Kaila Kirkpatrick 

3/28/2023

Coral Reef and Beliefs 

Introduction: 

Over the past fifty years we have begun to see a large decline in our coral reefs around the world. The Florida Keys are one of the few places we have seen such a scary and large decline within coral reef ecosystems. With the increase of tourism in areas such as Key West, Marathon, Islandmorada, and Key Largo the coral reefs are even more at risk. Due to the aftermath of the CoronaVirus the numbers of people visiting the Keys has been continuing to increase, due to the limitations of travel to other countries. Many of these tourists do not understand their trips to the reef leave such a large impact on the ecosystems. While there have been policies put in place in the Keys to stop the mass destruction of coral reefs, there is one that has not been proposed yet. This policy is required for anyone wishing to travel to a coral reef to take a mandatory course in the protection of coral reefs. This would allow for less harm to come to these ecosystems and more knowledge on the topic overall. 

Why are Coral Reefs In Harm’s Way: 

It is constantly heard that we are destroying the Earth through climate change and global warming. We hear about the ice sheets melting, and animals dying, but yet Coral Reefs are rarely acknowledged in these situations. Coral Reefs are declining at a significant pace that can become very large problems for our oceans. The question we need to ask ourselves is why? The UN environment programme stated, “Coral reefs are under relentless stress from myriad global and local issues, including climate change, declining water quality, overfishing, pollution and unsustainable coastal development.” Coral reefs play an essential role in marine life, harboring over twenty five percent of the fish in the ocean (Rolls). If people continue to destroy these reefs with debris and inconsiderate actions it is going to become an unsolvable situation. Within the past year tourism in the Florida Keys has increased significantly. In 2019, the total number of tourists that flew into Key West was 482930 according to the Key West travel guide. That number in 2022 reached 737975. Traveling to the Reef is something so beautiful, but yet the respect people have for the reef continues to be on the decline. People continue to throw garbage and plastic into the ocean while on these trips. Many people know this is wrong but yet continue to do it. However, a large majority of people have no idea what they are doing is causing a decline in these reefs. In February 2019, Key West was the first city in the mainland USA to ban sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate which are harmful chemicals to coral reefs. According to WLRN after this law was passed the state legislature decided to overturn the decision. They stated that Key West “banning sunscreen” was unethical and dangerous to the working class. However, if people were aware that these sunscreens exist before going to the reef, they could be less inclined to want to purchase them for use. The lack of awareness from people is what the large problem here is. How are people supposed to know what to avoid, when they are given no knowledge of the topic? Furthermore, if people were able to know the topic and express it to other people, more people would know about the destruction of coral reefs and how to put a stop to it. Whether you are the person visiting the Keys, or the people who generate income from tourism, you would be affected. If you are not from the Keys, you could be asking why it matters to you, well truth be told is that coral reefs do more than you think. For one, they stop beaches from eroding away, and two they keep natural wildlife. This is important to remember because everyone wants to enjoy the beach, but if this continues there will no longer be these ecosystems to save the beach. 

This is a diagram representing the loss of coral reefs in the Florida Keys. As you can see over time we have continued to see a decline in coral reefs. (MCCLENACHAN) 

The Policy:

The policy that is being proposed would require anyone who is going to the reef to complete a course. In order to board the boat, you would need to show a certification of completion to the company taking you out, or on your own personal boat you would need a copy of the course with you at all times. It is known knowledge that in order to legally drive a boat in Florida you need a boater license. With this it gives you access to travel on the water. There is also something known as a temporary license in Florida which allows you to have a temporary license to drive boats for one year after taking the twenty question test. If we were able to implement a similar system in this policy, you could take a longer permanent coral reef course, or a temporary cheaper version. Through this it would be to some people unnecessary, it could drastically change the future of coral reefs. One major effect we have seen of our coral reefs is bleaching. This can occur from touching or different chemicals coming in contact with coral. “Bleaching can be thought of as the ocean’s version of the ‘canary in the coral mine’ since it demonstrates corals’ sensitivity to dangerous and deadly conditions” (Rolls). Due to this, some questions that could be presented could be, “What are the main chemicals that affect coral reefs?”, “What is the number one reason for coral destruction?”, “How can you prevent the destruction of coral reefs?”, “How many acres of coral reef are destroyed every minute?”. Through these questions we would be able to identify if people know the risk that comes with visiting the reef while also building respect. 

Pictured above is a photo of a Boater’s License in Florida. It requires a course and it lasts for the rest of your life. The intended policy would create a license that permits you to travel to coral reefs in Florida. 

