Natural capital

Ernest Callenbach’s Ecotopia paints the picture of an ecologically-conscious society that rejects a market-centric lifestyle, and instead focuses on a harmonious balance between man and nature. In Ecotopia, the population is scattered across the bulk of what once was the West Coast of the United States, residing in quiet cities and working leisurely hours, satisfied to consume little and live modestly. Sustainable living is the norm, and synthetic materials and products are largely avoided. To a…

Bipedalism and upright posture are considered some of the most important characteristics that separate humans from other species. The article, “Kinship in a Footprint?” by Michael Day, delves into the significance of bipedalism in hominin evolution and the different ways in which bipedalism is studied. He writes that bipedalism and upright posture are behavioral responses in relation to the environment for primate species. It is useful in increasing visual surveillance, displaying threats,…

The commons are the natural resources available to all members of a society or community. The natural resources include water, air, animals, plants. These materials are not owned privately, they are held in common. Hardin’s main assumption about the commons can be separated in three categories; the world is biophysically finite, over-population can be considered as an example of the tragedy of the commons, and the system commons for breeding must be abandoned. The tragedy of the commons…

existence and make what we are doing possible” (Peters 2). He also describes media as not only a utility but a means of communication. Nature, he defines as a place “untouched by humans and only exists on earth where humans have chosen to set it apart as natural” (Peters 3). Nature is considered to be a medium due the relationship of traits that is shared with media. Nature is a medium due to the way it communicates with humans and the environment. Author John Peters, uses the example that…

The GreenHouse Effect Many people ask themselves what is the Greenhouse Effect. The Greenhouse Effect is the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere. While this is a good thing as the planet's temperature stays the same and gets warmer this is also affecting the environment badly without use even knowing. Global warming is not just a theory it is happening right before our eyes and is affecting the earth in countless ways and…

Previous generations were concerned about civil war, anti-war protests, etc. today the moral crisis of our generation is the environmental deterioration and how we can fix it. The damage is already done, but now the environmental weight of the world is being placed on the shoulders of today’s younger generation. What is the proper way to educate the younger generation so they learn from our destructive lifestyle? This is a popular controversial topic among educators today. Out of the classroom…

Undoubtedly, the human race has become more conscious about our surroundings due to the destruction we have subjected it to as a result of our urban and industrial culture. Through examining the deceptively profound texts, ‘The Wilderness Next Door’ and ‘The Estuary,’ we are able to explore man’s relationship to nature. With our technologically-driven and advanced society and fast-paced lifestyles, we often find it difficult to take a moment to unwind from our busy agendas and reflect on the…

BP and the Deepwater Horizon Disaster of 2010 Case Study Analysis o What lead to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster? The popular oil company known as BP publicly prided itself on the company’s commitment to safety and the environment; however, shifts in leadership roles giving individuals more power caused the company to choose a less costly and more time friendly method of securing the rig for the drillings. This method ultimtely came at a huge cost to the environment as the largest marine oil…

Environmentalism is the political and philosophical position that the health of the natural world should be an item of social concern(CITE). Environmentalism relates to conservationism, the belief that natural resources should be treated carefully so as to produce the greatest benefit, and preservationism, the belief that untrammeled nature has inherent value, whether ecological, aesthetic, or spiritual, and therefore that some landscapes should be left undeveloped. (CITE) Within the history of…

The connections that one makes with the real or imagined landscapes reveals the need for individuals and society to feel a sense of belonging and unity. Melissa Harrison’s novel, Clay and the Funk Brothers’ short film, Looms represents this view of people and landscapes being inextricably linked. The novel, Clay explores how TC visits the park and secret garden as it is a platform for escapism and refuge. This need for escapism is stimulated by his fractured relationship with his mother, causing…