Update on Research and Essay 4

Link to survey: https://docs.google.com/a/ncsu.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG5XWWEtTFNMMlBPazZmNFRDRkJUMVE6MQ

My surveying process right now is almost done. I have manage to get 13 responses, but plan to get the last two survey takers today so I can begin on the paper writing process. After looking over the responses to the 10 question it seems that most survey takers are aware that North Carolina is home to the nations biggest hog farming industry and have harmful effects to the enviornment. The data also shows that many know about hog farming and their health conditions as well as indiviuals that don't.

Survey on Hog Farming Link

https://docs.google.com/a/ncsu.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG5XWWEtTFNMMlBPazZmNFRDRkJUMVE6MQ

I will be doing a survey that will consist of 10 question that is aim to estimate the knowledge of hog farming of my fellow peers. The questions are a mixture between short answers and multiple choice to allow the survey taking process to be quick and easy. This method of testing can be categorized under the critical theory because studies the ideas and actions of people.

“Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival” Response

“Indigenous Resistance and Racist Schooling on the Borders of Empires: Coast Salish Cultural Survival” by Michael Marker was an scientific journal that reviewed and analyzed the division of the Coast Salish people in the British Columbia and Washington state districts. The sudden division of land brought about a confinement of religion, education, families, and culture. The Salish people were subjected to attempts of civilizing by the pioneers to inject their personal beliefs and culture into the minds of the Salish, slowly diminishing their culture’s own history. These attempts were most influential through the school system, restricting the natives from learning history of their people, limiting certain rights, and racism.

After reviewing this article it is clear to see that this issue is reoccurring through history. Education and laws are the ultimate weapons used throughout time to influence society in defining what is right and wrong. Culture is an element that defines a person’s individuality and directing their way of life. If this is strip of someone and has no effort of voicing their culture they will be confined and forced of change based off the dominate society.

Food and sustainability issues

One problem that is present in the place I selected is intensive farming. Intensive farming is a method used by farmers to produce the maximum amount of crops and livestock possible for land to hold. The Piedmont region of North Carolina is popular for its agriculture which causes constant usage of land. To make land available deforestation takes place to supply farmers and businesses with this resource which causes a high percentage of wildlife to lose habitats permanently.  Not only is this an issue, but the constant usage of land soil is stripped of its nutrients, there is an increase in the probability of erosion, and there is a high chance of fertilizer and pesticide contaminating water supply and food.

Enviornmental Ethics

 

 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/environmental-ethics.html

 

This picture is a representation of environmental Ethics. In this picture one can see the emission of smoke and smog into the atmosphere. These clouds of smoke are molded into the shape of each continent. The underlying theme of this image is the unconcern of inserting dangerous pollutants into the Earth's environment by way of factory industries. To allow the audience to understand the location of these events the owner of this graphic includes a depiction of each continent to stress that this epidemic is not just a local event, but global.

Along with this graphic presented by the author is a series of questions that causes the audience to personally examine self and how society handles the environment and productions. The questions areas of concerns were the reducing rates of wildlife causing increasing numbers of extinctions, the health of the environment for future generations, and the effects of human production upon Earth. These inquiries and picture ultimately strive to persuade humans to reduce rates of actions that are harmful and altering to the environment and challenges them to find alternates.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

“Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” was an article written to praise Bill Mckibben for his mission to inform the globe about global warming.  Mckibben has been known for his works on global warming and has written numerous books to spread the word. Not only has Mckibben created text with intentions of informing many, but has also been the leader of different campaigns that has held events like community walks to fight against the acts of global warming and climate change. With his physical activities and works online through the website 350.org his quest to inform many will continue to increase.

After viewing this article one can see just how serious Mckibben takes this situation of global warming. Mckibben has created numerous ways to reach people from all over the world and light a spark within them to help prevent globalization. His work has the potential to bring numerous people together fighting for the same goal while helping and making the Earth a safer place to live.

Ethics

 This image above is a representation of “ethics”. Ethics is defined as an individual moral characteristic or actions when being presented with a situation or decision.  Looking at the picture above, one will see the text “High Road” and “Low Road” being presented as highways on a sign. This depiction symbolizes making the right or wrong decision. Taking the High Road means to do what is right even when no one is looking and taking the Low Road means making a wrong decision that would be looked down upon if others viewed or witness it.

Fracking

            Fracking is a method used by multiple construction organizations to extract gas that’s located deep within the Earth’s surface. With this method of collecting natural gas many believe that this action has caused an issue with contamination of water. In the article “EPA: Natural Gas Fracking Linked to Water Contamination”, by Abraham Lustgarten and Nicholas Kusnetz the discussion of the regulating fracking, specifically in the Wyoming, is the topic of concern. To fully discover the likelihood of water contamination resulting from gas drilling the Environmental Protection Agency has provided aid in examining the probability of fracking infecting water resources by running tests and studies on water supplies.

