Journal 6

4.28... That is the number of earths it would take to support life if everyone lived the way that I do. I suppose there are many ways that I can do better when it comes to decreasing my Ecological Footprint... however, due to the nature of the country that I live in I do not think I could completely reduce it down to one earth. In fact, I'm positive that it is impossible for me to live where I live and conserve enough to have the Ecological Footprint of one earth. I am telling you that through my travels throughout the world and living in very different conditions, I would not have a problem doing it. But where then, can I find a home that is smaller, with solar panels, low-flow shower heads, water saving toilets, and close enough to a grocery store, school, and work, that I can walk to all of those places? I honestly can tell you I would do it. And I have made sacrifices to live life differently and I STILL use 4.28 earths. I can tell you right now that I don't have a piece of clothing from after 10th grade, or that wasn't given to me freely like tee shirts from FGCU.
I can honestly say the only place I can really make improvements (according to the website) would be with my food intake. It is the only area that wasn't significantly less then the worlds average. And I hate to compare to the worlds average because I know even at my current status I am over using and abusing earths resources. As of right now I do eat meat usually once every one or two days whether it is a sub sandwich or chicken and rice, or pepperoni's on my pizza, I see that I can cut down on the meat consumption. Also, I am going to try to go to the Immokalee farmers market more often. It is an awesome place and it would help to reduce my ecological footprint. Overall, I just find it extremely difficult to live how one person should live in the current country, city, community that I live in. Any suggestions?

Journal 5

My current residence is in a neighborhood in the Estero community. It is just like all of the other "cookie cutter" neighborhoods around the area but this one is just a little different. It is very quiet and there is a lot of respect between the residents of the area. There is a lake that I love to go to and it is a very relaxing place. Whether it is swimming in the pool that overlooks the lake or kayaking on it, it's just a very peaceful place with a lot of cool areas of nature. I usually read in the mornings and I like to go to the pool when no one is out there in the morning and just chill. There is something calming about being outside. Maybe it's because there are no distractions like television, the internet or computer, and homework?

Journal Entry 4

Erik Assadourian’s article was actually something that has been running across my mind quite a bit lately. Will the United States ever be able to break this mold of consumerism? It really is all in our heads, how we perceive things, things that we want, not what we need. I think about my uncle who absolutely loves things. Yes, things, a boat, large house, movie theatre, nice cars, and I wonder, would he ever be able to change his lifestyle? What would people think if they went to their local grocery store and it was “out” of salmon for the day, or didn’t have any fresh ham? I can picture it now, a mid-thirties Caucasian woman, getting ready to buy the meal to make for her family (not saying woman make all of the meals or they are always white, this is just what I’m picturing) and the guy working behind the deli counter tells her “no, sorry mam, that shipment is coming in next week, but would you like to try today’s meat of the day? A delicious honey glazed ham, killed today!”… Outrage. She asks for the store manager, yelling about how she should be able to buy salmon, or chicken, or cow, or pig, any time of the week! Yes, that is how it goes in my head, I don’t think we can do it. As Assadourian says, consumerism has become so engrained in our heads, such a part of our culture, there is no turning back now.
The only way I see it, and apparently Erik Assadourian sees it, is through education. We must begin educating our youth as to what is necessary for a healthy lifestyle and what is not. We need to explain to people that they are being bombarded with images and ideas every minute of every day and that they need to be aware of it. This exposure that we are getting as a human nation to products and consumption is killing our planet. Of course we need outfits for every day of the month, or year. And of course we need a car for when it snows, and for when its warm, and when we have to drive a lot of kids, and one to tow the boat, and one to haul the big rocks and lead around that we need because we are doctors. It is all about a mindset, a culture, which I do not believe we will be willing to break. What is so wrong about wearing a shirt twice or three times in one week? People will say that is gross, and that is our culture, saying that it is wrong or different. Unfortunately it is not really the fault of the people entirely that they are buying and buying and buying. How would they know better when that is all they see growing up? It is unfortunate. I will do my part and educate my kids, and if I am a teacher one day my students. Maybe if people are drowning or displaced people will start to take notice? I hope it doesn’t have to come to that, but who knows. It took an earth quake that killed 200,000 people for the outside world to notice the people of Haiti. We’ll see I guess.

Journal Entry 3

My favorite place on campus has to be on top of parking garage 2. It looks over the field heading toward Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy, and also toward the first year housing buildings. I really just enjoy clearing my thoughts up there on a run or walk. Really any of the parking garages are pretty cool at the top just to see the campus and how the buildings and nature sort of just reside together. Whether or not we are doing a good job of conserving the marshes and forests, from the top of the garage, it all seems pretty peaceful and that its coinciding nicely. By the way, I would have said the lake if there weren't so many gigantic houses staring me in the face when I'm over there, seeing as I don't plan on (won't have the sufficient funds) to live in a mansion like the for the entirety of my life. And I'm just fine with that.

Journal Entry 2

Currently my “sense of place” is appreciative of the physical place I have been put in, in Fort Myers. I really do enjoy all of the nature and beauty that Southwest Florida offers. Whether it is kayaking or simply walking to class it really is an experience every moment I get to spend outdoors. This makes me aware of my surroundings and has kept me interested in learning about my surroundings. I did the reef restoration program at Lovers Key State Park and learned a lot about what the school is doing to help the water quality and ecosystem in our area. Also, I recently took marine systems which has gotten me extremely interested in our ecosystem and how literally all parts of nature are connected in some way. Just like the video from class, you get rid of the wolves and everything else suffers, well that is not the only place where removing one step in a very large and complex staircase ruins the nature around it. I have been attempting to not only live a life that doesn’t pollute the environment, but one that restores it as well.

Journal Entry 1

I did not have many expectations for this class coming into it. I did not hear a lot about whether it was a good or bad course. All I really knew is that it was about the environment, and maybe a bit about FGCU's ideals concerning the environment. Having attended the first class I think I know a little bit more about what to expect from this class. I want to know what are truly environmental concerns. What the facts are and who has "the best" facts. I don't like being lied to about what animals are dying, what chemicals are or are not hurting the environment, and how much the sun is going to warm the planet in the coming years. I want to see facts, physical evidence, and statistics on what is happening, and what we as citizens of earth are doing to either hurt it or help it. Also, if I am going to be doing this much work, I might as well learn something while I'm at it right? Oh, and I do care about the sea-turtles professor Muldoon so we can agree to disagree on that one.