Chloe's Blog

      For Book 2 I decided to read The Wayfinders by Wade Davis. Although I have not finished the book, I am enjoying it so far. I chose the book because I wanted to learn more about different cultures through the lens of an anthropologist. I was hoping to not only discover more about these cultures, but also how to respect and honor them.       Initially I thought that the book would only cover the author's personal experiences, but he also includes a lot of historical background. I think this aspect is especially important since topics such as Polynesian history are rarely taught in school. I also liked how the author emphasized the judgement by Europeans and the lasting negative effects it has had on these cultures and people. For example, few Europeans documented, studied or celebrated the amazing navigating abilities of the  Polynesian people. Europeans also looked down on their cultures and refused to even acknowledge their accomplishments....

TO: Clark Hansen, CEO of Anima Mundi Development Partners FROM: Chloe Knitt, Chief Strategy Officer of Anima Mundi Development Partners DATE: March 5, 2024 SUBJECT: LA Compost Investment Opportunity LA Compost is a non-profit organization providing composting services to the LA region. Although their company is very sustainable and diverts a significant amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, it has seen a recent loss of revenue. Since it does not have a clear plan to recover from this loss, I recommend that Anima Mundi Development Partners (AMDP) does not invest in LA Compost. In this memo, I will:   Review AMDP’s Mission Describe LA Compost Analyze how it fits into the waste management industry Perform a SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) Give a recommendation AMDP’s Mission Since the AMDP mission is rooted in sustainability, it is important to define some key terms: The Triple Bottom Line refers to the integration of social, environmental, and eco...

        Jill  Lepore's article, "How the Week Organizes and Tyrannizes Our Lives" was very interesting to read. Although I, like many other students, rely on a calendar for organizing my classes, work, activities, etc. I have rarely ever given any thought to how the week as we know it came to be. It was interesting to read how the week evolved over time and to explore other avenues of organization. I have also never considered that other cultures may have a completely different structure or no structure at all. Although I am familiar that dates such as Easter or Christmas may differ by denomination (Orthodox religions celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January) I have never hear of a week that was not seven days. Whether it is a product of how I grew up, or something inherent within me, I believe that seven days is the perfect amount of time for a week. If it was much longer I would find the week draining, but if it was shorter I would feel like time was moving t...

      For the second book, I decided to read The Wayfinders by Wade Davis. I was intrigued by this book because I am not well educated on the various Indigenous cultures of the world and wanted to know more while also learning valuable lessons. Although I have not read very far yet I am thoroughly enjoying the book.      I appreciated the way Davis started the book by discussing ancestry and genetics. As a biology major I have a great appreciation for genetics and the potential to prevent/cure various genetic diseases. However, it is important to acknowledge, as Davis did, that the field of genetics is rooted in eugenics. Eugenics is a "field of study" focused on controlling reproduction to encourage the inheritance of "desirable" traits.  As mentioned in the book, eugenics efforts promoted disturbing practices such as forced sterilization, primarily of women of color or people who were poor or disabled. Not only was this practice cruel and inhumane, ...