Stewardship for Dummies

A message from Jorge Meléndez

2012-02-09T14:53:00.001-08:00

Peace in Christ,

Why is there so much confusion in the world? I believe the main reason is because we fight a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12). Within the spiritual war that we fight, we have an enemy who employs “divide and conquer” tactics that help confusion and destroy individuals in many ways. One of the ways that the enemy conquers is by attacking spiritual knowledge.

The LORD said through his prophet Hosea “my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), not that Israel had no access to knowledge; rather they chose to ignore it. The lack of Biblical knowledge is among the greatest threats to Christianity today. For this reason, consistent Bible study and seeking of the LORD with a sincere heart is important. It is necessary that we take the time to read and reread the Bible as often as we can while doing it with patience and not rushing through it, take time to consider every word. By taking time to carefully study the Bible you’ll find what the LORD says about many of the subjects that we face each and every day.

There are many subjects that impact our lives: marriage, children, family, sex, etc.. When faced with the question, “what should I do in this situation?” It is important that your reasoning be a Biblical one (Psalm 111:10), this essential element will help you know where to start and where to go (Psalms 119:105).

There exists many self help books, articles, blogs, etc., but what can really help you? Whether you’re going through something or considering something, see what the Bible says about the subject and you’ll be at a great starting point. Some might say that the Bible does not touch on every subject that we face in the 21st century; however, the essence of every subject is found in the Scriptures, precisely.

Continue your Bible reading and combine it with prayer, fasting, and church attendance and by doing so you will maintain a healthy Biblical perspective, a perspective that will bring great blessings to you and those around you.

Your brother in the faith,

Jorge Meléndez

http://www.nwchurchjc.org/

Glenn Rice's Reflection about the future

2012-02-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

PHS100A Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific College

February 2, 2012

A broad essay topic can be very helpful for a student who struggles for an idea to fill a page, however a broad topic can also lead to some difficulty about how to associate it with something specific. The topic for this paper is very broad. I work within a micro-culture where any events that occur on a global scale are irrelevant to their concerns at the local level. Thus, articulating how classroom instruction relates to my everyday life and my professional career choice will be challenging.

As has been touched upon in our coursework, local communities cannot isolate themselves from the issues of global environmentalism. Blissful ignorance is no defense against large-scale environmental degradation. Eventually, and to an ever-larger degree, local communities must adapt to global environmental change – even as they are faced with their own environmental challenges.

In an effort to narrow the focus on how environmental issues affect me personally, I will speak of the sadness and anger that I feel toward the mindless profit-driven callousness with which global corporations treat the environment. As an example, rain forests destruction related to the raising of cattle in the forested areas of South America to produce hamburger meat for worldwide consumption. This ongoing tragedy continues to this day – even as the involved corporate entities state that they no longer buy hamburger meat from the most recently deforested areas (Cummins, 1999). The issue of palm oil as an ingredient in processed foods, cosmetics, and medicines (generally for first-world consumption) is quickly destroying the habitat of orangutans in Malaysia – in particular the island of Borneo (Block, 2009). These environmental issues – of which few people are aware – are examples of habitat destruction that should be of great concern down to the level of the individual consumer.

In a Google search to collect information on these topics, the first three pages were sites for the meat and palm oil industries defending their practices. Additionally, the current system of commercial advertising in media allows moneyed interests to withhold advertising dollars if any negative reporting about their products should air. Therefore, the questions posed about environmental control, clean up, and monitoring in many instances becomes moot as powerful corporations choose bottom-line economics over responsible stewardship over their environmental holdings and the lands over which they have great influence. This points out how interests with much to gain from the products in question stand in the way of society’s ability to confront irresponsible product development and environmental behavior.

These global issues can be – by definition – overwhelming to individuals. There already exist a number of important environmental concerns to occupy local jurisdictions. Not only do we have to worry ourselves over which products are responsible choices to purchase, but also how we should dispose of the accursed leftover hamburger or potato chip after its procurement. Here in Portland, where environmental awareness is higher than in most municipalities, we have done well to keep ourselves somewhat abreast of environmental issues. Almost every Portlander knows where their water comes from, when sewage spills into the Willamette occur, or where their local farmer’s market is. We take civic pride in our knowledge of these issues, and defend our resources with vigor. However, the collapse of the economy is forcing Portlanders to make choices that they wish they did not have to make.

The middle class, where I feel the greatest awareness of these issues exist, has been so pinched by the poor economy that we have been forced to choose between using limited financial resources to maintain our personal standard of living, or to make socially and environmentally responsible purchases for the protection of our shared civic resources. Sadly, my family made the choice to take a fallback position that would stabilize our finances and keep our family afloat, rather than stand firm with our choice to limit our purchases to within the community. Many other families like ours have made this frustrating choice.

Now, a curmudgeon such as I might see (as I have) that the current economical state of affairs is in part a cynical ploy by moneyed interests to keep the populace off-balance. Within a state of fear and chaos there will be less resistance against their unstated goal to place financial priorities over the fate of the environment. Global awareness of the unsustainable natural resource extraction methods that large corporations use – has interfered greatly with their ability to profit from their mismanagement. My cynicism is reinforced by the seemingly intentional lack of interest many large corporations have for the economic and environmental concerns of society as a whole. The “one percenters” who would be most able to have a positive influence upon this dysfunctional situation seem unconcerned with how deeply their profit motives have hurt the very societies that they use to acquire greater wealth.

So yes, I am affected by a general lack of interest in global environmental affairs. The connection between these issues for me is not only physical (higher food, fuel, and fewer available funds for the commons) but also emotional. My beautiful children will inherit this ever-expanding war between greedy self-interest and the necessarily expensive good stewardship of the planet. Nevertheless, how does this affect my of choice of career and my ability to fulfill the obligations to my profession? As a student of human-development and as a substance-abuse counselor in training, the connections between my career choice and environmental stewardship are quite indirect. However, as I have mentioned several times in this missive, the poor attention to the common interests of human survival directly affects me – and my clients.

Substance abuse is a condition that can easily plague anyone – and without prejudice. However, substance abuse disproportionately affects the poor and homeless, and this is where the connection can be made between my studies and resource use. Without any doubt, the major concerns of the homeless are food and shelter however, there are the critical peripheral issues of mental health and substance abuse, which are more often than not – co-occurring disorders. Even those with the intellectual wherewithal to gain access to food and shelter have difficulty securing placements, and thus, you have developments such as Dignity Village in Northeast Portland, and the Occupy Portland inspired, Right 2 Survive and Right 2 Dream Too encampments downtown. Society, in general, still believes that if one is homeless, there are shelters in which to stay – and that there is no need to sleep on the streets. However, according to a recent homeless count, there are 1700 people who must sleep outside in Portland area. A Salvation Army winter warming center that had been scheduled to open, has been unable to do so. City Team Ministries, charges $5 for a bed, and the Portland Rescue Mission uses a lottery system to distribute beds. Clearly, these facilities are too few, regularly full, and as a result, people must be routinely turned away (Right 2 Survive, 2011).

Some solutions that homeless organizations are no doubt attempting to implement, but are rarely ever heard about, is the use of idle open spaces to grow food for neighborhoods, later allowing gleaners to harvest the excess to share with the homeless. Efforts to this end have been made by volunteer organizations such as TeamWorks that coordinate like-minded groups such as farmers markets, fruit growers, local farms, and supermarkets (Hands On, 2009).

Attempts have been made to acquire unoccupied or foreclosed upon homes to refurbish into low-income housing – in most cases by including the re-use of discarded building materials. These efforts are not only being accomplished by vanguard organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, but also other groups – local and national. Central City Concern in Portland continues to work hard at renovating downtown properties for use as transitional housing (CCC, 2006). Various local planning commissions are attempting to share success stories for use in other communities and governmental organizations (Cohen, & Wardrip, 2011). On the national level, H.R. 4868, The Housing Preservation, and Tenant Protection Act was debated in Congress to help “create a voluntary program to encourage the transfer of assisted rental properties to preservation-oriented owners” (Halliday, 2010).

Nevertheless, once again, it comes down to money. Housing that becomes available is usually from the result of foreclosure, so for every home that is repossessed, there is another homeless family. Burdens upon states and local governments to fund “vital” programs leave little money for any homeless and hunger projects alluded to here. Therefore, these issues remain very emotional issues for me; for there is little else that I can do other than assist the struggling multitudes – individual-by-individual.

Perhaps society will at long last recognize that the appropriation and amassment of wealth is nothing more than self-serving greed and not at all a human quality to be admired. Hoarding excess material and financial resources that might be used to care for our fellow citizens that are in need is a spiritual tragedy. Hoarding our emotional resources is an illness of the spirit that leaves our souls empty. We can say that environmental destruction is merely a symptom of a collective society that places a greater value upon their own wants than they do their fellow human beings. Even in the face of any potential global environmental tragedy, we can still take meaningful action to create change locally, by praying with all of our might, speaking out against injustice wherever we see it, and putting the question to those who claim to be looking out for our best interests.
Resources

Block, Ben. (2009). Global Palm Oil Demand Fueling Deforestation. Worldwatch Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6059

Central City Concern (CCC), (2006). Case Study: Comprehensive Planning and Neighborhood Revitalization. Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Retrieved from: https://docs.google.com/viewer? a=v&q=cache:Th8xz1S24tgJ:www.practitionerresources.org/cache/documents/56293.doc…

Cohen, R., and Wardrip, K. (2011). The Economic & Fiscal Benefits of Affordable Housing. Planning Commissioners Journal. August 01, 2011. Retrieved from: http://pcj.typepad.com/planning_commissioners_jo/2011/08/501b.html

Cummins, R. (1999). Fast Food Chains, Beef Overconsumption, and Deforestation: The Case of Guatemala and Costa Rica. Retrieved from: http://www.mcspotlight.org/people/witnesses/environment/cummins_ronald.html

Halliday, Toby. (2010). Testimony for H.R. 4868, the Housing Preservation, and Tenant Protection Act.

Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, House Committee on Financial Services. March 24, 2010. Retrieved from: https://docs.google.com/viewer? a=v&q=cache:qx9_QmWX2XsJ:www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/testimony/…

Hands On Greater Portland. (2009). TeamWorks: Linking Local Food & Food Security. Hands-on Connect – For Volunteers. Retrieved from: http://demo.handsonconnect.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Details_Page?id=a0CA00000053JewMAE

Right 2 Survive PDX. (2011). Support of Occupy Portland. Right 2 Survive & Right 2 Dream Too. Retrieved from: http://right2survive.wordpress.com/

Future Development and Sustainability by Tammy L. Hooper

2012-02-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A, Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific University

February 1, 2012

Future Development and Sustainability

Changes needed in our society to confront future development and sustainability are modifications in our “behaviors, institutions, and technologies” (Brennan, 2011, p. 677). Sustainability as defined by The United Nations (UN) is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs” (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, 2009). The UN further states that this “requires the integration of its economic, environmental and social components at all levels by continuous dialogue and action in global partnership.” So we need to collectively find a way to balance environmental goals, social goals and economic goals. According to the World Conservation Union we are currently out of balance in these areas and top heavy in economic and social goals and deficient in realistic and working environmental goals (Resources, 2006). The World Conservation Union remarks “development decisions by governments, businesses and other actors do allow trade-offs and put greatest emphasis on the economy above other dimensions of sustainability. This is a major reason why the environment continues to be degraded and development does not achieve desirable equity goals.” The report goes on to say that the integration of economic, environmental and social components cannot be treated equally because the economy is an “institution that emerges from society” and that they are virtually one and the same as society creates rules to mediate the exchange of goods or value (Resources, 2006). The environment on the other hand is not created by society and trade offs are limited in regards to human activity.

In 1992, Edward Wilson noted that human activities have increased 'background' extinction rates by between 100 and 10,000 times. 'We are’, he said, ‘in the midst of one of the great extinction spasms of geological history” (Resources, 2006). The Millennium Assessment (MA) which was implemented by UN secretary Kofi Annan in 2000, “to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and the scientific basis for action needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of those systems and their contribution to human well-being makes quite clear that not only does the level of poverty remain high, but inequality is growing” (Overview of the Milliennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). The main finding of the MA were that in the last 50 years humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly than at any other time in history. This has been due to the rising demand for food, water, timber, fiber and fuel (Overview of the Milliennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). These changes have been for human gain and environmental loss which has aggravated poverty for some peoples. This in itself diminishes sustainability for future generations. There needs to be significant changes in policies, institutions and practices for measurable sustainability to occur.

It appears that what we have been doing regarding sustainability isn’t working and to try and fix a broken system would just be wasting time and depleting our resources even more. There needs to be new ways of thinking and a doing away with “business as usual” (Resources, 2006). One thing to look at is our ravenous consumption appetite and developing awareness that our production systems are flawed. Advertising and media which are so powerful globally actually promote the opposite view, that production and consumption are good and favorable. This promotion can cause people to remain ignorant of the fact that we have limited natural resources and that we cannot indefinitely continue to consume goods and certain services at our current level. This new look at sustainability must include “both the human needs and aspirations of the poor of developing world, and the over-consumption in the industrialized world (Resources, 2006). There needs to be reeducation to the myth that if we remove a stress to an ecological system then it will simply renew itself. This myth gives humans comfort that the environment will always support us therefore ensuring our existence indefinitely. This is simply not the truth and can be plainly seen with some education from knowledgeable sources in our communities, cities, states, internationally and globally. There also needs to also be education regarding the poverty inflicted on certain groups of people due to the exhaustive use of natural resources and the rapid and continued expand of industrialism.

The World Conservation Union states “Sustainability needs to be made the basis of a new understanding of human aspiration and achievement. The relevant metric of sustainability is ‘the production of human wellbeing (not necessarily material goods) per unit of extraction from or imposition upon nature” (Resources, 2006). In fact, the United Nations is hosting a High Level Meeting on Happiness and Wellbeing: Defining a New Economic Paradigm in New York on April 2, 2012. The UN prefaces this meeting on their website by stating “The world is at a crossroads. The future of mankind and the planet is at stake” (Happiness and Wellbeing). Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister, Royal Government of Bhutan states:

Our global economic system is in rapid melt-down, starting with the financial collapse of 2008 and now manifesting in Europe’s severe and spreading debt crisis. That economic system, based on the totally unsustainable premise of limitless growth on a finite planet, is the direct cause of the very policies that the IEA says are leading us to a calamitous end as evident in the growing frequency and magnitude of manmade and natural disasters. And that economic system has produced ever widening inequities, with 20% of the world’s people now consuming 86% of its goods, 84% of its paper, and 87% of its cars, while the poorest 20% consume 1% or less of each and emit only 2% of the world’s greenhouse gases. That gap, coupled with the deep economic crisis, led the International Labour Organization to warn on 30 October that the world faces years of social unrest as economies falter (Happiness and Wellbeing).

The Prime Minister also sees this meeting as an opportunity for international consensus for the creation of sustainability based economic paradigm with national accounting systems and to slow resource degradation and to support and protect the world’s most vulnerable peoples. It is planned that key representative leaders from developed and developing nations, along with leading economists, scientists, and civil society and spiritual leaders, come together to issue a call at the UN on 2nd April for a sustainability-based economic development paradigm to replace the current system. It is thought that this project would be worked on over the next year and then would be available for implementation on a voluntary basis in national policy.

How is my major in human development affected by environmental issues? Malnutrition, inadequate water supply and environmental pollution pose serious problems to human health. From an environmental perspective shortage of arable land and water stress are important drivers for food vulnerability. Unsafe drinking water and indoor air pollution are the most serious environmental offenders, in view of current loss of human health (Outstanding Environmental Issues for Human Development, 2005). According to the 2011 Human Development Report, “power imbalances and gender inequalities at the national level are linked to reduced access to clean water and improved sanitation, land degradation and deaths due to indoor and outdoor air pollution, amplifying the effects associated with income disparities (Human Development Report 2011 Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All, 2011). Equal access to water, energy, healthcare, reproductive care and sanitation could help sustainability and human development. It is further stated that “Poor and disadvantaged people suffer most from environmental degradation” (Human Development Report 2011 Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All, 2011) and I have certainly found that to be true in the work I do with low income women and children. Most of the women I work with do not have a high school diploma or a GED and little work history. Most of the women are in their early to mid thirties and have at least two children if not four or five that they cannot support financially. Child care is expensive and even more so if you have more than one child so often attending college or taking classes to obtain a GED can be very difficult. This forces families to remain on state assistance to meet their needs for medical, dental, food and a small cash assistance. Many of these children have medical issues some quite serious due to drug use while pregnant, domestic violence while pregnant, living in unsanitary conditions, and malnourishment. I have seen children with symptoms that I as a mother would be concerned about, have an extremely difficult time accessing appropriate medical resources or be taken seriously. These women that I work with often do not have any education surrounding healthy eating, exercise, environment, community, and certainly not sustainability. I am fortunate that I have access to 28 women that I can give share this information with. I also have many volunteers, who come to our center and teach the women about health and wellness, growing a garden even in an apartment setting, eating organic or local and reproductive health. Personally, I want to start composting in my backyard this spring and become more involved in my local community, maybe attending a neighborhood meeting. These are some of the ways that I am using this course to be a steward of the environment.

References

Brennan, S. &. (2011). Environment The Science Behind the Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Education, Inc.

Happiness and Wellbeing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from World-Happiness.org: http://world-happiness.org/upcoming-events/high-level-meeting-on-happiness-and-wellbeing-april-2-2012/

Human Development Report 2011 Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All. (2011). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from United Nations Development Programme: http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf

Outstanding Environmental Issues for Human Development. (2005). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2005/Outstanding_Environmental_Issues_for_Human_Development

Overview of the Milliennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from Millenium Assessment Web: http://www.maweb.org/en/About.aspx

Resources, I. U. (2006, January 29-31). The Future of Sustainability Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from International Union for Nature and Natural Resources: http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_future_of_sustanability.pdf

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20. (2009). Retrieved January 29, 2012, from UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development: http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/index.shtml?utm_source=OldRedirect&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=dsd&utm_campaign=OldRedirect

Future Environmental Issues: Related to Human Development and Teaching by Lori

2012-02-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A: Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific College

February 1, 2012

When looking to the future, I can see multiple paths that our society could travel down. We could keep going the way we are now and be certain that things will end badly very soon. We can make small changes and hope for a better future. Or we can make big, albeit expensive changes and have a wonderful future to look forward to. Personally I would choose the last option. However like I said, it would be expensive.

Our society is in desperate need for change. We need better ways to fuel our cars and heat our homes. At the rate we are going, our world as we currently know it will cease to exist in the near future. One way we can change we can make is our dependency on fossil fuels. Easier said than done right? Our society as a whole needs to take a step back and really analyze what we really should be dependent on. We need to be more conscious about how we fuel our cars and consequences of the emissions our cars produce. The amount of greenhouse gases every car produces in a single day is huge.

According the EPA’s website:

“The Fifth U.S. Climate Action Report concluded, in assessing current trends, that greenhouse gas emissions increased by 17 percent from 1990-2007. Over that same time period, the U.S. GDP increased by 65 percent and population increased by 21 percent. The dominant factor affecting U.S. emissions trends is CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, which increased by 21.8 percent over the 17-year period, while methane and nitrous oxide emissions decreased by 5 percent and 1 percent, respectively.”

From reading this, one obvious answer would be population control. Less people, less chance for green house emissions to go up. However, this is something I would never consider as an option.

In order to think about sustainability we need to look at new renewable resources such as wind and solar power. I think that solar power is a great way to go. I would have solar panels on my house if they weren’t quite so expensive. In the long run however, soar power would almost end up paying you. The website “solarpowerrocks.com” they detail the cost and rebates to having solar power in Washington State. They also have the details for every state in the country.

“Sample 5kW home solar electricity system cost — Seattle

1. Cost before incentives:$35,000 (5,000Watts*$7/W)

2. 30% Federal Tax Credit: Subtract $10,500

3. Estimated annual production ±5,500kWh*:subtract between $825 and $2,970

4. Avoided Energy Costs: subtract about $440 (cost of electricity increases 5.5%/yr)

5. Years to payback: as fast as 7 years!

Estimated Net Cost Now: between $21,088 and $23,233

Estimated Net Cost in 2020: ¡-$12,437!**

*in most of Washington, a 5kW pv system will produce much more than 5,500kWh of electricity a year. Ask your local installer for more details.

**that’s right. A negative cost. That is the same thing as a payment. In this scenario, the system has paid you to the tune of $12,437.00!!! A 35% ROI! We kid you not.”

So, I guess that solar power would be the way to go for an individual. This might be something that I would seriously consider doing in the future and would help sustain my family.

When it comes to how environmental issues affect my major I am not sure. Because I have not decided what I will be doing when I finish school I haven’t really thought about it much. I have been thinking about the possibility of teaching some day. When thinking in terms of schools and the students, there are many things that need to be done to help schools become more sustainable. The district I am looking at working for already has some good environmental habits in place but they still have quite a ways to go. One thing that I think would help improve the schools immensely is finding a better local source for school food. I have seen the giant semi trucks that go to the school and think of how horrible all the processed food must be. If they could find a local place to get their food from, I think they would be far better off. Another thing would to start thinking about having solar panels on the roof tops. There wouldn’t even have to be a lot of them just a few to help with the massive energy costs.

Personally, I think that a lot of what I have learned from this class would be extremely helpful to the students I would teach. Teaching them about ways they can help the environment and the society they live in would be a great step in the right direction. I hope that I do get the chance to help educate them on this someday.

Resources:

www.epa.gov: retrieved February 1, 2012

www.solarpowerrocks.com/washington: retrieved February 1, 2012

Our Society’s Future: Changes We Can Make by Nelson Collazo-Serrano

2012-02-02T11:37:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A

Warner Pacific College

February 1, 2012

Our Society’s Future: Changes We Can Make

The raise in our population’s number has placed a black cloud over our society’s natural resources future. A larger number of people in our nation equal a larger use and misuse of our natural resources. The rate that we are using those resources could impact our environment’s future, and dictate how those resources are available to us. Because of the type of society we are live in, individualism plays a major role in the way we approach problems and issues that we face. Individualism is a great tool for individuals to seek out goals for those individual’s advancements in social or personal settings. As a society as a whole, we need to step back from the individualism mentality and worked together to come out with strategies to help the environment.

More than often as individuals we think that there is not much we can do to aid the environment; but on the contrary there are millions of individuals if they think alike more can be accomplished. There are many actions that we can take to prevent or stop the misuse of our natural resources. During recent years, citizens of our country have become more aware of the dangers facing the environment and what that means to our future generations. Our government and the scientific community have come out with suggestions that can alleviate our energy problems. Programs such as The Energy Star are a prime example of a coalition of individuals that can make a difference. This label is placed on energy efficient products to encourage individuals to purchase them, and help the environment by doing so. Some of the issues we should focus on in to save our future and environment are the way we use food, transportation, housing, and energy sources. If we can apply positives changes to our attitude towards the environment, we can ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

“Deforestation is clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land” (National Geographic, 2012).

To begin a series of changes, we should start with the way our society consumes and harvests food. We do not need to be rocket scientists to figure out that the bigger the size in population, the bigger the need is for food and resources to produce that food. Humans by nature are carnivorous, so we often choose eating meat from other animals. A majority of all the land use for agricultural purpose in our country is used to raise animals for food. The main type of meat comes from livestock. Livestock requires the usage of land which sometimes requires the process of deforestation and habit destruction. Another problem that arises from having such a large need for livestock is the large consumption of water. A large amount of the consumption of water in this country comes of livestock farms use to feed our population. That amount of water is being taken away from human consumption and natural habitat.

