Environment Flashcards
What is decolonization?
Process of healing & moving away from anger, loss & grief towards a place where Indigenous people can thrive.
This means ending settlers’ effect on the government, ideologies, religion, culture and education.
It also means understanding that Canada was built on displacement/colonization of Indigenous people.
What is indigenization?
- Acknowledging the invisibility of Indigenous people and their knowledge within an institutional framework.
- Recognizing and valuing Indigenous worldviews & culture.
- Sharing of Indigenous knowledge, stories & perspectives in the education system.
What is reconciliation?
An ongoing process through which Indigenous peoples and the Crown work cooperatively to establish & maintain a mutually respectful framework for living together, to foster strength, health and sustainability of the Indigenous nations within a strong Canada.
Name as many differences between the Indigenous World & Western World Views as you can.
The indigenous world believes in a spiritual world, while the Western World is scientific, sceptical, and requires proof.
The Indigenous people view that there are many truths based upon individual experiences, while the western world has one truth, based on science or law.
The Indigenous world thinks that people and the land are all connected and that community, identity and spirituality are rooted in this connection. The western world has no association of community, self or spirit with the land.
The Indigenous world sees land as sacred and given by a creator or supreme being. For the Western World, the land and its resources should be available for development and extraction.
For the Indigenous people, time is non-linear and cyclical. In the Western world, time is linear and future-oriented.
The Indigenous have an internal life compass that is guided by their relations with people & the land. In the Western world, they have an external life compass and compare themselves to the external status/wealth of others.
Finally, the Indigenous people do not perceive humans as the most important people in the world. In the Western world, humans are the most important in the world.
The Indigenous views state that we should work together to support the community, whereas the Western world is competitive for personal gain.
What are the 3 theories linked to Ecotherapy & Ecophysiology?
The stress reduction hypothesis states that spending time in nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels (calms the HPA Axis).
The biophilia hypothesis says that humans have an innate, ancestral connection to the land and rely on it for survival.
The attention restoration theory emits the hypothesis that nature restores our mental processes, meaning our ability to concentrate & pay attention.
Name 4 benefits of Nature
• Increased endorphin levels & dopamine production (more happiness, less irritability)
• Lowered blood pressure & cortisol
• Reduced symptoms of anxiety & depression, helps people feel more calm
• Restores capacity for concentration, attention & learning
• Reduces feelings of isolation
• Gives a greater sense of purpose
• Makes us more generous & kind with others
What is the “awe” effect of nature?
Making us feel that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves
What are phytoncides?
Phytoncides are anti-fungal chemicals released in the air by trees, plants or vegetation, that help with lung related issues and end up helping immune response, since they are antimicrobial.
What is Mycobacterium Vaccae?
Mycobacterium vaccae is a bacteria found in soil that can increase serotonin levels in the brain.
What are negative air ions?
Negative air ions are electrically charged air particles that can influence antioxidant activity in the body.
What is the minimum time we should spend outside in nature in a week?
120 minutes
What are the environmental factors that affect our health?
- Transportation/Infrastructure
- Land Use/Walkability
- Pedestrian Environment
- Greenspace
- Exposure to Air Pollution
- Traffic Safety & Crime
- Exposure to Noise
- Exposure to Climate change & related natural disaster
What is environmental racism?
The BIPOC communities live in regions where environmental crisis is more prevalent
What are Urban Forests?
The collective sum of all the trees and shrubs that make up the green cover in urban areas.
What is the predictor of the level of ecosystem services an area receives, and what are these services?
Urban Forests and biodiversity are indicators of the financial (property values, tourists, shops), socioemotional (safety, community health), physical/mental health (level of adiposity, mortality risk, mental illness), and global warming (urban heat islands).
