World Changing Post #5

Alyssa Olson

World Changing Response #5

Eating Better Meat & Fish

This section about eating better meat and fish begins by discussing the current meat and fish practices in our country. Majority of our meat, unless otherwise stated, comes from large ranches that slaughter thousands and thousands of cows. They live in overcrowded conditions, which helps in the spread of disease and filth. Fish are usually raised in large fish farms that are very similar to the conditions of cattle ranches, although instead of destroying the land they are destroying the ocean. These oversized ways of producing our meat lead to air and water pollution, the over-use of fossil fuels and the removal of our forests.

Fortunately many places are striving to change this and to produce healthier animals, which make for better and healthier meat. They also are trying to have more humane and sanitary living conditions on the farms. Some farms are adopting a new form of fuel that comes from the feces of cows. The farmers collect the manure and put it into a machine, which breaks down the solids into acids, which eventually turn into biogas. When this gas is burned it produces fuel that can be used to run farming equipment and other machines which helps lower the use of fossil fuels. This also produces a manure-like substance that is actually better for the land than regular manure.

When it comes to the fishing industry we are making large strides to regulate the farming of fish, which will result in better quality fish and the slow decline in the destruction of our oceans. New standards regulate the amount of fish that can be caught and also help make sure that other forms of ocean life are not harmed in the process of catching fish. Currently a large number of species of fish are borderline endangered so if we don’t regulate this quickly we made make them go extinct.

This article ties in a lot with the discussions we have been having in lecture about food production and consumption. The current ways of farming fish and cattle is very destructive to our environment and if we continue on this path we may wipe our entire species of fish. I personally don’t eat much meat but when I do I am very cautious about where the meat comes from. At my job all the meat we use is farm raised and usually organic so I know exactly where the animal was raised and in what conditions. I also try to eat mostly grass-fed beef, which I find to have a better taste and I also feel more comfortable knowing that the cow was able to live a relatively normal life in pasture, grazing, and having room to roam.

World Changing Response #4

Alyssa Olson

World Changing Response: #4

Green Furniture and Home Décor

I chose to read about the different options that are available for “green” furniture and home décor. I was interested in this because of a few weeks ago when Professor Trumpey introduced us to the website that allows you to buy tons of home products that are environmentally friendly. The article began by describing a lot of the harm that occurs with the furniture majority of us buy. Some furniture contains PBDE’s that can cause brain damage and reproductive issues while other objects are pressed together using formaldehyde. Even if a piece of furniture does not have the potential to cause health issues it could have large environmental issues; such as the use of materials that are not sustainable or that come from endangered forests.

I was aware of a lot of the potential environmental and heath issues that some furniture can cause but was pleasantly surprised to find out about all the new “green” options. I was very interested in the renewable woods that are being designed. Many of these woods are made from inexpensive materials that usually became waste, such as the roots of bamboo plants or older coconut-palm trees. Designers have been creating new woods that use these materials to make very stylish and attractive furniture.

I also was impressed by the different options of paint. As we all know from the smell of a freshly painted room, the paint is emitting many different chemicals into the air. What I didn’t know if that even after the paint dries a lot of these chemicals still seep into the air and can cause health problems. Due to this, new paints have been created that either have no VOC’s or a very low amount. Even a paint that helps insulate your home has been developed that reflects radiant heat to lower energy use. With more and more research I am sure that within a few years it will be feasible for everyone to own more “green” furniture.

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 #3

Kristen Zelenka
World Changing Response #3

For my third response to World Changing, I read an article entitled “Creating Business Value from Sustainability.” I chose this article because we discussed in lecture today the responsibility of companies to protect the environment and their roles in conservation. Particularly, we talked about Wal-mart’s role in understanding scale and how if everybody bought compact florescent light bulbs how we could drastically reduce our coal consumption.

I also just became the first employee at a start up company that is only three months old. As I listen to the lectures and try to digest all of the information given to me, I start to think about how to implement some more sustainable business practices into the company model. Each individual should be held accountable for his or her actions.

The article explains that our economy is dependent on a healthy environment in order for it to prosper. If an organization adopts greener practices, it will most likely be ahead of government regulations, gain the approval and confidence of the consumer, and ultimately increase its image and profit margin.

