Politics

Politics. Its the word that everyone tells you to steer clear of if you’re looking to have a nice conversation. It’s the problem that never seems to have a solution. Politics will most likely never be an easy subject that everyone agrees on. Andy Kroll discusses his political opinions in his article “Politics For The People.” His opinions are valid, and most of his arguments would be supported by the “99%,” it is just how to reach those solutions that cause disagreement.

Tonight was the last of the political debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The twitter feed was buzzing as everyone voiced their opinions. Some comments were full of concern and worry for the nation, while others had tuned in for the first time and wanted to join in on the excitement. Reading these tweets can be intriguing, exciting, startling and concerning. In the past politics never seemed to grab my attention as it has for this election. I miss the deadline to vote by four months, which makes it incredibly hard to watch these debates and form opinions that don’t matter in the long run because I won’t have a voice in this election. Sometimes I wonder how much of a voice anyone has in these elections. Wall Street and big corporate companies invest millions of dollars into these candidates, who have no choice but to be biased towards these companies if they want the funding to continue. Kroll says that “A politics for the people reconnects elected officials with the citizens they govern. It eliminates the all-consuming need to woo donors, the sprint from one fundraiser to the next, and instead demands that politicians worry first and foremost about what their constituents need and believe.” Does this describe the government we have right now? No. So instead we Americans are forced to deal with what we have, and choose the candidate who we think will do the least amount of damage.

This year over half of my courses focus on the current environmental issues that our country and world are facing. In this current political race one would think that this would be a hot topic. Yet the twitter feeds were filled with the “#climatesilence” because for the first time since 1984 the topic of climate change was completely ignored in all the political debates. If neither candidate is fighting for climate change that what can I expect for my future.  As I spend time working on my project for this class I am made aware of the startling realities that this country faces in regards to environmental concerns, and while part of the requirement for this project is to share what we learn with our local communities, that is something I would feel compelled to do anyways. The world should be made aware of environmental problems just as much as they are with warfare, and the hot-topic of abortion. So while not being able to vote makes me feel hopeless, the fact that environmental change isn’t a main concern for either candidate makes feel completely powerless and worried for the future of our country.

Gasland

I’ve found Gasland to be an informative and very interesting movie so far. Last week in my APES class we watched a movie on Mountaintop mining and coal removal. Between these two videos I feel as though natural gases/fuel/energy is truly the only safe way to go.  I think that this guys idea is great and his intentions are good. He is not worried about the response of the industry because his priority is to save his land, health and community from enduring what many are already dealing with. I was surprised to learn that the hydraulic fracking is occurring in Colorado since I consider it a “green” state. I have applied to two colleges in Colorado because of the “green” status but after watching this documentary I have been inspired to research the location of the fracking systems and if I would be affected. In addition I have an aunt who lives in Colorado with her family, her kids are constantly sick so I want to show her this movie and see if she is aware of the fracking and if she is near any sites.

Though I have complete sympathy for those suffering with health problems due to the privileges that these fracking companies have been given, the thing that concerns me is that these people sold their land to these companies with at least some idea of what would be happening. This isn’t to say that any of these people have brought unjust living conditions upon themselves, but I am curious how aware they were of what would happen to their land and why they would sell it to these companies in the first place? Were they given the wrong impression when they sold? Were they forced to sell? I imagine there are many possible ways that these fracking companies acquired the land but I have yet to hear anyone mention it.

As I mentioned before I hope that this video is as awakening to others as it was to me. I strongly recommend people to view the video on mountain mining as well because so many people are not aware of where their energy/electricity comes from and the sacrifice that comes with it. With two classes centered around environmental change, problems and sustainability I can’t help but feel that I need to do my part in making sure that as a town, a state, a country and as a world do our part to preserve the earth to the best of our ability rather than tearing it apart and destroying lives in the process.

