Sociology and the Environment Flashcards
1
Q
Environmentalism (Environmental movement)
A
- early 1900s: formerly upper to middle class
- new middle class ( professionals)
- many come from professional fields like education, journalism, social work, artists, etc
- people most impacted by environmental hazards are least likely to organize and protest towards it
2
Q
Dominant Paradigm
A
- economic growth prioritized
- dominating nature
- science creates infinite resources
3
Q
Environmental Paradigm
A
- respecting nature
- resources are finite (we could run out)
- equality and safety in society
4
Q
Sustainable Development
A
- United Nations definition:
- development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
5
Q
Unsustainable Impoverishment
A
- impoverished populations in Global South
- engaging in environmentally damaging practices necessary for immediate subsistence
- global warming impacts all of planet
- unsound practices in one region impacts others
- ex. we are a more developed country and we produce many greenhouse gases that affect other regions around the world
6
Q
Social Distribution of Risk
A
- marginal groups face disproportionate environmental hazards because of marginal status
- environmental racism
- environmental classism
7
Q
Climate change and its impact
A
- Rising sea levels
- Rising water temp
- Melting of glaciers
- Increasing extinction of many plant/animals
- Increasing climate extremes
8
Q
Attitudes towards the environment
A
- Dunlap and Van Liere
- We are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support
- The earth has limited room and resources
- Humankind is severely is abusing the environment
9
Q
Examples of environmental tragedies
A
2010 BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico
1984 industrial catastrophe in Bhopal India
1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska
2005 flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
10
Q
Environmental tragedies
A
- sources of tragedies are organizational and structural in nature
- outcome of larger structural and systemic factors
- they are not rare and non preventable
- they are not unrelated incidents
- not merely an outcome of human error of one individual
