My first experience blogging was a new and fun way to keep track of all the work we did this quarter. I have never gone through a class by being able to utilize blogging as our required assignments and it was helpful to say the least. Blogging in our class allowed me to check up on work that I had not done yet by looking at other classmates blogs to see what was due that week if I happened to miss class (February 15-17) . Looking back at all my blogs, the earlier posts that I started in the class were similar to the ones that we ended with in the class given that my research paper was interrelated with the first book we read in class, “Lost Mountain” –Erik Reece. Other than this similarity, there were also some distinct differences within my blog posts throughout the quarter as well. While I wrote my blogs throughout the quarter, I didn’t really allow the fact that anyone could read my work to affect what I wrote because I had knew that I needed to be critiqued on my writing since that was why I took this class. People were able to criticize my work by posting comments on what I had to say as well as what I had to say about others’ works. I read and wrote these comments and they were very helpful to my learning and also hopefully helpful to others. Writing about the course readings, films, and presentations via blogging helped me understand more about the course material because I was able to see how each topic related to the overall theme of the course.
Among the similarities of the from the earlier blog posts to the later blog posts, I feel like there were differences as well. As a class we started talking about water contamination and problems with coal extraction. From the beginning of the blog assignments to the end, I set my own objective to finish what the class had started and that was to elaborate more on the topic of destruction of our ecosystems. However, the blog posts did differ by means of the topic of the environmental issues. I remember the first week or two of class we talked about how the world is losing its supply of drinkable water sources due to companies such as nestle and coca-cola. Moving on from the water supply issue we jumped right into “Lost Mountain” which talked about deforestation and mountain top coal removal in the Appalachians. Reading this book resulted in the interest of my research paper. After “Lost Mountain” our class shifted from environmental issues to food production issues in the book we read and movie we watched, “Food Inc”. This book essentially talked about the malpractice of the industrial food production companies. Among the malpractices that industrial food companies perform, the book also talks about how our food is produced. These companies introduce harmful chemicals and steroids to make our meat and food production into a faster cycle in order to make an extra buck. The alternative of supporting these companies is to start your own garden and buy groceries from local farmers markets. The differences in the topics that we posted on our blogs vary in terms of different important issues related to the realities of today. I also think that the cause of the change was to show the class that there a many environmental and non-environmental issues that pose as a problem in today’s society and we were to think of one and write about it in our research papers.
In terms of my strongest blog post, I think it had to be one of my “Lost Mountain” posts, specifically my blog posted on Wednesday January 13, 2010. I think this is my strongest blog because out of all of the rest that I did this quarter it stands out the most in my mind. This blog talked about the second part of the book “Lost Mountain” and I was able to connect it to the movie “Flow” that I watched for extra credit. This part of “Lost Mountain” talked about water flow in the Appalachian region and how mountain top removal has contaminated the drinking water. The movie “Flow” practically highlighted the same topic but instead of with coal mining, it covered how bottled water companies such as nestle are stealing water from streams, not allowing free water flow downstream from where they get their water. I think it was my strongest blog post because I was interested in the topic because I felt for the people that had no water and I was most interested in that topic from watching the movie “Flow”.
In terms of my weakest blog post, I think it had to be one of my “Food Inc.” blogs. I think that this was one of my worst blogs partially because I didn’t like reading about where and how the food I eat is handled. Because of my lack of interest in where my food was coming from, I think I didn’t really think as much into the subject as I should have for the purpose of the class. Even to this day I try to get that movie and what we read out of my head because I want to have a free conscious of eating like a normal person without thinking about whether the food I eat has salmonella or other diseases.
While I was writing my blogs, I tried not to allow the fact that my writing was public to affect what I wrote in my blog posts although I did allow it to affect what type of audience I was writing for. I knew that there were going to be people outside of our class cluster reading our posts so I tried to make my writing as clear and readable as possible. By readable, I mean the terminology that I used in the blogs so that a person that didn’t know of the topic I was discussing could read it and understand what I was talking about. When talking about something that the average person didn’t know much about I tried to explain and define what I was talking about by description or definition.
As far as the reflection of comments posted by me and others, I think that they were all useful for our learning. When I commented on other students blog posts, I tried to include additional facts about the matter as well as whether or not I agreed with their view of the topic. When I read other students comments on my blog posts, I tried to see where they were coming from with what they had to say about my posts. These comments contribute to all of our learning by having more than one input on what others think about our point of view. This allows the person posting the blogs to either feel stronger about their position on a topic or it might persuade them into thinking a different way about it.
