Reaction to FGCI

Dr. Reed’s presentation on Findlay Green Campus Initiative fits into the themes of the English class very well. The themes of the class are future of oil, technology obsolescence and global warming. One of the things Dr. Reed talked about was lowering our carbon footprint. First, oil is carbon. Second, lowering the footprint means using less of it. It also means using fewer materials, less resources and completely a task the quickest and most efficient way possible to the Earth’s benefit. “To the Earth’s benefit” ties FGCI and the themes of the class together. Lowering our carbon footprint can mean driving to local stores instead of farther away stores. This saves gas and it helps your local economy. Why drive? Save gas completely and ride your bike if possible. Making your tasks more efficient and beneficial to the Earth also means being aware of what you’re doing is doing to the environment. Are you putting toxic waste into the land? Are you using toxic substances that can be harmful to people? Make your tasks and finished products energy efficient, such as heating and cooling insulation and power savers. Being efficient means being smarter with what energy you use. We use energy in many forms and tend to waste it. We use it to drive, take a shower, yard work, cooling and simple things that waste energy a lot such as a garage door opener. To not waste gas and not put harmful substances in the air means slowing down global warming. Plan your trips better to drive less and car pool. This will put less pollution in the air. Watching how you build a product and not put harmful chemicals in the ground will reduce the harmful substances going into the air and land. Technology obsolescence increases because urbanization. We waste land by having spread out suburbs. We waste gas by driving to the city and back to the suburbs for work. It takes more energy to bring materials and products to the many different locations. Driving everywhere increases obsolescence because many new cars are developed each year to accommodate drivers’ tastes. Cars are taking over bikes when it comes to driving to and from the city and suburb. What we can do to help keep the Earth green and what ties into the class themes is: recycling, watch our water usage, lowering the thermostat, turn off the house lights and use energy efficient bulbs, ride your bike and drive less, eat local foods, avoid fast foods, when you shop- bring your own bag, and don’t drink bottled water. All these are not sacrifices, they are bout living differently and looking at the world in a different way.