Relgion and Ecology 2021

 After reading chapter 20 in Eisenberg, I have begun to look for dividers and mixers everywhere. Looking to see where maybe Mountain and Tower, nature and civilization, meet in my daily life. The best example I have found is the Noland Trail. As a nature preserve and park, the Noland offers a variety of wildlife to view and interact with. Any day walking on the Noland one can see deer, herons, osprey, turtles, fish, and many kinds of birds. It is clear when walking on the Noland that one is in nature. At the same time, however, the Noland also holds within it signs of the Tower. The flattened pathways paved with sand, the bridges and overlooks, and even Warwick Boulevard, visible from one of the bridges, are all reminders that this place has been changed by civilization. The mixing here of Mountain and Tower offers me an almost Arcadia-like experience. On the Noland, there are no responsibilities but to just be in nature (unless you count remembering to stay on the right and dodgin...

     In our class discussion from one of the sections in The Ecology of Eden,  we questioned where humans stand in nature, and if were possible to share our space. As we have seen throughout the class, more "true wilderness" is being replaced by urbanized cities, or an idealized version of nature. Humans are becoming less and less connected to true nature. However, Eisenberg argues that human nature stems from this relationship and interconnectedness with nature. Thus, in a sense, as we move farther aware from true wilderness, we are also moving aware from human nature. This is even more severe when taking into consideration Eisenberg's notion that humans are the direct cause of this destruction. In this perspective, we are the ones causing us to move farther aware from human nature.     One of the questions that came up in class was whether it was too late for humans to recreate that connection with true wilderness, and to bring ourselves back to our natur...

     Many chapters in The Ecology of Eden  focused on this interplay between Mountain and Tower, and finding Arcadia in the middle of it all. A common theme in our class discussed the multiple ways we attempt to imitate true nature and wilderness in our cities' parks and backyards, but these attempts can never truly capture the boundless wilderness we may be seeking. A large part of our discussion is if it were ever possible to recreate true nature in city bounds, and--most interestingly--if that is the true intention for these parks and gardens.      Spending most of my life close to a fairly large city, as well as spending many school breaks visiting even larger cities, I found this to be really interesting. Especially in our capitalist society, it is not uncommon for someone to equate the increase in industrialization and urbanization of our land as an indication of progress and improved economy. But when city-roamers decide to take a break from the...

     In the class reading, Tallest Cloud , one of the solutions for the environmental crisis is critique of these posthuman assemblages . In class, we discussed this solution of humans seeing themselves as part of the ecological web, as opposed to "owners" of earth. By living solely through "I" terms, we alienate ourselves from the problem. This reminded me of a quote I remember from a book by Virginia Woolf: "'I' is only a convenient term for somebody who has no real being."  Similar to our discussion, this quote is a reminder to eliminate our innate egotistical tendencies to solve problems grander than ourselves. One of the things we talked about in class was this the ecological web, and the human connection with all living things. By removing the boundary between ourselves and other living things--and thus, removing that "I" factor and focusing more on these relationships--we can see more clearly what it takes to alleviate the environm...

      As I was doing research on Stephanie Kaza for my term paper, she brought up something interesting--in order to find an effective and sustainable solution to the environmental crisis, we need to find the balance between caring deeply for nature and over-romanticising it. In other words, we need to find a way to make the environmental crisis less about the individual, or humans, and more about compassion, caring, and protecting the ecosystem, and acknowledging that we are a part of a larger interdependent web. However, an idealization and over-romanticism of nature can lead to materialistic and less effective solutions, or a complete disregard for larger issues.      I'm going to bring up the film, Dead Poets Society,  again, since it is so applicable to our class. In a nutshell (with spoilers), the film revolves around Professor Keatings, who represents the romantics poet John Keats, and the downfall of one of his students, Neil. In the end, Neil ...

      In the discussion on poetry, we discussed how poetry builds the world; it makes the difference between "living" and "dwelling" on earth. We can view poetry as a way of making meaning of the world. I am guilty of basing a lot of my personality on the film, Dead Poets Society.  Anyone who has watched the film likely knows this famous quote said by the character Professor Keatings: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love--these are what we stay alive for." I immediately thought of this quote when upon our discussion, because it perfectly sums up the same idea. To add onto this, the character is based off the famous romantics poet, John Keats. In the movie, he does exactly what we discussed: he int...

