Share and Voice: SMOKING!!

~More Harmful than I thought...~

Ok, so we all know about the harmful affects of smoking...its been drilled into our heads since we can remember. But, what i have found interesting is the little amount we know about how it affects our environment. Well, theres the littering of the butts ($700.00 fine..thanks Sara :) as well as the pollution that goes into the air also. I also was surprised to realize how the manufacurization (is that a word??) of cigarettes. SO, if your interested in reading more about this, take a look :)

How Smoking Affects our Environment

It might not be THE most interesting thing, but I found it kinda striking. Its just crazy because there are so many people that DO smoke, and to think about if they didnt, the benefits that would come from that. I just have never thought of it outside of the normal bubble of smoking.

Reflection: Week 4 & 5

~Hello Everyone!~

So, the end of week 6..whaaat?!?! And its the end of FEBRUARY already!! Wierd!

Well, I personally really enjoyed the last 2 weeks. We mainly just watched the documentaries "Diet for a New America" and "Future of Food". Both of these videos seemed to just suck me right in! I have really enjoyed all of the movies we have watched so far this semester.

The reason for being so into "Diet for a New America" is that I felt it hit on some sensitive areas that affect me on a personal level. Reason being, someone very close and dear to me passed away due to a heart attack...which was a situation that could have been haulted, or at least prolonged, if he had chose to eat better (less saturated fats, heavy meats, and processed foods), he would still be around today. That leads into the second area it pertained to me. Since then, I have chose to eat less meat and processed foods, and I now eat with the focus mainly on vegetables and a plant-based diet. Little did I know how I was personally helping my environment as well with eating less meat and dairy products!! That being said, I found myself really into this film.

The documentary we watched this week (week 6) absolutely broke my heart!!! All I could think about was "Do these people of power have NO moral values?!?!" OK, so I know this is a bit blown out of proportion, but honestly, how can a company/business go about their 'work', knowing it is completely tearing apart families everywhere?! And for what?...MONEY!!! Ick! Also, the things that they are doing to manipulate and change natural, beautiful organisms is disturbing. The way they pumped the poor little fish with chemicals, giving cows feed that are secretly spiked with drugs (and they dont even know it!!), and the way they physically go into the genetic make-up of things and manipulate it!?! Really, did you JUST go out of your way to damage something as pure as nature??? I could go on and on..basically all I want to get across is that it honestly breaks my heart. Maybe I took in way out of context, but that whole area has always made me upset. Just appreciating the beauty of how things are in their natural state, its hard to swallow.

Ok Ok, Im done ranting and raving :) I hope your all doing well, have a nice weekend!!
~Fly~

Eye Opener: Review of Reading 20

~News on the Environment Isn't Always Bad~

This article was really very nice to read. Obviously we all know the issues that are all around us, and what our future could turn out to be if we all don't make concious decisions to change. WELL, this particular article happened to open up a new way of looking at our environment....to see what positive events are occuring amongst us :)

This was a relatively short article, so there was not much depth to it. So, my summary will be brief as well, but I will provide you with links to furthur look into the issues that were brought up.

Mark Sappenfield published this article in 2002, and at that time, the big news that just had come out was how Austrailian scientists claimed the hole in the ozone layer was to begin closing in the next three years. Furthur, it would be completely shut by the year 2050 (McKinney, 76).

One example that Sappenfield points out about positive changes happening in the environment is the improvement in the air quality in Los Angeles in the year of 2002. The summer of 2002, LA successfully completed its third summer without a single smog alert, as compared to over 80 back in the years of the 1970's (McKinney, 77). I'd say that's cause for excitement as well!

The greatest example Sappenfield gives is that of the Montreal Protocol, which is an aggreement that is meant to protect the ozone layer, and to help it not get worse. There wasn't much information in this article about the Montreal Protocol. A big stand-out of the end of this article is that now the pressure is being placed upon more than just businesses around the world, and that now it will lie in the hands of every individual.


To take a look at both sides of the coin on this topic, here are some links for you to examine :)

Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies
This website discusses renewable energy sources, such as sunlight, wind, and biomass, and the environmental impacts associated with each. Its pretty interesting, check it out!

Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste
This website discucces how electronic waste poses a threat to the environment. When you think about how much of our world is turning to and relying heavily on technological advances more and more, this issue is one of major concern to our future.

So, I have thought about a question that I would like to present to you, and to mill over a bit....
Q. If our constant technological advances are often made to improve our lives and to make things
better for our future, how is it ok to continue them when they hurt the environment so badly?