilizers so bad?

Fertilizers incorporate so much excess nitrogen into the soil and atmosphere and cause the need for extra water, pesticides, and other nutrients. Once stopping this the soil itself becomes so waterlogged and gets “sick”. Pesticides and fertilizers can cause many issues with areas surrounding the farm especially in bodies of water. Some issues can be those of dead zones in which no life can thrive due to the lack of oxygen in that body of water. There are dead zones all over the world including the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Chesapeake Bay. These areas were affected by so much nutrient pollution that caused all the oxygen to be absorbed by algae, causing algae blooms, and removing all the oxygen which then furthermore kills the rest of the population in the area. These algae blooms can appear in a very short amount of time and can cause immense damage to the ecosystem and the organisms within it.

What are some of the better ways for soil to be treated?

Composting as referenced in the documentary is very important in this scale of production as it is cheaper than fertilizers and pesticides and helps reduce the amount of excess was and nitrogen being put into the atmosphere. These people who switched from the usual way of harvesting and producing saw a significant change in the way their fruits and vegetables tasted as well as grew. The example they made was how in their childhood there use to be holes in the cow patties and in recent times they had not seen them until they switched to a more natural way for growth. This led to the discovery that the use of pesticides and fertilizers wiped out a breed of dung beetle naturally occurring in that ecosystem. These natural and organic plants were growing stronger and had a much richer taste. Due to the well-taken care of nature of these farmers. Their vegetables are used by a world-renowned restaurant where their quality of food is praised. Well-produced produce is the difference in taste and health that we must turn to.

Why is the food production industry so bad?

Food in this day in age is created at a mass-produced level with little regard to its effects on the surrounding environment. Large corporations are just trying to get the cheapest and fasted fruits and vegetables on the market, thus creating a need for inventions to make growth faster. Genetically modified organisms are an example of this. Genes within these fruits and vegetables are changed in order for them to be able to withstand different soil types as well as different conditions, even speed the growth process. The problem is that this is created by humans and is no longer a natural product. We are filling ourselves with genetically created lab veggies and creating unnecessary harm to ourselves. So many fruits and vegetables go bad every day, why is it that we need to produce more faster and faster. This endless chain leaves us with countless amounts of produce that get spoiled because of the lack of consumers keeping up. Overproduction is also encouraged by overconsumption as well as purchasing from the consumers part. People buy way more than what they need and then end up throwing it away because it went bad. Our resources need to be taken care of. Produce should be created at a normal pace with natural resources to minimize the amount of environmental and physical harm upon us.

Why are consumers so oblivious and careless to the products they buy and put into their bodies?

word count: 760

Hazardous Toxins to the Environment and Humanity

Blog #11

Why is risk assessment important and what constitutes a risk?

Risk assessment is the method used to determine how much harm can be caused and a way to avoid and manage the risks at hand (Miller and Spoolman, 409). Risk management establishes how and if a risk should be reduced and the cost of this occurring(410). A large risk that is very harmful is the issue of infectious diseases. Bacteria (which is a rapidly multiplying single cell organism), Virus(a pathogen that invades a cell and genetic material which then causes it to multiply and spread around the body), Parasite (lives on or inside another organism and feeds on it) (410). Another issue is the distinction between non-transmittable and transmittable infectious diseases. Non-transmittable diseases can not be spread from person to person through bodily fluids, it develops within a person especially through outside interference, an example would be cancer and diabetes. Transmittable diseases are those that can be transmitted from one individual to another through water, air, food, and bodily fluids. An example of these would be the flu, HIV, and Covid. These are major risks because as time goes on these disease-carrying bacteria begin to develop genetic immunity to these modern-day antibiotics as well as become resistant to pesticides. Covid is a great example of how a virus can be a detriment to society beyond the fact of how it infects people. Countless people died due to one strand and as soon as people started protecting themselves from one more and more strands of the virus started appearing. These are strong and fast-moving infectious diseases that can wildly affect human life.

How do chemicals affect human lives?

Chemicals are another risk that puts human lives at stake. Infants and youth are the most affected by these chemicals. Any risk must be multiplied by ten and that is the estimated amount in which it would affect children (415). In the womb exposure to these chemicals can cause autism, childhood asthma, as well as many types of learning disorders (415). One reason in which it is very difficult to manage is the lack of data and the high costs it takes to enforce regulation so governments overlook the issues. These are even worse in less developed countries around the world.

What are the issues with waste management?

Solid waste has begun to pile up and is either being buried or burned (538). This is extremely harmful to the environment as well as our quality of life. Solid waste is any material that is thrown away by people that does not include liquid or gas. Industrial solid waste is what provides us with goods and services and municipal solid waste is the combined waste from people everywhere (538). Most of the municipal waste ends up in the ocean. Believe it or not, this can also affect the spread of infectious diseases. In Kenya, there were outbreaks of malaria due to plastic bags lying around holding water in which these malaria holding mosquitoes could breed (538). The united states alone created 40 percent of the world’s solid waste and it only amounts to four percent of the world’s population. This high waist economy is what makes so much excess waste spread around the planet.

How does this affect wildlife as well as humans?

Wildlife is the most affected by issues of waste, especially marine animals. Seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles all mistake pieces of plastic floating in the sea such as plastic bags to be jellyfish, and end up consuming them (539). Not only are we polluting the planet for our selfish reasons but we are endangering the lives of these creatures who can not tell the difference. Toxic waste is the main aggressor towards humans. Many are used in everyday life and can be detrimental to our health. Things such as pesticide products, car batteries, coal-burning power, and industrial power plants. One way to reduce this harm is to control the production and pace of waste. Being able to reduce it finding a way to get rid of it in a more effective way in which it is disposed of correctly will eliminate the issue of it landing in our oceans. At the end of the day, everything comes down to reducing, reusing, and recycling. The less waste we produce and the more we can reuse, the less of an environmental as well as detrimental health effect we will have.

What is a good alternative for waste disposal?

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Water Over Usage and Pollution

Blog #12

How is freshwater being distributed and how does it affect us?

Water is the most important aspect that supports human life. It is what makes it possible for life to thrive. However, we as a population waste, pollute and undervalue the water resources we have available to us. Access to clean water is an issue all around the world even in the United States. 3.4 million people die from waterborne infectious diseases ( Miller and Spoolman, 9,300). 9,300 of those deaths occur daily. 57% of people have access to clean water piped into their homes (301). It is terrible to see how many people living on this planet have so little access to clean water especially in their own homes, many people have no access to clean water within their proximity or maybe at all. This is a right that we all deserve as human beings especially with something necessary for life to thrive and be healthy.

What are the issues with over-pumping and aquifers?

Aquifer depletion is an ever-growing issue in our modern-day. More and more water is taken every day and eventually, this overpumping can lead to many negative effects on this clean water. Overpumping from these aquifers can lead to saltwater being pulled into the freshwater inside the aquifer leaving it unusable since the freshwater will be contaminated(310). However, there are some ways to remove this saltwater in attempts to create freshwater. Desalination can follow two different processes such as distillation, heating until salts are left in solid form, as well as reverse osmosis, where high pressure is applied to saltwater until it begins to evaporate leaving the salt to condense and freshwater is left (310).

What are some causes of water pollution?

Water pollution is a change in quality where humans and all living organisms are unable to have water access that is fit for them. Many places in the past years have become more and more polluted through human activities and disregard of surroundings. Pollution is a major issue that has left people with lead-poisoned water and oil-contaminated water and no access to clean drinking water and farmers without it for their crops. The lead is because of outdated pipes that are still being used today to pump freshwater which leads to severe lead poisoning in people. However, fossil fuels will always be a leader in water pollution. Whether there is a direct oil spill from a pipeline that contaminates the water or if it’s from the combustion of fossil fuels that end up in the air and into rainwater, the oil will always be a major culprit.

How is water being wasted?

Most of the freshwater being used is put into irrigation for crops, food production, and clothing production. The high market for clothing and fast fashion has become a prevalent issue over time and the increasing consumerism is a cause for this large misuse of water. Overconsumption of meat and the overproduction of crops that aren’t being used also contributes to immense amounts of water. Not only does this consume large amounts of water but it pollutes a lot of our water as well. There is so much water being used in indirect consumption especially in things such as filling pools, cleaning houses, washing away waste, cleaning and making clothes, cooling down nuclear plants, and many more. When looking into my water footprint it says that I use 693.4 m³ per year and although it is less than the global average I am still unsure how accurate this test is. There are no specifically accurate categories that could inform on how much water I use. I am not a very avid meat eater but I do every once in a while consume meat so I would not categorize myself as an average consumer or a vegetarian. This as well as the other question such as income are the only ones that relatively contribute to the change in the number so I don’t feel like my results are extremely accurate. Although, it did open my eyes to how much one person can contribute to water waste every day.

What are some possible ways to increase the information access people have to their water footprint? Why do people avoid informing themselves about this matter when it is such a large issue around the globe?

Word count: 738

Glasgow '21 Climate Report

Blog #13

What are some plans that have still not been achieved?

There were plans in which have not been achieved yet that were reported at the Glasgow ‘21. Some of these include an end to fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out coal use, establishing and providing a carbon price, and helping to protect vulnerable communities. There are so many great ideas that were promised that still have not been achieved that could immensely help move things in the right direction. Many countries are still avoiding their deadlines and there is a struggle to create a set time where emissions will be reduced. However, because of Covid-19, there was a halt in many plans on the part of these countries. Another thing to focus on as to why this change is taking longer also involves the amount of funding many underdeveloped countries have.

What are some achievements from this report?

