The Peak Oil survival: Preparation for life after grid crash story presents the effects of Global warming in an angle I have never seen before. Oil and natural resources are very scarce right now. As a result, life is changing economically, politically, socially, and naturally. Our contribution to global warming has set of a chain reaction of events that is quickly destroying the planet and changing the way we live. Weather patterns have been altered and the use of natural resources has destroyed land, trees and the atmosphere: through pollution. I found most interesting the information given from this excerpt about renewable energy. Finding methods to live a better life and decrease global warming is what environmentalists and people are working towards. However, according to this excerpt, everything we have done to “go green” is only good to a certain limit. For example, the “renewables” mentioned in the passage is great but it is not as effective as the natural resources. The “good” we have done will not last long and the economy will change: decrease. Furthermore, food will become scarce, products or necessities will be too much than we can afford and we will lose transportation because a lot of energy and space will be needed to create cars or trains. The fact that people’s movement towards preserving the earth is in reality not working is shocking. I am left wondering what exactly we can do to save the planet.
The Skill of Ecological Perception analyzes the psychology behind people’s way of living. The way people act; their behavior and their personalities are all what shapes people’s lifestyles and people’s contributions to global warming. Psychology is connected to culture and religion and these factors all play a role in how people view global warming and the destruction of the world. The perceptions of psychology are the guidelines that set people’s morals and will determine how and whether or not people will change their ways of living. Environmentalists have been working towards decreasing global warming, for example. As for the people unaware of the effects of global warming, they lack knowledge and needs to become aware. In addition, the people who do not care about global warming, needs to start caring because this is the major reason for global warming. The mind is everything and then comes culture and the surroundings. I hope we can find a solid way to preserve earth and decrease global warming because I do not want to and cannot think about the destructive predictions of the future and the world.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
“The Deconstruction of Whiteness” and The World Without Us
“The Deconstruction of Whiteness” and The World Without Us, both focus on the way humans lack care for the environment. “The Deconstruction of Whiteness” relates racism as the one driving factor of global warming. The “white ideal” of domination and power is equivalent to life becoming only the way a “white” wants life to be. Slaves were mistreated to work the land so that profit can be made and were driven away from their homes to a new land: America. Native Americans were forced out of their land so that the “white man” can focus on making his community better without having to spend extra unnecessary money. This idea of profit and labor including violence is what brings forth global warming. Not only did the idea of domination hurt people but also it hurt nature because people used up nature’s resources without a single show of care. As they did not care for nature, people manipulated the environment and changed the natural habitats of nature. According to Anthony in the article, “the perfection of the market as a device for making decisions about everything” (“The Deconstruction of Whiteness” 271). The idea of money and getting money through other people’s labor unveils dominance. Furthermore, the way segregation separates people is the same way people are distant from nature and in turn lack care for taking care of the environment.
The World Without Us talks about ways in which the city of New York and other places are slowly fading away because of actions people made in the past and are making right now. One example would be people dumping tons of toxic chemicals in to the oceans and lakes in which have changed the environments of these bodies of water into something else. Another, example would be the creation bombs and testing them on land that homed people and land that was open space. Bombs resulted in a surplus of deaths, sickness, fires and losses of nature. Domination is presented in this real life scenario because bomb testing targeted certain selected places only let alone any.
Other people’s labor and lives should be sacrificed for one group of people. This idea is what connects these two sources together and also the lack of care for the environment. Race separation will destroy the planet because people would continue to manipulate the earth and not work together to save the planet. People will be wiped out from different places including New York City, if people do not recognize how we harm nature. A life without people will cause animal and plant life to change and mutate. No specific group of people is better than another because we are all humans and we need to stop controlling people, destroying the planet and using violence, in order to make changes to save the human race and nature.
The World Without Us talks about ways in which the city of New York and other places are slowly fading away because of actions people made in the past and are making right now. One example would be people dumping tons of toxic chemicals in to the oceans and lakes in which have changed the environments of these bodies of water into something else. Another, example would be the creation bombs and testing them on land that homed people and land that was open space. Bombs resulted in a surplus of deaths, sickness, fires and losses of nature. Domination is presented in this real life scenario because bomb testing targeted certain selected places only let alone any.
