Energy and place project
project reflection
This project was a blast. From the beginning we learned about what it means to have a sense of place. We learned about how energy production impacts the environment and we looked into all different types of production. We were taught about environmental ethics and the opinions that align with each. Along the way we listened to guest speakers from a background of coal energy, solar energy, and oil and gas energy. The final project was a writing piece that explains where we find our sense of place, and how energy production might affect that place. We had to identify an environmental ethic to align with our writing as well.
Paragraph 2: Writing Growth
For my essay, it changed several times throughout the drafts. Between my first draft and my first peer critique I was given a ton of helpful feedback from Grant and Vivien that helped me catch little mistakes here and there. I had a few run-on sentences that I was able to work out and my spelling was perfect. Throughout the writing process I had a hard time showing instead of telling. With some great nature writing examples from people like Edward Abbey, I was able to form a professional piece that allowed the reader to see what they were reading about. For example, instead of saying, "I stumbled upon a lake", you could say, "I stumbled across a glorious lake that was nestled in the mountains with a crystal clear reflection of the sky above."
P.S. Writing drafts both 1st and last are found on the My Writing Growth Page.
Throughout this project there were some struggles that I had as far as forming my environmental ethic. I didn't really like the thought of having to identify with any of them initially but the more I studied them I realized that I align the most with conservationism. Through the project I grew as a person because I had to think critically about the cost benefit analysis between the nature that I love and the energy that I need to fuel my everyday life. Wen I was writing this essay the habit of heart and mind that I used the most was perseverance. The hardest part of this essay was trying to fill the 1500 word minimum. I didn't feel like I had that much to say, but I figured it out eventually.
happiness and meaning project
Essential questions:
1. What is the purpose of your existence?
2. what is happiness and what makes you happy?
3. what does it mean to live a meaningful life?
4. to what extent can literature shape your personal philosophy on happiness and meaning?
reflection:
Part 1: New Insights
Throughout this project there were many new insights that I developed. I found out what the differences are between temporary happiness and true meaning really are. Listening to pastor Rick Warren’s TED talk about leading a life of purpose, I found that what I need to really live happily is not materialistic. In order for me to be happy I need to pour into other lives and also take care of myself and my own happiness in the process. I came away with the new insight that not everyone knows what makes them happy. Some people are searching for happiness and can’t always find it. Also, everyone has a different definition of happiness. I don’t believe that there is a universal scale to measure happiness, everyone has to gage it by themself. I found through this project that I need to go out and make things happen if I want to be happy.
Part 2: Further Questions
Throughout this project there were many new insights that I developed. I found out what the differences are between temporary happiness and true meaning really are. Listening to pastor Rick Warren’s TED talk about leading a life of purpose, I found that what I need to really live happily is not materialistic. In order for me to be happy I need to pour into other lives and also take care of myself and my own happiness in the process. I came away with the new insight that not everyone knows what makes them happy. Some people are searching for happiness and can’t always find it. Also, everyone has a different definition of happiness. I don’t believe that there is a universal scale to measure happiness, everyone has to gage it by themself. I found through this project that I need to go out and make things happen if I want to be happy.
Part 2: Further Questions
- Does my happiness depend on what others think of me?
- Will my life be meaningless if my future job doesn’t make me happy?
- Do I make other happy?
- Will I be unhappy without being wealthy when I’m older?
- Can I be truly happy alone? Or do I need companionship to be happy?
- Can I be happy without music in my life?
happy, A song written by tj rifkin
Happiness and Meaning Project Song
Verse
I've got this darkness
It won't let my heart win
Is life worth living
If there's no meaning
Interlude
Hide true emotion
Because I'm so lonesome
Wear a different mask every day
Make the feelings go away
Interlude
Chorus
Am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what it's meant to be?
If it's meant to be
Then why do I feel so lonely
Verse
Is there a purpose
To make this worth it
I wander so blindly
With still no findings
Verse
To find true happiness
You have to just accept
wherever you find happiness
Is where you’ll find your true success
Chorus
So am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what
It's meant to be?
If it's meant to be then why do I feel
So lonely
Bridge
If you're trying to find your true happiness
You've gotta get away from all
of the things that bring you down
And once you've found your true happiness
Don't let it go don't let it go
Solo
Chorus
So am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what
It's meant to be?
If it's meant to be then why do I feel
So lonely
Conclude
Now with this happiness
Will others see the same success
But is that really important
As long as you feel worth it.
