Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
107 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
According to Middleton, people have been using energy (such as fire) as long as 1.5 million years ago and “The production, transportation, conversation and use of energy, particularly that derived from fossil fuels are responsible for some of the world’s most serious environmental challenges.” What is the ultimate source of most of this energy – and what do we attempt to harness?
|
The sun is the ultimate source of all energy. Solar radiation both direct and indirectly. All energies obtained by burning. Coal, oil, and natural gas. Chemical energy that has been harnessed. Hydropower and the Sun, (Storms and Rain). Wind is driven by areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
|
|
|
What does Middleton say about the future availability of fossil Fuels?
|
Finite, nonrenewable sources of fossil fuels. Assessment by the WEC published in 2010 says we have 40 more years till we run out of oil. Natural Gas will run out in 4 years. We have 100 more years until we run out of coal. We have occasionally faced dire straits and modern technology has overcome the obstacles.
|
|
|
Some say that fossil fuel “scarcity talk” is exaggerated (after all authority’s in the 1970s predicted we would soon run out of oil), and yet there is intense interest in finding alternative sources of energy. Why?
|
Middleton says that the WEC did say in its 1992 assessment that “the concepts of exhaustion or even scarcity, fail to appear anywhere I this survey”. Nevertheless, the finite nature of fossil fuels combined with increasing awareness of the development of more sustainable forms of production from renewable resources. Burning of fossil fuels have forced us to look for more forms of alternative energy. They are finite, we will run out. We acknowledge there are issues and are looking for alternatives, we are not aggressive. China is very aggressive.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Increase energy efficiency, to run equally well and with less energy. Increase energy conservation. (Stop wasting)
Example of Low Hanging Fruit: In a home, for example, the low-hanging fruit is to air-seal your attic. The attic is the greatest area for air loss, which means a homeowner could be wasting tons of money in heating and air, so the easiest thing to do to save money on home energy is to insulate the attic first. |
|
|
Middleton refers to zero energy buildings. What are these and how might they be possible.
|
Generate all the energy that is required. (No external Energy), Can even put back energy into the grid. High efficiency lighting systems, Appliances Makes use of renewable energy sources. Solar water heating etc. Geothermal Heating. Passive solar energy panel design. Orientated building so that it gets a massive amount of energy when needed and cools immediately.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
According to Middleton Fossil Fuels account for 80.9%. This number is split between Natural Gas (20.9), Coal/Peat (27.2), and Oil (32.8).
|
|
|
If renewable energy makes sense, why do we not have more of it?
|
Cost benefit analysis, the cost outweighs what you will get out of the energy. Not all alternative forms of energy can be used for everyday use.
|
|
|
Hydropower has been around for millennia, but hydroelectric power has been around only since 1870. What does Middleton say about the current percentage of the world’s electricity generated by hydropower, and its future?
|
Only a small amount of power that has been developed. States there is a great deal still yet to harness. Hydropower accounts for 19% of all worlds electricity (2008’ish). Hydropower has the ability to increase another 10% of global power.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Denmark, Off shore turbines. 20 % of their power from wind. Expecting 80% of the power by renewable sources
Japan discovered new way of developing solar panels. Lowering pricing on solar panels. |
|
|
Ok, so what’s not to like about wind power? What are its drawback?
|
Older Noisy Turbines. Bird Kills, This is a misnomer, per Dr. Mbatu “Birds are not Stupid!” Accidents do happen, once in a while it can happen. The imperceptions of the aesthetic views of windmills. An eye sore, this too is a misnomer
|
|
|
What are the three main ways we can use solar energy.
|
Generate Electricity in to photolytic cells. Heating water and building spaces. Design buildings to optimize the suns light and heat energy.
|
|
|
What are the advantages of generating electricity with solar energy?
|
There are six ways. Ultimate renewable energy source, No emissions associated with it. Perhaps issues with disposal of old issues. Operate at any scale, Including household or smaller. They can generate power even in cloudy weather. They do not require much land area. The cost of solar electricity is still high but is lowering over time.
|
|
|
Biomass has been burned for energy for thousands of years and Middleton points out that about three billion people rely upon biomass for their energy today. What are some examples of processed and unprocessed biofuels?