The best way to change our eating habits and help the environment and the same time is to eat less meat. Start a diet based on grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Vegetables such as, grains and fruits should come from homes with suitable backyards in which we can build our own gardens. Another step could be that each family in this country should have one or two meals a week without meat. I know that as meat-eater myself, it is hard sometimes to give up some guilty pleasures such stakes, ribs, and hamburgers. We should think of our future and the environment’s by taking into consideration that eating less meat will make a contribution toward preserving the planet.

Another change we can apply as a society to preserve the environment’s future is the transportation issue. Our society depends on individuals to continue their work and daily activities so society can be functional. To do so, many of us rely on many ways of transportation to give us the mobility to get to and from those places of work and daily activities. Transportation is very important to supply the demands for passengers and freight destined to all types of business to keep our economy going. Vehicles such as cars, buses, tractor trailers, and trains are our main tools of traveling from urban areas to our work and activities. Sadly, the same tools we use for transportation have created growing levels of gases damaging the environment. Due to the large amount of vehicles on the road, transportation has been connected to environmental problems such as pollution from their internal combustions engines. Some of those effects on the environment are climate reactions to ultraviolet rays, notably over ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

To make some changes in the transportation field, we should start by minimizing the use of our personal vehicles to reduce emissions created by such vehicles. Also we should add to the regulations put in place by our government to ensure clean air in our future. Another effort is the one our government is making in coalition with auto makers in creating a vehicles that run with little to no fossil fuels. Around ten to twenty years ago, the concept of hybrid, biofuels, or electric cars was something out of sci-fi movies, but we are able to see those types of cars on our roadways in our present day. Those types of cars are an indication of our awareness of the environmental issues. The creation of hybrid and electrical cars makes me believe in a future with less pollution.

Another step to preserve the environment is being smarter in the way we utilize energy in our own homes. One easy step to upgrade our homes is to make sure our homes are well insulated. A properly insulated home not only saves energy, but will help reduce our heating bills. To help save energy, the government helps with the cost of some types of insulations. Another home improvement is buying energy efficient appliances. Appliances such washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and electric ovens can help us significantly save energy, and place extra dollars in our pockets. There many other changes that can we apply to our homes to create an environmental friendly environment

As a business major student, the knowledge learned in this class will be very beneficial to my future as a manger and protector of the environment. In my future position, I will encourage my employees to be smart in regards to the transportation issue. I will suggest my company to give or help with bus tickets. I will also suggest the company invest in a fleet or green cars to provide carpool to employees. In regards to food, I will suggest healthier or organic foods in the cafeterias, also better foods in the vending machines. I will suggest the replacement of any soda machines for a natural juice machines. I will strongly promote the recycling program in my company. I will also suggest the replacement of microwave to ones that are energy efficient. I will suggest the changing of lights and light fixtures that are energy friendly. I know that most of the companies are looking for the bottom line of numbers. With all the ideas I suggested, the company will have a more efficient workforce and their annual revenue will increase. The company’s monthly bills will show the savings in regards to all the energy efficient tools put in place.

In conclusion, there is nothing we can do about what has been done to the environment in the past. During this class I learned that there is much more we can do to help the environment in the present and the future. Our current majors hopefully will place us in positions in which we can influence a workforce to do the right thing. Until that change arrives, we still can make changes ourselves in our daily routines to prevent more damage to the environment.
References

Carey, J. (2007, January 31). How Your Eating Habits Affect The Environment. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from healthstatus.com: http://www.healthstatus.com/articles1/how-your-eating-habits-affect-the-environment/

Eco Friendly Houses. (2012). Eco Friendly Houses. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from ecofriendlyhouses.net: http://www.ecofriendlyhouses.net/

Environmental Protection agency. (2012, January 27). Transportation and Air Quality. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from epa.gov: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/

National Geographic. (2012). Modern Day Plague. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from National Geographic.com: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

Rodrigue, J.-P., & Comtois, C. (1998-2012). The Environmental Impacts of Transportation. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from people.hofstra.edu: http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch8en/conc8en/ch8c1en.html

Thapaliya, B. (2008, January 19). The Correlation Between Our Eating Habits and the Environment. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from english.ohmynews.com: http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=381504&rel_no=1

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: The Science Behind The Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Society’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazard by Tammy L. Hooper

2012-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

Warner Pacific University

January 25, 2012

Society’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazard

Currently Oregon is showing us it’s vulnerability to the natural hazards of flooding, hurricane force winds and landslides. It has been in the news every day for the last week. A mother and child were killed when the car they were riding as passengers in was suddenly swept away from a creek overflowing in a grocery store parking lot. Passes to the coast have been closed due to landslides and damage to roads along with flying debris from hurricane force winds. Houses have been flooded and others have shifted off their foundations. Mount Bachelor Ski Resort closed last week because of extreme snow fall making it hazardous if not impossible to reach the resort with a concern for avalanches.

In 1998 the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries cited five categories of natural hazards that include floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis (Earthquakes and other natural hazards in the Pacific Northwest, 1999). They further state that all five of these hazards have occurred in the last century. I remember becoming stranded at my mother in laws while visiting her in Beaverton during the flood of 1996/97. I believe that was the same year as the worst ice storm I remember. I had been in Fairview and had to slip and slide my way home, it was quite frightening. We had another ice storm in 2003 and I had a new baby and lived on the second floor of an apartment building with rickety stairs made out of wrought iron and stone. I didn’t feel safe trying to carry my new baby down those stairs and chose to stay inside my apartment. I was fortunate enough to have my adult step daughter bring me supplies when needed.

It seems like more natural disasters have been occurring in the last years but are they really? Modern communication has enabled worldwide news stories to be shown almost instantly and the media sensationalizes any bit of news to lure more viewers and increase their ratings. However the world has had an increase in population and people now live in areas that may have been “previously considered marginal or unsafe” (Earthquakes and other natural hazards in the Pacific Northwest, 1999).

The Geological Society of America reports that we now transport and stockpile large quantities of hazardous materials which can be compromised by natural hazards (Geoscience and Natural Hazards, 2008). Natural hazards cause not only damage to people and property but also social and economic damage as well. After a major disaster businesses may shut down never to reopen again. Society’s mental health is also impacted by natural hazards causing trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I am a certified alcohol and drug counselor and one of the sections covered in our comprehensive alcohol and drug assessment is regarding having been in or witnessed a natural disaster.

I have several huge pine trees outside my duplex which I love however when it rains like it has the last week I often wake up at night and pray to God for the trees roots to be strong enough to hold it in the ground and not fall on my house and crush us. My sister assures me the trees have withstood many storms in their years and that they won’t fall down on me. I try to find this reassuring and thank God in the morning when I wake up whole. I do find myself getting more informed about what to do in specific emergencies and making sure I have supplies and a family meeting place in the case of a natural hazard. For my family it’s about being prepared and informed of weather conditions and potential hazards at all times of the year while still having fun.

References

Earthquakes and other natural hazards in the Pacific Northwest. (1999, November). Retrieved January 24, 2012, from Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Institutes: http://www.oregongeology.com/sub/earthquakes/earthquakehome.htm

Geoscience and Natural Hazards. (2008, October ). Retrieved January 25, 2012, from The Geological Society of America: http://www.geosociety.org/positions/position6.htm

Natural Hazards: My Experience by Lori Uhacz

2012-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A: Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific College

January 22, 2012

Natural Hazards: My experience

I feel very fortunate to have only been a couple natural hazards. In my life I have been in a couple earthquakes. Only one that I can remember was actually anything to be worried about. I was in high school and I was working in the office then the earthquake happened. At first I thought it was one of the teachers playing a joke on me by shaking my desk. Then I saw the tree outside shaking pretty violently. Some people at school said they saw our water tower swaying pretty badly. Other then earthquakes, I haven’t been involved in any big natural hazards.

When it comes to our society’s vulnerability to natural hazards, I think we are very vulnerable to them. We have chosen to build large buildings and huge cities on known fault lines on the west coast. Big cities have grown in what is known as hurricane country. Year after year, nature has proven that she is stronger than anything man can build. Hurricanes can tear buildings apart faster then we can blink. Tornados terrorize the Midwest destroying complete towns in its wake. Yes we do put ourselves in a vulnerable position but I don’t think there is any place on earth that is not going to be affected by natural hazards.

I don’t think that we can ever fully avoid natural hazards. Cities will continue to grow at an alarmingly fast rate and if things keep going the way they are going with the population, we might soon be building in places purposely that are dangerous.

We can however take precautions and measure to try and prevent damage to our homes and other buildings in the event of a natural hazard. Different style windows and doors, building materials that can withstand strong winds and water in the case of a tornado or hurricane. These things can get expensive though and some people might not be able to afford them. Personally I think it might be a good idea that if you chose to live in an area that is prone to natural hazards you have to have even more special insurance then is already required in order to protect your home. Maybe a special inspection is needed to prevent your property from being destroyed.

The idea of protecting ourselves from natural hazards is a great one however it might not be all that realistic. I do believe in progress and that with population growth risks have to be taken when it comes to housing and the like. However when you have no other choice then to live in an area that is prone to natural hazards, I don’t think much can be done. This is a sad but undeniable truth of living in this world. I know I wish that things could be different but natural hazards are part of the evil that has been inflicted upon this world and for the time being we just have to find a way to deal with them.

Defenseless Against the Nature’s Power by Nelson Collazo-Serrano

2012-01-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Warner Pacific College

January 25, 2012

Defenseless Against Nature’s Power

Throughout the centuries, civilization has been engaged in a delicate relationship with the environment. Natural disasters have played a major role in our civilizations developments. This relationship can be dated back to the Stone Age and still can be seen in our present days. Among those well know natural disasters are earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanoes, and tsunamis. Due to the world’s increasing population, society has used and misused the natural resources which has created an unbalance in the environment. Sometimes the environment responds merciless to our misuses of such of resources in the form of natural disasters.

“Natural disasters are events caused by natural forces of nature that often has a significant effect on human populations” (Conan-Davis, 2003).

One of those famous disasters was the 1906 earthquake of San Francisco. The cause for this devastating disaster was a 248 miles horizontal slip on the San Andreas Fault. The slip went through the middle of city and was 6 miles deep. That earthquake was so unique because the fault slip was visible throughout the city. Fires consume the majority of the city buildings regardless if they were made of brick. Such fires burned for several days and destroyed several hundred city blocks. The total death count on the San Francisco earthquake was 500.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina touched down in the southern coast of The United States. Katrina brought hurricane conditions to southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. To this date, Katrina was the most deadliest and devastating hurricane in United States history. This category five storm unleashed ten to fourteen inches of rain and up to hundred and seventy five miles per hour winds over Louisiana and Mississippi. The estimated damage created by Katrina was seventy five billion dollars and a death toll of one thousand and two hundred individuals. This was a very dark day in our nation’s history.

Floods are another type of natural disaster we hear often in the news. Recently the state of Oregon was the latest target of nature’s power. An unusual winter storm brought heavy rains to the beaver state creating floods to several cities in the area. The counties of Benton, Lane, and Marion dealt with rising waters from nearby rivers. Those floods were severe enough that required the use of rescue efforts, and called for the Governor John Kitzhaber to declare a state of emergency in such counties. In the city of Salem dozens of families were evacuated due to the rising waters, and few deaths were reported in Albany. Such news demonstrates the nature’s powers even in our own backyards.

Another showing of power by nature comes of the form of tsunami. This type of disaster is not as common as the others but their power is equal or even more deadly. On December 2004, a great tsunami wave touched down in Indonesia. This catastrophe event was responsible for the destruction in properties in several countries and the death toll of hundred and fifty thousand people. There was a worldwide effort to aid the victims of this tragedy in which United States was a big part of.

In conclusion, Mother Nature reminds me of a double edge sword. She shows one side of kindness with her beautiful sunrises, blue beaches, flowers, and everything we learned to love about nature. On the other hand, it shows us how small we are in comparison to its power. As a society, we have been taking advantage of the environment by misusing all the resources available to us. The natural disasters previously mention is a way for Mother Nature to let us know how disappointed she is with us.

References

scholastic. (2011). Retrieved January 21, 2012, from scholastic.com: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/earthquakes/famous.htm

Conan-Davis, R. (2003, January 23). Natural Disasters. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from Natural disasters ClearlyExplained.Com : http://clearlyexplained.com/nature/earth/disasters/

floodandsandbags. (2010). Hurricanes in History. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from floodandsandbags.com: http://www.floodandsandbags.com/flooding/hurricanes_in_history.htm

Suzuki, T. (2012, January 19). Willamette Valley Flooding Turns Deadly, Cause Evacuations. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from koinlocal6.com: http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Willamette-Valley-flooding-turns-deadly-causes/8ROQOp3Klk6q7dbRuGcHXw.cspx

Gleen Rice's view on Environmental Regulations

2012-01-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

PHS100A Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific College

January 20, 2012

Environmental regulations are instituted to mitigate or prevent any potentially destructive extraction practices, pollution, waste, labor abuses, or the monopolization of limited natural resources. I believe that most individuals that have seriously considered the topic of natural resource protection would agree in whole or in part with this definition. Nevertheless, and most unfortunately for the environment, it is very difficult to answer the questions about where, how, and why these protections should be applied. Many powerful factions – with specific self-interests have become entrenched in deep philosophical battles over the purpose and use of environmental resources. As world population increases to levels that have been easily proven to be unsustainable, the increasing economic value of natural resources and the problems associated with their extraction has become a battle over what human survival actually means.

Often, environmental regulations that attempt to both accommodate economic realities and mitigate resource exploitation are dichotomous. To the extraction and development interests – most regulations are unworkable in light of the need for economic development and maintaining a supply chain to consumers. The argument from the other side of the regulatory debate is that extraction methods based upon economic feasibility often necessitate the use of highly destructive practices that degrade and exacerbate the fragmentation, unsustainable reassignment, and over-development of sensitive natural areas. Additionally, the environmental argument that has the greatest public awareness and is at the forefront of this debate, is pollution. Pollution has a negative impact upon the lives of humans as well as the rest of the animal kingdom that is clearly observable and measurable. Nonetheless, there is a strong relationship between resource extraction and the motivations of an advanced society to acquire the (needed and frivolous) material goods produced because of this activity.

Thus, economic development interests, applying pressure from a supply and demand standpoint, and resource protection from a global health standpoint, are tragically at odds with one another. Moreover, the argument involves the balance between the short-term goals of economics and the long-term goals of environmental protection. Therefore, what has necessarily followed from the intractable conflict between these interest groups is an attempt to develop a regulatory system that sets mutually agreed upon standards of practice. However, much to the trepidation of resource dependent business, restrictive regulatory systems are often put into place to protect long-term environmental concerns from the reactionary pursuit of short-term economic and material aims. It is quite true that protecting the availability of natural resources over the long-term will assuredly create economical hardship for resource-dependent industries. However, ironically, the regulation of environmental resources serves to protect the availability of the very resources needed to supply such an economy.

The representatives of two areas of human necessity are disputing the role of environmental regulation and its effect upon the evolution of global economics – and the evolution of the global environment. The attainment of wealth is a very strong motivator in the pursuit of economic growth in the short-term; however, very little profit can be enjoyed in the pursuit of environmental protection. A world population that will continue to grow for the foreseeable future will require the extraction of essential environmental resources, therefore, a regulatory system exists to serve as a buffer between the intrinsic human drive to advance its self-interest and the protection of the natural environment, which supplies the means by which this human advancement can occur.

Native American Economics by Tammy L. Hooper

2012-01-20T15:39:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A/Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific University

January 17, 2012

Native American Economics

This paper will attempt to express the effect of government agencies on Native American Economics and how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has had an impact on Native American economics as well as look at a study from the Joint Occasional Papers on Native Affairs by Stephen Cornell and Joseph P. Kalt.

The idea for this paper came from thinking about how small the Native American population is in the United States which is very impactful if one thinks about the fact that Native Americans were really the original inhabitants of this country we now call America. It could cause a person to wonder how Native Americans are doing economically today. To find jobs and opportunities many Native Americans have left the reservations and now live in cities or large towns (Your Letters: Unemployment, American Indians, 2012). Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, The U.S. Department of the Interior through The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Economic Development invested $500 million to improve American Indian and Alaska Native communities (Economic Development, 2012).

Some of the projects that were funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act went to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the Klamath Tribe. One project granted Warm Springs was $100,338 in supplemental funding for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) to provide child care financial assistance to low-income working families and fund activities to improve the quality of childcare where one lead teacher position was retained (Tracking the Money). The Klamath Tribe received a grant of $423, 034 to upgrade the Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services building. This grant created five jobs and four temporary labor mover positions, full time for two weeks (Tracking the Money).

That being said the Division of Economic Development through the Bureau of Indian Affairs has programs to train Native entrepreneurs and Native business persons, teach tribal leaders how to build tribal business capacity and how to preserve tribal economic traditions and values (Division of Economic Development). In addition the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) have five divisions to help Native communities gain self-sufficiency through developing their energy and mineral resources.

All these government programs sound very impressive and helpful but are they? In Stephen Cornell and Joseph P. Kalt’s publication, Reloading the Dice: Improving the Chances for Economic Development on American Indian Reservations, they state:

American Indians living on the nation’s nearly 300 reservations

are among the poorest people in the United States. On most

reservations, sustained economic development, while much discussed,

has yet to make a significant dent in a long history of poverty and

powerlessness. Despite the many federal programs and the large sums

of federal and philanthropic money that have been used over the years,

many Indian reservations continue to experience extremely high unemployment

rates; high dependency on welfare, government jobs, and

other transfer payments; discouraging social problems; and an almost

complete absence of sustainable, productive economic activity (Kalt, 2003)

In the summary of findings from the 2002 Census on the Survey of American Indian and Alaska Native-Owned Firms it is stated that “American Indians and Alaska Natives owned nearly 201,400 nonfarm U.S. businesses and generated $26.9 billion in business revenues (Survey of Business Owners (SBO), 2010). Asian owners from the same period owned 1.1 million businesses; Hispanics owned 1.6 million businesses, blacks owned 1.2 million businesses, Native Hawaiian’s and other Pacific Islanders owned 29,000 businesses and in 2007 whites owned 22.6 million businesses which is an increase of 13.6 percent since 2002 (Survey of Business Owners (SBO), 2010).

From this information gathered and personal interaction with many Native friends and associates that live both on and off reservations I would say a lot of work and assistance has been implemented to help Native Americans however there is so much more work to do and the overall positive effects of government agencies promoting that they are trying to help Native peoples has been miniscule. So much has been ripped away from the Indian peoples for so long and it just seems to add insult to injury that Native’s cannot have the same opportunities that non-Natives are afforded.

References

Division of Economic Development. (n.d.). Retrieved 17 17, January, from Indian Affairs Division of Economic Development: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/IEED/DED/index.htm

Economic Development. (2012, January 17). Retrieved January 17, 2012, from U.S. Department of the Interior: http://www.doi.gov/tribes/economic-development.cfm

Kalt, S. C. (2003). Reloading the Dice: Improving the. Joint Occasional Papers , 1-65.

Survey of Business Owners (SBO). (2010, October 21). Retrieved January 17, 2012, from census.gov: http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/02/aiansof.html

Tracking the Money. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2012, from Recovery.gov: http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Your Letters: Unemployment, American Indians. (2012, January 14). Retrieved January 17, 2012, from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2012/01/14/145221278/your-letters-unemployment-american-indians

Lori Uhacz view on Environmental Regulation

2012-01-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Warner Pacific College

January 18, 2012

When I think about environmental regulation, I think that not enough is being done. While the EPA is good, I honestly don’t think that much is changing. Personally I don’t know a whole lot about environment regulation except that they are trying to protect the ever shrinking environment around us.

According to the EPA’s website, www.epa.gov,

“The EPA has primary responsibility for enforcing many of the environmental statutes and regulations of the United States. As such, the Agency is granted explicit enforcement authority in environmental statutes. Sometimes, however, that authority needs to be further refined or explained. In such cases, EPA may develop and implement policies and write guidance. In addition, EPA sometimes issues policy or guidance to encourage compliance with environmental requirements.”

How do we know exactly that whatever statutes and regulations the EPA enforces are actually being enforced? They have regulations for everything it seems, water, air, pollution, waste and a lot more. I know that these regulations are put in place to keep us safe but how affective are they? I mean look at what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. The BP oil spill was a huge environmental disaster obviously. Could the EPA have done anything to prevent it from getting completely out of hand like it did? I don’t know if there really was anything that they could have done differently but I would hope that they have learned a few things because of it.

While yes I do worry about things that are going on all across our country, I often wonder how environmental regulations are impacting where I life specifically. Growing up, I lived on a piece of land where we had our own well for water. I never had to worry about the quality of my water or if things were getting in our water supply. Now that I live in Vancouver, I have what we call “city” water to drink. What kinds of things could be getting into the city’s water supply? On the EPA’s website you can check the different conditions of air, water and such in your area. Because I cannot read the graphs and all the different data on my part of Vancouver, I am not exactly sure what it is saying. I did look on the City of Vancouver’s website at the report from 2010 which states

“The city of Vancouver goes far beyond state and federal requirements [concerning water]. In 2010, we analyzed your water for more than 238 different substances, some regulated and some not regulated.” (cityofvancouver.us, 2011).

The letter goes on to list all the different things they tested and how the water came out just as they predicted it would.

Even though I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about environmental regulation, I do see that it has a great purpose for protecting us from dangerous things. I think it might be nice to have more of their policies and test results more readily available to the public. Not just for peace of mind, but to keep us informed and out of the dark.

References

www.epa.gov

www.cityofvancouver.us

Society’s Needs and the Environment by Nelson Collazo-Serrano

2012-01-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

Warner Pacific College

January 18, 2012

Society’s Needs and the Environment

The growth in the United States population in recent decades has placed an immense stress on our environment. According to the US Census, in the last decade the population in our country has increased from 281.4 million in 2000 to 308.7 in 2010. These numbers shows a population increase of 27.3 million over a ten year expand. To accommodate the increasing number of people in our country, individuals would once again tap into our environment’s resources. The usage of land would be the main requirement demanded by such a large amount of people. This need would create conflicts between society, and the protection against adverse impacts to the environment. To help aid with the land usage conflicts, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management created regulations and laws to help protect the environment.

"The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within The United States Department of Interior which is responsible for managing approximately 258 million acres of public lands” (blm.gov, 2009).

Among those regulations put in place by The Bureau of Land Management are the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Both acts were inspired by the concerned citizens in collaboration with our government to protect the environment. The Clean Air Act was created on the premises of pollution reduction in the United States. Due to increase in population in The United States, the air quality is deteriorating by the day. Having a bad air quality can create serious health risks in the population of this country. To afford the amenities that our society has to offer, the majority of the population depends on cars to go back and forth from work. Cars produce a large amount of pollution and greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. There are many other contributors to the damage of our air quality such as factories and other mechanical devices that run with internal combustion engines. Having this kind of law, forces the automobile industry have to follow a stricter guidelines in regards to pollution and to be more conscientious of the environment.

The other regulation is the Clean Water Act. Another issue with a large population is the usage of water. As we all know, water is the life giving element to all the creatures on earth. The Clean Water Act has helped our society promote save practices to help the environment to flourish with hope. The objective of the clean water Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of the United States water. Another goal for The Clean Water Act is to reduce the release of contaminants into ours creeks, rivers, and lakes. The Clean Water Act helps our society enjoy the benefits of having clean water; without it our society will disappear. Clean water is much more of a priority to U.S. citizens and it should be our daily fight for survival. We should focus all our efforts and the advances of science made to clean our water ways and totally reverse all the damage done to them.

In conclusion, these regulations were a well thought out group of ideas that I support completely. The environment is a subject that we all should pay attention to. The population in our country has grown in a significant rate, and so has the misuse of our natural resources. A larger population should equal a greater number of individuals willing to save the environment. After all, our existing as a human race depends on it.