In Dr. Redick’s essay entitled Feet Forbidden Here, he states that “Once the original group no longer maintains its connection to the palace, once the features and constituents of the place are destroyed, the larger group will only access the place in relation to its aesthetic or instrumental value” which describes losing the true value of the Earth. The individuals that lay roots within the land and develop a connection with the landscape invest more thought into the care in which they palace into it. Therefore, individuals should settle into the land and re-ground themselves by reflecting upon our habits and attitude towards the environment. In addition, researching ways in which you can contribute to the environment within your household through things such as wildflower gardens, beekeeping, tilling your garden by hand, or raising chickens. 

 In the introduction of From Nature to Creation by Norman Wirzba, it was stated that “Imagine the look of surprise on the faces of Christians who have departed earth to be with God, only to discover that they are moving in the wrong direction. God is coming here” which relates to the ideology that the Earth was created by God. Therefore, if this is true, individuals should have to look no further than the natural environment to find a stronger connection to God. In addition, those that believe in this religion should be devoted to protecting the Earth because it is a direct linkage to God considering that it is his creation. I understand that it is the thought that the Earth was created for humans to utilize, but the depletion of these resources is disrespect towards God's kindness. In addition, it demonstrates the greed and selfishness of humans because we take way more than we need from the planet. 

In the introduction of From Nature to Creation by Norman Wirzba, it was stated that “... we need to be honest about the limits and the shortsightedness of so much of our instrumentalized, utilitarian seeing, and that we need to develop the sympathetic capacity that encourages us to see things in their particularity their wholeness, and their (often hidden) potential” which can be connected to the idea of an environmental hierarchy. As humans, we place value upon flora and fauna based on the human standard or economic value. We see the ocean as something to protect while swamps are nasty, pest-infected pools of water. Dolphins are beautiful creatures, yet microorganisms are strange and insignificant despite being the base of all marine systems. This hierarchy disconnects us from embracing our surroundings for the lessons and models that it can provide to us because we hold ourselves back. 

In Dr. Redick’s essay entitled Homelessness Countering the Destruction of Home: a Return to Sensuous Communication , he states that “In bending nature we conceptualize the constituents turning them into resources rather than relations'' which is the main reason that extra-human species will outlive humans. The Earth is 4.6 billion years old and humans have only been a part of its ecosystem for approximately 300,000 years, thus the Earth does not need us to live but we need it. We tend to think that the Earth is here for our own utilization, but in reality, without the Earth, there would be no humans. In fact, the entire structure in which society is based would be destroyed if humans deplete all of the natural resources. This is because resources are the basis of all industries, industries are the building blocks of the economy, and the economy is the center of society. Therefore, re-grounding ourselves with nature will not only save the extra-humans, but it will also protect t...

In Dr. Redick’s essay entitled Feet Forbidden Here, he states that “We live exclusively in our own world of created things, an overwhelmingly technological world where we are the creators” is a component that contributes to environmental change disbelief in human ideology (Redick, 2020). This human creator complex places blinders upon people which skews their realism of understanding that, despite having control over certain aspects of environmental resources, these flora and fauna species were here millions of years before our existence. Therefore, they did not need us then nor do they need us now to survive. Our destructive actions may be harming non-human species, but in the end these behaviors will destroy humankind before completely killing the environment. However, if we actively try to reconnect with the natural environment, we will likely come to understand that this world and its systems are SO much larger than our schemes. This would require us to dig our feet back into the s...

When discussing the effects that technology has on the relationship between the natural environment and humans, a community called Luddies was mentioned (Conniff, 2011). A Luddite is an individual that protests the development of technology, expertly within the household setting (Conniff, 2011). This concept was originally coined in the 19th century by weavers and textile workers were being replaced by mechanical looms and knitting frames in Britain (Conniff, 2011). Nevertheless, this community is still active today, but their ideals are a bit more ironic (Conniff, 2011). This is because modern Luddites actually believe that in order to destroy technology, they have to create more machinery (Conniff, 2011). These Luddites invent computer viruses, cyber worms, and other malware to demolish technology (Conniff, 2011). However, this community does not only attack small, insufficient networks, but rather large systems including the London Stock Exchange and a nuclear power plant in Iran (C...