Overall it was a satisfying quarter filled with interesting blogging topics. Now I have learned how to start my own blog and what it takes to sustain it. I have learned so much from taking this class about use of the internet, topics of environmental issues, food production issues, and even how to make a movie. This class was an innovated way of learning by utilizing what today’s technology has to offer, blogging. Thanks Dr. R!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Food Inc Pages 91-122 and 169-177
This part of the book talks about the ethanol scam in the industrial food industry. Congress has rolled back the ethanol laws due to the numerous lobbying farmers. The production of ethanol leads to higher food prices, air pollution, water consumption, water pollution,as well as it adds to the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced. The ethanol scam is basically when there is a low stock of corn and it leads to high ethanol production. The demand for ethanol will increase significantly in result to the low supply in which people will still be willing to pay top dollar for it. This would potentially shock the market. Big corn rules over one fourth of all acreage under cultivation in the U.S. For the years to come, our use of corn for fuel will not change, leaving the poorest of nations to be hungry.
Chemicals that can be found in our foods are 10 times more toxic to children than in adults. Given that an estimated half of our produce in the grocery store contains measurable amounts of these pesticides, I think it is safe to say that eating organic foods are far more safe for children. Organophosphate pesticides are linked to many disorders and diseases including hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and motor dysfunction. These can be found in nearly 95% of Americans that are tested. The industrial food companies have a list of up to 400 chemicals that can be regularly used in conventional farming. Some are even used multiple times in one day.
Industrial food production also causes massive greenhouse gas emissions. There have been accounts of roughly one third of all causes of global warming to be from the process of production of our food. These emissions can be created by industrial farming processes such as fertilizer production, and by the emissions of trucks, ships, and planes during their transportation.
There are some initiatives that a person can take to step in the right direction. They can buy from organic and sustainable farmers. When doing this the person should take the following into consideration:
1.Is this food organic?
2.Is this product made from an animal?
3.Has this food been processed?
4.How far has the food traveled to get to my plate?
5.Is this food excessively packaged?
If you took these questions into consideration, you could greatly reduce carbon emissions. Another step a person could take is to start their own garden. This uses the natural process of photosynthesis and doesn't use pesticides and chemicals. The final step one could take is to spread the word for change. This could potentially cause a chain reaction and could potentially change the way we eat forever.
I think that this section of the book was interesting because it talked a lot about the things that people do not think about when they think of their food. Topics such as how much greenhouse gases are emitted when producing our food as well as the global warming and how it is connected with our food production process. Now I am better aware of what the industrial food industry has done to our environment. The end of this section makes me want to start my own garden of vegetables so i can save some money if i did it right and do it for a good cause.
Chemicals that can be found in our foods are 10 times more toxic to children than in adults. Given that an estimated half of our produce in the grocery store contains measurable amounts of these pesticides, I think it is safe to say that eating organic foods are far more safe for children. Organophosphate pesticides are linked to many disorders and diseases including hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and motor dysfunction. These can be found in nearly 95% of Americans that are tested. The industrial food companies have a list of up to 400 chemicals that can be regularly used in conventional farming. Some are even used multiple times in one day.
Industrial food production also causes massive greenhouse gas emissions. There have been accounts of roughly one third of all causes of global warming to be from the process of production of our food. These emissions can be created by industrial farming processes such as fertilizer production, and by the emissions of trucks, ships, and planes during their transportation.
There are some initiatives that a person can take to step in the right direction. They can buy from organic and sustainable farmers. When doing this the person should take the following into consideration:
1.Is this food organic?
2.Is this product made from an animal?
3.Has this food been processed?
4.How far has the food traveled to get to my plate?
5.Is this food excessively packaged?
If you took these questions into consideration, you could greatly reduce carbon emissions. Another step a person could take is to start their own garden. This uses the natural process of photosynthesis and doesn't use pesticides and chemicals. The final step one could take is to spread the word for change. This could potentially cause a chain reaction and could potentially change the way we eat forever.
I think that this section of the book was interesting because it talked a lot about the things that people do not think about when they think of their food. Topics such as how much greenhouse gases are emitted when producing our food as well as the global warming and how it is connected with our food production process. Now I am better aware of what the industrial food industry has done to our environment. The end of this section makes me want to start my own garden of vegetables so i can save some money if i did it right and do it for a good cause.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Preserving the Appalachian Culture
The biodiversity of the Appalachian region is very important to the ecosystem as well as to the people who inhabit the region, but the area is being threatened because of numerous human initiated causes. In order to preserve this area we must put an end to the method of clear-cut logging because the habitats in this area depend on its interconnected system. We must put an end to the method of mountain-top removal coal mining because of the result of useless flattened land, water contamination, etc. We must find an alternative to make dams more economically friendly in order to preserve the aquatic life in the rivers and streams in this area. We must change all of these human influences on nature and shift our attention to a more sustainable way of action in order to preserve and cherish the ecosystem.