Even though many things were not achieved as promised there have been achievements to come out of these meetings. Over 120 countries have promised to stop and help reverse the effects of deforestation by the year 2030. 100 countries including the U.S and EU have agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as well. Getting large countries involved in this change is what will lead to a global scale change in our environment’s health. Especially the involvement of China who pledged alongside the U.S to boost climate cooperation and preservation over the next decade. Although this is not the longest time it is a start especially from such high powers that can drastically change the state of our planet. Glasgow’s declaration that there will be zero emissions. Many countries such as Poland, Chile, and Vietnam all agreed to shift their use of coal to other resources.

What are some things that Glasgow hopes to achieve in the coming year?

Many countries still have not decided what they will commit to as a change and Glasgow asks them to attempt to commit to a pledge by next year to bring on all efforts to combat the ongoing change of the climate for the better. The goal is to start moving towards these pledges faster than 2030 and attempting to get more countries involved on such an important issue. Especially with removing the reliance on fossil fuels as well as coal-fired power. Some countries have made their goal far from the near future so there is some work to be done. Goals such as holding a deforestation pledge, methane abatement pledge, ending overseas financing of oil and gas, and a steel and aluminum trade agreement.

What groups of people should be helped?

Hopefully, those who are most affected by the ongoing climate crisis will gain an advantage from all these goals for the future. Indigenous populations especially are immensely affected as they live off the land and have to suffer the consequences and damages of our modern society. With these new pledges, low-income groups will hopefully be less affected by things such as polluted air and water. Still, even with these pledges, it does not improve their lifestyles. In the case of the indigenous population many groups especially the Navajo, who work for coal mines, have a lack of energy and electricity in their lives. Providing solutions such as providing them with environmentally friendly energy resources such as solar panels on their land could drastically change their daily lives. Being able to inform and take care of these groups of people is largely important as they take care of our planet and live off of it.

What is my opinion of this summit?

Many great promises have been made in this meeting and there is a hope that these promises will be kept. Places with overwhelming issues and blame for the mass destruction of our planet need to take responsibility and soon. Promises are not set in stone and it is our job to keep them in check. If we want something to be done we must speak out. One issue I still do not think will be addressed and is being overlooked too much is how little indigenous rights are being addressed as well as how the largest countries and powers are not ready to do more than what they promise. It may be expensive and it will take time but the more we do now the less we will have to watch die in the future.

Why are so many countries still avoiding making some sort of change to help benefit the future?

Word count: 770

Work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

Climate Change Practicum report:

I joined the Climate Impact initiative at the beginning of the year and although I still have not been able to do any of the activities I have been able to sign up and join the composting initiative within the club. I have always been intrigued by the thought of composting and wanted to learn more about it and how I can implement it in my own life and inspire others to do the same. It took a while to get everything up and running since everyone in the club is a student and midterms came up. However, we finally got together as a group to decide the times at which we can meet. These meetings have shown me how many people are willing to make small changes that can create big outcomes to help our planet. There were many options such as helping run the social media or business partnerships but after reading about how much goes into landfills or ends up in our oceans I knew that actively learning about how to compost can provide me with knowledge and a course of action to start with. I was not as active as I wished I could be especially since many activities take place on Rose-Hill and I had A Capella practice most of the days during the meetings and it was difficult to make it to these meetings as a whole. It is hard to involve people when they might not know how much this will affect their daily lives so providing fun and informative activities is a great way to spread awareness. One thing I have especially learned while trying to keep up with the meetings is that regardless of everyone’s activities and issues within their own life there is a sense of commitment and community within the groups to do everything they can to help our environment. I do wish I was able to do more especially since my major is Environmental Studies and this is an important collaborative aspect that will help me in the future. Since I have not been able to be involved in many of these activities as many times it interfered with my work or practice I tried my best to get people I knew involved or inform them on what activities are going on since I have many friends on the Rose Hill Fordham campus that would have an easier time getting access to these activities they were hosting. I also started a small personal project where I started taking all the glass and plastic bottles my roommates have been getting rid of and I started planting seeds into them as a way to avoid waste in buying pots for my plant and I can have a small impact on the plastic waste at Fordham. I have also got some friends involved in doing the same thing in their own rooms so even though it is not a huge change it is a small way to eliminate our own waste within the Fordham dorms. I also had many conversations with Sam Bowin about different things we could get done whether at or outside of campus. It was hard for me to make it to these meetings but meeting up with people who went to them and staying informed was very important to me as I loved to learn about the ideas for projects and how committed everyone is to help the planet one step at a time. I have also started helping one of my friends back home who started a clothing (mainly sweaters) company called See The Good by Sofi where she has started coming up with a collection where part of the funds she made would go to an environmental cause. The last one I helped her on was around the time I did my presentation for class here I focused on the Amazon rainforest and deforestation as a whole. Her last sweater collection which I think is still up is the one where proceeds go to help stop deforestation in the Amazon especially. I have also helped my roommate who is in Gabelli and trying to come up with an environmentally friendly company for one of her projects on informing her what is good for the environment and what she could use as alternatives for things that could have some negative impacts. Another person I did my best to help was another one of my roommates who writes for the observer and would ask me for opinions or information on current climate change news. When the issue regarding Spotted Lantern fly’s was occurring

throughout New York City I sat with her and we figured out just how these were negatively impacting the ecosystem around us and what we could do to help. I realize how many opportunities I have to share my knowledge regardless of how large it is with the people around me. Everyone I know has been so open to learning about everything going on in the world and I have encouraged them to spread the word and learn how to incorporate things I have shown them into their own profession. The Climate Impact Initiative, while it was hard for me to stay super active within it, helped me know how much power as a generation and a handful of students we have to help the planet in many small ways. I really hope to keep going and have more time to set out and go to Rose Hill for some of the activities.

Word count: 919

Environmental Stakeholder Statement:

This class has helped me learn a lot about more than just environmental issues at hand. Going forward, I believe this class has helped me know how many resources I have access to fight for what I believe in. Although learning about these issues did help me learn a lot and at times I did lose hope about the future of the planet, it gives me more motivation to push forward and have my voice heard. I have seen and heard so much about people’s opinions on the ongoing crisis the planet is going through and how so many people still refuse to acknowledge everything that is happening and continuing to happen. It is hard as a citizen to see how little people care and how little they do to change their minds on what is going on. The urge to go away and seclude oneself would be the easiest way to keep going but I feel a personal obligation to do all in my power to not give up. Coming from Miami, Fl I saw firsthand how little people care especially in a place that is on the coast and is of the first to disappear forever. With my knowledge, I plan to try my best to inform everyone around me about what we can do and why there is so much that is ongoing and will not be over until something is done about it.

I am thankfully very fortunate to be able to study this topic and be so informed yet, I feel a burden knowing everything that is going on and having such little power to fix it fast. One thing I severely want to focus on is figuring out how to incorporate the things I have learned to determine what specifically I can focus on in the future. Whether becoming an active member in my community or partaking in informing people around the world, I just hope to see a change in the perception of climate change in both societies as a whole and especially in the government/politics. The fate of our people has become a game between republicans and democrats instead of a humanitarian issue. There is so much I want to do and so little time to get it done especially and the rapid rate that everything is occurring. As a knowing citizen of this collapsing economy and society, my only goal is to make this planet a better place and to hopefully get it to a point where there is a reason for me to even consider bringing children into this world. Our generation was given a burning planet with no help on how to put the flame out.

[thegreenline]

Glasgow '21 Climate Report

What are some plans that have still not been achieved?

There were plans in which have not been achieved yet that were reported at the Glasgow ‘21. Some of these include an end to fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out coal use, establishing and providing a price for carbon, and helping to protect vulnerable communities. There are so many great ideas that were promised that still have not been achieved that could immensely help move things in the right direction. Many countries are still avoiding their deadlines and there is a struggle to create a set time where emissions will be reduced. However, because of Covid-19 there was a halt in many plans from the part of these countries. Another thing to focus on as to why this change is taking longer also involves the amount of funding many underdeveloped countries have.

What are some achievements from this report?

Even though there were many things that were not achieved as promised there have been achievements to come out of these meetings. Over 120 countries have promised to stop and help reverse the effects of deforestation by the year 2030. 100 countries including the U.S and EU have agreed to cut green house gas emissions by 2030 as well. Getting large countries involved in this change is what will lead to a global scale change in our environments health. Especially the involvement of China who pledged along side the U.S to boost climate cooperation and preservation over the next decade. Although this is not the longest time it is a start especially from such high powers that can drastically change the state of our planet. Glasgow declaration that there will be zero emissions. Many countries such as Poland, Chile, and Vietnam all agreed to shift their use of coal to other resources.

What are some things that Glasgow hopes to achieve in the coming year?

Many countries still have not decided what they will commit to as a change and Glasgow asks them to attempt to commit to a pledge by next year as to bring on all efforts to combat the ongoing change of the climate for the better. The goal is to start moving towards these pledges faster than 2030 and attempting to get more countries involved on such an important issue. Especially with removing the reliance of fossil fuels as well as coal fired power. Some countries have made their goal far from the near future so there is some work to be done. Goals such as holding a deforestation pledge, methane abatement pledge, ending overseas financing of oil and gas, and a steel and aluminum trade agreement.

What groups of people should be helped?

Hopefully, those who are most affected by the ongoing climate crisis will gain an advantage from all these goals for the future. Indigenous populations especially are immensely affected as they live off the land and have to suffer the consequences and damages of our modern society. With these new pledges low income groups will hopefully be less affected by things such as polluted air and water. Still even with these pledges it does not improve their lifestyles. In the case of the indigenous population many groups especially the Navajo, who work for coal mines, have a lack of energy and electricity in their lives. Providing solutions such as providing them with environmentally friendly energy resources such as solar panels on their land could drastically change their daily lives. Being able to inform and take care of these groups of people is largely important as they take care of our planet and live off of it.