|
Unprocessed includes: Wood straw dung veggies and agricultural waste. Processed includes: Charcoal, Methane from waste water treatment plants, forest product wastes, burning garbage, biodiesel and ethanol from farms, Sugarcane, and Alcohol processed by fermentation.
|
|
|
Middleton addresses tidal power, which works much the same way as hydropower (only in coastal areas) – but he cautions that tidal power is not likely to because a major energy source except on a local scale, why is this so, and in what counties are the two most significant tidal power stations?
|
Limited acceptable number of sites for tidal energy. The best sites are: (Florida has 3.8 feet). France, Tidal range 8m (26 feet), South Korea, Tidal range (no confirmation).
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
(tapping heat energy in hot rocks several thousand feet below the surface to warm water and either generate electricity or heat indoor space)
Iceland Also includes: El Salvador, Kenya, Philippines, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, New Zealand, United States, California, Nevada. |
|
|
Middleton claims that in 2010 nuclear power accounted for about 15% of world electricity (U.S. gets 20% and Florida gets about 10% of its electricity from nuclear power plants). Why is nuclear power considered a finite resource? How many countries have nuclear power?
|
Uranium (Finite and scarce) used is a mineral and current reserves will last for 100 years. 29 countries in the world have nuclear power.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Must know the Percentages Low level waste 90% of all radioactive content. Not very dangerous. Intermediate waste: Fluids which are more dangerous, filters, metals etc. High level wastes: Spent fuel and liquids used in reproducing nuclear fuel. 95% of all radioactive content but accounts for only 3% all nuclear waste. |
|
|
Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive. The proposed nuclear power reactors planned for Levy County, Florida. Were originally projected to cost $5 billion – so Duke Energy canceled this project in 2013. On top of this, nuclear power plants have high decommissioning costs of at least several hundred million dollars each. Despite all this, some observers still think nuclear power should be pursued. Why?
|
Operating costs are relatively low. Inexpensive fuel compared to fossil fuel, Initial cost is high, Maintenance cost is very low. Once the plant goes out, how do you decommission?
|
|
|
Middleton divides mining materials into four different categories.
|
Metals, Aluminum, Copper, Iron, Construction Material, Lime Rock for Roads, Sand, Gravel, Energy Minerals, Uranium, All forms of Fossil Fuels, Water.
|
|
|
Middleton addresses the fact that over the past several decades, several academics have sounded the alarm over the dwindling and ultimately finite supplies of minerals and metals – and yet virtually all of these dire predictions have (so far) proven wrong (at least, for now). Why?
|
Improvements in tech, Changing prices in cost relationships. Shifting perceptions of political risk, Increasing incentives to use new tech to gain new resources. Not much of the Earth has been explored, China, Africa, New reserves are constantly being discovered.
|
|
|
Middleton makes two points regarding the use and flow of minerals between more developed vs. less developed countries. What are they?
|
Developed countries have massive amounts of minerals; mineral flow is uneven around the world. Because of environmental laws we mine minerals elsewhere.
|
|
|
Middleton points out that mining has caused serious impacts to the environment for centuries and yet we still encourage mining. Why?
|
We are addicted to the benefits of mining. Every time we buy something made from minerals. e.g. Diamond are forever!
|
|
|
Middleton draws attention to mining’s most serious environmental impact: habitat destruction. But such environmental damage has many facets, such as:
|
Strip mining will cause increased erosion. Siltation of rivers, Earth material from mines (tillings), Causes silt from mines that flow into rivers. Cut trees for fuel to generate energy to smelt crude metals.
|
|
|
Middleton cites another author who claims that mining now removes up to 100 times more material than running water in rivers, and then he reviews some geomorphological impacts of mines, including:
|
Mountain top removal, blown up, Dumped into valleys, West Virginia pUnderground mines have caused soil subsidence in many places. Old service mines tend to collapse.
|
|
|
Equally problematic are the problems associated with pollution, either from the mine and its wastes, or from processing (and the waste it generates). Middleton divides mine – related pollution into four different stages.
