Blog #13: Estero Island Cottage & Matanzas Pass

Upon entering the Estero Island Cottage, I was amazed to see the rich history of SW Florida. The vivid pictures and historical relics helped me to visualize what I have read during the developmental stages of the early 1900s. It was a great introduction to the area before heading out into the Matanzas Pass walkway. Matanzas Pass was lush with a variety of tropical flora. It was very interesting to see that certain plants grew closer to the intercostal due to the salt water. Crossing through some parts of the pass, you could look to the left and see a variety of salt water flora, and to the right would be many different fresh water type planes. I also noticed mini crabs scurrying into their burrows as my footsteps hit the boardwalk. I still enjoyed the scenery despite the fact that there weren't many wildlife such as alligators, birds, and such like the other field trips I participated in. When I rounded the Calusa Loop, I was bombarded by mosquitoes since it was early in the morning during my visit. By coincidence I had just finished reading the chapter in the Land Remembered when the mosquitoes hatched and attacked the cattle drive. Matanzas Pass had been a relaxing walk before this, and I was happy to have experienced such a nice place. Since the time that of my childhood to the years of young adulthood I am at now, I noticed that my hometown has been experiencing somewhat of an overpopulation problem. Each year I go back there seems to be more traffic when I get off my exit into Pembroke Pines, Florida. There definitely is still a sense of community, but the overly saturated city may cause some tension between too many people. Traffic problems, over populated schools and marketplaces would cause these people to become restless overtime.

This has me thinking that if a developer offered me 300% of the market value of my childhood home to develop into condos, I would most likely take it. The need of more living places for people would outweigh any selfish means to supporting my own childhood memories. If I had to choose between selling my home for condos or to the government under the 20/20 program for 80% of market value, I would have to go for the condos due to the blatant overpopulation problem in my community. I am a firm believer for "building up" instead of splaying many living communities throughout vast amounts of acres. If there wasn't any overpopulation problem going on in my community, then I would give it up for 80% market value for conservation. My community is already a developed suburb filled with community homes, building condos instead of the single family homes seems to be the best route to take in my understanding.

Sustainable Consumerism

What is “sustainable consumerism”? Are globalization and capitalism positive or negative drivers in this phenomenon? What is greenwashing? Would you be willing to pay a premium for foods labeled “organic”, “local”, or “fair-trade”? Do you prefer to frequent mom and pop stores in downtown Ft. Myers or patronize chain stores at the Gulf Coast Town Center? What are the ramifications of your behaviors either way? Think holistically.

Sustainable consumerism is the purchasing of sustainable goods that are manufactured with the principles of environmental sustainability. I feel that globalization and capitalism are negative drivers in furthering sustainable consumerism in society. A focus on a local marketplace will help fuel the local economy, which in turn has many sustainable advantages such as: less packaging required for transportation, products do not have to travel long distances which results in less carbon emissions, and family-run farms who tend to be good stewards to their lands preservation. I already purchase organic, fair-trade foods when they have the alternative. These foods are fresh at the market, and seem to have a better quality of taste to them. Purchasing from "mom and pop" stores helps to support the local farmers and the local economy by also keeping jobs local. There are also fewer middleman in the process, and you are also able to find out more information about how your food is being grown from the source.

Downtown Fort Myers

The concept of the a "downtown" refers mostly to the heart of a city consisting of large buildings surrounding the area and usually where the central financial district is found in most large cities. Downtown evokes lights, music, and culture of the surrounding area full of people. Downtown Ft. Myers has grown very quickly these past couple years and it does seem to have created a cultural revival. The events I have heard of, along with the art-walk every other week has created this renaissance feel. Most of the architectural features I witnessed in my field-trip consisted of statues, villa styled buildings, and an overall ocean-side feel. I especially liked all the different colors splayed out across the streets. Downtowns are mostly very pedestrian friendly by featuring many walkways and sidewalks across the city. The various parks also are a great opportunity for people to walk around the city and enjoy the scenery. The city of Fort Myers is fast becoming a city of diversity. The Southwest Florida Museum is presently featuring it's "Mambo Man" Exhibit which is a tribute to a Cuban Mambo dancer originating here in Fort Myers. The museum was a great portal to view the past Fort Myers to the present day city we see today. I learned a lot about the history of Ft Myers and it's culture through the museum visit that helped my appreciate this city more than I did when I moved here 3 years back. It is great to have an understanding of what built this city. The economy of Fort Myers seems to have been built from agriculture and fisheries leading up to this day. The abundance of seafood restaurants around the area is a great "past-time" for this area. The city of Fort Myers is sustainable in the way the city is built with its parks and natural preservation sites. I found it very interesting to learn so much about this city's culture and how it became what it is today.