Thomas Cole was an American painter known for his landscape scenes that have environmental messages embedded in the details of the image (Avery, 2009). The painting that I would like to investigate is The Mountain Ford which was crafted two years before Cole’s death (Avery, 2009). This picture consists of a man on a white horse crossing a river while admiring the beautiful environmental view (Avery, 2009). The light above shining down upon the mountain contrasting the dark deaths lie below as the man pauses before entering the frightening unknown, alone (Avery, 2009). This image represents the greatest approach for exploring the glorious intensity of the natural world which entails being solitary, leaving no marks behind, and exploring the obscurity in order to find the glory(Avery, 2009). However, this ideal feeds into the complex of environmental hierarchy which categories certain animals, plants, and environments as more valuable than others due to their economic or human standards ...

A wilderness area was defined as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Virginia Wilderness Committee, 213). These areas are protected by various different governmental organizations including the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Park Service (Virginia Wilderness Committee, 213). Within the United States of America, there are approximately 765 wilderness areas with twenty-four being located in the state of Virginia (Virginia Wilderness Committee, 213). The largest one is called the Shenandoah Wilderness which is 79,579 acres and located in the Shenandoah National Park (Virginia Wilderness Committee, 213). Therefore, the National Park Service is the government organization that is associated with this wilderness area (Virginia Wilderness Committee, 213). This territory has three hiking trails including Old Rag, Rose Riv...

During our in-class discussion, we examined the idea of specific groups of individuals turning the I relationship between humans and food into an I and You complex. The religious following of Jainism, which is based in the country of India, has strict diet regulations that follow the concepts of modern veganism, but with even more constraints. These rules include banning actions such as not consuming honey, not eating food stored overnight, not eating raw vegetables, and not eating food after dark. They participate in these kinds of practices because it is believed that causing harm to other creatures is a violent act. However, the only way in which individuals are released from the reincarnation cycle, which is the main goal of following these restrictions, is to live passively among all creatures. Therefore, honey collection violently diatribes the bees, large amounts of microorganisms grow on food overnight, raw vegetables are still considered to be alive, and the light from the fir...

As discussed within the context of The Ecology of Eden, Arcadia is a habitat where the natural flora and fauna live in harmony with humans as a result of being located between the mountain (wild) and tower (polis). This terminology originates from Greek mythology in which Arcadia was supposably located on the Peloponnesus which is a peninsula in southern Greece. Within the habitat, nymphs (nature spirits), dryads (tree spirits), and centaurs (half-human, half-horse warriors), and other spirits lived amongst many gods and goddesses. It is imagined that the god of wilderness (Pan) and the god of thieves (Hermes) resided within the boundaries of Arcadia. As the myth envisions, the “landscape with steep mountains, lush and untouched wildernesses, forests of many kinds, mossy rocks, fresh springs and rivers, colorful flowers and abundant vegetation of various plants” but there was also a dark part of the heavenly escape. These lands were filled with nasty, dark swamps where Stymphalian bird...

 In 1882, at just 19 months old Hellen Keller was infected with “brain fever” which caused Keller to contract a high fever resulting in her losing her sight and hearing (Donovan, 2021). Hellen learned to communicate utilizing multiple methods including fingerspelling, sign language, and braille which allowed her to be less isolated from the rest of humanity. In addition to these approaches, she also participated using tadoma which is the technique where the deaf would place their hand upon the face and throat of their company in order to feel specific facial motions (Reed et al., 1985). The factors which enable deaf and blind individuals to engage in these kinds of conversations include  “lip movement, jaw movement, oral airflow, and laryngeal vibration” but some confusion does occur due to the tongue position (Reed et al., 1985). Without these kinds of communication capabilities, the separation between humans and all other species would dwindle. Humankind has surpassed every ...

Bonsai is a Japanese horticulture art where artists recreate various tree species in a miniature form including breeds such as azalea, boxwood, cedar, cherry blossom, Chinese elm, ficus, jade, Japanese maple, juniper, and oak (Nickson, 2021). Furthermore, each of these species represents a different conceptual offering from their higher power (Nickson, 2021). Since the different species of trees represent different concepts, the artist can specifically pick what tree they would like to grow and maintain based on the concept(s) that the tree represents (Nickson, 2021). Therefore, this displays calculation by being selective in the tree the artist chooses, but it also represents wisdom because the artist, as stated above, is basing their selection on the offerings in which it could bring to the artist or recipient (Nickson, 2021). This shows that the artist is educated and consciously thinking about the tree selection and its effects on the artist’s or recipient’s present and future (Nic...

