The Reality Of Earth

[earthlycommunications]

The Future of Environmentalism

In the future of environmental communication, I hope that people begin understanding exactly what people mean when they say that everything is nature. People are so disconnected from nature, seeing it as a separate entity from the goings on of their daily lives. This could not be farther from reality, seeing as nature is a part of every thing we do, and humans themselves are nature.

           Communication is hard when people feel disconnected, and I want to see people understand that they are nature and that nature is essential for our survival. Since nature is essential for our survival, it also makes sense that we should know nature intimately, and understand the workings of at least the areas surrounding us, much like the ideas explained in Starhawks “Webs of Power.” To be able to reinvent environmental movements into something that everyone can relate to would be a huge step toward progress, and to simplify the idea of the environment into terms that people understand and want to help with is a step that needs to be taken in environmental communication.

           Corbett says we need to take nature home with us, and she is right. We need to, as a collective, start valuing nature for being completely intertwined with human activity, and human life. If people start doing this, that is when we can make forward movement for the state of the environment.

           My personal goals for environmental communication, and for the environment in general, is to help individuals understand the repercussions of their actions, and for them to see that working toward sustainability is a way to connect oneself with nature. Long-term and farther looking, I would like to make the people aware and educated enough to take on bigger government and corporate regulations that do not serve environmental consciousness. I want to teach about the environment, and how we are ethically responsible for the things we inflict on the Earth.

           My career goals regarding the environment are vast and change frequently. My first job I would like to make a difference in is environmental law. I want to reframe the way that the system works and move toward making sure corporations are doing what they need to be doing environmentally. I also want to teach at a college level to show students how to regard the environment and how to help heal it in any way they can, because the teachers I have had and the classes I’ve taken have made a real impact on how I view the world and how I treat nature and live my daily life. I also want to travel, and do sustainable humanitarian work that helps restore areas of the environment or helps citizens in lower income communities and third world areas to have sustainable water sources, living areas, and energy. I also think I would like to write, because there is something that speaks to me when I read people like Terry Tempest Williams and how she can so beautifully speak about the environment.

           As a part of the environmental movement, I see myself as someone who will strive to make as much of an impact as I can, and educate those who want to understand how the environment is important. I hope that I will be able to make a difference, and I strive to make a difference in my own personal life. I think I will be one player in key environmental change, and I am excited to continue the journey of environmental awareness. (582)

[earthlycommunications]

Environmental Goals

           My environmental priorities are mostly to do with food, such as animal agriculture and food waste. However, another big one is water conservation. I’m interested and passionate about so many environmental issues, I want to try to implement and inform about as much as possible.

           My environmental goals for myself have been to recycle, not use plastic, use less water and energy, and to waste as little food as possible. These are my long –term goals, and many of them I have been implementing, with specific focus on some during one week, and others during another week. I have cut down my water use, managed to not turn on my heater, and turn off every light when I leave a room. I’ve been eating vegan for months, and vegetarian for years. I recycle pretty much everything I can, stopped using plastic to the best of my ability, and have been trying to do better with no wasting food.

           Long-term, these are my continuous goals, not only in Flagstaff, but in my life.  This year, I want to accomplish figuring out how to deal with food waste and perhaps use food compost or some other thing. I also want to start eating everything I can locally.

           This month, I want to cut down my water use, because it is getting cold, and I have found that I take longer, hotter showers. I want to cut this practice down more so, so that I can conserve water as much as possible. My roommate takes the longest showers I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been trying to balance that waste out by barely showering or showering really fast. I also want to start buying food locally when I get back from Thanksgiving, because everything I eat can definitely be found locally (except maybe tofu or meat alternatives), and it appeals to me since I am so against the animal agriculture industry.

           This week, and today, I am focused on implementing a little of everything, from water conservation to food waste. Most importantly, I think, is what I can implement right now. This includes energy waste and water waste. I’m going to take short showers if I take any today. I also am going to make sure I use every thing I can in my house that will go bad when I leave for Thanksgiving. This just means eating all my vegetables, so that’s a good thing!

           Something that I’m interested in that happens in Flagstaff is Community Supported Agriculture. I grow my own produce, such as spinach, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. I want to help people learn how to eat locally, so they are not supporting the industrialized and unhealthy system we have in America. I want to get involved with volunteering for them, and figuring out how to maximize what I can eat locally.

           Another thing I want to get involved in is the groups that promote the move away from fossil fuels, like FossilFreeNAU. I want to help raise awareness on climate change and make as much of as a change as possible.

           Lastly, I want to find a way to make glass recycling easier in Flagstaff. It bothers me that so much glass I have either goes to waste, or more likely sits in my house because I’m too stubborn to throw away something that should be able to be recycled. I want to see if there is any way to get glass recycling more accessible for the city of Flagstaff.

