Eating organic or using solar energy is considered more luxurious options rather than a choice. In the grocery store a falling economy encourage you to save money, so you would have to save the health food section for another day. College is a difficult time to get access to good food because of how incontinent it is cook with our busy schedules. The food that sits in the cafeterias in dorms here at University of Michigan at least let you be aware of what the caloric intake would be if you had two slices of pizza with that glass of milk, but the amount of healthy choices may be limited outside in the restaurants that aren’t associated with the University. Bert’s Café in the UGLI provides a list of ingredients with everything served as well as Panda Express’s Sushi bar, but places like Espresso Royale have yet to inform the community about what’s really in their products or how long they have been out there for. An interesting thing that my sister told me after working for Biggbys is that a lot of coffeehouses is baking their pastries like the brownies or cookies from scratch, but if they have not been sold successfully they are placed in the freezer for a couple weeks, get pulled out, and be put in the chilled glass display right next to the register again. It’s pretty scary to realize how little food even homemade items is truly fresh. Some food sold in those coffeehouses are recycled, but in a bad way. The one benefit in living in Ann Arbor is that this is a city that invests heavily in the local businesses. Organic fruit and vegetables seem to be easier to grab a hold of when there are things like the community gardens, Zimmerman’s restaurant, and the farmer’s market are every week. Being a health-conscious college student in this University isn't too difficult of a task because of these wonderful opportunities!
I chose to read this articles because sometimes it seems as if we are only being told what not to eat and buy as opposed to what TO buy. I read this in hopes of having those questions answered. In Buying Better Food, it talks about several options on how to buy locally, organically and through supporting Fair Trade. I found the description of Fair Trade to be very interesting because I have always seen those words on labels and never fully understood the meaning. I believe that Fair Trade should be applied to all crops and produce, hopefully they will get there soon. If only all Americans realized the grueling work one farmer miles and miles away endured to grow and harvest that produce. I think it is important for Americans to be educated about their food, and very few of them are. We should start implanting the truths about food into our future generations in hopes that systems and corporations will have turned around to be all Fair Trade certified at some point in the future.
There is nothing worse than losing your home to something that is beyond your control. Hurricane Katina was a difficult thing to adjust to when a natural disaster strikes your own country in comparison to the many disasters that occur across the globe. While we feel symphony for any victims of the environment-based incidents, not much of the same symphony is shared for those that suffer a poor financial fate. While the economic status of a person is technically under the control of a human being, sometimes there are people that are raised in a poor environment and it proves to be difficult to build oneself up without motivation or hope of ever raising above poverty. Morgan Spurlock, director and star of the movie Super Size Me did an episode in his own TV series 30 Days about a family who lives off minimum wage day-by-day. At the time, Morgan and his fiancé took a similar role with this family and pretended to raise children together. They couldn’t use funding outside what they earned through a job, and it turned out that the both of them working together proved to be nearly impossible to live off minimum wage and hope to ever rise above it. The same idea was issued in a book I read a few years ago called Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, an undercover New York reporter who took the role of a person living off minimum wage in several places around the United States as a hotel and housemaid, waitress, and a worker at Wal-Mart. She discovered through these different jobs that she was often mistreated by her bosses and the customers she had to deal with. We treat each type of refugee differently, all varyinf from their level of background violence.
Living Well In a Compact Space – p. 152 Jim Christian 10/10/09
This little blurb in World Changing focuses on design solutions that attempt to answer the problem of limited space in Urban Environments. It also suggests that small spaces are not only more energy efficient, but can actually be very enjoyable if designed well. While I totally agree with this personally, I’m not sold that these current solutions are really answering the root of the issue. Take, for example, the Tetris shelves. Compare them to a standard set of flat wall shelves. What do these offer other than a cooler looking, retro feel? Customizability. Wall shelves are boring, but they use up less material and would hold just as much stuff. Maybe the thing that the Tetris shelves do is offer a way to break up space, group, and categorize shelved items. While I don’t disagree that this is a cool concept, I don’t think it is really solving the question of how to live well in a compact space. To me, the more important thing to consider is how to transform a space for various needs, or how to map out an individual’s actions in an attempt to minimize the wasted space and condense the essentials. Or, most importantly, how do we change the way our culture thinks about space? How do we convince people that less can be more, and how do we get Americans to value small homes like Japanese do? The last section of this short article starts to hit on some of those points with statements like “small spaces impose limitations and curb possibilities for interior design…[however] tiny living quarters invite tremendous creativity…” It then continues to talk about Japanese minihomes that are a testament to “less is more.” This, I feel, is what we need to be focusing on. Rather than finding a way to display all of our useless stuff, lets find a way to enjoy the value of simplicity and necessity.
Furniture and Home Decor – p. 157 Jim Christian 10/12/09
This section starts with a brief summary of the obstacles that go into shifting to sustainable furniture. It starts with reminding us that one of the most enjoyable aspects of designing our space is the furniture that we use, then it reminds us that we inherently have a problem with being susceptible to fashion trends that tend to convince us to remodel more frequently than necessary. Lastly, it spends some time highlighting a variety of sustainable materials that we can use in our home furnishing, and gives examples of design firms that make use of these materials. It is true. Designing our homes is fun, and unfortunately the home décor industry isn’t helping us to be more sustainable about it. First, they would rather see us redesign often, because this means that we visit them more often. Second, the furniture they sell is still predominantly non-sustainable. Even worse, the cost of the few lines of sustainable furniture is absolutely through the roof. Take Herman Milller’s Mirra chair, priced at around $1000. In my opinion, the obstacle here is to find a way to overcome our desires for remodeling. We should be able to model our homes fewer times at a higher cost. I wouldn’t mind paying $1000 for a chair if it would last ten times the length of a $100 chair. Chances are that more expensive and durable designs are designed better, too. Remember, a durable design is both structurally and aesthetically durable. This is about the timeless designs that never go out of style. Even if the Eames Lounge Chair isn’t made with the in the most eco-friendly factories, the fact that it lasts longer than any other chair because it is beautiful is enough to make it extremely eco-friendly. Even though it isn’t cheap, it is well-priced for how long it lasts. The ideal place to be in terms of sustainable furniture design seems to be both cheap and eco-friendly. While this doesn’t happen often, certain companies take this into consideration by using scraps and discarded items in their furniture, or by using renewable woods such as durapal, kirei, and plyboo. We should be spending less money on material cost, and more money on the labor to produce the final product. Scrapile is a great example of this, as they acquire their materials from a place of low demand product: landfills. They then create beautiful pieces of furniture with great effort and time. Finding ways to design our homes with sustainable furniture is tough now because of high costs and low demand, but I feel that as the demand for sustainable home furnishings increases, it will become easier to find a variety of options and styles that fit our sustainable criteria.
Engineer It Yourself – p. 93 Jim Christian October 18, 2009
After opening World Changing to a random article, I was immediately inspired. This article titled “Engineer It Yourself” is about a movement to bring back the individual invention and explorative tinkering that defined our country before industrialization. It is about the freedom of the Internet and its ability to connect and share with each other, and it is about inspiring people to stop going to the store when they could just make it themselves. On a deeper level, this article is about rethinking consumerism, inspiring an authentic lifestyle, and pushing a less-than-obvious form of sustainability. Instructables.com gets a lot of attention at the beginning of this article, as it is the front-runner in this “make versus take” mentality. This website was started by MIT PhDs, and it is a wonderful resource to learn how to make things yourself. This site, along with other resources, is forcing people to challenge consumerism. It teaches us that the things that we buy at the store can often be made by ourselves, and with a little practice, they can be made even better than the average store-bought item. Later in the article, it references a book titled “Radical Simplicity: Creating an Authentic Life” by Dan Price. I think that the title says enough. What if we all built our own, authentic furniture? What if we stopped buying pre-made dinners and started making them ourselves? What if we made our own clothes? I don’t know that the solution to our consumer problems is to move back 200 years, but I do think that Price is onto something. Maybe if we keep advancing in technology and manufacturing complicated things, but spent more time selling resources and tools, we would create opportunities for every individual to be more creative and productive. Lastly, this article suggests that there is an element of sustainability to be taken from this movement. If your mom makes you a sweater (that you like) and then you go out and buy another sweater, which one are you going to keep longer? The one made in the sweatshop on the other side of the world will probably be less meaningful, and you won’t think twice about throwing it away when it gets torn. If you tear your homemade sweater, mom will mend it and it will be good as new. I think continuing advancements in technology and communication will help convince people that the things we buy at the store are not unattainable from home. With the right resources and knowledge, we can replicate what we see in the store, and in doing so, we can learn to love and have a deeper connection with everything that we own.
When looking at the index of what subjects I could read about in World Changing I chose “Designing a Sustainable World” mostly because it had the word design in it and thus I supposed I could relate. Within the first paragraph of the chapter, a point grabbed my attention and I couldn’t stop thinking about it as I read the remainder of the article. This point was: “We’re knee deep in useful things such as refrigerators and quality footwear, yet we’re also laden with the detritus of the last generation of objects. The periphery of our comfort zone is lined with waste.” (p.83) I thought this was interesting because it is completely true but I have never heard it stated so clearly. Designers continue to create and create without worrying about their past creations that are undoubtedly piling up somewhere in the world. I thought it was interesting the way that the author was talking about sustainable changes that have already been made, which are great of course, but really are barely making any changes. This is because these sustainable products still will end up as waste in the end, such as the solar powered toxin-free lap tops. Designers need to create full circle, considering where they get their starting materials, how it will be used and the condition it will end up in when it is deemed useless. “Green” products are a small step toward fully green and sustainable products, but you have to start somewhere.
Samantha Levy World Changing Response 1 The chapter on biomorphism talks about using nature as a means for design, and how often “the results are […] beautiful” (102). It describes a few companies that use the model of nature for al of is designs, which often produces very unique pieces. Because nature often combines form with function “elegantly”, using it as an inspiration for a product yields the same results. The focus then turns to Buckminster Fuller: biomorphism pioneer and inventor of the geodesic dome. It describes that he tried to simplify efficient design so that everyone, not just environmentalists, could use it. The chapter ends by talking about biomorphic architecture in cultural centers and museums, which combine beauty with energy-saving elements. As someone who is fascinated with both biology and art, I found this chapter extremely interesting. Nature’s ability to function while still looking beautiful is something we may not be able to entirely replicate, but using it as a model can help us to create environmentally-friendly designs.
Samantha Levy World Changing Response 2 Biomimicry, in contrast with biomorphism, seeks to directly imitate nature (using the evidence of evolution) to better our human products. Biomimicry is less concerned with form and beauty but emphasizes function. Things such as burrs (and fur), spider silk, DNA algorithms, gecko feet, and lotus leaves have served to aid in the functionality of human design. Spider silk is stronger than both steel and Kevlar, yet it is engineered by a spider. Examining how nature functions to create these products has helped people, such as NASA, to create new products. Scientists have used nature to help build spaceship antennae. Using DNA-related algorithms, scientists have evolved their antennae into a more efficient design. Gecko tape could easily solve the problem of a sustainable and removable adhesive, which scientists are trying to produce. Even the dirt and water resistant nature of a lotus leaf has inspired a more resilient paint. I think it was a good idea to read both chapters on biomimicry and biomorphism because I got both the beauty perspective and the function perspective of using nature in design.
This section discusses light bulbs and which are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. It also talks about new lighting systems that are being developed currently. The lighting concept I found most interesting was a system being developed in Sweden where they essentially transport natural sunlight from outdoors into interior spaces as light. They do this through transporting through fiber optic cables. I thought this would be interesting because I think it has potential to be solution to a lot of lighting situations and thus diminish the waste of energy from energy costing light bulbs and fixtures. It would probably be a costly solution but through more development could be made available to the masses and then we would all reap the benefits of efficient, natural light which is healthier for us in the long run as it is.
Designing a Sustainable World – pg. 83 Jim Christian November 8, 2009
As of late, sustainable design has been at the forefront of my thoughts. It is what defines this generation of artists and designers. We aren’t joining movements like De Stijl or Realism. We are becoming a part of the movement for the Environment. As we get deeper and feel the pressures of environmentally conscious decision-making, it is hard to design anything without considering how it might impact the environment. And while this can be quite a nightmarish challenge, I feel that it is for the better. This article on the sustainable world of design is about how we as artists and designers can have a powerful impact on the world we live in. It is our responsibility to push the shift from financial design to environmental design. It is our responsibility to push the value for the environment, and to respond to consumers who value it already. The most important thing that this article says about sustainable design is that currently most green products are just half-steps to true sustainability. It says products “should be made, used, and retired with biological cleverness and the lightest of impacts.” This reminds us that sustainability is more than just designing stuff that we can recycle or stuff that will last a long time, but it is also about designing stuff to be safely manufactured, and free of dangerous chemicals. The only thing that this article failed to mention yet I feel is very important is the concept of eco-effectiveness over eco-efficiency. Sustainability is not about using less materials and hurting the environment less than we currently do. It is about creating closed material loops, and about not hurting the environment at all. Using MBDC’s analogy of a cherry tree, being environmentally friendly is not about having efficient production techniques (a cherry tree produces thousands of seeds, of which very few grow). It is more about removing the concept of waste, and creating systems where our leftovers get recycled just as cherry blossoms decay and become a part of the soil. Sustainable design is about eco-effectiveness and understanding that we are a part of nature. It is about creating closed material loops, and it is about doing all of this in a healthy and safe way.
Alexis Newton World Changing #1 Questioning Consumption – p.32
Reading this bolded section of the book brought many ideas about how we consume to my head. This section made me think about COSTCO, and Sam’s Club stores, where you can buy 5-pound tubs of butter and 3 gallons of ketchup for your everyday needs. The low prices and special memberships of these places make them seem like places of royalty when you leave with five times the amount of food you actually need. People need to learn that buying such huge amounts of food is not only ridiculous, but that it harms the environment substantially more than buying only what is needed. The last sentence had the most impact on me. It read, “When we become conscious about what we buy, we end up with more space for appreciating the objects that surround us, and what we have actually can make us happier.” This is the viewpoint that many consumers need to take on before they haul their 40-packs of excessive consumerism into the trunks of their cars.
Before reading this small section I had no idea that there was such thing as freecycling.org. I really liked this section because it related to the group project that my group and I are planning on doing. We plan to raise awareness about “upcycling” by asking for donations of clothing and fabrics that people might throw away or bring to salvation army, and use them to create new products, mainly bags and accessories. Bringing the internet into this would be helpful because we want to inform as many people as we can, and create patters that people could follow, or tips on what they could create on their own. It’s nice to see that the Internet is being used for things that can help improve our environment and raise awareness about sustainability.
This section about more sustainable and healthy paints affected me personally because this summer I worked with heavy duty exterior house paints as a painter. I hated using the sprayer and having to inhale particles of paint and fumes for 5 hours or more every day. At the time, I never really thought about the fact that there could be healthier options other than the typical harsh exterior paints. If I still worked for this company, I would have definitely looked into and suggested the use, or at least the offering, of low-VOC and VOC-free paints. I would have also worn a mask had I been warned about the damaging effects of the paint ahead of time. I also thought that the development of the low-emission thermal-insulation paint was interesting. I have never really thought about paint as being the insulation, I always thought of it more as just a decoration.
1. Conserving Water, pg.187 If everyone in the United States put in low-flow fixtures and toilets, we would save approximately 5.4 billion gallons of water per day. I think that this is appalling, it seems easy to do this and you even get a reward for conserving water by getting a rebate from your utility company. I am very surprised that this practice is not advertised or encouraged more because conserving water is a major issue. Another advantage to saving so much water with these systems, and the shower that recycles water is that people save so much money on their water bills. Although people are somewhat aware of how much water they are using through their bills, no one really sees the numbers unless it is directly in front of them. I think that if people were able to physically see the amount of water that they use, it would inspire people to adapt these new inventions and try to make more of an effort to conserve water.
2. Designing a Sustainable World, pg. 83 The process of designing something is where we can make the most effort to effectively use materials. There is a new demand for ecofriendly products and anything else are unsuitable. I like how they made a comment in this chapter saying “sustainability can be applied to anything that’s made.” (85) Although it seems that it is purely up to the designers to solve our consumption and sustainable issues, it is also up to everyone else to consume, and demand those products. John Thackara explains this perfectly, “ We’re the ones who can alter our clothing, customize our furniture, and choose to use things for years longer than is expected. Rather than waiting for green products to appear—stamped, sanctioned, and ready—we can demand them, or create them ourselves.” (85) I like this article because it inspires me to want to create things that people will want to use that are environmentally friendly at the same time. It makes the designer, what I hope to be some day, an inspiring way to change the world.
3. Craft It Yourself, pg. 90 When people decide to “Do It Yourself” there is a change that occurs between the consumer and the producer. The relationship changes because it forces the producer to create something that is so easy, or so sustainable that everyone will want to use the product rather than make it on their own. But I like how they mention that making something yourself is satisfying, because you can never replace the feeling of owning something when you make it yourself. That part of DIY gives your material goods a lot more meaning than just buying them at a store. I think that this idea of crafting your own materials and DIY is such a powerful thing because it is environmentally conscious as well as very stimulating for the brain.
Bright Green Computers – pg. 134 Jim Christian November 16, 2009
This article is a very motivational and optimistic outlook on the future of our virtual world. It discusses where we are at with wasteful, one-time-use computers that fill our landfills and pollute third-world countries. Then, it flips over and talks about great things that companies are doing to make computer manufacturing more efficient, and to make computers more powerful. It mentions a few companies who claim to be “looking forward to [a] new style of producing electronics.” Then, it boldly suggests that the computer of the future will be essentially no different than it is now. As the article finishes, the computer of the future will be “lighter, sleeker, and more elegant than any we’ve seen yet.” While this article does bring up some strong points about the manufacturing process of computers, and it does touch on the main points of sustainable design, it also stays extraordinarily vague as if it can’t find any real concrete support for its predictions. I feel that this article failed to express anything that anyone with a small amount of sustainable knowledge would think common sense. First, the article stuck to the current manufacturing motto that “efficiency and power is key.” Second, it assumes that 50 years from now we will still have a computer on our desk. Looking back to MBDC and their explanation of how eco-effectiveness is very different than eco-efficiency, I wonder if manufacturing really will continue to push toward efficiency. What if we came up with biological computers? What if our waste powered computers, or what if computers ate food for fuel? What if a computer became a pet? What if it took the form of a plant on your windowsill? I don’t have any of the answers as to how this could work, but I know people are thinking about it. Science-fiction may always start as some far-out ideas, but we seem to latch onto that genre as a prediction of the future. In conclusion, I was relatively disappointed with the lack of insight from this article. I feel that there is much more to the computer world than making it more efficient and recyclable. I feel that part of sustainable design is the ability to integrate technology into our lives, and until we stop integrating our lives into technology, we have a lot of work to do.
Alexis Newton World Changing #4 The Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator – p.169
I really enjoyed reading about the Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator, because I think it is a very innovative idea. I love how it is a simple object that can help improve people’s lives dramatically. I think that the concept of thinking back to basic principles, for example, how our bodies stay cool, and applying those basic principles to how we design objects can really improve the way we consume so many things and make everything so complex. After reading this, I thought back about an article that I had read about aluminum coke cans that don’t use paint, but instead have texture, making then 100% recyclable and eliminating the process of removing paint from cans. When I read this article I had initially thought, “It’s so simple! Why hadn’t this been done before?” This is exactly what I thought while reading about the Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator.