The original Biltmore landscape was approximately 125,000 acres which has since been reduced to 8,000 acres (Andes, 2012). The deforested land was purchased by George W. Vanderbilt with the intention of restoring the land to build a summer home in the hills of North Carolina (Andes, 2012). Vanderbilt recruited landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1888 to design a self-sustaining landscape on the property (Andes, 2012). Olmsted utilized balance, color, unity, layering, and proportion in order to create a cohesive landscape across the span of the estate without continuous repetition (Andes, 2012). In terms of layering, instead of planting a colony of flowers around the perimeter of the trees, Olmsted used the concept of proportion to spread the foliage evenly by decreasing in size slowly from a large tree to a small tree followed by a shrub which flows into a bed of flowers (Andes, 2012). In addition, areas in the gardens are separated by colors which entails flora being grouped ...

The Giardino di Boboli Garden in Florence, Italy were mentioned in association with chapter eighteen of The Ecology of Eden (The Beautiful Boboli Gardens, n.d.). The Boboli Garden is located in the midst of the bustling city of Florence and is referred to as the green lungs of the city (The Beautiful Boboli Gardens, n.d.). Without a quick google search or assistance from a local, this garden is easily passed by many tourists due to the gated construction of the area that blends in with the industrial surroundings of the city (The Beautiful Boboli Gardens, n.d.). This sort of domesticated garden allows humans to enjoy the benefits of a natural environment without compromising their convenient living style. Besides domesticated gardens, eco-cities are another method of incorporating greenery into the industrial surroundings of the city. In contrast to urban gardens, eco-cities are not contained by walls, gates, or barriers but rather the flora and fauna work in unison with the man-made s...

John Todd is an ecological designer that was mentioned in chapter twenty-six of The Ecology of Eden in association with the phrase “living machines”. This concept of integrating natural systems into the creation of mechanical treatment processes in order to find simple yet complex solutions to environmental issues such as water management services is a fascinating idea. The method of mimicry is a system that is used by many organisms within nature including thynnine wasps that fall victim to the techniques of sexual deception through mimicry techniques of several hundred species of orchids (Gaskett et al., 2017). These orchids utilize floral mimicry of female wasp’s sex pheromones along with visual encouragement of species resemblances (Gaskett et al., 2017). These orchids have evolved to trick wasps into spreading their pollen grain which improves their fitness [chance of survival and reproduction] (Gaskett et al., 2017). The process of evolution, which results in better environmental...

     On a whim I stumbled across a journal article about the benefits of walking barefoot outside. The explanatory sentence in the abstract reads " Multi-disciplinary research has revealed that electrically conductive contact of the human body with the surface of the Earth (grounding or earthing) produces intriguing effects on physiology and health. Such effects relate to inflammation, immune responses, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases." I thought this was absolutely incredible. Yes, it is incredible that there is proven research explaining how walking barefoot can help chronic conditions, but more specifically, I thought that it is incredible that us silly humans have to be told that its good to walk barefoot. Growing up and even now I am found barefoot whenever it is appropriate. My mom despises it, but I am who I am. I've always felt connected to earth whenever I am barefoot. Especially in the summer time. It f...

     W hen we had class on the Noland a few weeks ago, Dr. Redick pointed out some wild onions and rosemary, among many other plants. Well, because both smelled so good and were natural, we decided to take some onion and rosemary with us, so that we did not have to buy into the industrialization of these natural plants. We cooked it up and made some natural pesto with it. It was good. Weeks later, we were walking on the trail again and decided to grab a little bit of rosemary for our dinner. While we were crouching in the bush, we were approached by a Noland park ranger that told us we could not pick the rosemary from the massive bush. She said it was specifically planted there to serve an aesthetic purpose for the park, as it was planted along with many other beautiful plants at one of the few entrances to the park. We understand that it is not our property, thus it is not truly ours to take. The privatization of land makes this harvest taboo, but the privatization of na...

 Henry David Thoreau wrote a very thoughtful critique on the privatization of land in his essay Huckleberries. In his essay, he reminisced on his ability as a child to go into wild huckleberry fields and pick them as often as he would like. In his adult years he saw those same huckleberry field bought up and restricted from public galavanting for the purpose of making a profit from the berries. He called this a "dog-in-the-manger" problem meaning that people were hoarding huckleberries, but they also had no intent to use them themselves. Now, 159 years after Thoreau passed away, privatization is worse and it comes with a dual problem.      The first problem is what Thoreau saw in his days, privatization for profit. This is obviously a huge problem for many reasons. However, I want to focus on the second problem, conservation privatization. By this term that I'm sure is huge modality issue, I mean the issue that natural spaces now must be owned by an entity in or...

