Just came back from Quito, Ecuador. Great place that if anyone gets the chance of visiting is definitely worth the visit; especially if you are into history, culture, and scenic views. I have never been in a place where there were so many scenic views in one place.
If you have the chance of arranging with a local to show you around it is definitely recommended as the places where the "Quitenos" like to spend their dollars are worth visiting. Great food and night scene if you know where to go.
After watching Wall-E the movie for the second time, I could see the environmentalist message this movie has with a much more understanding and significant value. Wall-E is a robot that collects and organizes trash and lives on earth. The setting of the movie is at some point in the future in an earth that is inhabitable by humans and full of trash. After an exiting adventure where Wall-E goes to a space-ship, he is able to return to Earth and finds a plant growing, signifying the return of the humans to Earth.
Such a future would seem too drastic to imagine except that it may become a reality unless something is done The United States can be a good yet not proud example of a country that generates much trash. Recent statistics have found that even though the US has 5% of the world population, it produces 30% of the world's waste, 99% of the things that are bought are not in use in the next 6 months.
Wall-E shows a planet earth that is filled with trash but it does not show all the other problems that arise from pollution. One of the major issues that we face today is global warming ; it is estimated
that there will be a 4 degree increase in temperature by 2060, this will result in
unfortunate events such as extreme weather and droughts, spread disease, and
other negative externalities. If we continue with the same level of natural resource utilization, Wall-E's earth full of trash can be even more realistic.
I was strongly moved by Wall-E's ending. Towards the end, Wall-E goes back to earth and plants a plant he rescued in his adventure and that is what it starts a new hope for a green earth. This made me think of the importance of land ethic in our society, which means having a relationship with the environment we live and protecting not just our species but all parts of nature. If we are using the earth's resources, it's our responsibility to use them responsibly and protect them.
The creators of Wall-E said it best:
For us, WALL-E presents the most powerful environmental statement made by either Disney or Pixar studios: We must protect earth and its resources because leaving it behind cannot effectively preserve humankind.
I wanted to write a blog about some of the projects that have been created by emerging economies and how they have achieved great steps towards achieving sustainability. One country that came up numerous times as an example was Colombia; they have become a great example of being a country that achieves sustainability through innovation and that many other countries have used their initiatives in their own countries to engage in sustainable practices and planning.
As I learned in my colloquium class at FGCU, one of the key aspects necessary to be able to achieve sustainable development is for governments to promote it. This is exactly what Colombia has done in the past 10 years as they have completed projects that not only focus on environmental sustainability, but also on economic development and societal improvement.
To provide an example, here are some of the ways the Colombian government has changed their policy to achieve this projects:
Colombia approved national policies for environmental health (2008), air quality (2008), and water (2010);
It also passed a law on fuel quality in 2008 that reduced sulfur content in diesel from 1,000 parts per million to 500 ppm in Colombia's largest cities;
It established an air quality monitoring network for in 21 cities;
The government created a Water Resources Group in the Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Territorial Development, which is the first centralized group responsible for planning and budgeting activities related to water resources management in Colombia;
At least 25 municipalities adopted watershed management plans in areas of water scarcity in order to better manage and monitor valuable natural resources;
Colombia undertook a hygiene and hand-washing campaign to reduce incidence of water-related disease, especially amongst children and the poor;
It passed an Urban Environmental Policy in 2008 that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of local environmental authorities;
The government created a system for the regular management reporting of local environmental authorities, with reports made available to the public;
It also established a monitoring and evaluation system for environmental policies, providing input into environmental management decisions. SOURCE: Worldbank
These government initiatives have resulted in various projects that have changed the look as well as improved the outlook of Colombia's most populous cities. One of this projects is Transmilenio, a Bus Rapid System that can transport Bogota's citizens across the city. A bus rapid system such as Transmilenio is much cheaper to build than a rail and uses less resources. This system has reduced Bogota's pollution by nearly 50% and has given economic opportunities in a sustainable manner. Here is a video showing some of the positive results resulting from the construction of Transmilenio:
Another great project is the renovation of Medellin, Colombia. Medellin was known up until 10 years ago for its high murder rate and drug cartels, but is now becoming known worldwide as a great tourist destination. It was nominated the most innovative city in the world and has changed it's outlook in the past 10 years by becoming a city that is inclusive, uses sustainable planning, and promotes an economic and healthy welfare to its citizens, here is a video showing some areas of Medellin that one can appreciate the inclusion of poor people and great transportation systems as well as areas that improve the lifestyle of its citizens:
Colombia is a great example of an emerging economy being involved in sustainable planning. It gives me hope that there are countries in the world that are applying innovative and sustainable practices. It also shows me the importance of what I've learned: Governments need to promote sustainability. So as an individual, it also encourages me to be involved in democracy and to make sure my government supports and encourages sustainability.