Sam Schulman World Changing 1 Why Does the United States Still Export Cotton? P.45
Though cotton is grown in the U.S., labor and manufacturing costs abroad are significantly cheaper than in the U.S. leading the cotton to be exported abroad, only to be imported once more to America. In order to keep cost relatively low for consumers in America, citizens in other countries are taken advantage of or are being paid an extremely low salary (according to our standards) to complete a job that would cost much more here. Yes, this system makes sense and is applicable to many companies and organizations outside of cotton, but definitely has its positives and negatives. Positively, it can help employment and therefore the economy in places abroad that strive in manufacturing good for consumers abroad. But, negatively, we as a country are basically dumping the jobs people in America refuse to take on less-fortunate foreigners. Realistically, this cycle will continue or even worsen unless citizens abroad take a stance and demand higher pay.
Sam Schulman World Changing 2 Reputation Systems P.129
I really liked the segment on reputation systems. Through technology, opinions, help, answers, and guides are available at the click of a button. With the consideration of the different viewpoints and biases available on the web, it is a great resource in which we entrust millions of stranger’s everyday. The web has made it possible to share reviews about almost anything including restaurants, movies, service at a shop, etc. Though this could be bad news for the blockbuster thrown together in two months when it doesn’t receive academy award winning reviews on rottentomatoes, it does connect individuals throughout the world. I also believe that with the threat of a bad review, restaurants and movies and other forms of media are forced to work harder in order to deliver the best service, show, etc. This system, to me, benefits us culturally because not only do we trust our fellow citizens but also we are given better service and quality.
Sam Schulman World Changing 3 Smart Home Technology P.149
Smart home technology is basically the idea that your house can run itself. It can regulate temperature, electricity use, and more. Though today, smart technology can be very expensive, experts predict that in the near future, just as computers became available to most Americans, so will smart technology. This new technology is believed to really help the environment in the sense that it will be able to manage (and turn-off) when something is not in use like lights or machines, but also offer custom settings to such instruments such as a washing machine. This technology can also be very beneficial to the older population that is unable to do many household chores themselves. On one end it seems ridiculous to have such instruments like the smart home, have Americans gotten so lazy that they can’t operate their washing machines themselves? But on the other side of the spectrum it could be a really great way to make sure that people are using things such as household appliances economically and could really have a great impact on wastefulness in America. But, instead of having technology do your learning and work, I think it is so important that American citizens take the initiative themselves to open windows instead of using air conditioning and turning off a light when not in use so they can see the affects of their savings and be responsible for the impact they are making on their environment instead of leaving that responsibility to technology. Yes, technology can make things easier, but it can also take a lot out of life such as the learning process and responsibility for ones actions.
Sam Schulman World Changing 4 Worldchanging Water Pumps P.192
Reading about both the KickStart MoneyMaker and the PlayPump, was very inspiring. As Professor Trumpey has done in lectures previously, it is great to see the works of artists and designers put into use in counties such as what is spotlighted here, Africa. The MoneyMaker is a device in which people can pump water using their feet for irrigation. The problem with the MoneyMaker is that its cost is around ninety dollars which is very steep considering the yearly income of most citizens around this region in Africa is below that. The PlayPump is a merry-go-round. As children spin and play on the structure, the movement pushes a pump, which pulls water from a well into a small water tower. No longer is getting water a job, but a fun activity for children to participate in without even knowing the help they are doing to their communities. Both of these devices are extremely effective and creative. It is inspiring to read about designs like this and to see what kind of drastic differences such seemingly simple objects can have in many citizens lives.
World Changing Response #1 “Art Meets Technology” p. 96
There were some very interesting products mentioned in this section that combined art with technology. The product I found most intriguing was “Sonic City” that basically creates a unique soundtrack to your individual experience in an urban city. I love to wear my headphones anytime I am walking somewhere, and I love good beats to songs and respect good hip-hop beats. I can imagine wearing these headphones and not being able to stop bobbing my head to the urban beats and sounds. It impresses me so much to hear about new products coming out such as the ones mentioned in this section. I wouldn’t even know how to begin figuring out how they work, but I wholly agree with something that the section says: “Regardless of the context, these works accomplish what art should accomplish: they trigger new experiences that transform our perceptions of what is and what could be” (DD & RD p. 97).
The first time I heard the concept of greenwashed food was in my human physiology class in high school my senior year. Mr. Lauchu taught us the in and outs of misleading labels on food products until our ears were bleeding. He not only taught us about false advertisement for organic products, but also misleading information about health benefits such as “low fat” products that replace fat with more sugar which just turns into fat when its digested. So really, there’s the same amount of fat if not more in those products. I feel that misleading advertisement of organic products is wrong, but on the other hand, if the certain product is truly organic, major corporations that also produce non-organic products should be able to label the ones that are organic. The consumer should be the one to know which companies they are supporting and whether or not all their products are organic. Some of us purchase organic foods for different reasons. I like to eat healthy for instance, so if a certain product is organic, even if the entire line of products from that company are not, I would buy it because my reason for eating those foods are not to support individual companies. It’s to stay healthy. Maybe if the companies see that more people buy their organic products than inorganic products, they will start making more of their products organic.
World Changing Response #2 “A Personal Action Plan” p. 514
I have recently found out that the way to get a good idea about my lifestyle and how it is affecting the environment is to ask myself questions. Some that I have asked myself recently are: “How often do I go shopping for clothes? Where did the food come from that I am eating? How often do I buy drinks and food with disposable containers? How many disposable containers have a thrown away in the past few years without recycling it?” Some other questions were presented in this section that I haven’t thought as much about: “What kinds of stuff do you buy? What do you do for a living? Where do you live?” The one that particularly made me think was “What do you do for a living?”, or more specific to my situation, “What will you do for a living?” I have always thought that I would probably go into graphic design because it is the most relevant today. After reading the question, however, I started to think of expanding my options to allow more ecologically friendly professions into my spectrum. I need to do more research on what’s out there, but I would love to say that what I do for a living is beneficial to the planet.
After reading about the Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India, I immediately had a desire to visit the innovative campus. The founder, Sanjit “Bunker” Roy brought together the educated youth and the illiterate villagers to build this community. The exchange between these two groups was surprising and “respectfully merged modern technology and traditional knowledge” (360). The college that formed educated all ages and any status (villager or college student) on a variety of subjects and used teaching through hands-on experience as its primary method. The Barefoot campus is also extremely environmentally friendly and has transformed this area of the desert into a lush “oasis”. Training has allowed illiterate villagers to compose the Barefoot Solar Engineers who build and maintain the solar energy system at the college. The water system of Barefoot has not only created an efficient method for the campus , but it has made a huge impact on surrounding communities. These communities can learn from the college and build their own systems for access to water. Barefoot college also has helped educate people about heath and discuss disease prevention. The college also runs a clinic. The Children’s Parliament is an addition to the college’s traditional night classes. This program asks the kids to elect an official and work together to improve their community. The Barefoot College accomplishes things that were previously thought to be impossible in the once dilapidated area in the middle of the desert. They have brought the villages together to revolutionize environmentalism and education in Rajasthan.
The section of World Changing titled “Global Culture” places importance of multicultural knowledge in the context of globalization, networking, and communication. Any sort of connection with other places requires a certain basis of knowledge, which can be learned through various methods. This article explains that as our world is ‘shrinking’ due to innovative technology, we need to learn about other cultures through exposure to film, music, books, and language. Global film lets us “connect with the stories on screen” and consequently forces us to experience different cultures (368). Examples given are Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) and an Inuit film. Both of these global film examples showcase their given cultures to others to enable them to understand and experience their culture. The Internet has made Global Literature a possibility, and exposes readers to works from across the world. Global music does not always deal with music from separate cultures but it combines cultural music into a modern blend of sound. Language is the literal form of communication that often separates cultures from each other. It comes to no surprise that in order to connect with each other, languages are either learned or uniquely mixed into hybrids, which are becoming increasingly popular (ex: Hinglish and Globish). English has become a sort of universal language, and as the world is advancing, other languages will also become universal in the future. As a person who has been lucky enough to be directly exposed to other cultures through education and travel, it is great to see that there is a way to connect to other places in more accessible ways. I myself have learned a lot about foreign countries and cultures through all of these methods, and I believe it will help me in future.
Sam Schulman World Changing 5 Reshaping the Burbs p.240
About a year ago I read an article in the New York Times that shocked me. The author claimed that although suburbanites often claim to be more environmentally friendly than those that live in large cities such as New York, this statement is extremely false. Suburbanites tend to have larger homes, multiple cars, water their laws, drive further to get to work, and the list goes on. While on the other hand, though cities tend to appear dirtier, the individual citizens living there usually live in small apartments, take public transportation, and rarely have lawns. This article is talking about a slightly different topic in suburbs and that is the re-using of buildings and spaces. Making old bus stations, offices, etc. into something new. In New York City this summer there was an opening for a park called Highline Park. It is a 20-block path (that is intended to be extended in the near future) made into what used to be railroad tracks that went through the meatpacking district and up to Chelsea. The tracks were built a few floors above ground level and designers and architects worked together to create a pathway. Plants were planted in-between the old tracks and wooden chairs were built directly into the tracks. It is now an attraction for moth Manhattan citizens and tourists alike. It is both resourceful because the area recycled an abandoned track and turned it around to be in a positive light as a place where people can excursive, socialize, look at the river, and enjoy the outdoors.
Sam Schulman World Changing 6 Mobile-Phone Politics p. 293
Mobile phones in America have a highly different role than they do in other countries around the world. In America it is not uncommon now-a-days to see children as young as ten walking around with personal cell phones, teens texting away like crazy, and businessmen attached to their blackberries. But in places such as Africa, the mobile phone is not an extra appendage to the body, but a way to mobilize voters and regulate elections. In Kenya, in 2003, the country saw its largest electoral turnout due to mobile phones. With the use of these devices it made it easier for citizens to cast their votes, receive help in voting from hired workers who were observing the election, and it made it easier to regulate corruption and or cheating of the system. It is interesting to see how drastically the use of one object can change between countries. I had never thought of cell phones use in national voting because it is not something we see here but is a wonderful idea to increase voter participation, something that the untied states definitely needs help with as well.
Sam Schulman World Changing 7 Literature of Place P.478
It is so important to acknowledge a Childs brain. It can be shaped so easily and with more books, stories, and information being shared to children at a young age about their environment and the places they grow up in, significant differences can be made in their development. Something as simple as taking a walk with your children once a day and asking questions about plants and animals they see on their walk can make a child become aware of their surroundings. This is so important because without this recognition comes apathetic feelings which then result in children (and later adults) who do not care for their environment. Now that we see what changes are coming from the impact we have made on earth, we can fix the way people think about resources that are given to us as we grow older and hopefully can affect how decisions are made.
World Changing Response #3 “Knowing What’s Green” p. 115
I love the idea of the Cradle to Cradle protocol. I think not only food should be labeled to show that it is environmentally friendly, but also every other product out there. After going through everything I own and trying to find what it is made out of for the assignment, I realized that many things don’t mention what they are made out of. It was frustrating. I even tried to look online to find out what some components were of very popular items, like my Mac, and where they were made. I probably spent 20 minutes trying to find out this information without success. If certain products had this certification attached to them, I would be more aware of things that contain very harmful material and things that don’t. Right now, I don’t have a clue about a vast number of my household appliances, and this is information that I should know. The Corporate Fallout Detector and the Radio Frequency Identification fall into this idea by allowing the consumer to know if their product contains a lot of unethical materials. This is also information that is very important for consumers to know and it would be fantastic if these designs were implemented more in the future.
World Changing Response #4 “Bright Green Consumerism” p. 81
The hypothetical situation explained in this section sounds pretty ideal. I wish this wasn’t a hypothetical situation though, and I could hear about an example in real life. I guess great new things have to start out somewhere though, and in this case it is a dream that could very well happen. I am not sure how likely this whole situation is to happen, but it all depends on the right kind of people: people who give great things a chance even if it is a risk. I feel like there are not enough people like this out there nowadays, and I would include myself in the non-risk-taker category. I have always been a safe person, taking the common route, the road more traveled. Since this class, however, I have been much more aware of all of the crap that our society is doing to our environment, and I have been taking small steps to be a more environmentally friendly consumer. One of my friends told me that she and another friend were going to go a whole year without buying any clothing unless it was made in the United States. I thought this was a fantastic idea and have thought about trying it out for myself. I guess this is a small story of how word of mouth can have great consequences in the change for becoming more environmentally friendly like the story in the section. I am definitely going to try hard to achieve this goal, and tell others of my plan and hopefully my success.
Whenever I hear about brands, the first brand that comes to my mind is Nike, and I immediately think about my Nike high-top green and gray shoes, which I love, but I always feel guilty about. I absolutely love the way they look, but I also wonder if one of the reasons they attracted me so much was because of the extreme popularity of Nike shoes. I would hate to say that that is a reason why they were the first item on my Christmas list last year, but I am almost sure that was an underlying factor for my desire to get them. I can see why Nike is so good at selling their products even if they have a despicable history of unethical practices. I was very surprised to read that, “The conventional cotton industry is the number-one user of pesticides of any agricultural-crop industry in the world.” I thought that by their famous “The Fabric of Our Lives” slogan, it was a company that you could trust clothing your family. It just shows how companies can become so good at advertising that it makes people forget, or not even consider, the kinds of unethical practices that are behind the company. Why is it so important to wear a brand that is popular at the time? Do the wearing of these brands make us think that their popularity will rub off on us to make us more popular? I love the idea of the no-brand products. I hope that they will become more popular, but that the company will stick to its environmentally friendly practices even if it does become popular.
I haven’t thought at all about investing in companies in the future, but I will have to start thinking about it in my somewhat near future. I also don’t know much about investing, but I know that I will surely look into good investing opportunities when it comes to be that time. I will definitely want to invest in something that will help the environment because I think this issue will only get bigger and bigger and make more money as time goes on. Socially Responsible Investment sounds like a great idea and I know that it will only get more and more popular. I also agree that businesses need to be more open and less secretive about their behavior. I have heard that when people go to China to check up on Nike’s factories to make sure there are no unethical practices going on, it is Nike employees who go there and obviously don’t tell the whole truth about what is going on. This cannot happen. We need Nike to be more open to let others keep an eye on their factories so that they cannot keep these secrets from us and let us think that everything is fine. I would be so nervous to trust any company that didn’t let me in on the decisions they are making. Investing in environmentally friendly and ethical corporations is so important for the future, and I know I am going to a lot of research before I settle on just any financially stable company.
The chapter, "Living Well in Compact Space" resonates with me, especially at this point in my life. "Efficient living is green living-a compact living space is intrinsically less wasteful and less expensive than a sprawling space," is a statement I completely agree with in this passage. However, the reading goes on to talk about high-rise apartments that Abito, a UK-based company has developed. It explains the exact set-up and placement of items in the apartment. I think that compact living is less about design, and more about just the reduction of space, no matter where you are, what it looks like, or how it is set-up. I think that the pure reduction of space will create a more minimalist way of life.
This year, I moved into one bedroom with three other roommates. I have a third of a closet, a desk, a bed, and about six feet that I can call my own. Before moving in, I knew I had to downgrade my "stuff". I brought fewer clothes and less CDs and books. When I starting living in this room, I really started to get rid of things. I guess they aren't huge improvements, but I have cut a few things out of my life. I no longer have hairspray of headbands. I've gotten rid of many pieces of jewelry, only keeping the few that I wear all the time. Perhaps they are small changes, but they came directly from living in a compact area. I think it comes from feasibly not having enough room, and a need for a visceral sense of living a "cleaner", less cluttered life. I have found that the downside to compact living is that it does affect your mood. i find that I become frustrated easily while I am in my room. I spend much less time there than I would in my room at home. I feel a certain level of anxiety while I am in it. I also have a hard time doing my homework while I am in my room. I think that compact living has its benefits and its flaws that need to be examined.
While reading the section, “Giving Well”, I realized that I have a bit of a different definition of “giving well” than what this passage expresses. This section gives multiple examples of how to spend your money well when donating to charities. It even explains how to make the most of your money if you only have a little to give. To me, the word “giving” involves one. “Giving money effectively helps your donations have the greatest impact,” is a true statement, but one that I would alter. I think the most effective way that one can make an impact is to help someone in person, for there to be human contact. To perhaps ask what is needed and then do it yourself.
While feeding the homeless in downtown Detroit, the one thing that has stuck out to me is that consistently people have said that they come more for the interaction with people than for the food. I know that a smile or a handshake can’t solve world hunger or help the victims of Katrina, but I think that it does more than we give it credit for. It lifts morale. It allows people to work for a common good. It makes other peoples’ problems real. It allows, “giving” to be a tangible thing.
In the section, “Nonviolent Revolution”, peace takes the foreground. The idea of a revolution is discussed. Although it may not seem plausible, great leaders and great changes have been made through peaceful action. In my opinion, to lead a nation without violence is much harder than to give in to violence. As this section explains, “Nonviolence, done well, demands discipline, commitment, strategy, and leadership; it takes careful planning and training, role-playing exercises, education, and spiritual preparation.” I think that creative ways of leadership or protest such as the protest expressed through sign language that Ukrainian citizens used, can be so much more effective than any type of violence.
Recently, my Concept, Form, and Context attended a religious symposium. Four people sat behind a table as a panel of religious faiths. A man who participated in Judaism sat next to a Hindu woman. Their stories of creation and reincarnation differed significantly. They had different prayers and ways of living. They had different goals. But there seemed to be an underlying theme between all of there conversations- a common ground. They were all searching for peace- a way to communicate and interact in a productive, diplomatic manner. They discussed that this peace was possible. But as of right now, peace between cultures and religions is a goal to be attained.
While reading “Creating Healthy Homes”, I was completely struck by the number of household cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals. I knew that some products did, however I didn’t know that chemicals such as ammonia, phenol, cresol, lye, sodium hydroxide, butoxy-ethanol, and chlorine bleach are all present in cleaning agents. It seems so counter-productive that items we use to make our homes safer are layering them with contaminants that poison our body.
Even shampoos and body washes have toxic chemicals. These are soaps that we put on our body. I think another important point that was not mentioned in this chapter is that these chemicals are also tested on animals. If these chemicals are so toxic to humans, I can’t imagine what they do to animals. I also think that these chemicals need to be studied more rigorously for long-term results on the environment and people. These results need to be made present to the public also.
I think that the companies that produce these cleaning chemicals need to do a much better job warning the public that these toxins are in their products. I think a large majority of the population has no idea that they are putting themselves in danger when using these products.
“Doing the Right Thing Can be Delicious” brought up a visceral, somewhat emotional response in me. Food is a huge part of the American culture, but recently has become a passing thought and a few bites from a drive-through window, rather than the tradition it has usually been. A tenderness and care has left the way we choose the foods we eat, cook the foods we eat, and consume the foods.
When we purchase food at the grocery store it is done quite often on the way home from work or rushing between errands. We make lists so that we can run in and out of the grocery store without forgetting things. We bring coupons so that we can buy the most food for the least amount of money. Because we do this in such a hurried manner, we don’t stop to think about the wholeness of the food of the healthiness of it. It doesn’t fit into our schedule.
I find that my family puts the most effort into the foods we cook during the holidays. During the week, there is not enough time in the day to cook three meals from scratch. The way my family runs their life, at least. We also eat on the run. Eating should be a tradition, an event, a moment to take time out of the day. It should be enjoyed, but as it is now, it is hurried through.