|
Heavy metal pollution, Acid mine or rock drainage, Eutrophication, Deoxygenation of Water, Hypoxia. Hydraulic Fracking which can contaminate ground water as companies look or seek for natural gas.
|
|
|
According to Middleton, “increasingly, responsible mine operations have adopted the precautionary principle, with considerable attention to the possible pollution effects, involving regular monitoring of groundwater, air quality, and noise to maintain acceptable standards.” Why do environmental problems persist?
|
Four points; Legacy problems from past mining. Previously was not regulated, Rehabilitating mining landscapes does not work in all cases. Vegetation growth on hilltop tilling’s that were dumped in early days of mining. Using the mine tilling’s for road construction work. Must be treated first with base to reduce the acidity.
|
|
|
p. 3: How do the authors define environment vs. society and relations between the two?
|
Robbins, Hintz, and Moore define Environment vs. Society and the relations between the two as: Are interlaced and impossible to separate. The environment [physical, biophysical, and biochemical phenomenon] meaning as a whole is defined as the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric non – human world. Society conversely includes the humans [people and their systems and way of life] of earth and the larger systems of culture, Politics, and Economic Exchange that govern their interrelationships.
|
|
|
p. 6: The authors admit that they embrace a political ecology perspective of environment and society relations. This perspective revolves around analysis of:
|
Persistent and dominant relations of power [political and economic]
|
|
|
What is reconciliation ecology?
|
Philosophy that suggests that humans are part of ecosystems. Imagining a world that with fewer enviro problems does not mean thinking about ways in which we create places without people. People are a part of the landscape.
|
|
|
p. 9: At the beginning of the term, we discussed the difference between facts, beliefs, values, ideologies, hypotheses, and theories. Robbins et al. revisit some of these ideas-but in a slightly different way. They call attention to opinions, which are similar to which of the above? Moreover, they offer two specific critiques about opinions and they show how opinions are different from theories. How so?
|
Robbins states that opinions are virtually the same things as beliefs. Contend that they are Seldom subject to careful scrutiny [cannot deconstruct someone’s opinion]. Rarely think through the implications of our opinions and beliefs. Not backed by fact and cannot be applied to all situations. Theories are more rigorously tested opinions that have been applied. Still not a fact even though its tested.
|
|
|
p. 13-15: Who was Thomas Malthus, when did he write, and what did he have to say?
|
Population growth and scarcity of resources ,Thomas Malthus: A German minister who lived from 1766 – 1834 - Essay on the principle of the population, Published in 1798. Human beings demonstrated a clear propensity to procreate faster than their ability to find resources. Periodic reduction in population [horrible deaths in his period]. Postulated that helping the poor made matters worse. Allowed nature to take its course. Put enormous responsibility on women to remain virtuous. Basically giving men a pass, Completely absolves political and economic systems for causing poverty.
|
|
|
p. 17: What is a neo-Malthusian? Are you a neo-Malthusian or not?
|
Malthusianisms’ Neo-Malthusianism – people who believe Malthus’s thesis. Believe that society would be better off declining. Anti-Malthusianism: they throw the baby out with the bath water. Concluded that population is not that big of an issue.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question****** |
Julian Simon 1932-1998 published book the Ultimate Resource, Anti-Malthusian. Says that people are the Ultimate Resource.
|
|
|
******Exam Question***** |
Pointed out the impact of resource use on the population. Continued Malthus' practices and studies. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Kuznets Curve is a curved named after a Russian born economist. Who lived from 1901 – 1985, Suggested that when population grows and economics first takes off development also increase as well as environmental problems. Said there is a threshold at that point societies environmental problems will level off. Proven to be true in the Scandinavian countries. [Nordic] {socialistic capitalist society} care more about people than about the economic growth.
Increased use until we reach a threshold then then realize they need to set up policies to stop using and are going to use profits to pass good laws b/c of this. |
|
|
p. 17-18: What is the difference between Carrying Capacity vs. Ecological Footprint?
|
Carry Capacity – theoretical limit that the population of a system can support. Ecological Footprint – Theoretical area of land that contains the limit that can support life
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Demographic Transition Model – suggests.
