Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America Research Paper

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Abstract

This paper is going to focus on the relationship between human beings and the environment especially on the fact of Increasing environmental conservation and sustainability. Its main coverage will dwell on the North Eastern America which presently covers states like Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. It will present the problems that the present inhabitants are facing when it comes to environmental conservation and sustainability in modern times, also the paper will cover the role of comparing the ancient way of life of the first inhabitants (Indians) and what can be used from pre-modern times to reverse the current situation.

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For the above to be realized then their social, political and economical way of life will be analyzed for evaluation to be made to deduct the relevance of their way of life to the sustainability of the environment. What did the first inhabitants do to sustain their environment and what can be adapted in present times to unravel the mystery of a depleted environment brought about by industrialization.

This research paper then will find more efficient solutions to the problem by analyzing the first descendants and their way of life what can be adapted from ancient times to solve modern problems in conservation and sustainability of the environment to keep off climatic change whose effects are felt at a global realm.

Introduction

Research indicates that there is a close mutual relationship between the environment and human beings Climatical change is the key factor when it comes to evaluating the environmental changes that a region is facing regarding the relationship between human beings and the environment. We find that most environmental changes are brought about by human activities being carried out in an area; this can be classified as either a social activity or economical activity that the inhabitants of a place practice. Incase their activities are negatively affecting the region then subsequent changes will be observed through various changes which in turn are found to affect the environment.

Take for instance if the human activity in an area is highly associated with lumbering then in the long run if afforestration is not practiced then erosion will take place and the climatic changes will take place by the rains not coming thus causing draught and famine which will eventually affect the natural resources of the area and the environment at large. States found in the North eastern side are adversely affected by climatical changes and energy issues.

The climatical changes are brought about by the activities that are carried in this area, specifically agricultural activities, transportation, power plants, poor waste management and public sector operations, this activities tend to emit gasses that are not environmental friendly thus affecting the Ozone layer which leads to adverse climatical changes, for instance the emission of UV rays that can skin cancer to human beings which is fatal.

These climatical changes are adverse and the global family will be affected if no measures are taken, though they have come up with recommendations such as switching, too more energy efficient vehicles thus revitalizing the transport system and use of efficient light emitting diodes still there is more to be done to conserve the environment and reducing the climatical changes. (Selin and Stacy, 2005)

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First inhabitants

The first inhabitants are said to be the American Indians, they were organized in tribal setting thus they had their own political structure. They are commonly referred to as American Indians, Amerindians, Aboriginal Americans, Original Americans and the likes. The American Indians were conservatives who followed their traditions with reverence respecting their environment in each and every aspect.

They built their houses according the climatic conditions they found themselves in, for example they built log houses, tepees and wickiups these were mobile homes. The log houses were called Hogan’s. Another sub-tribe of the Indians known as the Pueblo built their homes using sun dried brick. The people of the Indian descent relied heavily on nature from food, to medicine, to clothes and to housing thus their lives revolved around nature.

Culture

Their cultural aspects include their clothing which was distinctive, their customs and traditions and their language were the aspects that defined them culturally. They were hunters and gatherers who made their weapons from stones; their weapons included bows and arrows, the war club and the spear. (James, 2002) Fighting was a way of life that they took as a sport this is because they highly valued bravery. They were highly skilled when it came to embroidery and stitching, they made baskets, jewellary, beadwork and pottery. They enjoyed music thus they were musical people, who made their own musical instruments such as drums, flutes, pipes, and rattles these were made from bones and canes.

Agriculture

They were farmers who practiced the farming of squash; this is among the first kinds of crop that were domesticated in that era. Other crops that were grown include Cotton, Sunflower, Tobacco, Goose Foot and Sump Weed. Due to the varying climate that the areas experienced the inhabitants had to develop irrigation skills, for instance at the coast the terrain was sandy, while in the mountainous areas it was moist and cool. (James, 2002)

Thus they had to be innovative in order to make their agricultural practices to be successful irrigation was made possible by them bringing water to the dry areas, again they had to follow the breeding patterns of the seeds that they grew knowing specifically where to plant and what type of seed to use.

Maize was the most successful crop that they majored in, maize was their staple food, thus they had to invent on ways of storage during winter periods this they did by storing the extra crop into underground pits, the husks were made into art crafts and the cob was used for fuel, this they implemented when making fires they would throw in the cobs to sustain the fires which would be used for cooking, and keeping warm at night.

