Plan B Chp. 3

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In chapter 3 of Plan B, Brown discusses the waterfall effect of the increasing climate change on many different areas. He discusses how it effects the earth, our cities, our food supply and more. Climate change is becoming a huge problem. Brown begins the chapter by stating that ever since civilization began, each generation has left the next a planet similar to the one it inherited and ours is the first to break that tradition (Brown 55). Brown makes a very true statement here. There is no doubt that our generation uses, takes, and wastes more resources that it should. We are all about convenience and wanting the fastest results possible. More development. More profit. That is simply how most of our generation thinks.

 

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Brown gives the fact that we have had 25 of the warmest years in record history since 1980 (Brown 56). The climate change recently has become rapid and it is scary to think what will happen if it continues at this rate. The increasingly warm weather is causing ice and snow in mountain ranges to melt a lot faster and sooner. Brown makes a valid point in saying that we have taken the water storage from mountain ranges for granted simply because they have always been there, but as the earth gets warmer, these reservoirs are depleting (Brown 69). This water gives natural irrigation that many farming areas rely on. Without this natural flow of water, we would be in great trouble.

 

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It is obvious that we have many challenges that have arisen concerning the environment. However, Brown comes off too strong in some areas of the text for me. The challenges we face are stabilize climate, stabilize population, eradicate poverty, and restore the earth’s natural systems (Brown 75). According to Brown, we have to “effectively respond to each of them at the same time” because of their mutual independence (Brown 75). I believe that is far too reaching of a task for us to accomplish. When you ask for too much, a lot of the time you do not get anything resolved. It is much better to go about things in little steps so that it is not overwhelming. In addition, some things, such as restoring earth’s natural system is impossible. We can never get the systems back to how they were naturally at this point.

 

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Another area that Brown is unrealistic in his Plan B goal to replace all coal-fired power plants with wind farms by 2020. I know this book is outdated and it is obvious we are nowhere close to achieving this. However, even so, I do not think we can realistically get all the power to sustain today’s way of life with wind farms. We cannot rely on wind to power every our needs because it is a part of nature and nature is unpredictable. In addition, I think we just have way too much to power in today’s society to switch to relying on wind farms. He makes other unrealistic goals as well. In general, I just do not think he realizes society today is not able to make such drastic changes when they do not really see the threat since it is far in the future.

Plan B 4.0 Chp. 2

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     The second chapter of Plan B discusses the pressure of the growing population on land and water. Our food and water resources are becoming increasingly scarce as the population continues its rapid growth. There are many more mouths to feed now then there were a decade ago. This obviously affects both food and water because those are two vital resources needed for survival. Many countries are over pumping aquifers as they struggle to satisfy their growing water needs (Brown 38). Water seems to be a plentiful resource, but we are depleting it with our increasingly large demand. The competition for what has become a big problem, which is crazy to think because water is everywhere. However, simply because water is everywhere does not mean that we should not limit our use of it.

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One point that Brown brings up really surprised me. Apparently, the price of grain is now tied to the price of oil because of our country’s massive capacity to convert grain to ethanol (Brown 49). This further brings the resource of food into perspective. Now grain is in a competition to go to either car fuel or people’s food. Obviously, gas companies can pay more to obtain grain since they make much more than the average person. So now grain is being taken from people to be used in ethanol. Also, we all know how gas prices fluctuate. Now every time gas prices rise so do the prices of grain, which makes food more expensive as well.

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     Because of the way grain is tied to oil, cars are now in competition with people for grain. Brown brings up how automobile owners on average make 27,000 more a year than poorest families (Brown 50). Automobile owners pay for gas so they are making their vote against the people that need grain for food. In this way, the market decides to fuel cars (Brown 50). I understand this because our society is ruled by profit; however, I disagree with the logic of it. Grain is a very important food group and simply because gas uses it does not mean that less should go to people as a food source. This country is scarce on food as it is and we do not need another reason for it.