Stage 1.) High birth rate and high death rates. Stage 2.) High birth rate and low death rates. Stage 3.) Low birth rate and low death rates. [Population Momentum] |
|
|
p. 24: What is the best and most reliable predictor of future demographic conditions?
|
Political and economic conditions of women.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Market Forces – The interaction between supply, demand, scarcity, and price. When demand – the willingness and ability to pay for something. [this may make that item relatively scarce.]. If the scarcity continues while demand is high the price will inflate. Producers want to supply more items to benefit from the high prices. If producers are rushing to produce more and supply becomes excessive relative to the quantity, we will end up with a surplus thusly causing the inflated price to drastically fall.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Jevons’ Paradox – Postulated that as technology increases the efficiency of resource use will also increase. William Jevon 1835-1882, A German Economist
Inverse relationship with technology. Instead of technology helping with advancement we use more electricity etc. Thusly the paradox. Increase technology increase consumption |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Externalities – both positive and negative. a side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved.
Windfall – positive externality. Negative - When we use the environment as a trash can. [water bottle] outside of the buyer and seller. |
|
|
p. 33-34: How does the Coase Theorem propose dealing with externalities? What are the critical assumptions required for the Coase Theorem to work properly?
|
Coase theorem – suggested that externalities are most efficiently realized through contacts and beginning between those effected. Ronald Coase 1910 – 2013. German Economist, Suggest that transaction cost of reaching such agreement they often very important. Further assumes that bargaining parties have equal power which often they do not.
|
|
|
p. 35: Why are transaction costs important?
|
Transaction costs – cost associated with making a market transaction. Sometimes transaction costs are insignificant. In other times it is heavy. Where you must pay a 7% transaction cost. (selling your house). (Paying a lawyer when you win a lawsuit 33 & 1/3rd %)
|
|
|
p. 35-36: What is market failure?
|
Market Failure – Laws of supply and demand produce externalities or monopolies that ultimately cause problems.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Green Taxes – Environmental or pollution taxes on goods or services that send signals designed to change our behavior. [Cigarettes, Soda etc]
|
|
|
p. 38: What is cap and trade and how does it work? What are its pros and cons?
|
Cap and Trade – Market based system to manage environmental pollutants. Where pollution control system that starts by controlling max amount of pollution we will accept into the environment. Then providing companies permits to emit a limited amount of pollution. The problem is that it leads to the pollution heavens. Concentration of pollution in an area
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Go green, Green washing, and Green Certification:
Go Green – consumers and companies behaving in more environmentally friendly ways. going green!] Green washing where you pretend that you do not do these thing when you actually do so that you may sell your products. [Lying] Green Certification – Refers to a situation where a third party ensures / certifies that companies are in compliance with environmental policies under certain regulations. |
|
|
p. 41-42: Do markets adequately price everything we value?
|
No markets do not adequately price everything we value. Are notorious for undervaluing ecosystems and the evolutionary aesthetic or moral value. Free markets pretend that these issues do not exist.
|
|
|
p. 42-44: Proponents of free markets claim that capitalism and unfettered markets are truly democratic. People should be allowed to vote and speak with their dollars, uninhibited by any government rules. Consumers would express preferences in the products they buy. What are the assumptions embedded in such thinking and why is this nonsense?
|
Capitalism and Unfettered markets are truly democratic – Because income [and human capital that might be converted to income] is not evenly distributed. Some voters are far more important than others. Moreover, poor people have few choices where they may be driven to buy less expensive products produced in irresponsible ways [even if they might want to purchase something else]. One of capitalisms fundamental assumptions is that everyone has access to perfect information in all transactions. This is almost always false; most businesses go out of their way to avoid providing all information about their product or service. They wait until it is uncomfortable for buyers to quickly realize about the items they purchase and slowly divulge information about their product.
|
|
|
p. 47-48: What is the free rider problem? |
Temptation to do nothing while benefiting from others.(especially catching a free ride) |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Common property resources available to all but no one owns them. (Ex. Air)
As a result biologists and neo-Malthusian claims that resources will always be over used. Either because the resources can be heavily harvested. (Seafood) Common Property Resources are used as an ultimate garbage can for waste. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Argues making common resources private.