           These are my environmental goals for myself and for my city for the time that I am here, and for long after. I’m only in Flagstaff for another year and a half, and that means I only have that much time to make a difference in the city. I’m going to do what I can and try my hardest to make my life more sustainable and inform others on how to make theirs sustainable, too. (641)

[earthlycommunications]

Let the Earth Listen

           Sitting in nature is something I do frequently, because I love the outdoors and I love to hike. I went to a quiet, more isolated path and sat in grass, surrounded by trees, rocks, birds, and the Earth.

           I meditated, with my legs crossed, trying to feel the energy from the ground. My hands were placed on my knees, palms facing forward, feeling when the breeze came and swept a distinct sense of aliveness into my palms, as though they both held little tornados for a moment. I could smell the trees, mostly pine, around me. The smells from the forest-y area reminded me of sunshine, and I could feel the light on my face. This part of my dialogue with nature comes from a need to get away from the stress of daily life and truly sit with myself and feel the Earth. I want to allow the Earth to understand me, while I try to understand her. Every breath feels like it is coming in synchronicity, and I can feel my body relaxing into the Earth as though I am a tree and my roots are taking hold. With my eyes closed, I can feel the energy that the Earth gives off in a pure, raw form. I can feel the shifts in the energy when someone walks near me, or when the sun disappears behind a cloud. A light breeze raised goose bumps on my exposed arms, and soon after the sun warmed them again.

           When I opened my eyes, everything was clear, and new again. I had breathed away my anxieties and stresses from the week, and could look with bright eyes at the beauty of the world around me. It’s always a strange experience to do anything without a sense of sight, because when the sight is returned, there is some sort of gratifying thankfulness that comes along. In my yoga class, we will sometimes do the practice blindfolded, and it reminds me to be mindful of what I am doing with my body, and how I feel. When we do this, I am extra careful about the placement of my hands, feet, and hips. I build my foundation based on touch, and have to really be present to focus on what I am doing. I take the blindfold off feeling like I understand my practice and myself better. And this is what it is like to open your eyes to the natural world after having them closed for a period of time.

As I write this, it strikes me that I’m talking of literally having your eyes closed, but it could and should be construed figuratively as well. People walk around all day blind to what is going on around them, as though they are not in control of what they observe and how they live. But, everyone has the power to center themselves in awareness. People allow the small impacts on their daily lives keep them from truly understanding those around them, or understanding our world. And getting back to nature is an eye opener in itself, seeing the beauty and listening to the silence that stretches on and is only interrupted by the caw of a raven or the singing of a bird in the trees reminds those who can’t remember that their lives are only one part of the interconnectedness that we feel in this world.

           When I opened my eyes, the sky was bluer, the grass was greener, the trees were taller, the birds sang louder, more joyfully. I am reminded of hope, and home. The reality of my being snaps back to me, and I understand that the happenings in my life are only as significant as I make them, and they are nothing without the existence of Mother Earth. I feel calm in the face of unknown storms, and I remember distinctly sighing with relief to express my gratitude toward the natural world for being constant only in the fact that it is an ever-changing, unbiased listener, giving what it can to heal the fragility of the self.  (680)

[earthlycommunications]

Animals Really Deserve Better, and Humans Do, Too.

           Let me start off this post with a dream I recently had. In the dream, I was eating chicken. Chicken wings, or thighs, or whatever part of the chicken that is on the bone. I was eating this chicken, unable to stop, but simultaneously feeling physically ill, and noticing that something was off with the meat, making it taste disgusting. The whole act of tearing the meat off the bones with my teeth disgusted me, and in this dream, the meat tasted awful and wrong. I woke up from this dream, sick to my stomach and disgusted with myself, to realize that, no, I had not eaten chicken, and with a healthy reminder as to why I eat a vegan diet.

           So, how is this relevant to the post? There’s a book called “Eating Animals,” written by Foer, that I strongly suggest anyone who eats meat read immediately. Specifically, chicken. And even more specifically, chapter two of this reading which is on the factory farming of chickens.

           First, let’s look at how chickens are raised, then slaughtered and produced for consumer consumption. Chickens are kept in coops at a rate that they have literally no room to move without running straight into another chicken. Also, they are kept under artificial lights, with only four hours of darkness after the first week to allow them enough sleep for them not to die.  They are fed full of unnatural feed, containing growth hormones and antibiotics, so they grow larger and can produce more meat. This process breaks their legs, and they end up unable to move, in pain, and sitting in their own feces. On top of this, many chickens do die in the coops, and are not removed until the chickens are taken for slaughtering. Sounds pretty terrifying for the surrounding chickens, not to mention a source for disease and filth.

