Tari Saman PERMIAS OSU
Alhamudulillah kami sukses!
Al-Gore in Oklahoma, an inconvenient truth!
I sacrificed not going to two of my classes today, so that I could let Al-Gore to convince me about the seriousness of our earth’s global warming crisis. It was worth it. I almost bumped into him when I walked towards the ladies room before the speech started. I was too nervous that instead of squeezing myself through the 10 body guards around him to shake his hand, I hustled back to my seat to let my friends know that he was behind us. By the time I came back to where he was, the audience already started clapping and all eyes were on him, on the podium. Lesson learnt: when u see someone u need to see, go directly to greet them!
Back to Holiday?!
Well, apparently at the end of our first week of school, a second snow storm has come in. I say it’s even worse than the first in terms of the size and shape of the snow. This time, the snow is shaped like tiny beads of pearls and it HURTs when they hit your cheeks!!! Ouch!
So finally the school decides to shut down and dismiss all campus activities at noon. Well then, back to holiday! A longer 1st weekend because Monday will be Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Have a great weekend everyone!
Back to School!
This semester, finally I’m taking classes more related to my focus area.
1. The Geography of Travel and Tourism
2. International Natural Resource Management
3. Globalization and Culture (an anthropology/sociology class?!)
4. Contemporary Issues [this is a must]
So, I’m off to my 1st class 
The Dairy Building, Before & After
Whenever I passed this building, it gave me the chills. It looked abandoned and occupied by the 2nd kind. Rumors has it that this building has been planned to be demolished for quite some time, due to a time capsule implanted in one of the cornerstones in 1928. I’ll get more info… meanwhile this is the building Before & After its demolition.
BEFORE
AFTER
So long Dairy Building…
Fair Trade Coffee
Fair Trade Coffee
What does it mean for a coffee to be ‘fair trade certified?’ Well, this was certainly a logo I’ve never paid much attention to. I don’t drink much coffee anyway and only drink it when I feel the need to stay up late. Even if I do, I don’t like my grandmother’s favorite strong thick dark black kind where you can still feel the grains in your mouth. Eeeyew.
In our International Economics class today, my friends and I presented the issue of Fair Trade Coffee. The debate out there suggest that there’s a way to make coffee business fair for the producers in developing countries, the actual farmers who grow, pick, and roast the coffee, not their bosses - through fair trade. Well, the certification supposedly justifies that these workers do get the fair share of the profit and get paid fairly according to their work. When consumers buy fair certified coffee, they are contributing to raising the welfare of these producers. Nevertheless, some still believe this does not make much difference. Fair trade can only help so much. Even if the people get fair income in return, they still may not be able to have a better living standard.
.JPG){kind=link}
A Forest in Stillwater?
Yes. A forest in Stillwater. Our professor, Dr. Caniglia has taken us to see her new adopted forest on the outskirts of Perkins. Through the long and winding road we’ve came across this dry grassland but filled with green luscious pin cedars - not true cedars but junipers - (looks perfect for any christmas tree!). Unfortunately, these green pine trees are taking over the beautiful native species of oak!
-> 
< - 
CEDAR INVASION ON NATIVE OAK SPECIES!
This has long been a problem for Oklahoma farmlands. Due to the land runs in the late 1800s, Oklahoma’s landscape is rapidly and extensively undergoing change. One of the most detrimental change is the populaiton explosion of invasive cedars. Invasive cedars reduce productivity of grasslands, destroy wildlife habitat, decrease biodiversity, degrade watershed quality, and ultimately effect human health. Dr. Bidwell of OSU’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management also said that “While it is nice to have a rural home nestled in among trees, the fire hazard can be high when there is a large cedar population.” What shall be done?
Well, the saying goes, “Be a Leader… Kill a Cedar!”
What else was in the forest? Check it out!