According to Lengel, “(Wikipedia) is an encyclopedia compiled by the voluntary contributions of hundreds of writers and editors. Anyone can write an article and post it to the Wikipedia; anyone else can come along later and edit the article. It’s a kind of open, voluntary, work in progress. As such, it’s the most up-to-date encyclopedia you’ll find”(2006, para. 6). Today, Wikipedia is the ninth most popular Web site in the U.S.. (Wolverton, 2007). However, it has been argued about for a long time in the academic field. The controversies are whether students should be allowed to use Wikipedia for their projects or paper and whether the academic authorities should be tolerant of it. Then there are some problems here for the use of Wikipedia; anyone can write an articles and edit them freely, but we never know who wrote it, we also cannot figure out whether the information is correct or not and whether the copyright infringement or defamation will occur.
In the academic field, we should not use Wikipedia because we will infringe the copyright, anyone can post and edit an article and it will be inaccurate.
First of all, because of the copyright infringements, we should not use Wikipedia as a reference. Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia, so there might be something wrong in articles. In fact, a lot of articles have been deleted because of the invasion of the copyright. Further, nobody is responsible for editing the articles, so it can be one of the methods of Internet vandalism (Wolverton, 2007). Therefore, we think about the use of Wikipedia before starting our paper.
Second, we never are able to figure out who added the articles to Wikipedia. This is because anyone can write, post and edit the articles. For example, although there is wrong information, it will be never deleted if someone reports it. Further, Lengel states that
Wikipedia is unmediated and clearly not all of it definitive (2006). The problem is the anonymity. Moreover, there are no watchers or censors that verify the information immediately. Consequently, we have to be careful if we look up information from Wikipedia.
Finally, Wikipedia may be inaccurate, so we cannot use the information from Wikipedia on our papers or projects. For example, a prestigious liberal arts school in Vermont forbids that their students cite the sentences from Wikipedia (Byers, 2007). Some educators claim that Wikipedia is not suited for the academic situation. This is because, in fact, all publications are checked or previewed before distributed, but we anyone can post and edit the articles freely on Wikipedia (Wolverton, 2007). It will bring some problems for us. Therefore, we cannot use Wikipedia in public because our papers or projects must be aliared with truth.
Since Wikipedia has been born, it has give us a life of accessible information. We can get the information for free, add articles, edit the articles quickly and cite it for daily life. However, it has some problems, especially in the academic field such as the copyright infringements, free posting and editing policy and the inaccuracy of its articles. It means Wikipedia is no longer useful in the academic field. This is because academic papers and projects need authority and accuracy. Therefore, we should avoid using Wikipedia on our academic assignments.
Reference
Byers, M. (2007, March 8). from Controversy over use of Wikipedia in academic papers arrives at Smith. Sophian. Smith College. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://madia.www.smithsophian.com/ meia/storage/paper587/news/2007/03/08/News/ Controversy.Over.Use.Of. Wikipedia.In.Academic.Papers.Arrives.At.Smith- 2765409.shtml
Lengel, J. (2006, February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/ article.shtml?ID=12
Wolveron, J. (2007, January 22).Wikipedia Wisdom.Valley Vanguard. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Green Against Money
Ecopornography is an advertisement taking advantage of the customers’ interest for environment. It is part of Greenwashing. Generally, the word refers to the activity in which a company or industry encourages making the Earth clean with their products or services. Solar car is one of the examples. This activity makes people realize the problems our planet and we are facing. For example, “‘Green-tag movement’ plans to build wind plants” (Green, 2006.). However, there is an argument about whether Greenwashing really works for environment. Some say the ‘green movement’ is good for environment (Green, 2006). On the other hand, others say it is just ‘Greenwash’, so there is no benefit for the environment (Dunleavey, 2007). Actually, there is no evidence whether the activities work well, except within companies.
Among the activities, we need to think about why going Green’s cost is so high, we should learn how effective Green movements are, and we should remove the profit from “Environmentally friendly” products.
First of all, we have to consider why “organic” and “sustainable” products are expensive. It means that most of us do not know where our money is going. The fact is that we buy these products, but we do not know what our money, which is what we paid for the product, what is used for. All we can do is just guess that it will be used for improving or investing in the farmer’s methods. Although we know it will cost too much to plant the “organic” and ”sustainable” products, we have no idea whether its will cost match with our payment. Hence we need to think more about where our money is going.