Satirical Picture on "Mother Gaia"

My Personal Ecological Footprint

According to the footprint calculator, if everyone lived like me, we would need 4.2 Earths and 18.6 global acres to sustain my lifestyle and provide enough resources for everyone. As I completed the quiz, I figured some simple behaviors that I could modify that would help decrease my footprint on the world. I learned that I should recycle more of my paper waste and bottles instead of using the trash. FGCU has a recycling trash for bottles and cans next to nearly every trash can. I would also like to decrease the amount of animal products I eat, maybe by half if I am adamant about it. If every American did decrease their consumption of animal products by half, we'd use 645 million fewer global acres. The max population that the earth could sustain if everyone lived like do is 1,750,000,000.

Blog Entry #9: Alternative Energy

Energy in the near past has been very cheap, especially here in the United States compared to other nations.  It just started to become more costly, and maybe it will drive industry towards alternative methods.  Conservation may be a dirty word to people of progress and biophobia, but to people aware of global environmental issues, I would believe it is something the world needs.  No one really knows the ramifications of using up all the land for construction and progress, and it would be better off if we kept some of the earth's natural forests for future generations to witness and feel.  Jimmy Carter was one of the most environmentally focused president that the US has seen, and his views on energy policy should have been implemented and continued after his presidency.  I feel like alternative energies should be discovered and marketed by scientists and implemented by the government.  We need the most technologically advanced alternative sciences to be started, and if business takes part in the industry, then profit will become involved.  If profit is involved, then the "Steve Jobs Syndrome" will also take part in it and the best product won't be released until the next edition comes along.  Using solar, wind, and current simultaneously would be the most beneficial uses towards alternative energies, but geothermal energy would reap the most benefit.  Geothermal (earth-heat) energy is using the heat from the inner core of the earth to power electricity and generate heat.  This type of energy may be the most powerful and efficient source of energy according to some scientists.

To reduce my ecological footprint on the planet, there are many ways I could start.  Using economical light bulbs, riding my bike to school and/or work, and taking shorter showers are some easy ways I could start right now.  Reduce the usage of resources, reusing resources, and recycling are also great ways to take part in the "Green Movement."  

Blog Entry #8: Climate Change

The earth goes through cyclical shifts of cooling and warming in different periods of time.  Various factors contribute to the climate changing during these shifts.  The speeding of technologies that allow the extraction of resources and burning of fossil fuels may one day become an apparent cause to climate change, but present day obviously are in debate if this is a man-made issue.  It could be possible that the usage of earth's resources are causing this warming of the stratosphere, and it is up to environmental specialists and scientists of all concentrations to acquire scientific facts and numbers on climate change.  A reputable source cannot be the main media outlets as there have been many biased opinions.  Climate change is just another fad that society will eat up that could boost ratings.  Al Gore is a perfect example of how the media and politics converge.  I have read Al Gore's "Our Choice" book, and the way it is written is very convincing.  The statistics and numbers seem accurate in that it is based off of scientific data (claims the book).  The problem is that I feel it has to be a total collective effort in the global participation in order to make a difference to what we may have done to the climate.  One person, city, or state can't make a huge difference in the global climate change, everyone in the world has to be aware of the ramifications our human footprint holds.  In my opinion, I feel that governments should create the polices that completely change society's views on how we use fossil fuels and natural resources instead of creating more waste.  Knowing that the media and the government both have hidden agendas would make someone less likely to alter their lifestyle for environmental sustainability, but self-education should be important in taking action and being pre-active.  Climate change has possible repercussions to generations to come if it is anthropogenic, and before we take action for future generations, I believe we have too many to deal with present day to fix before we focus tomorrow.

ArborGen plans to plant GMO eucalyptus at FGCU. (Hypothetical Scenario)

ArborGen (a biotech company) has expressed a desire to plant test plots of genetically modified eucalyptus here at FGCU! This GM eucalyptus has been engineered with enhanced cold tolerance. This allows it to grow not only in Southwest Florida, but potentially as far north as South Carolina. As an eco-aware citizen, the USDA has subpoenaed you to testify on the merits and pitfalls of this plan.

There are about 700 species of eucalyptus trees that are found throughout North and South America, Africa, some parts of Asia and Europe.  Some species are used for their potential of fast-growing wood, producing oils used for cleaning and functions as a natural insecticide, and their ability to drain swamps through invasive water-sucking.  The eucalyptus trees are also well-known to have a beneficial economic impact on poor populations.

There are many benefits towards GM produced eucalyptus trees that are beneficial in agriculture, environmental issues, and human health.  GM eucalyptus that are "Freeze-tolerant" will spur growth in forests and help the environment through a gain in forestry in areas where eucalyptus trees would die.  It would increase the productivity for wood, fiber, and energy.  Some potential intrinsic concerns include the act of "Playing God" by altering genetics of the biology of plants or understanding the ethical responsibilities of changing natural genetic codes.  Some extrinsic concerns include unintentionally creating super-viruses that may cause epidemics in human or ecological health.  A way to prevent these super-viruses is through reasonable and calculated steps in the scientific process.  Scientists would have to create isolated experiments that would be lengthy in time and would be very costly.  The benefits may outweigh the risks when using it beneficially for economic impact on poor populations, but these trees have been deemed as the "tree-weeds" of the earth.  They spread and consume too much water, and the spread of these weeds throughout the earth may spread chaos in this already water-depleted world.

