Read Me

A Guy Found This Note In A San Francisco Airport. You Won't Believe What It Said Inside.

Sometimes all it takes is the simplest of things to change your life. There are small moments in each person's life that at the end of their days define them. This man was walking through the San Francisco airport when he stumbled on a note that cried out "Read Me". 

And so he did.

He opened the letter and what he found inside was a gift that he never could have imagined.

This is the front of the note that he saw.

The full text reads:

I recently left an emotionally abusive relationship. After months of insults I won’t repeat, false accusations, lies, delusions, broken mirrors, nightly battles…. I left. I know that I was being poisoned by each day that I stayed. So with a heavy heart, I left my lover of three years, knowing that I had already put it off too long. At first he begged, then he cursed, but eventually he paced his bags and faded out of my life like a bad dream. For the first few weeks, my body seemed to reject this. For three years I had seen the world through him-colored glasses. I didn’t know who I was without him. Despite the kindness of friends and even strangers. 

I could not help feeling utterly alone. But it was this sense of aloneness that set me free. Somewhere along the way, I let go. I released all of the painful memories, the names he had called me, the shards of him buried deep in my brain. I stopped believing the things he had made me think about myself. I began to see how extraordinary, breathtakingly beautiful life is. I meditated, drank too much coffee, talked to strangers, laughed at nothing. I wrote poetry and stopped to smell and photograph every flower. Once I discovered that my happiness depends only on myself, nothing could hurt me anymore. I have found and continue to find peace. Each day I am closer to it than I was yesterday. I am a work in progress but I am full to the brim with gratitude and joy. And so, since I have opened a new chapter in my life, I want to peacefully part with the contents of the last chapter. The end of my relationship was the catalyst for a wealth of positive changes in my life. It was a symbol, most importantly, it was an act of self-love. It was a realization that I deserved to be happy and I could choose to be. And so, in an effort to leave behind the things that do not help me grow, I am letting go of a relic from the painful past. I wore this necklace-a gift from him-every day for over two years. To me, letting it go is a joyous declaration that I am moving forward with strength and grace and deep, lasting peace. Please accept this gift as a reminder that we all deserve happiness. Whoever you are, and whatever pain you have faced, I hope you find peace.

Namaste,

Jamie

Sometimes it's so difficult to leave a troubled relationship, even when in retrospect we should have done it so much earlier. Share this beautiful and courageous note with others.

source: http://aplus.com/a/note-san-francisco-airport-wont-believe

Blog 4

Ecosystems and Human Well Being

Humans activities are the main causes of the changes to our Ecosystems. Our overuse of resources such as fresh water, fuel, timber and fiber is degrading our environment at a rapid rate. These degradation is mostly affecting the poor, increasing poverty and illness and it is a significant barrier to achieving the millennium development goals agreed to by the international committee in September 2000. By 2050 global GDP is expected to increase by three to six times its current level and these problems are only going to get worse. 

Changes in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, water and forestry; more farmland being worked than ever before, coral reefs being depleted, more water impounded in dams, all these due to increase in population and more reactive nitrogen found among the environment are causing the degradation of our environment and changing the ecosystem. 

To achieve a sustainable future, we need to make changes in government, economics, technology, social behaviour, and knowledge according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Although some institutions are trying to decrease the degradation of our environment, factors like lack of public awareness, weak human and institutional capacity and under-investment in the regulation and management of ecosystem services hinders the implementation of successful strategies. We need to live in a way that is more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Critical Thinking 

The damage to ecosystems affects human well-being in different ways. When we damage the ecosystem, we damage the environment and in turn damage ourselves. The earth`s natural resources, if depleted takes longer time to replenish; with the increase in demand and decrease in supply of these natural resources our ecosystem is been harmed and the well being of humans is been harmed. 

Living Downstream: An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment
In this article, Sandra Steingraber tells of cancer and its history in her family (adopted), even though there is no history of cancer in her biological family. As a young girl, she wanted to find out why she could inherit cancer when it was not in her biological family. Her story shows that cancer can be inherited as well as caused by mutations by carcinogens in the environment. Carcinogens like aromatic amines are found in dyes for cloth, leather, and paper.

