Entry #13

My overall opinion of Estero Island Cottage and Matanzas Pass was that Jo is a very sweet and kind woman who taught us about the history of Ft. Myers Beach, once known as Estero Island. At Matanzas Pass, the sights were mangrove trees and murky water, with the sound of the waves. On Ft. Myers Beach there are more businesses growing and tourist that come seasonally, which bring more traffic to the Island. Since I was a child, my hometown has changed with roads being widened, more housing being developed, and more businesses. No, I do not feel a sense of community, for I live out in the estates. If a developer offered me 300 percent the market value of my childhood home to develop into condos or if the county approached me about purchasing the land under the 20/20 program, for 80 percent of its market value; my answers to both of the questions about accepting the offer or not accepting the offer, would depend on where I am at in my life at that time.

Entry #12

Sustainable consumerism is the use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while reducing the use of natural resources so in order to not harm the future generations. Globalization and capitalism are negative drivers in sustainable consumerism because they are harmful to our future generations. I already pay a premium for organic foods, but if it got even more expensive then I would just grow more of my own food then I do now. It would be nice to get food from mom and pop stores, but it's more expensive then the chain stores; so therefore I prefer the chain stores because it's cheaper.

Entry #11

The kinds of emotions the word "downtown" evokes are busy, crowded, horrible driving, no parking, expensive, and lots of restaurants and hang out spots. The stature in communities changed over time because downtown area are known for the rich older citizens, but it now has nightlife for young adults. Downtown Ft. Myers is experiencing something of a renaissance because of the reconstruction and development of a newer community without losing some of the historic buildings. Some of the prominent architectural features are the designs of the buildings. To rekindle the "pedestrian" spirit, it's designed to have people walk on the cobblestone pavements and create a walking environment. Some "nods to history" that we saw on the tour was the monument of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone, which all once lived in Ft. Myers (once known as, Ft. Harvie). McGregor Boulevard got the name because Flossy McGregor wanted the cattle pull road to be paved, so she petitioned and paid for half the cost. The economy of Ft. Myers evolved from past to present because of a successful financial district. It all relates to sustainability because it preserves the history and is a great place for people the hang out.

Entry #10

When I was calculating my ecofootprint, I thought I was going to do pretty good. If everyone lived like me, we'd need 5 Earths to provide enough resources. To support my lifestyle, it takes 22.1 global acres of of the Earth's productive area. I thought I was going to do better then that. I could purchase products that use less packaging or are made out of 100 percent  post-consumer recycled content materials to reduce my footprint. It would reduce my footprint by .3 Planet Earths to 4.6 Planet earths. The maximum population that Earth can sustain is probably about 1 to 2 billion people.

Entry #9

Energy is worth under ten cents per kilowatt hour in the United States. That sounds cheap, but if you calculate the amount of energy that the average household uses a day , its more than you would think. Conservation is not a dirty word, it just means that we need to turn off the water when we brush our teeth, not letting the shower run when we aren't using it , turn the lights off when someone leave the room, and so on. These tiny changes make a huge difference. I would tell Jimmy Cardigan that he was too ambitious with his plans for alternative energy. He wanted Americans to lower their thermostats to 65 degrees during the winter. He told Americans to put on an extra sweater to keep warm. I think it would be good if the government manages the way energy is used throughout the country, but for now, fossil fuel is our main source of energy. I would say using solar energy has to be the best way to use energy. If calculators can have mini solar panels that barely take up space, then I'm positive that we can find the right technology to develop similar panels for houses and buildings. To reduce my energy footprint tomorrow, I will recycle, turn off the lights, ceiling fans, and water when I am not using it, unplug any electronics that I am not using it. In five years, I hope to continue to practice that same things I am doing today.

Entry #8

I think climate change is a combination of both anthropogenic (manmade) and natural. I would say 30 percent is manmade and 70 percent is natural. I would consider scientist to be reputable sources for climate change information. Some reliable sources for climate change information are IPPC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), WMO (United Nations World Meteorological Organization), UKCIP (UK Climate Impacts Programme), US Global Change Research Programme, Environment Canada, Ensembles (EU climate modeling project), CSIRO (Australian climate scenarios), The Royal Society, Spencer Weart's Discovery of Global Warming. The media portrays climate change as a point of no return and that the next generation is doomed. I wouldn't say the media's portrayal of climate change alters my lifestyle. I don't believe everything I hear from the media. The effects of climate change on my children and grandchildren will be the thinning of the ozone layer, which will penetrate more UV rays.

Entry #7

Ecology of the Eucalyptus tree is it is a diverse tree with more than 700 species. It is one the oldest trees on earth and thrives in warm, wet winters, and dry summers. It's native to Australia and Tasmania. Climates in Florida and Hawaii provide the best US weather and conditions for Eucalyptus trees. These trees grow from 30 to 200 feet tall,  but can reach 300 feet. Eucalyptus trees produce white, pink, red, and yellow flowers. This technology benefits humans and the environment; the trees provide food for birds and insects. Eucalyptus is also known for its medicinal benefits. Some potential intrinsic concerns are Eucalyptus flowers produce nectar which is used as the main source of honey in Australia. It's leave produce a waxy oil that prevents water loss in hot weather. It's oil is an effective deodorizer and insect repellent. Eucalyptus leaves are kangaroos and koalas favorite to eat. Some potential extrinsic concerns are if used in high doses for medicinal benefits, it can be toxic. It can also cause an allergic reaction and isn't recommended for children under 6 years old or women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding. Eucalyptus is flammable and must be stored away from heat and fire. I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

