I am curious to hear what is thought about the recent leaks from scientists on climate change. Scientists admitted that they used statistical "tricks"to make the data fit their information, making up documents to keep skeptic articles out of journals, and deleting emails that will out the whole scam.
I find it interesting that we study the articles published by these scientists, but now the scientists' emails are being leaked. Now we know that the data are incorrect because it has been fudged by scientists to fit their views. We also know that articles only make it into the mainstream if these scientists agree with what is being written.
These are the arguments I have been using all semester, and yet, when I said it, it was unfounded. Now we have proof. What do you say to that?
Please, email me a response to this. I honestly am curious why I was unfounded, but it obviously wasn't. And this isn't the first time we have found out that the data were being fudged.
November 23, 2009
November 19, 2009
The Crock of Sustainability
It is pretty sad when a fifth grade girl can find flaws in an argument that is supposed to be only fact. It was a scare tactic. Fear. It sells. An Inconvenient Truth is a scare tactic by progressives pushing for total control over everyone and everything. And a fifth grade girl, Kristin Byrnes, did just that. She found flaws and wrote a well known paper called "Ponder the Maunder." I find it amazing that we have to take an Al Gore-like class when there are flaws so obvious a fifth grader can spot them.
But on to my main point, this semester, we have been asked to "think critically" about all issues, but that is only when we are thinking critically about whether it is fire or brimstone, not whether it is either at all. And all semester, I have brought about articles discussing why the arguments presented in class aren't 100% factual, I have been turned down because I don't use "peer reviewed" sources. My problem with that is, only politically correct articles make it into the peer reviewed journals because the journals don't want to lose their mainstream status. That fact has been historical proven. Many articles aren't published in mainstream journals in Psychology when they don't fit with the current norms. Same with Biology. And I can't imagine what life would be like without some of the articles we found later, several decades after the author passed away.
I have found a national organization that will help me in my battle against this class. The National Association of Scholars is an association of scholars who know what they are talking about. http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?doctype_code=Article&doc_id=997&Keyword_Desc=Sustainability I believe this article should help me make my point.
But on to my main point, this semester, we have been asked to "think critically" about all issues, but that is only when we are thinking critically about whether it is fire or brimstone, not whether it is either at all. And all semester, I have brought about articles discussing why the arguments presented in class aren't 100% factual, I have been turned down because I don't use "peer reviewed" sources. My problem with that is, only politically correct articles make it into the peer reviewed journals because the journals don't want to lose their mainstream status. That fact has been historical proven. Many articles aren't published in mainstream journals in Psychology when they don't fit with the current norms. Same with Biology. And I can't imagine what life would be like without some of the articles we found later, several decades after the author passed away.
I have found a national organization that will help me in my battle against this class. The National Association of Scholars is an association of scholars who know what they are talking about. http://www.nas.org/polArticles.cfm?doctype_code=Article&doc_id=997&Keyword_Desc=Sustainability I believe this article should help me make my point.
November 17, 2009
Journal Part III: Entries 16-25
Blog 16: Affluenza
My score was 14 points (10-15 No dangerous signs of Affluenza at this time) on the first quiz. On the second quiz, my diagnosis was Social Scars and resource exhaustion/social scars, which are symptoms of Affluenza. My case “appears to be moderate.” I agree with my first score, but not my second score. I don’t feel as though I am overly consumed in “stuff.” But even if I were, it would be okay, because we live in a capitalist society, where money buys stuff, and stuff is OKAY to have.
After our class discussion about affluenza and watching the movie Affluenza, I have not changed my opinion. Capitalism is all about profit, and I like Capitalism. I don’t think any consumer habits need to change, as they are presented in an extremely unkind light. In The Story of Stuff, the narrator says that people throw things away when they go out of style. Very few people do that, I don’t know anyone that does that. People I know took the assessment about how many Earths we need got more than 4 Earths, to me, that is a lot. But the people I know don’t do things like throw a shirt away when stars go out of style, like they say in “The Story of Stuff.” They just enjoy a large home, food that is not organic or totally natural, and gadgets like computers, TVs, and phones.
