Climate

“self-accelerating transformations set off when natural thresholds are crossed” (Blaustein 2015, 36).


Without notice and sometimes with notice our world is changing. We hope that it's always for the better or livelihood but unfortunately not always. The main area that is affecting us are the hurricanes. Stronger, bigger and more often is what we especially here in Florida has to deal with. The warming of El Nino keeps putting us at risk for more and more possibilities of getting "hit". We had been lucky but our luck finally ran out last season which now puts us now on the edge. I guess now we can be more prepared and not just sit back and think "it won't hit us". 

Photo by naharnet.com

“may be at risk of abrupt and irreversible change;” (IPCC 2014a, 13). 

I think that we have been at risk for quite some time now. I think we are at another level of at risk and maybe should be looking into how to fix and deal with the changes that are irreversible. It seems that every year abrupt changes are happening as well as those that have been changing over time. Unless we admit that these changes are occurring we may reach a point of NO RETURN and then what? It seems to me that we always wait until we have reached that point and then say "oops" let's fix it now. I understand that it takes time but we have been wasting that time instead of using it wisely. We need more action to have a positive reaction.

Photo by NASA/Rueters

May 2018 was fourth warmest May on record

According to the report from Nasa's goddard institute of space studies this past May was the 4th warmest since they started keeping record 138 years ago. The temperature was + .082 degrees Celsius and +0.86 degrees Celsius than between the years of 1951-1980. The rising of temperatures is just one of the many climate changes happening today. As mentioned in the book that it's not always the amount that it is changing but at the rate of speed that the changes are occurring is what is more important. In fact the report also states that the last three months were also among the warmest that it has ever been. Even though weather is different than climate the change in climate is affecting the weather. Just as recently as last week the temperatures in the Northern part of the country have been unbearable. Of course this is nothing new as the same thing happened a few years ago where people were dying due to heat strokes and others couldn't even go outside because it was so hot. Even though I prefer the heat over the cold, I don't want to reach to the point where I can no longer enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face. 

Photo by climate.nasa.gov

Source:

Nasa's Goddard institute for space studies

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Waste

“resources in the wrong place” (Leonard 2010a, 183).

Does that mean that we are storing our resources in the wrong place or are taking them from the wrong place? I think it's a bit of both, we're taking our natural resources from the wrong places and using them for the wrong reasons. As well as storing them in the wrong places. Putting the waste back into the ground doesn't mean it's going in the right way. The resources have gone through a process that has taken it from it's original form and made it into something different with many other things in it. We have to be smarter on how are are using our resources and where we are putting them into. We have first find a way to not use the resources that will not be for long term and not waste them. We then won't need to find a place to dispose of them. Smarter not harder should be the mentality. 

Photo by slideshare.net

United States only has 4% left of our natural forest

What a complete shame, we will soon be out of oxygen if we are to continue on this road. We keep "needing" more buildings and roads but who will be around to use them if we run out of oxygen. The trees are what keeps us going whether we know it or not. Sure there are plants but if we are getting rid of trees the plants aren't going to be enough. When are we going to stop "needing" and start "doing" to ensure that we are able to be around to use the things that we are "needing". I for one didn't realize that only had 4% of our forest left. Probably because it's not something that is talked about it. Big businesses and government don't want us to know. Of course because it's "not happening" it's our imagination or there are trees in other countries that will keep us going. But why should we be the ones to benefit when we have been the ones who have taken them away. Why should other countries have to share with us when we don't always play nice? 

Photo by calibus

Perceived obsolescence

I think the majority of us are victims of perceived obsolescence. I mean everyone wants the latest iPhone, we have to keep up with everyone else. I'm guilty to a point as somethings I don't see that I need and works the same as the one before. At least with my phone, I still have the iPhone 6 as it works just fine. Actually I have done that with all of my phones. I use them until they don't work and then I get the one my children left behind. On the other hand I like to have newer shoes which puts me in the category of following the trend. Even when the shoes I own are in perfect condition. While I'm a victim I would like to believe that I'm not as bad as those who need to have everything that's "in". But guilty is guilty!

