Plan B 4.0 - A discussion on Chapter 3

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(1) - "If we continue with business as usual, the projected rise in the earth's average temperature of 1.1-6.4 degrees Celsius during this century seems all too possible" 

I understand that rising temperatures are a problem. The one thing I don't understand is how such little increases within a century could cause such catastrophic effects to occur.  I guess those rises every century could lead the whole earth to be covered entirely by water and most of the world population dead. I think scientists will find a way for us all to survive under those conditions. The only problem I see with that is that we will need these advances to survive and with everything necessary there are people who will climb prices in order to make a profit. The creation of money was very smart but unfortunately not every idea is perfect.

(2) - "What we can anticipate with a warmer climate is more extreme weather events. The insurance industry is painfully aware of the relationship between higher temperatures and storm intensity" 

I was not aware that changes in climate could affect insurance companies. Although I'm sure that changes in insurance prices are the least of our concern it could be used as an incentive to take care of our environment. If the reason we are destroying the environment relates to our greed then we must use money as a reason for taking care of our environment. For some reason, the mass destruction of the human race and an earth covered entirely by water wasn't a good enough reason. The people that run this earth must not see these threats as a problem. Maybe because all of these threats are not real and the obvious destruction of earth's environments aren't good enough proof to induce action amongst earths leaders.

(3) - "..Greenland icecap is melting so fast that it is triggering minor earthquakes as pieces of ice weighing millions of tons break off and slide into the sea"

That's crazy. Ice caps causing earthquakes. I didn't even know that could happen. I've never seen such a story on the news. That makes me wonder if this actually happens or not because I'm sure everyone would have heard about it. Why are we not making this world news so that we can wake up and find a compromise. Doesn't mean we have to give up all the advances we have. We just have to use them more sparingly and keep the environment in mind when producing new technologies. I wonder why we never thought of this approach before? Probably because enough profits can't be made if production is slowed.

Plan B 4.0 - A discussion on Chapter 2

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(1) - ”As land and water become scarce, competition for these vital resources intensifies within societies, particularly between the wealthy and those who are poor and dispossessed.”

I don’t think we are anywhere near this scenario just yet. The thought definitely scares me and I completely agree. We need water to survive and land to live on. Unfortunately, if we keep over-consuming and destroying our soils this unfortunate scenario will come true. Thousands of lives would be lost to dehydration or other illnesses related to a lack of water. I just don’t understand how greed could drive someone to knowingly destroy all our water supplies. The scarier thought is that no one is stopping these companies. Isn’t there supposed to be policies in place so that we don’t overexploit the earth’s resources?

(2) - “In this new situation, when the price of oil climbs, the world price of grain moves up toward its oil-equivalent value.”

I didn’t know that grain and oil were so connected. I had no idea we were actually giving up security in our food sources to produce more automobiles. That’s insane to me. I almost don’t want to believe it. From what it seems, the United States is doing a lot better then other countries but I believe if we keep using up our resources we will be in the same situation. It’s unbelievable how making money becomes more important then the future of the human race. Countries just waste away their soils so that they can make money. It makes you think what these countries want so much money for when they can’t help their own people?

(3) - “The grain required to fill an SUV’s 25-gallon tank with ethanol just once will feed one person for a whole year.”

This quote startled me the most. I was shocked to find out that a 25-gallon tank with ethanol could feed one person for a whole year. The problem is that cars are very convenient. Do we stop production of cars altogether? That is a very difficult question to answer. I don’t think production of cars would stop until the problem gets much worse. Unfortunately, that’s how we have been dealing with environmental issues over the past years and look where we are now in terms of environmental sustainability. We just do something and worry about the effects later. Then we try to solve the problem by making another technological solution instead of looking at the root of the issue. I don’t believe that is the right way to solve a problem but it seems to be working for now…

Food Inc. - My thoughts

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Destruction and Morality

These companies are the ones ruining America. Not only are they feeding the population food filled with chemicals but also destroying the environment and adding to our illegal immigration problem. They have no morality. Illegal immigrants are brought to America and put to work and then after years of dedication they are stabbed in the back. They see animals as things and not living creatures and treat them like trash. I don't know how anyone can have the heart to do such a thing. Why is everyone so consumed by greed? Why must they have more and more money when they already have enough? I don't understand it.

Bad Living Situations for Animals 

I was completely horrified at the conditions these animals were placed in. Chickens were in very tight spaces living in their own filth and to make matters worse, no sunlight alongside all the hormones being pumping into their bodies. The pigs and cows were also kept in horrific conditions and being force fed corn, antibiotics and hormones. I can honestly say that I'm not as proud to be an American when this is going on and the governing agencies are either being paid off or corrupt. I think that maybe they were established by these monsters in order to provide the population with a false sense of security so that they can keep on making their dirty money.

Organic Movement

I believed the organic movement was a good one and food was finally going to be rid of GMO's and chemicals. Unfortunately, the organic food is coming from these same three or four companies which really makes you question the validity of their statements. It's disgusting all of the lies and false advertising we are fed on a daily basis alongside the chemical bath delicacies that these monsters create.

Monsanto's Control 

I knew about Monsanto before watching this video and I can say that what they do is also horrific. They are completely immoral people. How could they patent something that comes from nature that they ruined with gene mutation and then go on to ruin those who actually make an honest living? This monopoly needs to be destroyed one way or the other. I don't know what the repercussions would be but there's no way that a company like this can exist.

Plan B 4.0 - A discussion on Chapter 1

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Quote 1: "Business as usual is no longer a viable option. Food security will deteriorate further unless leading countries collectively mobilize to stabilize population, stabilize climate, stabilize aquifers, conserve soils, protect cropland, and restrict the use of grain to produce fuel for cars."

I did not know this was such an important issue until I read Chapter 1 of this book. I agree with the author and we should start taking action towards fixing our Earth. We must reach a happy medium with all things and not overuse anything for our own greed. Just like Solomon MacIvey in A Land Remembered, we will all regret taking our Earth for granted. Efforts to fix the damage our greed has caused must be made promptly so that future generations can benefit from this beautiful planet.

Quote 2:"...and the Democratic Republic of the Congo where expanding cropland typically means clearing tropical rainforests that sequester large quantities of carbon. This could measurably raise global carbon emissions, increasing the climate threat to world food security."

I do not agree with this statement at all. The rainforests should be the last habitat to take down. The rainforest is vital for our survival. All of the life forms in tropical rainforests help regulate our climate and if they're destroyed, it could mean drastic changes in climate. Changes in climate could affect sea levels and inundate entire states. Alongside that fact, there are thousands of species living in the rainforest who depend on the unique climate to survive. If we take out rainforests we are destroying yet another habitat and then reducing the diversity of species which has problems of its own. It's scary how much greed has made us lose sight of what's important in life.

Quote 3:"But this is not an option with China, which now holds well over $1 trillion in U.S. debt. It is often the leading international buyer at the monthly auctions of U.S. Treasury securities that finance the growing U.S. fiscal deficit. In effect, China has become banker to the United States."

I just don't understand how the U.S. could owe that much money to China. This mindset of borrowing and paying back later is destroying consumers in the U.S. Many finance books state that one should cut their credit cards in half and throw them away. Borrowing money with the intention to pay back later or monthly with small payments combined with interest is not a good idea for most people. Most people will buy an 80 inch TV and pay it off monthly with interest even though they can't afford it. Those people never live a life of financial freedom. Why would the U.S. be so ignorant to the repercussions of their actions?