References

blm.gov. (2009, March). Memorandum of Understanding. Retrieved January 14, 2012, from www.blm.gov: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Planning_and_Renewable_Resources/0.Par.97719.File.dat/BLM_MOU_WO-200-2009-03.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, October 20). Regulations. Retrieved January 14, 2012, from www.epa.gov: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/regulations/

Mackun, P., & Wilson, S. (2011, March). Population Distribution and Change: 2000 to 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2012, from www.census.gov: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: The Science Behind The Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Our Environmental Footprint by Nelson Collazo-Serrano

2012-01-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Warner Pacific College

January 11, 2012

Our Environmental Footprint

Our usage of natural resources can play a major role in our environment’s future. As individuals, sometimes we are not aware of the effects of our daily activities have on the environment. The majority of the time, we are under the impression that as individuals there is little we can do to help Mother Nature. On the contrary, we cannot afford to wait for society to come out with a solution as a whole to our environmental problems. As individuals, we can help the environment by taking responsibilities for some of our daily routines and actions that create a carbon foot print in the environment. Actions such as our consumption of food, transportation, housing, and energy can help or damage the environment.

“A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).” (Time For Change, 2011).

There are various simple changes that we all can apply to our daily lives to help reduce our negative mark on the environment. In regards of what we eat, we should consider buying more organics, and in season foods from our local farmer's market. By doing so, we can avoid buying foods that have gone long distances to reach us. The fuel and emission created by trucks bringing those products are harmful to the environment. To counteract such effects, homeowners with suitable backyards should build their own gardens to grow vegetables that can be used on salads on a daily basis. If we must go to markets to do our shopping, we should consider buying food with less packaging as possible to reduce the amount of garbage those excess packaging creates. As a family, we could come to a consensus to have one meal a week without meat to reduce the greenhouse gas effects in the environment.

Another big issue against the environment is the way we get around doing our chores. The amounts of vehicles we use in our daily lives are placing a big dent in our air quality. Once again we can integrate some changes as individuals to help solve this problem. We should utilize more public transportation and carpool with co-workers as much as possible. There are programs such as Ride Share (www.rideshareonline.icarpool.com) which allows you to pair up with individuals that have the similar travel schedule as yours. Also, we should ride our bikes or even walk to places more often if such places are nearby. Another step is having our vehicles tuned and check the air filter monthly to avoid bad emissions that can consequently harm our environment. To help our vehicles with gas mileage, we should maintain adequately inflated tires.

Our homes are also tools in which we can help the environment. We can start by maintaining the thermostat in our houses as low as possible during the winter months. If we feel cold, the usage of more blankets is recommended. During the summer, lower the use of the air conditioning to a minimum to avoid the waste of energy. Also we should keep the air conditioner’s filters clean to help the apparatus work efficiently. While not at home, unplug all electronics devices that are not in use. Among those electronics devices are coffee makers, toasters, and video games consoles, because even when turned off, such items are still adsorbing energy. We can also help the environment inside our homes by tacking action. We could take shorter and less frequent showers to save water, and save the energy necessary to heat up those showers. Run dishwashers and laundry washer machines only when having full loads of dishes and laundry. We should avoid washing cars in our driveways to avoid wasting water. Take the vehicles to carwashes that use recycled water. Do not waste water cleaning decks, walkways, or driveways with the hose, but instead use a broom; a little elbow grease can be beneficial for our health.

In conclusion, each one of us needs to step up and take responsibility for the way we use our natural resources. We cannot for to wait for our government, society, and communities to take action. As individuals, we should take the bull by the horns and do every little thing we can to help the environment. Those little things can amount to big things if many of us band together to help Mother Nature. The legacy of a clean land, air, and water is the best heritage we can give to future generations.
References

Smith, S. (2003 ). How Can I Reduce my Ecological Footprint? Retrieved January 7, 2012, from www.wisegeek.com: http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-reduce-my-ecological-footprint.htm

Time For Change. (2011). What is a carbon footprint. Retrieved January 6, 2012, from timeforchange.org: http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition?page=2

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: The Science Behind The Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Lori's view on Natural Resources and Deforestation

2012-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Lori Uhacz

Warner Pacific College

January 11, 2012

Each and every day, we are one step closer to running out of natural resources. Every country in the world vies for one resource or another whether it is gas, natural gas, hydro power, crops or a variety of other things. We are becoming so dependent on oil especially in America and places like China and India that before we know it, these resources will be gone. We as a society cannot stand by and watch our precious resources be depleted. We have a responsibility to protect them and the land around them and to see that they are not abused.

In the Pacific Northwest, we have large forests full of beautiful old trees. Because the need for timber is so great, we are at risk of losing some of the most amazing forests we have. Yes, the U.S. Forestry Service has taken measure to insure the protection of many parts of Oregon and Washington, not everything is safe however. Deforestation has been come a problem. Our book defines deforestation on page 318 as “the clearing and loss of forests” (Brennan & Withgott, 2011). From personal experience I have seen how deforestation has affected the beautiful Oregon landscape. If you drive through the coast range on the way to say Cannon Beach, you can see how over logging has completely changed how everything looks. To me some places are not even nice to look at, let alone be a place for wildlife to live and survive.

In other places around the world, deforestation has become a much bigger problem than it is here in America. In an article for the Washington Post online, Joshau Partlow talks about the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Parts of the “Bom Futuro National Forest” are being destroyed despite efforts by people like Antonio Elson Portela “an environmental official responsible for protecting the forest from settlers and loggers (Partlow, 2009). As members of a global society we need to find a way to protect these forests. Partlow states in his article that “through May of [2008], Brom Futuro had lost nearly 170,000 acres of forest, roughly a quarter of the park. At the current rate of deforestation, environmental officials estimate, half the forest will be pasture in five more years. By 2021, it will be all gone” (2009). Why is nothing being done to stop this? We need to create stricter laws that protect the land in and around the forest. Unfortunately it going to be a lot more difficult than just creating laws. The impact of these laws however would endanger the livelihood of many people who live in Brom Futuro. Even though living in the national park and logging it is illegal, they still pursue their dream of having their own piece of land. Partlow goes on to say that the people who live in the forest know what they are doing is illegal, but they have lived in this place for so long that they will do anything to stay there. Cleofas de Oliveira, is one such person who Partlow writes about. “Oliveira and others say they are willing to plant trees and police themselves and the loggers in return for legitimate claim of their land” (Partlow, 2009). Partlow goes on to quote Oliveria, “If they (the government) try to move people and do not offer something of value, people would burn the rest of this forest in protest: Okay, if we have to leave, the forest goes with us” (2009).

While deforestation continues to be an issue across the globe, is there really much we can do to stop it. With the population around the world continuing to rise, soon we will have to start cutting trees in places that have been protected for a very long time. Honestly I don’t think that regulations against deforestation will stand for much longer. We are desperate for resources and trees and other natural resources will be some of the first to go.

Resources

Brennan, S., & Withgott, J. (2011). Environment the science behind the stories. (4 ed.). San Francisco: Pearson Education.

Partlow, J. (2009, February 6). A protected forest's fast decline. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020503199

Tammy's view on Natural Resources and Environmental Regulations in Society

2012-01-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

Tammy L. Hooper

PHS 100A, Environmental Studies

Warner Pacific University

January 1, 2012

Natural Resources and Environmental Regulations in Society

This paper will discuss how society can assess natural resources and how as a society we can establish environmental regulations that have an impact on our culture and lifestyle. I will start with the definition of the word assess, which according to the web site Dictionary.com means to “estimate officially the value of property, income, resources, etc” (dictionary.com, 2011). This would imply that the person or organization doing the assessing values our natural resources and is looking at sustainability of the larger functional systems both for living and nonliving things that include society currently and for future generations. This would be an ecocentric perspective (Brennan, 2011, p. 141).

I agree with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that our natural resources such as “water, minerals, coal, oil, gas, living things and the land itself are this Nation's treasures” and further states this important information, “To be effective stewards of these valuable resources, our Nation must constantly advance our scientific knowledge and understanding” (Assessing Our Natural Resources, 2005). The USGS also discusses the importance of our Nations decision makers to be informed on how natural resources could be affected by decision making regarding demand of said resources and how these changes could affect our economy, environment and quality of life (Assessing Our Natural Resources, 2005). I believe being informed allows us to know what we are standing for and to make informed choices about that stance.

The USGS and other resources such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer programs to help our decision makers become informed about our natural resources and to understand how their decisions could affect our culture and lifestyle. Examples of these programs are the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program and National Water-Use Information Program, Mineral Resource Assessments, National Oil and Gas Assessment, National Coal Resources Assessment, and World Energy Assessment. There are also biological resources available such as North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), Non-Indigenous Aquatic Species, and Status and Trends of Biological Resources. Land use programs such as the National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) provide information on changes in the patterns of vegetation and land use (Assessing Our Natural Resources, 2005). There are also many programs that are more community focused such as the EPA’s website on green living that helps decision makers addresses areas of home and garden, school, community, shopping, on the road and at work (Learn the Issues: Green Living, 2011). The resources that have been discussed are all governmental however there are many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that influence international environmental policy as well such as The Nature Conservancy and Greenpeace. The Nature Conservancy has a wonderful website that explains their mission which is “to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends” (Learn More About The Nature Conservancy, 2012).

I personally like the idea of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a basis for how society can establish environmental regulations. Groups such as The Nature Conservancy use “science in everything they do” and “pursue non-confrontational, pragmatic solutions to conservation challenges” (Learn More About The Nature Conservancy, 2012). The first step to addressing environmental issues is recognizing a problem in society with our natural resources and having some facts to illustrate the problem. The next step is to see what is causing the identified problem (Brennan, 2011, pp. 185-186). For an average citizen such as myself, I would need to know how to scientifically collect the data needed for these first two steps. If I am unable to do that myself I would need to know how to connect with a scientific resource that would be interested in helping me such as becoming involved with a NGO. The third step is to problem solve a solution/s to the problem where again science is integral to this process.

To be effective, getting organized is vital. I know people who have started coalitions or joined an organization to help influence a cause that they believe in that will make life better for individuals and/or environmental causes. I have observed this requires passion, determination and a commitment to often spend substantial amounts of time supporting that cause. The fifth step is lobbying policymakers and this step requires knowing someone influential at the political level to allow you access to people who can actually make change happen (Brennan, 2011). To achieve this organizations such as The Nature Conservancy have partners with individuals, stake holders, governments to local nonprofits and corporations.

The last step in establishing environmental regulations is to turn your solution into law by preparing a bill that represents the desired outcome (Brennan, 2011, p. 187). Again, one has to have networking connects in order to have the bill sponsored. At this point the bill can become enacted into law if it passes successfully through several committees or it can fail. If the bill becomes policy then several different entities are needed to implement measure and enforce regulations to that law.

Information discussing environmental policy in this paper is what I have learned from reading our textbook and researching online. In a simpler world my wish would be that all humankind was inherently good and put a high value and kindness on everything God’s hand created. If a problem was pointed out such as we are consuming our precious natural resources at a voracious rate and we are quickly headed for ruin and harming many others in the process so we need to stop doing that. Then a light bulb would go on and society would be able to say “okay” and be satisfied with a simpler existence that includes more caring for others and less divide economically, socially, politically and racially.

References

(2011). Retrieved January 1, 2012, from dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/assess

Assessing Our Natural Resources. (2005, July 20). Retrieved January 1, 2012, from USGS : http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/094-99/

Brennan, S. &. (2011). Environment The Science Behind the Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Education, Inc.

Learn the Issues: Green Living. (2011, December 22). Retrieved January 1, 2012, from EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency : http://www.epa.gov/gateway/learn/greenliving.html

Learn More About The Nature Conservancy. (2012). Retrieved January 9, 2012, from The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/aboutus/index.htm

Glenn Rice's view on assessing natural resources

2012-01-12T10:37:00.001-08:00

Warner Pacific College

January 12, 2012

Centuries ago, there was little need to take an inventory of lands occupied by humans, for nature still held sway over the destiny of human survival. In the early agricultural era, although little consideration was given to how human activity affected the environment – the earth’s human population was not large enough to have the global impact that it does today. Humans were constrained at the time by the negative feedback loop that manages the population of most species today, however within the last two centuries, advancements in agricultural technology and the economic growth that came with it, have enabled the human species to grow exponentially. Between the eighteenth century and today, the earth’s human population grew from its first billion individuals to the seven billion that it carries today. Additionally, where industrialized nations population growth has stabilized, in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, population growth is rapidly increasing as technological advancements spread to these societies (University of Michigan, 2000).

However, there is a deep cultural belief in the supremacy of humankind, that manifest destiny guides our actions, and that conquering nature and “managing” natural resources is a divine right and responsibility. Additionally, there is the longstanding sense of entitlement that accompanies the ownership and possession of land. Social resistance to taxes and regulations in difficult economic times have further complicated any goal of balancing long-term environmental benefits with any short-term economic needs. Moreover, the human impact upon the environment takes place very slowly and any negative impact is unseen over the short-term, leading to the lingering notion that nature will supply the needs of society in perpetuity (Whitfield, 2011).

At the turn of the twentieth century, after experiencing the results of poor stewardship of the environment, attempts to put wise-use reforms into place were made. Within the first decade of that century, and spearheaded by the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, and his forester Gifford Pinchot – the National Parks System, Wildlife Refuge System, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service were ushered in to mitigate the damage done over the last century (Radford University, n.d.). Thus it was that the United States Government began to assert its power to make decisions about environmental policy.

Throughout the following decades, the U.S. Government performed reasonably well in its role as environmental steward, and developed a healthy image of itself in that role (see Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl.) However, in spite of its stated good intentions, the government was pushed to be more accommodating to a growing population that demanded greater access to the nation’s natural resources. Urban areas pushed out to encroach upon the very lands that were needed as resources to serve its needs. Battles over land rights and uses have now become more desperate and heated. Add to that, the current disdain for the actions of government, the aggressive refusal to accept the findings of scientific research, and the fact that commerce has many lobbyists and nature very few, the environment is being driven ever closer to its ultimate carrying capacity (Withgott, & Bennan, 2011).

The growth in the number of industrialized nations around the world, and their need to compete and survive in the global economy, now adds to the relentless and unsustainable extraction of earth’s natural resources. It is with hope that the push toward responsible environmental stewardship that is slowly developing within technologically advanced nations will spread to the rest of the world as the unsustainable practices of the past had. However, as our government, and the governments of emerging nation’s ability to provide responsible stewardship over the environment wanes – and pressure to provide natural resources to serve the needs of society advances – it increasingly falls upon civil society to alter its culture of consumerism and accept the factually supported truth that nature is indeed limited.

Resources

Radford University. (n.d.). Environmental History Timeline 1890 - 1920 The Progressive Era. Radford University. Retrieved from: http://www.radford.edu/wkovarik/envhist/5progressive.html

University of Michigan. (2000). Demographic Transition: An Historical Sociological Perspective. University of Michigan. Retrieved from: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/pop_socio/pop_socio.html

Whitfield, J. (2011). Dr. Hern's Diagnosis: Humans as a Cancer of the Earth. Swarthmore College Environmental Studies. Retrieved from: http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2003/jessiewhit/humansandcancer.htm

Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th Ed.) New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings ISBN-13: 9780321715340

Tammy L. Hooper's view on the Scientific Method and Western Culture

2012-01-04T22:25:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A, EnvironmentalStudies

WarnerPacific University

December 29,2011

TheScientific Method in Western Culture

Thispaper will define and give examples of what the scientific method is and how ithas influenced western culture. This paper will also give a definition of western culture.

According to our text, the scientific methodis “the traditional experimental approach that scientists use to learn how theworld works” (Brennan, 2011, p. 11). To break this down a scientist isinterested in a subject and has an idea about it. The scientist begins with observing some kind of occurrencethat she would like to explicate, such as the germination of carrot and tomatoseeds, and then loads of what, when, how, and why questions are posed by thescientist. This sets things up forthe scientist to develop a hypothesis which is a “statement that attempts toexplain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question” (Brennan, 2011) and aprediction follows. An example would be posing a questionsuch as “Which seeds germinate quicker, carrot seeds or tomatoseeds? The hypothesis statement could be,” If I plant carrot seeds andtomato seeds, then (the prediction) carrot seeds will germinate quicker” (Poore). The scientist then tests the predictions“one at a time by gathering evidence that could refute and disprove theprediction” (Brennan, 2011).

Thescientist will then test the predictions by performing experiments thatmanipulates variables or conditions that can change. For example with our carrot and tomato seed hypothesis thescientist could make a prediction that a warmer temperature would affect thecarrot seeds to germinate quicker. The scientist would then grow the two pairs of seeds in two separategreenhouses with one being warmer than the other or one set being grown insideand one outside. The warmertemperature would be the independent variable that is what the scientistmanipulates and the germinating seed would be the dependent variable. Tovalidate the hypothesis, the scientist will want to perform this experiment asmany times as possible obtaining the same results each time. The data from these tests is used to“determine the strength and reliability of patterns they find” (Brennan, 2011, p. 12). There are also natural experiments inthe scientific method in which researchers test their hypothesis by searchingfor correlations to validate their hypothesis. This type of experiment would happen with large intereststhat could not be managed in a control setting. The last two pieces to the scientific method are the peerreview and conference presentations. Peer reviewed work is when a scientists work is complete and theresearcher writes up their findings to be considered for submission to ascientific journal for publication. The editor of the journal will ask several other scientists (peers) toreview the manuscript and provide comments. Sometimes scientists present their work at professionalconferences which gives their peers a chance to interact with the informationbeing presented and give feedback and comments.

Thedefinition of western culture that I found most appealing states that:

Western culture is a body of knowledgederived from reason. This foundation of reason has madepossible a vast accumulation of understanding related to reality or nature,including human nature. This understanding is represented in several coreideals and values, which include individualism,happiness, rights, capitalism, science and technology. (What is Western Culture?, 2009)

Thisdefinition appears to have many similarities with the scientific method in thatit is based on reason which has brought large amounts of data and understandingof nature and human nature. Thescientific method seems to be interconnected with western culture and a perfectfit for understanding how our western culture affects nature and ultimatelyourselves.

References

Brennan,S. &. (2011). Environment The Science Behind the Stories. SanFrancisco: Pearson Education, Inc.

Poore, S. (n.d.). Hypothesis.Retrieved December 29, 2011, from Science Fair Projects:http://spart5.k12.sc.us/techtraining/teacher/webpages/ScienceFairProjects/index.htm

What is WesternCulture?(2009). Retrieved December 29, 2011, from Western Culture Global:http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html

Glenn Rice's view on the Scientific Method and Western Culture

2012-01-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

Warner PacificCollege

January 4, 2012

WS1 Response Paper #1

“Western Culture” isgenerally described as a civil system that is founded upon reason, and of beingrepresented by the core values of individualism, rights, and capitalism – andis nurtured and advanced by science, and technology (Western, 2009a). Working from this definition, many feelthat the ideals of western culture promote the development and sustainment ofadvanced civilization, and thus, it is viewed as being more advanced – risingabove non-western cultures. TheWestern Culture Knowledge Center defines western culture as a body of ideas andvalues derived fundamentally from mysticism or subjectivism, as opposed to reason(2009c). This somewhat predominantview of global culture has resulted in a commonly held view that Euro-Americanculture is unchallengeable in its superiority and that less advanced culturesare inferior or “third world.”

This interpretation of cultural dynamics has been accepted as fact for centuries. However, as the processes ofsociocultural evolution have progressed, and as civilization has expandedthroughout the world, different attitudes about what defines “third worldstatus” have changed. The westerncultural paradigm that drove the advancements that created the civilization inwhich we currently live, were celebrated in the past and in the present as thepanacea for most sociocultural ills. Nonetheless, this social dynamic has been called in to question. Many currently view the old socioculturalmodels of the past as out of control. However, any hint of collectivism in society is viewed as an attack onindividualism, personal freedom, property rights, unencumbered economicpractices, and uninhibited resource management.

Ironically, science – itself a product of sociocultural advancement – hasbecome a resource for those who wish to challenge the status quo ofcapitalistic society. Sciencebegan to focus greater attention upon the environment in the early 70’s andbecame a very uncomfortable presence for those that supported capitalism as itstood, and resisted knowledge that would dispute its value and expose itsflaws. The scientific method,which determines the viability of any studies and their outcomes, began to chipaway at the argument that western culture was superior in almost every case, byproducing compelling evidence to the contrary.

Briefly, in itsgenerally accepted form, the scientific method is a process by which questionsabout how the individual components of our world function. Potential answers move through aprecise process of research and study that can achieve repeatable results. The results will then be published andmade available for review by peers and other interested parties (Withgott,& Bennan, 2011). Science, andthe research methodology that sustains it, began to question capitalism andwestern culture, and study their effect upon the environment, and attempted todetermine whether the benefits of capitalism outweigh the cost to the environment– an environment that at one time was believed to be limitless.

This was theoverarching question that the scientific community – through the scientificmethod – hoped to answer. Thehypothesis was that capitalism – of the sort that sustained modern westernculture – was unsustainable given the limited carrying capacity of the naturalenvironment – the concept of nature’s limited carrying capacity being a theorythat has been supported by other research (Cohen, 1995). Using data collected through experimentation,and cross-referencing the data with similar research collected over time, avariety of effects of modern society upon natural systems was determined.

Due to thecomplications inherent to studying something as vast as nature, the experimentsthemselves were not always easy to understand and often resulted in a new setof questions. However, over time,the answers to these questions appeared vital to the goal of maintaining ahealthy environment. On a numberof fronts, the studies eventually provided clearer answers to the question ofhow western culture effect nature and its ability to sustain itself. The accumulated information of thisresearch has been published and widely distributed between other scientists andresearchers for review, and the outcomes of the experiments have been repeatedon numerous occasions (Withgott, & Bennan, 2011).

Arguably, and inspite of the difficulty of understanding the often-confusing way in whichnature operates, the negative effects of western culture on the environmenthave been clearly illustrated (Cohen, 1995). However, adjusting the inherent rigidity of westernculture’s reason and rationality to accommodate environmental concerns iscertain to seriously challenge the validity of the older paradigm and dismissthose that avidly support it. Change often meets with resistance, particularly when new knowledge andthe facts that support it conflicts with a centuries-old model. Some might say that the socioculturaland socioeconomic disruption that will result from shifting focus toward theprotection of the environment and the confusing science that backs such changeis not worth the tremendous cost. However, any peer reviewed science that backs up the reasons for change,becomes reasonable in its own right, and in the end, may rationally accommodateboth the environment and the values of western culture.

References

Cohen,J. E. (1995). Population Growth and Earth's HumanCarrying Capacity Science, New Series, Vol. 269, No. 5222. (Jul. 21, 1995), pp. 341-346. Retrieved from: http://links.jstor.org/

Western Culture Knowledge Center. (2009a). What is Western Culture? Western Culture Global. Retrieved from: http://westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html

Western Culture Knowledge Center. (2009c). Capitalism. Western Culture Global. Retrieved from: http://westerncultureglobal.org/knowledge-capitalism.html

Withgott,J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th Ed.) New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN-13: 9780321715340

The Scientific Method and Western Culture by Nelson Collazo-Serrano

2012-01-04T22:13:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A

Warner PacificCollege

January 4, 2012

The Scientific Methodand Western Culture

Theenvironment’s well-being is the responsibility of each one of us, to ensure thesurvival of our race as a whole. In recent years, we all have heard through several media outlets such astelevision, radio, and magazines the impacts of our actions have over ourenvironment and the effects that could have in our future. A great advocate for the environment isthe former Vice-President, Al Gore. Throughout his movie, “The InconvenienceTruth”, Al Gore touched on a variety of topics regarding our actions andthe effects of those actions regarding the environment. The main focus of Al Gore’s movie wasglobal warming. The scientificsociety was involved in a series of investigations on the issue ofenvironment. The process used by thosescientists to determine the effects of our actions to the environment is calledthe scientific method.

