Blog Post #1 – Melissa Hancock – Global Issues
Before this study abroad, I was not very informed about effective energy transition or European politics and government. US mainstream news media tends to stay focused on domestic politics and events, and topics like green energy and energy transition are not often mentioned due to the lack of popularity or value in the topics. Listening to my peers’ questions and comments during lectures and experiences provides different perspectives and valuable questions that I had not considered previously.
Culture and values are the two factors that I noticed the most and that affected my conceptual framework regarding energy and sustainability. I noticed how the people in Freiburg spend a lot of time socializing outdoors, which reminded me of how the United States has commodified nature to a significant extent. The people in Freiburg are more connected to their environment, which contributes to the cultural values surrounding energy and sustainability, since people are more likely to care about and care for their environment when they spend more time in it and feel connected with it. During our Green City Tour, we visited the Stühlinger City Hall, which is covered in solar panels on all sides. Our tour guide explained that the energy generated does not power the building or the city directly, but is fed into the larger energy grid, which I acknowledged as an example of a culture that prioritizes collective benefit over individual gain.
I also found it interesting how informed and opinionated Germans are on American politics and culture. A bookstore in Freiburg that I have walked past sells a book about Americans, and many individuals seem to be quite informed on American politics. Usually, Americans are not aware of other countries political or governmental statuses and events, and it reminded me how influential the United States is, and how our government’s decisions are acknowledged by and may even affect individuals in foreign countries.
Being informed about global issues and events is important since it encourages us to be active and positive global citizens by acknowledging every corner of humanity and the issues that we face as a whole.
Melissa - I love your comment about how Americans have "commodified nature." Wow! So insightful and truly engaging your critical thinking. Yes, Americans can be ethnocentric and only focus on our society, and disregard the rest of the world as unimportant or not significantly relevant. This is a cultural characteristic that Americans are molded and shaped to follow to some degree. Great work!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I completely agree, energy transition and sustainability are not hot topics in the U.S. so it is no surprise why Americans put little effort into pursuing a sustainable lifestyle. That and the cost of implementing sustainable habits, whether it be monetary or convenience. We do live in a commodified nature, everything must be convenient, and what I have noticed in Freiburg is that people are not bothered by inconvenience. For example bringing your own cup to the coffee shop, biking everywhere, or waiting forever for the check. These were culture shocks that we witnessed as American students but for them was absolutely normal. Their slow paced lifestyle is one that I envy and wished we could establish in the U.S. or even at TCU!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, you bring up a great point that the US media does not focus on European politics, but instead more domestic issues and politics. If anything, we may get little glimpses into it especially if its something big that happens, but never do we really hear about any environmental steps that are taken here, (which actually seems to be a lot). Through conversations I have had with people, I have come to learn that its rare for Europeans to have a large garden space, so they tend to spend more times outdoors. In America, people can have large backyards or front yards. I noticed that overall people seem happier, healthier, and just like you mentioned, more connected to the environment around them. Due to this, they are more inclined to want to preserve the environment. Great job!
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