     Simon James’ Zen Buddhism and Environmental Ethics explores Zen Buddhism and its relationship to ecology and environmental ethics. More known than Zen Buddhism to the common American is the deep ecology movement. The central tenets of the deep ecology are roughly that all living things have inherent value, that diversity is necessary to realize these values, the humans have no right to harm this diversity except for vital needs, and that human populations must decrease for this equilibrium to be regained. In this blog, I will discuss the relationship between deep ecology to Zen Buddhism as explored in James’ novel as to help the reader more fully understand Zen Buddhism, as Zen practices what is best for nature and man together.                 Zen has proved popular with deep ecological thinkers. Deep ecology founding figure attribute a great deal of the movement’s foundation to Zen Buddhi...

During my presentation on Eisenberg's Chapter 20, I greatly enjoyed the class's discussion on the Great Lawn and the debate about whether it was a mixer or divider between the mountain and tower of CNU. In a similar presentation given by a classmate in my Environmental Leadership class I learned about a man and his company that work specifically on creating spaces within cities, many of which function similar to our Great Lawn. His name is Jan Gehl. Gehl is a Danish architect who specializes in "making cities for people" meaning that he carves out space within existing city frameworks to make spaces conducive to the pleasurable things in life such as, talking, eating, and being. One notable example of this can be seen on one of the busiest streets near Times Squares, New York. Gehl and his team managed to close down a section of a street ner the heart of Times Square, redirect the traffic, and place small tables, umbrellas, and benches on the newly covered street to a...

 In writing my senior seminar project, I came across a term that I had never heard before, the anthropocene. The anthropocene refers to a geological epoch that begins at the time when human beings began to have dominant influence on the environment and climate. In learning more about the anthropocene through a series of Webinars by Duke University,  I learned that this isn't a universally recognized term. Mostly anthropologists, philosophers, and non-scientific environmental scholars tend to use the term. I thought this was a very curious correlation because the beginning and current stages of the anthropocene measured through scientific studies and findings. The only way we could see when humans became the dominant influencers of our climate and environment would be through tracking and monitoring changes through means that most philosophers might be able to grasp at a conceptual level, but could never apply in actual field work like the science-minded experts can. Why doesn'...

 In the Netflix Documentary Seapspiracy the global problem of overfishing and ocean pollution is brought to light. Among one of the many issue within the fishing industry was the killing of dolphin in Japan and the overfishing of Bluefin Tuna, an endangered species. The documentary showed how dolphins were being rounded into a cove in Taiji, Japan and were being killed or taken alive. The dolphins were assumed to be taken alive to support the Sea-world type industry that keeps marine creatures in enclosed environments to put on a show for crowds. In this industry, a live dolphin can be bought for very expensive prices. This should have made the Japanese dolphin fisheries' motivation clear. However, it was found that for every one dolphin kept alive, 12 more were killed. Most of the killed dolphins were even just thrown back into the water. At first, there was no logical explanation for killing the dolphins as there is no market for dolphin meat. But then the reason was made clear b...

     I have recently watched the controversial film on unsustainable fishing and its impact on the world’s oceans, known as “Seaspiracy”. The film aims to uncover the truths behind the causes for the rapid deterioration of the world’s oceans. Coral reefs have been dying, small fish populations have plummeted, many large fish such as whales and dolphins have been made to be endangered, and the oceans are full of trash and microplastics that directly harm marine life and the health of our oceans.                 The film attributes the most major detriment to ocean health to be commercial fishing. In many Asian countries as well as some Nordic, whales, dolphins, and sharks are hunted for local delicacy and the like. These places go against efforts by environmental groups and UN resolutions urging these actions to stop. However, what is most impactful is the commercial fishing industry. As the fishi...

     This past weekend I watched the film, “The Biggest Little Farm”. It’s a true story filmed by the couple themselves as they journey through their vision to develop a truly sustainable farm. The male partner was a wildlife photographer and his female partner had a passion for natural and organic cooking and growing. They eventually realized they could live their dream, so they bought a desolate piece of land (200 acres) a couple hours outside of Los Angeles. The land had been destroyed due to previous industrial agriculture and similar processes. Their first challenge was to revive the dry and dead soil that was their entire property. They did this by accessing the water table below their property and mixing that water with worm, human, and any other manure they could find. They used this to water their grounds as they planted much foliage and ground covers to begin to rebuild the soil by returning nutrients. Once this was done, it was time to establish their sustainab...

 Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si is a call to both the Catholic community and the world as a whole to care for Creation. In his encyclical, Pope Francis advocates for the science that proves global warming, calls upon past the writings of his predecessors on the topic, and, most interestingly to me, frames the climate crisis as a call to care for the underprivileged and poor of our earth.  Laudato Si is an interesting example of the relationship between religion and ecology because Pope Francis manages to balance a call to action regarding the climate crisis and Catholic and Christian values while still maintaining an attitude of universality. His Holiness manages to accomplish this mostly by framing the climate crisis as a social welfare problem. He states:      Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agricu...

 A friend recommend that I read Walking before I do the AT. I thoroughly enjoyed Thoreau's writing and this piece. There were many parts of this lecture that I highly resinated with or was really encouraged by. I encourage anyone who enjoys time outside to read this piece! One part that was a lovely retelling of one of his walks was that he has not yet exhausted the same loop yet. I think He makes an interesting point that "it will never become quite familiar to you." I experienced this a few weeks ago while walking the Noland trail, my friend Regan and I were walking in preparation for the AT. I saw a huge stump and was in awe and wonder of its vastness and that I had never seen it before. I was shocked that I had never seen it before (as I have walked the Noland sooooo many times). I had never thought that the atmosphere around me "will never become quite familiar to you." I have always thought myself to be a super observant person and that at some point in t...

       Solar Geoengineering is a term for man-made techniques to reflect solar radiation to counteract temperature rise. It is also called Solar Radiation Management. An example of this is the project on man-made clouds that my roommate, a biology major, is currently working on researching. One example of this, which I will focus on, is the creation of artificial aerosols that can be used in different levels of the atmosphere in order to perform different functions that improve the reflectivity of clouds for the purpose of reducing global warming. This works because dense clouds, known as "light aerosols", reflect the UV rays coming from the clouds thus reducing the heat coming from the sun. Light aerosols occur naturally and it doesn't have to do with color. For example, volcanic eruptions produce huge ash clouds that are made out of sulfate, a salt, and other natural minerals that can reflect the sun's rays and reduce global climate for the period of time that they...

 Reflecting more on hunting and how Shepard frames it as a sacred connection with prey, I researched trophy hunting. A study from the University of Minnesota found that sport hunting only impacts the environment if the loss of males is so high that females can no longer find a mate. However, in species where males provide essential paternal care, the removal of even a few individuals can have a severe impact on the entire population. In lions, replacement males systematically kill the cubs of any resident males that have been shot by sport hunters so excessive trophy hunting can have serious consequences for lion populations. The study used a computer model to simulate a virtual lion herd and measure the consequences of trophy hunting on said herd. They found that trophy hunting could be sustained indefinitely if hunting were restricted to males over six years of age. This restriction maximizes the quantity and the quality of the long-term harvest, while also accommodating ...

 Shepard's reflection that we'll have the ability to create our own species in the lab reminded me of a discussion on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). CRISPR is a technology that is used to edit genes and will likely change the world. Simply put, CRISPR is a way of finding a specific bit of DNA inside a cell. After that, the next step is usually to alter that piece of DNA. Currently CRISPR is being used to edit genetic codes to treat genetic diseases such as Parkinson's and Down's Syndrome. However, there is a possibility that the technology will become commercialized. I see the value in using CRISPR to wipe out disorders and diseases, but I have a few concerns: the human population will continue to grow and nature (disease/virus) will no longer be a method of controlling our numbers. This situation gives rise to problems of overpopulation which could then introduce more environmental concerns as well as raising further ethical issues ...

 One of my favorite books, One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus, takes place out on the prairies of Western America in the late 1800s. The description of the environment always fills me with wanderlust, and one passage in particular stood out to me:  “As I squat to pee I look upward at the billions of stars and planets in the heavens and somehow my own insignificance no longer terrifies me as it once did, but comforts me, makes me feel a part, however tiny, of the whole complete and perfect universe. . . and when I die the wind will still blow and the stars still shine, for the place I occupy on earth is no more permanent than the water I now make, absorbed by the the sandy soil, dried instantly by the constant prairie wind . . .” I appreciate that the main character here, May Dodd, takes a natural body process and makes a beautiful observation. I think she finds peace in this moment because she becomes aware of her habituse. Recognizing a place in the 'whole and comp...

