Guest Speaker - Frank DeCourten

"The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we're contributing to the warming of the earth's atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe." -Barack Obama

"We should be treating, I think, the whole issue of climate change and global warming with a far greater degree of priority than I think is happening now." -Prince Charles



I have heard many things about global warming whether it's on the listening to it on the news or reading it online. Everything seems to be labeled "scientific fact or theory" but I have a hard time in believing what is really true and what is false. After listening to Frank DeCourten's discussion, it was nice to see evidence that supports the global warming theory.

After class, throughout the day, I found myself thinking about global warming and the impact us humans have on it. It really intrigued me to learn what parts of the world have had the greatest effect of global warming. I knew that polar bears were in danger , but I had no idea that the temperature rising 1 degree Celsius made that big of an impact on a frozen environment. I had no idea that the polar bear was officially listed as threatened under the U.S. endangered species act on May 14, 2008. This the first creature brought under the act's protection for habitat loss that is linked to global warming.

So many creatures, Ice Burg's and landmass's and endangered.. It is really sad..

If only we could find a way for the temperatures to go down in the world...

Jane Haproff

I have to say that Religion is one of the most debated topic discussed in history. Being a semi-religious person myself, i was trying to make that connection between religion vs. environment. I understand how religion could connect to parts of the environment, but I don't believe that it has any major rules in the environment. I must say that I had a hard time following Jane Haproff and trying to make that connection between religion and environment, and how we view it today. To me it's like some people are blaming the world on the bible. Perhaps millions of years ago it was written that it is a sin to cut down trees, but in today's world, religion does not really play a role in the environment....

My View on the Environment

Growing up my parent always talked about how we (my sister & I) could do our part in keeping the environment clean. Recycling was always a must. We recycled everything!!! My mom would always talk about environmental issues with us and explain the reasons why certain things were happening the way they were. We were never allowed to "sit inside all day and watch t.v.". My parents encouraged us to play outside, to go on bike rides, and "just be kids".

During the summer months, my family activities were the same year after year. We would practially live at the beach during the weekdays, and go camping at least once a month.

My mom was a teacher, so she had the summer months to enjoy them with us. My mom always would take my sister & I to the beach, along with the neighbor kids. After a long day at the beach, my friends and I would always walk around and collect the aluminum and water bottles that people would leave behind. We would fill up garbage bags full!!!

Camping was also great. I loved camping, and I still do!!! I am that person that would rather camp for two weeks versus staying at a hotel. I love the great outdoors. I have continued the tradition that parents started when I was a child. Every month during the summer, my friends and I pack up at go camping up towards truckee. CAMPING IS GREAT!!!

I am very happy of the way my parents raised me. They were definalty not "tree-huggers" and did not preach about "saving the planet", but they definatly did their part in making sure my sister & I were aware of how beautiful the planet earth really is.

Lynn Mederios - Matters of Fact vs. Matters of Value

Lynn Mederios was AWESOME!! I highly enjoyed her speech.

Lynn really made me sit back and think about all the poor arguments that people bring to the table. Is the knowledge they are arguing true or false? Like Lynn said, "Arguments are tools that we pursue to conclude a conclusion". I agree with that 100%.

Last night I was watching the news when I got home from work. For some reason, as I was listening, I kept thinking how everything, everyone was talking about was an argument. Whether it was from arguing Prop 8 or arguing the war. My argument is EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION!!!

While listening closely to the news, it made me think about the handout that Lynn Mederios passed out. The "slippery slope" and "appeal to general relief"tactic is what I though about. Like I said in the above paragraph, everyone is entitled to their out opinion.

Lynn really made me think about how I will approach my arguments in the near future. I definaly will sit back and listen before I speak what I feel.

Vernon Martin

"Americans are swimming in a sea of messages" Vernon Martin stated. After listening to V. Martin discuss his lecture it really made me think. In today's society we have "everything" we want and "everything" we need. I work at a mall so everyday I am faced with beautiful items or cool gadget's. I always ask myself, "Erin, do you want or need?" Most defiantly I tell myself "I WANT, I WANT, I WANT", but in reality with the economy today, it is I NEED.



'The Nature Company' is selling artificial items that are naturally interesting. They are items that we connect as nature items, such as butterfly farms, ant farms, bird catchers, and videos, etc. They make items to make us feel closer to nature. I believe that the 'Nature Company' is a great store because the point of the store in to inform people of nature and how beautiful it is.



Another example would be the restaurant 'Rain Forest Cafe'. What great ambiance! As you enter the restaurant they lead you through a store which promotes animals in the amazon. As you sit and enjoy your food, you hear lots of animal sounds and see some animal movement. I believe this is another way that society is trying to connect people with nature. Being in enviorments such as these, really make me what to get out into nature and expierence the liveliness of it. I want to be able to touch it and smell it, not just see it as artificial items.

Toxins

I personally never been aware with the amounts of toxins that pollute our planet earth from the gold mining era. After doing some research I came across some interesting facts and I was blown away by. I have heard of toxins such as Mercury and Asbestos and am I aware of the damaging effects that come from them, but I was more surprised when I learned about other toxins in our area that I was not aware of.

While mining does create jobs, for communities that are dependent upon the mining industry they can resemble ghost towns when they close. Often people not only depend on the government or mining owners for their jobs, but also their water and transportation. Toxins used in the extraction process such as cyanide and byproducts like mercury can permanently pollute the land and water which affects peoples ability to farm, hunt or fish. Spills into oceans and lakes from mining cause damage by adding toxic heavy metals and sulfuric acid to the environment which leaves damage that can take thousands of years to repair.

Mining is generally very destructive to the environment. It is one of the main causes of deforestation. In order to mine, trees and vegetation are cleared and burned. With the ground completely bare, large scale mining operations use huge bulldozers and excavators to extract the metals and minerals from the soil. In order to amalgamate (cluster) the extractions, they use chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, or methylmercury. These chemicals go through tailing's (pipes) and are often discharged into rivers, streams, bays, and oceans. This pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic livelihood.

Toxic chemicals have the capability to enter the body by absorption through the skin. If toxic chemicals fall, drain or seep into our water supply, we drink, bathe and breathe them into our bodies. People believe if you bury the toxins in landfills, they will disappear, or it you burn it will will just disintegrate. I believe that no toxic chemicals will disappear by burring them or burning them. Are we forever stuck with these toxins? Will they ever go away?

Guest Speaker Mike Thorton

After listenig to Mike Thorton speak of the toxic legency of gold mining, it really made me think. I have never showed an intrest to gold mining. I knew that gold mining originated in Coloma, Ca. I always just thought it was a way of living in the early years. After listening to Mike Thorton and hearing the details of gold mining, it shocked me a little bit. I had no idea that gold mining was so dangerous to us and out enviorment. Hearing that the Sierra soil is host to mercury and asbestos, and lead due to the Gold Rush was a information that I had no idea about. What also shocked me is to learn that the government has permitted schools, buildings, basketball courts, etc. to be built over old mines and homes we live in to be built over abandoned mines is quite shocking. It is definalty a scary thing to know how exposed our lives are to these hazardous materials.