On April 10, 2014, we visited a park located just across the Coastland Mall in Naples. The park is an initiative by the residents of the city on Naples to create a 50 acre park that would ensure green public space since the area has been developed entirely. The project cost $10 million and it was achieved through a federal grant.
As we walked inside the park, we found ourselves into a shady forest of cypress, palm, and pond apple trees. Our guide explained the importance of having this park available in the area since it was home to "wading birds, hawks, an owl, otters, alligators, and other species". A recent article by the Naples Daily News describes the park in the following way:
The project’s plant list is enough to turn a gardener green with envy: 400 cabbage palm trees, 300 bald cypress, 8,000 golden canny 1,300 water lily and 656 leather ferns among a long list of others.
To be able to receive the grant, the park had to be functional, and it is in the sense that it serves as a drainage for the water that comes from rain in other neighborhoods From the park, the water flows to the Gordon River, Naples Bay and finally into the Gulf of Mexico. During this process, some of the water filters back into the soil and recharges the soil.
Freedom park is home to many types of species
Although the completion of this park was controversial due to the turn of the economy, I was amazed that it was completed and that the organizers of this project saw the importance of creating this type of areas.If it wasn't for strong leaders in our community this area could have been turned into just another development and would have affected the area negatively. A park such as Freedom Park gives me hope that there can be a brighter future and that many more things can be done to protect the environment.
After watching Food Inc., it is sad to see how the production of
food in the US has affected us in many ways. The movie opens the eyes of the
viewers about a reality that affects all Americans and that has been kept
almost "secret". The movie gives its viewers a glance in the
production process that brings more food at a low cost to us consuming
Americans. I was astonished to see how chicken and cows grow and the way that
they are genetically modified in order to be bigger and have more meat than
bone.
At one point in the movie they explained that a beef patty
at McDonald's can have meat from up to 100 different cows. They also
showed how the major food production companies force farmers to
"produce" chicken in deplorable conditions such as not providing
daylight and not allowing them to move so that they produce more meat. Many of these conditions lead to bacteria that has caused various diseases. This production is also leading to deplorable work conditions and low quality living since many of them are in debt trying to keep up with FDA regulations.
Chicken farmer is shown, she decided to not follow regulation and provide daylight for her chicken.
Aside from everything that was mentioned in the film, I feel like the food industry is a clear example of a an unsustainable society. The food industry is achieving cheap food at the cost of morally-questioned practices to both its workers and animals. It is also causing damage to the environment by implementing pesticides and killing many species
My opinion on this movie is that even though cost-accessible food is important and big quantities is important, there are many things that can be done to achieve a more sustainable practice. A food production where workers, consumers, and the environment can live a balanced a sustainable lifestyle does not sound like a practice that major food producers tend to focus their attention on.
On March 27, 2013, We had the opportunity to visit the Lee County
Waste Management &
Recycling Center. This place is an example of
state-of-the art technology being used towards the goal of sustainable
living. The recycling center, uses a single stream recycling system that
categorizes different materials and separates them to be recycled. This
system can process 30 tons an hour of materials and is currently investing in
newer technology to be able to be more efficient and productive.
High tech systems and operators work every day
Here is a section of the single stream process
What is
remarkable about this place is that it generates profit and has become the #1
recycling center in FL and could be the most efficient in the US. The waste
management also generates electricity by mass-burning waste at temperatures
above 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the electricity that is used in Fort
Myers comes from this plant. The plant is also self-sustainable, using its own
generated electricity and the remaining 95 percent being sold for use. Both the
recycling and waste-electricity generator are supervised and operated by
state-of-the-art technology and well paid operators that focus on safety, and
efficiency.
That's me
A truck sends trash to be transformed into energy
One of the things that surprised me is that this system with is
self sustainable, healthier for the environment, less costly in the long run,
and profitable could be used across many municipalities but it is not. Our
guide explained that part of the reason this happens is because people and
governments are uneducated about the benefits that a system such as Lee
county's can yield. He explained that the general perception is that their
system just burns trash and that it is more costly to do so than using a
landfill to dispose trash. By mixing technology and effort, it is possible to
make trash into a valuable resource, achieving the ultimate goal of
sustainability.
Visiting the Lee County Waste Management & Recycling Center
made me realize the importance of education specifically when it comes to
environmental sustainability. There are many misconceptions and lack of
knowledge in general about ways to achieve sustainability. By cities not
copying this system, it is clear that there is a long journey to teach
governments and the public in general the importance of sustainability and also
that engaging in such practices can be both efficient for the environment and
profitable at the same time.