Photo by tasstudent.com

Resources: 
APA (American Psychological Assoc.)
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

FOOD

“food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO 2008, 1)


Will we ever be able to say that we have food security? I don't understand how we can still have so many people in this world dying from hunger when there are so many resources to grow food. Is it due to poor leadership within our countries or the lack of knowledge on how to use the resources? In the United States the problem is both an abundance of food for some and lack of food for others. We all live in the same country so we shouldn't have such a problem. Are those who are obese just not educated on nutritious food or is it just easier to access? I would think that healthier food would be cheaper to buy but as I walk around the grocery store it just isn't the case. Oranges are over $6.00 a bag while a bag of chips is under $4.00 making the chips the cheapest choice. Our school lunches are now offering healthier foods in the cafeteria however they also have vending machines. While the items in the machines are "baked" how healthy are they really? Then you have parents who don't want their kids eating the schools lunch and bring them McDonald's instead. How are we too keep our children healthy when they are given those types of options? It's unfair when a parent has to choose whether to buy food or pay their rent. Both things are needed and you really can't go without either and often times parents make the decision to pay the rent and will find a way to find food to eat. That's a complete shame. 

Photo by UNHCR

Photo by community.askgargi.com

Farmers being investigated for keeping seeds by Monsanto

Living in Naples where farming isn't as huge as up North we don't really see what happens to the farmers. I was surprised and shocked how far a company will go to hurt people. That's what I call it as they want to hurt them where they know they can. Farmers just like any small business owner can only rely on so much income in order to keep growing and making a living. The huge companies like Monsanto can afford to drag out a law suit because they can afford it and a small time farmer usually can't and end up giving in. It's amazing how much power a company can have and the government allow this to keep happening. I understand that they own the patent to the GMO seeds being used but when is enough, enough? The gentlemen being sued is only trying to make a living by cleaning the machines he wasn't keeping the seeds. I would think they would want the farmers machinery in good condition in order to produce which is what the man was doing. The power of big money!!

Photo by farmerswarehouse.com

Illegal aliens being taken while companies don't receive any penalty.

While this does't really surprise me as I used to work in the fields many years ago and I saw people being taken first hand. Companies will always hire illegal people because it keeps their costs down and illegal people will work because that's what they come to do work! It's a shame that an immigration policy that actually works for all countries can put into place. What is currently in place isn't the same for every country. Mexico for example doesn't have an immigration policy that people can apply for. The only way Mexicans can come here legally is if you have someone who is a legal resident alien or citizen can apply for you and then wait 10 years to see if it will get approved. Of course it depends on the relationship of the person who is applying. However if you are from Haiti you don't need someone to apply for you. How does that make it fair. Not to mention Cubans who can come, step on land and automatically receive amnesty. I understand each country has different issues but again what works for one country may not work for another. Why not really hold the companies accountable as well? A fine really isn't a big deal as these companies are making millions of dollars off of illegal aliens. 

Photo by studybreaks.com

Sources:

APA (American Psychological Assoc.)
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Pollution

"Mad as a hatter" (Pepper et al. 2006, 284)


I never really understood what they meant by that term, but now I can see that it pertains to pollution. Not that they were mad because they were polluting but maybe because of all they had to mix and use to make the hats. I guess I can say that if my father lived during that era he was really contributing to the pollution of our country. Why you may ask? He was a fanatic when it came to hats. He owned all kinds made from all kinds of materials. As consumers we really don't pay attention into what it takes to make a product much less see if it is polluting our world. We just assume that the manufacturer is making the products the correct way but I guess we are wrong. If really thinking about it the manufacturers just care about their bottom line and not about us the consumers. 

Photo by anjouclothing.wordpress.com

"Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation. (Schweitzer, pp. 154)

We seem to be blinded by what we are creating. We believe that it's all good because in some way it's helping our people, but what about the bad that we can't see? I think that what  Schweitzer is trying to say is that we walk around with blinders on because we don't want to see the wrongs that we are creating to our environment. We don't recognize it because we only look at the positives and not the negatives. Even us people who don't really know much about the pollution we just go with the flow because we are only presented with the good things. Unfortunately as time goes by we are noticing the wrongs of what we have created. But are we willing to really see it or turn our face to the clearer picture? 

Photo by quotefancy.com

PFOA

Perfluorooctanoic acid is the former name and it is used to make teflon. It has also been detected in industrial waste, stain-resistant carpets, carpet-cleaning liquids, house dust, microwave popcorn bags, water, food, and some cookware. PFOA is believed to be a carcinogenic which causes cancer. Studies have concluded that there may be an association between PFOA exposure and six health outcomes: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and pregnancy-induced hypertension. PFOA is also found in the top layer of our oceans, contaminating our marine life. It may not be as toxic to animals as it is to humans. There are no formal regulations to elimante PFOA but there are some to limit the amount we are being exposed to. The federal government has been working since the year 2000 to find concrete connections between PFOA and cancer. Dupont company is the biggest manufacturer of goods made with PFOA and they have promised to phaseout the chemical. On May 19, 2016, EPA lowered the drinking water health advisory level to 0.07 ppb for PFOA and PFOS.

