outline

Argument Outline
Intro to subject
-Thesis: The rainforest is being destroyed at an alarming rate and this destruction should be stopped because the rainforest can offer many pharmaceutical needs, help slow the destruction being caused by global warming, and help increase species diversity on the earth.
-Why is the rainforest being destroyed?
-ground for farming/cattle grazing
-logging of rare hardwoods
-Rates of destruction
Argument
Why save the rainforest?
-Pharmaceutical value
-25% of western pharmaceuticals come from rainforest plant species
-Ecological importance for reducing global warming
-CO2 cycles
-Species diversity
-why is this important?
What is going on now to help save the rainforest
-World Land Trust and conservation efforts
Get the audience involved
How can you help?
Conclusion
Restate the thesis and information that shows how important the rainforest is to continue our way of life

Bibliography
Amazon rainforest. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.theopenline.org/environment3.htm
Causes of global warming. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.acoolerclimate.com/causes-of-global- warming.html
Cleal, C. J. , & Thomas, B. A. (2005). Palaeozoic tropical rainforests and their effect on global. Geobiology, 3(1), Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=18&hid=4&sid=e1fa890d-7c1c-4a40-9611- ec66f4d9419d%40sessionmgr11 doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2005.00043.x
Rainforest conservation in action with the world land trust, international wildlife conservation organisation world land trust. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.worldlandtrust.org/
Rainforest maker. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.rainforestmaker.org/home/index.php
Rainforest destruction. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_015.htm
Taylor, L. (1996). Rainforest facts. Retrieved from http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Food Inc part 183-218

The part of the book by Joel Salatin was very good. I enjoyed reading it. He did a very good job of explaining how we, as consumers, do have a choice about what we eat, and he explained what the consequences are of eating factory-produced food. Joel does a good job of trying to reach out to all different kinds of people. I think his main audience is roughly 25 years old and up. I say this because it is triggered at people to own or rent a house, and who do their own grocery shopping. He does a great job of explaining how people that own their own yard can start a garden and grow their own foods and trade foods, but he also explained things that people living in apartment complexes, that may not have a yard, can do. I really was shocked when he said that he knew of someone who was raising hens for fresh eggs in their apartment. I don’t personally think I could live with hens running around my apartment, but it is good to hear that people are willing to try these things to help change our food system.

While reading other sections of the book I was thinking about the audiences. All of them seem to be the age group around 25 and older. I think it would be a good idea to make this same kind of movie and book for younger children. The children of our society are targeted by factory-produced food makers and it would be a good idea to show these children where the food they want comes from. This may help to get children to want to eat their fruits and veggies, and grow up to believe in a more sustainable way of eating. Maybe this would help bring awareness to their parents also since it seems we live in a culture that is sheltered from where our food comes from and what it is made from.

Positin Statment and Food, Inc. Part 2

For my researched argument essay, I have decided to take the position of pro save the rainforest. I chose this position because after researching about the rainforest I’ve become very aware of what it has to offer us, and ways it can still be used and not destroyed at the same time. I plan to cover the medicinal value, ecological value, and economic value the rainforest has. I will give examples of how the rainforest can be used to better local and global communities as long as it is still standing. I plan to also include ways that the average person can help save the rainforest.

I really enjoyed the “Why Bother” section of Food, Inc. It gave me insight to what I can do to help slow global climate change. I feel like it reinforced my want to continue recycling, planting gardens, and minimize the use of electronic devices (which is really hard to do as a college student). My roommates and I planted a garden last year, and I would like to do it again but I’m not sure it will be possible where I will be living. It was such a great convenience to have a garden. It saved me money also which was great! I loved having fresh veggies whenever I needed them. I also try really hard to recycle. It is hard sometimes if I’m not at my house, but I do notice how much it really cuts down on the amount of garbage I have to put out every week. This chapter just really made me want to keep doing things, and if possible do more.

I also found the “Exposure to Pesticides” part interesting. I found the part that linked exposure to pesticides to hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and motor dysfunctions very interesting since we are seeing an increase in all of these today in our young children. This connection I think would really help change parents minds about going organic. If they didn’t want to before hearing this, I think they will now.

Food, Inc. Part 1

One thing I learned from the film was that it is possible for farms to be organic and mass produce food. The film showed how Stonyfield was purchased by Groupe Danone. They were able to continue making yogurt that was “organic” even when their company was experiencing a huge increase in demand. I guess I always looked at mass food production as necessary and the way it was done was the only way to produce enough food, but this segment of the movie proves that wrong. It was a refreshing part of the movie and I think that is why it stood out to me. It was reassuring in that food can be mass produced, can be healthy, and can be safe. In the movie they visited an organic farm, where the owner was experiencing the same kind of increase in demand and he was able to stay true to himself and his values and continue to grow pigs and chickens in a natural environment that kept them safe and healthy. Showing both sides of the spectrum, raising and marketing, really showed me how it is possible to change where our food comes from, and make all the food we consume safer.

The reading by Gary Hirshberg really sent this home for me. It was really interesting to learn how Stonyfield came about and became so successful. It is a story I think many farmers that are struggling to stay organic should hear. It is possible for them to continue working, even when they think they may go under. It was a great story that really appealed to my emotions because it was about people working together to create something better for all.

Another thing I find interesting is that in the opening piece Eric Schlosser says, “I didn’t really want to write a political piece.” I find this interesting because Eric Reece was the same way in Lost Mountain. It seems that many of these environmental issues and impacts lead back to politics and government regulations that are not being followed. I understand the difficulty of tacking something such as writing about these issues as they relate to politics, but it would be interesting to trace back the people and money lines that have made American companies into what they are today be it coal companies or major fast-food chains.

OU beyond coal panel

I went to the panel for OU beyond coal. The panel discussed different ways OU is researching or could possibly use to replace coal as our electricity source. Among the things they discussed were biofuels, electrochemical power, coal electrolysis, wind power, and solar power. Wind power, biofuels, coal electrolysis are all being researched here that the university. Coal electrolysis is a way to make CO2 in a safer, usable form. The carbon that is made is extremely expensive to buy, but we would be able to produce it and use it. The major issue that was brought up is that we would still be using coal. We would not be burning it so the emissions are gone, but there is still the fact that the coal must be mined and we should not allow coal mining to continue to run the way it does today. It needs to be regulated better and that is out of our hands here at the university. Wind power seems like it could be promising but not anytime soon. The research hasn’t been done to see if we have enough wind here enough of the time to harvest energy to power campus. Once this is research is done we will be better able to decide if wind is a good replacement for coal. One of the speakers talked about some conversions other universities have done. Some of these were geothermal power and burning of natural gas. To me, it sounded like solar energy was the most promising of the choices. It was said that OU would not have to pay for all of it themselves; a 3rd party company will most likely help out. We would just need about 10 acres for a solar panel field.

One point was brought up that struck me. An audience member said we’ve got to cut back before we can really move forward. I think this was a great point. So much power is wasted everyday on campus. We should start using things more efficiently and cut back on power where it isn’t needed. I remember being on campus during spring break last year. I was walking around campus at about 11:00 pm. All the lights in all the classrooms were on. Class was not in session, and would not be in session for a week. There was no reason for all the lights in all the buildings to be on. We need to be smarter about the electric we are using so we can find the most efficient way to power the campus in the future.