Earthday Ecological Footprint

Our ecological footprint is the "footprint" we leave behind on this earth that allows us to determine how we have made our mark on the Earth. Some of our ecological footprints are bigger than others and some have a very small footprint.

On the Earth Day Footprinter Calculator here is what my results looked like:

I never realized that my living conditions meant that 6.3 earths would be needed just to sustain my lifestyle! That is crazy. Thankfully everyone doesn't do the same things I do or eat the same way. However, that also tells me that I need to cut down on the amount of things I do that cause harm to the environment. There really needs to be some sort of balance where we can all live a decent life one just one Earth without using up all of its resources at once. My driving and services account for most of the negativity in my ecological footprinter However, the ecological footprint does not take into consideration the amount of cleanups I do on beach and around my community. So hopefully, that helps lower it.

TED Talk - Gorgeous photos of a backyard wilderness worth saving

I was going through the wonderful TED talk website one day. I have always been interested in the sections with videos that talk about our food and what we are putting into our body. How big companies are artificially enhancing everything we eat in order to save them money. Today, I actually just read about how Simple Orange (an orange juice brand) hires fragrance makers like Calvin Klein to enhance their orange juice to make it seem fresh. Even more alarming is that these fragrance companies are NOT required to be listed on the ingredients label!!!

Here is the description of the video from the TED website: "Ethnographer Wade Davis explores hidden places in the wider world — but in this powerful short talk he urges us to save a paradise in his backyard, Northern Canada. The Sacred Headwaters, remote and pristine, are under threat because they hide rich tar sands. With stunning photos, Davis asks a tough question: How can we balance society's need for fuels with the urge to protect such glorious wilderness?" 

He basically talks about how heavily America depends on our need for fuel to power our daily lives and what effect this is having on the environment. I liked this video because he talks about land in Northern Canada that needs to be saved and being that I am from Canada, the video really interested me.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

I have never been for a Swamp Sanctuary before. The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is very interesting and wet! I have always been a little frightened of swamps, not because of alligators, but because of the snakes. I have a serious fear of snakes.

Upon entering the sanctuary the first thing I noticed was the huge size of it. It is 13,000 acres! On the premises there are these very tall birds called Woodstocks. Woodstock birds usually only come to habitats that have a lush, healthy ecosystem. I don't think I ever saw an owl in the wild, but when I went to the sanctuary I saw one. The swamp sanctuary prides themselves on helping to protect the everglades that so many species rely on for food and shelter. The everglades is home to millions of different species.

There are these trees that are the oldest in North America that are covered in moss and extend extremely high. I hurt my neck looking up at them. The width of these trees were like 3 car lengths, they were enormous. I never knew trees of this size ever existed. It was a beautiful site of history to see.

There are a few different animals that I saw during my visit. The first animal I saw was the Woodstock birds. Upon walking through the lake I saw the otters. In the wet marsh and swamp I saw alligators, probably about 20 of them at once just sun bathing. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera, but this field trip was pretty awesome.

Service Learning Proposal

For my service learning proposal, I would like to propose a community organization known as InKarma. A group of young professionals that call themselves In>>Karma (http://inkarma.org/). I have never been so motivated, dedicated and determined to make a difference in society until I joined this amazing group. In>>Karma is quite simply a group looking to make a difference. Here is there mission statement: “InKarma Community Association, a registered Not-For-Profit organization consists of a group of young professionals and students who are dedicated to voluntary community service. Our mission is to develop and foster community spirit by promoting organized athletics, arts, recreation, education, social services and other community events” ("In>>karma mission statement," ). I chose to join InKarma because the opportunity presented itself right in front of me and really caught my attention. They are an amazing, young group of professionals looking to give back to the community – which is what I am looking to do as well. 

References:

In>>karma mission statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://inkarma.org/?page_id=2

FGCU Campus Trip 2/1/2014

About 3 and a half years ago, I was accepted to Florida Gulf Coast University. I remember walking on the campus and feeling like such a small figure in a huge world. Everyone there was so friendly and made me feel at home. I noticed something that I'm sure every single student at FGCU noticed. I noticed that the environment is SUCH an important issue at FGCU. Florida Gulf Coast is an amazing name in environmental friendliness that has influenced the way I perceive the world around me. I have a new appreciation for nature now.

 The students that go to FGCU are extremely knowledgeable about their surrounding environment. Compared to the average college student, we are more aware and concerned of the well-being of our school and environment around it. Florida Gulf Coast University has done a remarkable job instilling the importance of education in each and every student that attends the school. However, they have also done an even better job of enlightening and informing their students about the importance environmental sustainability.

You see, the differences between this school and a lot of other schools is that Florida Gulf Coast University actually does the things it preaches. They utilize renewable energy resources, such as their enormous solar field that generates megawatts of electricity to power the school.

Lessons about environmental education, ecological literacy and sustainability should be taught with the same importance and recognition that Florida Gulf Coast University implements. In my honest opinion, we are connected to our natural environment more than the average college student attending school in a big city somewhere. Backing on to the one and only Everglades, we are gifted with the presence of alligators, the Florida Panther, and other exotic species. FGCU is a school that lays the framework and foundation as a perfect example of what it means to be an effective environmental educational system.

Here is a picture of the FGCU solar field