Group Summary

housewithoutplanet

In our research we found that the coverage of on the environment in society is more ubiquitous among social media than the more traditional media outlets. When we researched “solar AND wind” among four major newspapers in the past 3 months, only 9 stories came up in the results. Whereas we also found that people were actively commenting on Wal-Mart’s Facebook page concerning their sustainability initiative. Books and academic journals generally had good information, but sometimes it was difficult to find stories that were up-to-date.

What does this mass media trend say about our society and the environment?

We would like to suggest that this denotes a marked difference between how mass media channels and individuals view the environment. The trend within social media indicates that individuals see that the environment is important, and that the way we utilize our natural ecosystems has a direct effect on society. On the contrary, mass media outlets seem to brush over certain environmental debates. This is despite the fact that, as we have shown, the way in which we understand and care for the environment is very pertinent to the more covered healthcare, energy, global warming, affordable housing, and food discussions.

Whether or not this phenomenon is actual in practice or purposeful on the part of traditional mass media outlets remains to be seen. However, our observations do have an interesting application to the ideas we have been discussing in class. First, the comparative increase of environmentalism among social media outlets over traditional media channels supports the active user theory. If users are creating media of a different variety than the traditional media, clearly, they are filtering out certain elements and engaging media critically.

Also inherent when discussing mass media and the environment are the issues of political controversy and the media’s “watch dog” role. By cutting corners on certain environmental issues the media has certainly ceased to function as a watch dog. When our blog focused on food, it was clear to see that there are problems with our system, but very few media outlets focus on this. This failure is closely tied with political controversy. A large degree of political change would have to occur in order for our society to become better in tune with the environment and reap more of its benefits. Presently, more traditional media outlets are obviously not ready to incite this change.

But why? Fear of advertising revenues? It could be that conglomerates, which own other companies that engage in environmentally irresponsible business practices, own certain mass media channels. Perhaps it could be explained by demographics. Newspapers might run fewer stories about the environment and more stories on health care, because there readers are generally elderly. Similarly, different television news channels may present skewed view of environmental issues that are more in line with their average users’ political idealology. That being said, more coverage is needed on how our society and the environment can mutually benefit, rather than hurt, one another.

Always Low Prices..and Low Carbon Emissions?

wal-mart-green-labeling

Wal-Mart has taken heed from the new green sustainability kick and decided to push forth with their new sustainability initiative. Wal-Mart’s decision to go the sustainability route is not a new concept. Many companies such as Exxon Mobile have decided to move their companies towards the sustainability effort.

In their recent efforts to prove their strides towards sustainability, Wal-Mart has built three facilities that run completely on solar power in California. The program began in May 2007 and is expected to:

  • Generate up to 32 million kilowatt hours
  • Avoid producing more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emission per year
  • Provide 20 to 30 % of each facility’s total electric energy needs

Wal-Mart states that the implementation of these stores is furthering their goal of being supplied 100% by renewable energy sources. What is interesting about this new initiative of Wal-Mart is that those in the social media community, such as Facebook, have been commenting and expressing their opinions on Wal-Mart’s sustainability.

Many of the comments Wal-Mart has received through social media outlets are more concerned with Wal-Mart lowering their prices than with the actual topic of sustainability. Though critics believe that is just the nature of the Wal-Mart shopper who tends not to worry about such things as climate change and sustainability. However, it is apparent that by Wal-Mart reaching out to their customers through social media that they are not only trying to become more sustainable but a more transparent and open company to their customers.

Eco Home Sweet Home

 

Eco Home

 Don’t think a house can help save the environment? Then you are sadly mistaken my friend. With the emergence of eco friendly homes, the world can see how the very materials and resources used to make a house not only effect the environment but can save it as well.

 One benefit of eco friendly homes is that they are equipped with adequate insulation to insure that the homes are in a stable and controlled temperature. This is for the mere fact that the houses built today do not have adequate insulation to handle nature’s climate cycles. This is detrimental to the environment because heating and cooling the home creates pollution from the additional electricity production of air conditioners.