However, most companies are only motivated but the profits of the year and do not look for long term goals and anticipate changes in the environment, the negative effects they contribute to, or increased regulation. In class, we also discussed Ford and car production in Detroit as an example for this poor business model. The company only produced SUVs because that is what the public demand was but then when the government mandated that they needed to produce cars that have better gas mileage they were behind the times. It is beneficial to environment and for companies’ bottom line to be conscious of resources and be effective in their use of them.

reaction 4- haley weinger

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” My own interpretation of this expression is that it refers to the fact that children are generally very similar to their parents. It seems as though this is primarily used to describe family relationships, in contexts that can be both positive and negative. It is a clear way to illustrate why parents and children have similarities. This expression is of Eastern origin and is used to describe the “continuity of family characteristics.” The expression was first used in Germany in the 16^th century and was then used by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous American philosopher in an English letter in 1839. However, Emerson’s use of the phrase was a bit different. He used it to describe “that tug that often brings us back to our childhood home.” More recent English texts have used the phrase in the context of its original interpretation. The phrase has also been used in Russian literature. (www.wiki.answers.com) It appears as though the phrase “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree has taken on more than one meaning, however, its use in recent years is similar to the initial meaning I referenced. The meaning most likely evolved from a reference to childhood to a more specific reference of a specific family member in order to evoke a more direct and unambiguous meaning. It appears as though the connotation to similarities among members of the same family is its most common use today.

 “The grass is greener on the other side.” My initial interpretation was that this meant that people always think the circumstances are better for other people, or that whatever situation they are in, the opposite is the better option. It often occurs in the context of two individuals in differing circumstances and how each one see’s the others position to be the more desirable one.  Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that this proverb is actually one of the most common in the English language. The phrase is described as a metaphor for “discontent, envy and jealousy.” There has even been scientific articles written based on this expression. One scientist proved that “optical and perceptual laws alone will make the grass at a distance look greener to the human eye than grass perpendicular to the ground.” The earliest recorded reference of this proverb actually only dates back to 1957, however, a similar proverb, “hills are green far away” dates back to 1887 (http://www.deproverbio.com/). This official wording of this proverb is actually “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” In terms of its vernacular use, it was probably shortened to “the grass is always greener on the other side” because as land was developed, objects such as fences might not have been as common, and therefore, the meaning would not necessarily hold the same connotation. Regardless of its form, the words used in this proverb (grass, fence, green) are very common to an individual’s everyday experiences while most likely aided in its widespread use. As used today, this proverb is used to say that “the things other people have or their situations always look better than your own,
 even when they are not really so.”  The last part of this statement is the key to this expression.

“There are plenty of fish in the sea.” This expression is often used in the context of an individual who’s relationship ends and they are having a difficult time coping with the need or desire to find a new partner. It implies that there are many people out there. Interestingly, this is actually considered a universal idiom, with equivalent metaphors in Russia, Polish, Greek, Spanish, and even China. This implies that the ideas behind this phrase surround a “universal human experience.  Examples of definitions include: “there are plenty of other people to date and many perhaps better,” “the world is full of opportunity,” “there are many men/women out there” (http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/plenty-of-fish/). It appears as though this is not just a universal expression, but an expression who’s use in a vernacular context has not changed much, if at all, over time. This most likely could be attributed to the fact that relationships, and dilemmas involving relationships have been around for as long as humans have. 

