Final Blog: Reflection

During this project we have learned many new things about the environment.  We learned that our wonderful school used to be green pastures, and now is a busy campus.  We learned that Mother Nature is not to be tempered.  We learned that there are extreme ways to go green, then there are those easy, everyday ways.  We learned of alternate sources of energy that work just as well as the current ones.  We learned of some of the greenest campuses in America, go Elon!  We learned simple and cheap ways to save energy. 

We've also learned that big time companies that fuel the economy, can make big time mistakes that hurt the environment.  We've learned that not everyone wants to go green.  We've learned that words can deceive people who are not educated in the ways of a "Green" world. 

And we've taught.  We've taught the people who have read this blog what we've learned.  And most importantly we've learned that we can make a difference.

       Signing off,

        The Green Musketeers

Oil Watch: Day 6

New developments on the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico:

1. The cutoff valve that was meant to prevent oil from spewing out of the earth has been said to be unreliable... Great.
2. The BOP or Blowout Preventer that should clog the spill have been found unreliable at other spills since government regulation has gone down in the previous years
3. The containment dome has been lowered into the water to stop the spill!
4. Coast Guard continues to burn the oil

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm

Claire                                                                                                               

Energy Calculator

Hey Y'all!

So I found this really cool website that Chevron has created called, "Energy Calculator." This site is really helpful in order for the public to actually see the importance and the positive reuslts of saving energy. The site does this through a dynamic website that shows the different things that one can do if they save x amount of energy or do a certain thing only a certain number of times a week.

For example, the site states that if a person carpools with a friend only one time a week, you will save enough energy to re-charge your laptop 115 times! It then says that if 1,000 people did the same the amount of energy saved would equal the energy that a car uses for an entire year!

Chevron believes that this is a creative way through which people can learn about energy consumption. They also believe that this is a proper educational tool because it shows the different equivalents of energy consunption through different things that we use on a daily basis.

I encourage all of you to take a look at this site. You will definitely be surprised at the amount of energy a simple thing like chargin a computer takes!

Here is the site: http://willyoujoinus.com/usingenergywisely/energygenerator/?gclid=CIOt97ybw6ECFddR2godqg5b-A

Peace man,
Fiona Alfaro

get involved

Now that we've become more environmentally aware, it is time to take action and get involved. We can preserve our environment individually or through group efforts, and every little bit counts. Here are five easy ways from thedailygreen.com to jump start your new green way of life:

1. Always use reusable bags when shopping, not only does this help the environment but it looks better too! No more ugly, breaking paper or plastic bags, and on to well designed, stylish, and reusable bags. Also, when running errands make sure to do them all at once in order to conserve fuel. Maybe try a store with everything you need rather than driving to several different locations.

2.  Cut down on your energy use. Learn to relay on sunlight during the day, unplug appliances and other electronics when they aren't in use, and make sure to always turn off the light when leaving the room. By saving electricity, you're also going to save a lot of money.

3. Use less gas. Again by saving gas, you're also saving money. Make sure you're car is in good shape, and avoid extra acceleration and breaking. Cut down on your car travel, walk and bike if possible.

4. Try to eat locally. By eating locally produced foods you are not only helping local farmers, but also are eating fresher foods, and you're cutting down on the fuel used for transportation.

5. Last but not least, adopt a reusable water bottle. Most tap water is proven to be just as clean as bottled water, and again, by not buying plastic water-bottles you are saving more than just the environment. SIGG makes a line of colorful and cool stainless steel water-bottles that keep your drink ice cold!

Hopefully these tips seem doable! Good Luck!

