Weekly Statement #2

Yu-Jen(Chris), Tsai
ADP III

The human race has been living with the nature for at least thousands of years. However, as time went on, the balance between the environmental resources on earth and the humans seem to fall on one side. Ever since the industrial evolution, us human have done everything to better our lives convenience-wise, which later become a major issue on the planet. It is not until the nature warned us in a catastrophic way that we realized and decided to find the solution for out mother earth. It can be possible for us to live with nature, just like the animals.

Above is a picture that I took on the trip to Arbor Land with my friends. It is a field that has been constructed be become a baseball field, and behind and outside of the railings is the little mountain full of trees. On the other hand, the sky occupies the major part of this photo; the light of the sunset shows the beauty of the natural world and how we should be thankful. You can also see airplanes flying in the clear sky, which I think delivers similar message as does the forest-baseball field composition.

We need every piece of plants and every space in the sky not only because they were there since the beginning of the big bang but also they provide us shelter and we must learn a way to live with it.

Weekly Response #1

Yu-Jen(Chris),Tsai
ADP III 005

Beyond Hope

Finish reading articles at the length of this is usually a painful task for me; however, the way Derrick Jenson discusses the term "hope" and the relationship between us and the environment make the article a quick-read for me. "Hope is, in fact, a curse, a bane." Mr. Jenson stated in this very article, which is correct in some ways to me once I have finish reading rest of the passages. He supported this idea by using the story of the Pandora Box as an example; however, the idea of the story is saying that the last thing that came out of the box, hope, besides plagues, sorrow and mischief is suppose to be the only goodness that should've get released from the box.

Derrick Jenson explains how the word "hope" works; to hope is to idealize the current situation we are in and not practical. He says that people always "hope" that the natural crises can have an end, which is same as assuming the situation would only get worse in the future. We shouldn’t just hope things to get better as time goes on. Over the summer in early August, in my hometown, Taiwan, had a serious natural catastrophe caused by the typhoon, similar to United States’ “Hurricane”. Dozens of buildings got drawn into the river by the landslide due to the shocking amount of precipitation. And when the residence saw their entire house destroyed in matter of seconds, the villagers burst into tears and kneeled down while crying out loud. When I saw the image on the news, I couldn’t imagine how would I feel when all of a sudden everything that matters the most to me got taken away from me. Many family members died during the tragedy; little kids that are still in grade school cried because they knew they won’t be able to see some of their classmates ever again. And people around the world “hope” that disaster like this never happened; they “hope” they could do something about it. But how much of them did?

I went down to the disaster area with some of my high school friends back in Taiwan and helped the victims of the terrible tragedy carried food and supplies, dug out the mud that caused by the landslide. Even though it was only a three-day volunteer work, I felt like I was part of something that can make a difference to the world and our society. I do whatever I can to make an impact on the planet instead of just sitting in front of the television and “hope” things to improve. I believe this is what Jenson has been trying to tell us through this article.

Work Cited:

Jensen, Derrick. "Beyond Hope." 8th Paragraph Orion.

Weekly Response prompt #3: YOU, Spirituality, and Global Systems

Consider one of the main goals of this course (that Professor Trumpey mentioned in the first two lectures) which is to have you start thinking about yourself and your stuff in relationship to “Global Systems.”



Relate this concept to Leopold’s assertion that “there are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace” (Leopold 6).



Do you think this statement is still relevant (given that he wrote it in 1949)? Is he talking about the importance of literally owning a farm and leading an agricultural life? Are there other ways of interpreting this for the 21st century? What does he mean by “spiritual”? How/Do you relate to this statement?


Please be sure to carefully read and respond to each component of this prompt and to cite your sources correctly!


(Please post a comment to this post as opposed to clicking on the upper right hand "New Post" button as I think the blog will seem a little more organized. There are still a few of you that I have not received one or both of the other assignments and am wondering if they just got lost in the 'pile'...)

World Changing Response 2

Lily Porter

9/24

 

Reading “This Steer’s Life” really sparked my interest in genetically modified animals.  The article definitely made me not want to eat genetically modified meat, but rather only grass fed animals.  It seemed to me that genetically modifying things was tampering with nature and it was all unhealthy and harmful.  So I read “The Benefits of Bioengineered Crops”.  Turns out, scientists seem to have a better handle on controlling plants than animals, yet it is still risky.

