Reflection on “The 11th Hour”

1. Describe some of the emotions you felt during the film. Which aspects of the video had the greatest impact on you and why?

            - Upon watching the documentary, I felt guilty and sorry as I contribute on the earth’s destruction. As an example, in some ways on living in this apartment near my school, we are not properly segregating our biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes because the garbage collectors do not say so. Another one is we are not conserving energy as we are not unplugging the electronic devices when not in use. Conservation of water is also not properly done. That’s why, living in this city, I think that the way of thinking of the people here should be changed.

2. What information contained in the video was new to you?

            - I think that the topic of deforestation that can cause drought to the land is new to me because I did not know that it can cause the land to be a desert.

3. What topics presented in the film would you like to explore further? Do you know what you need to know in order to continue learning about environmental issues? If the answer to that question is no, how can you find out what you need to know?

            - I would like to explore the poisoning of the ocean, water, river, springs and streams further because it is chronic here in the Philippines. We could see that these bodies of water here are becoming polluted too, so, I would like know the preventions and the solutions on how to make these clean.

4. Discuss the ways that eating locally produced food is an environmental issue. What can individuals do to support the local production and consumption of foods?

            - The demand of the people for food versus the supply of natural food resources is becoming imbalance. For example; in fishing industry, due to high demand of sea foods, fishermen are searching deeper and deeper in the ocean. And as a result, destruction in the ocean is happening as the fishes are starting to deplete.

5. Who should see this film and for what purpose? Who might be unreceptive to the ideas of the film and why?

            - Everybody should watch this film so that all of us would be aware on what is happening on our environment, and also, everyone would make an action to save the future generation.

6. Share one issue or item that you wrote on your index card while watching The 11th Hour.

            - One issue that I wrote is the proper segregation of wastes because it is a simple way yet one of the biggest ways upon having a healthy environment.

7. As a result of your having seen this film, what, if any, specific actions do you think you will take?

            - As a student, I could do little things like; recycling paper, plastics and plastic bottles, proper segregation for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes, unplugging the appliances when not in use, using less water, participating n tree-planting programs, participating on “Earth Hour”, and being a role model for good conservation.

Environmental Sustainability

My father had been always telling me his childhood days in our province at Isabela, Philippines where they have been able to experience fresh air to breath, clean rivers to swim, many big trees to provide shade, a not-so-warm atmosphere to play on, big farmlands and hills full of trees to have an adventure, and many more. He said that he was very lucky to experience any of that and I could be sure of that because of the smile on his face whenever he has been telling me his childhood stories. He also said that my generation and the generation to come are so pitiful because of the worsening environment. And it’s true because we are experiencing an irregular weather where sometimes it’s very hot and sometimes cold; many super typhoons have been developing recently, continuously, and more often than before; dirty air that gives us difficulty in breathing, and many more piteous things.

Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking action that are in the interests of protecting the natural world, with particular emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment to support human life. It is an important topic at the present time, as people are realizing the full impact that businesses and individuals can have on the environment. It is about making responsible decisions that will reduce your business' negative impact on the environment. It is not simply about reducing the amount of waste you produce or using less energy, but is concerned with developing processes that will lead to businesses becoming completely sustainable in the future. (toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au)

Mechanical Engineers are said to be the number one enemy of the environment because that make the fuels, air conditioners, engines that are polluting the earth. And, as a future mechanical engineer, it is my dream of making inventions that would break the pattern and will be able to reduce the pollution so that it will help restore the beautiful environment that we have back then. But, as a student for now, I could do little things like; recycling paper, plastics and plastic bottles, proper segregation for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes, unplugging the appliances when not in use, using less water, participating n tree-planting programs, participating on “Earth Hour”, writing a blog like this to educate people, and being a role model for good conservation.

In Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Also, in Leviticus 25:23-24, the Lord said “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall allow redemption of the land.” God has given us a very beautiful place to live in and commanded us to love our mother earth and take care of it. But, instead, we are destroying it. Imagine if God would take it back from us. Where would we live? So, let’s unwind and think of the best ways on helping our environment. Let’s unite together to have a better place for ourselves and for the future generation. Love God and His creations as the way He loves all of us.