Sandra Steingraber said that all of these chemicals are finding their way into the human body through our interaction with chemical substances. We know more about the hereditary causes of cancer and less of the environmental causes because cancer research is focused on hereditary cancers which make up only about 10 percent of known cancers. Cancer research need to focused more on environmental factors that are causing cancer.

Although the carcinogens are no longer produced, they still linger in the environment and in human tissues. We need to stop the use of toxic substances in our environment, unless there is no other way out then we have to use the least toxic substance.

Critical Thinking 

It is very hard to tell whether and how much a chemical is carcinogenic to humans and this is because we are always exposed to different types of chemicals most of which are airborne. It takes many years before the effect of these carcinogens can appear on a person`s body causing them to fall sick, so this also makes it difficult to determine when and to what level of the chemical the person is exposed to. A combination of different chemicals lead to cancer, the cause for one individual may not be the same for the other individual making it difficult to tell whether - and how much - a chemical is carcinogenic to humans.

Our Stolen Future

Starting with a quote from Rachel Carson, "Our fate is connected with the animals", Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers, tells us about the effect of drugs on animals and their relation to humans. All organisms share the same template no matter how evolved humans are, and how far away we are from nature. Organisms are bound to each other by a common ancestor, this means that any damage that has been done to wildlife is a foreshadow to the damage that will be done to humans.

Every organisms has accumulated a store of persistent synthetic chemicals in their body fat, which they are exposed to unnaturally. Most of these synthetic chemicals are said to be harmful to the body and some are not. Scientists carry out tests on both humans and animals,but there is an argument that these tests are based on dangers to humans but tested on animals. One question that is of great concern is, "is it right to test chemicals on animals with high dosses just to determine potential health effect?".

23 of the world’s leading scientists in this field came together at the Wingspread Conference Center in July 1991 to discuss the impacts of hormone mimics and other types of hormone disruptors, they concluded that the same chemicals that affected the development of animals in the environment could also affect human development in the future and that humans in many parts of the world were already being exposed to these chemicals. An increased number of documented cases within the United States already showed genital developmental abnormalities within children, such as undescended testicles, extremely small penises and underdeveloped urethra.

Animals have been greatly affected by high doses of synthetic chemicals because the chemicals show up faster in their bodies as they mature faster than humans. Synthetic chemicals has also disrupted the development and survival of these animals used for lab experiments

The authors concluded by saying that unless we as humans stop or control the use of these chemicals we will begin to face what the animals are going through as well.

Critical Thinking

Cancer is not the only health effect of environmental contaminants that should concern us, there are so many other health effects but it remains one of those that is difficult to treat. Every minute of everyday we are exposed to different types and degrees of chemicals that are potential risk factors to our health, as these chemicals accumulate in our bodies, we develop various health problems that eventually develops into cancer. Therefore, it is important give much attention and also create awareness of cancer to detect potential symptoms at an early stage.

Environmental Justice for All

In this Robert D. Bullard's article, he talked about the environment in respect to the plight of racial minorities and the poor. Where we live, work, play, worship, and school, was added to the idea of ENVIRONMENT in 1991. African Americans have been exposed to harmful substances since the early 1920's  to 1978, they have been living in areas where landfills and incinerators are located. These communities have been fighting environmental racism, environmental  threats like lead smelters, petrochemical plants and dumping of oil laced with toxic PCBs along roadways. 

These environmental  threats sprang up local activists who advocated for a change. In 1991 environmental activists gathered in Washington D.C to bring to the attention to the public the plights of these racial minorities and the poor who were bearing the greater effect of this  pollution problems. Among these activists was the prominent civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. They achieved significant results like the defeat of the plan by Louisiana Energy Services to build potentially harmful nuclear facilities in a predominantly Black rural community. 

The Author concludes by saying that environmental justice can only be achieved through the help of government and when those in the lower income and racial minority communities is given the same protection as affluent suburbs regardless of race or income.

Critical Thinking

Environmental justice, according to the article is the indiscriminate and equitable protection of the people and environment without regard to place, race or income. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. 

Minorities or low-income communities are those in urgent need of environmental justice. If every one on earth has the same rights, then environmental justice should not be given only to the wealthy. Location of landfills, incinerators and dumping of toxic chemicals should not be near low-income and Black communities.

Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity in the marine environment have drop drastically leading to lower water quality and threat of extinct to species that are still existing. According to the authors, the ocean is more stable and productive when there are rich array of species in it. Over 80 percent of the world’s population lives within one km of the coast and for most of them, their livelihood depend on the ocean. that is to say that if the ocean is healthy then the people are healthy.

Studies have showed that native species of  12 coastal and estuarine ecosystems, are rapid declining since industrialization. The effects of species extinction were measured by looking at the amount of fisheries which collapsed in the last 50 years and the result is that by 2003, 29% of the total fish have collapsed and the total amount of fish yield declined by 13 percent. Areas with rich species decline at a more gradual rate than areas that are less rich in species. 

As the years progressed, humans have taken the issue of fisheries collapse seriously. some areas have become protected reserves. These reserves have showed increase in species diversity by 23%, they also act as tourist sites allowing people the chance to see a specie rich marine. Regions with great diversity could withstand the collapse and proved to recover much faster with exponential increase as the years go by.

There is a positive relationship between the health of a marine system and the diversity of species within it and this has direct impact on humans, mainly because it is our source of food and revenue, therefore, effort must be put in place to increase productivity.

Critical Thinking

Commercial fisheries is in decline because they are in high demand, they are been harvested in wasteful ways and as more of it is been harvested, these fishes become scarce. If demand declines then production or harvesting of these fishes will decline. Because we want more, we have developed new techniques (industrialization) which allow them to catch more of these fishes at once thereby reducing their population. Too many boats or ships chasing too few fishes. Some of these fish species serve as important food sources for sea animals who, unlike humans, have no other food choices. So the removal of a food source for other sea animals collapses the entire ecosystem dynamics of the marine environment. 

Activity
Jeremy Jackson is an ecologist who focused his studies on coral reefs and tropical ecology. As he begins his talk, he showed a black and white photograph of a coral reef from Jamaica that was taken in the 60's, the coral reef had no fish in it. He said industrial fishing is a huge cause of over fishing and this is because larger nets, more hooks, and larger boats that can carry more fish are been used. This type of industrial fishing is destroying habitats for all sea species.

He said people are paying more today than they did before for fishes. Fishes used to be larger in the past but due to the high amounts of fishing going on in the ocean the fishes do not have the chance to grow as big as they used to. Sport fishing, pollution and climate change has contributed to the depletion of fish species and the wrecking of the ocean. Mercury and plastics creates pollution in the ocean as they are being deposited into water bodies.

Caulerpa taxifolia in the north-western Mediterranean sea was an example he gave of biological pollution; introducing new species into an area and release of excessive nutrients into the water. These nutrients causes excessive growth of these species that now outgrow the main species in that area, using up oxygen which leads to growth of algae which has a devastating effect on the ocean.

What is even more alarming according to him is that all these effects combine through the amplified positive feedback mechanism to produce largely accelerated negative outcomes like the overall decrease of nutrients in the oceans and the eventual loss of biodiversity. We humans are the main problem, to restore balance to the ocean, we need to fix ourselves.

Reflection

I promote sustainability and happiness by understanding that my environment should be treated the same way i want to be treated. I want my children (future generation) to enjoy the natural resources so i try not to waste water, I use the bus for longer distance and walk for shorter distance. By reusing or wasting little, buying only things I need and buying products that are environmentally friendly, i promote sustainability in my life.

Dalai Lama XIV said “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions”,so i try to do things that make me happy. eating good food, drinking lots of water, playing games, going to the gym, walking in the park in summer, volunteering, staying with family, hanging out with friends and most importantly having my alone time. Having my alone time, gives me the opportunity to reflect on my actions for the day, encouraging and uplifting myself.

I would like to tell more people about the benefit of incorporating healthy lifestyle in their daily living. I would say living a healthy lifestyle is contagious. If i recycle and compost all my waste, buy my food from local farmers, engage in daily exercise, share my equipment with my neighbours (rakes, lawn mower) and do things that makes me happy, my family and neighbours can learn from me 

I pledge to have fewer children, to reduce the growth rate of the world`s population, to use less water; use only as much water as i need, and avoid doing anything to endanger water supplies and different animal species, to eat responsibly especially locally grown food and less meat to reduce the killing of animals and increase of growth of grain to feed the world`s population.

