Blog 3: Nicole L

Selection3: The Fight for Conservation

The author of the article describes the then newly coined term conservation. The article explains the three main principles that control conservation. The first is that conservation means development, which we firstly think about the needs of this generation, while thinking of the well-being of the coming generations. The second is that conservation means the suppression of waste. The article explains that it’s simply good business to prevent waste. The third principle is that the world’s resources need to be developed and conserved for the welfare of the majority of people, not just a few. The article also explains how these principles have a farther reach than just the earth’s resources, that there isn’t one aspect of human interest that the ideals of conservation couldn’t be applied to. (1)

Selection 4: A Sand Country Almanac

This article begins with the connection between wolves, deer, and mountains. When the author was young, he believed that if there were no more wolves, the mountains would be teeming with deer. However, the author realizes that without wolves to thin the herds of deer, soon the mountain would be empty of all edible plants. The article states that by trying to make things more safe (killing wolves for more deer) it only makes the future more dangerous (mountains void of plant life). The article explains the development of ethics in civilization and how there was no ethic yet developed between humans and the environment. The article also explains how the growing belief that exploiting the land is wrong is movement in the direction of conservation. Ethics grew on the concept of community, and to develop a land ethic we just need to include the elements of nature into this community. The article tells that the biggest road block of a land ethic is the way the educational and economic system head in the opposite direction of conservation. The author also believes we need to throw away the concept that economics should completely govern all land use and instead we need to incorporate so much more into our relationship with the land.(2)

Selection 15: “More Profit with less Carbon”

Experts on both sides of the climate tug-of-war believe we must choose between either protecting the earth and economic well-being. The article explains that this is not true. That if done in the proper way, we could prevent climate change while also lowering prices and saving money. The article also gives examples of companies that are saving energy not to protect the environment, but to become more efficient and increase productivity. The main road blocks to an overall efficient world are old conceptions coupled with the fact that the monetary saving aren’t extremely obvious at first glance, but add up. The article also gives examples of great improvements in efficiency products for building and heating. The article explains that although it seems transportation is an unsolvable problem in the climate issue, it is actually bursting with possibilities to create more efficiency. The article goes on to explain numerous ways in which cars can be improved for safety and efficiency and going further to offer alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Advancements in renewable energy also have enormous possibilities in which to improve efficiency and save money. The article explains how it is more inexpensive to fix climate change than it is to pretend it doesn’t exist. If governments allow for these changes, the world can be wealthier and safer while protecting the environment as well. (3)

Selection 16: “Reinventing the Energy System”

This article begins with an example of how sometimes we cannot foresee what the future holds, especially in terms of our technology, and although right now it seems impossible not to continue our fossil fuel burning path, we may already be in a state of worldwide energy transition. At the heart of this transition will be the earth’s renewable resources, which have been central to our survival since the dawn of mankind. This move will have profound effects on the billions of people in world, in which a large percentage lacks access to our current energy system. The main propellers of the energy transition will be the developing countries where current oil production will not be able to sustain them for the long run. Technological advances are playing huge parts in the energy revolution. The article goes on to explain advances in renewable energy technology, such as solar and hydrogen power. If energy became completely renewable, most countries would be able to produce their own, alleviating or eliminating our current issues with international energy crisis. Developing countries are in an especially good position to make an energy transition, because unlike developed nations, they do not have to overcome a strong dependence on fossil fuel. In the 20th century, not only did fossil fuel use create an overbearing unbalance of wealth and power, it also created and imbalance of social well-being. The richest countries in the world consume the most power. A renewable energy system may have the ability to spread more equality across peoples and nations. Making a new energy system tailored to the needs of our new century may aid in reinstating a balance between energy, human well-being and the environment. Making the necessary changes will lead to treating energy as a valued commodity and a more sustainable earth. (4)

Selection 26: “Climate Change 2007”

This article is about the causes and the perceived effects of a greenhouse gas based climate change. First the article lists some the man-made and natural movers of climate change. For example, it lists carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, the increase in the amount of methane present in the atmosphere and nitrous oxide concentration. The article also lists some of the observations associated with this kind of climate change. For example, that the earth’s temperature is on the rise, water vapour present in the atmosphere has increased, ice cover and glaciers have been reduced, and that this ice loss is most likely connected to the risen sea levels of the world. Ice is being lost, sea levels are rising, and precipitation is increasing in most areas along with tropical storm activity. All these changes are most likely due to the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The article also goes into the predicted future regarding changes in the climate. These projections predict a continuation along the path of warming. It predicts a further rise in sea level, less snow cover, less ice cover, an increase in the amount of droughts, a growth in the intensity of tropical storms, and changes in ocean currents. The article explains that even if carbon levels were to equalize and that problems would persist. (5)

Class Materials:

I found the discussion of zoos in class to be very thought provoking. It really got me thinking about the Winnipeg zoo in comparison with other I’ve been to. I think it’s important that our zoo be updated to better fit the needs of animals, as I found a classmate’s observation of the small indoor living spaces to be quite accurate. When I think about zoos, the question of whether is in fact ethical to keep an animal caged up always comes to my mind. Someone in my small discussion group had a great idea on the subject that I wasn’t sure was a common place practice. She suggested that zoos only take in injured animals that couldn’t survive on their own in the wild anyway. I thought this was a great idea. The professor also explained that the zoo might possibly make a move toward keeping more local animals, which I think is a great idea as well. Being in Manitoba, we are gifted with the ability to keep arctic animals, and with the dangers they may be facing due to global climate change, I feel sharing them with the public may help to educate about their cause.

Can parks meet their mandate of access and protection?