            Genetically modified crops may have dangerous results (on human health and the environment) in the future, which we simply haven’t had enough time to learn from.  Still, these crops do have positive outcomes, such as New Rice for Africa (NERICA).  NERICA is “a strain of rice that may succeed in bettering health in West and Central Africa, restoring agricultural sustainability there, and improving the economics of food importation in the regions” (Steffen 68).  Bioengineers have the ability to make crops specific to a region’s needs.  For instance, they can take two very different plants and mix them together into one to create a more sustainable and useful crop.  This fairly new idea of genetically modified crops has so much potential to improve, and since no major problems are arising from it, it seems to be a much better process then genetically modified animals. 

            Because I think genetically modifying animals has mainly negative effects, I was expecting to think the same of genetically modifying plants.  The opposite happened.  I think genetically modified crops have great potential.  This proves how that it is important to educate people on where their food/stuff comes from and the new ideas that are changing our world. 

 

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User's Guide For the 21^st

 Century. New York, NY: Abrams, 2008. Print.

world changing response 2

“Do it yourself” has become a very well know term that we often use in our society today. This new idea of doing things on our own has not only influenced products that can be made by the common individual, but it has affected our media, and how we interact with our environment as well. Nowadays people enjoy personalizing their own products, and making them unique to themselves as individuals, making it impossible for others to own the same items. Maybe this new phenomena of making our own products has to do with the satisfaction of doing something on our own. It gives people the opportunity to feel like they too can be creative individuals, even if that is not how they normally perceive themselves. A question that I came up with while reading this text has to do with alternative reasoning for this new fetish with “do it yourself” projects.

It boggles my mind that a book that was published so recently about the changing world in the twenty-first century, contains absolutely no mention of how the falling economy may have something to do with it. We are currently facing a recession, and people everywhere are looking for ways to cut costs, and save money. This may in fact have a great impact on why we are now “doing things ourselves”, instead of giving into the way of life we have previously been so accustomed to living; paying for things that we could do just as easily by ourselves. My dad always has a comment about the clothing I buy and then bring home. He simply does not understand the reasoning behind buying a pair of jeans for close to two hundred dollars, that come with holes and rips in them already. Little does he know, they are designer jeans, and are meant to look like that. I believe that my dad would be much more understanding of the concept of wearing ”distressed clothing” if I were to take an old pair of jeans that I already owned and personally distressed them, for the low low cost of nothing. 

world changing response 1

World changing response  #1

Samara Harte

Buying Better Food

 

I have always been a firm believer in eating healthy foods. Buying and eating fresh foods has always been important to me as well. To be honest, buying food locally has never really occurred to me, and I never really thought it would make such a difference. In some areas, certain foods are unavailable, yet are made available by flying the food in from an area in which that particular item is naturally found. This seems to be a good idea, until we realize the other things that are happening in order for us to receive such foods. Packaging up food and sending it elsewhere, seems to be a convenient move, when really its just hurting our environment. The idea of “farmers markets” is quite interesting as well. I have seen them multiple times in my home town, and always wondered where they got their  produce, breads, and various other items to be sold. I never realized that these individuals were selling foods and products that they themselves were responsible for growing, seeing as how they were selling their products in the middle of a suburb, Scarsdale NY, not near any farm land that I was aware of. It never really occurred to me that these products were being made closer to home, and were much healthier and fresher then any of the foods I would normally go to the supermarket to buy. When taking time to think about this I realize that buying locally is healthier for both myself as an individual, and as a part of the greater community in trying to preserve our environment.

 

Response 2

In this day in age its hard to remove ourselves from the world we have learned to become so reliant on, and move into a primarily “natural world”. We have all been brought up to depend on materialistic objects, and rely on the many comforts within our homes. To many people the “natural world” no longer is necessary. Who would prefer going camping without cell phone reception over a trip to the mall, or a gathering of friends in front of the television screen? In my opinion the answer is not many, and this is solely the outcome of us not appreciating the natural environment that we were originally intended to rely upon.

I do however believe that the “natural world” is very important to our own well being. It’s important to look at nature and the environment that surrounds us, and realize that without it we wouldn’t be able to live the lives we now live today. For example, I love to shop. I am fascinated by clothing, and probably enjoy shopping more then any other activity. I also have a deep appreciation for food. Without the natural resources provided by our “natural environment” there would be no clothing to buy, or food to eat. I think that on a larger scale, and a less materialistic one at that, escaping the lifestyle we are used to and appreciating the natural world as it really is can help clear our minds and keep us morally grounded. Often I find that the materialistic objects in my life distract me, and cause me more stress, even though they are there to try and make things easier and more comfortable.

Another one of my favorite activities is skiing. I love being on the mountain, surrounded by trees, enjoying the outdoors, without the disruption of my cell phone, or caring about how I look. Being on the beach is yet another example of how the natural world creates an environment purely based on relaxation. Sometimes being outside in nature, and accepting the environment for what it truly is (and for its original purpose) relaxes me, and helps me be reminded of the things in life that really matter. You can’t buy family, friends, or happiness, all of these things are part of the “natural world” that I believe we as a community need to work harder at appreciating and understanding.    