The article on nanotechnology covers a lot of ground, from definition to potential innovation to bad science fiction. It speaks of nanotech as if it were the inevitable and exciting future of product development. It mentions the obvious potential risks, but quickly outweighs those risks with the hopes of extraordinary innovation. Most importantly, it subtly reminds us of the traditional challenge of the ethics of technology, and how humans should approach the immoral possibilities of the future. For those who aren’t familiar, nanotechnology is simply engineered technology at a small (molecular) scale. This small scale has opened doorways to a variety of advanced and efficient technologies. Most notably, nanotechnology lends itself to biomimicry, efficient energy use, and greener design. At the end of the article, a section on molecular manufacturing suggests that factories will evolve to nanofactories in the future. Through the use of molecular manipulation and rapid prototyping, nanotechnology will allow us to increase production speed and lower waste. While all of this is very exciting, I feel that this article does not hold true to the “World Changing” theme of this book. Yes, nanotechnology is very exciting, and yes it has a lot of potential. I even agree that “bad science fiction” should be ignored because the “easily startled doomsdayers” are often imaginative in irrational ways. However, I strongly feel that technological advancement needs to slow down. Nanotechnology is a great area of study, but using it as a means to produce things faster is fundamentally no different than our current industrial methodologies. Take, for example, nature without tools. A tree evolves slowly, and every step of evolution is rigorously tested over a long period of time. The result is an organism that has survived hundreds of millions of years. Now, take a computer. It is created in less than a year, and it survives only a few. You may argue that each new computer is an evolution, but the history of computer production is horribly filled with bad inventions that are ineffective, useless, and harmful to people (cough*facebook*cough). My point is that we should slow down the evolution of technology to a speed that balances with sustainable material flow and works in harmony with society (instead of the way that technology dictates society now). Nanotechnology isn’t the answer to future production. It is a potential tool. The only way we can make it different from the steam engine, cotton gin, or any other Jevonish paradoxicalities, is that we introduce it with a new twist. Let us introduce nanotechnology as a slow, methodically experimental, perfecting process. If nanotechnology is the future of technological innovation, lets turn it into one that is inherently sustainable, 100% safe, and undeniably helpful to our society.
According to my father, who regularly attends meetings and conferences on environmental concerns for mid-Michigan, the spokesman for Greenpeace has publicly announced that nuclear power is the greenest feasible energy source for the near future. Apparently, this conclusion was reached because powering the world with solar, wind, and tidal power would take too much space to be feasible. Fortunately, my personal research into this apparent news (always question what your parents say) shows that no spokesman of Greenpeace made any statements such as this. While this still leaves me wondering about the truth of the matter, this article in World Changing hints at a more realistic answer. Green Power, as described by this article, is any renewable energy source that does not harm the environment to obtain. Ideally, the entire process of green energy harnessing involves no waste. Most popular areas of green power include solar, wind, and tidal power. While this article does not discuss it, I’ve also heard of geothermal power as a potential green energy source. Currently, all of these sources are being highly researched, and the first generation of successful green power generators are being used, tested, and improved upon. The article spends a good amount of energy bringing up percentages of total power that each system could harness, but it seems as if all of these systems could not quite bring together enough power to remove the need for fossil fuels. As Joe pointed out in lecture, the amount of land needed for solar or wind in Michigan alone is far too much to be practical. However, the article suggests that with improvements in these technologies such as flying solar generators that take advantage of the jet stream, we may very well be able to make these green energy sources viable solutions. I wonder if the future will include as much green power as possible supplemented with nuclear power. While I fundamentally disagree with nuclear on the basis that it still creates waste (that is extremely toxic), I think that the amount of energy put into improving nuclear technologies is far too much to avoid it from becoming a new source of power. I feel that the only way to avoid this is to rethink our energy usage. If we all cut the amount of energy we use in half, we could live on totally renewable energy.
Flipping through World Changing, I got to a section entitled “Knowing What’s Green”. I stopped to read this because, as a consumer, I have no idea what is considered “green”. In ADP this year I have learned that not all fruits and vegetables are pure, many are genetically modified. I have learned that things that are “All Natural” and “Organic” may not be all that they say they are. I have learned to look closely at foods and products before consuming them. This section re-iterated tat it is also hard to tell with “green” products what is actually true to its label or not. Some “green” products may not use fair labor or nontoxic processes.
As this section states, it is important to set regulations and standards for companies to follow. This serves well on two levels. First, it puts all companies on the same playing field. They know at what level they need to produce their goods. It also serves the consumers. The consumers will then know what type of goods they are getting. Although this section argues that setting guidelines is only a minimum that these products must meet, I think that it is a good and necessary starting ground.
I can’t say that I am drastically changing the way I live. I can’t say that I spend every waking moment trying to decide how to live “greener” or how to change my carbon footprint on the earth. But I can say that after reading World Changing, I am more conscious. I am more conscious that I should be living “greener” and that I am leaving a carbon footprint on the earth that cannot be erased.
I think that it is important for everyone to make a “Personal Action Plan”. If high schools could implement this into their curriculum, it would at least get kids thinking about how they can change the footprint they leave on the earth. I think one of the biggest issues is that people aren’t aware of the havoc they are wreaking on the planet earth, or at least they are not aware of the extent of it.
If people could learn about where they live, and then act “greener” according to this, I think that we could be much more effective in trying to save our planet. Each person, due to their job, where they live, their medical conditions, what they eat, and their way of life reacts differently to the world they live in. people need to appreciate this and react to it accordingly.
Biofuels is something many of us prefer to use when we go camping. What I enjoy personally enjoy about eating over an open fire is that it exposes you to a different realm of cooking and food preparation. Although one thing I never enjoyed about it was the fume of smoke that blew into your face. The fire can also be dangerous because of how unbalanced and unpredictable it can be. The importance of safety is something we as Americans must obsess over since our ovens are indoors and could result in very devastating circumstances.
A good insulation system by containment of the smoke can help provide clean air for a family. Another use of a cultivating fire is to promote safety from fire hazards and clean oxygen. Solar ovens are probably the cleanest way to produce energy for cooking with no smoke or fire hazards to a family. The less use of burning material, the better.
Taking Back the Streets, Two Wheels at a Time Pg. 266
I visited Beijing in 97 and from what I remember the streets were littered with bicycles. My tours were done on foot or on bicycle, only for trips longer than half an hour we rode by car. Now when I hear about China it’s congested with traffic and severe pollution. Vietnam is a country that is catching up to the rest of the world like China, but they are at the stage of motorized scooters. America is so far ahead in the automotive world that it’s easy to obtain a car at any price range, so the efficiency of using bicycles as transportation has become a lot harder. Here in the state of Michigan it is a lot harder to rely on two-wheeled transportation with our unstable weather and harsh winters. I only pull my bicycle out during the summer when it’s warmer but for leisure activities not for something like picking up groceries for the week. Once you have the luxury of a car to haul the amount of food to feed a family of 5, it becomes hard to go back. It seems that the bicycle has become a vehicle of pleasure than to actually get places. Summer is the only times that I can enjoy riding my bike to places like the ice cream shop or to a friend’s house because of the large amount of time I have as well.
Another interesting thing about bicycle-friendly cities in America is only in large college towns like Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Kalamazoo. College students who need to get around or get food use bicycles as an alternative. New York City is a prime example of a wide selection of transportation. If more cities were friendlier to public transportation like the bus or non-product-consuming vehicles like bicycles it would be easier to help conserve what little fossils we have left
I chose to read this section because I recalled Professor Trumpey telling us about his home system being off the grid and the possibility of connecting it to the grid to make money off the flow of extra energy returning to the grid. This section talks about home-energy systems, green meters, a program in Brazil called “The Sun Shines for All” and micro-hydro energy which is mainly provided by waterwheels. I thought that the program in Brazil was particularly fascinating. This program rents out solar panels and lighting to Brazilians for $13 a month. This is proof that green energy can me made convenient and affordable to anyone. If a program such as this is possible for the poor people of Brazil, it should be implemented elsewhere. As sad as it is, electricity is probably one of the most important elements in developing the undeveloped countries. This thought is kind of out there, but if one of the millionaires with cash to throw around began a service to help citizens of poorer countries create their own “grid”, thing could be off to a start.
This section talks about branding and what it means about corporations, the hidden truths behind family friendly campaigns and slogans. Specifically, the section discusses its hidden ties to overseas labor as manipulative. Nikes previous issues with overseas labor conditions were mentioned, this issue has always been somewhat confusing to me. Assuming the labor conditions are at least kept humane, I think that the US outsourcing to other countries for fulfilling simple labor tasks is of benefit to those countries. These jobs are an opportunity to citizens of poorer countries, considering they probably would not be employed otherwise, even the low wages are of benefit. Not to mention prices are not as inflated in other countries aside from the US. The worth of a few cents goes a lot farther than here.
In relation to branding, this section mentions two “brandless” brands, kind of an oxymoron don’t you think? These names are Blackspot and Muji. These stores sell quality products with no brands tied to them. The idea is that the products are not labeled with the names of corporations, not even Muji or Blackspot. Blackspot, however, sells black shoes with a white spot on them as their signature sort of item. This to me seems like a brand. I feel like it is impossible to create a company that is not branded, it will not be successful without a name and branding (values, etc) to be known by the public.
This course has taught me many things about products being sold in stores that are labeled “Organic” or “Natural.” I’ve learned that many of the companies are trying to sell products that might appear to our health-crazed society. It’s hard to tell at times whose intentions are more pure than the others so it grows much more difficult to help the environment without much support. Educating ourselves to be aware of what’s around us is the best way to prepare for false advertising. The best way to figure out whether a product is actually good for you is through the ingredient list of perishables or any type of consumable product. Looking through this list helps you obtain the facts about a product and see if it is actually claims to be “environmentally friendly.”
This section explains various slums and how they appear on the outside to be nothing more than slums or “shantytowns” but really can develop into fully functional communities. It is when the people of these shantytowns unite and organize that they are the most successful. I suppose one could say the “unite and conquer”, considering the operation is illegal until they have a few thousand people occupying a plot of land.
While I was reading this section, I was trying to understand why it was in the book. The section only explains current situations in slums and different successes within. I think that the successes of these slums can be a great example for America and many other countries. Considering the people of these slums have literally nothing to start, not even water or plumbing, and build up to 7 story buildings with organized leaders, it is proof that the poor areas of America should be capable of the same thing. However, poorer areas in America are more prone to crime so it does not seem likely that a transformation like that of the slums in Turkey will succeed here. This development is something to be learned from, at the very least, that even when you are at the bottom, you can reach the top.
This section talks about the many benefits that could result in space exploration. Also discussion, is how important satellites and other space exploration devices are to understanding our planet as a whole and our climate system as a whole. As the reading states, how are we to understand the whole picture if we aren’t able to visualize the earth in its entirety?
There is a lot of controversy over sending more devices into space, which could in the end lead to more space pollution than there is currently. However, not only are scientists working to create robots and cheaper satellites to send into space to report information, instead of sending people, they are working to create an elevator to reach higher orbits. This will greatly reduce costs and allow scientists to learn more about the planet in order to avert any catastrophes such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Artists today are in a prime era. We are called upon the most to solve the world’s problems using found objects, trash or recycleables. Not many people have the ability to touch everyday objects and transform them for a completely different use. Doing this helps us break away from branding and become more individual with your stuff. The nice thing about DIY objects is that it gives you a sense of pride to an extent, that you made a lamp out of the old jelly mason jar or that you constructed a speaker set with used cardboard. Taking junk and transforming it into something aestically pleasing is something a person must train themselves to do. It’s difficult to take a found object like newspaper and use it other than it’s original intent. I collect cigar and tea boxes for storage of my art supplies and jewelry. I have a large collection of brown bag paper in my room that I enjoy drawing on whenever I feel like sketching – I hate drawing on white computer paper. The DIY lifestyle is becoming a fad and proves to be a step in our fight for more enviormentally friendly homes. While Urban Outfitters has made it their goal to sell DIY products, most of it is already made for you! It’s defeating the purpose of a DIY lifestyle!
At Urban Outfitters: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15210586&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=00 The same product: http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-made-Sun-Jar/
An example of a good DIY exercise is the newspaper at your doorstep every morning. Once you finish it, what else can you do with it after you educate yourself with what is going on in the world? An idea for it is it can be used as a source for sketching or a cover of a notebook for decorative purposes. The comics page can be used as gift wrap for holidays or you can weave it into something like a bowl if you roll it and build it up from there. You can use the newspaper to wipe away spilled water or use for packaging in the mail. Training yourself to be more creative with everyday house items helps reduce junk! My inspiration for my obsession for DIY work is a magazine I often check on at the bookstore. MAKE magazine has played a large role in my creative lifestyle and introduces me to things that I can reuse for a more stylish DIY household.
World Changing Response #7 “Climate Foresight” p. 511
After the latest lecture, I have thought a lot about the future of our earth. It is very hard to imagine some of the things this section has mentioned and the things that Joe Trumpey has talked about in lecture. This section mentioned such things as Big Solar companies taking the place of Big Oil companies, diseases that will affect more parts of the world, and animals and plants migrating to places that fit their needs as the climate changes. I was not aware of the amount of cities that have taken on the Kyoto goals, but I was delighted to hear about them and to hear that government is actually implementing something to help our environment instead of working with more issues about acquiring more money. Then the section mentioned something that I had not thought about. The fact that there will probably be a huge dispute throughout the entire world over who is responsible for global climate change is something very serious, especially when the areas that will have the most damage caused by global climate change will be the ones who contributed the least to the destruction from carbon emissions. I could definitely see international lawsuits taking forth, and I think that this is something that should happen. Especially companies that have decided to raise their carbon emissions, even when there is clear evidence that this is destroying the earth, should be penalized. If money is the only thing that we care about, then we should use its power to take advantage of saving the environment.
When reading Global Film and Nollywood, I was amazed that Nollywood producers made films in less than 2 weeks for under $15,000. I wondered why the US doesn’t try to follow in these footsteps. I know we have more money as a country but it could really boost our economy to try and make some cheaper films. Reading this made me think of how much understanding and sympathy I gained from watching Slumdog Millionaire. I agree that movies bring us closer to other cultures because we truly do lose ourselves while watching a film. We place ourselves in the shoes of the characters and are completely engrossed in their lives. The power of film and the way it affects society is amazing and it can do wonders when it comes to gaining understanding for other cultures. It may lead to a more peaceful world.
The first time I heard the concept of greenwashed food was in my human physiology class in high school my senior year. Mr. Lauchu taught us the in and outs of misleading labels on food products until our ears were bleeding. He not only taught us about false advertisement for organic products, but also misleading information about health benefits such as “low fat” products that replace fat with more sugar which just turns into fat when its digested. So really, there’s the same amount of fat if not more in those products. I feel that misleading advertisement of organic products is wrong, but on the other hand, if the certain product is truly organic, major corporations that also produce non-organic products should be able to label the ones that are organic. The consumer should be the one to know which companies they are supporting and whether or not all their products are organic. Some of us purchase organic foods for different reasons. I like to eat healthy for instance, so if a certain product is organic, even if the entire line of products from that company are not, I would buy it because my reason for eating those foods are not to support individual companies. It’s to stay healthy. Maybe if the companies see that more people buy their organic products than inorganic products, they will start making more of their products organic.
(I Posted this a long time ago but i looked through all of them and it doesn't seem to be up anymore for some reason so here it is again just in case)
I think the mock refugee camp on the lava bed of Big Island was a wonderful idea. Strong Angel members were putting themselves in the shoes of people who may witness a natural disaster and that is the best way to know what is going to be needed from greatest to least importance and the best ways of communication throughout the camp in a natural disaster. It is too bad that strong angels discoveries of the groove network did not make it to the relief efforts after the tsunami that hit in 2004. Like in every natural disaster there is much panic, but this system would have made their lives so much easier, especially in terms of gathering all up to date information. Information can be transferred wirelessly through this system and no central server is necessary which is good because it insures that this information does not get destroyed in a crisis. It also gives people the ability to work offline and automatically synchronize the folders as soon as you reconnect to the Internet. This is a good idea to keep in mind for future natural disasters. Also the fact that this group took the time to place themselves in the situation to figure out the most effective methods of survival is something to be honored. I think if people applied this to other situations we would be a much stronger community at large. Very seldom to we take the time to really think about what is needed to solve societies problems.
Reading this section made me realize how important learning a diverse set of globalized languages is. I also realized how boring the world would be without these languages defining our different cultures. I think that people who know the language of their origin are more connected with their culture, which is why I am really looking forward to learning Italian and studying abroad in Italy. I also feel like it’s important for all of us to be able to communicate with one another. As I said in one of my weekly responses, if everyone had at least one language in common and were able to clearly understand and communicate with one another, this world would be a more peaceful place.
It’s important to know that we the buyers are just as responsible for what happens with our products afterwards. Recycling in general costs a lot of money to do because of the time spent. One thing I’ve learned about recycling is that it is very selective with what is reused because of hygiene and money. The design of women’s shoe heels change from thin to thick yearly because they want people to follow the “trend” and obviously point out who is in style and who isn’t. There are designers out there who are meant to purposely point out the flaws in society and wish to exploit them to “trick” the consumers into buying their product as a means to make they look cool. With recycling it is becoming a trend in stores to buy green products, but like the reading says, it’s becoming so widespread that many companies are finding “loopholes” to these trends. Now whenever you shop at Wal-Mart or Kroger you can find reusable bags and “local” cookies from a bakery. These companies have no interest in the environment but do understand what will sell. We want to encourage a sustainable world, but with people using these environmental movements for their own profit it makes it much harder to see what is really benefiting the world with their green products.
Response 1 Doing the right thing can be delicious p51 Green revolution changed a lot of things including our lifestyles. Everything is so fast paced right now. Especially when it comes to food. I know a lot of my friends’ family they barely get together and sit at a table and eat. They either go out to eat or get fast food to go. Indeed it is faster, it consumes more energy than home cooked local food. It is also harmful to body, since no one really knows what’s inside of the food made by someone else. Home cooked food gives us more control over our food, especially if we buy local food. Also I’ve never realized the correlation between my food and fossil fuels. Delivering and packaging of processed food consume a lot of energy.
Response 2 Brands P.393 I do realize that I pay a lot of attention to brands when I go shopping. I only go to certain stores in the mall to get clothes. It is not that I don’t like other stores or other brands. It is the thing behind it. Different brands stand for different identities and promise different things in their commercial. However the materials or even the styles are the same in lots of stores. The money I paid for certain branded clothes is higher than the actual cost of manufacturing. The actual money is paid for the luxury feelings and the promises made by commercials that cannot be seen. For example, urban outfitters used to be one of my favorite places to shop. It is a bit pricey. But I like their style a lot. The quality is not that good. It is so easily to be worn out. H&M is the other store I like a lot. However a lot of their goods are made overseas in China, India, Bangladesh or central Asian. That’s part of the reason H&M is inexpensive while having clothes designed by famous designers. Although the money I pay is not that much the invisible cost cannot be overlooked. It is hard for me to immune those glamorous advertisements and commercials. I do notice that it is different to see the product on TV and to actually own the product. There are a lot of things behind brands. I think I should be more careful when I shopping, look deeper to the inside.
Alexis Newton World Changing #5 Green Roofs – p.256
The idea of creating plant life on top of a roof is something I had never really considered until recently, while reading a National Geographic article about the differences it can make in urban environments. When flat, open roofs are normally just ignored, this seems like an easy and beneficial solution. In World Changing, it is explained how easy it is to maintain a roof garden when you live in a climate other than a desert, because the natural rainfall can help to water the plants most of the time. Another benefit is the fact that the roof would absorb harmful UV rays and would add oxygen to the air. In cities, many people are not exposed to much nature, and a green roof could provide an escape for people and a place to really enjoy nature amidst an environment of steel and concrete. A person can grow certain plants and herbs on their roof, and take less frequent trips to the grocery store to buy foods their, promoting the idea of eating locally.
