No Blog for Wednesday, October 29

Hi All,

I hope you all enjoyed fall break and finished reading Prodigal Summer. There is no blog tonight, but be ready to talk about the book and your responses to it tomorrow in class. See you bright and early in the morning!

Dr. Ramsey

exotic pet trade

The exotic animals industry has led to some very large problems facing our world today. Many people love the idea of having something unique as a pet whether it is a snake or a big cat. The problem with many of these animals is that often people do not know what they are getting themselves into. A Biremes Python may start off as only a few inches long but within a few years they can grow long enough of kill an alligator. It may seem like a great idea to keep a cute little baby raccoon or tiger as a pet but before you know it they grow big and become aggressive. The exotic animal trade is a large supporter of the animal black market, the illegal trade of animals and there parts, it is second only to drugs in the amount of money made in a given year. Many exotic pets are trap in the wide and smuggled through horrific means to arrive at a home were often the conditions are not much better. Many of these animals are endangered and those that are not will pose great threat to endangered ecosystems if they manage to escape or are released.

African Agriculture

I changed my topic to African agriculture and why it is important for Africa and the rest of the world.

William, M. A. (2005, Spring). Paying for Prosperity: How and Why to Invest in Agricultural Research
    and Development in Africa. Journal of International Affairs, 58(2). Retrieved October 20, 008,
    from Proquest database: http://proquest.umi.com/
    pqdweb?index=3&sid=7&srchmode=1&vinst=PROD&fmt=6&startpage=-1&clientid=11123&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=83
    3053371&scaling=FULL&ts=1224546704&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&TS=1224546719&clientId=11123

Massoud Karshenas (2001). Agriculture and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa and
Asia. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 25(3), 315-342. Retrieved October 20, 2008, from
Business Module database. (Document ID: 73205766).

Blog Assignment for Monday, October 20

Last week we spent time in the library learning how to use databases and find sources for the second essay: The Environmental Debate. For this blog, you need to create TWO correct citations for two of your sources. You need to indicate which citation style you are using (MLA, APA, Chicago Style) and then follow that with the two correct citations. These should be citations as they appear on the Works Cited Page or the Bibliography Page.

Do not create a new post, just use the "comment" link below this post.

Animal lovers

There are many different kinds of animal lovers. There are those who sympathize with animals out of compassion (even if they don’t quite understand them) , those who understand them because they depend on them for sport or livelihood, and those who love them because they feel a strong, powerful connection to the way animals behave and fit in with nature.
In Prodigal Summer, Eddie Bondo is one who understands animals because they gave his family sustenance, growing up on a sheep farm. He is well versed in what it means to own a farm, to have or perhaps hope for that perfect balance, being “on the edge of busted all the time” (180). His relationship with animals is based on need and want; he hunts coyotes because more coyotes mean less sheep. Also, hunting a predator is on some level an assertion of dominance, more of a thrill and adventure then hunting a mere herbivore such as a deer. When Eddie relates to animals, it is not in a selfless way.
Deanna is a different kind of animal lover. She does not blindly love all animals, as many so-called animal lovers do. She doesn’t even love individual animals; she loves individual species as a whole. She prefers to love animals from a distance. She goes as far as to say she would kill a stray cat if it came into the woods and wreak havoc on the natural forest ecosystem. Deanna shares a connection with animals that consumes her. She understands and justices her feelings about Eddie Bondo by relating to the way animals do. She responds to Eddie’s breath behind her earlobe “like a moth to a flame” (97). The entire chapter is called “Predators” symbolic of many things, one being how Eddie stalks and preys upon Deanna, upon her desire. Deanna is not easy prey; she refuses to trust him, warning him that if he shoots her precious coyote pups, she’ll put a bullet in his leg.

Question C: Due Wednesday, October 15

Reader's Choice:

I'm curious to hear your reactions to Prodigal Summer. What passages would you like to talk about? What interests you? What questions would you like to pose? Use this post as a chance to have an input in the direction of class discussions.

Rather than creating a new post, use the "comment" link below.

Question B: Due Wednesday, October 15

On pages 177-180 Deanna and Eddie talk about their own connections to animals, specifically predators. What does it mean for Deanna to be an animal lover? And for Eddie? Which position do you find yourself supporting or agreeing with? For either person, what is the relationship of humans and animals?

Rather than creating a new post, use the "comment" link below this post.

Question A: Due Wednesday, October 15

God, religion, and faith are recurring themes in the book. Look, for instance, at the letter Garnett writes Nannie discussing a passage from Genesis (186). For your post, think about how God or religion or a notion of a divine being is represented in the text. Where is God/divinity/faith in nature? What is the connection? Point to specific passages and pages as evidence for your claims.

Instead of creating a new post, simply use the "comment" link below this post.

Animal Rights in Florida

I feel like most people take the animal products we eat for granted because they do not eat an egg and wonder how the chicken was treated that created it. The process that allows us to have these products is not only harmful for the animals, but also for ourselves. I am going to research the treatment of chickens in factory farms and try to find out if people in St.Petersburg and Tampa are doing anything about it.

Research Paper: Cooking Hazardous or Healthy?

