The thing that I find most frustrating about this class is my seeming inability to do work on time and for that I want to sincerely apologize. Beyond the fact that I’m just too busy this semester I have no legitimate excuse and it’s a terrible feeling to always be turning things in late – and very unlike me.
I really do love this class, though, which is the reason I’ve tried so hard to stay in it with the little time that I have. I feel like it’s a great place for discussion to happen and give me creative ideas to incorporate into my daily life to make my world, and the world of my friends, more green. I love that it’s challenged my own idea of how green I am and made me more accepting of the fact that I’m eco-conscious – it’s sort of like my Environmentally Conscious Anonymous group. I also really appreciate the energy of the class and the motivation that Dallase and Tina have both given me. There are times that I swear Dallase must have been a speech writer for Obama on the campaign trail – that’s how jazzed I feel when I leave class (a huge feat for a Monday evening class).
Not to belabor the point because it clearly came out in class on Monday but the critical thinking worksheets didn’t seem to be working as they were set up. I appreciate the reason behind doing them but I also feel that at this point in our lives if we can’t find reputable sources on both sides of an argument and highlight the main points we’re in deep trouble. Some of the work seems a bit tedious at times. I’d love to do research on the topics for my own benefit and pick out the pieces that both interested me and were pertinent to my understanding of the topic/argument. I feel that when I’m doing the homework, however, I’m doing it for an outside purpose – to get notes down, etc. – and therefore get less out of it.
I really appreciate the class discussion about issues and ideas because I feel that it gives a forum to discuss information and ideas and there isn’t usually this luxury in my other environmental classes. I also really value the knowledge that both Dallase and Tina have about environmental initiatives, programs, and “fun facts.” Incorporating more of those would be great!! As would more time to ask questions during power points – I feel like it takes a lot of time to get through power points but there’s still more information that I wan tot know about it!
Overall I’m LOVING the course and have really appreciated the opportunity to explore my own “environmentalism” through it, so thank you!!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Networking....my favourite
I’d like to start off by mentioning a very happy moment in my house this past week. Two of my housemates and I walked down to Whole Foods to pick up some groceries. One of my housemates picked up the reusable bags without me even mentioning them and then proceeded to seek out local produce!!!! The other one used a paper bag at the check out because the cashier had already started packing it before she had a chance to use the reusable. First of all, this helped to reassure me that I’m not the only person out there that feels guilty about being green! Secondly, my other housemate and I proceeded to scorn her so much that she transferred her food out of the paper and into the reusable and left the paper one to fight another day. It’s silly and small but it shows that I’ve actually made a small dent in the habits of some of my housemates. I was REALLY touched when I saw my friend bring the reusable bags. It felt so good to have my subtle efforts confirmed.
I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking about my connections and impact around campus. I’m one of the captains of the varsity crew team and I was thinking I could use my influence in the team to push our “zero waste” ideas. Our (brand new and beautiful) boathouse is LEED certified and is located on an old dump site (I can’t remember if it was a Brownfield or not but it was pretty heinous). Because of my coach’s efforts and the presence of Tufts a developer contracted with the University to create a park, business buildings, and condos on the lot and create “The River’s Edge.” My coach has already made a push to go to reusable water bottles around the boathouse, and I’ve worked with the environmentally friendly parents to work on eliminating Gatorade and water bottles at the regatta food tents (that’s been only minimally successful, so far).
I feel that my network to Tufts athletics could be a main connection to greening Tufts. There’s certainly more that the crew team could do to go zero waste and to do clean up events along the Malden (truly one of the most disgustingly polluted rivers I’ve ever seen). The gym could also be pushed to have more recycling spots and advertise the use of reusable water bottles more widely.
I’m also wondering if my advisor in the Political Science department would be interested in helping in these endeavors. Professor Portney studies sustainable cities and may be interested in the zero waste ideas or have some connections within the faculty that may be helpful.
My plan is to talk to my coach after our class meets tomorrow so I know what I’m actually going to him with. We have 2 more regattas over the fall season and I’m hoping to talk to the parents about reducing waste even more and see how the rowers can help out in that effort. I’d also like to do a clean up effort on the river this year. My team’s talked about doing it for the last 3 years and never actually done anything but I want to organize a campus-wide event to get everyone down there to clean up the river a bit.