World Changing #1 “Biomorphism” “Biomorphism is all about the form”(pg 102), and in most cases when dealing with creating human structures we revert to the form created by nature. We see different forms out in real life nature everyday, and aesthetically we react differently to the different forms, so designers and scientists alike have come together to form new innovative buildings, and objects that use nature as a taking off point. Buckminster Fuller is one of the main people spoken about in this article, and he is said to be “one of the greatest designers of the twentieth century” (104). I personally had never heard of him before reading this information but after I fully understand how he has influenced our green nation with his inventions. “Spaceship Earth”, was a phrase coined by him about how we only have one planet and I think that that is a perfect way to describe the fact that this is all we have so we should really begin to take care of it and appreciate it more. I think the design that I find most interesting is that of the Front designs. They use rats, snakes and flies in their experiments to create different new aesthetics. An example I found extremely interesting was the lamp shade created by capturing the random flight a fly makes around a light bulb, and creating that same pattern as a lampshade. I would never in a million years think of something like that. We take all of these natural little instances that happen everyday in our lives for granted, and I don’t think critically think about how to transfer them into pieces of manmade beauty often enough. Another interesting product created by this Front Design is their use of rats. They have “rats gnaw on wallpaper until a pattern of holes and tears emerges that allows the old wallpaper to show through in a most unique way” (103). I think another reason this is so interesting to me is because they are taking animals that are not usually thought by people as very beautiful parts of nature and allowing them to create aesthetics that we find amazing and further glorifying their natural life tendencies in beautiful ways.
World Changing Statement #2 “Engineer It Yourself” I am a creative thinker, not in the terms of engineering however, which is why I think it is funny that I landed on this article and had to read it. The DIY movement (Do-It-Yourself) does not mean arts and crafts, but a desire to mess around with technologies and old items that are no longer “usable”, and creating new inventive ideas to bring them back to life. We used to be a nation of inventors and people who were constantly creating in the United States. Over a period of time we lost touch of this idea, and recently have been sinking back into this idea of re-invention. “Makers have been publishing discoveries, connecting with one another and using the internet” to have their ideas become realities all around the globe. Now, anyone with a curious bone in their body can become an engineer with the technology of simply longing onto this instructional website called Instructables.com which has real peoples ideas and instructions. I think it is so awesome that all of these people that spend their free time creating have an outlet to get their ideas out to the general public and have an opportunity to get recognized in a higher scale. This site seems like a million job opportunities waiting to happen, and such a great idea to take full advantage of our technologies to help improve our world. It also seems as though it would help a lot with consumption decrease because if more people went on this website and became more familiar with the materials around them to create new items we could possibly have less need to go out and buy new materials. The reuse of materials is a huge possibility here, and maybe if we keep going with this idea of recycling our materials to new inventions we can cut down our waste as well.
World Changing Statement #3 “Eating Better Meat and Fish” I am a meat eater; I love the taste of all types of meats, and don’t usually have a preference about where my meat comes from. I have grown up with the notion of “don’t know, don’t care”. Before this class I had never even realized, or thought about where the things I put in my mouth come from, which now kind of makes me feel a bit sick. I have plenty of friends that are vegetarians/vegans, and in high school when they used to try and shove information about factories and such down my throat I would ignore them and eat my chicken sandwich with pride… Not so much anymore. I have noticed in recent years that more places that my family and I go out to eat say specifically where their meat and seafood comes from, which a few years ago would have been scarcely seen. This hit home to me also to start learning where the food I ate came from when a few years ago we thought my little sister had a disorder, which made her body grow at an abnormal rate because of hormones in foods such a meat and dairy products. It turns out that was not the case for her, but for many other children around the US it is because of all of the gross injections we give our meat in order to make the animals grow faster. This type of food should not be on the market, or even allowed to be consumed because of its harmful long term effects and thankfully there are becoming more and more friendly humane and healthier ways in which meat is being produced.
World Changing Statement #4 “Understand Trade” After World War 2 we as a nation formed an alliances of trade with other countries and created a larger base for imports and exports. I love the beginning of this article because it is so true. We wake up every morning, some of us with a routine, some just jump out of bed and leave, but weather we’re aware of it or not we come in contact with products, and hundreds or items from all over the globe. This idea fascinates me, and makes me wonder if I was to actually sit there and calculate everything I use on a daily basis how many countries I come in contact with. I kind of had a small idea how many places around the world I come in contact with during our stuff project, but I think it would be interesting to see just how many things I touch, or see in a day that are not American made. We are in a globalized age and I think that it is just going to increase as we grow older because of the ever changing technologies, fashions, and producion of the world itself.
World Changing Statement #5 “Consuming Responsibility” It is hard to tell exactly what companies are corrupt. No company is going to explicitly say, “Please come buy our products, we exploit our employees, and use toxic fibers in our clothes!” That is just not realistic. In order to be a smart consumer you have to do your research, but honestly who is going to go through all of that trouble? Places like American Apparel aren’t popular for my generation because they are eco-friendly, actually before reading this article I didn’t even know that they were one of the leaders in bringing mainstream attention against sweatshops. American Apparel for me simply is a stereotype. If you ask anyone on campus they can probably tell you that American Apparel is usually worn by “Daddy-please”, type of girls from the upper east side of New York, and the reason they buy and wear these products I can almost guarantee is not because of its better labor laws, or help for the “Green” revolution. I also feel as though their products are extremely expensive which is why less people are shopping there then somewhere like, Target. People are not going to do as much research as it takes to spend their money on clothes, they are going to want to go and buy the cheapest available outfits that look good. High Fashion is a completely different story also, because a lot of the time you will not see people wearing such items that are created for the runway, even if there are eco-friendly. I’m not trying to sound rude in what I’m saying but in all honesty I would have never really known that American Apparel, or High Fashion were creating products that were helping to promote to the general public these issues.
World Changing Statement #6 “Cars and Fuel” Something that struck me a lot about this article was in parenthesis about hybrids “quickly becoming Hollywood’s trendy new accessory”. This idea is one issue I have with hybrids. I feel as though a lot more people would be willing to change to hybrids and become Green if they had the money to afford to do so. When I first think of Hybrid cars, I think I have been programmed to think “expensive”. I’m not sure if this is actually true, but in my mind that is the first thing that comes to it. Another thing I found really interesting in this article is this idea that cars are like our identities now. I know for me personally, I had the same car all through high school, and when I would be driving around people would notice me first by my car, then by my face. I had a British Racing Green 2003 Mini Cooper; my sister and I shared it. When I first got my license in 2005, gas prices were not a huge issue for me and my family that soon changed however though. I remember, I think it was my junior year of high school when gas prices went up almost over night from one dollar to almost four, and soon my parents were monitoring everywhere I went. I wasn’t allowed to simply drive where ever I wanted, I had to start carpooling with people, and at the time I was annoyed by the fact that I wasn’t allowed to drive where ever and however long I wanted. Driving has become like a pastime for American’s. It used to be that people and their friends would go on road trips all the time as summer pastimes, even living out of their cars, but in recent years the number of people going on long road trips has diminished. People are more conscience I think on how much they drive not because of their effect on the world but because they do not want to have to spend so much money on gas. That scare when the prices went up was a huge wake up call for most of our nation on just how dependent we are on other countries for oil. It is kind of scary to think that other countries have such a large hold on us simply based on a fossil fuel that is not technically even anyone but the earths creation. We need to figure out a way to make an affordable way of transportation that will make oil need obsolete, otherwise, once the oil is gone we’re going to go into complete chaos.
Weekly Statement #7 “Brands” When I think of brands I automatically think of shapes, symbols, and of identities. The shapes I see are that of the Nike “swoosh”, or the McDonald’s “Golden Archways”, which no longer are shapes but symbols in our society for products. This article hit directly on the head all of the different companies in which we are thrown to see every day. Advertisements also play a huge role in our consumption overload and sense of self worth. Our lives are built on a cycle of consumption due to brands. We go to work to make money, to go home and turn on the television to be bombarded with thousands of advertisements telling us what we are is wrong, that everything from what we put in our hair to the types of shoes we wear are wrong. Brands pop into our minds with these advertisements making us feel the need to go out and shop and buy these products, these identities to feel better about ourselves. This cycle goes on an on because we are never content, because there is new products being designed all the time so we feel the need to be loyal to our brands and continue to buy. Have you ever realized that after a day of shopping you are exhausted, and in fact do not actually feel better what so ever, but worse? We make an emotional connection to different companies because of their symbols and the way in which they produce their products to certain demographics so we feel the need to continue to spend even though in reality it does not make us happier as people. In the last 50 years, our happiness level has decreased dramatically, and I believe this is due to our over consumption. We see an average of 3000 advertisements a day, if you ask me that is absolutely ridiculous. When my little sister was 4 years old she could spot McDonalds from miles away just based on the “Golden Archways”. There is nothing “Golden” about a four year old spotting out an establishment that could ultimately make her arteries close up. I feel as though as time goes on we are no longer going to have names for companies but simply their symbols as indicators of where all of us sheep should herd to.
Response 3 Understanding Trade p.39 From watching Manufactured Landscape I learned a lot about international trades especially the manufacturing and the recycling of goods. Here in world changer, it talks about similar stuff. The thing that gets me is that although the US is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, most of the cotton is exported to the countries manufacture clothes. It seems ridiculous, to ship cotton back and forth. But it is the cheaper way to do it. Labors in countries like China, India and Bangladesh cost less than that in the US. However we cannot underestimate the invisible cost--- the damage to the environment, the energy consumed, etc. I think it would help to establish fair trade, raise the salaries of laborers in developing countries. But it would increase the price of manufacturing thus affect the whole chain. Globalization brings a lot of convenience along with a lot of problems, when one thing on the chain changes, the whole system changes.
WC 5 Samantha Levy See “Shelter”, “Building a Green Home” p.147 In the chapter “building a green home” I learned about various architects and designers that have worked to create the most efficient homes which are concerned with cost, energy, waste, usability, and time. The Zero-Energy Home by Zoka Zola combines looks with ability to ‘passively’ generate all of the energy it uses. The house uses sun and ventilation to heat and cool itself along with consciously placed windows and trees. The ivy covered exterior walls and roof provides protection to the building itself in addition to creating a leisure and gardening space. This house adapts to its location and remains relatively affordable. SmartHomes are created to take care of themselves and make performing duties such as watering the lawn an automated task. While this seems to me to contribute to our increasingly lazy image as humans (think those hovering lounges in WallE), it does provide a good opportunity to disabled homeowners. Prefab homes are exactly what their name suggests: prefabricated. Building homes offsite makes them more cost and energy efficient to build, and they have become more pleasing to the eye over time. Taking these prefab homes to the next level is the so-called ‘Bright-Green Home’ by Andrew Maynard, which adapts over time. Small units can be combined together to create a house with a near limitless amount of options. This saves money that is typically spent on tearing down and rebuilding a house as a family expands or shrinks. Learning about green homes makes me think about how much I could save money-wise but also how I could be more environmentally friendly by adopting these ideas.
WC 6 Samantha Levy See “Planet”, “Charting Deep Oceans” p.521 Learning about deep-sea exploration both in this chapter and from outside sources (Planet Earth etc.) has always astounded me, how could we know so little about something so close to us? Seeing footage of the deep-sea vents clustered with tubeworms was almost like watching an alien in space: it is remarkable how life can exist in such extreme environments. I have also always been interested in such coral reefs, or the ‘rainforests of the sea’, because of their makeup (exoskeletons of coral polyps) and the life they shelter. It was upsetting to learn from this chapter how strongly we are affecting coral reefs and their development. I also never thought of the negative impart of deep-sea exploration; the last section in the chapter discusses how commercialism of the biological benefits of deep-sea resources could potentially cause destruction. That would be one more thing we humans would interfere (or destroy) with. The end of the section describes that we may have to develop a UN for the ocean and states, “We may soon see international deep-sea eco-cops chasing bio-pirates through the hot plumes and black smokers of the ocean floor” (524). The imagery that the last statement conjured is very disturbing. Could we possibly invade more of the planet?!
WC 7 Samantha Levy See “Planet”, “Restoration Ecology” p.484 This chapter discusses something that we learned about in Sand County Almanac: the importance of getting back to nature. Instead of performing the literal task of spending more time in the wilderness, restoration ecology involves humans in nature and provides numerous benefits. Restoration ecology not only helps the environment through action, but it also creates ties between the people who perform these duties and the land. If a person knows how much polluting has affected a certain species of tree which they helped to replant in a local park, chances our that this person will try to reduce pollution. In the chapter, the importance of Mangrove trees is discussed. Mangroves protect our increasingly populated coastlines in the event of a hurricane or tsunami, yet humans are destroying them for developments. Restoring some already damaged Mangrove forests or replacing them entirely would be a great way to bring people back to nature. It often goes unnoticed (like in the case of these trees) that if we protect or restore nature, it will protect us. The next part of the chapter talks about reintroducing relatives of extinct species to areas such as North America. This will help return the environment back to the way it was before we began influencing it. The idea of using restoration ecology seems like a double-edged sword: restoring the environment AND motivating people to do so.
Alexis Newton World Changing #6 Craft It Yourself – p.91
I loved reading this section of the book because it related to my group project and to crafts, which I love doing. The section talks about the DIY movement and how it has picked up rapidly in the past few years. The main ideas behind what they call “Do-it-yourselfers” are, empowerment, creativity, and access to information. I love this because it is such a positive idea that benefits the person doing it, and the environment. By making things new out of old, you are reducing the amount of waste substantially, and I find that it makes me feel awesome when I make something and people ask where I bought it, and then I can tell them that I made it. I like the ideas that they proposed in this section, such as the Sod Sofa, which looks awesome and is totally green friendly, and the Cooking-with-wax Bowls. I have old vinyl LP’s that I don’t listen to, so I definitely plan on trying to use them to make bowls. I think that if more people would try to make things out of what they already own, we could make a difference in the amount of waste that accumulates in landfills everyday.
Alexis Newton World Changing #7 Art Meets Technology – p.97
This section is one that I chose to write about because I consider myself to be an artistic person, and the section is about the combination of art and technology; technology being one of two main themes for our class this year. I love the different ideas that are described in this section, such as the Hug Shirt. At first I thought the idea somewhat weird, but at the same time, who doesn’t love a hug? It also made me think about how it relates to our reliance on technology. If a person is talking on that phone and can receive a “hug” from that person without even being anywhere near them, what does that say about our reliance on technology? In a way I feel like the idea could even be a comment on this topic. I also like the video game idea called “Disaffected!” That aims to make the players think about their relationship to consumption and to think about corporations in a new way. I like that this idea uses technology to reach those people that may be the least connected from ideas of sustainability and nature, to try and make them think about these topics more.
I think it’s really important to consider the environment when planning your home. So many new houses are built that use immense amounts of energy when it is now possible to create homes that are completely self sufficient and completely healthy for the environment. It is especially important to build self-sufficient homes now that we really need to conserve our energy not only because using oil releases horrible toxins into the environment but we are running out of it.
I never realized the side effects of paint before reading this. I thought that the only time that paint was toxic was when there was lead in it. Aalto Color has a good idea of reducing the amount of toxins in their paint. Although I don’t think it will really make a difference for people that aren’t around it all the time, it is a good idea for professional painters who are around the stuff day in and day out.
I think having music from different cultures is important. Like language, it gives us a new perspective; insight and understanding into another aspect of their culture. Although world music is not a very clear genre, perhaps too broad, since there are so many types of different cultural music, it is better than not incorporating their music into our selection. Maybe they should separate global music by country to narrow down the options so people can find what they are looking for more easily.
Response 4 Landscaping p.198 I remember when professor talked about American homes; he said people tend to choose the least offensive colors such as white or beige, he also said that people tend to show off on the street side of the their property. Lawn is such a good example. Lawns are useless, they consumes a lot of water and nutrition. Sometimes chemicals are sprayed over lawns to prevent weeds from growing, which is extremely harmful to the soil. It also needs a lot of work. During the summer people at least mow lawns twice a month. During the fall people spend a lot of time picking up leaves, while it is totally unnecessary because leaves can be used as fertilizer. I like the idea turning front and backyard into gardens. It will not only save a lot of money and energy but also will provide fresh and clean food resource. But I think it will take a lot of courage to do it. I’ve been talking about this topic with several friends and expressed my doubts about “typical middle class American homes”. Most of the responses I got were “ you don’t question it, that’s what people normally do.” If what we normally do is harmful to the environment and to ourselves, our habits need to change.
Response 5 Biodiversity: how much nature is enough? P.491 Not a lot of people have noticed the issue of extinction of animals. Some people empathize with it. But it’s hard for most of people to see the connection between animal extinctions and human lives. We are part of the ecosystem, thus one part of the ecosystem collapse the whole system will be endangered. Although nature has ability to restore itself, the damage we do today doesn’t give nature any chance to recover. Scientists have noticed the problem of biodiversity loss and they are trying to find ways to save endangered species to reduce the speed of animal extinction. They also try to record DNA of different species hoping to bring extinct species back. I think to preserve biodiversity only relay on scientists and hoping for miracle happen is not enough. We should realize that biodiversity loss is a major problem and try to limit our effects on the nature.
Response 6 Urban Community Development p.339 For my field research I went to Detroit. I was shocked to see the differences between neighborhoods. One is in Woodward Ave area, which is near downtown, completely trashed and broken with houses that are falling apart. The other is call Indian village, which is where all the wealthy people lives with fancy houses built in early 1900s. The inequality in development caused such division. And I think the barrier is getting bigger and bigger. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Most of the male in poor neighborhood has been into jail. Thus there’s little possibility for them to get job. I like the idea mentioned in the book to provide green jobs rather than send massive amount of people into job. It will not only help the poor but also will provide food resource to the city and near area. And to me the more exciting thing is that this will actually happen in Detroit. The economy of Michigan is crushing down and the crime rates are getting higher. Urban farm will provide lots of job opportunities. I hope urban farm would expand and be all over Michigan and turn this land of manufacturing into a green land that’s eco friendly.
Response 7 Furniture and Home Décor p.157 I’m taking a furniture making class. I’ve been learning a lot about how furniture are made step by step. Usually I don’t think much about materials and hardware I use unless it bugs me. I do remember when I was spray-painting or putting the wood stain on I couldn’t stand the smell. I probably breathed in a lot of toxic chemicals. When I’m choosing woods, since I don’t have a big budget, I tend to choose the cheapest ones such as plywood instead of real wood. It is terrifying for me to think about put furniture made out of such material in homes. It will keep releasing toxic chemicals for months even years. I had a friend had leukemia caused by toxic chemicals in indoor décor pollution and passed away. When I think about lumber, it’s a lot of money, but compare to life it’s nothing. Also I think recycling used materials, especially woods, is a good idea. It not only reduces the cost of woods, but also helps consume less resource.
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ReplyDelete09/29/09
Better Food Everywhere, pg. 57
Eating organic or using solar energy is considered more luxurious options rather than a choice. In the grocery store a falling economy encourage you to save money, so you would have to save the health food section for another day. College is a difficult time to get access to good food because of how incontinent it is cook with our busy schedules. The food that sits in the cafeterias in dorms here at University of Michigan at least let you be aware of what the caloric intake would be if you had two slices of pizza with that glass of milk, but the amount of healthy choices may be limited outside in the restaurants that aren’t associated with the University. Bert’s Café in the UGLI provides a list of ingredients with everything served as well as Panda Express’s Sushi bar, but places like Espresso Royale have yet to inform the community about what’s really in their products or how long they have been out there for. An interesting thing that my sister told me after working for Biggbys is that a lot of coffeehouses is baking their pastries like the brownies or cookies from scratch, but if they have not been sold successfully they are placed in the freezer for a couple weeks, get pulled out, and be put in the chilled glass display right next to the register again. It’s pretty scary to realize how little food even homemade items is truly fresh. Some food sold in those coffeehouses are recycled, but in a bad way. The one benefit in living in Ann Arbor is that this is a city that invests heavily in the local businesses. Organic fruit and vegetables seem to be easier to grab a hold of when there are things like the community gardens, Zimmerman’s restaurant, and the farmer’s market are every week. Being a health-conscious college student in this University isn't too difficult of a task because of these wonderful opportunities!