“The Scientific Methodis a logical and rational order of steps by which scientists come toconclusions about the world around them.” (Science Made Simple, 2006 - 2011).

Thescience community uses the scientific method to confirm the answers obtained bytheir researches and studies. Thescientific method is a process to aid the user and to obtain answers toquestions using a step by step format. Steps such as observations, hypothesis, predictions, experimentations,and finally the conclusions are the core of the scientific method. During the observation step, the scientistswill research everything that is to know about the question or subject to bestudied. Using diverse sources of informationwill help the research and the experiment to be good in general. The second step is creatinghypotheses. Scientists will declarea statement that outlines the outcome of their experimentation. Hypothesis helps scientist express aresearch or study in a form of a question. The following step is predictions. During this step, a scientist gives a detailed demonstrationabout the truthiness of their hypothesis. The experiment that scientist will conduct is to exam theirpredictions. Having a wrong predictionindicates that new details about the experiment were brought out and to betaken into consideration. Thefourth step is the experimentation. In this step, scientists will test their hypothesis with physicalexperiments. Experiments are the instrumentused by scientist to find out if their thoughts or ideas were right or wrong. Experiments are an important part tothe scientific method because it will test the hypothesis. Finally, the conclusion will expressthe experiment's results, and their relationship with the hypothesis. In the conclusion, the scientist hasthe choice to support or disapprove their hypothesis.

“Western culture is abody of knowledge derived from reason” (Western Culture Global, 2009).

InUnited States we enjoy certain rights and liberties that allow us to enjoy ourlifestyles to the fullest. Ourwestern culture style of living has given us a place in this planet in which a largeamount of people around the world would like to be part of. Western culture is the directresult of a society obtaining knowledge from reasoning and understanding. This wayof thinking helps societies such as ours to understand matters relatedto nature, including human behavior. Western culture allows our individualism way of reasoning from subjectto subject. This type of culturealso allows us as individuals to achieve our own happiness. Another attribute of western culture isthe protection of individual’s rights without sacrificing another individual’srights. Lastly, in western cultureindividuals have the opportunity to obtain personal wealth promoting acapitalism style of society.

Theprogress of our western culture is not to reasoning and understandingalong. The scientific method isalso responsible for the progress of the western culture. The scientific method and westernculture has gone hand in hand helping each other through the years. Without the freedom of reasoning thatwestern culture provides, we could not have scientific method. Without scientific method we could nothave the advances in our western culture. The great discoveries and inventions in technologies and science is dueto certain individuals who know the reasons and why’s of things. The price we had paid for some of thoseadvantages in our culture includes damages to our environment. The growth in our population made for anincrease in the housing industries, using part of our logging industries and takingpart of our natural lands. In thesetypes of cases, the scientific method is a great tool to measure how much damage we have made to our environment.

Inconclusion, we all are responsible for our environment. The advantages western culture allowsare a great privilege, not a right. We are responsible for not destroying our surroundings for a littlespace that we really do not need. We all should look the environment as an investment not only for us, butfor our future generations.

References

Science Made Simple. (2006 - 2011). Understandingand Using the Scientific Method. Retrieved December 29, 2011, fromwww.sciencemadesimple.com:http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/scientific_method.html

Western Culture Global. (2009). What is WesternCulture? Retrieved December 29, 2011, from www.westerncultureglobal.org:http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html#

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment:The Science Behind The Stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Matt Field's view of a "A Revolution of Mind"

2011-11-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

Environmental Studies – PHS 100A

Warner Pacific College

November 7, 2011

The future of our environment is in the hands of humanity. It is not a bullet point on a list of concerns, it is fully dependent on whether or not we survive as a species and keep from destroying the planet. Without recognizing the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science we will never create the change our planet so deeply needs. (Withgott Brennan, p.8, 2011) It won’t be the adoption of “green programs” and sustainability that is going to save the world. What will save the world is a complete change in our minds from economy to politics and as far as religion. Henry David Thoreau is known for the modest philosophy of “simplify, simplify.” (Thoreau, p.69, 2004) If we are to survive this is the only choice we have.

It is a paradox to say that we must recognize all facets of life and yet simplify how we live. To suggest that one become an advocate of every environmental cause is not only exhausting but it is impossible. If we change the way we think, however, environmental sustainability isn’t such a difficult proposition. This can be exemplified in Gandhi, who “did not recognize separate rules for separate spheres of human life, but saw all spheres in an integrated manner, which exemplifies best the human ecological perspective.” (Moolakkattu, p. 152, 2010) Ecology isn’t a matter of activism. It is a matter of lifestyle. Thoreau says, “Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.” (Thoreau, p.69, 2004) We must fight our selfish desire to consume our resources. Just because we can consume doesn’t mean we have to, and yet our society is built on consumption and the accumulation of wealth.

Perhaps this comes from the dominance of Christianity in Western culture and the perversion that has been made of Christian theology. “Especially in its Western form, Christianity is the most anthropocentric religion the world has seen.” (White, p.4, 1967) Christian theology teaches that man is made in “God’s own image” and that he is to “fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28, New International Version) This creates a sense of duality between man and nature. God gives man dominion over all forms of fish and animals, even plants and trees. This mentality has given Christians the ability to justify all kinds of environmental exploitation under the guise of biblical command and permission.

Granted, compared to other religions, Christianity takes on the strongest stance of anthropocentrism, but I don’t think the religion is to blame. Mosaic law makes exception for environmental stewardship. In Leviticus God commands, “But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” (Leviticus 25:4) If this law was observed today perhaps we wouldn’t need to apply the tremendous amount of pesticides that we cover our crops in every year.

The problem is greed. The belief that we have license to dominate the world for our own gain flies in the face of what Jesus taught. His teaching about economic and environmental stewardship implores us to not “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19) This forces us to reflect upon our consumerism. Jesus continues his teaching by actually comparing us to nature saying that we shouldn’t worry about our food or clothing because God feeds and covers his creation. Clearly our greed stems from our mistrust in God.

Over the course of the last fifty years our average national income has more than doubled; yet our level of happiness is essentially the same. (Withgott Brennan, p.683, 2011) One might draw that economic growth and affluenza are the greatest epidemics that humanity and the world face. As a society we have decided that it is important to protect our economic interests. We have built a culture around an American dream of home ownership and access to automobiles and other comforts. Our public school system is designed to prepare students more to join the workforce than to think on their own. Our value is money, and yet Jesus would say that we “cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24) As long as our temporary national interests trump long term spiritual and transcendental philosophy we are doomed. “The issue is whether a democratized world can survive its own implications. Presumably we cannot unless we rethink our axioms.” (White, p.2, 1967)

Our entire society has become so obsessed with the accumulation of wealth and the security that comes from work that we have ravaged our environment. And yet Thoreau would say, “Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry. Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so they take a thousand stitches today to save nine tomorrow. As for work, we haven't any of any consequence.” (Thoreau, p.70, 2004) Yet it is the very idea of work that continues to drive us. Our insatiable desire to continue to consume has given us tremendous advancement at terrible cost. Until we decide that we can no longer give in to our own material desires we will never achieve the personal, ecological, societal, and spiritual peace we so deeply desire. As Gandhi would say, “a man who multiplies his daily wants cannot achieve the goal of plain living and high thinking.” (Moolakkattu, p. 153, 2010) The emphasis Gandhi placed on contentment allowed him to dismantle the British hold on India by not participating in their economy. We could do the same.

The beginning of creating a change in the world is to end our greedy addiction to material wealth. “More science and more technology are not going to get us out of the present ecologic crisis until we find a new religion, or rethink our old one.” (White, p.4, 1967) The answers are simple. “Simplicity, simplicity.” We have to decide we don’t need as much. We need to figure out how to eliminate our need for finite resources. We need to simplify our diet and eliminate processed food. We need to live our lives healthily so we are not beholden to doctors, pharmaceuticals, and insurance companies. We need to change our minds. Christians need to trust God to provide and then spread the excess of God’s bounty on the unbelieving world. The result would be a revolution of thought and revitalization for man, nature, and God. This revitalization is something the world has never experienced.

Reference

Moolakkattu, J (2010) Gandhi as a Human Ecologist, pp. 152-153 retrieved from http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JHE/JHE-29-0-000-10-Web/JHE-29-3-000-10-Abst-PDF/JHE-29-3-151-10-2065-Moolakkattu-J-S/JHE-29-3-151-10-2065-Moolakkattu-J-S-Tt.pdf November 4, 2011

Thoreau, H (2004) Walden, pp. 69-70 Houghtin-Mifflin, Boston

White, L (1967) The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis pp. 2, 4 retrieved from http://www.uvm.edu/~gflomenh/ENV-NGO-PA395/articles/Lynn-White.pdf, November 5, 2011

Withcott, J Brennan, S (2011) Environment, The Science Behind the Stories pp. 8, 683 Benjamin Cummings, Boston

(1995) The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Changes Needed by Tyesha McCool-Riley

2011-11-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

PHS 100A
Warner Pacific College

November 7, 2011

I believe that we are on the right track to better sustaining out natural environment, but we still have a long road ahead of us. A part of me can’t help but to think that what if we don’t make the appropriate changes needed to ensure every living organism’s long term well-being on this planet. Obviously, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to continue planning and strategizing to ensure our existence decades down the line. With that being said during the course of this paper, first I will discuss the changes needed in relation to balance; second, I will explain how my Psychology major is affected by the natural environment ; and third, I will explain how I will use this course to be a steward of the environment.

1. What changes are needed to in relation to balance in our natural environment?

Both human beings and animals are the creation of nature. They depend on nature to get whatever they require for their survival. Nature may exist without us but we cannot survive in the absence of nature. Although we depend upon nature for our very existence, we continue to deplete the nature to quench our never satisfying thirst of pursuit of developments that deteriorate our environment and bring imbalance in nature which will eventually secure our extinction. The imbalance of nature has caused many disasters such as things that we are currently witnessing like, droughts and flooding. Nature purifies itself and renews itself, and us as part of it. For example: We inherit many natural senses that register things like our need of, and attractions to, nature’s purifying cyclic flow. One of those senses includes the water cycle and our natural senses of thirst and excretion. Excretion is a felt attraction to water that we experience and they are fulfilled by its flow in, through and out of us. Water satisfies our sense of thirst; urinations satisfy our sense of excretion making us feel happy, content, relieved, and fulfilled. According to ecpsych.com (2011), “the natural fulfillment of our natural senses attractively conveys to us that we are on the path to survival in balance”. A portion of the human fulfillment satisfaction is that we know our natural sensory fulfillments also nurture and satisfy the functions of the water cycle as well as the needs of the global life community. Our waste nourishes the web-of-life and its flow through us and vice versa based on finds from ecopsych.com (2011).

2. How is my Psychology major affected by the natural environment?

According to Merriam-Webster (2011) psychology is the science of mind and behavior and/or the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity. There is a field is psychology that is referred to as the Eco-Psychology which the educating, counseling and healing with nature that empowers anyone , at anytime, to increase personal, social and environmental wellness, and help others do the same. Eco-psychology helps individuals find a balance between life and nature; it helps individuals with self-correction, because although we are part of nature, we live excessively indoor lives. Our enormous separation from the natural world interferes with our body, mind and spirit applying the self-correcting way nature works in order to sustain our planet's health, balance and purity, around and in us. Because the indoor process that teaches us how to think and feel is excessively nature-disconnected, its separation from nature's restorative powers creates mind pollution in our psyche. This contamination warps our thoughts and feelings. It causes us to create and suffer personal, social and environmental problems that are seldom found in unadulterated nature or in nature-connected people(s). Also it encourages moment by moment to strengthen our body, mind, and spirit as an internal ecology that helps us enjoy our satisfactions in ways that maintain all of our natural world. Being connected with nature enables patients to be empowered by its beauty, serenity, and sacrifices that it makes that we as humans need to exist. Many people use nature as a way to escape and to relax, some people choose from a variety of outdoor recreational activities to participate in such as sports, hunting, fishing, camping, picnics, jogging, and even careers like crabbing, landscaping. Although, we may not acknowledge the influence of nature and how it affects our moods and the way our brains process certain feelings, it plays a significant role. Studies have found that small things such as office workers with a view of nature – trees, bushes or even a large lawn – experienced significantly less frustration and more enthusiasm for their jobs than those workers without windows. Natural mental healing is a great contribution to our society to promote being environmentally responsible versus constantly prescribing harmful medications.

3. How will I use this course to be a steward of the environment?

The most important factors to me are education and awareness. During the past five weeks I have gained knowledge of things that I have heard of but, wasn’t knowledgeable about such as the scientific method, renewable and non renewable energy, conservation and preservation, and natural resources. Initially when I reviewed the syllabus I was skeptical as to what to expect and what I would gain from the course. Contrary to my misconception of the courses intentions I am grateful to have received information that I have used to evaluate and analyze my personal behaviors in my daily life that can be modified so that I am a better steward of my environment and its sustainability. I have also made it my personal mission to relay this information to my children, family, and friends so that they are all aware and can begin to take part in saving our planet as a whole.

Although, I have began to make changes in my life to make less negative impact on our natural environment, I believe that to be successful at living a pre environmentally sustainable life, a lifestyle change has to take place. In making a lifestyle change like this you have to educate continuously, regulate, enforce regulations, preserve our natural environment and protect it from alterations, conserve, and be aware of what is going on around us. We must also take action through voting, writing letters to city council and protesting if necessary, be ethical, be responsible for your actions, and think long term with regards to our future and how our actions today will affect down the road. Ultimately, making better decisions makes for a better and more positive outcome that could improve our quality of life.

References

Retrieved November 3, 2011from, http://generalpaper.freevar.com/my_essays/balance_of_nature.html

Retrieved November 5, 2011 from, http://www.ecopsych.com/

Retrieved November 7, 2011 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychology?show=0&t=1320736851

Retrieved November7, 2011 from Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN-13:9780321715340 (Package including access to the Mastering Environmental Science website.)

Society’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazards by James Juengel

2011-11-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A Environmental Studies

Warner Pacific College

October 30, 2011

Therealways has been and there always will be some form of natural disasteroccurring in the world at any given time. Some natural disasters are worst than others but one thing is for sure,once you have seen a disaster first hand you will never forget it. There are many different causes ofnatural disasters by the weather and by the earth. The sheer raw power that is demonstrated by the environmentthat we live in is a testament to just really how small and helpless we can bewhen the nature decides to flex its muscles. My personal experience with a natural disaster can in theform of rain, which brought the floodwaters.

I was born and raised in SouthernIllinois. In the summer of 1993the entire Midwestern part of the United States flooded. I will never forget seeing the 550acres of horseradish, corn, and soybeans I worked every day of my childhoodbeing twenty feet under water. Therewas water as far as you could see in some areas for miles at a time with onlythe top of an occasional tree here and there breaking the surface of thewater. The Mississippi river wasforty miles wide in some areas and the farm was only twelve miles from theriver. I can still remember seeing the people and animals on the rooftopswaiting to be rescued by the National Guard.

The great flood of 1993 was one ofthe worst natural disasters in U.S history. It occurred because of the unusually high rainfall amountsthat fell during June through August 1993. The rainfall totals surpassed 12inches across the eastern Dakotas, southern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska,Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. More than 24 inchesof rain fell on central and northeastern Kansas, northern and central Missouri,most of Iowa, southern Minnesota, and southeastern Nebraska, with up to 38.4inches in east-central Iowa. These amounts were approximately 200-350 percentof normal from the northern plains southeastward into the central UnitedStates. From April 1 through August 31, precipitation amounts approached 48inches in east-central Iowa, easily surpassing the area's normal annualprecipitation of 30-36 inches. Ten states received more than twenty days ofcontinuous rain during July and another eight or nine days during August. This is more consistent of the kind ofweather the area would receive during early spring instead of the middle ofsummer (Larson, 1993).

The death and destruction from this flood wasenormous and is one of the most costly in loss of life and financialresources. It is estimated thatover fifty people died because of the flood and that there was over fifteenbillion dollars in damage. Somesmall farming communities were completely wiped off the face of the earth andhave never been rebuilt. Thousandsof people were evacuated, some never returned to their homes. There were over10,000 homes destroyed and hundreds of small towns were impacted with more thanseventy communities completely submerged under the floodwaters. Over 15 millionacres of farmland were destroyed some of which would not be useable for yearsto come since the fields lost their top soil because of the rushing waters. Barge traffic on the Missouri andMississippi Rivers was stopped for nearly 2 months. Bridges were out or notaccessible on the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa, downstream to St.Louis, Missouri. On the Missouri River, bridges were out from Kansas City,downstream to St. Charles, Missouri. Numerous interstate highways and otherroads were closed. Ten commercial airports were flooded. All railroad trafficin the Midwest was halted. Numerous sewage treatment and water treatment plantswere destroyed (Larson, 1993).

Iremember the older folks in my town and my elders telling me about previousfloods in the area over the years. They said that every hundred years are sothat there would be a great flood more devastating than the other floods werein the past. They were right and Ican say from witnessing this experience firsthand I saw both acts of selfishnessand unselfish acts happen during this time of natural disaster. There was individuals who were thehero’s and there were others who were thugs praying on the weak moments ofothers for their own benefit. Sometowns came together to overcome this disaster while other towns fell out ofunity and eventually apart never able to recover from the flood. For me I saw the town I grew up inrebuild and the farm came back to life again and still produces horseradish,corn, and soybeans to this day. I find it very funny that three years laterwhen I was living in Oregon it flooded here in1996. I can say from personal experience while most Oregonianswere shocked by the damage they say here in the Willamette Valley that theytruly do not understand the meaning of the word flood.

Mark Twain said a hundred years ago, theMississippi River "cannot be tamed, curbed or confined, you cannot bar itspath with an obstruction which it will not tear down, dance over and laughat." I believe he saidit best for those of us who chose to live by any river. I also believe that there will beanother flood like this again someday. God’s word says that it rains on the just, as well as the unjust.

References

Withgott,J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories

(4th ed.). New York, NY. PearsonBenjamin Cummings. ISBN-139780321715340

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/floods/papers/oh_2/great.htm

RetrievedOctober 30^th, 2011

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/floods/great_flood_of_1993_us/index.html

RetrievedOctober 30^th, 2011

The Domino Effect by Matt Field

2011-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

TheDomino Effect: Being Prepared for Local Consequences of Global NaturalDisasters

EnvironmentalStudies – PHS 100A

WarnerPacific Colllege

October31, 2011

Science continues to make the worldsmaller. Events that might havebeen seen as isolated catastrophes hundreds of years ago now can be correlatedto events that happen all over the globe. This can be exemplified in the chain of events that happen around thering of fire. Tectonic platemovement around the Pacific Rim causes energy to build and release. The result is that communities that livearound this plate are the most susceptible to earthquakes, tsunamis, andvolcanoes. (Withcott Brennan,p.41, 2011) It is imperative forOregonians to be aware of the cause and effect of events that occur around thering of fire.

On March 11, 2011, the USGS reported a 9.0earthquake off the coast of Japan. The result for their country was over 15,000 killed, 4600 missing, andhundreds of thousands displaced. In addition, the economic loss was at least 309 billion dollars. (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/#summary,2011) The loss was trulytragic. On the other side of theworld, however, the Oregon and California coast also sustained damage as aresult of a tsunami that occurred because of the earthquake. Tsunamis often are a result of theenergy released from the seismic activity of an earthquake. The energy displaced from theearthquake creates a swell that can move across thousands of miles of ocean. (Withcott Brennan, p.44, 2011) This is exactly what happened on thewest coast of the United States.

Although the damage from the earthquake was inno way comparable in America as it was in Japan, the lesson of correlativeweather and seismic activity needs to be noted. In Brookings, Oregon the port manager, Ted Fitzgerald, reportedover ten million dollars in damage. Furthermore, reports of piling and debris washing up all over the Oregoncoast resulted in hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage in coastalcommunities. (http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/03/oregon_coast_tsunami_brookings_crescent_city_depoe_bay_report_serious_damage_photos_video.html,2011) Both for the sake ofhumanity as well as the economic security of the community we must acknowledgeour vulnerability to natural disaster and be prepared when it strikes.

It is noteworthy to discover in a city such asSeaside, Oregon, a popular center of tourism, fishing, and other commerce thatthere aren’t more measures in place to react to a tsunami. A check of the city of Seaside websitenotes that their tsunami warning system would have “content added soon.” (http://www.cityofseaside.us/community/tsunami-warning-system,2011) With a little more researchyou will find a pamphlet that gives simple instructions to prepare for anevacuation. Inside the brochurethere is large print that instructs you to move immediately inland if you feelan earthquake. It alsodifferentiates between a local tsunami that requires immediate evacuation incomparison to a distant tsunami that may take up to four hours to strike andwill be indicated with an official warning by siren. (http://www.cityofseaside.us/sites/default/files/file/Tsunami%20Evacuation%20Map10.pdf,2011)

Beyond the power of local government, we dohave the ability to be more prepared for the consequences of tsunamis. Much of the measurement of seismicactivity is run by Oregon State University and the University of Oregon geologydepartments. These departmentsreport seismic activity and even have websites such as the opdr.uoregon.edudisaster resistance site. Theseare the first reporters when geologic activity that could result in disasteroccurs. Byusing science we not only understand the power of natural disaster, we alsoprepare for it.

References

Withcott, J Brennan, S (2011) Environment, The Science Behind the Stories pp.41, 44 Benjamin Cummings, Boston

(2011) Magnitude9.0 – NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN, retrieved from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/#summary, October 29, 2011

(2011)Oregon Coast Tsunami: Brookings, CrescentCity, Depoe Bay Report Serious Damage, March, 11, 2011, retrieved from http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/03/oregon_coast_tsunami_brookings_crescent_city_depoe_bay_report_serious_damage_photos_video.html, October 29, 2011

(2011) SeasideTsunami Warning System retrieved from http://www.cityofseaside.us/community/tsunami-warning-system, October 27, 2011

(2011) TsunamiEvacuation Map: Seaside, retrieved from http://www.cityofseaside.us/sites/default/files/file/Tsunami%20Evacuation%20Map10.pdf, October 27, 2011

BLM and Weyerhaeuser by Jason Thoma

2011-10-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

PHS100A

Warner Pacific College

October 24, 2011

Myview on the bureau of land management’s involvement in our society is one of anavid outdoorsman who feels that everyone should get to enjoy the natural beautyof the wilderness. The bureau has had many impacts on our society for betterand for worse, but all in all I think that they do the best they can. In thispaper I will discuss the pros of having a bureau of land management and whatthey give back. I will also include my views on how Weyerhaeuser, the companythat owns the most land in the northwest, is doing business in regards to theneeds of our society.

Thebureau of land management in Oregon and Washington has over 15 million acres ofland to protect and conserve for the public to enjoy (Tourism, 2010). They areable to do this by receiving grants from the government and charging fees atall recreational areas.

The term that theBLM use for this is “public land” but some are not so sure how open to thepublic it is; when every forest that we want to enjoy costs money for us toenjoy. Some people feel that if the public owns this land, (theparks/lakes/rivers, anywhere that there is a place for recreational adventure)than it should be free to the public to use and enjoy. These same people thatcontinually complain about our government how it operates yet do nothing tocorrect the errors. This same group of people is the reason for the hippie festthat occurred last summer under the guise of “Rainbow festival.” The BLMallowed these people to go out and reconnect with nature on the lands that theyoperate and care for and all these people did was leave a giant mess in thewoods that now we have to clean up.

Right now the feesthat we pay to enjoy these public lands are not substantial but can be annoyingif you are not prepared for them. Without these fees the parks themselveswouldn’t have funding to stay operational. The BLM recorded that 7,962,017people visited the 70 recreational sites that the BLM manages last year. Andthey were able to generate 1.9$ million dollars from the fees and permits thatthey required (Tourism, 2010). It is nice to see that one bureau of our localgovernment can raise almost 2 million dollars for its own continued successinstead of taking it straight out of taxes that could’ve been better spent onother situations.

