Final Reflections on Colloquium

Journal #20: July 27, 2010

Topic: Final Impressions of Colloquium

Whenever you talk to someone who has taken Colloquium, all you ever hear about is all of the boring papers and how the textbooks and lectures are trying to force you to be an environmental hippie.  But after taking this class, I really don’t know why everyone is complaining so much.  To be honest, I can't imagine a student not taking this class.

There’s a lot of work…especially when you take it in six weeks over the summer.  But it wasn’t extremely hard work.  And everything that we learned had a purpose.  We were taught about so many different aspects of the environment and sustainability, and I never felt like I was being forced to believe something that went against my values.  Sure, the videos encouraged people to make small changes in their lifestyle that would be better for the environment, but I never left class thinking, “if I don’t give up my car and my electronics then I’m a bad person.”  Each video and field trip left me wanting to know more, and they all left me thinking about how I can make more sustainable choices every day. 

At the beginning I thought that less projects, less papers, and less journal entries would make this class better.  But after taking the class, I wouldn’t change a thing.  Each journal entry, project, and paper opened my eyes to a different aspect of environmental sustainability, and because of all these things I got to explore so many new ideas.  I hope that future students can come into this class with an open mind because you really can get a lot out of it.

I would love to see Colloquium courses spread beyond FGCU because I think all students should have the opportunity to take this amazing course and learn more about the environment.

FGCU Campus Field Trip

Journal #19: July 26, 2010

Topic: Reflections on FGCU Field Trip

This field trip was extremely eye opening for me, and it’s without a doubt the closest I’ve been to nature.  I used to spend a lot of time outside when I was younger and lived in New Jersey, but since moving to Florida I’ve spent most of my time inside.  I learned a lot about our campus and gained a better appreciation for everything environmental FGCU has to offer.

When we entered the nature trail, I was extremely nervous about what was ahead.  But as we started walking, I actually started to enjoy myself (despite the fact that I was on the lookout for snakes).  We saw some areas that were torn up by the wild hogs on campus, which are a non-native species in Florida.  We also saw some Melaleuca Trees, which are also not native to Florida.  We learned that they are extremely aggressive and when you try to cut them down, they spread their seeds everywhere.  As we continued our walk down the trail, the path became more wet and muddy.  Soon we were trudging through deep mud which eventually turned into a water trail.

Before long, I was up to my knees in water.  Even though the water looked dark and muddy, our tour guides let us know that the water was extremely clean and only looked gross because of the dark mud.  I made my way through the trail nearly falling a couple of times.  Between my shoes being old and continually getting stuck in the mud, the rubber soles of my shoes completely came off!!

After what seemed like forever, we finally exited the wet trail and walked over to where the hammock usually is.  The student naturalists said that walking through the wet trails can be extremely relaxing, and even though I laughed at first, I’m starting to think that they’re right.  I’m actually looking forward to doing another one of these wet trail walks in the fall.

FGCU Campus Garden

Journal #18: July 22, 2010

Topic: FGCU Campus Garden

During the Spring 2010 Student Government elections, the UNITE party had a platform item which talked about building a campus garden.  This idea came from the SG Director of Environmental Initiatives Tyler Offerman.  The campus garden is finally in the works, and I’m excited to see how it adds to the sustainability of our campus.

The FGCU campus garden will be a food-production garden and it will help students understand the amount of preparation and work that goes into growing your own food.  Today’s society detaches us from where our food comes from and the work that goes into getting it onto our plates.  This will be a hands-on project that all students can participate in.  Students will have the opportunity to get in the garden and plant seeds, harvest crops, and design beds.  This garden will provide locally-grown, organic foods to our campus.  Some things that will be grown are fruit trees, perennials, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other native vegetation.

The garden will be completely student funded by Activity & Service Dollars and it will be student ran as well (meaning students can get service learning hours).  

