From Evolution to Revolution
The transition from foraging/hunting-gathering to settling in agrarian societies played a significant role in human evolution. Nonetheless, with these two lifestyles came pros and cons in regards to independence and sustainability. Due to the fact that foragers often traveled to gather their resources, they were able to gain a better understanding of the land around them. In addition, traveling caused them to be more versatile in different environments, helping them to survive in almost any area of land. However, because they didn't settle in one place, they constantly needed to be on the move to provide for themselves which is a major con. Furthermore, if a place lacked resources such as food and water, then the foragers would ultimately suffer from this deficiency. On the other hand, the people in the agrarian societies didn't have to worry about traveling all the time to obtain resources, for they used agricultural methods to survive. But although this way of surviving did allow agrarian societies to settle in one area, if their harvests were unsuccessful or damaged by nature, then they would ultimately face the consequences. Overall, even though these two ways of living allowed humans to be sustainable for a period of time, they came with consequences that jeopardized their survival.
Understanding the shift from the native skill set of being “hunter/gatherers & farming our own food” helps us to endeavor the attempts to be more sustainable in Hawaiʻi. Although we live in an environment with open lands suitable for farming/agriculture, approximately 50% of Hawaiʻiʻs land is used for military and state use. In addition, the cost of having a home in modern Hawaiʻi is on the rise, ultimately exacerbating the issue of land competition and causing the state to shy away from using land for agriculture even more. Moreover, with the latest methods of aquaponics/hydroponics and growing crops in general, it can be viable that every home can have some sort of their own food source. These methods could possibly be solutions to aid Hawaiʻiʻs endeavor to be more independent. Overall, taking the practice of growing our own food individually could be a great method to make Hawaiʻi more sustainable amidst the rise of land competition around the state.
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Our Kahiau topic that we are doing our project on is ocean pollution. The opposing views of the native traditions of foraging/hunter-gathering" and "modern Agricultural societies" directly impact ocean pollution because they are one of the main causes of it. According to my Kumu, M. Hōkū Akana, “Traditionally with our kalo terracing and fishponds, Hawaii was able to support population growth for ex: 800,000 upon contact with Cook”. Our Kumu got this information from the book "Captain Cookʻs Journal" by Lilikala Kame’eleihiwa. This information clearly shows that native Hawaiians had their own self-support system without the use of modern technology which further shows that our ancestors could take care of themselves without harming the environment at the same time. Several years later, when Hawaiʻi was overthrown, Hawaiʻi had most of its rights to the land and sea that it once had taken away. This is an issue because it forbids people from sharing ideas with each other to make a brighter future for everyone. Both the American and Hawaiian cultures have great ideas, philosophies, and ways of living, but they also have their areas of improvement. Being forced to focus on one culture forces us to only know the ways of that culture and therefore suffer the consequences because of it. One of these consequences is water pollution.
The articles that we will talk about do not take place in Hawaiʻi. Even though they don't , they show how modern fish farming, which is modern society's way of breeding fish, has its flaws and harms the environment. According to the article “In China, Farming Fish in Toxic Waters” by The New York Times back in 2007, agricultural fish farms discharge wastewater and sewage which in turn decreases the quality of their water supply. This forces Chinese fish farms to put illegal veterinary drugs and pesticides into their fish food so they can keep their stocks alive and allow their fish to cope with the toxic waters. This however leads to another problem where the fish they were selling were becoming poisonous to eat which in then lead to a decrease in selling their product. Another more recent article published by “Frontier in Marine Science” shows how fish feed used to feed the fish in the fish farms actually hurts them. What it does is that it decreases the oxygen available in the water for the fish. Making it harder for the fish to survive long enough to sell.
These two articles and the issue Hawaii faces come to show the importance of keeping our waters clean and also the importance of equality. They also contribute to the “poverty” our people face because we are “poor” in knowledge. If everyone still practiced our cultural ways and applied modern technology and ways of living, we could solve a lot of problems. Thus, having equal rights would allow both cultures to help each other with our current problems we face today in Hawaii, such as homelessness and water pollution.
