A Sand
County Almanac
Aldo
Leopoldo´s “Thinking like a mountain” is a very personal reflection on human
sense of superiority and their relationship to their belongings; firstly
mentioning the ancient Greek perception of women as possessions, then going in
depth into men´s relationship with nature and how even though we use it and
abuse it´s resources we are still arrogant enough to not enter or start a
reciprocal relationship with it, we are only able to be in a relationship in
which we are superior and powerful over the other. Nowadays although there has
been a slight improvement in this relationship we haven’t been able to
ethically treat nature and all it´s resources, having the recent movements as a
starting line we are still perceiving nature as only something that serves an
agronomical and economic service but not something that deserves to be thanked
for it´s service to manhood.
Critical
Thinking:
What is the
basic lesson of Aldo Leopold’s “Thinking Like a Mountain”?
The basic
lesson is the necessity for us to move forward to an ideology in which we have
a symbiotic relationship with nature and not one in which we name ourselves as
possessors and therefore having unlimited control over nature and it´s
resources.
Climate
Change 2007
Global atmospheric
levels of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have exponentially
increased because of fossil fuel usage, land-use changes, and current
agricultural practices. As a result of global warming we are experiencing rise
in temperature levels, sea levels, atmospheric water vapour level and a decrease
in snow cover. Other observable and human influenced changes include wind
patterns, precipitation, ocean salinity and artic temperatures.
Observed
widespread warming of the atmosphere and ocean support idea that it is extremely
unlikely that global climate change can be explained without external forcing;
and is very likely not due to natural causes alone.
Warming tends
to reduce the land and ocean`s capability of absorption of atmospheric CO2
therefore increasing the concentration of anthropogenic emissions in the
atmosphere
Both past
and future anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions will continue to contribute
to warming and sea level rise for more than a millennium, due to the timescales
required for removal of this gas from the atmosphere.
Critical
Thinking
1. Given that projections of global
climate change are not certain, should we act now? If not, how long should we
wait?
a. Although the predictions on the
scale or magnitude of global climate change are not certain, it is undeniable
that there are increases in temperature and severity of climate related natural
phenomena happening and with the increase in population and fossil fuel use the
exponential growth of greenhouse gas emissions and it`s accumulation in the
atmosphere is inevitable. It is only reasonable for us to start taking measures
which will allow for us to not only reduce but in the future being able to live
in harmony with the environment and where we are taking advantage of our
renewable resources in a responsible, efficient and sustainable manner.
Although it is unlikely that we will be able to reverse the damage previously
done to our environment the early implementation of sustainable development and
living measures will represent in the long term a lower monetary investment
than the one necessary if we postponed the intervention and change necessary to
reduce or control both the causes and effects of contemporary and future
climate change.
A Path to
Sustainable Energy by 2030
We need to transition from fossil fuels to a
clean and renewable form of energy, the most impressive options are solar,
wind, geo-thermal, hydroelectric and tidal power. Battery electric and hydrogen
fuel-cell vehicles recharged by WWS (wind, water or solar) means could drastically
reduce pollution levels from the transportation sector. However, it is most definitely
important for us to implement technologies that are effective in both small and
big scales as well as have the capability to reduce and maintain very low or
even null emission levels in the future.
It is
necessary that with whichever system we implement we are aware of the interdependent
characteristics of nature and how the effective measures and results that we
see should not be counteracted by techniques used in other areas of society. With
some adaptations to the areas of society it is completely possible to adapt the
structures present into a WWS system in which there are no resources wasted,
and allows for reduction in overall consumption thanks to the lack of energy
loss in the form of heat. Contrary to popular belief, with the integration of
WWS systems it is possible to introduce customizations according to the
specific geographical area like low wind and low sun areas because it gives us
the capacity to interchange the resource we are using when other ones are not
as readily available.
Even though
this plan would take time to build it also represents a small footprint. And
although it is expensive to introduce it can be considered a single investment
plan because the payment made from consumers will pay the initial investment;
and WWS systems have the capacity to generate much more energy than what we
need, making it possible to not need any further investments nor expansion of
the system in the future. With most the obstacles being primarily political and
not technical, it is possible with the commitment at both the individual and
governmental level to have the introduction of WWS clean and renewable energy.
Critical
thinking
Over the years, society has
spent enormous amounts of money to build the current energy system. Why does
this make it difficult to change to a new energy system?
The difficulty is based on the
belief that the energy system that we have is sufficient for us. The idea that
the investment in the development and implementation of a new energy model
would be even more expensive than the creation of the current model. Although
the initial cost is indeed very high, there is a current perspective of just
looking at the immediate requirements and instead of looking at the incredible
benefits and how this is practically a single initial investment project. After
the project is finished and is being brought to the general population the
demand would start to cover the cost of the initial investment and there would
be no need for further investments because of the capacity of energy production,
needing no further expansions which happens with the current energy system.
