Response #5 - Sally Volkmann

“Like ions shot from the sun, the week-enders radiate from every town, generating heat and friction as they go” (Leopold 165).

In this quote Leopold talks about how human recreation has become a danger to the environment because of our forms of transportation. The amount of roads grew with the amount of car owners. The roads made the wilderness more accessible and tainted it. I related this idea of traveling and depleting the environment as we move to the idea of hunters and gathers (Trumpey 2009). From Trumpey’s lectures he has defined hunters and gatherers by the way they prey on many species and are always on the move. As “week-enders” they are part time hunter and gatherers; they travel to another place once they have depleted something from their permanent residence. This depletion may not necessarily be natural resources or a food supply like traditional hunters and gatherers. Instead “week-enders” living in an urban environment may have depleted the fun, adventure, spontaneity, simplicity, fresh air, and wild vegetation from their lives.

The “week-enders” generate heat by all the carbon they are emitting; their carbon footprint creates a denser cloud coverage which traps the sun’s rays in our atmosphere (Trumpey 2009). I thought it was interesting how Trumpey pointed out how there was a drop in the USA’s temperature when the air traffic was restricted after 9/11. The friction the “week-enders” create is on a social level which I can relate to.

My Dad and Brother are “week-enders” during any hunting season. They can be considered modern hunters because they hunt with semi-automatic weapons and spend obscene amounts of money on clothing and devices to help keep them warm in their blinds. We live in a very urban city with strict gun laws and very few wild animals. The urban sprawl of Saginaw has depleted the prey that the men in my family seek to hunt. They are “week-enders” who create a friction on the highways that head north, on the local ecosystem of northern Michigan, and of the surrounding community where they hunt. They appropriate a segment of land and the animal population for ingestion every hunting season (Trumpey 2009). The main goal is to harvest the animals for consumption. I really related to Leopold’s observation of the hunters around his duck marsh about the trigger happy hunters; “that he is already overfed in no way dampens his avidity for gathering his meat from God” (Leopold 166). I agree with Leopold and always make sure to point out the heaps of venison still sitting in the outside freezer as my Dad and Brother pack the car full of their consumer goods to go bring back more food that will go un-consumed.

The idea that the people are what moves can parallel to the migration of the animals that the hunter and gatherers deplete. Some people do migrate in a sense. There are the “snow birds” and waves of college kids and families flock to warmer climates during the “tourist season.” A few spring breaks ago I was in South Carolina during the end of tourist season and was talking with a few locals. The guys were relishing and reflecting on their experience during tourist season. Since it was on a beach they had preyed on girls to hook up with. Knowing that they’d be leaving in a week or two so they wouldn’t have to deal with any of the commitment or consequences of a relationship. It sounded like the locals were equating the other girls to prey. Perhaps the locals were locals of vacation places are more like part time pastoralists because they prey on fewer species (not all people go on vacation to beaches) and are stationary (the “prey” comes to them every spring). The locals are consuming these tourists eagerly and then throwing them away with out much thought as the new flock rolls in. While I’m sure there are nice local girls these boys could date and get to know they too are like overfed hunters who are more into “recreation” for the thrill and adventure of seeing something new.

Citation:
Leopold, Aldo. Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford UP, 1949.

Trumpey, Joseph. Art Design Perspective 3: Technology and the Environment. Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI. 5 and 7 Oct 2009. Lecture.

weekly responce 5

“These things, I say, should have come to us. I fear they have not come to many.”(p.110)


I believe that Leopold speaks about the idea of evolution. How we as a people and society have become what we are today, due to our ancestors and their past. I also feel as if Leopold believes that we as a human race have made many strides toward a general progression. We now are in charge of the lives that we live. We have become the “captain of our own ship”. We now rule the world. This quotation illustrates this belief, in a rather egocentric way.
I believe that this quotation can also be applied to my own personal experiences. I think that when it comes to the production-based/ consumerist based world that I am currently a part of, I realize that many of the things that I take for granted, in the form of food and other natural resources, are all items of scarce value to people who are far less fortunate then I, living in other countries. This also directly relates to many of the discussions held in lecture, as well as in discussion. Many of the slides presented in class, are intended to show the amount of natural resources that we as Americans, and as individuals consumer, annually and daily. In comparison to the amounts used by people in other countries, the difference is remarkable. Where we may think that we are entitled to these resources, it is quite unfair seeing as how, many people are less fortunate, and are forced to live with much less. Hence; the main concept behind this quotation is the idea that although we have been given many things, these things promised to us, have not been given to everyone.

world changing response 5

Conserving energy is one of the main topics discussed in lecture so far. In the section called "Green Power"(p.170) under the sub category called "Solar Power", it is stated that new materials are being created, which allow making various products powered by the suns energy alone possible. By using these thin, yet strong organic-plastic solar panels, it is now easy to apply this product making almost anything now created to be powered by natural energy. One question still remains in my head, as I read this. If we are now able to make almost anything powered by the sun, why aren't we seeing more of the products that we use on a daily basis with the same features? Why are al things that are powered by the suns natural energy still so expensive, and not easy to get for an affordable price for the average consumer?In a time where conserving energy is such a major concern, why are we not developing cheaper methods, in order to make most, if not all new products being made, able to be powered by the suns natural energy?

