Footprint Results

At the beginning, these were my results:

- 4 planets to provide enough resources
- 44% on services
32% food
11% shelter
9% goods
4% mobility
- 17.8 global acres to support my lifestyle (17.5 tons of CO2)

After a day my results changed to:

- 3.6 planets
- 48% Services
21% food
16% goods
11% shelter
5% mobility
- 16.2 global acres (17.1 tons of CO2)

As shown, I increased in some areas and decreased in some areas, but over all used less acres, planets, and tons of CO2. I believe that it is effective to decrease your carbon footprint, however I wouldn't necessarily choose this program to do so because there are quite a few defaults. For example it asks how much you pat for electricity, when the amount of electricity that we pay for isn't only a result of what I used, and other things along those lines. As a society there are plenty of ways we can reduce our footprint such as eat more local foods, buy less home appliances, car pool, and recycle. I believe that it's very important to be aware and informed on the environment.

Footprint End and Career Interview

Stop - 2:13pm

As far as the career interview assignment that we're supposed to do, i'm doing mine next week because i'm interviewing my bestfriend's mom and thatt's the next time i'll see her. :]

Footprint

11:22 am - start.

FTR

For the record, it's currently 12:19pm, so I'm not sure why my technology post says 9 something.

No Technology

The time I decided to start my no technology day was pretty much chosen for me. My Internet was down on my main computer around 11:30pm last night, so I decided to start then. My day without technology wasn't technically difficult, but it was really different. I am fully aware of how much I text and go on my facebook, but I never realized how much I talk to my mom on the phone everyday, and how much I use the Internet to help me with school work and google. Google is a device that I use so often, it's scary. I couldn't imagine not being able to use it. I spent my day like I normally would, but instead of waking up and checking my email and calling my mom and best friend, I woke up and sat in silence. I eventually listened to my iPod, but besides that and the barking of my dogs, they're wasn't much sound. I would have read and been fine, except that I currently have no new books to read, and I would have worked on my papers for my other classes, but I shortly discovered that I would need to use the Internet to look up information.
Driving to school wasn't bad because I just listened to the Twilight Soundtrack :] but once I was at school and there are people all over campus on their phones and computers, I was very tempted to text someone, or at the very least check my email. Something that allows me to talk to people that I'm not able to see face to face at that moment in time. The most difficult thing about the day wasn't the now Internet, or the no TV, I've gone days before without using them because I have other things to do; but the hardest thing was not being able to talk to my mom and my best friend. My mom and I have a very close relationship, we talk on the phone everyday, I mean, I live with her, but she's still someone I like to talk to everyday. And then there was Laura, my best friend. She's going to school in Jacksonville, so the only way I can communicate with her anytime is using technology. The rest of it wasn't that bad. I had my music (no radio of course) so I was really okay.
In terms of our generation and the amount of technology dependency that we possess, I wouldn't classify it as a negative thing at all. The fact that we're able to talk to people on the opposite side of the world, and watch footage of things happening all over the world, being able to search for something and get results in just seconds is remarkable. While there are quite a few people who suggest that we don't need all the technology we have, I wouldn't say that we NEED it, but I wouldn't say that we didn't need it either. Current technology helps us as a society in a huge way, and while a day without it wasn't the worst thing ever, it was a day that I would just rather not have had to do because even though I was fine, and I lived, being able to talk to people that I cant see 24/7 is something I hold very dear. Overall, I see the point in the assignment, but I am perfectly happy in taking advantage of all of the communication technology that's offered.

Injustice

For my final paper I chose to write about the injustices that the gay/lesbian community faces; specifically the issue regarding adoption. At the current moment in time, people who are gay/lesbian are not lawfully allowed to adopt children from Florida foster homes. While this is not an injustice that will affect me directly, it will affect people very close to me. This issue just simply doesn't make any sense. Who are we to say that someone isn't capable of being a great parent just because they choose to love someone of the same sex? Not to mention, lesbian women are able to go get artificial insemination, producing a child of their own, yet they aren't allowed to adopt a child. In terms of affecting our society, this not only affects the children currently in foster care that would have the potential of being adopted by a gay/lesbian couple if it was allowed, but it also restricts the lives of those couples who truly want to adopt and build a family. The solution to this is simple, to allow these couples to adopt. There is no potential danger or risk that Florida would be taking, it's only religious views that would be affected at all. Although not everyone will probably ever agree on the issue, the truth is, these couples are just as capable of being parents as a heterosexual couple. As a society we need to be more accepting of people as they are and not restrict them from doing good just because of who they choose to love.