References

West, Larry. The Five Most Important Things You Can Do for the Environment.  About.com:  Environmental Issues, n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014 http://environment.about.com/od/activismvolunteering/a/5_important_environmental_actions.htm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/basics/ejbackground.html

Easton, Thomas A. Sources Environmental Studies. Fourth ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 41-152. Print.

Blog 3

Women`s Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation 

Vadanan Shiva describe the link between gender and biodiversity. Men are seen as measure of all value, women as inferior and unequal and nature`s diversity as only for commercial gain. Monocultures and progressive technologies has displaced the survival and sustainability of livelihoods mostly in the third world countries as biodiversity-based technologies are now seen as primitive. Moving from subsistence to monoculture, from biodiversity-based technologies to progressive technologies has led to loss of employment, and increase in poverty.

Women and diversity as described by Vadanan Shiva is also linked. women do too many different works mostly not measured in wages making it difficult for researchers to define women`s work inside and outside the house. Work done by women including farming require skills and knowledge which is the mainstay of the dairy industry. Women have been experts in the biodiversity in agriculture but their knowledge has been ruled out because it is not coming from a scientific laboratory and men in white coat.

In this twenty first century, corporation create seedlings making it their property through intellectual property rights. That means each year farmers must go back to these corporations to buy seeds, our foods are now genetically engineered and farmers in the third world countries are losing their natural hybrid seeds. If women`s knowledge and skills are not recognized and these corporations restricted, then diversity will be affected in the long run.

Concluding, Shiva outlined some potential risks associated with genetically engineered foods, such as danger to domestic animals, wildlife, change in habitats, counterfeit freshness, new proteins which may cause allergic reactions, diminish the effectiveness of some antibiotics to human and domestic animal disease.

Critical Thinking 

Ecofeminist is a term used to describe females who are ecologically focused. They define women rights together with environmental problems. Although they differ among themselves in that not all of them believe that women have an intrinsic feminine perspective on the relationship between humans and nature that is distinct from that of male. We can see that Vadanan Shiva is an Ecofeminist, the way she described the similaries of women and diversity and how they are undermined.

Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?

In this article, Lester R. Brown warns about the shortage in the main need of humans: food. Our unsustainable approach to the earth we live in is the main cause for this food shortage. As the population of humans increase, the demand for food rises exponentially with supply falling and this causes the price of grains to increase and become expensive. Grain is one of the world`s most demanded crop, it serves as fuel and food and this has made the its price really expensive. Growing crops requires a lot of water and water is also running out, water table is falling and rainfall cannot recharge it. These grains need sun, wind, and rainfall to grow but our environment releases irregular amounts due to environmental degradation. Irrigation, soil erosion, countries like Russia, cutting back and Vietnam banning exports for several months to increase locally available food and increase in surface temperature are the main problems causing food shortage. 

A solution given by Lester R. Brown, is called "Plan B", to reverse the environmental trend that caused the food shortage. Plan B has four components:

1. To cut carbon emission by 80% from 2006 level by 2020.

2. Stabilization of world`s population at 8 million by 2040,

3. Eradication of poverty

4. Restoration of forest, soils and aquifers. 

Critical Thinking

The greatest threat to global political stability is food shortage, although there are other factors like lack of personal security and healthcare. When a nation doesn`t have enough to feed its population, its government begins to lose its power and run into chaos, becoming a place for terrorists, drugs, weapon and refugees. 

To avoid or reduce the rate of food shortage, we need to use Brown`s Plan B and we need to implement it fast as time is our scarcest resources.

Human Domination of Earth`s Ecosystems

The ecosystem is influenced by human activities because the earth is mostly dominated by humans. Fishing, agriculture, trading, manufacturing and other industries has contributed to the changes we have in our environment: increase climate change and loss of biological diversity. As we face land degradation, our different species are forced to relocate, some go into extinction, and increase in invasive species, water tables are rising. The use of fossil fuel leads to increase in the carbon, our modern day technology is polluting the air, waters and land causing harms to species everywhere. The increase in population and industries around the world has caused carbon emissions to increase, causing climate change and global warming. Humans have caused a 30% change in atmospheric carbon dioxide relative to the pre-industrial era. DDT (now banned) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are examples of human manufactured chemicals that are hazardous to our health and environment. We have to recognize that the consequences of human activities is already here and the authors suggested three directions to combat 

1.      Work to reduce the rate at which we alter the earth system.

2.      We can accelerate our efforts to understand earth`s ecosystems and how they interact with the numerous components of human caused global change.