Outro Interlude
Verse
I've got this darkness
It won't let my heart win
Is life worth living
If there's no meaning
Interlude
Hide true emotion
Because I'm so lonesome
Wear a different mask every day
Make the feelings go away
Interlude
Chorus
Am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what it's meant to be?
If it's meant to be
Then why do I feel so lonely
Verse
Is there a purpose
To make this worth it
I wander so blindly
With still no findings
Verse
To find true happiness
You have to just accept
wherever you find happiness
Is where you’ll find your true success
Chorus
So am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what
It's meant to be?
If it's meant to be then why do I feel
So lonely
Bridge
If you're trying to find your true happiness
You've gotta get away from all
of the things that bring you down
And once you've found your true happiness
Don't let it go don't let it go
Solo
Chorus
So am I stuck in a rut
Or is this what
It's meant to be?
If it's meant to be then why do I feel
So lonely
Conclude
Now with this happiness
Will others see the same success
But is that really important
As long as you feel worth it.
Outro Interlude
shortened philosophy statement:
Happiness to me is whatever you do in your life that makes you feel better and makes you feel worth it in the world. When we live in a world that is so vastly populated and full of people who are just content with existing, happiness is the thing that makes your life worth living. To live a meaningful life, you have to be able to be content with yourself and feel like your life is not a waste of space. Finding your personal meaning should be autonomous, you should define what happiness to you because you believe it, it shouldn't be driven by what success and happiness mean to others.
the morality and politics of justice project
Despite what many would think to be common sense, humans neglect to hold the people accountable for their actions, and they ignorantly blame guns for the harm that we cause. The guns are not the problem, there are other causes to blame for violence in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
project reflecton
In the Morality and Politics Of Justice Projects, we began the entire process by doing a ton of research and class seminars talking about hot button political issues. The task that we were given for this project was to take a controversial political topic, and write an op ed article with a art piece that illustrates a solution to the problem. Or, rather than a solution, to try and argue against laws in general. We learned all about moral philosophies to help us formulate our perspectives better. We learned about Utilitarianism, Deontology, Libertarianism, and John Rawls Justice As Fairness. We were supposed to incorporate one of these philosophies into our argument for our Op Ed article. For the art piece, we were supposed to create it as if it was made for a political campaign for or against that issue.
Throughout this project, my growth as a writer has flourished. I changed my op ed article drastically between my first draft and final draft. As far as content goes, I took my initial evidence and analogies and made them much more refined and added more pathos to help convince my audience. I took paragraphs and sentences that were very long and boring, and I streamlined them to make them concise and more convincing. I used a lot of tricky sentence craft, and also incorporated Utilitarianism. Overall, I improved the grammar and tried to avoid irrational bias in the article. I feel like I formulated my opinions well and the readers will feel the same way.
I am extremely proud of my photoshop piece because of how thought provoking it is. It really immerses the viewer into a world where riots are happening because of gun control. It is very clear the message that I am trying to portray because it shows the sign showing the theoretical gun ban, and the riots breaking out as a result. I worked very hard to incorporate my pathos in the poster, as well as thought provoking quotes. I think that my quotes will really hit home with the viewers, as well as the police officers with riot gear. I think that due to some of the most recent riots in Ferguson, people will be moved by my poster.
Throughout this project I have grown in many ways. I have become much less biased in my research process. I have learned to overcome my political ignorance and I have opened up my mind to accept new ideas. I believe that political philosophies shaped me the most through this process. THe hardest thing for me in this project was becoming more open to opposing beliefs. I used to get very frustrated when I would be opposed. I have learned that if people provoke you, you take all of the power out of your argument if you insult or use profanity. You will only convince people with respect and evidence. At exhibition, I didn’t speak to many people who were willing to discuss the topic with me. Most people were very turned off by my support of guns. This is not to say that I didn't have good conversations. Overall, through this project, I learned that I work best when I can have have plenty of work time to make mistakes and improve upon them. I had a lot of fun with this project, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Throughout this project, my growth as a writer has flourished. I changed my op ed article drastically between my first draft and final draft. As far as content goes, I took my initial evidence and analogies and made them much more refined and added more pathos to help convince my audience. I took paragraphs and sentences that were very long and boring, and I streamlined them to make them concise and more convincing. I used a lot of tricky sentence craft, and also incorporated Utilitarianism. Overall, I improved the grammar and tried to avoid irrational bias in the article. I feel like I formulated my opinions well and the readers will feel the same way.