Assigning property rights to resources is the most efficient way to reduce the tragedy of the commons. [either to individuals or groups] |
|
|
p. 49-52: How do Robbins et al. critique Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons?
|
Many Social Scientists find that common property resources are not abused. Many rely on institutions that governs people’s behavior. In many society and in many cases cooperation works better than competition.
|
|
|
p. 53-62: Robbins et al. contend that successful management of common property resources is possible, but only if it includes: boundaries, proportionality, collective choice, monitoring, sanctions, conflict resolution, and autonomy. BUT, they also argue that one problem above all often prevents proper establishment of these conditions, and another often stands in the way of developing cooperative institutions. What are these two problems?
|
The two problems are: Differences in Social Power; make it very difficult to establish cooperatives. Race and Class, Donald Trump v Avg. Joe Biz-man, Corporation is best accomplished at the small scale. Where people can learn to trust each other and that a large scale (global) such trust and cooperation are hard to establish.
|
|
|
p. 64-6: What is the study of environmental ethics and what is its relationship to stewardship?
|
look up answer.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** The Book Genesis: According to the bible? |
Human beings have the right to use resources to dominate the use of resources . Says that man has dominion over all resources on Earth. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Dominion Thesis - human beings will dominate the use of resources. The birds of the air. The Fish in the sea. And all other world resources to maximize for their own benefit.
the view that the earth and all its nonhuman contents exist and are available for man's benefit and serve his interests and, hence, that man is entitled to manipulate the world and its systems as he wants, that is, in his interest.” |
|
|
p. 67: What do the words anthropocentric and utilitarian mean?
|
look up answer.
|
|
|
*****ESSAY STUDY QUESTION***** |
Gifford Pinchot - Known for Conservation
Conservation is to utilitarianism as to utilize. Utilitarian Value John Muir - Known for Land Preservation as preservation is to preserve. [not to be used] left in the manner it was created. intrinsic values |
|
|
p. 70: What is ecology?
|
The scientific study of interactions amongst organisms and between organisms and the habitat or ecosystems in which they live.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Well known for Land Ethics
Early to mid-century ecologist who merged the science of ecology and ethics (right and wrong) and the (economy of nature) which is now called today land ethics. Most often quoted lines in 1949 in the sun county almanac. “A thing is right when it turns to preserve the integrity stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong if it turns otherwise.” |
|
|
p. 72: What is ecocentrism?
|
a point of view that recognizes the ecosphere, rather than the biosphere, as central in importance, and attempts to redress the imbalance created by anthropocentrism. is a term used in ecological political philosophy to denote a nature-centered, as opposed to human-centered, system of values?
|
|
|
p. 73: What is animal liberation?
|
A radical social movement that aims to free all animals for use by humans. No cages no owners and no cruelty. Animal rights philosophical stance claiming that no animals should be used for human benefit.
|
|
|
p. 74: What is deep ecology?
|
Environmental philosophy that demands examination of the root causes of ecological problems.
|
|
|
p.76: What is scientism?
|
thought or expression regarded as characteristic of scientists. excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques. “efforts to extend scientific ideas, methods, practices, and attitudes to matters of human social and political concern.”. “Scientism is a matter of putting too high a value on natural science in comparison with other branches of learning or culture.”
|
|
|
p. 75-76: Explain Murray Bookchin's (1921-2006) ecology.
|
Play back recording on 10/27/2016 for this 1hr 09 min etc.
|
|
|
p. 76-77: What is the argument made by environmental pragmatists?
|
A strategy in environmental thought: it argues that theoretical debates are hindering the ability of the environmental movement to forge agreement on basic policy imperatives. This new direction in environmental philosophy moves beyond theory, advocating a serious inquiry into the practical merits of moral pluralism.
|
|
|
p. 98: What does it mean to use a political economy approach to understanding relationships between people and environment?
|
LOOK IT UP.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Karl Marx – not communism, talking about his views and critiques about capitalism.