From rainforest's and waterfalls to desserts and sand, from oceans and waves to mountains and mountaintops, from grasslands and prairies to the icebergs in Antarctica humans have put their foot onto just about every place imaginable on Earth. Planet Earth is thought of by some people to be what they call a “Gaia”. A Gaia is essentially a prospective view of the world as a living organism. In the Gaia view, it is believed that the Earth is relative to how the human body works. Like the human body, Earth has many vital “organs” that help make it possible for the Earth to function and remain habitable. These “organs” that I am talking about can be geographic features such as oceans, lakes, mountains, plains, volcanoes, rainforest's, etc. The veins in the human body are thought of to be like the rivers and streams that flow throughout various places on Earth giving life to these ecosystems. The idea is that these various geographical features make up an ecosystem that sustains itself and allows it to function properly on its own. Without these vital “organs” the world would not be habitable, just as the human body and its incapability of living, breathing, or operating without its functioning parts. Throughout the life of a human body, the body is exposed to many viruses and diseases that try to kill the body. The viruses and diseases can be correlated to the many disasters and human influences that our Earth’s ecosystems encounter. Although this is only a hypothesis that has yet to be proven a fact or by any means fictitious, what I have found in my research is that it could go one way or the other.
From looking at various sources, the summary of the arguments made were that there are many reasons why biodiversity needs to be sustained, in order for our world to keep revolving. The argument made most about ecosystems in terms of its sustainability is that species depend on the environment and likewise for the environment and its species, so we must help sustain it. But how accurate exactly is that statement? Can the ability of natural services be kept sustained even without some species, kind of like how some of our bodies can live without an appendix, kidney, lung, or half a pancreas? Is there anything we can do in order to save our ecosystems such as the human body has a natural reaction to fight diseases and viruses?
The Appalachian region has one of America’s most diverse forests. Broadcasted on PBS, the televisions series, Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People, author Chris Bolgiano states that “One acre of cove forests in the Smokey Mountains has more species of trees than in all of Europe. … (The cove forests have) hundreds of species of trees” –Chris Bolgiano (Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People). Since this area is so diverse in plant life, we owe it to ourselves to stop clear-cut logging in this region. Clear-cut logging is the practice of obtaining lumber by cutting down trees in large block segments. With the vast variety of trees and the amount of use that tree’s have to offer, it only makes sense to preserve and learn from them. Trees have many uses all the way from cosmetics to more practical uses such as for medicine. There is still so much research that could be done on trees alone that we must give ourselves a chance to find appropriate uses for them instead of tearing it all down. Who knows? Maybe they are the source for the cure of some cancers that has yet to be found. Among these reasons as to why the forests in the Appalachian region are important, clear-cut logging along with other forms of logging creates a disturbance to the environment in and around the area being cut. (Kiminski) The disturbance is bad for the environment because it doesn’t allow the smaller mammals to cater to their daily activities. Throughout the area of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern North America, there are 255 bird species, 78 mammal species, 58 reptile species, and 76 amphibian species; not to mention Kartesz and Meacham’s list of over 6,300 plant species in 10 states of the Appalachian region. (Pickering) Clear-cut logging of the Appalachian forests could drastically lower these numbers due to the annihilation of their habitats. There is a law that states that a company can only log 25 acres in a given area, but companies found that they could find a way around that law. They would log 25 acres and then leave a cushion of trees, then log another 25 acres. (Maywhoor)
Although the clear-cutting method is extensive, there are other practical solutions given that our society needs to cut down trees for the numerous uses that we cut them down for. Though we will forever continue to cut down trees for general use, lumbering companies must use better sustainable forest management in order to preserve the life within the forests. The only way an ecosystem and its inhabitants are ensured to survive is to make sure it stays connected to other ecosystems that surround it. This would decrease the possibilities of inbreeding, causing fewer fatal diseases caused from genetic disorders to occur. These interconnected ecosystems also provide numerous natural benefits as well including the cleansing of air and water, the reusing of nutrients, the renewal of soil, and the sustainability of its climate. (Pickering)
Not only is logging a hazardous disease caused by the human race, but the process of mountaintop removal has potentially just as much damage to the environment. Today, over half of the electricity used in homes is generated from burning coal. It is understandable that the demand for energy used these days’ makes it hard for one to weigh out the pros and cons of obtaining coal, which is why it makes sense to use coal as our main source of energy. (American Power) Because in today’s world it would be barbaric to live without flat screen televisions, top of the line computer systems, high-speed wireless Internet, high frequency stereo systems, blue-ray players, etc., mountaintop removal is one of the fastest and easiest ways to acquire the supply of our demand. Mountaintop removal is a type of mining that coal companies use to extract coal by means of blowing up the tops of mountains to get to the coal. There are many disastrous effects of extracting coal this way. Mountaintop removal buries head water streams, causes erosion and flooding, degrades water quality downstream, kills aquatic life, shakes walls and cracks of the foundation of homes, and wipes out huge portions of diverse ecosystems. (Reece,1-86) Understanding that our country is in need of this resource, we must at least move back to conventional ways of extracting coal, such as deep underground mining in order for us to stop the destruction of the neighboring ecosystems. This way we can maintain the jobs that are made from coal mining and also preserve our mountaintops.