I am extremely proud of my photoshop piece because of how thought provoking it is. It really immerses the viewer into a world where riots are happening because of gun control. It is very clear the message that I am trying to portray because it shows the sign showing the theoretical gun ban, and the riots breaking out as a result. I worked very hard to incorporate my pathos in the poster, as well as thought provoking quotes. I think that my quotes will really hit home with the viewers, as well as the police officers with riot gear. I think that due to some of the most recent riots in Ferguson, people will be moved by my poster.
Throughout this project I have grown in many ways. I have become much less biased in my research process. I have learned to overcome my political ignorance and I have opened up my mind to accept new ideas. I believe that political philosophies shaped me the most through this process. THe hardest thing for me in this project was becoming more open to opposing beliefs. I used to get very frustrated when I would be opposed. I have learned that if people provoke you, you take all of the power out of your argument if you insult or use profanity. You will only convince people with respect and evidence. At exhibition, I didn’t speak to many people who were willing to discuss the topic with me. Most people were very turned off by my support of guns. This is not to say that I didn't have good conversations. Overall, through this project, I learned that I work best when I can have have plenty of work time to make mistakes and improve upon them. I had a lot of fun with this project, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
voices From the animas:
https://storycorps.me/interviews/voices-from-the-animas-animas-high-school-student-tj-rifkin-and-zia-taqueria-general-manager-cody-wilderman/
relfection
Voices From The Animas Project Reflection
TJ Rifkin
9-21-15
In this project there were a lot of things that stood out, one of the biggest parts for me was when my interviewee pointed to the fact that the EPA just released the toxins, but didn’t create them. If there was something I could have changed about the interview I would have found a more convenient time to conduct my interview with Cody. I would have found a time where we both weren’t in a rush and I could’ve reserved a better place for us to interview. We had to do it in the restaurant while we were working and it was awkward trying to multitask. I would have done it in a quiet coffee shop or one of our houses. some new perspective that I gained about Cody was that although he doesn’t mountain bike anymore, he feels like he is somewhat kept here by the Animas River because he enjoys surfing so much. I really liked interviewing, it made me feel pretty important conducting an interview on a hot button topic like this.
The strongest perspective that I have gained from this project is that it is not the EPA that is to blame for the spill, but rather the mine owners who created the toxins. Because this disaster was on such a big scale I think that superfund is the best option for Silverton and Durango. I have formed this opinion because my view has been shaped by some of the people I have spoken to and read from. For example, the Denver Post wrote, “Without a superfund in Silverton, the river will just become so polluted that it will eventually be toxic to all walks of life”. This really made me think differently about the way that I thought about superfund. Before, I thought that superfund would be a really bad idea because I was worried that it would affect the business that I work at. However, now that I think about it I want the superfund to take place because then I can feel better about getting in the river.
The superfund in would not only clean up the river, but it would make people want to visit places like silverton more because it would be cleaner. I feel like the debate about a loss of tourism is a lie, for instance in leadville there was superfund and they have as much tourism as ever. In the newspaper Leadville Today, it was said in 2014 that, “Superfund has done nothing but help leadville”. This shows that superfund had benefitted Leadville greatly, so why can’t it do the same for Silverton? I believe that Silverton does still have future mining potential, but I think that it is a far enough stretch that it would be a better option to bar mining in the future and have a cleaner environment overall.
I feel like the biggest social takeaway for me throughout this project was the learning process of opening myself up to listening to both sides of the argument. I had to really work on the habits of heart and mind perspective and empathy. coming into the project I was really bitter towards the EPA, but using these habits I was able to see the other side of the fight and come to a new conclusion. Without being able to see the other perspectives on the issue I would have remained really biased and not been so accepting to new ideas.
TJ Rifkin
9-21-15
In this project there were a lot of things that stood out, one of the biggest parts for me was when my interviewee pointed to the fact that the EPA just released the toxins, but didn’t create them. If there was something I could have changed about the interview I would have found a more convenient time to conduct my interview with Cody. I would have found a time where we both weren’t in a rush and I could’ve reserved a better place for us to interview. We had to do it in the restaurant while we were working and it was awkward trying to multitask. I would have done it in a quiet coffee shop or one of our houses. some new perspective that I gained about Cody was that although he doesn’t mountain bike anymore, he feels like he is somewhat kept here by the Animas River because he enjoys surfing so much. I really liked interviewing, it made me feel pretty important conducting an interview on a hot button topic like this.
