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.

Green Eggs and Ham to Green Gas in Car

Would you fuel your car with this?
Would you fuel your car with this?

            In the 1960’s when the book Green Eggs and Ham was released, going green indicated the color of a child’s face when they were too sick to go to school. Yet when the story about taking something natural, like ham and eggs, and turning it green became popular, the world was never the same. Ever since Dr. Seuss’ green inspiration, the world can’t get enough green. The new form of green, currently in the process of being heavily researched, is the transformation of algae to oil. In 1996 the U.S. government stopped its algae-as-fuel research program because it thought it could never compete with petroleum oil. However, with a new eco-friendly mindset, people are realizing the potential in algae:

  • Is plentiful
  • Can be processed into oil and gas
  • Won’t compete with food supply
  • Help solve global warming by growing off of power plant’s carbon emissions and greenhouse gases

            With the recession causing a 10 percent drop in the oil industry, companies are struggling. One of these companies is ExxonMobil, who is currently hurting from the 66 percent drop in second-quarter earnings. ExxonMobil’s new strategy to help business: go green. It is all over the media, on highway billboards, internet advertisements, and television commercials. ExxonMobil is taking action in the research of algae into oil by investing $600 million towards research. And what do they ask of you? For your support by purchasing gas at ExxonMobil stations. The media can’t get enough of the return of the algae-as-fuel push, and stresses that even the worst things for the environment, transportation that doesn’t include a bicycle or Razor scooter, are not so bad after all. In fact, the media urges people to fill up their cars from companies that support the algae research. So much for spending $22,000 on a Toyota Prius. I’ll just drive my Hummer to the nearest ExxonMobil station, fill her up for $67.84, and give me a Save the Planet sticker.

Are You Ready to Bond With Nature Again?

nature-summer-wallpaper-22

The popular push in society today is to live green. Whether it is using florescent light bulbs because they save energy or buying reusable bags for groceries, the world has moved to the green side. Going green has had such an enormous effect on our world. But what happens when we die? Will we as individuals have made a big enough dent in the green world to stop deforestation, global warming, and crumpling of the o-zone? We don’t need to worry ourselves anymore, because with green funerals, dying can be green.

There are roughly 56 million people that die worldwide each year. This means 50 million trees are cut down and used for funeral coffins and the fixes, which releases 8 million tons of carbon dioxide. By the year 2020, the percentage of mercury will increase to 25 percent from cremating because of the burning of fillings in teeth. Most people don’t realize the coffins and vaults they buy slow down the rate of decomposition.

So how do we go green when we die?  This natural process of returning to nature can be made through the preservation of the body and having a green ceremony.

  • Avoid embalming. It slows down the process of decomposition
  • Use cardboard, bamboo, or jute coffins which are biodegradable
  • Use recycled paper for programs and hymns
  • Buy flowers from local growers
  • Have people carpool to the funeral
  • Provide organic refreshments
  • Decompose of body using My Living Reef

For any other questions regarding green funerals or for more information, there is a Green Burial Council. This council is working, trying to make green burial a national standard.

It’s Trendy to Save the Environment!

Look at our Polar Bears!

Supporting world peace and world hunger was so 5 years ago. Now, the trendy thing to support is the cause for global warming! Don’t get me wrong, there are still billions of us out there supporting numerous causes. Just look for the ‘Coexist’ and ‘Save the ta-tas stickers… on the back of our Toyota Prius’ and hybrid cars of course! This sudden kick to stop global warming has hit the United States hard and fast. But limiting the amount of oil you burn in the winter to warm up your house isn’t going to be enough to save the oh so cute polar bears our children study about in school. So what do we do and why are we even doing it?

The idea is simple. Mother Earth has been sweating up a storm, about a 1 degree F. increase, over the last 100 years. People are concerned because this temperature increase changes rainfall patterns, melts glaciers, and a bunch of other things that will increase the sea level. If we keep destroying the earth with our man made inventions, the green that we walk upon will no longer exist.