The articles that we will talk about do not take place in Hawaiʻi. Even though they don't , they show how modern fish farming, which is modern society's way of breeding fish, has its flaws and harms the environment. According to the article “In China, Farming Fish in Toxic Waters” by The New York Times back in 2007, agricultural fish farms discharge wastewater and sewage which in turn decreases the quality of their water supply. This forces Chinese fish farms to put illegal veterinary drugs and pesticides into their fish food so they can keep their stocks alive and allow their fish to cope with the toxic waters. This however leads to another problem where the fish they were selling were becoming poisonous to eat which in then lead to a decrease in selling their product. Another more recent article published by “Frontier in Marine Science” shows how fish feed used to feed the fish in the fish farms actually hurts them. What it does is that it decreases the oxygen available in the water for the fish. Making it harder for the fish to survive long enough to sell.
These two articles and the issue Hawaii faces come to show the importance of keeping our waters clean and also the importance of equality. They also contribute to the “poverty” our people face because we are “poor” in knowledge. If everyone still practiced our cultural ways and applied modern technology and ways of living, we could solve a lot of problems. Thus, having equal rights would allow both cultures to help each other with our current problems we face today in Hawaii, such as homelessness and water pollution.
References:
Cultural Importance. (2014, April 23). Division of Aquatic Resources. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/habitat/about-streams/cultural-importance/
Fox, A. (2020, April 2). In Ancient Florida, the Calusa Built an Empire Out of Shells and Fish. Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-florida-calusa-built-empire-out-shells-and-fish-180974570/
Heap, D. (2006). Agrarian Society. Agrarian Society - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/agrarian-society
History.com Editors. (2018, January 5). Hunter-Gatherers. HISTORY; HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/hunter-gatherers
In China, Farming Fish in Toxic Waters (Published 2007). (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/world/asia/15fish.html
Kamaʻeleihiwa, L. (1989). Captain Cookʻs Journals. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii.
NOAA Fisheries. (2019). Marine Aquaculture and the Environment. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/marine-aquaculture-and-environment#:~:text=When%20finfish%20aquaculture%20operations%20are,parasites%20when%20fish%20are%20transported
Cultural Importance. (2014, April 23). Division of Aquatic Resources. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/habitat/about-streams/cultural-importance/
Fox, A. (2020, April 2). In Ancient Florida, the Calusa Built an Empire Out of Shells and Fish. Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-florida-calusa-built-empire-out-shells-and-fish-180974570/
Heap, D. (2006). Agrarian Society. Agrarian Society - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/agrarian-society
History.com Editors. (2018, January 5). Hunter-Gatherers. HISTORY; HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/pre-history/hunter-gatherers
In China, Farming Fish in Toxic Waters (Published 2007). (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/world/asia/15fish.html
Kamaʻeleihiwa, L. (1989). Captain Cookʻs Journals. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii.
NOAA Fisheries. (2019). Marine Aquaculture and the Environment. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/marine-aquaculture-and-environment#:~:text=When%20finfish%20aquaculture%20operations%20are,parasites%20when%20fish%20are%20transported
Impacts of Religion, Culture, Enlightenment,
& Exchanges through Expansion
In the midst of Europe experiencing a Dark Age in the Middle Age, other nations in the world were experiencing an age of enlightenment. During this period, Europe was faced with not only the Black Death plague but also many religious debates. And while this region had less trade, fewer cities, and less cultural output than the original Roman empire, empires like the Umayyad empire, Muslim empire, Chinese empire, and Islamic empire expanded their territory and made huge strides in science/craftsmanship. Most notably, the Muslims pursued heavily in the field of medicine and math, and the Chinese produced incredible arts and had a successful trade industry. Overall, while the Middle age was considered a Dark Age in Europe, it was truly an age of enlightenment in other empires.