Other people’s labor and lives should be sacrificed for one group of people. This idea is what connects these two sources together and also the lack of care for the environment. Race separation will destroy the planet because people would continue to manipulate the earth and not work together to save the planet. People will be wiped out from different places including New York City, if people do not recognize how we harm nature. A life without people will cause animal and plant life to change and mutate. No specific group of people is better than another because we are all humans and we need to stop controlling people, destroying the planet and using violence, in order to make changes to save the human race and nature.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The video “The Story of Stuff” and the essay “The All-Consuming Self”
The video “The Story of Stuff” and the essay “The All-Consuming Self” both depicts and reveals the reasoning behind people’s actions of buying things. Both sources show that the idea behind people’s consumption of products is directly related to psychology. People buy goods because they feel like something is missing from their lives. However, as people buy one thing, they have to buy more in order to keep themselves satisfied for a long period of time.
One aspect “The Story of Stuff” video and “The All- Consuming Self” essay focuses on is the psychology behind corporations and the use of advertisements. “The average American is exposed to about 3000 ads a day” (The All-Consuming Self 81). Similarly, the video would support this quote. This means that advertisements are the factors that influence people’s minds into thinking that a person really needs the product even though they do not. What further contributes to a person buying something is the factor of people’s personal life and feelings.
“The Story of Stuff” video describes the ways in which corporations and people that make products persuade the buyers to buy more through planned obsolesce and perceived obsolesce. Planned obsolesce is the making of a product to seem useless so the buyer would buy more of the same product. While perceived obsolesce is changing the way things look in a product so that if something is wrong a buyer would have to buy another one. In addition to these methods, advertisements are just another enhancement to push the buttons of people to “shop till they drop”, and more even though they may not need everything they buy.
“The All- Consuming Self” essay focuses on the fact that these advertisements and methods that corporations create are ways in which to manipulate people into buying products. This is like brainwash in the sense that many people buy products that they want or think they need, but they do not know how to operate them. Therefore, the fake behind advertisements will have to stop in order to promote conserving the environment. Corporations should advertise instead, about all the factors that increase global warming so that people could become aware and make a difference in saving the planet.
One aspect “The Story of Stuff” video and “The All- Consuming Self” essay focuses on is the psychology behind corporations and the use of advertisements. “The average American is exposed to about 3000 ads a day” (The All-Consuming Self 81). Similarly, the video would support this quote. This means that advertisements are the factors that influence people’s minds into thinking that a person really needs the product even though they do not. What further contributes to a person buying something is the factor of people’s personal life and feelings.
“The Story of Stuff” video describes the ways in which corporations and people that make products persuade the buyers to buy more through planned obsolesce and perceived obsolesce. Planned obsolesce is the making of a product to seem useless so the buyer would buy more of the same product. While perceived obsolesce is changing the way things look in a product so that if something is wrong a buyer would have to buy another one. In addition to these methods, advertisements are just another enhancement to push the buttons of people to “shop till they drop”, and more even though they may not need everything they buy.
“The All- Consuming Self” essay focuses on the fact that these advertisements and methods that corporations create are ways in which to manipulate people into buying products. This is like brainwash in the sense that many people buy products that they want or think they need, but they do not know how to operate them. Therefore, the fake behind advertisements will have to stop in order to promote conserving the environment. Corporations should advertise instead, about all the factors that increase global warming so that people could become aware and make a difference in saving the planet.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
pittsburgh
This photo that Ryan Southen took of Pittsburgh looks pretty and like the night was calm. However, looking at this photo I would have to think twice. The fact that the speed of the moon was very fast is not a good sign. The moon has its own pace in which to orbit around the world and if this pace is messed up, then who knows what the consequences of this will be. All I can think about is if this continues to happen, then a result may be that life will have shorter nights or no nights at all. Life will be completely sun which is not good either. What is good for life is the balance that the sun and the moon provide for day and night. With complete sun, the percentage of deaths related to heat will increase, and more than just ice will begin to melt. I think the world would end quicker this way because to much sun is unbearable for anything on this planet to handle. I can only imagine that the defect of the moon’s pace is because of global warming. We cannot let the moon possibly disappear. Darkness will bring sorrow to life and it is here I think we will finally cry “dooms day.” So I am not sure what else we can do to prevent the moon from vanishing, except to make sure that we do everything we can to decrease global warming. We can decrease global warming by stopping pollution, recycling, and stopping the use and creation of carbon dioxide. In addition, we should also create new ideas to save the planet.
Work cited
Southen, Ryan. “Pittsburg”. Flickr.com
Work cited
Southen, Ryan. “Pittsburg”. Flickr.com
In class blog
Immigration and Climate Change
Immigration is a factor that contributes greatly to global warming. According to Leon Kolankiewicz, in the video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” states that “immigration is a part of the equation.” This statement refers to his belief that immigration is a direct result of global warming. A country that has a large population and continues to grow yearly would result in: more money being spent, more technology being used and also more people burning fossils fuels. As a result of population growth, the environment will weaken.