I am going to study methods used for cooking on campus and debate about it's cost versus it's effects and/or efficientness on the environment. I will have to interview the collage about it's choose in available supplies and the budget they have for that area.

research paper

the main focus of my paper will be on fish contamination from pollution in the ocean. I will be looking at how we are influenced through the food at the cafeteria.

R-GB

I am going to research the effects recycling has on Global Warming. How College campuses can improve their recycling to help reduce global warming. 

research

I would like to do research on the need for less plastic production. I want to emphasize ways we can cut down our individual plastic usage and propose ways to do this globally. For my active partcipation I am going to no buy anything in a plastic bottle for an entire week and see how that goes. I will reuse any plastic i currently have now.

RESEARCH PAPER

For my research paper I'm thinking about doing it on the pollution of the Tampa Bay water shed and estuaries. This is caused by fertilizer runoff from agricultural fields.One non Internet research I'm thinking about doing is measuring the pH in the water to see just how polluted the water really is.

For my research paper I want to research curbside recycling in St. Petersburg and why it is not offered as a public good.

The environment debate

My topic for the environment debate paper is the importance of great lakes conservation education, and how it can be improved

Topic for my Research...Healthy Food

For my Research Paper I am going to write about the Health regulations that food goes through before we eat it. I want to put special emphasize on pesticides and hormone enhancements put on certain foods and how to help people recognize and search for healthy food that contain the least amount of pesticides/hormones.
for my “non-book/non-internet source” I'm going to attempt to talk to the people in charge of getting food for the cafeteria and the pub and ask them what sort of Health Regulations they go through to ensure that the food we eat is safe.
I will also try to go to some local food fair near where I live and ask them if they have ways of producing food with the least use of pesticides and hormone implants

Topic for Research Paper

For my research paper I am going to write about natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms. Tropical storm Fay struck near my home and fortunately the flooding was not devastating to my family and I. But for others in DeBary, a neighboring city close to home, the storm hit pretty badly and left people in floods chest high and destroyed homes. I want investigate and argue how this may have been avoided and what the government (FEMA) could be doing to help these unfortunate victims. For my “non-book/non-internet source” I am going to try and conduct an interview with one of the victims if possible, and during fall break I am going to see if I can explore the area myself to obtain further details.

Writing the Environment Topic

I would like to write my paper on non-point source pollution in New England.  I will argue that laws and regulations are inadequate, and do not protect bodies of water from the run-off pollution.  I will also offer alternative ways to help prevent this from causing any more harm to our rivers, lakes and oceans.  I will use studies conducted by the government testing pH levels, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and coliform bacteria of watersheds in New England.

The Topic of my Research Paper

I would like to do my research paper on the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. It is bigger than the state of New Jersey and it is caused from the lackof oxygen. Living creatures are not able to survive there.

The main focus of my paper will be on fish contamination from pollution in the ocean and how we are influenced through the food at the cafeteria.

Research Paper Topic

I would like to write my paper on some local issues going on back home having to do with the development/creation of marina's and docks on a local beach and on a completley undeveloped island, Inner Brass. This would lead to more development in the surrounding area which is a nice pirvate, somewhat un-developed local side of the island. There were many meetings and hearings about this idea, along with many petitions. I plan on trying to get copies of the bill the petition from my parents, along with some newspaper articles.

Changing an environment through art

I am interested in creating a topic on the types of modern art created to promote environmental activism. I want to give some examples of these types of art and how they affected peoples' views and lifestyles. I will examine what it takes to create an effective piece of activist art and go over what we can consider actual art. I am thinking of using a social project called ToroLab that is nearby and works on changing the social atmosphere of an area by implanting different biology and new environmental lifestyles/trends.

Research Paper Topic

I will write my paper about humans' effect on the manatee population in Tampa Bay. I will work alongside researchers in the pathobiology laboratory just outside of campus, where dead manatees are brought in and studied, as well as with the rescue branch of the fish and wildlife service.

manatee conservation

I am going to write my reserach paper on manatee conservation in Florida. It is much more effective for people of all ages to have hands-on experiences with organizations that rescue and rehabilitate these animals, rather than just hearing about it.

Brazilian Pepper & Invasive Plant Species in Florida

For my research paper i am going to be investigating the invasive plant species of Florida and in particular the Brazilian Pepper.  On campus we have a palm hammock that is infested with Brazilian Pepper and i am going to be working in the palm hammock on removing the Brazilian Pepper in a natural manner with no chemicals or extremely intrusive materials.

Billy

Paper Topic

I would like to do my research paper on the importance of Florida coral reefs - why we should keep these reefs safe and how we can do this. For my non-internet/non-book source I plan on conducting an interview.

Research topic

I want to do research on reclaimed water in Florida, and learning the benifits and disadvantages of the process. I plan on talking to the reclaimed water facility next to campus in order to form an argument on the matter.

topic of research

I would like to explore the problematic correlation between poor socioeconomic communities and the need, want and availability of healthy, natural, organic foods.

Exatic's run wild

I want to explore the topic of exotic pets in Florida and how they are causing problems to native wildlife when they are released. My resource can come from many locations, around this area.

Research Paper Topic

For my research paper, I want to research the birds and other wildlife on campus and argue about how we can better protect them and their habitat. 

Environmental Writing research paper topic

I plan to research the topic of offshore florida drilling and argue the side against it.