3.      Maintain production, population, species and ecosystem for the foreseeable future.

Critical Thinking

The more humans we have on the earth results in more pollution in the environment. Humans need to recognize the mistakes they are making and start using resources ecologically and more practical in order to fix the problems. I think that reducing the world population would certainly reduce the impact on the Earth but also changing how people interact with the environment would reduce food shortage, the amount of fossil fuel burnt, relocation of species. We as humans need to diversify their means of survival. 

Activity 

Jane Goodall speaks on how man and animals can live together dwelling much on Chimpanzees. She said they are more like us than any other animals, they can live for 60 years or more. The females have her first baby at 11 or 12 and then six years later she can have another. Their postures and gestures are like that of humans. The chimpanzees have shown us that we are part of and not separated from the earth we share. Just like humans these chimpanzees are losing their habitat due the changes in our environments; climate change and global warming. 

To save this habitats we have to save the lives of the people living around this parks where this animals live, providing them with better health care, education, loans and grants which helps the reduce the cutting of trees, leaving the land open for erosion and family planning. We have a choice to make the world a better place but the poor has the no choice, our choice give them a chance to have a choice. Those in the third world countries have no choice. People come together to form groups to help save our world for our children like TAKECARE and ROOTS & SHOOTS. She mostly raised awareness on what is going on in Africa as well as all over the world including water pollution, drought, diseases and poverty.

The main message here i think is learning to leave in peace with one another and then we can live in peace with our environment, we can give our children and grand children as well as animals hope.

Reflection

Zoos has changed from being an entertainment place to a place where research is been carried out, people come to learn about different species and conservation of animals. The zoo has helped researchers, vets, and even the general public to learn about animal care, husbandry and life span. Zoos keep animals that are almost in extinction and threatened. Like author Jake Page put it, “many zoos have become places of rigorous scientific research… coupled with an active effort not just to preserve in captivity those creatures that are endangered in the wild, but… to understand, save, and replenish unique natural habitats.” Different species have been bred successfully inside zoos due to the environment that closely resembles the animals' natural surroundings created by zoo keepers. In education, zoos provides information and experience to school children and tourists.

Different people have different opinions about what is ethical and what`s not, animal rights and animal welfare try to define what’s right and what’s wrong like, it is wrong if you treat the animal as a means to achieve some human end, it fails to treat animals with the respect they deserve, it violates the animal's right to live in freedom, the animal is deprived of its natural habitat, the animal is deprived of its natural social structure and companionship, the animal is forced into close proximity with other species and human beings which may be unnatural for it, returning animals to the wild is difficult. 

Visiting the zoo has always been fun for, walking around seeing and feeding different species of animals especially the ones i know i will not see outside the zoo. listening to fun facts about a zoo i`m visiting for the first time is something i always do. some fun facts i have heard includes: the pink color of flamingos comes from the food they eat, Anteaters can eat up to 30,000 insects in one day, Anteaters are able to detect insects with their powerful sense of smell, 40 times that of man, the giraffe has the same number of vertebrae in their neck as a human and they give birth standing up that`s like 6 feet that the baby has to drop (i`m still waiting to see this).

References

Easton, Thomas A. Sources Environmental Studies. Fourth ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 11-115. Print.

Villablanca, Edward. "Defining the Role of Zoos in the Conservation of Wildlife." Yahoo (2007). Web. 17 Mar. 2014. http://voices.yahoo.com/defining-role-zoos-conservation-wildlife-608841.html

"Ethics Guide." BBC . Web. 17 Mar. 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/entertainment_1.shtml.

"How Man and Animals Can Live Together." TED Talk (2007). Web. 17 Mar. 2014. http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_goodall_at_tedglobal_07.html

Blog 2

A Sand County Almanac

We see land as property, as entailing privilege not obligation, we have no limitations to the freedom of our actions on land. ethics according to ecologists can be symbioses because it has its origin in the interdependent individuals or groups to evolve mode of co-operation. we don't take care of the land, not even of  plants or animals and we see nothing wrong with that.

