Something to think about...

The Power of Empathy in Society

(F) Food articles

http://www.justmeans.com/tag/Healthy-Food

Sent in by Danish N. (F2010)

(F) Food Unit Final Write

Design a food system for your perfect society.

• What will your citizens eat? Justify your decision using notes/data/research.


• "Encouraged" or laws or incentives -> How will you get them to eat it?


• Where will the food come from? Who will grow it?

Mr. Welch Says: Remember, good leaders lead by example. If you aren’t willing, you can’t force others…

(F) Milk Provocations

The cards we used today contain data from "milk sucks" (get it?) (and, it's been changed. Try the Wayback Machine), and the data supporting it comes from the links on this page. Warning: graphic pictures of sad animals.

Now, we talked briefly about bias and such, try this article on for size. What makes it more or less authoritative in your mind? Write in your journal.

(F) Interview with Dr. Shiva

In this interview, Dr. Vandana Shiva gives an account of her work in the sustainable agriculture... field.

(F) More Food Videos

Hopefully you enjoyed the food unit. Here is a bunch of information we just didn't get time to enjoy in class. If you plan to use food in your final project(s), you might still want to check it out.

The benefits of local food systems and economies can be found in a three-part series that starts here. And here's a video of your hero Michael Pollan on the benefits of local agriculture, or rather the dangers of Centralized agriculture

A family in Pasadena decides to grow almost all of their own food (and more to sell) on a single-family lot. The story.

Outside of the youtubes, a few videos might also inform you: The Future of Food, and King Corn

(F) Mechanically seperated chicken + different mcnuggets in different places

Eww. You've been warned. This is what your Nuggets are made of.

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/25/a-tale-of-2-nuggets/

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&client=ubuntu&channel=fs&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Mechanically+separated+chicken&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

(F) The World According to Monsanto

The World According to Monstanto

(F) Urban Aquaculture

Whether you read Bottomfeeder or not, you should know that agriculture is growing things in the earth in controlled conditions. Aquaculture, therefore, is growing things in water in controlled conditions. This video on urban aquaculture might catch your fancy, it's one of the largest aquaculture facilities in an urban environment.

Want to make your own aquaculture system, but don't have that kind of room? You might enjoy this video of home aquaculture and how to make it for yourself.

(F) Freeganism

I mentioned it in the vocabulary lessons, but you may be interested in Freeganism. First, an LA Times Article on Freeganism. Next, some Television coverage from CBS News. Last, an internet cooking show called Dumpster Chef. Bon apetit!

Food Vocabulary words

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)
Bycatch
Byproducts
Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs)
Monoculture, Polyculture
Companion planting
“Conventional” Farming
“Organic” Farming
Food Security
Sustainable Agriculture
Pesticides
Herbicides
Fungicides
Antibiotics
Piscicides
Radiation
Desertification
Runoff
“Dead Zones”
Assumption of abundance
Aquaculture
Shifting baselines syndrome

(E) Energy Capture Final Write - Society

Create a plan for a society that is designed to use the least energy possible, and explain from what sources the remaining energy will come.

You may use maps, charts, layout plans, etc to help you explain your designs. Incorporate small-scale and large-scale ideas. Last but not least, explain WHY these choices will lead to a more sustainable future than those ideas used today, as well as the ideas you totally heard your classmates propose.

Enjoy!

(E) Peak Oil Primer

Peak Oil explained with visuals

(E) Four Corners: Peak Oil?

Four Corners Australia, a TV newsmagazine show, published this investigation of Peak Oil that you might enjoy very much.

(E) Lighting Solutions

Inhabitat: CFLs vs Incandescents - Green? and of course, Inhabitat.com is a great source for more great information.

(E) Harpers: The Oil We Eat

The Oil We Eat is a great transition article into the food unit, and oil for thought. Heh.

(E) Climate Change Tipping Point

Fantastic viewing! Watch the video Wake up, Freak Out, then Get a Grip and then poke around the site, specifically, check out the links and sources provided in the script.

(E) Renewable Cart before the horse?

Are we putting the Renewable Energy cart before the horse?

(E) Oil / Climate Change Films

Website: A Crude Awakening (subtitled in... something I don't recognize...) - What happens when the oil runs out?

Website: Out of Balance - Is ExxonMobil, as the largest oil company in the world deliberately obfuscating the facts on global warming?

