Sunday, November 4, 2007

All good things come to an end.


After about a month of blogging about global warming awareness and its effectiveness, I have learned SO much about the issues and the things we can do to reduce its effects. In the beginning of this project, I was so naïve and had no idea what I was getting myself into. The only thing that I knew was that I wanted to have a blog that was interesting, accurate and informative while being entertaining at the same time. And of course, I wanted to tie in my love for fashion and clothes with my desire to learn more about global warming. But now, about one month later, I realize that I have done more than just create a successful blog about global warming awareness, I have become a better writer, as well.
Throughout this process, I have challenged myself to think differently and write in a way that was humorous like my personality yet factual and informative because this blog was also for a grade. And through this process, I have seen my writing progress with each post and argument that I presented. In the beginning, my first few posts were very conversational and probably not as informative as my fellow classmates' first blogs but it was me and my style of writing. But as you look at the rest of my posts, I realized I was able to maintain that lighthearted, humorous tone while becoming more informative with each post. But when talking to others about my blog, many said that was one of the things they liked about my blog. They enjoyed reading a blog that would have factual information but still be humorous at the same time. In my opinion, I believe that was one of my ultimate goals for this blog: taking a somewhat boring subject to college students and presenting it in a humorous and interesting way!
On a different note, when I look at my blog and this process I think about how my thoughts about internet research and new ideas have changed. At the start of this process, I wasn’t exactly sure how to use all the research that I found about my topic. But as the blogging continued, I quickly learned how to use the internet to my advantage. One of the cool aspects about this project was that ability to use research in a whole new way. In research papers and essays you can only use certain types of research to prove or exemplify your point. But with an online blog, I was able to post videos, online blogs and pictures that were the epitome of my subject. I believe that it was this new feature of internet research that made my fellow classmates and me enjoy looking and finding new information about our topics.
Another major impact this project had on me as a writer was the effect it had on my thought process and my understanding about my topic. As I mentioned earlier, my main goal in the beginning was honestly to write about the awareness of global warming with a fashion twist. But as this month went on, I learned more than just how fashion can promote awareness about this serious issue and how my opinion about my topic changed as well. Originally I would have not considered myself a true tree hugger because I knew a few things about global warming and I recycled too but that was about it. I also believed that global warming was a problem but NOT that bad of a problem. After researching this topic and learning more than I ever thought about the effective ways to promote awareness, I have learned how to think green! Now when I see or hear anything about the environment, I stop and listen because I realize how much our impact on the environment can have an effect on our future lives, especially mine! My attitude about what I can do has also changed because now I see that I have to make difference. Global warming is not just a current problem but a problem that will affect my life and my children’s life.
Lastly, this blog unit has allowed me to grow as thinker by reading and commenting on my fellow classmates' blogs. Throughout the project, not only did I learn a lot about my topic but I learned so much about other pressing public issues that are affecting our generation. In fact, during this process I quickly learned that some of the other blogs from my class were related to mine in some way. For example, one of my classmates focused her blog on the aerial shooting of wolves and in one of her posts, she explained how global warming had been affecting the wolves’ population and habitat. After reading blogs like that and others, I realized that global warming affected more than just people but everything…animals included! Another thing that I liked about reading other students' blogs was getting the chance to see how other people felt about various issues. Each blog had its own individual voice that was portrayed through the way the posts were written, how the blog looked, and the information used within the entire blog.
In the end, I have actually enjoyed this project more than I thought I would because it allowed the students in my class to express themselves in THEIR own way. Even though this project was a bit odd in the beginning, I finally see why it was a great idea in the end. So as I conclude my last post for a while, I hope I have touched at least one person to think about his or her impact on global warming and how it can be fixed. But until next time: GO GREEN!

Friday, November 2, 2007

SO what can be done to save the world?

Throughout this entire process, I have learned so much about the various ways of promoting effective awareness about global warming. Whether it’s from TV commercials, Internet blogs or catchy t-shirts, awareness about the serious issue of global warming has increased significantly and its effectiveness has influenced many.
However, there is no single way to stop global warming; all we can do is help reduce the effects global warming will have on our planet and on us. But we can do this by changing how we live our everyday lives and the impact we have on the Earth. The best way to possibly reduce global warming is by change…by you!
As citizens of Earth, if we learn how to use the energy sources that we have effectively while becoming involved with other environmentally friendly activities,we can make a major impact on global warming. One of best ways to reduce our effects on global warming is to cut back on the unnecessary energy we use. For example, when you are not in a room in your house or dorm, remember to turn the light(s) off. Leaving the lights on in a room when no one is present is a use of unnecessary energy. Another simple way to help save the environment is by remembering the three R’s or Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Many people forget that by simply reducing how much we use, reusing the things we use and then recycling the things we use, we can make a positive impact on our globle.
However, if you feel like you can do more than just recycle and save energy, you can team up with environmental organizations to take action! Getting involved with your local community or even with a nationwide event can be a huge impact to the reduction of global warming. But if you don’t have time to volunteer or get involved, you can always make a donation to major environmental organizations. And if you want to be like me and make a fashion statement while promoting awareness, you can buy t-shirts and clothing that not only support the fight against global warming but make you look stylish too!
All these ways will help reduce the effects of global warming and will help spread awareness about our environmental crisis. But remember the only way we can effectively reduce the effects of global warming is by making a difference and making the CHANGE!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Singing our way to a better Earth