In order to make citizens happy, the United States government created a Climate Policy. This policy includes concepts like using voluntary based programs to reduce emissions and promote the reduction of greenhouse gas. There are companies like Energy Star, Climate Leaders, and Methane Voluntary Programs to encourage those to limit the amount of emission they produce. The concept of global warming will not have a huge effect on us, personally. However, in a few thousand years, the changes we made to reduce emission will save the green of our earth.

Don’t Hate, Donate!

Organizing clothing donations for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Organizing clothing donations for Hurricane Katrina victims.

            Everyone wonders why teenagers are so difficult to handle. Maybe it is because they don’t have the latest cell phone, the newest John Mayer album downloaded on their iPod, or mom refused to buy the expensive pair of sneakers that everyone at school is wearing. The concept of socialization drains money out of our wallets like Niagara Falls. So what’s the trick to keeping your teen happy and a padlock on your wallet? Donating of course!

            The Council for Textile Recycling states the average family can produce about 4-10 bags of no longer worn clothes every year. Just look in your teen’s closet for the clothes that are “so last month.” These clothes can be donated and tax deducted, meaning money… well it doesn’t go back into your wallet, but less is taken out from taxes! In 2003, taxpayers deducted $5.8 billion alone from donating clothes. Every year about 8.75 billion pounds of post-consumer textiles gets chucked in the trash because people think they can’t be reused. Think again!

  • 8.75 billion pounds thrown out textiles
  •         4.13 billion pounds recovered
  •                    2.15 billion pounds recycled as secondhand clothing
  •                    1.12 billion pounds converted into fibers
  •                     860 million pounds becomes wiping and polishing clothes

            Companies like The Salvation Army and Goodwill are great places to donate. They take used items like clothing, appliances, electronics, and furniture, and sell them in their retail stores, where 100% of the proceeds go to charity. Around the holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, the media loves to promote the good cause of donating in order to inspire the public to help those less fortunate. During the regular year, however, the media mostly portrays the scams associated with donating. This is partially because:

  • Media looks good reporting on charities.
  • Viewers love drama.
  • Viewers may get motivated to donate.

So how do we motivate everyone to donate no matter what time of the year it is? I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m starting by spreading the word.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

         food-waste

            How many times have you put your nose to a gallon of milk to see if it smells sour one day after the expiration date? Have you ever picked up an apple at the grocery store and put it down because it had a tiny brown spot? Well, you are not alone. More than one-third of the food in the U.S. that is produced for consumption will not be eaten. To put it in perspective, if every American showed up to the Rose Bowl Stadium with a pound of food, not only will the stadium be filled to the top with wasted food, it will represent how much is actually wasted a day.

            Now these are not just the table scraps that I am talking about here. Grocery stores throw away fruits and vegetables due to minor cosmetic blemishes, while leftover dinners get thrown out daily in our own kitchens. It is not about the 96.4 billion pounds of the 356 billion pounds of edible food that gets chucked in the trash, or the $150 billion a year spent on food that never reaches our mouths. It is about what our country is not doing to help prevent such incredible waste in such a crucial time.

            The Nation’s Food Bank Network reported that donations of food are down 9 percent, while the number of people showing up for food has increased by 20 percent. Due to the economic crisis, money is tight for advertising, and publicizing the need for donations has been increasingly difficult. The media occasionally reports on hunger struggles around the U.S., however, not much is exposed on how much food gets wasted. In order to help eliminate wasted food, small steps are being taken by major influences including:

  • College campuses eliminating trays
    • How does this help? Students now have to carry individual plates instead of filling up a tray with food they might not eat.
  • Restaurants are offering smaller portions.
    • How does this help? Restaurants like T.G.I. Fridays are offering smaller portions for those who know they will not be able to eat as much to limit the amount of food that goes into the trash.
  • Restaurants are donating their leftovers.
    • How does this help? From lasagna to apple pie, whatever was not served but is still good can be donated to a food bank, the donation is tax deductible, and less goes in the trash, which means the cost for taking out the trash is less.

So how can we, as individuals, help prevent the obscene amount of wasted food? Here are a few steps to follow:

  • Plan your meals before you grocery shop
  • Make a detailed shopping list and stick to it
  • Serve reasonable size portions
  • Save leftovers
  • Eat leftovers