The Earth Charter

Earth, Our Home

http://thespiritscience.net/2014/11/22/carl-sagan-puts-life-on-earth-in-perspective/

This is our home. We only get this one, so we must do everything in our power to sustain it. Our home is made up of so much diversity and uniqueness that we should take full advantage of it. The resources that we have are essential to living a life here, but the way in which we use those resources may change the direction that our life takes. Our goal should be to strive to live a life full of adventure, opportunities, and relationships, but be concerned with doing it in an ecologically friendly manner. Our home is beautiful and plentiful in all aspects. By recognizing this idea, we should be looking to preserve the beautiful state of our planet for future generations, so that they may flourish and live a life that we all have imagined.

The Challenges Ahead

http://www.esf.org/index.php?id=6198

Yes, our home is an awe striking place, but it is facing its challenges. The choice though is ours. What happens to this world’s environment is reflected upon how we live our lives. The global partnership is to “care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life.” Incorporating the proper education and life-long learning will promote living a sustainable, ecological life in hopes of those practices and ideas to be passed on from generation to generation.

Universal Responsibility

http://www.cwtsavvytraveler.com/2013/05/are-travelers-willing-to-go-green-on-the-road/

This section of the Earth Charter helped me to solidify my understanding that we are a part of more than just ourselves and our immediate surroundings. We are a part of a bigger picture than we can even imagine at times. Whether we realize it or not, things that we do here in America, in Fort Myers, can have an effect on someone else on the other side of the world. We are a linked together with a moral responsibility to take care of the universe that we inhabit. We when internalize that idea, all of humanity will be better off, not just environmentally but socially, economically, and politically. We must care for our communities with passionate love, and be willing to accept the rewards and repercussions that come along with our actions.

Plan B: Climate Change & the Energy Transition

Why is the Arctic warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the world?

http://guardianlv.com/2012/08/arctic-sea-ice-melt-will-polar-bears-survive-the-threat-of-melting-ice/

The warming in areas like the Arctic is causing major damages to the physical environment and those that inhabit it. According to Plan B, over the last half century winter temperatures have risen by 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit (Brown 2009 p. 61). Robert Corell, a chairman for the ACIA, says this region is “experiencing some of the most rapid and severe climate change on Earth.” The melting of the ice and ice sheets is causing rises in sea levels, and is harming the homes and food supplies of humans and animals alike. Polar bears and seals are just two of the many soon to be endangered species effected by this environmental change. Recent evidence has shown that the ice is not recovering like usual during the winter months. Therefore it continues to thin until it is gone completely.

Why do higher temperatures have such a negative effect on crop yields?

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/february15/lobell-aaas-climate-022010.html

When I first saw this topic brought up in the Plan B book, I was a little confused as to how warmer temperature effected crop yields. From my little knowledge about farming, I always thought that the warmer the weather, the more crops you were able to grow. Part of that mindset came from me spending my entire life in Florida where it stays relatively warm all year long. An aspect that I never thought about was that crops grow best in a stable climatic environment, not necessarily a warm environment. Although the elevated concentration of carbon dioxide that raise temperature can also raise crop yields, after a certain point the detrimental effect of higher temperatures on yields overrides the carbon dioxide fertilization effect for the crops (Brown 2009 p.69). A common thing I have said throughout my blog posts is that we need to find a balance. I think that applies here also.

What are atmospheric brown clouds?

http://www2.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14629

Reading through the Plan B chapter on climate change was the first I had ever heard of the atmospheric brown clouds. They are made up of excess particles from burning substances such as coal and gasoline. These clouds are creating harmful effects on the climate. If the burning mannerisms are changed into something more environmentally friendly, such as solar power, these soot clouds will disappear. I think we need to prioritize in where our energy source comes from. We won't be able to get rid of fossil fuels completely, but we can reduce how much we use.

Sources:

Brown, L. (2009). Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.

Plan B: Selling Our Future

“As the world struggles to feed all its people, farmers are facing several trying trends.” (Brown 4)

http://www.gspretail.com/newsletter/nl16_retailer-focus-publix.html

As I read this statement it didn’t truly hit me at first. I was completely unaware of all the issues that food production in America is facing. As I continued to read, Brown listed all the factors going against food production from the supply and demand side of the equation. I was confused by the significance of some of these trends. In my own little world, I never thought of lack of food as an issue. Every time I go to Publix they always have what I need. I know that is a small scale to put it on, but that is the way most college students think. They are unaware of what’s happening outside of their own environment. As we’ve discussed environmental issues in class, I’ve never thought to apply its effects to the food I eat.


“No country is immune to the effects of tightening world food supplies, not even the United States, the world’s breadbasket.” (Brown 13)

http://hibe-online.com/8-signs-you-suffer-from-a-sense-of-entitlement/

I think this statement is very accurate! Sometimes I feel like people from the United States sometimes have a sense of entitlement. Just because we live in America we should be able to surpass all issues dealing with constricted food sources, yet that is the furthest from the truth. The book gave a perfect example with the relationship we have with China. We are bound in certain instances where claiming we are the greatest and most powerful nation in the world won’t bail us out of a tough situation.