As an avidoutdoorsman I have had many experiences with the Weyerhaeuser Company in thestate of Washington. Besides BLM owned land Weyerhaeuser is the 2^ndlargest land owners in Washington. Growing up I have found that my friends andI are more often than not on Weyerhaeuser property when we go out to enjoy thewilderness. They have been very generous in letting the public go onto theirlands and conduct their recreational adventures, as long as it doesn’t impedethe logging work that is being done in that particular area.

After Weyerhaeuseris done with their logging of an area they offer plots of land to be sold backto the public. Right now there are 90 listings of land that Weyerhaeuser isselling ranging from 3+ acres to 340+ acres. I think this is a great way for acompany to offer people a chance to live out their dreams of escaping the citylife to live in the solitude of the wilderness.

The BLM andWeyerhaeuser have taken our most precious resource in the Pacific Northwest,which is our vast expanses of wilderness, and transformed them intorecreational areas for our families to enjoy and cherish. As our cities growand our wilderness diminishes it is imperative to have the BLM speaking out tokeep our forests intact.

References

Coranto.(2011, January 1).Washington’s PublicLands. Retrieved from http://publiclands.org/explore.quadrant_map.php?plicstate=WA&quad=wa_q14

Tourism. (2010, January 1). Retievedfrom

http://www.blm.gov/or/socioeconomic/tourism.php

Weyerhaeuser. (2011, June 10). Retrievedfrom

http://www.wredcoland.com/Default

Our Water Supply Is it Really Safe? by Danielle Solis

2011-10-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

PSY100A/Environmental Science

Warner PacificCollege

October 22, 2011

Inthe United States one of the last things on our mind everyday is, how safe isour drinking water? For most of us,we turn on the water faucet and get a glass of water, or turn on the showerhead and take our shower. Afterour reading this week of an article from the New York Times called CleanWater Laws are Neglected, at a Cost in Suffering it became very apparenthow unsafe some water is in the United States. The question who is, responsible for our water safety andwhat are they doing to assure our water safety?

Formany families in a small town in West Virginia having clean water isn’tsomething they know about. Onefamily has water shipped in and stores it on their porch for drinking purposes,and their son has to use special lotion after a bath to avoid rashes andsores. By no means should anyonein the United States have to worry about safe drinking water. We pay for ourwater so we should have the luxury of going to the sink for a glass ofwater. Seeing there are towns thatcan’t do this, they turn to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

TheEPA’s mission states; “The mission of EPA is to protect human health and theenvironment” (http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/whatwedo.html). For the families in West Virginia theyprobably feel that the EPA is looking for the environment more than they arefor human health. Along with theEPA there is also the Clean Water Act that forces polluters to disclose toxinsthey dump into water ways and to give regulators the power to fine or jailoffenders (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13water.html).Each of these organizations has sets of rules and regulations but it stilldoesn’t seem to be enough to protect some from the harm. Another aspect of all this is privatesectors coming in from the individual states and having a public-privatepartnership with these bigger government organizations. Like we read in our book, Environment the science behind the stories theseprivate sectors can combine their efforts with the bigger organizations to haverules and regulations set for their individual states as we all have differentneeds. As is the instance with theWest Virginia families they have to battle mining efforts in their area that iscausing them the problems with the water, whereas here in the northwest we havethe dilemma of waste overflowing into our water.

Thereare plenty of bad situations that play into this. The fact that there are contaminates that are legallyallowed to pass through our water system and the fact that many of the peoplewho are responsible for dumping never face any fines or charges at all. The reasoning for the EPA not wantingto get involved is because it is too hard to prove that the diseases andsickness came from the water and not caused environmental or from the air.

Ithink it is great we have environmental regulations that are supposed to be followedand organizations to help enforce them as we could have it so much worse, butit seems there needs to be so much more done with environmental regulations toensure families in our own home don’t have to face such hardships in life. It seems that each state needs to havea private sector for such things to work closely with the major sectors toensure we all feel safe and happy in our homes. If we can’t depend onenvironmental regulations and the organizations associated with them then whocan we?

References

DUHIGG,C. (n.d.). Toxic Waters - Clean Water Laws Are Neglected, at a Cost inSuffering - Series - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, WorldNews & Multimedia. Retrieved October 22, 2011, fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13water.html

OurMission and What We Do | About EPA | US EPA. (n.d.). US EnvironmentalProtection Agency. Retrieved October 22, 2011, fromhttp://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/whatwedo.html

Withgott,J., & Brennan, S. R. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories(4th ed.). New York: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

The EPA and the U.S. Economy by Roberto Selva

2011-10-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A

Warner Pacific College

October 23, 2011

In 1970, Richard Nixonfounded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The creation of this government agency was in response tothe growing environmental concerns in the U.S. and its impact on humanhealth. The agency’sresponsibilities include: establishing and enforcing environmental standards,carrying out research, funding educational initiatives, and supportingvoluntary pollution reduction schemes in the U.S. The formation of new rules and regulations by the EPA costAmericans hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Naturally, this also affects the industries that are beingtargeted by EPA and forces companies to raise prices, directly impacting theU.S. economy.

In the first quarter of2011, the Environmental Protection Agency began a multi-month comment period ona new proposed rule and regulation that would stiffen emissions restrictions onindustrial power plants that burn coal and oil. This would have a three-fold negative effect in the economicdevelopment of our society. First:the closure of older industrial plants. Even with the assumption that not one single plant wouldclose, energy prices would still rise because older plants would requireupgrades to continue operations – which, in turn, would also raise prices. Second: the construction of new plants would be moreexpensive. Lastly: the inevitable riseto the cost of producing power. According to the San Francisco Examiner, “Theserules are projected by EPA to cost $11 billion per year in 2016 to Americanhouseholds, who will eventually pay the higher costs of producing electricity.”(Furchtgott-Roth,2011) Thisincrease has many Americans concerned and even fearful of what this will meanto their electrical bills, paychecks, and wallets.

Incontrast, I personally believe that the positive effects of this proposed ruleoutweigh the negative ones. Firstand foremost, let’s consider the effects that this would have on ourhealth. We should be grateful tohave an agency that is concerned with looking out for the health of itscitizens and protecting us from environmental risks. Apart from improving our health, reducing the threat ofcancer, premature deaths, heart attacks and asthma would also be addedbenefits. When quantifying thesehealth benefits in dollars, “the EPA rules finalized and proposed so far by the currentadministration have net benefits that could exceed $200 billion a year.” (Shapiro,2011)

Furthermore,this new rule would also have a positive impact in our current unfortunateemployment situation, which at the time had an unemployment rate hovering 9.0and 9.2 percent. According to the EPA,thousands of Americans would be employed nationwide including 31,000 short-termconstruction jobs and 9,000 long-term utility jobs. Although this figure is relatively minute compared to thenumber of jobs created in the private sector, I believe that any form of jobcreation is fundamental to the furthering of not only our “American confidence”but also our economic environment.

Inconclusion, my belief is that the roles of environmental regulatory agenciesare essential to the economic development of our society. Without these agencies in place, wewill deplete all of our resources (including our economic ones) in order to combatand fight environmental threats that will endanger our ecosystems and ourlivelihood here on earth. Also, inorder for these agencies to fully execute their environmental responsibilities,it is imperative for all of us to remove our personal views and biases fromspecific situations. I trust thatas environmental awareness becomes more popular in our society, we as humanbeings will become more cooperative with the EPA and other environment agenciesfor the benefit of our future and that of the earths.

References

Furchtgott-Roth, D. (2011). Epa rules disrupt theeconomy. Online newspaper,

Retrieved fromhttp://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/03/epa-rules-disrupt-economy

Koenig, B. (2011, August 22). Epa regulations to shutdown coal plants and raise energy prices.

The New American,Retrieved from http://thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/environment/8700-epa-regulations-to-shut-down-coal-plants-and-raise-energy-prices

Shapiro, I. (2011, September 20). Epa and the economy:much ado about 0.1 percent [Web log

message]. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org/blog/epa-economy-ado-0-1-percent/

Are Pesticides The Enemy? by Brenda Rivas

2011-10-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Environmental Studies

October 24, 2011

Pesticideswere a big hit when it was discovered in the 1930’s by Paul Muller it was a bigdeal because he was a big help with insects and covered a wide range of insects.The other two things that people liked were that when it was sprayed it lastedfor a long time and also did not wash off with the rain. Mr. Muller was giventhe Nobel Peace Prize in the 1948 for his discovery. Society at that time didnot know the effects that Pesticides would have on the environment, they justknew that it helped with their pest problem and crop and that was all thatmattered and later on the effects of using pesticides was discovered.

Howdid pesticides affect our environment if affected our air, water, plants, crop,and live stock. When pesticides were sprayed the wind can blow it in the airand it would land on other plants or surfaces and if you had contact with it,it would harm you. Also, when it’s sprayed on plants it gets into our soil, andthat can in turn affect our water because when it the plants are watered or itrains the toxin that is in the soil can get into our streams and our drinkingwater. Our live stock could be affected because if they are eating the crop orthe plants that we have sprayed with it that can in turn affect them and if wethat live stock it can affect us.

Ascientist by the name of Rachel Carson wrote a book called “Silent Spring”, in1962 and made people aware of the effects of pesticides in our environment shediscovered that birds were dying because when they were eating worms andinsects that were exposed it. She discovered that they were two principlesrelated to the indirect toxicity, one of the was Bioconcentration and wouldaccumulate in organisms especially in fatty acid. Second principle was Biomagnificationsand it would increase up the food chain. DDT had been exposed not only were itwas sprayed but at long distances because it was traveling.

Oneof the outcomes of this exposure it that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)was created and they were put in place to set regulations and standards forPesticides and help companies be accountable for them to test and producepesticides that decreased the effects on the environment. Pesticides are stillharmful if not use appropriately but companies and society is now are moreaware what affects they have on our environment. New pesticides are also beingcreated that are Organic that are more plant based and they are known to befriendlier to the environment but even with these new pesticides it does notmean that they are all good for all plants.

Nomatter what pesticides you decide to use for your crops, to kill livingorganisms, insects you have to educate yourself on the effects it will have onour environment. Just because it states that is Organic it doesn’t mean that inthe long run it will not have an adverse effect. Sometimes as society we makechanges not knowing how it will change our Eco-System in the future that is whyagencies like the EPA were created but they are also having a hard timeregulating companies and are having to impose fines. The best thing to do is toread labels and research what you are using in your crop or what you areputting in your mouth.

References:

http://www.novativemedia.com/green-articles/organic_pesticides.php

http://farhanwarsi.tripod.com/id9.html

http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/pesthist.htm

Withgott,Jay and Brennan,Scott. (Fourth Edition), Environment: The Science behind thestories

BLM and Coal Mining by Douglas Powers

2011-10-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

WarnerPacific College

October24, 2011

THE UNITED STATES BUREAU of LANDMANAGEMENT and COAL

TheUnited States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government agency thatregulates the management of public land throughout the United States. The totalarea of this land comes out to be about 253 million acres which isapproximately 1/8 of the total area of the United States ("Bureau of land," ).The majority of public land is in the western portion of the United States andan even larger portion can be found in Alaska. In addition to the public landthat the BLM oversees they are also in charge of 700 million acres ofsubsurface mineral real estate underlying federal and private lands ("Bureau of land," ). The BLM has a myriad ofresponsibilities pertaining to rules or regulations that oversee recreationalactivities such as camping, hunting, fishing, driving vehicles off-road, boating,hiking, shooting, and even hang-gliding. Aside from recreational activities,the land that the BLM issues for industrial uses is also governed by the BLM.The major industries that apply for these land grants are primarily mining andlumber companies ("Bureauof land," ).

Asstated earlier the BLM issues land to mining and timber companies to fuelAmerica’s manufacturing and energy industries. I have a few complaints aboutthe timber industry but my major complaint is with America’s mining companiesand their generally accepted practices. To begin, mining itself has a devastatingimpact on the ecosystem around mines and also on the human population drawingwater from the water table feeding the mine. When they begin digging the mine,high concentrations of methane gas, the most common from of green house gas, isreleased into the atmosphere ("Environmentalimpacts of," 2011). Methane is a natural byproduct of the formationof coal ("Environmentalimpacts of,"). In the United States 67% of the mining done isreferred to as strip mining, cut mining, or pit mining; literally, it is agiant pit in the ground and coal is extracted via heavy equipment ("Environmental impactsof," ). This allows for more coal to be recovered then conventionalunderground mining but also has a greater impact on the environment.

A major byproduct ofcoal is pyrite (iron sulfide) or fool’s gold. This composition is acidic innature and when rain falls the rain waters wash over the pyrite and take theiracidic qualities to nearby streams or seep into the ground and contaminate thewater table. This process is referred to as acid mine drainage (AMD) and is aproblem coal mining operations are trying to solve but are having littlesuccess ("Environmentalimpacts of," ).

Another problemthat coal mines create but do not deal is overburden or waste rock. This materialis the worthless rock and sediment that sit atop the precious coal andtypically is left in mountain sized mounds around the mine. This may not seemlike a major problem however these piles are extremely unstable andcontinuously shift and have frequent land slides. In addition to the dangerposed to humans, these waste piles attract and soak up heat like a sponge andas a result create very difficult living conditions for the indigenous plantspecies. However, the benefit of this uneconomical pile is that miningcompanies can use this material to restock mines and return the landscape to ashade of what it once was.

Tosummarize, the BLM allows the mining industry to establish mining operationsall over the United States for pennies. The Mining Act of 1872 allows companiesto buy an acre of land for five dollars. This allows mining companies to buymassive tracts of land and devastate the landscape which will take decades torecover.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) Bureau of land management. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html

2) Environmental impacts of coalpower:. (n.d.).Retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html

3) Environmental impacts of coal power:. (2011, may 25). Retrieved fromhttp://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=environment_Where GreenhouseGases Come From

Paul Newton's view on Environmental Regulations

2011-10-25T16:17:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A Environmental Studies

October 24, 2011

During the second half of the 20th century, the U.S. became more densely populated and more driven by technology and heavy industry, which intensified resource consumption and environmental impacts. This began to cause more obvious damage to the environment in ways that directly affected people’s quality of life (Withgott & Brennan, 2010, p. 175). As the post-war baby boom generation matured, there was much activism that helped support environmental causes and called for policies to prevent pollution, save endangered species, and preserve wilderness, among others. As a result, a large number of laws to protect the environment were passed during the 1960s and 1970s. There has been much criticism of environmental regulation but it is useful to keep in mind its positive accomplishments that have benefited our society, as well as to scrutinize its performance to find ways to improve.

Take for example, the Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, which is the primary federal law that protects our nation's fresh water systems and coastal areas and was the first comprehensive water legislation passed by Congress. The benefits of protection, prevention and restoration under this law after almost 40 years are of great significance to quality of life in this country. Now administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), implementation of the Clean Water Act focuses on improving the quality of U.S. waters through a comprehensive framework of standards and technical and financial assistance. The EPA oversees requirements for municipalities and major industries to comply with standards for pollution control; the setting and implementation by states and tribes of specific water quality criteria; the provision of funding to states and communities to help them meet clean water infrastructure needs; and the use of a permitting process for development and land use to protect valuable wetlands and other aquatic habitats (Clean Water, 2010).

There is a good example of environmental regulation having mixed results in the state where I live, Oregon, where a government agency is very well-known for good and bad results: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). A division of the Department of the Interior, the BLM manages more Federal land than any other agency, most of it in the Western states including Alaska. This consists of about 245 million surface acres as well as 700 million sub-surface acres of mineral estate. The BLM is charged with land use planning to ensure the best balance of uses and resource protections for America’s public lands. According to BLM, they use a collaborative approach with local, state and tribal governments, the public, and groups of stakeholders (What We Do, 2011). The BLM develops Resource Management Plans to guide decisions for every action and approved use on the National System of Public Lands. Much of their work is in carrying out provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which requires federal agencies to make their decision-making process open to public review and to analyze and disclose the potential environmental impacts of their actions (NEPA Program, 2011).

In spite of its great objectives and apparent responsibility to uphold the best interest of the environment and the people, the BLM has been plagued by controversy and criticism for poor decisions and typical bureaucratic weaknesses and inefficiencies. One example is related to exchanges involving high-value public lands near rapidly growing urban areas. As demand in recent years inflated the value of public lands suitable for urban development the BLM, critics charge, failed to properly assess land that was traded in swaps, allowing developers to profit to the detriment of public interests (Public Lands, 2010). If the BLM consulted with experts on property values and looked at these swaps more carefully, they could do a better job of protecting the public interest and the environment at the same time. Another example of problems with performance is that the BLM is known for hassling private property owners for minor details while allowing bigger problems to pass.

Perhaps a cause of the failures in BLM’s performance is that it is given so much responsibility but has limited resources to work with. The BLM is supposed to ensure that proposed projects meet all applicable environmental laws and regulations, and to protect and make public lands available to citizens for “a wide variety of resources including energy, rights-of-way that support communications and energy delivery, a variety of recreational uses, and crucial habitat for species associated with the Western landscape, such as the sage-grouse and pronghorn antelope” (What We Do, 2011). This is a huge job, and yet, according to the U.S. Dept. of the Interior (123 STAT. 2904 PUBLIC LAW 111–88—OCT. 30, 2009, p. 2), the BLM’s 2010 budget was $960 million, which is under $4 per acre. In a 2007 report by the Dept. of the Interior, BLM had only 10,000 permanent employees, which works out to about 25,000 acres per employee (Facts About, 2007).

In conclusion, our government’s regulation of environmental use is necessary and has accomplished many benefits for the present and future of the country and its natural resources. However, perhaps due to the size of the task and the limits of funding, there are many failures and inefficiencies that leave much room for improvement.

References

Bureau of Land Management public land statistics. (2008). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls08/pls1-4_08.pdf

Clean water act enforcement. (2010). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/cwa/

Facts about the Bureau of Land Management. (2007). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs.Par.32462.File.dat/BLM_Quick_Facts.pdf

Public Lands Foundation. (August 8, 2010). Land exchanges of public lands administered by the Bureau of Land management. Position Statement: 2010-12. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.publicland.org/14_position_statements/PLF_2010_12_ land_exchanges.html

NEPA program. (2011). Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning/nepa.html

What we do. (2011). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy.html

Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings

My View on Environmental Regulations by Tyesha McCool-Riley

2011-10-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A

Warner Pacific College

October 24, 2011

In my opinion environmentalregulations such as the Clean Water Act implemented by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency are great strides in the right direction. Based on thereading from our text Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011), the Clean WaterAct requires that harmful toxins and bacteria be removed from waste waterdischarged into U.S. waterways (p.171). Although this may be a great stride,the question is: how can its full potential be realized? If the purpose of theregulation is to regulate resource use or reduce pollution to promote humanwelfare and/ or protect natural systems, it is crucial that we not only implementrules and guidelines, but also awareness and education so that everyone hasknowledge and understanding on what the issues are, how the issues affecthumans, animals, natural resources etc., and what we as a community can do tohelp remedy the issue.

For instance the textreported on the Tijuana River located in Mexico and its subpar sewage system thatcontinues to over flow and as a result continues to pollute and contaminateboth Mexico and U.S. waterways. This contamination not only affects nature, but is also hasan economic impact. For Mexico and The U.S. additional funds need to beallocated and used to find a long-term solution such as planning and building alarger sewage treatment plant larger than the one built in 1997, to accommodatethe rapidly growing population. Also cleanup efforts for this type of projectcould affect federal and state budgets. Although, attempting to fix the problemmay cost money, you cannot put a price on a person’s life and health norwildlife’s wellbeing, so in my opinion when it comes to the health andwellbeing of humans and wildlife our natural duty should be to eat the cost andfix the problem, if we do not preserve our sustainability, who will? I believecountries need to develop international laws to provide compensation for damagethat activities under their control cause to areas beyond their borders. Theability of two countries with different political motivations, values, fundingaccessibility, and other contributing factors to come together to look afterthe best interest of people is crucial in setting an example for others tofollow. People want to have proofthat certain things are successful before trying them. According to ESD Toolkit(2011),” Nations shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the healthand integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. The developed countries acknowledge theresponsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainabledevelopment in view of the pressures their societies place on the globalenvironment and of the technologies and financial resources they command”. Thisspeaks to taking responsibility for your actions or more so your lack of actionas a nation.

            As a result of the continual contamination from the Tijuana River water California beaches have suffered severe polluted and unsafe water as well as Mexico. These conditions have caused California officials to take action and close beaches in an effort to protect people from diseases such as salmonella, shigella, fibrial, cholera, hepatitis A, and Malaria caused by the harmful water.  Unfortunately, the marine that lives in the water doesn’t receive that privilege and they are forced to deal with the conditions of pollution and contamination that has lead to many of their deaths. As a result of the beach closures, it has had a negative economic impact, because beach closures according to Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011) reduce recreation, tourism, other activity associated with clean coastal areas and ultimately each of the above have a direct affect on incoming revenue. For both Mexico and southern California each year their beaches host over 175 million visitors who spend over $1.5 billion. At this point the pros and cons need to be weighed, because I am quite sure that the reduced revenue puts a strain on the state and city budget which then eventually affects the local business (p.168). It’s a domino effect, and people need to be aware and proactive in all that we do to ensure that people have a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

Inconclusion, I understand that what Mexico has failed to do to protect itscitizens has now for many years affected U.S. citizens and I believe thatMexico should be held accountable for the pollutions, contaminations, and thecosts to fix the problem because they caused it. The ESD toolkit (2011) says,“Nations have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but withoutcausing environmental damage beyond their borders”. This statement seems to bethe right approach, but at who’s expense?

Although, Mexico needs to take responsibility, Ibelieve that more needs to be done on the United States’ behalf to ensure thatsafety and wellbeing of all people and wildlife. Regulations may set forguidelines and rules, but what is a rule if there is no consequences andrepercussions for not following and adhering to them. Monitoring, enforcing,and continuous evaluation is key in staying current on issues and find ways tofix them, because the EPA implemented the Clean Water Act and for several yearsMexico has violated the CWA despite several attempts to put a band aid over andoozing wound. Although, violations continue to occur there has been someprogress, Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011) reported that, the House orrepresentatives passed the Tijuana River Valley Estuary and Beach SewageCleanup Act in 2000 to authorized the United States to take actions to addresscomprehensively the treatment of sewage emanating from the Tijuana River area,Mexico, that flows untreated or partially treated into the United Statescausing significant adverse public health and environmental impacts that(p.170).Also in 2008 advocacy work along the San Diego-Tijuana border ledthe federal U.S. government to allocate $66 million dollars for sewagetreatment plant upgrades. There continue to be efforts, but the efforts fallshort of supplying an actual long-term resolution to a long-term problem.Regulations are nothing without effectiveness and efficiency.

References

Retrieved on October 21, 2011 from,http://www.esdtoolkit.org/discussion/default.htm

Withgott, J.,& Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4thed.). New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN-13:

9780321715340

Retrieved October 21, 2011 from, http://www1.american.edu/ted/TIJUANA.HTM

Retrieved October 22, 2011 from,http://www.wildcoast.net/who-we-are

Susan Larkins' view on Environmental Protection

2011-10-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A Environmental Studies

Warner Pacific College

October 24, 2011

Environmental Protection Agency & Disappearing Rainforest

Losing Earth’s greatest biological treasures is just the beginning, just as we are starting to appreciate their beauty and their value, they are starting to be destroyed or damaged. Rainforests once covered the earth’s surface by 14% and a mere 6% are left, and experts estimate the last remaining rainforest may be consumed in less than 40 years. One and one half acres of our rainforest in America are lost every second, most of the time with tragic consequences for developing and industrial countries.

