I have a consumption pattern I would consider mostly that of an average middle class American. I eat about 3 meals each day, but I do make my first meal only a bowl of cereal with a bit of milk. One thing I do regularly is buy local food, and pay close attention to the date of expiration so I can stretch the product to its capacity. I don't necessarily do this for the environment or for the local sustainability principles. I am a cautious food consumer because I am a "poor college student" and need to be aware of these things. It just so happens that the way I consume is quite sustainable.
I feel that many people don't consume in healthy patterns for the purpose of being sustainable. I believe they do it out of ease or so they can say they are sustainable consumers. Everyone has their own reason for everything they do.
Being a college student, at least in Athens, means there are not many chances to be seriously over-consuming. I borrow money from the government for school and pay for my books, bills and groceries with my small income. I want to own many things, but I won't buy unnecessary stuff until I know I can afford it comfortably, and will never regret the purchase. Even though my food consumptions is not conscious, I do often think hard about the processes that products go through before I purchase them. I find it very helpful to do so. Half of the time I find myself returning the product to the shelf or leaving the entire cart full of items behind. Many times I stop myself because of the disgust I feel when I see row after row of obese customers with their obese offspring with carts full of soda, frozen dinners and cigarettes, only to get to the checkout and pay out of their welfare envelopes.
I guess what I'm saying here is that my consciousness of the serious over-consumption around me leads me to make choices that are more healthy, for myself and the environment. Ethically, my choices reflect my embarrassment of our common society. I like to think my choices don't go unnoticed, and maybe even make up for those hogs "living high on the hog" that I just mentioned.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wilderness Blog
How has reading about the history of our concept of ‘wilderness’ altered (or not) your sense of what it is and how we should think about it?
I may not have had such an in depth view of wilderness prior to reading William Cronon's essay, but I certainly have similar feelings about what wilderness represents and how humanity perceives the subject. I have written a couple of essays recently on the global climate change, or as some like to say, the "global warming effect." These essays of mine have been in response to humankind's lack of concern and even the amount of ignorance many people have when it comes to the earth and it's health. Cronon brought this idea full circle when he published this essay, and even challenges the audience to rethink our take on the term.
I know my concept of wilderness has not changed, but I have certainly been enlightened to an extent. While I am slightly confused about what Cronon wants readers to take from his writing, I did consider it to be quite fascinating to hear his thoughts about the subject and exactly how much humanity has changed the very essence of the wild.
Humanity is the culprit in this reality of the desolation of our planet. Whether or not we ever think about repercussions of our everyday plans and how each action has a serious reaction, the fact is that it will eventually destroy the ground we walk on.
I did find it interesting as Cronon described wilderness as a place to fear. In history, humans only inhabited very small parts of the earth. They did not know what was outside of their comfort zone. I think this is the real "wilderness" Cronon is writing about. Going outside of that comfort zone meant leaving and maybe not returning. It was undiscovered land, animals, water, mountains and an overall wildness they were about to see. For all they knew, they could have been entering the place of God or of Satan.
With rapid population increase and the Industrial Revolution the wilderness became domesticated very suddenly. The sublime no longer exists, only the idea of it remains. And when people try to explain wilderness, it is almost impossible. You cannot define a concept. What I took away from this reading was that the wilderness society envisions is wrong. There really is no such thing anymore. It was culturally created for future and past generations, to paint a pleasant picture for us to remember and hold dear. The fact is, we can not go back in time to do it all over. What's done is done, unfortunately, and for those who know wilderness to be a growing landscape of reproduction and beauty, they are experiencing false reality. We have already passed the point of no return long, long ago.
I may not have had such an in depth view of wilderness prior to reading William Cronon's essay, but I certainly have similar feelings about what wilderness represents and how humanity perceives the subject. I have written a couple of essays recently on the global climate change, or as some like to say, the "global warming effect." These essays of mine have been in response to humankind's lack of concern and even the amount of ignorance many people have when it comes to the earth and it's health. Cronon brought this idea full circle when he published this essay, and even challenges the audience to rethink our take on the term.
I know my concept of wilderness has not changed, but I have certainly been enlightened to an extent. While I am slightly confused about what Cronon wants readers to take from his writing, I did consider it to be quite fascinating to hear his thoughts about the subject and exactly how much humanity has changed the very essence of the wild.
Humanity is the culprit in this reality of the desolation of our planet. Whether or not we ever think about repercussions of our everyday plans and how each action has a serious reaction, the fact is that it will eventually destroy the ground we walk on.
I did find it interesting as Cronon described wilderness as a place to fear. In history, humans only inhabited very small parts of the earth. They did not know what was outside of their comfort zone. I think this is the real "wilderness" Cronon is writing about. Going outside of that comfort zone meant leaving and maybe not returning. It was undiscovered land, animals, water, mountains and an overall wildness they were about to see. For all they knew, they could have been entering the place of God or of Satan.
With rapid population increase and the Industrial Revolution the wilderness became domesticated very suddenly. The sublime no longer exists, only the idea of it remains. And when people try to explain wilderness, it is almost impossible. You cannot define a concept. What I took away from this reading was that the wilderness society envisions is wrong. There really is no such thing anymore. It was culturally created for future and past generations, to paint a pleasant picture for us to remember and hold dear. The fact is, we can not go back in time to do it all over. What's done is done, unfortunately, and for those who know wilderness to be a growing landscape of reproduction and beauty, they are experiencing false reality. We have already passed the point of no return long, long ago.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
brief introduction
Hello,
My name is Robert Schreiber, and I am a Junior here at Ohio University. I am majoring in Psychology and Art. I attended OU about two years ago and transferred to Hocking College in Nelsonville to save money. I quickly realized what a big mistake that was and transferred back. The extra money is worth it for a better education!
Bob
My name is Robert Schreiber, and I am a Junior here at Ohio University. I am majoring in Psychology and Art. I attended OU about two years ago and transferred to Hocking College in Nelsonville to save money. I quickly realized what a big mistake that was and transferred back. The extra money is worth it for a better education!
Bob
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