In this course, I've learned that sustainability doesn't have just
one look to it. Sustainability is recycling or up cycling, preserving
nature, being a good steward of what's been given to you.
Eco-literacy is being able to discern the good from the bad in every
situation. Is buying a smart car Eco-literate? Not really because
it's not as safe as a normal car and its miles per gallon is not even
that great. Eco-literacy is having the common sense to discern the
difference between something that's "perceived" as green
and helpful to the environment and things that really are green and
helpful to the environment. A sense of place refers to where you see
yourself in the midst of nature. Do you see yourself as the head of
the food chain or just another part of the food web? Which one is
actually true? Well in nature, we are actually just another part of
the food web. This being true what right do we have as humans to go
around stamping out other animal's habits for our own selfish
ambitions. Yes I know we have to build a house somewhere, but be
conscious of what you're doing and who you're affecting.
As far as my major is concerned, i plan to work in hospitals for
the majority of my career. Although, eventually i would like to start
my own counseling center. I feel that what I've learned in Colloquium
could aid me in helping people in the hospital by encouraging them to
seek solace in nature and to spend more time outdoors. However, if i
seek to establish my own counseling center i would have a direct say
in how things are operated. Meaning that when we choose a building it
should be a sustainable one, and our practices should be sustainable
and respectful to our surroundings.
I enjoyed Dr. Durham. I think he's a really great teacher. He
always did his best in keeping the lectures interesting and
entertaining. The field trips were to places that i would normally
not venture myself. This was informative, interesting and aided me to
leave my comfort zone. The worst part about this class was the
papers. The guidelines were awful. How can you write a research paper
on fifty questions? The guidelines need to be more concise and
directly to the point.
Honestly, if I could teach Colloquium I don't think I would do it
differently than Dr. Durham did. I felt like he tried to approach the
subject with balance and sensitivity. I felt like he emphasized the
proper points and didn't emphasize the lesser ones. He gave his
opinion only when we asked for it, which I agreed with most of the
time. However, I would probably emphasize more about biodiversity and
preservation than our professor did. I really liked reading about
those in the Colloquium Reader.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Entry #5: Estero Island
I thought the Estero Cottage was neat. Anytime that history can be preserved I think it should be. It's pretty amazing that that cottage has been there for as long as it has. It has definitely seen and survived a lot. I thought that the lady who spoke about the cottage was very informative; it was also obvious that she was passionate about the preservation of the cottage.
The preservation of the Mantanza's pass has helped the local quality of life because of the ecosystems that it protects. Just as Shiva pointed out in our Colloquium Reader, anytime that an ecosystem is protected everyone wins. Those ecosystems help enrich the quality of life of all those surrounding the area. There are microbes present that filter the air and make it of better quality. Also the fish that are present in those ecosystems help fuel the local economy. The cottage itself is a tourist attraction, which also helps the local economy.
I've lived in Sarasota for the past thirteen years and i have seen a lot of change since my family moved here. I don't think I've ever felt a sense of community here simply because it's been large since I've lived here. Things in Sarasota are very spread out, so it's easy to separate yourself from people. For example, I went to high school in the northern part of the county, so long as i avoid that part of Sarasota, i will probably not see anyone i went to high school with since most of them still live in that general area. If a developer offered us 300% of the market value for my childhood home, where i currently reside, i would take it. My parents own this house but allow my husband and i to live here because they needed someone to look after it. I know my dad would gladly take the money since he would like to move out of Florida. My husband and i also plan to move one day so we wouldn't be against the notion either. IF the county approached me after the developer did i would probably decline simply because I'd rather move away.
The preservation of the Mantanza's pass has helped the local quality of life because of the ecosystems that it protects. Just as Shiva pointed out in our Colloquium Reader, anytime that an ecosystem is protected everyone wins. Those ecosystems help enrich the quality of life of all those surrounding the area. There are microbes present that filter the air and make it of better quality. Also the fish that are present in those ecosystems help fuel the local economy. The cottage itself is a tourist attraction, which also helps the local economy.
I've lived in Sarasota for the past thirteen years and i have seen a lot of change since my family moved here. I don't think I've ever felt a sense of community here simply because it's been large since I've lived here. Things in Sarasota are very spread out, so it's easy to separate yourself from people. For example, I went to high school in the northern part of the county, so long as i avoid that part of Sarasota, i will probably not see anyone i went to high school with since most of them still live in that general area. If a developer offered us 300% of the market value for my childhood home, where i currently reside, i would take it. My parents own this house but allow my husband and i to live here because they needed someone to look after it. I know my dad would gladly take the money since he would like to move out of Florida. My husband and i also plan to move one day so we wouldn't be against the notion either. IF the county approached me after the developer did i would probably decline simply because I'd rather move away.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Entry #4: Downtown Fort Myers
The word "downtown" to me is usually the center of where things are happening in a city. For example, in my town, downtown is the center of activity. People go downtown for the fourth of July, New Years Eve, St. Patty's day, etc. There's usually something going on downtown, specifically for holidays.