“Success depends on moving at wartime speed, restructuring the world energy economy at a pace reminiscent of the restructuring of the U.S. industrial economy in 1942 following the attack on Pearl Harbor.” (Brown 25)

http://allthingsd.com/20120330/yahoo-layoffs-set-to-begin-next-week-followed-by-restructuring-the-week-after/

I do not think “moving at wartime speed” is something that can be accomplished in today’s time without a dramatic change in the hearts of millions of Americans. People are more concerned with instant gratification, and do not lean towards change if they won’t see results in a timely manner. The Plan B project is a long term project that you must gain support behind for it to be successful. I don’t think you can compare the reference that Brown made to the attacks on Pearl Harbor to the environmental situations that we are facing today. Pearl Harbor was a sudden, vicious attack on the American people, so they desired to get even and receive self-gratification. They were willing to make changes in their lives because it was for a cause they felt fervent about. I don’t think there’s enough passionately driven people to make such a change to put Plan B into action. 

What is Biodiversity and Why is it Important?

“Our ignorance of the ecological functions of diverse forms of life is no excuse for us to push species to extinction, or to manipulate them without concern for the ecological impact.”

 (Shiva 41)

http://www.adweek.com/prnewser/5-of-the-bestest-practices-learned-from-social-media-in-2014/106118

This statement is completely correct. Ignorance about an issue is never a good enough excuse. That goes for any aspect of life. In school, just because you say you weren’t aware an assignment was due doesn’t mean you won’t be held accountable for not turning it in. Personally, I know I am unmindful of some of the environmental issues that go on around me. That is something that I must take full responsibility for. To be considered a respectable citizen, I need to keep myself educated and informed about current issues in my local area. Whether or not I realize it, I make an ecological impact every day. My goal is to become more aware of my own “controllable” actions that I have over the environment and the species that live in it.

 “Creating clones of Western forms of industrial production and excessive consumption is called ‘development’ but is actually ‘maldevelopment’.” (Shiva 57)

http://www.waletejumade.com/business-development-and-management/

Here Shiva states her opinion upon development of the modern world. I can see two sides to her story, but I think she may have taken this statement a little too far. As times are changing in the world, how can you expect different parts of the world not to revolutionize the way they go about development. Parts of Western civilization are ahead of the game. To be able to compete in today’s economy you have to catch up to what everyone else is doing if you want to be viable in the business world. This is where the disagreements occur because business minded people and environmentalist clash. A balance between the two needs to be struck.

 “The value and functions of living organisms are important at higher levels of organization.” (Shiva 42)

http://www.warrenhills.org/Page/4475

I feel like this statement contradicts other ideas that Shiva has presented. Earlier in the reading she stated, “The smallest microbe plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological processes that create the conditions of life for all species, including, of course, our own” (Shiva 41). So which way is it? Are all organisms equally important in our environment, or do humans take priority? Overall from the reading, I took away that human’s greed and power influence them to think they are the dominate being.  I’m not convinced that is completely true, but I also think that each organism has its own special place in the equation. While humans seem to have the control, they also need to know that they have a particular place in the ecological system as well. 

The Obligation to Endure - Rachel Carson

“Thus the chemical war is never won, and all life is caught in the crossfire.” (Carson 155)

This quote put insecticides into perspective for me. I have never thought about the damage that insecticides can cause besides killing those troublesome pests. We think that when we spray the pesticides our issues will soon be gone, but in reality they may just be beginning. I was unaware of how harmful the insecticides are to other aspects of the environment besides just the pests themselves. Carson stated it best earlier in the reading, “They should not be called insecticides, but biocides” (Carson 155). Everything in the environment is affected by these “biocides” ranging from the soil, plants, water and other animals. If innovation ceases to occur, then the continued use of these chemicals will create an unending cycle of devastation.

http://alisonlongstaff.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html

 “The methods employed must be such that they do not destroy us along with the insects.” (Carson 156)

I think Carson makes an exceptional point here, but how do we achieve that? It comes across as too logical. There has to be a way to control the insect population with regards to farming practices, yet also keep the environment in mind. It is easier said than done, but we have to find a better way to protect and enhance all aspects of the environment. A balance must be found between conditions where control of insects is absolutely necessary and conditions where the insects could be fended off in another, more natural way. The key is finding the specific way we can achieve that goal, but it is not something that will be able to be done until it is a priority

http://medical-diagonosis.wonderhowto.com/how-to/suspect-case-insecticide-poisoning-0126031/

 “How could intelligent beings seek to control a few unwanted species by a method that contaminated the entire environment and brought the threat of disease and death even to their own kind?” (Carson 156)