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            Brown ends the chapter saying that our choice is simple; we either need to reverse these trends or risk being overwhelmed by them (Brown 54). I do not believe it is that simple at all. Brown acts like we can just turn a switch and stop the way we are living. There is no possible way we can do that. There are too many people on earth that would need to cooperate together and even then it would be difficult. Also, we would have to change everyone’s mindsets. With all the advances we have made, we cannot just go back. We can slowly change and be more conservative but to continue operating society we need to utilize a certain amount of resources.

Food, Inc.

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     Right of the bat, Food, Inc. states that the way we eat has changed more in the past 50 years than it did in the previous ten thousand. This is such a dramatic statement and it really made me think. The way we eat has become much different from a decade ago, but I did not realize the reality of how greatly it has changed. Our food is no longer as fresh as it used to be. People want what is quick and easy. Our fast paced society has greatly impacted how food is processed. However, as it states in the video the images used to sell food still picture the agrarian lifestyle to make it seem like that is where our food comes from when in reality huge factories process the food. 

 

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It shocked me that the meat industry is dominated four huge multinational corporations, from which McDonalds are the main customers. So basically, even if you do not get fast food, you are getting the same product. Most people are unaware of where their food comes from because there is a veil over what these corporations do not want us to see. I agree that much is hidden from us. Most people just do not care because what they are getting is simple and easy.

 

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Another interesting thing that I learned was that the organic food area is growing twenty percent annually. This is great because it is showing that people are starting to take more care into what they purchase and what they eat. Organic food may be expensive but if it grows and more start to buy it, more will be made and eventually it will become cheaper. Also, it was surprising to learn that Stoneyfield was started by a small group of environmentalists against all the pollution that the huge businesses were creating. Their yogurt is the number three in America.

 

Plan B 4.0: Preface and Chp. 1

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     Plan B 4.0 is all about mobilizing to save the environment. In the preface and beginning chapter, the opens the discussion and gives a summary on what this means as well as an introduction to the big plan. It pinpoints food as the weak link because we are entering a “new food era” with higher prices, growing numbers of people and intensifying competition for resources (Brown Preface). It is very true that we do not have nearly enough food to support the amount of people here on earth. The food is also unevenly distributed. We waste so much food by throwing it out or having it go bad when there are millions of people in other areas that need it. Some people have an abundance of food while others are starving. We need food to survive and it is a huge problem that we do not have enough of it for everybody.

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Continuing on with the scarcity of food, the author begins to discuss different ways that we can fix this problem. Some people “point to genetically modified crops as a way out of this predicament” (Brown 8). I do not believe that this is the answer to our food problem. Genetically modifying our food to make it more nutritious or bigger or whatever else just is not natural. It may be a viable option and one that works, but I do not think this should be used. I do not like the thought of engineering our food to fix our problem or meet our needs. Food grown out of nature should not be tampered with in my opinion. I want natural nutrients not added ones.

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There is no question that the world’s overpopulation contributes greatly to our food problem. There are simply too many people on the world. As Dwight on the TV show The Office would put it, “we need a new plague”. Families are having too many children that they simply cannot afford and that the world cannot support. Cities and suburbs alike are overcrowded. Traffic is horrible. There are just too many bodies on this earth. Too many babies are being made and people are living much longer. The Plan B goal is to stabilize population at eight billion or lower because as of now the predictions are that the population will reach 9.2 billion by 2050 (Brown 24). Population definitely needs to be stabilized or lowered if possible. Less people would solve so many of our problems.

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With a happy ending to the first chapter, the author states, "a world where population has stabilized, forests are expanding, and carbon emissions are falling is within our grasp" (Brown 27). I believe this is too optimistic. We have such a long way to go. And frankly, many people just do not care to put in the amount of effort that Plan B is calling for. People in today’s world are far too selfish and focused on instant gratification. Plan B will have slow progress and the results will not be seen any time soon but in years beyond us. Because of this, I just do not believe enough people are willing to work and take the time out of their day to change for the better of our environment.