The final virus instituted by humans to the environment that I would like to talk about is the placement of dams in our waterways. From past experience, researchers have found that due to dam building in the Appalachian Mountains, extinction among the regions aquatic groups are over 10 times more probable than extinction of terrestrial groups. (Pickering) The placement of dams results to a number of issues concerning the ecosystem. First, it doesn’t allow for free water flow downstream. This in turn doesn’t allow fish to migrate up down the dam. Another damage that this poses is that the dam blocks the flow of sediments in the water that helps hold up soil. Without these sediments in the soil, it could lead to mudslides and erosion of the embankment downstream. Another issue that the dam poses to the ecosystem is its reservoirs. Reservoirs build up water killing all the plants and habitats that were once land. On top of these two problems, the dam makes it hard for animals to find a way up or down the area that is dammed.
Although dams cause many environmental problems, it is understood that they are needed for many reasons. Dams can provide an alternative source of renewable energy, also known as hydroelectric power. Dams are also a means of flood control. When the raining season comes, the dam can control the amount of water flow downstream resulting in the control of flood situations. Among these proactive results to the placement of dams, they also provide year-round navigation, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and economic growth. (TVA Website) Although dams are needed, we must change the system so it works with the environment, not the other way around. The reliance that aquatic species have on the steady flow of streams is numerous. Their reliance on the streams to migrate in order to spawn is crucial to their survival and without a system that can allow them to do so, one of our main sources of protein may be in danger.
Overall, the Appalachian Mountains have an enormous amount of life within its ecosystems. From the moths that are taking over the area to the trees that help with our nitrogen cycle; from the natural resources that can be found in this area to the dams that are built for multiple purposes, the Appalachian Mountains needs these functions to work together to sustain itself. All in all these factors are interconnected, making an “organ-like” effect that makes the world habitable. Just as I have said before, the body cannot live without its organs, just as the Earth cannot function without its “organs” (ecosystems).
Bibliographies:
1. Reece, Erik. Lost Mountain A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation of Appalachia. New York: Riverhead Trade, 2007. Print.
2. Kiminski, Jeffrey A., Michelle L. Davis, Patrick D. Keyser, and Marcella Kelly. "Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest." Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest. 157.2 (2007): 385-97. EBSCO. Web. 28 Feb. 2010..
3. Tennessee Valley Authority home page. Tennessee Valley Authority. Web. 12 Feb. 2010..
4. Pickering, John, Roland Kays, Albert Meier, Susan Andrew, and Kay Yatskievych. "The Appalachians." Discover Life. P. R. Gil, R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Pilgrim, G. Fonseca, W. R. Konstant and T. Brooks, 6 Mar. 2006. Web. 07 Feb. 2010.
5. "Issues and Policy." America's Power - Home. American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 2007. Web. 08 Feb. 2010.
6. Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People. By Jamie Ross. Dir. Ross Spears. Prod. Paul Wagner. Appalachiafilm.org/ APPALACHIA: A History of Mountains and People. National Science Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission. Web. 7 Feb. 2010..
7. Maywhoor, David. "Buckeye Forest Council." Buckeye Forest Council. Ohio University, Athens. 25 Jan. 2010. Lecture.
From rainforest's and waterfalls to desserts and sand, from oceans and waves to mountains and mountaintops, from grasslands and prairies to the icebergs in Antarctica humans have put their foot onto just about every place imaginable on Earth. Planet Earth is thought of by some people to be what they call a “Gaia”. A Gaia is essentially a prospective view of the world as a living organism. In the Gaia view, it is believed that the Earth is relative to how the human body works. Like the human body, Earth has many vital “organs” that help make it possible for the Earth to function and remain habitable. These “organs” that I am talking about can be geographic features such as oceans, lakes, mountains, plains, volcanoes, rainforest's, etc. The veins in the human body are thought of to be like the rivers and streams that flow throughout various places on Earth giving life to these ecosystems. The idea is that these various geographical features make up an ecosystem that sustains itself and allows it to function properly on its own. Without these vital “organs” the world would not be habitable, just as the human body and its incapability of living, breathing, or operating without its functioning parts. Throughout the life of a human body, the body is exposed to many viruses and diseases that try to kill the body. The viruses and diseases can be correlated to the many disasters and human influences that our Earth’s ecosystems encounter. Although this is only a hypothesis that has yet to be proven a fact or by any means fictitious, what I have found in my research is that it could go one way or the other.
From looking at various sources, the summary of the arguments made were that there are many reasons why biodiversity needs to be sustained, in order for our world to keep revolving. The argument made most about ecosystems in terms of its sustainability is that species depend on the environment and likewise for the environment and its species, so we must help sustain it. But how accurate exactly is that statement? Can the ability of natural services be kept sustained even without some species, kind of like how some of our bodies can live without an appendix, kidney, lung, or half a pancreas? Is there anything we can do in order to save our ecosystems such as the human body has a natural reaction to fight diseases and viruses?
