Andrew Ball 7639321
Assignment #3: Blog 2
1. Reading Summaries
Selection 6, 4, 26, 15, 16, 28 Summaries
Selection six of the required readings was about the traditional way humans have treated nature. Judeo-Christian thought is based around the idea that Earth is a gift from God which we can exploit for our pleasure because humans are the dominant species. This approach is used around the globe, but is based out of the “western world”. The idea of conquering nature instead of respecting it has lead to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity.
The second reading is an answer to the problem of anthropocentrism. It says that humans must work with nature instead of using nature to live. The author, Aldo Leopold, writes about how he killed a wolf because he had been taught that it was only a pest. As he witnessed its loss of life he realized that predators like wolves are an important part of the chain of life and that nature is balanced for a reason. They trim the herds naturally, and killing them is only taking over their place in the place in the food chain.
Selection twenty six describes greenhouse gas emissions and their effects on climate change. It states there is a natural greenhouse system that operates in our atmosphere. Carbon emissions alter the system by increasing the thickness of the layer, so the process of solar radiation being bounced back to earth again is sped up significantly.
Section fifteen describes how businesses can take advantage of this green revolution. Efficiency (more production with less energy used) of producing goods is achieved as well as money saved by the consumer. Mileage gained from reducing weight and not paying high costs at the gas station provide more income available for drivers and businesses that rely on transportation of their goods to market. This is just the business side of the change to renewable energy sources, not to mention the environmental factors that are at play.
Selection sixteen is an important reading because it provides insight into how the world can change its economies to sustainable and renewable energy. The authors suggest a switch to a locally focused energy economy (mainly consisting of solar and hydrogen sources). For example, if an area is a hot and sun drenched landscape, it would be a prime source of solar energy.
The final reading was selection twenty eight. This chapter explains why food has become a scarce resource. Environmental degradation and massive population booms have created a need for more food, with less fertile land available due to destruction of natural resources. Soil becomes overused so it cannot support agriculture, and the amount of fresh water is diminishing rapidly from pollution and misuse.
2. Online Activities
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
Rachel Carson was an unusual woman who was a feminist before her time. She was a biologist in the 1920’s when women were not encouraged to even have a career. She received her master’s degree in zoology, taught university and worked for the National Wildlife Service in the U.S. She wrote Under the Sea Wind as a voice for conservation, advocating for the preservation of all the resources on the earth.
Silent Spring was written as response to what she termed “biocide”, the overuse of pesticides that were destroying the balance of nature on earth. World War II saw the rise of new technology and chemicals that were used in everything from plastics to drugs to fertilizers to insecticides. One of these was DDT. Although it was instrumental in saving lives during the war because it stopped the spread of typhus fever, overuse of the chemical and its impact on wildlife was seen as early as 1945. It became the chemical of choice and was widely used to control even mosquitoes in the suburbs. Both government and the science community, backed by the influential chemical companies, told the public it was safe. But Carson was convinced she needed to write about the effects of DDT that she saw as a poison to nature and a violation of our fundamental right to a healthy environment. She believed that nature was the best to regulate itself and that eradication of all insects was going to seriously upset the balance. Her research showed the harmful effects of DDT and other chemicals like Dieldrin, a nerve gas that was even available on grocery shelves.
Even though she was constantly ill with arthritis, ulcers and ultimately cancer, she weeded through massive amounts of information to prove her case against the use of chemicals on the environment. Her book was published in 1962 after excerpts were printed in the New Yorker magazine. Carson herself was immediately under attack from everyone from American Medical Association and government’s scientists to the big chemical companies like Monsanto. She appeared on television to defend her opinion and the message was passed. The Senate held hearings on the use of pesticides. Carson attended and encouraged the government to take a leadership role. She made it clear that she was not against the use of chemicals, but against their overuse, misuse and lack of controlled use. As a result the government enacted legislation that created laws to protect the environment from chemicals.