In July of 2007, Al Gore organized one of the biggest venues for global warming awareness with the Live Earth Concert. The 24-hour music marathon was a series of several concerts in various locations around the world with artists from every genre of music. Now that’s what I call worldwide promotion!
The concert marathon began in the states with Al Gore and country stars, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, at Washington Mall and then traveled all over the world to New York, London, Tokyo, Rio de Janerio and Seoul. Apart from traveling the world, the Live Earth Concert was a showcase of various musical artists including Alicia Keys, Madonna, Pharrell, Linkin Park, Rihanna, Xuxa, and Lenny Kravitz, who were trying to spread awareness about global warming.
However, the concerts didn’t just raise awareness about this environmental issue, it encouraged fans to take action too! At every concert venue, the location would use recycled goods for the show and stage set while promoting ways to reduce your impact on global warming. In London when Madonna performed, the stadium turned off their lights before the star took the stage, leaving the entire show in the dark “except for the glow of exit lights and the flashes of cameras.” Another thing that celebrities tried to stress to their fans is that it all begins with you and that it shouldn’t end when the concert did. Before leaving the stage, Madonna told her audience, "Let's hope the concerts that are happening around the world are not just about entertainment, but about starting a revolution.” At each of the venues, fans were encouraged to take small steps to going green, from learning how to recycle to unplugging electrometrical devices when not in use.
Well, from the looks of this Live Earth concert sensation, Al Gore is on a roll with his global warming awareness campaign! But don’t worry, even though Gore is a passionate advocate against global warming, he is NOT trying to run for office. He just wants our nation to realize what is happening with the Earth. After his Live Earth Event, he told the press “I've been trying to deliver this message for 30 years, and I know that it doesn't take in just one delivery.” Of course, we are not expecting to see dramatic change any time soon but the goal now is simply to inspire others to make a change. And in the words of Al Gore, “You've [just] got to keep going” and that’s exactly what we’ll do!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Extra Extra Read ALL about it!!

Three blogs that I enjoy reading and encourage YOU to read:
So, I have a few questions for you….ready? Ok! Do you like reading blogs written by young individuals with their own strong opinion? Are you looking for some more interesting online reading? And do you want to help some other students get A’s on our English project? Well, if you answered yes to all these questions then this post is for YOU! The following blogs have been written by some of my fellow classmates and they discuss various issues from global warming to the death penalty. But the amazing thing is this project has allowed our class to use our various opinions about public issues and express them through blog writing and comments. Listed below are three blogs that I enjoy reading and cover a number of issues that many would not have expected from college freshmen!
Global warming: yes or no?
http://globewarmyesno.blogspot.com/
With the topic of global warming being as big as it is you couldn’t expect just one person to write about it! But in this case, my classmate and fellow tree hugger wrote about the actual issue of global warming and whether it’s happening or not. Compared to mine, his blog is more environmentally friendly with the usual green and white colors with graphic pictures of the Earth. But like mine, it is about global warming and expresses the major issues of this environmental disaster from a scientific perspective. But the good thing about his blog is that it doesn’t use a lot of scientific terminology that would get you really confused. He uses enough terminology to maintain his scientific perspective which is always nice to see when reading about a topic like global warming. I enjoy reading his blog because it discusses a part of my issue from another point of view and from another perspective.
Abortion
http://abortion-angilman.blogspot.com/
But if global warming is not for you then this blog might interest you especially if you are aware of some of the major issues with abortion. But unlike some of the blogs in our class, this student chose to use a very dramatic picture at the top of his page. The dramatic visual not only draws the reader into the subject but makes the reader think about the issue, as well. In this blog, my fellow classmate chose to write about abortion from an informational point of view while incorporating several opinions about the issue. I also like the blog’s use of information and sources because he uses a lot of information from links and websites that he has hyperlinked in his posts; but you can also tell he is very informed about his topic and his opinion.
People shouldn’t kill people, so neither should the government
http://deathpenalty-jatate.blogspot.com/
Last but certainly not least, this last blog is about the ever changing and controversial issue of the death penalty. My fellow classmate did a very good job of explaining the death penalty and all the recent news that has surrounded this public issue. But in my opinion, it’s the simplicity of his blog and detailed however not overwhelming posts that make his blog an easy, informational read. Every time I read his blog, I learn something new about the debate of the death penalty and increase my knowledge about this pressing issue in the United States. And if you are looking for something controversial but informational, I definitely recommend that you read this blog and really ask yourself if “people shouldn’t kill people, then why should the government?”
Well, there you have my three favorite blogs to read, written by my fellow classmates! If you choose to read any or all of these blogs, you will soon realize how writing can allow young minds to express their opinions and ideas!

Sunday, October 28, 2007

I really want to help but HOW?

