Do you care?

Hi fellow hippies and tree huggers. Here's an interesting forum discussion I think you should all check out. There's so much discrimination versus us environmentalists, especially critical and harsh ways. What do you think of them? Would you feel irritated at these views as well? I'm not sure about you but I find it hard to believe that people jump to conclusions like that. Check the definitions on Urban Dictionary that show us several viewpoints of others. They make it seem like environmentalists (whether you think you're one or not after reading the harsh comments by people) are such self-righteous self-satisfied silly and measly humans, when we are all the same. In the end, environmentalists *care* for the environment. Thats why they're call what they're called. Why do you think they protest for environmental rights? Why do they test river waters for chemical contamination? Why do us students study in this field? Why do they hug trees!!! What matters more is people's perception of them I guess.

F#@( the Earth Day

Hello Fellow Hippies (don't be offended, only a joke) Why don't you check out this video I found and tell me what you think.

F#@( the Earth Day

Pretty damn funny

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.