HIV/AIDS Movie: A Closer Walk

Journal #17: July 21, 2010

Topic: A Closer Walk

I really enjoyed watching “A Closer Walk.”  One of my uncles died from complications of AIDS back in 1992, so watching this video really hit home to me.  I never really had the opportunity to know my uncle since I was only three when he died, but I’ve heard his story many times.  It’s a sad yet uplifting story, and no journal entry could do his story justice. 

Every eight seconds someone dies of HIV/AIDS, and HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of over 25 million people.  South Africa has the highest population of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.  South Africa’s first reported cause of HIV/AIDS was back in 1982, and the most rapid increase in South Africa’s HIV/AIDS prevalence took place between 1993 and 2000. 

While I knew that HIV/AIDS was a huge problem in African countries, I had no idea that it was such a huge problem in countries like Ukraine and India.  In Ukraine, most HIV/AIDS cases occur from the sharing of needles during drug use.  Organizations in Ukraine are participating in “needle exchange programs” where they give out sterile needles and syringes to drug users.  They’re doing this so that each IDU (injecting drug user) can have their own needle and won't have to share with another IDU.

I think it’s amazing and inspiring that so many organizations, like Grassroots Soccer, are trying to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.  I can only hope that years and years from now, no family will ever have to go through what my family did when my uncle’s life was cut short from AIDS.

Grassroot Soccer Logo:

HIV/AIDS Awareness Ribbon:

Bono for the Join Red Campaign:

Field Trip #4 - FMB & Matanzas Pass Preserve

Journal #16: July 19, 2010

Topic: Reflections on Fort Myers Beach Cottage and Matanzas Pass Preserve

When I think of Fort Myers Beach, I think of the Lani Kai, parasailing, jet skis, gift shops, and a giant tourist trap.  Never once have I thought of a cottage and a preserve.  This field trip really opened my eyes to the things that Fort Myers Beach really has to offer!

I loved learning about the history of Fort Myers Beach from someone who grew up here in the 1930s.  I loved hearing about the first school and how they loved to stay after because their teacher would drive them home.  She told us about how the University of Miami got their mascot from the 1926 hurricane.  She taught us about how this hurricane, along with several others, destroyed part of the island and how she fears that future hurricanes could do the same.

After visiting the Cottage we took a walk through the boardwalks of Matanzas Pass Preserve.  It was such a relaxing walk, and I had the opportunity to see red, black, and white mangroves!!  I also got to see crabs along the sides of the boardwalk.  My favorite part is when we got to stop and stare at Estero Bay.  It was such a beautiful day and there was a nice breeze to go along with it.  Unfortunately the water was so murky that you couldn’t see much.  Now whenever I think of Fort Myers Beach, I’ll think of sea grape jelly, Matanzas Pass Preserve, and a sweet old lady in a cottage telling us about growing up on Fort Myers Beach.

Fort Myers Beach Cottage:

View of Estero Bay:

Red Mangroves (left) and Black Mangroves (right):

Do you suffer from affluenza?

Journal #15: July 15, 2010

Topic: Affluenza

The movie we watched in class defined affluenza as being the epidemic of stress, overwork, and waste caused by a dogged pursuit of the American Dream.  It also defined affluenza as an unsustainable addiction to economic growth.

As Americans, we always believe that if we had twice as much money as we do now that we’d be happier.  When we’re sad, we use “retail therapy” to make us feel better.  We believe that the fanciest cars and the biggest houses are what makes us happy, but this video shows that the people who have and use the least are often the happiest.

Modest lifestyles are becoming more and more popular, and the families in this movie live their lives with low levels of consumption.  They reduce their waste by only using what they need, and they live by the motto “reduce, reuse, recycle.”  By living a more frugal lifestyle, we use less.  But living this lifestyle isn’t easy.  It means giving up the luxuries in life and rationing what you choose to use.

I’ve learned ways that I can produce less waste and lower my consumption levels, but I don’t think I could live a lifestyle like the people in this video.