World Changing Repsonse #1
ReplyDelete10/2/09
Buying Better Food, p.53
I chose to read this articles because sometimes it seems as if we are only being told what not to eat and buy as opposed to what TO buy. I read this in hopes of having those questions answered. In Buying Better Food, it talks about several options on how to buy locally, organically and through supporting Fair Trade. I found the description of Fair Trade to be very interesting because I have always seen those words on labels and never fully understood the meaning. I believe that Fair Trade should be applied to all crops and produce, hopefully they will get there soon. If only all Americans realized the grueling work one farmer miles and miles away endured to grow and harvest that produce. I think it is important for Americans to be educated about their food, and very few of them are. We should start implanting the truths about food into our future generations in hopes that systems and corporations will have turned around to be all Fair Trade certified at some point in the future.
World Changing #2
ReplyDelete10/07/09
Refugees, pg. 203
There is nothing worse than losing your home to something that is beyond your control. Hurricane Katina was a difficult thing to adjust to when a natural disaster strikes your own country in comparison to the many disasters that occur across the globe. While we feel symphony for any victims of the environment-based incidents, not much of the same symphony is shared for those that suffer a poor financial fate. While the economic status of a person is technically under the control of a human being, sometimes there are people that are raised in a poor environment and it proves to be difficult to build oneself up without motivation or hope of ever raising above poverty. Morgan Spurlock, director and star of the movie Super Size Me did an episode in his own TV series 30 Days about a family who lives off minimum wage day-by-day. At the time, Morgan and his fiancé took a similar role with this family and pretended to raise children together. They couldn’t use funding outside what they earned through a job, and it turned out that the both of them working together proved to be nearly impossible to live off minimum wage and hope to ever rise above it. The same idea was issued in a book I read a few years ago called Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, an undercover New York reporter who took the role of a person living off minimum wage in several places around the United States as a hotel and housemaid, waitress, and a worker at Wal-Mart. She discovered through these different jobs that she was often mistreated by her bosses and the customers she had to deal with. We treat each type of refugee differently, all varyinf from their level of background violence.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLiving Well In a Compact Space – p. 152
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
10/10/09
This little blurb in World Changing focuses on design solutions that attempt to answer the problem of limited space in Urban Environments. It also suggests that small spaces are not only more energy efficient, but can actually be very enjoyable if designed well. While I totally agree with this personally, I’m not sold that these current solutions are really answering the root of the issue.
Take, for example, the Tetris shelves. Compare them to a standard set of flat wall shelves. What do these offer other than a cooler looking, retro feel? Customizability. Wall shelves are boring, but they use up less material and would hold just as much stuff. Maybe the thing that the Tetris shelves do is offer a way to break up space, group, and categorize shelved items. While I don’t disagree that this is a cool concept, I don’t think it is really solving the question of how to live well in a compact space.
To me, the more important thing to consider is how to transform a space for various needs, or how to map out an individual’s actions in an attempt to minimize the wasted space and condense the essentials. Or, most importantly, how do we change the way our culture thinks about space? How do we convince people that less can be more, and how do we get Americans to value small homes like Japanese do?
The last section of this short article starts to hit on some of those points with statements like “small spaces impose limitations and curb possibilities for interior design…[however] tiny living quarters invite tremendous creativity…” It then continues to talk about Japanese minihomes that are a testament to “less is more.” This, I feel, is what we need to be focusing on. Rather than finding a way to display all of our useless stuff, lets find a way to enjoy the value of simplicity and necessity.
Furniture and Home Decor – p. 157
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
10/12/09
This section starts with a brief summary of the obstacles that go into shifting to sustainable furniture. It starts with reminding us that one of the most enjoyable aspects of designing our space is the furniture that we use, then it reminds us that we inherently have a problem with being susceptible to fashion trends that tend to convince us to remodel more frequently than necessary. Lastly, it spends some time highlighting a variety of sustainable materials that we can use in our home furnishing, and gives examples of design firms that make use of these materials.
It is true. Designing our homes is fun, and unfortunately the home décor industry isn’t helping us to be more sustainable about it. First, they would rather see us redesign often, because this means that we visit them more often. Second, the furniture they sell is still predominantly non-sustainable. Even worse, the cost of the few lines of sustainable furniture is absolutely through the roof. Take Herman Milller’s Mirra chair, priced at around $1000. In my opinion, the obstacle here is to find a way to overcome our desires for remodeling. We should be able to model our homes fewer times at a higher cost. I wouldn’t mind paying $1000 for a chair if it would last ten times the length of a $100 chair.
Chances are that more expensive and durable designs are designed better, too. Remember, a durable design is both structurally and aesthetically durable. This is about the timeless designs that never go out of style. Even if the Eames Lounge Chair isn’t made with the in the most eco-friendly factories, the fact that it lasts longer than any other chair because it is beautiful is enough to make it extremely eco-friendly. Even though it isn’t cheap, it is well-priced for how long it lasts.
The ideal place to be in terms of sustainable furniture design seems to be both cheap and eco-friendly. While this doesn’t happen often, certain companies take this into consideration by using scraps and discarded items in their furniture, or by using renewable woods such as durapal, kirei, and plyboo. We should be spending less money on material cost, and more money on the labor to produce the final product. Scrapile is a great example of this, as they acquire their materials from a place of low demand product: landfills. They then create beautiful pieces of furniture with great effort and time.
Finding ways to design our homes with sustainable furniture is tough now because of high costs and low demand, but I feel that as the demand for sustainable home furnishings increases, it will become easier to find a variety of options and styles that fit our sustainable criteria.
Engineer It Yourself – p. 93
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
October 18, 2009
After opening World Changing to a random article, I was immediately inspired. This article titled “Engineer It Yourself” is about a movement to bring back the individual invention and explorative tinkering that defined our country before industrialization. It is about the freedom of the Internet and its ability to connect and share with each other, and it is about inspiring people to stop going to the store when they could just make it themselves. On a deeper level, this article is about rethinking consumerism, inspiring an authentic lifestyle, and pushing a less-than-obvious form of sustainability.
Instructables.com gets a lot of attention at the beginning of this article, as it is the front-runner in this “make versus take” mentality. This website was started by MIT PhDs, and it is a wonderful resource to learn how to make things yourself. This site, along with other resources, is forcing people to challenge consumerism. It teaches us that the things that we buy at the store can often be made by ourselves, and with a little practice, they can be made even better than the average store-bought item.
Later in the article, it references a book titled “Radical Simplicity: Creating an Authentic Life” by Dan Price. I think that the title says enough. What if we all built our own, authentic furniture? What if we stopped buying pre-made dinners and started making them ourselves? What if we made our own clothes? I don’t know that the solution to our consumer problems is to move back 200 years, but I do think that Price is onto something. Maybe if we keep advancing in technology and manufacturing complicated things, but spent more time selling resources and tools, we would create opportunities for every individual to be more creative and productive.
Lastly, this article suggests that there is an element of sustainability to be taken from this movement. If your mom makes you a sweater (that you like) and then you go out and buy another sweater, which one are you going to keep longer? The one made in the sweatshop on the other side of the world will probably be less meaningful, and you won’t think twice about throwing it away when it gets torn. If you tear your homemade sweater, mom will mend it and it will be good as new.
I think continuing advancements in technology and communication will help convince people that the things we buy at the store are not unattainable from home. With the right resources and knowledge, we can replicate what we see in the store, and in doing so, we can learn to love and have a deeper connection with everything that we own.
World Changing Response 2
ReplyDelete“Designing a Sustainable World” p. 83
When looking at the index of what subjects I could read about in World Changing I chose “Designing a Sustainable World” mostly because it had the word design in it and thus I supposed I could relate. Within the first paragraph of the chapter, a point grabbed my attention and I couldn’t stop thinking about it as I read the remainder of the article. This point was: “We’re knee deep in useful things such as refrigerators and quality footwear, yet we’re also laden with the detritus of the last generation of objects. The periphery of our comfort zone is lined with waste.” (p.83) I thought this was interesting because it is completely true but I have never heard it stated so clearly. Designers continue to create and create without worrying about their past creations that are undoubtedly piling up somewhere in the world.
I thought it was interesting the way that the author was talking about sustainable changes that have already been made, which are great of course, but really are barely making any changes. This is because these sustainable products still will end up as waste in the end, such as the solar powered toxin-free lap tops. Designers need to create full circle, considering where they get their starting materials, how it will be used and the condition it will end up in when it is deemed useless. “Green” products are a small step toward fully green and sustainable products, but you have to start somewhere.
Samantha Levy
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing Response 1
The chapter on biomorphism talks about using nature as a means for design, and how often “the results are […] beautiful” (102). It describes a few companies that use the model of nature for al of is designs, which often produces very unique pieces. Because nature often combines form with function “elegantly”, using it as an inspiration for a product yields the same results. The focus then turns to Buckminster Fuller: biomorphism pioneer and inventor of the geodesic dome. It describes that he tried to simplify efficient design so that everyone, not just environmentalists, could use it. The chapter ends by talking about biomorphic architecture in cultural centers and museums, which combine beauty with energy-saving elements. As someone who is fascinated with both biology and art, I found this chapter extremely interesting. Nature’s ability to function while still looking beautiful is something we may not be able to entirely replicate, but using it as a model can help us to create environmentally-friendly designs.
Samantha Levy
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing Response 2
Biomimicry, in contrast with biomorphism, seeks to directly imitate nature (using the evidence of evolution) to better our human products. Biomimicry is less concerned with form and beauty but emphasizes function. Things such as burrs (and fur), spider silk, DNA algorithms, gecko feet, and lotus leaves have served to aid in the functionality of human design. Spider silk is stronger than both steel and Kevlar, yet it is engineered by a spider. Examining how nature functions to create these products has helped people, such as NASA, to create new products. Scientists have used nature to help build spaceship antennae. Using DNA-related algorithms, scientists have evolved their antennae into a more efficient design. Gecko tape could easily solve the problem of a sustainable and removable adhesive, which scientists are trying to produce. Even the dirt and water resistant nature of a lotus leaf has inspired a more resilient paint. I think it was a good idea to read both chapters on biomimicry and biomorphism because I got both the beauty perspective and the function perspective of using nature in design.
World Changing Response 3
ReplyDelete“Lighting” p. 160
This section discusses light bulbs and which are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. It also talks about new lighting systems that are being developed currently. The lighting concept I found most interesting was a system being developed in Sweden where they essentially transport natural sunlight from outdoors into interior spaces as light. They do this through transporting through fiber optic cables. I thought this would be interesting because I think it has potential to be solution to a lot of lighting situations and thus diminish the waste of energy from energy costing light bulbs and fixtures. It would probably be a costly solution but through more development could be made available to the masses and then we would all reap the benefits of efficient, natural light which is healthier for us in the long run as it is.
Designing a Sustainable World – pg. 83
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
November 8, 2009
As of late, sustainable design has been at the forefront of my thoughts. It is what defines this generation of artists and designers. We aren’t joining movements like De Stijl or Realism. We are becoming a part of the movement for the Environment. As we get deeper and feel the pressures of environmentally conscious decision-making, it is hard to design anything without considering how it might impact the environment.
And while this can be quite a nightmarish challenge, I feel that it is for the better. This article on the sustainable world of design is about how we as artists and designers can have a powerful impact on the world we live in. It is our responsibility to push the shift from financial design to environmental design. It is our responsibility to push the value for the environment, and to respond to consumers who value it already.
The most important thing that this article says about sustainable design is that currently most green products are just half-steps to true sustainability. It says products “should be made, used, and retired with biological cleverness and the lightest of impacts.” This reminds us that sustainability is more than just designing stuff that we can recycle or stuff that will last a long time, but it is also about designing stuff to be safely manufactured, and free of dangerous chemicals.
The only thing that this article failed to mention yet I feel is very important is the concept of eco-effectiveness over eco-efficiency. Sustainability is not about using less materials and hurting the environment less than we currently do. It is about creating closed material loops, and about not hurting the environment at all. Using MBDC’s analogy of a cherry tree, being environmentally friendly is not about having efficient production techniques (a cherry tree produces thousands of seeds, of which very few grow). It is more about removing the concept of waste, and creating systems where our leftovers get recycled just as cherry blossoms decay and become a part of the soil. Sustainable design is about eco-effectiveness and understanding that we are a part of nature. It is about creating closed material loops, and it is about doing all of this in a healthy and safe way.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #1
Questioning Consumption – p.32
Reading this bolded section of the book brought many ideas about how we consume to my head. This section made me think about COSTCO, and Sam’s Club stores, where you can buy 5-pound tubs of butter and 3 gallons of ketchup for your everyday needs. The low prices and special memberships of these places make them seem like places of royalty when you leave with five times the amount of food you actually need. People need to learn that buying such huge amounts of food is not only ridiculous, but that it harms the environment substantially more than buying only what is needed. The last sentence had the most impact on me. It read, “When we become conscious about what we buy, we end up with more space for appreciating the objects that surround us, and what we have actually can make us happier.” This is the viewpoint that many consumers need to take on before they haul their 40-packs of excessive consumerism into the trunks of their cars.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #2
Freecycle – p.33
Before reading this small section I had no idea that there was such thing as freecycling.org. I really liked this section because it related to the group project that my group and I are planning on doing. We plan to raise awareness about “upcycling” by asking for donations of clothing and fabrics that people might throw away or bring to salvation army, and use them to create new products, mainly bags and accessories. Bringing the internet into this would be helpful because we want to inform as many people as we can, and create patters that people could follow, or tips on what they could create on their own. It’s nice to see that the Internet is being used for things that can help improve our environment and raise awareness about sustainability.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #3
Paint – p.160
This section about more sustainable and healthy paints affected me personally because this summer I worked with heavy duty exterior house paints as a painter. I hated using the sprayer and having to inhale particles of paint and fumes for 5 hours or more every day. At the time, I never really thought about the fact that there could be healthier options other than the typical harsh exterior paints. If I still worked for this company, I would have definitely looked into and suggested the use, or at least the offering, of low-VOC and VOC-free paints. I would have also worn a mask had I been warned about the damaging effects of the paint ahead of time. I also thought that the development of the low-emission thermal-insulation paint was interesting. I have never really thought about paint as being the insulation, I always thought of it more as just a decoration.
World Changing Responses
ReplyDelete1. Conserving Water, pg.187
If everyone in the United States put in low-flow fixtures and toilets, we would save approximately 5.4 billion gallons of water per day. I think that this is appalling, it seems easy to do this and you even get a reward for conserving water by getting a rebate from your utility company. I am very surprised that this practice is not advertised or encouraged more because conserving water is a major issue. Another advantage to saving so much water with these systems, and the shower that recycles water is that people save so much money on their water bills. Although people are somewhat aware of how much water they are using through their bills, no one really sees the numbers unless it is directly in front of them. I think that if people were able to physically see the amount of water that they use, it would inspire people to adapt these new inventions and try to make more of an effort to conserve water.
2. Designing a Sustainable World, pg. 83
ReplyDeleteThe process of designing something is where we can make the most effort to effectively use materials. There is a new demand for ecofriendly products and anything else are unsuitable. I like how they made a comment in this chapter saying “sustainability can be applied to anything that’s made.” (85) Although it seems that it is purely up to the designers to solve our consumption and sustainable issues, it is also up to everyone else to consume, and demand those products. John Thackara explains this perfectly, “ We’re the ones who can alter our clothing, customize our furniture, and choose to use things for years longer than is expected. Rather than waiting for green products to appear—stamped, sanctioned, and ready—we can demand them, or create them ourselves.” (85) I like this article because it inspires me to want to create things that people will want to use that are environmentally friendly at the same time. It makes the designer, what I hope to be some day, an inspiring way to change the world.
3. Craft It Yourself, pg. 90
ReplyDeleteWhen people decide to “Do It Yourself” there is a change that occurs between the consumer and the producer. The relationship changes because it forces the producer to create something that is so easy, or so sustainable that everyone will want to use the product rather than make it on their own. But I like how they mention that making something yourself is satisfying, because you can never replace the feeling of owning something when you make it yourself. That part of DIY gives your material goods a lot more meaning than just buying them at a store. I think that this idea of crafting your own materials and DIY is such a powerful thing because it is environmentally conscious as well as very stimulating for the brain.
Bright Green Computers – pg. 134
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
November 16, 2009
This article is a very motivational and optimistic outlook on the future of our virtual world. It discusses where we are at with wasteful, one-time-use computers that fill our landfills and pollute third-world countries. Then, it flips over and talks about great things that companies are doing to make computer manufacturing more efficient, and to make computers more powerful. It mentions a few companies who claim to be “looking forward to [a] new style of producing electronics.” Then, it boldly suggests that the computer of the future will be essentially no different than it is now. As the article finishes, the computer of the future will be “lighter, sleeker, and more elegant than any we’ve seen yet.”
While this article does bring up some strong points about the manufacturing process of computers, and it does touch on the main points of sustainable design, it also stays extraordinarily vague as if it can’t find any real concrete support for its predictions. I feel that this article failed to express anything that anyone with a small amount of sustainable knowledge would think common sense. First, the article stuck to the current manufacturing motto that “efficiency and power is key.” Second, it assumes that 50 years from now we will still have a computer on our desk.
Looking back to MBDC and their explanation of how eco-effectiveness is very different than eco-efficiency, I wonder if manufacturing really will continue to push toward efficiency. What if we came up with biological computers? What if our waste powered computers, or what if computers ate food for fuel? What if a computer became a pet? What if it took the form of a plant on your windowsill? I don’t have any of the answers as to how this could work, but I know people are thinking about it. Science-fiction may always start as some far-out ideas, but we seem to latch onto that genre as a prediction of the future.
In conclusion, I was relatively disappointed with the lack of insight from this article. I feel that there is much more to the computer world than making it more efficient and recyclable. I feel that part of sustainable design is the ability to integrate technology into our lives, and until we stop integrating our lives into technology, we have a lot of work to do.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #4
The Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator – p.169
I really enjoyed reading about the Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator, because I think it is a very innovative idea. I love how it is a simple object that can help improve people’s lives dramatically. I think that the concept of thinking back to basic principles, for example, how our bodies stay cool, and applying those basic principles to how we design objects can really improve the way we consume so many things and make everything so complex. After reading this, I thought back about an article that I had read about aluminum coke cans that don’t use paint, but instead have texture, making then 100% recyclable and eliminating the process of removing paint from cans. When I read this article I had initially thought, “It’s so simple! Why hadn’t this been done before?” This is exactly what I thought while reading about the Pot-in-Pot Refrigerator.
Colorless Coke Can:
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/COLORLESS/342938
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 1
Why Does the United States Still Export Cotton?
