I chose the Environment & Development program at Washington Semester mostly because of the travel to Costa Rica. I'd take any chance possible to get back to Central America. And while I was passionate about studying international development, I had limited knowledge of environmental issues. It was the trip to Costa Rica that taught me most about the environment, even if I didn't always understand what I was seeing.
In Costa Rica we visited countless reserves - rainforests, cloudforests, butterfly reserves, national parks, lakes, beaches, volcanoes, wind turbines, and eco-friendly hotels. I didn't always share the initial excitement of a new forest or a new bird sighting, mostly because I didn't understand the significance, but our nature guides and my classmates taught me so much. I learned not only about beautiful animals, but how all creatures affect the eco-system. And that saving animals can be just as important as saving people. Bats no longer scare me! I learned about the positives of alternative wind and/or water energy, and how the benefits are worth the costs. I appreciate the wind turbines that I see along California! I learned how negatively human beings impact the environment, sickening animals and damaging natural resources. And, I am convinced that climate change is a real problem.
Most importantly, I learned how extremely connected environmental issues are to developmental issues. It seems so obvious. And yet none of my previous classes ever demonstrated that to me. In Erasmus, I could note how lack of available resources, or poor farming possibilities, forced women and children into sex slavery but it was never so defined for me until this class. And I learned it visually as well, traveling through Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
No comments:
Post a Comment