 Eco Homes Solution

  • Loft insulation is an effective way to insulate because most heat is lost through the roof.
  • Cavity wall insulation is effective because a third of all heat is lost through the walls and this insulation reduces heat loss.
  • Photovoltaic Solar Panels and Solar Thermal Collectors that turn sunlight into electricity for the home.

 However, eco friendly homes can also be a good for your health. Many of the traditional homes built contain pesticides, dioxins, and toxic metals that can accumulate slowly in body tissue. Eco homes only use non-allergenic building materials and natural heating and cooling ventilation systems that keep the environment in the house healthy. So whether it’s your first home or your dream house for retirement, an eco friendly home should be at the top of your list.

Is It Hot Enough For Ya?

 global_warming_by_teabing

Wonder why it’s a little colder than usual in the winter? Why it’s a little too hot in the summer? The answer is global warming and climate change. Global warming and climate change are two subjects that have become major issues in the world today. Yet, many do not know the facts behind the emergence of global warming and climate change which may lead some to be skeptics.

 Global warming and climate change are due to an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns and increase in greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases lead to warming in the Earth’s climate leading to global warming. However, some regions may experience cooling or wetter weather.

 Effects of Climate Change

  • More extreme weather patterns, super storms
  • More hurricanes
  • Longer dry spells or intense rains
  • Dramatic increase in greenhouse gases
  • Massive extinction of species will aggravate the environmental crisis

 What Can You Do?

  • Seal and insulate your home
  • Use green power which is environment friendly electricity generated by renewable energy
  • REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

 Global warming and climate change effect people, plants, and animals and protecting the environment from access greenhouse gases and pollution will insure that we have a better world for the next generation

 More information on Global Warming

Can There Ever Be Too Much Recycling?

 

 Could recycling really hurt more than it helps the environment? There are some critics who believe that recycling in excess can be detrimental to society.  One of those people is Daniel Benjamin an economist who wrote an article titled “Eight Great Myths of Recycling.” In this article he describes the 8 myths that lead people to believe recycling is the ultimate answer to environmental well being such as:

  • Our Garbage Will Bury Us
  • Our Garbage Will Poison Us
  • Recycling Always Protects the Environment

However, there are negative factors of recycling that do support Benjamin’s claim that the listed above are not infallible such as:

  • Abandoned dump sites for recycling, when left unmanaged, damage the surrounding environment
  • Harmful chemicals in the trash can mix water into soil causing water and soil pollution
  • Paper recycling can be costly because it takes different industrial processing such as bleaching to make it usable.

Though he does point out the negative and contradictory aspects of recycling he states that informed and voluntary recycling conserves resources and helps our wealth, while mandatory recycling only leads people to do what they know is not sensible and hurt society rather than help it. In respects to Benjamin’s opinion I also believe that we should not blindly recycle or do any other measure to conserve the environment without looking at its causes and effects.

Oh How Your Food Travels!

Fresh produce at a local farmer's market
Fresh produce at a local farmer’s market

 Many people when eating a banana or a carrot do not think about what it takes for their food to make it to the grocery store for them to buy and eat. However, this should be of great concern to all of us because the more our food travels the more it affects our environment.

The transportation of produce and the processing and packaging of produce puts large amounts of stress on the environment and it is entirely dependent on fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

What is the solution to this? Local foods have been proven as one of the best ways to solve this problem. What are local foods? Local foods can range from buying your produce from a local Farmer’s Market or growing them in your own back yard.  The idea is that buying local foods that are grown closer to home is more sustainable and better for the environment than industrial food production.

Facts Supporting Local Foods

  • A typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table
  • Farmers’ market enable farmers to keep 80 to 90 cent of each dollar spent by the consumer
  • Communities reap more economically from the presence of small farms than they do large ones.

However, there are some that say the local food push is not all it’s cracked up to be. For instance some say that if long distance items were transported by rail the energy cost would be lower. Also they state that individuals driving back and forth for one food item is as detrimental to the environment industrial production.

Yet these critics do highlight the social benefits of local foods stating that it is important to build a relationship between producer and consumer and know more about the food you are eating.