Unfortunately I feel there is a trade-off between the two. I had a discussion on the subject with a friend who has a lot of experience camping in both national and provincial parks. We both came to the conclusion that allowing any people into the park automatically alters the animal’s natural habitat as she found the parks to be similar, if not identical, to regular camp grounds with their toilets and showers etc. We talked about how either you let people into the park for access, or keep them out totally for protection. However, we both agreed it was more of a trade-off between education of the public and protection. Either let people connect with the animals on a personal level while being educated, or keeping them completely out and in the dark. I found this to be relevant to zoos as well. With zoos there is a trade-off between letting people connect and learn about animals, and keeping animals in their natural habitat.

How can this be achieved in Wapusk?

I think that Wapusk can definitely improve its access, although it may not be cheap. I think one way to let people into the park is maybe create a tour program in which you visit the park for a day, walk around, and maybe see some animals before leaving for the night. I believe this has the potential to create access to the park, while being low impact enough to preserve the protection aspect. By not allowing overnight camping or people to wander by themselves, there wouldn’t need to be toilets, camp grounds or waste thrown anywhere.

Online Activity: Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth

I watched Al Gore’s documentary with my boyfriend and he helped me discuss it after. First of all, I really respect Al Gore for everything he’s done to open the world’s eyes to this emerging issue. The film depicted how he fought for many years to get the American government to recognize the issue and to do something about. However, my boyfriend and I both found that it gave the distinct vibe of a Michael Moore film in that it was slightly manipulative. The graphs we distorted for shock value and projections for sea levels seemed a little exaggerated. He also didn’t devote much time to alternative explanations for the warming pheromones. But, on the other hand, we felt that perhaps this was intentional. Maybe Al Gore knew no one would be interested if he didn’t add a little Hollywood to it. His presentation won an Oscar and opened the eyes of so many people around the world, that all you can really do is thank him. The film was also extremely informative, and helped to answer some questions I had about climate change, like how has the climate changed in respect to a historical context.

References:

(1) Gifford Pinchot, from The Fight for Conservation (Doubleday, 1910)
(2) Aldo Leopold, from A Sand Country Almanac (Oxford University Press, 1977)
(3) Amory B. Lovins, from "More Profit with Less Carbon," Scientific American (September 2005)
(4) Christopher Flavin and Seth Dunn, from "Reinventing the Energy System," in Lester R. Brown et al, State of the World 1999: A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society (W. W. Norton, 1999)
(5) THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, from "Climate Change 2007," Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis (February 2007)

Blog 2: Nicole L

Consider one 30 minute period of day yesterday
How did I rely on the environment in physical ways?

Yesterday, for definitely more than 30 minutes, I was studying. I was relying on the environment for the air I was breathing, for the water I was drinking and for the food I was eating. I was also counting the environment for the electricity for my laptop and for the paper I was writing on. Not only that, but the environment provided me with the resources to have the laptop and the furniture I was using made for me. It’s easy to forget how much we depend on the environment in physical ways each second of everyday, no matter what it is we are doing.

What promotes human connection to nature? What connects me to nature?

I feel what promotes human connection to nature is trying to be an actively environmentally conscious consumer. I know that for me, this is something that really helps remind me that I’m a part of the natural world and that I need to do my part to keep it clean and safe. Even if I’m just remembering to bring my reusable bags to the store, for that moment I remember that I’m connected to nature. I asked a friend what connected her to nature, and she felt camping every summer for a few weeks definitely brought her back to the environment. I agree, I don’t camp as much but by being only a tent away from the outdoors, it definitely promotes a connection to nature.

What promotes disconnection from nature? What disconnects me from nature?

I think spending too much time around technology helps to disconnect someone from nature. Being on the computer all day or cooped up inside on the couch watching television, it would be easy to forget that you are part of the environment as whole. I find this is the biggest way I disconnect myself from nature. For example, it’s hard to connect to nature during a walk outside if I’m busying listening to music on my MP3 or texting on my cell phone. I asked my boyfriend what takes him away from nature and he felt that the hours he’s lost to video games has affected his connection.

I also think that being taught that nature exists only to serve humans wants promotes a disconnection from nature in a big way, if your personal beliefs are that you are, in a sense, better or greater than nature I believe you would become truly disconnected in the worst possible way.

Is a deeper connection to nature likely to influence our decisions?

I think a deeper connection to nature would really influence our decisions in a positive way. If we thought of the environment before we made a decision, we would likely think harder about how our actions always have consequences that affect the world. A deeper connection might lead to second thoughts about a decision or an action if it will have a negative impact. Such as if we decide to throw things away instead of recycle them. A deeper connection may also alter how we manage our natural resources, perhaps protecting them instead of trying to find ways to exploit them. We watched a film in class where during one part some congress men were trying to get the vote to open up the protected area in Alaska for oil drilling. Maybe if those congress men had a better connection to the environment, they might have tried to keep the area under protection instead of exploiting and destroying it.

Where do your environmental ethics lie?

My environment ethics definitely lie with the protection of the environment and a move toward a more sustainable world. I think it’s really important that the world, and especially North America, starts taking steps to being more sustainable. For example, I took this quiz that calculates your ecological foot print (http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/personal_footprint) and mine was 8.3 global hectors. I would love to have resources available to me so that I could live as sustainably as possible.

Online Activity:

I really enjoyed the concept behind Andy Goldsworthy’s art. Using objects found in nature to create art would have to be something else that connects people to nature. Normally, when I think of art, I picture a picture painted from oil or acrylic paint hanging on the wall of a climate controlled museum. It’s kind of a foreign concept to see art as something impermanent or made from completely nature materials found in environment. Andy’s art is definitely a new addition to the list of things that connect me to nature.