I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking about my connections and impact around campus. I’m one of the captains of the varsity crew team and I was thinking I could use my influence in the team to push our “zero waste” ideas. Our (brand new and beautiful) boathouse is LEED certified and is located on an old dump site (I can’t remember if it was a Brownfield or not but it was pretty heinous). Because of my coach’s efforts and the presence of Tufts a developer contracted with the University to create a park, business buildings, and condos on the lot and create “The River’s Edge.” My coach has already made a push to go to reusable water bottles around the boathouse, and I’ve worked with the environmentally friendly parents to work on eliminating Gatorade and water bottles at the regatta food tents (that’s been only minimally successful, so far).
I feel that my network to Tufts athletics could be a main connection to greening Tufts. There’s certainly more that the crew team could do to go zero waste and to do clean up events along the Malden (truly one of the most disgustingly polluted rivers I’ve ever seen). The gym could also be pushed to have more recycling spots and advertise the use of reusable water bottles more widely.
I’m also wondering if my advisor in the Political Science department would be interested in helping in these endeavors. Professor Portney studies sustainable cities and may be interested in the zero waste ideas or have some connections within the faculty that may be helpful.
My plan is to talk to my coach after our class meets tomorrow so I know what I’m actually going to him with. We have 2 more regattas over the fall season and I’m hoping to talk to the parents about reducing waste even more and see how the rowers can help out in that effort. I’d also like to do a clean up effort on the river this year. My team’s talked about doing it for the last 3 years and never actually done anything but I want to organize a campus-wide event to get everyone down there to clean up the river a bit.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I'm late!
In many ways, Obama’s recent campaign for presidency was a really good (and hugely successful) social marketing effort. Sure, the guy’s got charisma by the handful and is the hottest politician this country’s seen in 20 years but there was something else to it. He didn’t play by the normal rules of political campaigns. He raised the bar. He focused conversations around issues rather than who put what shade of lipstick on whose pig that week. He challenged (and is challenging, I think) the American public to be involved, to take hold of their future, to take responsibility for the events that are happening in our world in a way that maybe hasn’t been seen since JFK’s “Ask what you can do for your country” inaugural address. In many ways I feel like the conversation on sustainability, on conservation, on environmental justice has to be treated the same way. Dumbing down the information for the American public isn’t going to help the cause. If we want people to change and rise to the challenge of climate change then the people asking that had better be ready with a plan. It’s not as easy as bringing carrier bags from home and converting to a nalgene. It shouldn’t be. We’re looking for change; the astronomical, earth-shattering, overwhelming, rock the boat type of change. And that sort of change doesn’t come with the flip of a switch.
This all leads me to my social marketing goals for the Tufts campus (think global, act local right?).
• Education is freedom. If individuals don’t know how their actions are impacting the environment how can they be expected to change? Information on environmental changes should be EVERYWHERE. If people knew more about trash and land filling I feel that more Tufts students would want to know how to reduce their waste. This would make for a perfect opportunity to push the first 2 R’s – reduce and reuse – on campus and move away from our reliance on end of the line technology to fix our trash issues.
• The heating and cooling system on campus DRIVES ME CRAZY. I know NO ONE who likes to bring a change of shorts and tank top to the library with them when it’s 20 degrees outside because the Tisch thermostat is permanently stuck on 80 degrees. Efficiency things like this can easily be cleaned up and shouldn’t really be that hard.
• I’m a rower and thanks to my pre-dawn antics I see what the campus looks like at 6 AM when no one is using any of the facilities. You may be surprised to hear that pre-dawn looks very not-dark here at Tufts. I appreciate the safety necessities of the university and why having the whole campus pitch dark isn’t such a great idea with so many nocturnal studiers but Tisch is definitely closed at 6 AM so having the lights on full blast in the basement seems a little excessive. In this same stream it would be great to have a way to dim the lights around campus – maybe have a “day” and “night” setting to save energy.
• Bringing composting back to Tufts in some way would be amazing! Maybe setting up a fund or something like a tax that Dallase had talked about where we can subsidize the cost of composting with our own finances.
• Eliminating or charging for the use of plastic bags and cups and coffee mugs around campus would be great. Financial discouragements work wonders.
• Back to the first point about knowledge and education I think it would be a great idea to have a tip sheet online for students to refer. This could involve ways to cut down on power and heating costs and why it’s important to unplug things when you’re not using them and can you just turn off the power cord or do you have to unplug it. Stuff like that!
This all leads me to my social marketing goals for the Tufts campus (think global, act local right?).
• Education is freedom. If individuals don’t know how their actions are impacting the environment how can they be expected to change? Information on environmental changes should be EVERYWHERE. If people knew more about trash and land filling I feel that more Tufts students would want to know how to reduce their waste. This would make for a perfect opportunity to push the first 2 R’s – reduce and reuse – on campus and move away from our reliance on end of the line technology to fix our trash issues.