In the process of saving the environment, people are supposed to “conserve natural resources.” I agree with this statement. The more people that come into the country, will equal more free space that will be taken away and trees that will be cut down to build houses or apartments. Referring to Al Gore, Al Gore’s charts of increasing carbon dioxide levels support the ideology that with the millions of people entering the United States and around the world, carbon dioxide levels would increase tremendously.[1] The video “Radiant City: Commute” talks specifically about the massive car usage in suburbia. However, the amount of gas used for cars by suburbia, shows that the increase of pollution in the atmosphere would be the same if not more, as a result of growing immigration. Evidence that shows this is “every year the average North American driver spends 55, 8 hour workdays driving.”[2] Further evidence that shows this is “Between 2-2.5 million people per year in the United States due to immigration and about 90 million people around the world due to immigration.”[3]
This video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” uses logos and a little bit of ethos to reveal how environmentalists are slowed of their jobs to protect the Earth because of immigration. Space is not conserved and greenhouse gases continue to rise. Immigration has been a way of life for people to better their life and in a sense, for the United States to limit this right, would mean that some principles of United States will be broken. American was a nation built by immigrants. However, over populated America is not a good thing either. I think that placing a restriction on immigration in the United States and other countries is a way to stop populations from growing. In addition, another idea to stop populations from growing would be to place a restriction on how many children people can have, internationally. At the same time, I think these ideas for solutions will be difficult to accomplish. I say this because immigrants and re-producing life is what helps the cycles of life to function . This aspect of global warming is something I do not think people will be able to solve easily.
[1] “An Inconvenient Truth” Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Albert Gore. DVD. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2006.
[2] “Radiant City: Commuting.”youtube.com
[3] Kolankiewicz, Leon. “Sprawl City.”sprawlcity.org
Immigration is a factor that contributes greatly to global warming. According to Leon Kolankiewicz, in the video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” states that “immigration is a part of the equation.” This statement refers to his belief that immigration is a direct result of global warming. A country that has a large population and continues to grow yearly would result in: more money being spent, more technology being used and also more people burning fossils fuels. As a result of population growth, the environment will weaken.
In the process of saving the environment, people are supposed to “conserve natural resources.” I agree with this statement. The more people that come into the country, will equal more free space that will be taken away and trees that will be cut down to build houses or apartments. Referring to Al Gore, Al Gore’s charts of increasing carbon dioxide levels support the ideology that with the millions of people entering the United States and around the world, carbon dioxide levels would increase tremendously.[1] The video “Radiant City: Commute” talks specifically about the massive car usage in suburbia. However, the amount of gas used for cars by suburbia, shows that the increase of pollution in the atmosphere would be the same if not more, as a result of growing immigration. Evidence that shows this is “every year the average North American driver spends 55, 8 hour workdays driving.”[2] Further evidence that shows this is “Between 2-2.5 million people per year in the United States due to immigration and about 90 million people around the world due to immigration.”[3]
This video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” uses logos and a little bit of ethos to reveal how environmentalists are slowed of their jobs to protect the Earth because of immigration. Space is not conserved and greenhouse gases continue to rise. Immigration has been a way of life for people to better their life and in a sense, for the United States to limit this right, would mean that some principles of United States will be broken. American was a nation built by immigrants. However, over populated America is not a good thing either. I think that placing a restriction on immigration in the United States and other countries is a way to stop populations from growing. In addition, another idea to stop populations from growing would be to place a restriction on how many children people can have, internationally. At the same time, I think these ideas for solutions will be difficult to accomplish. I say this because immigrants and re-producing life is what helps the cycles of life to function . This aspect of global warming is something I do not think people will be able to solve easily.
[1] “An Inconvenient Truth” Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Albert Gore. DVD. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2006.
[2] “Radiant City: Commuting.”youtube.com
[3] Kolankiewicz, Leon. “Sprawl City.”sprawlcity.org
Monday, July 20, 2009
climate change beyond science
There is more to global warming than just science. The video “Radiant City: Suburban Landscape” describes suburbia as a place that does not have the right resources that would make a good environment for society to live in. Suburbia has many places to go, but these places are stretched all about that people’s way of living affects their surroundings. Cars come in handy as a way to get around everyday. The video “Radiant City: Commuting” describes the way in which suburban life equals several hours of driving. You can even estimate that the amount of gas used daily is tremendously outrageous. I am curious to truly understand why the way houses are built in suburbia, is looked upon as wrong. However, I think that in suburbia, there should be a limit to the usage of cars. With cars alone it can be assumed that the amount of carbon dioxide released in the air is a lot. This is not a good thing for society or the future.
