Here we are supposed to comment on the concepts of Externalities and Tragedy of the Commons.

Externalities is a term in economics that refers to factors of a transaction that are impacts on parties not directly involved in the transaction. When that happens, the price of that transaction does not reflect the full costs or benefits of the product or service being transacted. These spillover effects can be both positive and negative.

Since this is an environmental class, I will try to focus an externality that have to do with that. Pollution is an example of an externality. A coal burning electric plant in Minnesota can pump carbon into the air that pollutes the neighboring towns and the surrounding environment. The carbon emissions from this plant also rise and spread out in the atmosphere --hanging there for fifty years. These carbon emissions can even affect a village in Africa or the condition of the polar icecaps.

The difficulty of externalities is that their effects and costs are difficult to accurately determine. Often we don't understand the side effects until we are too reliant on the product or even before it's too late. In our economically driven society, we want to quantify things and put a price tag on them. Suing a power plant for damages done, or taxing them for their use is often a popular solution to the problem. Yet, money isn't going to fix the mess. Plus, this may not be entirely fair. We were all in support of power plants. Wlectric lights, air conditioning, electric appliances, etc. are all conveniences we clamored for and now rely upon. But now that we understand much of the damage these power plants are doing to the environment, we want to disassociate ourselves and lay the blame entirely on them. We want them to carry the burden of higher taxes and clean-up. Meanwhile, these plants are scrambling to provide enough fuel to keep up with demand when the weather turns cold and we crank up the heat. How convenient.

There is also the difficulty in determining what that price tag might be. We may not understand the damage a new technology or practice may create until a hundred years down the road. We can't predict it. On the other hand, we tend to bow to the almighty dollar first and believe ourselves invincible in the face of exciting new discoveries. As Drs. Stoff and Pellegrino explained in their book "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Hidden Epidemic", humans are developing technology faster than they can ever hope to understand it. We have more power than ever before, but we have not yet mastered its potential. We're creating more than we know how to handle. It might be time to slow down and deal with what we've got.

Which brings me to the "tragedy of the commons". This is a phrase coined by scientist Garrett Hardin in 1968. He uses the example of farmers in Europe grazing animals on a common field. He believes that a farmer would happily add another animal to his herd to graze on that common because of the benefits to his business. He could make more from the sale of that extra cow or sheep. However, this additional animal could tip the scales and deplete the grazing potential of the land for all farmers. He could ruin himself and everyone. The same goes for fishing. One greedy fishery could deplete the sources for everyone. Again, we are looking at the economics of the situation. The money speaks louder than common sense. And greed makes many want to keep everything for themselves. Can you believe Hardin had critics of his ideas? Yeesh. The tragedy of the commoms is commonsense.

As we begin reaching peak capacity on many of our natural resources, it's important to look at Hardin's work again. He attempts to offer solutions to the problem. I don't necessarily agree with his privatizing things. We already have enough dispute over land and water rights --wars are fought for that. Yet, we do have to realize that there is a finite amount of resources, and we must cut back to allow those that can recuperate a chance to recover.

In this entry we are to come-up with ways to reduce our reliance on energy. Well, in Florida, we don’t need the heat so often as we rarely get cold enough for it. However, this winter has been colder than the past several years. Many people cranked up that heat and quite a few were left without power. I’m a native and I haven’t felt the need to use the heat once this winter. Really, if you're cold put on another sweater, snuggle under a blanket. It’s not feezing!

Of course cooler weather means that the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard. Most of the time, it’s not needed. Open the windows and let the breeze flow through. It’s good to air the house out once in a while. I read an article a few years back about how old houses were better for your health than new houses because they weren’t as airtight. Air could regularly flow through and refresh. We are so concerned about keeping stuff out sometimes that we forget we are trapping stuff in. We are natural creatures after all --we need fresh air. This article made me feel immensely better at the time. I was living in my first place –a 1940's cottage in downtown Naples –where I could see daylight through my floorboards.

