Natural capital

Throughout history, humans have created many divisions between race, gender, wealth etc., each division separating ‘us’ from ‘them’. In the same way, a division between humans and nature has been socially constructed to divide the “western society” and the “other.” From these constructions, the term ‘wild’ has come to attribute primeval and savage characteristics to nature and animals living within nature. It is common to consider animals that life in nature to be ‘wildlife,’ yet using this…

In 1962, noted biologist Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring that told of the different effects poisons, such as parathion, have on the ecosystem. Soon after being published, her book gained the attention of the American public and helped to transform their attitudes towards the environment. In the excerpt Carson advocates for the ban of parathion by describing the farmers’ use for the poison as warlike, by faulting the ignorant public, and the negligent government for the poison’s…

only one defining way for how the world is today-- progress. Still, progress is not uniform in itself. John Stuart Mill believed progress was for the sake of liberty and stemmed from society whereas Edward O. Wilson found society’s progress from natural sciences. As each author differentiates their views on progress, it does not prevent the reader from comparing and contrasting the ideals behind the arguments. In his essay On Liberty, Mill defines progress through epistemology, human nature, and…

water. If nuclear energy plants explode with some carelessness, it will make city like Chernobyl and Fukushima, serious result. Renewable energy cannot produce large quantities of energy, but there is almost no side effects except destroying our natural. To solve it`s problem, we have to build more facilities and develop…

Within the twenty-first century, the discussion of Climate Change is a relatively controversial topic. Scientists, politicians, and environmentalists have been debating the causes and effects of the changing climate patterns for decades. And while there has been scientific evidence that proves the existence of this very real problem, some still seem to see it as a myth or untrue. But in fact, the problem is very real. Climate change can account for many of the world’s problems. Habitat loss,…

In my expert reports for the Fox and Kalamazoo matters, submitted in 2009 and 2015 respectively, I concluded that the weight of evidence prior to the time when NCR eliminated the substance from the paper did not indicate potential environmental hazards posed by the Aroclor 1242 in NCR CCP. I found that it was not credible to suggest that a company such as NCR had sufficient knowledge to be concerned about using a substance such as Aroclor 1242 in its CCP, especially in the absence of…

take an inward approach to evaluate the change of nature throughout human history. David Quammen’s Wild Thoughts from Wild Places is a compilation of personal accounts that addresses different natural phenomena and looks deeper into the environmental and social justice behind human involvement in the natural world. In Wild Thoughts from Wild Places, Quammen points to specific animal species, white tigers and the superdove, to reveal environmental injustices that are continuously happening in…

Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin brought many changes to the world of science. Darwin brought forth a paradigm shift in our way of thinking with his theory of evolution, going against the views of the bible, which at that time was viewed as concrete knowledge. Freud would make many modern advancements in the world of psychology, psychoanalysis and biology. Both of these men would controversially alter many views and theories, this in turn would therefor alter the views of human nature. Many…

Since covering the topic of the environment in class last week, I have really noticed how environmentally-friendly Kidzu Children’s Museum actually is. Something that I am particularly impressed in regards to the museum is its creativity in promoting this idea of being “environmentally conscious”: from the implementation of innovative and engaging programs to the choice of language and phrasing Kidzu team members are taught to use when interacting with museum patrons in the Makery. Because of…

necessary resources for their schools. The prices of fossil fuels will continue to increase as they run out, therefore tightening already overly restrictive budgets. Experts estimate that at today 's consumption rates, known global supplies of oil and natural gas will be depleted within decades, (Chea). This is why action needs to be taken…