Blog Number One

Unfortunately, I don't get paid until the Monday this assignment is due, so I won't have the books quite yet. I thought it might be good, however, to consider the significance of this class and the subject matter that goes with it. Obviously, there is concern over the fact that the planet has been diagnosed as having a terminal illness. The people of Earth have been informed that we are on a path which will eventually make it impossible, one way or another, for the planet to support human life. The matter of how long this will take and what form the crisis will manifest itself as (polar ice caps melting, damage done due to increased toxicity in the air, etc;), on the other hand, is up for debate.

The cause of this illness does not originate from one distinct source. Partially due to general overpoulation, human lust for world dominance, and human "advancements" in technology, there is one variable that is consistent throughout all forms of the equation: people. Mankind is causing the very same damage to the Earth that is killing it. We are doing this, and have been for centuries, not because we want to, but because we have developed habits and lifestyle practices that have a negative impact on our home. The first step to addiction is admitting there is a problem.

Before we can actually take steps toward solving the issue at hand, we need to stop indulging in fantasies that allow us to think we can continue on blindly without repercussion. Indulgence is our vice, and we allow it to guide our decisions. This allowance is not only causing environmental damage, but it is impacting our species negatively in a social aspect, as well. After all, why are there some people with hundreds of bedrooms at their disposal, while others wander the cold streets in February? If we can come up with solutions to what is clearly our most immediate concern (the environmental crisis), we may find that, consequently, our less apocalyptic issues will come closer to solution, as well. This can't happen without analysis, discussion, education, and what will be initially considered as sacrifice.

With that being said, we find ourselves in a classroom. Here, we have the resources, mental and otherwise, to analyze, discuss, and educate each other on what sacrifices need to be made, and equally, what sacrifices don't need to be made. If the first step to recovery is admittance of a problem, those of us in this classroom are working on step number two.