Website: Everything's Cool

(E) NPR: Reinventing the Power Grid

NPR has an excellent series of articles entitled Power Hungry: Reinventing the US power grid.

Note to Welch: There are several articles, which could be passed out as a jigsaw, or as a scavenger hunt/webquest. I should probably have the TAs copy and format the articles in case they one day disappear. PLUS! There are audio versions of many of the articles. Hooray!

(E) Geothermal

Etire town uses Geothermal energy

(E) Plastic Solar Cells

Plastic Solar Cells

(E) Cool Bicycles

Cool Bicycles for fun, and another cool >bike for transporting stuff

(E) Making the war in iraq more eco-friendly

The Onion: Making the war in Iraq more eco-friendly

(F) Annotating a Text

Today in class I gave you the handout on annotating a text, but didn't let you keep it. If you'd like to keep it as a reference, it is here for the taking.

Remember, this might come in handy in the future, perhaps in college. Consider saving it to a flash drive or something.

(E) Group Evaluation - Energy Research

1. You have 100 points. Distribute these points according to the contribution each group member made. Both preparation and actual presentation.


2. Explain in detail your point distribution.


3. Explain any special cases which were beneficial or detrimental to your group.


4. Aside from "more time," what should Mr. Welch do in the future to:


• make the Energy Capture Unit easier to understand.


• Explain research techniques better.


• Mention any tools (like easybib) you knew about that Mr. Welch didn’t mention.

Example: Person A worked harder than Person B, who worked harder than Person C, but just by a little bit each. So I am giving Person A 36 points, Person B 30 points, and Person C 24 points. Now, I will give a detailed written explanation of WHAT specifically justifies the similarity or differences in points.

Remember not to penalize your group mates from unavoidables like illness, death in the family, broken car, etc.

(E) China celebrates ranking: #1 carbon emitter

The onion: China celebrates rank as #1 carbon emitter

(E) Jimmy Carter on the Energy Crisis

A speech on the energy crisis from the late 70s - is it still applicable today?

(E) Oil! Corn! - Today's Introductory Videos

Herer are two videos we could have watched in class if the internet had been working... The first, Cornography detailed how corn got to be such a popular crop in the US and introduces us to a popular oil alternative. The second, Oil!, explains how oil got to be so expensive and some of the effects of increased oil prices.

(E) Frontline: Heat - October 21, 2008

Click this link: Frontline: Heat by Martin Smith. Scroll back to the date: 10.21.2008. It might help to click "23-73" and get to the beginning. Watch the video and answer the questions, preferably typed, and bring to class.

1. Watching the World Change

00:00 - 01:10 Funding information (skip)
01:11 - 03:00 Introductory Teaser
03:00 - 06:20 David Brasheres' mission: photograph a glacier
What percentage of the ice has melted? When does the UN expect the entire glacier to be gone?
06:21 - 08:10 Dr. Loni Thompson
Pros and cons to more water?
08:11 - 09:50 Effects
How many people depend on this glacial water? UN predicts what about the rivers?
09:51 - 11:36 Other dangers
What are other consequences scientists warn about? What percentage must greenhouse gases be cut to avert global catastrophe?

2. Fossil Fuels, the Engine of Our Lives

00:00 - 01:34 The Unchained Goddess
In what year would you estimate this video was made?
00:01:35 - 00:04:10 Energy
The history of the US is a history of...? Between now and 2020, the energy needs will increase by?
04:11 - 07:50 A New Era of Rapid Growth
What nation's growth worries energy consultants? China is compared to what? Why? Does Geely have a plan for carbon emissions? The coal plants?
07:51 - 10:51 India
What will happen with India's population by 2030? The process of making _____ is the 3rd largest industrial sources of CO2 emissions in the world. Most of the COs comes from what? If every Indian lives like an American... The world is ______.

3. Ten Years to Reverse Course

00:00 - 03:45 United Nations Climate Change Conference 2007, Bali
What was the purpose of this conference? What is Patchori's position? Whose responsibility does he say climate change is? What did developing nations do to "call America's bluff"? What did China say? What was the message that would come out of Bali about the US? What effect did that have?
03:46 - 05:20 Changes Underway in Washington
Why did the business lobby change environmental policies?
05:20 - 07:18 The Candidates
Both candidates have strongly said what? Fundamentally, we have ten years to...

