Final Blog

It is difficult to say what kind of mind I have. I don't really like to classify myself. I consider my mind to be a mixture of things. However, I would say that my mind falls under the qualifications of a synthesizing mind. I am always the one to explain concepts to my friends. Just last period, I had to explain the connection between the Ku Klux Klan and the New Palestine Dragons. In this blog, I was able to read other articles, pick out the information that would most relate to my "big question", and use only what I needed.

I exhibit curiosity mostly when I feel that information given to me is incorrect or skewed. I also like to find new information that relates to my interests. I was able to do that in this blog because I got to pick the topic and research it myself. I like to challenge my own beliefs. Sometimes I would go back through and read things and wonder if it was a good decision to put that on there. I like to write not only something that I find interesting, but something that might catch the eye of other's. It is no good writing something for a cause if no one is going to be interested in it.

The thing that surprised me most was that I did not mind writing on the computer. I usually feel that the quality of my writing is taken away when I type it rather than write it out, but I found that that was not the case this time. I was able to use engaging tactics even on the computer, although I still prefer the old fashioned pen to paper.

Another way to get involved in going green is to push for more engineering in this way. Scientists are desperately trying to find new energy sources, seeing as how we are running out of the what we have. Some interesting facts about new energy sources and the negative side effects of the energy we use now:

1. 1% of Australia's untapped geothermal energy could power the planet for 26,000 years.
2. 1% of people in China 560 million city residents breathe air that it considered safe by the
United Nations.
3. Less than 1% of the world's fresh water is available for humans.
4. Everyday the US creates trash with a weight equivalent to that of the Empire State
building.
5. 20 to 50 million metric tons of electronic waste is produced every year.

These are just a few facts foreshadowing the future that we are currently creating. But, if we reverse our greedy, indulging ways today, we may be able to make tomorrow happier for people all around the world.

A fun way to get an idea of how much you effect the world around you. Everyone's consumption and greed contributes to the destruction of our planet, some of us more than others. Take this quiz to see how many planets it would take to support your lifestyle if everyone lived like you. I was amazed to see that it would take 4 3/4 planets if everyone lived like me. It makes you think of how much you are using, and how you may be depriving future generations of the valuable resources we over-indulge in now. A reality check may be the cheapest way to start going green.

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/personal_footprint/

Recycled Cell Phones

As often as Americans get new cell phones, we might as well try going green with them. Nokia has created a new cell phone made from (almost) all recycled materials. The outside is made from recycled aluminum, the glass is made from recycled bottles, and the rubber on the hinge comes from recycled tires. The insides are not made from recycled materials, but are from previous phones. The company is also reducing the packaging it uses when shipping phones, saving 150 million euros a year.