This is so cool!!!

Here's a link to
The top ten Recycled Gadgets of 2010

And.... here is an awesome picture I found

Globalization

I was going over some articles I did in first year about globalization. Plus there was a presentation done in 1200 about this IMF and its role in developing countries. And its really really depressing the things that some people have written. Also, I apologize in advance for depressing anyone. For exmaple:

" Today, despite - or arguably, sometimes because- of trade agreements, unified currencies, and strictures imposed by the World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund), massive debt is hobbling many nations in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere" Aldeson et al, 2008.

Now it might not be nothing new to most of you that countries are in debt because of these institutions and it most definately isn't new to me especially since I come from a so-called third world country. I'm from Jamaica and I can tell you it has had profound effects on my family there, especially lately. Also there's a high crime rate and a lack of social services. Due to many reasons, they have accumulated alot of debt and I'm sure because I watched this in a film called Life and Debt. Don't quote me on that but with a personal perspective, I can relate almost 100% to all the info that circulates about globalization

Accordoing to Hawken (2000), eighty-six percent of the world's goods go to the top fifth, the bottom fifth get one percent. A huge diff if you think about it. And not necessarily surprising either. This is serious business people. I'm not even joking. Theres more. Vandana Shiva (2000) says "It is time to stop and think about the impact of globalization on the lives of ordinary people" Of course!!! This says to politicians and speakers to look at the bigger picture. Stop thinking of your own asses for once! Don't be so uni-sided with choosing what to advocate. Think of the working class. The hard-earned money that a student scrounges up from his/her full-time job while studying at the same time. Be wary of who suffers from what actions. This is what I'm trying to say at the very least. So please please please politicians and whoever, hear the plea of a measly student who isn't the kind to speak out her opinion publicly.

Anyways I strongly recommend people to read about Hawken (2000) and Shiva (2000) if they ever find the time. The articles they have written are very influential and convincing. Thanks for reading

Environmental Tips and Tricks

I know we're called hippie rants and I would most definitely like to rant all the time. But to me, its not a good area of self reflexivity, and I'm sure all you 1200 students out there know what I mean. So I thought I would compile like a little list of lifestyle changes that I personally like to take seriously because duh I'm in environmental studies. Of course I care for the environment. Also one of the people in the Weaving the Web gave me a brochure about recycling and the three R's (reduce, reuse and recycle) so that inspired me too. So here's what I like to do on a day-to-day basis and maybe it can be inspiring or maybe it's things you already do or maybe you'll take them up yourself. At least that's what I hope you will do.

So.

Don't throw away your plastic bags. The ones you get from wally mart, or no frills, loblaws, food basics. WHEREVER. um Payless or Whole Foods if you live in the states. Supermarkets in JA. sorry I digress. But keep them, resuse these bags, bring one of them on you wherever you go. You could find use if someone is in an emergency. I know I travel alot and often times I know someone who's easily car/plane sick. Never know. It could come in handy somehow at some point, and plus it's a less likely chance it will end up in a landfill right?

Turn off the light when you don't use it. Especially when you leave the apartment or the room for the time being and you aren't using it. Or even if it's day and there's adequate light already that lights are inappropriate. I find that this is like the easiest thing one can do to help our environment. Plus it saves on your light bill too. That's always a plus. More buck for your pocket hehe.

Try to take paper you can write on and keep it. Don't throw it away. Use it for writing down notes or something. Keep it and cut it up so you can write memos on it. There's still use for it especially for those students who use paper all the time and sometimes find it hard to locate a scrap of paper for some random reason.

Personally I don't do this cause I never got around to do it, but I used to. Use a cup when you brush your teeth for rinsing. It uses less water. Saves you money. Saves the environment. What more could you want?

Well that's it :) Thanks for reading

So I was stumbling again.....

Okay so I've heard of houses made out of recycled, shipping containers (you know, like the ones on the back of  trailer trucks), former garbage truck RV and biodegradable cell phones, but that is like not even close to this cool!

Magma Design’s LoftFloats offer sustainable living in fluvial surroundings

This is funny.

Interesting.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=environmentalist

Yes, yes, I know, it's urbandictionary. But it's quite interesting how different people describe what an environmentalist is for them. Though, besides the first definition (which I believe is a great definition haha), the rest belittle the term. Interesting.

