Mike Shrader (3)
Susan Bayaa (3)
Armando Cortez (1)
braggm2 (1)
CoreyGallai (1)
Dawn Murry (1)
EMurphy (1)
glaurenzana (1)
katie.didier (1)
what exactly is our 1500 word paper supposed to be on? i wasnt here for the last class and would appreciate some clarification
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Corey Thiesse
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Gregory Laurenzana
Live? Die? Kill?: For a Selfish Reason
When I started writing this paper it was going to be for a non selfish reasons. I was going to writing stuff about how my friends and family and how they are the most important things in my life and that I live for them and would also die and kill for them. Then I thought some more about it and talked with my mother about what I wanted to write about and she told me “As a member of your family, I don’t want you to live, die or kill for me. I want you to do those things for yourself!” So I decided to create a paper about me, in a selfish way, if you will. In our everyday lives we get up, go to work or school, hang out with friends and family, have dinners, go to bars, and do it all over again the next day. Why do we do this? What makes us function like this? Since everyone has there own answer to these questions, let me give you mine. I get up everyday for one purpose, ME. I am the driving forces in my life, I know that to make a descent life for myself I have to go to work, I have to go to school, I have to maintain relationships with my friends and family. To be quite honest, if I don’t look out for myself then who will? As much as I love my friends and family I know that I am really the only one that I can live for, the only one I can die for and the only one I would ever kill for. This may seem out of the norm and very selfish to most people, and please believe me when I say I am not a self absorbed person at all. But lets be realistic here, we can all say that we would die and kill for our friends and families, but would you really? So, the only person on this entire planet that I live for, would die for, and would kill for above all, the more important man in my life. Me!
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Roberto Kobik
What do you believe?
Life, one of the most fascinating yet confusing things to understand. A commonly asked question; what is the purpose of life? Along with that question comes another; what does one live for? If life is so important to a person, what would that person die for. All of these questions are interrelated and personally tough to answer. I believe each individual has their own purpose to life, and with that, has their own reasoning to life and death.
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Barbara Bzdyk
I believe ecological literacy means the environment and how everyone function in it. I think one becomes ecologically literate by helping out in the community. Another way to become a more ecological literate person is to gain more knowledge about the world. We need to learn about how our everyday actions effect the environment. I think its important for people to make some kind of effort and realize that there actions do matter. personally,I don’t think I am ecologically literate enough. I know I can do more for the environment and the community. After reading the article, I realized that ecological literate means understanding the principles of organization of ecological communities and using those principles for creating sustainable human communities. We have to want to make a change and make a difference to the best of our ability.Knowing more about ecosystems and communities can definitely make a difference. Its important for people to understand how they go hand in hand with each other.
Capra, Firtjof. The Web of Life. New York: Anchor Books, 1997 -
Grace Cosentino
In chapter one of Why White Rice Mr. Devillez talks about how he was taking a walk and two boys were playing catch and one of them didn’t catch the ball and really put him-self down about it saying that he sucked. In life I feel that people always give up way to easily I was one of those people all the way up until I got to college. I would try things once not really put my best efforts in and if I didn’t succeed it would make me so upset. I would always just give up on whatever it was because I didn’t want to take the time to actually sit down and learn it so I could succeed at it. In your life there will always be those people that just breeze by that things come to them naturally, the same thing that your trying so hard to succeed at. You have to realize that can’t stop you and you still need to keep pushing towards your goals. When I got to college I actually tried very hard my first semester because it was different then high school I was paying for these classes and it is time to get serious about my future and how bright your future is going to be depends on your grades. I took a biology course last semester and I bombed the first test but I didn’t give up like I normally would have I just kept studying and eventually the scores went from C’s to B’s and finally A’s. You cannot give up in life just because something is hard because if you do you’ll never know how good of a feeling it is to succeed at something you tried so hard for.
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Grace Cosentino
In Everyday Life
In your everyday life you are so busy that you tend to forgot about the things that are most important to you. Taking things that you had naturally given to you is most of the time taken for granted; because you can’t see your life with ought those things. You don’t even think about how it would affect you or your life if the things that matter most to you went missing. Family is one of those things that even though naturally was given to me I take for granted because they are around every day and I never really stopped to think what my life would be like if they weren’t around anymore. When you take a step back from your busy lives and think about those things that truly matter in your heart you realize the extreme lengths that you would go to, to make sure that you don’t take those things for granted and cherish every moment you have with them.