 Shepard argues that "the urban crisis is a direct consequence of the food-production revolution" (9). I can agree with Shepard and add that food-production revolution has led to most of the crisis we have today. The second we started to mass produce food and pump preservatives into everything is the moment humanities (already) downfall took an even sharper decline. People and animals are suffering the effects of fast and efficient. We have lost our relationship with the hearth and turn to quick, easy, and fast dinners that consist of fast foods or microwavable meals. We then eat super fast and get on to the next thing that demands  our attention. These sorts of foods lead to serious health problems that corrupt people's way of lives. It further drives us away from life as it should be. Animals are pumped full of steroids, hormones, and corn to produce the most pay off per animal (i.e. cattle, chickens, pigs, fish, turkey). These animals are packed into small, sometimes d...

When comparing the Plant Fetishers and the Plant Managers, I pounder if there is a a middle ground between the two. Plant Fetishers live their life too much in the clouds that we can be at harmony and one with the wilderness. While the Managers think quiet the opposite that they can control the wilderness, via the Tower. Both of these views are extreme. I think a balance between the two is necessary. I think we are meant to live and be in nature, however I believe there is a reverence needed towards nature that at any given moment the wild can sallow us whole. We have gotten to a point in which we do nee to manage nature a little bit and help her get her grounds under her (help get rid of invasive species) and then after that I believe the approach is to take a step back (tsimtsum). To spend a longgggggg, and I mean a long time listening and reconnecting with nature in a healthy way. To let her do her thing and restore herself. To stop pumping harsh chemicals and burning fossil fuels i...

 Shepard suggests, "the genetic changes resulting from domestication may affect the whole creature, its appearance, behavior, and physiology." He raises interesting points that wild animals are products of a genetic balance that has been perfected through natural selection. Humans mess with this perfection by selective breeding. A prime example of this are Bulldogs and Arabian horses. Bulldogs have a plethora of health problems. All because breeders and buyers look for dogs with smushed noses, short necks, and small lungs. These dogs have so much trouble breathing that they cannot exercise. As a result, many Bulldogs are obese. I think it's disgusting to breed animals for aesthetic purposes, especially to the extent that it disrupts their ability to live. Arabian horses' nasal cavities have long been becoming more and more deformed. Of course there is big money in the horse industry and buyers will shell out the big bucks for horses with severe dips in their nose as i...

 In the chapter On Not Knowing Where or Who We Are, Wirzba brings up the reality that many point out when discussing emotions and how they are simply products of chemical reactions in our brain. This takes all the beauty and greatness out of living. It makes life pointless. Wirzba says that it "leaves us and the world lifeless and cold" (12). If I'm being real I don't think any of us want to live in this kind of world or life. This way of viewing life is molded by thinkers like Nietzsche and Weinberg. Wirzba goes on to argue that "we take our cues on how to live from where and who we think ourselves to be" (13). This powerful quote defines all of human action. I do not want to view my life as meaningless and emotions only coming from chemical reactions. The destruction of life and man is inevitable when we step away from the one who gives life. We become lost and lose the ability to know who we are and our purpose. I believe Wirzba is arguing if one wants to...

 After reading Hinds Feet, I picked up the sequel to read. The second book is also an allegory in that Much-Afraid who becomes Grace and Glory sees the gloom and disappear that her family is stuck in. She takes refuge with the shepherd and gets his help to show her family the fruit of the spirit which tenders their hearts to the shepherds care and they come into his service.  Before each chapter the shepherd takes Grace and Glory to 8 different mountains where the landscape was different and so beautiful on each one. As a reminder of this book and the impact it made on me, I recently got a tattoo of a lily to help remind me of the important things I learned. This book was interesting in how it had a more personal account with each individual character. It showed how each fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, forgiveness, self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, and goodness plays out and how it impacts each individual. This book would fit beautifully within the realm...

 A friend recommend that I read this book before the AT and also just as I finish up college. It is crazy how much I can relate to a book and see how the content relates to my life. The premise of the book is an allegory that follows along the transformation of a girl (Much-Afraid) and her finding peace and joy in the midst of healing and suffering. This book easily became one of my favorites.  One particular aspect of the book that stood out to me was Much-Afraid putting down alters at each new land area. At these alters she kept putting down her fear and telling the shepherd she would not pick it up again, however she kept being afraid at each new turn and ultimately was not able to give up her fear or control. I am able to related to this in my own life. In my own relationship with God, we are called to lay down idols and things that interfere with our pursuit of His heart. It was validating to know that it is expected of us to keep stumbling until the one who is perfect co...