--Steffi

Oil Watch: Day 4

Crews are still trying to stop the oil from spreading in the Gulf of Mexico, so here are new developments:

1. BP plans on drilling "relief wells" under the current well that is spewing out gallons and gallons of oil each day in order to relieve some of the pressure.
2. A possibility that the oil spill will drift toward the Atlantic Ocean - a "nightmare scenario"
3. Total amount of oil spilled each day increased to 210,000 gallons, which equals 21 tracker-trailers carrying oil

The President has put all the clean-up efforts on BP (The owner of the drill that exploded and caused the disaster)

For articles on the Oil Spill visit:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-01-oil-spill_N.htm?csp=obinsite
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-26-oil-leak_N.htm?csp=obinsite
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/04/oil-spill-could-sink-obamas-offshore-drilling-plan/1?csp=obnetwork

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm

                  -Claire

Global Warming Is Here To Stay

     Global warming is here and it is here to stay until we as humans decide to finally do something about it. It is a known fact that our temperatures are rising due to the high amounts of greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere each and every day. This human-induced climate change has many detrimental consequences that we are facing. As members of our planet, it is our responsibility to commit ourselves to helping this problem. We have developed the technology that can aid us in this problem, but we need to dedicate ourselves before anything can improve. If we want our future generations to enjoy the quality of life that we have been able to, we need to make sacrifices to ensure this opportunity.

Oil Watch: Day 3

Here's an update on the GIANT oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico:

1. SUCCESSFUL CONTROLLED BURN OF OIL!!!!!
2. The Giant "100-ton contraption" to funnel oil out of the hole in the earth's crust where it's spewing is in transit from 50 miles away on a barge!  The problem, this is only a short-term solution :(
3. Obama says that BP is in charge of the clean up
4. "The Pentagon on Tuesday said it would approve mobilizing up to 17,500 National Guard troops to help Gulf Coast states with the oil spill."

USA Today Article
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-04-oil-spill_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Here's a progressive picture of the spill:

For more pictures like this visit: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm

Claire                                                                                                  

Great Study Aborad Programs also Equals Great Carbon Emissions

      Yesterday in class we discussed the concept of a "carbon offset". A carbon offset is when someone or a group attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Frequently, carbon offsets are purchaseds by large companies or governments in order to compete against the "caps" of which are set on their carbon emissions. Additionally, it is common that individuals or companies will purchase carbon offsets in order to offset their greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as transportation, or even electricity use in general. 

      It is common that an individual may buy carbon offsets to offset their greenhouse gas emissions from travel. This is greatly connected to Elon due to the vast amount of students who study abroad. The current statistic for the number of students who study abroad at least once before graduating is currently at 71%. Now, let's not forget the fact that this number does not account for the many students who study abroad multiple times during their time here. With our January term option, it makes for more opporunities for study abroad, and therefore even more students traveling than from the average university. Should Elon start thinking twice about their study abroad options in order to decrease our carbon emissions? Or is there something else we can do to offset these large emissions? 

Wow

Wow. All of this stuff is overwhelming—the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the bomb threat in Times Square, the record rainfall in Tennessee, U.S.’s revealed 5,113 nuclear warheads, and lets not forget the whole issue of global warming presented to us just recently in “The Inconvenient Truth” along with these other current, disastrous events. It gets hard to take in, especially for a college student. And with all of this in front of our faces we also have the added pressure to be Green?!?!

A month or so ago, I probably would’ve asked this same question with even more sarcasm and attitude (actually, it probably would’ve never even crossed my mind). But that was a month ago. I can honestly say that in these few weeks, I have become SUCH a different person. I’ve become more aware, more educated, and more active. I’ve learned to become citizen not only of my country, but of the world—a global citizen, of course.

In these few weeks I’ve learned how even the littlest of things (I can do) can help bring about a greener, better future, and although I agree with Steffi on how I really don’t understand how just I can make a difference, after following these projects and seeing how fast these “little things” spread, I’m starting to see the difference. Also, writing and following these blogs have made me realize exactly how many people are actually making a difference…and there are a lot! We just have to be open to them and uncover them for ourselves. It’s really not that hard. Actually, it’s a lot easier!

With this mindset, and a little patience and dedication, we have nothing else stopping us but ourselves. And right now, we have no choice but to start doing something because there will be a time when it will be too late.

