Emma Bartone

Climate change is a huge issue in today's world. The temperature rise and warming oceans have increased over the past few years. Ice caps are melting and the sea level is rising as well. In order to stop global warming, people should power their homes with renewable energy, invest in energy-efficient appliances, and reduce water waste, unplug plugs when they are not in use, carpool with people, drive a car that is efficient on gas, and use public transportation. Using less fossil fuels will ultimately lead to less global warming in the air and oceans. Global warming results from too much carbon in the atmosphere which is released when we use gasoline to drive our cars or burn coal, oil, or gas to heat our homes and power our lives. Another way that we can help this is to reduce every day electrical use. In Before the Flood, Leonardo DiCaprio shows what is so wrong with climate change. The film highlights specific changes citizens can make. He discusses the warming atmosphere, risin

Last Friday my colloquium class took a trip to an agricultural area in North Fort Myers known as ECHO. Echo exists to reduce hunger and improve the lives of small-scale farmers. I really enjoyed visiting this place and getting to learn about all the efficient ways someone can filter water, cook food, build a house out of bamboo, etc. It gave me a clear idea of how people who didn't have all of the fancy appliances we do nowadays got through the day. It made me feel like I should be more aware of how much electricity, water and money I use on senseless things when I could easily find a better way to accomplish what I want without harming the environment. This area sends a powerful message to everyone who goes to see it and it can truly make a difference in a lot of people's lives from just one visit. ECHO's legacy is "following with agricultural resources and skills." They fulfill this mission by inviting us to tour their farm and give us a vivid understanding of