Element of Production [Land, Labor, and Capital] Only thing that most people have control over is labor. Capital doesn't just mean money. [machines, buildings, and own the means of production] |
|
|
Few people can access the means of production, which are?
|
Capital – Infrastructure equipment. Liquid capital, machinery.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Labor is the only thing people can control.
The ultimate and perhaps cruelest is often referred to as the oldest job is Prostitution. |
|
|
Some would argue that we could all become entrepreneurs if we wanted to; indeed, prior to the industrial revolution, people grew their own food and made almost everything they needed (occasionally trading with others). Why don't we do this anymore?
|
We have grown to want to so many things we do not have the skills or time to produce for ourselves. We no longer have access to resources and or means to produce what we need and want or to start our own companies.
|
|
|
Capitalists hire workers and combine their work with other means of production to make goods or services to be sold in the market. The difference between what it costs to provide a product or service and price it actually sells for on the open market is called surplus value or?
|
Surplus value or profit
|
|
|
Because competition puts downward pressure on prices of goods and services, capitalists engage in three related activities to continue the stream of surplus value???
|
Make labor more productive, Constant growth in number of business transactions, Spend less on labor and extract more from the environment.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Contradictions of Accumulation of Production. pg 103
Crisis caused by over production or under consumption. You harvest as much as you can from the environment and put as much waste in the environment as you can. As capitalist took advantage of workers: further exploit the environment in harmful ways. Damaged the environment to the point where many people are moved to call for an alternative to capitalism. |
|
|
p. 1 06-107: What does it mean to say that nature is produced by people?
|
There is no purely natural environment because nature is a product of human action. Excessive use of nutrients impacting water bodies causing eutrophication. Atmospheric pollution. Clearing nature vegetation’s. Fire suppressions favor one species over others.
|
|
|
p. 107: What does commodification mean? How has nature been commodified and WHY?
|
Commodification is the transformation of goods, services, ideas and people into commodities, or objects of trade. A commodity at its most basic, "anything intended for exchange," or any object of economic value. People are commodified—turned into objects—when working, by selling their labour on the market to an employer. One of its forms is slavery. Others are, the trading with animals and body parts through formalized or informalized organ transplant.
|
|
|
p. 109: What is the spatial fix and how is it related to the treadmills of production and consumption? How might this be related to globalization?
|
Spatial Fix – describes capitalism's insatiable drive to resolve its inner crisis tendencies by geographical expansion and restructuring. Copes with its contradictions, by trying to look for new markets elsewhere for cheaper market values, labor, and production. Constantly have the need to produce more and more which leads to capitalism globally. Wants and needs to find cheaper labor and more resources as well as more consumers.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Environmental Justice – is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
NIMBY-ism: The differential ability of some people to resist having hazards dumped in their neighborhoods. (NOT IN MY BACK YARD ism). BANANA - [build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything ] LuLu – [locally unwanted land use] Concept is a bit of a Red Herring. Rather than arguing about the timing of waste disposal and residential growth, or whether discrimination was based on race or class, it would be more useful to think about how these are related to larger processes of economic growth and disenfranchisement. Eco-feminism takes into consideration the conditions of the environment and how it relates to the social condition of women. Environmental Justice also considers the role of gender in environmental politics |
|
|
p. 113-114: Some scholars believe that a political economy approach to analyzing environmental problems can be extremely anthropocentric. What is anthropocentrism and why might this be a problem?
|
philosophical viewpoint arguing that human beings are the central or most significant entities in the world. This is a basic belief embedded in many Western religions and philosophies. Anthropocentrism regards humans as separate from and superior to nature and holds that human life has intrinsic value while other entities (including animals, plants, mineral resources, and so on) are resources that may justifiably be exploited for the benefit of humankind.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Nature is social constructions;
Nature often implies something has been untouched which is not true. Social Construction is a Myth - it is not pristine. Biologically there is no such thing as race. Its only social constructions. Whether it be direct or indirect. People are heavily in shaping nature. To refer to nature as social construction society has accepted ideas about nature. |
|
|
p. 122-123: What is Discourse and what is its relationship to power? Where do concepts and ideologies fit?
