Do you like Apples?

According to Wallace Stegner, in the Wilderness Letter, he points out that we, humans, are "wild creatures" and that our relationship with the wilderness is a "progress". However, on the other hand, Michael Pollan argues that humans were born with a connection and purpose with nature rather then a "progress". For example, Pollan simply just think either you have a taste for apples or you don't. Although that can be concluded as a fact, but I don't think its entirely true. For me its a toss between the two. When we are born we already have our tastebuds and can tell the different tastes. However, like Stegner, wether we grow to like the sweet apple favor or not varies and depends on each indidviduals experinces. Some grow to like a certain favor more then the other and some we just don't care for. Sometimes I feel that its more of a urge/craving in our head then anything esle. I don't like any specific taste more then the other, but will be times where I would go crazy for a certain favor. So should I blame it on hormones? Haha. Sorry. If I have to pick i would have to say its more of a process and depending on each individual experiences wheter you like something or not.

Human's Relationship with Nature/Plants

So what exactly is our relationship with nature itself? Are we part of nature? In Michael Pollan book, he dicusses the the topic of the plants coevolution with humans from the plants perspective. Pollan makes a point that plants and humans both uses each other for their benefits and that was part of god's plan. We as humans have certain kinds of needs and desires and as Pollan catogorizes it: sweetness, beauty, desire, and control. Those are our most dominant callings as humans and which they all go hand in hand with one another. Pollan uses an apple to best describe the basic relationship with nature. With our sense we are able to taste things and of all the tastes (ei: salty, sour, bitter, etc)the sweet flavor to naturally like by all cultures and even animals. Other the other hand, the apple by nature have to protect it's future generations hence it's seed in the core has a very bitter taste to it if tried to be eaten. However, if the apple/plant wants to be able to reproduce it needs for it seeds to be spread and planted. For protection it has a bitter center, but for its benefits it has a sweet and intriging flesh. So who's more suited for the job of spreading the apple's love then humans? Because of its sweet flesh that the humans will become the "bumblebee" as Pollan calls us and plant these apple trees all over the world. Humans and the apple tree both benefits from each other and everyone was happy.

But the problem arrises because humans for simply self-fish creatures. We are never stified with what we have. We like to have control and conquer things and in the process we destroied our relationship with nature itself. We burn/cut down trees and take away many of other animal habitats and hence forcing the animals to either suffer tremdmous loss or becomes extinct. But humans are too busy to care for animals...we need to make money and thats the key to everything in life. We're not only destroying forest, killing animals, but we're also taking out our own population slowly byt very steadily. With money and power being the "key" of humans life, we put great demands on commercial and industrial needs to make everything faster and easier for us because we "don't" have time. One thing leads to another and another and the end is near for humans if we don't make changes now. We're creating our own diseases with the massive industry of factory farming and all the pollution that comes with it...but thats only touching base with one of our many other problems we create.

Humans are part of nature and everything we do will have and leave an impact on the environment. The recent swine flu and the global warming impacts are great examples of the environment/natures reaction to the humans ways.

We can't deny that fact that our world depends and place alot of importance of money. However, we also need to take a step back and not blame evreything esle when things goes wrong and look at our own actions. Like I said before, humans and nature both are suppose to benefit from one another, but because of our self-fishness we've done great damages to the environment and ourselves.

Marijuana

Johnny Appleseed

Obesity Video

#1: The Oh-so-bad Media

Global Warming = $$$$$$$$. I think everyone has to agree with me on that. Of course the ultimate goal of the media is to get the hottest latest news and slam it right smack front and center on their headline. Why? MONEY. This is where it becomes the problem. It is known that the media loves to jump the wagon and exaggerate stories especially with the topic of Global Warming. When the Global Warming concerns were brought up, the people made it too easy for the media....almost like an open goldmine. Who wouldn't join in and take a dab at it? As Crichton mention in his novel, humans likes to stay at a constant "state of fear"; therefore, it only makes sense for the media to continue to build a story upon fears for the future and insists on what-ifs. However, we must still keep in mind that there is still a plus side to the media. Although the media has a negative image, but we must acknowledge the fact that it still provide us with the latest information and gives us an idea of whats happening. Now it's up to the individual to decide their self if they buy the story or not. Overall the media interests lays with the money so beware.

#3 : Just Plant a Tree

So first we got a glimpse of what Global Warming is all about by watching "The Inconvenient Truth" with Al Gore as a spokesperson. In that documentary, Gore provided us with many charts and data about the cause and effects of Global Warming now and in the future. He uses Hurricane Katrina's victims and the illustration of the Polar Bears as one of his ways to make his audience feel sympathy. I have to appauld him for putting together such a convincing and thorough presentation like that considering the fact that he's only a politician. Then we had the guest speaker scientist John Kliest telling us that Global Warming is a scam. He claims that we are actually cooling rather then warming. Kleist informed us about the solar activities and how he believes that has a direct impact on the ice melting and our climate changes rather then CO2. One thing that Kliest pointed out that was quite true that we usually ignore is that fact that we did not have the technologies 100 years ago to see hurricanes in the oceans or even track our bears like we do today...which immediately denounces some of Gore's evidences. So what exactly are we suppose to believe? From what I can see, I personally would rather "go green" and promote some changes in our environment. The controversies that comes along with the topic are mostly still going to be debated about in even a couple of decades;however, one thing that everyone can agree on is that climate changes can never be predicted due to many variables. Therefore, we can only wait till our future is unfold, and along the way plant some trees and help our environment not only for us but the nature's sake too.