Our Garbage Goes Here

Our field trip to the Lee County Waste to Energy Plant was interesting to say the least. Plant manager Tom Mueller was very proud of his accomplishments after 20 plus years at the plant. We felt, however, that Tom left out a few key elements concerning the environment. As much as he preached about the benefits of the plant, he never once mentioned finding ways to reduce the amount of waste. Instead, he said that when he sees a decease in Lee County's waste... he panics! Waste = Money to Mr. Mueller, and while I think he's a good-hearted man, he could use some more information on permaculture. Less waste is a good thing Mr. Mueller. I was a little confused, myself, about the ash fills. I believe I understood correctly that they're better than trash fills, and I agree, but what happens when there's no more room for the ash. I asked Mr. Mueller if there are any alternative uses for the ash... he then proceeded to tell me that because of possible toxins, the United States, unlike Europe, has not yet allowed the proposal of ash to energy (or whatever else) conversion. Hmmm... toxic is toxic is toxic... in the air or on a mountain.

No meat

After watching the movie on Wednesday I never realized how much meat can harm you.  While I think it went a little bit far fetched in saying not eating meat can cure AIDS but, hey, who knows? It could. If I didn't love a nice juicy steak so much I'd follow the diet to see how much my body changes. Maybe one day i'll have that kind of motivation, but hopefully not when it's to late.
Here's an interesting youtube clip on not eating meat- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJD9oY2dQUI&feature=related

Eating: Plant-Based Diet

(http://www.firstscience.com/home/images/user/44/Bizarro-milk.jpg)

The movie we watched in class on eating only plant-based foods was eye-opening and shocking but often seemed exaggerated. The idea of being vegetarian wasn't new to me- many of my friends had made the switch away from the endearing hamburger but the movie's sense of a 'plant-based diet' described something much more extreme: as even Shaws brand veggies just wouldn't suffice. The movie was encouraged me to make a change in my own life as it scanned the rotund bellys of the mid-aged men and women but what made me second guess its credibility is when it started listing off the cures such a 'simple' change could make! Not that it wouldn't be wonderful for our world to have such a cure for Cancer but with these diseases being so rampant in our society how did everyone not already know?! I decided to do more research and found information that fortified atleast some of the argument-even Oprah's website displayed a congruent article on the topic ( http://www.oprah.com/health/Can-a-Plant-Based-Diet-Cure-Cancer/1) ( even though they do a horrible job in making the meal they picture look appetizing!) The same doctor's interview (Dr. Campbell) is on youtube... ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8htgpvZBCxA). The movie was interesting but to be a true believer myself, and make the switch from my "American Diet" I may need to see more results.