            Over the period of debate there have been findings that support both sides of the arguments. Sources have been brought forth that testify that fracking is a beneficial and safe process. Due to the ability by fracking to create great levels of pressure it is believed that this event actually prevents contaminating gases from entering water sources and pushes them to greater depths below the Earth surface. Even though many have argument for fracking, past investigation of the Pavillion area has countered, revealing that gas drilling caused a color change and the presence of methane in water. This epidemic caused evacuation by many of their houses because the risk of explosion, lack of healthy drinking and bathing water.

            The decision on whether gas drilling is harmful or helpful is a very serious situation. The final answer has the ability of affecting the health of the population and water resources across the nation. There have many investigations and stimulation to test the possibility of fracking effecting water and each resulted in findings of gas being presented in water supplies. Cleanup program have been initiated to cleanse discovered pollution of water, but the conclusion on whether to continue to allow gas drilling is still in process.

Just Average?

I believe that Kahn thoughts on the school system being alter to just allow students to reach average status is true. Even though I agree, I believe that the ultimate outcome is in the hands of the individual. When people come from a higher social status they are presented with numerous opportunities and are projected to receive better paying jobs. These opportunities not present in the lower classes, which causes more pressure and a higher level of difficulty to improve social rankings. Even though these are factors I believe that effort and level of determination will decide if goals are achieved. To help this inequality in the school system I think programs focused on increasing students chances of competing in the school system. Scholarship funding, extra tutoring/lecturing, workshops that stress the importance of managing work and time, and teachings exposing the truth behind school systems should be taught in these programs.

"Steak", "O Waters", and "Coyote Valley Spring" were titles of poems in the book "Turtle Island" by Gary Synder. "Steak" was a poem that focused on the human's usage of animals to help promote business, specifically restaurant industry. These organizations paint a family image of wildlife, that invites them to come and have a great time, but little do they know the same animal that is promoting and advertising this business is trapped without will in a cage not knowing when their last day will be. These animals only option is to recall the beauty and freedom in their moment in nature. This beauty is depicted in the last two poems “O Waters” and “Coyote Valley Spring”. In these poems Synder depicts the natural elegance of the elements of Earth. The wildflowers, flow of water, wind, and grazing of animals all sets the tone of peacefulness and no worries.

"Prayer for the Great Family", "The Uses of the Light", and "Two Fawns That Didn't See the Light This Spring" Theme

After reading the poems, "Prayer for the Great Family", "The Uses of the Light", and "Two Fawns That Didn't See the Light This Spring" by Gary Snyder the theme of neglection and lack of respect of wildlife. In the poem "Two Fawns that Didn't See the Light This Spring", Synder describe the act of human carelessly killing pregnant does to fufill their own personal desire. This mirrors how selfish humans can be towards nature as long as they are satisfied with the benefits of their actions against nature. Synder tries to reveal and open the eyes of the readers to become aware of everyday gifts nature blesses the human populations with in the two poems  "Prayer for the Great Family" and "The Uses of the Light". In these poems Synders brings attention to the natural resources that Earth presents in daily life and praises Earth for these elements.

Gary Synder Poems

The poems I read out of "Turtle Island", by Gary Synder were titled, "The Dead By The Side Of The Road", "It Pleases", "The Dazzle", and "Tomorrow's Song". Each of these poems were centered around wildlife or the human treatment of the enviornment. Gary Synder writes about how human deprive the enviornment of its resources and inhabitants in exchange for a meal, items, and wealth. Gary Synder also produces a mood of concern and admiration for the events that take place in the natural enviornment and tries to instill a motivation in readers to preserve it.

What I learned from Mckibben and Quiz

The Mckibben podcast stresses the realization of the world being altered and affecting Earthly functions. In the podcast Mckibben reveals the growth process is not possible because the lack of nautral resources. The way Mckibben offers to help save the world from futher destruction is the return of distributing economics and maintanence of resources. Mckibben's soultion is focused primarily on stability. The quiz underlying message was to be more aware of the enviornment inhabited. Being aware of the enviornment allows the chance to notice problems and when they occur, and the chance to be more careful with choices made in daily life.

Pollution and Island of Civilization

            The increasing rate of pollution has been a crucial topic discussed throughout the last decades. The types of pollution experienced by society ranges from air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, and radio-active pollution; all of which takes a heavy effect on humans, wild life, and the planet Earth. With the advancement of technology and the lack of human intervention the amount of pollution increases each year. The number of areas affected by pollution causes this environmental issue to be a problem that should be addressed by Nash’s Island of Civilization. If this problem goes unnoticed the end product can lead to negative effect on health, contamination of natural resources, and depletion of life on Earth.

            A present epidemic with pollution right now is the pollution being present in Chicago, Knoxville, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C. These states are undergoing problems with the pollution from neighboring states by strong winds. These winds are contaminated with elements that have negative effects on human health that could lead to premature deaths. Recent happenings have managed to grasp the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency and convinced action plans come into effect. EPA have developed an act called the good neighbor rule that causes states like Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Kansas to keep a restriction on the amount of pollution produced by factories within the state.

