This reading went over different things we need to think about, in terms of the world and it's environment. The main topic they went over that caught my attention was water. 70% of the earth is water, and only 2.5% of that water is fresh, with only a small portion of that being accessible to people.
-U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was quoted as saying "by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population may be living in countries that face serious water shortages." The WASH program (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for All) is something that should hopefully be able to help out. It aims to get water and hygiene training to people who need them by 2015. Since it is already backed by a lot of the U.N., it looks like this will be a big topic of interest in the coming years.
-Another topic that caught my eye was how more than 11,000 species of plants and animals are already nearing extinction, and half of all species could become non-existent by the end of the century. While that is a long time away, it is something that could ultimately lead to our demise if ya think about it. Think about the animals we depend on to live our every day lives. What if cows became extinct, or pigs. We get a lot of our meat from those two alone. But I digress.
-The last topic is the one that made me think the most. I had never really thought about how many species could become obsolete, so to speak. And I had never thought about ways to stop them from becoming extinct. But there are programs like the Global Conservation Trust that wants to raise about $260 million to help hold on to some genetic material that will keep necessary plants around for a longer period of time.
-GoGreen has a great website about ways to cut carbon emission in our atmosphere, like carpooling suggestions, among other things. I checked it out and it has a lot of things that are very easy for people to do that we would never really think about.
When I first saw the word 'biodiversity', the first thing that came to mind (besides the classic Pauly Shore movie 'Biodome'...awesome) was thinking it meant the differences in the environment. Looking at the dictionary thought it gave me the definition '
-So, back to that first quote, "the globe doesn't need to be saved by us, and we couldn't kill it if we tried. What we do need to save, is the earth as we like it." I find that even more true after reading the chapter. I care about the animals and the plants and such. So I should do things that involve helping those aspects of the environment out. Looking at some sights, I found The World Society For The Protection Of Animals. It's a good website, I suggest ya check it out.
So that's it from me today people. Hope everybody has a good week.
PS: Whoever voted 'Yes' with me to eating the moon if it were made of ribs, thank you.
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Hello Steve!
ReplyDeleteThe quote, "the globe doesn't need to be saved by us, and we couldn't kill it if we tried," also caught my eye. I think you are correct when saying that only so much can be done to save the planet; we have to focus on protecting and preserving our personal habitats to maintain a reasonable comfort level and standard of living. The most important message to gain from the chapter is that fixing the environment IS doable, and you have provided many examples of solutions throughout your review.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought the cows and the pigs into light when you wrote about the fact that we could be losing 11,000 species of animals and plants to extinction. It seems that many of us just dismiss this big number when there is no specific animal or plant associated with it. But when I stared thinking that it is possible I won't be able to have a fresh cooked t-bone steak off the bar-b-que this summer, then it seems to be more real. I also liked the quote in the reading from the U.N.'s Mallach Brown that state's, "When you approach sustainable development from an environmental view, the problems are global, but from a developmental view, the front line is local, local, local." We all can make a difference!
It is good to see that the United Nations is making efforts to resolve the world's fresh water shortage. The WASH program shouldn't take until 2015 to be trained in, I wish they were already established in every county without sustainable water filtration. The "dry" season in places like Africa really take their toll on the area residents with the lack of water and water irrigation to farm land. Do you know if the WASH program is availble to rural residents?
ReplyDeleteDon't have the book in front of me anymore, but if I remember correct, the WASH program should be available to anyone who needs it
ReplyDeleteSteve-
ReplyDeleteThe quote "the globe doesn't need to be saved by us..." was one of the first things that really caught my attention as well in the chapter. I like how you elaborated on that and took it to a deeper level. It was awesome to read about the WASH program, it's so great to see that there is action taking place within the next couple of years!
I visited the GoGreen link. I think it's a great cite with some good ideas about how each person CAN make a difference, even if it is as simple as carpooling to school or work.
The section about clean, fresh water caught my attention. It's hard to be reminded that 1.1 billion people are going without potable water while here in the US we're just constantly dumping it down the drain (literally). I was unaware of the WASH program until I read this article and it really interested me. I looked into the program a little more (http://webapps01.un.org/dsd/partnerships/public/partnerships/84.html) and realized that the two groups of people most affected by lack of sanitation are children and women, due to vulnerability to diseases and sexual harassment, respectively. Also, someone was wondering if it applied to rural residents and the answer is yes. WASH seeks to aid those in both rural and urban areas.
ReplyDeleteI went to the GoGreen website and found it really informative! This chapter really opened my eyes to all the different issues in our world that need improvement... but we CAN make a difference :) Good post!
ReplyDeleteI went to the WSPA website and it was interesting to see all of the different animals they help out. They are doing a lot of good for our world. I also liked how you brough up the cows and pigs example of how they could eventually go extinct as well. It is very true! We really do need to think about saving and preserving the things on this earth that we really care about! Very insightful post!
ReplyDeleteSteve- Your post was so entertaining to read. It was written in a way that I felt like someone was speaking it to me!! I really enjoyed your PS at the bottom, sorry I voted "NO" to eating the moon, because I am a recovering vegetarian! =)
ReplyDeleteIn response to the text, I found to to be interesting as well. It is important to pay attention to what organizations are trying to do to make our world a better place. I think what majority of us need to do is find some things that we really want to remain intact on this planet and start hooking up with organizations that support that. Raising money, volunteering, and advocating for what is important to us can make a huge difference. I guess it isn't always about the little things one can do on their own.