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The Middle Ages began when the Roman Empire fell, however, the Eastern side of Rome, the Byzantine Empire, survived until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Roman Catholic Church was the main power during this period. Their religion, Christianity, was forced onto all of society. These leaders would not allow anyone to follow any other religion and, with that, the laws of society and the government were being affected. There were laws against religious offenses, such as heresy, apostasy, sorcery, and sexual sins. According to this article, “The Church very subtly played on the psychology of the common people by giving them assurance that their sins would be forgiven if they would fight for this “holy war” too. Thousands of innocent lives were taken in the name of religion.” (Newman, 2012). This article continues on to describe how people were punished for any reason the church saw fit. They were burnt at the stake for no reason. Due to religion taking over, people lost touch with their culture. According to another article, “The culture in the Middle Ages was extremely limited due to strong restrictions placed on society by the church. The church worried that the more education the people received the more likely they were to question their beliefs, so they encouraged the hindrance of the culture.” After centuries of abuse, Europeans citizens began to speak up for themselves. They were done with the mistreatment they were facing. With the Enlightenment period came the Industrial Revolution. During this time, humans began to create more pollution that is detrimental to our environment. A couple of noticeable effects that pollution has had on our oceans and the animals inside are ocean acidification, litter, and agricultural runoffs. Ocean acidification is the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This causes the water to become warmer, affecting wildlife such as coral. Litter from humans ends up in the ocean and, in turn, ends up inside fish. This is dangerous not only for them, but for us. If we eat fish with microplastics inside, we could face dangerous consequences. Last, runoff from farms can include fertilizer or bacteria, among other things. This runoff flows into the ocean, damaging the environment.
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The events of Exploration and Exchanges during the Silk Road impacts my issue globally because it creates habits. As a refresher according to Britannica, The Silk Road is an “ancient trade route, linking China with the West, that carried goods and ideas between the two great civilizations of Rome and China”. The Silk Road also included trading routes on the ocean. Some parts of the ocean that included the Silk Road includes the yellow sea and the east china sea. The trading through these seas created a habit to use boats to trade. This was to be expected because boats were one of their main technological advancements. This only becomes a problem when we transport things like oil overseas, which has a high potential of causing oil spills, killing the marine life around it. It impacts the local version of the issue the same way. Boats are still used today to export and import goods. Much of our goods that come from the mainland, such as oil are shipped to Hawai’i. On the way here, there may be accidents from the fuel or the oil we transport across the sea.
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History has a huge value in finding solutions because it shows how the problem started. Especially our groupʻs Kahiau Project topic on ocean pollution. According to National Geographic: “Before 1972, humans around the word spewed trash, sewage sludge, and chemical, industrial, and radioactive wastes into the ocean with impunity. Millions of tons of heavy metals and chemical contaminants, along with thousands of containers of radioactive waste, were purposely thrown into the ocean”. Knowing how a problem starts can then lead to ideas and solutions to how the problem should be solved. With a problem like water pollution, some ideas may include stricter littering rules or development of new technology that can help deal with water pollution. It may take some time to get used to or to perfect but the solutions we come out with may make the world a better place.
