Blogging Experience

Blogging was something I have never done before. Overall, I felt the expereince was good. It was a good way to express my opinion. i didn't really have any technical difficulties with it. I felt it was simple to use. Writing entries was practically painless for me because it didn't require perfect grammer or any specific format for doing it. We were allowed to write any way as long as the question was answered. Honestly, 250 words were no that hard to write at all. Most of the time the word count went over 300.

If there wasn't a deadline then no one would do it in a week. Nearly everyone ould wait till the last day to do all the entries. The amount of time given to complete the blogs was adequate and the timing worked for me since I don't like to do anythig over the weekend. Therefore, it was better for me that the blos were due Tuesday morning not Monday.

It was definitely good to read all the blogs. There are many people in the class (including myself) that don't talk too much. By reading their blogs I was able to learn their vies nd opinions about issues as well. It was good to also get their feedback to see what people thought about my opinions.

Blogging is definitely better than doind journals or essays. This way you don't have to be in cloass to submit it and don't have to wait for the professor to give their opinion. Also, its better when you hear your peers giving their opinion. I think it helps more.

I would like to continiue blogging but with a specific group. If there is a class or a specific subject then sure. I probably won't just blog without anyone responding or participating.

Overall, blogging was a good experience and I'm glad it counts for 400 points in the final grade. I have to admit they were easy points.

More gifts....

1. Bobble babes: Ok so this gift is sick. This special holiday bobble babe jiggles with the flick of your wrist. The Bobble Babes are made of neoprene to keep those drinks cooler for longer. Loaded with silicone boobs, mounted on plastic plate attached to a heavy foam bottle bra. What a waste and it costs $8.95!

2. Each roll is 3-ply with 200 sheets. What a waste of paper and printing. Imagine how much electricity and ink are used to print these toilet paper that are disposed of after use. This costs $9.99.3.The Tootin' Tush Angel has a bit of a gas problem. Switch her on, place her around the house or hang her on the tree and the small motion sensor in her hand will make her fart when someone passes. This little Farting Angel gets a little embarrassed so her cheeks light up with a reddish glow. How wasteful is this? And why do we need this???? The Tootin' Tush Farting Angel measures about 6 in. tall & 4 in. wide. Requires 2 AAA Batteries and it costs $9.95!

So, while searching for an unusual Christmas gift I found many things that I found were useless and wasteful. But I wanted to find things that made us lazier or tried to modernize our way of living. I also wanted something that requires a lot of batteries or light just to look good (Yes, I was working for the extra points). This is what I thought was insane:
1. Lighted Oval Mirror.
This product requires light bulb : 2 -25w B9.5 Cand F Incand
What I find insane is that this mirror costs $320.00!!! Just because it has a light next to the mirror.
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/products/view.aspx?family=297506&af=527&id3=01

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2. Smart shopper- Electronic Grocery List Organizer.
This product records and prints your list of groceries or other spoken commands and prints them. It requires 4 AA batteries. Why not just use a paper and pen to make your list? It cost about $95.00.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8627925&type=product&id=1194050965117&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=25&loc=GFT&srccode=cii_5217346&cpncode=24-12088322-2

3. Bright feet Lighted Slippers.
This product is a pair of slippers with lights so you won’t stumble over yourselves. What ever happened to turning on your light or lamp? The slippers are LED lighted and
each pair requires 4 CR2032 batteries. It cost almost $40.00.
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?sk=MX72141&productID=10823

While these gifts may not be straight to the trash I think they are pretty useless. If we just the conventional way of doing things we will realize that it is a waste of money and energy to purchase these products. Trust me anyone can live without them.

Religions

On Thursday I learned about a lot of different religions. Each group did a great job explaining the environmental beliefs in relation to religions such as Hinduism, Daoism, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam. There were many things that I learned from these presentations. If we really do follow any religion (and even if we don’t) we are taught to use the environment but at the same time we must protect it.

Each religion values the environment. They believe it is our place to live and should be used with care. In the Jewish religion the Genesis teaches that God created the Earth and gave human the rights and power over it. However, one should remember that everything (even the birds, mice and other creatures) came before humans in the order of creation. So there is a balance.

In Islam, the religion prohibits needless and cruel killing of animals. Animals are to be killed a certain way as to cause least pain as possible. Other religions, like Hinduism, prohibits the killing of cows because they are sacred. All religions teach the people to respect the environment and everything in the environment including animals, trees, water and much more.

I really liked the presentation on Doaism. This is because I didn’t know anything pertaining to this religion. Even though these people don’t believe in any God they still have respect for the environment. Amazingly, in this religion every creature on Earth is of equal stature. This was different from the other religion since most of the other religions believe that they are superior and have a natural right to use the Earth. We should all think this. Why are we superior and how can we prove this? If we are superior than we should be able to lead the way in protecting the environment. Instead we are the leaders of polluting the Earth and causing all the destruction to it. This is something we should all think about….