Photo by culligan.com

Sources:

 

"Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS". EPA. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

Lee, Jennifer 8. (15 April 2003). "E.P.A. Orders Companies to Examine Effects of Chemicals". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2009.

Nicole, W. (2013). "PFOA and Cancer in a Highly Exposed Community: New Findings from the C8 Science Panel". Environmental Health Perspectives. 121 (11–12): A340. doi:10.1289/ehp.121-A340. PMC 3855507 Freely accessible. PMID 24284021.

Renner, Rebecca (June 2008). "Aerosols complicate PFOA picture". Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (11): 3908. doi:10.1021/es087117o. PMID 18589941

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

University Colloquium Reader. (2011)

Water

“Irrigation of the land with seawater desalinated by fusion power is ancient. It is called Rain” (Kinkade-Levario 2007, 1). 
Wow, we have to use big words to make it seem that it's something new. My husband is the landscaper and gardener of my house. He does depend on the rain to water our grass and his plants but unfortunately has to use a hose sometimes. Actually, one of the bills that I do keep a close eye on is our water bill. I think how can we be using so much water when our bill goes up. Then my husband hears it. :) I think a lot more of us have to really consider having rain barrels to use for plants and landscape. Actually my husband does re-use rain water from a bucket that he keeps by our pool. As it fills up he pours it on the plants by the pool, at least we are making some type of effort. It's a shame the we don't take water shortage as serious as we should. It's like the saying goes, "you don't know what you have until you lose it."

Photo by physics.stackexchange.com

"El Laguno del Espiritu Santo" (Stoneman Douglas, 105).

"The lake of the Holy Spirit" is what it translates to. Is it spiritual? Godly? Why did the Spaniards see it as such? Mysterious is how the book describes the Everglades and to it is mysterious. Having lived in Naples all of my life I have yet to take a boat ride through them. I have driven passed them but have never taken the mysterious ride. Maybe it is spiritual because no one can really see what ALL of the everglades is really like unless you're floating above them, under them or through them. I don't think we will ever know what all lives with in what is know as the Everglades. The beauty is breathtaking and maybe that is why the Spaniards considered them spiritual.

Photo by visittheusa.com

Water Footprint:

Not to bad on my results, below the US average. So I'll take the results as a plus, especially since my last footprint I was consuming 2 1/2 planets. My highest area was in virtual water, meaning in everything that isn't in or around my house but instead what we drive and eat. I'll credit my results to my husband as he's the one that takes care of our landscape and makes sure that we turn the water off instead of just letting it run when washing dishes or brushing our teeth. Every bit helps. I keep an eye of the bill and let him know if it's increased so that he can watch how he uses it outside. 

Sources:
Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
"The Nature of the Everglades" (p. 104-122) in the Colloquium Reader. 

Ethics/Biodiversity

"The balance of nature" (Leopold, 68).

In order to keep our world in order we must have a balance of some sort otherwise we will suffer in the area that is unequal. I myself am not the best when trying to keep our balance in reference to sustainability. We recycle our plastic and bottles, however it makes no sense because we buy bottled water. We have a water purifier but we don't really use it. I drive my husband's truck which uses more gas per mile when I also have a small car that would use less gas. We shower more than once a day and it usually isn't a quick one, I have to wash my hair everyday and that takes some time as it's so thick, so in all honestly I don't think I'm contributing that much to sustainability. Do I need to do more yes and I say I will but then just don't follow through. How can I expect others to have a balance with nature when I can't do it myself. Growth and expansion for our people is good thing but we need to find how we can have a happy medium or my grandchildren may not be able to enjoy the outdoors like I did.

Photo by jri.org.uk

"The fish need the forest, the forest needs the fish" (Suzuki, 1999).

I think what Suzuki means here that although we may not be directly connected we are directly connected. We need each other in order to keep the planet in line. People and animals eat the trees or fish that eat the bacteria in the water that creates a cycle of needing from one another in order to survive. When the extinction happened hundreds of years ago was mainly because some of the resources that were needed for the dinosaurs and plants to survive was missing, creating the extinction. Am I part of the cycle? To me I am but maybe not in the right way. I'm meat eater and not a plant eater, no type of salad or vegetables even and if I do eat vegetables it's a very short list. The same with fish no way, no how so my contribution isn't that great in that part either. Slowly I'm seeing why my contribution to helping the planet showed that I would need two and a half planets if I was too keep surviving the way I currently am. 

photo by camping-muenstertal.de

Biophilia or Biophobia

"As civilization advances, the sense of wonder almost necessarily declines" (Heschel, 1990).