I stumbled upon this quote a while back and now I think I understand exactly what the person was trying to say. It’s the harsh truth and nothing more:

“And Man created the plastic bag and the tin and aluminum can and the cellophane wrapper and the paper plate, and this was good because Man could then take his automobile and buy all his food in one place and He could save that which was good to eat in the refrigerator and throw away that which had no further use.  And soon the earth was covered with plastic bags and aluminum cans and paper plates and disposable bottles and there was nowhere to sit down or walk, and Man shook his head and cried:  "Look at this Godawful mess." 

~Art Buchwald, 1970

It just shows that we need to:

stop,

realize,

accept,

and take responsibility

of our own “mess”.

That is the only way we can change for good. 

On a lighter note, I came across these political cartoons that basically sum up what I said but in a more humorous, hopeful way:

So when we do walk away from this class, let's not forget this!

- Nia

Oil Watch

Yesterday I posted about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, well here's an update:

1. Winds are helping crews keep oil off shore
2. "Chemicals" are being added to the water which appear to keep the oil from surfacing (What these chemicals are doing to the ocean remains to be seen)
3. The effect on wildlife seems to be taken are larger role - more fishing waters have been closed causing damage to the already fragile economy of the gulf coast who is still recovering from Katrina
4. Estimted 210,000 gallons of oil released each day...

To see USAToday Article on the spill:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-03-oil-well_N.htm

To see a map of the progression of the oil spill click here:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm

            Claire

New view on the Environment

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is becoming quite a threat to the southern coast of the United States, making land fall on Saturday.  There are two ways to look at this situation:

1. The oil in the water is ruining the fishing industry for most southern coastal towns, causing the water to be inhospitable for marine life
2. Look at all that spilled oil that could have been put into my car, darn it

Hopefully throughout the past month that we have been blogging, the readers of this blog look at this situation the first way.

200,000 gallons of oil a day have been released by the oil rig that exploded on April 20.

As more oil reaches land, it seems that the South is being beaten by a two-sided sword.  Heavy rains have caused major flooding in Mississippi and Tennessee, leading some residents to recall Katrina (2005).  So what does this have to do with Elon?  Isn't that what this blog is suppose to be about?  The point is not where there is an environmental challenge, the point is to make sure that the world knows how to fix these problems.

Here at Elon, we know that we should walk places that are close by, recycle, turn off the lights.  Well in Mississippi and Louisiana, they need to take different actions to fix their environmental problems.

It will be difficult to change Burlington to be a more green society, because of the distance between buildings; however, to reassure my group member who blogged before me, a little bit can help a lot.  Just do your part, and you'll help the earth.

To read more on the article of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico visit: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-05-02-obama-spill_N.htm

  Claire

Greener me

        After countless class discussions, videos, and articles I've begun to feel a bit discouraged about the state of our planet and my efforts, or lack thereof to preserve it. There is so much that can be done - that needs to be done, but the idea of an individuals significance in a battle like this one is a mindset I can't seem to break away from. We've watched videos like No Impact Man and the Yert trailers, and seen what extremists are doing to contribute to the preservation and betterment of our environment, but to what extent is the average individual supposed to contribute? Is it enough to simply recycle, should I plant a garden, only eat foods from a farmers market? For me, and most college students, leading a "green" existence on campus proves to be quite difficult. With cafeteria food, prepackaged meals, disposable everything, and the pure lack of consciousness all lead college students to dump on the environment constantly.
       Although my frustrations are mounting, because I want to do more, and would love to lead a greener life, I have learned a great deal, and personally become much more conscious of my habits, and those of the people surrounding me. I've begun making small changes, like recycling my plastic cereal containers and cutlery at meals, turning off the water while brushing my teeth, shortening my shower length...but honestly,  making these small changes has made me realize how far I am from a green individual. There are so many other small, and large things in my life that'd I would have to change, and as a college student they simply aren't realistic. However, as this school year wraps up, and I head home for the summer, where I have more control over my food intake, and other aspects of day to day life, I plan to continue making small changes, to lessen my carbon footprint. I'm doing my best to not get discouraged by the valiant effort of the most committed green citizens of the world, and take baby steps towards becoming a greener me.
--Steffi