P.45
Though cotton is grown in the U.S., labor and manufacturing costs abroad are significantly cheaper than in the U.S. leading the cotton to be exported abroad, only to be imported once more to America. In order to keep cost relatively low for consumers in America, citizens in other countries are taken advantage of or are being paid an extremely low salary (according to our standards) to complete a job that would cost much more here. Yes, this system makes sense and is applicable to many companies and organizations outside of cotton, but definitely has its positives and negatives. Positively, it can help employment and therefore the economy in places abroad that strive in manufacturing good for consumers abroad. But, negatively, we as a country are basically dumping the jobs people in America refuse to take on less-fortunate foreigners. Realistically, this cycle will continue or even worsen unless citizens abroad take a stance and demand higher pay.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 2
Reputation Systems
P.129
I really liked the segment on reputation systems. Through technology, opinions, help, answers, and guides are available at the click of a button. With the consideration of the different viewpoints and biases available on the web, it is a great resource in which we entrust millions of stranger’s everyday. The web has made it possible to share reviews about almost anything including restaurants, movies, service at a shop, etc. Though this could be bad news for the blockbuster thrown together in two months when it doesn’t receive academy award winning reviews on rottentomatoes, it does connect individuals throughout the world. I also believe that with the threat of a bad review, restaurants and movies and other forms of media are forced to work harder in order to deliver the best service, show, etc. This system, to me, benefits us culturally because not only do we trust our fellow citizens but also we are given better service and quality.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 3
Smart Home Technology
P.149
Smart home technology is basically the idea that your house can run itself. It can regulate temperature, electricity use, and more. Though today, smart technology can be very expensive, experts predict that in the near future, just as computers became available to most Americans, so will smart technology. This new technology is believed to really help the environment in the sense that it will be able to manage (and turn-off) when something is not in use like lights or machines, but also offer custom settings to such instruments such as a washing machine. This technology can also be very beneficial to the older population that is unable to do many household chores themselves. On one end it seems ridiculous to have such instruments like the smart home, have Americans gotten so lazy that they can’t operate their washing machines themselves? But on the other side of the spectrum it could be a really great way to make sure that people are using things such as household appliances economically and could really have a great impact on wastefulness in America. But, instead of having technology do your learning and work, I think it is so important that American citizens take the initiative themselves to open windows instead of using air conditioning and turning off a light when not in use so they can see the affects of their savings and be responsible for the impact they are making on their environment instead of leaving that responsibility to technology. Yes, technology can make things easier, but it can also take a lot out of life such as the learning process and responsibility for ones actions.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 4
Worldchanging Water Pumps
P.192
Reading about both the KickStart MoneyMaker and the PlayPump, was very inspiring. As Professor Trumpey has done in lectures previously, it is great to see the works of artists and designers put into use in counties such as what is spotlighted here, Africa. The MoneyMaker is a device in which people can pump water using their feet for irrigation. The problem with the MoneyMaker is that its cost is around ninety dollars which is very steep considering the yearly income of most citizens around this region in Africa is below that. The PlayPump is a merry-go-round. As children spin and play on the structure, the movement pushes a pump, which pulls water from a well into a small water tower. No longer is getting water a job, but a fun activity for children to participate in without even knowing the help they are doing to their communities. Both of these devices are extremely effective and creative. It is inspiring to read about designs like this and to see what kind of drastic differences such seemingly simple objects can have in many citizens lives.
World Changing Response #1
ReplyDelete“Art Meets Technology” p. 96
There were some very interesting products mentioned in this section that combined art with technology. The product I found most intriguing was “Sonic City” that basically creates a unique soundtrack to your individual experience in an urban city. I love to wear my headphones anytime I am walking somewhere, and I love good beats to songs and respect good hip-hop beats. I can imagine wearing these headphones and not being able to stop bobbing my head to the urban beats and sounds. It impresses me so much to hear about new products coming out such as the ones mentioned in this section. I wouldn’t even know how to begin figuring out how they work, but I wholly agree with something that the section says: “Regardless of the context, these works accomplish what art should accomplish: they trigger new experiences that transform our perceptions of what is and what could be” (DD & RD p. 97).
Greenwashed Food
ReplyDeletePg 55
The first time I heard the concept of greenwashed food was in my human physiology class in high school my senior year. Mr. Lauchu taught us the in and outs of misleading labels on food products until our ears were bleeding. He not only taught us about false advertisement for organic products, but also misleading information about health benefits such as “low fat” products that replace fat with more sugar which just turns into fat when its digested. So really, there’s the same amount of fat if not more in those products.
I feel that misleading advertisement of organic products is wrong, but on the other hand, if the certain product is truly organic, major corporations that also produce non-organic products should be able to label the ones that are organic. The consumer should be the one to know which companies they are supporting and whether or not all their products are organic.
Some of us purchase organic foods for different reasons. I like to eat healthy for instance, so if a certain product is organic, even if the entire line of products from that company are not, I would buy it because my reason for eating those foods are not to support individual companies. It’s to stay healthy. Maybe if the companies see that more people buy their organic products than inorganic products, they will start making more of their products organic.
World Changing Response #2
ReplyDelete“A Personal Action Plan” p. 514
I have recently found out that the way to get a good idea about my lifestyle and how it is affecting the environment is to ask myself questions. Some that I have asked myself recently are: “How often do I go shopping for clothes? Where did the food come from that I am eating? How often do I buy drinks and food with disposable containers? How many disposable containers have a thrown away in the past few years without recycling it?” Some other questions were presented in this section that I haven’t thought as much about: “What kinds of stuff do you buy? What do you do for a living? Where do you live?” The one that particularly made me think was “What do you do for a living?”, or more specific to my situation, “What will you do for a living?” I have always thought that I would probably go into graphic design because it is the most relevant today. After reading the question, however, I started to think of expanding my options to allow more ecologically friendly professions into my spectrum. I need to do more research on what’s out there, but I would love to say that what I do for a living is beneficial to the planet.
World Changing 3
ReplyDeleteSamantha Levy
See “Community”, “Barefoot College” (p. 359)
After reading about the Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India, I immediately had a desire to visit the innovative campus. The founder, Sanjit “Bunker” Roy brought together the educated youth and the illiterate villagers to build this community. The exchange between these two groups was surprising and “respectfully merged modern technology and traditional knowledge” (360). The college that formed educated all ages and any status (villager or college student) on a variety of subjects and used teaching through hands-on experience as its primary method. The Barefoot campus is also extremely environmentally friendly and has transformed this area of the desert into a lush “oasis”. Training has allowed illiterate villagers to compose the Barefoot Solar Engineers who build and maintain the solar energy system at the college. The water system of Barefoot has not only created an efficient method for the campus , but it has made a huge impact on surrounding communities. These communities can learn from the college and build their own systems for access to water. Barefoot college also has helped educate people about heath and discuss disease prevention. The college also runs a clinic. The Children’s Parliament is an addition to the college’s traditional night classes. This program asks the kids to elect an official and work together to improve their community. The Barefoot College accomplishes things that were previously thought to be impossible in the once dilapidated area in the middle of the desert. They have brought the villages together to revolutionize environmentalism and education in Rajasthan.
World Changing 4
ReplyDeleteSamantha Levy
See “Community”, “Global Culture” (p. 368)
The section of World Changing titled “Global Culture” places importance of multicultural knowledge in the context of globalization, networking, and communication. Any sort of connection with other places requires a certain basis of knowledge, which can be learned through various methods. This article explains that as our world is ‘shrinking’ due to innovative technology, we need to learn about other cultures through exposure to film, music, books, and language.
Global film lets us “connect with the stories on screen” and consequently forces us to experience different cultures (368). Examples given are Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) and an Inuit film. Both of these global film examples showcase their given cultures to others to enable them to understand and experience their culture. The Internet has made Global Literature a possibility, and exposes readers to works from across the world. Global music does not always deal with music from separate cultures but it combines cultural music into a modern blend of sound. Language is the literal form of communication that often separates cultures from each other. It comes to no surprise that in order to connect with each other, languages are either learned or uniquely mixed into hybrids, which are becoming increasingly popular (ex: Hinglish and Globish). English has become a sort of universal language, and as the world is advancing, other languages will also become universal in the future.
As a person who has been lucky enough to be directly exposed to other cultures through education and travel, it is great to see that there is a way to connect to other places in more accessible ways. I myself have learned a lot about foreign countries and cultures through all of these methods, and I believe it will help me in future.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 5
Reshaping the Burbs
p.240
About a year ago I read an article in the New York Times that shocked me. The author claimed that although suburbanites often claim to be more environmentally friendly than those that live in large cities such as New York, this statement is extremely false. Suburbanites tend to have larger homes, multiple cars, water their laws, drive further to get to work, and the list goes on. While on the other hand, though cities tend to appear dirtier, the individual citizens living there usually live in small apartments, take public transportation, and rarely have lawns. This article is talking about a slightly different topic in suburbs and that is the re-using of buildings and spaces. Making old bus stations, offices, etc. into something new. In New York City this summer there was an opening for a park called Highline Park. It is a 20-block path (that is intended to be extended in the near future) made into what used to be railroad tracks that went through the meatpacking district and up to Chelsea. The tracks were built a few floors above ground level and designers and architects worked together to create a pathway. Plants were planted in-between the old tracks and wooden chairs were built directly into the tracks. It is now an attraction for moth Manhattan citizens and tourists alike. It is both resourceful because the area recycled an abandoned track and turned it around to be in a positive light as a place where people can excursive, socialize, look at the river, and enjoy the outdoors.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 6
Mobile-Phone Politics
p. 293
Mobile phones in America have a highly different role than they do in other countries around the world. In America it is not uncommon now-a-days to see children as young as ten walking around with personal cell phones, teens texting away like crazy, and businessmen attached to their blackberries. But in places such as Africa, the mobile phone is not an extra appendage to the body, but a way to mobilize voters and regulate elections. In Kenya, in 2003, the country saw its largest electoral turnout due to mobile phones. With the use of these devices it made it easier for citizens to cast their votes, receive help in voting from hired workers who were observing the election, and it made it easier to regulate corruption and or cheating of the system. It is interesting to see how drastically the use of one object can change between countries. I had never thought of cell phones use in national voting because it is not something we see here but is a wonderful idea to increase voter participation, something that the untied states definitely needs help with as well.
Sam Schulman
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing 7
Literature of Place
P.478
It is so important to acknowledge a Childs brain. It can be shaped so easily and with more books, stories, and information being shared to children at a young age about their environment and the places they grow up in, significant differences can be made in their development. Something as simple as taking a walk with your children once a day and asking questions about plants and animals they see on their walk can make a child become aware of their surroundings. This is so important because without this recognition comes apathetic feelings which then result in children (and later adults) who do not care for their environment. Now that we see what changes are coming from the impact we have made on earth, we can fix the way people think about resources that are given to us as we grow older and hopefully can affect how decisions are made.
World Changing Response #3
ReplyDelete“Knowing What’s Green” p. 115
I love the idea of the Cradle to Cradle protocol. I think not only food should be labeled to show that it is environmentally friendly, but also every other product out there. After going through everything I own and trying to find what it is made out of for the assignment, I realized that many things don’t mention what they are made out of. It was frustrating. I even tried to look online to find out what some components were of very popular items, like my Mac, and where they were made. I probably spent 20 minutes trying to find out this information without success. If certain products had this certification attached to them, I would be more aware of things that contain very harmful material and things that don’t. Right now, I don’t have a clue about a vast number of my household appliances, and this is information that I should know. The Corporate Fallout Detector and the Radio Frequency Identification fall into this idea by allowing the consumer to know if their product contains a lot of unethical materials. This is also information that is very important for consumers to know and it would be fantastic if these designs were implemented more in the future.
World Changing Response #4
ReplyDelete“Bright Green Consumerism” p. 81
The hypothetical situation explained in this section sounds pretty ideal. I wish this wasn’t a hypothetical situation though, and I could hear about an example in real life. I guess great new things have to start out somewhere though, and in this case it is a dream that could very well happen. I am not sure how likely this whole situation is to happen, but it all depends on the right kind of people: people who give great things a chance even if it is a risk. I feel like there are not enough people like this out there nowadays, and I would include myself in the non-risk-taker category. I have always been a safe person, taking the common route, the road more traveled. Since this class, however, I have been much more aware of all of the crap that our society is doing to our environment, and I have been taking small steps to be a more environmentally friendly consumer. One of my friends told me that she and another friend were going to go a whole year without buying any clothing unless it was made in the United States. I thought this was a fantastic idea and have thought about trying it out for myself. I guess this is a small story of how word of mouth can have great consequences in the change for becoming more environmentally friendly like the story in the section. I am definitely going to try hard to achieve this goal, and tell others of my plan and hopefully my success.
World Changing Response #5
ReplyDelete“Brands” p. 393
Whenever I hear about brands, the first brand that comes to my mind is Nike, and I immediately think about my Nike high-top green and gray shoes, which I love, but I always feel guilty about. I absolutely love the way they look, but I also wonder if one of the reasons they attracted me so much was because of the extreme popularity of Nike shoes. I would hate to say that that is a reason why they were the first item on my Christmas list last year, but I am almost sure that was an underlying factor for my desire to get them. I can see why Nike is so good at selling their products even if they have a despicable history of unethical practices.
I was very surprised to read that, “The conventional cotton industry is the number-one user of pesticides of any agricultural-crop industry in the world.” I thought that by their famous “The Fabric of Our Lives” slogan, it was a company that you could trust clothing your family. It just shows how companies can become so good at advertising that it makes people forget, or not even consider, the kinds of unethical practices that are behind the company. Why is it so important to wear a brand that is popular at the time? Do the wearing of these brands make us think that their popularity will rub off on us to make us more popular? I love the idea of the no-brand products. I hope that they will become more popular, but that the company will stick to its environmentally friendly practices even if it does become popular.
World Changing Response #6
ReplyDelete“Your Money” p. 382
I haven’t thought at all about investing in companies in the future, but I will have to start thinking about it in my somewhat near future. I also don’t know much about investing, but I know that I will surely look into good investing opportunities when it comes to be that time. I will definitely want to invest in something that will help the environment because I think this issue will only get bigger and bigger and make more money as time goes on. Socially Responsible Investment sounds like a great idea and I know that it will only get more and more popular. I also agree that businesses need to be more open and less secretive about their behavior. I have heard that when people go to China to check up on Nike’s factories to make sure there are no unethical practices going on, it is Nike employees who go there and obviously don’t tell the whole truth about what is going on. This cannot happen. We need Nike to be more open to let others keep an eye on their factories so that they cannot keep these secrets from us and let us think that everything is fine. I would be so nervous to trust any company that didn’t let me in on the decisions they are making. Investing in environmentally friendly and ethical corporations is so important for the future, and I know I am going to a lot of research before I settle on just any financially stable company.
The chapter, "Living Well in Compact Space" resonates with me, especially at this point in my life. "Efficient living is green living-a compact living space is intrinsically less wasteful and less expensive than a sprawling space," is a statement I completely agree with in this passage. However, the reading goes on to talk about high-rise apartments that Abito, a UK-based company has developed. It explains the exact set-up and placement of items in the apartment. I think that compact living is less about design, and more about just the reduction of space, no matter where you are, what it looks like, or how it is set-up. I think that the pure reduction of space will create a more minimalist way of life.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I moved into one bedroom with three other roommates. I have a third of a closet, a desk, a bed, and about six feet that I can call my own. Before moving in, I knew I had to downgrade my "stuff". I brought fewer clothes and less CDs and books. When I starting living in this room, I really started to get rid of things. I guess they aren't huge improvements, but I have cut a few things out of my life. I no longer have hairspray of headbands. I've gotten rid of many pieces of jewelry, only keeping the few that I wear all the time. Perhaps they are small changes, but they came directly from living in a compact area. I think it comes from feasibly not having enough room, and a need for a visceral sense of living a "cleaner", less cluttered life. I have found that the downside to compact living is that it does affect your mood. i find that I become frustrated easily while I am in my room. I spend much less time there than I would in my room at home. I feel a certain level of anxiety while I am in it. I also have a hard time doing my homework while I am in my room. I think that compact living has its benefits and its flaws that need to be examined.
World Changing #2
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the section, “Giving Well”, I realized that I have a bit of a different definition of “giving well” than what this passage expresses. This section gives multiple examples of how to spend your money well when donating to charities. It even explains how to make the most of your money if you only have a little to give. To me, the word “giving” involves one. “Giving money effectively helps your donations have the greatest impact,” is a true statement, but one that I would alter. I think the most effective way that one can make an impact is to help someone in person, for there to be human contact. To perhaps ask what is needed and then do it yourself.
While feeding the homeless in downtown Detroit, the one thing that has stuck out to me is that consistently people have said that they come more for the interaction with people than for the food. I know that a smile or a handshake can’t solve world hunger or help the victims of Katrina, but I think that it does more than we give it credit for. It lifts morale. It allows people to work for a common good. It makes other peoples’ problems real. It allows, “giving” to be a tangible thing.
World Changing #3
ReplyDeleteIn the section, “Nonviolent Revolution”, peace takes the foreground. The idea of a revolution is discussed. Although it may not seem plausible, great leaders and great changes have been made through peaceful action. In my opinion, to lead a nation without violence is much harder than to give in to violence. As this section explains, “Nonviolence, done well, demands discipline, commitment, strategy, and leadership; it takes careful planning and training, role-playing exercises, education, and spiritual preparation.” I think that creative ways of leadership or protest such as the protest expressed through sign language that Ukrainian citizens used, can be so much more effective than any type of violence.
Recently, my Concept, Form, and Context attended a religious symposium. Four people sat behind a table as a panel of religious faiths. A man who participated in Judaism sat next to a Hindu woman. Their stories of creation and reincarnation differed significantly. They had different prayers and ways of living. They had different goals. But there seemed to be an underlying theme between all of there conversations- a common ground. They were all searching for peace- a way to communicate and interact in a productive, diplomatic manner. They discussed that this peace was possible. But as of right now, peace between cultures and religions is a goal to be attained.
World Changing #4
ReplyDeleteWhile reading “Creating Healthy Homes”, I was completely struck by the number of household cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals. I knew that some products did, however I didn’t know that chemicals such as ammonia, phenol, cresol, lye, sodium hydroxide, butoxy-ethanol, and chlorine bleach are all present in cleaning agents. It seems so counter-productive that items we use to make our homes safer are layering them with contaminants that poison our body.
Even shampoos and body washes have toxic chemicals. These are soaps that we put on our body. I think another important point that was not mentioned in this chapter is that these chemicals are also tested on animals. If these chemicals are so toxic to humans, I can’t imagine what they do to animals. I also think that these chemicals need to be studied more rigorously for long-term results on the environment and people. These results need to be made present to the public also.
I think that the companies that produce these cleaning chemicals need to do a much better job warning the public that these toxins are in their products. I think a large majority of the population has no idea that they are putting themselves in danger when using these products.
World Changing #5
ReplyDelete“Doing the Right Thing Can be Delicious” brought up a visceral, somewhat emotional response in me. Food is a huge part of the American culture, but recently has become a passing thought and a few bites from a drive-through window, rather than the tradition it has usually been. A tenderness and care has left the way we choose the foods we eat, cook the foods we eat, and consume the foods.
When we purchase food at the grocery store it is done quite often on the way home from work or rushing between errands. We make lists so that we can run in and out of the grocery store without forgetting things. We bring coupons so that we can buy the most food for the least amount of money. Because we do this in such a hurried manner, we don’t stop to think about the wholeness of the food of the healthiness of it. It doesn’t fit into our schedule.
I find that my family puts the most effort into the foods we cook during the holidays. During the week, there is not enough time in the day to cook three meals from scratch. The way my family runs their life, at least. We also eat on the run. Eating should be a tradition, an event, a moment to take time out of the day. It should be enjoyed, but as it is now, it is hurried through.
Nanotechnology – pg 106
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
11/25/09
The article on nanotechnology covers a lot of ground, from definition to potential innovation to bad science fiction. It speaks of nanotech as if it were the inevitable and exciting future of product development. It mentions the obvious potential risks, but quickly outweighs those risks with the hopes of extraordinary innovation. Most importantly, it subtly reminds us of the traditional challenge of the ethics of technology, and how humans should approach the immoral possibilities of the future.
For those who aren’t familiar, nanotechnology is simply engineered technology at a small (molecular) scale. This small scale has opened doorways to a variety of advanced and efficient technologies. Most notably, nanotechnology lends itself to biomimicry, efficient energy use, and greener design. At the end of the article, a section on molecular manufacturing suggests that factories will evolve to nanofactories in the future. Through the use of molecular manipulation and rapid prototyping, nanotechnology will allow us to increase production speed and lower waste.
While all of this is very exciting, I feel that this article does not hold true to the “World Changing” theme of this book. Yes, nanotechnology is very exciting, and yes it has a lot of potential. I even agree that “bad science fiction” should be ignored because the “easily startled doomsdayers” are often imaginative in irrational ways. However, I strongly feel that technological advancement needs to slow down. Nanotechnology is a great area of study, but using it as a means to produce things faster is fundamentally no different than our current industrial methodologies.