Stakeholders Within The Community: 

With this big of a change of course there could be people that are affected by this change. One mainly are the large companies that take people to the reefs. This new policy could directly affect their income as some people may not want to pay to have to receive a license to visit the coral reef for a day. Along with this other stakeholders are people who would like to come to the Keys to see the reef. This could be a direct obstacle that may not make it as accessible for some people. Another huge stakeholder is the Government. This is because they could have create and keep up with these licenses. This task would take time away from the workers who may have other jobs to do. Along with it would also take taxpayers dollars to start up this policy, which could potentially lead to higher taxes, this affecting all citizens in Florida. Due to this there may be a potential push back against this policy from tax payers, especially those who do not live near the ocean or coral reefs. However, if these workers would like to keep these companies running they need to make a change. Without one they would not have a reef to take and make money from. 

Conclusion:

It is clear to see that there needs to be a change in how we treat coral reefs. The rate at which they are declining is very alarming and should show how urgent this matter is. If we are able to push this policy, it could lead to a relief to the reefs that hopefully allows them to flourish again. The problem is not people doing this on purpose, instead this problem is about awareness. People not from the Keys would not know the harm they are causing to the environment. It also might be the case that locals are aware as well. This course would provide the key information people should know about saving the reefs. It is up to our locals to save the environment. This policy resonates with locals whose families depend on this type of income to be able to support their families. However, it should also be able to resonate with non locals as many people love the beach. Without the reef none of these desired places will be to be visited as they will be destroyed. At the pace the reef is dying, there are only a few more years left before there is nothing that can be done to save the Earth. This policy must be incorporated fast because there is limited time to make a change. 

Works Cited: 

Klingener, Nancy. “As Key West Tries to Set Precedents, Tallahassee Lawmakers Say: Not so Fast.” As Key West Tries To Set Precedents, Tallahassee Lawmakers Say: Not So Fast, WRLN, 16 Mar. 2021, https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-03-16/as-key-west-tries-to-set-precedents-tallahassee-lawmakers-say-not-so-fast.  

“Key West Tourism Statistics, Key West Travel Guide – Visitor Information for Key West, FL in the Florida Keys.” Key West Travel Guide – Visitor Information for Key West, FL in the Florida Keys, Key West Tourism Statistics, 2021, https://www.keywesttravelguide.com/key-west-tourism-statistics/.  

MCCLENACHAN, Loren. “Ghost Reefs: Nautical Charts Document Large Spatial Scale of Coral Reef Loss over 240 Years.” Science Advances , 6 Sept. 2016, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1603155.

“Visual Feature | Status of Coral Reefs of the World.” UNEP – UN Environment Programme, UNEP, 30 Sept. 2021, https://www.unep.org/interactives/status-world-coral-reefs/?gclid=CjwKCAjwoIqhBhAGEiwArXT7K2uSufsDoHkFkD8DQbvU5ZxMMm6NZaXX83qXwxk0XxPMZ1MGkcG3yRoCKcQQAvD_BwE.

Through both of my past posts, I have talked about how social media has become so polarized but never explained why. The truth is there are multiple different theories on why social media has become such a hateful and polarized environment over very recent years. It was not until the most recent elections that I have been able to observe such hateful comments from one side to the other. I have only been able to participate in one election, but I have been observing different debates for awhile. I have seen an increase in hateful comments made by people young and old.  In this blog post, I will be going through the multiple different theories that could potentially be the cause of this problem.

The first major indicator of polarization could be seen once the pandemic hit. There was a clear divide between the belief in covid and what was to be expected of them. Many people felt that staying home and quarantining was the best way to handle covid and stop the spread, while others believed it was not as bad as it seemed. Once it hit social media that these polarizing sides existed the issue took off. It was often seen that each side was calling out the other. The leftists say the reason covid was so bad was due to the conservatives not listening to the government. The conservatives stated the reason for the economic failure was due to the fact that people were being forcefully kept in their homes. The New Yorker wrote, “In a Marquette University Law School poll from November, seventy per cent of Democrats said that they considered covid a “serious problem” in their state, compared with only thirty per cent of Republicans”. It was clear after that, that there was a change in the dynamics of how citizens from each side treated each other. Along with this, the leaders of the nation from each side of the party began to use social media to come at the other party. The New Yorker also wrote, “Representative Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican, labeled the newly detected strain a Democratic trick to justify absentee voting. “Here comes the MEV—the Midterm Election Variant,” Jackson, who served as Physician to the President under Trump and also under Barack Obama, tweeted.” these tweets allowed for citizens to believe it was okay to attack the other side and from their tension began escalating.

Another theory dates much further back to the 1970s. It is believed that due to major political parties becoming aligned with specific ideologies. Brown University wrote an article that stated, “There’s evidence that within the U.S., the two major political parties have become more homogeneous in certain ways, including ideologically and socially,” Shapiro said. “So when you identify with a certain party and you’re looking across the aisle, the people you’re looking at are more different from you than they were a few decades ago.” As time has continued it has only made the political parties more separated. We are unable to see the other side as people instead of only looking at them as the other party. We have seen the conservative side lean more into religious views and are typically “white men”, while the democratic party has begun to represent more people of color, and fewer income families. This divide has created a system where each side does not recognize the other. This then creates a more hostile environment and more polarization in politics. As different parties make their political agenda aligned with more specific traits, it cuts off the connection people see within each other. Instead of seeing someone as a person they see them as the other side. We need to realize that we are all people and citizens of the same country. Not only this we also need to learn and respect those with different opinions.

