Blog 5

Blog#5: 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 outlining the goals and specific characteristics of a green learning community.  How would you know one if you saw one? 

The goals of a green learning community would be to create a group learning environment that facilitates group discussion, student led classes, and equality. They would discuss the ecological and societal consequences of the topic at hand.  It would focus heavily on cooperation skills and activities outside the classroom, mostly likely volunteer work and community building.

Some characteristics of a green learning community would be respect for all members of the community, a noncompetitive, cooperative attitude. They would focus on equality not just in the classroom but throughout the world, talking about privilege and bias that the typical student would not think about.

I would know if I saw one because the goals and characteristics above, like equality in the classroom, are very different from the classic teaching style of lecturing and receive grades based on tests of the material. Also having activities outside of the classroom is quite different from the typical classroom.

 

Blog 4

What do you think of “green values?”  Which ones do you most believe in?  What surprised you the most about the readings? 

I had ENVR 501-S last semester so I am familiar with green values. Last semester, I was surprised to learn that green values describe a new society and they are much more than environmental concerns. For example, I did not know equality was a green value. 

I believe in conserving the environment the most but gender equality is a close second. For me, gender equality will not matter much if the environment is unlivable. Often in classes like marine ecology and Oceans and human Health, I hear how exactly we have messed up the environment and I am frustrated by the general apathy towards the environment. It honestly scares me when people refuse to believe global warming is happening. Gender equality is important to me because it frustrates me seeing someone's talents wasted or seeing a culture that encourages gender stereotypes. 

What surprised me those about the readings was probably hearing about the variation in green values.  It seems that green just means conservation but hearing about the differences, even if the goal of the articles is to consolidate the ideals of the movement, shows the variability of the green movement and what it can mean to each person. It seems that everyone has differs values and different ranking of those values. I think this is beneficial to the movement because every aspect of the green movement is rallied for by those for who this aspect is their highest value. 

Blog 3

Prompt: For the AASHE and Sustainable Carolina websites, describe the specific program that you find most interesting in each one and explain why you find it interesting. Plus, write one question for Margaret Bounds, based on the Sustainable Carolina website.

For the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) website, the more article was about integrating sustainability into the curriculum. It’s advice seems applicable to my work as a resident mentor. Specifically it talks about inviting speakers and going on field trips. For my hall, I could invite a speaker to talk about sustainability, have some food, and some games. I could make it a sustainable tailgate.   

For the sustainable Carolina website, the Right Choice Fresh Start Farmer’s Market seemed the most interesting. I love farmer’s markets, both at home in Cincinnati and here in South Carolina so I would love to help out. Unfortunately, this is in Orangeburg.

While the information was interesting, I would have liked to see more upcoming activities. The website did not seem updated recently.

My question for Margaret Bounds from the sustainable Carolina website is what is next for Sustainable Carolina? What is the plan for the rest of the school year?

Blog 2

My name is Julia McGuire. I am 20, which makes me a junior. I was born in Oak Ridge, TN, and I have a little sister. I moved to Cincinnati, OH later and consider myself from there. My major is marine science.

I don’t have a definite of idea of what to do with my major  but even if I did I’m fairly sure it would get derailed at some point. My interests within marine science include pollution, cetaceans, corals, and anything else I read about. My dream job would involve studying whales in the wild. I have a big moral problem with dolphins and whales being kept in captivity.

When I was in high school, I worked at the Newport Aquarium. I have also worked at a pool, and a pizza shop. Currently I am a resident mentor, and I have been for the last two years, at Patterson residence hall. It’s very difficult and time consuming but very rewarding.

This is me and my RM staff going laser tagging. I am in the farthest right in the first row.

Here is me and my boyfriend last thanksgiving.

Blog 1

Green values are anything that protects the earth. Green used to be a term associated with hippies and granola but today it is used with everything from corporate goals to new technology. Green values also include equal opportunities for everyone regardless of race, gender, etc. ‘Act local, think global’ is a green slogan encouraging everyone to preserve their local natural resources while thinking about how this can impact the world. Last semester in ENVR 501S I learned about different types of environmental thinking ecocentric, athrocentric, and biocentric. Anthrocentric is preserve the environment but only as far as it will help humans. Biocentric focuses on saving the life within the environment. Ecocentric focuses on saving the entire environment.

I hope to get a better understanding of green community in this class and what resources I can utilize to live green outside of USC.  I would like to learn how and why equality and green values are so interconnected. I am a resident mentor in Patterson Hall so at some point I would like to get my residents involved in some of the volunteering or talks (but I may need to incentivize it with food). At the end of the year I would like to have a better picture of how I can act green within my future and current workplace.