Hand Washing Essay in Video Form

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Deadly Deforestation

In the rural area that I live in, gas companies are continuously putting up gas wells to harvest the natural gas that is housed underground. While a large profit can be made, some of these wells cause much destruction to the environment. One large well is located right outside of Houston, Pennsylvania, about ten minutes from my house. The destruction caused by the gas company really caught my eye. Seemingly overnight, they managed to cut down all of the trees in what used to be a large wooded area, leaving a barren scar on the land. Witnessing the destruction occurring in this scenario can be used to defend the deforestation of rain forests. The forests contain very important resources that we can use, so harming the environment in this manner is unacceptable and needs to stop. The deforestation of rainforests not only destroys the aesthetic beauty of nature, but it is also very harmful to the environment.

Naturally, nature holds a certain beauty, and if possible, should be preserved. When nature is destroyed (in this case when the trees were cut down) the beauty is gone in an instant. In the example provided, the beauty of the wooded patch was stripped away very quickly through the use of chainsaws, bulldozers, and dump trucks. All of the trees were cut down along with the sense of wonder that one feels from experiencing nature with all senses. All of the smells, colors, and sounds of the woods were lost. No longer would the leaves of the trees change color in the fall, and there would be no song birds left to sing. Their home was destroyed and is now lost. I was affected by the deforestation more than I ever imagined I would be. When I first drove past this area I instantly noticed that something was missing, and I felt an emptiness inside me because of the ruination that occurred. Not only did this piece of land become unappealing to the eye, but also it showed me the harmful effects of deforestation.

In the small area of woods that was cut down outside of Houston, the flora and fauna were greatly affected; I could not imagine the extent to which the plants and animals would be affected by the destruction of rainforests, as well as humans. The rainforests are home to thousands and thousands of plant and animal species, and if their habitat is destroyed then there is no longer a home for them and they will quickly die. According to Rainforest Facts, “Nearly half of the world's species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation. Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal, and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year.” As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists (Rain-Tree Facts).” That is a very frightening fact, and it shows that destroying the beautiful forests causes harm on levels that may not be noticed by the general public. The site also states that nearly one and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second. If we continue down this road before long the rainforest areas of the world will be lost along with the benefits that rainforests provide us with. Luckily action is being taken to try to stop the deadly deforestation of rain-forests.

Rainforest Facts also states that, “Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting its many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber (Rain-Tree Facts).” Many are pushing this idea in hopes that those harvesting the lumber will realize that deforestation is not ideal; economically as well as environmentally. Also, experts say, “Promoting the use of sustainable and renewable sources could stop the destruction of the rainforests. By creating a new source of income harvesting the medicinal plants, fruits nuts, oil and other sustainable resources, the rainforests is be more valuable alive than cut and burned (Rain-Tree Facts).” Once again, experts are attempting to coax lumber harvesters by stating that they would be able to make just as much of a profit and more importantly, manage to keep the rain-forests intact. Reforestation is another important practice to focus on. Rainforest area inhabitants should learn a lesson from China. How to prevent Deforestation, tells of the policy China put into place; “In the past China set a requirement that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 is responsible for planting three to five trees per year or complete an equal amount of work in other areas of forestry. Since 1982, the government claims that at least one billion trees have been planted in China as a result of the program (How to Prevent Deforestation).” These forests are valuable to the plant and animal inhabitants as well as the human population and they need to be saved.

I saw the aftermath of the destruction of hundreds of trees, and through my own experience in nature I have come to realize that destroying nature is wrong. These forests are home to many forms of life, some of which can even benefit us. Although efforts are being made to save these magnificent areas of land, it is not enough and needs to be taken more seriously, or we will lose the rainforests all together.

Works Cited:

“How to Prevent Deforestation.” 17 May 2010.

“Rainforest Facts.” 20 March 2010. 17 May 2010.

Community Center and Center of the Community

The Mount Pleasant Township Community Center is filled with rich history and an exciting present. Some members of the community have a deep connection to the center, while others who may not share in this connection have spent a lot of time at the community center. So much historic value is contained within the community center and it would truly be a shame if this building were lost. There are many benefits that accompany this building; some green, others just to benefit the community, and even I reap the benefits that the center sows. I have a personal connection to this place, and being in college, still find time to venture back and spend time there.

