Chapter 16 and 17 Videos

Good information. Was pleased to hear that renewable energy is growing ... some may think, not fast enough ... and even more pleased after hearing fromthe previous lectures that our fossile fuels are fast depleting. I have a neighbor who runs his ATV on used french fry oil, kind of reminds you of the "Back to the Future" movie. But it works and it reduces waste for the restaurants he gets the oil from. Did not realize hydro power was so clean and thought the idea of using the ocean to create alternative energy sources was very interesting. Noticed there was nothing said about how this technology affects the life forms in the ocean would think it would have some effect mainly to the smallest plant and animal forms. Thinking if hydrogen fuel does become popular the defunct gas stations could be converted to hydrogen stations - just thinking. Chapter 17 touched on one of my pet peeves - over packaging. Mainly those products that use formed plastics - actually one time when I wish they would pass a law to outlaw formed plastic packaging. We do need to do more to eliminate waste and reducing the packaging of our goods is a way to start. Also, think more people would recycle if they had access to information giving them sites to take certain items to for recycling. Another pet peeve - ignorant people who bring items to local recycling centers and don't put the items in the bin they leave them in front in a plastic bag - pure laziness. Then there are those who show up and the bins are full and do the same thing. Townships need to monitor these activities closer, empty bins more often and put measures in place to catch those littering, impose fines so that their bad behavior is changed or least pay for the labor to clean up their mess. Did learn one thing ... what the number stands for in the stamped triangle on plastic containers and did not know you can't mix plastics when melting down for re-use. Obviously, as we are today, many generations to come will continue to be challenged with figuring out what to do with the waste of the past. Hopefully the future holds less waste and less hazardous waste.

Never Ending Quest

The lessons on mining and how we get our oil and natural gas was very interesting.The lenghts we as a people go to just so we can sustain our way of life.We use the most advanced technology known to mankind to exrtact trace amounts of fossil fuels from deep with in the earth.All this research could be put to better use,but not to sound like an idealist,some day the fossil fuel will run out.Money drives the machine and oil greases the wheels

December 3 Class

Interesting topics this class period ... the atmosphere ... loved the Mark Twain quote, "Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get," It has always amazed me that our weather is affected by actions (eruption of a volcano thousands of miles away) on the other side of our continent or even another continent. As climates change which I believe they are doing now and will continue to do so, we need to mitigate and adapt, which if you think about it that is what we have been learning all along ... tools necessary to better understand our environment - yesterday, today and possibly tomorrow - so that we can make informed decisions on how to mitigate so that we are better ready when we have to adapt to eminent environmental changes. I was in support of the US not supporting the Kyoto Protocol because all nations (including developing) should be held to the same standards and now that they are devloping they have the dollars to pay for the costs to be better stewards of the environment. Besides, we share the same atmosphere.

Chapter 15 Video

The ANWR debates have been going on since I was in high school and that was a long time ago. I was very surprised to learn that the oil reserves causing so much controversy will not sustain our needs and that they estimate we only have about 40 years of oil left - wow. Obviously we need to continue to evaluate needs, and find ways to conserve but they need to also inform consumers of the cost to do so ... the slide on making consumer products more efficient you showed a home - and noted that improved home design will reduce energy needs, note however, that the movement of reducing energy needs in homes has been ongoing for over 10 years, and in doing so they have found making homes more energy efficient causes other problems most notably, indoor air quaility - which we talked about in class this week. It seems we are always trading one for another. People need to understand that energy efficient products are not less costly and many times the return on the investment is way down the road if even then. The information on the nuclear process and how the noteable accidents happened was very interseting. Did not realize there were 439 plants operating today ... and in 31 countries, another surprise. I think the future is nuclear power and as other resources deplete it will get greater acceptance dispite the safety concerns ... until something new comes along we have no choice since no one wants to give up their conveniences. We are who we are.

Chapter 15 Videos

First of all, let me apologize for the sound quality and background noise. I didn't have time to make a perfect recording. There will be no questions on the exam from this chapter, but I would like everyone to still watch the video and comment on it.

November 19 class

i did learn about the environmental health hazards and how governments are trying to protect people by implementing Internationale agreements and that safe and happy future depends on knowing the risks that some hazards pose and on replacing those substances with safer ones.

November 12 class

i did enjoy this class because it really help me thinking twice before even think of buying house in the future that real estates agent would not explain it to home buyers.