And, as we read in Civic Engagement, “Even if the individual example happens to be true, it sheds no light on the overall situation” (Loeb, P., 1999). I am not willing to make ANY changes to my consumer habits. I feel as though I live a modest lifestyle. I buy only what I need, and very little of what I want. I only buy new clothes when my old clothes are worn to bits. Even when his clothes are worn, I have to force my boyfriend to buy new clothes. I don’t feel as though I need to change anything.
After watching The Story of Stuff, I am even more frustrated by this course, and the objectives have become VERY clear. This courses name should be changed to “Global Warming: FGCU’s Political Agenda.”
Loeb, P. R. (1999). Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
Blog 17: Field Trip #5- Urban Fort Myers and Southwest Florida Historical Museum
This field trip was the most interesting field trip this semester. I enjoyed the museum, except for our guide, and the walk was fun.
This was a sabertooth cat, after it died. I thought that was REALLY cool.
This is the bedroom in a crackerhouse. What a tiny house for a whole family to live in! I couldn't imagine sharing a space that small with my family (especially my brother!!)
This is a mural behind the Indigo hotel. I think its really really cool! It is basically a history of Fort Myers, built into a mural. I think the idea is really neat, and the mural came out beautifully!
These are trees outside of the city hall in Fort Myers. They are old and to keep them standing in case of hurricanes, they have ropes around them. I understand that they want to preserve the history in the center of the city. But I don't understand why they would spend so much time and money fixing the trees, especially since most city/county/state governments are severely damaged by the horrible economy. I would also assume that it would interfere with the growth of the tree to tie them up like they did.
This is a kitchen on a train. The train we saw was an original train car that a wealthy family owned in the late 19th or early 20th century. I can't believe how nice it is. But I also couldn't imagine being so confined with my family for days on end in that car. The bedrooms are so small and the family room is not much bigger. I love having my own personal space.
This is a fire engine from the city of Fort Myers. It is an old one, but its pretty cool. I took this picture because I know a lot of firefighters and I couldn't imagine them riding on somthing like this to get to a fire. I also thought it was cool that they had a 9/11 memorial at the museum, because it has a very personal connection to my life.
Blog 18: The Earth Charter
I wish this question hadn’t been asked because you are not going to like my answer. My thoughts on the Earth Charter are simple. They are detrimental to our nation, because it calls for a global society. To become a global society, each nation must give up its sovereignty to create a supreme world-order. The idea of The United States giving up it sovereignty to solve some “problem” is ridiculous (especially since this is just a passing fad). All of our freedoms and rights would be gone. A global society means the destruction of individual freedoms. The idea literally makes me sick to my stomach. I love living in a sovereign nation with rights and freedoms, and I will not give that up.
As I stated in my discussion question for the quiz on this reading, creating a global society is a huge task (that people will NOT take lightly). How can people think that we can complete such a task if we cannot even maintain a civil community? We won’t be able to. The Earth Charter is a bunch of whack-jobs working towards a global society with no individual rights or freedoms.
Another question posed in my quiz is “What do social justice and economic justice have to do with sustainability and ‘saving the world.’ It seems as though this was a partisan effort by a certain side, not an independent commission.” I really don’t understand this. Social justice is like pay reparations to blacks (I will not say African American because they aren’t really African, just American). An example of social and economic justice is like taking from the rich and giving to the poor (taking from people who actually work and giving it to lowlife’s who don’t). I really don’t see what that has to do with the environment? The money taken from others and given to people who don’t deserve it won’t go into environmental research. I really would like an answer to that. Just because people are rich does not mean they destroy the environment, and the poor aren’t always caring to the environment. Often times, poor people eat the worst foods for the environment, so instead of attacking those who actually do the harm to the environment, the current system was designed to hurt those who can afford it, whether they harm the environment or not.