What is my opinion of this summit?

There are many great promises that have been made in this meeting and there is a hope that these promises will be kept. Places with overwhelming issues and blame for the mass destruction of our planet need to take responsibility and soon. Promises are not set in stone and it is our job to keep them in check. If we want something to be done we must speak out. One issue I still do not think will be addressed and is being overlooked too much is how little indigenous rights are being addressed as well as how the largest countries and powers are not ready to do more than what they promise. It may be expensive and it will take time but the more we do now the less we will have to watch die in the future.

Why are so many countries still avoiding making some sort of change to help benefit the future?

Word count: 770

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Water Over Usage and Pollution

How is freshwater being distributed and how does it affect us?

Water is the most important aspect that supports human life. It is what makes it possible for life to thrive. However, we as a population waste, pollute, and undervalue the water resources we have available to us. Access to clean water is an issue all around the world even in the United States. 3.4 million people die from waterborne infectious diseases ( Miller and Spoolman, 9,300). 9,300 of those deaths occur on a daily basis. 57% of people actually have access to clean water piped into their homes (301). It is terrible to see how many people living on this planet have so little access to clean water especially in their own homes, many people have no access to clean water within their proximity or maybe at all. This is a right that we all deserve as human beings especially with something that is necessary for life to thrive and be healthy.

What are the issues with over pumping and aquifers?

Aquifer depletion is an ever growing issue in our modern day. More and more water is taken every day and eventually this overpumping can lead to many negative effects on this clean water. Overpumping from these aquifers can lead to saltwater being pulled into the fresh water inside the aquifer leaving it unusable since the freshwater will be contaminated(310). However, there are some ways to remove this saltwater in attempts to create freshwater. Desalination can follow two different processes such as distillation, heating until salts left in solid form, as well as reverse osmosis, where high pressure is applied to saltwater until it begins to evaporate leaving the salt to condense and freshwater is left (310).

What are some causes for water pollution?

Water pollution is a change in quality where humans and all living organisms are unable to have water access that is fit for them. Many places in the past years have become more and more polluted through human activities and disregard of surroundings. Pollution is a major issue that has left people with lead poisoned water and oil contaminated water and no access to clean drinking water and farmers without it for their crops. The lead is because of outdated pipes that are still being used today to pump freshwater which leads to severe lead poisoning in people. However, fossil fuels will always be a leader for water pollution. Whether there is a direct oil spill from a pipeline that contaminates the water or if it’s from the combustion of fossil fuels that end up in the air and into rain water, oil will always be a major culprit.

How is water being wasted?

Most of the freshwater being used is put into irrigation for crops, in food production, and clothing production. The high market for clothing and fast fashion has become a prevalent issue over time and the increasing consumerism is a cause for this large misuse of water. An overconsumption of meat and the over production of crops that aren’t being used also contributes to immense amounts of water. Not only does this consume large amounts of water but it pollutes a lot of out water as well. There is so much water being used in indirect consumption especially in things such as filling pools, cleaning houses, washing away waste, cleaning and making clothes, cooling down nuclear plants, and many more. When looking into my water footprint it says that I use 693.4 m³ per year and although it is less than the global average I am still unsure how accurate this test is. There is no specifically accurate categories that could inform on how much water I actually use. I am not a very avid meat eater but I do every once in a while consume meat so I would not categorize myself as an average consumer or a vegetarian. This as well as the other question such as income are the only ones that relatively contribute to the change in the number so I don’t feel like my results are extremely accurate. Although, it did open my eyes to how much one person can contribute to water waste every day.

What are some possible ways to increase the information access people have to their own water footprint? Why do people avoid informing themselves about this matter when it is such a large issue around the globe?

Word count: 738

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Hazardous Toxins to the Environment and Humanity

Why is risk assessment important and what constitutes a risk?

Risk assessment is the method used in order to determine how much harm can be caused and a way to avoid and manage the risks at hand (Miller and Spoolman, 409). Risk management establishes how and if a risk should be reduced and the cost of this occurring(410). A large risk that is very harmful is the issue of infectious diseases. Bacteria (which is a rapidly multiplying single cell organism), Virus(a pathogen that invades a cell and genetic material which then causes it to multiply and spread around the body), Parasite (lives on or inside another organism and feeds on it) (410). Another issue is the distinction between non-transmittable and transmittable infectious diseases. Non-transmittable diseases can not be spread from person to person through bodily fluids, it develops within a person especially through outside interference, an example would be cancer and diabetes. Transmittable diseases are those that can be transmitted from one individual to another through water, air, food, and bodily fluids. An example of these would be the flu, HIV, and Covid. These are major risks because as time goes on these disease carrying bacteria begin to develop genetic immunity to these modern day antibiotics as well as become resistant to pesticides. Covid is a great example of how a virus can be a detriment to society beyond the fact of how it infects people. Countless people died due to one strand and as soon as people started protecting themselves from one more and more strands of the virus started appearing. These are strong and fast moving infectious diseases that can wildly affect human life.

How do chemicals affect human lives?

Chemicals are another risk that puts human lives at stake. Infants and youth are the most affected by these chemicals. Any risk must be multiplied by ten and that is the estimated amount in which it would affect children (415). In the womb exposure to these chemicals can possibly cause autism, childhood asthma, as well as many types of learning disorders (415). One reason in which it is very difficult to manage is the lack of data and the high costs it takes to enforce regulation so governments overlook the issues. These are even worse in less developed countries around the world.

What are the issues with waste management?

Solid waste has begun to pile up and is either being buried or burned (538). This is extremely harmful to the environment as well as our quality of life. Solid waste is any material that is thrown away by people that does not include liquid or gas. Industrial solid waste is what provides us with goods and services and municipal solid waste is the combined waste from people everywhere (538). Most of the municipal waste ends up in the ocean. Believe it or not, this can also affect the spread of infectious diseases. In Kenya, there were outbreaks of malaria due to plastic bags lying around holding water in which these malaria holding mosquitoes could breed (538). The united states alone created 40 percent of the world’s solid waste and it only amounts to four percent of the world’s population. This high waste economy is what makes so much excess waste spread around the planet.

How does this affect wildlife as well as humans?

Wildlife is the most affected by issues of waste, especially marine animals. Seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles all mistake pieces of plastic floating in the sea such as plastic bags to be jellyfish, and end up consuming them (539). Not only are we polluting the planet for our own selfish reasons but we are endangering the lives of these creatures who can not tell the difference. Toxic waste is the main aggressor towards humans. Many are used in everyday life and can be detrimental to our health. Things such as pesticide products, car batteries, coal-burning power, and industrial power plants. One way to reduce this harm is to control the production and pace of waste. Being able to reduce it finding a way to get rid of it in a more effective way in which it is disposed of correctly will eliminate the issue of it landing in our oceans. At the end of the day, everything really comes down to reducing, reusing, and recycling. The less waste we produce and the more we can reuse, the less of an environmental as well as detrimental health effect we will have.

What is a good alternative for waste disposal?

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The Importance of Knowing Where our Food Comes From

Why is soil so important?

Soil contains so much from prehistoric times, every layer is older than the other and remains to be a show of the time. Nutrients flow within it and because of this the ecosystem as a whole can survive. In the documentary The Symphony of Soil it is demonstrated just how important soil is to plants as well as the food industry. Good natural soil is better than the new industrial-created soil full of pesticides. Soil that is taken care of and provided for like farmers in the past before new technology was developed can benefit the planet and the food market. Pesticides are not necessary, in fact, they often hinder the quality of the fruits and vegetables being grown and the life surrounding them. Soil is necessary to grow everything around us and is not appreciated as it should be.

Why are pesticides and fertilizers so bad?

Fertilizers incorporate so much excess nitrogen into the soil and atmosphere and cause the need for extra water, pesticides, and other nutrients. Once stopping this the soil itself becomes so waterlogged and gets “sick”. Pesticides and fertilizers can cause many issues with areas surrounding the farm especially in bodies of water. Some issues can be those of dead zones in which no life can thrive due to the lack of oxygen in that body of water. There are dead zones all over the world including the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Chesapeake Bay. These areas were affected by so much nutrient pollution that caused all the oxygen to be absorbed by algae, causing algae blooms, and removing all the oxygen which then furthermore kills the rest of the population in the area. These algae blooms can appear in a very short amount of time and can cause immense damage to the ecosystem and the organisms within it.

What are some of the better ways for soil to be treated?

Composting as referenced in the documentary is very important in this scale of production as it is cheaper than fertilizers and pesticides and helps reduce the amount of excess was and nitrogen being put into the atmosphere. These people who switched from the usual way of harvesting and producing saw a significant change in the way their fruits and vegetables tasted as well as grew. The example they made was how in their childhood there use to be holes in the cow patties and in recent times they had not seen them until they switched to a more natural way for growth. This led to the discovery that the use of pesticides and fertilizers wiped out a breed of dung beetle naturally occurring in that ecosystem. These natural and organic plants were growing stronger and had a much richer taste. Due to the well-taken care of nature of these farmers. Their vegetables are used by a world-renowned restaurant where their quality of food is praised. Well-produced produce is the difference in taste and health that we must turn to.

Why is the food production industry so bad?