• The heating and cooling system on campus DRIVES ME CRAZY. I know NO ONE who likes to bring a change of shorts and tank top to the library with them when it’s 20 degrees outside because the Tisch thermostat is permanently stuck on 80 degrees. Efficiency things like this can easily be cleaned up and shouldn’t really be that hard.
• I’m a rower and thanks to my pre-dawn antics I see what the campus looks like at 6 AM when no one is using any of the facilities. You may be surprised to hear that pre-dawn looks very not-dark here at Tufts. I appreciate the safety necessities of the university and why having the whole campus pitch dark isn’t such a great idea with so many nocturnal studiers but Tisch is definitely closed at 6 AM so having the lights on full blast in the basement seems a little excessive. In this same stream it would be great to have a way to dim the lights around campus – maybe have a “day” and “night” setting to save energy.
• Bringing composting back to Tufts in some way would be amazing! Maybe setting up a fund or something like a tax that Dallase had talked about where we can subsidize the cost of composting with our own finances.
• Eliminating or charging for the use of plastic bags and cups and coffee mugs around campus would be great. Financial discouragements work wonders.
• Back to the first point about knowledge and education I think it would be a great idea to have a tip sheet online for students to refer. This could involve ways to cut down on power and heating costs and why it’s important to unplug things when you’re not using them and can you just turn off the power cord or do you have to unplug it. Stuff like that!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Habit breaking
For this week we were meant to work on breaking a habit that’s been sticking around a bit too long. My habit to break is my obsessive apologizing. I have a huge cognitive dissonance between the actions I take to be more environmentally friendly and feeling unable to encourage my friends to do the same. It seems crazy that I can’t tell my friends to turn the lights off when they leave a room without having a huge internal debate about it for two days before I bring it up and then apologize for saying anything immediately afterward.
I had a huge heart-to-heart with one of my housemates about this fear that I’ve had – this inexplicable desire not to ruffle feathers or offend. I feel like usually people would be inclined to call me quite forward (too forward?) with my thoughts and beliefs on a given topic but when it comes to something as intimate as my personal practices and beliefs about something that’s as close to my identity as environmental practices I become more recluse and quiet. I realize that this may seem extremely counter-intuitive – that the things I’m most passionate are the ones that are harder for me to express. What I’ve come to realize, however, is that when I’m around friends who are as conscious about environmentalism and their choices as I myself am I’m much more comfortable. I feel as though maybe I come across as lecturing or patronizing when I bring up a conversation about environmental choices unprovoked by those I’m talking to. The last thing I want to do is make others feel guilty about the lives they lead as I feel that makes people more defensive and less likely to be open about discussing or changing their habits.
These are all the things I discussed with my housemate. I found it helpful to delve into the root source of my discomfort and figure out why I apologize so often (or one of the more cognizant reasons, at least).
So this week, in keeping with my efforts to stop apologizing for my green ways and to encourage myself to be more vocal about such things I started leaving little Post-It notes around my room and house reminding myself of my efforts with “I’m NOT sorry” and “Step Up” (as in take the initiative on the environmental front…).
I think that this type of effort is consistent with the idea of positive reinforcement: presenting myself with a stimulus – reminders of what action I want to emulate to increase the future strength of the response. I also told my housemates that they can hit, bump, nudge, shout, or spray me with water anytime they hear me apologizing unnecessarily or for something having to do with my eating habits. This falls into the category of positive punishment – presenting an unpleasant stimulus after apologizing to decrease the frequency of future apologies.
So far I’ve found that there’s been moderate improvement. I’m a lot better when it comes to my apologies about my food purchases and habits but I still apologies a lot unnecessarily out of context with environmental goals. It got to the point where my clothes have been slightly damp all week (my housemates LOVE this game…me, not so much). I’m hoping, however, that in the weeks to come my efforts improve.
I had a huge heart-to-heart with one of my housemates about this fear that I’ve had – this inexplicable desire not to ruffle feathers or offend. I feel like usually people would be inclined to call me quite forward (too forward?) with my thoughts and beliefs on a given topic but when it comes to something as intimate as my personal practices and beliefs about something that’s as close to my identity as environmental practices I become more recluse and quiet. I realize that this may seem extremely counter-intuitive – that the things I’m most passionate are the ones that are harder for me to express. What I’ve come to realize, however, is that when I’m around friends who are as conscious about environmentalism and their choices as I myself am I’m much more comfortable. I feel as though maybe I come across as lecturing or patronizing when I bring up a conversation about environmental choices unprovoked by those I’m talking to. The last thing I want to do is make others feel guilty about the lives they lead as I feel that makes people more defensive and less likely to be open about discussing or changing their habits.