Trip to the Museum of Natural History

Last Thursday we went to the Museum of Natural History and saw many things there. Specifically we were required to see four exhibits. Out of the four the one that I thought related the most to our topics discussed in class was the Hall of biodiversity. There I saw the changes that our planet is going through.

This exhibit showed how there are new species arising because of the transformation of the spere. Human activity has altered the ecosystems. The soils and freshwaters are damaged because of increased industrialization which is due to high resource demand. One picture that fascinated me was the comparison of furniture and clothing between an Indian and Japanese family. It shows that the family in Japan owned much more than the family in India.

The NYS Environment exhibit was also interesting as it showed the activities of animals aording to seasons. Many animals go deeper into the soil as the season changes. while going there I also saw the huge tree that was chopped of and was fascinated by the size. Finally I came to the last exhibit.

The Spitzer Hall of Human Origins was also nice. It showed how human have evolved over time. From the earliest to the latest humans the humans one thing was that they decreased their hairs on the body. This was because of the clothing they had made and needed less fur on their skin. As we know, climate helps alter apperance of people. For example, people in Africa have dark skin because of the intensity of heat. We should realize that altering our weather may have many impacts on us as well.

I think the Museum of Natural History was a nice place to visit.

Research Topic:

The topic I have chosen for my research paper is the environmental racism in New Orleans. I have chosen this topic because I have done a lot of research on New Orleans specifically on the causes and effects of Hurricane Katrina on the low income population.
In this research paper I plan to extensively research the environmental condition for the people in New Orleans,specifically the African American community, and how Hurricane Katrina has impacted on their living conditions. Also, I would like to discuss the role of the government in this environmental racism.

The sources I plan on using are the following:

1.Toxic Soup Redux: Why Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Matter after Katrina.
This is a good article that explains the environmental hazards for the colored people in New Orleans. Racism and specifically environmental racism played a key role in the aftermath of Katrina. It shows how toxic the environment has become for the people in that region.
http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Sze/

2. Katrina Reveals Environmental Racism's Deadly Force.
This article explains how New Orleans as the victim of environmental injustice even before Katrina hit the region. It also shows how global warming has contributed to the natural disaster.
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=74fb2e18f6e1c829ae73181353442a61

3. Environmental Racism: How Minority Communities Are Exposed to “Toxic Soup”
This article, as it is titled, shows how minority communities are exposed to toxic. New Orleans is one of them. New Orleans has a number of toxic sites. New Orleans has a great African American popultaion and that population has been negelcted before and after hurricane Katrina.
http://www.democracynow.org/2005/8/30/environmental_racism_how_minority_communities_are

4. There is no such thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class and Hurricane Katrina.
By:Chester Hartman
This book has various article on racism towards the citizens of New Orleans explaining how the government has neglected the low income African Americans in that community.

I plan on using more sources but as of right now these are the ones I have listed.

Waste and Consumerism

“ Collectively we are committing a vast and unsustainable act of taking, but we each are anonymous and no one is in charge or accountable for the consequences. I fear that in this process we are doing irreparable harm to our planet and to our individual spirits….”

In Chris Jordan’s statement these are the most powerful lines (above). We have somehow come to abuse all the resources available to us. All we do is buy more and more everyday and in turn waste more and more everyday. All the pictures in his gallery are shocking. The cell phones, the cigarette butts, the circuit boards and the cell phone chargers just prove how wasteful we are. This all has made me think of how much I am contributing to the destruction of the environment. Sadly, I realized that I am hurting the environment a lot.

So why do we need to buy new things all the time? Every now and then a member in my house buys a new cell phone because of some new feature it comes with when the old phone is just as good and works perfectly fine. What happens to the old one? It lies around the house for emergency use (in case someone’s phone doesn’t work which probably never happens and even if it does there is an urge to buy a new one). No one feels accountable for such waste even though all this wasteful acts harm our planet greatly.

Cell phones I found in my house that are used (4) and unused (5):

These are cables I found in my drawer (not house) which I never use and have no idea when and why I got them…. Sadly, wasteful and a not so wise consumer.

All the waste we produce and which we should be accountable for the disposal of, is sent other countries such as China. This is really very shocking and disturbing. Why aren’t we the ones breathing in toxic air that is being produced by us. We have so many laws against racism and equality yet we tend to violate them the most. Our waste should stay on our land so we learn not to produce so much waste. It’s horrible to take advantage of the underdeveloped countries.

Once we start to see extreme consequences only then will we realize that we are causing global warming. We need to wise consumers and not wasteful consumers. Once we realize this our souls will not be in peace, not because of the destruction we have caused but because in our hearts we would know we could have done something to prevent it.

Is Advancement Good or Bad?