Rachel Carson’s book made people aware of the toxicity of chemicals. It forced them to think about the environment in a new way and it gave rise to the concept of ecology. Wouldn’t it be sad if we woke up one morning to a “silent spring” where there were no birds singing or insects buzzing?
3. Blog Reflections
The first thing to reflect upon from class is the Alberta Oil Sands Project. As rumors of the possibility we have reached “Peak Oil”, which is the maximum global oil extraction rate, loom over the media, we are tempted to look for new sources of oil. It has been stated that there is more oil that can be removed from the oil sands, than what is left the Middle East. The debate about the Alberta Oil Sands has many possible futures. Huge economic gains can be made at the expense of the local environment as well as the atmosphere, some minor mining could be done while keeping the work heavily regulated, or the project could be abandoned while new alternative fuels are being researched. I personally think that a balance between the second and third options is best. From taking courses at university, as well as my own research, I have found that the environment is the most important thing humanity has now. The only implication that stands between a clean future, is economics. Simply stopping all oil drilling would leave your oil dependant society inoperable. The best option would be to have drilling minimized slowly with environmental regulations while working on alternative fuels in the meantime. This way the environmental damage could be minimal, but also the economy and infrastructure would not collapse.
The second thing to reflect on would have to be the multiple opinions of how humans relate to nature. They are anthropocentric, biocentric, and ecocentric. Anthropocentrism is based on ancient and often religiously based thought of how humans are the most important creature on earth. We have the right, possible God given, to exploit the earth’s resources at our pleasure. The second view point is biocentrism, which places humans as important as every other creature. So to destroy another living thing for no reason is wrong. The third opinion of how humans relate to nature is ecocentrism. This view of nature is that of a “greater good”. Individuals are not as important as the whole integrity of the system. My personal view is a mix of all. Humans are the most important creature because we are not only the one species capable of rational thought, but are the only ones capable of altering or changing the entire world. This puts the onus on humanity as a nurse or caretaker. We must show respect to the environment and every species, using our special capabilities to protect biodiversity because our survival, just like all the other species, is dependent on the natural system.
The third reflection is the issue of national parks. Wapusk National Park is a prime example because it has a mandate of both protection and accessibility. Biodiversity is crucial to the natural balance of life, but if humans cannot enjoy the wonderful gift of nature we will become isolated. David Suzuki describes this as a “disconnection” with the natural world. When we do not see the natural beauty, and are surrounded with civilization and concrete jungles, we will have little problem with letting it be destroyed. I believe the best solution to both of the mandates can be a compromise. Camping and tourism allow people to reconnect with nature, as long as they respect the natural environment while they are there. Instead of building fancy resorts, ecotourism activities should be encouraged in designated areas in the parks.
4. Environmental Science In The Media
Around the news I have found some interesting stories on from David Suzuki, to polar bears and arctic ice, to antibiotics in livestock. The first article I found was one on the world renowned scientist David Suzuki. At a ceremony where he was given a lifetime achievement award, David spoke about how the world is going “backwards”. Too much carbon has gone up into the atmosphere, the waters of the world are being polluted, and biodiversity is being lost. He urges the youth of today to listen to the lessons of the past and correct the mistakes made by his generation.
The second article I found from the Winnipeg Free Press (February 9, 2011 A5) is a story about polar bears breeding habits appeared. According to the article, polar bears require lots of ice in order to fish. If they do not get enough food for fat storage, they will not have cubs that year. The melting of sea ice could potentially mean the end for the polar bear species.
Another story I found in the media was also a recent class topic. It was in The Winnipeg Metro (February 9, 2011 p. 22). The manufacturing of livestock has changed the industry from lots of small family run farms, to concentrated corporate breeding facilities. There is little room to move and the sanitary issues for animals makes the issue of disease and bacteria more prevalent than on a regular farm. To compensate, these antibiotics are used constantly. This has a positive feedback loop because the low dosage antibiotics kill the weak strands, but make surviving strands of bacteria stronger. This not only has possible health related issues for humans who eat the meat and drink the milk, but could eventually create an epidemic that could destroy an entire section of livestock farming.
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