The connections that I recognize between this course and The Earth Charter are simple. People working for a certain cause are forcing political agendas into our throats. I see nothing more from either. The Earth Charter is an extreme proposition on how to break down the current system to create a world-order in which there will be no freedoms or rights. University Colloquium is a required course (which barely any one wants to take) that forces the agenda of The Earth Charter. We may not learn specifically about the Earth Charter until more than halfway through class, but it is the underlying theme throughout the whole semester.
The Earth Charter is unrealistic in many ways. For individuals, at least those who appreciate their rights in this country, it will rob them of everything they hold dear. Several people that I know would rather die than to have their rights stripped from them, including myself. That’s why many of my family members are in the military. They want to fight to preserver our freedoms!!!! It is unrealistic for the community because there will no longer be a sense of community. Your focus would have to be solely on the global society. Screw your neighborhood, work on creating a better world-order. For nations, it is similar to the individual. The national freedoms that we enjoy (and many like you take advantage of) would be gone. Our freedom of speech, religion, right to bear arms, and every other freedom/right that we LOVE would be gone. We would be under a global rule. We could kiss the individual goodbye, and welcome a collectivist society where one’s personal thoughts are not accepted.
I will not apply The Earth Charter to my daily life. I refuse to give up my freedoms, at least without the biggest fight I have in me. It will be over my dead body that the freedoms I cherish will be stolen from me by nut jobs who think a global society will fix all of society’s ills.
Blog 19: State of the World Impressions
First off, let me start by saying this question is worded in such a biased way. How can you say that you are respectful and understanding of everyone’s views when the entries you ask us to write are worded in such a way that I have to agree with what you are shoving down my throat. According to this question, there MUST be something that affected me; actually, there must be three things that affected me. This doesn’t allow for critical thinking. Instead, it allows for uniform thinking among all. It says “you can have your own opinions, as long as they fit what I’m telling you.” Unfortunately, nothing did. But I will make some up, just for you.
1. One presentation that made an “impact” on me is the Climate Connections Article called Women and Climate Change: Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacities. I was interested in this one because I do not understand the connection between women and climate change. I do not understand how educating women is going to reduce climate change. Just because a person is educated doesn’t mean they will be brainwashed to believe the malarkey about a global crisis. Also, women have been caring for their families in these ways for centuries. Why is it all of a sudden a crisis?
2. Another article was The Security Dimensions of Climate Change. This is the article I read and presented and I still don’t understand what climate change has to do with homeland security. This article made me realize how far stretched this lie is to cover all aspects of our government, to allow for a total government take over. It is actually really sad to read articles like this because it worries me that people actually believe this. And after sharing this article with someone who actually believes the whole global warming conspiracy, even he said this article didn’t make sense. It’s pretty sad when someone on your side explains why the “proof” we are presented is wrong. Maybe its time to rethink things. (Not me, you.)
3. The last one I will tell you about is Building Resilience to Drought and Climate Change in Sudan. I did not understand anything in this article. To be honest, I really don’t care, so it went in one ear and out the other.
Blog 20: Field Trip #6- Canoe Trip at FGCU Marine Lab
******DON'T EVEN BOTHER READING... YOU AREN'T GOING TO GIVE ME POINTS, EVEN THOUGH I PUT IN THE EFFORT OF WRITING THE JOURNAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhh. This is the blog I was waiting for. I did NOT go on this field trip. Here are my reasons. I am scared of canoes. I don’t trust anyone in this class. And my main point: How can you hold me accountable for driving to a field trip when I paid $86 for course transportation? If this wasn’t included in course transportation, we shouldn’t have done it. And you gave us the option to (actually, told us we had to) carpool. Unfortunately, as I said before, I don’t trust anyone in the class.
Not to mention the fact that I AM SCARED OF CANOES! How can I go on a canoe trip if I am scared of canoes? Seems like it would be VERY difficult!!! It has nothing to do with stepping out of my comfort zone. It is a fear that I have had since I was a VERY little girl and my brother tipped the canoe. And especially after hearing Patrick (I think?) say he wanted to tip the canoe, I really don’t want to be around that. Even knowing that no one tipped any boats, I don’t regret that I didn’t go. I can’t stand canoes, they scare the crap out of me, and I really don’t find that its fair that we are forced on more field trips than the FGCU requires.
