Reading Summaries:
Selection 29:
The author of this selected reading explains three different farming techniques: conventional, organic animal-based, and organic legume-based cropping. Conventional cropping is a system where fertilizer and herbicides are used. This type of farming is not organic. Organic animal-based cropping is where grain is grown for animal seed and not for money. Mechanical cultivation is used for weed control instead of herbicides. Organic legume-based cropping is a technique where grain is grown for cash without livestock being used.
Out of all three techniques, the conventional system yielded a higher crop and the soybean yield was the same for all systems not including the year 1988.
There are also consequences to organic farming: nitrogen deficiency and weed competition. The benefits to this type of farming are: soil organic matter and nitrogen increases, nitrate levels increase, and the idea of traditional organic farming is being used.
Selection 41:
The author of this reading has introduced the subject of gender and diversity being linked, particularly women and nature's diversity. These two concepts are both seen as inferior. Diversity is the major concept when it comes to women's rights and politics. An interesting point raised by the author, is crop uniformity, which completely diminishes the idea of biodiversity. In order to have biodiversity, there must be 'conservation of livelihoods' as stated by the author. There is also discussion about genetically engineered food and it's multiple risks involved.
Selection 9:
This selection discusses the impact that human's have on global ecosystems. Human's use of the land changes how ecosystems work dramatically. For example, the ocean's ecosystem is being affected increasingly as algal blooms and marine food chains are being interrupted by human activity. Carbon, water, nitrogen, synthetic organic chemicals, and other cycles all are being negatively altered by human activity. For example, carbon is the major resource for photosynthesis, water is limited for human use, the nitrogen cycle has consequences, and PCB's from synthetic organic chemicals are a major concern to human well-being, just to name a few that the author has included in the reading. Also, the author explains that we have to start changing the way we deal with human activity today because it will affect the near future. There are two concepts that the author shares to do now to control the future: slow down human population growth and use resources in a more productive way.
Activity:
I watched How food shapes our cities by Carolyn Steel. I found it very interesting as I had never known about this concept she explained. She expressed how food has always been the core aspect of the geological makeup of cities. 10,000 years ago, agriculture and urbanism was introduced at the same time because the two concepts need each other to strive. Meat, fish, and grain all came from different paths on the map of cities which is why certain streets are named after food, she explains. Steel focused a lot on the importance that food has and how it can be a powerful tool for creating a better world. She emphasizes that food should be central to our world and people must learn to value it more. After all, it is what has shaped our cities which creates an important relationship with humans and nature. I found her talk to be quite interesting, and it led me to believe and think that food needs to be a central point in our lives, because that is where it is the most natural. This, in itself, will be a stepping stone to the change our world needs today.
Reflection:
I thought the activity I did was very interesting, as I had never thought about or heard of that concept before. It made me realize that we need to start caring about where our food comes from and discover that food is more than just a basic need. It is central to our world, cities, and families. This has made me want to appreciate food as a social and environmental aspect more.
I watched the above video in ENVR 1000, and I think this excerpt really applies to what we are discussing in ENVR 2000. It is a good reminder about where our food actually is coming from, and the future of our food. Everybody should know this information and should be aware of what actually is going on with our food systems today.
Blog Reflection #1: Consider your food system. What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?Consider taste, nutrition, cost, equity, and environmental issues.
Personally, I think that our food system here in Winnipeg should be modified. For example, I dislike how a lot of our produce sold in most supermarkets, is not locally grown. After viewing the film Fresh, in class, my outlook on where my food is coming from changed dramatically. I realized the importance of locally grown food and how unavailable it is to a large portion of the population. I do like how we have local farmer's markets located in our city, but that is usually only seasonal, which poses a problem. Also, the food that is available, that is locally or organically grown, can be quite expensive which creates a drawback for many consumers. The major problem with our food system right now, is that the resources are extremely unavailable to people, so many chose quick and easy food choices which are not always the healthiest or environmentally friendly.
Blog Reflection #2: What role, if any, should zoos play in conservation/education? Is it ethical to keep animals in a zoo? If so, what size/type of animal or zoo? Do you enjoy visiting zoos?
After our class lecture on zoos, my outlook on them has changed slightly. I have always thought that it was wrong to keep animals in a cage, removing them completely from their natural habitat, but at the same time, the zoo has always been a positive memory for me growing up. I believe that zoos are a great educational tool for children, as it is a place to learn, have fun, and for the first time possibly, gain a connection with the environment/animals. I definitely think zoos should continue to have a role in education and conservation, but modifications may be beneficial. The way zoos are run now is quite unethical from the animals point of view. It seems as though the only needs being met are of human needs, and the animals get the bare minimum amount of care. If animals were treated with more respect and had a more natural place to call home in the zoo, they would gain. The zoo would have to increase in size in order for this to happen, which may lead to other issues too. A lot of thought and planning would have to go into this decision, but I believe that the end results would be positive for both the animals and humans. I do enjoy visiting zoos, and always have. This comes back to the point of zoos being a comfortable place for humans. Zoos have succeeded in caring for human needs, but things need to change for the animals necessities.
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| Baby monkey in Dubai Zoo (http://uaepixs.blogspot.com/2009/08/please-dont-keep-them-in-captivity.html) |
Works Cited
Easton, T. 2009. Classic Edition Sources: Environmental Studies. Volume 3. New York: McGraw Hill Companies. [33-39, 146-151, 209-212]
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