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Brittany Sanchez
Im not to sure of what the term Ecological literacy means before having read the article, but I believe it means having knowledge of your environment and surroundings. Knowing what goes on in an community as far as natural economics. I think one can become ecologically literate by putting forth the effort wanting to know more about their surrounding environment. When one educate themself in a particular subject It makes them want to know more which eventually leads to wantin to help and find out ways to better the situation. I like to know whats going on in my environment, but I wouldnt say Im ecologically literate. After reading the article I developed a better understanding of the term ecological literacy. It means understanding the principles of constructing an ecosystem to make it possible to construct a sustainable human community. The human communities and ecosystems connects in varies ways. Although their is no direct communication between the two,human communities need the ecosystem to live sustainably and vice versa. The basic principle basically states one life process depends on another, without one the other will just fail. “Interdependence- The mutual dependence of all life processes on one another- is the nature of all ecological relationships” (Capra 82).
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James Jeszke
I believe that ecological literacy is used to determine how an ecosystem makes a livable environment for humans. I agree how humans must make an effort to help keep our communities clean, free of prejudice, and to notice the bigger picture of recycling/waste. The thing with waste is that it is hard to disguise. Some people are careless and do not notice what they are doing when they throw a pop can out of their car window. That pop can is not only going to sit there for quite some time but if everyone were to start throwing pop cans out of their windows, the community would not look so good. I think that a person can become ecologically literate by just caring for the environment. I believe I am personally ecologically literate because I do care about my environment and I do realize the changes going on with global warming and recycling. Its not everyday somebody wakes up and says ‘How can I change my community today?’ No. It takes time to be able to grasp a big situation in one’s society. “Of course, there are many differences between ecosystems and human communities. There is no self-awareness in ecosystems, no language, no consciousness, and no culture; therefore no justice or democracy; but also no greed or dishonesty. We cannot learn anything about those human values and shortcomings from ecosystems. But what we can learn and must learn from them is how to live sustainably” (Capra 82). An ecosystem to me is just the environment in which humans live in. It has no voice to tell one to clean up after themselves, not to smoke, or to spray aerosol in the air and destroy the atmosphere. Ecological literacy to me is the basic understanding of how ones community and ecosystem are interconnected or ‘intertwined’. The success of one another depends on one another and so on. If one fails then all else will fail is the basic principle.
Capra, Fritjof. “From The Web of Life.” splatter.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan 2012 -
Jessica Cortez
Im not really sure what ecological literacy means, if I took I guess I would say it was being aware of our surroundings, having knowledge in whats going on in our communities, being active or getting involved in our communities like recycling or helping cleaning our environments. Basically helping keep our communities better places and keeping them clean. I believe one can become ecologically literate by doing simple things in our everyday lives. One thing is putting garbage in the right containers. It may not be much but its something to help. Putting the recycling in a recycling bin and trash in the trash bins. One become ecologically literate by simply understanding what it means and taking action. When you start to understand the meaning, you become more aware of protection the ecosystem and taking better care of the environment that we live in and the environments that surround us. After reading, I read the definition of ecologically literate means to really understand the natural systems like the ecosystem that make our lives on earth a better place to live in. I some what believe that I am ecologically literate because I do not fully understand it, but I try to do little things to help in out everyday lives like recycling, picking up trash, and conserve water or light as much as possible.
1996. 82-86. Http://splatter.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. ., Capra, Fritjof. “Chapter 2.” THE WEB OF LIFE A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Ancher -
Maura Bilek
Ecological literacy is a term I did not know the meaning of before this assignment. The definition and subject matter associated with it includes a lot of important issues that I have pondered about often. I agree these issues are very important, and I agree with the idea that understanding the natural systems of our planet and our connection with the natural world as humans is very crucial, and often overlooked. Capra believes that the survival of the human races depends on people understanding and mastering the skills of ecological literacy. This includes being educated about what is going on in the world around us, and understanding the benefits, as well as consequences of humans interacting with the natural systems. I agree that our world’s leaders should deem ecological literacy as a vital skill. If issues continue to be overlooked, I fear for our future as a generation. Reflecting upon issues such as our environment’s faltering state due to pollution, climate changes, and lack of natural resources can be very frightening when you expand your knowledge about it. I recently learned a lot about it in my Earth Science class, and having that knowledge can be frightening, especially if you’re unsure of what to do about it. People need to come together and act, and come up with solutions for these issues, or else I think we are pretty screwed for our upcoming generation. Politicians, teachers, and leaders of all types should have a deep understanding and appreciation for ecological literacy and use it to help better the world.