I chose this images to correlate with the above statement, because it is a prime example of getting away from the materialistic world around us, and going to a place that only offers relaxation. Its funny because usually my cell phone is on me at all times, but when looking at a picture like this, I know that if I were in this particular setting, my cell phone would be the last thing on my mind.

              

Response 1- Beyond Hope

Beyond Hope” by Derrick Jenson illustrates the idea that in today’s day in age, it is necessary to be optimistic, but not to be hopeful. When I first read this, I found it difficult to distinguish the two, but after reading the article a second and third time, I was finally able to better understand the points that had been made.

Jenson states that hope is what limits us, and forces us to become part of the destruction of the earth in which we live. When people waste their time being hopeful, they don’t allow themselves the opportunity to make a change that is worthy of making a difference.

It is interesting to note that Jenson believes that hope is a bad thing, yet many would disagree saying that it is necessary in order to live a decent life. Hope is what makes us feel more confident, and happy about what is to come in the future, when times are looking dark, and there seems to be no positive reasons to continue living positively. Jenson states that hope is “a curse, a bain”, only allowing people to look off into “an imaginary future”. I believe that this means that he feels that people should stop hoping, and start living in the present moment. To hope leaves the individual basically powerless.

I would say that I agree with Jenson to some extent. I believe that when people stop obsessing over hope, they will actually find time to do something about whatever situation they are currently facing. My dad was always a firm believer in the idea that nothing ever got done on its own, you need to put in effort, and eventually the desired outcome will be achieved. Sitting around hoping, and constantly thinking about what could happen, takes away time from direct action that could be taking place instead.

When trying to relate these ideas to my own personal life, I see the act of not relying on hope can truly affect, my life both personally and academically. I believe that when faced with certain conditions throughout our lives, as well as being part of a learning community, it is important to remember, that there will be cases in which things are thrown at us out of left field. It is important to keep our feet on the ground, and immediately take action to learn, and deal with the issues at hand.  It’s important to remember that people will not do your work for you, and that when stressed hoping for things to become easier, wont accomplish anything.

During class when we were discussing the impact that humans have on our environment, I found the carbon footprints to be very helpful in further proving this point. I find it rather interesting that although I am only one person, the things that I buy, and the way that I live, do have an impact on the environment. I use to sit back and think that because I am only one small person, that my lifestyle had no impact on the environment around me. Instead of thinking like this now, I have come to realize that if I become more aware of the things I do, I can start to make a small difference, and hopefully lend a hand at trying to correct a problem that we as human beings have created for ourselves. It is no longer acceptable for me to think that I don’t have to help participate in saving our environment, due to the fact that I am only one person, I must stop waiting for everyone else to do something about it, and start contributing myself

This whole idea really puts life into perspective for me. It allows me to finally understand the world around me, and learn from the mistakes of my past, in which I have not taken immediate action to correct setbacks of any type on my own. 

I personally need the natural world as an escape from work, worry, and being indoors. I NEED (crave, desire, cannot survive as a healthy, happy human being with out) lots of sunlight. In the winter I go crazy and buy lamps to try to lighten the room to the equivalent of sunlight. I feel depressed and useless when I don’t wake up and see the sun or when I get out of classes before the sun sets. To me the natural world is something with out bounds, non-man made (though could be designed), photosynthetic, usually green, emits oxygen, and allows me to feel the elements of weather.
Simply put the natural world to me is fresh air and sunshine. I need a little bit of it daily to be the type of person I want to be. The natural world doesn’t necessarily need to be rustic, unexplored or even heavily forested. A green, lush patch of grass will do though I would much rather like the tall, soft grass of a Scottish plateau. But a little bit of green and fresh air (warm or cold, wet or dry) as long as it is not coming from a mysterious box or pipe in the wall.
I realized that my own body tells me nature is important. Most of the time I am inside, in class, or at work I long to be outside. I long for fresh air, more natural sounds, and a different light source than florescent bulbs. I do prefer rustic nature more than the cultivated, urban landscaping we are surrounded in but a little bit is better than nothing at all.