The “1950’s” video displays the foundations of suburbia and the changes that came thereafter. The young men coming back from World War II and everyone in general looking for a fresh start led to a transformation. Suburbia was a way to continue living and start over. This led to a rise in business and families as from 1964 began, the “baby boom.” As this period progressed so did inventions and creations that made life easier for the people. Yet, at the same time, what seems to be wrong with suburbia is the structure, according to the videos. The structure is therefore, what is contributing to global warming.
In addition to the architectural set up of suburbia, the racial separation is another issue. Racial segregation is shown in “Gangs and White Flights”. The fact that white gangs beat up black people (for example children in integrated schools between 1946-1950), who moved to suburbia to themselves find a better life, shows that the social structure of suburbia did not welcome everyone. This makes me wonder. Would the African American community have helped, in terms of keeping Suburbia alive if segregation was not an issue? In other words, would this community of African American people, have had the ideas in which would have stopped the abundant usage of cars and gas? If so, then pollution would be decreased and as a result the contributions to global warming in one area would have been lowered. Finally, it seems as though some people believe that suburbia will not last forever because suburbia does not care for everyone. The amount of carbon dioxide that suburban life adds to the atmosphere and the way trees are treated shows that changes to lower global warming will become impossible. Impossible because no plans for “going green” would help towards decreasing global warming in society. Only the change of lifestyles in suburbia and other places around the world would help.
Work cited
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeWCVWZbdo&feature=fvw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyXNb1uifds&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhkhA2w4cXs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHr8OzaloLM
The “1950’s” video displays the foundations of suburbia and the changes that came thereafter. The young men coming back from World War II and everyone in general looking for a fresh start led to a transformation. Suburbia was a way to continue living and start over. This led to a rise in business and families as from 1964 began, the “baby boom.” As this period progressed so did inventions and creations that made life easier for the people. Yet, at the same time, what seems to be wrong with suburbia is the structure, according to the videos. The structure is therefore, what is contributing to global warming.
In addition to the architectural set up of suburbia, the racial separation is another issue. Racial segregation is shown in “Gangs and White Flights”. The fact that white gangs beat up black people (for example children in integrated schools between 1946-1950), who moved to suburbia to themselves find a better life, shows that the social structure of suburbia did not welcome everyone. This makes me wonder. Would the African American community have helped, in terms of keeping Suburbia alive if segregation was not an issue? In other words, would this community of African American people, have had the ideas in which would have stopped the abundant usage of cars and gas? If so, then pollution would be decreased and as a result the contributions to global warming in one area would have been lowered. Finally, it seems as though some people believe that suburbia will not last forever because suburbia does not care for everyone. The amount of carbon dioxide that suburban life adds to the atmosphere and the way trees are treated shows that changes to lower global warming will become impossible. Impossible because no plans for “going green” would help towards decreasing global warming in society. Only the change of lifestyles in suburbia and other places around the world would help.
Work cited
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeWCVWZbdo&feature=fvw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyXNb1uifds&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhkhA2w4cXs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHr8OzaloLM
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Addressing a global warming skeptic
Luisa Thompson
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York
7-15-09
Dear, John
Currently, I am collecting research on the effects of climate change. Scientific data that I came across, states that humans are responsible for causing global warming. Our usage of fossil fuels has increased pollution and increased temperature throughout the entire world. On the other hand, I know your belief is that the evidence scientists have collected thus far is not true and that people are not causing global warming. I also know that you would agree with Tim Ball as he said “warmer temperatures are good for society.”
I respect your beliefs. However, from all the research I have abstracted the effects of increasing levels in carbon dioxide and in temperatures, clearly show that life has changed due to these increases. For example, Elizabeth Kolbert’s “Climate of Man I,” reveals this truth as she explores the effects of increasing carbon dioxide and temperature in Alaska. This was a direct result to the melting ice, increasing temperatures in the oceans also the freezing of seas. “It became too dangerous to hunt using snowmobiles, and the men switched to boats.” (“Climate of Man I” 58). This even shows that the natural ice which is normally never supposed to melt has begun to decrease over the years because of the warm temperatures. The seas are not known to freeze completely either. In addition to nature becoming un-balanced, people’s way of life has changed. Changes in weather patterns have interfered with society causing destructive disasters such as storms/ tornados, and also interfered with people’s social and interactive styles for living and surviving. If we stop contributing to air pollution and if we stop the burning of fossil fuels, then carbon dioxide would not increase massively. Therefore, temperature would not continue rise extraordinarily and create imbalances on the earth.
