ARCHIVE - Steve's Seminar Group

ARCHIVE - henry week8

brohen24 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:29:22 -0700

Henry Browne

Silent spring week 8

I find it kind of amuseing that for some the fact that DDT was used to dust solidgers for lice, makes it ok. Since the government exsposes its grunts to it, it must be ok. The governments also exsposed solidgers to gulf war sickness and exspieremented with giving solidgers LSD. I think peoples ignorance about the cycling destruction of pesticides stems from are disconnection fr om nature and how we see our self as separate. Poison is poison. Ok so maybe what kills a bug will only cripple you for life, that’s a lot better. I think its ironic that the military that is supposed to protect Americans is responcible for so much harm to them. Prior to World War two Rotenone ( a naturally extractable, bio degradable pesticide derived from the Amazonian Ay-ah-e-yah tree) was a very popular pestecide. Then after the war the agricultural market was flooded with highly harmful synthetic pesticides (though to be fair I am sure Rotenone was synthesized at that point. It seems like after the Japanese surrendered the US war machine turned it efforts inward on America’s agriculture.

ARCHIVE - henry Browne week9

brohen24 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:28:01 -0700

Henry Browne

Sand county Almanac week 9

One theme I have noticed in our readings is the environmental dualism between science and romanticism. The two are un doubtedly intertwined but the perceptional aspects some time seem conflictive. Leopold is definitely a romanticist and honestly as far as reading goes I think I may prefer that. It’s as if half the authors know everything about nature, but as if their looking in at it from some other sterile place. On the other side those like Leopold are nature. I think some people look at towns and cities as being “the real world” and anything non humane as a nice place for a picnic or something, while others realize “the wild” is the real world and that we’ve just created impermanent constructs to surround ourselves in. Perhaps Leopold can not explain what's happening on a cellular level but he definitely understands nature. A bear doesn’t have a clue about the carbon cycle or photosynthesis but I guarantee it understands nature on a level I never could. One thing I took from this book is you don’t need to know why nature is how it is, as long as you abide by it (unfortunately most people don’t). For instance when Leopold talks about the failure of the farm built on top of a marsh. Why don’t we work with nature instead of trying to create our own? Nature has taken care of us for as long as weave existed. When we try to manipulate something so elemental as the ground itself it could start a chain reaction we cant comprehend. Why not do things in places that are naturally conducive to them? It seems like that would be in everyone’s best interest. Why are we re building New Orleans its all going to be flooded again eventually? Humans are on a big ego trip, maybe it stems from the Christian idea that were made in gods image to govern the earth or maybe that idea came from are ego trip

ARCHIVE - Day of Awareness

cohcod02 — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:37:23 -0700

We should probably start organizing the day of awareness that we have been discussing the last few weeks (in Lucia's Seminar). The date and time will be a lot esier to decide upon once we figure out exactly what we should do. Bands were mentions so if you or a friend would like to play, it would be encouraged. Also any information you have on ecological matters or would like to spread awareness about should be present. Any crafts or skill you would like to teach would also make this day of awareness much more fun. Potluck was discussed to. If you have any ideas or would like to help, just post.

ARCHIVE - Monday, March 12

prisha22 — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:21:17 -0700

Is there a movie planned this week?

ARCHIVE - Cody Cohan

cohcod02 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:04:35 -0800

"Education, I fear, is learning to see one thing by going blind to another" Leopold Pg158

This is one of the best examples of how the reading for our class expands into other aspects of our live. These statement in particular just demands for the mind to think and question and explore other realms that it might not normally delve into. Teaching is something that has made our species so much more adaptable and ambitious. It is no wonder that we are now the dominant species on the planet. If any one species could build up their thoughts to a language and from a language create a system where all the members of a community work together for the greater good, which is the community. The ability to learn is our species greatest trait. Without it, the Neolithic farmers of Mesopotamia would have had no way to teach their children about raising domesticating animals and farming the domesticated plants. Even the older layers of our society depend on the ability to teach. We must provide for those who can no longer provide for themselves. All teaching really should be is asking people the right questions to bring the answers out from themselves. It is quite impossible to actually teach anyone anything because the only thing that any of us could truly know is that we know nothing. Especially because our ability of mind of matter and the determination and passion that comes from inside ones core can mold and bend the very framework that our reality rests on. Its no wonder the world is such a confusing and mixed up place. Not to mention that our teachers have not always been right in their teaching. It wasn’t long ago that people were taught that the world is actually flat and it wasn’t long before that when unicorns were in 9-10 bestiaries you could find as a real animal.

ARCHIVE - Davey Kruger wk9

krudav10 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:23:33 -0800

The local Chamber of Commerce at first quiescent at the novelty of a hinterland officially labeled as ‘wild,’ tastes its first blood of tourist-money. It then wants more, wilderness or no wilderness.” (SCA pg 172)

Going for a Sunday afternoon drive was one of the most relaxing activities I partook in as a child. The music, quietly played, often complemented the scenery resulting in a most enjoyable day dream that did eventually end in actual sleep. Now when I find my self placidly sitting in a car I often wonder what I would have seen and experienced had I actually walked to my destination. I for one don’t think that it is possible to experience nature, or even life for that matter, in a car. There is nothing spiritually fulfilling about sitting behind the glare of a windshield while the roar of a V8 is muffled by speakers blasting a top twenties radio station.

ARCHIVE - Amanda Hakan wk9

hakama16 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:21:19 -0800

“They envisaged farms not only around, but in the marsh. An epidemic of ditch digging and land-booming set in. The marsh was grid ironed with drainage canals, speckled with new fields and farmsteads” (pg.106).

A main issue Aldo Leopold touches on is the beauty of nature through the seasons, in all different forms.

ARCHIVE - Action

cohcod02 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:25:50 -0800

This form was created so that the students in our program would have a place to discuss and create ideas for ecological progression. I don't see why this forum would be limited to any one topic so if you something on your mind that just wont let you sit still, heres another chance to do something about it.

ARCHIVE - Next Week (for elisa and sarelle)

hakama16 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:33:41 -0800

i wont be here this comng monday, february 26th beacuse ill be out of town so if you guys could take over this one that would be wonderful. Thank you! if you need me for any reason my number is 702-630-1216. i hope it turns out well!

Amanda Hakan

ARCHIVE - Amanda Hakan wk.8

hakama16 — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:39:06 -0800

"DDT is no so universally used that in most minds the product takes on the harmless aspect of the familiar. Perhaps the myth of the harmlessness of DDT rests on the fact that one of its first uses was the wartime dustingofmany thousandsof soldiers, refugees, and prisoners, to combat lice" (pg.21).

The naiveness of people at this time period, when DDT was first intorduced as a pesticide, is really astonishing. They believed that just because it was used to get rid of or prevent lice to soldiers in the war was enough proof to use it on their produce. I dont understand why it didnt cross their minds that yes, it kills/prevents lice, KEYWORD KILLS, but doesnt that mean its considered poison???? Just because the soldiers survived the 'dusting' of DDT doesnt mean that its fine to have direct contact with it.