2nd-Joel Seigle

In the summer time my dad rarely turns on the air-conditioning.
For a while I hated this! The house would always be so hot and humid; I couldn’t even go in my room in the daytime. When night came around, and my room was livable, I would crank the windows open and lay in bed while the natural sounds from outside filled my room. When I came to college last year and lived in a high-rise dorm I discovered how much I missed sleeping with the sounds of blowing wind and mysterious animals rustling on the woods. I missed nature.
People try to recreate nature but it just can’t be done and won’t be the same. We as human beings are natural and are part of this complete natural world. It is essential that we keep this natural world living so that we can live. We have needs of food and water. Our homes, even though not naturally made, can be fabricated from natural materials. With out nature we do not exist. It’s the air we breathe and the land upon which we walk on.



The picture above is a photo I took in the Galapagos Islands. It encapsulates nature and its wonders. The way the iguanas skin resembles the rock it sits on to me is extraordinary. The Galapagos Islands are possibly the coolest place on earth. It was hard to leave there and not want to be in nature all of the time.

week two

As much as I enjoy the natural world, as much as I love, appreciate and WANT it, I am constantly trying to be convinced that it is easily replaced. Society could probably create an artificial world that satisfies my needs, but something would still be missing, and I think it’s a feeling every human is born with. Generations from now that live in a concrete jungle will still have a desire for green trees and blue skies. There is an innocence or a purity about the natural world that can’t be re-created. We are bombarded by an urge to preserve, a feeling of desperation to change habits in response to how the rest of society treats the natural world. We take advantage of what we have but to constantly feel bad about yourself for the role you play, and how you unintentionally affect the natural world, isn’t helping fix the problem. Stop sulking and talking, and to incorporate the article from last week, stop wasting energy in Hope, and actually “make moves”, because we do need the natural world. We can be convinced that we can always be artificially satisfied, but that’s not a world I want to be a part of.

This picture is of my dog, Indiana, playing in a field of dandelions. A luxury we take for granted.

Netherlands, Springer. "A Divine Intimation: Appreciating Natural Beauty" Journal of Value Inquiry. March 1997. Pgs. 77-95

Weekly Response 2

I grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan. I remember always having nature surrounding me. There were trees of all kinds, rivers, swamps, and lakes very close to the houses I lived in. Having this environment around me at all times, I grew to love nature, but I took it for granted. When I left that town after spending eighteen years there and coming to a town like Ann Arbor, it was a big change to me. There are more buildings than trees. The first time I went back home last year I remember getting to an area about thirty miles South of where I live, and seeing all the trees and feeling at home and calm.
Having trees and lakes surrounding me, I noticed a lot about seasons, and how things change from season to season. The leaves changing, birds leaving for the winter, and ducks coming out in the spring. It may seem like simple things that are unimportant to most, but to me, I feel connected to the world when I can notice these changes.A photo I took in June in Houghton Lake, Mi.

Weekly Statement 2

Jenny Forrest

Discussion Section 005

Even though we don’t admit it all the time, and it doesn’t seem like our priority, nature is definitely important. Where would we be without it? Our world is driven by so much technology that we often forget where it all came from. Without nature, where would we get our raw materials? Where would we get the energy and power to fuel the technology that keeps us going? I believe it is safe to say that our world we be a less advanced place if it wasn’t for nature. As Professor Trumpey discussed today, our environment plays a role in parts of our lives that we would not have even expected. Who would have thought that corn is used in our batteries or cardboard? Many items that we cannot live without, function by batteries, or if we think about it this way by corn. I think about all of the things that I own, and that I believe I need, and appreciate being able to have these things because of what the natural world has produced. Regardless of if we are outside and enjoying nature, or if we just enjoy the technology and ‘stuff’ that has been produced from it, we need nature to help us sustain the environment that we live in.

Aside from the technological benefits, first and foremost, we need nature for its beauty. We get so caught up in materialism that people don’t always take the time to admire the beauty that actually surrounds us. For instance, right now, I am typing this blog post on my computer. But If I look beyond my computer screen, I can see the fall foliage that Michigan has to offer. It is calming and relaxing, and I do not take advantage of it enough. As much as I enjoy staring at my computer screen, there is a limit to how many hours I can do so without getting a headache.Sometimes it is necessary to take a break, take a walk, and enjoy the weather and nature outside. I wish I did so more often. I acknowledge the importance of this, because if we don’t get outside and enjoy our surroundings, we will not be educated about the environmental issues that we are facing at the moment. To gain more knowledge on the subject, and also to calm down and relax, the natural world is completely necessary. Whether we are witnessing beautiful weather, or the leaves have fully fallen off the trees, it is still a beautiful sight that we should not miss out on.

This image was taken in the dead of winter last year (by me). Though there is no greenery, the sight of this tree is striking and a calming sight to witness.