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References:
Asghar, H. (2017). When Europe Went Through The Dark Ages, Muslims Had Their Enlightment: Where is it Now? MVSLIM. https://mvslim.com/europe-went-dark-ages-muslims-enlightment-now/
CrashCourse. (2012). The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?: Crash Course World History #14. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV7CanyzhZg
Newman, S. (2012, May 29). Religion in the Middle Ages - The Finer Times. The Finer Times. https://www.thefinertimes.com/religion-in-the-middle-ages#:~:text=The%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church%20was,religion%20during%20the%20Middle%20Ages
The Enlightenment (1650–1800): Brief Overview | SparkNotes. (2021). SparkNotes. https://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment/summary/#:~:text=On%20the%20surface%2C%20the%20most,ideas%20of%20nationalism%20and%20warfare
Newman, S. (2012, May 28). Culture in the Middle Ages - The Finer Times. The Finer Times. https://www.thefinertimes.com/culture-in-the-middle-ages
The Industrial Revolution (article) | Khan Academy. (2014). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/acceleration/bhp-acceleration/a/the-industrial-revolution
ChuanJuan, J. (2020, November 11). 14 Marine Pollution – oil spill. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://blog.nus.edu.sg/greenearth/2020/09/30/14/
Howard, J. (2021, February 10). Marine pollution facts and information. Environment. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/critical-issues-marine-pollution
Network, M. I. N., says, E. T. K. O. R. O. M. A., E.t.koroma, says, ijeleba S. O., S.O., ijeleba, says, L., … Jones, H. (2021, January 15). 10 Methods for Oil Spill Cleanup at Sea. Marine Insight. https://www.marineinsight.com/environment/10-methods-for-oil-spill-cleanup-at-sea/
Silk road. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silk-Road-trade-route
What is the silk road? - Facts, History, Routes. (2021, April 05). Retrieved April 16, 2021, from http://www.silk-road.com/
Competition for Resources in a Global Society
First of all, World War I was not the “War to End All Wars.” After WWI, there were several wars. To name a couple, World War II and the Cold War. However, the U.S. and the Soviet Union recognized that the effects of a direct war with each other would be drastic, which kept the damage in check. In some ways, you could say that World War I never ended. The U.S. believes that they are better than other nations and have stolen land from indigenous groups. Two specific examples are protests on Mauna Kea due to the U.S. trying to force another telescope onto sacred Hawaiian land and the Shinnecock tribe’s land taken over by the United States. America hides much of its past and indoctrinates its younger citizens. Due to globalization, many people are losing touch with their culture and past. Namely, the Shinnecock tribe. My information on this tribe comes from Chenae Bullock, a Shinnecock Indian Nation Tribal Member. These people are losing their land due to global warming, but also because of the United States taking over what is not theirs. There were laws created to go against their way of living. For example, they were not allowed to speak Shinnecock, were forced to sell or lease their land, forced into institutions/indentured servitude, forced to have fishing permits, and more. Even now, most people have not heard of these events that have drastically changed the Shinnecock people and their land.
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The idea of the evolution of mankind through agricultural, scientific, and industrial revolutions, to then becoming enlightened during the era of enlightenment has certainly played a significant role in the world wars. Since those revolutions, many technologies, lifestyles, industries, and customs have been induced, causing the competition for new discoveries and resources to intensify. Some of these competitions, such as the one for nuclear weapons and machinery, have been threatening not just certain nations but all of humanity. Accordingly, some of these competitions impact our Kahiau issue of ocean pollution on a global level because not only have they engendered things that contribute to ocean pollution but they also have caused the health of oceans and marine life to be neglected. An example of this would be the rise of factories that carelessly dump toxins and chemicals into oceans. Overall, although the agricultural, scientific, and industrial revolutions and the age of enlightenment have benefited societies in certain ways, they have threatened not only the health of people but also the health of oceans and marine ecosystems.
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There are three lessons that we think we should learn from the World Wars. The first one is that war and conflict only makes things worse. It causes long lasting effects of genocide and segregation. The second lesson is when you make a mistake, admit it and try to make amends as quickly as possible instead of blaming it on someone else. Doing this will cause even more problems This was essentially the Treaty of Versailles where the world was blaming the cause of World War I on Germany. The third and final lesson I think actually comes from the movie “The Power of One”. It is a quote said by one of the characters. ““Little beat big, when little smart - First with the head, then with the heart”. You can view the movie with the citations from Kumu Akana below. What this quote is saying is that people can overcome hard challenges just as long they do it in a smart way and have the will to do it. World War II especially portrayed this. Germany was the most technologically advanced nation especially in the beginning of the war. Nations who resisted Germany, such as the United States, had to really think before going against Germany and have the courage to do it. Because of this, and technological advancements, the United States and its allies won the war. We can learn from this and apply it to our lives.