Take, for example, nature without tools. A tree evolves slowly, and every step of evolution is rigorously tested over a long period of time. The result is an organism that has survived hundreds of millions of years. Now, take a computer. It is created in less than a year, and it survives only a few. You may argue that each new computer is an evolution, but the history of computer production is horribly filled with bad inventions that are ineffective, useless, and harmful to people (cough*facebook*cough). My point is that we should slow down the evolution of technology to a speed that balances with sustainable material flow and works in harmony with society (instead of the way that technology dictates society now).
Nanotechnology isn’t the answer to future production. It is a potential tool. The only way we can make it different from the steam engine, cotton gin, or any other Jevonish paradoxicalities, is that we introduce it with a new twist. Let us introduce nanotechnology as a slow, methodically experimental, perfecting process. If nanotechnology is the future of technological innovation, lets turn it into one that is inherently sustainable, 100% safe, and undeniably helpful to our society.
Green Power – pg 170
ReplyDeleteJim Christian
11/28/09
According to my father, who regularly attends meetings and conferences on environmental concerns for mid-Michigan, the spokesman for Greenpeace has publicly announced that nuclear power is the greenest feasible energy source for the near future. Apparently, this conclusion was reached because powering the world with solar, wind, and tidal power would take too much space to be feasible. Fortunately, my personal research into this apparent news (always question what your parents say) shows that no spokesman of Greenpeace made any statements such as this. While this still leaves me wondering about the truth of the matter, this article in World Changing hints at a more realistic answer.
Green Power, as described by this article, is any renewable energy source that does not harm the environment to obtain. Ideally, the entire process of green energy harnessing involves no waste. Most popular areas of green power include solar, wind, and tidal power. While this article does not discuss it, I’ve also heard of geothermal power as a potential green energy source. Currently, all of these sources are being highly researched, and the first generation of successful green power generators are being used, tested, and improved upon.
The article spends a good amount of energy bringing up percentages of total power that each system could harness, but it seems as if all of these systems could not quite bring together enough power to remove the need for fossil fuels. As Joe pointed out in lecture, the amount of land needed for solar or wind in Michigan alone is far too much to be practical. However, the article suggests that with improvements in these technologies such as flying solar generators that take advantage of the jet stream, we may very well be able to make these green energy sources viable solutions.
I wonder if the future will include as much green power as possible supplemented with nuclear power. While I fundamentally disagree with nuclear on the basis that it still creates waste (that is extremely toxic), I think that the amount of energy put into improving nuclear technologies is far too much to avoid it from becoming a new source of power. I feel that the only way to avoid this is to rethink our energy usage. If we all cut the amount of energy we use in half, we could live on totally renewable energy.
World Changing #6
ReplyDeleteFlipping through World Changing, I got to a section entitled “Knowing What’s Green”. I stopped to read this because, as a consumer, I have no idea what is considered “green”. In ADP this year I have learned that not all fruits and vegetables are pure, many are genetically modified. I have learned that things that are “All Natural” and “Organic” may not be all that they say they are. I have learned to look closely at foods and products before consuming them. This section re-iterated tat it is also hard to tell with “green” products what is actually true to its label or not. Some “green” products may not use fair labor or nontoxic processes.
As this section states, it is important to set regulations and standards for companies to follow. This serves well on two levels. First, it puts all companies on the same playing field. They know at what level they need to produce their goods. It also serves the consumers. The consumers will then know what type of goods they are getting. Although this section argues that setting guidelines is only a minimum that these products must meet, I think that it is a good and necessary starting ground.
World Changing #7
ReplyDeleteI can’t say that I am drastically changing the way I live. I can’t say that I spend every waking moment trying to decide how to live “greener” or how to change my carbon footprint on the earth. But I can say that after reading World Changing, I am more conscious. I am more conscious that I should be living “greener” and that I am leaving a carbon footprint on the earth that cannot be erased.
I think that it is important for everyone to make a “Personal Action Plan”. If high schools could implement this into their curriculum, it would at least get kids thinking about how they can change the footprint they leave on the earth. I think one of the biggest issues is that people aren’t aware of the havoc they are wreaking on the planet earth, or at least they are not aware of the extent of it.
If people could learn about where they live, and then act “greener” according to this, I think that we could be much more effective in trying to save our planet. Each person, due to their job, where they live, their medical conditions, what they eat, and their way of life reacts differently to the world they live in. people need to appreciate this and react to it accordingly.
World Changing #3
ReplyDeleteCooking in the Developing World
Pg. 168
Biofuels is something many of us prefer to use when we go camping. What I enjoy personally enjoy about eating over an open fire is that it exposes you to a different realm of cooking and food preparation. Although one thing I never enjoyed about it was the fume of smoke that blew into your face. The fire can also be dangerous because of how unbalanced and unpredictable it can be. The importance of safety is something we as Americans must obsess over since our ovens are indoors and could result in very devastating circumstances.
A good insulation system by containment of the smoke can help provide clean air for a family. Another use of a cultivating fire is to promote safety from fire hazards and clean oxygen. Solar ovens are probably the cleanest way to produce energy for cooking with no smoke or fire hazards to a family. The less use of burning material, the better.
World Changing #4
ReplyDeleteTaking Back the Streets, Two Wheels at a Time
Pg. 266
I visited Beijing in 97 and from what I remember the streets were littered with bicycles. My tours were done on foot or on bicycle, only for trips longer than half an hour we rode by car. Now when I hear about China it’s congested with traffic and severe pollution. Vietnam is a country that is catching up to the rest of the world like China, but they are at the stage of motorized scooters. America is so far ahead in the automotive world that it’s easy to obtain a car at any price range, so the efficiency of using bicycles as transportation has become a lot harder. Here in the state of Michigan it is a lot harder to rely on two-wheeled transportation with our unstable weather and harsh winters. I only pull my bicycle out during the summer when it’s warmer but for leisure activities not for something like picking up groceries for the week. Once you have the luxury of a car to haul the amount of food to feed a family of 5, it becomes hard to go back. It seems that the bicycle has become a vehicle of pleasure than to actually get places. Summer is the only times that I can enjoy riding my bike to places like the ice cream shop or to a friend’s house because of the large amount of time I have as well.
Another interesting thing about bicycle-friendly cities in America is only in large college towns like Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Kalamazoo. College students who need to get around or get food use bicycles as an alternative. New York City is a prime example of a wide selection of transportation. If more cities were friendlier to public transportation like the bus or non-product-consuming vehicles like bicycles it would be easier to help conserve what little fossils we have left
World Changing Response 4
ReplyDeleteGoing Off the Grid, p. 179
I chose to read this section because I recalled Professor Trumpey telling us about his home system being off the grid and the possibility of connecting it to the grid to make money off the flow of extra energy returning to the grid. This section talks about home-energy systems, green meters, a program in Brazil called “The Sun Shines for All” and micro-hydro energy which is mainly provided by waterwheels. I thought that the program in Brazil was particularly fascinating. This program rents out solar panels and lighting to Brazilians for $13 a month. This is proof that green energy can me made convenient and affordable to anyone. If a program such as this is possible for the poor people of Brazil, it should be implemented elsewhere. As sad as it is, electricity is probably one of the most important elements in developing the undeveloped countries. This thought is kind of out there, but if one of the millionaires with cash to throw around began a service to help citizens of poorer countries create their own “grid”, thing could be off to a start.
World Changing Response 5
ReplyDeleteBrands, p. 393
This section talks about branding and what it means about corporations, the hidden truths behind family friendly campaigns and slogans. Specifically, the section discusses its hidden ties to overseas labor as manipulative. Nikes previous issues with overseas labor conditions were mentioned, this issue has always been somewhat confusing to me. Assuming the labor conditions are at least kept humane, I think that the US outsourcing to other countries for fulfilling simple labor tasks is of benefit to those countries. These jobs are an opportunity to citizens of poorer countries, considering they probably would not be employed otherwise, even the low wages are of benefit. Not to mention prices are not as inflated in other countries aside from the US. The worth of a few cents goes a lot farther than here.
In relation to branding, this section mentions two “brandless” brands, kind of an oxymoron don’t you think? These names are Blackspot and Muji. These stores sell quality products with no brands tied to them. The idea is that the products are not labeled with the names of corporations, not even Muji or Blackspot. Blackspot, however, sells black shoes with a white spot on them as their signature sort of item. This to me seems like a brand. I feel like it is impossible to create a company that is not branded, it will not be successful without a name and branding (values, etc) to be known by the public.
World Changing #5
ReplyDeleteGreenwashing
Pg. 38
This course has taught me many things about products being sold in stores that are labeled “Organic” or “Natural.” I’ve learned that many of the companies are trying to sell products that might appear to our health-crazed society. It’s hard to tell at times whose intentions are more pure than the others so it grows much more difficult to help the environment without much support. Educating ourselves to be aware of what’s around us is the best way to prepare for false advertising. The best way to figure out whether a product is actually good for you is through the ingredient list of perishables or any type of consumable product. Looking through this list helps you obtain the facts about a product and see if it is actually claims to be “environmentally friendly.”
World Changing Response 6
ReplyDeleteThe Hidden Vitality of Slums, p. 286
This section explains various slums and how they appear on the outside to be nothing more than slums or “shantytowns” but really can develop into fully functional communities. It is when the people of these shantytowns unite and organize that they are the most successful. I suppose one could say the “unite and conquer”, considering the operation is illegal until they have a few thousand people occupying a plot of land.
While I was reading this section, I was trying to understand why it was in the book. The section only explains current situations in slums and different successes within. I think that the successes of these slums can be a great example for America and many other countries. Considering the people of these slums have literally nothing to start, not even water or plumbing, and build up to 7 story buildings with organized leaders, it is proof that the poor areas of America should be capable of the same thing. However, poorer areas in America are more prone to crime so it does not seem likely that a transformation like that of the slums in Turkey will succeed here. This development is something to be learned from, at the very least, that even when you are at the bottom, you can reach the top.
World Changing Response 7
ReplyDeleteThe Solar System: Greens in Space, p. 529
This section talks about the many benefits that could result in space exploration. Also discussion, is how important satellites and other space exploration devices are to understanding our planet as a whole and our climate system as a whole. As the reading states, how are we to understand the whole picture if we aren’t able to visualize the earth in its entirety?
There is a lot of controversy over sending more devices into space, which could in the end lead to more space pollution than there is currently. However, not only are scientists working to create robots and cheaper satellites to send into space to report information, instead of sending people, they are working to create an elevator to reach higher orbits. This will greatly reduce costs and allow scientists to learn more about the planet in order to avert any catastrophes such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.
World Changing #6
ReplyDeleteDIY Culture
Pg. 91
Artists today are in a prime era. We are called upon the most to solve the world’s problems using found objects, trash or recycleables. Not many people have the ability to touch everyday objects and transform them for a completely different use. Doing this helps us break away from branding and become more individual with your stuff. The nice thing about DIY objects is that it gives you a sense of pride to an extent, that you made a lamp out of the old jelly mason jar or that you constructed a speaker set with used cardboard. Taking junk and transforming it into something aestically pleasing is something a person must train themselves to do. It’s difficult to take a found object like newspaper and use it other than it’s original intent. I collect cigar and tea boxes for storage of my art supplies and jewelry. I have a large collection of brown bag paper in my room that I enjoy drawing on whenever I feel like sketching – I hate drawing on white computer paper. The DIY lifestyle is becoming a fad and proves to be a step in our fight for more enviormentally friendly homes. While Urban Outfitters has made it their goal to sell DIY products, most of it is already made for you! It’s defeating the purpose of a DIY lifestyle!
At Urban Outfitters:
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15210586&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=00
The same product:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-made-Sun-Jar/
DIY Fad:
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/urban/catalog/common/highlited_itemcount.jsp_A&_DAV=true&itemCount=60&navCount=7&navAction=poppushpushpush&popId=GENERAL_CATEGORY&prepushId=GENERAL_CATEGORY_SHOP&pushId=SHOP_GIFTSBYTYPEGATEWAY&id=SHOP_GIFTSBYTYPE2&gbt09
An example of a good DIY exercise is the newspaper at your doorstep every morning. Once you finish it, what else can you do with it after you educate yourself with what is going on in the world? An idea for it is it can be used as a source for sketching or a cover of a notebook for decorative purposes. The comics page can be used as gift wrap for holidays or you can weave it into something like a bowl if you roll it and build it up from there. You can use the newspaper to wipe away spilled water or use for packaging in the mail. Training yourself to be more creative with everyday house items helps reduce junk!
My inspiration for my obsession for DIY work is a magazine I often check on at the bookstore. MAKE magazine has played a large role in my creative lifestyle and introduces me to things that I can reuse for a more stylish DIY household.
http://makezine.com/
http://www.instructables.com/
http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/extraordinary_tvhu.htm
World Changing Response #7
ReplyDelete“Climate Foresight” p. 511
After the latest lecture, I have thought a lot about the future of our earth. It is very hard to imagine some of the things this section has mentioned and the things that Joe Trumpey has talked about in lecture. This section mentioned such things as Big Solar companies taking the place of Big Oil companies, diseases that will affect more parts of the world, and animals and plants migrating to places that fit their needs as the climate changes. I was not aware of the amount of cities that have taken on the Kyoto goals, but I was delighted to hear about them and to hear that government is actually implementing something to help our environment instead of working with more issues about acquiring more money. Then the section mentioned something that I had not thought about. The fact that there will probably be a huge dispute throughout the entire world over who is responsible for global climate change is something very serious, especially when the areas that will have the most damage caused by global climate change will be the ones who contributed the least to the destruction from carbon emissions. I could definitely see international lawsuits taking forth, and I think that this is something that should happen. Especially companies that have decided to raise their carbon emissions, even when there is clear evidence that this is destroying the earth, should be penalized. If money is the only thing that we care about, then we should use its power to take advantage of saving the environment.
Stephanie Blank
ReplyDeleteGlobal Film-Nollywood
Pg 368-372
When reading Global Film and Nollywood, I was amazed that Nollywood producers made films in less than 2 weeks for under $15,000. I wondered why the US doesn’t try to follow in these footsteps. I know we have more money as a country but it could really boost our economy to try and make some cheaper films. Reading this made me think of how much understanding and sympathy I gained from watching Slumdog Millionaire. I agree that movies bring us closer to other cultures because we truly do lose ourselves while watching a film. We place ourselves in the shoes of the characters and are completely engrossed in their lives. The power of film and the way it affects society is amazing and it can do wonders when it comes to gaining understanding for other cultures. It may lead to a more peaceful world.
Stephanie Blank
ReplyDeleteGreenwashed Food
Pg 55
The first time I heard the concept of greenwashed food was in my human physiology class in high school my senior year. Mr. Lauchu taught us the in and outs of misleading labels on food products until our ears were bleeding. He not only taught us about false advertisement for organic products, but also misleading information about health benefits such as “low fat” products that replace fat with more sugar which just turns into fat when its digested. So really, there’s the same amount of fat if not more in those products.
I feel that misleading advertisement of organic products is wrong, but on the other hand, if the certain product is truly organic, major corporations that also produce non-organic products should be able to label the ones that are organic. The consumer should be the one to know which companies they are supporting and whether or not all their products are organic.
Some of us purchase organic foods for different reasons. I like to eat healthy for instance, so if a certain product is organic, even if the entire line of products from that company are not, I would buy it because my reason for eating those foods are not to support individual companies. It’s to stay healthy. Maybe if the companies see that more people buy their organic products than inorganic products, they will start making more of their products organic.
(I Posted this a long time ago but i looked through all of them and it doesn't seem to be up anymore for some reason so here it is again just in case)
Stephanie Blank
ReplyDeleteStrong Angel
Pg 212-213
I think the mock refugee camp on the lava bed of Big Island was a wonderful idea. Strong Angel members were putting themselves in the shoes of people who may witness a natural disaster and that is the best way to know what is going to be needed from greatest to least importance and the best ways of communication throughout the camp in a natural disaster. It is too bad that strong angels discoveries of the groove network did not make it to the relief efforts after the tsunami that hit in 2004. Like in every natural disaster there is much panic, but this system would have made their lives so much easier, especially in terms of gathering all up to date information. Information can be transferred wirelessly through this system and no central server is necessary which is good because it insures that this information does not get destroyed in a crisis. It also gives people the ability to work offline and automatically synchronize the folders as soon as you reconnect to the Internet. This is a good idea to keep in mind for future natural disasters. Also the fact that this group took the time to place themselves in the situation to figure out the most effective methods of survival is something to be honored. I think if people applied this to other situations we would be a much stronger community at large. Very seldom to we take the time to really think about what is needed to solve societies problems.
Stephanie Blank
ReplyDeleteLanguage
Pg 375-376
Reading this section made me realize how important learning a diverse set of globalized languages is. I also realized how boring the world would be without these languages defining our different cultures. I think that people who know the language of their origin are more connected with their culture, which is why I am really looking forward to learning Italian and studying abroad in Italy. I also feel like it’s important for all of us to be able to communicate with one another. As I said in one of my weekly responses, if everyone had at least one language in common and were able to clearly understand and communicate with one another, this world would be a more peaceful place.
World Changing #7
ReplyDeletePg. 114 Knowing What’s Green
It’s important to know that we the buyers are just as responsible for what happens with our products afterwards. Recycling in general costs a lot of money to do because of the time spent. One thing I’ve learned about recycling is that it is very selective with what is reused because of hygiene and money. The design of women’s shoe heels change from thin to thick yearly because they want people to follow the “trend” and obviously point out who is in style and who isn’t. There are designers out there who are meant to purposely point out the flaws in society and wish to exploit them to “trick” the consumers into buying their product as a means to make they look cool. With recycling it is becoming a trend in stores to buy green products, but like the reading says, it’s becoming so widespread that many companies are finding “loopholes” to these trends. Now whenever you shop at Wal-Mart or Kroger you can find reusable bags and “local” cookies from a bakery. These companies have no interest in the environment but do understand what will sell. We want to encourage a sustainable world, but with people using these environmental movements for their own profit it makes it much harder to see what is really benefiting the world with their green products.
Response 1 Doing the right thing can be delicious p51
ReplyDeleteGreen revolution changed a lot of things including our lifestyles. Everything is so fast paced right now. Especially when it comes to food. I know a lot of my friends’ family they barely get together and sit at a table and eat. They either go out to eat or get fast food to go. Indeed it is faster, it consumes more energy than home cooked local food. It is also harmful to body, since no one really knows what’s inside of the food made by someone else. Home cooked food gives us more control over our food, especially if we buy local food. Also I’ve never realized the correlation between my food and fossil fuels. Delivering and packaging of processed food consume a lot of energy.
Response 2 Brands P.393
ReplyDeleteI do realize that I pay a lot of attention to brands when I go shopping. I only go to certain stores in the mall to get clothes. It is not that I don’t like other stores or other brands. It is the thing behind it. Different brands stand for different identities and promise different things in their commercial. However the materials or even the styles are the same in lots of stores. The money I paid for certain branded clothes is higher than the actual cost of manufacturing. The actual money is paid for the luxury feelings and the promises made by commercials that cannot be seen. For example, urban outfitters used to be one of my favorite places to shop. It is a bit pricey. But I like their style a lot. The quality is not that good. It is so easily to be worn out. H&M is the other store I like a lot. However a lot of their goods are made overseas in China, India, Bangladesh or central Asian. That’s part of the reason H&M is inexpensive while having clothes designed by famous designers. Although the money I pay is not that much the invisible cost cannot be overlooked. It is hard for me to immune those glamorous advertisements and commercials. I do notice that it is different to see the product on TV and to actually own the product. There are a lot of things behind brands. I think I should be more careful when I shopping, look deeper to the inside.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #5
Green Roofs – p.256
The idea of creating plant life on top of a roof is something I had never really considered until recently, while reading a National Geographic article about the differences it can make in urban environments. When flat, open roofs are normally just ignored, this seems like an easy and beneficial solution. In World Changing, it is explained how easy it is to maintain a roof garden when you live in a climate other than a desert, because the natural rainfall can help to water the plants most of the time. Another benefit is the fact that the roof would absorb harmful UV rays and would add oxygen to the air. In cities, many people are not exposed to much nature, and a green roof could provide an escape for people and a place to really enjoy nature amidst an environment of steel and concrete. A person can grow certain plants and herbs on their roof, and take less frequent trips to the grocery store to buy foods their, promoting the idea of eating locally.