           Next, they are gathered by the workers, who are mainly illegal immigrants or people who have no way to make money in the states (and are paid very little). The workers have a quota to meet, so they grab the chickens carelessly, often breaking their bones, and put them into crates for the long journey to the factory. They don’t provide the chickens food or water. Once they get to the factory, they have responsibilities to slit the chicken’s throat, often inadequately, and the process to get the meat on the market starts.

           So, this process starts after they slit the throats of the chickens, and they take the head and feet off. They take the chickens, and they put them into what is referred to as “fecal soup” to do a water chilling. They do this so that the chicken will soak up water, and be even bigger. The USDA has allowed that chickens can have 11% of water when put on the shelves. That water is always from the “fecal soup.” Birds are examined for less than 30 seconds, to see if they carry any disease or anomaly. Most get missed. Then the chickens are packaged and sent out into the world for public consumption.

           If this process has not dissuaded you from eating chicken, well, you’ve got a stronger stomach than I do. Even “free range” chickens are not usually actually free range, instead, they have about a square foot of land that they get a small amount of time in. The other factor of this process, besides extremely inhumane treatment and environmental damages, is human heath.

                       Chickens that undergo this process are full of diseases. They are carriers for avian flu and other bacteria. They are also cleaned in ammonia and bleach before being put on the shelf, and humans are definitely not supposed to be ingesting that. They are given antibiotics, which transfers to humans, and makes us unable to fight the diseases given to us by chickens with antibiotics, because, get this, the disease has already withstood the antibiotics given to the chickens. They’re being sold much bigger than they used to, which leads to obesity in many people who eat chicken every single day, where they are then affected by diseases and other external health issues. So, there’s a plethora of health issues associated with factory-farmed chicken, which leads to American health decline. Why are we still eating them?

           People are addicted to the meat, and they are getting sick from that same meat, and they don’t even see a correlation! Chickens are kept in such cruel conditions that they are full of fear, depressed, and anxious. This does transfer to humans, because we are eating meat that is affected by the hormones that are released during those feelings. As well as artificial hormones, so no wonder people are more depressed, anxious, and all around feeling bad. There is a veil over the industrial farming industry, telling us that it is good to eat meat, good to eat chicken, but that, no, we can’t know what goes on behind the scenes. The industry has turned greedy, and they no longer care what Americans are putting into their bodies, as long as it’s cheap, big, and convenient.

           But, vegetarianism and veganism is slowly becoming more popular. There have been countless documentaries and information that has been released to the public about what they are actually putting in their bodies. Veganism has been proven to have numerous health benefits, environmental benefits, and is cruelty free. It’s been shown that people do NOT need to eat meat to survive, and survive in a healthy way! Why kill innocent creatures when there is absolutely no need to?

           Being vegan has become a stigma to some, a fad to others, and a lifestyle for many. The cruelty of the food industry should not be tolerated, and people must get away from the blinders that the companies are putting into place. People must use their own free will to demonstrate that what happens in these industries is appalling and cruel. Perhaps that day will come, but for now, the chickens are still being kept in the coops, they are still being poorly treated, and they are still affecting the health of Americans, pushing us to spend money on not only food, but on our ever decreasing health as well. America has turned into a greedy corporation, being dishonest with their people and trying to profit in any way, even at the expense of health and morality. (1067)

[earthlycommunications]

Animals Deserve Better

           The way that humans view animals is anthropocentric and symbolic. Anthropocentric views show that people like to humanize animals, and they see them as things that are put on Earth for human enjoyment. Except, humans use animals as ways to describe everything that they involve themselves in. Animals are used to portray meaning to children or in regular conversation. This is interesting, because people are not as animal friendly as they’d like you to believe.

           People used to be afraid of animals, and wanted to essentially hunt most of them to extinction. This started changing when select environmentalists started making the point that humans and animals were not so different and that some of them were actually good for humanity. They started relating childrens stories to animals, however it is always focused on the human being the protagonist and the animals threatening some kind of danger (such as Little Red Riding Hood). This is still unnecessary for humans to begin understanding how to conserve animals because they’re animals, instead of because they are like humans or serve human purposes.

           In Corbett’s book, “Communicating Nature,” she discusses how humans want to take animals in for their pets more so if they look human like and associate human qualities with those animals. In her book, she quotes Charles Darwin, and says “Darwin and others posited that humans and animals shared numerous common qualities: the ability to feel pain and suffering, an interest in living, self-awareness, desires, kinship awareness, a sense of past and future, a concern for and ability to relate to others, and ability to communicate, and a sense of curiosity.” So, then why do humans not treat all animals as living, thinking beings?