Down town areas have changed over time because cities are bigger and are more spread out. While in most cities the down town area has a lot to offer, its usually more for personal reasons than business. For example, the bank isn't just on Main Street anymore, neither is the theatre or your favorite clothing stores. These places have moved to more central locations through out the town.
Downtown Fort Myers is currently experiencing a renaissance due to the the fact that there was a decrease in visitors to the down town area. This area had very Little to offer people until a few years ago as it underwent renovations. Now there are a lot of places to eat, bars, clubs, theatres and shops to attract people. There is also an Olympic museum which was really cool.
Some of the more prominent architectural features is the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center that has coral removed from the ocean as a kind of stucco on it. There is also a mural demonstrating a concise history of Florida. Unfortunately its kind of hidden away and not easily viewable from the street. There is also a large statue of Edison, Ford and Firestone by the river. The buildings in down town Fort Myers have a deco feel, very similar to south beach. Whereas others have more of a Mediterranean feel to them.
In their renovations, Fort Myers is aspiring to invoke more of a pedestrian spirit thus inspiring people to walk more and drive less around the down town area. they have put certain things closer together so that people are more inclined to walk from place to place rather than drive. This is obviously sustainable because it encourages consumers to consume less gas.
Downtown Fort Myers is very historical, obviously there's a statue of Edison, Ford and Firestone who all vacationed in south west Florida. There is also a theatre in downtown called the Edison theatre. It's inoperable now but a tribute to it remains.
Fort Myers economy has seen ups and downs as has any other here in the United States. Now its economy has improved because the city has invested money into reinventing the down town area. Before the renovations however, downtown was not a very attractive place for the locals or even tourists. However, now that they are investing the economy of the down town area has improved.
Down town areas have changed over time because cities are bigger and are more spread out. While in most cities the down town area has a lot to offer, its usually more for personal reasons than business. For example, the bank isn't just on Main Street anymore, neither is the theatre or your favorite clothing stores. These places have moved to more central locations through out the town.
Downtown Fort Myers is currently experiencing a renaissance due to the the fact that there was a decrease in visitors to the down town area. This area had very Little to offer people until a few years ago as it underwent renovations. Now there are a lot of places to eat, bars, clubs, theatres and shops to attract people. There is also an Olympic museum which was really cool.
Some of the more prominent architectural features is the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center that has coral removed from the ocean as a kind of stucco on it. There is also a mural demonstrating a concise history of Florida. Unfortunately its kind of hidden away and not easily viewable from the street. There is also a large statue of Edison, Ford and Firestone by the river. The buildings in down town Fort Myers have a deco feel, very similar to south beach. Whereas others have more of a Mediterranean feel to them.
In their renovations, Fort Myers is aspiring to invoke more of a pedestrian spirit thus inspiring people to walk more and drive less around the down town area. they have put certain things closer together so that people are more inclined to walk from place to place rather than drive. This is obviously sustainable because it encourages consumers to consume less gas.
Downtown Fort Myers is very historical, obviously there's a statue of Edison, Ford and Firestone who all vacationed in south west Florida. There is also a theatre in downtown called the Edison theatre. It's inoperable now but a tribute to it remains.
Fort Myers economy has seen ups and downs as has any other here in the United States. Now its economy has improved because the city has invested money into reinventing the down town area. Before the renovations however, downtown was not a very attractive place for the locals or even tourists. However, now that they are investing the economy of the down town area has improved.
Blog entry #3: ECHO
I was extremely impressed with ECHO. "ECHO's Mission is to equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor." (www.echonet.org) There's the famous saying "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." At ECHO they are sincerely concerned about teaching those in underdeveloped nations to live independently and sustainably. They also teach how to utilize every resource available so that nothing is wasted, which is significant when reasons are limited.
I really enjoyed how we were allowed to taste the different edible parts of the plants. It was a neat experience to taste unique things that aren't normally found in the grocery store. My favorite part though was the urban gardens. I really loved how they used things like plastic grocery bags and kitty pools to hydroponically grow things. It showed that while ECHO's vision does expand past the borders of the USA, they still have a lot to offer those in their own backyard.
The examples displayed at ECHO challenged my views of American agriculture. The urban gardens specifically because they were unique and efficient. The urban gardens made gardening seem possible for anyone to grow food anywhere. It was very resourceful and practical for people who live in urban areas with limited space to grow things.