Question C: Due Wednesday, October 8

A theme within the book is that of predator and prey. Find a passage from Thursday's reading that relates to predator and prey and analyze it. Who is the predator (animal or human)? Who is the prey (animal or human)? How are they navigating this relationship? Is the entrance of the predator considered a positive or negative entrance?

Respond to this question by clicking on the "comment" link below. Feel free to respond to earlier answers to this question.

Question B: Due Wednesday, October 8

One of the themes in Prodigal Summer is that of insects, and moths to be specific. In these first 67 pages, what role do the moths play? What do we learn about moths? How do they reflect the situations of Deanna, Lusa, and Garnett?

Please respond to this question by creating a comment. Follow the comment link underneath this post. Feel free to respond to the comments left by others when considering this question.

Question A: Due Wednesday, October 8

Reflect on your visit to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Ansel Adams photo exhibit. Which "text" stood out to you? Why? How are these photos writing the environment? What are they saying?

Respond to this question by hitting the "comment" link underneath this post. Feel free to comment on other people's posts and their photo choices.

Consumerism and Nature

I think to some extent, many people living in America today have severed tied with nature to the point in that the only way they can comfortably relate to it is through consumerism. Being able to feel connected to and even comfortable in nature takes a certain open-mindedness and way of thinking, something many people have lost. There are many things to blame for this.
One contributor is the media and the constant advertisement strategies woven into people’s lives by large corporations all vying for the attention of the consumer in the capitalist society in which we exist. In a single day, we view dozens of ads or methods of advertisement. They cover public places, are ingrained in the entertainment we see or listen to, they even appear on us, on our clothing, our cars, even the food we eat. Everything available for sale has a group of people behind it, trying to make us identify with their product, to subconsciously want to buy more of it. Many people fall into the trap of identifying themselves with the things they own; indeed, the things we own end up owning us. Wealth has become a way of exerting dominance in today’s society, a fact that advertisers recognize and take advantage of. Being a consumer is also what drives our economy; its strength is dependent on the constant buying and selling of goods and services. There are many stimuli that contribute to the thought process lurking beneath the surface in many of us whispering “buy, buy, buy!”
Another inhibitor of people’s ability to connect with nature is the fact that the majority of people in America live in urban areas, away from nature entirely. It’s difficult to have a connection with nature if rarely even get to see it. Plato once wrote that the mind is like a sheep, always grazing, absorbing and eventually becoming everything around it. To a certain extent, this is true; the longer someone lives in an urban area, the greater their sense of connection to that place. A big part of living in harmony with nature and having that special connection is having access to natural areas and spending time immersed in nature. Though bits and pieces of nature can be found everywhere, it is impossible to describe to someone what it feels like to be surrounded by forest at night; it’s like trying to describe what chocolate tastes like to someone who has never tried it.
Despite these walls we have built that keep us away from living in sync with nature, it certainly inspires awe in most of us. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty understanding, or are even frightened by the thought of being immersed in nature. Perhaps it’s the wildness and uncertainty, or the disconnect that occurs when one ventures into places outside of civilization. Thus, people connect in a way they feel comfortable with and are well versed in: consumerism.
Overcoming this dilemma is no easy feat. It will take generations and significant changes in the way people think and live to be able to connect with nature body, mind and soul. However, we have to start some way. I think a good way to start is to try to own as little as possible, to try to use things as many times before acquiring new things, to be aware of how much we use and throw away. Do people really need ten pairs of jeans? An SUV? A manicure? A big house? A subscription to Cosmopolitan? The point is to start somewhere, even if it just means turning the light off when you leave the room. The best way of making a statement is by doing something, and hey, you never know who may be watching.

Response to "Nature At The Mall" [B]

I agree with Jennifer Price's statement that we, as human beings, have become separated from nature. She talks a lot about the fact that these "nature" stores have been placed in places that have nothing to do with nature and are far removed from it, like the gigantic Mall of America. "The Nature Company has billed itself as your direct connection to the natural world. But the stores connect us not so much to what nature is as to what nature means: they tap the powerful, meaningful routes by which we use nature to define who we are, and with which we have navigated late-twentieth century American life." [Price Pg. 174] In no way does the Nature Company directly connect anyone to the natural world itself, it more connects people to aspects of nature that they are either too lazy or too ignorant or busy to explore for themselves. Yes, it is a nice way to connect those who are not in touch with nature to nature, but what are we really doing? We are marketing natural aspects of the world for a higher profit to benefit world consumerism. This actually sickens me a little. Yes, I will have to admit that I have gone into these stores to see what kinds of goods they offer, but in no way do I connect these nature stores with nature itself. I believe that if one wants to really explore nature and see what it's all about, one has to go INTO nature itself and see what it is, create one’s own meaning of nature. I think that it is sad that those who can't experience nature directly associate these stores with nature itself.

"Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division?

I agree that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that there only avenue is consumerism. They never experienced nature in person so they result to buying paintings, sculptures, and stuffed animals to put nature in the comfort of there own home. Most are just lazy but some enjoy backpacking and experiencing nature first hand. I feel natures company tried there best to make a connection between nature and the common man. They tried there best to model there products to look like how they would look if you was to see them in person. I don't think this was a good idea because it allowed people to be comfortable with going to the mall to experiencing nature instead of going hiking,backpacking,or biking to experience the right way. I feel most of us are too segregated from nature, especially in the world of today. I feel most kids are more concerned with when the next Halo coming out then going out and seeing what the outdoors have to offer. We can overcome this division by educating others about the importance and beauty of nature. Maybe more advertisements or vacation giveaways to spread the word.

