Learning Journal 1
1. Write a brief introduction of yourself in the Learning Journal.
Hi! I am Hannah Via. I am 18, from Texas, USA, and currently pursuing a B.A. in Health Science.
2. Explain why you took this course and what you hope to learn from it.
I have always cared about the environment, even from a young age. I am hoping that this course can further explain to me how the environment works, what problems the environment is facing, and what I can do to help.
3. Please describe, in detail, some of the major environmental issues in your local village/community/town/region/nation. What are they? Why are they an issue? Do you know of any current actions to deal with it?
There are two major issues in Texas; water and oil. Texas is a
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(2010, October 01). The Colorado River Runs Dry. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-colorado-river-runs-dry-61427169/
Charles, D. (2017, August 03). The Gulf Of Mexicos Dead Zone Is The Biggest Ever Seen. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/03/541222717/the-gulf-of-mexicos-dead-zone-is-the-biggest-ever-seen
Cobler, P. (2018, January 24). Drought returns to Texas. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/24/texas-drought-ravages-panhandle/
Horn, S. (2017, April 24). Texas Pipeline Spills 600,000 Gallons of Oil One Week Before DAPL Is Approved. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.ecowatch.com/texas-oil-spill-dapl-2252577429.html
Texas Parks and Wildlife. (n.d.). Environmental Concern for Texas. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/environconcerns/
Also, a question I have for you, the instructor, is what do you expect out of each learning journal, discussion forum, and written assignment. For example, do you expect Times News Roman font? I am asking so I make sure my work is up to your standards. Thanks in advance for your
Course Description This course focuses on the causes of, impacts of, and solutions to environmental issues. Students identify global environmental issues as well as develop and critique environmental action plans. Topics include ecosystems, energy, populations, resources, pollution, and sustainability. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • • University policies: You must be logged into the
a. The first and most prominent thing that has worked well for me in this course was getting 2 attempts for every quiz and test. You told me that you believe in mastery learning and so do I. Learning from your mistakes brings an entirely new level of understanding. Also, if I do worse than expected on the first attempt I’m not stuck with a bad mark that I’m not satisfied with
If the North Dakota pipeline continues to be built, will it have a negative ecological impact? A part of the pipeline is routed to be underneath a part of the Missouri river known as Lake Oahe, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation’s main water supply. If the pipeline were to leak it would contaminated the river and surrounding areas. Pipes will eventually leak; the Dakota Access pipeline should not be built so close to bodies of water of any kind.
I liked everything about this course. The seminars, study plans, and the weekly discussions help
Already at 95% completion, the pipeline is scheduled to cross the Missouri River a mere 10 miles upstream from Standing Rock Reservation. The most urgent of the threats this pipeline proposes is the threat of contamination of the Missouri River, a crucial water source to both the Dakotas, particularly the Sioux nation tribes, for whom this river is their only source of water for drinking, irrigation, and fish. The pipeline was originally routed to cross the Missouri River further north, 10 miles upstream from the State’s Capital, Bismarck. However, after a study was conducted about the potential impact of pipeline spills, given the proximity to wellheads serving as the City’s source of drinking water, the route was rejected and moved to Standing Rock. Oil spills are the greatest environmental concern when considering the pipeline’s potential harm. North Dakota has experienced 292 oil spills in the last two years alone, despite those companies who own the various pipelines ensuring that spills are a rarity, citing “safeguards” that prevent them. The reality is that oil spills are a frequent occurrence when transporting oil for thousands of miles, so the matter of oil spills is not a question of if, but rather when, and how many(Mckenna). Of all the nearly 300 spills that occurred in North Dakota
When the environment is disturbed, people are greatly affected, and this can cause serious damage to human and living beings. The proper utilization of these resources helps to control environmental pollution and can help for establishing clean and healthy environment. I will work with this committee to conserve the environment in the state of Texas and in the whole country.
The Interior Department manages almost 500 million acres of public land, about one-fifth of the surface land area of the United States. The original organizing of public lands was based mainly on having land for ranchers to graze their livestock and to preserve the natural resources of the United States. What came from necessity has developed into a $646-billion-a-year industry. Our national public lands are host to not only Ranchers and a rare outdoor enthusiast. Now they are used and abused by utility-scale renewable energy projects, mining, hikers, anglers, hunters,
In 2011, Texas experienced its most gruesome drought since the 1950’s. During this drought the average rainfall from October through April was 5.82 inches. The drought effected the vast majority of the livestock, agricultural, and wildlife in Texas. Droughts cause numerous problems and effect vast amounts of wildlife and human lives.
Curiously, the body of water which contains one of the largest dead zones is the Gulf of Mexico. The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is vast, so much so, that an article in The Advocate compares it to two states. “…stretching 6,474 square miles… the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined…” ( Amy Wold "Dead zone larger than last summer *** Triple the size of the task force-set target”)
Keeping a working economy has always been one of Texas’ main concerns. In order to convince companies to move to Texas, regulations and economic conditions were created in their favor. While it has helped in keeping a booming economy, it has left us with a polluted environment which in turn led the federal government to step in and try to create the regulations Texas refused to make. The Environmental Protection Agency tried increasing the water they regulate with the new Clean Water Act, but may have overstepped their boundaries. Texas should continue having a booming economy, but an increase in environmental regulations is a must in order to avoid federal government intervention.
Inventory: I am an independent learner, so this course is perfect for my learning style. I’m also a spatial learner which means I take in information by studying graphics. One way I would
“The drought in the Colorado River basin has been going on as long as in California, though it hasn’t been severe it still has been significant,” AccuWeather Western Weather Expert Ken Clark said.
I would recommend this course to other students and friends because it’s an enjoyable learning experience, but I would inform them about the amount of course work that is demanded from this course. And, if the course load worries them and is the only reason that is holding them back from taking the course then I would inform them about being able to attend as a community member, which I am sure will sound much
The flooding and raining in Texas is due to a storm system that has accumulated a lot of evaporation through the central and northern Rocky Mountains because of the water cycles track. It is also precipitating immensely over the central and northern plains. This huge amount of rain is giving Iowa, eastern Nebraska, and South Dakota a high flooding rate. The 2 feet of runoff from the rain will have a great affect on the flooding situation. Because of the excess groundwater the water levels are rising which also contributes to the flooding also. The erosion from the flooding and rain is going to damage people's backyards, deposit anywhere, and cause many problems.
The debate over preservation and conservation of the natural resources has been going on for almost a hundred years, with little conclusion. The government of the United States, along with advocates from each state, need to reach a consensus to provide methods of conservation to the country that prevents wasteful usage of nonrenewable and natural resources and leaves wilderness for later generations to