"Compassion"

Compassion


I believe that one of the greatest problems we face on our world today is a lack of sympathy, empathy and personal connections. Many people today are desensitized and there is a disconnect between the impacts of one's decision on another person. Compassion by Marc Bekoff is one of my favorite readings in The Thirty Year Plan. I have heard before how elephants have human-like qualities of compassion towards others in their herd. They mourn deaths of other elephants and help those that are crippled. Many people think animals have no sense of emotion; although, it seems to me that elephants are more emotional and compassionate than us. I feel that the world would be an entirely different place if people made decisions based on how it would affect others and had compassion for not only other human beings, but all living objects. From people with different ethnicities to the environment, humanity needs to act with more compassion. As Bekoff states, acting with “empathy and sympathy, will help us cross the boundaries we have created.” We must change our mindset to one with a more sensitive, global outlook. It is heard many times that technology has lead to “desensitizing” people. People communicate through computer screens, with no physical or even face to face contact. It can be hard to feel sympathy for someone or something you have never seen or met before, although it is a crucial part of communication. We must step out from behind technology to face our problems. Personal relations and contact will help us to form compassion for one another. “Compassion will help us overcome our alienation from nature.” The example of the elephants shows us that humans need to step back from technology and learn from animals and nature. Sympathy for things on earth will help many of the problems we face today. “As we heal animal and ecosystems, we will increasingly find that we are also healing ourselves.”

"Senior English Elective"

Senior English Elective

I must say, initially signing up for my senior English class, I didn't not envision myself chopping trees down in the woods everyday. English has always been a subject I do not enjoy or do not look forward to. Although, this class has changed my perception of the department entirely. Even though it isn't a tradition English course, it is my ideal class. After reading Last Child In The Woods, this summer for environmental club, I am even more aware of the lack of time spent in the outdoors by all people, especially youth. I am happiest when I am outside and being active, so I am very glad I get to experience this with 15 other kids for almost an hour a day. From an environmental aspect, the class incorporates so many interesting and necessary topics for the future. I am so happy we have a very holistic, innovative approach to the class because I completely believe that we will be better off in the future having a foundation about a wide variety of topics that we will be facing in our lifetime. This year, English has easily switched from one of my least favorite classes, to one favorites. All thanks to Thoreau (and Jay.)

A Journal Entry

I read a section of the Thirty Year Plan called, Compassion by Marc Bekoff.  This section starts out by describing a situation in which a disabled elephant was cared for by her friends, instead of just abandoning her.  I think that as humans, we have lost our touch of compassion.  It seems like with the advancement of technology, our ability to stay in touch with our feelings, personalities, and judgment of what is right has diminished.  We have become so dependent on technology that we are no longer focused on helping others, having face to face relationships with others, or caring for others.  This section also talks about how our impact on the environment has been so great partly due to the fact that we have lost compassion.  We are so focused on ourselves and our ability to survive and live the most advanced lives, that not only have we lost compassion for others, but we have lost compassion for animals and the environment.  We are a little bit selfish to just invade their habitats to better lives for ourselves.  We are the most powerful species on the Earth, and to take advantage of all of the other living things is unfair.  It is as if we believe that we can survive without anything else.  This is completely false, though.  In ecology class, we learned that the balance and functionality of the Earth depends on everything and everyone.  If one species is in excess or there are too few of a specific species, the balance of the whole Earth is affected.  We need to realize that we are not the only living things on Earth, but if we continue in the way that we are, then we will be the only living things on Earth.  And in that case, we will not be able to survive because, as I said before, we depend (more than we realize), on other species in order to live.  We are driving the planet to extinction.   

Journal Entry

  As expressed by Gustave Speth; our country is wonderful and full of energy.

     Today, was raw and wet, the curious leaves were crisp in the autumn fresh air.  As I gripped on the axe,  I attempted to break the log in half.  This attempt was good yet not facile without my classmates' help and guidance.  They were all energized and excited to chop away!

     The beautiful nature around me had a voice of its own, whether the wind was blowing or raindrops dwindling down from the heavens above.
  
     My skin looks as cracked as a crocodile's and I am numb from the cold air that makes me shiver as my teeth chatter just as a clock ticks when there is silence in a single room.

