Estero Island Cottage and Matanzas Pass

My overall opinion of the Estero Island Cottage and Matanzas pass was that it was very beautiful scenery and was a great reflection of the old Fort Myers Beach. The sight that stood out the most was the view at the end of the Matanza Pass, since it was very open and was a great view of the ocean and wildlife.  This view was free of constrictions from businesses and trees.  The local quality of life is being enhanced by the peaceful scenery, and surrounding businesses which bring in revenue.  The several canals are a great way for people to visit this area via boat from various nearby locations.  

 My hometown has changed greatly form what I remember it as a child.  In the past couple of years, the downtown area has been remodeled to look ‘historic’ and an old fashion theme has been put into place.  I will always feel a sense of community there since I have lived there all my life, and it is very small town where everyone knows each other.  All of the local businesses in the town are family owned, and have been the same as long as I can remember.  If a developer offered me 300% of the market value of my childhood home to develop it into condos, I would be very torn.  Although there are a lot of memories in my childhood home, many of the homes in my neighborhood are very old and need several upgrades to keep up with the changing times.  Putting money into an old home may not be worth it with the housing market being so low, and purchasing a new home may be most cost beneficial. 

 If the county approached me about purchasing the land under the 20/20 program, for 80% of its market value I would most likely decline the offer.

Ecofootprint

Calculate your ecofootprint at http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/. How did you fare? Print out your final report and bring to class. Click the explore scenarios button. What behaviors could you modify (be reasonable now!) to reduce your footprint? What is the resulting value? Assume the average American ecofootprint is 4.6 (earths). If everyone lived like you do, what is the maximum population that earth could sustain (according to this calculator)? 

The ecological break down shows that a majority is used towards services at 32%.  Following services is food , then mobility, then shelter, and the least is goods.  According to the footprint, if everyone lived as I do, we would need 6.2 planet earths to provide enough resources.  To support my lifestyle, it takes 27.6 global acres of the Earths productive area (32 tons of carbon dioxide).   

A majority of the global acres would be energy land, then crop-land and forest land.  Using the explore the scenarios option, I could possibly reduce the amount of animal products I currently eat by half and purchase products that use less packaging or recycled packaging.  The option of taking a local vacation to avoid flying this year would not be possible due to the distance between school and home not being close enough to drive.  I do not believe that flying should be as much of an issue since each air plane holds several passengers, and is most likely better for the environment than if each passenger got in a car and drove a certain distance.   

If I made the two changes stated previously, I could reduce my footprint by 0.8 planet Earths, changing the 6.2 to 5.4 planet Earths.  If everyone lived like me, the earth would have difficulty sustaining, being that am 0.8 Planet Earths above the average. 

 

Sustainable Consumerism

Sustainable consumerism is being sustainable as a consumer.  This means that as a consumer, you are thinking in a sustainable manner, and only purchasing necessary amounts of products, and choosing products based on their effect on the environment.  A sustainable consumer would prefer to buy organic items, and items that are packaged supporting an eco-friendly movement.  

 Globalization and capitalism are positive in their manner of educating and informing consumers of sustainable purchasing, however, they are negative since they encourage consumers to buy more which results in more waste.   

 Greenwashing is companies using false advertising and claiming a product to be healthier than it is.  This is very common, and consumers should always be aware of it.  Rather than just going off the label of an item, consumers should look at the nutritional information to be sure that it is factual. I would be willing to pay a premium for foods labeled organic, local, or fair-trade, however, not the premium extreme that currently exists.  I do believe that if more people began this trend, and the demand for this items were higher, the prices could be lowered.  I prefer to shop at small mom and pop shops, since the quality is generally much better.  I also like knowing that I am helping out a local business, rather than a huge corporation.

Downtown

 The word downtown never brings excitement, as it brings up images of run down buildings and high crime areas.  Over time their stature in communities has changed as downtown was once the area known for all of the businesses and generally the most attractive part of the town.  Now a days, downtown represents the total opposite, with many abandoned buildings, and run down areas.   Fort Myers is experiencing something of a renaissance as it is being renovated and rebuilt with a hub design.  All of the businesses are in a common area, with parking around the outside, to encourage pedestrians rather than driving.  Many of the streets have been repaved, and the old abandoned buildings are now being used for different purposes.  This is a great way to preserve the history of the downtown area, and reduce the need for construction of knocking buildings down and building new ones.