Next, we have to take part in the movement not only from a business view but also as an individual if the Green movement is to have the efficiency for the environment. This is why there is no evidence whether the activities work well except companies. We tend to believe what our authorities say. However, it is because of them that the movements become clichéd icons (Swift,
n. d.). This must mean that we are controlled; that is why we spend money for the companies using green activity for their profit. So, we doubt what government, scientists or even mass media state.
Finally, companies, including us, should focus on reality going green. Why doe companies put their profit before a clean feature? This is because they realize that the green activity can be the support of their business. Once this movement became popular, companies used it as the means for gaining more money. The fact is that there are great deals of “Geenwashing” (Swift, n. d.). Many industries have made profit with the environmental movement. Therefore, companies should not use this ‘Green’ for the means getting their money.
However, we should think of not only nonrenewable resources but also renewable resources. This is because the overconsumption will cause the lack of resources. For example, the soil, which is a generally renewable resource, will turn into a nonrenewable resource if you use too much before the soil is produced again. It is not bad to think about our health, but we have to care about Earth’s health. Therefore, we have to think of our resources and care about them not to use them too much, and this consideration must lead us to a green movement.
When we, a lot of people, think of something, it can be a trend. Then companies or industries try to take advantage of it for their profits. Although some organizations really work hard for the Earth, It is obvious that there are businesses there. Therefore, we have to think of where our money goes, doubt what authorities say, and practice it without profits. If we hope healthy Earth, we really have to consider what we can do without money.
Reference
Dunleavey, P. M. (2007, May 5). Being green doesn’t mean spending more. The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase
Green, H. (2006, April 6). It’s a Little Easier Being Green; Consumers and companies are giving alternative energy a boost with “green tags”. BusinessWeek. 3989, 80. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase.
Karliner, J. (2001, March 22). A Brief History of Greenwash. Corpwatch. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=243
Street-Porter, J. (2007, September 13). Spare me these supermarket saints. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.
Among the activities, we need to think about why going Green’s cost is so high, we should learn how effective Green movements are, and we should remove the profit from “Environmentally friendly” products.
First of all, we have to consider why “organic” and “sustainable” products are expensive. It means that most of us do not know where our money is going. The fact is that we buy these products, but we do not know what our money, which is what we paid for the product, what is used for. All we can do is just guess that it will be used for improving or investing in the farmer’s methods. Although we know it will cost too much to plant the “organic” and ”sustainable” products, we have no idea whether its will cost match with our payment. Hence we need to think more about where our money is going.
Next, we have to take part in the movement not only from a business view but also as an individual if the Green movement is to have the efficiency for the environment. This is why there is no evidence whether the activities work well except companies. We tend to believe what our authorities say. However, it is because of them that the movements become clichéd icons (Swift,
n. d.). This must mean that we are controlled; that is why we spend money for the companies using green activity for their profit. So, we doubt what government, scientists or even mass media state.
Finally, companies, including us, should focus on reality going green. Why doe companies put their profit before a clean feature? This is because they realize that the green activity can be the support of their business. Once this movement became popular, companies used it as the means for gaining more money. The fact is that there are great deals of “Geenwashing” (Swift, n. d.). Many industries have made profit with the environmental movement. Therefore, companies should not use this ‘Green’ for the means getting their money.
However, we should think of not only nonrenewable resources but also renewable resources. This is because the overconsumption will cause the lack of resources. For example, the soil, which is a generally renewable resource, will turn into a nonrenewable resource if you use too much before the soil is produced again. It is not bad to think about our health, but we have to care about Earth’s health. Therefore, we have to think of our resources and care about them not to use them too much, and this consideration must lead us to a green movement.
When we, a lot of people, think of something, it can be a trend. Then companies or industries try to take advantage of it for their profits. Although some organizations really work hard for the Earth, It is obvious that there are businesses there. Therefore, we have to think of where our money goes, doubt what authorities say, and practice it without profits. If we hope healthy Earth, we really have to consider what we can do without money.