Could that be true? What is your opinion on that? Mine is that yes, it can be true. We are slowly losing the beauties of the world as civilization advances. It seems as developers believe that everything has to have something built on it otherwise it's useless. However, I don't think they take into consideration that there is already something "built" there. The trees, the plants, the ecosystem is all built from our natural resources. So it doesn't have to be built by hand or machine in order to be considered developed. Let's develop on what is already there to ensure that we will have something to enjoy otherwise all of the building will be standing with no one in them.

Photo by history.com

"You could say that the kids who had greener setting were just richer" (Kuo, 9).

I couldn't agree more with quote. They are richer because they are able to experience what life is really like. They get to feel the grass under their feet, the air that we breath and the sun in our face. Indoors not only do you lack all of those but also physical activity as well nutrients provided by the outdoors. I feel that kids who haven't felt the grass haven't lived. I mean how will you know that it's ok to fall as you won't get hurt. Opposed to falling on gravel or pavement you will more than likely injure themselves. You get to see the life that comes from the grass, the ants, the plants, worms and even the dirt that is in the grass. Greener doesn't always mean the paper kind but instead the kind that actually feels like something. 

Photo by Cavan Images

Wiggins Pass

The place I chose to draw is the beach. Wiggins Pass beach to be specific in Naples. I chose it because this is where I spent many of my weekends when I was little. My family is very big and we are all close and because of that we spent a lot of time together. This was one of those places. Our parents would cook on the grills and we would enjoy the water and the sand. We also spent many Easter Sundays here as one big happy family. I hold it dear to my heart especially since we don't go that often anymore. Everyone has their own family and decides to spend the time amongst themselves. Sometimes here just not the big group as it was before. I really miss the times that we spent here, it brings back so many memories of all of us especially my dad now that he is gone.

Drawing by Lourdes

Sources: University Colloquium Reader. (2011)

Biosphere and Human sphere

"The great book of nature lies ever open before our eyes" (Margulis and Sagan 1997, 39)

Is what our eyes see all of what nature really is?  How can we say that it is if there is so much more that isn't seen by the human eye. We can absorb nature through simply breathing the air, admiring the view of a good rainfall and yes, seeing everything in bloom. I guess nature is what we make of it as there is so much of it. The book and continue to be great and views be grand as long as we do our part in conserving it.  If we don't take care of it what will we be seeing? The view will be gloomy and dark and the book will no longer be great but instead a short story.

Photo by exclusifvoyages.com

Photo by adsoftheworld.com

"The demographic bonus" (Brown 2009, 185).

Being able to live in the United States, to me is considered a demographic bonus. Just think of it we have everything that we could want. Clean air, free to roam around the country without worrying about a bomb, trees that we can admire, beaches that we can swim in, and food that we can eat at any time. We are lucky for sure. Can you imagine living in any other country? A country that lacks any of things that I mentioned? Although we aren't fully sustainable we are considered as stable, a bonus for sure. That is why so many people are dying to come to this place, not because they hate where they live but because our country is a bonus in the eyes of many.

Photo by wisegeek.com

Ecological Footprint

Results from Ecological footprint calculator

I'm in shock as to how I live impacts the Earth. 2.5 Earths leaves me speechless. I mean I have heard that one shouldn't eat meat everyday due to it impacting one's health but this is also saying that it's impacting how my kids and grandkids will be living as well. Eating greens for me has never been an option, I don't like them so I don't eat them but I can see how those are produced much easier than a cow for my meat. No wonder animal farmers are using steroids to keep up with the demand that we as a people are putting on the farmers. They can't keep up if they just use the natural way of raising the animals. I should seriously consider changing my eating habits. I don't travel far but I also don't own a newer vehicle therefore my truck isn't fuel friendly so the fact that I don't travel far doesn't really matter. However, I can't just say I'm getting a new car either. I do use my daughter's car when we do go further or ride with my sisters in effort to not use so much gas. We try to do conserve in some ways. We don't throw away our paper and plastic that gets recycled. We definitely need to improve and we will work on it little by little as every bit helps.