FGCU & Sustainability

Journal #14: July 14, 2010

Topic: Impressions of the Campus

I am extremely proud to consider myself a student at Florida Gulf Coast University.  One of the six main pillars of FGCU is environmental sustainability, and I truly believe they do an amazing job at promoting that and making FGCU as “green” as possible.

Our campus is full of trash cans, recycling bins, and even trash compactors.  These trash compactors use solar power to compact our trash into smaller pieces.  During the Spring 2010 semester, FGCU participated in Recylemania which is a national competition that sees which school can recycle the most.  We did extremely well considering this was our first year.

Another environmental initiative in place at FGCU is “Eagles Love Tap Water.”  The Physical Plant added spickets to all water fountains so students could easily fill up water bottles, and Student Government bought over 2,000 aluminum water bottles with the “Eagles Love Tap Water” logo.  As a Student Government representative, I’ve seen how much these bottles are used, and we plan on buying even more for the upcoming school year.

All buildings after Lutgert Hall must be considered LEED certified.  LEED certification is a verification that the building or community was designed and built using environmentally sustainable strategies that improve performance all across the board.  Buildings must have energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and more.  Student Government recently bought benches to be placed by the bus loop, and even those benches are considered to be LEED certified.

I could go on and on about the things FGCU is doing to be an environmentally friendly campus, but these are just a few things that we are doing to live up to our mission of being a greener campus.

Uses for the Neem Tree

Journal #13: July 13, 2010

Topic: Neem Tree

We saw a lot of different trees and plants at ECHO, but the one that interested me the most was the neem tree.  The neem tree has so many different uses, such as in beauty products.

Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree and can be used for pest control.  Neem oil can also be used to make toothpaste, shampoo, soap, cosmetics, and lotion.  It can even be used in pet products.  Neem oil has been used as insect solution to control pests such as the white flies, aphids, mealy bugs, spider bites, Japanese beetles and more.  Neem oil is biodegradable and completely safe for the environment, unlike store-bought bug repellant.

Neem leaf and seed extracts have been found to be spermicidal and research is being conducted using neem extracts for making contraceptives.  Neem produces pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, and fever-reducing compounds that can aid in the healing of cuts and burns.

Neem also has anti-bacterial properties so it’s good for germ-a-phobes like me!  It can help in fighting against skin infections such as acne and eczema.  The extracts from the neem tree can also help in treating diabetes, AIDS, cancer, herpes, allergies, and more.

Seriously, what can't the neem tree do?!

Field Trip #3 - ECHO

Journal #12: July 12, 2010

Topic: Reflections on ECHO – Appropriate Technology

Out of all of our field trips, this was the one I was looking forward to the most.  ECHO stands for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization.  One of their main goals is to teach people in other countries to make what they need out of what they already have.  They call this concept “appropriate technology.”  Our tour guide, Vic Estoye, explained to us that when mothers cook, their babies are often strapped to their back.  This is really dangerous to the baby and the mom because the smoke that the stove gives off is the equivalent to the baby smoking two packs of cigarettes a day!!  He showed us an alternative way of cooking in which recycled cardboard is crushed up and made into blocks that they can use for firewood in cooking.  We also learned about a household water treatment where seeds from the Neem tree are used to disinfect murky water.  We also learned that Neem tree leaves are also really good for your teeth and that they can be used in many other household products.

I found this field trip to be extremely educational, and it helped me appreciate what I have.  I’m lucky enough to have clean running water and a grocery store where I can buy everything I need.  This field trip helped me realize that there are so many ways I can reduce my ecological footprint and still maintain an “American lifestyle.”

Reflection on Presentations

Journal #11: July 7, 2010

Topic: Reflections on Presentations – Find article relating to one of the presentations and write ideas about it

I found the presentations today to be extremely insightful.  I learned a lot about sustainability as well as the little things that I can do to be a more eco-friendly person.