Reference
Dunleavey, P. M. (2007, May 5). Being green doesn’t mean spending more. The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase
Green, H. (2006, April 6). It’s a Little Easier Being Green; Consumers and companies are giving alternative energy a boost with “green tags”. BusinessWeek. 3989, 80. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase.
Karliner, J. (2001, March 22). A Brief History of Greenwash. Corpwatch. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=243
Street-Porter, J. (2007, September 13). Spare me these supermarket saints. Retrieved April 14, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Spending Money Cannot Turn Green
In the article, “Being Green Doesn’t Mean Spending More”, the author discusses the fact that the American green movement tends to focus on spending money. This is because we are going to buy the products labeled “organic” or “sustainable”. However, the overconsumption will cause a huge use of resources. Moreover, those products are generally expensive, but we do not know where our money is going. If we really want to live in an environmentally friendly way, it is one of the ecological ways to reuse and recycle what we already have. In the article, she states that green movement never means spending too much money.
Before thinking about our healthier life, we should think about the overconsumption of the limited resources. We also have to consider where our money is going. Last, we should refurbish what we already own.
First of all, we should think of not only nonrenewable resources but also renewable resources. This is because the overconsumption will cause the lack of resources. For example, the soil, which is a generally renewable resource, will turn into a nonrenewable resource if you use too much before the soil is produced again. It is not bad to think about our health, but we have to care about Earth’s health. Therefore, we have to think of our resources and care about them not to use them too much.
Second of all, we have to consider why “organic” and “sustainable” products are expensive. It means that most of us do not know where our money is going. The fact is that we buy these products, but we do not know how our money, which is what we paid for the product, is used for. All we can do is just guessing that it will be used for improving or investing in the farmer’s methods. Although we know it will costs too much to plant the “organic” and ”sustainable” products, we have no idea whether its cost match with our payment. Hence we need to think more about where our money is going.
Finally, we should refurbish what we already have if we really think of Earth. This is because we already have a lot of things, but we are likely to throw them away easily.Instead of buying new things, we can fix or remake old things. It is environment-friendly for our planet and also economical for our lives. Consequently, instead of purchasing something new, we should refurbish what we already own.
The green movement might cause better effects because it keeps being green. However, we have to care about our limited resources. Also we do not need to spend our money too much. We have to doubt that there will be more efficient ways. And before buying new products, we should make sure if it is really wasteful stuff. Nobody cares about spending money for just being green, but there are lots ways to do so if we notice and practice.
Reference
Dunleavey, P.M. (2007, May 5). Being green doesn’t mean spending more. The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database
Before thinking about our healthier life, we should think about the overconsumption of the limited resources. We also have to consider where our money is going. Last, we should refurbish what we already own.
First of all, we should think of not only nonrenewable resources but also renewable resources. This is because the overconsumption will cause the lack of resources. For example, the soil, which is a generally renewable resource, will turn into a nonrenewable resource if you use too much before the soil is produced again. It is not bad to think about our health, but we have to care about Earth’s health. Therefore, we have to think of our resources and care about them not to use them too much.
Second of all, we have to consider why “organic” and “sustainable” products are expensive. It means that most of us do not know where our money is going. The fact is that we buy these products, but we do not know how our money, which is what we paid for the product, is used for. All we can do is just guessing that it will be used for improving or investing in the farmer’s methods. Although we know it will costs too much to plant the “organic” and ”sustainable” products, we have no idea whether its cost match with our payment. Hence we need to think more about where our money is going.
Finally, we should refurbish what we already have if we really think of Earth. This is because we already have a lot of things, but we are likely to throw them away easily.Instead of buying new things, we can fix or remake old things. It is environment-friendly for our planet and also economical for our lives. Consequently, instead of purchasing something new, we should refurbish what we already own.
The green movement might cause better effects because it keeps being green. However, we have to care about our limited resources. Also we do not need to spend our money too much. We have to doubt that there will be more efficient ways. And before buying new products, we should make sure if it is really wasteful stuff. Nobody cares about spending money for just being green, but there are lots ways to do so if we notice and practice.
Reference
Dunleavey, P.M. (2007, May 5). Being green doesn’t mean spending more. The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database
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