A crucial topic that is prevalent is the state of native plants and biodiversity. This topic acquires great importance because biodiversity is slowly becoming scarce. As mankind continues to evolve and expand upon one’s discoveries, change is definitely non-negotiable and can not be dismissed from human beings. Unfortunately, these changes human beings have initiated are hurting the environment’s biodiversity. “Due to human activity, such as habitat fragmentation and change, introduction of invasive alien species, harvesting, overexploitation, and pollution, the loss of biodiversity on all organizational levels is progressing at an alarming rate” (Fiebelkorn and Menzel 1). With such devastating statistics that are relevant right now, this is why I chose this topic to research, for the necessity of awareness so maybe one day society will commit to change to heal Earth.

2. Pollution is Killing Biscayne Bay, There's very little Time to Save it, and it's Going to Cost a lot of Money to Rescue it

3. Florida Has Spent Millions Fixing Water Pollution and Algal Blooms

“Pollution is killing Biscayne Bay, there's very little time to save it, and it's going to cost a lot of money to rescue it | Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.” The Greater Miami Chamber Of Commerce, https://www.miamichamber.com/news/pollution-killing-biscayne-bay-theres-very-little-time-save-it-and-its-going-cost-lot-money

“Water Quality Protection.” Miami-Dade County, 13 May 2021, https://www.miamidade.gov/environment/water-protection.asp

In the SP3 assignment, my objective was classifying the identity, cause, and effect of water pollution, specifically in Florida. While anyone in my age category can identify what exactly water pollution is, I think it is important to know the depth analysis of what actions human beings are doing to construct these harmful behaviors. I learned that within any idea of revolutionizing the expansion of modern society, there is a high chance that human beings will harm their environment in the process. While many organizations do not intentionally desire to damage the environment, the aquatic life and condition of the world’s water supply are two prominent factors companies should be mindful of when wanting to succeed. In addition to the effects of water pollution, it takes a large quantity of money to clean up one’s mistakes that will evidently harm mankind’s existence. Millions of dollars are used to attempt to maintain the condition of the Earth’s water so it does not become a scarce necessity. While these lessons are not shocking, my expectations towards this assignment were beaten. This lesson helped expand my understanding and allowed me to experience the crucial awareness everyone should have when caring for water.

When I was in the process of completing CAS2, I could see my knowledge flourishing from being educated on topics that were foriegn to my understanding. While the assignment wanted students to explore two excerpts that covered the same idea, one of the excerpts I used for the given assignment acquired a perception that never crossed my mind. The article, “Fashion has a waste problem. These companies want to fix it” provided me a look into the behind the scenes and the harmful acts the fashion world has normalized. This article informs the audience to reveal that while many fashion companies have produced millions of waste, slowly but surely, the same companies are attempting to do good in the world and minimize their harm. Seeing the process of how a one person idea blossomed to a project of various participants allowed me to learn so much of things I had little knowledge of. This activity has also proved to me that there are many products that are versatile enough to reuse to help prevent waste production. A popular example, such as reusing used and leftover material, can help inventory from ordering too much and having companies choose to throw out unused products which is responsible for “10% of the world’s carbon emissions”

“The Story of Water” emphasizes the importance of water. Since human beings need water to survive, many believe that the identity of water should be a common good that all individuals should have an easy access to. Unfortunately, while it does take materials and time to maintain a wider spectrum to access water in society, many cities can become victims to corporations within this field. Private corporations can mold a facade that deceives people to believe they are able to help widen the accessibility of water. Unfortunately, the same corporations prioritize profit over any other idea; this perception can ultimately harm the city’s citizens due to increased water expenses that one may not be able to meet. It is essential to recognize the value of water and those who need it. If the community can enforce water expenses that suit a person’s income, the community will be able to grow profit that can help maintain the care towards water without provoking stress to its citizens.

“The Story of Plastic” explores the devastating reality towards the effects of plastic. From its production to its distribution, the identity of plastic has proven to damage the planet’s environment. When creating plastic, fossil fuels are used which harms the community that surrounds the factory that is creating the mentioned product; not only that, plastic and its creation method has become an easier interpretation to grow profit due to its effortless supply. While society demands to promote an abundance of plastic, society fails to recognize how to maintain the supply of plastic. Therefore, one may view how society chooses to do more harm than good for the matter. These actions can range from viewing companies burning plastic which produces more dangerous gases that pollute the atmosphere, to witnessing gruesome landfills that just build up and dirty the community. The goal to minimize the evolution of plastic can be found from its origin: the production stage. The narrator demonstrates that if society halts or severely minimizes the production of creating plastic, one might actually witness society healing and making Earth a better home to reside in.

Consumption is an act all global citizens have experienced. Regardless of which material is present during consumption, these processes are everywhere. From handling your drive-thru order from McDonalds to opening an Amazon package, these organizations produce so much material that have the ability to harm the environment; it all matters as to how we handle consumption. As someone who is actively concerned about the well-being of my home, I always try to reduce my acts of consumption. The following can be viewed when I refuse to have all of my groceries in a dozen plastic bags and recycle whenever I have the ability to. As a global citizen to a world that has experienced pollution in various degrees, I always try to do good for my home so I can live in a cleaner world, knowing that I did my part as a resident of Earth.