Pollution develops when people are lack understanding of the effects of pollution and care for the environment. The most influential factor that plays a huge role in the amount of pollution is humans. Humans possess the powers of promoting pollution or bring it to a complete halt. The Island of Civilization was a solution produced by Nash that was formed to aid in the numerous problems experienced by the problems in the world today. This environmental issue should be address because it branches off into different categories that affect different aspects in the world.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-epa-20120822,0,247274.story

Island of Civilization Overview

Ernie Robinson

20 August 2012

ENG 101: Island Civilization: A Vision for Human Occupancy of Earth in the Fourth Millennium

Over time our civilization has made valuable advancements that initially had the potential to make life easier and more productive. From early beginnings colonizers had aspirations of developing a socially constructed society, and sought out to civilize early inhabitants of America. With this new world order, enforcement of personal beliefs and culture were instilled into natives forcing their wilderness persona to vanish. In this reading, “"Island Civilization: A Vision for Human Occupancy of Earth in the Fourth Millennium" by Rodrick Frazier Nash, Nash goes into depth discussing the transfiguration of early America into present day and gives his personal theories of what the future has to bring. Nash states the positive as well as the negative effects the human society has placed upon this Earth throughout the three millenniums; preservation, pollution, wilderness, and social construct were some of the several topics established through this text. 

            Nash opens up with stating his purpose of writing this article by saying, “My mission in this essay is to review the history of human-nature relations and to extend the discussion into a quite distant future” (Nash 372). To begin his discussion he examines the first millennium and focuses on the term wilderness and the common perception of this term. Nash defines the term wilderness to be a personal belief of civilization which is built around the view of what is normal in society. This belief served to be the foundation of the early building a new country and attempts in trying to tame the elements of nature.

            The second millennium was the time of technological advancements that were viewed as be achievements, but came with harmful effects like pollution and endangerment of wildlife that took its toll on Earth’s ecosystem. These happenings produced high concern and appreciation for the preservation of wildlife and resources. Efforts to notify and persuade the population in aiding to preserve the Earth ranged from museums filled with countless unique art work, national wildlife parks, and the creation and passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. The quest to put an end on environmental harm flourished throughout the second millennium, but little progress was made entering into the Third Millennium.

            Nash concludes his argument about the results of human control of the world by giving his personal beliefs of what he suspects to witness in the future. Nash introduces and discusses his four beliefs of the wasteland scenario, garden scenario, future primitive, and Island of Civilization, The Island of Civilization was elaborated more on by Nash (Nash 377). Throughout history humans have managed to create an environment that is more suitable for them by altering natural events and resources and failed to fully examine the negative results of their inventions. (Nash 377). In this scenario humans are now in agreement with nature, reducing societies’ harmful effects on society, revealing that positive advancements in technology can aid in the preservation of nature.

            "Island Civilization: A Vision for Human Occupancy of Earth in the Fourth Millennium" by Rodrick Frazier Nash is an article that provides an overview of the development of the human society and the effects on Earth.  Nash goes through four time periods and reveals each important event that took place in each time frame. The thoughts of what is to come for our planet are still an unclear sight, but theories similar to Nash have been formulated to add some form of enlightenment.

            After reading this article by Rodrick Frazier Nash the history of the human race’s impact on Earth became more obvious. During each millennium humans manage to make some sort of positive advancement that brought along unforeseen harmful outcomes. These outcomes have shaped each time frame into their own unique status and have been continuous throughout time. After reading this reading one will see that by each millennium introducing its own epidemic and changes the wonder of what will time be like in the fourth millennium and how will the human race live will soon develop.

Nash discusses the act of civilization of the wild by the colonizing of America’s native people. This action is an initial notification that humans tend to alter elements in order to be more suitable to their likings and comfort zone. Nash expresses this in the article by stating, “More precisely, humans stopped adapting to their environment and began to create it” (Nash 379). The advancement and production of technology has one sole purpose, to make life and production easier. These advancements sometimes fail to comprehend with the ecosystem which has a negative effect on the Earth’s resources and wildlife. Even though problems have developed from human influences on the environment, the vision of more eco-friendly methods and technology has been the most beneficial outcome; Nash development of the theory of The Island of Civilization has the same theme.

In conclusion Rodrick Frazier Nash goes through an overview of the last three millenniums. He reviews critical events that were the most influential in each time frame. He includes the events of civilization, environmental issues, and preservation of wildlife. All of these topics are important happenings that produce a reoccurring wonder of what the future holds. From the reading one can conclude that the fourth millennium has the possibility to improve the environment with the help of technology if it is used in the right way. The critical component of change is the willingness of the human population to place restrictions on daily usage of resources in order to preserve and have peace with nature.