As I have previously stated, I know that you would agree with Tim Ball as he said “warmer temperatures are good for society.” What actual evidence does Tim Ball have to prove his statement true? Saying a statement and having evidence to support your belief is one thing, but saying a belief and having no evidence to back it up is another. Tim Ball does not in fact explain in depth his statement as well as he does not prove that “humans do not contribute to climate change,” to be a fact. In the article “What do the skeptics say?” it says “Moreover, time series analysis of the last four glacial-interglacial.... atmospheric carbon dioxide respond up to 5,000 years before variations in global ice sheets.” (“What do skeptics say?” 60). However, Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” shows through graphs, recorded data of the carbon dioxide and temperature increase from since 650,000 years ago till present day. These results were gathered from not just one place or gathered only up to 5,000 years so I would disagree. I would like to talk to your father about changing the way he runs his oil company and propose moves towards: going green! I would like to do this because scientific evidence concludes that if carbon dioxide level and temperature continue to rise, then all the melting ice and glaciers will raise the sea levels and cause massive flooding. In addition, the consequences on precipitation may result in droughts. Without clear and precise evidence to prove that humans are not causing global warming, then you should be open towards looking at the other argument and not believe your parents ideals. I know your parents like the money they are making through the burning of fossil fuels. Even so, which is worst, having money or no place to live.
Sincerely,
Luisa Thompson
Works Cited
Kolbert, Elizabeth. "The Climate of Man-1." The New Yorker 25Apr.2005:B1+
“An Inconvenient Truth” Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Albert Gore. DVD. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2006.
“What do the skeptics say?”
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York
7-15-09
Dear, John
Currently, I am collecting research on the effects of climate change. Scientific data that I came across, states that humans are responsible for causing global warming. Our usage of fossil fuels has increased pollution and increased temperature throughout the entire world. On the other hand, I know your belief is that the evidence scientists have collected thus far is not true and that people are not causing global warming. I also know that you would agree with Tim Ball as he said “warmer temperatures are good for society.”
I respect your beliefs. However, from all the research I have abstracted the effects of increasing levels in carbon dioxide and in temperatures, clearly show that life has changed due to these increases. For example, Elizabeth Kolbert’s “Climate of Man I,” reveals this truth as she explores the effects of increasing carbon dioxide and temperature in Alaska. This was a direct result to the melting ice, increasing temperatures in the oceans also the freezing of seas. “It became too dangerous to hunt using snowmobiles, and the men switched to boats.” (“Climate of Man I” 58). This even shows that the natural ice which is normally never supposed to melt has begun to decrease over the years because of the warm temperatures. The seas are not known to freeze completely either. In addition to nature becoming un-balanced, people’s way of life has changed. Changes in weather patterns have interfered with society causing destructive disasters such as storms/ tornados, and also interfered with people’s social and interactive styles for living and surviving. If we stop contributing to air pollution and if we stop the burning of fossil fuels, then carbon dioxide would not increase massively. Therefore, temperature would not continue rise extraordinarily and create imbalances on the earth.
As I have previously stated, I know that you would agree with Tim Ball as he said “warmer temperatures are good for society.” What actual evidence does Tim Ball have to prove his statement true? Saying a statement and having evidence to support your belief is one thing, but saying a belief and having no evidence to back it up is another. Tim Ball does not in fact explain in depth his statement as well as he does not prove that “humans do not contribute to climate change,” to be a fact. In the article “What do the skeptics say?” it says “Moreover, time series analysis of the last four glacial-interglacial.... atmospheric carbon dioxide respond up to 5,000 years before variations in global ice sheets.” (“What do skeptics say?” 60). However, Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” shows through graphs, recorded data of the carbon dioxide and temperature increase from since 650,000 years ago till present day. These results were gathered from not just one place or gathered only up to 5,000 years so I would disagree. I would like to talk to your father about changing the way he runs his oil company and propose moves towards: going green! I would like to do this because scientific evidence concludes that if carbon dioxide level and temperature continue to rise, then all the melting ice and glaciers will raise the sea levels and cause massive flooding. In addition, the consequences on precipitation may result in droughts. Without clear and precise evidence to prove that humans are not causing global warming, then you should be open towards looking at the other argument and not believe your parents ideals. I know your parents like the money they are making through the burning of fossil fuels. Even so, which is worst, having money or no place to live.
Sincerely,
Luisa Thompson
Works Cited
Kolbert, Elizabeth. "The Climate of Man-1." The New Yorker 25Apr.2005:B1+
“An Inconvenient Truth” Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Albert Gore. DVD. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2006.
“What do the skeptics say?”
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