EcoJustice Education

Environmental education is the key to America's success in the future. Paul Theobald makes that clear. If America does not progress, it will be overtaken by other more environmentally aware countries such as Brazil. Americans go to school in hopes of getting a decent job of hopefully their choice, however, in today's society not just any job is going to cut it. Education needs to have an environmental perspective starting on day one in kindergarten. By doing this, as children grow up, they will think it is strange buying gas guzzlers such as hummers, large trucks, SUVs, etc. Our generation is more probable in transitioning than older generations because we are used to the constant improving of technology as well as being used to buying whatever, whenever. But we can do better by educating the children to be sustainable.

3/27 Synthesis Homework

            The United States is well known for its racial policies and this includes against the Indigenous people of Coast Salish. These people were pushed out of their homeland for westward expansion, and then to acquire more land from these people, both the United States and Canada tried an assimilation tactic so the Coast Salish people would not feel like they would need their own personal space. The United States and Canada did this by promoting schooling; boarding school in the United States and residential schools in Canada. These schools forced the Indians to only speak English and go to Church. Not being compliant would lead to punishment.

            These actions were taking place up until the 1980s and early 90s which is shocking. Even more surprising was how the United States cooled down and stopped the abusive policies, but Canada continued. Of all the countries in the world, Canada would be the last one that I could think of that would be abusive to a minority. Although to the common people, creating school for Indians seems like a good deed in trying to educate the “less fortunate”, it is really just a front. 

The Meatrix

            The Meatrix was an interesting spin off of The Matrix that talked about the horrors of factory farms. This has nothing to do with my topic but it was still very interesting. If it was not based off of The Matrix, I do not think it could have held my attention though. Regardless, I learned much about factory farms. The illustrations showed some shocking and disturbing images that I could not have imagined before. The part where it talked about animal waste getting mixed with the meat was especially disturbing. Although, lately I have made an effort to pay attention to what I eat, I do not think I can replace a diet that I have been eating all of my life in the near future.

Food

Food is starting to become one of the major problems that Earth and the human population is dealing with. Most of the food sold in stores now is cheaper and mass produced using artificial means that are not necessarily good for human health. It is becoming a debate that does not seem to have any near conclusions or possible solutions because both sides have valid and strongly defensible arguments. On one side, people want to get rid of the entire factory made food that uses chemical and artificial means. These food products are well known for being both cheap and unhealthy. These products are also the main cause for the rapidly growing obesity rate especially in the United States. On the other side, these food products help feed the poor because of their cheapness. Poverty has been and always will be a major concern in any country. There is also the fact that because of the massive size and continuing growth of the human population, farms cannot produce enough food to feed the masses. These farms then have to resort to chemically improved products. As long as there is a substantial amount of both artificial and non-artificial foods in the market, then there is no problem because people have the opportunity to choose. 

Fracking Contamination

            Fracking is used to obtain fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum by fracturing rock layers to release the fuel. It is used when the abundant supply that was there before is all used up. At first people did not think that fracking would pollute natural ground water because it is only used very deep in the rock foundations, but after a few tests done by the EPA, it can no longer be ruled out. This has become an issue because many people in places like Pavillion, Wyoming, use well water. This well water has become contaminated by energy companies, fracking close by.

            The new EPA report contradicts the previous theory that fracking forces fluids down and not up, and is stirring a large national debate. The outcome would determine new regulations in how the nation can obtain fossil fuels by fracking in regions such as the Eastern Appalachians and in the Marcellus Shale. Unfortunately, the EPA had to determine what kind of chemicals that were used in fracking because companies like EnCana refused to release that information. Although they gave some compounds, they did not list every single one, which is worrying.

In just the Pavillion area, forty-two wells have been contaminated. Residents began complaining in the mid-1990s about fouled water and that the water would turn brown after a while. It was not until 2008 that the EPA began to test the water in the area, and only because they were partaking in a national study to see if fracking presents a risk to water resources. Finally in 2010, after another sampling, the EPA concluded that the water was contaminated and probably due to the fracking in the nearby region. It is not even official, and is only a theory, although, there is little chance that the theory could be wrong

The Disappearing Venus Flytraps

Alexandre Penegre

Dr. Hill Taylor

English 101

02/20/12

The Disappearing Venus Flytraps

            The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant local to the eastern regions of North Carolina and South Carolina. They are naturally more common within a seventy-five mile radius around Wilmington, North Carolina. It became North Carolina’s state carnivorous plant in 2005. They are cultivated throughout the world, however, now they face extinction in the wild.

            Like most endangered species, one of the main reasons the Venus flytrap is facing extinction is because of continuing development. They are already limited to very small region and expanding development is further reducing that region, destroying their habitat. Poaching is another issue. Because of the Venus flytrap’s exotic uniqueness, they have become very profitable, especially overseas. Even though Venus flytrap’s are now grown in greenhouses for people to buy over the market, poaching is still a problem because of limited man power and it is difficult to catch them due to the small size of the Venus flytrap. Laws against poaching are extremely lax Botany records predict that 80% of the 117 populations will be wiped out. Populations are heavily decreasing and they do not have much of a chance unless laws and enforcement improve for their benefit.

Religion and the Environment

Religion and the environment should be kept separate. Religion has always been the number one source of conflict in the world and that is not what the progress to a better environment needs. It is impossible to unify all the religions to improve the environment. Some way or another, there will be issues on how to improve it. Religion should always be kept separate from everything else. Let religion be religion. It is a personal belief and has no place in important affairs. In today’s society, it seems like religion is taking over everything from political affairs to all-out war. Although perhaps Christianity in the United States might be able to unite to help the planet, a global unification will never happen. Our planet needs to be taken care by us and our future and not for any kind of salvation that we believe will come out of it. If we take care of it through selfish reasons, new problems will arise. Although it may seem that this is against religion, it really is not. Religion should be kept to itself and not interfere with the rest of our lives.