More Survey Results

After reviewing my survey, I added a couple questions more pertaining to my theory surrounding my paper. I'm using the Broken Glass Theory to prove that littering is more likely to take place in certain areas rather than by certain people. In my original survey I thought it was weird some people agreed it was bad, yet still did it. So, I added location questions like: where are you most likely to litter in a run down neighborhood? or a relatively rich neighborhood? My results lined up better with my theory and proved people are more likely to litter based on their location rather than just because.

(There is no link provided to my survey because I did my survey with paper and pen)

Survey Results

After analyzing the results, everyone I asked agreed littering is harmful to the environment. Even though everyone agreed littering is harmful, a few people admitted that they still littered. Everyone agreed that students should be educated about littering and everyone in the survey recycles. On the question regarding whether or not they would pick up someone else's trash, the results were split. Some would while others would not.

Sustainable Food

No matter where you live or how you live, food is a necessity. Food is staple in every culture and simply put, we cannot live without it. As humans have developed over time, food has become increasingly questionable. What we define as food, such as a hamburger, we may not actually know what is put into this food. We have lost the link between the actual animal or crop to our dinner table. Our quest for fast, easy, and cheap food has created a downward spiral in the meat and crop industries. The valuable nutrients of these foods are being lost in translation. In order to restore this balance, we should revert back to natural, organic foods that our bodies were actually made to digest. All these chemicals and preservatives are not what we were designed to break down. However, saying that we must switch our diets and actually switching our diets are two very different things. It's hard to change set eating habits. I feel though the only way to set our ecosystem back in balance.

Artifact: Pollution

This image depicts smog located in a small town. Pollution can come in many forms, however smog is the most noticed one. The ethical dilemma with pollution is how can we completely stop it, without ending the use of fossil fuels? Even though fossil fuels are harmful to the environment, we depend on them entirely too much to really get rid of them all together. In order to reduce the usage, we must develop renewable resources that do not cause pollution. For example we could switch over to wind power or solar power. Many people do not want to change their ways though. So, pollution remains.

Climate Change Article

Many different terms are used to define this phenomenon such as climate change, global warming, and global change. Climate change refers to a distinct change of climate that lasts for a long period of time. It can effect any number of things. Global warming is an average increase of temperatures near the earth’s surface. Global change is a broad term used to define the global environment. The global temperature has risen 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 100 years. Scientists have been able to link 90% of this issue to human activities releasing more and more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Scientists predict if we can continue to live the lives we live, we will see a 3-7 degree increase by the year 2100. Climate change and warming affects humans in many ways. Increased frequency and intensity in heat waves are prone to cause many more heat related illnesses or death. Vegetation and forestry are expected to decline due to drought in many areas and increased heat and decreased precipitation.  Events such as floods and droughts are more likely to become more common in increased climates. As stated above, adjusting to such changes is extremely costly and could drive the economy into even deeper turmoil. Fragile ecosystems could be damaged and could cause long lasting affects on almost every ecosystem in the world.
 

Fracking

The process of fracking is a fairly new process that has caused controversial uproar among Americans. Fracking is essentially drilling into the shale and then harnessing the natural gas that is released. Recently many natural gas companies have started fracking all across the United States in order to obtain this valuable resource. The nation's massive shale and tight gas reservoirs are spread across the Northeast; in the upper Midwest; under Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas; and north into the Rocky Mountain region.  

            Natural gas and fracking has supplied many jobs for big corporations helping to bolster the economy. It also is another alternative to help ease America off of its dependence on foreign oil. Because of the points above, natural gas is becoming increasingly popular and forcing some coal companies out of business completely. Many consumers believe that natural gas is much cleaner and safer than coal and oil, but this is not the case. Although it produces half the carbon emissions that coal does, it releases many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The increase in fracking is definitely contributing to the current global warming situation and is also causing health hazards. Many companies drill into the shale that is near citizens homes. This infects their air and water with pollutants such as methane. The methane is so strong in certain water that you can light the water on fire. Another major problem is that the drillers of this oil and natural gas are not being required to test for these problems or to even fix them. Many are outraged and want stricter regulations on these drillers.

Richard Kahn

In Richard Kahn's article he discusses current environmental issues and their impacts on the world. He then shifts his attention to education and the education system. Kahn believes that the current education system has set students up to be nothing more than average. Which, in some respects could be seen as accurate. However, I believe education is what you make it. If you want to do well and succeed in life, then you have to put the time and effort in to be successful. I say his theory may be right in some respects because I do feel certain people have a better chance for success than others. Those who can attend private schools have a better chance of doing well. Like I said though if you do not care about the opportunities, and do not make the best of them, then there really is no advantage. Rather than trying to change the school system, I think the teachers have to change. I feel too many teachers do not want to be teachers or do not always have their students best interest at heart. If more teachers started really pushing their students and attempting to challenge them with engaging classes, more students would be eager to learn.