Ecocolumn

Check out my interactive image of my ecosystem in plastic bottles!
http://www.thinglink.com/scene/580510871520804865

The Last Mountain Reflection

1.     Please choose one of the prompts below and craft a short response on your blog:

C. How do you think the vocabulary that people use can affect the way people view things? Include some of the following examples: Environmental Extremists, Mountain Top Removal/Surface Mining, Overburden, etc.

Yes, I believe that the terminology for many ideas affects the way people view the concept. For example:

Environmental Extremists:

            Assumptions: They are over the top, dangerous, crazy and overly considerate of the environment.

            Reality: They are concerned about the human treatment of Earth’s resources.

            Analysis: The word ‘extremists’ implies that they are more concerned than they need to be about something and undercuts their credibility.

Mountain Top Removal:

            Assumptions: Drastic alteration of the landscape in mountainous regions. Huge masses of matter removed- like you chopped off the tip of each mountain.

            Reality: A mining method that is essentially surface mining but at the summit of a mountain.

            Analysis: The phrasing leads the listener to believe that it is a drastic mining method that destroys mountains.

Surface Mining:

            Assumptions: Just scrapes off the surface- not very impactful.

            Reality: Requires heavy equipment & clear cutting vegetation.

            Analysis: The name implies that it has a very small influence on the overall land while in reality it can be a quite colossal change.

Overburden:

            Assumptions: A ‘burden’, unwanted and unnecessary, something that ought to be removed.

            Reality: The soil disturbed by mining processes, because of the air pockets created often occupies more space once it is returned to the site.

            Analysis: Suggests that it is a negative thing that humans need to fix, rather than a problem humans created.

Word Count: 226

Tires

This isn't for a blog post but I found this really cool collection of photos that demonstrates the sheer quantity of human waste using a sample group, car tires. The photos were taken in Sesena Nuevo, Spain. Though the government declared the dumping of tires here illegal in 2003 it wasn't until recently that efforts have been made to dispose of the tires. Cleanup is estimated to take 4 more years.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/jonpremosch/beautiful-landscape-photos-at-a-dump#2zj29j0

Story of Stuff Response

1. What is the overall message of The Story of Stuff?

·      The process of taking resources and turning them into products is corrupt.

2. What audience do you believe Annie Leonard is trying to reach?

·      Teenagers/ kids

3. What persuasive techniques does Annie use to convince people of this message?

·      visuals/ animations

·      relevance to their own lives- ie iPod

4. Why do you think Annie uses the format of a 20-minute video rather than another format, such as a report, web blog, or poster?

·      It’s more engaging & harder to skim through.

5. What bias does Annie have?

·      She was paid to do this.

6. Who might disagree with Annie’s message? Why do you think they would disagree?

·      people who support cornucopian belief- they believe that human ingenuity will continue supporting our lifestyle.

7. What is your analysis of The Story of Stuff—do you think it makes a convincing argument? Explain why you think the video is convincing or not.

·      I think it is convincing to a younger audience, it is engaging and uses logos to make it’s point. However personally I felt like Annie was speaking down to the listener.

8. Has The Story of Stuff affected the way you think about consumption? If so, how?

·      No.

Current Event #2

URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/chicago-bans-plastic-bags_n_5241854.html

Summary

     Chicago recently approved a ban on plastic bags, meaning stores with over 10,000 ft² cannot distribute plastic bags. The fine for breaking this law runs $300-500 for each occurrence. While this law will not be installed until August 2015 it was passed with flying colors by the City Counsil. It will be expanded to smaller stores within a year of it’s passing. While some worry about the additional cost paper bags pose and the determent of grocers to the area many agree that it a step in the right direction.

Personal Reflection

     Personally I think this will be very beneficial for the city of Chicago and other cities that have adopted this and predict seeing similar bans throughout the world sometime soon. Plastic bags are incredibly harmful to the environment (as we learned in class they can take decades to decompose). Not only do they retain their materials (meaning the materials cannot be reused) but they can also collect as litter and clog stormdrains.

Word Count: 160

Current Event #1

Sorry- I just switched to Blogger, I thought we were supposed to use Google Sites.

URL: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-booming-electric-car-sales-under-fire-in-norway-2014-8

Summary:

     Norway has had such an influx in sales of electrical vehicles that it has become problematic. In Norway electric cars are exempt from tolls, taxes and VAT. They also are able to recharge in public parking spaces free of cost. The incentives have resulted in a colossal change in the Norwegian auto industry. Authorities did not predict such a large interest in electric cars, which is why the demand for their incentives has now become too much. While they promise that electrical cars will still be provided fiscal advantages they are looking to tune back some of the existing advantages.

Personal Response:

     I think that this is a very interesting side of the electrical vehicle story. For most of the world I think this problem would not arise as they fail to fully support clean energy and emissions. Norway, if anything, was overzealous in it’s approach to support clean energy and took it a little too far. I would advise to retract the VTA privileges immediately and once a threshold has been reached cease other benefits.   

Word Count: 172