Food in this day in age is created at a mass-produced level with little regard to its effects on the surrounding environment. Large corporations are just trying to get the cheapest and fasted fruits and vegetables on the market, thus creating a need for inventions to make growth faster. Genetically modified organisms are an example of this. Genes within these fruits and vegetables are changed in order for them to be able to withstand different soil types as well as different conditions, even speed the growth process. The problem is that this is created by humans and is no longer a natural product. We are filling ourselves with genetically created lab veggies and creating unnecessary harm to ourselves. So many fruits and vegetables go bad every day, why is it that we need to produce more faster and faster. This endless chain leaves us with countless amounts of produce that get spoiled because of the lack of consumers keeping up. Overproduction is also encouraged by overconsumption as well as purchasing from the consumers part. People buy way more than what they need and then end up throwing it away because it went bad. Our resources need to be taken care of. Produce should be created at a normal pace with natural resources to minimize the amount of environmental and physical harm upon us.

Why are consumers so oblivious and careless to the products they buy and put into their own bodies?

word count: 760

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Effect of Food Production and Aquatic Biodiversity

What are the threats to Aquatic Biodiversity and why should we care?

The ocean and bodies of water on our planet provide countless of species of animals with habitats and protection. The vast majority of our planet is underwater naturally. The ocean generates 50-70% of the Oxygen we breathe as well as helps slow atmospheric warming by absorbing 90% of excess heat (Miller and Spoolman, 233). This in turn raises the ocean temperature which then creates a major phenomenon called coral bleaching. Corals all over the world have turned white in color to protect themselves from the wave of heat being produced. If this increase in temperature continues they can never release their polyps and can no longer feed themselves so it dies. Corals are a major ecosystem that provides homes to the vast amount of creatures in the ocean providing a home for biodiversity. These animals are also major contributors to economic factors to our economy. Fishing and tourism are the providers of more than 300 million jobs around the world. However, overfishing is starting to cause great harm to these beautiful underwater ecosystems. Fish species are being so over-harvested that there is an imbalance. Pollution also causes massive outbreaks in algae blooms which are extremely hard to control and eventually will overpower the ecosystem it takes over (236).

How to improve the stigma on sharks?

Sharks are portrayed in the media as dangerous and aggressive creatures. Movies such as Jaws and the Megladon are prime examples of sharks having no mercy on people and seeing them only as food. In reality, sharks are incredibly important to life in the ocean, and on many occasions in which they run into a human nothing happens. Sharks are a keystone species, they help control the overpopulation of many species and maintain balance. These false accusations lead to companies killing large amounts of sharks with no one fighting against them as it makes humans feel “protected”. Shark finning is an industry that creates an influx of need for shark fins as they are highly valued and considered a delicacy in Asia. This industry causes a massive decline in shark populations which in turn can disrupt the entire food chain and ecosystem of an area.

What can we do to help our ecosystems?

Places such as the everglades in Florida heavily rely on both protecting the wildlife and incorporating tourism. Growing up I went once a year for school field trips and saw how they cared for the animals and environment less and less. For many people in the area, it was simply a way to make money. Animals began experiencing habitat loss due to countless endangered species being released into the ecosystem due to unwanted pets. Biodiversity started declining as more new predators with nothing to control them were added to the ecosystem. This area is so rich in biodiversity that it must be protected along with the marine and aquatic life around the globe. By creating marine reserves and helping restore these ecosystems there is a good chance that these creatures can continue to survive(246). We must start to understand that there are limits to how much we can take that is not ours, to begin with.

Why are there so many issues with access to food?

The food production and distribution process have many issues within it. There is always an excess of food being created yet, so many lives every day in hunger. Families go hungry for weeks at a time and food is a human right that should have an easier way to access it (263). From area to area there is a clear example of the food distribution issue, countries have drastic opposites such as a homeless person going hungry to overweight individual eating out of excess (264). This rapidly growing industry then in turn creates more jobs and pollution. More fields are being cleared to create more space for crop growth and more companies are producing cheaper food that is overproduced. The meat industry is another contributing factor to field clearing as the cattle being raised need shelter and spaces to graze, separate from the factor of methane being contributed by cows. Thankfully, new processes have been developed in our growing industrialized agriculture economy in which farmers can actually grow more crops in less land (272). Things like this can help limit the amount of land we use for ourselves and leave more natural habitats intact.

Why do industrialized countries find it necessary to overproduce cheap goods?

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Biodiversity and Forest Protection

What are the dangers approaching species?

Many species have been moving towards endangered and threatened species lists as many factors are contributing to possible extinction. Loss of habitat stemming from human intervention and over-harvesting is a major contributor to this issue (Miller and Spoolman, 178). Large industries such as palm oil and vegetable oil largely advance the deforestation process that has been occurring for years. This large amount of deforestation in turn destroys ecosystems that house countless species. When these habitats are gone these animals are left without a home and begin their road to extinction. An example of this would be the orangutans who are immensely affected by the deforestation in the Amazon due to the palm oil industry. As they begin to die off and are being taken to restore the species, they are disrupting the food chain as a whole as many animals rely on them as a source of food (179). Losing one species is detrimental to the planet let alone a whole ecosystem. There is a chain reaction that stems from the smallest change, this exemplifies the importance of protecting every part of our planet as no matter how small it is essential to how the world survives.

How do non-native species affect the environment and people?

There are both beneficial and nonbeneficial sets of nonnative species all over the world. Things such as corn, cattle, livestock, rice, and wheat are all nonnative species in many regions, however, they are used to sustain human life and pose very little threat to the surrounding areas. Invasive species are the issue that pertains to many environmental problems. In recent news the mention of the spotted lanternfly that was taking over many parts of the northeast from Asia and can cause major damage to agriculture in the states. Mandates had to be created to begin killing these pests as they have no main predator in this new habitat and can multiply at dangerous rates. The main issue with invasive species is they have no way of being controlled in a natural and contained way as many of our plants and animals are controlled. They aren’t a part of the main food chain of the area thus, creating a cycle and explosion of population.

Why are forests so important?

Forests are our main resource for depleting countless amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and they house large populations of species. They provide large economic as well as ecosystem services (206). Many materials such as wood, raw materials, and natural medicines are created through harvesting parts of forests and while this is a great economic opportunity there are issues in which people grow money-hungry and take more than they should.

What is affecting our forest systems?

The most recent issues that have been evident in the news are the large amounts of forests fires, especially in California. Fires attribute to the loss of many of our forests and can be categorized into two main types of fires. Surface fires are those that burn the undergrowth, areas such as grass, and small trees. Crown fires are those that burn the entire trees and are heavily based on the tops of trees causing them to burn top down. Deforestation is another one as mentioned previously, over-harvesting from areas for oil and wood products diminishes the number of trees in areas. There is also the issue of an increase in temperature which doesn’t seem like it would affect trees very much however, this increase causes bugs such as the Pine bark beetle to multiply and can kill countless trees (207). The last main issue is a disease, an example would be the white pine blister rust which is a fungal disease that spreads rapidly on white pines (207).

How can forests be managed and sustained?

Some examples described in the book where maximum sustainable yield management which harvests trees in their intermediate size as they approach the longer part of growth and it can be efficient to replant after taking it down at midsize and ecosystem-based management which harvests renewable resources in attempts to minimize the harm done. Finding new ways to manage forests fires could help avoid large amounts being burned down and would help the number of carbon emissions produced from these fires, creating regulation to protect from over-harvesting, establishing sanctuaries and protected spaces, reducing demand for tree-based products, and replanting. The same can be said for protecting biodiversity as many extinction issues are rooted in forest management.

If there was a way to implement policy at large could there be a way to oversee and take action to protect the ecosystems?

word count: 780

Work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

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Overpopulation and Its Effect on the planet

How fast does the population growth and how does it affect urban growth?

In the last 200 years, populations have reached a higher level of growth (Miller and Spoolman, 110). Every year population grows more and more. When looking at the World population clock it becomes evident that there are more births per second than death leaving us at a constant incline in population. In the US clock, it shows that there is one birth every 8 seconds and one death every 11 seconds. The more the population begins to grow the harder it is for resources to keep up. There are only so many resources that can sustain an ongoing population especially in urban areas where there is a constant influx of people. The more advanced society gets the higher birth rates and lower death rates will become due to the access to resources. This can become a major economic factor in the future as many families in poverty-dense areas plan to have more children than they believe to survive and the more they survive the harder the economic burden on those families. As the population grows, more has to be built to keep up and more traffic, water, and food consumption in a more dense area.

Why are people driven out from rural areas?

There are basic needs a human has to have to survive. Many people move from rural to urban areas in search of jobs, education, healthcare, and entertainment (567). Another big issue is famine, loss of land, a decline in environmental conditions, war, religion, and political conflicts (567). All of these issues are reasons that drive people out of rural areas in search of a better and safer life for themselves and their families. Rural areas have fewer opportunities to expand and are usually a part of the working class or those in poverty. India is an example of a densely populated country struggling with resources and development. There is a high amount of water stress on populations there and a heavy reliance on vehicles to make their way around, leading to a high amount of traffic. The air quality begins to diminish through this abundance of vehicles as well as reliance o fossil fuels and natural fuels for burning and cooking. This will then affect the health of the population as every action affects everyone in the area. Ensuring that people have enough access to clean water, air, and shelter is a basic human right, however, many countries don’t have the access to these resources because of overpopulation and a decrease in material to provide for the people.

What are the Pros and Cons of Urban areas?

Urban areas bring access to innovation, cultural diversity, jobs, technological advancements, an increase in life span and life expectancy due to better healthcare, and better education opportunities. One issue is the more people move into this picture-perfect image of a city many of these benefits begin to decline. As the influx of people increases, there will begin to be more traffic, water scarcity, and vehicle use. Although it is great that more and more people will have access to better resources there is a time where it needs to be controlled. If more people need to travel longer distances there should be good public transport implemented, and if people still need to use cars some sort of restriction must be made. Vehicles pollute our environment due to the burning of fuels and it’s important to keep the pollution to a minimum.