ECHO's use of appropriate technology makes their work relevant to the developing world. Appropriate technology means using technologies that are appropriate for the audience being targeted. For example, if we are going to teach people in Ethiopia to make a grill, appropriate technology evaluates what resources are available to them. Therefore, when we are teaching them to make a grill we are using materials they have access to; materials that are affordable, efficient and easily accessible.
I wish I had waited to do my service learning because I would have like to have done it here. The main reason is probably because I have been to places like Haiti and Jamaica where people are at risk for starving. Haiti specifically could greatly use the resources that ECHO offers. Having been to Haiti and seeing the little kids that don't know where their next meal is coming from; i can really see how valuable ECHO's mission is.
I really enjoyed how we were allowed to taste the different edible parts of the plants. It was a neat experience to taste unique things that aren't normally found in the grocery store. My favorite part though was the urban gardens. I really loved how they used things like plastic grocery bags and kitty pools to hydroponically grow things. It showed that while ECHO's vision does expand past the borders of the USA, they still have a lot to offer those in their own backyard.
The examples displayed at ECHO challenged my views of American agriculture. The urban gardens specifically because they were unique and efficient. The urban gardens made gardening seem possible for anyone to grow food anywhere. It was very resourceful and practical for people who live in urban areas with limited space to grow things.
ECHO's use of appropriate technology makes their work relevant to the developing world. Appropriate technology means using technologies that are appropriate for the audience being targeted. For example, if we are going to teach people in Ethiopia to make a grill, appropriate technology evaluates what resources are available to them. Therefore, when we are teaching them to make a grill we are using materials they have access to; materials that are affordable, efficient and easily accessible.
I wish I had waited to do my service learning because I would have like to have done it here. The main reason is probably because I have been to places like Haiti and Jamaica where people are at risk for starving. Haiti specifically could greatly use the resources that ECHO offers. Having been to Haiti and seeing the little kids that don't know where their next meal is coming from; i can really see how valuable ECHO's mission is.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Blog Entry #2: Corkscrew Sanctuary
During our field trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary, I encountered five different ecosystems including Cypress swamps, oak hammocks, pine flat woods, ponds, and the wet prairies. Cypress swamps are perfect for Florida because of their ability to endure long periods of water submersion. However, they are also designed to sustain themselves in dry periods. The bald cypress which is prevalent in this areas thrives in these conditions. In this kind of ecosystem, alligators are usually present as well as birds who are seeking shelter from the sun. Secondly there's the oak hammocks which are mildly fire resistant. Animals who like the oak hammocks include tortoises, turtles, snakes and hawks. The pine flat woods is characterized by its large population of slash pine, saw palmetto and sabal palms. This area is also conducive to regular burning which is used as a form of maintenance for this type of ecosystem. While volunteering at the Naples Preserve, we worked to clean out their pine flat woods. It really needed to be burned but because it had went so long without a burn, it needed a human hand to aid first. Ponds, like any water source, play a significant role in any ecosystem. It's amazing though that that a water source can aid other ecosystems as well as be one in its own right. Ponds are homes to many different kinds of frogs, snakes, water lettuce. It also provides water for alligators, birds and other species. Wet prairies are usually in flatter areas, and can be flooded up to fifty percent of the year. It attracts wildlife from other areas and is usually covered in shrubs. It is a great area to grow sugar cane.
The coolest thing about Corkscrew was the living machine. I enjoyed the animals and stuff too but I loved the ingenuity of the living machine. Basically the living machine is a septic tank that filters through plants and makes water reusable as non-potable water.
Aldo Leopold defines conservation as “a state of harmony between men and land.” (Leopold, 1949) Conservation defined by dictionary.com is “ The act of conserving, prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation. Official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them through prudent management.” Stewardship is defined by dictionary.com as “the position and duties of a steward , a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, real estate, etc.”
The role of non-profits in conservation and stewardship is huge. It is my opinion, that most non-profits are in a way special interest groups. These are groups that have a specific set of goals that they are set to accomplish. These groups have a a high effective rate because their goals are usually few but they are specific. It is because of this that they can be effective. I think that Corkscrew is a great example of a group with few but specific goals in mind. They have taken the time to set up a beautiful campus with an important message. These people affect change because they're effective in raising funds and lobbying in congress. They are critical in making laws and influencing public opinion. Special interest groups are good at giving the people a voice or at least making people feel like they have a voice. This also gives them weight when they are trying to persuade a politician to vote a certain way. If a special interest group has a large number of members, this can be used in their favor when trying to voice their opinion.
