2. 7.1.1: What is an environmental value
system?
•How we see/value environmental
issues
•Influences include:
•culture (including religion)
•economy
•socio-politics
“State what is meant by an environmental value system.” (1)
•System = inputs and outputs:
•Inputs: education, religious doctrine, media
•Outputs: decisions, perspectives , action
•How we see/value environmental
issues
•Influences include:
•culture (including religion)
•economy
•socio-politics
•Ecosystems can cross borders leading to conflict
•ie: whaling, wildlife protection/hunting areas
3. 7.1.2: Environmental philosophies“Outline the range of environmental philosophies with reference to figure 6.” (2) (page
38)
What is your environmental philosophy?
Circe (pencil) 3 points on the list that
apply to you. Be prepared to explain why
you chose these points.
4.
5. 7.1.3: How does philosophy influence environmental
decisions?
How do these philosophies perceive and deal with:
• Air pollution from cars
• Water pollution from factories
• Deforestation
• Nuclear power
• More examples... (Article: GM Food by Prince Charles)...
Can you identify where in the world some of these issues are taking place
due to the philosophy of their leaders/policy makers/government?
“Discuss how these philosophies influence the decision making process with respect to‑
environmental issues covered in this course.” (3)
6. Where do these people fit?
Do you agree with all they have to say?
•Craig Venter: Founder of the Institute for Genomic Research
•Wade Davis: Explorer for National Geographic
•Bjorn Lomborg: Professor of political science
•Jane Goodall: Naturalist and Conservationist (11:45)
•GM: Dairy Farmer (itunes movies)
7. 7.1.4: Historical influences
Minamata:
•Between 1932-1968, a Japanese fertilizer factory dumped ~27
tons of murcury compounds ... click for more
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
•published 1962, warns of environmental damage. Her book
facilitated the ban of DDT in 1972...
Bhopal
•1984, Pesticide producing factory in Bhopal, India leaked toxic
gas killing thousands and leading to long term problems ... click for
more
Chernobyl
•1986, Nuclear power plant in Ukraine explodes due to errors
made by technicians ... click for more
Beijing Olympics
•2008, The world looks on as China cleans up for the olympic
games... ... click for more
This list goes on... One important point is to see how these
“Outline key historical influences on the development of the modern environmental movement”
(2)
8. Minimata
• 1956
• Japan
• Disease caused by mercury
poisoning from factory polluting
the bay
• Bioaccumulation &
biomagnification
• Demonstrated link between
human health and pollution
9. Silent
Spring
Spring
• 1962 book by Rachel
Carson
• USA
• showed link between
pesticide use and
ecosystem health
• raised awareness of
Americans
• beginning of the end: DDT
10. 3-Mile Island
• 1979
• Pennsylvania, USA
• Near meltdown of nuclear
power plant
• Decrease in belief of safety of
nuclear energy industry
• Lead to heavy regulation of
nuclear industry
11. Love Canal
• 1976-1978
• Niagara Falls, NY
• School built on former toxic
waste dump
• Dangers denied for a long time
• Only came clear after grass-
roots activism
12. Bhopal
• 1984
• Union Carbide plant in India
• Gas leak at night killed 1,000’s
of people
• Union Carbide escaped criminal
penalties
• brought about realization that
‘ugly’ side of industrialization
happens in impoverished areas
13. Chernobyl
• 1986
• Ukraine (USSR then)
• worst nuclear disaster
• complete meltdown released
radioactive waste over Europe
• demonstrated that
environmental issues are not
national issues
14. Save
the Whales
the Whales
• 1986
• global, but Japan, Iceland, &
Norway are flash points
• commercial whaling ban to reduce
the number killed annually
• showed international cooperation
can achieve something
• still has weaknesses - voluntary
15. Sand County
Almanac
Almanac
• 1949 book by Aldo Leopold
• USA
• described relationship between
people and the land
• landmark in conservation
movement
• inspired people to protect the
natural resources for their own
sake (not just economic
benefits)
16. 7.1.5: Comparing environmental value
systems
Assignment:
Create an essay, or presentation, or power point... the choice is
yours.
•Requirements:
•Present the similarities and differences between the
environmental value systems between two societies.
•Examples:
•Buddhist and Christian societies
•Early Swahili and Early Colonial societies
•American Indians and European pioneers
•Hint: Start by thinking about very different societies. Then look
at the similarities.
“Compare and contrast the environmental value systems of two named societies” (3)
17. 7.1.6: My beliefs!
Speech
•5 minutes
•Note cards optional
•Hand in an outline (less than 2 pages).
•Use environmental philosophies discussed to support your viewpoint.
•General outline:
• Introduction: Brief introduction to your viewpoint with stating 3 main
supporting points
• Body: Each point individually presented in detail
• Conclusion: “In conclusion...”
y your personal viewpoint on environmental issues” (3)
Editor's Notes
This is a particular world view or set of paradigms that shapes the way an individual or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues. This will be influenced by cultural (including religious), economic and socio ‑ political context. An environmental value system is a system in the sense that it has inputs (for example, education, cultural influences, religious doctrine, media) and outputs (for example, decisions, perspectives, courses of action) determined by processing these inputs. Int: Ecosystems may often cross national boundaries and this may lead to conflict arising from the clash of different value systems about exploitation of resources (for example, ocean fishing and whaling).
see figure 6 in syllabus (essential)
see figure 6 in syllabus (essential)
Consider major landmarks, for example, Minamata, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, Bhopal, whaling (Save the Whale), Chernobyl, leading to environmental pressure groups, both local and global, the concept of stewardship and increased media coverage raising public awareness.
The societies chosen should demonstrate significant differences, for example: * First Nation Americans and European pioneers operating frontier economics, which involved exploitation of seemingly unlimited resources * Buddhist and Judaeo ‑ Christian societies * Communist and capitalist societies.
Students should be encouraged to reflect upon where they stand on the continuum of environmental philosophies with regard to specific issues arising throughout the syllabus, for example, population control, resource exploitation, sustainable development, and so on. Int: The environmental philosophy of an individual, as with that of a community (see 7.1.1), will inevitably be shaped by cultural, economic and socio-political context. Students should recognize this and appreciate that others may have equally valid viewpoints (aims 4 and 7).