Fritjof Capra.”From The Web of Life.” Splatter:The Messy Art Of Writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Brandon Alvarado
Before reading, I believe that ecological literacy means the things that we do here on our planet to make it a better place for not only ourselves but everyone around us. One way to become better ecologically literate is to simply help out around your own community. some of the easiest ways everyone can help is by recycling everyday and also by picking up trash outside or at the park. Little things like taking an hour a week to help out at community parks or recreational centers can be more than what someone else is doing. In a lot of neighborhoods we are provided with recycling bins to separate it form the trash, doing this everyday helps to be more organized. In our everyday life we can recycle plenty of things so why not actually separating to make things a little easier. Becoming aware of our surroundings and aware of what’s going on in our communities is another way one can become ecologically literate. After reading, i learned that being ecologically literate means understanding the sources of organization of ecological communities and using those sources to create a more workable human community. I believe i am ecologically literate because i try and recycle as much as i can everyday, it might be something small but its also one more thing than someone else might be doing. For me its the one way i can help out in my community.
1996. 82-86. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. ., Capra, Fritjof. “Chapter 2.” THE WEB OF LIFE A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Ancher -
Tom Rybovic
I believe that ecological literacy is the way we act as a whole community and what we do about it to make this planet a better place to live. Before reading the story I thought that ecological literacy is mostly thinking and acting in a way that is substantial to a single individual. Shortly after reading a few paragraphs I realized that it is the the whole community that needs to be involved in order for every individual to be successful. Everyone must work in respect to others situations and needs. One of the most effective ways to realize how the process works is to get a better understanding on how the success of the whole community depends on the success of an individual. One can take small, yet important, steps like recycling or simply by taking diversity into consideration in order to get a closer feel for ecological literacy. To be ecologically literate, I believe, an individual has to completely understand that a conflict has two equally valuable sides and outcomes. I do not consider myself to be completely ecologically literate simply because of the fact that I have not yet mastered all of the principles of organization of ecological communities. I am taking little steps that include being a better listener and observer to fulfill my needs in order to understand both sides of a particular conflict. One of the most meaningful acts that I am currently working on is reusing and recycling most of anything possible to promote my role in ecological literacy as much as possible.
Capra, Fritjof. “From The Web of Life.” Splatter.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Alexander Roth
My idea of ecological literacy is an understanding of how the natural systems of the earth work in order to maintain our livable environment. A person who is eco-literate can understand the ecosystem and using the principles of the ecosystem can help create sustainable communities. However, becoming eco-literate is not obtained with a diploma or school certificate, but through active community work in a person’s own community or region will allow that person to obtain knowledge and become more familiar with his/her surroundings and can acknowledge the interdependence in their community. The individuals who have dedicated their time to understanding their own community and their region can see the harmful waste production their community creates or the mass use of unneeded electricity and how it not only effects the environment but everyone in the neighboring population. Acknowledging the problems with local ecosystems allows for human interference so that we can change our behavior and possibly remedy any problem (I.E. Recycling programs, informing residents about local ecosystem problems). Those who are eco-literate understand the relationship between our ecosystems and society. I do not believe I am eco-literate in my current community because I have not examined the effects of my community’s behavior or observed any environmental concerns. Although I have not seen any red-flag problems in my own ecosystem I do not have a solid grasp on problems prevalent in nature so having an education in this field will contribute to becoming eco-literate. However, those who are more eco-literate than me have organized recycling drives in my residential community and my participation could be taken as a step in becoming eco-literate.
Capra, Firtjof. The Web of Life. New York: Anchor Books, 1997 -
Killian Noonan
What I believe ecological literacy means, is how we interpret the events that go on in our everyday lives. If we break down the word we get ecology, which is the study of organisms that live within an ecosystem. Such discussion with animals was put into the article we read, but it goes much further. It is about the web of life we as human live and weave everyday. How in generations to come will we maintain that balanced web or will we let it diminish. One such term caught my eye in the essay and it was sustainability. Which simply means doing things in ways where it will not hurt people, the planet, or profit. The three “P’s” of sustainability if you will. Now in terms of us as human being it is crucial to our success and survival to be sustainable. We need it in our businesses, in politics, and in our personal lives. Now when we look at literacy, it can be inferred as do we know or understand what needs to be done? When talking of sustainability in our lives and society, literacy means do we have the knowledge or know how to achieve our goal. Like our fellow creatures that dwell on this Earth, we too need to preserve our communities with the use of sustainability. If no action is taken we leave nothing for future generations t continue with,
Fritjof Capra. “From The Web of Life.” learning.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Corey Gallai
This journal is in response to ECOLOGICAL LITERACY. I believe that the Capra is telling to be more aware of our environment. I know that in today’s world we tend to not think about the environment as much as we need to. Gas prices have increased significantly over the last few years. There has been more talk about trying to find new ways to create a better area to live in. We do not see the problems that will create even bigger problems late in the future. I know that more people have started “going green”. That is only a small step of the way to try and look for a better solution to a cleaner environment. I believe that we will be in a better condition. I like the idea that we have tried to make cars that “seem” to be cleaner and better to use. However, there are still things in those vehicles that are still hazardous. I also believe we really need to start looking into new ways of alternative energy. If we could take more time to read about what is going on with the environment.