4. America's Addiction to Coal

00:00 - 02:50 Energy Addiction
How much energy comes from "Black Thunder"? What are the comparisons made? Which is most effective to you and why? How many coal fired power plants are there in the country? How long does it take to burn through a trainload? What does "Green" mean for this power plant?
02:50 - 05:55 Facts
How much coal does it take to... (List the examples given). What percentage of electricity comes from coal in America? What needs to be heard, says Morris, is...?
05:55 - 08:54 Coal Ads: Clean!
Coal Activists say what about coal emissions? What examples are given of the Coal lobby getting its way? Lieberman: Future for coal?
08:55 - 11:19 Polk 1
The plant touts a process that is essentially...? The big prize: What is done with the CO2? how many tests have been done? Does this sound safe and/or reliable to you? Why or why not?
11:20 - 16:43 Reality Check
Benefits to a "scrubber"? Downsides? Obstacles? Cost? What does all this add up to for Energy companies?
16:44 - 17:57 Candidates
No one mentions cost. Why do you think the candidates don't do this? What do the pundits say? Why are the candidates in favor of "clean Coal"

5. Cars: 2nd Largest Source of Carbon Emissions

00:00 - 04:00 Raising Fuel Economy Standards
When the rules came into effect, the fuel economy went from ____ to ____. Since then, standards have remained frozen. They insist... What did the car companies lobby for? What "unintended consequences" are there in fuel economy standards?
04:01 - 05:30 The challenge has come from here...
Schwarzzengger has pledged...? What does the CA attorney general say is the hold-up?
05:30 - 08:25 California History
Why does the auto industry love and hate California? What is keeping California from getting the higher fuels standards (be detailed)?
08:26 - 12:14 The EPA
Boxer focused on...? The White House uses _____ to dodge the questions. Just before the waiver was denied, what happened? This is a victory for and a defeat for

6. Big Oil

00:00 - 04:41 Hibernia
How much does this oil platform cost Mobil? How much has it made? Is this significant? Why? How much of its money is the company investing in renewables? What is the argument? Do you agree? What investments are currently being made?
04:42 - 07:14 Dan Kammen
Whom does Mr. Kammen advise? What are "we" waiting for? What is a "denyer group"? What is the Industry argument?
07:15 - 10:35 Exxon's detractors
Major shareholders insisted on what? Why? What sorts of people are behind it?
10:36 - 12:33 The consequences
The problem with extracting oil from the tar sands is...? Are the Tar Sands profitable? What is Exxon waiting for?
12:34 - 14:15 Drill, baby, Drill
How does Eric Pooley say McCain's position change? How does he interpret this? What do you think about that? What effect did this have on Obama? What do you think of politicins based on this?

7. Two Instructive Lessons from the Past

00:00 - 04:47 President Clinton: bargaining
What was the strategy, what happened, how did it go? Why did the Japanese "scramble"? What effect did this have? What downside has this had for American automakers? Effects?
04:48 - 08:36 Fuel Efficiency
Today, American car companies are doing what to catch up. What was the most promising? What happened to the EV-1? What about the Volt?
08:37 - 00:00 Ethanol
Why did Ethanol begin? What does E85 do for carbon emissions? What makes a difference in the number? Dan Kammen believes Corn Ethanol is good or bad? Why? How many Ethanol stations are there in the US? In CA? In NJ? What does Amy Jaffe say about Ethanol? What effects on global food production does Ethanol have? How many corn ehtanol refineries are planned?
00:00 - 16:48 The candidates
What did the 2008 candidates say? What happened when food prices increased? What is the source of American problems according to Ms. Jaffe?

8. Carbon-Free Power

00:00 - 02:00 The competition
What are the differences between American energy policy and European/Japanese? What makes the difference?
02:01 - 06:35 Wind
Germany's wind resources is compared to North Dakota favorably or unfavorably? How much electricity does Germany produce from wind? Why are business owners "skittish"? What is T. Boone Pickens' plan for wind? What does he "need" the US government to do?
06:36 - 11:03 Nuclear
How much American electricity comes from Nuclear today? What is Patrick Moore's history, 1970-today? What accounts for this change? What happened at 3-mile island? Why is it not rational to be scared by 3-mile island according to Moore? How much for a new nuclear power plant? What happens with the waste? Why were the French able to "go nuclear"?
11:04 - 12:10 The candidates
What did the 2008 candidates want to do?

