History and Environment in the Mimbres Valley Article

History and Environment in the Mimbres Valley - Article Example The valley thus experienced a variation in the population over the years, and this affected its overall ecology. The research focuses on how the people survived in this valley; how its ecology changed, and how this differs from the present. The area features a short river, predominantly pinon, juniper and oak trees, orchards and alfalfa, and a floodplain, which continues to be farmed by gravity-fed small irrigation canals. The riverine environment contrasts significantly from surrounding areas, which also has more drought-resistant vegetation. Although it appears the land is fairly preserved, the significant recent degradation as the third cycle of human interference is resulting in more permanent consequences for plant and animal life. The original Mimbres people transformed from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to farming supplemented their diet with wild plants and animals and were self-sufficient. Culturally, they resembled the Hopi and other pueblos. As their population increased, they cut down more trees, engaged in more intensive farming, used more weedy plants, and overexploited select larger animal species. This also denuded the valley bottom from plant life. Some of the check dams constructed in marginal areas to retain rainwater still remain. The first cycle of degradation then occurred between A.D. 1000 to 1130 despite evidence of some measures of environmental conservation. However, as noted by Lt. Emory in 1846, the environmental balance was later restored. This is attributable to the population decline by the 1400s and the preservation of the river. The next cycle of degradation was caused by the opening of a shelter during the later 1800s, in particular from the wood gathered to fuel it resulting in large-scale deforestation aided by steel tools, wagons, and horses. However, this situation reversed after the smelter was closed.  

White Privilege.Views About White Previlige Essay

White Privilege.Views About White Previlige - Essay Example It is visible in many examples that dominance of white skin over other races is an instinctive phenomenon and something nobody has to convey in words. Many universities and their teachers are making attempts to counter this mentality of instinctive domination and privilege of whites over so called colored people. As more efforts are made to bring this sensitive issue of racism into lime light, the young students have started to feel more uncomfortable. This is because of the formation of American society where whites, blacks and many other races of people have lived together and now are immuned to all such gestures, feelings, terms and ways which could be considered racist in the past. Now in the classroom when such subjects are touched for discussion the white students often switch to defensive mode considering themselves a target of criticism and present arguments to show how much space they provide to other ethnicities. On the other hand the colored students also find themselves uncomfortable to be discussed as separate and distinct part of the nation as it only provokes prejudice against them. Following have been a common outcome of all efforts to raise this issue. The idea behind such efforts is to teach students from all races to understand how their behaviors have been shaped and what have been the consequences of discriminations.