Journal Entry

"It's not what you look at that matters. It's what you see."
    -Henry David Thoreau

Dear Thoreau,

        Wow! How were you granted with such great strength?! The log was massive, weighing around 400 pounds (a class estimation).

        There the lonely log stood, with power to remain on the ground.  Its bark had pitch stuck in the middle of each aged crack.  The pointy branches stuck out like crooked fingers, with comparison to someone picking up an aged object with a firm yet free grip.

     There was a sense of necessity for shelter.  Through the beam of chills that filled my face as I was trying to find a grip on the yellow mustard rope.  I was not used to being out in nature, this was a change for me.  I was always sheltered with walls and wooden floors when  I entered  through the stone door into the Pingree entrance.

   Out in the woods, I felt an environment full of freedom and experiment.  Even though I was chilly, and the fog came out of my breath when I opened my mouth, it was worth a try to allow the log some warmth on its bare skin.




                                                                                            From,
                                                                                              A friend of nature, Adrineh



                  

"The Lonely Tree"

Trees:

      They come in different shapes and sizes,
      And smell like chestnuts when sun rises.
      Swaying trees come and go,
      By getting chopped by the ones who know.            

      Green Green,
      So fresh and clean,
      Neon trees are never mean.


      Peace fills the air that surround the branches.
      In no need of attention.

      The size and shape never matters but,
      The beauty cares with loving tender.
 
      The veins of the branches that are planted in  the soil,
       Show the tunnel of roots to a secret passage way,
      That is unable to discover in one day.

       Tree tree come back to me,
        So long, I will see you when I'm free,
       Looking for a calm and sincere place to be.

Do The Math Journal Entry

Do The Math

Bill McKibben is a lot taller in person.
But what should I expect from the man who is trying to take down the oil industry, the wealthiest and most powerful industry in the world?
Of course he is not alone in this incredibly difficult task. Members of his Do The Math movement, including mothers, fathers, students, teachers, scientists, business people, and maybe your next door neighbor, have had quite a few accomplishments, such as shutting down the Salem Power Plant, and participating in protests against tar sands and the oil industry. These people and their united efforts have given me hope that we can actually accomplish our goals.

When I got home, I tried to convince my dad that we should divest from oil companies like Exxon. He didn’t agree. He would spit out one statistic and I’d spit back another, he of course was not amused in the slightest by the whole thing, but I, on the other hand, could barely hold back a smile. I really wanted to have the whole “Not under my roof!” argument and I would have gladly slept outside for sake of the Do The Math movement. I think that this rebellious side to the movement will definitely help it gain followers.
It’s not that my dad is not a fan of oil companies; I know for a fact that he was one of the few who had climate change on his mind when he went to polls. He believes that companies like Exxon are the only companies with enough money to develop alternative energy sources. It’s just too bad that the CEOs and CFOs at Exxon don’t seem to be that interested averting their preoccupation with oil or giving up their $100,000 per day salary. During the presentation, my mind drifted off for a brief moment, missing the analogy with beer completely, to a scenario where the CEO of Exxon had came anonymously to the Do The Math presentation. If only people could just sit down and listen, really listen, maybe Bill McKibben could have changed his mind and changed the course of history in one night. It’s a little far fetched, but if Bill McKibben can inspire people from all over the world, who’s to say he wouldn’t be able to do the same to one stubborn person?

I know that this movement is just taking off, but I can’t help but fear that, like the environmental movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s which happened in the midst of the Vietnam War, this will be but a fad or a fleeting moment in history drowned out by war in the Middle East. I hope that people come to realize how important an issue climate change is. It is so much bigger than the economy and most other issues our nation is preoccupied with.

Journal Entry

Journal

As we build Thoreau’s house with our hands a few primitive tools, we are building a house for Pingree Stickers. It is a symbol of our permanent love and appreciation for the woods, fresh air, and slightly unconventional learning. We’re motivated by the students and faculty’s (Ms. Steinert in particular) engagement in Thoreau’s message.