The Mount Pleasant Township Community Center has been around for a long time. In its early years, the community center was used as a school for the town of Hickory; even some friends of mine have parents who actually attended the school. In the mid 60’s Fort Cherry School District was formed by combining the schools in the towns of Midway, McDonald, and Hickory. At this point the Hickory school was changed to, and still remains to this day, the Mount Pleasant Township Community Center. A large variety of activities are held within the center, such as Boy Scout and Girl Scout meetings, dance classes, and important town meetings. The Old Schoolhouse Players are another group that calls the community center their home. This organization puts on numerous plays and musicals each year in the community centers auditorium, and they usually draw a fairly large crowd. The Hickory Apple Festival is a large event that takes place each fall, and they also use the inside and outside of the community center to host different activities. Outside of the community center is where the baseball fields and basketball court are located. A large little league association, that contains hundreds of young prospects each year, uses these fields for all of their practices and home games. The basketball court is not usually used by organized groups, but in the summer months it is utilized by the local residents for a pickup game here and there. My friends and I probably use this court the most; usually playing basketball a couple days a week. Not only is this center important to the community as a whole, but I found much enjoyment at the community center as I grew up.

As a young child I was in Cub Scouts, and we used an array of rooms in the building for different activities, such as pine wood derby, and to build soap box cars. As I got older I discovered the world of little league baseball. I played on the Viking Fields from the time that I was five years old until I was about twelve. Numerous summer nights were spent on the diamond fielding ground balls and practicing batting. Apparently this paid off because the Hickory little league teams were the most feared teams in the area; we won many league championships and produced many little league all-stars, myself included. Once I got even older and became involved in basketball, the court was put to use. On many occasions a crowd would gather and a competitive basketball game would break out. Many times the victor earned bragging rights for at least a few days. Throughout my freshman year in college when I visited back home, a group of us that lived in the area would come together for a friendly game of basketball. I plan to use this court all through the summer as well. While the community center is beneficial to me as an individual and the community as a whole, it is also beneficial to the environment.

Taking a green attitude toward preserving buildings is the best approach. “Recycling” the building instead of “throwing it away” is a good idea; it is cheaper in the long run than demolishing it, it helps keep a historic feel in a day and age that is mainly focused on technological advance, and it is better for the environment. The average cost of demolishing a building ranges from $6 per square foot to $15 per square foot; not to mention a $2-3 dollar fee per square foot to check for, and if necessary, remove asbestos (according to Hometown Demolition Contractors). With a large building, the cost of demolition can be hundreds of thousands of dollars. The cost of maintaining the building will not equal the amount it costs for demolition for many, many years. In my specific example with the Mount Pleasant Township Community Center, the historic intrinsic value is much more important than having a new, more modern building put in its place. If there was a motion to demolish the old center and build a new one I strongly believe that the members of the community would rally together and stop the motion in its tracks. Preserving the building is much more environmentally friendly than demolishing it. To demolish a building, large machinery is required and all of this machinery is just burning additional fossil fuel and contributing to the destruction of the environment. Instead of just giving up on the preservation of historic sites, we should focus our energy and resources on restoring and/or maintaining them so that the next generation can have the same opportunities for enjoyment that my generation did. In other words, recycle and renovate historic buildings; do not throw them away. The intrinsic value is much more important than the advantages to be gained from building a new center.


The Mount Pleasant Township Community Center is a historic landmark, and is beneficial to the community, myself, and the environment. The community center is a large part of the community life in my town and is a central gathering place for many different families and groups of people. I have a strong personal connection to this building, as well as the baseball fields and basketball court, and believe that it should be preserved at all costs.

Photo Number and Caption (In order from top to bottom):
1. Wide shot of the front of the Mount Pleasant Township Community Center.
2. Sign in the front of the center that tells what activities are going to take place, in this case a town meeting.
3. Viking Athletic Field sign. When the center was a school there was a football field in place of the baseball fields with the same name.
4. Baseball field that the older age groups play on because it is longer than the other.
5. Baseball field that the younger age groups play on because it is shorter than the other.
6. Shot of the basketball court from the end closest to the center
7. Sign in front of the community center honoring those who served in World War II.
8. Shot of the front of the community center. The members of the community center do a great job of keeping the area around the center beautiful.
9. Sign in front of the center honoring all veterans.
10. Shot of the entrance of the community center. Shows that all are welcome.

Works Cited:

“Demolition Cost - Estimating Demolition Costs & Prices.” 17 May 2010.

Cliff Hanger

Nature is a very powerful force and has the ability to move individuals in very strong ways. I experienced firsthand, the great power and magnificence of nature. Nature is a very dominant force that affects our lives every single day and it is crucial that we learn to live in harmony with it. Nature has the power to provide as well as take away and it is extremely important to understand this concept. I learned that even though humans believe to have control over the forces of nature, we cannot control nature, but can only sit back and admire its beauty or watch it destroy.

