My Soundslides 3 is complete!
It was really difficult finding an issue. Most of the time when we hear about something that is compelling it’s usually coming from a journalist. We either read it in the newspaper, in a magazine, or watch it on television. Even then, our level of connection to it is not to a level of passion. I remember when I was reading the Kobre text regarding finding and reporting issues, I felt like all the examples that were given were of journalists who felt something towards what they were reporting. For example, there is a nursing home example in the book. It is done by Judy Griesdieck and she pursues this project after hearing some alarming statistics about nursing homes in California. And Kobre also mentioned that after the assignment was done, Griesdieck went back and visited her subjects. I wanted to report on a subject that I felt was important and that I could do something about.
The environment has always been very important to me. Growing up, I was the kid that would spend hours outside and would not come in until my mother yelled at me. And last fall, after I did a 45 to 50 minute presentation on global warming, I’ve been kind of hooked on the subject. This wasn’t really my first topic though. I wanted to do something aligned with my thesis project (eating disorders in college students) but, when that didn’t work out for me I decided to find a topic related to the environment.
I started doing my research and found that Alachua county is facing two major problems. The bigger problem is the lack of funding. There isn’t enough money to acquire the land, to run the programs that deal with land conservation or for the equipment or manpower needed to actually preserve the land. The smaller problem is the management of the land and how sometimes they get neglected after being acquired. But, even for that, the state and the non-profits need money. And so that is my focus. The Alachua County Forever program got money when the public decided to tax itself to conserve land. But, unfortunately they are running out of money soon and are in danger of losing all their resources.
Paynes Prairie, a state park here in Alachua county, is a good proof of what can come out of preserving land. It is a safe place for individuals and families to go and enjoy nature. The land is thriving and the animal life is better then ever (they even have wild bison on the property!). Land conservation is an important issue in Alachua county. And, we as residents, should try to help preserve what makes it special.