Pollan's Style of Writing

After reading The Botany of Desire, I believe Michael Pollan is historian. I believe Pollan to be a historian because he tells these fascinating stories about these plants, and the role they played in human history. For example, he tells the story of how the British did not accept the potato, but the Irish were quite willing. Pollan states, “The debate was kicked off by the potato’s advocates, who argued that introducing a second staple would be a boon to England, a way to feed the poor when bread was dear and keep wages- which tended to track the price of bread- from rising,” (Pollan, 202). This is quote was taken half way into his story about the potato history. He also talks of history with the tulip, telling how people would spend ridiculous amounts of money in the hopes of getting a tulip. Michael Pollan states, “One crucial element of the beauty of the tulip that intoxicated the Dutch, the Turks, the French and the English has been lost to us. To them the tulip was a magic flower because it was prone to spontaneous and brilliant eruptions of color,” (Pollan, 87). This quote shows how many people held the tulip at high standards. Also, Pollan has a sense of humor when he talks about nature. During this tulip worshipping, he calls it “tulipomania”. Words such as this one make his writing sort of cenacle. He realizes the ridiculousness of these people’s actions, and makes it apparent in his writing. While he respects nature, he is not ridiculous or extreme in anyway. His writings are enjoyable to read.

A materialistic view of nature

“Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature their only avenue to it is consumerism?” It is really hard for me to say whether or not I fully agree or disagree with this question. I do believe there are people that sadly enough have become separated from nature, but I also believe that there are plenty of people who resist consumerism and would rather enjoy the real wild nature than be inside the mall in a nature store. I feel that the nature company is a perfect example of a mediated view of nature, it has allowed people to experience nature in their comfort zone, this can be a good and bad thing. This mediated view of nature has given people the option to go to the mall and enjoy nature at the same time, but without the nature store people would have to enjoy the wild nature. But for people who sadly enough do not feel as if they have the time to enjoy wild nature than the nature company is perfect for them. The only problem is, these people who only see nature as materialistic are not really appreciating and seeing the nature world. I feel that it is very upsetting that people love nature but are too afraid to actually experience it first hand. I also think it is crazy that someone would spend $995 on a life-like bronze frog to have in their house, instead of just going outside and observing real frogs. I feel that we can overcome this division by looking deep within ourselves and understand that there is a difference between how we want to connect to nature and how we actually do. So when people walk into these nature stores and want to buy a CD composed of nature sounds, they should think about how they really want to connect to nature and go outside and listen to ‘live’ nature sounds out in the wild instead of pre-recorded ones.

Is there a future for nature?

In "Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division?

I believe that over time we have become more and more technologically dependent in our society and definately have drifted somewhat from our more primal state that once depended solely upon nature. I believe that this is not nessecarily a harmful thing, as long as we use our developing technology to better the natural environment around us. There is definately people that have not become too estranged from nature but has this group deminished so immensly that they will never be able to make an impact. It can be seen that in our society we want to make a difference to the changing and somewhat declining world around us, when dealing with matters of natural resources and our environment. There needs to be something done to overcome this division of between consumerism and the preservation of nature. This may begin with the instillment of knowlege upon kids our age that in time will be the ones making the decisions and policies that can change things for the better.

Reponse for Question C: Monday, October 6

Instead of creating a new post, hit the "comment" function underneath this post and create what is called a "thread." A thread is a kind of virtual conversation. Feel free to read other people's responses to this question and respond to their responses.

C. Price writes: "And in the pool of changing, countermodern meanings, the most powerful and overarching has always been that Nature is not a changing set of human meanings" (180). She speaks of meanings in the 1980s and 1990s, but what is the meaning of nature today? Is it the same set of meanings she identifies? Does the meaning of Nature remain the same or does it change? What is the meaning of nature for people in your generation?

Reponse for Question B: Monday, October 6

Instead of creating a new post, hit the "comment" function underneath this post and create what is called a "thread." A thread is a kind of virtual conversation. Feel free to read other people's responses to this question and respond to their responses.


B. In "Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division?

Reponse for Question A: Monday, October 6

A. Thus far we have read Dillard, Pollan, Price, and a selection of poems that all write about nature differently. How would you characterize Pollan's style of writing about the environment? Is he a historian? A philosopher? A naturalist? A scientist? Something else? Use specific evidence from the text to back up your claims.

Instead of creating a new post, hit the "comment" function underneath this post and create what is called a "thread." A thread is a kind of virtual conversation. Feel free to read other people's responses to this question and respond to their responses.

Blog Assignment for Monday, October 6.

Please respond to ONE of the following set of questions. You will note that I have created three separate blog entries, one for each of the questions. Find the entry for your question. Instead of creating a new post, hit the "comment" function underneath this post and create what is called a "thread." A thread is a kind of virtual conversation. Feel free to read other people's responses to the question and respond to their responses.

A. Thus far we have read Dillard, Pollan, Price, and a selection of poems that all write about nature differently. How would you characterize Pollan's style of writing about the environment? Is he a historian? A philosopher? A naturalist? A scientist? Something else? Use specific evidence from the text to back up your claims.

