What is knowledge and why is it important? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, knowledge can be defined as “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association…” (“Knowledge”). While this definition is quite straightforward, there is some implications behind this definition. Knowledge can be a powerful tool that can be used to stop bad things from happening or to foster good things, depending on how the knowledge understood is used and applied. Throughout the entirety of Core, knowledge has been the foundation of every unit, something that has been constantly lectured on and discussed in the discussion sections. Usually, the more something is talked about, the more important that something …show more content…
In fact, the only power of knowledge lies in the ability to use and implement that knowledge. Simply stated, knowledge can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you use it. Arguably, the inherent purpose and power of knowledge lies in the ability to use that knowledge to make good changes to things around you. The “Individuals and Societies” module explored the implications of knowledge and how we should use knowledge to make changes with respect to our water crisis. In Josh Viers lecture entitled “California Water Wars,” he presented the fact that California, more specifically, is facing a water crisis. Viers states that one reason for this water crisis is the phenomenon of the Sierra Nevada facing monumental shifts in climate change. He posits that the Nevada is shifting from a snow-dominated to rain dominated flow regime, that there is now an earlier timing of snowmelt, and that there are now longer dry seasons (Viers). The purpose of this lecture was two-fold, to inform us about our current and past actions and to warn us that changes need to be made to prevent the exacerbation of our water crisis. Viers urged us to look at the data and see that our actions …show more content…
Not only should we want to make a change, we are obligated to make a change. One such case includes the gold rush of 1858. Peggy O’Day lectured on the gold rush and how our actions had monumental effects on the environment then and how those actions still have a lasting impact on the environment now. Peggy delved into how our excessive use of water and destruction of the landscape led to widespread issues of water pollution and water scarcity. By flooding the hillsides and then taking the sediment and releasing it in the river, the water was rendered unfit for drinking. Many small towns relied on these rivers as a main source of drinking water and were thus put in a state of panic because of the dearth of clean water. Furthermore, the mining process required a lot of timber, so miners exploited the forests and cut down nearly one-third of all the timber (O’Day). Not only did the mining process kill a lot of vegetation, but it also forced animals to leave their habitats, placing those animals in danger of facing starvation and potential extinction. Many of these destroyed habitats and ecosystems can still be seen today, which serves as a reminder of how we should and need to make changes to how we do things. Peggy implicitly implied in her lecture that we need to not only be cognizant of how mining works, but also be aware of the fact that we cannot make the same mistakes with
In the his brief but effectual article “The Wrong Way to Think about California Water”, the author Michael Hiltzik presents to the reader “a guide to the wrong ways to think about California water, and the glimmer of a better way”(Hiltzik). In the short piece, Hiltzik argues that the current debate on how California should be spending its meager allowance of water during the current drought is being thoroughly misguided. Hiltzik writes that people should stop criticizing businesses that consume “large” amounts of water, rather, the water already being used should be utilized more efficiently and effectively. “The only lasting solutions include creating a better-functioning water market with transparent pricing and transfers, so that water
“Climate change” and its impact on basic water supply is at their foreground. It is an unfortunate reality that the terms of the Colorado Compact, the document dividing the Colorado’s waters, is an unworkable document. Based on allotments formulated in an “especially wet year,” the average volume now flowing does not meet the amounts specified in the agreement. Under the terms of the document, California receives the largest share, but with Southern California’s exploding population, this will be increasingly inadequate. Absent changes in both urban and agricultural use patterns, the deficit will only grow and further stress the state’s political and economic systems. Man’s mastery will thus prove illusory and short-lived and the original problems of water supply will return in highly magnified
Californians are being heavily fined for using a certain amount of water a month, which impacts the daily lives of everyone. Water is a natural resource that is crucial to everyone’s survival. Whether if it’s being used for cooking, showering, gardening, washing your car or just simply drinking purposes; water is a necessity for everyone. Though the bill has not yet been passed by congress and officially has not become a law, the issue still remains on the table. The drought in California has taken a massive toll on agriculture, the environment and infrastructure. The drought is on its route to damage California’s climate change. In the past three consecutive years the average rain fall has drastically decreased, and the winter temperatures have increased. Since majority of California’s water comes from the Western Rocky Mountains, the water supply there is dropping resulting in more strict laws and regulations on how much water can be consumed by the average
In the article,”The Wrong Way to Think about California Water,” by Michael Hiltzik, Hiltzik explains how people think the scarce water in California is being used, and explains how the water is actually being used. He begins by saying bottled water is something the press is complaining about, but not much water is being bottled compared to the amount used for agriculture. He then explains how people think that we use too much water on nuts specifically almonds. Hiltzik says that although a lot of water is used for agriculture, nuts like almonds are actually water efficient compared to other crops. The author’s final points are that we should be complaining about the water used on lawns and that we need to create
What would you do if you lost access to running water? That is what the small town of Porterville, Ca is currently experiencing. Water is an essential part of life, a place without water becomes inhabitable. The drought in California is not affecting everybody the in the same way but it has become a bigger problem the longer it lasts. Finding a solution to such a big problem is not an easy task. If you approach the problem from only one direction you might miss something vital. Limiting water to everybody seems to be a simple solution, but if that happens there are many problems that appear because of that. In the book Think Like a Freak, by Levitt and Dubner they explain why looking at a problem from a different angle will yield unexpected results. Although there is no simple solutions, there are ways to fix the drought and to be better prepared for the next inevitable one.