Finally, the third theory that has been presented has to do with the 2016 and 2020 elections, in these elections we saw countless arguments that went for one’s character rather than what one could bring in the elections. One prime example of this was President Donald Trump making comments about President Joe Biden’s dead son. In previous elections, comments such as this would have been career-ending. But in this day and age, it was accepted in a presidential debate. When people see this action as accepted it creates a space in which opposite parties believe that rude and cruel remarks are accepted. When we see leaders of our country are allowed to make those types of remarks and get away with it, it is a bad example for the citizens of our countries. How are we expected to act towards each other when the leaders of our country do not act as an example?  In this day and age the whole idea of democracy is about winning, not about who is the best candidate. A famous quote from President Donald Trump states, “We’re going to win so much, you may even get tired of winning.” It is clear to see the angle that is taken at politics over the recent years. What matters is what we as citizens can do to stop this before the polarization gets too far.

If you were to ask me what I believe is the reason for such a polarized political environment I would have answered all of the above. Personally, I do not believe we can pinpoint one reason why we have seen such a shift in our politics. We have to take into account that since the 1970’s there has been a shift, that has been amplified in today’s day and age. As the years go on my worry is there will not be a change for the better. I am scared that my grandchildren will live in a world where everyone is at war and there is no peace. We have seen what hate has done in the past, and the effects that it has on people so why do we continue to repeat history?

Works Cited:

Kolbert, Elizabeth. “How Politics Got So Polarized | The New Yorker.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2021, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/03/how-politics-got-so-polarized.

Images:

Being the first group to go during the deliberation was something I saw as a challenge. It did not allow my group to see the mistakes that other groups made and learn from them. Instead, we just had to try and hope for the best. I do believe we did a good job editing the video and making the slides very informative. However, I do believe the one thing we lacked was the preparation of more questions to continue during the deliberation. It was hard at the moment at least for me to come up with questions that could help further the deliberation, and I felt a little underprepared in that aspect.

Another thing I believe was a struggle was the fact we did not implement the criteria that was needed for the deliberation. I do believe if we implemented strong criteria our deliberation was have gone a lot smoother as it have allowed for the audience to understand what advice we were looking for. Along with this, I do think that having a criteria written up would have also allowed us to ask more concise questions. My group could have asked if they believe our approaches fit that criteria instead, we lacked that part in our presentation.

However, I do believe my group and I did a good job with using all the time we had to talk and deliberate our problem and approaches. Our deliberation ended with only five minutes of class left which I believe makes it clear that we had enough information to keep the conversation following. I also do believe that our videos were to the point and did not allow for the viewer to get bored as we made our point and moved on. We did not allow for the over explanation that was not needed.

After completing all the I Survived Books, I was in the fourth grade. One day I went to the library and saw there was a book on display called, The Hunger Games. I picked it up and began reading, and once I started it was hard for me to stop. I am pretty sure within that year I reread the series about five times. The Hunger Games was my transition from children’s books with happy endings, to books where it took a deeper read to understand all of the different scenarios that took place within the story.

The first time I read The Hunger Games I remember being so enchanted that it was in a whole new society. It was not a society to which I could look up, because it was made it. It consisted of the author’s imagination and storytelling. Previously I had kept my book reading to historical fiction, where the events happen and I could do further research. After reading The Hunger Games I realized that all the information I looked at was written by other fans. This introduced me to a whole new community that made theories and also loved the books as much as I did.

These books also introduced me to the understanding a book did not have to have a happy ending. Before reading this book I just assumed that I needed a book to have a happy ending for me to love it. However, this book some may say was “happy” but to me, it was not. Sure both the main characters lived, but the story of how they got there will forever be heartbreaking. She even addresses these feelings in the last sentence of Mockingjay, saying that Peeta and Katniss both still have nightmares all these years later. It was a key part of my book growth that I read a story that had such a deep and meaningful unhappy ending.

This book also grew my passion for reading in general. After reading this series, I watched the movie… big mistake. While the movies were amazing in their own right, all I could do the whole time was compare them to the book. While this might have been a mistake on my part, I still do think this made me so much more passionate. Every time they left out what I believed to be an important part of the story, I brought it up to my friends. It got to the point they told me I needed to stop talking so much.

The Hunger Games introduced a new type of genre of book that I still read to this day, which is dystopian novels. These books do allow me to have an escape, and I know I wouldn’t have loved it the same if it was not for The Hunger Games. I connected to these characters more than I had ever connected to characters before. I felt their pain and their struggle. When they cried I cried, and I believe that’s why it was so life-changing for me.

Images: