Plan B

Digital Design by: Kamilah Van

Are you Taking Care of Things?

au·thor·i·ty
1.      the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.

As humans it seems that we have absolute authority and control over all of the Earth's creations. We can choose the impact we make. If other elements reign over us it can be hard to get things done and the needs of the greater good can be ignored. "It looks now as though food is the weak link, just as it was for many earlier civilizations"(Brown). Instead of going against the environment and the benefits it holds we can all work together to benefit everyone's basic needs. Those with a loving authority and awareness of the environment are proof of this. "As the world struggles to feed all its people, farmers are facing several trying trends" (Brown). It's a tragedy to see that people go without when something could be done to change this reality.

ex·pec·ta·tion

1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation.

It is amazing how we give people the responsibility over the environment and creatures that inhabit Earth. We are expected to take responsibility for the environment and the other creatures that share our planet. So I ask this, what have you done in your life to reach environment expectations? We could all use the selflessness of people who wish to protect resources and restore certain areas.  In order to provide a better future an example for living our own life with respect to the environment can inspire others.

A Land Remembered

Kamilah Van
IDS 3920 CRN 10140
Professor Brenda Thomas
Journal Entry A Land Remembered: Solomon MacIvey

Solomon MacIvey is the first character that comes to mind. He is a part of a wealthy family that became very prominent in the land. Through the use of the Florida resources his family was able to create a legacy for themselves, though not always so noble in nature. Though his is the last in the line of this notorious family it is interesting to see his recollection of the land where he was raised and his family’s rise to power. The character relates to the environment and the natural world because he was immersed in it as a child. Though his family did not always use the land in the best of ways he was still able to relate and recall the nature of its original beauty.

Photo Credit: http://rschreiber.edublogs.org/

The character’s sense of place and legacy is that though he has not always made the best of choices in his rise to power in his late life he is making sure that he can leave the world by righting some of the wrings that he has done which I find admirable. I relate to this character because I can see how he had to choose between successes and how he would go about getting it. Most people only think about money or opportunities to be gained and don’t always think of the damage they may cause to others involved. My sense of place is that I’ve lived a very sheltered life. I’ve never had to focus much on the environment around me and the role I play. When I began attending Florida Gulf Coast University that is when I really started to think about the role I play and the importance of the natural state of Florida and the plants and animals that are native to the land. The legacy I hope to leave is one that is respectful to the land and can embody it beauty. It's important to strive for succes and advance society but I believe it can be done without harming the beauty of the natural resources of the land.

Journal Entry: Grunwald

Kamilah Van
Professor Brenda Thomas
Journal Entry: Grumwald

Exerpt from The Swamp:The Everglades, Florida, and Politics of Paradise

Endgame

Michael Grunwald

Overall I found the reading to be very informative about the restoration of the Everglades. I never knew how much of a process it was to get certain plans in order to help restore this area. In the open of the reading the author speaks about the slogan behind the campaign for Everglades’ restoration “A Time to Act”. I think that the slogan is interesting to see the relation to the campaign because it offers a call to action to all who read it.

Photo Credit: http://evergladesreview.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/white-house-disney-news-conference.jpg  

Key officials had absolute authority and control over the restoration of the Everglades. With other individuals it is noted that we need to focus on the needs of the land and do what is best for it. “Action taken to restore the Everglades in the next year will set the course for the next several decades”. There are a lot of people who would love to see the area grow with loving authority and I believe the hard work of the people draws me in to this project and its success.  “After months of cheerleading for CERP, the Everglades Coalition once again had to decide what to do about an Everglades restoration plan with questionable benefits for the Everglades”.

Photo Credit: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/01/us/02everglades.4-650.jpg

It is amazing how we hold so much responsibility over the environment and creatures that inhabit Earth. The usually mild-mannered Senator Mack once yelled at him to mind his own business, nut Voinovich believed that if the Everglades was really “America’s Everglades, “as the Florida senators kept calling it, then a threat to the Everglades was America’s business”. As I continued to read the text I wondered if the efforts that were taken were effective and if the slogan could be used national to promote more concern towards the restoration of this region.

 

Photo Credit: http://media.cagle.com/53/2012/04/11/109781_600.jpg

Journal Entry #3 Douglas

Kamilah Van

Professor Brenda Thomas

IDS 3920 CRN 10140

Journal Entry: Douglas

I found the reading to be very interesting. It was very descriptive in talking about the nature of the everglades. I liked this part the most because I have never been to the everglades but the author’s description gave me something to envision.  As the author began to elaborate more on the different aspects of the everglades I began to marvel at how awesome this environment was in its beginning. From outside knowledge I know that today there are a lot of restoration projects to help save the everglades and I can see the reasoning for such action. I like how the author was able to break down the elements of the everglades: grass, water, and rocks to help describe more of its majestic qualities.  I came along this quote: “The mangrove becomes a solid barrier there, which by its strong, arched and labyrinthine roots collects the sweepage of the fresh water and salt and holds back the parent tree” (Douglas). I found this interesting because it reminded me of the field trip we took and how we were able to see the difference between the different types of mangroves. It also allowed me to see more of the purposes they hold in that ecosystem.