Could Food
Shortages Bring Down Civilization
Our society
continues to fail in the controlling of environmental issues that have
tremendous impacts to our food economy. The demand for food rises higher than
the supplies available resulting in price inflations. Misuse of resources, the
grain industry is in a battle with the energy industry over the resources. The
energy industry however is more profitable and more likely to receive most of
the resources putting at risk not only the American population´s supply but
also those like India that have established trade deals. With our current
irrigation practices and our dependence on resources that are not replenishable
Water shortage and the depletion of the nutrient dense layer of nutrients in
the soil are our most immediate concerns in regards to food prosperity.
The lack of
resources has pushed countries towards the limitation or increased control on
exports which can help each individual country in coping with the increased
demand. However, it´s implementation significantly affects failed states or
partially dependant countries who will then have to find another source of
produce that can help balance the demand.
The
strategy to establish balance consists of 4 elements, reduction by 80% of 2006
carbon emission levels by 2020, the equilibration of exponential population
growth rates, vanishing of poverty, restoration of our environment and
resources. Investment in the combination of reforestation of depleted areas and
renewable sources of energy can significantly help the reduction of carbon
emissions. The establishment of good reproductive health services across the
globe, good education and an increase of the life expectancy can help not only
vanish poverty but also control the worlds population. Accompanied by a shift
to sustainable irrigation, soil conservation, water recycling as well as other sustainable
agricultural practices
. Time is
our most critical resource, the faster we begin introducing the new practices
not only at the local level but also at the global level; the more likely it is
we will be able to act fast enough to halt or avert the advance of factors like
sea level rise which would contribute to the demise of civilization.
Critical
Thinking:
According
to Lester Brown, what is the greatest threat to global political stability?
Resource
shortages are a tremendous threat to political stability, considering the
interdependent structure of the global economy it is important to understand that
when a nation has decreased production of a certain resource it will either
limit or completely prohibit the export of the resource; trying to maintain
resources and low prices for the locals it not only damages trade relationships
with other countries but directly affects the life expectancy of those whose
basic needs are not met (failed states) and are completely dependent on the
global trade market.
Women´s
Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation
Vandana
Shiva uses the interesting comparison between women´s role in a patriarchal
society and biodiversity in an industrial agriculture centered society. She
describes how women are often not considered as valuable workers; however, it
is their work that allows the traditional agricultural and economical practices
in Third World countries to thrive. They
have the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions with regards to all
different stages of the agricultural and consumer chain of production and
consumption whilst being able to maintain a symbiotic and sustainable
relationship with the environment and producing goods that positively affect
the livelihood of their community. This role is like that of biodiversity in
the contemporary technology driven agriculture; in which biodiversity is seen
as a non-important characteristic of nature that does not positively affect the
production industry and is falsely believed to be a detriment to the exploitation
and maximum yield capacity of Third World and overall agricultural resources.
Critical
Thinking
Ecofeminists
are those who consider through a feminist mindset that their position in our
contemporary, patriarchal society is an advantage which allows them to have a
different perception and understanding of environmental issues.
In Class
Questions
What role,
if any, should zoos play in conservation/education
I personally feel that zoos
should have a more educational approach to the maintenance of the societies´
interest in the interaction and development of species as well as the
improvement of our own interaction with the other species that surround us.
Is it
ethical to keep animals in zoos
In my opinion it is not ethical
to put our own entertainment or educational need in front of the animal´s basic
needs for stimulation and interaction. Instead we should integrate technology and
our longing for education to allow us to create an interactive maybe virtual
reality or holographic, artificial interaction to allow to explore the wonders of
nature without needing to harm nature.
Do you
enjoy visiting zoos
Although I have visited zoos In
the past, my education has allowed me to understand the deeper meaning of the
ethical concerns behind zoos and the importance of the symbiotic relationships
that species shared in an uncontrolled environment.
Rob Hopkins: Transition to a World Without Oil
Hopkins
proposes an initiative in which he proposes a community based initiative geared
towards the solution of climate change and resource usage problems. His
initiative is an incredible way to not only introduce people to a way in which
they can help their community but also gives them the tools to come up with
ideas alongside like minded people but teaches them and helps them implement
them in a way which is efficient, sustainable and showcases incredible resilience
in such difficult times. The inclusion on initiatives in schools, town and even
the support of the government make this organization a good basis or start
point to the unification of communities needed to solve environmental problems
in the large global scale.
Reference List
Easton, A. Thomas.(2012).Environmental studies 4th Edition. [Bookshelf Online].
Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781308306490/cfi/0!/recent
SolarCity. (2016,11,22).
SolarCity and Tesla: Ta’u Microgrid [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZjEvwrDXn0
TED.
(2009,11,24). Rob Hopkins: Transition to a World Without Oil [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8meWY0W40OA
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