Knowledge makes our world go round. Knowledge is what makes us move further and revolve into something more. In the book “Fahrenheit 451” it states “they say you retain your knowledge even when you’re sleeping, if someone whispers in your ear”(Bradbury,89). Knowledge can never be taken from you. Even when you’re asleep your mind runs.
At some point of our lives we have been asked or have heard the question, what can we not live without?. Many of us will not hesitate to mention family, friends, food, water, and other living essential we find futile to our survival. If we place these living essentials in order of importance some of us may place family over water. If you then think about it, we can live without our family, but we cannot live without water. Water gives us life its in our fruits, foods, and drinks. Without water we would not be alive and healthy for the most part. The importance of water is substantial and California is currently experiencing one of its worst droughts in history. The planet itself is also undergoing global warming, which only contributes to a more severe drought occurring in California. Droughts in California’s history did not have the contributing factor of Global warming diminishing their severity. California’s drought and Global warming share a common link in the factor that would contribute to the severity of the drought we are currently experiencing in California and
Have you thought about the importance of water recently? Water provides many things to people, from green lawns to nutritious food. An event that may have spurred these thoughts is the drought in California. They are struggling because there is simply not enough water in California to go around for all of its uses. Measures have been taken to conserve water, but cutbacks have been made on everything, even the giant industry of California agriculture. More water should be devoted to agricultural uses instead of residential uses in California for the following reasons:
On March 27, 2014, Wade Graham of the San Francisco Chronicle reported “The Water Revolution California needs.” California is having a severe drought. Wade Graham tells his readers that California is in a serious water crisis. The state of California needs to make strict changes to how water is being distributed amongst farmers and residents. Before all of California’s ecological system is destroyed. Wade Graham believes that water should be priced higher; that way people aren’t wasting water. Water is a limited resource that should never be wasted, and is probably California’s most valuable resource. Unfortunately, many people waste water; instead of conserve water especially when we live in the state of California where we are subject to
Yet, humans have limited control on natural events, so this only reinforces the importance of managing water wisely. Recently California’s government has begun to focus more on sustaining and restoring the water supply. Dale Kasler (2016) articulates in his article some of the steps they have decided to make to solve this serious issue. The government has made the following investments: “$415 million for watershed restoration and other environmental aid for Lake Tahoe; up to $335 million for two proposed reservoirs in California, including the Sites reservoir north of Sacramento; $880 million for flood-control projects on the American and Sacramento rivers in Sacramento; and $780 million for flood-control projects in West Sacramento” (para. 10). This could be the first step to restoring the water to California. But these
Currently California is facing a water shortage. The issue has been addressed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in February. He called for all state agencies to find the way to help in the statewide water shortage. This is California’s third consecutive year of drought and last spring and summer was the worst of the season because it had the lowest amount of water recorded and California’s reservoirs were at their lowest point as well which did not help in the water shortage. Many agencies have been acquired to find possible solutions to the water shortage, the Department of Water Resources has been directed to find solutions to the problem as well as asking people to conserve water.
The California Water Wars were a series of conflicts between the city of Los Angeles and farmers and ranchers in the Owens Valley. As Los Angeles grew in the late 19th-century, it started to outgrow its water supply. Fred Eaton, mayor of Los Angeles, realized that water could flow from Owens Valley to Los Angeles via an aqueduct. The aqueduct construction was overlooked by William Mulholland and was finished in 1913. The water rights were acquired through political fighting and deceiving people. Z alley, into the aqueduct. Mono Lake's ecosystem for migrating birds was threatened by dropping water levels. Between 1979 and 1994, David Gaines and the Mono Lake Committee engaged in litigation with Los Angeles. The litigation forced Los Angeles
francis bacon, A pioneer for the enlightenment era, stated knowledge is power. I believe the statement is as relevant in modern time as it was in the 18th century. Pursuing a K-12 education revealed the Finity of knowledge to comprehend are physical world, break biases, and realize the more we know scholarship
The California Drought is one of the most catastrophic weather and climate related events in recent history. It has singlehandedly altered the geographic landscape of the state and brought down entire industries to a grinding halt. Not since global warming became a prominent fixture in the national spotlight has a climate issue so deeply challenged Californians to reconsider their lifestyles according to their climate conditions. This essay will examine the origins of climate change and the California Drought, how the two are related, the current state of California as a result of the drought, and the future outlook of California.
It needs to be unleashed into a certain direction, to reach a certain goal we can work towards. In this situation, it becomes fuel for our efforts instead of a burden. Knowledge wants to be used. It is a tool, which if left unused, only rusts, but it makes us able to do tremendous amounts of work in a given space of time, if wielded properly. Knowledge needs clear targets to deliver. Knowledge needs to be organised. If we are consciously using our knowledge and we follow the whispers of our instincts that guide us, highlighting the way we want to go, then we acquired real, useful, palpable, effective specific