Perspective and Value Systems Flashcards
Environment
the external surroundings of an organism that acts on it and affects its survival
Systems
made of separate parts that are linked together and affect one another
Societies
group of individuals who share common characteristics
EX: location, culture, religion, etc.
Preservation
protects the environment by limiting or even banning human use of certain natural resources
Conservation
protects the environment through the responsible use of natural resources
Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir (1800s-1900s)
fought alongside John Muir to preserve Yosemite as place not disturbed by humans taking resources (preservation)
Grifford Pinchot
believed forests should be used and renewed to maintain flow of resources for human use AND to conserve the environment (conservation)
Aldo Leopold (1900s-1960s)
author of “A Sand County Almanac”.
argued nature is not our servant to be used and abused and we have ethical responsibility to maintain balance of nature
The Green Revolution (1940s-1960s)
scientific development led to greater global agriculture
Rachel Carson
author of “Silent Spring”.
spoke against negative effects of pesticides / DDT chemical pollution on natural systems
The Environmental Movement (1968)
people became more aware of finite nature of earth.
turned to promoting awareness and coordinating positive change to destructive human behavior.
Movement of 1970s
Greenpeace established.
media coverage.
Earth Summit on Environment at UN.
convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Stewardship
humans are responsible for caring for the environment, not exploiting it
Minamata, Japan (1959)
wastewater pollution by plastic manufacturers included mercury and other heavy metals.
found way into fish and shellfish (local diet).
symtoms: convulsions, slurred speech, loss of motor functions, uncontrollable limb movements.
Niagra Falls, NY (1976-1978)
Love Canal.
school built on former toxic waste dump.
dangers denied for long time.
only came clear after grass-roots activism.
Grassroots Movements
uses the people in a given district, region, or community as the basis for a political, social or economic movement
UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1983)
Developing land without destroying it for future generations
Bhopal, India (1984)
Union Carbide pesticide plant released 45 tons of poisonous methyl isocyanate.
15,000 dead.
survivors suffered: blindness, organ failure, bodily malfunctions, birth defects.
worst industrial disaster ever.
Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986)
power plant reactor exploded.
nuclear meltdown released radiation into atmosphere.
thousands with thyroid cancer.
Deep Water Horizons (2010)
Gulf of Mexico.
Explosion + oil spill.
economic losses to local communities.
Fukushima, Japan (2011)
Tsunami damaged nuclear plant.
Radiation releases across Pacific Ocean.
Global Warming (1990s)
connection between carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil) and warming climate of planet.
Kyoto Protocol.
Rio Earth Summit and Agenda 21.
Kyoto Protocol
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change agreed to limit CO2.
US refused to sign.
5 Areas Needing Global Attention
water + sanitation, energy, health, agriculture, biodiversity
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
documentary to raise public awareness about climate change.
about VP Al Gore’s campaign to educate people about global warming.
UN Brundtland Report (1983)
intro to idea of sustainable development
Sustainable Development
Meeting the needs of today without sacrificing the needs of tomorrow
Montreal Protocol (1987)
agreement to phase out CFC, refrigerants, other HOGs.
UN Earth Summit (1992)
nothing less than change in attitudes / behaviours towards environmental issues would bring about necessary changes.
led to adoption of Agenda 21.
Agenda 21
blueprint for action to acheive sustainable development.
Climate March (2019)
demanded urgent action on climate change during upcoming UN general assembly
Gaia Hypothesis
earth is a system of systems that are self regulating and sustaining.
created by: James Lovelock + Lynn Margulis
Chief Seattle (Indigenous Leader to Duwamish Tribe)
“all things share the same breath”.
we are all interconnected.
Mahatma Ghandi (spiritual leader / social activist)
we are borrowing the earth, air, land, water from our children.
sustainability.
Environmental Value Systems (EVS)
worldview that shapes ways people percieve / evaluate.
influenced by background, culture, identity, society.
Ecocentrism / Biocentrism (nature centered)
- hollistic / sustainable worldview
- minimal disturbance of nature
- deep ecologists vs soft ecologists
- humans are part of nature
- environmental conservation
- values: individual responsibility, inherent value, limited resources, humans are not more important
Deep Ecologists
- part of ecocentrism
- natural laws dictate human morality
- nature is needed for humanity and has rights
Soft Ecologist
- part of ecocentrism
- focus on community involvement to change political policies + practices
Anthropocentrism (people centered)
- humans are responsible for sustainable global systems
- controlling population and resource use
- environmental managers
- environment is resource for humans to use as needed
- human health and well being
- values: people as environmental managers, governmental regulation, humans are most important
Environmental Managers
- part of anthropocentrism
- economic growth + resource use can continue if adjustments to policies are made
- EX: taxes, laws,
Technocentrism (technology centered)
- technology can keep pace + provide solutions to environmental issues
- cornucopian
- nature is model but can be replaced by technology
- human health and well being
- values: economic growth, solving issues, understanding natural processes
Cornucopian
- part of technocentrism
- man can always find way out of difficulties
Native Americans
- low impact technology
- economy based on trade
- nature regarded as more spiritual
- small population densities
European Pioneers
- exploitation of “unlimited” resources
- heavy reliance on technology
- lack of connection + responsibility to nature
Intrinsic Value
- having inherent worth
- usually ecocentrics