Thoreau loved nature and cared deeply about preserving it. His house on Walden pond and houses like it reflect the virtue of the minds which built them. It doesn’t matter if the blueprints call for a square box, the hard work that goes into such habitations ultimately shine through. This explains why the mentality of modern generations, whom Berry would say mostly consists of “Boomers”,  is reflected in the ugliness of our mass produced, architecturally boring buildings. The U.S., being a relatively young country, is actually home to a lot of “bigger-the-better”, unsustainable architecture. We have acquired the vulgar mind that Forster refers to in Howard’s End, one that is “thrilled by bigness.”

It’s hard to see this in a beautiful town like South Hamilton, MA, but no more than a twenty minute drive and you’ll run into a massive “space-heater” building that brings into question the environmental consciousness of the architect and the rich man who hired him.

A journal entry:

Today, we carried the second part of the tree out of the woods. It weighed probably around
800 pounds, twice the weight of the first part that we carried out. With fourteen of us, it still
felt impossible to lift. We soon realized that the back was heavier and harder to carry than the front of the log, so we tried out different strategies to make it easier on ourselves. For a little while, we picked it up and carried it for probably about fifteen feet, and then took a break. But that did not work very well. We were all tired, and we all thought that our fingers were going to fall off. After a little while, we figured out that if we rotate positions, moving the log would get easier. Also, subbing in and out for the tired people worked well too. One of the most important parts of carrying this tree out of the forest has been the building of teamwork. As a class, I think that we are learning more and more about each other, our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a whole, and how we can work as one functioning ‘machine’ to get things done efficiently. One of the great things about our class, I feel, is that we work together easily, and understand one another. We are humorous, fun, determined, and excited, and I love that. But I also feel like when you feel like your fingers and arms are going to give in, our class is really encouraging.  Everyone has to be willing and encouraging in order to keep a positive attitude. And as we all know, hard work is not nearly as hard when you are working with a group of people that has an uplifting spirit. Not only are we learning a lot about how to build a house, but we are also learning about each other which is a really valuable part of class dynamic, which is often lost in the classroom setting.

Humility and Modesty Journal Entry

"At the hewing site, we work together in a way that fosters success through trial and error.  If we fail to draw a straight line using chalk, we accept the failure. Instead of being discouraged by failure, however, we are motivated to perfect the line.  We use intuitive, collaborative thinking to work around minor challenges.  Our class is filled with people who are willing to learn from their mistakes, whether it is adjusting a grip around a broad ax or conducting precise measurements.  Through inquiry and the desire to learn, humility forms.  Through humility, we quietly listen to our teacher, an educator who enjoys hewing in his free time. Mr. Esty’s experiences can help us better understand Thoreau’s connection to nature as we seek to create our own experiences.  We obediently listen to instructions and follow Mr. Esty’s lead.  Through humility and modesty, we have acquired basic skills that enable us to work in a manner than welcomes failure and encourages unconventional thinking, which also enhances our creativity."

Journal Entry About Hewing

This is a part of a journal entry that I had written about working at the hewing site.

"Through the daily work we perform in the woods or at the hewing site, many of us have developed a sense of empathy towards workers that used to work without machinery.  Performing this labor has given me a deeper understanding of the struggles associated with this labor and the dangers that workers were exposed to.  Men carrying large axes around you and striking the wood the wrong way can make you very susceptible to physical harm.  This laborious job required several hours of work a day at a relatively low wage. People were working in unsafe conditions and performing strenuous activity throughout the day but received salaries that could barely support one person.

Although this work is somewhat relaxing and peaceful for me, the amount of pain associated with performing this job every day is unimaginable.  By experiencing this type of work, I have obtained sympathy for those who severely struggled to perform this labor.  It requires complete attentiveness and being situationally aware of my surroundings.  I am slowly becoming more appreciative of the work that people do without judging its level of difficulty.  Although a job may seem easy from afar, actually doing the work may not always be as easy as the skilled employees make it seem.  I shy away from judging people based on the type of work they do because the level of difficulty involved will remain unknown unless I experience it myself."