According to Aldo Leopold, "the land ethics simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soil, water, plants animal... without love respect and admiration for the land there is no ethical relation". we all including farmers, educational and economic system need a change in attitude towards land in order to remove the obstacle to the evolution of land ethics because the time we spend on land, our skills, tastes and predictions determines all of land use.

Critical Thinking

The basic lesson of Aldo Leopold's "thinking like a mountain" is that there is a relationship between all things; humans and animals, humans and their environment. destroying a particular species will affect the existence of the another or will affect the environment negatively. nature knows how to balance itself but we always try to re-shape it thinking we know better. Without the wolves the deer`s population will keep growing and they will eat up every edible bush and seedling which in tern leads to a barren mountain side and this can have a negative effect on the environment

The Historical Roots of our Ecological crisis

Man has been part of nature but now they are separated with man as the master, plowing, cutting, harvesting and butchering. Lynn White Jr. explained how humans have negatively affected their environment, how their fire drive method of hunting has destroyed the mammals of Pleistocene, instead of the swampy African Jungle of the banks of lower Nile, we have human artifacts and due to burning of soft coal London suffered a smog problem as early as 1285.

Our attitude towards our environment is mostly affected by our Religion, for Christians, "go into the world and have dominion" is a passage that we have refuse to let go. We have fuse the teachings of Saint Francis "equality for all creatures". Although we do not think or speak Christianity, we live and behave like our ancestors 1700 years ago in a large contest of Christian axioms. Missionaries chopping down trees which to them were idols and Irish Saints boosting about their dealings with animals all to show their dominance over all things (birds, animals, fishes and plants).

Critical Thinking

The purpose of nature is different to different people. to Christians, it is God`s plan to benefit man and give him power of rulership. it was seen as God`s way of speaking to man by the Greeks but later in Latin it became an effort to understand God`s mind by discovering how his creation speak. Man exploits nature to meet his needs.

However the purpose of nature is largely to protect its species and enhance the quality of life of man; family bonding, fresh air and supplement for medication.

A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030

A decade ago, it was not clear that a global Wind, Water and Sun (WWS) Energy system would be feasible but Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi gives a clear way for global leaders to make it possible. 

The US Energy Information Administration projects that by 2030 the world power would increase from 12.5 to 16.9 trillion watts and it is heavily dependent on fossil fuel. Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi develop a new project that uses Wind, Water and Sun (WWS) Energy and provides about 15 percent of demand if mixed with fossil fuel. To build the WWS infrastructure, enough concrete and steel is needed and they are recyclables but materials like Neodymium used in turbine gearboxes can be only found in China for a low-cost.

The problem with this method the claim, is that wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine in a given location but generating a base supply from geothermal or tidal power can help in times when the wind and sun is temporarily unavailable.The cost of this project was totaled to $100 trillion for over 20 years and these money is an investment that will pay back through the sale of electricity and energy, using traditional services, these costs will become competitive even though some parts will be very expensive.

If our leaders can eliminate fossil subsides and introduce a combination of feed in tariffs plus incentive to reduce cost then they can be able to provide a meaningful climate and renewable energy goals

Critical Thinking

The most effective way to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions is to implement goals to shift away from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy sources such as water, wind and sun energy which would largely eliminate pollution. An urgent action needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is political will, and the courage to make tough choices; choices like growing our foods locally, reducing our use of electricity and heat.  

Summary for Policymakers: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis

If we keep on emitting greenhouse gases the way we are today then our climate will keep getting worse.  Here, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) talks about the effects we are having on the earth’s atmosphere and what the impacts on the earth will be if we continue emitting greenhouse gases like we are.There is an increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and these has been since the pre-industrial era. it was predicted that these would cause global warming and today we see the signs of it happening; Glaciers, ice sheets  and snow cover has decreased, there is increase in atmospheric water vapour, surface and ocean temperatures, sea levels are rising.

Because we have done much damage already, even if greenhouse gases were to be stabilized, there will still be an increase in global temperature between 1.8 Celsius and 4.0 Celsius. Therefore it would be best if we take action immediately.