The alternative history mural located downtown caught my attention, since it brings up issues of the past such as slavery and other issues that have not been brought to many peoples attention.  The economy of Fort Myers has evolved from the beginning with Thomas Edison and the light bulb, and Ford, to the current day of using the algae of our beaches as a new source of energy.  This relates to sustainability as it is using our current resources for energy, which does not harm the environment like many of the current energy sources.

Energy & Conservation

Energy is not too cheap.  Energy is a component of daily life and is a necessity for the American household.  The price of energy should not be inflated, causing many low income homes to live without energy.  Conservation is not a dirty word, and each individual should be conscious in conserving energy as much as possible.  IF every individual makes an effort to conserve energy, than the prices should remain the same.  In a general sense, I do not believe conservation is a dirty word, and should be done in most aspects of life.  Whether it be gas, energy, money, etc.  

 

            I would tell “Jimmy Cardigan” or President Carter that we are no longer facing gas shortages like we once were in the past.  He should focus not on energy which there is a huge supply of, but rather on the impact of foreign oil.  In regards to alternative energy, I do believe that steering away from fossil fuels is a logical idea.  With the state of the economy at the time, I believe that the united states should steer away from foreign oil with such high prices and aim towards natural resources that can be produced right here in our own country.  I believe the renewable energy with the most potential is biodiesel since it can help out restaurant owners, would be cheaper on consumers, and can be manufactured in our own country.  It is also much better for our environment with less air pollution. 

Climate Change

I believe that climate change is a combination of anthropogenic habits and natural.  I believe that the climate change is a natural process, however, human habit may have dedicated to an increasing speed in this process.  Deciding who or what is a reputable source for climate change information is very difficult due to the many different view points on this issue and biased information.   

Climate change is a huge political issue and different sources offer a multitude of different information.  A reputable source on climate change to me is a legitimate website such as http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/, which is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  This website is from a national agency with scientifically backed information, and not politically biased information. In the media, climate control is portrayed as a huge global issue that can be stopped with the use of government money and lifestyle changes.  

 I believe that it is a natural change and investing large amounts of government money into this issue will not bring back the results expected, and instead that money should be used towards current issues that can produce benefits.  I have made several lifestyle changes that are thought to help the issue of climate control and I believe that if everyone can make these lifestyle changes, it is more beneficial than pouring government money into it.  Climate control may greatly effect future generations, however, with adaptations to the change, I don’t think it will be as large of a global issue, and should rather be accepted.

Hypothetical Scenario

Hypothetical scenario – ArborGen (a biotech company) has expressed a desire to plant test plots of genetically modified eucalyptus here at FGCU! This GM eucalyptus has been engineered with enhanced cold tolerance. This allows it to grow not only in Southwest Florida, but potentially as far north as South Carolina. As an eco-aware citizen, the USDA has subpoenaed you to testify on the merits and pitfalls of this plan. Do some research on the web and prepare a brief statement to the USDA addressing the following questions:

•       What is known about the ecology of the eucalyptus tree in general? What are the benefits of this technology? What are some of the potential intrinsic concerns? What are some of the potential extrinsic concerns? Can reasonable and cost-effective steps be taken to mitigate these risks? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

USDA,

The eucalyptus tree is an exotic tree native to Australia and Tasmania.  They are known for growing very fast and being very tall trees.  These tress produce valuable timber, oils, and kino.  These trees can survive in colder climates, require less maintenance during the winter months, and a great success rate for the trees to spread as far north as South Carolina.  Although this sounds like a great experiment, there are several risks as well.  These trees are not native here, and may disrupt the current habitat.  Also, due to the fact that they grow so fast, once the experiment has begun, it cannot be stopped and the tress will continue to grow. Because of this, the risks and benefits must carefully be examined before beginning an experiment such as this one.  Extrinsic risks such as these trees causing potential harm to the wildlife already present occur.  Many of the insects are not adapted to the eucalyptus tree and they may cause bodily harm to these insects.  Responsible and cost-effective steps to mitigate these risks are unknown.  Only the potential impact on the environment can be determined, and the actual environmental response to this process is unknown.  Due to the high risk of terminating this process once it has begun, I believe that the risks of this experiment do outweigh the benefits. 