It is not a core field trip, so it only counts for regular attendance points. I am not worried about that.
Blog 21: Environment in the Local News
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/06/otter-worldly-theyre-social-animals-love-water-per/
Otter Worldly: They’re social animals that love the water, perfecting hunting skills and survival moves
There are a lot of otters in Florida. They are more visible right now, because the young are migrating away from their mothers to find their own dens. They den on land to have their pups and then when the babies are old enough to learn how to swim, the mother teaches them to swim and hunt. As social animals, otters hunt in big groups. That allows more eyes to search for food. They eat clams and mussels. River otters love to be in the rivers, and there are sea otters that live on the Pacific Ocean in California.
I thought this article was interesting. Otters are neat animals, just ask Jerry Jackson. Even though I liked the article, I feel that it was written for a child. It was simple, maybe a little too simple.
Bishop, Katy. (November 6, 2009). Otter Worldly: They’re social animals that love the water, perfecting
hunting skills and survival moves. Naples Daily News, Retrieved from
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/06/otter-worldly-theyre-social-animals-love-
water-per/
Blog 22: Sense of Place Interview
When I spoke to my grandfather, he said “I am very, very, very in favor of sustainability.” He told me that when he was a boy, his father was a salesperson for a petroleum company and in 1955, he told my grandfather that in 50 years, the Earth would run out of petroleum. Even though we haven’t yet, he was tooting the same horn we are tooting now. He understands that “if we continue on our path, we will run ourselves out.”
When I asked him about his ecological perspective, he said, “we talk, but nothing is being done.” He compared it to the commercial about the water bottle ‘a night on your nightstand, forever in a landfill.’ His final comment about ecological perspective was, “ecologically, I don’t like what I see and we need to change. We are killing ourselves.”
When I asked about his sense of place, he said, “I am most comfortable in more rural areas. I don’t like cities and I don’t trust people.” He is bothered by the closing in of areas, trees being cut down and cities growing.
His upbringing differed than mine because, according to him, the moral values have deteriorated. He also feels that he “learned a lot more than people today because we learned concepts. We also learned not only the how of problem solving, but also the why.”
When I told him about this course, and what I have learned this semester, he said, “basically, I think you are learning a bunch of shit.” He explained to me that global warming doesn’t exist because the logic doesn’t make sense. And when I said that according to the cycle, we should be cooling, his response was “the cycle is not a perfect circle. It differs all the time.”
Blog 23: Neighborhood Walk
My perspective of my neighborhood has not changed since taking this course. I still cannot identify the exact species of the ducks or other birds, except the vultures. The only plant or animal species we talked about in this class were the red, white, and black mangroves and oak trees. Those aren’t really common in the city. Our neighborhood is probably not sustainable, especially since the complex just removed the recycle bins away so the vultures wouldn’t make a mess.
We have a lake in the back of the apartment and there are many fish. There is no fishing in the lake, so they will never disappear. Birds can nest in the trees surrounding our complex. There is also a fountain in the middle of the lake that never gets turned on, so birds nest there, too.
Just as before, the complex isn’t sustainable and they don’t seem to care much about green building or sustainable design. Perfect for me because I don’t care either.
This is a group of ducks outside the lanai door. There are always ducks hanging out back there.
This is a picture out my kitchen window. There was a flight (is that what a group is called) of White Ibis'. They were cute.
Blog 24: Spirituality, Religion, and Sustainability
The religious groups presented in the film Renewal were interesting. It was refreshing to see people of different religions working together for a common goal—healthy, locally grown food, free of antibiotics and other chemicals. The Bible (Torah or Quran) says that we must love the Earth because the Lord created it. To love the Earth is to care for it and not destroy it. We must keep the Earth precious for our children and their children and so on. The Earth is here for all to enjoy until the Lord (in Christianity) comes for us on judgment day.