response #4

“Let a thousand flowers bloom”
When I first saw this expression, I thought that this was used for educational purposes. I speculated that this expression was used during times of educational reformation or even during the times of liberal reformation such as technology and etc. I felt like I have heard this specific expression in many cartoon animations for children as well. Another possibility that this expression may have been used for is another interpretation for beauty. I have heard many times flowers being associated with beauty; therefore, this expression may have been also used in context for beauty as well. The origin of this expression is from Chairman Mao Zedong of China during the summer of 1957 when “the Chinese intelligentsia were invited to criticize the political system then obtaining in communist China” (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/226950.html). “Let a thousand flowers bloom” is really the mistranslation used in the west; the original expression is “let a thousand flowers blossom,” in which it was used to make people who disagreed with Mao’s views show themselves so that they could be executed. When I put this expression in today’s context, I do not think that it differs significantly because we are still, in our nation, trying to find solutions to national policy issues such as education. I think that this expression caught on in vernacular setting because it suggests that it will “promote progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land” (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/226950.html).
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing”
I have heard this expression ever since I was young and it was commonly used in children’s stories that I have read as a child as well. I know that this expression means that there is a dangerous person who is pretending to be harmless. As a child growing up hearing this specific expression numerous times, I would say that this idiom would be used for children to watch out for strangers; used as a cautionary lesson for children when they are unsupervised. The specific meaning is “someone who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindliness” (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.html). The origin of this expression can both be said to be from Aesop’s Fables and the Bible. However, it is thought that Aesop came up with this phrase because his tales date before any biblical text; “Aesop (620-560 BC) is credited with creating the fables that bear his name and, whether he was the author or not, they are certainly pre-Christian” (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.html). However, the first time that this expression may have appeared in English form may be from in Wycliffe’s Bible (1382). If I were to put this in today’s context, it would not differ as all in my opinion. This phrase is still commonly used and also in the Bible, which is the most widely read text in the world. The lesson of this phrase as a caution to dangerous people is still in affect and I feel it will remain this way for decades. I personally think that this expression has not been through any evolution because I believe that in whatever time period or where one lives, there will always be dangerous people in the world because I do not believe that it is possible to create a haven (or if we do, it won’t last such as the story of “Adam and Eve”).
“물이 너무 맑으면 고기가 살수없다” (http://kin.naver.com/detail/detail.php?d1id=11&dir_id=110104&docid=9362622&qb=7Jqw66as64KY65287IaN64u0IOyekOyXsA==&enc=utf8&pid=fVCWOz331xGssc8%2BvJ4ssv--057177&sid=Sskr2UopyUoAAHJbGiI).
(if the water is clear, then no fish can survive)
This is a Korean expression that if translated it is “if the water is too clear, then no fish can survive.” Korea used Chinese characters and another form of writing before the invention of their own alphabet Han guel, therefore, I cannot really say specifically if this expression originated in China or ancient Korea. This expression is interpreted when if a person is too pure of heart, then they cannot fit in (survive) with others. Continuing my theory of how there will always be dangerous people in the world from the previous expression, this idiom restates that theory. In other words, because the world is full of greedy/immoral people, a person so pure of heart will never be able to survive in such an impure world. I think that if this expression is used in today’s context, this will also not be any different because the world is getting more complicated in my opinion. Therefore, I don’t think that the meaning of this expression evolved in any way and can still be used in today’s context.

Kristen Zelenka
World Changing Response #2

For my first response to World Changing, I read an article entitled “Leapfrogging” which focused on the use of cell phones. I found this article interesting because it made me think of the vastly different cultures people live in and the infrastructure they have. In our society, we completely take for granted what a cell phone enables us to do and the power it has. Almost everybody has a cell phone or at least access to one. This is not the case in developing countries, however, as technology develops, we might be able to start producing phones as cheap as $15, providing many people around the world to gain access to one. This process of skipping over outdated technology is called leapfrogging and many countries in Africa are benefitting from it.

Leapfrogging will help these nations develop faster and greatly raise the standard of living as more people can communicate about goods and services. A single person who has a phone in a village can offer the entire community a link to distant relatives, job opportunities, and prices on the market.

Reading this article made me question how much outdated technology we have, like the copper wires we have buried or strung all over our country, and how much that costs to maintain and fix each year. I know from watching “How Things Are Made” on the Discovery Channel that the United States spends more money repairing roads than it would cost to pave new ones. What could we do with all of that material if we were able to collect it and recycle it? As proven by the ingenuity of scientists and designers, it is possible to make a little material go a long way and have a huge impact on how people live.

World Changing Response #1

Kristen Zelenka

World Changing Response #1

For my first response to World Changing, I read an article entitled “The Future of Food.” I chose this article because it is relative to what we have been learning in class and I became a pescaterian four months ago and before that rarely eat meat, and mostly out of politeness at friends houses. I decided to fully go change my diet after my friend who is a vegan finally convinced me. She has been a vegan now for five years. She is the first one to start explaining to me the bad practices we have growing our crops and raising livestock and then this class has given me more concrete examples and a better understanding of where my food comes from.

In the article I read it discussed the differences between smart breeding crops and transgenic crops. I knew that different strain within a certain species of crops were breed together to produce a new strain of crop but I did not know that there were scientists who were working on combining a tomato’s DNA with the DNA from a salmon. I do not think that we should be doing that because of the possible aftermath of side effects that we do not know about yet. The nutritional value of the food also goes down. However, I do think that the research being done to create New Rice for Africa is very important to improving the standard of living for thousands of people in that region. I also believe that type of genetic modification makes more sense than some of the other mutations going on in laboratories.

I believe that more farmers should adapt practices like the One Straw Revolution. I know that the process to transfer from our current means of farming to one more natural will take time. The benefits though will surely outweigh the cost eventually. People need to become more aware of where their food comes from and governments need to respond to the damages they see in the environment and regulate the production of food in order to see results.