McKibben Synthesis

McKibben has a very unique style of writing, which he uses in an attempt to spread environmentalism throughout the world. In many of McKibben’s works, he references to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Both McKibben and Emerson viewed the world as something for humans to live in conjunction with, rather than as a platform for the human civilization. Through his writing, McKibben hopes to raise awareness of detrimental social and behavioral patterns of mankind, and the effects that these patterns are having on the planet. His writings also seek to make a connection between practicality and individualism that will improve environmental issues in the country. McKibben believes that the economy is no longer just a supplier of basic needs, but has now become a supplier of unnecessary human luxuries as well, and is causing many environmental issues because of that. He seeks to make the population aware of how their whimsical purchases are needlessly using resources and harming the planet.

Works Cited:

White, Richard. "Bill McKibben's Emersonian Vision." Raritan 31.2 (2011): 110-125. Web. 29 Sept. 

         2012.

Synthesis on EPA: Natural Gas Fracking Linked to Water Contamination

The Environmental Protection Agency released a report stating that the contamination near the town of Pavillion, Wyoming had probably seeped upwards from gas wells and contained over ten compounds that are commonly used in frack fluids. Fracking is a highly controversial form of oil extraction. It is when a deep shale layer is fractured in order to release natural gas (Mooney par 1). The EPA’s report is especially important because there has been a national debate about whether or not fracking is causing contamination (Lustgarten and Kusnetz par 5). This report could determine how the country is going to regulate and develop natural gas resources (5). This report is also important because it contradicts many arguments that claim fracking is safe (6). According to the report, “Pollution from 33 abandoned oil and gas waste pits 2013 which are the subject of a separate cleanup program 2013 are indeed responsible for some degree of shallow groundwater pollution in the area” (16).  These pits, however, could not explain the contamination in the monitoring wells 1,000 feet underground, so the EPA concluded that fracking was responsible (16 and 17).

This report still needs to undergo review, but it is likely going to lead to a major revision in government fracking policies. If traces of the carcinogenic chemicals commonly used for the process are being found in water supply, then this is going to seriously impact human health. People need to protest the practice of fracking to obtain natural gas and insist that a safer method be used.

Works Cited:

Lustgarten, Abraham, and Nicholas Kusnetz. "EPA: Natural Gas Fracking Linked to

Water Contamination." Scientific American. N.p., 9 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fracking-linked-water-contamination-federal-agency>.

Mooney, Chris. "The Truth about Fracking." Scientific American. N.p., 19 Oct. 2011.

Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-truth-about-fracking>.

Response to Class Discussion

"There is now a socio-ecological crisis of serious proportions, there is also a crisis in environmental education over what must be done about it." Through this quote, Kahn is saying that, overall, people are not aware of the issues that persist in the environment. He is also stating that there is an unawareness towards human involvement within said issues. These issues exist because of the way the school system is set up. From kindergarten, children are taught to work hard and strive to be the best. They are given endless amounts of resources and told to focus on learning as much as possible in order to make them competitive in the "real world." This cut-throat attitude towards education and success has put essentially everything else on the back burner. In order for any environmentally-based realities to occur, the education system is going to have to change. School would need to be more centered on learning about the environment and individual bioregions, and ways to preserve what resources are remaining. Students would need to be rewarded for collaborating and accomplishing eco-friendly ideas rather than individually-set goals. Essentially, school would have to become entirely world-focused and the edge of competition would need to be limited. 

Visual Rhetoric

This image is of a tree that is in the shape of a mushroom cloud, which is the result of a nuclear detonation. It is suggesting that if the man cuts the tree down, it will have catastrophic, nuclear warlike effects on the planet. It is also suggesting that mankind is directly responsible for its own destruction.

Technology can aid/influence environmental thought and action by providing a world-wide source of information. It allows the public to become aware of issues that are going on, any potential issues, and ways to prevent them.

Even More Themes in Turtle Island

Gary Snyder's Turtle Island is filled with poems that are focused on human impact on the the planet and bioregionalism. Through his poems, Snyder emphasizes the need for a change in the human interaction with Earth. Today, I read "Control Burn," "Why Log Truck Drivers Rise Earlier Than Students of Zen," and "O Waters." These poems have a theme of humans versus nature in that they highlight some of the effects the human race has on the planet. Additionally, at the end of "O Water,"there are two words that I had never seen before -- "sangha" and "polemonium."Out of curiosity, I looked up the meaning to both of the words. The first one is a buddhist community of monks and nuns. The second is a low-growing, foul-smelling plant in Arctic areas. Snyder mentioning the sangha and the snowfields melting made me think that one of the themes within this book could be self versus society -- people need to stand up against the wasteful, snow-melting majority and live more naturally, as a monk would.

More Themes within Turtle Island

For this homework assignment, I read "The Way West, Underground," "I Went Into the Maverick Bar," and "Pine Tree Tops." These poems are all centralized around themes of ecological consciousness and environmental activism. Snyder emphasizes the importance of knowing the surrounding environment and  the affect being made on it by everyday behaviors and decisions. There is a lack of bioregional literacy within the world. A large portion of the population is unaware of the impact they have on the planet. Snyder suggests that in "Pine Tree Tops" in the last line by asking the question "What do we know?" He also stresses the importance of taking measures to conserve the resources that are available. 

Themes in Turtle Island

The poems in Turtle Island seem to have themes that tie into the idea that mankind has mistreated Earth and its resources, and that there needs to be changes executed in order to "save" the world. Below, I have commented on the themes within the five poems I read:

The Great Mother - Snyder writes that the "Great Mother" looks at the hands of some people, rather than just staring as they walk by, in order to see what "savages" they were. This leads me to believe that the theme of this poem is that some have had more drastic effects on nature than others.
The Call of the Wild - This poem emphasizes  the effects that mankind has had on the Earth. It addresses war and misuse of resources. The theme is that the Earth has changed considerably over the years due to mistreatment.
It Pleases - The last line of this poem is "The world does what it pleases." This shows that the theme of the poem is that the world is ignorant of nature and the changes that have taken place within it, and refuses to acknowledge it.
Two Fawns That Didn't See the Light This Spring - This poem discusses how two doe were killed, each carrying a fawn that was killed along with the mother. This suggests that the theme is that this generation's and previous generation's misuse of the planet will prevent future generations from experiencing it.
LMFBR - This poem directly addresses the use and disposal of non biodegradable products. The theme is that improper disposal of products is destroying the earth.