Fritjof Capra.”From The Web of Life.” Splatter:The Messy Art Of Writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Katie Cappello
Ecological literacy, to me, is how we go about helping out our community and our surroundings. I don’t think some people realize that littering and stuff like that is ruining our communities. We need people that are actually considerate and like to do this stuff to help with things like littering. I think that more companies need to be ecologically literate, that way our communities can be a lot cleaner with the help of more people. I think one can become ecologically literate by signing up for community cleanups or even going to friends and talking to them about it. I feel that I am ecologically literate because I try to help out ever way that I can regardless of the situation.
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Jackie Xiques
I believe that ecological literacy means the understanding of how our ecosystem works and how it affects the world around us. Every day we are faced with the decision to be conscious of our environment. We don’t realize how littering in a lake or on a street is effecting our world in a huge way. People who are passionate about our environment are stressing that instead of putting such a large focus on our economics we should be focusing on our survival. One becomes ecologically literate when they are able to recognize how crucial it is to be aware of how we treat our world. If companies were ecologically literate they would not choose to dump wastes into our nature. It is being able to comprehend that there are other living organisms that benefit our survival and we are only crippling them with our carelessness. The term means understanding our ecosystems and how we can create a more sustainable world. I believe that I am ecologically literate in some ways but there are other things that can be done. I feel recycling is very helpful and should be done by others frequently. Other ways to be more economically efficient would be to walk instead of drive, keep the trash off the street, keep our bodies of water without wastes, and be more aware of our nature in general. Our world is a beautiful place and should not be mistreated. If everyone decides to help and become more economically efficient there would more room for change.
Capra, Fritjof. “From The Web of Life”. Splatter.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Susan Bayaa
Ecological literacy to me is thinking about our life. What we are surrounded by and how it effects our communities. As I began to read the story I realized that ecological literate means the principle of everything. Understanding how everything works and understanding how everything that needs to be. It is about our community, our ecosystem, our understanding of evolution. With each year we get newer technologies. People are worried about money more then they are worried about helping our community. We want to try to keep the ecosystem clean so we are able to have another generation. Its sad to say but I am not ecologically literate. It isn’t that I wouldn’t like to be it is just that I don’t have much time to help out. The society we live in today has most people looking for jobs or trying to juggle jobs and keep up. There is no time to even think about trying to help. I would like to because it is helping our environment. Sadly to say but the economy is mostly about competition. There are a lot we still have to understand about our ecosystem that we still don’t completely understand. We are suppose to be learning how to become better at doing things not have things do it for us. We have to be more independent. We have to be able to rely on ourselves but we just became so used to the society like this that we wouldn’t even be able to make things on our own. We would be lost. We have moving stairs that is how dependent we became. It would be nice but at the same time a pain to be independent but we could at least try to help out in a way.
Fritjof Capra. “From The Web of Life.” learning.splatter101.net. Web 26 Jan. 2012 -
Alex Velez
when I think of what “ecoliterate” is, I kind of think of the utopian idea. nothing is wasted, everything is recycled, people coexisting and picking up the slack for others when needed. capra tries to redifine our current world with one that is polished and perfect. with human, educational, and political communities working as one organism devoloping partnerships through which these communities can coexist. one can make the argument that we are in some respects already trying to become ecoliterate i.e green jobs, green cars, green energy, and eco-tax have all been the big buzz in the last decade. driving a honda is my biggest contribution to being ecoliterate from a green prospective second is recycling which I try to do. I also try to develop partnerships at work which can make the day go faster. I like capra’s ideas but, in the real world sorry to say “greed”, not “green”, makes the world go round.
Capr, Fritjof “From the Web of Life” Web. 26 Jan 2012 -
Meghan Johnson
Before reading the whole article but just knowing that it was about ecological literacy, I thought of it as basically “living green” and/or conserving a lot more of anything really. In Capra’s essay he explains it to be much more than that. Capra describes ecological literacy to understanding our basic principles. What I got out of what he meant by the “principles” were what we surround ourselves by or with. In today’s society everyone complains about the price of gas, for example, yes it is the fuel we need to get around but what the people of today and organizations of “living green” are trying to get out there is that our future is at risk with a lot of these things. We all need transportation but we should all realize that it doesn’t always have to be in the car, if there are times where maybe we could get the chance to walk or ride a bike we are saving the world for the future one step at a time. To become ecological literate one must really want change and to make change happen, even if it’s something small at the beginning, oneself has to believe that they can make a difference or what they might contribute or even give up will make a difference in someway. If in some way being ecologically literate means saving the earth and atmosphere we all live on, I have one small thing to say, SMOKING is killing it very fast and not only is it bad for the earth it’s bad for the body! Also in Capra’s essay he covers how being ecologically literate can be in any what way and I agree with what he means. You can be ecological with many things like, your own money, what you do with old clothes, or even the garbage in your household. For me being ecological with these three examples would be like not spending my money on lunch when I could make something at home for myself; giving away all my old clothes to a shelter or just donating them instead of throwing them away, even making them into something new; and for the garbage, in my home my mom is a recycling freak so I’ve learned from her that a small step from you might make a big change someday.