B. In "Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division?

C. Price writes: "And in the pool of changing, countermodern meanings, the most powerful and overarching has always been that Nature is not a changing set of human meanings" (180). She speaks of meanings in the 1980s and 1990s, but what is the meaning of nature today? Is it the same set of meanings she identifies? Does the meaning of Nature remain the same or does it change? What is the meaning of nature for people in your generation?

Genetics is messing with nature!

The Monsanto commercial is interesting, but to be frank I was put off from the start they used robots to try and show how technologically advanced they and their seeds were but as Pollan said in the reading we cannot be sure of the impacts that genetically altered food will have on us and the environment. This ad suggests that genetically perfect corn is the way of the future and that the third world countries should embrace it. Nature is not perfect and it seems as if the world is trying harder and harder to make it just that. If we mess too much with nature it always back fires on us. Genetics is no different we are messing with something that we do not understand and chances are it will cause far more problems than good. What’s wrong with the farms that are in place right now in India? Besides it is not like corn is a major part of their diet, rice does much better in that climate; genetically engineered corn won’t change that.

Advertising is stupid and Monsanto is no different. Robots are not better then people and perfect corn is not better any smart person should see this so I don’t get why the ad would be applying other then as a wait what moment.

Would I eat the GreenLeaf potatoes? No. I am a firm believer in doing what is best for the environment. Once something enters the biological web, it spreads all around, affecting many different levels of life. The Bt strand of bacteria that resides within the GreenLeaf potatoes is lethal to monarch butterflies. “When monarch caterpillars eat milkweed leaves dusted with Bt pollen, they sicken and die.” (Pollan, 211) How did the Bt pollen get onto the milkweed leaves? Bees and other animals that spread pollen may alight on the milkweed, carrying the pollen from NewLeaf potato flowers with them.
“Uncertainty is the theme that unifies most of the questions now being raised about agricultural biotechnology by environmentalists and scientists. By planting millions of acres of genetically altered plants, we’re introducing something novel into the environment and the food chain, the consequences of which are not completely understood.” (210) In nature, every living thing relies on balance. If one little thing throws off that balance, disaster is likely to ensue.

We've Probably Eaten Them Already

I would most defiantly eat the New Leaf Potato's that were altered because as Pollan suggests, "chances are I've eaten plenty of New Leafs already, at McDonald's or in bags of Frito-Lay chips, though without a label, there's no way of knowing for sure" (Pollan 235).  Since the technology has been around for years it is definite that anyone who has eaten any starch product has probably eaten some form of altered potato or any other food for that matter, bananas, green beans, grapes, you name it.  I say that i have no problem with it for two reasons.  One i see now harm right now in eating it, on the news, there are no reports of communities coming down with terrible illnesses due to altered fruit and or vegetables.  In my own body i see no difference when i eat food that could possibly be genetically altered and until i do or the population sees a problem the government will probably not outlaw it.  Secondly, it's food, are people serious that they would boycott this when people are starving all over the world.  Are people serious when they would rather tell people starving for food that they need to wait because the organic crop might have had an infestation of insects or maybe a frost destroyed it.  I personally could not do that if i was in a position of power to give out food.  if later on down the road, some reports of illness and death came about from my actions i would stand by them because in my mind, if the majority benefits a few people are going to be sacrificed for the major cause .

-Billy T

The Monsanto ad suggests that genetic engineering is the future, hence the use of the robots. It is almost condescending in a way to conventional and organic farmers like their practices and seeds are so last century. The corporation also give the impression that their seeds can feed third world countries. The problem I have with Monsanto's ad is that they do give the impression that they can feed these third world people, but the reason most third world countries are hungry is not cause there is no food, but because of poverty. They are only solving a symptom, not the problem.

These third world countries shouldn't depend on other wealthy countries, especially greedy corporations who just want profits. In a documentary by a French woman that aired on French television actually interviews people in India who have used Monsanto's seeds and men commit suicide because of poor yields. Here is a link to the video: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=the+world+according+to+monsanto&emb=0&aq=f#

or just go to google video and type in The World According to Monsanto

Bad commercial!!!

I watched the commercial online and found it extremely offensive. What bothered me is the idea that these new, high tech robots were coming in and invading someone else's land. It reminds me of the settlers coming in and invading the Native American's land. Ironically enough, i found a book in the library today called A River Runs Wild. It is about this river in Massachusets that the native americans lived on and kept clean. Then when we came and took over, we polluted the river into a swamp. The book caught my eye because of the title. It was a book i had in childhood! Such a random event, i sat and read the book this morning in the library. And then to see this advertisement tonight cements the theme of the day. I hated the image of these robots coming in to the Indian's land on the wooden plank and cattle. I thought the part where the robots walked up to the 'test field' was offensive. I hated the image of the packaged corn, it reminded me of the food packaging for astronauts or MREs for soldiers. I thought the part with the robot putting the seed into India's soil with his metal finger was such a bad metaphor of new technology invading what is natural and already there. It was blatantly clear that the robots had come out of surprise and that the Indians were hesitant of them. When the young girl shyly came out behind her parents back and carefully took the corn. It was as if the robots thought they were doing these people some monumental favor by giving them corn. I thought the commercial continued a terrible stereotype that third world countries desperately need our help and we are dominant over them and so on and so forth.
To really add insult to injury, the ad had to take place in india of third world countries. Two years ago, i lived in India for a semester so i feel as if i have a better understanding of the country than the average joe from america. And to know how the people and the self sufficiency of much of the country works and to then see this commercial basically say that the country couldnt figure things out on their own was so wrong.
This ad is just another way to show our ignorance about countries other than our own; how we invade and take over other countries (and their culture) even when we arent necessarily 'invited'. Thumbs down on this one.