And speaking of old Florida houses, there’s something to be said for regional architecture. In the times before central air, Florida houses were built to make the most of breezes to maximize cooling. Instead of building houses identical to ones in Minnesota, Ohio, or Maine, one should build them to compliment Florida’s unique weather patterns. This includes hurricanes. Older Florida homes have rooves carefully designed to withstand the beating. Newer homes not so much. What’s the carbon footprint on rebuilding after a hurricane?

Another great way to keep things cool and to use less energy is the Florida preference for fans. They use less energy than air-conditioning and will often keep you from having to crank the air up so much.

Now here’s another tough one. Television. I know I love my shows, and I’ve got to have my British television. Netflix is my lifeline to that. Of course, Netflix is good in that it shares its DVDs with many others across the country. Instead of people buying all of their DVD’s they share them with one another. Fewer need to be produced, saving energy. Sure there is the energy usage from mailing the DVDs all over the country, but DVD manufacturers would have to do that anyway, getting their DVDs to the store. A crush to the DVD/film industry, but they’ll have to learn to live with it. Better they sell fewer now than none later.

Go to the movies more often too. I’m sure the energy expended by a packed theater is less than all those individuals running the air and television and DVD player and popcorn machines at home. Plus, watching a film in the theater is more communal. Some movies are even better when you’re sharing in the laughter and tears of those around you.

But one could also turn the television off. Remember books. And no, I don’t mean the Kindle or Nook. I’m talking the old school kind with paper and no batteries. You can carry one anywhere and even read it when there is no power! I love my books! I love the way they feel, the way they smell, and I love the magic of the fictive dream. In fact, I probably should be treated for addiction, but I am rather happy in my dysfunction. There are lots of communal things to do with books too. Books clubs, libraries (Just in case any of us have forgotten –those are like Netflix –only free and with books too) browsing through used bookstores and new bookstores. Ever thought of reading Jane Austen by candlelight? Ah, candlelight. Soft, romantic, and no electricity. Try it.

Try eating at least one meal a week that doesn’t require cooking. We can’t eat raw all the time; our bodies can’t take it, but once or twice a week is doable. There are many cookbooks out there to help you find recipes too.

Now, do you really need to drive the two blocks to the grocery store to get milk and bread? Probably not. Walk. Bike. Although, I admit that I am afraid to bike those two blocks myself. As I said before, I’ve been run off the road. Perhaps we need more biker friendly lanes. Right now, bikers only get a narrow strip on the edge of the road and that strip cuts across turn lanes. Whose stupid idea was that? How many drivers do you know who suddenly cut across that lane to make a turn? A biker could get crushed. Also, the law states that bicyclists must go with the flow of traffic, whereas pedestrians walk against it so they can see oncoming traffic. What, bikers aren’t vulnerable too? Another stupid idea. When I was in elementary school, cyclists went against the traffic too. If I hadn’t done that when the SUV ran me off the road, I could have been seriously injured. We need bigger bike lanes and laws to prevent cars from using them as passing lanes. Better yet, I like how they do it on Sanibel: the bike lanes are separated by a median. Also, we should make it easier for people to bicycle. In France, they have communal bike racks. You can get a bike pass and use that to take a bicycle and ride it from one part of the city to another. Super cool. And the system could be run on solar power. Yes, let’s use that solar power!

On Friday I went to the beach and lay flat out on the sand. It was wonderful! I like to do this when my fibromyalgia is getting the best of me. We need to absorb and connect with the electromagnetic field of the earth to function healthily. Because we don't walk as much anymore, we don't get that connection. I'm sure many of you have heard me talk about this before. A German company makes an electronic mat that you can lie on to simulate that connection. It even has a wand to focus on trouble spots that pain you --like knees, hips, or elbows. Can you believe this? The mat costs thousands of dollars. Yeesh! The things we do to avoid nature! I prefer to lie on the beach.

More Corkscrew Sanctuary photos

Cute baby turtle!

Willows at Corkscrew Sanctuary. Used to make aspirin. Or as I like to call them: baby aspirins!

Corkscrew Santuary photos

A few weeks ago we went to Corkscrew Sanctuary for a class field trip. It's been several years since I last visited. It was neat to see it in "winter" versus the heat and wetness of summer. As our guide said, there is always something different to see throughout the year. With "perpetual" sun in Florida, we don't often think of changes in seasons and the accompanying change in flora and fauna.