Capra, Fritjof. “From the Web of Life.” -
Klem Bachleda
Ecological Literacy; a term that is self explanatory and easy to understand, but hard to follow or execute. In today’s world, making money is what matters to most people. Big businesses, factories, huge machinery; it’s what keeps our economy running. With free time becoming rare and people rushing to do everything, we miss out on the important things, and that’s the environment in the future. Most people only think about today. We don’t give much thought about the environment and how the actions today will affect not only our immediate future, but the future of our children and grandchildren. Some companies are “going green” but it’s not enough. It’s a good thing to see auto manufacturers putting out electric cars, but then again, to make those same cars, the batteries inside can harm the environment even more. A lot of people are eco-illiterate and don’t care much for pollution and how it greatly affects the earth. Becoming more ecologically literate would greatly benefit the earth. If more people understand how to get along day by day without hurting the environment and our atmosphere, we could live a healthier life. We’ve become so dependent on machinery and so lazy, we don’t think twice how it affects the different life forms around us. Instead of walking two blocks to the store, we hop in the car and drive. Ecological literacy should be a greater concern of our economy, but who’s got time for that today; we’ll think about that tomorrow.
Fritjof Capra.”From The Web of Life.” learning.writing101.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2012 -
Melissa Castillo
My assumption about ecological literacy is that we as a community have an awareness about our economy and is concerned about the all around sustainability of it. Knowing and taking interest in our economy to make it a better place to live, eat, breathe, drink, and to financially live. For example to recycle our plastics, paper, and aluminum; also to stop genetically modifying all the fruits, vegetables, and also live stock. I believe one can become literate to this subject by making themselves more aware by reading, research, and listening to others with more wisdom about this situation. Making changes in their own life to make a difference in their community. Ecological literacy is to understand and act in creating sustainability in our community. Being an activist for our world to protect it and to educate others with the proper information to help one to believe they also can make a difference. I believe I am ecological literate, yet lazy about it all. I do not know of the outcomes to most of my waste and I don’t try to find out. I do not carpool, nor do I drink from metal bottles and refill them with water. I do not recycle. I do hope that I learn more and have more compassion for our environment. Hopefully with a little more wisdom I can make better decisions. My change will make a difference.
Capra, Fritjof “From The Web of Life” -
Nick Kleopa
I feel that Ecological literacy is the key to keeping the world working as it should. It is the main reason why everything in life continues in a never ending cycle. One thing overlaps another and keeps everyone happy. The main point of the story is that we need to stop, really look around and see what we are doing. Our actions have a huge effect on the world and most of us don’t even know it. Whether the effects be small now, they will grow and grow and become much bigger issues later on down the road. We need to think about our families, the people of the future and how they will have to deal with this issue if we don’t make a stand and help clean up this environment. As most things do fall into one another and the cycle continues, if we continue not to care the never ending cycle will eventually break and a lot of bad things good potentially happen. Everything has it’s place in the world and if one thing doesn’t go according to plan or act as it usually acts it could bring on a chain reaction. Ecological Literacy in my opinion can also mean that in regards to people in general that some know about how the ecosystem works and what we can do to help preserve the planet. Where as being Ecological E literate so to speak is the complete opposite meaning that the people have no idea about what they are putting the ecosystem through or they do know but continue to live life the way that they have been and not do anything to change their ways. All in all I think that the majority of people just don’t have a great understanding about how our every move may effect someone or something. From picking up and recycling as much as possible to just avoiding things like littering or telling everyone you know and making them understand that every move they make can have negative effects. People need to become more aware of this issue and I feel that if they involve themselves a little more in their communities or even their world in general, they can save the future.
1996. Print., Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Anchor -
Anetta Borowski
I believe ecological literacy means human communities coming together all around the world to build and help create plans that could make life on earth cleaner and more of a Eco-friendly environment for all living things to live on this plant. It only takes one person to make a difference because they can effect other people and carry on a chain by teaching why you should for example recycling paper, plastic, glass and etc. By recycling a ton of paper (which is very easy for only a small community to collect) it could save 17 trees. I think that trees are like the planet lungs and help reduce pollution in the air that I breathe in everyday. I also adore any kind of animal and would hate to see anymore become in danger because of what our world is capable of. Nature can NOT fix itself! I am ecologically literate because I am a part of this community by recycling everything that i believe that could be recycled. I also really enjoy gardening around spring time and planting more plants for not only the beauty, but also for our environment.