9. Will America Summon the Political Will?

00:00 - 05:34 The Bill
What fears did the committee bring up? How much money does the bill grant? To whom? What is "cap and trade"? What are the benefits to cap and trade? What happened to the bill and why?
05:35 - 10:00 Meanwhile...
The arctic will be ice-free by...? What are the fears about the ocean? What effects do recession have on governments ability to decide? What are the suggestions?
10:00 - 10:52 More to explore...
10:53 - 13:06 End Credits (skip)

(E) Annotated Biblography Entries

Here is the handout for annotated bibliographies (culled from this website) in .doc format; this is the version that contains the additional information, as promised. The OWL website has several additional resources (even more so than the new handout) that you can use to get caught up on (refresh yourself on) such topics as summarizing, assessing, and so on.

(E) Energy Research Resources

Looking for information on your energy capture method? Try these links!

• The Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living is handy, and has related links in a sidebar for easy browsing.


• The EPA's Clean Energy site will show you what the government's environmental protectors think of each alternative energy.


• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Experiments with various alternative energies.


• The US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provides history, current projects, and descriptions of how various technologies work.


• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's K-12 Curricular Units page has plenty of stuff to look at. Specifically, the "Clean Green Power Educators' Guide"s last pages contain plenty of links that might help you.

You've been warned!

(E) Mine is an evil laugh...

This might help your group stay in touch. It will definitely help your group get points.

(E) WIRED: Power to the People: 7 Ways to Fix the Grid, Now

Today's in-class activity involved this Wired News article: Power to the People: 7 Ways to Fix the Grid, Now. All seven ways are available there, in color, for your perusal and sharing with the people in your household who currently pay electric bills...

Enjoy.

(E) Carbon's New Math

In case you decide you need it, here is Carbon's New Math by Bill McKibben.

(C) Consumerism Final Write

Consumerism Final Write, In Class, all one essay:
* (Pre-) Unless it’s already in your notes, define consumerism in the context of the current “Western” system.
* (Pre-) Design an alternative system which you feel would be more sustainable, specifically focusing on justice and equity.
* Write an opinion essay in which you attack or defend the current system in the face of its consequences – both short and long-term – versus your own system and the social upheaval it might create. In other words, should we, in your opinion, make the change?

At home (Write this on a separate sheet of paper and bring back tomorrow):
(Yes, the prompt is already on the website)
* So far, what is and is not working for you? Think of lectures, classroom activities, homework types and rate, etc.
* Review your understanding of the content: do you think you understand all that we have covered so far? Is there anything you feel unclear on? What is it? What is your current understanding?
* What has been your favorite thing about this class in terms of content or method of presenting that content? What has been your least favorite? Why? What would you change to make it better for you?
* How would you change the order in which the information was presented to you? Why would you put it in the order you chose?
* Analyze your own learning: What do your answers to the rest of these prompts reveal about your own learning style? What can you do in order to compensate for your weaknesses in the face of your strengths?

(C) Videos

I don't know how much time you have this evening, but how often do you get to "watch the internet" and write it off as "learning"?

A few videos:

• RSA: Crisis of Captialism - David Harvey asks if it is time to look beyond capitalism towards a new social order that would allow us to live within a system that really could be responsible, just, and humane.


• TED: John Maeda on the simple life (Also on youtube). Just watch and enjoy until about the 12:00 mark. Watch the "cookie vs. laundry" bit and how age affects your functioning. Record your thoughts on what this all means. (You could also go to lawsofsimplicity.com - Read and record the ten laws and three keys. Write your thoughts about the laws or keys that strike you, and all of it in concert.)



• RSA: First as Tragedy, Then as Farce renowned philosopher Slavoj Zizek investigates the surprising ethical implications of charitable giving.

All of these videos have alternate views, some of which are linked directly from the links in the sidebar. Feel free to get the opposing viewpoints and draw your own conclusions; remember, think for yourself and with your heart.

(I) My Conviction (MC)

Here is the image from the whiteboard. Clicky!


Part 1 (Top) is the labels. You need: Title, author, page number in the text, your name, the date.
Part 2 is your meaning-making.
Part 3 is a summary of your opinions and commentary.

Good luck, I look forward to your results!

(E) Energy Capture Unit

Here is the assignment sheet for the Energy Capture Unit in .doc, .pdf, and .rtf formats. Enjoy!