           My theory is that people are so dominionistic over the rest of the Earth; they think that they could be the only people who think and feel. But, then animals are cute and cuddly, and we associate a lot of different traits and actions with them. So, in the mind of people, we must tame them and own them for our own pleasure.

           This may not be an issue, except not all animals are treated fairly, and humans still set themselves above other creatures that think and feel the same way they do. So when elk is shot and killed for sport, people think that is okay, that hunting innocent creatures is fine because it is fun for the people who do it. But were someone to shoot your dog, or even shoot a dog in a movie, people cringe and think that is disgusting and horrible. What’s the difference? People associate dogs with themselves, and have domesticated them, so it has become socially unacceptable to treat such a sweet animal in such a menacing way.

           Personally, I don’t see a difference between a deer and a dog, or really any other creature. All are created equal, including humans. We should not condone violence, or the degradation of living beings. It’s unacceptable, and humans must move to a viewpoint that animals deserve life no matter what they are, or what they do naturally. We have to stop associating animals with human life choices, and start realizing they deserve protection because they are alive, not because they are cute or little. (549)

[earthlycommunications]

F*ck Fox News

The advertising industry is a media outlet that allows for conspicuous consumption within the United States of American (and elsewhere, but for the sake of this post the U.S. is going to be the focal point). Advertising is a false image that is projected to consumers by producers to make them want more, more, and more. It warps the ideals of people who see it, telling them that the newest production of whatever good is necessary for status, happiness, or connection to some vague thing that the person watching happens to be missing in their life. This is not a positive attribute to the environment, and it is because it leaves viewers and consumers with false beliefs and dashed hopes.

           In chapter six of “Communicating Nature”  by Corbett, she states, “The intent of advertising…is to preoccupy society with material concerns and to see goods as a path to happiness and a solution to problems.” This is the toxic mindset that drives people to consumer. Items are being parroted by corporations who, frankly, don’t give a shit about their consumers except to figure out the newest material object they can brainwash into the hands of the populous. That’s reassuring. Media blinds people, and therefore they derive everything they think from what is being shown to them in commercials, shows, magazines, books, on the Internet, and surrounding pretty much any public place that they go. So, this then effects the environment. Now, perhaps the question here is: where is the correlation between environmentalism and advertising?

           That can be easily explained by the ideals of the public about nature. Close your eyes and imagine the first thing that comes to mind when you think about nature. Now, it might not be an image of a huge, gas guzzling, four door, ugly truck, but maybe it’s a quiet serene place where you’ve hiked, or camped. In the minds of most people, they don’t imagine the reality of bugs, weather, dirt, or other normal things in nature. It’s a picture that isn’t quite representative of the real thing. That’s okay, but imagine where that comes from. In advertising, in shows, in every visual representation of nature there is, the image is much closer to this pristine place that is undisturbed except for human use, and that may show the unconscious views that most get from nature. But, then, advertising plays an even bigger part.

           How do humans get the most out of nature? By simply going and sitting and enjoying the bugs and dirt and weather? Of course not! To get the most out of nature, every person needs bug spray, a tent, hiking gear, rain coats, cars that can get them to any place, and whatever else could be advertised to make the humans have a more enjoyable time. The advertisements that are given about nature are anthropocentric, implying that humans have a dominionistic quality over nature, instead of all sharing the Earth.

           Medias part to play is large when it comes to how people view the Earth, and how they interact with it. For example, Fox news provides manipulates its viewers by trying to disclaim climate change, even though the experts say it’s real. They do this by discrediting the scientists, and as an “authority” on what is going on in the world, people believe them. This creates widespread ignorance, and once people have accepted these claims made by media and given to them in advertising, they no longer have need to think for themselves about what they believe. This stems from the media manipulation to make us believe that they have the most knowledge, most authority, and most ability to tell the people what is right and what they need, while in reality they only have the most money. (627)

[earthlycommunications]

Globalization and the Recurring Toxicity

               Globalization is a word that I frequently hear. In every context, it addresses the ever-growing interconnectedness of the world. However, the effects of globalization are still unsure and covered by a veil put in place by the transnational mega corporations that use it to their advantage.

               Because of the inherent need of established government bodies to dominate as much land and people as possible, and increase their economic influx, there has been mass globalization. Most of this globalization comes from first world, western countries who have access and ability to further themselves upon the rest of the world. However, with the development of media, it has become run of the mill to see and hear and read about things going on not only nationally, but transnationally as well. People have opportunity to view and form opinions on what is happening in different, perhaps less well-off countries. But media distortion has become a big problem, driving the question for truth and accuracy in the reports that are being seen. Corporations control government, and government controls media, and media controls the opinions of many mindless westerners who have no real connection to what they are seeing, hearing, or reading. So, how does globalization work in effect to bring light to environmental issues?