Capra, Fritjof “The Web of Life” -
Leoncio Salgado
Being ecologically literate is something very important for the further sustainability of our environment. Studying the earth’s ecosystems and figuring out how the web of life works, gives us essential knowledge on how we humans should organize and run our communities. The goal is to be sustainable, and in order for the whole community to be sustainable everyone must be sustainable. Our policies should be structured in a cyclical fashion and not a linear way that only seeks out to make financial gains. Being eco-literate one must seek partnerships and cooperation. This gives more vitality to the community through cooperation and making the community more resilient against stress. Stress is a part of life and understanding stress can give us necessary information as to how to deal with the same stress and how to move ahead and be stronger because of it. I, for one, am sort of eco-literate, but not an expert on the subject. We all know about doing the right thing for the environment and the sort but no action is taken. I told my mom that we should recycle our empty water bottles and other plastics, but she responded saying that the city in which we live in doesn’t set out separate recycling bins for plastics and glass. That’s all that happened, I brought it up and there wasn’t much else I could do. Looking back I now see that there is way more I can do to help out. Making better decisions and sharing some insight on eco-literacy can go a long way, and maybe someday all our communities will have to recycle for the good of everyone else in the community.
Fritjof Capra.”From The Web of Life.” learning.splatter101.net. Web. 25 Jan. 2012 -
Armando Cortez
I think ecological literacy means understanding the ecosystems that surround the environment. One can become ecologically literate by understanding the concept and studying it so that they can become educated with the bigger picture of it and what the matter of it is. People already know how to become ecologically literate but they just don’t put in the time to do something about it. They rather have themeselves sit back and watch how little by little it becomes critical. They remain obsolete with them thinking it’s something normal that happens. Ecological literacy means being able to understand the ecosystems. According to Fritjof Capra,” In the coming decades, the survival of humanity will depend on our ecological literacy.” I would like to say that I am ecological literate but that would be just me trying to be good with the system and I would be lying. I may not be the best person out there that is always willing to help out I got to admit that sometimes slacking off and just being lazy gets a hold of me sometimes. But then again sometimes when I put my head into and really start to think, I come full circle and help out to the best of my ability,yet there are other people that are far worse than what Im saying but it just goes to show that peopl don’t really think of it too much. It’s sad to admit that yea I can be considered one of those peopel that doesn’t think much of it. And now that i have read this article I can strive to think more of it than what I’m used to and really think what I can do with my understanding and help in the environment. Not only the envirnomnet but the whole world with this one concept of ecological literacy with our better undertanding we cnan make a huge difference and impact for future to come.
— Capra, Fritjof. “From the Web of Life.” Print. -
Reynaldo Tamayo
Ecological literacy, to my understanding, is the ability to take information from an ecosystem, apply what we learn into our own ecosystem, and coexist with other ecosystems. For someone to become ecologically literate, the person would need to be able to understand what is happening in their society and have a somewhat active role in preserving their ecosystem. Being able to cooperate with each other, having flexibility, and having diversity are all part of being ecologically literate. If the person does not know what is happening in their society then how can they use information taken from an ecosystem and relate it to their society. We as a society tend to disregard our surrounding ecosystems. We pollute other ecosystems causing imbalances. Although nature tends to correct its problems without our help, there is a point where nature simply cannot fix itself. Not only will we help ecosystems by being responsible for what we do, we will also help ourselves. Because if you think about it, we are all connected to each other and whatever we do will ultimately affect us all. To be honest, I am not fully ecologically literate. I do know what is happening in my society and I do know what I can do to benefit it. I do try and conserve whenever it is easy to do so, but I would never go out of my way to try and conserve. I am afraid though that most members of our society are exactly like me.
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Katie Didier
I have to admit that I do not know much about ecological literacy. I would have to assume that it is being cognizant of one’s surroundings and knowing the effect that certain things have on the world around us-not only us as a society but as individuals. It is a widespread myth in the world today that we cannot make a difference in our environment. While it may be difficult to make a positive change we can, and should, at least do our part to keep from accumulating negative effects. In addition, I believe that ecological literacy must have some relationship with being aware of the ecosystems and how they are all interdependent with each other. This interdependency then creates a tie to all organisms in some way or another in that all organisms rely on the survival or death of another. After reading this excerpt I would not classify myself as an overwhelming ecologically literate person. While I am aware of the food chain and producers and decomposers my knowledge is very limited. I have a general knowledge of things like recycling and ecosystems but I do not know the first thing about areas such as my carbon footprint. Also, I am sure there is much more to know than I could even begin to question. While I don’t know much about this subject I do try to recycle, turn off the faucet when I am brushing my teeth, and turn the lights off when they are not in use. Hopefully, little things like that will make a tiny impact, especially if everyone joins in.
Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Anchor, 1996. Print. -
Mike Shrader
Ecological literacy, in my opinion, is the awareness of how an ecosystem functions. Just as a literate person is capable of examining and understanding a written work, the ecologically literate individual has the capacity to anticipate the impact that certain actions will have upon the ecosystem in which they occur. Although a complete understanding of environmental consequences is understood to be beyond the comprehension of most people, the ecologically literate should be able to see the basic outcome of environmentally significant events before they happen and adjust their actions accordingly. To know the impact of one’s decisions is to be equipped with the ability to shape the future according to one’s own vision. Ecological literacy, I believe, is a nonmoral concept. Such literacy may correlate with an augmented desire to protect the environment, but this is a result of each individual’s literacy being filtered through their morals and not a direct result of the acquisition of knowledge through that literacy. One may understand the world around them completely without acting morally upon that knowledge. A man with selfish intentions may have all the environmental awareness there is, yet use it only for his own aggrandizement. Therefore, I think that it is important to ensure ecological literacy to those equipped with the desire to utilize knowledge to enhance the quality of the world around them, to maintain the capacity of the environment to operate optimally. This alone will guarantee that we have done everything in our power to sustain the planet for future generations to enjoy. The journal assignment in the .pdf file indicated that the writing was to be done before reading Capra’s essay. Therefore, I have not included a citation here, having not yet read the essay. I’m going to read it now, of course. Ha ha!
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Grace Cosentino
Ecological literacy in my opinion is the way you fit in within your communities and how you work with others to make this planet a better and cleaner place to live in. Ecological literacy is the way you help out as a personal person among a society as a whole. Everyone should be aware of what is going on around them they should not ignore the things that are happening to our environment, such as things like global warming. Fritjof mentions that the way each individual person acts effect a whole community by this I believe what is trying to be said is that everyone needs to work together to make our world and environment a better place to live in. One single person cannot conquer the world and needs help in changing the way our planet is developing. Stress is in everyone’s lives and sometimes your daily tasks and stressful days steer you away from coming home from a long day at work or school and thinking about the way the environment is developing. In my opinion ecological literacy is finding a place for contributing to helping our environment on a daily basis even if it’s not a big contribution, help by maybe doing small things like not littering or recycling. As a whole we have to preserve all of our resources and live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Not only will we be helping ourselves but the things you do today will reflect on a better future, a better tomorrow.
1996. Print., Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Anchor -
Jenna McGill
I believe that ecological literacy is understanding what we as humans do to our planet. There is a term ecological footprint which is defined as what mark the human race left on the earth. Our consumption and using our natural resources rapidly is damaging the earth. Pollution, extinction of animals, using too many unrenewable resources, and our wastefulness are things all things that damage our planet. Ecological literacy would be grasping the concept of those things and trying to find the responsibility within ourselves to try and avoid those destructive behaviors. I would say I’m ecologically literate in the way that I am aware of a lot of things that go on in our ecosystem and I’m also open to learning more about what is going on. For us to stop the destruction of our planet more people are going to need to be ecologically literate.
Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Anchor, 1996. Print. -
Gazi Murrar
Ecological literacy is the ability to understand the ethics of organization and ways that ecosystems have created to uphold life. Ecological literacy, also called ecoliteracy, is something that you have to learn in order to help live a sustainable life. Fritjof Capra summarizes this whole concept in one defining sentence in his short essay “From The Web Of Life”, he states that reconnecting with the web of life means building and nurturing sustainable communities in which we can satisfy our needs and aspirations without diminishing the chances of future generations. The major goal of living an eco-friendly life is to promote and influence your society to follow(81). Our society includes plants, animals, microorganisms, educational, businesses, and political communities. The theory is by controlling these aspects of society we can live a totally sustainable life which will positively impact future generations and prolong Earth and its resources. I was somewhat ecologically literate but now I do fully understand the concept of ecoliteracy and will try my best to help others understand it as much as I do. It’s not just to about helping the world and our ecosystem, but also it is beneficial for people themselves. I plan to improve my ecological footprint by conserving resources, recycling, and just thinking logically. It is a state of mind as well as physical actions that will ultimately lead to actually being ecologically literate. My target is to sign up for a program that aids in hunger throughout third world countries as well as homeless people living in our own country. The program also promotes knowledge and understanding of what ecological literacy actually means, this will help spread this concept which in turn helps sustain our living on Earth. We only have one planet so it only makes sense to use its resources wisely before it’s too late.
