Jennifer Loving ENG 101
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Education and the Proliferation of the New(old) Concepts:
The article starts by saying that good education is
connected to a good economy. Although, education is a perfect way to
prepare for the future, the interest to let education serve different ends is
arising. Since the ecological circumstances are not up to par, the article
states that the concepts of agrarianism, the commons, no-growth economics, and
maximum wage will increase in popularity over time. The education
one receives today should not be different from the wealthy versus the poor.
Society has attempted many times to change these ways and begin a no-growth and
maximum wage policy. However, we have not succeeded.
The article discusses how agrarianism should be put
into place. Agrarianism, in definition terms, is a “doctrine of an equal
division of landed property and the advancement of agricultural
groups.” Instead of remembering the cultural view of agriculture,
such as “frugality, good neighbor ship, the avoidance of risk, and
psychological profit in work done well”, we, as humans, tend to think farming
as just a way a life: a way in which money can be made. If agrarianism
came a part of the future, citizens would benefit from sharing a community and
having a neighborhood for all families.
Next, the article discusses no-growth economics.
The need for the no-growth economics concept is a result from the “environmental
degradation” of today’s world. The idea is that there will be no rich or
poor people, just a middle-class population. To be successful in a no-growth
economy is taxes. Therefore, there would be an establishment of maximum wage.
President Roosevelt attempted to pass a law that taxed 100% to the one’s
making over $25,000 dollars per year. However, the law was never put into
motion. Like the agrarianism and the commons, the no-growth economy and
maximum wage shall launch through education, and result in service in “economic
and political dimensions to life.”
Through the government, we are “dominated” by the
wealthiest people and with that we have much hope that some will take a
“proactive policy stand.” Instead of allowing our world to continue to
take part in these acts, humans should agree that project-based learning,
social reconstruction, pedagogy and community-based curriculum are the aspects
that will get our world ready for the environmental and global problems we are
facing, and also the ones to come.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Indigenous Resistance Response
The essay “Indigenous resistance and racist schooling on the borders of
empires: Coast Salish cultural survival” discusses the difference between two
empires and how the people of British Columbia and Washington State had
borderland regions with contrasting policies. By definition, the term
colonization education means “one nation or territory taking control of another
nation or territory either through force or acquisition.” The experience of the Coast Salish people was
tough considering they were separated and put into schools that were segregated, where they could not practice their own values.
Often,
the impact from colonization of education led to leaving those who were a part
of change with a lack of identity and few memories of the past. Psychological problems even developed during this time from such a dramatic change. The reason that
the victims of these schools cannot remember their past is because their
customs and beliefs that were once practiced would “slowly slip away.” The Coast Salish students “land claims,
treaties, and fishing rights were at stake.” The students were resisting this
education all the way up until the 20th century. However, there was a right to resist since their culture was being completely stripped away.
I do not think it is morally right to take the culture and heritage away from a group of people. Now, thankfully, there are rights against actions such as these, and people can attend to schools as they please. In schools, students are now able and allowed to speak their own languages. It is unjust that their precious culture was a thing of the past, and the only way to keep it alive was to tell or listen to stories from the elderly. It is traumatic to read and attempt to understand what these people went through, and how hard it must have been. People need to be more appreciative how lucky we Americans have it today.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Meatrix
After watching the
videos on Meatrix, one will undoubtedly have a huge wake up call. The Meatrix
is described as “the story we tell ourselves about where meat and animal
products come from.” The main purpose of factory farming is to grow a mass
production of a meat or dairy product in a short amount of time. The catchy
videos put the techniques of farming today in an elementary viewpoint, which is
easy to understand for all ages. The way that the environmental problems are put into fun videos is much more effective than an article in a magazine or newspaper article. The videos take the role from the animals perspective and how they are put together in tight areas, where it is difficult to even turn around. Not only are these
animals being treated in such a cruel manner, the amount of excrete in a small
area builds up and pollutes the air and water, which effects humans through simply breathing or drinking water. This act causes humans whose homes are around factory farms to stay sick. By supporting these industries we are allowing our health to be put at risk.
This is happening everywhere, and effects everyone associated in factory farming, including the workers and the consumers. Most people have always heard that fast food is unhealthy, but now it is just as unhealthy is eat the meat or dairy products purchased from the grocery store. Now that I’ve seen these videos, I have a
completely different outlook on factory farming. Meatrix is by far a great way
to start and become aware of these harmful factors. We, as a community, need to
come together and get involved! Americans should not have to settle for
unhealthy food!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Real Text-- Biotechnology
In chapter 6 of the
Real Text book, the authors discuss how to persuade with balanced arguments.