The strongest perspective that I have gained from this project is that it is not the EPA that is to blame for the spill, but rather the mine owners who created the toxins. Because this disaster was on such a big scale I think that superfund is the best option for Silverton and Durango. I have formed this opinion because my view has been shaped by some of the people I have spoken to and read from. For example, the Denver Post wrote, “Without a superfund in Silverton, the river will just become so polluted that it will eventually be toxic to all walks of life”. This really made me think differently about the way that I thought about superfund. Before, I thought that superfund would be a really bad idea because I was worried that it would affect the business that I work at. However, now that I think about it I want the superfund to take place because then I can feel better about getting in the river.
The superfund in would not only clean up the river, but it would make people want to visit places like silverton more because it would be cleaner. I feel like the debate about a loss of tourism is a lie, for instance in leadville there was superfund and they have as much tourism as ever. In the newspaper Leadville Today, it was said in 2014 that, “Superfund has done nothing but help leadville”. This shows that superfund had benefitted Leadville greatly, so why can’t it do the same for Silverton? I believe that Silverton does still have future mining potential, but I think that it is a far enough stretch that it would be a better option to bar mining in the future and have a cleaner environment overall.
I feel like the biggest social takeaway for me throughout this project was the learning process of opening myself up to listening to both sides of the argument. I had to really work on the habits of heart and mind perspective and empathy. coming into the project I was really bitter towards the EPA, but using these habits I was able to see the other side of the fight and come to a new conclusion. Without being able to see the other perspectives on the issue I would have remained really biased and not been so accepting to new ideas.
voices from the animas seminar prep
Seminar Prep
TJ Rifkin
9-17-15
The EPA Could’ve possibly benefit from The Animas River Spill because it makes the argument for superfund much stronger when disasters like this happen. However, the EPA has taken an absolute ton of heat and ridicule for causing the spill. I’d say that overall the EPA has taken a large hit from this spill and don’t have much of a positive outlook anymore. Although superfund is coming into the mix of topics more and more, has it been worth the multiple attacks on the EPA? I believe that the spill was an accident. Although the EPA has small possible advantages in causing the spill deliberately, I don’t believe that the government would cause something that is so environmentally damaging for their own personal gain. I believe this is especially true in the case of a beautiful place like silverton. No matter the possibility of potential gain for the EPA, why would they bother doing something like that? As the article EPA conspiracy Theory Gains Traction” said, “The only end game i mind for the EPA would have had to be a stronger argument for a superfund .
This spill could have possibly been avoided, although it would not have been easy. In the Denver Post’s article, “Long Term Impacts Lie Beneath”, it is said that the EPA could have drilled into the mine from above to measure how much acid mine drainage would come out in the case of a toxic spill. Had the EPA been more environmentally conscious, there would have been less of a chance of this toxic spill happening. Obviously the EPA was incompetent and didn’t do much research about the topic, therefore they made the critical mistake of contaminating cement creek, and ultimately the Animas River with 3 million gallons of toxic waste/sludge. Although preventing the spill could’ve been done, the acid mine drainage would eventually find its way out. The EPA could have prevented the spill from happening when it did. But whether the spill was massive, or slow, the effects would have possibly been the same or even worse.
Since the very beginning of mining in silverton, there has always been debate on the environmental impacts. Ever since the mines started putting out mine tailings into the environment and specifically the river, it has only gotten worse. Over time, there has been recorded instances of the same thing happening over time. The fruitfulness of the area warrants a discussion about possibly bringing silverton back into the mining world. The possibility of a flourishing mining environment makes the argument against superfund nothing but stronger.
Durangos Economy has taken a large hit since the mine spill. A ton of durango’s main income comes from tourists , and now that the toxic mine spill has happened people are much less drawn to Durango for river related reasons. Durango’s economy as a whole has suffered, in almost every industry. The industry that has taken the largest hit by far is the rafting industry. If a business has its entire livelihood based on one variable, it is more than devastating to have that one massive variable taken completely away from you. The raft companies now have some of their business back, but not nearly the amount there was before the spill. Some of that has come with the lower levels of the river, but I’ve learned through personal conversation with raft company owners that the main cause of loss in business by a mile is the river spill. The owner of the Main Avenue Raft and Jeep Co. said, “I’d say that half of our loss in business has been directly related to the mine spill”.
Before the spill, the Animas River was still being constantly polluted by the mines in silverton, at a constant rate. Nobody turned their heads to this issue before because it was either minescule, or people had just simply never heard about it. Nevertheless, the river was being polluted at a constant rate. It is said that the headwaters of cement creek were being polluted by upwards of 300+ gallons per minute of the same toxic sludge and tailings that we saw in the larger scale. Therefore, the river was already polluted, and it was getting worse by the day. The massive Spill was only truly brought to light because of the orange color.
