Today marks the beginning of my hiatus from environmental blogging.
Have no fear: I am not wondering far. Instead, check out my newest blog, Kevinaroundtheworld.blogspot.com, in January to follow me as I circumnavigate planet Earth. Starting in the Bahamas, I will be traveling to Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Hawaii, Costa Rica and returning to Miama, FL as part of the Semester at Sea Progam.
I can’t wait to see the world, and I hope you can join me.
Every so often I feel “stuck in a bubble.” Maybe it’s an overdose of suburbia or maybe it’s the lack of diversity in my environment– but either way it’s a feeling of emtrapment. A sepration from the world around you. A blindness. You know things are going on outside of your world– but inside your domain you’re untouched by human reality. A utopia, maybe. But reality? Certainly not.
Get out of your bubble.
Poverty is not a light topic. Some say we need the wealthy and we need the poor so that the world can sustain, grow and function. I don’t believe that. In fact, I came along this quote not too long ago that explains why poverty is the result of injustices throughout the world:
“The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible. They are marginalized by our social and cultural world. They are oppressed, exploited proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity, Hence the poverty is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order.”
It’s okay to feel detached from the world– away from the wars, the famine, the dieases and the injustice. Consider yourself lucky to be so distant from such autrocities. But do remember, every so often, to reach outside your bubble and see the world through someone elses eyes.
Our environmental issues aren’t just about SUVs and solar panels, they’re about the right to live.
If Donald Trump wants to build a golf course, he will build a golfcourse.
Unless, of course, some birds can stop him.
The billionaire, who has plans to build the “world’s largest golf course” on a stretch of remote Scottish coastline, is facing a huge environmental setback. The area is home to some of the country’s rarest birds.
Keeping him from his plans are seven of the country’s most endangered birds on the World Conservation Union’s “Red List.” Skylarks and breeding waders, particularly Lapwings and Redshank are among those in danger.
“Each and every golfcourse I have built has got awards for environmental protection, and I do not think anyone has got as many awards as we have. When we are finished, the course will be better environmentally than before we started.”
-Donald Trump
The golf course, which would also include a luxurious 450-bedroom hotel, 950 vacation homes, 36 golf villas and 500 upscale homes, would create about 800 jobs in its peak season. But not all residents of the area are thrilled. Many of them claim the resort would take away from the beauty of the area.
Trump is excited for his proposed project because it would not only honor his Scottish heritage, it would honor the sport of golf which originated in Scotland.