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References:
Akana, H. (2020). Part1 - Power of One.webm. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wDNGE2-xV0hw5GTaHan3K1Ub5EQPfkjb/view
Akana, H. (2020). Part2-Power of One.webm. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E_dv1Ti0lCH8PPW40lD68OeYMkq8nTm6/view
Bullock, C. (2021, May 14). Purple Maiʻa Conference. Zoom Meeting. https://whova.com/portal/webapp/biocu_202105/Agenda/1630984
Denchak, M. (2018). Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know
Logicalpositiv, Trike67, Dan, M., Janno, brad55, Mike2, … hughS. (2021, May 10). World War II: A Military and Social History. thegreatcoursesplus.com. https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/world-war-ii-a-military-and-social-history
Spencer, J. B. (2019, May 3). Scientific Revolution. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/Scientific-Revolution
Akana, H. (2020). Part1 - Power of One.webm. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wDNGE2-xV0hw5GTaHan3K1Ub5EQPfkjb/view
Akana, H. (2020). Part2-Power of One.webm. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E_dv1Ti0lCH8PPW40lD68OeYMkq8nTm6/view
Bullock, C. (2021, May 14). Purple Maiʻa Conference. Zoom Meeting. https://whova.com/portal/webapp/biocu_202105/Agenda/1630984
Denchak, M. (2018). Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/water-pollution-everything-you-need-know
Logicalpositiv, Trike67, Dan, M., Janno, brad55, Mike2, … hughS. (2021, May 10). World War II: A Military and Social History. thegreatcoursesplus.com. https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/world-war-ii-a-military-and-social-history
Spencer, J. B. (2019, May 3). Scientific Revolution. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/Scientific-Revolution
Final Group Reflection
I have learned as a future graduate of Kamehameha Schools that my role is to be a man of service to those who are in need as well as a man of advocacy for the right things. Ocean Pollution is something that has been going on for a very long time and is something that needs to be taken care of. If we donʻt then the fish we eat will become inedible and the ocean will look like a giant sea of trash. The Red Hill fuel tank issue has also been one that has caused many problems. I can use the knowledge that I have gained through this class to help advocate for these issue. I can do this by sharing my opinion with evidence, coming up with agreeable solutions, and apply and compare Hawaiian culture values to the problem. I am grateful for my World History class and what it has taught me.
As a Pua a Pauahi and a future graduate of Kamehameha Schools, I have learned that my role within my community is to serve others and the ʻāina by doing whatever means that will benefit them. Given what we learned about World History and the history of our own native communities, I can best utilize the opportunities and education I receive as a Kamehameha student to contribute to and advocate for the UN Sustainability Goals within the society by participating in projects that will strive to attain those goals. In addition, I can create my own projects through art and/or media to spread awareness of the issues in society and to educate others about them. While doing these things, I will take a global perspective and will consider everyone in the world including the indigenous people since, after all, those issues take everyoneʻs contribution. Overall, with the teachings and information I learned in World History and will learn as a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, I will do my part to serve others and the ʻāina by helping to address the issues in society through projects and volunteering.
As a Pua a Pauahi and a future graduate of Kamehameha, I have learned that, to help my people and our ʻāina, I must consider all people and advocate for the people who have either no voice or the people who can’t stand up for themselves. In this class, we have learned about the effects art has on portraying the problems different people face. My peers and I have collaborated on several projects to bring awareness to the UN Sustainability Goals. One in particular that I have focused on is ocean pollution. I believe that through cleanups and PSA’s, it is possible for our ocean and the animals that live in our ocean to thrive once again.
References:
Red Hill Water Security. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi. (n.d.). https://sierraclubhawaii.org/redhill
United Nations. (n.d.). THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Red Hill Water Security. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi. (n.d.). https://sierraclubhawaii.org/redhill
United Nations. (n.d.). THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/goals