After viewing the following videos, the films inspired me to be more mindful about the home in which billions of us reside in. This home will not stand forever; thus, it is crucial that everyone in the world learns to treat and maintain their home to further aid the world’s lifespan. A few actions I have been inspired to implicate in my daily life would have to be using less plastic materials. While I view the use of many Ziploc bags to be a key in organization towards my snacks, the consumption of many plastic materials will harm the Earth in the long run. In addition, I would like to store documents and receipts in a digital manner to lessen my consumption of paper.

Various food waste products such as banana peels and pineapple leaves acquire fibers that can be reused to create fabric from garments; the mentioned statement is a practice that has been from the 1960’s. The issue at hand was that a scarce quantity of companies were involved with this practice. Therefore, Isaac Nichelson decided to spread awareness of this practice so that there is less waste in the world. The drive that Nichelson acquired came from the shocking statistic that all eaten bananas make up around 270 million tons of waste within a course of only a year. Since then, Nichelson met up with material scientist, Yitzac Goldstein, and Geof Kime to drive his motive. The three men produced circular systems to make the dream happen; thanks to modern technology, circular systems made the mission come true; circular systems created the process of Orbital which acted upon extracting the fibers from the waste into new durable yarn. Thanks to their system, their creation will slowly evolve the fashion industry to promote  less waste to the world.

In the fashion world, there is an alarming quantity of waste. The fashion waste can be originated from unsold inventory and deadstock fabric. These waste identities from the fashion industry are associated with 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. With these unfortunate discoveries, fashion companies are gradually becoming aware and desire to do good for the world (and most likely for the integrity of the brand’s name). Nonetheless, these companies’ alternative is to enforce stricter cautiousness in regards to the production of their inventory. By using smarter trend predictions and fabric cutting tools, companies are expecting to produce less waste to better the community with less waste from their products.

Reflection

When analyzing the following articles, I could not ignore the difference in journalism and other media. In the world of journalism, I feel as if I am being educated from the journalist. The article demonstrates to their audience, such as myself,  in- depth evidence, research, and information that gets me more involved into the mentioned subject in which they are trying to portray. In comparison to other media, readers can not feel as if they are being indulged into the material because the art of journalism is what uniquely captivates an audience. Journalism uses specific references and key words to evoke and pull in their audience towards their motive. Whether it be to have the  audience agree in political ideologies or (in this case) to persuade people to jump into the idea of being aware of pollution, these actions can be strongly enforced mainly towards journalism. In regards to the articles I read, I feel strongly towards the journalist’s motive in their subject. I can truly see and understand the crucial importance of being aware and finding solutions to one’s actions that are hurting the planet we all reside in. Thanks to the journalists of these articles, they were able to captivate and convince their audience into what they are trying to portray.

“Fashion has a waste problem. These companies want to fix it.” Solutions U, https://solutionsu.solutionsjournalism.org/stories/food-waste-is-going-to-take-over-the-fashion-industry.

In the regarded video, the speaker, Erin Meezan, illustrates an analogy throughout her presentation. Based on her ideologies, it is apparent to recognize the comparisons and differences in how human beings control matters and how nature effortlessly controls matters. Meezan promotes how nature uses elements within homeostasis and natural selection to develop with the developing planet and to prosper for many future generations on Earth. She points out that nature’s sense of efficiency is admirable to the point that even human beings should take notes at such. An example Meezan presented was the innovation of how many plants store carbon for usage in a way that does not harm the environment. Thus, human beings should become mindful and create ways that can help one’s circumstances that do not evidently harm their home.

In the regarded video, the speaker, Ryan Phelan, discusses the effects human beings have coerced that has negatively affected the overall community of which mankind has chosen to reside upon. While they discuss the differences between intentional and unintentional consequences human beings have demonstrated, they emphasize these actions can be handled in a beneficial way. A prominent example is when Phelan informs the reader of Elizabeth Ann. Ann is a ferret that is a part of a special ferret species that is slowly becoming extinct. While scientists can commit to inbreeding, these actions can result in the loss of genetic variation. That is why Elizabeth Ann was created by scientists to help benefit her species to produce more genetic variation for the species’ future generations. These intentional actions can allow nature to prosper and have these ferrets live for more generations.

When viewing the following presentations, it had awakened a new perception that I did not recognize when seeing the raw reality of the effects human beings do that can harm Earth as a long-term effect. While it is easy to understand the laws of cause and effect, it felt completely different to see these videos and see actions, that I did not even know were occurring, that will permanently affect the condition of the planet where billions of organisms live in. Human beings, similar to how nature commits to its obligations, adapt to further evolve their civilization; this has been proven to be effective. The issue of the matter is that human beings suffer when it comes to developing their society in a way that lessens their resources. When it comes to nature, scientists have seen plants and animals evolve to adapt to their evolving home. The basis of the two video presentations is to emphasize on focusing on the identity of nature because of how skillful and beneficial it can be when acknowledging the greatness of nature.

Phelan, Ryan. “Ryan Phelan: The intended consequences of helping nature thrive.” TED, 22 September 2021, https://www.ted.com/talks/ryan_phelan_the_intended_consequences_of_helping_nature_thrive.

The answer is that vegan and vegetarian choices of food carry similar nutritional facts, if not more. Even though these declarations may sound shocking, the speaker informs their audience upon the reality of the matter. Many vegan and vegetarian choices of food are given high processed ingredients that make them as balanced as regular foods, in regards to the balances of traditional foods.