Plan B Journal

Plan B

“But our continuing failure to reverse the environmental trends that are undermining the world fuel economy forces me to conclude that if we continue with business as usual such a collapse is not only possible but likely” (Brown, 2009, p. 3).

http://www.lanarc.ca/preventing-soil-erosion-in-your-garden/

Before reading the Plan B chapters, I honestly never quite understood how humans could possibly create so much destruction to the environment. After reading this, I am shocked. It especially surprises me that food supply is beginning to be a problem if we do not do something immediately. I have never linked the high food prices to the erosion of soil but it makes complete sense. Which also leads to another problem, poverty. Poverty could essentially be helped if the environment was treated better so the prices would decrease. It is so upsetting that we can’t expand food production fast enough, hence we cannot continue at the population rate the universe is on. It is especially sad that we cannot expand production because of the things that people are doing to the environment. Failure is a very strong word but we are on that road. Reversing the environmental trends will be difficult but I believe with more awareness and education, we can defeat the collapse.

“We can either create assets for the future or take the assets of the future. One is called restoration and the other exploitation” (Brown, 2009, p. 15). 

http://www.aiche.org/ifs/resources

This quote caused me to think about sustainability and the importance of it. Before this class, I had no clue what sustainability was and honestly didn’t really care to mind. I believe this could be the same for many people. I am becoming educated about what is really going on in the world. It is so important to continue at a pace where future generations will have things that they need to survive and live happy and healthy. We need to do something now so that my kid’s children will have a good life. In a sense, I believe we are taking assets that are needed for the future. Creating these assets will set a standard that could continue through the next generations to come. We need to restore what we have done to the environment and make it a main goal to prevent exploitation in the present and the future. It seems like a hard task but I believe every person can make a difference.

“The notion that our civilization is approaching its demise is not an easy concept to grasp or accept” (Brown, 2009, p. 241).

http://www.canadianprogressiveworld.com

I believe denial is one of the main issues with people not tending to the environmental needs. I think many people care about the environment and preserving it, however I think that ignoring it is easier than learning and accepting it, myself included. Its hard and upsetting to think that the many things I do on a daily basis is impacting the environment in a negative way. The concept is so large that it is absolutely hard to grasp and understand. Not until the environmental problems directly impact people, I do not think much will be done about it. Chapter ten included a lot about what needed to be done and what goals the plan would accomplish, however I just have a hard time believing all of those goals are achievable, especially because politics and money will get in the way.

 

A Land Remembered Journal

A Land Remembered

By Patrick D. Smith

Briefly describe the character and their role in the novel.

http://www.sundogbooks.com/book/9781561642304

In the beginning of the novel, Tobias is a thirty-year-old man who had been living in the eastern Florida shrub for five years. Throughout Tobias’s journey in the book, he showed true dedication to his wife Emma and son Zech. At many times, especially in the beginning, he was unsure if they would survive. At times his family had little food, however with time Tobias learned through trial and error how to make a living. Tobias shows throughout the book how hardworking he truly is. He never gave up in the fight to make money and provide for his family. He was the sole financial provider and he knew he had to do something to keep his family alive. Tobias also shows unconditional love to Emma and Zech and always made sure they were okay and taken care of. 

How does the character relate to their environment and the natural world?
In the beginning, Tobias was severely struggling to survive. Tobias uses all of the resources in the environment necessary to survive and provide for his family. He essentially is fully embraced in the environment. The family uses many plants and other edible things in the environment to eat, Tobias gathers cows and sells them, and he also grows orange trees. Even though he uses the resources necessary in the environment to survive, he shows respect for the land and natural world that surrounds him.

https://web.duke.edu/nicholas/bio217/ked13/freshwater.html

Where does the character feel a sense of place (to what place do they feel an emotional attachment) and why?

I think Tobias feels a strong sense of place within the wilderness where his home is and where he works very hard to provide for his family.  I see Tobias as being protective of the land. He enjoys all of the beautiful things it has to offer such as the custard-apple forest and he would probably be completely devastated if he found out that Zech had destroyed it years later. He wanted the land to be shared and enjoyed by everyone and didn’t quite seem to understand why everyone wanted to build bigger and better things. He seemed to be content with his small cabin in the wilderness. The strongest sense of place for Tobias is shown when he goes to the orange trees multiple times just to sit and relax, even in the freezing cold. This shows that he feels relaxed when he is with nature, as well as, protective of it. 