The Appalachian region has one of America’s most diverse forests. Broadcasted on PBS, the televisions series, Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People, author Chris Bolgiano states that “One acre of cove forests in the Smokey Mountains has more species of trees than in all of Europe. … (The cove forests have) hundreds of species of trees” –Chris Bolgiano (Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People). Since this area is so diverse in plant life, we owe it to ourselves to stop clear-cut logging in this region. Clear-cut logging is the practice of obtaining lumber by cutting down trees in large block segments. With the vast variety of trees and the amount of use that tree’s have to offer, it only makes sense to preserve and learn from them. Trees have many uses all the way from cosmetics to more practical uses such as for medicine. There is still so much research that could be done on trees alone that we must give ourselves a chance to find appropriate uses for them instead of tearing it all down. Who knows? Maybe they are the source for the cure of some cancers that has yet to be found. Among these reasons as to why the forests in the Appalachian region are important, clear-cut logging along with other forms of logging creates a disturbance to the environment in and around the area being cut. (Kiminski) The disturbance is bad for the environment because it doesn’t allow the smaller mammals to cater to their daily activities. Throughout the area of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern North America, there are 255 bird species, 78 mammal species, 58 reptile species, and 76 amphibian species; not to mention Kartesz and Meacham’s list of over 6,300 plant species in 10 states of the Appalachian region. (Pickering) Clear-cut logging of the Appalachian forests could drastically lower these numbers due to the annihilation of their habitats. There is a law that states that a company can only log 25 acres in a given area, but companies found that they could find a way around that law. They would log 25 acres and then leave a cushion of trees, then log another 25 acres. (Maywhoor)
Although the clear-cutting method is extensive, there are other practical solutions given that our society needs to cut down trees for the numerous uses that we cut them down for. Though we will forever continue to cut down trees for general use, lumbering companies must use better sustainable forest management in order to preserve the life within the forests. The only way an ecosystem and its inhabitants are ensured to survive is to make sure it stays connected to other ecosystems that surround it. This would decrease the possibilities of inbreeding, causing fewer fatal diseases caused from genetic disorders to occur. These interconnected ecosystems also provide numerous natural benefits as well including the cleansing of air and water, the reusing of nutrients, the renewal of soil, and the sustainability of its climate. (Pickering)
Not only is logging a hazardous disease caused by the human race, but the process of mountaintop removal has potentially just as much damage to the environment. Today, over half of the electricity used in homes is generated from burning coal. It is understandable that the demand for energy used these days’ makes it hard for one to weigh out the pros and cons of obtaining coal, which is why it makes sense to use coal as our main source of energy. (American Power) Because in today’s world it would be barbaric to live without flat screen televisions, top of the line computer systems, high-speed wireless Internet, high frequency stereo systems, blue-ray players, etc., mountaintop removal is one of the fastest and easiest ways to acquire the supply of our demand. Mountaintop removal is a type of mining that coal companies use to extract coal by means of blowing up the tops of mountains to get to the coal. There are many disastrous effects of extracting coal this way. Mountaintop removal buries head water streams, causes erosion and flooding, degrades water quality downstream, kills aquatic life, shakes walls and cracks of the foundation of homes, and wipes out huge portions of diverse ecosystems. (Reece,1-86) Understanding that our country is in need of this resource, we must at least move back to conventional ways of extracting coal, such as deep underground mining in order for us to stop the destruction of the neighboring ecosystems. This way we can maintain the jobs that are made from coal mining and also preserve our mountaintops.
The final virus instituted by humans to the environment that I would like to talk about is the placement of dams in our waterways. From past experience, researchers have found that due to dam building in the Appalachian Mountains, extinction among the regions aquatic groups are over 10 times more probable than extinction of terrestrial groups. (Pickering) The placement of dams results to a number of issues concerning the ecosystem. First, it doesn’t allow for free water flow downstream. This in turn doesn’t allow fish to migrate up down the dam. Another damage that this poses is that the dam blocks the flow of sediments in the water that helps hold up soil. Without these sediments in the soil, it could lead to mudslides and erosion of the embankment downstream. Another issue that the dam poses to the ecosystem is its reservoirs. Reservoirs build up water killing all the plants and habitats that were once land. On top of these two problems, the dam makes it hard for animals to find a way up or down the area that is dammed.
Although dams cause many environmental problems, it is understood that they are needed for many reasons. Dams can provide an alternative source of renewable energy, also known as hydroelectric power. Dams are also a means of flood control. When the raining season comes, the dam can control the amount of water flow downstream resulting in the control of flood situations. Among these proactive results to the placement of dams, they also provide year-round navigation, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and economic growth. (TVA Website) Although dams are needed, we must change the system so it works with the environment, not the other way around. The reliance that aquatic species have on the steady flow of streams is numerous. Their reliance on the streams to migrate in order to spawn is crucial to their survival and without a system that can allow them to do so, one of our main sources of protein may be in danger.
Overall, the Appalachian Mountains have an enormous amount of life within its ecosystems. From the moths that are taking over the area to the trees that help with our nitrogen cycle; from the natural resources that can be found in this area to the dams that are built for multiple purposes, the Appalachian Mountains needs these functions to work together to sustain itself. All in all these factors are interconnected, making an “organ-like” effect that makes the world habitable. Just as I have said before, the body cannot live without its organs, just as the Earth cannot function without its “organs” (ecosystems).