Entry #6

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organizations) is a great non-profit Christian organization that helps poverty suffering countries in agriculture. They send missionaries to the developing countries to teach farming techniques so that they can live off their own land. The turkens and how they use the animals to help the land is what stood out for me. For example, they put the duck house above the pond that has tarpon that eats the ducks waste and algae; It's clever and so simple to do.  At ECHO the work they do is very relevant to the developing world. ECHO uses "appropriate technology." They use everyday things that most people already have to make into something you can use to farm with, such as rugs, cans, and tires to grow plants into. I would be interested in performing my service learning hours with ECHO. It would be interesting to learn how to use stuff I already have to farm and your helping others in impoverished countries at the same time.

Entry #5

Major elements of "sustainable" farming are protecting the water quality and supply, maintaining biodiversity, renewable energy, and plant and animal production. For water quality and supply, keeping pesticides out of the water helps crop growth. Maintaining the biodiversity can help with pest management. Renewable sources of energy such as, wind, solar, and biomass address concerns and increase energy efficiency. Plants and animals ensure the long-term success of agriculture. Taking care of the land, being sustainable, and treating the workers happy is an ecological principle woven into this framework. I do buy organic foods; I buy fruits, vegetables, milk, and some other dairy products that are USDA approved. I think I'm connected to the current food system, but I learn something new and different everyday and feel disconnected to the food system. I buy organic because it's healthier, there's no pesticides, or added stuff. I would rather grow my own fruits and vegetables on my property, but for those who don't have their own property  and are interested in growing food, might like the idea of being able to do so on campus. I probably would.

Entry #4

The most pressing global environmental issue we are facing today, would be overpopulation. Which relates to the over consumption of agricultural lands, natural areas that are cleared to build cities, and more natural resources being used. More humans create more pollution. Overpopulation means we are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than we should. There is very little land left that is undeveloped. If a wealthy benefactor gave me a $100 billion to address a global problem, I would allocate the funds to different organizations that work towards the preservation of resources for future generations. I would partition the money among the different global issues. I would give a certain percentage of the money to all the different organizations that are apart of helping making our Earth a better place since it is effected by so many pressing global issues that we face today.

Entry #3

The distinct ecosystems I saw at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was the flatwoods, which was a field with no trees, just swamp grass. Then we saw the verdant cypress trees that have thinner trunks. After passing through the flatwoods and verdant cypress for a brief moment, the rest of the trail was mainly swamp cypress. One of the ecosystem services that Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary provides is the living machine. The living machine is a natural water restoration system that restores waste water to near-drinkable quality using native wetland plants. Conservation is official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them. Stewardship is similar to conservation, it's conducting, supervising, or managing something. The role of private non-profits in conservation and stewardship is to protect the natural resources and ecosystems from being destroyed. Like-minded people can affect change by getting together and involving the community to do their part to help the ecosystem and create places like Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Civic engagement factors into it because it promotes the bridging of communities with socially conscious thought and action. The motivation to preserve Corkscrew was to protect the nesting colonies of wading birds in the Corkscrew swamp area. From an ecological perspective, we should not bulldoze Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary because it is a vital part of Southwest Florida's ecosystem. Without it, there would be many animals without homes and there wouldn't be a place where people can get educated.

Entry #2

On the campus trail walk we saw sable palm trees also known as cabbage palm (Florida's state tree), palmetto trees, pine trees, cypress trees, oak trees, and Melaleuca trees (paper tree). Melaleuca's, native to Australia, were first planted to soak up water, but became an invasive species. In order to kill them they have to be debarked to spray the center of the tree with herbicides, this technique is called hack-and-squirt. Florida's state wildflower is the Coreopsis Tickweed, because the seed resembles a tick. We saw an inactive hornets' nest and poison ivy. We learned how control burnings puts the nutrients back into the soil. I think the selection of the site for the Florida Gulf Coast University campus is perfect; it's right in between University of South Florida and Florida International University. Yes, it is consistent with the "eco-empowerment" mission of the university. FGCU has the land to have solar panels to generate electricity, zero use of CFC-based refrigerants in educational building air-conditioning, trash compactors, motion sensitive lights, and buildings used out of recycled materials. I do not have any predisposed viewpoints. 

Entry #1

My expectations for Colloquium are to learn how to go completely green; in my house, my car, clothing, and other daily uses. I also hope to learn how to go organic; by growing my own food and to know what organic products to buy such as, make up, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. Sustainability is the quality of not being harmful to the environment or diminishing natural resources and supporting long-term ecological balance. Sustainability relates to a variety of considerations in the environment. Sustainability would relate to school counseling by using nature as a method for children to relieve stress and go somewhere to think. I could also teach students to conserve resources, recycle,  and properly dispose items such as, battery acid, motor oil, and harmful chemicals. Some of my unsustainable personal behaviors are that I leave lights on, I have more than one light on, I do not always recycle, and I run the water while brushing my teeth. My unsustainable attitudes are, "I'm just one person", recycled materials all go to the same place as the garbage,  et cetera.