Reflection 8 yay

Lindsay Harris

COMM 3824-01

3/20/19

Comm 3824 Reflection 8

            Upon hearing the words gender and climate policy, the average person may not think that they are related. However, after spending 10 weeks in this course, it is clear as day to me to see that these two things go hand in hand. As we’ve learned in previous weeks, female activism is more common among environmental causes and Dankelman gives more perspective on that when writing about the various motivations, strategies, characteristics, and challenges having to do with female environmentalist groups. The 10 Principles pdf was a straightforward and efficient way of getting the critical next steps of taking control of climate policy across. If that were more broadly advertised I feel as though it would be easier to mobilize people to work towards changing their habits that are detrimental to our environment. Additionally, reading Jason Mark’s article about environmental disasters was eye-opening, as people do not always think of what happens after a disaster has been contained. I myself am guilty of forgetting about the impacts of hurricanes after they have passed.

            This article made me feel more connected to disasters, however, as someone who lives in California and has been personally impacted by wildfires. I have had weeks of classes cancelled in high school, and seen the hillsides near my home scorched and blackened. Whenever a new fire occurs I do not always think that it has much to do with climate or things of that nature and instead assume someone did not properly contain a campfire or failed to extinguish a cigarette. Similarly, when watching the video in class on Tuesday about changing the way public transit is, I had never realized the environmental impact that could have on our planet. I always was aware that buses were good for the environment because it meant less cars on the road and less greenhouse gas emissions, however I had no idea the social and economic ramifications that public transportation led to. Additionally, it was wildly interesting to have our guest speaker, Julie Gorecki, on video chat on Tuesday. Prior to listening to her speak I had no idea the kind of work that she is doing even existed, so it is something that I am able to keep in mind while continuing on in the rest of this course this semester.

Reparations- A rectification of past and ongoing harms.

Commoning- The struggle for direct control and direct access over social wealth that isn’t controlled by the market.

Carbon Barons- The corporations who historically have chosen to disregard communities for profit and power.