               Documentaries are a good place to start. The purpose of many documentaries are to educate and inform about information that is not being widely talked about. Toxic tourism leads the way for many to see the actuality of the effects of globalization on poor countries. Videos of the toxic tours bring that reality into the homes of consumers. In Mexico, there are many maquiladores, which are factories put into place by the American government, that are “protected” by NAFTA. These factories are subject to unsafe working conditions and toxic waste spill off, and it is due to our ever growing globalization efforts. The corporations and government want cheap labor and cheap resources, so they outsource to poor countries and supposedly “help” them by bringing in income. But it doesn’t do this. Instead, families are plagued by toxic waste, and there are issues with birth defects and disease due to incompetent care.

               There is an aerial view of the border towns, seen in the tour of the toxic waste dumps, mentioned in “Toxic Tourism: Rhetorics of Pollution, Travel, and Economic Justice.” This view shows the fluidity of the border, but not the reality. I live in a border town, right near Nogales, and the border takes a long, arduous time checking civilians and normal pedestrians to go through it. However, the U.S. government can get away with practically anything and comes through with no problem. As well as the fact that in the town I live in, there is comfort and opportunity, but right over the border, not ten miles away, there is toxicity and low income families who are suffering because they are not American. This is the truth of the matter, instead of what most would have the populous believe.

               Globalization in terms of communication is good. This is a positive effect of being able to talk to anyone in the world at almost any time, so long as the communication devices are available. It allows for environmentalists and social justice advocates to see what is going on in parts of the world and extend their help, and raise awareness. However, globalization on an economic, government fueled level is suspicious, because the motives lack empathy toward the people they are dominating. So, the environmentalists want to enact a power to get away from the toxicity of globalization for gain, and focus on globalization for the bettering of the world. (611)

[earthlycommunications]

The Detriment of Conspicuous Consumption

           Conspicuous consumption is a huge issue in America. A country filled with people who are obsessed with bigger and better items does not lead to an environmentally friendly or sustainable community. Corbett’s writing and the videos from the story of stuff explain the detrimental mindset that is the American consumer. Consumers think that materialism is necessary; that they need something new whenever it comes out. This is going to be the downfall of the people, because it leads to a thought process that promotes disposability, when we are on an Earth that is reaching its peaks in capacity, and is being destroyed by the careless people who consume and produce waste.

           The new iPhone 7 just came out, and while many people complained of the lack of a headphone jack, they still went and bought it. This is because people are obsessed with image, and with always having the newest thing. Not to mention that within a few years, the iPhone that is an older generation is likely to stop working and be disposed of, because it can’t keep up with new technology. I had an iPhone for three years before it was stolen, and after that I’ve had four in one year- all due to faulty manufacturing that causes me to need go and replace it in order to even use it. This is an example of consumerism caused by the companies whose plan it is to continue their sales.

           Luckily, I have been privy to the chemicals that have been placed in our products, and with my work to eat vegan and take care of the environment, I’ve greatly minimized the products I use. I rarely wear makeup, and I made my own all natural deodorant and shampoo. I use all natural shea butter and coconut oil for moisturizing, and that about puts a cap on the products I use on my body. I don’t trust the corporations who are putting out products and products for people to buy, and I don’t buy into the materialism that drives people to look for them. I also use all natural castile soap for laundry, dish soap, and other cleaning supplies. The video from the story of cosmetics reassured me that the way I live is much cleaner and safer than that of many people around me.

           The idea of disposability needs to be rectified, especially in the United States. The idea that every one of our resources is not coming from the environment that we are destroying is ludicrous. We, as a nation, need to focus on the reusability of things, and make an effort to reconnect our work with nature and see nature as all encompassing. It’s difficult, because as Corbett said, everything we use is made to dispose of. Even after doing the trash experiment, I noticed that most of my trash was containers for my food, such as bread and vegetables, and pasta boxes. That is a realization that even when a person tries to minimize their waste and consumption, some things are unavoidable with the way that the system is now. If bread was packaged in wooden or cardboard boxes, that could be taken to the store or used for other things within the home, that would make a much more sustainable way to use. However, because of the mindset of most of this country, we are faced with environmental damage, and disconnectedness with nature that can only be fixed with minimization of materialism and consumerism. (581)

[earthlycommunications]

A Week Documenting Trash

All right, to preface: this blog is experimental. As a class, we were given a variety of options with which we could experiment, we had to choose one, and stay at it for a week. Not so bad. Except the experiments that were given were hard. No corn for a week? For a vegetarian? Yeah, I don’t think so. Other things such as water conservation are things I already implement in my house, but not taking a shower every other day becomes a problem when you run at least 2 miles every day as fast as you can in an ineptly air conditioned gym that’s located right next to your apartment (I swear they crank the heat when I go in there – not exactly conducive when you’re trying to keep sweating to a minimum because you don’t want to shower that day). So, that one was out. So, what did I choose? The trash experiment. If I’m being completely honest, this one looked the easiest. This one was the easiest. All I have to do is carry around my trash with me for a week? I pretty much already do that, with how much trash I just toss in my bag and forget about.  Sign me up.