I personally think this quote may have gone too far. The use of pesticides is to control undesirable species, but it was not looked at as a means to wreak havoc upon our environment. The purpose of the insecticides was in part to help flourish the agricultural industry, which it has, along with helping regulate some diseases. By no means was it ever created with harm to mankind and the environment in mind. It is unfortunate and even unacceptable now to continue the use of such products. Innovation is a part of the process. As time changes new advances and technologies will come about that will be beneficial for the cause of controlling pests, as well as being environmentally friendly.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-30/dist-nrn-bee-pesticide-ban/4659712

Nature of the Everglades

“They are the only Everglades in the world.” (Douglas 106)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article4239801.html

This particular quote stood out to me because it’s amazing we can say that we have the only everglades in the world. We have such a unique and diverse ecosystem right here in my home state. Personally, I have only seen the Everglades in passing as I was driving across Alligator Alley. After reading that quote it made me think it’s a shame I haven’t taken the time to adventure through one of the world’s natural wonders. We get so caught up with the hustle and bustle of our lives that we don’t realize and enjoy the beauty of the land that has been here long before us.

“There are not four sharply marked seasons, as in the North.” (Douglas 112)

http://www.postcardsouvenir.com/flsepo.html

This statement is one of the reasons I appreciate living in Florida. A lot of people say they love to see a change of season, but I disagree. While certain times of the year is more tolerable, I enjoy our climate and weather. I have lived in Florida all my life, so I am use to the way the “seasons” meld into each other. The real truth is I don’t know any different. What I’ve recently learned though is that we have two very different seasons, wet and dry seasons. Douglas goes on to talk about them briefly saying that for months the rain will pour, but just as quickly as it comes, it’ll also dry up with the sun beating down on the land. I think it all boils down to what you are accustomed to. Florida’s seasons may not be for everyone.

“The whole system was like a set of scales on which the forces of the seasons, of the sun and the rains, the winds, the hurricanes, and the dew falls, were balanced so that the life of the vast grass and all its encompassed and neighbor forms were kept secure.” (Douglas 121-122)

http://www.someblogsite.com/archives/4713

As it is said in this quote, it is a system of checks and balances that made the Everglades come to be. Without the streams, lakes, and rivers in the northern part of the state, the Everglades basically would have washed away. I think we can also apply this idea to our own lives. We have a system of checks and balances in place for our national government. Without that our country would end up running itself to no ends. We also have a system in place for ourselves. We have to have balance in our own lives between school, work, family, and friends. We keep ourselves accountable for our actions, and we take the rewards and repercussions when necessary. All aspects of life must find that balance that satisfies their needs.

A Land Ethic

“His instincts prompt him to compete for his place in the community, but his ethics prompt him also to co-operate.” (Leopold 59)

http://usubluecrew.blogspot.com/2014/10/chriss-declassified-school-survival.html

This quote is the idea behind how people should function in society. It’s human instinct to want to become the best person you can be. You hear a lot about people wanting to live the “American dream.” This stems from the idea that man wants to compete for his place in the community. We all want to do better whether it be for personal satisfaction alone or for your family. We’re all striving to make something of ourselves. The ambitious drive must be balanced with a desire to work together with other aspects of the community. As Leopold said, your ethics prompt you to co-operate, so each individual’s personal standards will tell you the right way to go about ambitions. Striking a balance between the two is key.

“Yes but just what and whom do we love? Certainly not the waters, which we assume have no function except to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. Certainly not the plants, of which we exterminate whole communities without batting an eye.” (Leopold 60)

http://www.themarthablog.com/2014/10/a-gala-for-hudson-river-park.html

The context of this quote is saying that we sing for the love of our great land, but he’s questioning what we really mean by that. I think he has taken a one sided approach to how we use our natural resources. Yes, we use the water for natural energy, and transportation of resources, but what else is he trying to prove here? These are just a few of the most effective ways to use water in today’s time. We have removed natural wildlife, but times are changing. We can’t leave everything the way it was in 1848. Leopold said, “It is quite invisible to the tourists who finds this wrecked landscape charming.” (Leopold 62) The landscape that he considers wrecked is considered beautiful to others. It’s just a matter of your own perspective, and this applies to all situations, not just altered landscape and the usage of water. 

“When the private landowner is asked to perform some unprofitable act for the good of the community, he today assents only with outstretched palm. If the act costs him cash, this is fair and proper, but when it costs only fore-thought, open-mindedness, or time, the issue is at least debatable.” (Leopold 67)

http://www.polypipeline.com/rejection_does_not_equal_reject/

The opening statement in this quote makes sense of the economic thinking that people have in today’s society. If it won’t better me or my business then why should I have to do it? Here I think is where human instinct kicks in, and ethical obligations are left behind. The confusing part to me is that if there is no economic cost to the private owner, why don’t they implement change? Is it rejection of the idea of conservation or sustainability? Or is it more a lack of their social economic duty or knowledge of their duties? I guess it varies between each specific situation, but I don’t understand why changes are not made, or what effective changes could be made.