These rainforest are being destroyed and the value of land in the rainforest is perceived as only its value in timber by short sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and landowners. Almost half of our world’s species of plants, animals, microorganisms will become destroyed or possibly severely threatened within the next quarter century due to deforestation in our rainforest. Most of our rainforest are cleared by large machinery like bull dozers and small handheld equipment like chainsaws, and also fires which are used for timber value, which are then followed by farming and ranching operations.

World’s giants known as Mitsubishi Corporation, Georgia Pacific and Texaco and included with these companies in Unocal, they are included in damaging our rainforest. Forest play a very important role in environmental protection, and through history there has been much protection for these forest in mountain areas, where they have continuous help to prevent soil erosion, landslides and avalanches. Where this becomes important is the maintaining of water quality of rivers draining into forest catchments, special methods ensure that these rainforest are maintained indefinitely.

Environmental protection is known to have significant impact on some forest; air pollutants that are of concern include sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, heavy metals, and ozone. By controlling these pollutants it ultimately benefits rainforest which are said to play a major role in the protection of our carbon cycle. Representing, they have an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, using conversion of these forest for other land uses is one cause for the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Reforestation and a forestation may contribute in reducing our atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, using bio fuels could help in the long run by reducing demand for fossil fuels. Brazil’s Environmental Protection Agency is just one that strives to implement laws when it comes to protecting our valuable resource known as the Amazon rainforest. There overall objective that was initiated in 1998, was a framework for developing, analyzing, and to integrate environmentally sustainable polices known as Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region, with having particular focus on the transport sector.

This entire framework was created to supply the decision makers to have a stronger policy instruments for simultaneously addressing local, regional, and issues in global environmental, based on technical, social, and economic criteria. IES Brazil (Integrated Environmental Strategies) team consisted of representatives from the Sao Paulo State Environmental Agency, Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo, the institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo, and included was the institute of Applied Economics Research, and two independent energy consultants.

This team analyzed many different pollutants that ultimately affect humans as well as climate change that in the end affects our rainforest. The IES Brazil team has participated with several regional and international conferences; most recently was the RIO5 World Climate and Energy Event. It brought together many scientists that research politics and industry; they are leading experts in their fields.

July 2004, EPA, the World’s Banks Clean Air Initiative for Latin American Cities and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were involved in organizing a regional work shop in “Public Health and Climate Change Benefits of Air Quality Management” (www.epa.gov). The Brazils team meeting worked on providing an opportunity for policymakers and technical experts from Latin America a chance to exchange past experiences with co-benefits-related analyses.

Other teams that were involved in the IES team were from Argentina, Chile, and Mexico, and other organizations doing work in the region, they presented information about experiences with IES methodology and co-benefits research. This particular workshop received a lot of public press which included articles in a national newspaper.

While many current programs will result reducing levels of most emissions, additional programs will implement to reduce PM10 over the next 20 years. The study evaluated three scenarios that promote PM10 reduction they are in order of effectiveness for the control of emissions from trucks, the implementation of an inspection and maintenance program, penetration of natural gas for industry cogeneration and also gradual substitution of diesel buses by natural gas buses.

Ultimately these results could already be helpful in decision-making, although the cost for implementation of each scenario needs to be further investigated. Promoting the use of these sustainable and renewable sources may in the end stop the destruction of our rainforest and reduce climate change.

References

Retrieved from http://www.eolss.net/Eolss-sample All Chapter.aspx

Google Chrome www.google.com

Retrieved October 23, 2011

Retrieved from www.epa.gov/ies/brazil/index.htm

Google Chrome www.google.com

Retrieved October 23, 2011

Retrieved from www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Google Chrome www.google.com Retrieved October 23, 2011

Matt Field's views on Environmental Regulations

2011-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Seedsof Damage

EnvironmentalStudies – PHS 100A

WarnerPacific College

October24, 2011

As you walk through the produce aisle and seevarieties of fruits and vegetables you may marvel at amazing selection that wehave in foods today. Although wedo have the availability of many different varieties of food the actual varietyof species continues to decline. Biodiversity in agriculture makes excellent sense ecologically; however itmight not translate into the economy of farming. Seed companies work to genetically engineer the strongestand highest yielding crops possible. This often comes at the cost of species variety. It seems that it isn’t easy for thesecompanies to see past the bottom line. In spite of the power of the American consumer, there is obviouslylittle input that can be made as to what varieties of food are available. The only way we can protect our ecologicaland agricultural interests is to introduce subsidy or regulation to growbiodiversity in American farms.

Economic diversity cannot be the primarymotivation the government should consider in the regulation of seedmonopolies. Seed monopolies createa tremendous ecological threat as well as a risk to our food sources. This can be exemplified by the singlevariety of potato that was grown in Ireland in 1840. Due to the lack of genetic diversity a fungus was able towipe out the entire crop, finally resulting in the Irish potato famine. More recently, a 1970 corn diseasewiped out $1 billion in American corn crops. (http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/biodiversity, 2011) Today, we are losing biodiversity bydeveloping genetically engineered seeds that are able to withstand strongherbicides that would otherwise kill them. (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html,2010) This continues to escalatethe amount of homogenization of available seeds in American farms.

A strong case in which a possible seed monopolymay be forming would be the Monsanto Company. Monsanto distributes both seed and pesticide to theagricultural industry. Theyboasted that their Roundup Ready Corn 2 accounted for 40% of the corn acreagefor the 2006 U.S. crop. (http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/monsanto-history.aspx,2011) As far as their RoundupReady soybean seed is concerned, when it was developed in 1993 it only tookfive years for it to account for 38% of the total U.S. soybean acreage. (Carpenter Gianessi, 1999). In addition to this, Monsanto claimsthat there is an environmental advantage to these seed varieties because theyare able to survive with less pesticide than other varieties of seed. The problem is that Monsanto not onlydistributes the seed, they also distribute the glyophosate herbicide that isused to protect these plants. (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html,2010)

It is clear that Monsanto has very shrewdlybegun to develop both a horizontal and vertical monopoly in the agriculturalindustry. It is horizontal becauseof the vast percentage of acreage that is being planted is Monsanto’s, proprietary,genetically modified seed. It isvertical because farmers are limited by what kind of seed and herbicide theycan use. Because glyophosate RoundUp creates less damage than other herbicides such as atrazine, farmers are nowleft with very little choice as far as what is available to protect theircrops. 40% of Monsanto’s revenuecomes from the sale of Round Up, making it clear that distributing seeds thatwork well with the herbicide is essential to the health of their company. (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html,2010)

The solution for the pervasive growth ofMonsanto isn’t clear to me. Unlikethe antitrust lawsuit levied against Microsoft, the government will not solvethe problem by attempting to break up the company. The creation of several mini Monsanto type companies won’tcreate more seed diversity and as much as the problem may be seen as economicthe real problem is a lack of biodiversity. It is also clear that a green tax would end up damagingfarmers as seed companies like Monsanto would pass the tax on to them. What would be most appealing to mewould be a subsidization of farmers that avoided using herbicides altogether. By embracing newer tillagemethods, multi-year crop rotations, and allowing their fields to have a fewmore weeds than Round Up sprayed fields farmers will protect both theenvironment as well as their businesses. (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html,2010) If the government even createdfurther subsidization for heritage and heirloom varieties of crops it ispossible that it would be regulation by incentive that will create healthierbiodiversity.

In the end, we need to do something to embracebiodiversity. 96% of vegetablevarieties that were available one hundred years ago are now extinct. (http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/biodiversity,2011) Additionally, as we continueto genetically engineer seeds to become tolerant of herbicides, nature is alsoadapting. Today weeds andpests are also becoming more and more tolerant. (http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html,2010) It seems that we haveembraced genetic engineering and homogenizing seeds and the result could havetremendous ecological consequences. Without the implementation of some regulation we may continue tocompromise our food sources and damage our environment.

Reference

Carpenter, J Gianessi, L (1999) Herbicide Tolerant Soybeans: Why Growers areAdopting Round Up Ready Varieties retrieved from http://www.agbioforum.org/v2n2/v2n2a02-carpenter.htm, October 23, 2011

(2011)The Issues Biodiversity retrievedfrom http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/biodiversity, October 22, 2011

(2010) RoundUp Ready Soybeans retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/roundup-ready-soybeans.html, October 22, 2011

(2011) CompanyHistory retrieved from http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/monsanto-history.aspx, October 23, 2011

Emmalee Burlile's view on Environmental Regulations

2011-10-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

ENVIRONMENTALSTUDIES

WarnerPacific College

October24, 2011

Regulationsand laws in many different areas are important keys to our society. Without these rules, our country wouldbe in much more chaos then it is currently. In order to help protect this land where we live, there mustbe Environmental laws and regulations as well. According to scientists, “Earth is currently entering itssixth mass extinction event – and we are the cause” (Withgott & Brennan,2011, p. 60). Unfortunately, theextinction of many animals and plants are due to human’s interaction andkilling either purposefully (more often than not) or accidentally. Although there will always be people whodisobey and break laws that are put into place to prevent this extinction fromhappening, this does not mean that the law should be abandoned. In my opinion, this gives theenforcement of those laws even more importance.

Forexample, just last month South Africa and Vietnam teamed up with the departmentof environmental affairs to protect the remaining rhinoceros population frompoachers (Bauer). These rhinos arekilled for their horns and then the bodies are harshly discarded. This is happening at an alarming rateand if the rate continues, it will not be long before rhinos are extinct. After these countries met, plans wereput into place to “promote the protection and respect of all natural wildlifein South Africa as well as Vietnam” (Bauer). They went beyond the protection of rhinos and are workingtogether to promote environmental regulations across both countries. South Africa also has plans to hostsimilar talks with Thailand and China in the near future.

Ilove hearing stories like this where governments or organizations put fortheffort to help our environment. Thereis a lot more work to be done and unfortunately, we are a selfish culture whosometimes refuses to participate unless we think it will directly affectus. But this DOES directly affectus. There are so many animals onthe brink of extinction because WE put them there. If we continue to kill off animals at this rate, what willbe left? Now, I am not saying thateveryone should be a vegetarian. Ilove my bacon and eggs just as much as the next person but there areregulations put into place around what meat can be used and how it’s used toprevent over-use and possible extinction. We also don’t butcher an animal just for one specific body part likewhat is happening with the Rhinos. In most cases, we use the WHOLE animal. From the cow’s tongue to its hind quarters, each part of theanimal serves a purpose.

Thereis a common phrase or saying called the “butterfly effect.” It says that if a butterfly flaps its wings, it may cause a hurricane half wayaround the world. We must notforget that everything is connected.

References

Bauer, Nickolaus. "SA, Vietnam Team upto Thwart Rhino Poachers - News - Mail & Guardian Online." & Guardian Online: The Smart News Source. 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Oct.2011. http://mg.co.za/article/2011-09-28-sa-vietnam-team-up-to-thwart-rhino-poachers

Withgott,J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: The Science Behind the Stories.Fourth Edition. San Francisco, California: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Paul Newton's view in how society assesses Natural Resources

2011-10-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

October18, 2011

Workshop2 Assignment

Question 1: As a society, how can we assess naturalresources?

Environmental andecological economists seek ways to assess the quantity and quality of naturalresources and services in order to help internalize costs and developstrategies for achieving sustainability (p. 156). Although it is widely accepted that natural resourceassessment is important and necessary, it is difficult to come up with methodsfor performing assessments of natural resources, particularly ecosystemservices. In its 2003 report (updatedin 2008) on natural resources assessment, the National Parks ConservationAssociation stated, “To date, no rapid, affordable, comprehensive andauthoritative protocol for evaluating and rating natural resource conditionsand/or ecosystem health is in widespread, generally accepted use” (NaturalResources, p. 2). This reportdescribes the National Park Service’s natural resources assessment methodologyto examine and rate natural resource conditions within the national parksystem; however, it acknowledges that the collection, analysis andinterpretation of the relevant data for even a single ecosystem is “daunting”(p. 3). Although acutely aware ofits constraints, the NPS natural resource assessment methodology gathers, evaluatesand reports current scientific information on major ecosystem attributes, environmentalconditions and biotic health measures for the purposes of park management,planning, public education and policy recommendations (p. 4).

Other examples ofways to assess natural resources include contingent valuation (uses of surveysto determine how much people are willing to pay to protect or restore aresource) and revealed data valuation (analyzes the amount of money, time andeffort people expend to visit, use or replace natural resources). A related approach using repair andreplacement costs was used by researchers for the Stern Review on the Economicsof Climate Change. They surveyedthe scientific literature on impacts of rising temperatures, changing precipitationlevels, and increasing major storms, then estimated the economic impacts to assessthe cost of global change (Withgott & Brennan, p. 152).

Question 2: As a society, how can we establishenvironmental regulations that have an impact on our culture and lifestyle(e.g., the BLM in the economic development of our society)?

Environmentalregulations impact our culture and lifestyle through limitations, fees, taxes,reporting requirements, incentives, quotas, and many other approaches. Theoverall objectives should be to establish effective policies to bring aboutchanges to enhance the wellbeing of human communities while achievingenvironmental sustainability. Notethat the establishment of principles comes first in this definition of“regulation”: the establishment ofprinciples, rules, or laws designed to control or govern conduct(Freedictionary.com). Our societyhas attempted to come to agreement and formally establish such principles on anational level by passing legislation such as the National Environmental PolicyAct. We must recognize that effectivepolicy is based on input from science, ethics, and economics, includingcost-benefit analysis of direct and indirect factors. We must recognize the limitations of the tools and knowledgewe use even as we must apply them in the present but be prepared tocontinuously seek improvement. Dynamicand flexible approaches to regulation (perhaps modeled on the biotic systems weseek to protect?) are more compatible with our culture than rigid, punitive andarbitrary approaches. A primaryexample of a well-received method of regulation is governing the activities ofindividuals and businesses by providing “incentives for them to behave in waysthat minimize environmental impact or equalize costs and benefits among parties”(Withgott & Brennan, p. 169).

Interestingly, oneof the biggest policy issues that has been identified is not the establishmentof sound policy but rather the implementation. In a report presented to theEuropean Institute of Public Administration, Demmke (2001) calls attention tosignificant shortcomings in implementing environmental law:

In the field ofenvironmental law at present, ineffective application and enforcement remains amajor problem and ranks higher than in any other policy (with the exception ofthe much bigger internal market sector). In the environmental sector hardly onedirective (be it in water, waste, soil or other sectors) has been implementedand enforced by all Member States. (Demmke, 2001).

It appears our society needs torecognize and take steps to confront the fact that its biggest challenge ineffective environmental regulation is in the implementation phase.

References

Demmke,C. (2001). Towards effective environmental regulation: Innovative approaches inimplementing and enforcing European environmental law and policy. Academy of European Law Online. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://centers.law.nyu.edu/jeanmonnet/papers/01/010501.html

Nationalresources assessment and ratings methodology. ( August 2003, updated April2008). National Parks Conservation Association. Fort Collins, Colorado. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://www.npca.org/stateoftheparks/methodology1.pdf

Withgott,J. , & Brennan, S. (2010). Environment: The science behind the stories (4thed.). New York. Pearson BenjaminCummings.

Buoys electric generators are proposed

2011-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Scott Learn wrote in The Oregonian October 14, 2011 about: "Oregon environmental regulators proposing approving a New Jersey company's plan to put 10 wave energy buoys off the central Oregon coast."
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/oregon_regulators_propose_appr.html It seems an interesting proposition, worth of a trial. We must get as much energy from diverse sources as we can as long as the positive output is much-much grater that the damage caused. This benefit should based on the three pillars of a sustainable development: must be of course economically feasible, but most importantly should be environmentally viable and socially responsible.

Danielle Waltz's view of "Living in the City"

2011-10-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

October 11, 2011

Urban Resources and Sustainability

Living in the City

Ihave lived my whole life in the city. Being a part of the city has allowed meto learn many things that I could not learn about in a rural neighborhood or asuburban neighborhood. In the city you live amongst not only neighbor’s closeby but near local business and stores as well. You can walk to school, bike orbus to school and play at the neighborhood park. I value that in the city youare forced to connect and communicate with the people around you, because theyare all around you.

Inthe city there are many aspects that I appreciate from it. One of them is theculture diversity. Depending on where you live diversity can be greater orsmaller then the next city but overall I feel that the city has more diversitythen the outskirts in general mainly because of the greater amount of people. Ifeel that having a wider variety of people is a great part of a city becausethen we learn more. Each person’s history and background adds something uniqueand the city can prosper due to those historical traditions. There may be atradition in the, for example Russian community, that may be a helpfulecological answer to a problem the city could have been struggling on but welearned something from a person with that tradition that is able to teach usthe way. This can go any way or any culture so that’s why diversity in the cityis a good thing.

Anotheraspect the city brings is change. Like I mentioned in the last paragraph thereare lots of people in the city and people change all the time so that makes thecity change as well. Even though we generally do not like change because ittakes us into the unknown, which scares us, change for the better is a goodthing. In the example I gave about the traditional solution in another culturefor an ecological problem which that would be a change we would make. I feelthat the city is more open to changing things because they do things to improvethe city for the people to allow it to be more economical, safe and now inthese days striving for sustainability. The city is more willing to bring changeinto the city because also it is usually more prosperous.

Thecity being a place of prosperity is also an aspect I see. As we learned fromwatching about the different mega cities around the world a common reason forseeing people migrate into the city was for the economical growth. The city ismore likely to have success in a business because there are more people.Restaurants will have more customers to feed, corporate offices would have moreworkers and stores would have more interested customers with their product.

Thecity also has good educational system. In a city there are many elementaryschools, middle schools and high schools and although neighboring schools areusual what is selected for you, you can usually pick one that works for you. Notonly do cities have a selection of primary schooling but for secondaryschooling as well. Within a city of a fairly decent size there are usuallyquite a bit of secondary schools to chose from as well. I know that I was happywith my choice of school that was only a few miles from my house. That helps tosave money to allow you to stay hear your home and also be close to yourfamily.

Sowhat does it mean for me to live in the city? I live in the city because I liketo be near others. I feel comfort to have the safety of the firemen, policemenand hospitals in close proximity in case of an emergency. I like the stabilitythat the city gives with its prosperity and politics. Although rural andsuburban have its pros and cons, the city, at least for right now, is thatplace for me.

Brittany Tate's view of living in the city

2011-10-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Urban Resources and Sustainability

October 8, 2011

What Does it Mean toMe to Live in the City?

People.Lights. Existence. The city is a place that is bustling with life, a constantprocess of creation, innovation and renovation. Some people are born into thecity while others come searching for opportunity, adventure or simply a change.The city is ever-changing as the population grows and dwindles through time.Industry creates or destroys life; the economy a delicate ecosystem that mustbe nurtured. The city represents different things to different people;ultimately, each person will choose what the city is. Cities are so diverse throughout the world, I cannot fathomgrouping them under an umbrella as if they are the same. I have lived in twolarge cities, very far apart from each other, Tampa, Florida and Portland,Oregon. My reasons for living in the city have evolved as I have experiencedand learned more in my life. Ultimately, living in the city means opportunity,relationships and progress.

Growingup on 825 acres of private property on a Christian campground was the idealchildhood. I was safe, free to play and surrounded by people who loved me andwanted the best for me. My mind was guarded and my heart free to love. When Imoved from this place to Gresham, Oregon in 2000, I felt as if I had been tornfrom my safe haven and thrown into a “city”. Gresham at the time was a suburb,actually nothing like a city, but to me it was huge, loud, busy, and foreign. Ihated it. I cried myself to sleep every night praying that God would take meback to the campground. My perspective as a 13 year-old was limited, uneducatedand uncultivated. I did not even realize Portland was 20 minutes down the road,a real city, much bigger than me or Gresham.

At the age of 19 Imoved to Tampa, Florida, really not knowing what I was getting myself into. Ittook moving to Tampa, Florida to realize what an amazing city Portland, Oregonis. When I returned two years later, I was eager to explore the city. I now hadan appreciation for the unique people, life, energy and opportunity the cityoffers.

In Tampa I wasexposed to the many opportunities the city offers. In a healthy city, morepeople creates more industry, which creates more employment. Many cities have afew core industries, but it is best to have a diversified economy. The cityoffers opportunities to contribute to the good of the world, as well as thebad. Some of the highest crime rates exist in the city, but also, the majorityof human services are offered in the busiest, most populated areas. As anindividual living in the city I have the opportunity to work to enrich thelives of others by pursuing my purpose, or the opportunity to live off of theothers choosing to pursue theirs.

Because the cityis full of people, it is rich with the opportunity for relationship.Unfortunately, our culture has moved in an anti-social direction for a longtime with the development of technology. People can choose who they do and donot want to associate with and can sit in a room being connected to theirsocial circle while not talking to the person sitting right next to them. Thisdisconnect has become evident and many organizations are realizing the value offace to face relationship, working to renew these encounters. As an individualin the city, I have the opportunity to pursue relationships with the manypeople around me and do little things to brighten the day of the numerouspeople I see throughout the day. Asking the gas attendant how he/she is doingand thanking the server with a smile and a tip may be just the thing thatperson needed to boost their spirit. Living in the city means being open to newand renewed relationships.

The city would notsurvive without progress. In EmeraldCities, Joan Fitzgerald explores cities that have made great progress insustainable development. Freiburg Germany is one of the leading cities usingrenewable energy. What isextremely encouraging for the future of the world is that “Freiburg’scommitment to sustainable development is also creating economic development”(2).Using feed-in tariffs and grants specific for green living, more and morecities are beginning to build with a sustainable mindset. Portland, Oregon hasan apartment complex in the Pearl District that is devoted to green living. TheSitka Apartments use non-toxic cleaning products, water-conserving washingmachines, energy-efficient dryers and fan-forced, baseboard or radiant heatingsystems to conserve energy. This forward thinking is what will save the healthof humans and the health of the environment. Doing things how they have alwaysbeen done rarely promotes progress. Desiring a better life is what motivatesmankind into progressive thinking. Living in the city for me means progress,not only in my education and career, but in my self-development.

Living in the citycan mean many things. For me it is about doing the best I can to honor God inthe way resources are used and people are treated. Social justice must be afactor when decisions are being made in the city. I want to honor theopportunity to grow relationships while making progress on this journey.

References

Fitzgerald, Joan."Chapter 1." Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and EconomicDevelopment. New York: Oxford UP, 2010.Print.

Sitka Apartments-PortlandOregon Apartments. Web. 10 Oct. 2011..

Living in the city by Lezlie bugg

2011-10-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ilove living in the City. It seemsto have everything!

Whenthinking about exactly why I love living in the city I look back on mychildhood and some of the memories that I have from a more innocent and naivetime.

Ican remember several times that it snowed. The first time I was about three and my older sisters wentout to the side yard and build a snowman out of the soggy snow. They came back into the house freezing,but proud of their accomplishments. Alas, the snowman had so little structure that the cat was able to jumpon him and knock him down! Anothertime it snowed I was a teenager. This snow was a true blizzard. My family spent the evening huddled around our fireplace trying to keepwarm. The next morning we wentoutside and saw that the snow had drifted up the front of the neighbor’s house. What could have been a disasterquickly turned to fun when he let all the kids go to the upstairs back window,climb up on the roof and slide down the drift.

Inever wondered how the city was able to cope with so much snow.

Asan adult I hear the grumblings when the de-icing trucks have to be deployed forthe occasional freezing weather we get. Non-Portlanders mock the worry we feel and the miniscule ‘fleet’ oftrucks we have. The city ofPortland would certainly have a difficult time coping with a major protractedblizzard. It is, on the otherhand, completely able to ‘pause’ commerce and afford a few extra snow days toits citizens (young and old!) Thepeople of Portland have developed an accepting and cheerful demeanor when itcomes to natural phenomena.