These are all the things I discussed with my housemate. I found it helpful to delve into the root source of my discomfort and figure out why I apologize so often (or one of the more cognizant reasons, at least).
So this week, in keeping with my efforts to stop apologizing for my green ways and to encourage myself to be more vocal about such things I started leaving little Post-It notes around my room and house reminding myself of my efforts with “I’m NOT sorry” and “Step Up” (as in take the initiative on the environmental front…).
I think that this type of effort is consistent with the idea of positive reinforcement: presenting myself with a stimulus – reminders of what action I want to emulate to increase the future strength of the response. I also told my housemates that they can hit, bump, nudge, shout, or spray me with water anytime they hear me apologizing unnecessarily or for something having to do with my eating habits. This falls into the category of positive punishment – presenting an unpleasant stimulus after apologizing to decrease the frequency of future apologies.
So far I’ve found that there’s been moderate improvement. I’m a lot better when it comes to my apologies about my food purchases and habits but I still apologies a lot unnecessarily out of context with environmental goals. It got to the point where my clothes have been slightly damp all week (my housemates LOVE this game…me, not so much). I’m hoping, however, that in the weeks to come my efforts improve.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Waste is bad...even in cyberspace
Since this blog was already in existence (if you can call 4 blog entries an existence...)I decided to convert it to my "Eco Blog" to conserve internet energy...or out of sheer laziness and my inability to keep my bookmarks organized...
Gotta say, I'm not a huge fan of the blog shindig--sending my wild and crazy thoughts into the "great abyss" always seemed a bit pointless but that might also be because I'm terrible at keeping any of these journaling habits. My mum and I both have at least a dozen half started journals kicking around somewhere or another.
So! On to eco-blogging! I was meant to introduce my "eco-self" to people this week. My house nicknamed this "eco-bitch"--the annoying one harassing everyone about leaving all the lights on after a late night out and not running the dishwasher until it's full yadayadayada. Truthfully no one was really surprised. One of my friends asked "How is this different from your normal self???" Valid question. Another housemate was please that we'd be saving tons of money this year and that she wouldn't have to be the one to do all the nagging. Honestly, everyone's been pretty chill with it. More so than my Dad was when I was home and harassing him about putting plastics in the recycling even though it was aaaaaaall the way outside (he'd just harassed me back about being hypocritical...sadly, I'm sure he has a valid point...he usually does).
I was also meant to come up with a habit to break over the semester--something eco-related. My goal had been to stop apologizing--it HAS been my goal since the age of 10. My old high school soccer coach used to make me stay after practice and run a wind-sprint for every apology I made during practice. It helped a little but I think I still had to run after every practice... My house came up with the idea of a quarter jar but I'd never have enough cash on me to do that and then I'm just owing myself money and what's the point in that? Plus I use all my quarters for laundry. Someone suggested they get to hit me every time I say sorry but I have a feeling people would start calling abuse hotlines pretty quickly.
So! the habit I'm going to break? I think it's going to be an apology hybrid. I doubt I'm ever going to stop apologizing but I figure I can do my best to cut out certain apologies. The goal is to stop apologizing for my food choices and asking questions about where my food comes from. I wont apologize for taking half a year in the grocery store because I have to check where EVERY item in my cart came from to make sure it's local. I'm not going to apologize to the fish monger for asking what fish is most sustainable and being the brat at the counter with all the questions about dye in the salmon. And I'm going to get my crap together about my food education. I want to know what I should buy organic and what's a bit excessive (I'm still a poor college kid on a budget, after all). I want to make sure I'm not keeping those "organic" mega-farms in business and squashing out the local guys. I want to make sure I'm buying local when it counts and not being stupid about it. I want to have legit points to argue when someone asks "does it really matter THAT much?!?!???" Sure it's a hassle and sure everyone shopping with me is going to want to punch me in the mouth after every food run but I'm still going to do it...and I wont apologize (or maybe all my food money will just wind up in the "sorry jar").
Gotta say, I'm not a huge fan of the blog shindig--sending my wild and crazy thoughts into the "great abyss" always seemed a bit pointless but that might also be because I'm terrible at keeping any of these journaling habits. My mum and I both have at least a dozen half started journals kicking around somewhere or another.