Critical Thinking

consequences expected from global warming includes;

• a continuous contraction of Greenland ice sheet which will contribute to sea level rise after 2100, 
• due to timescales required to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, this gas will continue to contribute to warming and sea level rise for more than a millennium
• climate carbon cycling is expected to add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as the climate system warms but the magnitude of this feedback is uncertain.

Activity

Just as Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi said “the obstacle is political not technical”. Our leaders do not want to accept the truth about our environment, they only want to hear the good stuff and make the bad look not so bad. According to the video “ExxonMobil Philip Cooney view on Global Warming” politicians are rewriting the science, restricting what can be said and editing what can be published. That means what we hear and read about our environment and science is probably not true.

Is the impact of global warming increasing or decreasing? While most scientists say the Global warming is just quarter what we thought, others say it is increasing and will keep on over the century if nothing is done to about it. The national Geographic society posted on its site what will happen later this century, if warming continues and these includes the spread of diseases like malaria, less fresh water available, floods and drought will become more common and many others.

As I watched this video I began asking questions like is now the time to lie? Should the truth be told? Is global warming worth been on our priority list as a nation? What other matters are so pressing? What will be of us and what will the politicians do if the effects of global warming increase?

Reflection

I now understand the dangers of not properly disposing your waste. before his talk in class, i was one of those who put garbage anywhere as long as it was out of the way. Randy Park, Supervisor of Waste Diversion with the City of Winnipeg talked about waste management,from how they are brought in, assembled, recycled, and sold for reuse. during his short period in class, i became aware of the consequences of my actions more involved in making sure that my waste and that of the entire house is properly disposed. 

We are doing a good job diverting waste because when wastes are diverted, the life of landfills is extended, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts, recycled materials have tremendous value and potential to create investment opportunities and new jobs. 

recycling is also worth the cost because they are more efficient in terms of energy and environmental friendliness. When recycled materials are sold, they yield a net profit if we (households) sort out our recyclables and the cost involved in transportation is low.

References

"Brady Road Resource Management Facility (Brady Road Landfill)." Winnipeg 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. http://www.winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/garbage/bradyroad.stm

Easton, Thomas A. Sources Environmental Studies. Fourth ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 11-115.  Print.

"Effects of Global Warming Signs Are Everywhere." National Geographic. n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/#close-modal 

Micks, Ashley. "The Costs of Recycling." 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph240/micks2/

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"Waste Reduction Strategy." Ontario Waste Management Association June 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

Blog 1

As time passed we have heard of the collapse of great societies and we have seen pictures of their monumental ruins.most of us have wished to see these places while many of us plan vacations in order for us to experience them at firsthand as tourists. These societies collapsed for so many reasons including population growth, the replacement or overthrow of one governing elite by another, hostile neighbours and even environmental problems. A society`s collapse cannot be attributed to only one of these reasons but a combination of all or most of the reasons mentioned. the Maya cities in Central America, Great Zimbabwe in Africa, Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, Moche and Tiwanaku societies in South America are examples of famous societies that have collapsed.

Ecological problems have been suspected to partly trigger the collapse of these societies: deforestation, habitat destruction, soil problems, water management problems, effects of introduced species on native species, population growth, over hunting, over fishing, and increased per capita impact of people, (Easton, P 185). Although we know that our societies are not doomed to collapse because of environmental problems but if we do not deal with these problems now, it will be the major reason for the collapse of our society.

Today, our powerful technology offers us both the beneficial effects which puts us at a lower risk than our past societies and the destructive effects which puts us on a greater risk than our past societies, meaning our study of  these collapsed societies won`t give us solutions to solve our societies problems but it tells us that if we don`t do anything about it, then very soon we will fall like those past collapsed societies.

According to Jared Diamond, society`s collapse means "a drastic decrease in human population size and or political/ economic/ social complexity over a considerable area of an extended time" (Easton, P. 184). 

"We consider Easter Island to be a microcosm which provides a model for the whole planet"(Easton, P. 170). Easter Island is an isolated Island probably isolated until it was found by Dutch Sailors in 1722. it is dominated by trees used for ropes and these trees were used until it was exhausted and the land became empty, deforestation coincided with soil erosion, Polynesian rats consumed the seeds of the forest trees preventing it from regenerating and fresh water supplies diminished, nothing was left to support the inhabitants of these Island. A country`s human carrying capacity does not only depend on its soils, natural resources, population, culture and economy but it also depend on the price of its products both locally and internationally. 