Since I was born in America I never really appreciated all the resources available to me until I visited my country Pakistan. There I saw what people go through just to get through their daily lives. Water, which is probably the most essential in our lives, is very scarce in many areas. Women would bring buckets, fill them with water, and then carry them back to their homes on their head. Power shortage is also another problem faced by people there. In the warm weather (and I mean warm like 120 degrees F) the electric would go out because the system does not support all the load of the air conditioners being used. Imagine sitting in a room boiling hot without even a fan!
In the Story of Stuff Annie points out what wasteful spenders we are. This is very true I believe. As for the people in Pakistan, I don’t believe this is so. The majority of the people’s income is average to low and they cannot afford to buy for pleasure. Many of the things in Pakistan are either produced locally or imported from China, their next door neighbors. However, there is child labor involved in all this so this is not a good way to produce items.
I would also say that the use of plastic is also quite limited. This is because most of the products are brought on a day to day basis. For example, the milkman would come in a bicycle and pour the milk into a pot (and yes the milk is fresh and unpasteurized, so it must be boiled immediately so it won’t spoil). Secondly, much of the food purchased is given out in small sandwhich type of bags, not big plastic containers like here. Also, other products such as i-pods, clothing dryers, heaters, are not very commonly found. People still dry their clothes on a clothes line and listen to music on tape recorders.
I totally agree with Annie that we have become a machine. With more and more advancements we desire more and better all the time. We don’t even have time to do simple things in life. Yes, I do spend a lot of time watching t.v. and using the computer. I’m really beginning to think if all the technology in America is good or not. I am not saying that Pakistan is bad but it is not as developed as America is. Maybe that is better because if we were like the people in Pakistan we wouldn’t waste so much and would contribute less to global warming.

Global Warming

Global Warming is a serious issue faced by the world today. I believe the most important problem is the rise in temperature around the world. This is because most of the important things in the world will be affected by this problem. For example, high temperatures will cause the melting of glaciers leading to a shortage of drinking water. Also, it will cause the loss of cold weather, leading to extinction of species. This one issue leads to many problems.
After doing research I came up with some solutions to this problem. One such solution is to reduce heat trapping emissions so we can experience colder weather. Pennsylvania is one state that is working to solve the problem of global warming. By reducing the emission of carbon dioxide we can do a lot to save the earth.
Some ways to reduce emission of heat is:
1. By using solar energy to power our homes and businesses.
2. Reducing emissions from cars.
3. Making public transportation a common mode for traveling.
4. Using coal to power stations.
5. Creating a technique for capturing carbon and reducing emission.
http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/Climate-Change-in-Pennsylvania_Impacts-and-Solutions.pdf
By making changes in the economy we can solve the problem of climate change and in turn save the world. We need to reduce the carbon in the atmosphere which accounts for much of the change in weather. I think the government needs to play a more actice role in this problem because all of the above solutions need to be implemented in every house by every person. These sources, such as solar energy, fossil fuels for cars, and coal using stations, need to be available to the public in order to be used. With these changes we can make a difference and the problem global warming can be solved.

My Passion

I am a person who has faced many hardships in life but continue to follow my passion. Loosing both my parents at a young age I still thrive to complete my education. My goal is to become a Physician Assistant and make my parents and my daughter proud. At times it is hard to follow your dreams but the determination to do something and make a difference keeps me going. I am at LaGuardia Community College to finish some pre-requisites to the PA program. Once I am done here I will continue to my next destination which is PA school. This will be one of the greatest accomplishments for me.
The way I am reaching for my goal and working towards my passion is by taking small steps, one step at a time. Slow and steady wins the race. The profession I have chosen also requires time and patience and that is something I have learned to do. My passion arose in this field when my father was hospitalized after a massive car accident and died in front of my eyes. I wished I was the doctor and could have done something to help my father. Many other patients in the Intensive Care Unit were helped by the medical care workers and I felt I wanted to do something that would help others as well. This is why I chose this career.
Now, how will I use my education? Well I will use the education I acquire to medically assist people in need. I’m not sure exactly how that would make the world a better place but it will definitely be one more person helping and treating humankind. It will provide one more individual to a person in need. In fact, it is humankind that can save the Earth (since we are the ones destroying it) so I think indirectly I am helping to make the world a better place. I am just one person and its hard to believe that I am actually influencing the whole world. After all, every person counts.

Blog 1

Religion can be used as a way to help the environment. This month is a fasting month for Muslims so we manage to save a lot of things. By fasting, everyday I’m saving paper cups that I would have used for coffee. My husband, who is a smoker, does not pollute the air by smoking. Usually, during fasting hours it is best to pray so electricity is also being conserved by not watching television or listening to music. Even though these are small acts they have been beneficial to the environment.
Honestly speaking this was not intended to help the environment. Instead, this is a religious belief that we have been following for a long time. Come to think of it we can change little habits and help the environment. Why not buy a cup and reuse it every day for coffee? There are so many lights in my house when I can only use one. We have come to abuse the resources we have available. In my country, Pakistan, people use water very carefully since they have a shortage of it. Very often the electricity would go out and people would suffer. In countries like that people realize the importance of these basic necessities while in America people abuse it.
Simple living and high thinking is the key to a better environment. My major concern is the pollution in the environment. I would hate to see my daughter face any health issues due to pollution. Also, global warming as I have read in “An Inconvenient Truth” is also an important issue. All of the glaciers are melting and the ecosystem is losing its balance. I believe the government needs to take this issue seriously and so should we since this concerns us.