BLOG #3

Selection 3: Principles of Conservation

            Pinchot’s main focus in this selection is that the conservation of resources means maximizing their value for human use, instead of preserving the source they are being obtained from. The conservation movement that can be applied to more than natural resources began with forestry. The first point addressed regarding this concept is about development, and how the present generation has the right to use the earth’s resources for their benefit. Conservation also means the prevention of waste, which involves educating people on how they can dispose of their waste in the most environmentally friendly and efficient way. The final concept is that natural resources must be conserved for many people, therefore benefiting all people. With the use of foresight and common sense, we will be able to have the best and largest amount of a resource for the longest time, resulting in national efficiency. 

Selection 4: A Sand County Almanac

            This selection begins with Leopold’s realization that although humans have a dramatic effect on wildlife and their habitats we can’t begin to understand the complexity and essence of the wilderness. When looking at ethics, the relationships between many variables such as individuals and society can be explained, but there is no ethic for the relation between man and the outdoors (land, animals, plants). In an economic approach, the land is viewed as being man’s property, and in ethical terms the man is a member of the land. Education hinders the development of land ethic as we are taught to view the land as a commodity without having any appreciation for it. Land ethic entails the recognition of right and wrong actions, and perceiving the land as more than an economic issue.  By accepting this ethic, we have a better understanding of ecology and will preserve the biotic community.

Selection 28: Food Scarcity: An Environmental Wakeup Call

This selection begins with the warning that if we continue at the current rate of environmental degradation, the damages will not only affect local communities, but the world economy. Agriculture is discussed as being a sector in the economy that will be greatly affected. Raising grain prices would have a devastating effect on the both the 1.3 billion people in the world who are living in poverty, and the rich due to severe economic issues that would arise. The world’s growing population is a factor responsible for food scarcity, due to the decrease in cropland and water available. There is a growing rivalry between city and countryside dwellers as there is a high demand for irrigation water, resulting in difficulties for farmers. The evidence of food scarcity is becoming more evident, foreshadowing a future with inflated food prices and no economic progress. In order to sustain the next generation we must maintain food supplies, stabilize population and climate, use energy more efficiently, protect the land, and developed countries must consume less grain-intensive livestock products. All things considered, we must shift our current way of living to an environmentally and economically sustainable way of life.

Selection 29: Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

This selection discusses The Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial and the various effects of using conventional, animal-based, and legume-based cropping. Conventional farming is characterized by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which have proved to cause environmental and public health problems; therefore organic farming which aims to conserve soil and water resources is becoming more popular. The experiment’s findings included the conventional system having higher yields for the first five years (due to nitrogen shortages), after this period the yields were similar for all three systems and that during a period of drought, the highest yield was in the organic animal system. The organic system utilized soil with a high level of biomass therefore decreasing the problem of runoff and soil erosion, used less fossil energy and because no commercial chemicals were used, the health of the public and environment were benefited. The list of benefits associated with organic farming continues (with the exception of nitrogen deficiency and weed competition) as well as the verdict that this type of farming is the most profitable.

Selection 27: The Agricultural Crisis as a Crisis of Culture

Discussion about small farms begins this selection and how there was an economy for minor products in the past. The shift away from this type of farming  towards “bigness” commenced the use of mechanical equipment, use of chemicals, creation of monocultures, deterioration of soil, abandonment of land, loss of employment, movement into cities, poorer quality crops, and dependence on markets for food (even for farmers). Culture applies to food as more than technology is required for production, revealing the connection between people and the earth. The movement into the city is a cultural issue as farmers are forced to conform to undemanding jobs and lose their values. Because culture is most successful in unity, farmers must be regarded as being a part of a system rather than being outcompeted. We must use knowledge and morality to become interdependent and create a movement away from the current “bigness” culture in the farming world.

Selection 41: Women’s Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation

The selection begins by discussing the link between biodiversity and women as both have experienced setbacks due to society’s unwillingness for difference. Throughout history and in many countries today, women are viewed as being inferior to men; while biodiversity is seen as being economically trivial resulting in the prevalence of monocultures. The survival of Third World countries is dependent on the conservation and sustainability of diverse resources and therefore many technologies are having devastating effects on the civilian’s livelihoods. In agriculture, the loss of crop diversity results in loss of employment and proves that diversity-based production systems can be high-productivity systems. Although overlooked, women work in various sectors which require skills and knowledge and do many tasks which make them vital in biodiversity conservation. Biotechnology is finally addressed as being a “destruction of biodiversity” as hybrid seeds are created which present many issues to farmers and consumers. Because the seeds are patented, farmers must buy from corporations every year which is unjust and the genetically engineered products pose many health risks.

Selection 39: Towards Sustainable Development

A key point in sustainable development is satisfying human needs and aspirations, therefore we must strive towards an equal world with an improved quality of life for all. This entails the affluent countries to live within the world’s ecological means and for economic growth where needs are not being met. However this is proven to be difficult with the use of technological developments and the rise in population which has a large impact on resources and living standards. It is essential to focus on protecting natural systems so we don’t deplete resources or diversity of species, and be aware of the rate of depletion of our non-renewable resources. Inequity is described as a reason for resource depletion and environmental stress, and therefore the movement towards interdependence is crucial. This is possible nationally and would be beneficial as everyone would be responsible for common resources and not simply looking out for their self-interest. Technology needs to be manufactured to meet environmental resource concerns and be significantly improved in developing countries. Finally, in order for sustainable development to be successful, economic and ecological considerations must co-exist together.