We desire different things in different qualities and sizes, ranging from material well being to domestic and international demographic arrangements among others. According to Joel E.Cohen, if we specify our choices and adopt a model that will reconcile every choice made and find a balance among contradictory choices then it would be an ideal tool for estimating how many people the earth can support.

Carrying capacity therefore refers to the number of people the earth can support. it is not like the standard demographic indicators like life expectancy, it is more difficult to estimate.

Garrett Hardin in one of his writings "Tragedy of the Commons" excerpted in Sources Environmental Studies fourth edition, likened the game of tick-tack-toe to population problem. he said population problem in his thesis, is a member of "No technical solution problems" giving an example of herdsmen sharing a common and each thinking of how to increase his numbers of animals without thinking of the impact of their decision to the society at large. they all reach their individual conclusions that it a sensible course to add another animal to his herd. "the individual benefits from the ability to deny the truth even though the society as a whole of which he is a part suffers"(Easton P. 25). 

Population growth is not the only problem but these goes a long way in creating other problems like pollution problem. we see these problems like what only the government should solve or something  not of our business. As time go by restrictions restricting pastures, hunting and fishing, disposal of domestic sewage  are being accepted worldwide to help the commons.

Examples of resources held in common by all the citizens of a society that have suffered by overuse include water (over fishing), land (over grazing, farming, waste disposal).

Activity

TED talk Fragile Earth with Yann Arthus-Bertrand, talks about the big impacts on the planet. Issues like over exploitations of our resources, global warming (40% decrease in the thickness of the arctic, 80% decrease in the eye of mount Kilimanjaro), overfishing and deforestation are issues we have become over familiar with that "we don`t want to believe what we know". 

He used pictures creating lasting memories in the viewers mind to show the effects of our actions on earth. The teaser of his movie "HOME" showed us not only the Problems we are facing but solutions to draw us out of these problems. Just as the movie says "it is too late to be pessimistic". 

Reflections

The major world problems includes over population, climate/weather change, Fukushima, water and waste problems,we here of these problems everyday and environmentalists have been criticized worldwide for speaking of them. we say "you only talk about the problems, where are the solutions?" today the solutions are being spoken of,  what we can do as individuals, groups and as a nation but we have refused to believe the truth just like Yann Arthus-Bertrand said "we live in denial". 

By regulating municipal wastewater and specific industries such as pulp, paper mills and metal mines, the Government of Canada is working hard to reduce pollution of freshwater at the source. Over $140 million have been spent on water related programs, clean-up of important water bodies such as Lake Winnipeg, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence in 2010

"The Government of Canada is working with many partners, including grassroots organizations, universities, other levels of government and internationally to find ways to protect and conserve our water. In Atlantic Canada, Environment Canada has signed an agreement on environmental cooperation with the four provincial governments including a water annex and work plan outlining how they will work together to protect and conserve our water resources. Additionally, Environment Canada’s Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives provides funding to community groups to carry out projects that are designed to have a positive impact on the entire ecosystem"(Environment Canada).

Pollutants in our different cities travel very far away affecting people in places we don`t even expect, affecting the lives of both humans, animals and even plants. From THE TIMES OF INDIA, we hear that pollution from china travels in a large quantites across the Pacific Ocean to US, making environmental and health problems unexpected side effects of US demand for cheap China-manufactured goods. it also said "Cities like Los Angeles received at least an extra day of smog a year from nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide from China's export-dependent factories". This is an example of trans-boundary pollution and it is due to the over consumption not only on the developed world, we should all work together to figure out ways to solve these problems and stop looking for whom to pass the blame on.

References

Easton, Thomas A. Sources Environmental Studies. Fourth ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 25-186.  Print.

"Everyone's talking about water: It's time for action!." Environment Canada. N.p., 21 June 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. http://ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=D295883B-1 

"Yann Arthus-Bertrand: A wide-angle view of fragile Earth." TED Talk. N.p., June 2009. Web. 23 Jan.        2014. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/yann_arthus_bertrand_captures_fragile_earth_in_wide_angle.html.

THE TIMES OF CHINA. N.p., 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Made-in-China-pollution-wafts-across-Pacific-to-US/articleshow/29227207.cms