           So, Wednesday night rolled around and I had decided my experiment, and I figured I might as well start it now! This was September 28, 2016, which I mention in case any one besides my professor decides to read this blog in the future and curses me for not being more specific about the timeline of my antics. Anyway, I got home and I picked out a spare paper bag from Safeway that I could use to keep my trash in. Not too much trash that day, seeing as it was about seven p.m. and I really don’t produce that much trash as it is. But, for dinner I whipped out some veggies and started cooking, only to find that I used all my bell peppers and serrano peppers and had to throw the unfortunate plastic bags away, with the remnants of the stems still left in them. I did that, and felt as though that wasn’t too shabby a start to the experiment.

           Okay, now I am going to compile all the days into one big summary of how it went: I didn’t know I used so much plastic. I have been working for a year on eliminating my plastic use, and this experiment just brought forth enlightenment. Everything is plastic. Literally, everything. A lot of my trash is food waste (I didn’t keep that because after a while old vegetables start to get real nasty) and the rest is just… things that hold food. So, I threw away a plastic bag that my bread comes in, and the plastic that my soyrizo is wrapped in, and the plastic container my tofu comes in. Oh, let’s not forget the plastic container that holds the non-dairy Chunky Monkey Ben and Jerry’s ice cream that I conveniently finished during this experiment. It seemed as though I conveniently finished everything during this week and it just happened to coincide with the experiment. Of course, that’s not true. This is my trash waste for most weeks. This may even be better than most weeks.

           What a reality check. I thought I was doing so well with eliminating plastic, and I am, but to see how it is totally encompassing in almost everything we use is disturbing. This was an eye-opening experiment for me, but I can say pretty confidently that I still don’t have that much trash waste. I filled up one paper bag in one week. To me, that’s better than filling up a gallon trash bag in one week. Now, I’m going to be more mindful of the things I use, and how I use them, but I do think that I was already on this path, and thankfully the majority of what I throw away are things that I can’t get around throwing away, unless I just want to leave sauce covered plastic wraps on my counter for ages. Most of the things I used can be recycled, as well, and that makes me feel slightly better.

           The experiment, over all, was a success. I also tried to implement other aspects of the experiments into my life, as I had been doing already. I try very hard to not use hot water, I eat mostly locally, my vegetables coming from the Sunday farmers market, and I limit my plastic use. All in all, I think these experiments show me that I can do better at the things I’m already implementing, and I am going to continue to try.  

The pictures for this experiment can be found below this blog post. It wouldn’t allow me to compile them into one post. (807)

[earthlycommunications]

A look at the trash that I collected this week, including vegetable bags, wheat bread, tofu container, clif bars, sozrizo casing (that weird red thing on the plastic bag), dark chocolate chip cookies (I made chocolate covered strawberries with those – no regrets), a spaghetti box, and the non- dairy Ben and Jerry’s (I so recommend that, in the Chunky Monkey flavor, best vegan ice cream I’ve ever had), there were also paper towels and other paper trash as well.

Also featured: the Safeway bag I used to collect trash. 

[earthlycommunications]

Ideologies are Hard to Classify

                My environmental ideology is hard to define. I feel as though it is difficult to assign any kind of label or belief to oneself, firstly because many people don’t see themselves the same way as others, and secondly (most importantly), there are so many varieties of ideas and every thinking person has complex thought processes that directly relate to whether they believe some things or not. This concept of complexities makes it difficult to easily assign any kind of label to oneself, or to others. So, my ideologies environmentally encompass much of the many different ideologies that have been discussed.

                I’d personally like to believe that my ideology goes along the lines of deep ecology. The idea that nature and humans are one- that humans are an intrinsic part of nature- is the root of my beliefs. The idea that we should leave nature alone, and allow it to do what it will without interference is also something that I believe deeply, however my limitations with this ideology is that we as a society have already moved past the untouched ideal of nature, and I do enjoy being in nature and deriving uses from it. I have a very naturalistic and utilitarian view of nature, where I appreciate and derive pleasure from nature, and I use it to my benefit (in non-harmful ways, of course). Deep ecology appeals to me, especially when I see the untouched beauty of nature and natural occurrences.