Blog Entry # 6: ECHO and Appropriate Technology

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) has a variety of farming techniques and technologies that should "hopefully" be beneficial for developing nations around the world.  The different ideas that you witness throughout the tour such as the different farming and agriculture systems.  I feel American agriculture has strayed from this approach to farming.  American agriculture uses a more mass feeding and artificial method that has led to it being one of the most hazardous industries.ECHO's relevance to feeding the developing world is minute to the scale of global hunger.  The whole point of ECHO is to teach people from developing nations how just "not to farm, but to work to make farmers more effective at growing food producing crops under harsh conditions.  Appropriate technology is used to help these people from developing nations.  Appropriate technology is a means to use small scale, labor intensive, energy sufficient, and environmentally sound methods usually towards agriculture.  An example of appropriate technology are bike and hand powered water pumps and other self powered equipments.  I would be interested in doing service learning with ECHO in order to work with developing nations around the world.  Different cultures interest me, and to just know that I am giving a helping hand to a great idea would be very fulfilling.

Blog Entry #5: Sustainable Farming

Some elements to sustainable farming are: social responsibility and environmental conservation and sustainability. The principles towards sustainable farming includes creating ideas that will help to fulfill the major elements. Rooftop gardens, vertical gardening, and community gardens are some great ways to utilize available city space. Ecocities could be the future of how cities will be in the future. I personally buy organic using the "Dirty dozen" and other methods that release foods that are high in pesticide contamination. The current food system is the only way I know how to buy my food, but I do think sometimes when I am at my local grocery store if there would be another alternative. I find it weird how we buy produce from all these supermarkets. I have actually thought of growing my own vegetables recently. A neighbor actually grows his vegetables on the window sill in pots.

Blog Entry #4: The Energy Crisis

The most pressing global environmental issue facing us today is the energy crisis.  The usage of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas, etc.) has put the environment in a critical state by creating the climate crisis with the warming of earth's atmosphere.  The increase in CO2 levels because of deforestation, the industrial revolution, and the burning of fossil fuels are some of the main causes of this climate crisis.  A search for renewable sources of energy should be the main focus of the world if we are to endure and sustain mother earth.  Instead of using coal, oil, and natural gas (which provides 86.5 % of energy use), we could use alternative energy like harvesting the power of the sun and wind.  I would invest 100% of the $100 billion to address this global problem to research in renewable energy.  The use of biofuels to power cars to lower CO2 emissions, the planting of green scenery throughout concrete jungles should be the focus of the local and state governments.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

There were several ecosystems I saw during my walk through corkscrew sanctuary: pinelands, wet prairies, bald cypress, and march ecosystems.  These different ecosystems all contain through own unique set of animal and plant life flourishing within.  The role of conservation is to keep something sustainable and living continuously throughout its life.  Stewardship is the role of someone to maintain the life and sustainability of something throughout its life.  Private non-profit agencies are doing something for a cause, and not for any economic gain.  These private non-profit agencies should be run by smart like-minded individuals who have a passion to live for what they are doing.  There are not many people out there who will give everything up for a cause.  The preservation of this particular acreage is to keep host different forms of wildlife such as several species of wading birds, wintering passerines, and the endangered wood stork.  The role of corkscrew sanctuary, in a ecological perspective, is to be a "living machine" demonstration site.  Living machines are used to purify water by using sunlight, bacteria, green plants, and animals to restore water to pure conditions.  The entrance to the visitor center contains loads of information on how the everglades and Florida has changed over the past 120 years due to industrialization.  The population growth of Florida along with development has pushed hundreds of thousands of wildlife away from Florida.  We are now just starting to gain some wildlife back through direct efforts in sustainability according to the posters and information given in the visitors center.  Overall, this experience was delightful and definitely educational.  I would recommend this walk to anyone interested in nature and sustainability.

The Nature Trail - FGCU

The nature trail was a pleasant experience.  Walking through the trails under the shade of the trees was a relaxing experience.  The different species of plant life were beautiful in their natural essence.  The "Eco-empowerment" mission of the university really shows with these nature trails.  It shows that the university cares about the environment and would show it off in all its beauty.

Blog Entry #1

This class should be interesting considering the fact that it is the one course that defines Florida Gulf Coast University's mission statement for sustainability.  Sustainability, or to sustain, is to maintain an ecological balance in order to keep life in it's natural state.  The concept of sustainability in my major, athletic training, would be related through the health and fitness of the population.  In order for the earth to remain healthy, it's inhabitants would have to think and believe in healthy habits.  Some personal behaviors that may be unsustainable are the use and abuse of our natural resources, the indulgence of animal consumption, and unhealthily remaining sedentary.