Reflection: My food system

            When reflecting on my food system I realized the things I dislike about the system far outweigh the things I like about it. I recognize this is due to the developed country which I live in, where convenience is a priority over quality. The positive aspects of my food include the overall taste of most of it, the ability to receive foods year round (even though they aren’t in season where I live) and the opportunity to buy a variety of foods from many places around the world (sushi, fish from ocean). The list of negative aspects begins with all the packaging involved in the deliverance of my food. Walking down the aisles of a grocery store, it’s apparent how dependent we have become on packaged food, which is unfortunate as most of this ends up in landfills. Another environmental issue associated with my food is the use of chemical pesticides, hormones and antibiotics which I consume when eating any grain or animal product. Although I appreciate the ability to obtain international foods, the ways in which they are transported are environmentally unfriendly. This brings up another issue of being unaware of where my food is coming from or how it is produced; unlike an apple that has a sticker of where it was made, I never know where my meat products are coming from or what conditions the animals have lived in. The cost of food is upsetting to me, as healthy choices are often more pricy than packaged junk food. This is extremely problematic as it encourages consumers to buy the less healthy foods and is a reason for the sky-rocketing obesity rates. I would love for my parents to purchase more organic foods, but because of the drastic difference in price, it isn’t a completely satisfactory alternative.  Therefore, I would live to see many changes to my food system in the future, shifting towards a healthier, more natural system that favors environmental sustainability. 

Reflection: Zoos

            When reflecting on zoos, I have mixed opinions on the ethics behind them; on one hand I believe zoos provide excellent education for the public and allow people the opportunity to connect with wildlife, however with many zoos not keeping up to current standards, I don’t believe that many of the animals are living a happy life. I do believe zoos have a role in conservation and education. They act as reserves for endangered or threatened species and in many cases the numbers in a species population have increased due to aid in zoos. As well, they provide an environment for abandoned animals, such as the Winnipeg Zoo’s albino black bear. Another positive aspect is the lifespan of the animals in zoos tends to be increased, therefore providing more research opportunities. Zoos are also a place where fun and education co-exist. Personally, I find the signage around zoos to be extremely interesting and I leave every time with more knowledge on an animal’s habitat, threats it faces in the wild, and so on. Children seem to be a target audience in zoos, and therefore many educational activities are offered such as camps and tours. This is beneficial as everybody should have an appreciation for animals and the environment, and instilling this characteristic in children is crucial. I do think it is ethical to keep animals in zoos under very strict conditions. I believe animals raised in captivity feel less of the strains of containment, and therefore only animals born in captivity or rescued from the wilderness should be in zoos. As well, only animals suited to the environmental conditions of the zoo’s location should inhabit there. I always feel sorry for the zebras in the Winnipeg zoo, and don’t believe that shipping these animals across the world for people’s viewing enjoyment is right. Another consideration is the enclosure quality for the animals. For example, tigers and bears need vast space to roam but are almost always refused in zoos. Personally, I love visiting zoos. I visit the Winnipeg Zoo at least twice a year and travelled to San Diego specifically to visit the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I like supporting zoos so they can renovate the enclosures and continue providing people the opportunity to connect with animals in a safe and entertaining way.

Activity: FOOD Inc.

            For my activity I decided to watch FOOD Inc. as I’ve heard many positive reviews of it and finally had the time to watch it. Enlightening points made about all aspects of our food system are covered, which to my surprise was successful in changing the way I think about what I’m eating. The main point in this film is the industry’s desire to keep consumers unaware of where our food is coming from and how it is made; by keeping us in the dark, the industry is flourishing in selling low quality, unhealthy and unsafe products. I found it alarming that even though a grocery store appears to be stocked with a countless variety of products, this is an illusion as there are only a handful of large corporations controlling the food system. With only 13 slaughter houses in the U.S. for example, it is no wonder there are growing nationwide health concerns with contamination and other illnesses. I was surprised that this film had actual footage inside the slaughter houses, but I feel this was an essential point to convey. The animals were not treated as living beings but as a product that needed to be processed as quickly as possible. Other meat industry topics included the prevalence of CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) instead of farms, the unnatural diets of the animals (hormones, feeding corn to cows that eat grass), the dangers of working in a meat processing plant, and the trend for illegal immigrants to work in these plants. This new system of raising livestock requires the production of many animals, on a small amount of land, at an affordable price, which is extremely troublesome seeing as this makes the living conditions horrendous for the animals. The patents on grains are addressed, focusing on the Monsanto corporation. One farmer vocalizes his opinion of the system and loses his entire livelihood, proving this company is working against farmers. The power of large food corporations can be seen again when looking back to when Oprah spoke out about Mad Cow Disease and was sued for doing so. With more growing health concerns, the unethical production of meat, and the trend of moving towards large companies for food production, I am discouraged about my food system. After watching this film I have decided to make an effort to eat local, buy grass-fed meat and be more conscious of my food choices whenever possible.