I WOULDNT EAT A NEWLEAF POTATO...NOW

I wouldn't eat a new leaf potato now that i read this passage in Pollans book. He informed me on the different chemical agents that farmers and companies put on there products which turned me away from the french fries and mashed potato's. In the past I would eat just any old potato not knowing that its a possibility that it could not only be harmful to me but to other organisms. For example, he talks how the Bt toxin in genetically altered plants are building up in the soil, this substance is lethal to monarch butterflies which eat the weeds that are common in corn fields. Theres another substance called DDT that was thought to be safe, ended up thinning the shells in eggs. Sometimes you have to stop and think is it worth it, and I don't think it is. Its not worth contaminating your body with different chemicals and insecticides, plus I come to realize that organic foods are more appetizing. I guess Ms.Ramsey was right, I think I had my last french fry.

To Eat or Not To Eat

Reading this chapter on the growth and life cycle of potatoes gave me a lot of insight to how mass-production farming works. Most of the time, the idea is to produce as much edible food as possible, using the least amount of chemicals and money, in order to reap a higher profit. I understand the viewpoint Monsanto has of eliminating all of these harmful spray-on chemicals, and replacing a resistant gene inside the plant itself, but is this really natural? And is this their main idea when they thought of this idea, or were they more concerned with the amount of profit that would come in? There is no way that in the wild a plant would evolve in such a way. The plants might develop different tactics, smells, or colors to avert enemies and pests, but their genes would not transform to all of a sudden magically contain a pest-resistant toxin. To think about putting either of these forms of chemicals into my body scares me. In the past few years I have become more in-tune with my body and how it reacts to different foods that I eat, and thinking about ingesting such a hazardous chemical is frightening. No one knows the long-term effects of this process of implanting a pest-resistant gene into a plant, so therefore anything is possible in the long run. There may be absolutely no long-term effects, and there could be potentially deadly ones. I know I have probably eaten one of these NewLeaf potatoes, without knowing, and that is unfortunate but I’m not about to freak out about it. Obviously they are mostly safe to eat, as I have not heard of anything serious happening to anyone who has eaten one of these genetically modified potatoes, but just for peace of mind I would rather not eat them.
As Pollan dictates, "...genetically modified potatoes represent a more sustainable way of growing food. The problem is, that isn’t saying much."[Pg. 221] He goes on to explain that the reason for this is because the NewLeaf potato contains the Bt toxin that wards off pests, whereas other potato species don't so insects still prey on them. Heath, an organic farmer Pollan visits and talks with says, "I can eat any potato in this field right now. Most farmers can't eat their spuds out of the field." Just knowing that there is an unnatural chemical implanted into the genes of a vegetable the majority of the population eats frequently makes one think, just how healthy is the population? Do we really know what we’re putting into our bodies?

Would you try a NewLeaf potato

When I started reading the potato chapter, I was sure I would never try a NewLeaf potato. It seemed unnatural and something I did not want to put in my body. After yesterday's class discussion I was set on never eating one of these potatoes because the FDA would not even look at the nutritional value. They classified these potatoes as a pesticide. I have never really had the desire to eat a pesticide so I was definitely steering clear of those mutant potatoes. Then I finished reading the potato chapter. I discovered that, I, like many other people, have been eating potatoes that were not in anyway better than these NewLeaf potatoes. The potatoes grown on many farms have a lot of pesticides on them to kill the bugs. Michael Pollan states, “Net necrosis is a purely cosmetic defect, yet because McDonald’s believes- with good reason- that we don’t like to see brown spots in our French fries, farmers like Danny Forsyth must spray their fields with some of the most toxic chemicals now in use, including an organophosphate called Monitor,” (Pollan, 219). This to me is absurd. Growing up in Pennsylvania, in an area that is what I would call “potato happy”, I have probably eaten my fair share of toxins with out knowing it for cosmetic reasons. Pollan goes on to state, “’Monitor is a deadly chemical,’ Forsyth told me; it is known to damage the human nervous. ‘I won’t go into a field for four or five days after it’s been sprayed- not even to fix a broken pivot.’ That is, Forsyth would sooner lose a whole circle to drought than expose himself or an employee to this poison,” (Pollan, 219). That is scary to think about. That sounds very unhealthy. I was not aware of the toxins I eat daily on my potatoes. All of this proves that, while its astonishing that I had no idea what I have been eating, I think my stomach can handle the NewLeaf potato. After this recent discovery of what I have been putting in my body, the NewLeaf potato seems appealing compared to the potatoes with many toxins.