The agricultural process included both the men and the women with each of them having clear and distinct roles for instance the men used to clear the fields with the hoes, while the women were in charge of the planting, weeding, and harvesting of the crop. The American Indians practiced the rotation method when it came to planting, meaning that each season they moved from one area to the next this practice ensured that the left portion was left to acquire back its fertility while they moved to another area the next season. (James, 2002) The above allowed the land to remain fallow meaning that the land was not overused thus the fertility levels were not compromised.

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Another method of increasing fertility is that of growing beans next to the corn thus nitrogen levels were optimized, while the corn used the nitrogen the beans would provide more. They also used the burning of weeds method when clearing the fields thus nutrients were maintained in the soil another debatable means of keeping the land fertile was the use of fish. The natives used hoes made from stones though they eventually switched to iron which was more efficiently, the women folk in the society were meted with the responsibility of feeding the population they manually grinded the corn and cooked for the community. (Dean, 2003)

Religion

Each tribe had their own Totem which signified the embodiment of the spirit and their clan. The Indians had many gods whom they worshipped. They believed in medicine men that went with the title of Shaman they used herbs to heal people. They practiced some form of religion in their traditional setting of spiritualism. (Peter, 2005) Their religion was defined through the culture of using sacred herbs which were burnt; these were mainly tobacco, sweet grass and sage. They fasted, this is the practice of fore going food for something supernatural to happen, they sung and danced during religious rites they also smoked natural tobacco through the pipe. They used the eagle feathers when practicing their religion. They believed in life after death, they believed after death they would go the happy hunting ground.

Economy

Their economical back bone was mainly attributed by the agricultural activities that they undertook. Through the years as European explorers came to their areas they took trading to their hands thus they were able to trade their agricultural products for other goods such as clothing’s, iron, horses and firearms. (Dean, 2003)

Languages

The American Indians have a diverse intricate tribal network; this was a problem in that many of them could not communicate with each other if they were not from the same tribe. The above led them to use sign language when conversing. The Indians didn’t write but they used drawings to enable them communicate, they would draw in caves and in animal hides this indicates that there was a mutual relationship between human beings and animals since the animals produced hides which enhanced the communication amongst the people.. (Dean, 2003)

In conclusion on the history of the Indians the early inhabitants of America in the northern eastern states was of a conservative nature not until when the Europeans settlers came along with their modern antics which led to the erosion of nature and a depleted environment. The Indians were marginalized and soon things got worse for them in that they were shortchanged from one treaty to another.

According to the above analysis the following can be deducted and thereafter used to provide amicable solutions to the current problems facing the pre- modern inhabitants. For the area to experience such climatical changes it must have experienced years of environmental depletion. The main aspects of the first inhabitants that are going to be applied are the fertility maintenance method, land reclamation, good waste management and environmental practices. (Rabe and Barry, 2004) advantages that are deducted from their way of life are going to be highlighted in the implementation stage.

Though some of their practices pose some disadvantages for example the use of eagle feathers during religious functions, this is a great threat to eagle extinction thus the government has to enact laws to protect and conserve the birds’ fraternity. Another disadvantage in their way of life is the fact that by then land was plenty and they could afford migrating from one place to another, in [present time due to large population the above can not be adopted though ways of implementing the rotational method needs to be invented.

Implementation and adaptation

The Indians were farmers meaning they relied heavily on natural resources for their supplements be it basketry making or food production. One thing that can be learnt from them is the art of respecting the soil because all humankind and the animal kingdom not to mention the plant kingdom dwell because of the soil. The inhabitants of present north eastern states should find ways of incorporating the rotational method of planting when exercising farming.

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They can subdivide their farmlands and practice the method with each season planting different kinds of plants in the subdivided plots. This will increase fertility other than using fertilizers that have effects to the soil and to the environment if poorly disposed. Methods of farming should also be integrated instead of using machines like harvesters and tractors to till and harvest, other methods should be implied so that the emissions of carbon dioxide are reduced during the process of farming, in other ways other kinds of petroleum should be invented to propel the engines used. (Peter, 2005)

The people of the North eastern again should be able to decrease their transport use from vehicles to boats and canoes or else bicycles which will cut on the amount of fuel and also the amount of emissions in the environment. In our analysis we have found out that the people of ancient North eastern America were not waste full people they used their husks to make baskets, they would use their cobs to light fires and for the grain they stored and used it daily as their food supplements thus what can be deducted from this is the art of recycling other than dumping of things that we don’t need. (Selin and Stacy, 2005) The technology of planting one crop beside another is the ultimate goal of symbiosis is a great idea which the current inhabitants should put more research to; in order to apply to other plants other than maize and beans.

