Nature Goulet! Journal #3

Have you ever seen the "SNL; Best of Will Ferrell?" Well, in case you haven't, there's a segment within that compilation of funny skits that makes fun of the singer/Actor; Robert Goulet. Anyways, in that skit Will Ferrell has driven his red convertible up into the mountains where he comments on nature and how calming it is.

In Richard Louv's article; Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment, Louv discusses the correlation between several attention-deficit disorders and an environmental experience. The article opens up by discussing how the downsizing of hours students are allowed for recess or P.E has drastically affected our youth and can be linked to the diagnosis of ADD or ADHD.  The article also states that P.E. credits can be earned online, as shocking as it may seem, I opted to take P.E. online when I was in high school. I chose not to take P.E. at the school beacuse; 1) I didn't want to get all sweaty in the middle of the school day and 2) I was a woman scorned because apparently cheerleading wasn't a reputable sport and was not viable for being excused from P.E. like the dance team. Don't get me started on that though.Within Louv's article, a ton of references from other article's and expert opinions are inserted. One of the most shocking facts stated in the article was when Louv started talking about the drugs prescribed to calm those diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. Amphetamines and Methylphenidate are two of the most commonly prescribed drugs and according to Louv; are over prescribed by 10-40 percent. Mthylphenidate is similar to the drugs commonly known as Meth and Cocaine which raises the question; as a parent, how can you knowingly and willingly give your children Meth just to give you peace of mind? "The use of such stimulants in the United States increased 600 percent between 1990 and 1995." This quotation has been taken from Louv's article, and the gravity of that statement is huge. It's shocking, disgusting, and disconcerting. What are we doing as a society? How far have we fallen that we first took away recess and now are feeding children with energy cocaine?

As the article progresses, Louv poses the possibility that maybe this overactive child is just representing a valuable characteristic of 5,000 years ago. 5,000 years ago when hunting and gathering techniques were used, the overactive, and energetic little boy would have been valued due to valor. Now, it is frowned upon.  That being said, multiple studies have been executed, and have brought to focus the idea that nature can be a healing resource. All children need is a wide open pasture to run around and let their natural play ensue. It is upsetting to know that the amount of children diagnosed with ADHD will only increase due to the lack of outdoor adventures.

Today's children are stuck in a technology whirl pool. Xbox, playstation, and all the other gaming consuls have unfortunately taken over their imagination and desire to get outdoors and play. I know that when I was a kid, I was never indoors. I was climbing trees, riding bikes until the street lights came on. I know most of my generation feels the same way as well, and that's where there is hope. I hope that we can turn things around, those who are in their early 20's will have the task of throwing technology out the window until their children are old enough to be able to distinguish reality from fantasy.

Bradentucky Journal #2

My current "sense of place" is in Bradenton, commonly known as Bradentucky. They say that a sense of place can be described as a certain feeling you get that heavily relies on the physical environment as well as the people in that certain location. Well, I'm not physically in Bradenton right now, but my heart is there. Bradenton is where I grew up and where my baby is. (My 4 year old miniature schnauzer; Kami). How can I have a sense of place when my current location doesn't make any connections with me? Yeah my boyfriend is here, but Kami is my daughter. My sense of place when I'm there can be described as feeling free and comforted. The physical environment couldn't be better either; the smell of the ocean takes me back to when I was 16 and first started driving. Being in Bradenton takes me back to when I was still with my parents all the time and never really worried about being on my own or having to worry about bills. Bradenton is a great escape, but then I have to go back to reality sooner or later. As I sit here in my room, my sense of place is calming. I'm at peace with where I'm at in my life at the moment and I'm content with where I'm going.

Sense of place can be related to an outdoor education experience in the sense that when you're outdoors learning about the history of that place and all the people that have come before you and have stood in the very same spot, it makes you feel like there is so much more to life than has been discovered. In that moment of time, you're sense of place is insightful and peaceful.

Biodiversity and it's importance according to Vandana Shiva Journal #1

In Vandana Shiva's article, "What is Biodiversity and Why is it so Important?  Which is featured in the book; University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future,  gave the readers a bit of background information about biodiversity and also provided some insight to what it might/should mean to us as human beings, the top of the food chain, the main assailants of the world today. According to Shiva, human beings are responsible for the alterations made to certain species as well as the deterioration of this planet. Shiva states that we are trying to control things that nature normal takes care of and we are interjecting in that cycle and thus, messing everything up. I personally agree with her, it makes me incredibly irritated when people create a disturbance  in the natural cycle and then complain about it's outcome. This has nothing to do with biodiversity but it does, however, have a lot to do with sustainability; it is our duty as human beings to preserve nature and instead, we are tearing down habitats left and right. When we tear down the habitats that house many and most of the animals, where do we expect them to go? They wander into our neighborhoods in search for food and then we complain and order a death warrant. It's our fault in the first place and I think that's exactly what is wrong with society today; we don't take any responsibility for our actions and don't think of the repercussions. Shiva, I'm sure, feels similar as she states that there are an estimated 3.6-100 million species in the world and humans are only ONE of those species and we must remember that. Just because we are on the top of the food chain does not mean we need to ruin everything below us. Biodiversity is extremely important because it heightens productivity and all species have an important role in the ecosystem. Shiva explains the connection between biological and cultural biodiversity, how they are both intertwined and when one is affected, the other suffers as well.

In Jane Goodall's article, "Hope for Animals and Their World" Jane Goodall warns us of the impending extinction of certain animals and how humans have had a grave influence on the animals and their world. Also, in the article, Jane Goodall offers an idea of how we can turn things around.