Throughout the past few years as awareness about global warming has increased, more and more people realize that they DO want to help reduce the effects of global warming but don’t know how! Well this should help! The following links are websites and blogs that I have used throughout my blogging process and could help you learn various ways to help the environment.
First, one of the websites that I found to be very helpful for viewers is World Coolers. It is an interactive website that not only links you to other sites but gives you access to various articles and blogs related to global warming. But it doesn’t stop there! World Coolers also gives viewers the ability to download their World Coolers’ Collactive Desktop, which sends updates and information about the latest news in global warming and ways that you can get involved. To visit this site and learn more about World Coolers visit, http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2006/11/07/worldcoolers-calls-to-raise-public-awareness-to-global-warming/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fworldcoolers.org%2F&frame=true.
This next link is one that I love and will continue to use even after this project is over can be found using the AOL search engine. It is another interactive website that allows you to learn all about global warming and its effects but it will also help you realize how much you are causing global warming. Yes that’s right I said… “how much you are causing global warming”! Many people forget that there are several little things we can do to help reduce the effects of global warming but to also increase the effects of global warming. On this website, viewers can access other blogs, websites and information about global warming. There’s even a link to a website that will calculate how much you impact the increase of global warming and then show you ways to help reduce these effects. To find out more, visit http://reference.aol.com/planet-earth/global-warming.
Now for those of you who are my more avid tree huggers and environmentalists this website is for YOU! The Take Global Warming Seriously website is a great link for individuals, who are already informed about global warming and want to do something more. The website has outlined everything the Take Global Warming Seriously group is trying to accomplish from the objective of the website to ways you can help their campaign. To learn more about this group and their functions for getting involved visit, http://tgws.org.uk/.
Lastly, this is one of the few websites that I found that were interactive and informative for viewers. The Be Green website allows its viewers to calculate their impact on global warming while showing them ways to get involved to make a difference. But the cool thing about this website is it also allows you to send this link to friends by email! Pretty great huh! So, to get involved and to tell others about global warming as well visit, http://www.begreennow.com/learn/begreen_learn.
Hopefully, these links and others posted on my blog will help you learn more about global warming and how you can do something to help!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

What NOT to wear!!!



In some of my earlier posts, I mentioned how fashion has become a major outlet in promoting awareness about global warming. When looking for research, I found several examples of clothing companies and organizations that made shirts and other clothes with catchy environmental slogans. Recently, with all the major hype being focused on the environmental issue of global warming, fashion knew that it had to get involved in some way! But unfortunately, not all the ways were the best…actually some of them were some real fashion no no’s. Can someone please call the fashion police!
To promote awareness about global warming successful fashion company Diesel Jeans decided to make several controversial ads about the pressing effects of global warming. Now some may see these ads as an artistic way of promoting a serious global issue while promoting Diesel fashions. But on the other hand, the campaign message of “GLOBAL WARMING CANT STOP OUR LIVES” that Diesel may be trying to promote is not the message they’re sending. In the following pictures, Diesel shows their various models in famous locations such as New York City and Rio de Janeiro modeling Diesel Jeans or accessories but with the background flooded by water, one of the major effects global warming can have!
WHAT? That doesn’t make sense! In the this blog, the author viewed Diesel as a fashion company that was not promoting awareness about the issue but actually promoting the issue itself and as a GOOD THING! And by the looks of these ads, I have to agree that even though Diesel is illustrating the dramatic effects of global warming I feel like they are not spreading awareness about the issue appropriately. Many companies have clearly used fashion as their artistic outlet to express their concerns with global warming but these Diesel ads are just not IT!
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that Diesel is trying to make global warming awareness apart of their latest fashion campaign; it's just the way they executed their campaign that doesn’t work! And it is obvious that I am NOT the only one who disagrees with Diesel’s attempt for a controversial fashion statement; other websites and blogs have expressed their opinions about the Diesel campaign. BUT the one thing that can be said about this whole situation is that even though the message wasn’t the one they intended to spread, the controversial Diesel ads have definitely been getting global warming a name in fashion!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

My theory on this whole global warming thing?

To better understand how we are promoting awareness about global warming we should examine the various outlets we are using to increase familiarity with this issue. In today's society we utilize several cultural aspects of our lives to promote issues such as global warming. Through my research, I have found that we have used everything from billboards to clothes to promote awareness about global warming. We have also become more inclined to listen and support celebrities and political figures who fight the war against global warming even if we do not know too much about the issue ourselves.
However, I believe the most effective sources of promotion are the uses of fashion, media and national movements. Nowadays, one can walk into your local Target or visit an exclusive vendor online and see t-shirts and clothing that have environmental slogans or promote awareness through images and sayings. The media is using their powerful influence to promote awareness with ads and commercials that offer suggests and tips to help reduce the effects of global warming. Then public figures like Al Gore continue to fight the war against global warming through his film and other environmental activities. Lastly, different organizations are trying to promote national movements like Global No Drive Day that will help reduce major cause of global warming.
The issue of public awareness of global warming is a polarizing issue where we often ask if we are promoting awareness the right or wrong way. By using these various promotion outlets we can effectively promote awareness about this serious issue that is happening faster than we thought.