What are some ways to solve these issues?

Exposing families to family planning and ensuring people have more adequate health insurance as to where they dont have a large abundance of children thinking only a couple will survive. This would already eliminate the increasing quantity of births that offset the ratio to deaths. Another issue is that of air pollution, implementing policy such as PlaNYC where fees will be implemented on cars during traffic hours to encourage people to find a different, climate-friendly alternative. This especially is a great plan for NYC where the subway is an easy resource to use at our disposal. It is important to amount that as populations begin to grow there will be more competition for daily needs. Anything that can be done to avoid this overconsumption must be implemented.

How long will it take for resources to be depleted fully at the rate our population is growing?

word count:744

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Midterm Blogs

Blog #1

Sustainability and Its Effect on Humanity

What is our responsibility?

We as humans must take care of the world around us, as in the end, we are the ones in harm’s way. Natural resources must begin to be conserved as every day the more is consumed, the less we are left with to sustain future generations. “Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted”(10). There are only so many resources that can be exploited before the end approaches. Humanity must evolve and think beyond the next couple of years. Generations will be brought into a world of corruption while humanity sits aside with little regard for what is occurring. We must learn to trust and cooperate, no small actions go unnoticed. The way to start change is through action, cooperation, trust, and reciprocity. The planet is dying in our hands and as the generations go on, less and less will be left.

What are the negative effects on the planet?

Every action we perform leads to more and more negative impacts on our ecosystem. Some of these include Air pollution, enhanced ultraviolet rays, toxic chemicals from soil entering the oceans, as well as pollution of surface waters (union of concerned scientists 1997, 1). The ocean levels are rising, coral reefs are bleaching, larger floods and droughts are developing. People everywhere are being exposed to the horrible effects of our actions. California’s residents have had to evacuate their homes countless times, many people having to watch their childhood homes burn down, and we still have done so little to help our planet recover. Countless amounts of carbon fill the air through this, our Ozone layer develops holes, and we are no longer protected. We are destroying our planet faster than we can fix it and I hope we won't have to face the consequences soon.

How can we be sustainable?

Sustainability does not exclusively apply to humans all over the world, it is the way the natural world around us adapts to the vastly changing environment (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 2). The planet can fix itself but it is our species that will be extinct if we do not begin to care. Earth sustains our life as well as the rest of the living beings but, we are the ones taking advantage of its natural resources and once they are depleted we will be the ones gone (10). There is no more pressing time than now to start living sustainably. It only takes one person to start the change but without the whole, nothing can be done. Harding provides an egocentric view of humanity as people who will do what they want for the benefit of themselves, however all over the world groups of people work together to maximize rather than exploit (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 10). The more industrialized the economy, the more abuse toward our planet. The United States alone uses up about 30% of natural resources (8).

Environmental footprint test results and reflection:

Not every person is perfect, when taking the environmental footprint test my results indicated that there would need to be three earths for me to continue my lifestyle as of now. I took this test a couple of months ago and have been able to reduce it from the 4 earths I previously was consuming. Small changes such as avoiding red meat or limiting it to a meal a week or opting for a milk substitute limit the amount of water usage in our everyday lives. There are so many ways to clean up past actions left by past generations that can be done in a matter of minutes. Governments today have done very little to reduce our environmental footprint, every day promising action with no results being displayed. The book mentions over and over again that this issue is pressing to us and only us (Miller and Spoolman 2021). Animals adapt and as they evolve can thrive in a dying world. However, humans have become so reliant on overconsumption that it will be impossible to recover without a small part being done by the large majority. The earth has existed for billions of years and will continue well past our extinction, it’s the way we decide how to spend our future that will inevitably decide if our species will continue to exist. All the documents revolved around the pressing issue of ensuring we sustain the planet around us and how important every small piece is. Every small action causes an equal and opposite reaction. What can we as humans do to bring attention to these immense issues without causing people to feel constrained into a new lifestyle? How can small actions between individuals lead to larger cooperation throughout the world? Why is this issue not pressed enough in media when this affects our future as we know it? How can younger generations motivate the older ones to participate in this global change even though they won't be there to see it?

word count: 845

Blog #2

Interactions Between the Biodiverse World

Effects of human interaction?

Commercialism in the modern world is a large reason for habitat loss as well as animal extinction. Humans are inherently narcissistic to the world around them and will remove anything that stands in the way of profit. An example of a large effect of human interaction is shark finning. Sharks were taken, their fins cut off, and then they were thrown back in the ocean to drown. Fishing boats can only hold so much weight so the mass production solution is to leave these sharks to die. Once there is a major benefit for one species there is more of a need to continue the process. When shark fins became more expensive and a delicacy more sharks were being hunted, when large companies got hold of cheap oil they used it for mass production and led to deforestation, and when water sources were being harvested and sold towns were left without water. “To date, human activities have destroyed more than half of the earth’s rainforests” (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 43). There is so much being over-harvested that natural resources are depleting at a faster rate than they can regenerate. Devastating to the wildlife losing homes to a rapidly growing greedy corporation. Humanity alone isn’t the issue as our contributions are far from causing mass destruction. Once companies take hold of untouched resources and have no consequences, the resources begin to diminish.

How do animals live and treat the natural world?

There are so many elements that contribute to the constant change of the natural world. Animals adapt and progress from their original form and rely on each moving part for the flow to continue. Humans are an unexpected obstacle stopping this natural force to take place. Scientifically, there are many procedures and constant ongoing reactions that provide us with our world today but nothing contributes toward advancement like the interaction of species.

Animals interact in ways where there is an order of some sort. Resources are used promptly giving enough time to recover before using again leading to a constant cycle of possibility. Food chains are a great example of contained populations, for every predator, there is a prey each feasting upon the other endlessly (Miller and Spoolman 2021,53). Processes like the water cycle are another that follows a chain resetting itself by the end (56). The world is designed to fulfill itself with ongoing cycles that always provide, once that design reaches max capacity it begins to attempt to adapt. Evolution is a direct consequence of devastating defects that lead to extinction if modifications aren’t created. Because of this, there is also a vast difference within the same species as modifications over time due to natural events began to occur. Biodiversity flourished while more and more creatures adapted to their newfound way of living. However, many times these developments occur from loss of habitat or resources from manmade destruction. This can also cause a mass extinction of a species with none left to adapt and survive over time. “Each species plays a role within the ecosystem it inhabits” (74). Every species provides a role in the environment no matter how small it is vital that all wildlife be protected, the more extinction the more issues in the long run. Small actions can drastically change outcomes so every small part of the ecosystem must be conserved.

What are the negative effects of humanity on the environment?

Nature has its own process of actively adapting to human threats. Sea otters’ main diet is clams and sea urchins and with the usual abundance, there would be no issue for them (90). Due to over-harvesting and profit, fishermen began to kill the otters for their own commercial benefit (90). This then causes that directly affected, in this case, the kelp forest to be destroyed by sea urchins who no longer have a predator keeping the population in control (90). Species control one another and protect from overpopulation. “Research shows that there is no balance of nature consisting of a permanent and stable state” (97).

Are humans the reason for the downfall of our planet?

Although the textbook says that scientists changed their views on balance in the natural world there is an issue with the claim. From an outside perspective, it is easily said that the drastic changes and unpredictable nature of our current environment can be attributed to human interaction. Scientifically nature does have drastic changes such as the meteor wiping out creatures from the Mesozoic era, but there has been no evidence of constant drastic changes before humans stepped in. Resources weren’t depleting at a rapid pace and species weren’t going on and off the endangered species list. Without humans the earth would be in some sort of balance, the food chain would adapt among itself and the natural cycles would flow naturally. Different populations keep one another in check ensuring that no species becomes elite. Humans are a rapidly growing population taking more and more resources as we grow. There will never be enough resources to sustain this population if it continues on its path. The sheer quantity of the population would be too much to provide for where at some point the weakest would slowly begin to die off. Humans have no main predators in the natural world other than themselves so nothing is keeping it in check, yet our earth will always be the first to suffer from our mishaps.

word count: 911

Blog #3

Conservationists and government intervention

What has the government done to help the environment over time?

Between the years 1870-1930 government started playing a large role in environmental conservation due to presidents that valued and wanted to preserve our natural ecosystems (Miller and Spoolman 2021, pp.S6-S8). A big advocate for environmental preservation was Roosevelt, who avidly would start reserves and disregarded congress’ wishes (pp. S6-S8). This was a great step towards safety for many creatures being left without habitats and being forced out of forests due to tourism and construction. The aftermath of World War left Americans with a newfound sense of discovery and a need to expand (pp. S6-S8). Thankfully, in the ’60s and so on humanity started realizing how vital this planet is to our health and how important it is to take care of it (pp. S6-S8). In the ’80s use of coal and oil began opposing the regulations created before and started creating a new wave of pollution to our earth (pp. S6-S8). It only got worse from there as in the 90s-2010s more and more people began to find environmental regulations to be ways of hindering production and stopping new economic growth. Although in modern times there has been a growth in environmental activism there is only so much we can do ourselves to stop the incoming threat to the environment.

How has the economy affected nature?