I am a Christian. I do not practice in the normal “go to church” sort of way. But that really isn’t what this blog is about. I believe that we must care for the Earth and not destroy it, but I don’t believe all this bologna about climate change and the other stuff Gore and his posse is spouting.
Spirituality can help us connect with nature because it is an experience that is like no other. To relate to God is to relate to all of His creations.
Blog 25: Final Impressions
My final impression of University Colloquium is that it is a waste. This class is both a waste of time and a waste of money. It hasn’t changed my views on climate change and I feel as though I honestly didn’t learn anything. I am honestly not taking one thing away from this class. The biggest change I would make to the course is to make it not a required course (which, of course, would probably eradicate the course). Nevertheless, if that were impossible, I would change it so that it isn’t just the pushing of a political agenda, but it is a class that teaches facts from all angles. I honestly did not like any of the readings. To be honest, I only read what I needed to get by. Skim a few articles and look for key terms in the book. If you think most students actually want to take this course and are actually interested in the readings, you are greatly mistaken. I suggest that the canoe trip and slough slogging be taken out of the course. After paying such high fees for the course, you are expected to ruin clothes to go slough slogging. Walk the campus trails (while they are dry) as almost all the other classes do. Also, don’t require that students drive themselves if you want them to go somewhere. Students pay for transportation ($86 to be exact) and it is crazy that we are expected to drive ourselves to a field trip that isn’t even required.
Actually, I am taking something from this class. I did enjoy reading A Land Remembered. So, there, I am taking something from this course. However, I probably would have ended up reading the book eventually because it was on my wish list a few years ago.
My score was 14 points (10-15 No dangerous signs of Affluenza at this time) on the first quiz. On the second quiz, my diagnosis was Social Scars and resource exhaustion/social scars, which are symptoms of Affluenza. My case “appears to be moderate.” I agree with my first score, but not my second score. I don’t feel as though I am overly consumed in “stuff.” But even if I were, it would be okay, because we live in a capitalist society, where money buys stuff, and stuff is OKAY to have.
After our class discussion about affluenza and watching the movie Affluenza, I have not changed my opinion. Capitalism is all about profit, and I like Capitalism. I don’t think any consumer habits need to change, as they are presented in an extremely unkind light. In The Story of Stuff, the narrator says that people throw things away when they go out of style. Very few people do that, I don’t know anyone that does that. People I know took the assessment about how many Earths we need got more than 4 Earths, to me, that is a lot. But the people I know don’t do things like throw a shirt away when stars go out of style, like they say in “The Story of Stuff.” They just enjoy a large home, food that is not organic or totally natural, and gadgets like computers, TVs, and phones.
And, as we read in Civic Engagement, “Even if the individual example happens to be true, it sheds no light on the overall situation” (Loeb, P., 1999). I am not willing to make ANY changes to my consumer habits. I feel as though I live a modest lifestyle. I buy only what I need, and very little of what I want. I only buy new clothes when my old clothes are worn to bits. Even when his clothes are worn, I have to force my boyfriend to buy new clothes. I don’t feel as though I need to change anything.
After watching The Story of Stuff, I am even more frustrated by this course, and the objectives have become VERY clear. This courses name should be changed to “Global Warming: FGCU’s Political Agenda.”
Loeb, P. R. (1999). Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
Blog 17: Field Trip #5- Urban Fort Myers and Southwest Florida Historical Museum
This field trip was the most interesting field trip this semester. I enjoyed the museum, except for our guide, and the walk was fun.
This was a sabertooth cat, after it died. I thought that was REALLY cool.
This is the bedroom in a crackerhouse. What a tiny house for a whole family to live in! I couldn't imagine sharing a space that small with my family (especially my brother!!) 
This is a mural behind the Indigo hotel. I think its really really cool! It is basically a history of Fort Myers, built into a mural. I think the idea is really neat, and the mural came out beautifully! 
These are trees outside of the city hall in Fort Myers. They are old and to keep them standing in case of hurricanes, they have ropes around them. I understand that they want to preserve the history in the center of the city. But I don't understand why they would spend so much time and money fixing the trees, especially since most city/county/state governments are severely damaged by the horrible economy. I would also assume that it would interfere with the growth of the tree to tie them up like they did. 