Leopold has many brilliant ideas and opinions on consumerism and how we treat our “natural” land. “A roadless marsh is seemingly as worthless to the alphabetical conservationist as an undrained one was to the empire-builders. Solitude, the one natural resource still undowered of alphabets, is so far recognized as valuable only by ornithologists and cranes.” (107) This quote expresses how preservation and consumerism are equally important to different parties, yet neither is ever satisfied with what they have. The consumerist always wants more production and technology, where the conservationist wants the opposite.  This quote also discusses how people may view an untouched or preserved portion of land as useless. However, to wildlife and organizations/ individuals who are trying to keep part of this world natural, it is a great thing. One of the first things I thought about after reading this quote was how much paper I carelessly use and how wasteful I am. This is a connection because if an area of land with a lot of trees is preserved, then the consumer is not gaining anything since the trees cannot be cut down and produced into paper. Since technology has advanced, paper is becoming less and less of a necessity because many uses of paper has been taken over by computers and the internet. For years and years, environmentalists have been trying to preserve trees and wildlife, yet our fast pace world hasn’t changed our selfish wasteful ways. I think that our society has gotten used to everything being available to us whenever we want it that we don’t realize the harm we are casting upon the natural environment. It’s almost as if consumerism has brainwashed us in some way and we are too selfish to sacrifice an ounce of our comfort to do something good for the environment. I think that one of Leopold’s main ideas is that if we can slow down and appreciate nature, wildlife and our planet, we will truly understand how important it is that we preserve and stop destroying it.

 

Leopold, Aldo. Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford UP, 1949.  

WR prompt #5: Leopold’s take on CONSUMERISM…

www.chrisjordan.com/images/current/1121878289.jpg

I’d like you to consider this prompt in light of our conversation Tuesday about the similarities and differences between Leopold “sketches” and Trumpey’s lectures. Remember that there were as many overlaps of core concepts and attitudes as there were distinctions.

In lecture we have been talking about the “production based and consumer oriented” nature of our global society.* Find a quote from Sand County that illustrates Leopold’s opinion on this topic. The text is FULL of his observations infused with either implicit or explicit commentary on consumerism (see examples below). Summarize the context of the quote, explain Leopold’s main points and tone. Reflect on your individual experience in our production-based/ consumerist society. Give an example from your personal experience/ observations that relates to the quote you chose.

Things to think about: There are many ways you could approach this depending on which quote you choose. Think about his discussion of the paradox of conservation (100-101) or how not “thinking like a mountain” actually leads to poorer situation for the consumer (129-133).

Examples:
• “The high priests of progress knew nothing of cranes, and cared less. What good is a species more or less among engineers? What good is an undrained marsh anyhow?” (100)
• “To build a road is so much simpler than to think of what the country really needs” (101)
• “…but if I were (an economist) I should do all my pondering lying prone on the sand, with Draba at nose length” (103)
• “everything on this farm spells money in the bank…even the pigs look solvent” (119)
• “…Thoreau’s dictum: In wildness is the salvation of the world” (133)

Last thing: No more slacking on citing your sources in the other WRs!!! (I know most of you have been doing this, so disregard). This was a clear requirement of all written work in this class (it’s for your own good- trust me☺) and I have to take off points when you don’t list your citations.

*(note: this is no longer just a critique of “Americans” or “American society” but a pervasive global trend).

Leopold, Aldo. Sand County Almanac, and Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford UP, 1949.

Trumpey, Joseph. Art Design Perspective 3: Technology and the Environment. Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI. 5 and 7 Oct 2009. Lecture.

world changing response 4

Public health is a huge issue in todays society. It is important for us as individuals to understand health, in order for our communities to be safe environments.It is interesting to note that the country of Sweden has the lowest rate of teen pregnancies, and is also commended for achieving such a low rate in the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. it is stated that Sweden has put sexual heath education as one of their priorities in an educational setting. They teach, and believe that "personal relationships", and "sexual identity" are important aspects of everyday life. There is much emphasis on sex, and therefore the youth of Sweden are well educated, and have come to make healthy decisions. Why dont we take from them these ideas, and start instituting the deeper sexual education in our schools? This will only help prevent teen pregnancies, and lower the rate of STD's. The more that we know on the subject, can only help us in the long run. Why is a country that is so defined and developed (USA), so behind when it comes to the teaching of sexual identity? I believe that if we grow up around these ideas and beliefs, the youth of america will be less "rebellious" when it comes to sex, causing people to be more aware and more careful. I feel that the US is way to concerned about the issue at hand, yet nothing is being done about it, in efforts to better the public health of our society.

World Changing Response 3

One way we can change our technologies to better coincide with nature is to mimic it.  Instead of fighting nature, work with it and allow its preconceived ways to influence ours.  For example, scientists at Lewis and Clark College and the University of California, Berkley have designed an adhesive to mimic the sticky feet of geckos’.  It does not leave a chemical residue, and is not only suitable to replace tape or glue, but also screws, nails, and much more.  This could “enhance our ability to design for disassembly, an important part of Cradle to Cradle [sustainable products] thinking” (Steffen 101). By using tools and ideas from nature, we are more apt to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

 

 

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

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