The United States was once the new world full of new animals and environments. Our continents were thriving with wildlife and biodiversity. Hunters and gatherers took what they needed and used every part. As economies and large cities began forming overconsumption started becoming a recurring issue. People began mass-producing and taking without control. In our modern-day, we lose more and more of our forests, even trees in neighborhoods because of a selfish over-extraction or simply an aesthetic reason. As humans, we should not be the ones to delegate what resources we are allowed to take and which ones we should keep. Nature isn’t ours, to begin with, and getting permission from the government to cut down a palm tree in our backyard shouldn’t make it okay for this action to occur every day. Homes are built by removing the natural homes of the wildlife. As the industry increases the extraction of resources increases as well leading to the environment falling behind as we over-extract and take until nothing is left. Humans alone are not the issue, large companies are producing and using countless resources extracting more than what they need and overcharging the public. The cheaper a company is the more it will take illegally. There will never be enough to sustain humans if we continue corporate practices. Even hunting for sport is an issue that causes alarming rates of animal populations to decrease. Elephants are being hunted for tusks, rhinos for their horn, sharks for their fins, fish for food, bison, clams for food and pearls, and many more. Humans don’t have a sense of where to stop. When there is easy access to something that makes money, it becomes the sole thing they will take as long as profit is flowing in.

What is an exception to this logic?

There is also a distinction I want to make between those who continue traditions where they hunt but use every part of the animal making sure it doesn’t go to waste compared to those who hunt for sport and harvest what they want if anything. Leaving an animal for dead for pure status and ability is inhumane and disgusting. Many indigenous communities make sure to preserve their traditions and their process of hunting is completely separate from the everyday person who views this as a fun activity. Just because we have access to something such as a prairie filled with buffalo or savannas filled with tigers doesn’t mean we get to shoot them and take a picture to brag. Animals and nature deserve respect as well as acknowledgment in the public eye. Many people are unaware of the harm being caused upon creatures and will live their lives thinking their favorite animal will never go extinct. However, with how humans act every day, no animal is safe.

Why hasn’t humanity learned from past mistakes and started fixing the long process they have gone through to destroy our planet slowly? Why is it so hard for humanity to accept our changing planet is being caused by us even after years of advocating for its protection? How much harm must we do before everyone understands the severity of our situation?

word count: 757

Blog #4

Environmental Responsibility of Humanity

Do humans rule the earth?

According to the earth-centered environmental worldview, we are not the rulers of the world we are just one of many species living within it and we must learn how the earth sustained itself to start making our way back (Miller and Spoolman, 639). One issue with this is that even though in theory we are not in charge of the world, humans have taken over everything as if it were theirs. There is a contradiction in saying that humanity doesn’t rule, however, can take as much as they please with no creature stopping them. Humans are a part of a large community that must work together to come up with a solution but due to the selfish and greedy nature of humanity, this is harder to do than the idea on paper. “On this common view, it is inappropriate to use force or law to compel people to be kind or generous, or to promote other high moral values. But obligations of justice are obligations to others, and when they have violated these others become victims of injustice.” (Allenby, 519). Force will never be a way to solve our issues in society, the moment a person is told they are not allowed to do it, there is a small voice that will always tempt them to do the opposite. This is also not a feasible solution because no matter what we do in our current state there are too many secrets keeping the reality from being seen. Humans have infected and corrupted many of Earth’s natural systems and processes and are now facing the consequences.

What is a feasible solution to this overpowered ecosystem?

When attempting to reverse them Illegal trade continues all over the world, with countless cases of companies overexploiting the resources of those living on the outsides and lower incomes. We are not the issue, one person is not the reason for our ecological collapse. Large companies extracting resources and stealing illegally, while producing toxic fumes are the reason we are seeing so much of our ecosystems being harmed. Companies such as Nestle take water from local towns with no observation and leave nothing for these communities to have. This exploitation is what must be stopped. One person can only do so much, we must come together and make our views known for real change to enact. There are many ways we can change to living sustainably but there is no way to return to the natural order of things anymore. Observing old patterns of ecosystems has no benefit because there were no large machines of carbon-emitting factories in the wild, everything destroying the planet is man-made. We must rely on one another to inform the younger as well as older generations of the incoming crisis. Exposure to parts of nature is a great way to show people everything we will lose if we continue to live how we are living.

What is the reality of our situation?

One thing we must accept is that there is no way to manage the planet, there are too many moving parts that affect one another, and when one is harmed everything is affected. There are many ways to minimize the amount of harm we do to the environment and have started to do in recent times. Setting aside more natural environments to be conserved is a major issue we must take care of. Our ecosystems need to be protected and isolated from human destruction to sustain them long enough for a solution. This is not a way to diminish our efforts of pushing forward, it is merely an awakening for those who are not aware. We as singular people aren’t the culprits of this mess. The greedy and power-hungry are the ones who sit and watch as the world burns to the ground. The more informed our generation gets the more we have to fight for environmental justice as well as more that will develop more technologies that will consume the final parts of our resources. “However, there is good evidence from cross-cultural studies that the brain has an evolved intelligence that grew out of the need for detailed information about nature (Atran 1992; Mithen 1996).” (Heerwagen, 110). As we develop as a larger and larger society we begin to pick and choose what information is more important than others and for some, the natural environment will be deemed as less to the immense rises in technologies. However, I believe that there will always be a yearning for nature and its creatures. It is an ongoing biome of knowledge filled with buried treasures. We must always strive to inform the public without placing blame because as common citizens we do very little harm, we must take down those who exploit us.

If people were to be more informed on environmental issues for years how different would our current situation be? Do people still have hope?

word count: 829

Blog #5

The Economic Effect of the Environment

How does nature affect the economy?

The economy is based primarily on a simple concept of supply and demand. Products produced have a certain amount of supply and based on that supply a demand for the product can be found. If supply increases more than demand then the price of that item goes down, however, if the demand increases then the price will increase (Miller and Spoolman 2021, pp.590). This basic idea is what drives our economy and what causes items to fluctuate in pricing. One issue is that the ongoing economic growth is growing faster than resources can replenish. As mentioned in the book “Living in the Environment” Germany began to shift onto renewable resources such as solar and wind power to minimize the environmental effects on the planet (589). Not only was this a great step towards saving the planet but it brought in a new industry that in turn helped increase economic production. The growth of sustainability can lead to sustainable and thriving economies.

What is more important to people?

Many times it can be argued that people only care about themselves and live their lives for their benefit. I believe this to be inherently true as many people walk around every day with little acknowledgment of what goes on around them. Even as a society we care more about the people in our world than the trees and animals around us. Human lives are held at a higher standard and value than the rest of the creatures on the planet. Bridges, apartments, houses, cars, etc. All of these are created for human life, animals dont rely on these man-made things to survive like we do (The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital, pp. 255). We value as well as deplete our resources for human benefit. When there is an abundance of something it probably has no benefit to us from an economic standpoint. The economy is always running and at any point, it stops or slows down panic occurs. Producers every day look to see what is the cheapest way to produce products that will benefit them and create the most amount of revenue. This focus on producing cheap and profitable products in the long term affects the environment as many resources are exploited in the process. However, people do not pay much attention to long-term effects (The limits to growth, 19). It is concerning how little people care about issues that span their lifetime. We bring children into this world without even knowing if this world will exist in their future. No thoughts are given to generations after us. This is strongly seen in older generations now who do not believe in climate change or do not care about fighting for it because it will not affect them.

What are some ways we can fix this?

Taxes can be implemented on water use, gas emissions, and even land use for large corporations. A big thing that must be made clear is that if the environmental policy is implemented it should not affect the common people. The large increase in taxes should be applied to companies as they are the ones polluting. Another possible solution would be creating limits or caps that stop companies from over extracting as they will have consequences for surpassing a daily, monthly, or even yearly limit. More has to be done to keep our planet clean and safe. Making it harder for companies to obtain licenses, environmentally friendly labels, or certificates. Companies take advantage of logos such as organic or environmentally conscious and there is very little supervision in the industry to keep up with every single company. More funding should go to observing and strictly implementing these rules or else the benefits will be revoked. Not only implementing policy to help restrain large companies but cutting parts of the national budget to make the transition smoother. There is no real necessary reason for the war fun to be so large, instead, money should be removed and added to environmental development and change. There are literal piles of money given to natural defense that can be relocated to much better places. I also believe that helping underdeveloped countries expand and start sustainably is a good way to help give people their basic needs instead of locking money up for a war that has not occurred. We have a current pressing issue that must be resolved instead of wasting money as a sense of pride.

Would the United States consider allocating money to a fund for environmental protection?

word count: 760

Blog #6

Overpopulation and Its Effect on the planet

How fast does the population growth and how does it affect urban growth?

In the last 200 years, populations have reached a higher level of growth (Miller and Spoolman, 110). Every year population grows more and more. When looking at the World population clock it becomes evident that there are more births per second than death leaving us at a constant incline in population. In the US clock, it shows that there is one birth every 8 seconds and one death every 11 seconds. The more the population begins to grow the harder it is for resources to keep up. There are only so many resources that can sustain an ongoing population especially in urban areas where there is a constant influx of people. The more advanced society gets the higher birth rates and lower death rates will become due to the access to resources. This can become a major economic factor in the future as many families in poverty-dense areas plan to have more children than they believe to survive and the more they survive the harder the economic burden on those families. As the population grows, more has to be built to keep up and more traffic, water, and food consumption in a more dense area.

Why are people driven out from rural areas?