From The Web of Life (81) -
Arianna Wright
Before reading From the Web of Life, I honestly had no idea what ecological literacy is. According to Capra, being ecologically literate means understanding the principles of organization of ecological communities (ecosystems) and using those principles for creating sustainable human communities. In this essay, Capra defines the concept of ecological literacy and the ways in which human societies must become more ecologically literate to survive. Even after reading Capra’s essay, I still don’t fully understand this whole concept to be honest. I understand the community service aspect, “the success of the whole community depends on the success of its individual members, while the success of the community as a whole. I understand the importance in helping our communities but I don’t get the science part of it all. People often complain about the community that they live in but rarely do anything to change it. I think that ecological literacy is one’s ability to understand the natural systems which make our lives on earth. When you are ecological literate you are able to appreciate the environment and work to preserve it. In order for a society to thrive it is essential for us to understand ecology and to recycle actively, seek answers for global warming, address pollution, etc. As a people we must take care of the earth so it can in return take care of us.
-Capra, Fritjof “From the Web of Life” -
Anahi Perez
Ecological literacy in my own interpretation is the continuing and positive connections that we personally contribute to our world but more specifically with our environment. We are influenced one way or another by our human surroundings. We constantly make daily choices to what positively strengthens us and our community without even knowing it. For example throwing out your garbage in the right container. Capra mentions that in order for one to be ecologically literate one must comprehend the basics of organization of our ecological communities (Capra p.81). We live in a world full of relationships, wether its a relationship one has with their friend or mother. We base our actions with the intention to affect others in a positive way, just the way our ecosystem works. Becoming literate in this subject is a very important feature in our lives, it affects not just us as a person but as a whole community. Keeping a small message of knowledge circulating through a social basis of how to live sustainably will definitely create awareness of our ecosystems. The term ecology pertains to the relationship of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings, Literacy is having knowledge within a specific area. In this short selection Capra mentions that “ecology emphasizes cooperation, conservation and partnership,” that summarizes not only how we should base our interactions with one another but a very powerful way to promote sustainability (Capra p. 84). I believe that in one way or another I am ecologically literate. Learning excess information on this term would not hurt it would only make the community and my surroundings stronger.
Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems. New York: Anchor, 1996. Print. -
Jean Claud Sunga
I think ecological literacy means knowing the principles of the ecosystem and how we can incorporate that knowledge into our everyday life rather than ignoring it. Natural disasters that happen to our community, other places, states or countries are the effects of the simple things that we are doing in this generation now. The continuous inventions of electronic devices, the apathetic attitude of people and maybe the endless use of money to buy unnecessary things are leading us to ignoring what nature has for us and preserving Mother Nature. I am not saying i don’t do any of these, but I’m just talking in general and stating my opinion. I think ecological literacy also means, accepting what is around us or people we meet every day no matter what ethnicity he or she is. The diversity is what’s making us a community. According to Fritjof Capra, if we understand the pattern of ecology we can solve more problems. I think we can become ecologically literate if we practice ways on how to live a sustainable life. Also, if we look at the things that actually matters the most and help one another, is another way of being ecologically literate. I think ecologically literate means to appreciate Mother Nature. I don’t really know if I am ecologically literate but i value the things around me specially the nature. I don’t dispose my garbage everywhere; instead i look for a garbage can or just keep it with me until i find one. One of my pet peeves is seeing fast food cups on the at the parking lot ground.
Capra, Fritjof. “From the Web of Life.” Print.
Mike Shrader is discussing. 
Mike Shrader 12:09 am on January 26, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Now that I’ve started reading the actual essay, it has become clear that Capra is proposing the application of the qualities of a properly functioning ecosystem to human society. As effective this may seem in theory, it feels to me a bit far-fetched. It is difficult to envision a system in which human nature fails to corrupt the balance of things. For all its idealism and good intentions, in practice Communism failed to match the utopian construct presented by Marx and Engels. Why is this? Greed, selfishness, and ambition were brought to the forefront of the human character. The opportunists took advantage of the gullibility of their supposed equals. In such an interdependent society as Capra dreams, the need to place so much trust in our fellow humans exposes us and our system to the same fallibility that has plagued any significant society of “equals” throughout history. It may be a pessimistic view, but it is more realistic. Failure is inevitable until we can remove a very basic component of our human nature. However, is humanity without ambition still humanity? I think not. I will take our human race with all of its present faults over the passionless, artless “human” shells of which an “ideal” society must be composed.
Then again, I’ve only read a small piece of what Capra wrote. I’ll go finish it now.
Mike Shrader 12:13 am on January 26, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Certainly, there are lessons to be learned from the manner in which nature conducts itself. I do believe our society can benefit greatly from an application of the concepts presented by Capra. It would be wonderful to see some of these ideas put into action and kept effective! We can all do our parts, I suppose.