Abstract

The Ecoliteracy Narrative was an assignment that required me to remember a time or situation that began my intrest in nature. Then we would write about the harmful effects humans are having on nature and write out the major issues. I gained my love for nature from traveling with my family to very rural areas that had a lot of nature. In my essay I used imagery and listed the major reasons why nature is being impacted.

Original turned in version of the Ecoliteracy Narrative

Kriston Waugh

 FIQWS 10108 

Sep. 16, 2024

When I was younger I used to despise going outside in nature because why would I want to go outside in nature when I had everything I needed indoors. What was the point of going out in the hot sun with bugs everywhere trying to bite you, when I could stay indoors next to the AC to watch TV and play video games. I had a lot more fun indoors than being outside. But when I started to get older my family would often go on trips to towns in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. These places are where I adopted my love for nature. The massive fields, orchards, and farms felt amazing to walk through and explore. These calm and rural areas were very silent, helping me connect with nature. I could smell the difference in the air. It was fresher and less polluted. The more times I went upstate the more I would begin to start loving nature. From doing things like apple picking when the fall season begins. From driving past farms to see animals and multiple rows and rows of different crops and plant life. When the spring season would begin I would go to orchards to pick strawberries.To lastly renting an airbnb in the rural woods where you are surrounded by only trees and fresh air.

These experiences of nature spoke to me and made me realize that nature is a very beautiful thing that we need to preserve. Everyone should eventually take some time out of their life to appreciate and experience nature. As much as I love nature and want it to stick around forever, that might not be possible in the future. As a result of all the carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere by factories and companies, nature is starting to be harmed with the increase of global warming per year. The carbon emissions are resulting in an increase in heatwaves, droughts, warming of the oceans, and rising sea levels. These are directly harming our plant life and animals that are both on land and at sea. 

Another issue that is harming the environment is the amount of trash that is being thrown into the ocean. The amount of trash that is thrown into the ocean is having a seriously dangerous effect on marine life and animal life. This was shown in 2019 when the movement to save the turtles was created to reduce the plastic waste into the environment but more specifically the ocean. The movement involved using less plastic items in our day to day life like plastic bags, Plastic utensils, plastic straws, and plastic bags. Unfortunately this movement didn’t turn out to be a success to prevent further plastic waste from polluting our planet, just 5 years later almost all convenience stores and restaurants have really started to go back to plastic items. Businesses like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Starbucks that have somewhat eco-friendly images  have stuck to biodegradable and paper items to help the environment but it’s not enough to make up for all the business. 

Revised version of the Ecoliteracy Narrative

Kriston Waugh

 FIQWS 10108 

Dec. 13, 2024

When I was younger I used to detest the very idea of going outside in nature because why would I want to go outside in nature when everything I needed was supplied at home or at another indoor location. What was the point of going out in the hot sun with bugs everywhere trying to bite you, when I could stay indoors next to the AC to watch TV and play video games. I had a lot more amusement indoors compared to being outside. But as the years passed my family would often go on trips to small towns in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. These places are where I acquired my love for nature. The massive fields, orchards, and farms felt amazing to navigate through and explore. These calm and rural areas were very silent, which helped me connect with nature. I could smell the difference in the air compared to the air quality back in New York City.. The more times I went upstate the more I would find myself  loving nature. From doing things like apple picking when the fall season begins. From driving past farms to see animals and multiple rows and rows of different crops and plant life. When the spring season would begin I would go to orchards to pick strawberries.To lastly renting an airbnb in the rural woods where you are surrounded by only trees and fresh air.

My experience of nature spoke to me and made me realize that nature is a very beautiful thing that we need to preserve. Everyone should eventually take some time out of their life to appreciate and experience nature. As much as I love nature and I think that it is important, nature might not be possible in the future. As a result of all the carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere by factories and companies, nature is starting to be harmed with the increase of global warming per year. The carbon emissions are resulting in an increase in heatwaves, droughts, warming of the oceans, and rising sea levels. These are directly harming our plant life and animals that are both on land and at sea. 

Another issue that is harming the environment is the amount of trash that is being thrown into the ocean. The amount of trash that is thrown into the ocean is having a seriously dangerous effect on marine life and animal life. This was shown in 2019 when the movement to save the turtles was created to reduce the plastic waste into the environment but more specifically the ocean. The movement involved using less plastic items in our day to day life like plastic bags, Plastic utensils, plastic straws, and plastic bags. Unfortunately this movement didn’t turn out to be a success to prevent further plastic waste from polluting our planet, just 5 years later almost all convenience stores and restaurants have really started to go back to plastic items. Businesses like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Starbucks that have somewhat eco-friendly images  have stuck to biodegradable and paper items to help the environment but it’s not enough to make up for all the business.