This is a kitchen on a train. The train we saw was an original train car that a wealthy family owned in the late 19th or early 20th century. I can't believe how nice it is. But I also couldn't imagine being so confined with my family for days on end in that car. The bedrooms are so small and the family room is not much bigger. I love having my own personal space.
This is a fire engine from the city of Fort Myers. It is an old one, but its pretty cool. I took this picture because I know a lot of firefighters and I couldn't imagine them riding on somthing like this to get to a fire. I also thought it was cool that they had a 9/11 memorial at the museum, because it has a very personal connection to my life.Blog 18: The Earth Charter
I wish this question hadn’t been asked because you are not going to like my answer. My thoughts on the Earth Charter are simple. They are detrimental to our nation, because it calls for a global society. To become a global society, each nation must give up its sovereignty to create a supreme world-order. The idea of The United States giving up it sovereignty to solve some “problem” is ridiculous (especially since this is just a passing fad). All of our freedoms and rights would be gone. A global society means the destruction of individual freedoms. The idea literally makes me sick to my stomach. I love living in a sovereign nation with rights and freedoms, and I will not give that up.
As I stated in my discussion question for the quiz on this reading, creating a global society is a huge task (that people will NOT take lightly). How can people think that we can complete such a task if we cannot even maintain a civil community? We won’t be able to. The Earth Charter is a bunch of whack-jobs working towards a global society with no individual rights or freedoms.
Another question posed in my quiz is “What do social justice and economic justice have to do with sustainability and ‘saving the world.’ It seems as though this was a partisan effort by a certain side, not an independent commission.” I really don’t understand this. Social justice is like pay reparations to blacks (I will not say African American because they aren’t really African, just American). An example of social and economic justice is like taking from the rich and giving to the poor (taking from people who actually work and giving it to lowlife’s who don’t). I really don’t see what that has to do with the environment? The money taken from others and given to people who don’t deserve it won’t go into environmental research. I really would like an answer to that. Just because people are rich does not mean they destroy the environment, and the poor aren’t always caring to the environment. Often times, poor people eat the worst foods for the environment, so instead of attacking those who actually do the harm to the environment, the current system was designed to hurt those who can afford it, whether they harm the environment or not.
The connections that I recognize between this course and The Earth Charter are simple. People working for a certain cause are forcing political agendas into our throats. I see nothing more from either. The Earth Charter is an extreme proposition on how to break down the current system to create a world-order in which there will be no freedoms or rights. University Colloquium is a required course (which barely any one wants to take) that forces the agenda of The Earth Charter. We may not learn specifically about the Earth Charter until more than halfway through class, but it is the underlying theme throughout the whole semester.
The Earth Charter is unrealistic in many ways. For individuals, at least those who appreciate their rights in this country, it will rob them of everything they hold dear. Several people that I know would rather die than to have their rights stripped from them, including myself. That’s why many of my family members are in the military. They want to fight to preserver our freedoms!!!! It is unrealistic for the community because there will no longer be a sense of community. Your focus would have to be solely on the global society. Screw your neighborhood, work on creating a better world-order. For nations, it is similar to the individual. The national freedoms that we enjoy (and many like you take advantage of) would be gone. Our freedom of speech, religion, right to bear arms, and every other freedom/right that we LOVE would be gone. We would be under a global rule. We could kiss the individual goodbye, and welcome a collectivist society where one’s personal thoughts are not accepted.
I will not apply The Earth Charter to my daily life. I refuse to give up my freedoms, at least without the biggest fight I have in me. It will be over my dead body that the freedoms I cherish will be stolen from me by nut jobs who think a global society will fix all of society’s ills.
Blog 19: State of the World Impressions
First off, let me start by saying this question is worded in such a biased way. How can you say that you are respectful and understanding of everyone’s views when the entries you ask us to write are worded in such a way that I have to agree with what you are shoving down my throat. According to this question, there MUST be something that affected me; actually, there must be three things that affected me. This doesn’t allow for critical thinking. Instead, it allows for uniform thinking among all. It says “you can have your own opinions, as long as they fit what I’m telling you.” Unfortunately, nothing did. But I will make some up, just for you.
