My Article has been published!

http://www.loyno.edu/twomey/bread-world-and-global-network-justice

I'm excited. Even though I'm listed as a Freshman. S'all good.

economy v. ecology

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/world/europe/15russia.html?ref=europe

Class Farewell

What a semester it has been! We have travel all through this continent (I originally put "of ours" at the end of the line, but decided not to). I'm really happy that we ended with Bayou Farewell. I don't think it was just because it's closest or most relatable to us; I felt that it wrapped everything we've been talking about the whole semester into one. The idea of place, home, identity, land, human-nature relationship, and so much more. I think even though we live so close to the bayous, none of us have really seen or heard of the bayou quite like this before. I got so attached to this Cajun story and so invested in all the characters and I wanted to know what happened to them or how things turned out. I love their relationship and understanding of the lands. There is a great respect for the land and closeness with it. They know this is their place, this is their 'home'. They know what is happening to the marshes, but they don't know any other life, it is the only life they want. They are so aware of what is going on, and know that it is happening so fast that their children won't see some of the land they saw as a child. I liked the dynamics of all people Tidwell visited because there were a variety of them from the Cajuns, Native Americans, and the Vietnamese. Each person treated and connected with the land differently, but they all had the same understanding of its lost. That leaves the question of us. We are also a part of this land, especially since we are that close to it. What do we do and how can we help reduce the marsh loss? I think after this class we have seen our place in this world more clearly and understand the intricate relationship humans and nature has. We are all more conscious of our actions which is a great start so we can continue to grow and move further.

Egg-Shaped Green House

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! It's super amazing and everything we would love. An architecture student in China built a six foot high egg house from bamboo strips, wood pieces, sacks, and grass patches. It's solar power and he can fit it on the sidewalk! Too amazing. Check it out.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/beijing-architect-lives-in-egg-shaped-house-on-sidewalk-2425090/#photoViewer=6

in it together

I have been thinking back to our last discussion, and how the question was proposed as to why environmental issues should be approached from the angle of literature; what is its benefit over the less-meandering, more direct scientific route; etc... The idea of the importance of environmental studies belonging in an interdisciplinary arrangement has been brought into my awareness repeatedly recently. I just finished reading Unscientific America for my Environmental Communications course- itself an interesting blend of counter-intuitively compatible academic domains- which addressed the need for the science and mass culture to merge once again in order to address the urgent environmental situations we face. The book is a proponent of broadening the role of scientists to include public outreach and include in their training "receiver-oriented communication skills" (as opposed to source-oriented), meaning most basically that the language with which the information be shared not resemble babble to a layman. Scientists should be versed in the ways of politics, popular media and entertainment (all of which they traditionally mistrust or underestimate the capacity of) in order to make their message readily accessible to all, not just those who already share their common interest. Narrowing this argument in application to our question of the study of environmental issues in literature, the reasoning is much the same. For those not very receptive to science, as many are who study the humanities, even going as far as thinking the two fields incompatible or opposite, there needs to be an array of mediums that resonate the same foundational message: that there is no escaping the intricate entwinement of man and nature (in matter, mind, and spirit), to even hold the two words separate is nonsensical, and the acknowledgement of this inseparability implies immediate responsibility on our part. Our false sense of separation and subsequent ways of living is a holistic problem, and while environmental science may highlight its symptoms, studies in literature, religion, philosophy, etc. may better address the underlying anthropocentric misconceptions and values that brought about those symptoms. We will not heal the earth back to its full potential health by restoring the land grass stalk by stalk on our bellies in the muck (though small symbolic actions for hope are certainly important), we must understand why we weakened it by stripping it bare and injecting it with poisons to begin with. So just as much as scientific understanding yielding technological innovation may be part of the solution to working our way out of this mess, so is a long look inward to try to identify where our consciousness strayed from perceiving truth. Good luck everyone...search hard and don't forget what we've dug up so far. The answers are right under our feet.

PS Here's what Pollan Said:

Courtney: Many thanks for the note and the suggestions, which I look forward to reading and digesting. Warm regards and gratitude to your students. Michael

--------Original Message----------
Sent Thursday, Dec. 9 2010

Greetings, Dr Pollan!

We hope you are well! As this semester draws to a close, we
feel sad to be putting in our final Journal entries of the
Food Rules we have been keeping this semester. However, I
know that I, for one, have been greatly impacted by your
book and will not stop practicing the Rules that I have
personally adopted and kept over the course of this
semester; moreover, I cannot wait for the next edition!

Per your suggestion, some of our students came up with a few
ideas that we would be honored if you would consider for
your next book. I've attached them in the form of a Word
Document; please let me know if you have any trouble opening
the file.

Thank you again for all of your positive influence on us
this semester! Thanks too for checking out our Blog, and for
offering us the opportunity to contribute ideas to your next
book!

Have a blessed Holiday season!

Warmly,
Courtney M. Morris
Representative of "Green Literature" ENGLA394

So I just want to say

That I am going to miss all of you!
This semester has truly been great and by far I must say my favorite book(s) were Food Rules and Bayou Farewell. I feel that each student brought so much to the class and while it was really challenging to work through all of the problems we encountered over the course of the semester, it was also really great to be able to work through them with all of you.

And in the words of Joe Dirt... (No pun intended... dirt = land = joe = man... get it? ;) "Keep on keepin' on!"

Court