What legacy did the character leave behind for the next generation?

http://www.wallpaperhere.com/Heart_In_The_Wild_2300

I believe Tobias taught Zech many life lessons and morals that allowed for the next generation to see what a wonderful and hardworking man Tobias was. Tobias was the first man within the family to make a good amount of money; this allowed the other generations to live a life with less financial stress and hardship. He also taught Zech how to survive in the wild, which was passed down to Sol. Tobias left the business of the cows and the abundance of orange trees behind, which allowed the family to become wealthier. His legacy was the sweat and tears, as well as, the hardworking abilities and the never give up mentality that generations to come should be proud of.

Why did you select this character and how do you relate to them?
I chose Tobias because he was the heart of the family, even after he passed away. He was the rock that kept the family working. Tobias did everything in his power to provide and protect his family. He never gave up the fight even after he would fail. I feel like these are wonderful characteristics in a father and husband that I respect dearly.

Grunwald Journal

Endgame

Quotations by Michael Grunwald

“When our distant descendants move into the Fourth Millennium, I hope it will be remembered that this generation, at the beginning of the Third Millennium, put aside partisanship, narrow self-interest and short-term thinking by saving the Everglades (Grunwald 79).”

http://www.evergladesfoundation.org

After reading this excerpt, I couldn’t help but think why did the fight to save the Everglades have to be so political and surrounded around money. It’s sad that the main focus of some politicians did not solely focus on the nature and animals being saved and preserved. In my opinion, saving the Everglades should not have taken so much time and effort; it should have been a simple decision. The option of leaving the Everglades left to dry up and building an airport should not have been an option. I feel like since I live so close to the Everglades it is something that I hold dear to my heart, something that is so unique and beautiful. It hurts to think that the Everglades could have been a thing of the past. Without the help of so many environmental activists and some politicians, my future children would not have been able to see this wonderful thing that nature has to offer. After reading this excerpt, I have developed more of an emotional tie to the Everglades that I did not have before.

“Yes, restoring the Everglades would preserve aquifers and promote ecotourism, but Graham really wanted to restore the Everglades because it was singular, because it distinguished south Florida from other sprawling concatenations of tract homes, strip malls, CVS, and KFC (Grunwald 99).”

http://ushistoryimages.com/seminole-tribe.shtm

The thing that sticks out to me most in this quote is the word singular. There is nothing else like the Everglades; no place in the entire world resembles the Everglades. With that being said, I cannot contemplate why there was so much debate about whether or not to better restore and preserve the Everglades. It makes me think how twisted and demented the world we live in is. It has all contributed to greed and people wanting to make money. I can’t help but think about all the beautiful and majestic animals that live in the Everglades. Their homes would have potentially been destroyed, leaving them homeless. This quote makes me think about the book A Land to Remember, when Toby became so angry with Sol for destroying the land and building a farm on it. Sol was concerned about the money; Toby was concerned about the animals. I feel as if America’s priorities are out of order, somewhat like Sol when he became extremely concentrated on making money, nothing else mattered to him. America needs to have mindset of Toby, protecting the land not only helps the animals, but humans as well. Thankfully the Everglades are now protected and there will never be strip malls and homes that will destroy it.

“Everglades restoration could set an international standard for sustainable development. It could prove that man and nature could co-exist in peace (Grunwald 101).” 

http://www.trulygraphics.com/tg/nature/page/8/

I honestly wish I could agree with this statement. I think it is absolutely wonderful that the restoration of the Everglades became a priority, however I do not believe that man and nature will ever be able to co-exist in peace again. I believe I feel this way because I have never lived in a time where nature and preserving the land was a priority to the general society. People are so concerned about making money and creating bigger and better things that the love and respect for nature is throw away. It would be wonderful if the people could live in peace with nature but they must have respect for it, and I do not believe that there is. People will only begin to realize that peace with nature is necessary when they begin to directly be affected by the repercussions. The restoration of the Everglades is an amazing thing and I do want to take light away from that, however the fight to save the Everglades shows that it will never be easy to reach that peace that is necessary to reach sustainability.