Bibliographies:
1. Reece, Erik. Lost Mountain A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation of Appalachia. New York: Riverhead Trade, 2007. Print.
2. Kiminski, Jeffrey A., Michelle L. Davis, Patrick D. Keyser, and Marcella Kelly. "Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest." Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest. 157.2 (2007): 385-97. EBSCO. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
3. Tennessee Valley Authority home page. Tennessee Valley Authority. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
4. Pickering, John, Roland Kays, Albert Meier, Susan Andrew, and Kay Yatskievych. "The Appalachians." Discover Life. P. R. Gil, R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Pilgrim, G. Fonseca, W. R. Konstant and T. Brooks, 6 Mar. 2006. Web. 07 Feb. 2010.
5. "Issues and Policy." America's Power - Home. American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 2007. Web. 08 Feb. 2010.
6. Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People. By Jamie Ross. Dir. Ross Spears. Prod. Paul Wagner. Appalachiafilm.org/ APPALACHIA: A History of Mountains and People. National Science Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission. Web. 7 Feb. 2010.
7. Maywhoor, David. "Buckeye Forest Council." Buckeye Forest Council. Ohio University, Athens. 25 Jan. 2010. Lecture.
Research Argument Outline
Thesis:
The biodiversity of the Appalachian region is very important to the ecosystem as well as to the people who inhabit the region, but the area is being threatened because of numerous human initiated causes. In order to preserve this area we must put an end to the method of clear-cut logging because the habitats in this area depend on its interconnected system. We must put an end to the method of mountain-top removal coal mining because of the result of useless flattened land, water contamination, etc. We must find an alternative to make dams more economically friendly in order to preserve the aquatic life in the rivers and streams in this area. We must change all of these human influences on nature and shift our attention to a more sustainable way of action in order to preserve and cherish the ecosystem.
Introduction:
From rainforests and waterfalls to desserts and sand, from oceans and waves to mountains and mountaintops, from grasslands and prairies to the icebergs in Antarctica humans have put their foot onto just about every place imaginable on Earth. Planet Earth is thought of by some people to be what they call a “Gaia”. A Gaia is essentially a prospective view of the world as a living organism. In the Gaia view, it is believed that the Earth is relative to how the human body works. Like the human body, Earth has many vital “organs” that help make it possible for the Earth to function and remain habitable. These “organs” that I am talking about can be geographic features such as oceans, lakes, mountains, plains, volcanoes, rainforests, etc. The veins in the human body are thought of to be like the rivers and streams that flow throughout various places on Earth giving life to these ecosystems. The idea is that these various geographical features make up an ecosystem that sustains itself and allows it to function properly on its own. Without these vital “organs” the world would not be habitable, just as the human body and its incapability of living, breathing, or operating without its functioning parts. Throughout the life of a human body, the body is exposed to many viruses and diseases that try to kill the body. The viruses and diseases can be correlated to the many disasters and human influences that our Earth’s ecosystems encounter. Although this is only a hypothesis that has yet to be proven a fact or by any means fictitious, what I have found in my research is that it could go one way or the other.
From looking at various sources, the summary of the arguments made were that there are many reasons why biodiversity needs to be sustained, in order for our world to keep revolving. The argument made most about ecosystems in terms of its sustainability is that species depend on the environment and likewise for the environment and its species, so we must help sustain it. But how accurate exactly is that statement? Can the ability of natural services be kept sustained even without some species, kind of like how some of our bodies can live without an appendix, kidney, lung, or half a pancreas?
Body:
1. Logging
a. Clear-cut logging is the practice of obtaining lumber by cutting down trees blocks at a time
b. Effects of clear-cutting are numerous.
c. Alternatives to clear cutting
d. The reliance of the interconnected trees that species have with the ecosystem is enormous.
2. Mountain-top Removal
a. Mountaintop removal is a type of mining that coal mining companies use to extract coal by means of blowing up the tops of mountains to get to the coal.
b. There are many effects that mountaintop removal has on the environment including the fact that it buries head water streams, causes erosion and flooding, degrades water quality downstream, kills aquatic life, shakes walls and cracks of foundation of homes, and wipes out huge portions of diverse ecosystems.
c. Deep underground mining is the best alternative to Mountain-top removal.
d. The reliance of coal as our main source of energy makes it hard for us to stop this malpractice but we must change the way we remove coal to a more eco-friendly manner.
3. Dams
a. Dams are a barrier often placed on a waterway with a primary purpose to control water for electricity as well as other purposes.
b. The effects of the placement of dams extend beyond the water. Such as destroying of habitats due from the reservoir, altered migration of animals and fish, and the flow of sediments downstream to hold the soil in place.
c. Though there isn’t much of an alternative to building dams, there a ways for people to correct some of the negative effects on dam placement.
d. Although dams are needed, we must change the system so it works with the environment, not the other way around. The reliance that aquatic species have on the steady flow of streams is numerous.
e.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Appalachian Mountains have an enormous amount of life within its ecosystems. From the moths that are taking over the area to the trees that help with our nitrogen cycle; from the natural resources that can be found in this area to the dams that are built for multiple purposes, the Appalachian Mountains needs these functions to work together to sustain itself. All in all these factors are interconnected, making an “organ-like” effect that makes the world habitable. Just as I have said before, the body cannot live without its organs, just as the Earth cannot function without its “organs” (ecosystems).
