Blog 5

Access to Healthful Foods among an Urban Food Insecure Population: Perceptions versus Reality 
What does the relationship of residents' perceptions of food access and food found in surrounding stores reveal about participants' level of nutritional education? 

The relationship of residents’ perceptions of food access and food found in surrounding stores seems to reveal that participants’ were relatively aware of the food insecurity that exists in their community.
They understood that there was no access to healthy foods within a one mile radius of their residence which suggests that their level of nutritional education was relatively high. 

Feeding People versus Saving Nature?  
Is some degree of anthropocentrism mutually exclusive from green values? Can anthropocentric actions preserve and renew natural environments and make a greener world? Why or why not?

Anthropocentrism is defined as "the belief that human beings are the central or most significant species on the planet" which immediately sounds like it would be somewhat contradictory of green values. However, to a certain degree, I do not believe that Anthropocentrism and green values are necessarily mutually exclusive. If someone believes that human beings are the most significant species on the planet and wish for that species to continue to populate the earth far into the distant future, then it is obvious they will need an earth for said humans to populate. This could therefore align that person's priorities with those of someone with green values who is looking to preserve and renew natural environments, since preservation of the planet is essential to future human life. So, although the idea of anthropocentrism may not necessarily be "green", some anthropocentric actions could potentially serve to make a greener world.

Blog 4

Farmer-In-Chief

Explain ways in which Pollan believes the old approach to boosting food production will not work? Why does Pollan feel a complete reform to food policy is needed? How does he link food policy to health care spending?

Pollan believes the old approach will not work for multiple reasons. Among these reasons are its dependence on the finite energy of fossil fuels and the fact that it relies heavily on pesticides and fertilizer. He feels a complete reform is needed because the policies that are in place right now are the reason why the system is as broken as it is, and, unless we create an entirely new food policy, we won't be able to make any real significant progress in moving away from a food system so reliant on fossil fuels which we now know we have a limited amount of. He links food policy to health care spending by comparing the 8% decrease in food spending in the average household since the 1960s to the 11% increase in health care spending. He also discusses how many of the top diseases that kill Americans are linked to their diet.

How Sustainable Agriculture Can Address the Environmental and Human

Health Harms of Industrial Agriculture

How has adopting more Western approaches to agriculture affected the environment and human health in developing countries? Discuss biodiversity and the issues surrounding it within the Westernized agricultural system. What are some alternatives or more sustainable methods to industrialized agriculture? How do urban areas play a part?

Adopting more Western approaches to agriculture means the consumption of a lot more meat for developing countries. This also means an increase in the consumption of unhealthy fats and the antibiotics which are used in the livestock which can often mean an increase in Type II Diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. China, for example, has doubled its meat consumption and is now seeing a change in the diseases affecting its population. Western approaches to agriculture practices have also created environmental degradation, including air and water pollution, soil depletion, and diminishing biodiversity. Biodiversity is an important part of agriculture because it develops new plant species which helps deter plant viruses but, within the Westernized system, the practice of monocropping aids insects, pests, and plant diseases. Crop rotation, cover crops, integrated pest management and soil management are examples of sustainable alternative.

Blog 3

Using the reading material for today as well as previous reading on green values (and referring to specific aspects of that material), write a blog entry describing what you think the goals and specific characteristics of a learning community that was “green.”  How would you know a green learning community if you saw one?

I think that one of the central focuses of a learning community that was 'green' would be to create an environment that would mirror much of the green values mentioned in previous readings. It would encourage its members to think globally and to act locally. It would focus on creating an ecologically sustainable learning environment that reduced, reused, and recycled. One possible way that could be carried out could be by completing class assignments on either recycled paper or through use of a computer, and by recycling or reusing any products (paper or otherwise) that are used within the community. There would also be a focus on the use within the community of renewable, sustainable energy sources like solar and wind power. In terms of education there would be a focus, not only on basic curriculum with subjects such as math and grammar, but on subjects reflective of green values like environmental appreciation and an understanding of the laws of nature (e.g. the law of carrying capacity). I think that one way you might be able to discern a green learning community from one that was not would be by its clear desires to not only to educate about the earth but also to be educated, and by its efforts to better appreciate, understand, and interact with its surrounding environment. 

Blog 2

 a place I like

 

Blog 1

Why are you in this course?  What do you think of “green values”?  What connections can you think of between green values and food?  Which “green value” did you most and least agree with?  What surprised you the most about the readings?

I am taking this course because as a Political Science major I obviously need to take Political Science courses to fulfill my major requirement but this class seemed like it could be one of the rare few that I both need to take and would also enjoy taking. I'm an Environmental Studies minor and have a real interest in "green" topics, especially those involving where and how the food we eat is grown. You see the words "natural", "local", and "organic" printed all sorts of products lately, and it would be nice to have an understanding of what those words actually meant.

In regards to green values and food, one connection I thought of was the concept of producing goods on a smaller scale and how production of food with more local control could help to make food safer for the consumer. It would allow someone to be more aware of where their food came from and the processes it went through to make it to their kitchen. 

I thought that it was interesting to see that the "green values" did not strictly focus on environmental pursuits but also politics, social hierarchy, the economy, and science and technology. The value I agreed with least was that hierarchies are unnatural, undesirable, and avoidable. However undesirable anyone may think they are I believe they are unavoidable. Social hierarchies are naturally occurring and almost impossible to be completely rid of in any society. I most agreed with the idea that indiscriminate economic growth is bad. Everything has it limits, including and especially the earth. Economic growth can't go on forever in the same way that it has been without having some negative effect on the planet and those inhabiting it.

What surprised me most about the readings was how in depth of an ideology being 'green' really is. There is actually a lot more to the concept of green values than I had initially thought. Before,  I imagined only a few industries being involved and it not effecting as many aspects of life as it does. Instead it permeates throughout government politics, economics, technology and science.