Week 6: Slaughterhouses

The discussion of the slaughterhouses in the US was a real shock.  Our group had no idea that animals were treated so cruelly in the American meat industry.  The discussion really reminded me personally of the world-changing novel, "The Jungle."   Upton Sinclair opened many eyes in the early 1900s by describing the horrific and unsanitary practices in the meat-packing industry, and I think another author or media outlet needs to do some investigative journalism on the ethical treatment of the animals we eat.  There's no need for cows and chickens that are already raised to the slaughter to live cruel and torturous lives.  This does bring up an interesting question, however.  Ethically, we should make sure that these animals live and die peacefully, yet that's not really the way of nature.  Animals are attacked and killed in fear by wolves and other natural predator all the time in the wild.  Perhaps an animal dying in fear adds beneficial hormones into their meat, but that's a speculative argument.  It's an interesting question, but I think as human beings, if we want to act like we're above the violence that dictates nature, we need to make sure that we don't have barbaric practices in our own backyards.

Field Trip # 2: Calusa Nature Center

Our field trip to the Calusa Nature Center in Fort Myers was very impressive. It is a great place to visit. The center provides a home to a collection of animals and birds including owls, mice, raccoons, and roosters. The Center has many volunteer opportunities and some of out group members plan to return to help out with the gardens and animals. 

vulture

                                                 

                             

slash pine

Week #4 Response

Climate change is a very real threat to the stability of our world in the future.  As humans affect the environmental conditions of our world, we put an unnatural pressure on plants and animals to survive in conditions that are different from what they have naturally evolved to adapt to.  Even a change of a few degrees or weather patterns could be catastrophic to many of the varied ecosystems in the world.  The rainforests could dry up, and arid deserts would grow faster than ever.  Not only does our environment suffer, but if the plants and animals suffer, so do we.  Climate change is especially dangerous because of the irreversible nature of the damage.  While the Earth may eventually compensate and adjust, it would take far too long to save our species.  There's a reason that movies have recently been showing "doomsday" scenarios with natural calamities because of global warming, and that's because it's a real threat that needs to be taken seriously.

Field Trip #1: FGCU Food Forest

When we think about the campus at Florida Gulf Coast University, images of students racing to classes, Eagles Basketball and coffee at Starbucks first come to mind. A visit to the FGCU food forest will forever change your mind. Tropical fruit trees, vegetables and other tropical/subtropical species can be found in our very own collegiate garden. You can find many citrus fruits including limes, kumquats and bananas in the food forest. If you would like to help out, you can donate an item from their wish list at www.fgcufoodforest/wish-list.html

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                          Aloe Vera

                                

                                 Sage Palm

     

                                 

                        Passion Vine

                                     

                           Barbados Cherries

                                     

                                  Pond Apple

                                        

                                 Wild Coffee

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                                            Coco Plum

                             

                   Firebush

                                

                              Spanish Needle

                

           Slash Pine

Week 2: Ecological Footprint

What is your impact on the environment? Visit www. myfootprint.org to take the ecological footprint quiz. My  group did not realize that, even though we thought our lifestyles were modest, they really were vastly unsustainable.  Food and driving a motor vehicle were the real shockers.  Most of us drive eco-friendly vehicles, like Toyotas, but that is not enough.  Our driving habits, while less than 50 miles a week, still were over-the-top in terms of sustainability.  One group member takes public transportation while at Florida Gulf Coast University and she still had the lifestyle that would require 5 planets if everyone lived like her.  Numbers like that are staggering. The message is clear. We must change our life style habits in order to preserve our planet. Join the movement with me and take the pledge to walk or ride your bike to college, stop drinking from plastic bottles, skip McDonalds and other fast food establishments and eat fresh, locally grown organic foods.  See www.earthday.org to take the pledge to reduce your footprint and to obtain tips for actions you can take to help improve your community.

Join the movement and take the pledge to preserve our planet