Photo Credit: www.gorp.com

Everything in the everglades holds its purpose in making the area what it is and how it functions. From the water to the trees and animals that reside there I have come to see that everything holds purpose. “Sometimes the rainy season goes all summer, casually raining here and there so that the green things never quite dry out while salt-water mosquitos from the brackish pools about the coasts blow on the west wind in thin screaming hordes” (Douglas). This quote makes me think back to mosquito trenches that were identified on the last field trip and the purpose that it held in providing food for the smaller fish. Though those were different ecosystems I can still see the connection.


Photo Credit: www.tripadvisor.com

As people have come to experience the beauty of the everglades I find that the environment is resilient… at least that is what I can sense from the reading. It goes through its lifecycle and helps to host a multitude of plants and animals. “The life and death of the saw grass is only a moment of that flow in which time, the vastest river, carries us and all life forward” (Douglas). I hope that the authors method will be able to inspire others to that the everglades can be protected and allowed to be something that is still a characteristic of Florida ecosystems.  

Journal Entry #2 Leopold

Kamilah Van
IDS 3920 CRN 10140
Journal Entry Two

Aldo Leopold offered some extensive insight on how the land we live on can be treated better for greater use in the future. Believe it or not we add value to the land that we live on but we also have the ability to diminish that value. It is important to pay close attention to what Leopold offers in the text and still be able to come to your own conclusions. What I enjoyed most about this text was the constant relation to what could be done to help the land and also the explanation of different concepts that are being used. In the opening of the excerpt Leopold speaks about the concept of right and wrong in Greece time. This brings about and important question: What is determined right or wrong in regards to land treatment?  Taking a look into the evolution of the human environment it can be clear that different cultures have their own preferences to how they interact with their environment.

Photo Credit: http://www.tibetanbuddhistaltar.org/our-nature-is-love/

I found the community concept to be an interesting set up because how it includes a sense of belonging in an environment in a competitive form. It also shows that knowing your environment is important in how you interact with it. It's important to think about how we interact with our environment in both negative and positive ways. I believe there should be balance between a person and there environment. The resources that we us and the way we care for our environment says a lot about who we are as people. “No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an internal change in our intellectual emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions” (Leopold). With this statement it adds to the author’s emphasis of conservation and how it is a part of our philosophical and religious beliefs. Together we can make sure that the land health is still a continuing value that is incorporated in our way of living as time goes on. Love the land, love each other and watch the wonders it can do.

 

Journal Entry One: Louv

Kamilah Van
IDS 3920 CRN 10140
Journal Entry # 1

I really enjoyed the text by Richard Louv. His research and included examples was insightful and was an excellent way to start off the subject matter for this course. I admired how he included multiple examples on the effect of nature and human interaction. Though his focus was on ADHD and ADD and the statistics associated with children, I find the reading was able to capture the essence of why interaction with nature is a must with everyone. A lot of people have grown up or currently reside in areas where much of the natural environment is depleting and it is pleasing to see how beneficial interaction with the natural elements can alleviate some of the medical challenges that exist today. In the opening of the text Louv stated "She doesn't understand why P.E. is so limited, or why the playground can't be more conducive to natural play." (Louv, Page 1). Through this description of a teacher commenting on her kindergarten class it shows the changes of the time and how P.E. or time set aside for outside enjoyment during school hours is constantly evolving. Though this example was just the opening to the extensive research and explanation that was done for other topics I find this to be most relatable to myself and I'm quite sure others will agree. Time has changed in regards to the amount of outdoor opportunities has depleted from when I was in elementary school. In today’s society many students don’t have the opportunity to experience the joys of nature whether on the blacktop playground or out in the protected forest areas. Somewhere along the line it is my hope that all children, teens, and adults will have the opportunity to interact with the natural environment whether it is at a park, beach, or campsite.  The benefits of outdoor pursuits would do some if not all of those age groups some good.

 

 

Later on in the text Richard Louv goes on to explain “The fascination factor associated with nature is restorative, and it helps relieve people from directed-attention fatigue" (Louv, Page 6). With the efforts of the Kaplan’s and their take on psychology and the involvement with nature, it was very interesting to see how their research and exercises were able to be a beneficial form of therapy in a way. Through this restorative relief it was very apparent that the connection between traditional treatment of ADHD and this take on environment interaction provides more options for children and possible adults that are going through a nature deficit. The remainder of the text speaks volumes for itself but I truly enjoyed this reading. I will take away from it that there are a lot of benefits to outdoor involvement and also nature therapy can do a world of good especially to those who are not able to get as much outdoor accessibility. So whatever the interaction I can see where nature holds it mysterious wonders and remains a constant in human interaction and involvement. I know that whenever I am feeling out of touch with the elements or stressed star gazing or reflection on the beach (or FGCU Waterfront) always does well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sXHWXCsoaE