One thing that I found extremely interesting was the eco-friendly towns in places such as Germany, Abu Dhabi, and the United Kingdom.

I visited London two years ago and no one ever mentioned BedZed to me, and to be honest, I’m really surprised!    BedZed, located in London, is a carbon-neutral development and social housing experiment. Located in inner London.  It has many eco-friendly innovations, including used local and recyclable materials, photovoltaics and biomass-fueled combined heat and power, it has local facilities to reduce the need for travel, and it has an on-site permaculture garden. 

After learning all of this, I figured that it must be really expensive to live there!  But after reading an article on Metro News, I learned that the average cost of a house in BedZed is the same as the average cost of a house in London.  In BedZed, residents pay less for their water and electric bills, and they get a bigger sense of community.  There are no cars in the area, so people feel safe walking around the neighborhood.  People talk to each other walking down the street and feel more comfortable doing so.  According to the article, “it is a healthier, happier lifestyle.”

BedZed in London:

Vegetarianism and the Environment

Journal #10: July 6, 2010

Topic: Vegetarianism and the Environment

I have considered becoming a vegetarian for a long time.  I was a vegetarian for about six months in high school, but went back to eating meat after not getting enough protein and iron in my body.  At the time I was doing it for ethical reasons, and if I were to go back, it would be both for ethical and environmental reasons.

Believe it or not, becoming a vegetarian is actually good for the environment.  The obvious is that not eating meat saves countless animals that are important to our ecosystem and fights animal cruelty.  But there are so many other benefits to the environment.  Switching to a vegetarian lifestyle reduces a person’s ecological footprint.

Producing two pounds of beef causes a large amount of greenhouse gasses to be released into the air.  “The amount of greenhouse gas that is released is more than driving a car for three hours and uses more energy than leaving your house lights on for the same period of time” (Vegetarianism and the Environment).  Every day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure which ultimately ends up in lakes, river, and drinking water.  Also, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that 80% of ammonia emissions in the United States comes from animal waste.

Those few facts alone are enough for me to become a vegetarian.

The Vegetarian Food Pyramid:

A PETA ad promoting vegetarianism:

Environmentally Sustainable Childbirth

Journal #9: July 5, 2010
Topic: SOW Section: Environmentally Sustainable Childbirth

As I continued to read “Traditions Old and New,” I came across another very interesting section titled Environmentally Sustainable Childbirth.  The section addresses whether or not the current population is hazardous to the environment and whether or not limiting the amount of children a person can have will have any positive effect.

Many developing-country governments believe that population growth is too rapid in their countries.  Many people believe that it is time to evolve cultures that actively promote an average number of children born to each woman so low that the population shrinks in the near future. 

The current average fertility (2.5 children per woman) is only slightly above the fertility that would yield a stable human population size (2.3 children per woman).  It’s hard to tell which is the largest factor in fertility: culture and women’s response to its influence or the accumulation of accidental pregnancies.  With the exception of China’s “one child rule,” which was put into place because of a shortage of natural resources, it’s hard to identify a culture where small families are promoted to assure environmental sustainability.

One thing is for sure – countries that provide women and men access to safe contraceptive, backed up by safe abortion, have fertility rates low enough to end or reverse population growth.

There are many abuses of reproductive rights noted in many countries, such as incentive payments for sterilization to forced abortions which have been noted in India and China.  These factors have sourced policymakers and healthcare professionals on population policies, programs, and media messages aimed at convincing women to have fewer children.

Engaging Religions to Shape Worldviews

Journal #8: July 1, 2010

Topic: SOW Section: Engaging Religions to Shape Worldviews

For the first group project, the section that my group had was “Traditions Old and New.”  The section that I found most intriguing was Engaging Religions to Shape Worldviews.  This section covered how religions affect sustainability.  Before reading this, I never realized the great impact that religions can have on the environmental movement.  I’ve always known that about four out of five people consider themselves religious, but I never really considered religious leaders to be in on the environmental movement.  I now know that I was wrong.