World Changing #1 “Biomorphism”
ReplyDelete“Biomorphism is all about the form”(pg 102), and in most cases when dealing with creating human structures we revert to the form created by nature. We see different forms out in real life nature everyday, and aesthetically we react differently to the different forms, so designers and scientists alike have come together to form new innovative buildings, and objects that use nature as a taking off point. Buckminster Fuller is one of the main people spoken about in this article, and he is said to be “one of the greatest designers of the twentieth century” (104). I personally had never heard of him before reading this information but after I fully understand how he has influenced our green nation with his inventions. “Spaceship Earth”, was a phrase coined by him about how we only have one planet and I think that that is a perfect way to describe the fact that this is all we have so we should really begin to take care of it and appreciate it more. I think the design that I find most interesting is that of the Front designs. They use rats, snakes and flies in their experiments to create different new aesthetics. An example I found extremely interesting was the lamp shade created by capturing the random flight a fly makes around a light bulb, and creating that same pattern as a lampshade. I would never in a million years think of something like that. We take all of these natural little instances that happen everyday in our lives for granted, and I don’t think critically think about how to transfer them into pieces of manmade beauty often enough. Another interesting product created by this Front Design is their use of rats. They have “rats gnaw on wallpaper until a pattern of holes and tears emerges that allows the old wallpaper to show through in a most unique way” (103). I think another reason this is so interesting to me is because they are taking animals that are not usually thought by people as very beautiful parts of nature and allowing them to create aesthetics that we find amazing and further glorifying their natural life tendencies in beautiful ways.
World Changing Statement #2 “Engineer It Yourself”
ReplyDeleteI am a creative thinker, not in the terms of engineering however, which is why I think it is funny that I landed on this article and had to read it. The DIY movement (Do-It-Yourself) does not mean arts and crafts, but a desire to mess around with technologies and old items that are no longer “usable”, and creating new inventive ideas to bring them back to life. We used to be a nation of inventors and people who were constantly creating in the United States. Over a period of time we lost touch of this idea, and recently have been sinking back into this idea of re-invention. “Makers have been publishing discoveries, connecting with one another and using the internet” to have their ideas become realities all around the globe. Now, anyone with a curious bone in their body can become an engineer with the technology of simply longing onto this instructional website called Instructables.com which has real peoples ideas and instructions. I think it is so awesome that all of these people that spend their free time creating have an outlet to get their ideas out to the general public and have an opportunity to get recognized in a higher scale. This site seems like a million job opportunities waiting to happen, and such a great idea to take full advantage of our technologies to help improve our world. It also seems as though it would help a lot with consumption decrease because if more people went on this website and became more familiar with the materials around them to create new items we could possibly have less need to go out and buy new materials. The reuse of materials is a huge possibility here, and maybe if we keep going with this idea of recycling our materials to new inventions we can cut down our waste as well.
World Changing Statement #3 “Eating Better Meat and Fish”
ReplyDeleteI am a meat eater; I love the taste of all types of meats, and don’t usually have a preference about where my meat comes from. I have grown up with the notion of “don’t know, don’t care”. Before this class I had never even realized, or thought about where the things I put in my mouth come from, which now kind of makes me feel a bit sick. I have plenty of friends that are vegetarians/vegans, and in high school when they used to try and shove information about factories and such down my throat I would ignore them and eat my chicken sandwich with pride… Not so much anymore. I have noticed in recent years that more places that my family and I go out to eat say specifically where their meat and seafood comes from, which a few years ago would have been scarcely seen. This hit home to me also to start learning where the food I ate came from when a few years ago we thought my little sister had a disorder, which made her body grow at an abnormal rate because of hormones in foods such a meat and dairy products. It turns out that was not the case for her, but for many other children around the US it is because of all of the gross injections we give our meat in order to make the animals grow faster. This type of food should not be on the market, or even allowed to be consumed because of its harmful long term effects and thankfully there are becoming more and more friendly humane and healthier ways in which meat is being produced.
World Changing Statement #4 “Understand Trade”
ReplyDeleteAfter World War 2 we as a nation formed an alliances of trade with other countries and created a larger base for imports and exports. I love the beginning of this article because it is so true. We wake up every morning, some of us with a routine, some just jump out of bed and leave, but weather we’re aware of it or not we come in contact with products, and hundreds or items from all over the globe. This idea fascinates me, and makes me wonder if I was to actually sit there and calculate everything I use on a daily basis how many countries I come in contact with. I kind of had a small idea how many places around the world I come in contact with during our stuff project, but I think it would be interesting to see just how many things I touch, or see in a day that are not American made. We are in a globalized age and I think that it is just going to increase as we grow older because of the ever changing technologies, fashions, and producion of the world itself.
production*
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing Statement #5 “Consuming Responsibility”
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to tell exactly what companies are corrupt. No company is going to explicitly say, “Please come buy our products, we exploit our employees, and use toxic fibers in our clothes!” That is just not realistic. In order to be a smart consumer you have to do your research, but honestly who is going to go through all of that trouble? Places like American Apparel aren’t popular for my generation because they are eco-friendly, actually before reading this article I didn’t even know that they were one of the leaders in bringing mainstream attention against sweatshops. American Apparel for me simply is a stereotype. If you ask anyone on campus they can probably tell you that American Apparel is usually worn by “Daddy-please”, type of girls from the upper east side of New York, and the reason they buy and wear these products I can almost guarantee is not because of its better labor laws, or help for the “Green” revolution. I also feel as though their products are extremely expensive which is why less people are shopping there then somewhere like, Target. People are not going to do as much research as it takes to spend their money on clothes, they are going to want to go and buy the cheapest available outfits that look good. High Fashion is a completely different story also, because a lot of the time you will not see people wearing such items that are created for the runway, even if there are eco-friendly. I’m not trying to sound rude in what I’m saying but in all honesty I would have never really known that American Apparel, or High Fashion were creating products that were helping to promote to the general public these issues.
World Changing Statement #6 “Cars and Fuel”
ReplyDeleteSomething that struck me a lot about this article was in parenthesis about hybrids “quickly becoming Hollywood’s trendy new accessory”. This idea is one issue I have with hybrids. I feel as though a lot more people would be willing to change to hybrids and become Green if they had the money to afford to do so. When I first think of Hybrid cars, I think I have been programmed to think “expensive”. I’m not sure if this is actually true, but in my mind that is the first thing that comes to it. Another thing I found really interesting in this article is this idea that cars are like our identities now. I know for me personally, I had the same car all through high school, and when I would be driving around people would notice me first by my car, then by my face. I had a British Racing Green 2003 Mini Cooper; my sister and I shared it. When I first got my license in 2005, gas prices were not a huge issue for me and my family that soon changed however though. I remember, I think it was my junior year of high school when gas prices went up almost over night from one dollar to almost four, and soon my parents were monitoring everywhere I went. I wasn’t allowed to simply drive where ever I wanted, I had to start carpooling with people, and at the time I was annoyed by the fact that I wasn’t allowed to drive where ever and however long I wanted. Driving has become like a pastime for American’s. It used to be that people and their friends would go on road trips all the time as summer pastimes, even living out of their cars, but in recent years the number of people going on long road trips has diminished. People are more conscience I think on how much they drive not because of their effect on the world but because they do not want to have to spend so much money on gas. That scare when the prices went up was a huge wake up call for most of our nation on just how dependent we are on other countries for oil. It is kind of scary to think that other countries have such a large hold on us simply based on a fossil fuel that is not technically even anyone but the earths creation. We need to figure out a way to make an affordable way of transportation that will make oil need obsolete, otherwise, once the oil is gone we’re going to go into complete chaos.
Weekly Statement #7 “Brands”
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of brands I automatically think of shapes, symbols, and of identities. The shapes I see are that of the Nike “swoosh”, or the McDonald’s “Golden Archways”, which no longer are shapes but symbols in our society for products. This article hit directly on the head all of the different companies in which we are thrown to see every day. Advertisements also play a huge role in our consumption overload and sense of self worth. Our lives are built on a cycle of consumption due to brands. We go to work to make money, to go home and turn on the television to be bombarded with thousands of advertisements telling us what we are is wrong, that everything from what we put in our hair to the types of shoes we wear are wrong. Brands pop into our minds with these advertisements making us feel the need to go out and shop and buy these products, these identities to feel better about ourselves. This cycle goes on an on because we are never content, because there is new products being designed all the time so we feel the need to be loyal to our brands and continue to buy. Have you ever realized that after a day of shopping you are exhausted, and in fact do not actually feel better what so ever, but worse? We make an emotional connection to different companies because of their symbols and the way in which they produce their products to certain demographics so we feel the need to continue to spend even though in reality it does not make us happier as people. In the last 50 years, our happiness level has decreased dramatically, and I believe this is due to our over consumption. We see an average of 3000 advertisements a day, if you ask me that is absolutely ridiculous. When my little sister was 4 years old she could spot McDonalds from miles away just based on the “Golden Archways”. There is nothing “Golden” about a four year old spotting out an establishment that could ultimately make her arteries close up. I feel as though as time goes on we are no longer going to have names for companies but simply their symbols as indicators of where all of us sheep should herd to.
Response 3 Understanding Trade p.39
ReplyDeleteFrom watching Manufactured Landscape I learned a lot about international trades especially the manufacturing and the recycling of goods. Here in world changer, it talks about similar stuff. The thing that gets me is that although the US is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, most of the cotton is exported to the countries manufacture clothes. It seems ridiculous, to ship cotton back and forth. But it is the cheaper way to do it. Labors in countries like China, India and Bangladesh cost less than that in the US. However we cannot underestimate the invisible cost--- the damage to the environment, the energy consumed, etc. I think it would help to establish fair trade, raise the salaries of laborers in developing countries. But it would increase the price of manufacturing thus affect the whole chain. Globalization brings a lot of convenience along with a lot of problems, when one thing on the chain changes, the whole system changes.
WC 5
ReplyDeleteSamantha Levy
See “Shelter”, “Building a Green Home” p.147
In the chapter “building a green home” I learned about various architects and designers that have worked to create the most efficient homes which are concerned with cost, energy, waste, usability, and time.
The Zero-Energy Home by Zoka Zola combines looks with ability to ‘passively’ generate all of the energy it uses. The house uses sun and ventilation to heat and cool itself along with consciously placed windows and trees. The ivy covered exterior walls and roof provides protection to the building itself in addition to creating a leisure and gardening space. This house adapts to its location and remains relatively affordable.
SmartHomes are created to take care of themselves and make performing duties such as watering the lawn an automated task. While this seems to me to contribute to our increasingly lazy image as humans (think those hovering lounges in WallE), it does provide a good opportunity to disabled homeowners.
Prefab homes are exactly what their name suggests: prefabricated. Building homes offsite makes them more cost and energy efficient to build, and they have become more pleasing to the eye over time.
Taking these prefab homes to the next level is the so-called ‘Bright-Green Home’ by Andrew Maynard, which adapts over time. Small units can be combined together to create a house with a near limitless amount of options. This saves money that is typically spent on tearing down and rebuilding a house as a family expands or shrinks.
Learning about green homes makes me think about how much I could save money-wise but also how I could be more environmentally friendly by adopting these ideas.
WC 6
ReplyDeleteSamantha Levy
See “Planet”, “Charting Deep Oceans” p.521
Learning about deep-sea exploration both in this chapter and from outside sources (Planet Earth etc.) has always astounded me, how could we know so little about something so close to us? Seeing footage of the deep-sea vents clustered with tubeworms was almost like watching an alien in space: it is remarkable how life can exist in such extreme environments. I have also always been interested in such coral reefs, or the ‘rainforests of the sea’, because of their makeup (exoskeletons of coral polyps) and the life they shelter. It was upsetting to learn from this chapter how strongly we are affecting coral reefs and their development. I also never thought of the negative impart of deep-sea exploration; the last section in the chapter discusses how commercialism of the biological benefits of deep-sea resources could potentially cause destruction. That would be one more thing we humans would interfere (or destroy) with. The end of the section describes that we may have to develop a UN for the ocean and states, “We may soon see international deep-sea eco-cops chasing bio-pirates through the hot plumes and black smokers of the ocean floor” (524). The imagery that the last statement conjured is very disturbing. Could we possibly invade more of the planet?!
WC 7
ReplyDeleteSamantha Levy
See “Planet”, “Restoration Ecology” p.484
This chapter discusses something that we learned about in Sand County Almanac: the importance of getting back to nature. Instead of performing the literal task of spending more time in the wilderness, restoration ecology involves humans in nature and provides numerous benefits. Restoration ecology not only helps the environment through action, but it also creates ties between the people who perform these duties and the land. If a person knows how much polluting has affected a certain species of tree which they helped to replant in a local park, chances our that this person will try to reduce pollution.
In the chapter, the importance of Mangrove trees is discussed. Mangroves protect our increasingly populated coastlines in the event of a hurricane or tsunami, yet humans are destroying them for developments. Restoring some already damaged Mangrove forests or replacing them entirely would be a great way to bring people back to nature. It often goes unnoticed (like in the case of these trees) that if we protect or restore nature, it will protect us.
The next part of the chapter talks about reintroducing relatives of extinct species to areas such as North America. This will help return the environment back to the way it was before we began influencing it.
The idea of using restoration ecology seems like a double-edged sword: restoring the environment AND motivating people to do so.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #6
Craft It Yourself – p.91
I loved reading this section of the book because it related to my group project and to crafts, which I love doing. The section talks about the DIY movement and how it has picked up rapidly in the past few years. The main ideas behind what they call “Do-it-yourselfers” are, empowerment, creativity, and access to information. I love this because it is such a positive idea that benefits the person doing it, and the environment. By making things new out of old, you are reducing the amount of waste substantially, and I find that it makes me feel awesome when I make something and people ask where I bought it, and then I can tell them that I made it.
I like the ideas that they proposed in this section, such as the Sod Sofa, which looks awesome and is totally green friendly, and the Cooking-with-wax Bowls. I have old vinyl LP’s that I don’t listen to, so I definitely plan on trying to use them to make bowls. I think that if more people would try to make things out of what they already own, we could make a difference in the amount of waste that accumulates in landfills everyday.
Alexis Newton
ReplyDeleteWorld Changing #7
Art Meets Technology – p.97
This section is one that I chose to write about because I consider myself to be an artistic person, and the section is about the combination of art and technology; technology being one of two main themes for our class this year. I love the different ideas that are described in this section, such as the Hug Shirt. At first I thought the idea somewhat weird, but at the same time, who doesn’t love a hug? It also made me think about how it relates to our reliance on technology. If a person is talking on that phone and can receive a “hug” from that person without even being anywhere near them, what does that say about our reliance on technology? In a way I feel like the idea could even be a comment on this topic.
I also like the video game idea called “Disaffected!” That aims to make the players think about their relationship to consumption and to think about corporations in a new way. I like that this idea uses technology to reach those people that may be the least connected from ideas of sustainability and nature, to try and make them think about these topics more.
A Zero-Energy Home
ReplyDeletePg 147-148
I think it’s really important to consider the environment when planning your home. So many new houses are built that use immense amounts of energy when it is now possible to create homes that are completely self sufficient and completely healthy for the environment. It is especially important to build self-sufficient homes now that we really need to conserve our energy not only because using oil releases horrible toxins into the environment but we are running out of it.
Paint
ReplyDeletePg 160
I never realized the side effects of paint before reading this. I thought that the only time that paint was toxic was when there was lead in it. Aalto Color has a good idea of reducing the amount of toxins in their paint. Although I don’t think it will really make a difference for people that aren’t around it all the time, it is a good idea for professional painters who are around the stuff day in and day out.
Global Music
ReplyDeletePg 374
I think having music from different cultures is important. Like language, it gives us a new perspective; insight and understanding into another aspect of their culture. Although world music is not a very clear genre, perhaps too broad, since there are so many types of different cultural music, it is better than not incorporating their music into our selection. Maybe they should separate global music by country to narrow down the options so people can find what they are looking for more easily.
Response 4 Landscaping p.198
ReplyDeleteI remember when professor talked about American homes; he said people tend to choose the least offensive colors such as white or beige, he also said that people tend to show off on the street side of the their property. Lawn is such a good example. Lawns are useless, they consumes a lot of water and nutrition. Sometimes chemicals are sprayed over lawns to prevent weeds from growing, which is extremely harmful to the soil. It also needs a lot of work. During the summer people at least mow lawns twice a month. During the fall people spend a lot of time picking up leaves, while it is totally unnecessary because leaves can be used as fertilizer. I like the idea turning front and backyard into gardens. It will not only save a lot of money and energy but also will provide fresh and clean food resource. But I think it will take a lot of courage to do it. I’ve been talking about this topic with several friends and expressed my doubts about “typical middle class American homes”. Most of the responses I got were “ you don’t question it, that’s what people normally do.” If what we normally do is harmful to the environment and to ourselves, our habits need to change.
Response 5 Biodiversity: how much nature is enough? P.491
ReplyDeleteNot a lot of people have noticed the issue of extinction of animals. Some people empathize with it. But it’s hard for most of people to see the connection between animal extinctions and human lives. We are part of the ecosystem, thus one part of the ecosystem collapse the whole system will be endangered. Although nature has ability to restore itself, the damage we do today doesn’t give nature any chance to recover. Scientists have noticed the problem of biodiversity loss and they are trying to find ways to save endangered species to reduce the speed of animal extinction. They also try to record DNA of different species hoping to bring extinct species back. I think to preserve biodiversity only relay on scientists and hoping for miracle happen is not enough. We should realize that biodiversity loss is a major problem and try to limit our effects on the nature.
Response 6 Urban Community Development p.339
ReplyDeleteFor my field research I went to Detroit. I was shocked to see the differences between neighborhoods. One is in Woodward Ave area, which is near downtown, completely trashed and broken with houses that are falling apart. The other is call Indian village, which is where all the wealthy people lives with fancy houses built in early 1900s. The inequality in development caused such division. And I think the barrier is getting bigger and bigger. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Most of the male in poor neighborhood has been into jail. Thus there’s little possibility for them to get job. I like the idea mentioned in the book to provide green jobs rather than send massive amount of people into job. It will not only help the poor but also will provide food resource to the city and near area. And to me the more exciting thing is that this will actually happen in Detroit. The economy of Michigan is crushing down and the crime rates are getting higher. Urban farm will provide lots of job opportunities. I hope urban farm would expand and be all over Michigan and turn this land of manufacturing into a green land that’s eco friendly.
Response 7 Furniture and Home Décor p.157
ReplyDeleteI’m taking a furniture making class. I’ve been learning a lot about how furniture are made step by step. Usually I don’t think much about materials and hardware I use unless it bugs me. I do remember when I was spray-painting or putting the wood stain on I couldn’t stand the smell. I probably breathed in a lot of toxic chemicals. When I’m choosing woods, since I don’t have a big budget, I tend to choose the cheapest ones such as plywood instead of real wood. It is terrifying for me to think about put furniture made out of such material in homes. It will keep releasing toxic chemicals for months even years. I had a friend had leukemia caused by toxic chemicals in indoor décor pollution and passed away. When I think about lumber, it’s a lot of money, but compare to life it’s nothing. Also I think recycling used materials, especially woods, is a good idea. It not only reduces the cost of woods, but also helps consume less resource.