Source: Sustainability Principles and Practice, (Robertson, 2017) 

Livable Cities

Livable Cities



"Eyes on the Street" (Jacobs 1961)

What do you think of when you hear those words? Actual eyes on the street or people on the street? In my community there isn't a formal community watch program but my neighbors and I watch out for each other. We have each other's phone numbers and know who is supposed to be at the homes and who is not. One of my neighbors called my husband when he noticed that our garage door was left open a bit. Knowing that we were all at work or out he knew something wasn't right. He was right, our house had been broken into. Immediately we put the word out on social media and we started getting tips as to where our personal items were moving to. Unfortunately, we weren't able to recover any of our belongings but the fact the my neighbor notified us put the robbers and the sheriff's office on alert right away. That's one of the needs in a livable city. People need to feel safe where they live, no matter if it's to walk around the community, buy a home, or simply feel free to visit at anytime. Children are free to ride their bikes in the neighborhood to the park or the baseball field as well as to school. We may not have police out always policing our streets but we have "eyes on the street" keeping it safe.

Photo by Abstrak

"New roads generate more traffic, and more traffic creates a demand for even more roads." (Farr 2008, 56)

Everywhere you turn there is something new being built which means the roads will be busier. The last new road in Collier County was the extension of Santa Barbara Blvd. That opening allowed for the availability of more homes to be built. There were homes already in the area, but the roads were of dirt so many people would rather not build there. Now with the opening more people are moving into the area. I think it relieved some of the traffic on US 41 but now the section is getting congested. Where will the next road open up? Maybe a connection of Lee county and Collier with the extension of 951 into Lee County. That would certainly take away traffic from I-75 but when that road is congested what will be next?

Photo by wired.com

"The goal is to allow viewers to grab hold of the meaning with one look." (White 2011, 9)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not show what is happening to our world instead of just talking about it. When we see with our own eyes then it's easier to believe. I guess it may not be a easy, as how can you see gasses hurting our atmosphere? At the same time we need to see how people, communities and businesses are doing there part in providing eco-friendly environments. People may want to do their part may not know how to help. Many of us are visual learners therefore need to physically see how something works in order to do it. Otherwise we may just think it won't work and won't do it. Let's put our world on display with the colors, smells, and visions.

Photo by Martin Tessler


Sources: Sustainability Principles and Practice (Robertson 2017)

What is sustainability?

What is sustainability?

The state of Florida will soon surpass the state of New York in population making us the third largest state in America.

           It's not a question I had really worried or thought about. Now that I have to take a course on our environment I'm forced to really look at it and see if it's something that I should be worried about. I'd like to believe that I still have a whole life ahead of me and should look forward to seeing my grandchildren grow but now I'm not sure that is true. Not because I'm ill but because at the rate that we a nation are growing and our resources are dwindling.
           That's kind of scary in a way. We've all seen movies on the hustle and bustle of New York and although I like to visit New York I don't want to live there. So, I wouldn't like to see Florida become that way. I have lived in Naples for 48 years and have seen the growth it has had. We had to drive about ten miles before we could get to a grocery store. Now that location is Naples on The Bay which has condominiums, restaurants and shopping stores. Even trying to find a convenience store was hard to find in which I believe was further than the grocery store. Now there are four convenience stores in my community and each one busy any given time. It's crazy how fast the area is growing. Not to say that we no longer have areas that aren't developed as there is still plenty of green around. But isn't that something that we want and need to keep around in order to stay environmentally friendly?

Photo by website The Real Naples

“We understand that humans and nature are not separate, and so insustainability work the systems are known as social-ecological systems: linked systems of humans and nature (Walker and Salt 2012,1).”

If we are linked in some way then we need to learn to co-exist. It’s been this way forever as we as humans can’t live without nature. Nature can survive as it’s been here way before humans have but if we destroy that how will we be able to survive. Slowly we are doing away with rainforests, our air is being contaminated and our reefs in the ocean are dying. People including myself don’t really look at things like this as we believe it doesn’t affect us but we are obviously wrong. No nature means no carbon dioxide for us to be able to breath, no food to be cultivated, and no water for us to drink. 

Photo by website theday.co.uk

“The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race (Malthus [1798] 2008:61)” 

A powerful quote, as aren’t we seeing that already in many of the third world countries. Little babies are dying due to starvation. There are too many people and not enough food. The land is dry therefore making it hard to cultivate it for food. Even here in America we have kids going around hungry. How can that be in a country that is so rich and with so many resources? Yes we are growing as a population but we also have to ensure that we keep the earth growing in order to avoid the premature death that we will be facing. 

Photo by Alwaght.com

Sources: Sustainability Principles and Practice (Robertson 2017)