I enjoyed reading this, thank you for your insights!! --S
Steve-
ReplyDeleteThat first quote really struck me as well. I actually stopped and had to share it with everyone at my table when I was reading it... which of course led into a huge discussion and conflicting arguments! My take on the quote was that we can't save everything... so we need to choose the most important things or the most doable to help first, and continue on from there! This reading gave so many shocking statistics and brought up so many topics I could hardly handle it! (in a good way) I'm excited to see what is to come out of this book and class!
Great job! :)
Steve-
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you began with a quote before your reflection. It added a good touch to what you're talking about. I was surprised as well that only 2.5% of our 70% of the earth is water, and only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh. I thought you made really good points as you went along and appreciated the links you provided as well. Great post and good luck the rest of the semester!
I like that you chose that quote from the book. We can and should do all that we can to save the earth but it's going to take each individual to do their part to make that happen! I also like how you pulled out information that you found important, and liked it to somewhere else on the web!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the review Steve! I really enjoyed how you started your review off with a quote, a really thought provoking one at that. I have always thought of taking care of the environment or being "green" as a way to save the world or a way to keep it from from being destroyed, but the quote you provided proves my belief completely wrong. The message from the quote is that we couln't destroy the earth if we tried. The article continues to say that we aren't destroying the world, we are destroying ourselves, so in fact it is us that needs the saving. I think that that is such an interesting point.
ReplyDeleteHey Steve, I think you did a great job with this review! Like you, I was shocked to hear about the water issue. I can't believe that only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water!! I also went to the GoGreen website and discovered ways that I can actually help out the environment! I might suggest putting key terms with their linked definitions in your future reviews. Keep up the good work =)
ReplyDeleteSteve..also loved the quote in the beginning, it is very true. No one can save the earth alone, but if we all take little steps we could at least achieve something. I also cannot believe that 2.5% is freshwater...that is such a little amount! Its weird to think that people are without water..when here we take water for granted everyday. Never before have I been so ashamed of my actions with food and water and even shelter. We should really appreciate all the little things in life we take for granted everyday!
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteI really like how to elaborated on that first quote. I also feel the same way, how we can't necessarily save everything. It's kind of funny because we don't really even know how to take care of ourselves and each other, yet we want to save the world?!
I am also an animal lover like you and think saving as many as we can is crucial to our own existence. I checked out the World Society for the Protection of Animals website and found that to be a great way to help save endangered animals! I will be sure to donate whatever I can. Thanks for the good resources, and good review!
steve-
ReplyDeleteI found the quote very interesting. Its so true if we keep taking the environment and earth for granted soon it will be intollerable to live in. I also found the fact that there are already more than 11,000 species of plants and animals nearing extinction!
I liked how you used that quote from the reading, it really got me thinking differently and from a different view point that I never saw before. I guess the whole "saving the planet" has been engraved into my head so I didn't see it any other way before. You really made some good points on it all too!!
ReplyDeleteI also liked how you did your research and shared it with us, its starting to show that you are a community health major with your research!
Steve,
ReplyDeleteFirst thing first, great first review of the chapter material. I have to start also by saying that the opening quote for your post really made me think... so thank you! Secondly, I want to comment on "70% of the earth is water, and only 2.5% of that water is fresh, with only a small portion of that being accessible to people." I know that we have all heard this over and over in science classes and so on, but whoa it honestly gets me every time how little water we have available to us! It makes me feel guilty how wasteful we are as a society when it come to water consumption! Great job this week Steve and I must say that you blog photo of the clouds made me laugh! Good work sir!
Steve-
ReplyDeleteThat quote you wrotewas very powerful and hadgreat meaning behind it. I noticed in you post and the reading that nearly 11,000 species plants and animals are nearing extinction.Like we discussed in class, we are all a machine that kind of runs together. It's scary to think what will happen when we start taking it apart.
Great post and Great Picture!
I agree Steve, with the quote you started out with. It was something that really made me look at this whole situation if a different light. Another concept of this reading that really stood out to me, and to be honest frightened me a little :), was the one about how the Earth will get rid of us, much like it does to other extinct species, if it needs to....made me think about how we are not invincible in the way we act each day. It all makes a difference, and affects everything. Thank you for putting a link to the Go Green website...great ideas that I will definately start implemeting myself :)
ReplyDeleteSolid summary Steve! Also pretty cool you made a reference to Biodome, that was probably one of my most watched childhood movies. Nice work at linking topics you were talking about to sites that helped contribute to your point. I agree that extinction is a major topic and could be very detrimental to the place we call home. Even though scientists continue to discovery new species, mainly consisting of insects, the extinctions will somehow relate to one another because everyone and everything is connect in a circle of life. Interesting summary!
ReplyDeleteHey Steve!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. The way you write, really keeps me interested!
''The globe doesn't need to be saved by us, we couldn't kill it if we tried. What we do need to save, is the earth as we like it...''<--That is such a good quote because I never thought of "saving" the Earth that way!
I really do think that we take water for granted here. We don't realize that it is such a luxury, but also a necessity of life!
I never knew about the WASH program, thank you for the link!
WOW 11,000 species of plants and animals are near extinction! Way to point out if our pigs and cows would be gone-what a tragedy for us meat eaters!
Do you think the Global Conservation Turst will be able to raise $260 Million? I hope they can!
Thank you for the eye-opening post and great review!!
See you later Steve
Wow, first of all I want to say that I really liked your review. I read the article already but you made it more clear about some of the environmental problems we're facing in the world right now. It's also great how you put links where we can visit to find more info. While reading the article also moved by the fact that more than 11,000 species of plants and animals are already nearing extinction, and half of all species could become non-existent by the end of the century; so good job for mentioning that!
ReplyDeleteSee you in class!