TJ Rifkin
9-17-15
- Causes of the spill: In what ways did the the EPA benefit and lose from the spill? (Was the spill an accident?)
The EPA Could’ve possibly benefit from The Animas River Spill because it makes the argument for superfund much stronger when disasters like this happen. However, the EPA has taken an absolute ton of heat and ridicule for causing the spill. I’d say that overall the EPA has taken a large hit from this spill and don’t have much of a positive outlook anymore. Although superfund is coming into the mix of topics more and more, has it been worth the multiple attacks on the EPA? I believe that the spill was an accident. Although the EPA has small possible advantages in causing the spill deliberately, I don’t believe that the government would cause something that is so environmentally damaging for their own personal gain. I believe this is especially true in the case of a beautiful place like silverton. No matter the possibility of potential gain for the EPA, why would they bother doing something like that? As the article EPA conspiracy Theory Gains Traction” said, “The only end game i mind for the EPA would have had to be a stronger argument for a superfund .
- Causes of the spill: Could the spill have been prevented and if so how?
This spill could have possibly been avoided, although it would not have been easy. In the Denver Post’s article, “Long Term Impacts Lie Beneath”, it is said that the EPA could have drilled into the mine from above to measure how much acid mine drainage would come out in the case of a toxic spill. Had the EPA been more environmentally conscious, there would have been less of a chance of this toxic spill happening. Obviously the EPA was incompetent and didn’t do much research about the topic, therefore they made the critical mistake of contaminating cement creek, and ultimately the Animas River with 3 million gallons of toxic waste/sludge. Although preventing the spill could’ve been done, the acid mine drainage would eventually find its way out. The EPA could have prevented the spill from happening when it did. But whether the spill was massive, or slow, the effects would have possibly been the same or even worse.
- Historical Context: How has the history of mining impacted the debate on this issue?
Since the very beginning of mining in silverton, there has always been debate on the environmental impacts. Ever since the mines started putting out mine tailings into the environment and specifically the river, it has only gotten worse. Over time, there has been recorded instances of the same thing happening over time. The fruitfulness of the area warrants a discussion about possibly bringing silverton back into the mining world. The possibility of a flourishing mining environment makes the argument against superfund nothing but stronger.
- Economic Impact: How was our community affected economically by the spill? What, if any, future economic impacts will there be?
Durangos Economy has taken a large hit since the mine spill. A ton of durango’s main income comes from tourists , and now that the toxic mine spill has happened people are much less drawn to Durango for river related reasons. Durango’s economy as a whole has suffered, in almost every industry. The industry that has taken the largest hit by far is the rafting industry. If a business has its entire livelihood based on one variable, it is more than devastating to have that one massive variable taken completely away from you. The raft companies now have some of their business back, but not nearly the amount there was before the spill. Some of that has come with the lower levels of the river, but I’ve learned through personal conversation with raft company owners that the main cause of loss in business by a mile is the river spill. The owner of the Main Avenue Raft and Jeep Co. said, “I’d say that half of our loss in business has been directly related to the mine spill”.
- Historical Context: How was the river affected by pollution before the actual spill?
Before the spill, the Animas River was still being constantly polluted by the mines in silverton, at a constant rate. Nobody turned their heads to this issue before because it was either minescule, or people had just simply never heard about it. Nevertheless, the river was being polluted at a constant rate. It is said that the headwaters of cement creek were being polluted by upwards of 300+ gallons per minute of the same toxic sludge and tailings that we saw in the larger scale. Therefore, the river was already polluted, and it was getting worse by the day. The massive Spill was only truly brought to light because of the orange color.
self assessment
Seminar Self Assessment
I believe that I deserve a 95% grade on this particular seminar. I believe this because I did a really good job adding relevant comments that were thought provoking and educated based on evidence.vI worked really hard to stay on task with the current questions. I helped outspoken people to speak up and I also proposed some helpful solutions to the initial problem. Overall i believe that I deserve 95% because I did my best to contribute to the greater good of the whole conversation in the seminar.
I believe that I deserve a 95% grade on this particular seminar. I believe this because I did a really good job adding relevant comments that were thought provoking and educated based on evidence.vI worked really hard to stay on task with the current questions. I helped outspoken people to speak up and I also proposed some helpful solutions to the initial problem. Overall i believe that I deserve 95% because I did my best to contribute to the greater good of the whole conversation in the seminar.