Andrew Light's Blog Post 1

1a) Where do you like to go to find nature in a city (like Philadelphia or your hometown)? Why here?
1b) Who do you think developed and cares for these areas / pieces of nature?

We all agreed that we enjoy going to community parks like the Fairmount Park, Rittenhouse Square, and Logan Square to find a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is nice to take in the picturesque view, go for a walk or run, or enjoy a nice picnic. The person who most likely developed the idea of these parks would be Ulmstead or people who were like minded like him, who believed in including nature in the cities. We believe that since these areas are so valuable to everyone in the city most likely community members take care of the parks in addition to maintenance organizations.

2) Is there any motivation for you to help care for the existing nature found in Philadelphia (or in your hometown if you would prefer to use it as a place of reference..?)
If there are any motivating factors, what are they?
If not, what would help motivate you to participate in the development and care of these spaces?

We feel that it is necessary to care for the existing nature found in Philadelphia because we want to preserve it for future generations. We enjoy the parks like Fairmount and take advantage of all of it has to offer so we feel that by protecting it from harm we are allowing others to enjoy the same benefits from the parks. Wildlife cannot really survive healthy in the city so by protecting the parks we are also protecting the wildlife because they take refuge in nature. Also the nature in the city helps combats pollution in the city which is also very important to our living.

3) Should the rights and responsibilities towards the urban environment be given more to citizens? Why or why not?

Yes, citizens should be granted more responisiblity for caring and tending to the environment. The environment is essentially our home. Citizens should feel obligated to take care of the place they call their home. The government and environmental organizations will not always be there to handle the little things within the community such as looking after community gardens and community parks; that's where the obligations of the citizens come in. Planting crops, raking leaves, and pulling weeds are the tiny things that citizens are capable of handling. In additiong, the citizens are the people who know the environment around them the best. They know the ins and outs of the area around them, making it easier for them to care for the land.

4.) Do you agree with Andrew Light's suggestions and his call for hands-on ecological citizenship? Why or why not?

We do agree with Andrew Light's suggestions. Light believed that ecological citizenship was what our environment needed. Citizens should feel obligated to improve the environment through their own actions. Over the past couple of years, ecological citizenship has declined. However, it still strives and remains a major aspect of other cultures which could have a huge effect on the American culture. Cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, and Atlanta are a "huge burden to the global possibility of sustainability" (Light 7). Light explains cities are the center for pollution because of the high density in population and infrastructure. However, cities are also full of ecological improvement opportunities because of the citizens and their want to improve their surroundings. In all, Light is right in his belief that hands-on ecological citizenship is the best solution and will set us on the right path towards sustainability.

5) How can ecological features such as parks or waterways serve as the glue to binding the community together?

Community gardens and community parks serve as the glue to binding a community together because they require some maintenance that the community provides. This maintenance brings the citizens together and creates a bond between the environment and the citizens and an even stronger bond between each citizen. They also provide a common meeting place for the community. Nature allows people to come together and enjoy each other and their surroundings. Without parks or gardens, ties between citizens would not be as strong and it would be even harder to get to know one another. The environment provides an outlet for all people to gather and enjoy land around them.