There are basic needs a human has to have to survive. Many people move from rural to urban areas in search of jobs, education, healthcare, and entertainment (567). Another big issue is famine, loss of land, a decline in environmental conditions, war, religion, and political conflicts (567). All of these issues are reasons that drive people out of rural areas in search of a better and safer life for themselves and their families. Rural areas have fewer opportunities to expand and are usually a part of the working class or those in poverty. India is an example of a densely populated country struggling with resources and development. There is a high amount of water stress on populations there and a heavy reliance on vehicles to make their way around, leading to a high amount of traffic. The air quality begins to diminish through this abundance of vehicles as well as reliance o fossil fuels and natural fuels for burning and cooking. This will then affect the health of the population as every action affects everyone in the area. Ensuring that people have enough access to clean water, air, and shelter is a basic human right, however, many countries don’t have the access to these resources because of overpopulation and a decrease in material to provide for the people.

What are the Pros and Cons of Urban areas?

Urban areas bring access to innovation, cultural diversity, jobs, technological advancements, an increase in life span and life expectancy due to better healthcare, and better education opportunities. One issue is the more people move into this picture-perfect image of a city many of these benefits begin to decline. As the influx of people increases, there will begin to be more traffic, water scarcity, and vehicle use. Although it is great that more and more people will have access to better resources there is a time where it needs to be controlled. If more people need to travel longer distances there should be good public transport implemented, and if people still need to use cars some sort of restriction must be made. Vehicles pollute our environment due to the burning of fuels and it’s important to keep the pollution to a minimum.

What are some ways to solve these issues?

Exposing families to family planning and ensuring people have more adequate health insurance as to where they dont have a large abundance of children thinking only a couple will survive. This would already eliminate the increasing quantity of births that offset the ratio to deaths. Another issue is that of air pollution, implementing policy such as PlaNYC where fees will be implemented on cars during traffic hours to encourage people to find a different, climate-friendly alternative. This especially is a great plan for NYC where the subway is an easy resource to use at our disposal. It is important to amount that as populations begin to grow there will be more competition for daily needs. Anything that can be done to avoid this overconsumption must be implemented.

How long will it take for resources to be depleted fully at the rate our population is growing?

word count: 744

Climate Change Practicum report:

I joined the Climate Impact initiative at the beginning of the year and although I still have not been able to do any of the activities I have been able to sign up and join the composting initiative within the club. I have always been intrigued by the thought of composting and wanted to learn more about it and how I can implement it in my own life and inspire others to do the same. It took a while to get everything up and running since everyone in the club is a student and midterms came up. However, today we finally got together as a group to decide the times at which we can meet. These meetings have shown me how many people are willing to make small changes that can create big outcomes to help our planet. There were many options such as helping run the social media or business partnerships but after reading about how much goes into landfills or ends up in our oceans I knew that actively learning about how to compost can provide me with knowledge and a course of action to start with. I hope to be more active especially next week where there will be an activity to plant seeds, attend an event with a panelist, open up a flea pop-up, have a sustainable product sale, and paint your own tote bag activity. All of these will hopefully grasp the attention of the students and incentivize them to inform themselves of the negative effect plastics can have on the environment as well as the ongoing climate crisis that more people need to know about. It is hard to involve people when they might not know how much this will affect their daily lives so providing fun and informative activities is a great way to spread awareness.

word count: 307

Work Cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

Union of Concerned Scientists. “World Scientists' Warning To Humanity,” 1992.

[thegreenline]

The Economic Effect of the Environment

How does nature affect the economy?

The economy is based primarily on a simple concept of supply and demand. Products produced have a certain amount of supply and based on that supply a demand for the product can be found. If supply increases more than demand then the price of that item goes down, however, if the demand increases then the price will increase (Miller and Spoolman 2021, pp.590). This basic idea is what drives our economy and what causes items to fluctuate in pricing. One issue is that the ongoing economic growth is growing faster than resources can replenish. As mentioned in the book “Living in the Environment” Germany began to shift onto renewable resources such as solar and wind power in order to minimize the environmental effects on the planet (589). Not only was this a great step towards saving the planet but it brought in a new industry that in turn helped increase economic production. The growth of sustainability can lead to sustainable and thriving economies.

What is more important to people?

Many times it can be argued that people only care about themselves and live their lives for their own benefit. I believe this to be inherently true as many people walk around every day with little acknowledgment of what goes on around them. Even as a society we care more about the people in our world than the trees and animals around us. Human lives are held at a higher standard and value than the rest of the creatures on the planet. Bridges, apartments, houses, cars, etc. All of these are created for human life, animals dont rely on these man-made things to survive like we do (The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital, pp. 255). We value as well as deplete our resources for human benefit. When there is an abundance of something it probably has no benefit to us from an economic standpoint. The economy is always running and at any point, it stops or slows down panic occurs. Producers every day look to see what is the cheapest way to produce products that will benefit them and create the most amount of revenue. This focus on producing cheap and profitable products in the long term affects the environment as many resources are exploited in the process. However, people do not pay much attention to long-term effects (The limits to growth, 19). It is concerning how little people care about issues that span their lifetime. We bring children into this world without even knowing if this world will exist in their future. No thoughts are given to generations after us. This is strongly seen in older generations now who do not believe in climate change or do not care about fighting for it because it will not affect them.

What are some ways we can fix this?

Taxes can be implemented on water use, gas emissions, and even land use for large corporations. A big thing that must be made clear is that if the environmental policy is implemented it should not affect the common people. The large increase in taxes should be applied to companies as they are the ones polluting. Another possible solution would be creating limits or caps that stop companies from over extracting as they will have consequences for surpassing a daily, monthly, or even yearly limit. More has to be done to keep our planet clean and safe. Making it harder for companies to obtain licenses, environmentally friendly labels, or certificates. Companies take advantage of logos such as organic or environmentally conscious and there is very little supervision in the industry to keep up with every single company. More funding should go to observing and strictly implementing these rules or else the benefits will be revoked. Not only implementing policy to help restrain large companies but cutting parts of the national budget in order to make the transition smoother. There is no real necessary reason for the war fun to be so large, instead, money should be removed and added to environmental development and change. There are literal piles of money given to natural defense that can be relocated to much better places. I also believe that helping underdeveloped countries expand and start sustainably is a good way to help give people their basic needs instead of locking money up for a war that has not occurred. We have a current pressing issue that must be resolved instead of wasting money as a sense of pride.

Would the united states consider allocating money to a fund for environmental protection?

Work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

[thegreenline]

Environmental Responsibility of Humanity

Humans have infected and corrupted many of Earth’s natural systems and processes and are now facing the consequences when attempting to reverse them. According to the earth-centered environmental worldview, we are not the rulers of the world we are just one of many species living within it and we must learn how the earth sustained itself to start making our way back (Miller and Spoolman, 639). One issue with this is that even though in theory we are not in charge of the world, humans have taken over everything as if it were theirs. There is a contradiction in saying that humanity doesn’t rule, however, can take as much as they please with no creature stopping them. Humans are a part of a large community that must work together in order to come up with a solution but due to the selfish and greedy nature of humanity, this is harder to do than the idea on paper. “On this common view, it is inappropriate to use force or law to compel people to be kind or generous, or to promote other high moral values. But obligations of justice are obligations to others, and when they have violated these others become victims of injustice.” (Allenby, 519). Force will never be a way to solve our issues in society, the moment a person is told they are not allowed to do it, there is a small voice that will always tempt them to do the opposite. This is also not a feasible solution because no matter what we do in our current state there are too many secrets keeping the reality from being seen. Illegal trade continues all over the world, with countless cases of companies overexploiting the resources of those living on the outsides and lower incomes.

We are not the issue, one person is not the reason for our ecological collapse. Large companies extracting resources and stealing illegally, while producing toxic fumes is the reason. There are many ways we can change to living sustainably but there is no way to return to the natural order of things anymore. Observing old patterns of ecosystems has no benefit because there were no large machines of carbon-emitting factories in the wild, everything destroying the planet is man-made. We must rely on one another to inform the younger as well as older generations of the incoming crisis. Exposure to parts of nature is a great way to show people everything we will lose if we continue to live how we are living. One thing we must accept is that there is no way to manage the planet, there are too many moving parts that affect one another, and when one is harmed everything is affected. There are many ways to minimize the amount of harm we do to the environment and have started to do in recent times. Setting aside more natural environments to be conserved is a major issue we must take care of. Our ecosystems need to be protected and isolated from human destruction in order to sustain them long enough for a solution. This is not a way to diminish our efforts of pushing forward, it is merely an awakening for those who are not aware. We as singular people aren’t the culprits of this mess. The greedy and power-hungry are the ones who sit and watch as the world burns to the ground. The more informed our generation gets the more we have to fight for environmental justice as well as more that will develop more technologies that will consume the final parts of our resources. “However, there is good evidence from cross-cultural studies that the brain has an evolved intelligence that grew out of the need for detailed information about nature (Atran 1992; Mithen 1996).” (Heerwagen, 110).