Less is Best

The NewLeaf potato had defied reality. Agriculture has reached a new height by introducing this potato to our local farm stands. Mankind has come along way since the first plow. To some farmers, a resilient plant that could produce its own insecticide was thought to be pure science fiction; however, today it is a fact of life. Even though, this is an amazing new discovery, I’d rather admire the plant, not put this genetically modified plant into my body. We do not yet entirely know the consequences of putting chemicals, such as BT, into our system. Due to the NewLeaf being on the market for such a short amount of time, it is near impossible to prove future complications of these chemically induced plants. I prefer the natural farming methods. Throughout history, America has mastered the art of farming without having to resort to chemicals. But today we see almost every farmer becoming too comfortable when injecting our produce with unnatural modifications. I feel that farmers have become lazy if they have become dependent on chemicals doing all the work for them. With these artificial ingredients, all farmers have to do is plant and harvest their crop. But who know! Maybe one day we will genetically engineer plants to plant and harvest themselves as well. Farming without chemicals and genetic engineering may be much more difficult, but I truly believe that it will be better for our health in the long run.

Why does Pollan uses italicized dates? the importance of parallel maybe?

The first thing to notice about the way Pollan uses his italicized dates on the chapter of the potato is that they are divided between the present-modern day and past. They are used to emphasize parallels between what things of importance to the potato are happening now and the things of importance that happened regarding the potato back them. That, the key: that all dates in this chapter are in one way or another Very important to understand the history and progression of the potato, and so both parallel Both parallels start with the beginning of the potato: the “past” dates are chronicles of the evolution and progression of the original potato.. The past dates describe the grow and cultivation of the potato, and how it began to take form in 1532, its introduction to Europe and its assimilation to the Irish food-choices in 1588, how the opposition to it began to escalate the challenge of England to the potato in 1794, and finally the period of “the potato famine” and its devastating effects on the Irish in 1846. The “modern day” dates chronicle the progression of the “new” potato- The New Leaf. But, there is another difference: while the “past” chronicles of the potato emphasize a year and place, the modern chronicles emphasize the days and months: showing step-by-step the growth of the potato. This distinction makes the past chronicles focus on the general influence of the potato as a “mother” plant, and the modern day emphasize on the progression and influence of the New Leaf potato as the “offspring” plant. In the past chronicle is about the potato influence on people and the modern about people influencing the nature of the potato. In the end both set of dates come full circle- The past show how the potato came to us and what it brought and the modern day shows the uncertain “re-birth” of the potato and its future role in nature and in people food choice.

Space Robots?

The Monsanto commercial starts out showing some natives interacting with happy upbeat ethnic music in the background. Then we see, for American, an old fashion way of transportation, with ox and a buggy. The oxen are carrying two robots that look as if they have just come down from space. The people of the town are obviously curious to what these creatures are and what they are doing! Of course! They go straight to the farms where they belong. When doing the farming they mix old forms of production, the plowing with oxen and “new” forms, the machines spitting out corns seed packets and shooting, instead of planting, the seeds in the ground. The corn grows at miraculous speed and the most esthetically pleasing corn you have ever seen. Just look at the native faces. The little girl doesn’t know whether to be scared or not of this space, farming, robot, but don’t worry he knows how to share.

            Monsanto must be advanced and technologically savvy with their farming. The old ways of farming, like in 3^rd world countries is not fast enough. So they have come to help. To make the food “better,” by growing faster, looking better, and more of it with less work. I don’t even know what to think of this commercial. It is so absurd the way they are comparing genetic engineering to be like robots doing all the work and the people being happy and buddy-buddy with the robots in the end. I would like to know what genetic engineering is actually doing for the third world countries. 

To Eat the New Leaf or To Not Eat the New Leaf, that is the question...

Since I fear that almost everything I eat has the possibility of being unsafe in one way or another, I would at this point of my life eat a New Leaf potato. This genetically engineered potato has not yet been proven to be bad for one’s health, (although it most likely has some dangerous side affects). Pollan also proved, in his chapter about potatoes, that the New Leaf is safer to eat than the average farm raised potato which is covered in lethal pesticides. (Even though this is only because there has not been any published knowledge about its dangers, while pesticides have proven to be toxic). I feel that at this point of my life, my body is at its prime and I can fight off disease and illness better now, than at other stages of my life. However, I will still make strong attempts to eat an organically grown potato over a New Leaf. Also, when I get older, I hope to be able to either shop organically, or have my own garden so that I can ensure the safety of my health. After reading the potato chapter, I also feel that it is an obligation to shop organically in order to support those hardworking organic farmers who resist the temptations of Monsanto and the exploitation of pesticides. It is like making a choice of being a vegetarian, you not only benefit yourself, but you also help the cause by being one less that responds to the inhumane and unnatural treatment of living things whether it be plants or animals. Still, economically this will be an extremely tough feat, but then again, changing the world is never an easy task.

Would YOU eat the NewLeaf potato?

