Blog #8 Religion and Environment

I learned a lot from each of the presentation. When I saw the topic, religion and environment, I couldn’t understand its concept and where I should start with because I didn’t see any relationship between religion and environment. Moreover, I don’t believe God so it was more difficult to see religion and environment together, so I kept researched on how Hinduism affected their society; I thought environment represents society.

The concept of trees in Islam was very impressed to me. I was nervous when I heard that ‘if you plant a tree or feed an animal, you will receive rewards in paradise’, because I was about to kill my plants in my home and I even did so many times before. Also, I wondered why Islamic people pigs are cursed or dirty animal while they care other animals.


Daoism’s Ying Yang harmony of nature reminded me Korea’s flag. As you can see, the blue and red are balanced each other and represent origin of the universe. Each side has also meaning; according to Daoism, those are sky, fire, water and earth. Therefore, I found more interested on Daoism.

From the presentation, I learned religions are related their environment and I could understand how all religions care their environment. Our environment is important for everybody even if they are believed in different religion because they think environment and living things are God’s creation that they have to keep it clean.

Blog #7 Museum of Natural History

On November 6, 2008, I went trip to Museum of Natural History in Manhattan with my entire classmate. I went this museum few times before so I felt comfortable than others. The first trip was about 10 years ago with my uncle. I went to New York City to visit my uncle and he took our family to the museum. We walked about all floors of museum and watched film about planet of Earth. Even though I couldn’t understand English at that time, everything seems pretty interesting to me.

In this trip I expected more information and knowledge about how human being evolved because I could understand more English than before and I believe that it is very interesting subject. That is the reasons why I focus on human origin section. I watched the foot print of human in millions years ago and I compared with mine. The old human being had really big foot and I questioned myself, “Are we still evolving?”. I also thought I can be the future displayed foot print next millions years later.

Next section that I had fun was hall of biodiversity. I saw all different species about land, ocean, and rain forest. It showed all Earth living species like bacteria and beetles, fungi and fish, microorganisms and mammals. All of these species are displayed at hall of biodiversity section and there are more than 1500 species. While I was watching all these species, I felt little bit sad because they were stuffed animals.

During this trip, I learned a lot, especially about human origin and biodiversity. It was wonderful trip that I had recently. Only one thing that I remorse about this trip was I couldn’t able to watch climate change film in 3rd floor. If I have other chance to go to Museum of Natural History, I definitely watch this film.

Blog #6 E-Waste in China

After I watched the video during the class, I was shocked that U.S.A dumps e waste to other low income countries. I thought China is huge and rapidly develop nation which has power to keep their country. Thus, I decide to research more about e waste in china.

Developed countries are recently exporting e waste to China or India to reuse or recycle. According to Greenpeace, U.S ended landfill or incinerators 4.6 million tons of e waste in 2000. However, it banned from states and they start to export to Asia; China government tried to ban importing e waste, but it still happens.

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/toxics/hi-tech-highly-toxic/e-waste-goes
We can also watch e waste in China from the youtube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sMOAWW6I0k

From the New York Times article, I can easily know environmental racism, “…because recycling in the United States is expensive, hazardous and encumbered with environmental and safety regulations, many companies that collect e-waste simply ship it to underdeveloped nations”.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/27/opinion/27royte.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=e%20waste%20in%20china&st=cse&oref=slogin

Because of heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury from e waste, blood lead levels of children in Guiyu, China is extremely high.

Environmental Health Perspectives; Jul2007, Vol. 115 Issue 7, p1113-1117, 5p, 3 charts, 1 map, 5 color

I will keep my research on e waste in city Guiyu in China with more specific facts and negative affects.