                However, I understand that deep ecology is almost too radical, and that it isn’t totally possible to live well when you follow an ideology that is more ecocentric. Every person is a little anthropocentric, and to an extent that is okay. When I was a child, my family and I traveled and immersed ourselves in places that had extreme natural beauty. However, some of these places could only be reached with human means, such as a car or quad. We would use those things to get us closer to find the connection with nature. The ideals of preservationism and conservationism are both a little a part of what I believe, and this is because I was raised in a way that allowed us to interact with nature that had been preserved for future human enjoyment. However, I believe these places should exist regardless of whether humans have access to them or not, and therefore that falls back into a more deep ecology standpoint.

                When I was young, I was raised as a feminist. I’m now aware of ecofeminism, and I think almost inadvertently I would identify myself as that. This, along with social justice, goes right along with my beliefs in gender and racial equality, and my activism toward environmental justice as well. I agree that the two go hand in hand, and I think that I would put myself into those categories just as much as any other.

                The thing about these ideologies is that I relate to so many aspects of them, and this leads me to believe I am mostly of the deep ecology standpoint, which in its own way can encompass many of the others. My environmental ideologies stem from the gaining of knowledge, and so they continue to change and bend into shaping what I believe with my further education of the topics. In this way, I don’t know entirely what my ideology would be, only that if focuses on the environmental and social justice aspects of the cause, and then that it is headed in the direction of deep ecology, because the state of the natural world is one of my number one concerns, and I care so deeply about how the environment is protected. (613)

[earthlycommunications]

Woman and Bear

           The environmental ideologies of many people include preservationist, conservationist, and others that are anthropocentric in most ways. However, the ethical ideologies toward nature are making a comeback with a new, more concerned generation. Morally, the use of land by humans is okay- as long as that use is not destructive of natural forces. We think of animal rights and land rights when we discuss moral behavior. The extinction of one species is a travesty, but what about another, perhaps less known species? Ethically, if we define the extinction of any species as wrong, that includes the extinction of every species. Then, one step further, the treatment of animals by humans could be morally wrong as well, because there is an innate harm to those animals and a lack of respect for them. The same could be said for human use of land.

           Ecological sensibility focuses more on the coexistence with nature, and the restrained use of the natural world. We want to live in harmony with the Earth, not as an “all-powerful” ruling species over the Earth. Humans should not interfere with natural processes, including decay. The whole point of this ideology is to be respectful and coexist with the natural world.

           These ideologies make sense, however difficult some people may find them to implement. Humans are not a superior species just due to having a more complex communication system that allowed us to wreak havoc on the place we inhabit. We exist on Earth in the same way that animals, plants, and any other living thing does. This should drive the need to create a loving habitat and mind our own business.

           Humans devastate not only nature with their superiority complex, but other humans face casualties due to the interference with nature. The people killed over insecticide that was already known as harmful is only one example of massive devastation related to humans caused by the destruction of the environment and meddling in things that don’t concern us.

           Terry Tempest Williams makes beautiful points in her writings. Her comparisons of nature to sensuality, and to women, connect with me on so many levels. Nature being seen outside of this constrained definition of a resource allows for people to romanticize it in ways that connect with the soul. The relations to Greek mythology show a deeper connection with nature that goes back to when people truly worshipped entities of nature and felt that it was one of the most important things in life. The sensuality of nature is often forgotten when we are so immersed in other things (such as ourselves) and bringing back that feeling makes for a more pure emotional and spiritual reaction to nature than many humans feel.  Her comparison to a woman being like a bear, and the femininity of bears reminiscent of the interconnectedness most humans used to feel toward nature. It makes me wonder how many people see a bear and think of a woman, or how many people feel so closely connected to animals, even if those animals are not their pets. The passage about bears and women was interesting to me, because I have always felt as though a bear would be my “spirit animal” and was enthralled by their naturalness. (I’ll admit this may have stemmed from the movie Brother Bear, when the man gets turned into a bear- I thought that was the coolest thing ever.)

           The passage that enticed the most feeling from me was this:

           “We are capable of harboring both these responses to life in the relentless power of our love. As women connected to the earth, we are nurturing and we are fierce, we are wicked and we are sublime. The full range is in our hearts. We bleed. We give milk. We are the mothers of first words. These words grow. They are our children. They are our stories and our poems.” (p. 59)

 The sources used for this writing are:

An Unspoken Hunger, Terry Tempest Williams

Communicating Nature, Corbett (2006.)

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/09/thanks_for_pesticides_america/

(665)

[earthlycommunications]

The Injustice

  The sustainability of the Earth has been discussed by many people, and it seems to be in agreement that while people may think they are making changes to the state of the environment, there is a lot entailed to true change. The support of other causes that are making themselves known is a necessity to practice and preach about environmental injustice. Ecofeminism and Environmental Racism are real things that need attention. The ability to begin saving the environment will happen once these issues are addressed as well. The education about different genders, races, and practices of the people will further the education about the environment.