World Changing Response #1

Lily Porter

ADP 3

9/17/09

Section 5

 

            While browsing through World Changing: A User’s Guide For the 21^st Century, the caption “Beauty Salons as Tools for Change” caught my eye.  The section explains that beauty salons are one of the few places women are by themselves, away from their husbands, boyfriends, and families.  It is a safe haven for them.  It is also usually overflowing with gossip and secrets.  “Because of this, a number of social-service outreach programs have recognized a significant opportunity to target beauty salons for both health education and domestic-violence prevention” (Steffen 321).  Since it is a relaxed environment, where most women go, they may reveal to their hairstylist something they are scared to get professional help for, such as domestic violence.  Hairstylists can provide pamphlets on how to get help, and gently encourage and inform them on the right things to do.  Salons in some cities, such as San Francisco “were offered a training course to teach them how to recognize signs of abuse and how to broach the topic with a client in a comfortable and appropriate way, to ultimately help clients escape unsafe conditions” (Steffen 322).  Because social-service outreach programs were able to think creatively outside of the box, they have provided assistance in unexpected places, where no doubt their efforts have helped many women escape harmful situations. 

 

 

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User's Guide For the 21^st

 Century. New York, NY: Abrams, 2008. Print.

 

Lily Porter

ADP 3

Section 5

September 20, 2009

           

It is because of the natural world that we have life.  If it were not for plant life beginning on earth, our atmosphere would be closer that of Venus or Mars, making it an unlivable environment.  It is a simple concept of science that we need oxygen to live, and “trees and other plants are this planet’s main source of oxygen” (Loy).  Yet we still continue, everyday to be careless with the natural world around us, and take it for granted, which will not only ruin it, but we will ruin ourselves in turn.  I believe the Joni Mitchell put it best in her song “They Paved Paradise”, when she said,

 

“Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT

I don't care about spots on my apples,

Leave me the birds and the bees please

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you got till it's gone

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”

 

(Mitchell). We only realize what we have when we start to loose it.  Essentially, my life, and my fellow living creatures lives, literally depend on the natural world, which we are not respecting. 

            The image I chose is a picture I took of three flowers: one living, one dying and one dead.  It shows the process of what is happening to the environment.  We are, in one way or another, killing off different plants and species through our expansion and developments.  It is hurting our ecosystem, and causing global issues.

 

Mitchell, Joni. “Big Yellow Taxi.” Lyrics. Ladies of the Canyon. Siquomb Publishing

Company, 1970.

Loy, Jim. "Do Trees Cause Pollution." Jim Loy's Home Page. Jim Loy,

Web. 20 Sep 2009. .

1st week

Joel Seigle

Section 5

Derrick Jensen’s view on hope is unique and inspiring. The word Hope was a main phrase used heavily by Obama and his campaign in the last election, yet Jensen is telling me that hope is bad. He claims that hope is what holds us back from changing what we think is wrong. “When we stop hoping the situation will somehow not get worse, then we are finally free—truly free—to honestly start working to resolve it.” (Jensen) Hope gets in the way. It makes us “essentially powerless.” (Jensen)

It’s hard to take Jensen’s interpretation of the word hope to heart. Hope is something you learn to have. My mother, grandmother, rabbi, president have all told me to have hope, why now should I stop? The points Jensen makes about pulling away from hope and moving toward love does seem to make sense. When one loves they really care. If they really care then they will do something, not just hope it gets done. “I’m in love. With salmon, with trees outside my window, with baby lampreys living in sandy streambottoms, with slender salamanders crawling through the duff. And if you love, you act to defend your beloved.” (Jensen) In this class I believe one of the goals is to make us aware of issues that hopefully we will fall in love with. When this happens we will do what it takes to fix the issues we care about.

There are big problems in the way we treat the world we live in. As seen by low score in my carbon footprint, I don’t treat the world in a correct manor, and I know I’m not alone. Its scary to think that while looking at a graph of the world population such as the one from lecture. Billions of other people are out in the world trashing it just like me. As the numbers rise more people are going to need to give up on hope and start taking action themselves. Only then will things change.

Brought up during the last lecture, Professor Trumpey made it clear how uneducated our class was on identifying a poison ivy plant, yet 80% knew the icon of a high end car manufacture. We live among both however the natural one was indefinable to most. I find it amazing that such a low number of people knew what poison ivy looks like. I remember learning as a kid to not go near toughs plants because you would end up itching yourself for the next week. It was one of the main lessons before playing in the woods. If people cant identify it then they obviously don’t spend enough time outside. There should be no better space to be than the naturally created. The more people change their behavior and see what the environment has to offer, the more people with loose hope and begin to love.

Works Cited

Jensen, Derrick. "Beyond Hope." Orion. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. .

Trumpey, Joe. Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor. Lecture.