Wehave not been as indulgent with our infrastructure. None of us enjoy having a dirty river, and we insist onmitigating problems that have come about due to our population growth. We quite sensibly instituted an UrbanGrowth Boundary, put in an Open Vistas declaration in our city plan, and haveworked tirelessly to upgrade our sewage system.

Portlandis home to many fine restaurants and less elegant food carts. We have a policy of encouraging organicgardening in our communities as well as our front yards. We love bike culture, regular commutersas well as the clowns that ride double and triple tall bikes, an all theweirdness that goes with it.

Wealso have a height restriction on our downtown buildings. I think this is a good thing. If we need more office space, let’s goout to the commercial and industrial areas that need some revitalizing!

Oneof the things I truly love about Portland is the spirit with which people getinvolved! We can go to thesymphony on a Friday evening and tour chicken coops Saturday morning. We can join a conservation grouppulling ivy from Mt. Tabor on a rainy weekend morning and attend a travelingBroadway Show the same evening. While other cities have 150-1500 protesters against corporate greed andgovernment collusion with big business, Portland has a mega-rally of over 5000people taking over two city parks!

WhatI like most about living in THIS city is that we thrive on collaboration. Our police force uses communitypolicing techniques, such as working with the biking community to put on safetytraining for motorists. Ourtransit authority communicates openly with its citizens and the municipalitiesnecessary for getting projects completed.

Matt Field's view on Values of Western Culture and the Scientific Method

2011-10-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Environmental Studies – PHS 100A
Warner Pacific College
October 10, 2011
Our post-industrial world is reaping all of the benefit and damage that comes from western culture. We have developed a society that has used the resources of our environment to make human life both longer and more comfortable. The result of this is that, in the United States, we have a carbon footprint that is over four times greater than the world average. (Withgott Brennan, p.16, 2011) Moreover, all western, developed nations use a substantially greater amount of natural resources than the rest of the world. We have used industry to develop a culture that is spending natural resources faster than they can be replenished. Today, we can use the scientific method to figure out how we have put ourselves in this position and how we can have a better future.

In order for us to understand how our culture has developed and the proper steps it would take to change, we need to realize that this is an interdisciplinary issue. (Withgott Brennan, p.8, 2011) A realization needs to be made that it doesn’t only take an understanding of natural science to change our environment. It is a much more holistic study of natural science that also includes social, ethical, and political implications. An objective eye is the only way science and culture can grow. This is the purpose of the scientific method.

Perhaps if the ancient tribes of Easter Island realized all the facets of their own culture that were being decimated by destroying their environment they would have done things differently. (Withgott Brennan, pp.6-7, 2011) Their declining environment ultimately correlated to a poorer diet, disease, and ultimately tribal fighting. To go from a culture that had the ability to erect great monuments to one that was discovered living in caves is a stark warning to our western culture. If we ask the right questions and apply the scientific method, our culture may be able to survive; more importantly, the planet will be able to as well.

The sequence of inquiry involved in the scientific method is an excellent way to develop efficiency and understanding. By observing the current condition we can draw questions as to how the world works. We can make hypotheses about declining species, limited land, pollution, and the well-being of humanity that we can test through both manipulative and natural experiments (Withgott Brennan, p.11, 2011). The concern that I have for humanity is whether or not we will be able to apply the results of more constructive science before it is too late.

An example of this would be the green energy movement. Through both industry and ecology Portland General Electric is offering a 100% renewable energy option for electricity. (http://www.portlandgeneral.com/residential/renewable_energy/green_source.aspx, 2011) This came about as a result of the scientific method being applied in a way to come up with sustainable solutions to the finite and dirty technology of older, fossil fuel-based production. Westerners need to decide whether or not we are willing to embrace the science of sustainable power or continue to wallow in the selfishness of old technology and long-term damaging resources.

The true question is whether or not we want to change the consumptive western culture. By applying the well-reasoned steps of the scientific method we have been able to understand the world we live in more efficiently. Whether or not westerners want to make this change is another story. As we export our culture to the undeveloped world we increase the speed in which we deplete our finite natural resources. There are Cornucopian idealists that will choose to ignore the fact that the world is not getting bigger in the midst of an ever growing humanity. There are also Cassandras crowds of people that declare that the sky is falling. (Withgott Brennan, p.18, 2011). I believe that if we decide to have the value to preserve the earth we will find the ingenuity to protect it.

References

Withcott, J, Brennan S, (2011) Environment, The Science Behind the Stories pp.6-8, 11, 16, 18 Benjamin Cummings, Boston

(2011) Green Source, Retrieved from, http://www.portlandgeneral.com/residential/renewable_energy/green_source.aspx, October 10, 2011

Tiffany Bishop on The Scientific Method

2011-10-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

PHS 100A – Environmental Studies

Warner Pacific College

October 10, 2011
Abstract

This paper includes the idea, the definition, and the founders of the Scientific Method. There will be pieces from others found throughout my research to back up my findings. I will also include how it has influenced the “western culture”.

Keywords: Scientific, Science, Method

The Scientific Method was first introduced to me in Middle School. I recall from my favorite Science teacher when doing experiments using the process over and over again. This is a good memory as I found this teacher to be very good at her job and able to explain well the tasks at hand. Science is not a strong subject of mine but this processes it very helpful when working through theories.

The book Environment: The Science Behind the Stories gives the steps of the Scientific Method as follows: (p.11)

1. Observations

2. Questions

3. Hypothesis

4. Predictions

5. Test

6. Results

As you can see there is some work before you are able to actually test your theory. Observation is what gets this Scientific Method going; this is what the experiment is all about. Questions are important in finding out things that you did not already know about your observation. The hypothesis is what is tested, as the scientist you create an answer to your observation and then use this hypothesis to test during your experiments. Predictions are made as to what is thought the results of the test will create. The next step is to finally do the test, once the test in complete you get the actual results.

The creators of the Scientific Method are said to be the Muslims. They were the first to have used it in the 10th or 14th century. They were the first to use observation and experiment. Once it was discovered many people added to it and used it in different ways. This is how it evolved into the modern Scientific Method we use in the Western Culture today. I always thought “western culture” came from North America, why? I’m not sure but I never thought it started in Ancient Greece. There is a website that states “Today, Western culture has at least some presence in nearly all nations of the world. It does not currently exist, however, anywhere in a perfect and complete form. Wherever Western culture exists, it is at least partially mixed—and often largely mixed—with non-Western culture. Western culture has at least some presence in nearly all nations of the world. It does not currently exist, however, anywhere in a perfect and complete form. Wherever Western culture exists, it is at least partially mixed—and often largely mixed—with non-Western culture.” (2011) This is the best definition I found that made the most sense to me. Understanding what Western culture is helps to understand what is taken from it and how we live our lives.

The Scientific Method is widely used therefore widely understood from country to country. Math is like a universal language, with the exception of the use of metrics. I thank my Middle school teacher for a great experience in the Scientific Method making it easy to get back into.
References

http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html. What is western culture? Retrieved October 10, 2011. 2009 Western Culture Global.

Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories

(4th ed.). New York, NY. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Shuttleworth, Martyn (2009). Who Invented the Scientific Method? Retrieved [Date of Retrieval] from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/who-invented-the-scientific-method.html

Portland Zoo awash in conservation efforts

2011-10-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend Carey Harrison alerted me about this article in the Portland Tribune http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131785153192076700 about the Portland Zoo.
"When it comes to sustainability improvements, it’s all happening at the zoo.
The Oregon Zoo, that is, not the Central Park Zoo that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sang about in their 1967 tune. Thanks to voter approval of a $125 million bond measure in the thick of the nation’s financial crisis in November 2008, the Oregon Zoo is trying to make good on its goal of becoming the greenest zoo in the country." To read more follow the link.

Siemens Energy: This is why we care

2011-09-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

It is clear that any investing in science will develop the technology that will change our lives.

Society’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazards by Carol Wilks

2011-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Flash Floods

PHS 100A Environmental Studies
Warner Pacific College

September 20, 2011

Society’s Vulnerability to Natural Hazards

As a child, I experienced a flash flood while visiting relatives in Savannah, Georgia. My memories of the flood bring a smile to my face as I recall the boys who were on their surfboards in the golf course behind Uncle Bubba’s and Aunt Mary Nell’s house. The only thing scary about it to me was that I couldn’t get to my mom who was at Granny’s on the other side of town, and she couldn’t get to me. I was too young to be aware of the possible dangers surrounding us.

The natural hazard known as a flash flood can be especially dangerous because of its sudden formation and potential widespread destruction. Flash flooding occurs when precipitation falls too quickly on saturated soil or dry soil that has poor absorption ability. The runoff collects in low-lying areas and rapidly flows downhill. Cities located along rivers or beneath dams are especially vulnerable if the amount of water generated during a flash flood overwhelms protective barriers.

Of the deaths that occur due to flooding, nearly half of all flash flood deaths are those of people in vehicles. The United States National Weather Service gives the advice "Turn Around, Don't Drown" for flash floods, recommending that people turn around and get out of the area of a flash flood, rather than trying to cross it. The mistake that many people make when it comes to low-lying flood waters is thinking that it’s not too deep. It takes only 18 to 24 inches of water to float a car or SUV. Once a vehicle is afloat, its tendency is to turn sideways and roll over, trapping the people inside. More people lose their lives in flooding than in any other weather related event (NOAA’s National Weather Service).

On average, flooding causes over $2 billion of property damage each year. Flash floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, while scouring out new channels. Rapidly rising water can reach heights of 20 feet or more (NOAA’s National Weather Service). Furthermore, flash flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic erosion, producing mud slides that take out roads, homes, and businesses. Many people have been left homeless by flash floods due to the fact that their homeowners insurance did not automatically include flood hazard coverage.

Ecosystems are affected by flashfloods through various ways. Erosion from flash floods can uproot trees and destroy riverbanks. These natural features normally provide protection from flooding, but once they are gone, the landscape is altered and the chance of further flooding is increased. Fish and wildlife are impacted by toxins from destroyed buildings that spread through the water, including paint, gas, and pesticides.

In the event of a flash flood, the Center for Disease Control lists ways to prevent injury during and after the disaster. These include avoiding wild animals and stinging or biting insects; using alternative sources of fuel for cooking, heating, or cooling to avoid possible carbon monoxide poisoning; avoiding electrical power lines; leaving a building immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises that signal that the structure may fall or if you smell gas or suspect a leak; boiling water to drink or cook with (CDC).

My family was fortunate. Uncle Bubba’s and Aunt Mary Nell’s house sat up high enough that the flash flood didn’t reach us. We did have to wait a few days for the flood waters to subside to reunite with the rest of the family, and we did have to get typhoid shots when we returned home. But we were safe.

REFERENCES

NOAA’s National Weather Service; retrieved Sept., 2011 from

http://www.weather.gov/os/water/XWATER/TOUR/TOUR2_GO.SHTML

NOAA’s National Weather Service, Southern Region Headquarters; retrieved Sept., 2011 from

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd/

The Effects of Flash Floods, retrieved Sept., 2011 from

http://www.ehow.com/info_8028650_effects-flash-floods.html#ixzz1YL5NiLmp

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved Sept., 2011 from

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/injury/facts.asp

LaShawn K. Phillips' view on Hurricane Irene

2011-09-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Warner Pacific College

Environmental Studies PHS100A

September 07, 2011

Just recently Hurricane Irene made its mark. Hurricane Irene swept through Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, United States, and Canada ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.). During Irene’s devastation fifty-five people were killed, and eight people went missing ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.). For me having family in Virginia, and a cousin who is serving in the U.S Navy in Virginia, it was very hard to hear about all of Hurricane Irene’s devastation. In this Essay I will be discussing Hurricane Irene from beginning to end, and discuss how my family prepared, and dealt with Hurricane Irene.

Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane of the 2011 season that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in August 2011 ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.). Subsequent convective organization occurred as it passed the Leeward Islands, and by August 21, it moved very close to Saint Croix, U.S Virgin Islands ("Hurricane Irene", n.d., para. 1). The next day Irene made landfall at hurricane strength near Puerto Rico, where high winds and intermittent torrents caused significant property damage ("Hurricane Irene", n.d., para. 1). After passing through the Turks and Caicos Islands, the hurricane quickly strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane while it passed through the Bahamas ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.). Category 3 major hurricanes are described as major hurricanes in the Atlantic or Easter Pacific Basins, which can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures ("Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale", n.d.). Irene then made its way north skirting past Florida and making its landfall over the Eastern North Carolina’s Outer Banks in the early morning of August 27 ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.). Irene then moved along southeastern Virginia, affecting the Hampton Roads region and on the morning of August 28, landed near Little Egg Inlet in New Jersey making Irene the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903 ("Hurricane Irene", n.d.).

Having family in Virginia I was very concerned about what Hurricane Irene was capable of. My cousin Tracey and her husband boarded up their windows, and stocked up on needed supplies like water, batteries, and non-perishable foods. My cousin Melissa who had just moved to Virginia with her husband who is in the navy was calling me around the clock with updates; she was really scared seeing as though she had never experienced anything like this before. Melissa’s husband Will serves our country in the Navy and is stationed in Norfolk VA. During Hurricane Irene’s raft Will was unable to wait out the storm with his family. Will was out assisting ships to sea to avoid hurricane Irene and also busy moving the USS Enterprise to the Norfolk shipyard to protect the ship from the storm. After moving the ship back to the ship yard Will stayed on the ship constantly checking updates about Irene with the other commanders and sailors. Thank God for the men and women who serve in the U.S Navy.

I have always been really involved in following natural disasters in the United States and across the world. But when it came to Hurricane Irene, I was really concerned and was checking online and, the television whenever I got a free second. When your family is involved it hits home and given that it is a natural disaster there is no telling what will be the end result. Hurricane Irene caused over 50 deaths in less than a week. The hurricane also caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. I am very thankful that my family who may have lost power for a few days, and had some minor damages, safely made it though the natural disaster that is hurricane Irene.

References

Hurricane Irene. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene_(2011)

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_3_hurricane#Category_3

Kelly Hannan's view on Natural Disasters

2011-09-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Environmental Studies PHS 100A

Warner Pacific College

September 19, 2011
Great Northeast Power Blackout of 2003 and My Experience:

On August 14, 2003, parts of the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada experienced widespread power blackouts. The US states of New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts were affected.

Among the major areas touched by the electrical power outage in the United States were the cities of New York City, Albany, Buffalo in New York, Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio, and Detroit. Ottawa and Toronto in Canada were also affected.

Power was suddenly lost around 4pm Eastern Standard Time. New York State and Ohio, and air traffic was slowed as flights into affected airports were halted. Lightning seemed to be the likely suspect and terrorism was quickly ruled out as a cause for the incident by federal authorities. Approximately 50 million people were affected by the outage.

The cause of the outage was still being debated the following day, as efforts were still underway to restore power to affected areas. Industry and government experts were appearing to place the blame on an outdated interconnecting grid system.

The Detroit Area

About 2.3 million households and businesses were affected, including almost all of Metro Detroit, as well as Lansing, Ann Arbor, and surrounding communities in southeast Michigan. The blackout affected three Michigan utilities; Detroit Edison (whose entire system went down), Lansing Board of Water and Light, and a small portion of Consumers Energy's system in the southeastern corner of the state. Word quickly spread to the surrounding areas without power and many flocked to surrounding areas that still had power, resulting in crowded stores, packed restaurants, booked hotels, and long queues for the gas stations in these towns. Locales closest to the affected areas in the northern Detroit suburbs that did not lose power included the areas of Oxford and Holly, communities along M-24 and M-15, and into the Lapeer and Flint/Tri-Cities area. The city limits of Brighton and Howell were unaffected as well. Television and radio stations were temporarily knocked off the air and water supplies were disrupted in Detroit due to the failure of electric pumps. Because of the loss of water pressure all water was required to be boiled before use until August 18. Several schools which had planned to begin the school year 18 August were closed until clean water was available. A Marathon Oil refinery in Melvindale, near Detroit, suffered a small explosion from gas buildup, necessitating an evacuation within one mile (1.6 km) around the plant and the closure of Interstate 75. Officials feared the release of toxic gases. Heavy rains on Friday coupled with the lack of sewage pumps closed other expressways and prompted urban flood warnings. Untreated sewage flowed into local rivers in Lansing and Metropolitan Detroit as contingency solutions at some sewage treatment plants failed. In the midst of a summer heat wave, Michiganders were deprived of air conditioning. Several people, mostly elderly individuals, had to be treated for symptoms of heat stroke. In the Detroit area, local television stations' news helicopters were told by each station's management to "stay above the cars' headlights" at night, and to not venture into Downtown Detroit (due to the hazard of flying into an unlit skyscraper). During the days immediately after the blackout, many stations were back on the air, but with limited resources (in one case, WXYZ-TV's news anchor was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, as opposed to his normal news suit, and apologized to viewers for the "rather warm conditions" in the station, as they only had one air conditioner and a couple fans working).

How this affected me:

It was approximately 8:30 in the morning on August 15, 2003, when I received a call from my father (who just recently passed). He called to tell me that my brother had died in a fire. At that time I started to cry and told my father to stop playing this sick joke on me. My father then began to cry and I knew that in fact this was no joke. My whole entire life; I never had see nor heard my father cry. Not once. This is how I knew it was true my little brother was dead.
He had gone out with some friends the night of the blackout. Apparently he had a little too much to drink so rather than drive; he spent the night on a friend’s sofa. They had lit candles because most of the Detroit area was still with out power. They joked and talked until they passed out in the wee hours of the morning. The candles burned down and the table caught fire and spread rapidly. According to the rest of the story, the friend awoke in the middle of the night with her place engulfed in flames. She ran outside and made it out alive but my brother and her dog did not. My brother’s cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. I am very thankful he did not suffer. Very thankful.
Amazing how this chain of events affected my family. I almost lost my baby when I received the news but pulled myself together for my mother and sister. My sister has not been the same since the fire. She had to be on medication for 2 years after his death and has a very hard time now just getting though everyday life. They were very close. Naturally my mother is still devastated and cries frequently over the loss of her youngest child.
My son never got to meet his uncle. But he is alive in my son every time he smiles.
Resources:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/eye/blackout_2003.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_2003

Note: Also see fatalities under wiki link above under “Belleville man”

The Great Outdoors by Alison Hoyt

2011-09-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

Warner Pacific College

September 12, 2011

When I first began writing this paper, I thought that a particular topic would stand out to me and I would just go with it, however, I got caught up just reading about so many different areas of interest that for the sake of time and considering that this paper only required 500 words, I started just rambling about my views on environmental regulations, but it wasn’t well put together so I kept looking around on the internet when I found a subject that may not be considered a direct environmental regulation, but it is associated and definitely brings a breath of fresh air to all of the negativity that comes with politics, money, and our one and only mother nature. When the president of the United States of America gets involved with an issue, it means that there is serious business to be conducted. That’s why on April 16th, 2010, President Obama initiated the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative to develop a modern day conservation and recreation plan. This initiative is a joint effort between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. America’s Great Outdoors believes that permanent conservation solutions should rise from the American people, and that the security of our natural legacies is an unbiased intention shared by all Americans and beyond. America’s Great Outdoors may be one of only a few organizations that recognizes that many great ideas do not come from the political powerhouse within Washington, D.C. What makes America’s Great Outdoors so unique is that rather than determining policies, this initiative relies on communities for local, grassroots conservation proposals. Instead of brewing the system of government, it summons for the reworking of useless policies as well as making the Federal Government a better companion with all of the states, tribes, and local communities and even those afar. This initiative at first glance did not seem to have a specific target population, but after further review, I realized that it is subtitled, “A promise to future generations.” While the outdoors are for everyone of every age, race, creed, and color to enjoy, I do recognize the importance of educating our youth to preserve what they have, just like my generation was taught. The truth is we cannot undo all of the damage that has been done, so education is vital and begins with the next generation of responsible and compassionate human beings. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar stated that “Young people are the next generation of conservationists and we must empower them to take a leadership role in shaping their future.” As I stated above, I couldn’t agree more.

The Secretary of the Interior Mr. Ken Salazar recently announced a new website that is directly targeted at concerned active youth. YouthGo.gov is full of information that allows adolescents to take on some responsibility without being overwhelmed. What makes this program even more exciting is the different partnering environmental agencies have begun creating paid jobs for youth to gain work experience while making a difference within an ecosystem and gaining an extreme amount of pride amongst themselves. In 2010, more than 21,000 adolescents worked in a position related to the great outdoors ranging from working in the concession stands of National Parks, ensuring the cleanliness of a specified area, to creating trails for Unlike many of our governments ideas, this program was not just put into place by adults, many people from all backgrounds and areas of expertise, of all ages were involved in this effort, all with an abundance of targeted goals. This is an example of one of the reasons that I am proud of my country and of my president. So much responsibility lies on the shoulders of adults, mainly parents to provide appropriate information to our children, here is a perfect example of the government positively getting involved and making a direct difference to not just a young adult, but to their future and our planet!

References:

America’s great outdoors. 2010. Accessed on September 12, 2011 from http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/

It is the Word by Jorge Melendez

2011-09-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Peace in Christ,

In our relationship with God, I find his beautiful Word of truth impeccable, and because of it I see why & how the enemy makes it extremely difficult for one to maintain faithful. The other day I contemplated on why our faith is so very difficult. Understanding that everyone is different and what causes one to sin is not necessarily true for others. However, there are some generalities that are true for all. The LORD explained this wonderfully in the parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 (NASB):

3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

When walking through the warzone of life, take stock of who you are and where you stand. Be one that spiritually grows and flourishes and not one that withers or is choked. This life offers many distractions and entertainments that are all tailored for us to spiritually die. Whatever the devil can use to draw our attention away from God, he will, be on guard against those traps that will attempt to keep you locked down in an emotional daze of spiritual neglect. “Be strong and very courageous” for the LORD is with you (Joshua 1:9) and stay faithful in the beautiful power of God’s Word.

Your brother in the faith,

Jorge Meléndez

www.nwchurchjc.org

Sumer Musing About Power

2011-09-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Energy Trust of Oregon is sending letters to customers of NW Natural and PGE letting them know how good they are doing in energy use relative to the neighbors in that area. This is a great idea! Not only because it shows how you are doing, but will make you think about how you can improve your energy use. In my case for instance I know that I have to work on my home's envelope, need new more efficient windows, new wall isolation, and remove all drafting through doors and windows. Of course if I have new windows installed that would fix the air draft there!
Envelopes are critical in any structure in fact there is a group working in this subject at Portland State. Today architects think about the envelope from the very beginning of the design, not as it was done in the good'ol days when the last thing in the architect mind was efficiency, I think (of course you can prove me wrong) that in the good'ol days architects were only concerned about looks and it would be up to the engineers who would have to deal with structures but I would say that never thinking about energy conservation. At the end they would have a lot of tools to fix the livability or habitability of a residence, such as central heating and air condicioning. Of course these tools are available today too, and much more efficient than before but the whole idea with a good envelope is that the home will require much less energy heating or cooling to confortable temperatures.

Urban Farming and Community Building by Perla X. Caballero-Hoblit

2011-08-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Environmental Studies PHS 100A
Warner Pacific College
August 29, 2011

Today in society there seems to be a push towards self sustainability and being eco-friendly. This is very noticeable in the City of Portland, OR. In the community that I live in is called Sellwood, this community was small and yet had a great impact in the way that has changed the way that urban chicken raising is viewed.

The City of Portland in 2008, had a ban against livestock with in the city limits. This meant that there could not be chicken raising in the city, this law was amended in 2008 stating that there could be a limit of 3 chickens in your back yard. This has changed the sounds that you hear and also the quality of eggs that one wants to eat.

