Sociology of Environment

1
Sociology of Environment

• Week 15
• Discussion of Alternative Futures
• 12-5-05

2
Overview

• Welcome Last Week
• Discussion of Alternative Futures pathways for
  change
• Final Thoughts!
• Ode to Seniors
• Course Evaluations
• Distribution of Final Exam by Email
• Wednesday 12-7-05 215
• Replay of Video The Next Industrial Revolution

3
Discussion

• Reflection of Video
• The Next Industrial Revolution
• Encouraged by the Video
• Deeply Troubled
• List reasons for encouragement and doubt

4
Discussion

• How are the positions of anti-environmentalists
  
• Julian Simon The Resourceful Earth
• Global Climate Coalition voluntary .rely on
  the development of new technologies
• SAME/ DIFFERENT from
• McDonough and Braungarts?

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Discussion

• Classical Political Thinkers on the Environment
• Garrett Hardin The Tragedy of the Commons
  (1968)
• Robert Heilbroner Inquiry into the Human
  Prospect (1974)
• William Ophuls Ecology the Politics of
  Scarcity (1977)

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Discussion

• Political Thinkers on the Environment
• Garrett Hardin The Tragedy of the Commons
  (1968)
• Economic self-interest of the individual leads to
  collective ruin
• We must mutually agree to mutually coerce

7
Discussion

• Political Thinkers on the Environment
• Robert Heilbroner Inquiry into the Human
  Prospect (1974)
• Given the Tragedy of the commons it can be
  adverted only through draconian measures
• Environmental crisis will cause a political
  crisis. During times of crises democracies turn
  to political authoritarianism
• only through the centralization of power can we
  save the environment and society from
  itself.centralized regimewill be struggling to
  redesign society.

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Discussion

• Political Thinkers on the Environment
• William Ophuls Ecology the Politics of
  Scarcity (1977)
• Given ecology society has biophysical limits
• Rise of neo-classical economics substituted
  economic growth at all cost for political
  principle (welfare of the public)
• Economics cannot solve our environmental problems
  path to ruin
• Dramatic action will be required Rise of
  Ecological Dictators protect the environment at
  the cost of personal freedoms

9
Discussion

• Political Thinkers on the Environment
• Garrett Hardin The Tragedy of the Commons
  (1968)
• Robert Heilbroner Inquiry into the Human
  Prospect (1974)
• William Ophuls Ecology the Politics of
  Scarcity (1977)
• Common Theme among the Three?

10
Discussion

• The Question of Human Agency
• Human Agency vs. Social Structure
• Individualism and short-sightedness are the
  greatest problems of our current social systems
• Meadows et al. Limits to Growth Chapter 8

11
Discussion

• Logical Next Questions
• Is Democracy Bad for the Environment?
• Or is Capitalism the REAL Threat?
• The combination of the two? Something else?
• Or does the form of the political system NOT
  matter?

12
Discussion

• Logical Next Questions
• Democracy may be the best system for dealing with
  our environmental situation
• But is it good enough?
• If Democracy is NOT enough who should we blame?

13
Discussion

• Logical Next Questions
• What is the role of the State?
• Individuals and Markets?
• Individuals and Social Mobilization?

14
Discussion

• Burning / Unanswered Questions?

15
Discussion

• Burning Questions?
• Burning question from you
• An Early Class Reflections
• Grown up with environmental problems
• Environmental problems now global
• What can I POSSIBLY do?
• What can you do?

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Final Thoughts

• Why the emphasis on I? Why not WE?
• Is that Fair/ Appropriate?
• Who has the power in society? new movement
• Quote from Margaret Mead

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Love Canal Power of local mobilization
• Social Theory Environment
• Public Support for the Environment/ Death of
  Environmentalism

18
Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Environmental Justice Injustice
• Review of its development
• Biodiversity and EJ
• Joe Heath Onondaga Nation - Lawsuit

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Environment Economy
• Professor Stuart Brown Visit
• Rise of Global Privatization of Natural Resources
• Greening of Business/ Industry Greenwashing
• Visit to Anoplate Corporation

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Human Population Environment
• 9 billion people 2050
• Growth in the poorest countries
• Complex relationship between population
  environment
• Consumption and Footprint are key

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Energy Issues
• Petrotheism
• ANWR Debate
• Global Climate Change
• Social Construction of knowledge

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• Limits to Growth Alternative Futures
• Limits to Growth Debate what can we learn from
  computer simulations?
• Alternative Futures Pathways out

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• What I learned most from the semester?

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Final Thoughts

• Reflections on the Semester
• What I learned most from the semester?
• That PowerPoint is a for the most part a poor
  teaching tool.

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Good Luck!

• Graduating Seniors
• Good luck!!!!

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Final Exam

• Three Questions
• No Extra Credit
• Due Thursday December 15th 7 a.m.