The motivation to preserve this particular piece of land started with pluming. Poachers would hunt egrets for their white plumes which appear during mating season. Instead of just plucking the plumes from the bird, they would kill the entire animal. This became excessive and egrets became endangered. This is how and where the Audubon society came about.
Government should play a small role in conservation. I'm not a tree hugging hippie but I would like my kids to know what the Everglades looks like. This is why I believe in conservation, but I don't believe in overly dominant controlling money hungry fiends like the environmental protection agency. It is the government's role to provide funding and tax incentives for those who practice conservation. Land space is precious. It's valuable economically, ecologically and socially. However, whenever we, as humans, make decisions regarding land use we must weigh it's value accordingly. Conservation is vital to our future, to our children's future. If a piece of land offers more value ecologically than economically we must act accordingly. As far as stewardship is concerned, that looks like FGCU. FGCU built on land but set a piece of it aside for conservation. They also are doing their part to take care of the land that they are not conserving. It's counterproductive to preserve one part and trash the other.
The coolest thing about Corkscrew was the living machine. I enjoyed the animals and stuff too but I loved the ingenuity of the living machine. Basically the living machine is a septic tank that filters through plants and makes water reusable as non-potable water.
Aldo Leopold defines conservation as “a state of harmony between men and land.” (Leopold, 1949) Conservation defined by dictionary.com is “ The act of conserving, prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation. Official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them through prudent management.” Stewardship is defined by dictionary.com as “the position and duties of a steward , a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, real estate, etc.”
The role of non-profits in conservation and stewardship is huge. It is my opinion, that most non-profits are in a way special interest groups. These are groups that have a specific set of goals that they are set to accomplish. These groups have a a high effective rate because their goals are usually few but they are specific. It is because of this that they can be effective. I think that Corkscrew is a great example of a group with few but specific goals in mind. They have taken the time to set up a beautiful campus with an important message. These people affect change because they're effective in raising funds and lobbying in congress. They are critical in making laws and influencing public opinion. Special interest groups are good at giving the people a voice or at least making people feel like they have a voice. This also gives them weight when they are trying to persuade a politician to vote a certain way. If a special interest group has a large number of members, this can be used in their favor when trying to voice their opinion.
The motivation to preserve this particular piece of land started with pluming. Poachers would hunt egrets for their white plumes which appear during mating season. Instead of just plucking the plumes from the bird, they would kill the entire animal. This became excessive and egrets became endangered. This is how and where the Audubon society came about.
Government should play a small role in conservation. I'm not a tree hugging hippie but I would like my kids to know what the Everglades looks like. This is why I believe in conservation, but I don't believe in overly dominant controlling money hungry fiends like the environmental protection agency. It is the government's role to provide funding and tax incentives for those who practice conservation. Land space is precious. It's valuable economically, ecologically and socially. However, whenever we, as humans, make decisions regarding land use we must weigh it's value accordingly. Conservation is vital to our future, to our children's future. If a piece of land offers more value ecologically than economically we must act accordingly. As far as stewardship is concerned, that looks like FGCU. FGCU built on land but set a piece of it aside for conservation. They also are doing their part to take care of the land that they are not conserving. It's counterproductive to preserve one part and trash the other.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Week 1
My expectations for this class are to learn about the environment in a civil way, not feeling like someone is trying to shove their beliefs down my throat. I am interested in sustainability and the Eco system, but I have a lot of questions that need resolving. Society sends so many mixed messages about this particular subject that it can be overwhelming. I hope that this class presents itself in a way that I can better understand sustainability.
Sustainability, in my opinion, is a way of life that allows you to live independently of other resources, while making good use of the resources you already have. Basically sustainability would be a way of living within your means, specifically regarding energy. Eco-literacy,to me, would be having a working knowledge of the Eco-system, understanding how it works and what its made of. Sense of place, according to myself, means knowing your place in the environment; it would be similar to knowing your place in say a food chain or chain of command.
My major is social work. My plan is to work as a social worker in a hospital setting and environment. While I may not be in charge of making sure the hospital as a whole is sustainable, but i can certainly do my part on a daily basis in my day to day habits as an employee. I can also choose to work at hospitals that are more sustainable than others, as well as serve on boards that encourage my workplace to be proactive about sustainability.
Unsustainable attitudes and behaviors are usually rooted in a careless or ignorant attitude about the future. There's also misconceptions that being sustainable requires a lot of time and effort. It takes a few minutes to put plastic bottles in the recycling bin rather than just throwing it in the trash. I know in my house, instead of buying new things for Christmas decorations, I used things that I found around my house to use. Lots of things can be used multiple times, its up to us if we take the time and effort to do so. Using a tervis tumbler for water instead of buying a bottle of water every day. Sustainability looks at the long term, rather than the short term and makes decisions accordingly.
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