I was ten years old when my family took a vacation to California; while we were there we took a trip out to a set of tide pools to see the different plant and animal life. We spent a long time exploring the pools and I took a particular interest in the plants and animals that inhabited the area. The pools teemed with many different species of fish and had a variety of interesting coral and other sea plant life. The plant and animal life held my attention for a while, but being a daring kid I decided to explore the area where the rock face dropped off into the ocean. Since it was low tide the water was below the surface we were standing on, and had dropped so low that there was a ten foot cliff that dropped to the water. I got the brilliant idea to walk out to the very edge even though giant waves were crashing into the rocks and spraying water into the air. Once I reached the edge a wave hit me and knocked me over; when I fell off the cliff I somehow managed to grab onto the edge that was covered with mussels. Luckily my dad pulled me to safety before another wave came that could have knocked me into the water. When I was pulled to safety I was clearly shaken, but from that moment on I knew the power that nature held and could unleash, even though the wave that knocked me over was small in comparison to other disasters nature can cause. This experience gave me a much greater appreciation for nature and it allowed me to understand that although we as humans may think we have control over nature that we, in fact, do not. Just as I thought that I was in control of my own safety while standing on the edge, nature, specifically the wave that over powered me, showed me that I had a lot less control than I actually thought.

This experience was life changing for me; not only did it give me a greater respect for nature, but it showed me that although nature is powerful we can learn to live along with it in harmony. This idea has become much stronger in the recent decade with a more environmentally conscious attitude. It may not be easy to live in nature without attempting to control it, but if this can be accomplished we could develop a happier and healthier planet. In my case, had I just stood back and continued to admire the beauty of the tide pools instead of standing on the edge of the cliff I would have avoided this near death experience. This experience also gave me an example of how nature has the ability to give as well as take away. Sometimes nature provides that light rain that allows crops to grow and flourish, but nature can also bring a tsunami that causes death and destruction. In my circumstance, had I not grabbed onto the edge I very well may have died, and I learned that I had no control over nature whatsoever.

Many people tend to think that they have control, but no one can control the awesome power that nature holds. When I was standing on the edge I felt a sense of control, but the wave that knocked me over thought different. While we cannot control nature, we can alter the way nature affects us, as well as the severity of its effects. Most people live in a house under a roof that shields them from the rain, snow, and cold and the levies in New Orleans prevent the city from being under water. Even with these prevention methods, scenarios arise where these anticipation techniques fail; for example, the levies in New Orleans broke and allowed the flood waters of hurricane Katrina to devastate the city. We also tend to think that because of technology we can avoid the wrath of nature. The most recent example would be the snow storm in February that covered much of the north east in two feet of powder. This storm knocked out the power in thousands of homes in the Washington area alone, and most vehicles were totally useless unless they were dug out of the snow. Even with the advanced technology that we possess today, disasters that are large enough can render this technology completely and utterly useless. It is important to not be completely reliant on technology, because when a catastrophe happens it may be necessary to function without technology.

My experience changed my life in more than one way. It taught me that humans must learn to peacefully coexist with nature and not attempt to control it. Nature has the power to bestow great gifts, and also destroy life, as it almost did in my case. I developed a greater appreciation for the magnificence of nature, and a better understanding of the incredible power that it is capable of unleashing. Most importantly, I learned not to stand on the edge of a cliff when gigantic waves are crashing into it and that have the ability to knock a ten year old, not even 100 pound kid over. Standing on the edge of a cliff that was constantly being pounded by huge waves was unsafe, and clearly it was a terrible idea, and the near death experience I had could have easily been avoided.

The Unseen Meaning of Oscar the Grouch

There are many places that seem to be defined by and intertwined with a singular person, and I felt it was important to try to explore a person and place that are intertwined in a strong way but also interesting and out of the ordinary. One that goes unnoticed but is essential to understand is the relationship between Oscar the Grouch and a trash can. This relationship defined to Americans, at a young age, the purpose of trash cans. Just as the trash of our daily lives is thrown away in these all important disposal units, the trash of Sesame Street was put away in this filthy home. On a deeper level, Oscar is linked to his trash can in a profound way that many would notice, and this link represents a specific type of person. This relationship exposes the fallback of being an angry, cruel, and brutal human being. Oscar shows that by living life in a way that pushes people away, you will lack the strong friendships and connections that are necessary to live a happy and healthy life.

As a young child, if you were to ask me the first thing that comes to mind when the words trash can were said, I would have immediately blurted out Oscar the Grouch, and I am sure that many children who watched Sesame Street would say the same. But what slips past the young viewers that tune into this program is that Oscar and his trash can are intertwined at a much deeper level. Oscar is not only there for entertainment purposes, but has a profound symbolic meaning. I am sure that Oscar was never very pleasant, and probably not a very enjoyable person to be around, and because of this, the other inhabitants of Sesame Street most likely got fed up with his downright grouchy attitude. So I would assume that they placed him in his grimy prison so that his home matched his personality; therefore intertwining this person and place for eternity. This is a way of life that the producers of Sesame Street want children to stay away from.

Understanding the type of person that Oscar really was and still is immensely helps in understanding the place, that being the trash can. As mentioned before trash cans are used as garbage disposal units and the small bits of trash that we come across in everyday life are pitched away and forgotten about. The same goes for Oscar; by living life the way he does and exhibiting that type of disruptive behavior he became the garbage that taints the beautiful world of Sesame Street. Children that watch the show begin to understand that this type of behavior is unacceptable and may even fear the dire consequences of behaving in this way (being stuffed in a trash can forever). On a more educated level, a person living this kind of life will be living in a metaphorical trash can; they will be surrounded by the misery and isolation, or in other words metaphorical trash, if they choose to live in this fashion. Many who choose to have this type of miserable existence are unhappy, grouchy, and depressed because of the metaphorical filth that they surround themselves with, just like Oscar. He symbolically represents garbage, and what do you throw away in trash cans? Garbage of course goes in trash cans. Oscar is extremely essential to the understanding of trash cans, and in essence, defines them. He does this not just in a literal sense, but symbolically shows the downfall of pushing away friends and breaking bonds that would lead to a much more enjoyable time.

One of the downfalls about Oscar being connected to his trash can is that it sets a bad example. It is important to recognize that Oscar lives in a trash can, therefore encouraging viewers to throw away all of the garbage they come across which is not very environmentally friendly. Instead, Oscar’s home should be a recycling bin, because if this were the case at least he would be promoting something that was beneficial instead of being a completely negative character.

Although this person and place may not be the first to come to mind, they are in fact intertwined in a very strong way. The intertwinement can be taken at face value (Oscar physically living in the trash can), but also has a much deeper symbolic meaning that describes a specific type of person. This relationship shows that being a grouch does not have any advantage, but instead causes only emotional pain and hurt. Oscar should reevaluate his own life and realize that he needs to make a change, and that this change will only better his terrible situation. It is important to recognize that Oscar the Grouch defines trash cans, and vice versa, so this attachment needs to be understood by all.

Character Determined Through Community

In the small town of Hickory Pennsylvania, as well as the surrounding area, there is not a whole lot of excitement. Most of the area is rural farmland where many earn a healthy living by working the land or raising horses, cows or a combination of the both. Growing up in this type of environment has greatly benefitted me, and I would not trade it for anything. Although this small town and rural area are unexciting and usually pretty quiet, there are values instilled there that have helped shape and mold me into the person that I am today. These values include the importance of physical and emotional support, humbleness, and toughness.

On more than one occasion a tragedy has occurred and the community rallied together to support whoever the disaster affected. One specific time that this has directly affected me would be when my grandmother died. At the viewing and funeral hundreds of people showed up, many of those being from my region, and helped my family in this time of need. I was only 12 years old when she died and may not have noticed it then, but looking back I could not have gotten through that rough time without the help and support of the community. Another family was devastated by a house fire. After this incident occurred the town once again rallied together and raised money to help get this particular family back on their feet. Due to the fact that my region has that certain small-town feel everybody knows everybody, and most will go out of their way to lend a helping hand or be a shoulder to cry on. Another important value that is embodied in my community is humbleness.

As I mentioned before much of the community farms for a living, and this has taught me the importance of humbleness. In many other areas that are not rural the jobs tend to be different and in some, but not all cases, that sense of humbleness can be lost. Because of the fact that they practice a style of work that many would see as old fashioned, the people of my community seem to have grown more humble. Although, inhabitants of my region are humble, this does not mean they are not successful, they are proud, but not boastful, which is a hard balance to maintain.
Thanks to the practice of this important value in my community, I have learned to humble myself, yet take pride in my community. Along with exemplifying humbleness, and the importance of physical and emotional support, my community embodies the important value of toughness.

Toughness is another important value that seems to be instilled in my community. Through the attitude that the residents of Hickory have, they have successfully triumphed over any hardship that has come their way. A prime example would be the recent snowstorm. My community, like many others, cleared the two feet of snow and did not let it affect their daily lives for more than a day or two. No one had the attitude that the storm was too tough to handle, and no one gave up and stopped doing what was necessary to get through the massive amounts of snow that Mother Nature let fall. The entire community worked together to conquer this natural occurrence. This as an extremely important value and can be applied in many other situations.