Environmental Hysteria - Pen & Teller

Eavesdropping

So guess what I did today? I did some good old fashioned eavesdropping. Thats right people, im creepy like that. I was actually waiting to use the microwave at school and I was just listening to a conversation these two guys were having in the room. It went something like this:

-"Hey man, so I was in washroom, and someone wrote on the wall, 'im the FES ghost, plant more trees or ill touch you in your sleep!'"
+"Haha.....that is so funny"
-"I know.....haha. You see, even the environmental studies people are f%$#ed up like that"
+"Well, you know what it's what they believe in, you know. They just like to plant trees, fu!king tree huggers"
-Haha......well University is like that. If your in University you have to choose something that you want to do, something that you like and can relate too. I guess these guys can relate to the environment."
+Yea you're right, like how I am into law and you are into economics. We choose those fields because we like them.
-+Muhahahaha!!!!!!.................(ok it didn't end like that exactly)

You can tell I was trying to hold in my laughter and my anger at the same time. So I walked in and told them I was the FES ghost. Haha I probably should have but I didn't. Im just really confused by what those two guys said. I dont know why one guy said f'in tree huggers. I surely had the right to say 'f'in wallstreeters!' Or 'f'in judge ball lickers!'......excuse the language. So does that mean we, as in environmentalists, just like the environment. We just 'like' it? We can 'relate' to it? Well then sorry for my misunderstanding but I guess these two guys, if they cant relate to the environment, must be from outer space. I guess they breathe some other element and drink some other liquid. I guess the food they were warming up was from Mars. Im sorry, but what a stupid conversation. Environmentalists are super heros and if society doesn't see that, then Elyssa, Elli, Eric and Kitty...... your my super heros : )

Patrick

Facebook Group !!!!

Here is the link. It would be great if you invited your friends to get our blog noticed more. Thank you!

Facebook Page

The way I see it

My fellow bloggers , whether u are a passionate advocate for the environment or whether you couldn’t care less it is clear to me that deep down you are an environmentalist. Yes , you read correctly ..I’m referring to you. Now you may not consider yourself one , but deep down you are. Now I want you to forget about everything you’ve heard or think you know about environmentalists. Forget about the labels, the names, who you think they are and what you think you know about them. And if you have no idea of what I’m talking about , even better. Forget it all , because in the end it’s not what matters.

The way I see it we all have a little of environmentalist in us. How? Because we’ve all been in contact with nature in one way or another. Now don’t deny it, you know it’s true. Most of us live in constant contact with nature but are often too busy to notice or take it for granted and could not care less. Whatever the case may be we’ve all at some point, some day, at some moment have ‘felt’ nature. May sound cheesy , but it’s true. Think about every time you go to the ocean and you place your feet into the water and just stare into the blue immensity , think about the rush you feel through your veins every time you ‘board’ on the snow and manage to land a perfect triple loop and land correctly , think about a pretty sunsets and the feeling of freedom you get in the summer while taking walks surrounded by a cool summer breeze. Sounds too cheesy? Ok think about any time you’re having a bad day and suddenly the sun comes out, making your day a little better. Or about crazy squirrels chasing around campus in the summer time. Whatever it may be , we’ve all had a and felt a deep connection with nature at some point , even if we don’t know it. At some point nature has made our lives a little happier, a little easier , a little prettier . And that moment , that knowledge , sense of wonder and of realization even if it was short makes you an environmentalist.

The simple fact that you’re around it and you’ve felt it helped you to understand just how important nature is. Now , I’m not telling you to go chain yourselves to a tree or go to Copenhagen and protest global warming. It’s not about that . It’s about something more personal , something unique , something intimate that allows us to keep living our lives a little better everyday .

Your all environmentalists because you notice, because you enjoy it , because somewhere inside you deep down you care. Now whether you decide to do something about it or not , is up to you. As Gandhi once said : Be the change you wish to see in the world. So it is clear to me that if we want to see a change, we have to start with ourselves and with the little things . Next time you’re outside look around you , admire it , take it all in. Just by appreciating nature a little more you’re making a change.

So there’s something to think about. Stay original , look deeper , admire more.

- Elli

Two Steps Back..

I sit in front of my desk searching for some credible journal articles or interesting websites, I come across a horrifying website by Conservative think tanks from Washington D.C. called the Heritage Foundation. Their website, which dedicates an entire section to Energy and the Environment, is in my opinion anti-Socialist to the core. This website is just covered with anti-environmentalist articles and to think, this "organization" is one of the most influential research groups and has significant influence in policy-making for the U.S. government! This, frankly scares the shit out of me. If you don't have the time to read through their website (there are a lot of articles), promise to read this one in particular.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Energyandenvironment/wm2407.cfm


Cheers,

Elyssa