My first reaction to whether or not I would eat the NewLeaf potato is no, of course not! This potato is genetically engineered and has pesticides in its genetic material. The FDA states that the potato is not even a potato, but actually deems it as a pesticide. I don’t want to eat a pesticide! Do you? I might as well walk around Danny Forsyth’s farm field after all the toxic chemicals are sprayed, such as the organophosphate called monitor. Monitor is a toxic chemical used in his farm to create the “perfect” Idaho potato, it is perfect as long as the individual who eats the potato at McDonalds doesn’t know the chemicals used in growing the potato, can damage a persons nervous system. Plus why do I want to eat the NewLeaf potato and support the killings of Colorado potato beetles and monarch butterflies? The farms where these potatoes are being grown are homes for the beetles and butterflies. I mean just imagine a huge super size bug, comes into your home, sprays fertilizers and pesticides so that you cannot live there anymore! Think about it? I know all that sounds silly, but eating the NewLeaf potato is supporting the killing of all these insects, but I guess so is eating any potato. Not only am I concerned for the lives of these little creatures, but what about my health? Towards the end of the chapter Pollan revisits the fact that Bt is the pesticide in NewLeaf. Pollan couldn’t find evidence that the potato wasn’t safe to eat, but he also couldn’t find evidence that Bt is safe in the human diet either. So all in all I wouldn’t want to eat the NewLeaf potato, but whether by choice or not, who is to say I haven’t already?

The Commercial Says it All!

The commercial depicts Monsanto as a new-age idea that comes from the future and brings forth plentiful crops, which look perfect. However, after reviewing the Monsanto commercial, it seems as though the new seeds that are constructed by Monsanto are unnatural. The robot that is bringing the seed seems to come from the future which is frightening because this alludes to the idea that the future will be totally artificial. The seeds that the robots plant come out of plastic bags which is troubling all on its own; and raising questions such as, where is this seed coming from, and why should a natural entity come in a man-made container in order to produce a “plant” which will then be consumed by man. It is not far off to say that the future and perhaps the present involves a completely synthetic form of nourishment.
Although the commercial is geared to attract the people of India, there is a sign in English that reads “test field”. This shows that Monsanto views 3-world countries as expendable regions, where the people and the land are used as guinea pigs. Also, the fact that the sign read test field is proof that the seeds that Monsanto brings are only in the test phase which means that there is room for error. The commercial also shows the robots taking over the oxen, which in truth means that Monsanto is taking over agriculture. It is replacing the essence of a culture, which is based around dedication, hard work, and other elements of farming.

Would I eat the New Leaf?

I wouldn't consciously choose to eat a genetically engineered vegetable over a naturally grown one, but I'm pretty sure that we've all eaten them at some point in time. I haven't been able to taste a difference, but maybe that's because I haven't been aware of what I am actually eating. I think that a lot of people go overboard with their stands against genetically engineered food. While there are some health uncertainties about them, the potential for these foods to help solve world hunger is immense. Seeds with built in insect repellants will make the farming process a lot more effecient, which will ensure more food to countries across the globe that are suffering from food shortages. Also, using seeds built to repel diseases and insects makes the farming process easier for the farmers. In Botany of Desire, Pollan said that, "farmers will spend roughly $1,950 a year on chemicals, electricity, and water to grow a crop that will earn him $2,00"(Pollan 219). Using pesticides and chemicals takes away from the profit that farmers are making, and is contributing to the diminishing number of small family farms and the rise of large scale corporate farms. Genetically engineered seeds will allow farmers to save the money they would have previously spent on chemicals and fertilizers. This could be the difference of staying afloat and getting bought out by a big company for smaller farms. By keeping smaller farms in the agriculture industry, farming won't become like the factories that the big corporate farms have become. I believe in the importance of having small, privately owned farms and in the importance of growing food efficiently. Using genetically engineered seeds will greatly aid in these two issues. Because of that, I don't have a problem eating genetically engineered food. I support it for the greater good that it will serve our society.

Why does Pollan include so many dates in the chapter? ...

Pollan includes dates in the chapter to act like a timeline so that as he is changing thought, the reader won't get confused or lost. They are italicized to show importance so that the reader doesn't skip over them. He also use the different dates to relate back to the chapter. Like in the potato chapter, he goes back to the Andes in1532 as a reference to the potato he was about to plant. He goes into detail about the ancestors of his potatoes. He also use the dates to show the process of growing the new leaf potatoes. He first starts May 2 and ends in August. The places help the reader know where the scene is. They can then think about the weather conditions in that place and how crops could be effected. The time is used so the reader can think back to that time and see how the people lived and the conditions they lived in.

Catchy Yet Deceiving

The Monsanto commercial implies what the company hopes to offer the community with their new seeds, yet leaves out important aspects required for these new and improved seeds to grow. There is no doubt about it, the commercial in general is very effective in depicting how Monsanto views their technologically advanced seeds which are shown being grown using the traditional farming methods on previously existing farms. Monsanto, in a way, makes these seeds look almost magical, as if once the seeds are planted they will magically and miraculously grow healthy and strong producing an abundance of corn. However, Monsanto completely forgets to depict how important water and proper irrigation is in helping these new crops grow. Could this have been left out by accident or do most third world farms not have the irrigation methods needed to properly grow Monsanto crops? Hmm….I wonder….
This ad seems to imply that farmers in third world countries are behind on the times. The ad shows many men sitting around talking with only one woman working on the harvest. The fact strange robots can suddenly arrive and show the citizens how to farm better on their own land should be somewhat insulting. However, when the robot hands the young girl an ear of corn, she only hesitates for a second looking at her mother for approval and then cheerfully accepts.
Monsanto showing robots in their commercial implies that farming with genetically engineered seeds is the way of the future. Although it is new now, farmers shouldn’t be skeptical of these new seeds for one day they will be commonplace.