The city code that change was Portland City Code Chapter 13.05.015 § E. it states, “A person keeping a total of three or fewer chickens,...pygmy goats…shall not be required to obtain a specified animal facility permit.” This was effective February 15, 2008. What this began as a urban farming revolution that has changed the city code and as well started community building.

In the community of North Williams Ave. was featured in a Today show article in 2009. The article talks about how the sound of children playing, bicycles riding by and yet there is a new sound “a tiny warble of clucks coming from a chicken coop set in the front yard.” The article continues to talk about how the Mayor of Portland has two chickens in his backyard. Or how there is a community sharing of the eggs for neighbors to share the bounty in exchange for something. The once shut and unwelcoming neighborhood is opening doors and backyards.

The “Tour de Coop” is community event that has urban chicken farmers in Portland open their backyards and let the people visit their coops and see how they are raising their chickens. This is a self guided tour that has you learn about the backyard chicken raising but also sharing ideas as well and being a conversation. I have not been on the tour but in Sellwood it seems that one house on the block has a chicken coop.

My neighbors across the street are a three member family that when they shared that there were going to have chickens I was very excited for them. I could see the husband and son work on the month prior to the arrival of the chickens using recycled plywood to build the chicken coop. Then one day they came home with a box with the celebrity and new members of 8th Street. The three chickens were at first a little scared and did not want to leave the coop but after getting use to the sounds of cars passing by, the family dogs and cats that would walk into their backyard. They emerged; the three chickens are Carmella, Samantha and Brit Nichole.

Yes the chickens have names. I asked them why? Why would you name your chickens? They responded, “You name your dog or cat with the chickens they are a member of the household and they will be helping produce eggs for the family.” The eggs the best part of raising chickens.

The price for a dozen eggs can vary from the location or quality that you purchase. If you just want the bang for you buck then the chain grocery store dozen eggs can be about $1.50. If you would to have grass feed, free range, etc. the price of course goes up and you are paying about $3-4. Why the price difference? It is cheaper and the profit margin is higher when the chickens are in cages feed a processed chicken feed.

Unlike the farmer that is taking more land, not buying the feed and using grass to feed the chickens. Similar to the urban chickens that now live across the street of me, the chickens have been seem pecking away the weeds and worms that live in the grass. They help keep the yard look great but are also helping have un-welcomed weeds be generated for food.

I have yet to have chickens even though I really would like to have three. I picture myself in the morning after I have walked my dogs. Going to the backyard and visiting with my chickens. Feeding them, changing their water, adding more bedding, and seeing how many eggs they laid for me. The fact that once I thought that this idea was only possible if I lived outside of city limits is now possible thanks to the idea of community that found a grandfathered law that spread to the city and has even spread across the nations.

References

Holt, Lester (Performer). (2009, September,) In Portland, OR urban chickens rule the roost [Television series episode] in Today Show. New York: NBC.

City of Portland, (2011). Specified animal regulations Portland, OR; Retrieved from http://portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28228#cid_13497

Growing Gardens 2011 Tour de Coops Blog

Gowing-garden.org/portland-gardening-resources/chickens.php

Kim Biethan's view on Assessing Natural Resources

2011-08-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Environmental Science PHS100A-CSB1-MA
Warner Pacific College
August 26, 2011

Scientists and economists alike have been working for years to determine how to assess the natural resources we use and how to manage them. There have been several ways of thinking when it comes to deciding what is right and wrong regarding our natural resources. The first one being that our natural resources are finite, not infinite like many people think. There are some people who see our environment from a strictly anthropocentrism perspective, who look at only the human animal and its impact or needs, the biocentrism type who sees only the non-human life and how it relates to our environment, and the ecocentrism perspective who judge actions in terms of the benefit or harm to the integrity of the ecology as a whole. Beyond these ways of thinking are the environmental ethics involved. Some believe the best way to approach environmentalism is through preservation ethic. This ethic believes that we the humans in this world should keep the natural environment pristine and untouched. For many years the pioneer in this theory, John Muir believed in this. His protégé’ Gifford Pinchot who went on to become the founder of what we know today as the US Forest Service originally believed in this tact, but after some time believed the conservation ethic to be the better way to handle the environmental issues that were beginning to form. In the conservation ethic one believes that people should hold natural resources in a higher standard and use them but have the responsibility to manage them wisely. Our Native American ancestors were firm believers in this ethic and we can credit them as being some of the first environmentalists in my opinion. They used the resources, but only for what they needed using the entire plant or animal then gave back what they had the ability to give.

Many people think the natural resources in our world like water, oxygen, plants and animals that sustain us are always going to be there, or there is some type of substitute that could replace the resource should it become depleted. Western culture has for hundreds of years taken what they need without considering the environmental impact and what would happen if we take too much fossil fuel from below the surface, or deplete the water supply, or damage the soil or oceans to the point that no animal or living organism is able to continue to live there forcing them either to move to another place or become extinct.

The sad truth is that our society, based on economic growth has done little over the past century to preserve these resources. The good news is our knowledge about this subject has grown much over the past 40-50 years causing both the average person and those in the political and environmental sciences to take notice and have started the conversations and actions on how to be better stewards of this planet of ours. People in western culture have enjoyed many years of technological advances making goods and services easier and easier to obtain without consequences however, news of environmental woes along with national and state wide initiatives and laws have forced many to adapt new habits. Over the last 15-20 years have we actually been conscious of the impact some of our purchases have on the overall environment. There has been more and more government action if not nationally, at the state and county level taking action to curb the use of our resources. Oregon for example was the first state in the country to institute the ‘bottle bill’ which charged .05 cents additional for bottled and canned beverages allowing the consumer to get their .05 per bottle/can back if they brought the containers to a recycling center located at the grocery store. This worked so well, other states adopted the same strategy. Now the bottle bill has added water bottles to the mix which helps the local landfills not clog with plastics. The use of the recycled paper, plastic and bottles have added to a wide variety of new products made from these recycled materials. We are seeing plastics in everything from new fencing to recycled bottles for our beverages and everything in between.

Our state government started recycling early on. I can remember getting my first ‘additional can’ for the recycled items aside from the garbage. ‘Recycling has become the norm here in Oregon and in other states across the nation, however having lived in a non recycling state for a year or so (Utah) the habits that had formed for me in my early adulthood were hard pressed to stop. I still divided my waste and had a very hard time putting beverage cans and bottles in the garbage can!

The Environmental Protection agency has helped reduce and stop industrial ‘dumping’ although it is common knowledge that some illegal dumping still exists due to monetary constraints. The EPA put constraints on greenhouse gases coming from our vehicles, and what types and how much of industrial wastes are allowed to be dumped in our rivers and oceans.

In our state of Oregon, we have many environmental laws in effect that have over time changed the way we live. The bottle bill, recycling (which the waste companies have made much easier by color coding different receptacles to divide glass, plastics, paper products, yard waste and garbage.) There are laws and regulations on what waste products and how much of them are allowed into our air, water and soil/land. We have ‘burn days’ when we can burn yard debris in the fall, but only on those days so as not to impact the air quality. Paying for our beverage containers and getting money back, white boxes in the workplace to separate paper products that can be recycled from the garbage. These have all impacted the way we live.

Some of the laws are determined by the state, others from the Environmental Protection Agency that for the past 40 years has been making policy for this country on the subject of environmental science. The mission statement on their website states, “EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment”. This says it all to me. We are all bound to this earth; it is our responsibility to keep our resources from being depleted. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a conservationist.

Resources:

Environmental Protection Agency Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/index.html

Jay Withcott and Scott Brennen (2011) Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology, Chapter 5, and Environmental Ethics and Economics; Values and Choices, Chapter 6 in Environment, The Science Behind the Stories pp (108-163) Location: Pearson

Dean's Message — Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University

2011-08-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of Universities around the world that have joined the effort to educate professionals, and to promote research in the area of environmental studies. One in particular has been very successful Duke University through its Nicholas School of the Environment. For more info:
Dean's Message — Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University
At Warner Pacific College we are also building up on our programs to prepare students to be good stewards of our Lord's creation. Today I started teaching a class called Urban Resources and Sustainability that goes in that direction. This is an upper division (400 level) course and I am sure a lot is going to be learned and produced as we move along this semester.

Sweet Firmness by Jorge Meléndez

2011-08-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

Peace in Christ,

When I think about God’s patience, long suffering, and kindness, I am left with such a thankful heart. When I think about his humor, I can’t help but smile and laugh a little. However, it is critical that we never overlook God’s fatherly characteristics of strictness. When I consider God’s strictness, I cannot but thank him for his guidance and protection that causes that strictness (Matt. 11:12).

Throughout the scriptures, I find the various ways that the LORD has revealed himself to us. For example, I see his strictness coupled with his helpful and guiding hand that leads us to victory. For those of you that experienced the firm loving hand of a good father, one that helped you succeed, you know how important his support and firmness was to your success and happiness. I also understand that there are others that might not have had a father who took the time, or even knew how to guide, and that experience also impacted you to understand the need of a good father. For tonight’s eMessage, when I mention a strict father, I mean it in the sense of a loving and caring father, one that holds high standards of discipline for his family, while creating an environment of trust, support, and guidance; such as our heavenly Father has done.

For those of you that were blessed with a strict father, how blessed you truly are, even though you might not have thought it at one time. In like manner, the LORD’s sting of correction is not always easy but it is always done with long suffering and with the emphasis of spiritual success (Jonah). Sadly, many neglect or misunderstand this aspect of God.

There are so many Biblical occasions where the LORD confronted people with the purpose of stretching them to repentance and or growth. In several instances we read about how the LORD confronted people by calling them hypocrites (Mark 7:6), as harsh as this might sound, the purpose was for the “hypocrite” to analyze their actions, repent, and be saved (Luke 3:6-8). In other occasions, we read about the LORD publicly rebuking (Matt. 26:40) and challenging Peter (Matt. 14:31), anyone weaker than Peter would have folded in anger and left from following the LORD, yet Peter maintained faithful. Then there were those times when the LORD’s preaching offended many people, as in the example described in John 6:60-70 (NASB):

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

The LORD’s words are not always about how he can help us, sometimes it’s about how we can serve him and often this might include requirements of sacrifice. Then there are those times of rebukes like the one found in Matthew 11:20-24:

20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

However difficult the LORD’s message might be, always keep in mind that it is with a purpose, just like a strict father who loves his family, he will always do right with us and never wrong. There are times that we need a tight embrace of support from our heavenly Father. Sometimes we need compassion and patience, and many other times we need that hand of firmness that leads us to victory. Whatever it is, that we need, he will supply it; just trust him through it all, and in it all we will celebrate with our heavenly Father in joyful victory.

Your brother in the faith,

Jorge Meléndez,

www.nwchurchjc.org

Alison Hoyt's view of the connection between the scientific method and western culture

2011-08-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

The scientific method is a six part process that either proves or disproves an idea. Different scientists view their results differently, but they all agree upon the procedure. (Withgott, Brennan)

The scientific method begins with an observation. This is the inspiration behind the experiment. The scientific method states that demanding testing must be assumed at every step of the process. (Backer, 2004) The next step is to ask questions. This phase is exactly that and they commonly derive from the observation. The third step to the method is to develop a hypothesis. They describe this based on their beliefs that they can explain. Hypotheses are then tested by subjecting them to experimentation and observations; if there is adequate evidence derived from the data, and then the hypothesis becomes a theory. Theories are then required to coincide with the details that developed, other than they should provide a measure to assist in future observations. (Backer, 2004)

The fourth step is to make a prediction. After stating one’s prediction, the fifth step is to begin to prepare the prediction through examination and investigation and test it. This is done by collecting evidence that is either for or against the hypothesis. The sixth step is the overall outcome and results. Not all scientists follow these steps religiously; however these are the primary elements that all scientists will conclude influence their thinking and knowledge. In the scientific method, accurate data is the root of valid observations. Observations can and do take place from natural setting to a laboratory. (Backer, 2004)

Science is flexible in the sense that there is no strict way to develop a hypothesis or theory. The substance behind the argument is what validates the claim and portrays the experiment as significant is what society depends upon. “To be useful, a hypothesis should suggest what evidence would support it and what evidence would refute it. A hypothesis that cannot in principle be put to the test of evidence may be interesting, but it is not scientifically useful" (Backer, 2004)

Mumford (1986, cited in Glendinning, 1990) wrote that society believes in "the assumption that human improvement would come about more rapidly, indeed almost automatically, through devoting all our energies to the expansion of scientific knowledge and to technological invention; that traditional knowledge and experience, traditional forms and values, acted as a brake upon such expansion and invention; and that since the order embodied by the machine was the highest type of order, no brakes of any kind were desirable....Progress was accordingly measured by novelty, constant change, and mechanistic difference, not by continuity and human improvement." (Backer, 2004)

As a Westerner, we rely on this progress for our simple existence. It would seem acceptable on all of our behalf’s to treat our environment with the utmost care and concern; however that is just not the situation. I believe that one factor is not only ignorance, but lack of pure knowledge. Education is essential, as with any subject, to relay helpful and understandable relevant facts and other relevant information to those who either do not know or do not care. My motto is that even if only one person changes their ways that is still change.

Allowing the scientific method to correlate with each of our individual lives is another motive to preserving our earth. I think of it in terms that work for me in my life, because I hate spending the money that I do for gas so I try to eliminate unnecessary trips that require me to drive. It is a win-win situation but it is presented to me in a logical style that does not entail me to become scientific or even philosophical, but responsible to myself and family. Just so happens that I am benefiting my environment as well.

References:

Backer, Patricia Ryaby. 2004. What is the scientific method? Accessed on April 16, 2011, from http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/pabacker/scientific_method.htm.

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. 2008. Environment, the science behind the stories. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings

Modern World and the Scientific Method by Josh Guisinger

2011-08-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

In the development of anything that will remain sustainable over time there must be some research and thought that goes into its creation. If you were to design an airplane you would take extreme caution in every aspect of its development and put it through rigorous tests to insure that it works and is safe. Much is true about the development of a society or changes we make to our environment. Scientists have developed a method called the scientific method that helps gauge the outcomes of changes we make to the world in which we live. This method is meant to be an objective approach to the varying situations and outcomes that may arise or may have already arisen from a change in our environment. In this paper we will look in more detail at what the scientific method is and its impact on western culture.

In order for us as a society to make decisions that will have positive impact on our futures we must have some sort of tool for measuring the outcomes of those choices. If for example I decided that in order to always have my comforts from home with me I would buy a motor home load it up with as many home comforts as possible and drive it wherever I had to go whether that was school work or vacation. This is a decision that only took into account only my personal outcomes for the current time being. Using the idea of the scientific method to decide on the overall benefit of buying a motor home for my commuter vehicle I would put way more thought into both what the current outcome would be and the future outcome.

According to Withgott and Brennan “the scientific method relies on the following assumptions: The Universe functions in accordance with fixed natural laws that do not change from time to time or from place to place. All event arise from some cause or causes and, in turn, cause other events. We can use our senses and reasoning abilities to detect and describe natural processes that underlie the cause-and-effect relationships we observe in nature.” (p.11, 2011). With these premises in place we can evaluate much about how we develop a sustainable future. But the questions arises was this method or a similar one taken into consideration when the United States was developed or any other wealthy industrious nation? For now we will leave that question be.

When looking at the development of western culture you can see how the scientific method has played a huge role in shaping the West as we know it. What is Western Culture? It seems to be impossible to define it in a simple way. It could be the countries that are more modern and have a more formal way of living or it could be or it could be a “body of knowledge derived from reason”. (Western Culture Global). For the sake of this paper I will stick with defining it in terms of the modernized nations of the West. The West has placed huge emphasis on its knowledge and ability to create and implore new ideas. From its motivation to create green energy to the research that is done on global warming we as a Western culture are constantly being asked to test our finding against the scientific method. Not only do we place importance on research we do but also the beliefs we live out. Our personal beliefs need to be ready to stand against the same method of scrutiny.

Western Culture may have been come about using a lot of the practices outlined in the scientific method, but personally I do not see it happening so much anymore. It seems we have taken away the idea that we must evaluate our decisions and weigh the outcomes and instead we do what suites me for now. Our environment is on slippery slopes when it comes to the future. Will we be like Rome or Easter Island and over extend our recourses (pp6-7, 2011)? Or will we start making the kind of decisions that will live a better environment for our kids and grand kids to come? I sure hope for the sake of our kids’ future we will make the right decisions and observe the outcomes of the choices we make.

Bibliography

What is Western culture? What is non Western culture? The history and definition of Western

culture. Western culture and race, racism, multiculturalism, westernization .

(n.d.). Western culture and its ideals, values, beliefs, ideas, characteristics and thinkers :

Western Civilization. Retrieved August 22,2011, from

http://www.westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html

Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. R. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). San

Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Elsa Astacio on Western Culture and the Scientific Method

2011-08-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

The scientific method is a formal process, which scientists use to test their observation of how the world works. The process begins with an observation of a subject matter of interest. Then from there, questions are formulated about their observation. A statement to support their questions is derived by trying to explain their question. This then becomes their hypothesis, which the scientist uses to make a prediction. Now he is ready to put his prediction to the test by experimenting the validity of his predictions.

There are various experiments a scientist may choose to manipulate the variables in his experiment. One is called the independent variable which the scientist moves around or changes. In the textbook’s example it would be the amount of fertilizer put into the pond that causes algae to grow in the pond, which then becomes the dependent variable because the algae growth is dependent on the fertilizer. Another experiment would be the controlled experiment which keeps one of the variables constant while the other varies. The results of the controlled experiment are dependent on the variable taking its own natural course. The scientist can manipulate the placement of his experiment but cannot do anything to it in order to change the results.

Analyzing and interpreting is the last of the scientific method process and at this stage the results of the data from the experiments are recorded, analyzed and interpreted. Mathematical methods are used in this phase because scientists find it more precise and dependable in finding patterns.

When culture can be characterized as the contributions (such as their values, customs, literature, religion and so on) brought to the western part of the world from other countries who settled in the western parts of the globe. America has become an influential nation in the Western culture due to her assertiveness during the early 1800s and when the 1900s came along their fashions, entertainment, technology, and politics had dominated the Western culture. How the scientific method relates to the foundation of Western Culture would stem from those who were not afraid to ask the “what if” and “how could we” questions. I believe these questions were the foundation of many inventions.

The Industrial Revolution was when things began to change for the better in technology and other new discoveries were made. The scientific method was used toward improving our environment as well as the auto industry. It also contributed to the advancement of our social and education programs as well as in the medical field. Continuous medical research over the years has resulted in the advancement of our health care, medical technology and pharmaceuticals. The scientific method can be use where ever advancement is needed and the human mind continues to ask those “why” and what if” questions.

References

www.experiencefestival.com/a/wester_culture/id/1999859

Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan, Environment The Science Behind The Stories, Fourth Edition

Sand For The City

2011-08-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Singapore is one of the fastest growing cities in the whole world. Of course that means: sand. Where is Singapore is going to get all that sand when as at the southern tip of the Thai-Maly peninsula it has very limited resources. This city-state is a rich cosmopolitan center of world-wide economic value and thus has been growing unstoppable for the last decades. According to The Oregonian's article by Denis D. Gray (Associated Press) who using U.N. statistics finds that 14.6 million tons of sand were imported by Singapore last year. This is the story at The Associated Press.

Urban Reserves

2011-08-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Portland OR has been in many ways a spearhead regarding environmental ideas. It has the largest urban forest park in the land and its inhabitants are proud to be "green."
This article in The Stump of The Oregonian shows how the process is normally carried out when it is stated that: "On Aug. 18, Oregon's Land Conservation and Development Commission will consider designating 13,500 acres of urban reserves and more than 150,000 acres of rural reserves in Washington County. If approved, this decision will be the culmination of a decade of work to protect farm and forest lands and ensure smart development and future economic opportunity" you can read the whole article here http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/08/why_lcdc_should_approve_urban.html

Listening to birds sing

2011-08-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this website http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1059 it has an extremely good view of birds songs and how to listen to them. Starting at the beginners levels allows one to improve until becoming not only an experienced birdwatcher but also a scientist analyzing the songs through sound spectra.
The variety and diversity of birds and their songs is only one more reflection of how wonderful this creation is and how blessed we are to be here. At the same time we are motivated to be good stewards and to work tirelessly protecting the environment for these creatures, blessed creatures that need human behavior that is responsible.

In the news

2011-07-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

This was published yesterday Tuesday July 26, 2011 in the Oregonian:"BILLINGS, Mont. -- Wildlife advocates will be in federal court today to challenge a move by Congress that stripped gray wolves of their endangered status across most of the Northern Rockies." It seems that we have an issue with gray wolves that will not be resolved in many years. To read the whole article go to Oregon Live. The other interesting news is about the position of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden that has cosponsored two bill that environmental groups in Oregon do not like. To read about it link to Oregon Live, this is part of what the article says "U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is in hot water with environmentalists for co-sponsoring two bills in recent weeks that protect timber owners from increased federal regulation and delay air pollution rules for industrial boilers.

The bills, including one titled the "EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011," aren't what's expected of an Oregon Democrat rated highly on environmental scorecards, say Wyden's sometime allies."

The paper continues saying that Senator Wyden has been given hight marks in the past by environmentalists so it came as a surprise that this is happening.

Message from Jorge Melendez

2011-07-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

Peace in Christ,

The more I experience and walk the road of faith, the more I find how special the walk is. Throughout all of my life’s experiences I have found how wonderful God really is and how special he is to me and those I love. I am constantly reminded how wonderful God’s unfailing love is, especially when I consider his forgiveness & patience towards me. God’s loving nature has profusely impacted me in many different ways and at various levels. His love has taught me to love, his patience has taught me to understand others, and his forgiveness has taught me to forgive.

Then I see my “natural man” (my flesh, and me before accepting Christ) and I am reminded of how difficult it is to be a sincere Christian. It seems at times that my flesh experiences separation anxieties, from the old man (2 Cor. 5:17), and I see my old self desiring to return. It seems that the old me creeps out from nowhere, and quickly. I don’t completely understand the old man and why he is the way he is, but I do see how dangerous the old man is and how easily he can take over, if I let him. I use “I” to exemplify all of us and the struggles we all face within ourselves.

We are constantly faced with the reality of our flesh, to this extent Paul wrote to the brothers in Rome and explained that within us (our mind) we face a war between the spirit and the flesh. It’s a war that will not end until we die and or at the LORD’s return. Because of this reality, being a faithful Christian is a difficult endeavor and it is no wonder that so many that reach for the title of Christian cannot live up to its demands. This reminds me of the Special Forces within the U.S. Military. Not just anyone can become a member of a special operations unit; anyone can apply, however, not everyone makes it (Matt. 22:14). I see the test of Christianity in this light, we are currently going through the trial period (boot camp) in this world, a period that will determine our eternal status.

During this trial period, God asks of us some very difficult things. When I consider what it takes to be a true Christian I must say I see no easy task. The LORD has asked of us, among other things, love our enemies and turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39), forgive or we will not be forgiven (Matt. 6:15), and not to be brawlers (Titus 3:2), I see how very difficult it is for one to be true to God. This walk is not for the faint of heart, it requires complete dedication and sacrifice, two very high prices.

You might be asking what the disciples asked, “who then can be saved” (Matt. 19:25). The LORD responded by saying,”with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Through many of the LORD’s teachings we have come to understand that when we are struggling we need to go to him for help and he will get us through our struggle; don’t run away from him, run to him. When we are running to him [God] we must bear in mind what Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 6:10-18 when he talks about putting on the full Armor of God. Like soldiers we must be equipped with all the elements of war so that we may battle this flesh and the attacks of the enemy and win. Let us continue to battle our old self so that the old will not dominate the “new creature.”

Your brother in the faith,

Jorge Meléndez
www.nwchurchjc.org