1. One presentation that made an “impact” on me is the Climate Connections Article called Women and Climate Change: Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacities. I was interested in this one because I do not understand the connection between women and climate change. I do not understand how educating women is going to reduce climate change. Just because a person is educated doesn’t mean they will be brainwashed to believe the malarkey about a global crisis. Also, women have been caring for their families in these ways for centuries. Why is it all of a sudden a crisis?
2. Another article was The Security Dimensions of Climate Change. This is the article I read and presented and I still don’t understand what climate change has to do with homeland security. This article made me realize how far stretched this lie is to cover all aspects of our government, to allow for a total government take over. It is actually really sad to read articles like this because it worries me that people actually believe this. And after sharing this article with someone who actually believes the whole global warming conspiracy, even he said this article didn’t make sense. It’s pretty sad when someone on your side explains why the “proof” we are presented is wrong. Maybe its time to rethink things. (Not me, you.)
3. The last one I will tell you about is Building Resilience to Drought and Climate Change in Sudan. I did not understand anything in this article. To be honest, I really don’t care, so it went in one ear and out the other.
Blog 20: Field Trip #6- Canoe Trip at FGCU Marine Lab
******DON'T EVEN BOTHER READING... YOU AREN'T GOING TO GIVE ME POINTS, EVEN THOUGH I PUT IN THE EFFORT OF WRITING THE JOURNAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhh. This is the blog I was waiting for. I did NOT go on this field trip. Here are my reasons. I am scared of canoes. I don’t trust anyone in this class. And my main point: How can you hold me accountable for driving to a field trip when I paid $86 for course transportation? If this wasn’t included in course transportation, we shouldn’t have done it. And you gave us the option to (actually, told us we had to) carpool. Unfortunately, as I said before, I don’t trust anyone in the class.
Not to mention the fact that I AM SCARED OF CANOES! How can I go on a canoe trip if I am scared of canoes? Seems like it would be VERY difficult!!! It has nothing to do with stepping out of my comfort zone. It is a fear that I have had since I was a VERY little girl and my brother tipped the canoe. And especially after hearing Patrick (I think?) say he wanted to tip the canoe, I really don’t want to be around that. Even knowing that no one tipped any boats, I don’t regret that I didn’t go. I can’t stand canoes, they scare the crap out of me, and I really don’t find that its fair that we are forced on more field trips than the FGCU requires.
It is not a core field trip, so it only counts for regular attendance points. I am not worried about that.
Blog 21: Environment in the Local News
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/06/otter-worldly-theyre-social-animals-love-water-per/
Otter Worldly: They’re social animals that love the water, perfecting hunting skills and survival moves
There are a lot of otters in Florida. They are more visible right now, because the young are migrating away from their mothers to find their own dens. They den on land to have their pups and then when the babies are old enough to learn how to swim, the mother teaches them to swim and hunt. As social animals, otters hunt in big groups. That allows more eyes to search for food. They eat clams and mussels. River otters love to be in the rivers, and there are sea otters that live on the Pacific Ocean in California.
I thought this article was interesting. Otters are neat animals, just ask Jerry Jackson. Even though I liked the article, I feel that it was written for a child. It was simple, maybe a little too simple.
Bishop, Katy. (November 6, 2009). Otter Worldly: They’re social animals that love the water, perfecting
hunting skills and survival moves. Naples Daily News, Retrieved from
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/06/otter-worldly-theyre-social-animals-love-
water-per/
Blog 22: Sense of Place Interview
When I spoke to my grandfather, he said “I am very, very, very in favor of sustainability.” He told me that when he was a boy, his father was a salesperson for a petroleum company and in 1955, he told my grandfather that in 50 years, the Earth would run out of petroleum. Even though we haven’t yet, he was tooting the same horn we are tooting now. He understands that “if we continue on our path, we will run ourselves out.”