Bibliographies:
1. Reece, Erik. Lost Mountain A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation ofAppalachia. New York: Riverhead Trade, 2007. Print.
2. Kiminski, Jeffrey A., Michelle L. Davis, Patrick D. Keyser, and Marcella Kelly. "Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest." Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest. 157.2 (2007): 385-97. EBSCO. Web. 28 Feb. 2010..
3. Tennessee Valley Authority home page. Tennessee Valley Authority. Web. 12 Feb. 2010..
4. Pickering, John, Roland Kays, Albert Meier, Susan Andrew, and Kay Yatskievych. "The Appalachians." Discover Life. P. R. Gil, R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Pilgrim, G. Fonseca, W. R. Konstant and T. Brooks, 6 Mar. 2006. Web. 07 Feb. 2010.
5. "Issues and Policy." America's Power - Home. American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 2007. Web. 08 Feb. 2010.
6. Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People. By Jamie Ross. Dir. Ross Spears. Prod. Paul Wagner. Appalachiafilm.org/ APPALACHIA: A History of Mountains and People. National Science Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission. Web. 7 Feb. 2010..
The biodiversity of the Appalachian region is very important to the ecosystem as well as to the people who inhabit the region, but the area is being threatened because of numerous human initiated causes. In order to preserve this area we must put an end to the method of clear-cut logging because the habitats in this area depend on its interconnected system. We must put an end to the method of mountain-top removal coal mining because of the result of useless flattened land, water contamination, etc. We must find an alternative to make dams more economically friendly in order to preserve the aquatic life in the rivers and streams in this area. We must change all of these human influences on nature and shift our attention to a more sustainable way of action in order to preserve and cherish the ecosystem.
Introduction:
From rainforests and waterfalls to desserts and sand, from oceans and waves to mountains and mountaintops, from grasslands and prairies to the icebergs in Antarctica humans have put their foot onto just about every place imaginable on Earth. Planet Earth is thought of by some people to be what they call a “Gaia”. A Gaia is essentially a prospective view of the world as a living organism. In the Gaia view, it is believed that the Earth is relative to how the human body works. Like the human body, Earth has many vital “organs” that help make it possible for the Earth to function and remain habitable. These “organs” that I am talking about can be geographic features such as oceans, lakes, mountains, plains, volcanoes, rainforests, etc. The veins in the human body are thought of to be like the rivers and streams that flow throughout various places on Earth giving life to these ecosystems. The idea is that these various geographical features make up an ecosystem that sustains itself and allows it to function properly on its own. Without these vital “organs” the world would not be habitable, just as the human body and its incapability of living, breathing, or operating without its functioning parts. Throughout the life of a human body, the body is exposed to many viruses and diseases that try to kill the body. The viruses and diseases can be correlated to the many disasters and human influences that our Earth’s ecosystems encounter. Although this is only a hypothesis that has yet to be proven a fact or by any means fictitious, what I have found in my research is that it could go one way or the other.
From looking at various sources, the summary of the arguments made were that there are many reasons why biodiversity needs to be sustained, in order for our world to keep revolving. The argument made most about ecosystems in terms of its sustainability is that species depend on the environment and likewise for the environment and its species, so we must help sustain it. But how accurate exactly is that statement? Can the ability of natural services be kept sustained even without some species, kind of like how some of our bodies can live without an appendix, kidney, lung, or half a pancreas?
Body:
1. Logging
a. Clear-cut logging is the practice of obtaining lumber by cutting down trees blocks at a time
b. Effects of clear-cutting are numerous.
c. Alternatives to clear cutting
d. The reliance of the interconnected trees that species have with the ecosystem is enormous.
2. Mountain-top Removal
a. Mountaintop removal is a type of mining that coal mining companies use to extract coal by means of blowing up the tops of mountains to get to the coal.
b. There are many effects that mountaintop removal has on the environment including the fact that it buries head water streams, causes erosion and flooding, degrades water quality downstream, kills aquatic life, shakes walls and cracks of foundation of homes, and wipes out huge portions of diverse ecosystems.
c. Deep underground mining is the best alternative to Mountain-top removal.
d. The reliance of coal as our main source of energy makes it hard for us to stop this malpractice but we must change the way we remove coal to a more eco-friendly manner.