 One of my favorite hobbies is by far journaling. Typically, I like to journal about my thoughts/emotions/reflections of my day. However, recently, I've started to journal while I am immersed in nature specifically areas surrounding Newport News. I have found that journaling in nature, I have really deep thoughts and emotions about the physical/mental space that nature provides for my wellbeing. While in nature and journaling, I tend to reflect on my religious views through prayer or mediation. I have found this to also be a very healthy way of coping with stress. Nature, my religion, and journaling provide me an outlet from the world's expectations. A world of no stress!!

     In his novel, Jack Kerouac recounts his travels around North America in 1955-56. In particular, he focuses on his friendship with the Buddhist environmentalist Gary Snyder. He dedicates himself to a quest for mental liberation and spiritual enlightenment, while spending most of his time hitchhiking and getting drunk. Once he befriends Snyder, Kerouac pursues enlightenment by practicing Buddhism and immersing himself in nature. Through this journey, Kerouac posits that people can achieve true happiness by meditating and connecting with the natural world, which in turn allows them to accept fundamental truths about their place in the universe.                 As suggested through Buddhism, Kerouac writes his book with plenty of insight, self-discipline, and meditation. He wonders through North America on an endless and directionless pilgrimage, with no home nor place. This connects with Dr. Re...

  “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein  In many of my environmental courses along with my own free time, we/I analyze various quotes either from novels, the news, movies, etc. While I was doing my own research on environmental quotes, I stumbled upon the above quote from Albert Einstein. I thoroughly enjoy this quote for it really grasps the truth behind being immersed in nature. While being immersed in nature, you learn so much about yourself but also the world surrounding you (whether that be societal expectations/norms, religious awakenings, etc). Nature brings forth so many impacts on the human mind that it allows us to better understand ourselves and our world. 

     Walt Whitman became famous for his poetry in the mid-late 19 th century. As a humanist, Whitman was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism as he utilized his own style of free verse poetry. As I read his poem, “Leaves of Grass” in his collection Song of Myself , I began to truly wonder what the hell I was reading. I was lost, confused, frustrated, and amazed at how many obscure words he used to describe any simple situation. However, as I continued to read and analyze his poem, taking it line by line, verse by verse, I began to follow the path that Whitman lays down for his readers. I began to be amazed, not by obscurity, but instead by how beautiful his language was in that it created a connection for the reader to the very concepts and beliefs he discussed.                 As Whitman leads us down his path, he makes it clear through his discussion of the “self” tha...

 Easily one of my favorite paintings, artist Albert Bierstadt beautifully depicts the Sierra Nevada mountain range. I have always been drawn to realist paintings, and I believe it is because of my poor eyesight. I have great admiration for impressionist work, particularly the paintings of water scenes by Monet. However, a recent discussion with a friend made me reflect more on why realist paintings were so appealing to me. When asked what he found appealing about impressionist paintings, my friend replied that they distort our perception of what reality should look like, and introduce an abstract idea of what we expect to see. Thinking more on his response I realized that when not wearing my contacts or glasses, the blurred effect seen in impressionist art is my reality. All the colors and details in my line of sight blur together in the beautiful effect seen in impressionism. Perhaps that's why I'm so drawn to realist works. They are the ideal that I pursue with corrective le...

 I think that everyone can benefit from meditating. Technically medical journals that consistent meditating can help lower blood pressure, manage anxiety, and help lengthen attention span. The grounding that occurs when one slows down and becomes rooted in themselves allows for at least momentary peace. It is a reminder that all stresses and pressures weighing on your mind are arbitrary. I am struck by the connections to nature that meditation holds. Most terminology relates specifically to nature, particularly relaxing yourself to slow your heartbeat to a natural rhythm. It reminds me of the chapter on Earth Jazz in Eisenberg's book. Particularly in learning to improvise and respond as flexibly as nature responds to us. It is the rigidity of daily life that places us in knots of stress. If you go on YouTube and search "meditation" hundreds of videos playing nature sounds, like the ocean, forest, or birds chirping pops up. This suggests to me that our natural state involv...