When I asked him about his ecological perspective, he said, “we talk, but nothing is being done.” He compared it to the commercial about the water bottle ‘a night on your nightstand, forever in a landfill.’ His final comment about ecological perspective was, “ecologically, I don’t like what I see and we need to change. We are killing ourselves.”
When I asked about his sense of place, he said, “I am most comfortable in more rural areas. I don’t like cities and I don’t trust people.” He is bothered by the closing in of areas, trees being cut down and cities growing.
His upbringing differed than mine because, according to him, the moral values have deteriorated. He also feels that he “learned a lot more than people today because we learned concepts. We also learned not only the how of problem solving, but also the why.”
When I told him about this course, and what I have learned this semester, he said, “basically, I think you are learning a bunch of shit.” He explained to me that global warming doesn’t exist because the logic doesn’t make sense. And when I said that according to the cycle, we should be cooling, his response was “the cycle is not a perfect circle. It differs all the time.”
Blog 23: Neighborhood Walk
My perspective of my neighborhood has not changed since taking this course. I still cannot identify the exact species of the ducks or other birds, except the vultures. The only plant or animal species we talked about in this class were the red, white, and black mangroves and oak trees. Those aren’t really common in the city. Our neighborhood is probably not sustainable, especially since the complex just removed the recycle bins away so the vultures wouldn’t make a mess.
We have a lake in the back of the apartment and there are many fish. There is no fishing in the lake, so they will never disappear. Birds can nest in the trees surrounding our complex. There is also a fountain in the middle of the lake that never gets turned on, so birds nest there, too.
Just as before, the complex isn’t sustainable and they don’t seem to care much about green building or sustainable design. Perfect for me because I don’t care either.
This is a group of ducks outside the lanai door. There are always ducks hanging out back there.
This is a picture out my kitchen window. There was a flight (is that what a group is called) of White Ibis'. They were cute.Blog 24: Spirituality, Religion, and Sustainability
The religious groups presented in the film Renewal were interesting. It was refreshing to see people of different religions working together for a common goal—healthy, locally grown food, free of antibiotics and other chemicals. The Bible (Torah or Quran) says that we must love the Earth because the Lord created it. To love the Earth is to care for it and not destroy it. We must keep the Earth precious for our children and their children and so on. The Earth is here for all to enjoy until the Lord (in Christianity) comes for us on judgment day.
I am a Christian. I do not practice in the normal “go to church” sort of way. But that really isn’t what this blog is about. I believe that we must care for the Earth and not destroy it, but I don’t believe all this bologna about climate change and the other stuff Gore and his posse is spouting.
Spirituality can help us connect with nature because it is an experience that is like no other. To relate to God is to relate to all of His creations.
Blog 25: Final Impressions
My final impression of University Colloquium is that it is a waste. This class is both a waste of time and a waste of money. It hasn’t changed my views on climate change and I feel as though I honestly didn’t learn anything. I am honestly not taking one thing away from this class. The biggest change I would make to the course is to make it not a required course (which, of course, would probably eradicate the course). Nevertheless, if that were impossible, I would change it so that it isn’t just the pushing of a political agenda, but it is a class that teaches facts from all angles. I honestly did not like any of the readings. To be honest, I only read what I needed to get by. Skim a few articles and look for key terms in the book. If you think most students actually want to take this course and are actually interested in the readings, you are greatly mistaken. I suggest that the canoe trip and slough slogging be taken out of the course. After paying such high fees for the course, you are expected to ruin clothes to go slough slogging. Walk the campus trails (while they are dry) as almost all the other classes do. Also, don’t require that students drive themselves if you want them to go somewhere. Students pay for transportation ($86 to be exact) and it is crazy that we are expected to drive ourselves to a field trip that isn’t even required.
Actually, I am taking something from this class. I did enjoy reading A Land Remembered. So, there, I am taking something from this course. However, I probably would have ended up reading the book eventually because it was on my wish list a few years ago.
*** All photographs in this journal entry were taken by me, Kimberly Legendre ***
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