blog # 5

A green learning community would be full of open-minded, accepting, and ethically driven individuals. It would be egalitarian, with no set leader, but rather with everyone in different circumstances playing the role of leader at different times. A green learning community would essentially be a loving one, where individuals are free to express themselves openly however it is they choose without judgment. In a green learning community, domination would not exist and no one would be oppressed. There would be no domination issues between race, class, gender, or animals, but rather an aura of freedom and liberation. There would also be a certain understanding between teacher and student, where it is completely unnecessary for the teacher to occupy a position of power, command, and control. Learning would be more hands on and through experiences rather than lecture. In a green learning community, there would be only thoughtful action and not mindless consumption. Socialism would not be the main form of government because consumerism wouldn’t be the “mainstream” way of life. People would go back to the bargaining system and perform services for one another as a means of surviving. A green learning community would essentially be a community of love, with its members looking to peacefully change the world by first changing themselves. 

Blog # 4

I am a strong believer of green values. A few years ago, my perspective of the American culture began changing after reading various books and watching various documentaries. I began to feel discontent in an environment that I felt was empty, meaningless, and unsustainable. Because my perspective and opinion on what is valuable was so different from everyone else around me, I began to feel isolated, frustrated, and trapped; I felt like I could not live in the real world if this was what reality looked like: People who thoughtlessly live their lives with no regard towards future generations; who make decisions with no regard for the environment or sustainability; People who are blind to their own emotional and spiritual needs and try to fill the void with consumerism, an empty substitute for fulfillment. I am in this course because I am a strong believer in green values. I have experienced working for a large corporation this summer and I must say, the work was far from fulfilling or creative. I don’t believe in “Giantism” or division of labor, which creates alienating, robotic and impersonal work. This system is like a mindless monster. Unfortunately, I am cynical when it comes to American culture because I think a lot of our culture’s unique and individualistic attributes have been lost. Our “industrial society” has taken away our holistic community. What industrial society gives us instead is a hoarder’s closet full of unnecessary junk because of our addiction to stuff, higher depression rates because of job unfulfillment, and high medical bills because of drugs we take to numb the effects of emotionally and physically unhealthy lifestyles. It’s all a vicious cycle that I fully believe in changing. 


         What surprised me the most was the intimate connection between our domination of the natural world and human domination over each other. For some reason, I had never made that connection, but now that I see it, it’s never been so clear. I believe in all of the green values, but I believe most in changing our mindsets to end all types of domination and hierarchy.

Blog # 1

I am mainly excited to learn more about the subjects of deep ecology, spiritual ecology, social ecology, green democracy, ecofeminism, and environmental policy. I have been interested in these topics for a long time and finally have the opportunity to explore them more! I am interested in these ideas because there are many problems with the way our social and political system work today. Ideals exist to challenge the current reality because reality is what we make it. And we must believe that we are able to change it. Learning more about these green ideals will help empower me to make changes to my own way of thought and how I interact with others. We obviously need an alternative way of thought and living in this world if we are to survive and survive perhaps with more fulfillment in the future than many of us live with today. Green ideals can empower people to change their mindsets, which is the key to changing the world. 

To some, our way of life seems so normal to us today because we know nothing else. But we must be able to dream and come up with new ideas if we are to implement change for the better at all. I am excited about this class because of exploring the alternative for a better world through alternative thought. After all, our actions change when our minds do.