Sure we don't have beautiful fall foliage(although we do have sumac and maple that turn) and the weather doesn't change all that much. My dad use to always say, "It must be fall. The cyprus needles have gone brown." And, "I bent to tie my shoes and missed winter." This year winter seems to be lingering --more cold and surprisingly more rain. Of course, I remember frequent cold winters --it's kind of nice to have that back again. Even though it's probably due to climate change.

When I was six it snowed in Tampa. My mom and I scraped snow off the hood of the car and had a snow ball fight before I went to school and she went to work. At school, everyone was trying to save the snow in jars and I hid under my desk, because kids wanted to throw snow at me. In high school it snowed in Naples --though it melted before it hit the ground. School was canceled because the power went out from all of the heat usage.

Anyway, back to Corkscrew. Last time we went it was summer and hot and humid to the max. Water levels were higher, and of course, mosquitoes were everywhere! I got stung in the shoulder blade by a yellow jacket and couldn't lie down for a week! But the mallows were blooming --red and beautiful. In fact, a lot was blooming and alligators swam mere inches from our feet. The water was right up to the catwalk. My parents and I have seen more alligators than we'd know what to do with, but my mom and I loved looking at all the native plants and flowers and trying to identify them. My dad was running around with his camera taking photos a la Clyde Butcher --though obviously not up to his waist in muck.

This time animal sightings were rare, but the baby turtles were adorable and I enjoyed seeing the soft shell turtle too. Also, such beautiful birds. There was a huge snowy egret --I'd never seen one that large before! He was a big fella! Many of my classmates wanted to see snakes --mostly moccasins. I've seen more Florida snakes than I know what to do with too --including the dreaded and v. aggressive moccasin. I could do without a sighting myself. I'd love to go in September when, I'm told, the sunflowers cover the savannah and grow to amazing heights.

The thing that struck me the most though about our Corkscrew vist was the water recycling system they had set-up using plants. Brilliant, actually. But one of our guides told us that the water is chlorinated for human consumption, but when it goes back into the environment it has to be de-chlorinated because it's harmful to many living things. Hmm. Should this not tell us something? I know my doctor forbade me to drink tap water years ago because the chlorine destroyed many of the good bacteria needed in our digestive system. Hmm, again.

Today is the first day of Nowruz --the first day of spring and the first day of the new year in many cultures. It is said that what you do today will set the tone for the whole year. Be giving and do kind things to yourself, the earth, and your fellow inhabitants.

I've done some spring cleaning; recycled; planted tomatoes, nasturtiums, sunflowers, and some grass for my cats. I also wrote; read the story of Amoo Norooz; and decorated with flowers (lilies and hyacinth), plants, wild rue seeds, apples (organic of course) and an orange (Florida of course).

I've included a picture of my coffee table with some of my Nowruz decorative touches. Candles represent a holy fire. Apples represent fertility and beauty. The mirror reflects the light of the Lord of Wisdom and the images of his creation. The orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space. My goldfish card is standing in for live goldfish to represent the beginning of creation. The rue seeds, resting in a vintage Iranian ashtray I found on eBay, are usually burned to ward off evil spirits. I don't have a brazier, so I'm burning incense instead --frankincense and myrrh also ward of evil spirits, which is probably why the wise men brought them as gifts to Jesus.

There are many other items to add to the table. I will do that later today. Plus I have a wonderful feast planned. If you want to know more about Nowruz --Farsinet is a good place to look as well as Kodoom.com. Also, my favorite Iranian cookbook author, Najmieh Batmanglij, has published a book on celebrating Nowruz: "Happy Nowruz --Cooking with Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year." I found my copy on Amazon. Batmanglij lays out the thirteen day Nowruz celebration with clarity and beauty. She includes a cookie cutter; wonderful recipes; and directions for making a Nowruz garland, coloring eggs (some with natural dyes and making eggshell planters to grow sprouts and grass, plus many other wonderful things.

This is a holiday in celebration of the earth. As David Orr tells us, biophilia is a spiritual experience too. Experience, feel, and appreciate your connection to the planet today.