Blog #9

To be honest, we could certainly use more Jimmy Cardigans right now, about a billion of them. I’d like to think of myself similar to that persona. As described in previous blogs, we have made many changes in our home and lifestyle to be healthier all around; healthy for us and healthy for our planet. Like trading in our SUV for a 4 cylinder car and cutting our cable. Cutting the cable reduces the amount of time we sit in front of the television burning electricity. Instead, we burn calories or read. I agree with steering us away from non-renewable energy sources. We have so many resources available to us that are free and will never run out. Solar energy is the one with the most potential. Solar energy is also the source of other renewable energies that we use such as wind and plants. We are looking into retractable indoor clotheslines so that we can stop using the dryer when washing clothes. That, over time, should save not only money but energy, reducing our footprint at my address. In the next five years, we plan to have our air conditioner converted to solar power, and eventually, have a home built to run on solar power altogether.

Blog #8

I believe that climate change is a combination of man and nature. I would consider a source reputable if it were backed by research and not just sentiment and opinion. We don’t have cable in our home. Aside from couponing and buying organic, my wife and I believe that cable television is a waste of time and money. Our children read books and play board games, video games, and we interact quite a bit as a family unit on a daily basis. So what I see from the media isn’t much, just the local news at night. I have seen blurbs here and there about automobiles being a major pollutant and the amount of gas causes our natural resources to dwindle lower and lower each year. The increased pollutant from these autos is a main source of the climate issues reportedly. As a matter of fact, we have recently traded in our 8 cylinder sport utility vehicle for a 4 cylinder car that is a little newer. I have to admit that I feel a sense of relief now that we aren’t dumping as much gasoline into a vehicle like we used to; not only for our bank account, but for the environment. I truly hope that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy what we have enjoyed for all of these years. I feel that people have really noticed what has happened to our planet and changes and laws are being made to protect it. I think that in the future, there will be more strict regulations in place for citizens and nations to follow.

Blog #7

     Eucalyptus trees originated in Australia but have been introduced to areas of the United States. The trees appear harmless and beautiful, after all they are trees. Trees represent life, strength, and shelter. Benefits of genetically altering trees might seem ideal at first by providing strong, resilient trees to areas that have been stripped or have lost its native trees over time from foresting or chemically altered grounds. Initially, it would be perceived as a no brainer, plant the trees, save the forests!

     I am a firm believer that we should not introduce something new to an environment. We have all heard stories about frogs, birds, vines, etc. that has been introduced to the United States over the years and have proliferated in exponential amounts and have changed ecosystems. Right here in our backyards, we are experiencing the very same situation with pythons and boa constrictors. Escaped from pet stores and homes during Hurricane Andrew and released from owners that have changed their minds, these snakes have taken over the Everglades. They eat the natural wildlife in the swamps that are staggering to stay within acceptable numbers as it is with the Everglades vanishing little by little.

     I believe that the GE trees will do the same. According to the Global Justice Ecology website, in California, where eucalyptus trees have already been introduced in the 1800s, the government spends millions to try to eradicate them. The trees fuel wildfires, take over water sources above and below ground causing drought, destruct the carbon rich forests, and are known hosts of a fungus that is deadly to humans and animals. They have taken over and are eliminating the native plants and animals by changing the native ecosystem.

     So in my opinion, the benefits of having trees do not outweigh the risks of the type of tree being considered. If ArborGen wants to be green and genetically develop trees, then they should develop trees that are native to the area in which they wish to plant them. Otherwise, the ulterior motives are only going to further damage our gentle ecosystem and we will be in a worse predicament than we are now in five years.