David Maywhoor's Presentation

David's presentation was very informing. You could tell from his presentation that he has a lot of heart when concerning what he stands for. I had no idea that the National Forestry Department burned down forest and clear cut sections of forests. I feel cheated that they cut down the trees and then sell them for profits without letting the tax payer know what is actually going on. I also thought the information he shared with us about the Chinese Ash Bour was useful. I had know idea that the Ash Bour was causing so many problems. I hike alot around Athens and I always came across signs that say "dont move wood" I never knew why it mattered. But now I do.

Research Prospectus

For my research prospectus I will be exploring the up and coming trend of building Eco-friendly or "green" retirement community's. My major is Long-term health care administration with a certificate in Gerontology. I plan to manage and run retirement homes for the nations large baby boomer retirement demographic. With the nations 76 million baby boomers due to start retiring within the next decade or so, the nation will see a huge spike in long-term health care facilities. With my life long interest in the environment I want to run my future facilities in a green manner and I hope that my exploration provides me with a some basic knowledge of how to run a green retirement facility.
I have been working in retirement homes for about five years. I started in the dinning services and I have worked in every department all the way up to administration. Some common trends that I have noticed within retirement committees is that many administrators do not easily except change but with the onset of a relatively new concept of patient care called "patient centered care" the patient is in charge of their own care and living environment. With the the baby boomers being the first generations to be heavily involved in the green movement many future residents will want to live in a community that is eco-friendly.
Maintaining a "green" facility starts with the construction of the facility. This would mean that the facility is built with materials that are considered renewable, and energy efficient. Upon the completion of the green facility, green systems must be installed. Green systems that regulate air quality, laundry equipment, water purification and energy must be included in the facility. These Eco-friendly systems could also cut energy costs.
Lastly, the facility would have to offer green amenities. This includes the barber shop, transportation, and food services. Green facilities can have many health and environmental benefits. I am looking forward to this research, most people have to idea how many older citizens this country will have within the next 15 years. It will heavily impact society. I think it is very important that we create and maintain Eco-friendly facilities.

Lost Mountain Pt. 2

While continuing to read this story of devastation I have found myself more and more against coal mining. It is sad that our main source of energy is coal. coal mining does nothing but cause damage to its surroundings. In the sections I read it talked about Flyrock. Flyrock is basically the rubble,rocks and boulders that shoot down from the mountain top explosions. The coal companies are told to keep distance from from residential areas but there are many personal accounts of Flyrock getting uncomfortably close to communities. The issue of Flyrock is chilling. When I think of Flyrock the first image that comes to my mind would be one of a feeling of being under attack. The fear that must be experienced by these peoples must be similar to that of a war zone. This is just another example of how the negligent the coal mining companies operate.
I am staunchly against coal mining and want the government to push for strict regulations for the mining. Not only should there be stricter regulations but there needs to be a serious campaign and movement for alternative energies that don't require the eventual destruction of humanity by hands of humanity.

Lost Mountain Pt.1

Upon reading Lost Mountain the author Eric Reese brought to my attention facts that I was unfamiliar to. Reese strongly opposes the methods used by the coal mining industry in the United States and takes a year out of his life to document in detail the changes that occur to the environment and the community in Kentucky surrounding and living around Lost Mountain. Back in the early to mid-1900s coal mining was done in a much more Eco-friendly way. Miners would carefully dig into mountains and retrieve the coal leaving some environmental damage. Now with the onset of newer regulations and the use of heavy machinery the mining companies can just remove the top of the mountains as long as the environment is left in the same condition that it was found in (which is never the case). The modern method of mining is causing devastating affects on the small towns that are located around the mining spots. Not only is it contaminating water supplies and releasing toxins into the air but it is also destroying ecosystems causing some species to become extinct, therefore messing up the natural groove of the environment. I liked how Reese says the Appalachian mountains is the rain-forest of North America. Its sad how much of this mountain range is being deforested and left in ruin. Even the trees that are cut down are left to rot. Reese does a great job of creating a picture in your mind of how the mountain tops look after the companies leave, he goes on to say that it looks as though it is like a western desert. Nothing is living there. entire streams are buried, entire ecosystems ruined.
These companies try and justify there actions by stressing the importance they play on providing quality jobs for the communities and by adding certain infrastructure to the communities. Yes they do offer some positives but most of there are lies.

Green Washing

When viewing Thisisreality.org I found the site’s interactivity functions to be engaging and eye catching and geared toward a younger audience. This site basically debunks the coals industry push to “green wash” the general public into thinking that they are making significant strides toward “clean” coal power production. When in all actuality there isn’t a single clean coal power plant in the US. Thisisreality.org is basically saying the technologies that are being researched and studied to sufficiently capture and store CO2 emissions have yet to shown any concrete progress and while we wait for these technologies to be developed, we could be putting our time and resources towards other renewable energies that have proven success such as wind power and solar power. Thisisreality.org is simply presenting the known facts (coal burning is the leading cause of global warming)(There isn’t a single clean coal power plant in the US) and trying to bring to the general public the truth behind the coal industries campaign to “green wash” and gain public support for the continual use of coal. Until technologies are developed to capture and store CO2 in a safe and environmentally friendly way clean coal doesn’t exist.. On the site you can see that it is sponsored by many climate control and environmental organizations.

Upon visiting Americaspower.org I immediately noticed that the site wasn’t as visually attractive as Thisisreality.org. The site is filled with graphs, facts and testimonies. This site seemed to be geared toward the middle-aged working class American adult. Although the site does list factual information I can’t seem to find any real evidence of this new “clean coal” tech being put to use. As you browse through the site you will come across the statement that coal is now 77% cleaner since the enactment of the Clean Air Act in 1990. Although, this does show some progress this doesn’t not mean that coal is actually clean. Americaspower.org seems to stress the fact that coal is our most abundant and inexpensive source of power, does this mean that we should keep our time and money invested into a power source that is damaging to us as a species, and to our atmosphere when we could use our resources on the further development of renewable energy that is much more environmentally friendly. Should convenience and cost be our only determining factor when it comes to keeping America powered? The fact is that clean coal doesn’t exist. Americaspower.org is sponsored by American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity which almost all of its members are somehow involved in the coal industry. No wonder why they are pushing for the general public to back the “clean coal” campaign.

first blog

My name is Maxx Blank I am from Bexley, Ohio. I am a senior at OU university studying Long-term health care administration and also Hospital administration.