  The recognition of racism or sexism in the environmental sphere is the first step to understanding the diversity of the people trying to preserve. The Native American people face environmental racism whenever they are relocated, and their sacred land is built on by unconcerned government. This then prompts people to protest or inform about their side of sustainability, and that allows other environmentalists to begin understanding different forms of preservation. The understanding of social and political equality In numerous forms can shape the path to understanding the environmental impacts as well. As a feminist, I already hope for equality in social, political, and economic opportunity, and as an environmentalist, I hope for the same things, but with regards to the Earth and people concerned with protecting it, as well.

  The lack of knowledge is a big force for what shapes the destruction of the Environment. People do things like recycle the plastic they use, but don't know where it is going or how it is recycled, and what impacts that would have on the environment. When plastic is trashed, it goes into the ocean or on the streets, to remain there for eternity, because it does not degrade. When it is recycled, it is burned, because there is no other way of destroying it, and that leads to an influx of problems that include, but are not limited to, cancer, pollution, carbon emissions that lead to climate change, and other horrific things.  The cycle is continuous, and that is why these practices of "disposability" need to come to an end. Disposability is a farce. The destruction of things by burning is not helping the environment, and the amount of waste that consumes the streets is alarming. There is no disposability. If anything, there is reusability, which we do by recycling matter to be made into something new. Therefore, we need to practice using only sustainable and reusable items, and focus toward going all natural with the production of things we do use. The education of people is so important, because with blurred lines and a veil over what is really happening, it becomes difficult to determine whether the practices we have are really helpful or not.

  Both the preservation and education of environmental resources is important for people to understand, and the movement for it learns from and works with other social and political movements in order to stand together and raise awareness. Do away with the idea of easy disposability, because everything ends up somewhere, and learn to educate not only on environmental truths, but on the needs of other social movements, so that the bettering of the world can be all-encompassing. (548)

[earthlycommunications]

How Our Belief System Shapes Our Environmental Impact

In Communicating Nature, by Corbett, the discussion begins with how our environmental beliefs are shaped, and therefore how they impact the world. Our beliefs begin from childhood, impacted by those around us and our own perception of nature. It states, “Attachment to a place can mean fierce emotional struggles over the most appropriate use of that place, and, at times, an inability to see one’s own place as degraded” (Corbett, 2006). This is explanatory of the different ways people interact with different natural phenomena. People are more prone to look outside of their natural sanctuary and find fault with other environmental issues. However, this leads to the problem that people everywhere are now causing the environment harm without the recognition needed to fix it. People are so at home in their own bubble of comfort and consumerism that they no longer are  concerned with what they are doing, and if they are speaking environmentally, they look only outside of themselves to try to address an issue. But, the problem stems from multiple people doing this, therefore not being aware enough to make a necessary change or advocate for better environmental control within their own community. People’s beliefs and attitudes stem from attachments they formed to the environment and what they were taught as young children, including how they were informed to perceive the environment as they grew. This became a problem when technology began moving forward and the increase of mass consumer mindset began taking over. People no longer wanted to go outside, they could watch what was going on outside from their living room! They didn’t feel the need to connect to nature, because they were brainwashed by the mind-numbing television shows, or the disinterest formed from having endless possibilities of things to do. This increased environmental issues, but many were blind to that. People want fast and easy service, and they want it NOW. Instead of allowing that the industrialization of certain industries was going to create a massive water crisis, they were concerned with having clean, filtered water, straight from the bottle. Or taking their daily, de-stressing, thirty minute shower. As time and technology progressed, people began to spare no thought to the state of the environment. They had a taste for immediate satisfaction and they thirsted for it. Now, those who are concerned seem few and far between. The knowledge of the environment stems from a personal connection to it, and many people have grown up lacking that, or are too blinded that they no longer acknowledge it. The plastic waste come from efficiency, because they are easy to carry and most convenient. So, people think about why they would ever bring their own bag to the grocery store when they can just use the ones offered. And then there’s less waste, some one is using those plastic bags they have so many of, right? This attitude shapes the massive amount of plastic waste that is collecting in the ocean, because the destruction of plastic is equally as bad for the environment as making it- it’s burning that same oil that is contributing to climate change. So, the solution for many is to ignore the problem completely. Water waste is another concern, though for many people it is only a concern if the water is being used by their neighbor watering his grass, than what they themselves “need” water for. We need to get back to a time where people can recognize waste, and recognize that they are a part of the problem. The waste that is happening at the moment is horrific and it seems futile to try to educate the ignorant, but that is exactly what must happen. We need to begin educating from a  young age, and start a progression into environmentally friendly practices. (613 word count).

[boyhaus-deactivated20181129]