I have lived in my region my entire life, and until now, have not realized how lucky I am to have lived in an area that taught me important values and valuable life lessons. Without, these values that have been instilled in me, I would not be the person I am today. Although I only mentioned three, there are many other important values embodied in my region that are incredibly beneficial, and have shaped and molded me in a positive way. It is very important to remember your roots, and recognize where you come from, because the area that you live has a great effect on the way you see and react to situations that you come across.

What it Means to be Green

Many believe that when someone says their actions are “green” or that they are trying to benefit the environment by being “green”, that they are some sort of hippy tree hugger activist who are against technological improvements because they could cause serious harm to the environment. Many people tend to think of the most extreme example when this word is brought into conversation. While this may be an extreme form of living the “green” life, most people who want to live green just need to change a few simple things in their everyday life to avoid causing more harm to our planet. It is important to know the definition that is being expanded in order to understand the argument to be brought forth.

The word green originated before the year 900 A.D. and comes from the Middle English word, as well as the Old English word. Green also has German origins, in grün, which means to grow. The German form of green best fits the definition of green because it involves the environment. The dictionary definition of green in this context is, “environmentally sound or beneficial.” I agree with this definition, but it can easily be misinterpreted.

Those that are uninformed sometimes believe that in order to live green you must completely abandon your normal lifestyle, and make drastic changes in your transportation, eating habits and a variety of other things that would cause great inconvenience. When a majority of the population envisions green living they tend to think of families like that of Colin Beavin’s; this man, his wife, Michelle Conlin, and their daughter, Isabella, “went green to the extreme,” according to CBS News. This family lived for one year without using items that they considered wasteful, including toilet paper. So, for an entire year, they neither flew nor drove, to reduce the emitting of harmful exhaust, they only ate unpackaged locally grown food, and they did not shop for anything new. Many believe that in order to be green, you must be entirely green, like the family above, but this is not reasonable to expect from the average American family. Although Colin Beavin and his family are a prime example of living completely green, there are many ways that small changes in the household can be made to support green living.

According to National Geographic’s Green Guide to Everyday Life, there are a variety of simple things you can do that will help you to live more green. For example, “Reducing your speed to 55 mph from 65 mph may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent; cut it to 55 from 70, and you could get a 23 percent improvement.” Another problem is the excess amounts of garbage due to packaging materials. A quick fix for this would be buying items in bulk to avoid all of the extra packaging. Also, “cooking just one more dinner and packing just one more lunch a week will have a big impact on unnecessary waste and will save you money.” Last but not least, National Geographic’s Green Guide to Everyday Life reports that much of the average household’s energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling the home. By hanging curtains or drapes over windows and installing weather-stripping you can increase your home’s energy efficiency. These may seem like straightforward things to do, but it is surprising how many Americans do not do any of them. These little changes can make a big difference and should be practiced. Going green should not be viewed as a bad or extremist outlook on life, because there are many benefits to be had by being more environmentally conscious. The purpose of going green is to make a positive impact on the environment, and there are many benefits that can come from doing this.

Although there are many benefits, and Going Green Hints lists five major benefits that come from going green; save the earth, save your health, save money, save the economy, and it just feels good. Saving the earth is obviously the most important benefit, and the site states that, “While our collective actions have done huge amounts of damage to our planet, it is those same collective actions that can save it.” This statement is entirely true, and should be taken seriously. Saving your health is a very important benefit. According to the website, household cleaning supplies and pesticides contain many harmful chemicals, but green products do not include these dangerous chemicals. Everyone enjoys saving money, and that simple fact makes going green very beneficial. There are green ways to save money on household energy costs, as well as ways to improve gas mileage as noted above. The economy will also benefit if the United States makes the choice to go green. The site suggests a way of promoting green living while at the same time giving the economy a much needed boost. “Looking at the world economy, it is very difficult for the United States to compete in many traditional areas like manufacturing. One of the best ways for us to “keep our edge” and continue to compete is by being the leader in green technologies.” Finally, going green just feels good. Knowing that you took the incentive and did the little extra to protect the planet that we live on gives you that feeling that you know you did the right thing.

All in all, green, or the phrase going green, should not be taken as completely changing your lifestyle, but instead making small changes to better and protect the environment. In other words, being completely “environmentally sound or beneficial,” should not be the goal, but small steps should be taken to create a healthier environment, and attempt to stop or reverse some of the harmful things that we as a human race have caused. Not only is it important to protect our environment, but it is our responsibility. As of now, we only have one planet to live on, so it is important that we do our best to care for it.

Works Cited:

“Green Guide for Everyday Living.” 17 May 2010.

“5 Benefits of Going Green.” 17 May 2010.