Water energy should be used in this area other than other types of energy, Wind energy is an area that should be highly utilized as they endeavor in conserving the environment. Land reclamation is a major concept that can be adapted to enable the people of the area to acquire the green status, it being in an area of vast waters then water can be used for irrigation in sandy areas. The inhabitants should be able to learn the benefits of eating organic foods that are not processed, this will make them healthy as well as leading to a proactive environment by the senses that more processed foods leads pollution because industries use a lot of energy to process these foods and they pollute the environment by gas emissions.

The use of natural materials in the art-facts and jewellary sector should be adapted this will reduce emissions, conserve energy, decrease pollution and practice safe waste management. The use of baskets and other natural fiber should be used in making packaging bags; this will improve the management of waste by the population knowing the benefits of good waste management. When plastics are used then after use they become indispensable this is a major challenge brought about by industrialization, plastics are not decomposable thus they pose a threat to the soil when disposed badly or irresponsibly.

Planting of more trees should be initialized as more people are into lumbering business when constructing shelters then a policy on afforest ration should be exercised, this will help the population in the areas of rain, whereby the farmers in this area will receive huge amounts of rainfall boosting their harvests thus initiating the world going green slogan. Soil erosion again will be prevented, and the trees will act as wind breakers. (Selin and Stacy, 2005) Other types of materials should be used when constructing houses other than wood this will go along way into saving the environment, for instance the use of sun dried bricks would be beneficiary to the community in the long run.

The adoption of green houses is an ultimate goal to which will help farmers to grow their plants in safe environments, although prevention is better than cure the above step can be applied presently as the others are being considered as long term plan to save the environment from further destruction. (Rabe and Barry, 2004) this research paper has taken the route of conservation through the agricultural route, because nature starts and ends through the soil and so does life.

It would only be right to adapt agricultural practices that would lead to a better environment; a productive nation is that of a healthy population. Industrialization only brings with it destruction and depletion despite providing innovation and invention we need to know how to live positively with it, as we respect the environment the one thing that presents the platform for the invention and innovation to take place.

Conclusion

The act of industrialization brings with it the increase in use of energy, bad gas emissions and poor waste management, if the above can be adapted then the people of the North East America would be able to alter the climatical changes brought about by the depletion of the environment, when we respect the soil and nature then they will in turn respect us, nature is the greatest wrath to man kind while it can be a blessing in other ways if taken care of well. Trees should be planted again and again to ensure that the air we breathe is fresh and clean, this is a key factor in our well is being health wise. The above will also contribute to a balance in the emission being produced from factories in that the air circulatory system will be synchronized.

References

Chris A. (2008) a Dictionary of Environment and Conservation Oxford University Press.

David A. and Richard G. (2002) conservation in Africa; people, policies and practices Cambridge university press.

Dean (2003) State Power and Indigenous Peoples in Peruvian Amazonian: A Lost Decade, Harvard University press.

James Q. (2002) pale American origins; a review of hypothesis and evidence relating to the Origins of the first Americans, anthropology journal.

Jerome M. And Dean (2003) at a risk of being heard, identity, indigenous rights university of Michigan press.

Peter N. (2005) respect for the ancestors: American Indian cultural affiliation in the American West boulder Bauu press.

Rabe, Barry. (2004) Statehouse and Greenhouse: The Emerging Politics of American Climate Change Policy. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Selin.H. and Stacy.D. (2005) Canadian/United States; Environmental Cooperation-Climate Change Networks and Regional Action the American Review of Canadian Studies, journal.

Selin H. and Stacy D. (2006) Canadian- U.S. Cooperation: Regional Climate Change Action In the Northeast U.K.: Ash gate.

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IvyPanda. (2022, June 28). Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-relationship-between-the-environment-and-human-beings-a-case-study-of-north-eastern-america/

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"Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America." IvyPanda, 28 June 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/the-relationship-between-the-environment-and-human-beings-a-case-study-of-north-eastern-america/.

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IvyPanda. (2022) 'Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America'. 28 June.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America." June 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-relationship-between-the-environment-and-human-beings-a-case-study-of-north-eastern-america/.

1. IvyPanda. "Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America." June 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-relationship-between-the-environment-and-human-beings-a-case-study-of-north-eastern-america/.


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IvyPanda. "Environment & Human Beings: North Eastern America." June 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-relationship-between-the-environment-and-human-beings-a-case-study-of-north-eastern-america/.

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