So! On to eco-blogging! I was meant to introduce my "eco-self" to people this week. My house nicknamed this "eco-bitch"--the annoying one harassing everyone about leaving all the lights on after a late night out and not running the dishwasher until it's full yadayadayada. Truthfully no one was really surprised. One of my friends asked "How is this different from your normal self???" Valid question. Another housemate was please that we'd be saving tons of money this year and that she wouldn't have to be the one to do all the nagging. Honestly, everyone's been pretty chill with it. More so than my Dad was when I was home and harassing him about putting plastics in the recycling even though it was aaaaaaall the way outside (he'd just harassed me back about being hypocritical...sadly, I'm sure he has a valid point...he usually does).
I was also meant to come up with a habit to break over the semester--something eco-related. My goal had been to stop apologizing--it HAS been my goal since the age of 10. My old high school soccer coach used to make me stay after practice and run a wind-sprint for every apology I made during practice. It helped a little but I think I still had to run after every practice... My house came up with the idea of a quarter jar but I'd never have enough cash on me to do that and then I'm just owing myself money and what's the point in that? Plus I use all my quarters for laundry. Someone suggested they get to hit me every time I say sorry but I have a feeling people would start calling abuse hotlines pretty quickly.
So! the habit I'm going to break? I think it's going to be an apology hybrid. I doubt I'm ever going to stop apologizing but I figure I can do my best to cut out certain apologies. The goal is to stop apologizing for my food choices and asking questions about where my food comes from. I wont apologize for taking half a year in the grocery store because I have to check where EVERY item in my cart came from to make sure it's local. I'm not going to apologize to the fish monger for asking what fish is most sustainable and being the brat at the counter with all the questions about dye in the salmon. And I'm going to get my crap together about my food education. I want to know what I should buy organic and what's a bit excessive (I'm still a poor college kid on a budget, after all). I want to make sure I'm not keeping those "organic" mega-farms in business and squashing out the local guys. I want to make sure I'm buying local when it counts and not being stupid about it. I want to have legit points to argue when someone asks "does it really matter THAT much?!?!???" Sure it's a hassle and sure everyone shopping with me is going to want to punch me in the mouth after every food run but I'm still going to do it...and I wont apologize (or maybe all my food money will just wind up in the "sorry jar").
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Alex=World's Biggest Slacker
...either that or I'm just really bad at updating this blog.
Lots has happened since school ended and right now I'm in Sydney having a GREAT time! It's really strange to be in a city with over a few thousand and I feel like a true country bumpkin as I get josstled around the Sydney streets. The weather's been so-so but it hasn't rained...yet and I should proabably enjoy the cloud cover while it lasts.
So here's a quick update on what DID happen:
Kayaking through the Abel Tasman National Park near Nelson, NZ (top of the South Island)
Tramping (not hiking) the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds (drinking large quantities of local wine is compulsory)
Swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura (and seeing a sperm and humpback whale)...yes, I'm bragging now
Here's what WILL happen (as long as everything goes as planned:
Sydney-->Sailing the Whitsundays and out to the Barrier Reef (yippee!)-->Port Douglas to see more of the Reef and the rainforest-->Ayers Rock and true Aussie Outback (aka tourist central)-->back to Auckland-->fly fishing in Queenstown w/ Dad-->Auckland for Xmas/New Year's with the family
Sure hope y'all enjoyed hearing my itinerary! Hope everyone's well!
xoxo
Lots has happened since school ended and right now I'm in Sydney having a GREAT time! It's really strange to be in a city with over a few thousand and I feel like a true country bumpkin as I get josstled around the Sydney streets. The weather's been so-so but it hasn't rained...yet and I should proabably enjoy the cloud cover while it lasts.
So here's a quick update on what DID happen:
Kayaking through the Abel Tasman National Park near Nelson, NZ (top of the South Island)
Tramping (not hiking) the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds (drinking large quantities of local wine is compulsory)
Swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura (and seeing a sperm and humpback whale)...yes, I'm bragging now
Here's what WILL happen (as long as everything goes as planned:
Sydney-->Sailing the Whitsundays and out to the Barrier Reef (yippee!)-->Port Douglas to see more of the Reef and the rainforest-->Ayers Rock and true Aussie Outback (aka tourist central)-->back to Auckland-->fly fishing in Queenstown w/ Dad-->Auckland for Xmas/New Year's with the family
Sure hope y'all enjoyed hearing my itinerary! Hope everyone's well!
xoxo
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Summer '08 Part II
Summer 2008 Kiwi style--let the debauchery commence....
Updates from the last month will hopefully be coming up soon (anything to put off packing)
Updates from the last month will hopefully be coming up soon (anything to put off packing)
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