|
Is written or spoken communication about things ideas or perspectives. Scholars have argued it is impossible to discuss discourse without discussing power. They feel that all discourse is power-imbedded constructions that shape our view of reality. Concepts are generally Singe ideas, usually a single word or phrase. Ideologies are valued – laden world views that attempt to describe the world on how it should be.
|
|
|
p. 124-125: Who is Michel Foucault (1926-1984), and what did he say about knowledge and power?
|
Michel Foucault; 1926 – 1984 French Philosopher who suggested that knowledge and power are virtually inseparable.
|
|
|
p. 125-128: What can you say about the discourse of desertification in Africa, and wilderness and the myth of a pristine North America in 1491.
|
The discourse of desertification is based on flimsy evidence. Robbins and all suggest on pg 128, “Placing wilderness at the center of environmentalism serves to disguise and minimize the range of important natures all around us.” Cities, vacant lots and old farm fields. By creating a discourse, the North America was pristine in 1491. This gave European an early American license to ignore Native Americans.
|
|
|
p. 130: Is science a truly objective way to apprehend reality?
|
Not really, science is never really objective. People make decisions about what to investigate and the methods in which they do the investigating.
|
|
|
*****Exam Question***** |
Nothing is truly knowable! - Ultimate form of relativism in which nothing is truly knowable or certain. |
|
|
p. 131-132: What do Robbins et al. mean when they say that people, nature, and our understandings of the natural world are co-produced?
|
Environment impacts society, while society impacts the environment and our understandings of the natural world are constantly impacted by these ongoing impacts.
|
|
|
p. 161-164: Explain the popular ecological model of vegetation appearance and change on the landscape: climax, disturbance, and succession.
|
Climax vegetation- theoretic plant community based on given steady climate and soil conditions; that eventually characterizes a place or region. Disturbance – event that disrupts an ecological system. Hurricane, fire, land slide, human clearance. Essentially resetting the vegetation to a state other than climax. Succession – refers to the idea that plant community naturally progress through different stages over time (each dominated by diff group of plants till each climax stage is reached)
|
|
|
p. 164: Is disturbance always bad?
|
No, example: fire is not always bad, sometimes essential to maintaining climax vegetation. By simultaneously removing competition and preparing the landscape for younger plants.
|
|
|
p. 166-167: What are ecosystem services? Do trees provide any?
|
Benefits to people from Nat eco processes such as food fiber, clean air and water. Flood protections pollination. Energy and nutrient recycling. Carbon sequestrations. Yes, trees can be involved in all of these. Food, fiber, clean air, pollination etc.
|
|
|
p. 170-172: What is Forest Transition Theory? Do you think this is an adequate explanation for forest change around the world? Why or why not?
|
Demographic transition theory – similarly the Kuznets curve forest transition theory suggests that as an economy grows it reduces forest cover for a while, but eventually the amount increases as an economy matures. USA, New England – farmers move on to better soils once the economy matures a lot of replanting goes on.
|
|
|
p. 185-187: What was the historic role of wolves in North Ame1ican ecosystems (until 1900)? How has their eradication impacted North American ecosystems?
|
Wolves keep the population of deer and elk in check. Of course, they also kill cattle and this annoys ranchers. Negative constructions of wolves make it easy for people to think that wolves should be exterminated. Meanwhile without checks on deer and elk, which are vegetarians some species can be stripped and animals can reach an unsustainable level.
|
|
|
p. 191-193: What is rewilding? What about the role of science?
|
Generally re-introducing large predators into eco systems. Monitor the ecological impacts of the reintroduction of species into the environment.
|
|
|
p. 192: How do modem rates of extinction compare to background rates? What role do humans play?
|
Modern rates of extinction are much greater than background levels. [perhaps btwn 1000-10000 times greater], and most observers are convinced that this is due to people. Loss and fragmentation of habitats; exotic species due to invasion; air and water pollution; climate change.
|
|
|
p. 192: How is conservation biology both a science and an activist discipline?
|
Can help us understand the importance of biodiversity, the rule of selected species in regional food webs, and the likely consequences of reintroducing selected species into the environment. Because many ecosystems are complex scientists cannot know for certain what will happen with a reintroducing or losing a species will be.