ECHO

I thought ECHO was very interesting, and gave me a new outlook on how to use different resources in multiple ways. What stood out the most to me was that they allowed you to try the different fruits grown there.  This was a great way for them to deliver their message and let try their success first hand.  The examples that were showcased compare to my view of “American” agriculture since they used American products in their agriculture rather than chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides as most Americans do.  I do believe that their work is relevant to the developing world since they demonstrated how to use a variety of resources through recycling and put them to great use.   

 I thought ECHO was very interesting, and gave me a new outlook on how to use different resources in multiple ways. What stood out the most to me was that they allowed you to try the different fruits grown there.  This was a great way for them to deliver their message and let try their success first hand.  The examples that were showcased compare to my view of “American” agriculture since they used American products in their agriculture rather than chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides as most Americans do.  I do believe that their work is relevant to the developing world since they demonstrated how to use a variety of resources through recycling and put them to great use.

 The ECHO method allows people to grow crops wherever there is space, and teaches people how to grow their own crops for themselves and their families, which is relevant to today’s world.  I would be interested in performing my service learning with this agency, however, since I have already spent time there, I would prefer using my service learning hours as an opportunity to see another appropriate site.  If we had not taken a field trip to ECHO, then I believe it would be a great candidate for my service learning.

Sustainable Farming

The major elements of sustainable farming are crop rotation and soil amendment.  Ecological principles are woven into this framework include not using fertilizers and pesticides but instead using all natural products in farming.   I do not currently buy organic labeled foods due to their high prices, however, in the future I believe I will.  

 Organic farming practices ensure that the soil can be used for many succeeding generations without using fertilizers, properly caring for the crops by using soil organisms and not pesticides, recycling livestock manure and organic materials, control weed growth and insect infestation with crop rotation and not tampering with the genes of animals, or any other genetic engineering.  

 I do believe that organic farming is agreeable with sustainability since it is done for the long-term health of humans by not using pesticides, and the land and livestock with no genetic engineering or fertilizers.  Currently I do feel connected with the current food system since I am very cautious about what I eat.  As for a majority of the population, I do not believe that they are aware of the harm that many foods cause their bodies.  If there were space on campus I think it would be a good idea to grow produce, however, it would take a lot of time and dedication and may not fit well with a college students schedule.

Global Issues

The most pressing global environmental issue facing us today is global warming.  Global warming is the rising of the earths atmosphere and oceans.  This is such a pressing issue since as the global temperatures rise, the sea levels will in turn rise as well.  Once the sea levels rise, the amount of precipitation will change and there will be an expansion of subtropical deserts.

 If a wealthy benefactor such as the Rockefeller Foundation gave me $100 billion to address this global patter, I would allocate most of the funds to global warming due to the huge impact it has on the earth as a whole, however, I would disperse some of the funds among other global issues such as intensive farming and energy conservation.  By helping the cause of climate change and global warming, this will ultimately help many different ecosystems, especially tundra, coral reefs, and mangroves, which we have right here in southwest Florida. 

As global warming progresses, it will greatly impact the farming conditions around the world.  A change in the earths atmosphere will demand a change in farming methods and techniques.  Once the issue of global warming has been taken care of, many other issues will be covered as well, as they are not mutually exclusive.

Corkscrew Sanctuary

Three of the different ecosystems I saw on the Corkscrew Sanctuary field trip include the high pine, cypress swamp, and the grass prairie.  The high pine ecosystem provides a habitat for many birds and wild animals.  The cypress swamp ecosystem contains cypress trees, vines, and ferns.  This habitat is cooler than the others, giving many animals a cool escape during extreme climates.  The grass prairie ecosystem was in between the high pine and the cypress swamp and was a location for food for many animals as well as shelter for smaller animals.   

The living machine, uses natural water restoration, rather than artificial treatment.  I believe this is a very sustainable approach, especially since it produces water that is more pure than a municipal treatment. Stewardship and conservation encourages people to learn about and improve natural resources.  Private non-profit organization’s role in stewardship and conservation is to inform and educate while carrying out the methods of preserving the natural land for future generations.   

Civic engagement is used to bring people with similar beliefs together, as well as involve outsiders in a given belief.  The aim of civic engagement is to provide a change for the environment in a positive way.  Life-minded people can affect change by using their message to educate and inform others, and by combining their efforts to incorporate a change.