The Recrudescence of Matainui

I have created a new blog specifically about our latest journey on Room 18's wonderful island. Click here to read about the endeavours that we face on our time at Matainui.
Hope you enjoy!

Eco-Footprint Diary: Progress Report 1

I think I am gradually improving; and everything counts if it concerns saving the earth. I have made some progress in the reduction of my carbon-footprint; for example, I am decreasing my unnecessary use of water by taking shorter showers and turning off taps when they are not in use; and I am beginning to save electricity by turning off lights etc. when nobody is using them - though this was not one of my 3 challenges, I am doing a little extra to help save our planet.
=)

Eco-Footprint Dairy

I have posed three challenges for myself which will reduce my carbon-footprint.

1. Start using the reusable green bags instead of plastic bags.

2. Use less water, ie. have shorter showers, turn off taps when I'm not using them, etc.

3. Recycle more paper and plastic

You should try setting yourself some goals too; if you want to save the earth, we need as many people to pitch in and reduce their carbon-footprint as possible.

S.I.F.E.: Sustainability

On Tuesday (2 June, 2009) three representatives, Joe, Clement, and Lauren, from S.I.F.E. - Students in Free Enterprise - visited our class and showed us a presentation PowerPoint about sustainability. They talked about social sustainability, economical sustainability, and environmental sustainability.
Using an apple exemplifying the earth, they told us the fraction of land available for growing food/crops; 1/32 of the earth.
They told us about landfills, that there are 1000 closed landfills and 60 open landfills, and how long it takes for rubbish to break down:
Paper - 2.5 months
Milk carton - 5 years
Cigarette - 10 years
Tin can (tin) - 100 years
Beer can (aluminium) - 200-500 years

Eco Houses

As part of our Sustainability Matai Islands project, we have to design our own eco house.

What is an eco house?
Eco houses are designed to decrease the negative significance on the environment in terms of efficient resource use - water, energy, and materials - and in the reduction of pollution, waste, environmental degradation, etc.

Here are some websites which can explicate further on my description of eco houses:

http://www.ecobob.co.nz/EcoHelp/What-is-an-eco-house.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building

Term 2 Sustainability Study

This is my second school blog, and it's specifically for our term 2 study of sustainability.
Part of this study includes the Matai Islands, which are four "recently discovered" hypothetical islands off the coast of Raglan. We have to design ways of sustenance on these deserted islands. My class, Room 18, will be inhabiting Matainui, a volcanic and radioactive island with lovely scenery.
It seems an interesting topic and I look foward to posting further about our studies of sustainability and the Matai Islands.

Matai Island Jobs

We'd need jobs to organise a society on the Matai Island. Here is a list of available jobs (not in order of status):
Farmers and agriculturists; to manage the production of crops, livestock and poultry, and husbandry alike.
A form of governance or council to control and make decisions for the island.
Extractive metallurgist; for recovering useful metals and minerals from the ore in the island.
Builders and carpenters; to establish our community and build shelters.
Electricians and technicians; who we can rely on to install technology and electricity.
Mechanics and engineers; to work with any means of transport and machinery.
Sailors; for getting across and bringing resources from the mainland.
Police; to control the goings-on on the island.
Doctors and medical staff; to look after the inhabitants of the island.
I hope I haven't missed any, though I doubt that I haven't.
Please feel free to comment anymore ideas.