|
|
|
*****ESSAY STUDY QUESTION***** |
People or institutions that have a stake or interest in the outcome of a particular action. Max sustainable yield is the theory yield of the resource that can be harvested indefinitely. NEPA – of 1970 demands that the federal government is required. to produce and environmental impact statement. [EIS] for government actions that have significant environmental impacts. Also, such that statements req. public input and participation (stakeholders). Refers to establishing rules and limitations on our behavior in order to sustain ecological systems. While people go about trying to meet their needs and wants.
|
|
|
p. 199: The authors contend that debates over wilderness are not about using or not using selected land areas, these debates are about…………………… what?
|
About who gets to use such area and in what manner. Takes time and money to enjoy wilderness. Very expensive to go on vacation and to take trips.
|
|
|
p. 207-209: What is by-catch and what species suffered large amounts of by-catch when commercial fishermen sought tuna?
|
Non targeted animals / fish caught along with targeted animals. Usually discarded and do not survive. E.g. Dolphins [porpoises being caught in nets].
|
|
|
p. 211-213: What do the concepts green consumption and consumer boycott have to do with tuna fishing?
|
Activists ultimately persuaded big tuna sellers in the us to use only tuna that can be documented without causing dolphin by-catch. Tuna producers ultimately agreed because of exposing by-catch problems. [put the pressure on!]
|
|
|
p. 213-215: Does the "dolphin safe" label make the tuna industry ecologically friendly? Why or why not?
|
No, catching tuna without dolphin in one region does not mean it does not happen elsewhere. It does not solve the other major problem which is overharvesting of tuna.
|
|
|
*****ESSAY STUDY QUESTION*****
p.216-217: What is Fordism and Post-Fordism, and how do they relate to the global tuna industry? |
Fordism – referred to a means of production; championed by Henry Ford in the early 20th century. Who combined mass production with profits even with relatively high wages and mass consumption. [expand on this for essay question] somewhat recent rise of transnational or multinational corps that reduce cost by searching the globe for cheaper labor and resources and move facilities accordingly. Mass production and high cache of tuna in production. Will lead to searching more and more tuna to keep up with demand.
|
|
|
*****ESSAY STUDY QUESTION*****
Understand the demographic transition Characteristics of all four stages |
Stage 1: Pre-transition Characterized by high birth rates, and high fluctuating death rates.Population growth was kept low by Malthusian "preventative" (late age at marriage) and "positive" (famine, war, pestilence) checks. Stage 2: Early transition During the early stages of the transition, the death rate begins to fall.As birth rates remain high, the population starts to grow rapidly. Stage 3: Late transition Birth rates start to decline.The rate of population growth decelerates. Stage 4: Post-transition Post-transitional societies are characterized by low birth and low death rates.Population growth is negligible, or even enters a decline. |
|
|
*****Exam Question****** Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand |
Image of classical economics. tried to illustrate that the market will do well. If we allow the market to operate at its own hands can regulate its own if left alone. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** IPATs MODELDEFINITION: |
IPAT is an equation that expresses the idea that environmental impact The IPAT model: I = P × A × T × S Total impact (I) on the environment results from Population (P) = individuals need space and resources Affluence (A) = greater per capita resource use Technology (T) = increased exploitation of resources Sensitivity (S) = how sensitive an area is to human pressure |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** What is the biggest contribution in reducing population growth in any given country? |
Education of Women If you educate a women you educate the entire society. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** What is Green Revolution? |
A revolution that occurred around the world in the 1950's started by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations. Sponsored academic research on primary food consumed around the world. Grain, wheat, barley, beans, and corn. Halted starvation and famine around the world. Started in Mexico, exported to Asia, India and Pakistan. [where it did especially well] 1980s research showed huge impacts, water pollution. Poor farmers undergoing green revolution. Thought the fertilizer was a miracle and would use large quantities. Plants couldn't use all the fertilizer. End result is run off of fertilizer. |
|
|
*****Exam Question***** What is the raw material used in the creation of nuclear power? |
Uranium |