3. Dams
a. Dams are a barrier often placed on a waterway with a primary purpose to control water for electricity as well as other purposes.
b. The effects of the placement of dams extend beyond the water. Such as destroying of habitats due from the reservoir, altered migration of animals and fish, and the flow of sediments downstream to hold the soil in place.
c. Though there isn’t much of an alternative to building dams, there a ways for people to correct some of the negative effects on dam placement.
d. Although dams are needed, we must change the system so it works with the environment, not the other way around. The reliance that aquatic species have on the steady flow of streams is numerous.
e.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Appalachian Mountains have an enormous amount of life within its ecosystems. From the moths that are taking over the area to the trees that help with our nitrogen cycle; from the natural resources that can be found in this area to the dams that are built for multiple purposes, the Appalachian Mountains needs these functions to work together to sustain itself. All in all these factors are interconnected, making an “organ-like” effect that makes the world habitable. Just as I have said before, the body cannot live without its organs, just as the Earth cannot function without its “organs” (ecosystems).
Bibliographies:
1. Reece, Erik. Lost Mountain A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation ofAppalachia. New York: Riverhead Trade, 2007. Print.
2. Kiminski, Jeffrey A., Michelle L. Davis, Patrick D. Keyser, and Marcella Kelly. "Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest." Disturbance Effects on Small Mammal Species in a Managed Appalachian Forest. 157.2 (2007): 385-97. EBSCO. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
3. Tennessee Valley Authority home page. Tennessee Valley Authority. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
4. Pickering, John, Roland Kays, Albert Meier, Susan Andrew, and Kay Yatskievych. "The Appalachians." Discover Life. P. R. Gil, R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Pilgrim, G. Fonseca, W. R. Konstant and T. Brooks, 6 Mar. 2006. Web. 07 Feb. 2010.
5. "Issues and Policy." America's Power - Home. American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 2007. Web. 08 Feb. 2010.
6. Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People. By Jamie Ross. Dir. Ross Spears. Prod. Paul Wagner. Appalachiafilm.org/ APPALACHIA: A History of Mountains and People. National Science Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Appalachian Regional Commission. Web. 7 Feb. 2010.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Food Inc. Pages 3-27 and 41-64
The book "Fast Food Nation" came to be when author Eric Schlosser was doing an article for the Atlantic Monthly in the mid 1990's. The article was supposed to be on the immigrants that were invasive at the time and finding work in the field's of California's agriculture, when it hit him that the reality of how our food is made wasn't what he had thought it was. It is well known that in order for people to stay healthy, they needed to focus more on vegetables, fruits, and nuts as their source of daily intake. In order to beat the influences that fast food has on our society today, we must educate the young about what foods are healthy in our school systems. Schools need to start serving healthier foods. It is said that if we don't change our eating habits, obesity could be the next leading cause of death next to smoking. Food Inc. states that we are what we consume and we are what that consumes. Cattle are given low doses of growth hormones and antibiotics into their feed in order to stay disease free. We put these antibiotics into the feed because of the increase of many diseases that has occurred in food history. Diseases such as mad cow, which is found in cattles nervous system, has been found 3 times since December of 2003. Other diseases such as ecoli is found in cattle and other foods when cattle is fed corn or soybeans instead of hay. Since factory farmers strive to increase the annual output of product, they are able to do this by feeding them these hormones and antibiotics. Because the industrial food industry is interconnection with the people who make laws and regulations on food, the regulation policies tend to be on the low end of the spectrum.
People must demand where their food comes from and organically grown foods are a better choice when it comes to how your food is grown. There are three different classifications when you see "organic" in the stores. The first classification is the labeling, "100% organic" which is self explanatory. The second classification is "organic" which means 95% or more of the ingredients from start to store shelves use organic products. Finally, "made with organic" entails that 70% or more of the product uses organics up to the point its put on store shelves. There are many ways that food production practices are abused. These practices include battery cages, fast growth of birds, forced feeding for foie gras, gestation crates and veal crates, long distance transportation, and electric stunning of birds.
This section of the book introduces the reader to the realities of the food production industry. It gives the reader solid facts about how our food is more of an assembly line than growing food. It seems that the companies producing our food is more worried about how much money they gross rather than the quality of the food that is fed to our country. The way can control the people in the government on the inside is kind of scary because all they do is throw the people with higher authorities some money and they will eventually get what they want, lower quality standards.
People must demand where their food comes from and organically grown foods are a better choice when it comes to how your food is grown. There are three different classifications when you see "organic" in the stores. The first classification is the labeling, "100% organic" which is self explanatory. The second classification is "organic" which means 95% or more of the ingredients from start to store shelves use organic products. Finally, "made with organic" entails that 70% or more of the product uses organics up to the point its put on store shelves. There are many ways that food production practices are abused. These practices include battery cages, fast growth of birds, forced feeding for foie gras, gestation crates and veal crates, long distance transportation, and electric stunning of birds.
This section of the book introduces the reader to the realities of the food production industry. It gives the reader solid facts about how our food is more of an assembly line than growing food. It seems that the companies producing our food is more worried about how much money they gross rather than the quality of the food that is fed to our country. The way can control the people in the government on the inside is kind of scary because all they do is throw the people with higher authorities some money and they will eventually get what they want, lower quality standards.
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