Many religions, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism can be powerful weapons in preventing an environmental crisis because of each tradition’s respect for nature.  Even though religious activism is more predominant now than it has been in the past, it is quite rare that we hear religious leaders speak up.  

According to the book, State of the World, there are several things that religious and spiritual traditions can offer in creating a culture of sustainability.  These include: educating about the environment, educating about consumption, educating about investments, expressing the sacredness of the natural world through rituals, and reclaiming forgotten assets.  

Field Trip #2 - Downtown Fort Myers

Journal #7: June 30, 2010

Topic: Reflections on Downtown Fort Myers

I can honestly say that our field trip to Downtown Fort Myers was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in a class at FGCU. While I’m disappointed we didn’t get to go to the Fort Myers Waste Management facility, I had an incredible time on the trip, and I actually learned a lot.

Our group’s task was to learn about the businesses in Downtown Fort Myers. After talking to several business owners and people at the Chamber of Commerce, I was able to gain a lot of insight into businesses in the area. I learned about the problems local businesses face and how business could improve.

Most businesses believed that a large problem in the area was the renovations in the area.  With all of the road detours and areas blocked off, businesses have lost customers – either because it’s harder for the customers to get to the store, because of the lack of parking, or because they don’t come to the area anymore because of the construction. On the bright side, business owners say, the area looks a lot nicer than before because of all the construction going on. My group came to the conclusion that if the area and the businesses were better marketed to the public, business in the downtown area would greatly improve. The new and improved Downtown Fort Myers is a beautiful area, and I think the area has a lot of potential for increased foot traffic and business.

Unintended Consequences

Journal #6: June 29, 2010

Topic: Unintended Consequences

An unintended consequence is an outcome that was not originally intended by a particular action.  While they were not intended, the person doing the action should have foreseen them.  Unintended consequences can be positive or negative, and they are often put into three categories: (1) a positive unexpected benefit, (2) a negative expected drawback, or (3) a perverse effect that may be contrary to what was originally intended.

An example of a positive, unexpected benefit is the use of various medicines.  Consumers know that there are could be unexpected drawbacks, known as side effects, but there are some side effects which doctors consider beneficial.

An example unexpected drawback is the introduction of exotic animals to an area where they don’t belong, either for decoration or to control unwanted species.  An example is the introduction of rabbits to Australia and New Zealand for food turned into an explosion in the rabbit population.   Today, rabbits are a huge pest in these countries. 

An example of perverse results occurred during Father Matthew’s temperance campaign in 19^th century Ireland.  Thousands of people who vowed to never drink again eventually began drinking ether – a much more dangerous toxin, by those unwilling to break their vow.

Walk around the Neighborhood

Journal #5: June 28, 2010

Topic: Walking Trip Around My Neighborhood

At least once a week I take a walking trip around my neighborhood.  Sometimes it’s to clear my mind, other times it’s to take pictures.  I love taking pictures of nature, and there’s always beautiful scenery to take pictures of.  There are so many beautiful flowers around, including the red hibiscus.  I found a purple flower (I don’t know the name of it) in our neighborhood, which is strange because you usually see red/pink/orange flowers and never really any purple/blue flowers.   I thought it was kind of interesting and unique.  Our neighborhood also has three large lakes, which are the home to several alligators.  I didn’t see any on this walk, but I’ve seen them many times before.  A few years ago they had to remove and kill one because kids were feeding it (apparently their parents said it was okay to do that).  At the time I didn’t care, but now that I’ve learned more about the environment and the behavior of alligators, it really saddened me.  I also saw some egrets by the front of our neighborhood, but I didn’t get a close enough look to see whether it was the Great Egret or the Snowy Egret.  I’m looking forward to going on another walk around my neighborhood in a month to look at our neighborhood through a “Colloquium Lens.”