Hot Dog Please, Hold the Hot January 28, 2010

I find it pretty funny in a dark, sadistic way when people discuss some of Japan’s eating habits. Most specifically their certain taste for dog. If this subject gets brought up around my mom (which I often do as you will see why) she will squeel, “No! I could never eat cocoa (our especially annoying dachshund punt-a-pet)!” This reaction slaps an irony-comprehending smile across my face. Eating dogs and cats is so taboo in our country, it’s almost like eating someone’s kid. But we Americans will eat bacon, ham and pork sausages to such an extreme that the only possible way we can produce enough to go around is to place pigs in each their own little jail cell while we fatten them up with corn (duh duhh duhhhh), steroids and antibiotics. All this we do to the third smartest animal known of on this planet; just behind dolphins and our cousins the primates.

Dogs, no matter how much personality you project on to them, will never be as smart as our dear friend the pig. My dog could probably be eaten by a pig in one bite -which is an awesome idea to keep in mind if I ever wanna stop cleaning pee puddles off of my carpet. But isn’t that such a horrible idea? Well, next time when you start biting into a strip of fat covered bacon remember that you are eating Spot, but Spot if he was smart enough to pee outside.

Eco-wineries turn wine red, white — and green January 27, 2010

(ANGWIN, Calif.)

Just when you thought that everything in this world was going green…you get a shocking testament to the fact that you are completely correct! Several (meaning 4 so far) wineries in California are going for the “Gold” LEED certification (similar to the “Silver” standard that the Marriott receives).
“We’re seeing a trend toward more sustainable wineries,” says Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for LEED.
The several wineries that are undergoing this process are using solar panels and are even thinking about the way they use their water. This is a very important attempt at these wineries to become more green. Other efforts include putting wine into underground caves for fermentation which will save up space and heating / cooling units.
Basically, what this breaks down is that when you are debating about drinking wine you can stop and think, “if I drink this then I, too, am being sustainable!”

To read more on this article go here: MSNBC

Epiphany In Montana: Lumber to Recyling? January 26, 2010

So over break, I got my wisdom teeth out as well as got mono….it was an interesting break to say the least. During this time, I read the newspaper (Missoulian.com) and noticed that a lumber plant that basically runs the economy in a small town called Frenchtown (the Clackamas equivalent to Portland), where most of the residents of this town make a living from the town, had closed. It was only operating on a VERY small quantity of workers, but sadly the last 410 workers as well lost their jobs.

I was thinking of how horrible it was for these people to lose their jobs, when I had a moment. At the current time in Montana, there is virtually no recycling. I am pretty sure that the only things done on a regular basis are newspapers and aluminum cans whereas when I moved in the dorms and to here in Portland realized that basically everything that I used to throw away can be recycled! How awesome! My idea, open up a recycling plant out in Frenchtown where the old Stimson Lumber Plant was located!! Then in the neighboring areas around Montana, we would be able to recycle more and try and keep the Big Sky Country as fabulous as before!

Economic Growth vs Environmental Sustainability January 20, 2010

“Is economic growth and environmental sustainability a tradeoff for humans in this society?” This question has been highly controversial and debatable over the course of several years now that we are on the verge of having a collapsed society due to environmental degradations. I, myself, have struggled finding a stand of my own on this particular issue but in the end, I conclude that economic growth and environmental sustainability is not a tradeoff. In order for the economy to grow on the GDP scale, more goods and services have to be made each year. As a result, more natural resources are being utilized during the manufacturing process of these products. These nonrenewable resources were once insufficient are now even more scarce. Firms, according to the economic goals, seek to maximize and increase their profits by creating more and more products. This is the reason why there is a correlation between economic growth and environmental erosion. Nevertheless, we have to take a step back and reconsider why we need economic growth in the first place. We need economic growth to ensure that our standard of living is constantly raised years after years. That’s being said, it is not producing more unit of goods and services that is contributing to our standard of living. It is rather sufficiently allocating resources to households to meet their basic needs. Therefore, we can still supply people with items for consumption while producing them in a sustainable and efficient way. This is the how we can achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

“What sustainable practices do you do?” January 12, 2010

During mentor session we discussed any sustainable practices we did in out daily lives. I realized that I do not do as much in one area compare to another area. For instance, I may be assertive about recycling, but I do not necessarily go out of my way to separate the recyclables from the composts once in the trash. Or at least, I do not go digging through my garbage can if I only see a faint sign of it. I have also mentioned during mentor session that I want to start a compost heap, especially since my mom has a garden. However, there were a few factors that had prevented me from doing so.
One, there is really no place for me to start a compost without it being in the way. Or at least not in an area that would attract too much attention; this may only discourage me more since I really do not want to do anything to upset my dad.
Second, it is common knowledge that rotting items will produce a foul odor. Sadly, I live in a neighborhood where the houses are close to each other. This would bother not only my family but the neighbors as well, and I do not need the headache about disturbing the public with my project.
Third, it may attract raccoons, and since my family is not so fond of raccoons I fear, and would not be surprised, if they become part of the compost.
Fourth, even if we did set up a spot for the compost we would need to make it a habit to go outside and dump our trash onto the pile. This may have to take some effort, since I am pretty sure my family will not be doing this on their own without being told. I also have to acknowledge that going outside to throw out our trash requires quite a bit of effort opposed to going to our garbage can in our kitchen.

Aside from my mediocre recycling habits, I have the tendency to not turn on the lights in my house unless necessary. For instant, when I take my showers at night I would leave the lights off (if this example is awkward for you to read I apologize), or I would navigate through my house without turning on the lights. This practice is not very big but it is something.