#12 My Ecological Footprint

 I took the Ecological Footprint quiz at http://www.myfootprint.org/en/.  My results were for if everyone on earth lived my lifestyle, then we would need 6.51 earths. There are many things that I would be willing to change to reduce my ecological footprint and promote conservation. The mileage I use in my car is about 15,000 miles or more a year. Most of those miles are due to work, so I wouldn’t be able ride my bike, but if I were to just want to go over to my parents, I would ride my bike or run there. I am also going to have my car checked regularly, so it will run more efficiently. I plan on going through my house and changing all my light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs to save energy. I usually unplug my appliances when not in use, but sometimes I just forget, so I will make it so I will always remember to unplug my appliances when they are not in use. I’ve also always wanted to grow my own garden. Right now with school and work all the time, I really don’t have time to take care of a garden, but once I graduate I plan on growing my own.  I also want to stop eating so much meat. I love meat, all kinds, but I want to start eating more vegetables. Also, I would like to start eating more fresh vegetables and fruits instead of frozen or canned. This will help a lot more with waste and the amount of trash I throw out. I do recycle, but I don’t do it enough. These some of the things I would be willing to change to reduce my ecological footprint.  I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a start.

# 11 Corkscrew Sanctuary

The trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary was very motivating and captivating to learn more about nature.   It was peaceful and I learned a lot about the Sanctuary. It was a great walk through the woods and swamps, which made it very relaxing.  I am usually really busy, so to be able to go to the sanctuary really helped me clear my mind. I saw plenty of different types of birds, turtles, and one huge alligator just sitting on the dirt. There were an abundance of different types of plants and trees growing around the Sanctuary. You can tell the different throughout the trail with the elevation level as well. Different plants and different animals live at the different elevations.  The coolest thing was the tree which grows on other trees. I am not sure what the name of this tree was, but the tree can grow from the bottom or even from a branch and lives off the other tree.   Another thing was the tree canopy. This was basically a place where not much rain would be able to fall and it was very protective. The Indians and backpackers usually used and use these tree canopies when they are traveling. I really enjoyed when my group just stopped for a few minutes in silence and just listened to the wildlife around us. It is something I believed I should do more often, because it is very relaxing and soothing and can really help if you are having a bad day. I enjoyed Corkscrew Sanctuary, and I would like to take my family down to visit next time they are in Florida.

# 10 Capitalistic Free-Market

It is in my opinion that over time a capitalistic free-market economy will always as a necessity allocates resources. For example, Walmart used to be all American products, but to make more money, they started buying goods from different countries. Since their standard of living is cheaper, therefore their products are cheaper. Another example would be farmers and their cows with their grassland. Farmers know that when as their cows graze, they start to ruin the grassland. Each year a farmer may want to get another cow for dairy products and food so he could make more money. All of the other farmers will do the same. Even though they know it is doing harm, they don’t think it matters because it is benefiting them. If we had a capitalistic free-market then everyone is going to want to buy another cow even though it is depleting the land.  They would eventually have to move, but then they would do it all over again like a snowball effect.  Also, we can do things that benefit ourselves and others, but it could affect a third party. An example of this would be the harvesting by one fishing company in the ocean that depletes the stock of available fish for the other companies and overfishing may be the result. This is an example of the Tragedy of the commons. We do things all the time which benefit us, but does not benefit others or other things. Just like the use of burning fossil fuels. It benefits us and we use it as much as we do, because  we can.  But, we don’t stop and think if it is causing a negative effect on ourselves, animals, plants, and the earth.

# 9 Land Ethic

The Article by Aldo Leopold was very motivating and made me realize I need to look at how I treat the plants and surroundings a little differently. He talked about how we are the ones who stand in the way and who affect the surroundings around us, such as the soil, plants, and animals. We need to have more ethics with how we treat our surroundings. Just like if wanted to cook some fried food and then after just dumped the oil in the ground because I didn’t care, shows bad ethical behavior.  But, some people think this way and that it isn’t a big deal, but it is and it is something we need to change. Also, I am guilty for something like this as well. I have a huge acorn tree in my front yard, which constantly drops leaves and acorns all over the yard, driveway, and car. I want to chop it down, but that wouldn’t be very land ethical, to chop it down because I just don’t like it.  It is a great tree and has been there for many years, so after reading this article, I guess it is going to stay there for a long time. Some people are trying help things like this, such as animals. PETA(People for the ethical Treatment of Animals) is one group is trying to help animals, because they deserve this land just as much as we do and who are we to destroy it or them. Simple things we need to think about, whether it be to not kill a spider and release it outside to even to not drill in Alaska because it would stop the migration of certain species. We have to be more animal and land cautious when we do things. This article really opened my eyes and made me realize even the little efforts count.

# 8 Cancelled