Real Text provides the reader with 3 specific steps in which biotechnology
writers should complete in order to achieve such balance. First, “use a
moderate tone”. By using a moderate tone, a person can still show respect to
the people who disagree and give everyone a right to their own opinion. Second,
“present evidence that everyone respects and understands.” Using evidence that
people can respect benefits the person presenting the argument because if they
do not fully understand the information being presented from inappropriate
terminology, that an average person can not comprehend, or data that people do
not agree with, the argument will likely end in a different way than planned.
Last, “provide practical solutions.” Providing practical solutions is important
because the writer wants the reader to understand that it is the best and
realistic option, while also demonstrating that the option may not be perfect.
Using these 3 strategies effectively will better one’s chances of appealing to
all readers.
Biotechnology is a study, in the field of
biology, in which there is a use of living organisms and they are conducted
through engineering, manufacturing, technology and medicine. Some applications
that are preformed through biotechnology are as follows: production of drugs,
hormones, and genetically altered bacteria. Many humans have different
opinions on whether this study is ethical. The chapter demonstrates how each
individual would go about arguing such a sensitive subject. An issue is
genetically altered food (GM) and environmentalists would certainly not agree
with this because they are borrowing genes from another species. The fact of
the matter is this; our population is growing at such a rapid pace and by 2020
there will be an extra 1.5 billion people, with not enough food to suffice the
population. Our society needs to come together and agree on these problems.
Through persuasive arguments, the problem will be carefully considered in all
angles and will be better organized.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Natural Gas Fracking Linked to Water Contamination
In the article, “EPA: Natural Gas
Fracking Linked to Water Contamination” federal environmental agents link the
water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming to hydraulic fracturing. By definition, hydraulic fracturing is an act
in which one attempts to “create fractures in rocks and rock formations by
injecting a mixture of sand and water into the cracks to force the underground
to open further.” Gas companies such as EnCana, the owner of the Pavillion
wells, believe the fracking process is safe. Their belief is that the
hydrologic pressure forces fluids down; therefore, the “deep geologic layers
provide a watertight barrier preventing the movement of chemicals toward the
surface.” Thus, water contamination will not occur through the use of fracking.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disagrees with companies like EnCana.
The
Environmental Protection Agency states the contamination of Pavilion, Wyoming
is an effect of the gas drilling process, better known as fracking. The EPA
believes that the contamination leaked from the gas wells, which contained 10
different compounds. The draft report clearly states, “alternative explanations
were carefully considered” before publishing the cause of the pollution. Whereas
there are those who support the findings of the EPA, Senator James Inhafoe
found the report to be “offensive” and has accused the environmental agency to
be biased. Whether the findings are true or inaccurate, the report will bring
much needed debate on stronger federal regulations of hydraulic fracturing.
After the EPA finalizes its report in the spring, this environmental issue
could completely change the way our country regulates and develops natural gas
resources.
While
each side, environmentalist and those of the drilling industry, have evidence to
support their position, neither group is going to take rejection easily. The
debate will continue until someone “gets to the bottom” of water contamination
in the areas which fracking happens. Amy Mall, Natural Resources Defense
Council, declares “no one can accurately say that there is ‘no risk’ where
fracking is concerned.” Mall is
attempting to explain that there are different factors that come into play
during hydraulic fracturing, and that any of those could go wrong. Mall’s
solution is to strive to make and abide by stricter rules for construction and
to keep threats away from natural water supplies. Water supplies people use to
drink and bathe.
The
debate continues to whether the drilling process accounts for water pollution.
After the people involved with EPA “drilled two water monitoring wells to 1,000
ft.” The EPA investigators found extreme levels of chemicals, such as benzene
and 2 Butoxyethanol, which are normally used during
fracking. The finding of these chemicals further supports the evidence of the
cause of water pollution.
Though
the two chemicals were found, it did not conclude the research. Agriculture,
drilling and old wastes are still considerations of contamination. I agree with
the Environmental Protection Agency. Regardless of the causes of water
pollution, citizens need to find solutions. Water pollution is not only
detrimental to our planet, but also to our health.
For
further thought, imagine if a gas company provided drinking water for your
family. This indicates, at least at some point, they felt a sense of
responsibility for the brown water.
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