As we develop as a larger and larger society we begin to pick and chose what information is more important than others and for some the natural environment will be deemed as less to the immense rises in technologies. However, I believe that there will always be a yearning for nature and its creatures. It is an ongoing biome of knowledge filled with buried treasures. We must always strive for informing the public without placing blame because as common citizens we do very little harm, we must take down those who exploit us. If people were to be more informed on environmental issues for years how different would our current situation be? Do people still have hope?

word count: 750

[thegreenline]

Conservationists and Government Intervention

The United States was once the new world full of new animals and environments. Our continents were thriving with wildlife and biodiversity. Hunters and gatherers took what they needed and used every part. As economies and large cities began forming overconsumption started becoming a recurring issue. People began mass-producing and taking without control. Between the years of 1870-1930 government started playing a large role in environmental conservation due to presidents that valued and wanted to preserve our natural ecosystems (Miller and Spoolman 2021, pp.S6-S8). A big advocate for environmental preservation was Roosevelt, who avidly would start reserves and disregarded congress’ wishes (pp. S6-S8). This was a great step towards safety for many creatures being left without habitats and being forced out of forests due to tourism and construction. In our modern-day, we lose more and more of our forests, even trees in neighborhoods because of a selfish over-extraction or simply an aesthetic reason. As humans, we should not be the ones to delegate what resources we are allowed to take and which ones we should keep. Nature isn’t ours, to begin with, and getting permission from the government to cut down a palm tree in our backyard shouldn’t make it okay for this action to occur every day. Homes are built by removing the natural homes of the wildlife. The aftermath of World War I left Americans with a newfound sense of discovery and a need to expand (pp. S6-S8). Thankfully, in the ’60s and so on humanity started realizing how vital this planet is to our health and how important it is to take care of it (pp. S6-S8). Seeing the moon and Earth from a full view changes the perspective of how people view the world. You see a planet close to us with no life and no habitable ecosystem and understand the opportunity we have on earth. There are ecosystems that thrive, food for us to eat, and roofs over our heads. These things are easily overlooked as communities begin to rely on mass production and cheap ways of living. In the ’80s use of coal and oil began opposing the regulations created before and started creating a new wave of pollution to our earth (pp. S6-S8). It only got worse from there as in the 90s-2010s more and more people began to find environmental regulations to be ways of hindering production and stopping new economic growth. As the industry increases the extraction of resources increases as well leading to the environment falling behind as we over-extract and take until nothing is left. Although in modern times there has been a growth in environmental activism there is only so much we can do ourselves to stop the incoming threat to the environment. Humans alone are not the issue, large companies are producing and using countless resources extracting more than what they need and overcharging the public. The cheaper a company is the more it will take illegally. There will never be enough to sustain humans if we continue corporate practices. Even hunting for sport is an issue that causes alarming rates of animal populations to decrease. Elephants are being hunted for tusks, rhinos for their horn, sharks for their fins, fish for food, bison, clams for food and pearls, and many more. Humans don’t have a sense of where to stop. When there is easy access to something that makes money, it becomes the sole thing they will take as long as profit is flowing in. There is also a distinction I want to make between those who continue past traditions where they hunt but use every part of the animal making sure it doesn’t go to waste compared to those who hunt for sport and harvest what they want if anything. Leaving an animal for dead for pure status and ability is inhumane and disgusting. Just because we have access to something such as a prairie filled with buffalo or savannas filled with tigers doesn’t mean we get to shoot them and take a picture to brag. Animals and nature deserve respect as well as acknowledgment in the public eye.

Many people are unaware of the harm being caused upon creatures and will live their lives thinking their favorite animal will never go extinct. However, with how humans act every day, no animal is safe. Why hasn’t humanity learned from past mistakes and started fixing the long process they have gone through to destroy our planet slowly? Why is it so hard for humanity to accept our changing planet is being caused by us even after years of advocating for its protection? How much harm must we do before everyone understands the severity of our situation?

Work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

[thegreenline]

Interactions Between the Biodiverse World

There are so many elements that contribute to the constant change of the natural world. Animals adapt and progress from their original form and rely on each moving part for the flow to continue. Humans are an unexpected obstacle stopping this natural force to take place. Scientifically, there are many procedures and constant ongoing reactions that provide us with our world today but nothing contributes toward advancement like the interaction of species. Humans are a species interacting amongst others. An example of a large effect of human interaction is shark finning. Once there is a major benefit for one species there is more of a need to continue the process. When shark fins became more expensive and a delicacy more sharks were being hunted, when large companies got hold of cheap oil they used it for mass production and led to deforestation, and when water sources were being harvested and sold towns were left without water. “To date, human activities have destroyed more than half of the earth’s rainforests” (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 43). There is so much being over-harvested that natural resources are depleting at a faster rate than they can regenerate. Devastating to the wildlife losing homes to a rapidly growing greedy corporation. Humanity alone isn’t the issue as our contributions are far from causing mass destruction. Once companies take hold of untouched resources and have no consequences, the resources begin to diminish. Animals, however, interact in ways where there is an order of some sort. Resources are used in a timely manner giving enough time to recover before using again leading to a constant cycle of possibility. Food chains are a great example of contained populations, for every predator, there is a prey each feasting upon the other endlessly (53). Processes like the water cycle are another that follows a chain resetting itself by the end (56). The world is designed to fulfill itself with ongoing cycles that always provide, once that design reaches max capacity it begins to attempt to adapt. Evolution is a direct consequence of devastating defects that lead to extinction if modifications aren’t created. Because of this, there is also a vast difference within the same species as modifications over time due to natural events began to occur. Biodiversity flourished while more and more creatures adapted to their newfound way of living. However, many times these developments occur from loss of habitat or resources from manmade destruction. This can also cause a mass extinction of a species with none left to adapt and survive over time. “Each species plays a role within the ecosystem it inhabits” (74). Every species provides a role in the environment no matter how small it is vital that all wildlife be protected, the more extinction the more issues in the long run. Small actions can drastically change outcomes so every small part of the ecosystem must be conserved. Nature has its own process of actively adapting to human threats. Sea otters’ main diet is clams and sea urchins and with the usual abundance, there would be no issue for them (90). Due to over-harvesting and profit, fishermen began to kill the otters for their own commercial benefit (90). This then causes that directly affected, in this case, the kelp forest to be destroyed by sea urchins who no longer have a predator keeping the population in control (90). Species control one another and protect from overpopulation. “Research shows that there is no balance of nature consisting of a permanent and stable state” (97). Although the textbook says that scientists changed their views on balance in the natural world there is an issue with the claim. From an outside perspective, it is easily said that the drastic changes and unpredictable nature of our current environment can be attributed to human interaction. Scientifically nature does have drastic changes such as the meteor wiping out creatures from the Mesozoic era, but there has been no evidence of constant drastic changes before humans stepped in.

Resources weren’t depleting at a rapid pace and species weren’t going on and off the endangered species list. Without humans the earth would be in some sort of balance, the food chain would adapt among itself and the natural cycles would flow naturally. Different populations keep one another in check ensuring that no species becomes elite. Humans are a rapidly growing population taking more and more resources as we grow. There will never be enough resources to sustain this population if it continues on its path. The sheer quantity of the population would be too much to provide for where at some point the weakest would slowly begin to die off. Humans have no main predators in the natural world other than themselves so there is nothing keeping it in check, yet our earth will always be the first to suffer from our mishaps. How can small changes be made for large companies to take action? How important are the small steps of science to the big picture?

Word count: 807

Work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

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Sustainability and Its Effect on Humanity

Sustainability does not exclusively apply to humans all over the world, it is the way the natural world around us adapts to the vastly changing environment (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 2). We as humans must take care of the world around us, as in the end, we are the ones in harm’s way. The planet can fix itself but it is our species that will be extinct if we do not begin to care. Earth sustains our life as well as the rest of the living beings but, we are the ones taking advantage of its natural resources and once they are depleted we will be the ones gone (10). It is essential that natural resources begin to be conserved as every day the more is consumed, the less we are left with to sustain future generations. “Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted”(10). There are only so many resources that can be exploited before the end approaches. Humanity must evolve and think beyond the next couple of years. Generations will be brought into a world of corruption while humanity sits aside with little regard for what is occurring. The ocean levels are rising, corals reefs are bleaching, larger floods and droughts are developing. There is no more pressing time than now to start living sustainably. Every action we perform leads to more and more negative impacts on our ecosystem. Some of these including Air pollution, enhanced ultraviolet rays, toxic chemicals from soil entering the oceans, as well as pollution of surface waters (union of concerned scientists 1997, 1). It only takes one person to start the change but without the whole, nothing can be done. Harding provides an egocentric view of humanity as people who will do what they want for the benefit of themselves, however all over the world groups of people work together to maximize rather than exploit (Miller and Spoolman 2021, 10). We must learn to trust and cooperate, no small actions go unnoticed. The way to start change is through action, cooperation, trust, and reciprocity. The planet is dying in our hands and as the generations go on, less and less will be left. The more industrialized the economy, the more useful it is. The United States alone uses up about 30% of natural resources (8). Not every person is perfect, when taking the environmental footprint test my results indicated that there would need to be three piles of earth in order for me to continue my lifestyle as of now. I took this test a couple months ago and have been able to reduce it from the 4 earths I previously was consuming. Small changes such as avoiding red meat or limiting it to a meal a week or opting for a milk substitute limit the amount of water usage in our everyday lives. There are so many ways to clean up past actions left by past generations that can be done in a matter of minutes. Governments today have done very little to reduce our environmental footprint, every day promising action with no results being displayed. The book mentions over and over again that this issue is pressing to us and only us (Miller and Spoolman 2021). Animals adapt and as they evolve are able to thrive in a dying world. However, humans have become so reliant on overconsumption that it will be impossible to recover without a small part being done by the large majority. The earth has existed for billions of years and will continue well past our extinction, it's the way we decide how to spend our future that will inevitably decide if our species will continue to exist. All the documents revolved around the pressing issue of ensuring we sustain the planet around us and how important every small piece is. Every small action causes an equal and opposite reaction.

What can we as humans do to bring attention to these immense issues without causing people to feel constrained into a new lifestyle? How can small actions between individuals lead to larger cooperation throughout the world? Why is this issue not pressed enough in media when this affects our future as we know it? How can younger generations motivate the older ones to participate in this global change even though they won't be there to see it?

word count: 739

work cited:

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 20th ed. Cengage Learning, 2021.

Union of Concerned Scientists. “World Scientists' Warning To Humanity,” 1992.