Global Environmental Issues

            In my opinion, the most pressing global environmental issue facing us today is disposal of the waste created by populations.  Our fast paced lives have led to the creation of more and more disposable, single-use products.  Unfortunately, these are the products that are filling our landfills.  As the populations of our planet continue to accumulate waste, we have begun to feel the affect in the shortage of where to dispose of these wastes, resulting in solutions such as shipping the waste to less developed countries.  Another concern is the affect all the garbage in landfills is having on the environment.  Waterways are being choked with trash, chemicals are being released from products that have been buried, and our habitats and animals are being harmed as a result of this pollution to our environment.  I think this is the most pressing issue because it is an issue overshadowed by others, which, in the future, will be disastrous to all living creatures if not addressed now.   People need to think about the amount of waste they create and the effect it will have on the environment and future generations of the global population.

            If a wealthy benefactor gave me $100 billion to address a global problem of my choice, as important as proper waste disposal is, I would spend a portion of the money on developing better ways to dispose of these wastes, but would educate and constantly remind people of the necessity to create less waste.  I feel that creating less waste will, ultimately, be what reduces this problem.  Another issue that I would like to see addressed is the high cost it takes to become “green”.  Going “green” is strongly encouraged in many aspects of our lives, from the types of products we use in our homes to the way we run our offices, but the costs often prohibit us from choosing to take these steps.  I would like to change this by making products more attainable for everyone.  Some possibilities would be to provide funds to the companies producing these products to cover their costs so they would not have to pass this on to the consumer.  Another would be to set up a grant program for businesses to use on the initial changes needed to become “green”.   These things would help us take the needed steps in solving the pressing environmental issues.

The Third Frontier

            After reading the Louv readings it made me think about nature a bit differently. Many of the ideas present by Louv seemed very plausible. Studies have been done that showed how nature had a calming and relaxing effect on children. I doubt children can have a sense of calmness and relaxation in front of a rough war video game. These days’ children do not play outside like they used to. They are glued to the television or the computer or some other electronic device. Some people may think these advances in technology trump our need for nature, but I disagree. It is necessary for not only children but also adults to experience nature every now and then. Nature provides you with an experience that electronics could never give you.

            Louv created a term for people of our generation called “nature-deficit disorder.” People he would label with this disorder are those who have nothing to do with nature. This “disorder” again goes hand in hand with technological advances, and having video games, TV, and computers to entertain you instead of nature. A definite generation gap is seen when it comes to the nature-deficit disorder. Older generations did not have electronics to keep them busy. They had to go outside and create their own entertainment. I think older generations had the advantage. They used their imaginations and were creative, and were also much more physically active than today’s children which created a much less rate of obesity. I think that more parents should encourage their children to play outside, or even take them to a park so the entire family can get out into nature. There are many solutions to this problem that will have to involve people detaching themselves from electronics.

            The third frontier is upon us, a new frontier that is led by technology. I think going into a long explanation of the third frontier would be a bit repetitive for this entry. The third frontier is everything I have discussed. It is the recent and abundant effect that technology has had on people’s interaction with nature. People no longer want land but technology, period.

Intro to Colloquium and Sustainability

My expectations for this class include a greater understanding of sustainability and the environment, awareness of what my part is in sustainability and learning ways to better my community through service.  As I think about my personal behaviors and attitude there are things that could be considered unsustainable.  A lot of mornings I stop by a gas station and get a bottle of soda before work.  The sustainable thing to do would be to use a reusable bottle instead of throwing one out every day and then buying a new one.  Another unsustainable behavior of mine is the habit to not unplug electronics or turn lights off.  When I am home I like a lot of light, so I keep most of them on, and when I blow dry and straighten my hair, the blow dryer and straightener usually stay plugged in for the next morning, I never think to unplug them.  Hopefully this class will help me change those bad habits.

            My chosen field of study is nursing.  I think that nursing and sustainability go hand in hand.  When you have a healthy environment the people in that environment are healthy.  The goal of nursing is to keep people healthy, while also educating them on how to live a healthy lifestyle.  By nurses creating this awareness of health, people might strive to maybe not throw that bag out of the car window or throw that garbage in the river.  As people learn that these types of bad habits can damage the environment and their health, they will begin to change these behaviors.